Our thirteenth annual holiday gift poll. Here are the three questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
My answers:
A bottle of Astier de Villatte Grand Chalet, and why not the matching candle and kitty lid while we're at it?
Probably Kerosene Sweetly Known.
No. We are still doing very little gift-giving in my family.
Note: you can find Kay Bojesen's Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Modern Shop in Canada.
gift to receive
Coco parfum
unsniffed fragrance
Les indemodables – oriental velours
giving fragrance items
yes – sample set and later bottle of choice of gallivant perfumes to my sister in law
have a great weekend everyone!
I have been sampling Les Indemodables today after watching Persolaise gush over them.. the sample pack is rather well priced.
So far I’m quite impressed, they are really well made.. they do feel classic and intemporal. Oriental velours has a green note (the spruce) that is very present in the fragrance throughout. I’m not a fan of that note personally so it’s not my favourite but I can totally see the appeal. My favourites so far are Cuir de Chine and Iris Perle.
Cicely, I love and have both of those. Now I need to go resniff Oriental Velours.
If first impression holds they may go to the potential buy list… maybe for Xmas!
Thanks for the mini review ? I love spruce, so now it’s even more on my unsniffed want list! However getting the sample pack sounds like a much more reasonable approach…
Then you’ll love it for sure karina
Each one is quite unique but very nice in its style. I can admire all of them, and tend to be quite finicky. They don’t rely on aroma chemicals for effect (at least I can’t detect them) which I appreciate.
By the way, Coco parfum is a great Xmas present choice!
enjoy your gift of Coco…
Haha – IF I get it ? If not it will have to stay on that wish list for Valentine’s day.
1. A perfume cabinet to properly store and organize all my perfumes.
2. I have not had good luck in general with unsniffed perfumes. Perhaps a 5 mL of PPC Basil & Bartlett. I don’t think I have sniffed a PPC fragrance that I positively disliked, so it would be a fairly safe bet. Five ml only, as I have so much perfume already.
3. Yes, as usually I will be gifting my husband a new bottle for Christmas. This time it is April Aromatics Calling All Angels.
Oooh! I love the perfume cabinet idea.
A beautiful perfume cabinet is a great idea, but for now I stick with my Ikea kallax
I have two IKEA Liatorp glass-door cabinets where I keep many of my perfumes in decorative storage boxes to protect them from light. I love those cabinets! I also keep other hobby materials in them, like sewing patterns, cross-stitch materials, etc. When I retire, I will probably reorganize them from top to bottom, given how much the perfume collection has grown.
Now that I say that, I remembered that Mandy Aftel has released Violet Ambrosia. I love violet scents, and buying just one sample is hardly worthwhile so I might as well at least get the 6 ml perfume pomander, right?
Right!?
Totally right up my alley!
Every time I walk into Home Goods I hope my perfect perfume cabinet will be there waiting for me
Calling All Angels is so beautiful! Lucky you and your husband!
He likes wearing fragrance but he doesn’t really know anything about it and he would never bother to sample or try things, so he wears whatever I buy for him. I give him things I want to smell on him.
Beautiful perfume choice!
1) A bottle of Rainbow Bar, if Santa needs a suggestion.
2) Unsniffed – a duet: Hot Masala and Tea and Charcoal from DSH. Or else Horla from January Scent Project.
3) Scented gifts – maybe? If my best friend and I exchange actual gifts, I may get her a travel spray of something. If we exchange donations to charity in each other’s names, then no.
Changing my reply (yes. I’m indecisive)
For #1 I would like a full bottle of my SOTD: Munchen by Frau Tonis Perfume. I only bought a travel spray when I was in Berlin – it’s almost empty, and I would love a full bottle. Thanks Santa!
Hopefully Santa is paying attention and does not mind changes
I have it on good authority that he doesn’t.
?
Wearing Bruno Fazzolari Ummagumma on a nice and not so cold day doing cleaning at home and also some online holiday shopping.
1. Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose or Chanel Bel Respiro. I would not mind some scented candles also.
2. Armani Prive Bois d’Encense or Tom Ford Lost Cherry.
3. My younger sister asked me for a light floral scent and honestly I don’t know exactly what to get that is affordable. Any suggestions will be appreciate it! ?
Happy weekend, everyone! ?
Maybe one of the Fresh Sugar scents at Sephora? There’s Sugar Lemon, Brown Sugar, Sugar Lychee, etc. (I like the lemon, never tried the others). Plus options from The Body Shop. Good luck!
Thank you, Galbanumgal! Writing them down on my notebook!
I’m not sure what price bracket you have in mind as ‘affordable’ is pretty relative.
I discovered recently that Estee Lauder’s Modern Muse (original) is a nice light floral. At a lower price point
Zara has ‘A Daisy Bouquet in London’ which smelled nice on paper (to me) but I see the reviews are pretty bad. They have some higher rated florals though. Nude Bouquet, for example, is popular.
I’m personally a fan of Paul Smith’s Rose (I think it’s better than many much more pricey rose soliflores) It’s usually available for a good price at discounters. And it’s a pretty bottle!
Sorry, I meant that Zara is a lower price point than Estée Lauder!
How about the original Jessica McClintock?
It’s inexpensive, pretty white floral, and easily found online at a steep discount.
Any of the chloes or MJ Daisy line, also Jimmy Choo Blossom.
Stella is a lovely floral. Rose, but fresh. And available at discounters. I enjoy wearing it,
I like Stella quite a bit, also. A different take on rose.
Ditto the vote for Stella — I bought it years ago (15?) and it is aging well. I still enjoy it and wear it often when a bigger fragrance would be inappropriate.
If she likes Roses maybe Une Rose by Kurkdijan, very light tt and floral
Jo Malone has a wide choice of light florals, and very easy to like. Tuberose angelica, red roses, jasmin and mint, nectarine blossom and honey.. some of them are really nice.
Not sure what price bracket yor thinking but some that aren’t too expensive that come to mind are
Estee Lauder Pleasures
Diptyque Eau Rose
The Aerin ones are generally pleasing and could fit the bill (they have small sizes I think)
Acca Kappa Tilia Cordata is one I love for for straight up linden
Chloe
Annika Goutal Chevrefeuille
Gallivant Los Angeles or Tel Aviv
Or, for something different and affordable (at least with Europe shipping) try the buly1803 dry oils (rose ones is gorgeous, but they also have a beautiful tuberose or orange blossom).
Would Clinique Happy fit the bill? It isn’t wildly expensive.
I’ll second lilljo’s suggestion of Daisy. Maybe one of the small Chanel Chance perfumes (30mL) would work, too?
I would get her either a Sephora sampler set or Atelier Cologne discovery set or both ?
An underrated light floral is Carat by Cartier; perfumer was Mathilde Laurent. Top notes are Pear, Green Notes and Bergamot; middle notes are Hyacinth, Tulip, Narcissus, Lily, Honeysuckle, Violet and Ylang-Ylang; base notes are Mimosa and White Musk. It is available at some of the big online discounters for very reasonable prices (I also saw a gift set at FNet) and it’s really pretty. The bottle is also gorgeous.
Greetings from the Baltic Sea seaside. Together with my family wd came to visit my grandma for a few days.
1. I’d love Olfactive Studio Iris Shot or Ormaie L’Ivree Bleue.
2. Chanel Le Lion. I don’t know it but my perfume twin does love it.
3. Yes, I plan to give one of the Cologne Intense from Jo Malone as a gift.
Sotd is Atelier des Ors Iris Fauve.
I think Le Lion but be a good blind buy, if someone would gift me that
Yes
The Baltic seaside! I wish I was where you are. Iris Shot is on my wish list too.
I look forward to a walk at the beach
Chanel Le Lion is something I’m interested also, sounds amazing!
It does indeed.
Good morning! I’m wearing DSHPerfumes Muresque today. I am SO happy that I still have two more days of time off (the weekend)!
This poll is always harder for me than I think it would be. So, at the moment I’ll go with:
1) To receive: I’d love Coco body cream…oh, but I would also like the Astier Villatte Naples candle that Kevin reviewed several years ago:
https://nstperfume.com/2011/11/23/astier-de-villatte-naples-candle-home-fragrance-review/
2) Unsniffed: How about Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Une Nuit a Doha
3) Just some small scented candles for our sons’ girlfriends
Oh, I want that candle too!!
Oh yes, get Doha! My favorite of all!!
(but you’d have to like Immortelle, I think).
1. I’m with 50_Roses on this one – I’d love a capacious, easy to use, and beautiful perfume cabinet that would hold bottles, decants, and samples
2. CdG Rouge. Sounds right up my alley.
3. I’m only giving fragrance to myself this year. Everybody else is getting a book (gift giving within my circle of friends and family has thankfully tapered off quite a bit over the last several years).
Books are my go-to as well–both for giving & receiving.
1. A bottle of Rouge Saray and a well done vanilla candle. Any recs for a good vanilla candle please?
2. Same as Robin…would like to try Kerosene Sweetly Known…don’t see it added to Fragrantica yet…anyone tried it?
3. Just fragrance gifts to myself!?
Wearing some Dionis Vanilla Bean hand cream and Lost Cherry today.??
You smell wonderful!
I blind bought a bottle.
It’s very nice, not overly sweet but definitely gourmand.
Oh how funny – I just finished ordering some scented candles as Christmas gifts before popping over to NST, so I guess I have my answer to that part of the poll. Not sure what the rest of my poll answers would be … maybe a fir-scented candle in a pretty glass container, to replace the one I’ve had so long that the scent is mostly gone (but the jar is so pretty!), and a bottle of one of the new Chanels. Might be too early for me to be trying to think. ?
Soap and Paper Company’s Roland Pine comes in a nice silver glass container with snowflakes.
I keep forgetting about Soap and Paper Company – will investigate! Thanks!
Frasier Fir from Thymes comes in different sizes with pretty glass containers and I love the scent.
That’s the (very) old one that I have – think I need another one! ?
Have never tried the No 5 body cream, and it’s the fragrance-related gift I’d love to try. And the No 5 shower gel, which says “new” on Chanel’s site.
As a fan of mimosa and aldehydes, would opt for Masque’s new Ray-Flection as an unsniffed surprise.
No to fragrance gifts–this year will be giving books, tea and calendars.
I have the no 5 body cream and it’s nice. To make it really smell like no 5, dab on a tiny bit of parfum or just lightly dab any concentration. The body lotion smells close to no 5 but not quite.
To me the cream smells more like 5 Eau Premiere – which I prefer
Hi all, my SOTD is Guerlain’s Shalimar Souffle Intense.
A bottle of vintage Safari perfume would be very nice, or Patchouli Elixir by Reminiscence.
Un-sniffed perfume gift would be Narciso Rodriguez Patchouli Musc.
We’re not exchanging gifts this year, donating to a charity instead.
After a salad for breakfast (with lox and poached egg, picture below) Mr. SmokeyToes and I are about to walk, shoes on, we’ll see you later!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CII9sUwhn8Y/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Nice breakfast
Wow, that salad looks amazing!
Wish I had that breakfast! ?
1) I’d like a year of scented and luxurious soaps. At least one a month!
2) I don’t do unsniffed anymore, but if I had to risk it on someone else’s dime I’d pick TF Oud Wood.
3) No fragrance gifts, no gifts really. Some home made food items between my brothers family and us. They’re getting home crafted Sour Cherry Vodka. Let the cocktails flow!
I always think of buying one of the Tauer soaps, they seem to be great
Tannina…buy just one Tauer soap before splurging. With my water at home they produce ZERO lather.
Super hard water, I take it?
Sour Cherry Vodka is a great idea!
Sour Cherry Vodka sounds tasty! ?
I made a bunch of flavored vodkas one year as gifts. Cranberry was the favorite, and so pretty! I bet the sour cherry is pretty and tasty, too!
SOTD Bendelirious!
Poll:
To receive:Tom Ford Lost Cherry or Rose Prick.(otherwise I’ll jist buy them myself.lol)
Unsniffed:Olfactive Studio Iris Shot or the ltd edition Liquides Imaginaires Liquide.
Scented candles and patchouli infused ceramic discs I found years ago,and keep buying for myself.I have a friend moving who would adore them for her new cupboards!
Happy Weekend!
XO
*Not paying attention to typos anymore…jUst deal with it,OK?Lol.
XO
I will deal with your typos, but you have to deal with my my punctuation and run on sentences! Lol!
What typos? ?
dealing with it!
If your typos are the worst thing I have to deal with today, then it’s a really good day!
A vote for TF Lost Cherry!!
SOTD: MDCI Fete Persanes. I never did switch over to it yesterday, so extending the CP. Love it.
1. I’m piling on to 50_Roses idea. My dream perfume cabinet will be custom built, refrigerated, and hand-painted by my Mom (think: De Gourney wallpaper).
2. Chanel Le Lion. From everything I’ve heard, it will be right up my alley.
3. A body scrub and reed diffusers for Christmas stockings. Otherwise, it’s a no to fragrance gifts. Too personal and too spendy an item to go wrong on. If I were to go there, I’d do the discover set + gift certificate route. No one who I still give gifts to and would spend that much on likes perfume. So, there you go. More for me!
We’re together on point 2
I love #2, up there on my most loved Chanel’s ever…
That‘s very high praise indeed! Almost makes me want to add it to my whis list of unsniffed
I just looked up this wallpaper! It’s gorgeous. I particularly liked the Chinoiserie collection
Yes, stunning stuff! If you like interiors porn, follow them on Insta. I’m sure the stuff is obscenely expensive and I can’t imagine my house will ever be as glamorous. But, I can admire!
They just came out with a coffee table book, too. Haven’t seen it in person myself yet, but my Mom got it for herself already so I will drool over it at Christmas.
Yes I didn’t even bother searching for price- I can tell it will be out of my price range. But I will follow on Insta for some free beauty
Wearing YSL Cinema today.
I’d probably ask for Chamade perfume. But I won’t. (See below…bought myself some candles)
Can’t think of anything unsniffed. Maybe the new Shalimar flanker.
I just sent some candles from Brooklyn Candle to a kind friend of mine. Their Cassis one and a couple of seasonal travel candles. (I actually got myself a Brooklyn candle as well as a Santorini room sprays…both on sale.)
YSL Cinema is loooooovely
I see no reason why you can’t buy yourself candles AND send a request to Santa!
God, the last perfume gift I had was in 1997. I worked for a bookie, and he had bought his girlfriend a perfume shop. I don’t remember what he gave me, but it was popular at the time and seemed like a Juicy Couture-ish thing. What I remember most is the French pronunciation she insisted on for her mundane name, and that he bragged that she was one of the “top ten girls in. Florida “. I never figured out what that meant, but the work was fun and easy, money was good, and he had good taste in restaurants. We ate out three nights a week.
That’s the kind of boyfriend I want – doesn’t buy me a perfume, but a perfume shop!
That sounds like a fun job!
Love your post. Now I’m wondering what the girlfriend’s name was. Cheri? If it were you posting about the SpecSavers guy – I enjoyed that too!
Her name was Marnie. They said it MarNAY. He had a Super Bowl party for some associates one year, and I worked it with her. Had to explain her you don’t slice Brie, you let it come to room temperature and smear it on stuff with a little round knife. You would think being a Top Ten Girl in Florida she would know that. But anyway, she was nice. I wonder if she knew about her top 10 status?
Thanks for the laugh. “Back when I worked for a bookie…” is a great lead in. You must have some fun stories! (And if you don’t, I will carry on imagining that you do.”
Oh yes. He rigged a hot legs contest for me. I was wearing dumpy sweat pants. My hooter girl contestants weren’t happy about it. But we got the money honey, and they learned that people aren’t always who they seem. A very fun year I had.
That is…awesome.
Parfums de Rosine Majalis
Bucoliques de Provence
Yes, vintage Moustache, Eau des Baux, Fragonard Eau de Hongrie.
I started the day in Fenjal body spray which is a nostalgic scent for me and this evening Calandre keeps me company.
Fenjal bath oil and Badedas are the smells of my childhood Christmas gifts. And Pears soap.
Yes, zo nistalgic, Badedas is or was very popular in France, the country where I grew up.
Oh dear, sorry for the typos *so nostalgic
“zo nistalgic” just sounds like a distinguished accent
This made me laugh!
Bucoliques de Provence is my SOTM!
What a coincidence!
Aurora, if you like the Wrappings EdP, you would like the lotion/body smoother. It is true to the perfume, and the scent lasts! It also does a decent job of moisturizing.
Good to know, thank you, maybe I will indulge in a gift set when I run out of the perfume.
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
None, but I may buy myself something
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
The Shalimar Philtre flanker
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
I am most likely not going to see my family this year, so not many gift buying. For a neighbor that helps me out with the kids one in awhile she loves candles, so I may buy her the Jo Malone that she likes.
LVTSG – how many Shalimars do you have? You are NST’s Shalimar Queen
I have the parfum (but in one of those travel spray not very attractive bottles) and the EdP, lotion.
My favorite of all is the ODV Madagascar.
Did I mention that the BG Guerlain SA said they’re not getting the Philtre ??♀️
thanks for letting me know since I know that BG is having their beauty gift card and I was going to ask again myself.
Its available online on the Guerlain website
There are quite a few FBs on my list of possible future purchases, I’ll select something from that as a gift from my beloved – that’s the best way to receive perfume presents
I’ve got samples on the way from Surrender to Chance and The Perfumed Court, so my list might get yet longer.
Buy unsniffed? I’ve done that once with success, but I don’t want that to go to my head! Lots of people are talking about Le Lion, so that could be tempting, but that remains theoretical only, I have no idea how I’d get hold of it.
I might get some soap for my mother, but otherwise the only perfumed gifts will be from me to me.
In other news, I tried BDK’s Rouge Smoking yesterday. It’s too cherry for me, but if you like cherry, you’ll be well-rewarded – it lasts and lasts and is very hard to wash off!
Rouge Smoking was pure root beer to me, although I didn’t try it on skin. I like a number in the line, but not this one.
Wearing What I did on my holidays today, because I felt I deserved a holiday at the sea…
I would like a BUB of L’ Air de Rien.
Unsniffed I am thinking about getting some 4160Tuesdays Wafts from the Loft or Meet me on the corner, because she has a reduction for members of her FB group.
We don’t do gifts for Christmas at all, and I am the only one into fragrance.
We ordered a dinner at a one star restaurant to take away and finish at home. We had fish with pumpkin and lentils in vinaigrette for starters. Now on to truffle potato thingies and Buffalo with gratin and truffle praline. Dessert will be chocolate with pear and Chai latte dressing and a macaron. And some champagne to wash it down. Delicious!!!
Wow! Your meal sounds incredible. May I come over the next time you order from that restaurant if I bring over several bottles of wine?
Sure, just give us time to order again…
Your meal sounds lovely. I’m not a tasting menu person, so this sounds right up my alley.
That sound absolutely delicious! Jealous ?
Every time you post about L’air de Risn it makes me happy because we have a mutual love for it. I’d also like a back up bottle. I’m watching a few different bottles of it on eBay, so it’s only a matter of time before I spring for one.
Oops, that’s L’air de Rien, of course.
I love Meet Me On The Corner and reviewed it a year ago in a “Scent Sample Sunday” blog post. Haven’t smelled Wafts From The Loft, but it sounds very appealing. I had resisted until today but I finally did place an order for a couple of the 4160 Tuesdays “Hot Pink Friday” deals.
So Santa can bring me Penhaligon’s Cairo.
I”ll go for Turmeric Latte unsniffed…
And not yet sure with regards to gifts…
Was wearing Aramis Tobacco Reserve – I love the green tobacco and black currant together and am thinking of a back up bottle. However…did have to add some sweet gourmand to it this evening to prop up my mood ?
Am very curious about Givenchy live Irresistible Delicieuse. Maybe I should go with that unsniffed. ?
Oh wow. Dominic Ropion making an almond perfume? With rose, vanilla, cherry and iris? Super intrigued!
Turmeric Latte seems like a safe blind buy for a yog nog lover.
I didn’t even see it was by Ropion! A recent favourite is A Sweet Pastry in Paris by Nathalie Lorson and (sold by Zara). Someone reviewing it on Fragrantica claimed it was like the Givenchy except that the Givenchy has cherry in place of lemon. This is what piqued my interest…however, it’s probably weak grounds to go on.
I’m seeing now that although we never got the Turmeric Latte body spray we DID get the bath bomb so I will have to go smell that with the Snowcake soap!
I love this perfume’s namesake city. I had a chance to sniff it too. It’s nice but I would buy the bottle just for the name. Not many fragrances named after Cairo
I have to admit to having no expectations based on the name since I haven’t been there…
I recently saw a review of Cairo. It sounded very good.
From what I remember the Basenotes reviewers did not like it AT ALL. Generally they thought it a very derivative rose and oud with low quality chemicals (if I remember correctly). I smelled it without having any expectations as to notes – I just came across it in a shop and loved the aromatic opening and kept sniffing it through the day. But… it is more than I would happily spend on a single bottle of perfume so I’m hoping it eventually finds its way to the discounters
We don’t give Christmas gifts and I’ve decided no more blind buys.
(Short answer to the poll)
Haven’t worn perfume in a couple of days. I think I mentioned here that I was overworked and in typical fashion, the moment when my leave started, my body just gave out and I ended up in bed for two days with terrible vertigo and nausea. An ENT colleague calls vestibular neuritis “a disease of 40 year old women brought on by stress”.
2020 has been tough all round. The trouble is that I’ve remembered that 2010 was an extremely difficult year for me too and 2011 turned out not much better.
Thank you, Robin, for this calm corner in the midst of all the chaos.
Hey Amyitis.. sending you a big hug ?
I hope you are feeling better and back on your feet soon.
I feel ya.. I really do, about other years that stunk. I keep thinking what will be different when January is here? All I can come up with is spring will be on it’s way, and I hold on to that hope of new beginning. ?
A big hug back! And I’ll wear my only TM sample, Mirroirs de Majeste, just for you. I read your comments and was sorry that you got bad news in the mail again. I don’t always comment, but my heart goes out to you. I hope for a MUCH better 2021 for you!!
Oh no! I am so sorry Amytis. Wake up call to rest now, disconnect and put yourself as a priority. I had a very similar thing from shingles affecting my inner ear and giving me neuralgia 3 years ago (Ramsay Hunt). I wonder if it’s the same spectrum as was also caused by ++ stress and overwork.
Can’t say it better than Cicely so just adding to the general group hug!
I came down with shingles on Valentines this year after ending a long relationship at the end of last year…which is just to say that you are certainly not alone with stress OR physical illness caused by stress. I’m prescribing ginger tea with honey!
Hi Merlin and Cicely
I’m so sorry about your shingles. That is a hundred times worse than what I’m experiencing now. I think we as “modern” humans constantly deal with such a lot intellectually, that we can’t process our feelings properly, unless our bodies call a time out. And, Merlin, shingles on Valentine’s day after a break up says it all. I hope your ex was properly excorcised!
I love the idea of exorcising him ?
I think the vertigo was the worst part of it so definitely not a fun thing to have! Only silver lining is that it passes, I hope you are much better soon. When our work involves looking after others we often feel bad or guilty if we are not 100% ourselves.. that is the one good bit I took from the whole thing, health goes first, work second (though not sure I learnt it as well I should have, I’m doing a little bit better these days). ?
Oh I am so sorry Amyitis. I hope with rest this passes quickly. I think I join you and others with stress-related . . . stuff. For me it’s been constant ear-ringing. For ten days now maybe? I’ve had this happen before and pass, so just trying to wait it out.
At least we know that it is stress related. I’m also just waitng mine out, after taking some drugs for the nausea the first few days. Healing vibes to you!
Sending hugs, Amyitis! ?
I understand you. 2020 has also been a very bad year for me. Let’s hope the new year comes with health, peace and less physical and emotional stress. ?
Hugs to you too! From some of your comments here, I think that your year is worse than mine, but you are very courageous and don’t complain. I really admire you for that. But please get a load off here if you need to!
Adding more good wishes Amyitis!! Hope you are better soon, and that you can avoid being that overworked again.
I just want to send you hugs and healing vibes.
Sending healing vibes!
It’s no fun to be ill during your break, sending hugs.
Hope that you are feeling better soon. Hugs.
Thank you for everybody’s well wishes and sorry for being a such a baby!
I think it’s our insistence on being strong and on NOT being ‘babies’ that gets us into trouble in the first place ??♀️
That’s so right.
I’m sending you good healing wishes and echo Merlin. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being honest and vulnerable inside a safe space like this. Hugs to you.
That sounds like what I’ve been having, never heard of vestibular neuritis. I’m definitely stressed, like most everyone else this year. Sending commiserating hugs.
Hope you feel much better soon! Isn’t it just like our bodies to come back and bite us the moment we have a bit of breathing space.
Gosh, I’m so sorry to hear this! I have occasionally had serious vertigo attacks with the accompanying nausea, and I just wanted to pass out until they ended. Which I accomplished by taking Benadryl, since it knocks me out as well as helping with my variant of vertigo, which seems to be allergy-related. I hope you feel better soon!
Vertigo is awful – I recently, on a drive to Yosemite, turned my head quickly to one side and boom – incredible nausea, luckily only for an hour or so. Good luck to you and hope you’ll have a proper break soon!
Yesterday I wore my latest purchase that’s arrived, Frassai Tian Di. It becomes soft pretty fast, but remains lovely.
Today is the last of a sample, with a full bottle on the way. BDK Jasmin Wood. It really isn’t jasmine at all, which is probably why I like it. More stone fruit and just a touch of something funky. I love it, even though it is sweeter than I usually go for.
All of which is to say, I am getting plenty of early Christmas presents for myself. Since March, perfume, scarves (one sweater, many scarves=changing Zoom outfits), and books have been my luxury expenditures (I don’t actually count books as luxury, so aside from food and necessities, my only expenditures!).
After a lull in finding things I loved, I currently have a pretty good size wishlist though still. So to the poll:
1) Maybe Maison d’Etto Karat. I own and love Durban Jane and also really like one other. Karat is rose and not wildly innovative, but lovely. Or else a full bottle of either Violet Shot or Iris Shot. Hmmm. Decisions. Imaginary as they may be.
2) Unsniffed and paid for by someone else? Amouage Meander perhaps.
3) Some Molton Brown hand wash for mother-in-law who appreciates them and would never spend the money. Otherwise, fragrances are lost on most of those for whom I buy gifts. Thought of switching to the Byredo hand washes because I am loving them and finding them a little easier on my skin, but they don’t come in a lovely gift box of three!
I don’t count books as luxury either Amy. Fiction reading has been a real mental haven for me this year
Oooh, do tell more about the Byredo hand wash! Which ones do you like?
I like both that I have tried a lot – rose and vetyver (as I think they spell it). Lovely scents without being too strong and without the something that is in a lot of the Byredo perfumes that doesn’t work for me. But also the hand wash is very soft, smooth, and softening. Really lovely texture.
I also have that feeling with the Byredos.. none of them ever enticed me.
Thanks!
I bought the Rose & Suede. Really nice stuff.
Good to know. Thanks!
Joining some others in wishing for Chanel le Lion.
No gifting except to my sisters two granddaughters/something she and I usually split. And this year, so many people need food on their tables, medical care, rent relief so gifts of charity are needed.
Tiger by her Side is SOTD.
Charity presents seem like a better idea this year, for people who can afford them. I know our local food bank is really struggling.
1) Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. Full bottle, travel spray, whatever.
2) There was a fragrance at my local Banana Republic, simply called Classic, and Classic Citrus. I never got the chance to try any of them on me before covid took away all the testers everywhere. That is what I would pick. BR fragrances usually agree with me pretty well. I enjoyed Jade while I had it and am waiting to break in Linen Vetiver.
3) No scented things. A cat print drying rack mat and a little figurine of a glasses-wearing cat reading a book, for mom.
SOTD: Pan, from Anya’s lovely Garden. Nice little romp.
I used to wear Classic. It’s very clean, in a crisp white shirt way. Comfortable yet put together. I’ve spotted it recently at tj maxx.
I would love a bottle of Imperiale Poudre if Santa is listening
Unsniffed I would ask for Orange Star. Persolaise’s review of it created a lemming. Or maybe the Esprit d’ete Theorema since I love the original
For gifts I would give a set of mini Molton Brown shower gels
Oh, don’t buy orange star unsniffed. It sounded great, but I did not like it at all. Smelled like orange cleaning stuff to my nose
Oh no! Good to know
I second Tannina – I would say this is the opposite of a safe blind buy!
Yikes I definitely won’t now
Having said that, if Andy ships to the US for his samples, his samples in the box presentation are really cute! One year when I ordered, he threw in a whole extra set for me.
I absolutely adored Orange Star until a friend said it smelled like a cleaning product and I couldn’t UNsmell that…
Was it me? Haha! I really cannot stand Orange Star, the only Tauer I dislike. Horrid!
Ugh. It’s off my list
No, it wasn’t you ? I still like it – it’s just unfortunate that it smells like the most perfect Christmassy gourmand orange AND (somehow) a cleaning product!
It might be culture specific – where if you grow up in one country/region, there is an iconic toilet bowl cleaner with the same smell as someone else’s favorite scent…
I don’t like it either but the worst was Carillon Poir Un Ange – rotting garbage ?
1. Tauer’s LAdDM or Le Maroc pour Elle. Nice to dream, isn’t it?
2. Maybe some samples from DSH?
3. No scented things at all this year. We don’t exchange gifts with family members. It’s questionable if we will be exchanging Christmas gifts with friends. I still haven’t given last year’s goodies to one friend of ours, thanks to life in the time of CV-19.
SOTD = back in Wrappings again today.
I know all about last year’s gift fail, but since I generally gift stuff I myself would use, they’re mine now ?
If the gift-giving Force is with me this year, I can double up the 2019 and 2020 goodies for this person. They were amenable to the idea, or at least didn’t shoot it down outright.
I’m so happy that you got Wrappings and are enjoying it!
I don’t really do unsniffed purchases anymore but would like to give Coco Mademoiselle Intense a go, if I had to go with the unsniffed route. If I were to get a perfume as a gift, I would love a bottle of Cormandel.
I don’t gift perfumes to people, too much can go wrong there. Gifts are going to be on the small side this year, but that’s ok. Gift giving is overrated in so many ways.
SOTD is PHI Une rose de Kandahar today.
If I end up going to BG on Monday I will sniff coco mll intense for you.
SOTD = St. Clair Scents Seeking Balance
I got a freebie sample from a previous purchase and decided to wear it today. A travel bottle is now on its way chez moi.
No perfume pic post but here’s a #caturday post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIJAnhbhHfT/?igshid=68qstkp37urj
On to the poll:
1) Perfumed gift to receive – maybe I should stop buying
2) Unsniffed gift – maybe that new one by Masque Milano
3) I am giving my nieces the trio of Bruno Fazzolari soaps plus $s. No Friendsgiving this year and quite honestly, maybe never going forward. Nothing wrong with it, but as others have mentioned, there are so many in need I am better off just donating $s for the amount I would have spent on gifts.
Also, if your company does it, we have Giving Tuesday on December 1st, with a double match up to a $1,000 donation (so a total of $3,000). I always remind one of my former colleagues ?.
ZOMG, your Caturday picture is too adorable! ?
Thank you. I tried to look for the unusual but it seems like other people had the same thought!
What a beautiful ornament!
Thank you. Looks very classic.
How do you like that new St Clair scent? Those are always worth trying.
I got a sample previously and it was called “ Finding Balance”. I think Seeking Balance is a more appropriate name. It is incensey / resinous and as with many of Ms. St. Clair’s perfumes, I cannot tease out what’s in except if it is super-prominent.
Love the kitty ornament! I really need to stop buying. The last two years have been over the top.
Ha! And you were on a low buy ?…
Yeah, that didn’t quite work out…
Nice ornament!
Thank you!
Fragrance gift I’d most like to receive this year: I’ve been wanting Parfumerie Generale’s Indochine for a long time..
One unsniffed fragrance this year: Well, if someone else is paying for it.. maybe the new Hermessences Cuir d’Ange?
Giving any fragrance items for gifts this year? Nah, my family is not into fragrances so I can’t buy them gifts I secretly want XD
Indochine is gorgeous.
1. I have a long wishlist of discontinued perfumes but for something still available I would like Cristalle edp or Atelier Santal Carmin. I’ve had decants, and miss them both.
2. Unsniffed- I would probably have to go with Black Orchid Parfum or Lost Cherry or Bitter Peach. I am curious about the new Kerosene too.
3. If I find a perfume math free deal, I might pick up something for my son or daughter.
Sotd was Tobacco Vanille. I smelled great! ?
I had the TF Tobacco Vanille body spray,and I must say it was definitely potent!The actual perfume turned sour on my skin,so bodyspray it was!
I had wondered about the body sprays. My skin turns some perfume sour too, it’s so irritating. I think it has something to do with my overall cranky disposition, lol.
You are too funny!
Thank you!?
1. SL Iris Silver Mist, just because I am on an Iris kick this year and I just have to have it. I hope I won’t be disappointed.
2. Iris Silver Mist, because of what I said earlier. I can’t try it anywhere so full bottle it is.
3. No perfume gifts.
I haven’t posted here in a good while. My sense of smell is on a good track after losing it two weeks ago because of covid. Still haven’t worn a perfume yet, only train my nose with essential oils. And I still can’t taste food properly.
The good part is that my 4 year old has become interested all of a sudden by perfume and we agreed I’ll spritz his hands with 2 perfumes he chooses every day. He really likes the process of choosing the 2 perfumes. But yesterday he chose Iris Nazarena and said he does not like it; oh my heart is broken ?
Is there a particular way in which you need to retrain your nose after covid-induced anosmia? I would have thought it just gradually returned? Glad you are well on your way to recovery!
It gradually returns, but I did olfactory training from the 3th day: smelling twice a day 4 essential oils, each for 30 seconds. In the first days I couldn’t smell any EO or perfume. Rien Intense Incense, POAL, Dior Homme Intense or anything else had no smell to me. I started to get a bit of smell from EO on the 6th day and now I can smell any perfume, but not the whole palette. Still waiting to fully recover.
I think it must be quite scary to smell something you previously found strong and to suddenly get NADA
I’m pretty sure there are many molecules I am anosmic to – and I also go noseblind fairly quickly. Have considered trying to systematically improve my sense of smell by way of some training program but never actually got round to it!
Yes, it’s a bit scary. The whole virus thing is scary because of the media influence. I had to keep myself not falling apart when I realized I had it.
Hi Sebastian, good to see you here! That’s pretty smart thinking about retraining your nose. I hope you have a full recovery soon.
Thanks, hope so too!
The first time I smelled Iris Nazarena I disliked it. But I kelt the sample and tried it periodically and fell in love, just in time for it to be discontinued. Wish I’d fallen in love sooner…
Glas to hear your sense of smell is recovering and that you have a cute new ritual with your son!
Yes, I like sharing this hobby with him. I loved Iris Nazarena from the start, it just takes my breath away how beautiful it is! I just wish it lasted a bit longer than 3-4 hours.
I hope you get your full sense of smell and taste back soon! A friend of mine here is also mostly recovered from Covid except for the smell/taste part.
I hope so too and full recovery for your friend as well!
So glad it was only 2 weeks Sebastian, sounds like some people are going much longer! Was that your main symptom, smell/taste?
A bit of throat pain, then smell and taste gone, head and sinuses pain and just overall tiredness for about 4 days, then bone/joint pain for 2 says then I got better. Overall I was pretty good considering what the media is saying about the desease. The danger is probably only with people who already have major health problems. My wife had the first two days of fever before smell/taste was gone. She lost the smell on a Friday and me the next Monday. Besides the fever, we felt almost the same things.
6 days is not bad at all…hope you both continue to be well Sebastian!
Ciao a tutti
SOTD is Shalimar
People are gonna say we both have only two perfumes in our cupboards,yours is Coco and Shalimar and I have Bendelirious and West Indian Lime Cologne(SOTD by the way!)Haha!
XO
That is very true
I don’t mind ?
Gorgeous sunny Sunday afternoon.It’s a perfect 26 celcius,sun is out,a couple of scattered clouds dotting the blue sky,birds are singing!
Everything is lush and green after days and nights of wonderful rain.I love it.
West Indian Lime Cologne for a day at the farmers’ market and running some errands.Tanning my toes now on the balcony.
Happy Sunday Goodsmellies!
XO
The sun is shining on both of us today ?
Wonderful news!??
Jealous of your tanning
It turned out to be a flip-flop lines tan…haha!
SERIOUSLY. I did sit in the sun on the front porch this morning for a bit, but tanning the toes…no, it’s just not warm enough for bare feet.
I’m wearing Resonance by Provision Scents today. Man, this is good stuff. It’s like a woody incense and it’s just so grounding and comforting.
I hope everyone has a great, relaxing Sunday.
I like this one too
Did you see that she’s selling tester bottles of all three scents for $75 each? Brand new bottles, just no boxes.
Ooh tempting
I dropped some very not-subtle hints to my husband!
Spending my Sunday preparing to return to work, but this is a fun poll!
Perfume gift? Probably something that’s been on my list a long while, like Chanel Cristalle or Diptyque l’eau.
Unsniffed? Iris Shot or No 19 Poudre. Clearly, I have a comfort zone.
Gifts for others: just Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt hand and body creme for my son’s preschool teacher. He thinks she wants on water, so I wanted to do something that might be a bit of a treat for her.
I’m wearing Ormonde Man on one arm and Amber Royal on the other.
Plus, preschool teachers are heroes, just in general.
I just went to ULTA to pick up a Colorpop eyeshadow gift set for my daughter. I sprayed Givenchy L’interdit Intense again. I am adding it to my wishlist. It’s a very nice tuberose. I can smell some ambroxan, but not enough to bother me. I only did one spray on the back of my hand, so I will pick something else for work tonight. Maybe Poison.
What did you end up wearing?
Poison!
I would love to get Zoologist Musk Deer as a gift. But the only likely giver would be moi.
Unsniffed? Any of those new ones by Amouage.
Fragrant gifts? I already gave my dear neighbor two small scented candles by Nest, Sicilian Tangerine and Holiday. She will be leaving town for December as they go to their other house for the holiday. I will probably give another good friend some fancy Shea butter soaps. That’s about it for my buying except a few nice items for Mom.
I somehow started cutting my hair again last night and this one is a very botched job that may necessitate hat-wearing for a month. I don’t know what I was thinking—or drinking!
Last weekend there were a lot of adorable kittens at the local Petsmart. I’m facing danger by going back this afternoon!
Calypso, I am sorry about your hair! I need another haircut, but having my husband cut my hair is enough to make me wait a few more weeks, ha.
My parents called me and placed specific orders for holiday gifts, so I in turn sent my request for Teone Reinthal Blue Lotus. Order confirmation has been received.
Requested a sample of the new Les Indémodables Havana Vanilla thing Persolaise raved about.
Blind buy, I’ll take either the new Francesca Bianchi Tyger Tyger or take a rain check for the new Papillon spring release, about which I know nothing.
No fragrance gifts being offered this year.
Today I’m pulling out one of my old Mona di Orios, Jabu.
Ahh, you smell great. I wish I’d had the income to allow me to stock up on those original MdO perfumes 10 years ago. The only one I have in full bottle is Lux, but I still have good sized decants of Jabu, Nuit Noir, and Carnation and smaller decants of Oiro and Amyitis.
I’m with you on anticipating the new Papillon and FB’s Tyger Tyger. I still haven’t tried Sticky Fingers, and at this point, I’ll wait to order a sample until Indigo gets Tyger Tyger so I can try them both at once.
1. I’m stealing from 50_Roses like a few others and asking for the perfect perfume storage/cabinet. I haven’t had a good setup to store or display perfumes since I moved to Seattle almost 8 years ago. Back in Ohio, we last lived in a two bedroom house, and I’d figured out how to display and store my perfumes. In Seattle, housing is much more expensive, so I’ve still not tackled the issue of perfume storage in either of the one bedroom apartments we’ve lived in. Doesn’t help that my collection only keeps growing…
2. I’ve been really interested in DSH Muresque, but I’ve talked myself out of blind buying a 60ml bottle (the only size offered, other than a parfum concentration. Nothing wrong with getting it as an unsniffed gift though.
3. Not doing much gifting, and no scented gifts. I do still want to buy a bottle of Baume du Doge for my boyfriend, but not for this Christmas. We decided not to exchange gifts but instead buy ourselves something nice, like some good cookware or something else practical.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being overwhelmed by all the sales this weekend. I really wish that every company didn’t feel like they had to participate in the same sale weekend. I wish the sales were more spread out, so I would be better able to budget for the things I want. I guess that’s why people use credit cards, ha.
No SOTD yet, but I can smell remnants of last night’s Smell Bent Hungry Hungry Hippies, which they describe as pot brownies. It’s one of my faves for chocolate and patchouli, and certainly, one of the best values for that combination. Smell Bent had 40% off their entire website on Friday, so I bought another travel spray of it along with a couple others plus a full bottle of Elf-Fulfilling Prophecy. I’m hoping to do a split of that, which I’ll post about sometime this week.
Sale emails still vicious today on Monday!
SOTD = Outremer Paris Vanille EDT
Cheap cheap cheap thrill. It’s all about the vanilla! Under $20 and a perfect add in to your cart if you are trying to make a minimum purchase to leverage a discount code or a gift with purchase.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CILyCpFBat5/?igshid=1x4kcthfzmdak
Having read others’ wishes, I would like a perfume house and a way to make new release atomizer samples appear with the snap of a finger (one sample per snap – I’m not greedy).
The mice are my favorite, lol?
They are cute!
1. No surprise here, I’d love a bottle of Winter Palace. But my one gift is probably going to be the fee for an art class that starts in January (costs less than a FB of WP, even factoring in the purchase of some paints and brushes), and that will be just fine.
2. Unsniffed either Mitsouko or Lancôme Climat (Klimat). I bought both L’Heure Bleue and Shalimar unsniffed and — although it took a while to warm up to L’HB — love them both. Climat just ‘cause it’s such an iconic scent in Russia and I am curious about it.
3. No fragrance gifts here, though did get a set of Voluspa mini candles in the Sephora sale — normally I’d use them for hostess gifts (with something else — they are tiny) or table favors. Let’s hope that will be the case again soon.
And thank you all so much for your compassion last week when I shared the news of the death of my husband’s friend. He’s been able to talk to some of the family members and it helps a lot.
So glad your husband is doing ok…
Wished-for fragrance gift: no remaining wishes, as I’ve ordered my own for my lovely husband to give me! 100 ml bottle of 4160 Tuesdays’ White Queen, on sale this weekend at their website.
Unsniffed gift? Maybe something from Jean Patou, since all its fragrances are now discontinued. I can’t believe the legendary Joy really has been supplanted by the uninspired “Dior Joy” and is now discontinued. I have the EDT just as a reference, Joy isn’t really “me”, but it feels like some kind of cultural vandalism to just end it completely.
Fragrance gifts to others: I plan to give some of the Byredo/IKEA scented candles to my daughters who love candles; and a new cologne to my son, maybe Memoire d’Une Odeur if he tries it and likes it. I’m also thinking of letting the kids rummage through a curated selection of fragrances and choose some themselves. That would be fun for me, and I hope for them! My husband is still working his way through some scents I got him in the last year or so, including the EDT I made for him at a perfume workshop in Nice almost two years ago. I can’t wait until it’s safe to travel again!
SOTD: I’m wearing a patchwork of scents right now, lol, because I re-sampled some from my 4160 Tuesdays collection to see what I might like to re-order (went ahead with White Queen and Scenthusiasm, both of which I love, but decided against Le Jardin de Monsieur MacGregor, though I do like it).
That’s a wonderful idea – letting the kids have a go at choosing their own scent from your stash! Share the love.
Le Jardin de Monsieur MacGregor is an adorable perfume name. Love it.
I ordered White Queen as well. :-). Do you smell the cucumber in Scenthusiasm? I decided not to blind buy it because I hate cucumber, but I do love the smell of gin.
No SOTD yet, headache is lurking and I need to decide what I can handle – but my shirt still smells of CDG Sequoia, which I quite like even though it should perhaps be called Fir or Pine instead.
I have a long list of fragrances that I’d like and stuck it to the fridge, just in case the family takes note. Memo Winter Palace is on there, as well as Hiram Green Slowdive, plus of course Nuit a Doha (of which I still have a good sized decant, though).
Unsniffed? Immortelle Corse by Parfum d’Empire.
Fragrant gifts: Daughters will get candles, one wants a another perfume, I’m considering Stella but open to other budgety options if anyone has a good suggestion! She owns and loves Coco Mademoiselle, Stash Unspoken, La Petite Robe Noir Black Perfecto Eau Florale, and Lush Sun, among others.
Will be buying more candles today to have as “just in case” gifts.
Hope everyone has a fun Sunday!
Sequoia is a good one! I sampled it, along with a bunch of others from CdG and found them very appealing.
Black Perfecto Eau Florale sounds so pretty, your daughter must enjoy it. I just looked up the notes again. Someone here already mentioned that it’s almost perfumath free online, so very tempting.
I actually bought it as “Black Perfecto” on Fragrancenet, but this works out pretty well for her, even though I was a little miffed at the time.
SotD = Le Voluttuose Notturno Fiorentino by Bois 1920
From a prettily bottled decant, courtesy of a generous and fabulous NST perfumista.
I love this one very much – fragrantica calls it a floral woody musk, but thankfuly it’s not too musky to my nose, more woods and vanilla. Up top it’s powdery florals with impressive radiance.
I hunted through past NST Santa polls and found I haven’t responded since 2017 when I wished for my perfume mojo to come back. It did.
For 2020
most desired: CdG Avignon or Dyptique Tam Dao
unsniffed wish: Byredo Blanche or Chanel 1957
smelly gifts: none at all
We don’t really do gifts in my circle of family and friends. We’re all to the point in life where there is already enough stuff, mostly we want time together making memories.
Both Blanche and 1957 are mentioned here:
https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Best-in-Show-Minimalist-Perfumes-2020–13673.html
It was an interesting article.
I know we have similar perfume tastes so I thought I’d give you my impressions of your unsniffed wishes.
I really like Blanche. I thought it was light and just the right kind of clean musk. Funnily enough, my husband hated it and asked me to never wear it around him again, so I never progressed beyond my initial sample.
1957 is really nice – it’s elegant but not fussy. I want to investigate it again the next time I run into a tester. (So, 2022?). I wasn’t sure about the top notes but the sry down was amazing.
Floral woody musk is one of my favourite categories. You smell lovely.
I would like Chanel No. 19 body cream. I will give scented soaps, lotions, and maybe some candles, but I might slip in some of my own decants. I keep hoping a relative or two will fall down the rabbit hole with me! I think I might get La Myrrhe unsniffed, after watching Victoria’s video review on Bois de Jasmin. My lemming was very alert when the video ended. Here is what my lemming and I look like when shopping for perfume, more or less:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/02/My_Neighbor_Totoro_-_Tonari_no_Totoro_%28Movie_Poster%29.jpg/220px-My_Neighbor_Totoro_-_Tonari_no_Totoro_%28Movie_Poster%29.jpg
(Picture from Wikipedia article on My Neighbor Totoro.)
so cute! Totoro is one of my favorites from Studio Ghibli.
My homescreen wallpaper is the cherry blossom tree from The Tale of Princess Kaguya.