Happy Friday! It's also World Arabic Language Day and International Migrants Day, plus Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. And a few birthdays: Paul Klee, Fletcher Henderson, Ossie Davis, Jacques Pépin. Our community project for today: we're doing Best of 2020...wear one of your favorite fragrance releases of 2020.
I got nothing for the community project: I paid pretty much zero attention to new releases this year. I'm wearing a new release though, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Sweet Pine Tar.
Reminder: 12/25 is Christmas. We will not have a community project, but there will be a holiday open thread (it will probably start on the 23rd or 24th).
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2020, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Pine Cone... [rotated & cropped] by Dave Photography... at flickr; some rights reserved.
I also didn’t pay much attention to new releases. The only one I added to my collection is the Remix Cologne 2020 by 4711 which focuses on lemon. I really enjoy this collection especially the orange one.
Not very seasonal though.
yes to 4711! Colognes make me happy all year round. 🙂
Yes! I also really like their Acqua Colonia range. Nutmeg and Lime is my favourite so far.
My pick has to be Muresque. It makes me feel like a cat on catnip. Love it
Oh, now that sounds wonderful!
It really is. It’s a big blackberry wine chypre.
Oh. And with those words, a lemming was born..
The sentence that launched a thousand lemmings!
It’s one of the limited edition Heirloom Elixirs but it’s still available on the DSH site
My sample order has been placed! For this and a few other DSH things mentioned recently. I still can’t stand her website, but I finally managed to slog through.
Twins in Muresque. I love it!
Triplets in Muresque!
Started my day with a 6am work meeting and a good dose of Hiram Green Vivacious.
Post shower I sprayed lavishly in Gallivant Bukhara. Smelling great and double points for the community project.
Heading to the post office in a while to send my last of the Christmas cards. I finally finished my decoration last night and now I am ready for the holidays! ??
Happy Friday!
Is Bukhara fabulous PL67? It’s the one I’ve not got to try yet.
Portia x
Portia, I think Bukhara is a beautiful iris scent with a great touch of peach and very light leather. The opening is all about orris. I find it fresh, playful and very easy to wear. It has great longevity and decent sillage. I love it and I think is worthy to try it.
This sounds lovely. Thanks for the mini review.
OOOOH! YUM!
It’s hard for me to imagine that there are scents you haven’t gotten to try yet, Portia 🙂
It would probably be good for me to start my Christmas cards. . .
It took me forever, but I am relieved that I am finally done!
Hooray for finishing your cards!
??
We’re twins, one day apart. You smell divine!
Thank you! ?
How did you find time to do Christmas cards? I just unearthed ours, but haven’t started. One year I sent them out for Valentine’s Day. Procrastinators unite!
I spent half hour every day after I finished working. I had to take it seriously, otherwise I would have never done it.
Wow. A 6am meeting is rather uncivilized! 😯
Abusive, I would say!
Oh, I forgot I had a sample of Vivacious!
The day is not over yet! ?
Big YAY for getting your Christmas cards out today, and an equally big BOO-HISS for the 6am meeting. That’s sadistic.
It is! I am glad the week is over!
Third day sampling, Bengale Rouge. Very well done but too much vanilla for me…It does linger the whole day though.
Have a nice weekend everyone and stay safe!
You smell great. Somehow, I don’t get as much vanilla as you and some others here. I sometimes add a shot of vanilla to amp it up!
Oooh, I’ll bet it would play well with Eau Duelle!
I am dreaming about Korrigan from Lubin… And about to buy it or ask my family to get it for me…
Also, bingeing on a new German Netflix twist of the Susskind book Perfume: fascinating stuff!
I’ve tried a sample of Korrigan and likewise!!!!
I read that ages ago, long before I fell down the rabbit hole. Thanks for the reminder! I should revisit the book and check out the show, too.
MissGoldsmith, Turin has a review of the original movie – he was especially invited to see it – and it’s very very funny! Apparently he went with some insider to the perfume industry (maybe someone in marketing) and when everyone (onscreen) goes into a frenzy at the end this guy turns to him and whispers something hyperbolic about THE POWER OF SCENT! 😀
Oh, too funny. I will definitely check out the review.
It’s always funny watching things that cover subject matter where you’re more expert than the average joe, and you see what ridiculous liberties have been taken. Not really the point you were making, but your comment made me think of it.
MissGoldsmith I think that probably IS the point 😀
Korrigan is both lovely and very strange. I doused myself in it while reading Gamain’s American Gods and I think it will always be tied to my memory of the book!
Oh, I need to watch this series! And I loved the book.
I liked the series but thought the book was better… Not always the case though!
According to my calendar, it is also Bake Cookies Day, and National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is Sunday.. I don’t have any ugly Christmas sweaters in any case but cookies sound good. In Violet Ambrosia again today. Really liking this one.
Hurray for the Violet Ambrosia love!
daysoftheyear.com says it is today, but if there is a final word on all these silly / unofficial holidays I do not know what it is!
I don’t know either. I have a wall calendar (it’s called “Every Day’s a Holiday”) that has some sort of holiday indicated for every day of the year. It says the sweater day is Sunday, but they could have gotten it wrong. It is pretty fun, though, to see all the silly holidays.
Oh that is cute!
Back in October Undina, Hajusuuri and Lucas hosted a giveaway on Instagram for the new Puredistance Rubikona. They were not advertising or compensated in any way. Undina had extra samples she genenerously shared. I won one of the samples and was thrilled! I am wearing the beautiful Rubikona today and it is a creamy, beautifully balanced floral. Masterfully composed by Cecile Zarokian it is a seamless wonder from the bright citrus opening, creamy floral heart, and patchouli, cedar wood and vanilla base. Perfect for the season and quite sumptuous.
Also, released in 2020 for the CP.
Winning is always so fun!
oooooh, Rubikona sounds divine. Another lemming is born, hopefully this one is short lived. 😉
You smell nice!
Chanel Le Lion. Wondering how many twins I’ll have today.
Headed to the post office to mail a big box of goodies to my son in utah. This Christmas is the first year we won’t all be together as a family. It’s going to feel strange….but this whole year has been strange. Trying to stay focused on all that I’m fortunate for.
Damnit! I should have gone with Le Lion!
Dang! Nothing wrong with wearing more than one perfume in a day though!
He’s going to love that box of goodies! Big hugs to you in this strange holiday season.
Thanks sistine, hugs back. It’s really been a strange year hasn’t it?
In so many ways …
Twins! Day 6 le Lion.
Woot woot! You are on a Lion roll!
Roar!
?
??♀️
You smell lovely, twin!
Thanks twin! Right back atcha!
This is the first year that my son won’t be with us for Christmas, too.
I sewed up some small stockings, filled them with candy, pens, pencils, and trinkets and sent them off to my son and daughter-in-law. I stitched the tops shut, so no peeking!
Hopefully, they will bring a smile on Christmas morning!!
We will miss them.
Aww, that’s so sweet. I’m sure they will love it.☺️
twinning is winning! we smell great 🙂
Care packages are another big win, you’re a wonderful mama.
I spent a number of Decembers of my youth in Utah. It can be a nice place for the holidays.
Twinning IS winning! I hope to get out there to see him…somtime.
Twins! You must report your twin headcount at the end of the day. ?
5…I think…? We smell great!
How did you get the surfboard to fit in the box?
( crossing my fingers you get the joke? )
Lol. I got the joke?? but Johnny won’t be getting a surfboard this year. Thanks for making me laugh in the middle of my paper writing day.
Oh good, I made you laugh!
I love the Point Break joke!
Yay!
One of my dear friends from college is going thru the same thing this year, with his family being in different places during the holidays.
Yeah, I think a lot of people are. It stinks, kind of like this whole year. Next year has to be better!
Happy Friday! Wearing a favorite scent for the holidays, Fille en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens. I’ve paid zero attention to new releases this year..
Not walking until later, I have to run errands, thankfully, not to the PO. The lines at my PO are around the block, I’m glad to avoid that!
Everyone have a lovely day!
This is perfect for winter and you smell great!
You smell Christmassy today! ??
I have not really smelled a lot of new things this year because 1) I didn’t get to travel and 2) life is too short to be perpetually disappointed. I did get a the two new Lush solid releases but they’re just a bit of fun, not really something that would end up on anyone’s best-of list.
So I’m wearing SL Rahät Loukoum, no particular reason, just because I really like it. Sugared roses and vanilla baby powder: can’t go wrong with that.
I love that scent. Sugared roses and vanilla baby powder is so comforting.
And btw post-shower I put on the last of a sample of 5 O’Clock Au Gingembre and even though it is unmistakably Lutens, it just isn’t me, for no reason I could pinpoint. It’s just kind of there. If I had a bottle, I’d wear it, because Lutens, but I don’t find it particularly interesting.
I found it puzzling too, in it’s “just kind of there”-ness. I do know a lot of people liked it.
Another Rahat lover ❤️ here.
YAY! I’m glad to have a couple of the 2020 releases. Amouage Interlude Black Iris is my choice tonight. All the 21st century niche woods and a kick of iris with a softer helping of spice/incense/amber than the original on me. Very wearable though not eye rollingly gorgeous.
Portia xx
I’m thinking I have a small decant of this but it’s probably under a pile of other decants. I bet you smell good.
Hey Hajusuuri,
HA! The old crouching sample, hidden decant problem.
Yeah, it does smell good. Unusually for modern perfumes I like the heart much better than the opening. Less screaming banshee and more laid back blues musician.
Portia xx
*crouching sample, hidden decant* that’s funny – love it!
YAY!
I loved the original Amouage Interlude, so was quite intrigued when I heard about this flanker.
It’s the same idea but less strident and a beautiful hit of iris that calms the whole extravaganza Jalapeño. X
Today is my last day of work before my holidays start, woohoo! I’ll probably have to work a bit next week, but I plan to do as little as possible.
Not CP-compliant today but I smell truly gorgeous in Venenum.
Happy almost-holidays!
Have a good Christmas holiday. It was my last work day too today
Thank you, tannina! Have a great rest of your year 🙂
Last day of work twin!
Woohoo! *high five*
Enjoy your time off. I am working 2 days each next and the following week; however, we’re on call anyway but like you, I will try not to do “too much” on my days off.
Thank you! Yuck to being on call and I hope you won’t have to do much!
YAY for holidays. Love the L’Artisan Venenum or do you have the Ex Nihilo?
Portia xx
Oops, I didn’t remember there was also an Ex Nihilo one! Mine’s l’AP—warm and delicious!
SOTD = Scents of Wood Plum in Cognac
Best of 2020:
✅ 2020
✅ Perfume
✅ Bottle
Triple points for me!
I may have mentioned my obsession with this perfume sometime in the past. And the bottle, the BOTTLE, exceeded my expectations.
The perfume is woody, boozy, incensy amber with a good dose of benzoin and vanilla ?❣️
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI8X-tWh8iW/?igshid=1rp2r69o2po08
In other news, I wish people would stop avoiding me just because they are unable to complete what they are supposed to in a timely manner. The work will not go away!
On a nicer note, I have a few confessions to make when I start wearing or trying my new smelly purchases ??.
You have the most delicious-sounding scents this winter!
Thanks Koyel…maybe I’m turned off by weird sounding perfumes ?
Wow, that’s a gorgeous bottle and it sounds like a beautiful scent.
I now have 7 x 10 mLs from Scents of Wood. I would be happy to send you 2mLs of each. You can click on my username to get my email address!
Thank you so much! I’m sending an email now.
That bottle does look great! I remember you posting about this perfume and the box.
Your post about people avoiding you reminded me how over the summer, all the students in a project we were doing started dreading my feedback on their written stuff – but it’s not going to improve if you don’t put the work in it! But I was naive enough to think they’d want all that feedback. 🙂
It looks even better in person! You are correct that I posted about the big box that initially came with the subscription. He should change the pricing model though for the next subscription cycle and perhaps change the frequency to 6x a year instead of once a month.
Love that bottle,it reminds me of the Cacharel Nemo one!
It sure does. And I commented on a post from @weloroowa’s December 1st post that there’s a similarity between the Christian Lacroix C’est La Vie and the Scents of Wood bottle!
That IS a stunner of a bottle. How did you discover this brand?
Through Instagram. I was curious about beautiful picture re-posts from the Scents of Wood account (and I’m not even sure how that name even came to my attention). I noticed that he was in the process of developing a brand and a line of perfumes. He was also fundraising and I wanted to see if I can get in on the campaign which I thought was along the lines of a Kickstarter but no, he was looking for serious $$$$.
Amazing bottle! It sounds great too!
Thanks. I predict I will buy at least one more but we’ll have to see if another perfume moves me.
Don’t know this brand but the scent sounds wonderful!
It seems to only be promoted on Instagram!
I saw one review of it on YouTube, but forget by whom. It was for the subscription box.
That is definitely a singular-looking perfume bottle! I can’t think of anything remotely similar.
See above exchange with johanob. It also looks like the heart bottles which are too creepy for me to even co template owning.
Yes, that’s what I thought of when I saw your bottle (that it is less graphic/anatomical and prettier than those other ones).
I finally found that I have a 2020 new release and wore 4160Tuesdays Meet Me On The Corner today for the frist time. It’s a nice orangey and slightly powery scent with a hint of sweetness and a more summery feeling. Sadly my skin just eats it up and I had to reapply during the day. I think I will wear this often in warmer weather and use it with a heavy hand.
I am on holidays for next week, so we will do some walks and cooking. Christmas will be just the two of us, we have canceled all visits to our elderly family members. Hope to see them next year.
YAY!!!! I forgot about Meet Me On the Corner! That is a beautiful scent, and is actually under our Christmas tree for my oldest daughter….she loved it even more than me!
Oh, that sounds like something I should try. Is it anything like Eau Claire Merveilles?
I don’t know eau Claire, so I cannot compare them
No worries, thanks!
Inner lemming begins to run excited circles in cage. I got a random sample of Meet Me On The Corner this week with a LuckyScent order. (I got those NST lemming-feature Diptyque Christmas candles, BTW). I will check it out. I own and love Babylon Sunset (formerly Says Alice) by 4160 Tuesday. Lemming is running and hopping because MMOTC is a 2020 release – so at least I’ve got a few to talk about.
Those candles looked so cute! But I have never gotten into the candle habit so cannot justify the purchase.
I like Babylon Sunset, too, and can’t find it anywhere. I was sent a sample in a blind sniffing sample box from Olfactif, but after the reveal they were all sold out. Not B sure why they marketed something they didn’t have in stock. Oh, well, not like I needed it and I would have possibly talked myself out of it anyways.
Will have to go read up on Meet Me On The Corner now!
Well, I am not too big on candles, so this was an NST-enabled experience. : ) I am burning the one with the lion tonight, and it is very nice. Let me know at kclberry scape of net net if you’d like another bit of Babylon Sunset – happy to share from my FB of Says Alice, the first name of it.
I am in two new releases: Ocean Leather on my left arm and Shalimar Philtre de Parfum on my right one.
I tried 21 Conduit St and Sintra yesterday, then tried them again this morning and came to conclusion that they are not for me. 21 Conduit St has too much ambroxan – it smells sharp and synthetic. There is a nice fruity herbal mix under ambroxan, but not enough to compensate.
Sintra has a beautiful orange blossom, but I do not like its syrupy sweetness. I’ll stick to Sweet Redemption.
I have already written enough about Philtre. I like this Shalimar flanker and might get a decant eventually.
Ocean Leather surprised me in a good way. From the sample it smelled more or less like a typical marine perfume. Once sprayed, it turned into a slightly salty aromatic scent – fresh but subtle. Instead of leather, I am getting a little of salty, musky smell of skin. The fragrance is very light, almost a skin scent. Not really an aquatic, in my opinion, although it has that mineral accord often found in marine perfumes. Weird but nice.
Ocean leather sounds lovely! Thanks for your impressions.
Re: Ocean Leather – how does it compare with Hermes Eau des Merveilles Bleue? I love the marine / rock accord (not the dreaded calone).
I am afraid I am not familiar with Eau des Merveilles Bleue.
The salty herbal part reminded me a little of JM Wood Sage & Sea Salt, probaby because both have sage. They are very different scents though. WS&SL is crisp and bright, salty in your face, while OL smells very restrained and soft on me.
I do think it has this mineral marine accord you mention, although, of course, our noses may disagree.
Thanks for the info!
Joining thegoddessrena in dshperfumes Muresque – a glorious blackberry fragrance. I have a couple of new-to-me fragrances but other than DSH samples (which are lots of fun), I don’t think I paid any attention to this year’s releases.
Looks like lots of rain today, but I’ll still get out for a walk later. Have a wonderful Friday, all!
Oops – I’m wrong – I did get to sample Chanel Le Lion! It’s a wonderful fragrance…for someone else. I can’t do that leather, but I can see its beauty.
Somehow I did not get leather but I really should pay attention next time.
Good morning and Happy FriYAY once again!
Wow….2020 was a craptastic year for sampling new scents, am I right? No tester bottles sitting out in stores for months and months, hard to get carded samples because we dare not contaminate each other with unnecessary interactions, and who wants to be out in public other than for toilet paper and food anyway? Looking forward to 2021! 🙂
Nevertheless, I did manage to get samples for only 4 or 5 newbies, and Etat Libre d’Orange Exit the King is the winner of my small sample set! Beautiful chypre with great wear time and perfect sillage. It’s a goodie!
Ooh I’ve been curious to try that one! I bet you smell GREAT!
Excellent news! I have a sample of that coming.
More good news… I’m 12 hours in and it’s still wearing nicely! WOW! ?
Back in Vivacious, only thing from 2020 I’ve tried. Need it today after awakening at 5 something.
Ugh, sorry for the early waking!
Bleurgh. I hope that you can sleep in tomorrow.
Thank goodness it is Friday. This. Was. Such. A Long. Week.
I’m in Angels’ Share, the last dregs from my decant. I am finishing off this baby with relish as I know my husband will be giving me an FB for Christmas. I bought it for him to give me, myself! (Needs must.)
Hey, you do what you have to. I’m glad you have a full bottle to look forward to!
Twins!
It’s one of 2020’s best, IMHO.
Negative points for the CP, but a million points for smelling awesome, I’m wearing 80’s vintage Mitsouko. The top notes aren’t great anymore, but after 5 minutes it’s all spiced peaches.
It’s horrible holiday wear “spirit” day at school today. I’m wearing a onesie printed with red little R2D2s with lights wrapped around him.
I think that Mitsouko will be tomorrow’s perfume for me.
I love it in winter.
Yes – a million points for smelling wonderful! Have fun in your little R2D2s!
Thank you! It’s fun to be silly with the kids.
I’m wearing all black and my husband asked if it was goth day at school today. That would be an awesome spirit day!
LOL. Always an option for around Halloween, I suppose!
Your onesie sounds super cute!
It makes me smile. 🙂
I don’t think negative points are possible for the CP. At worst, you’re a zero for the CP but you get at least 1 point for spirit ?
Woot woot!
I’m smiling at the mental image of your R2D2 onesie. It sounds so darn adorable!
Jake does need surgery on his para thyroid due to some benign tumors. Yesterday was a $900 vet bill for an ultrasound and a consultation. They quoted us between $4,000 to $4,500 for the surgery. Talk about sticker shock. A guy friend’s sister tested positive for Covid and his whole family is getting tested. I said if he tests positive, we don’t get together on Sunday. Wearing no 5 edp today.
I’m so sorry to hear that Jake needs surgery.
In 1989, I adopted a five year old black tabby cat that I named Caesar. Three months later, in the small flat I shared in San Francisco with four other flatmates (one bathroom), Caesar got his leg and hip trapped in the carpet and someone, not seeing him on the other side of a door, accidentally opened the door over his leg. I was earning about $14K a year then. The cost for surgery was going to be over $3K. I was lucky that I could borrow the funds from my mother, but it was a huge financial hit. It took me years to pay her back (my mom was very strict about my monthly payments–she thought I was totally daft to go through with the surgery). Anyway, Caesar had the surgery, and when I moved to Boston for law school he came with me, and when I moved to New York for work he came with me (and my new boyfriend would take him on the subway from Brooklyn to his flat on the upper West whenever I had to travel for work), and when I moved to Washington DC with that same boyfriend who became my husband Caesar came with us, and when my sons were born, Caesar was at home each time waiting to see them. Caesar finally passed away in 2004, not long before we moved to California. Guess he felt he had already been there/done that. But anyway, he was truly a constant companion.
So sorry about the huge vet fees! Stay safe relating to COVID!
I love your Caesar memories…he was family.XO
What a sweet, sweet story. So glad you made that sacrifice for such a long life together.
He obviously was a great companion.
Caesar had quite a long and wonderful life. I love this❤️
What a touching story <3 thanks for sharing.
I’m not crying. Really, it’s just pollen.
Very touching story.
What a beautiful post. ??thank you for sharing his life story.
I am glad that Jake will be able to have a surgery that will aid in his health and longevity but I feel your pain about the sticker shock. My 9 year old boxer mix has a very large growth on her liver and pneumonia. We are treating the pneumonia but nothing can be done for the tumor. Roxy is still eating and drinking with gusto and tolerating her antibiotics well and getting around steadily but there is no doubt she is in decline. One of my worst fears is that all my dogs will go at once, we started 2020 with three, lost our old Chow mix in August, she died peacefully under her favorite Bonsai bench and now my sweet Roxy. I have an old but spunky poodle, Charlie, but losing his pack mates must be as hard for him as it is for us.
So sorry for your loss. Sending hugs to you and Charlie!
Oh, that’s so hard. Hugs to everyone.
Oh boy, when it rains it pours. Sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. Pets are family.
Ouch on Jake but at least there’s possibility of resolution. If I were you and deciding on getting together with the friend who is being tested, I would say see you later in January. Too many false negatives as it takes time for there to be enough of the virus to test positive.
I’m so sorry for all your bad news. When one of my cats broke 2 very small bones in one paw last year, no surgery, just a cast and periodic checkups, it was $800+ just for that. Sending you a ?.
I would also postpone meeting him regardless of the test result. So sorry about that $$$ surgery. Vet bills are scary expensive.
Sending hugs; we are facing a kitty ultra$($)ound and then deci$($)ion$ in early January…..
Aw, so sorry to hear that Jake needs surgery. And Yikes! on those surgery quotes. Hugs.
Yikes, sticker shock indeed! Glad you’re able to get Jake medical care though. Sending hugs.
I’m in Le Lion de Chanel today, perfect scent and perfect for the cold weather. I was able to try five new releases this year, which surprised me. Between February sniffing and fabulous NST splits, swaps and outright generosity, I got my nose on some lovely perfumes. You folks ROCK. ❤️❤️❤️
rawr! You smell wonderful 🙂
St Clair Scents Song of Aubrac for CP – I got a tiny 2ml of this back in the spring as an antidote to pandemic stress, and have been rationing it since. Golly it’s gorgeous. And thank goodness.
Turns out some ventilation work had been done downstairs a few days ago near the kitchen piping – which already requires heaters to keep it from freezing in winter. So OF COURSE the kitchen outlet pipes froze two days ago as soon as we had our first cold snap, and our poor downstairs neighbors’ kitchen sink was backing up. Plumbers came to clean the pipes yesterday but to no avail since the problem is that they’re full of ice.
They also came up today to address a small drip from our kitchen faucet while they’re at it, and OF COURSE they came into our kitchen to work unmasked. Grrrrrr.
They’re gone already, and I was out getting cat food when they arrived, so I came home to this setup and didn’t want to cause a fuss since Mr. Teebear hadn’t chosen to, but that was half an hour of stress I didn’t need. Having a nice herbal tea and a cookie to reset.
That sounds like an extremely stressful situation. I’m sorry you had to deal with it!
That is unconscionable on their part; they should know better. I would have required them to wear a mask, handing them sealed individual masks as I say it.
I had to tell my Uber driver today to wear his mask,luckily the request was not denied.
It seems all the “macho” men(at the service centre,specifically today!!!)feel they are somehow immune to covid…and this as our second wave just hit the damn country.
What.The.Hell.
When I called in a month ago to have my furnace repaired, one of the things I specifically asked was whether or not the service person would be wearing a mask. Of course, if they are not, I would offer the disposable mask and if they refuse, no entry.
I’m trying DSH If I Had Balls…, a salty fig, which I am comparing in my mind against my beloved,recently discontinued Womanity, a scent I suspected was done in by an inept marketing campaign. (This salty rose-fig was marketed as a gothic ominous punk,instead of a cheery fun scent).
DSH describes If I Had Balls as a stoney fig, another weird description since neither figs nor the scent smell like stones. The text also refers to the the fig leaves associated with classical statues.
The scent does remind me of a legend from my college art history classes. According to my art history professors, the ancients sculpted nudes true to life-those fig leaves were a 19th century retro fit. I was also told that decades ago, a retiring conservationist at the Met Museum was authorized to the De-fig and restore the Greek and Roman statutes as her final project. However the Museum had not labeled which members had been removed from which statutes. So the night guards were treated to the sight of an elderly woman roaming through the Roman(and Greek) halls with a collection of marble phalluses trying to match each to the proper statute
??
I love that visual!
OMG now that is a scene I would have loved to see!Night at the museum!!?
Ha, I would have loved to see that
This made me laugh! Member Matcher! What a job!
I love that there’s a DSH called If I Had Balls and love even more that it’s a salty fig.
Are you sure you’re not wearing Balls Said The Queen?
https://nstperfume.com/2020/10/19/6-from-dawn-spencer-hurwitz-new-fragrances-2/
That “statute re-fit” story was awesome! Thanks for sharing it!
Oh goodness that gave me such a laugh!!!! ?
Thanks to my best friend, I’m actually wearing a perfume that was released this year. I’m trying the sample of AN Other’s WF/2020 that came in the sample set she sent me. It’s fantastic! It’s rose/ patchouli/ bergamot/ pomegranate/ peony/ ambrette/ suede/ musk and it just works beautifully to my nose. I’m 6 hours into it and there’s just the nicest basenotes.
I’m so tired of getting bad news and emotional exhaustion. Thanks to everyone here for being so supportive, caring and fragrant.
Sistine, I am with you on the bad news and emotional exhaustion! Here’s to brighter days.
The worst part is that I’m not even reacting to the bad news properly because I’m numb and worn out. Ugh. This has been such a weird year.
Yes it has, and I now just what you mean about numb and worn out. I have a feeling there is a lot of unprocessed grief out there at the moment.
Completely agree that little has been processed.
Pretty sure that Zara’s Book Liaison in Lisbon, Sweet Pastry in Paris and Mochi Atelier in Tokyo are from this year. My favourite is the Sweet Pastry, which somehow does smell like a buttery pastry. Book Liaison does NOT smell like bookstore, more like a cheap fruitchouli, and Mochi Atelier doesn’t smell like anything at all…
AnnieA, yes, it’s a series from this year! I found the Tokyo one somewhat interesting but I didn’t love it. Apparently it does smell like a mochi and I could possibly make out the rice note… There was a Flowers in London also, which smelled like a fairly nice floral on the testing strip but didn’t graduate to a skin test. Sweet Pastry in Paris went from an ok on the testing strip to a wow as it started emerging from the others and then a YES just about as soon as it touched skin 😀
I’m on CP because I’m testing a sample of Angel’s Share, which I was super curious about after hearing a few of you rave about it. It’s lovely! Almond-y? May have to read a review to figure out what I’m smelling.
Completely off topic, and hopefully ok: my choir is having a free virtual holiday concert tonight (7pm Pacific Time) and on Sunday (3.30pm Pacific Time) – it’s “live”, meaning it streams at a certain time but it’s pre-recorded and will be quite cheery and our children’s groups are also performing. You’ll need to “buy” a free ticket here (it says $5 but the VIP ticket is really free).
https://www.feelitlive.com/experience/music/joy:-a-holiday-collage/concerts
Robin, if this is not ok, feel free to delete and admonish!
The time turns out to be either 5am or 1am in South Africa. Will it be accessible any other way? I could definitely do with some choral music!
I know the times are terrible for outside the USA :(…
I think they will try to have a link for ticket holders who couldn’t see it that we will be allowed to share on a limited basis (this has to do with use/copy right stuff – that’s why we can’t just put the concert on Youtube). You can contact me at elke dottt schmeling atttt geemaille if you’re interested in seeing it “offline”! 🙂
Ah – thank you so much! I will definitely get before tomorrow. Yay! Is your email a dawt com?
yes. Email me as I now have another solution, too 🙂
Just found out that the link that you get after getting your ticket will be “live” for 24 hours after the performance. 🙂
Of course it is ok!
And I also would like to know if it is possible to see it later?
Hi,
see my response above – last concert, there were a few ticket holders who for various reasons, some tech support related, weren’t able to watch it live and the hosting company then provided a link for those. I can probably provide that link after the streams are to anyone who got a free ticket and is interested.
Thanks Eschmeling!
Just found out that the link that you get after getting your ticket will be “live” for 24 hours after the performance.
Thanks!
This might get my perfumista card revoked,but there were more important things to pay attention to this year,than any new perfume releases.That being said,I somehow missed the discontinuation of Atelier Colognes from the local retailer(s),and that just sucks.I’m not sure why,but they feature for a second in shops here,and then just disappear!What the what…
Orange Sanguine,is my SOTD!Needed upliftment for a day of automotive errands(service,licencing of another vehicle…FUN.Lol)
Frustration at a perfume store in my city today also,they have the modus operandi that if you are not a blogger/influencer/celebrity,they basically pay NO attention to you,so good luck rummaging through the whole store looking for something specific.I’m thinking about not supporting them anymore,and I did fire off an email to their customer care who did turn out to be somewhat helpful.
2021 resolution:Buy more local and artisanal products from small independents.We have an awesome array of Indie perfumers in South Africa,and I will be exploring them much more in the coming months.Same for clothing/decor/food.
Happy Friyay boys and girls!
XO
Let us know about south African perfumery, sounds interesting
Will do!There is an amazing lot to tell!I’ve known this for a while,but now,”buy local” is finally sinking in!
I second tannina’s request for updates on your local findings!
it has been hard to pay attention to perfume or much of anything else this year. the only reason I have any idea of what is new is because of NST. Yay for perfume people! This is a good tribe. 😀
Yes yes and yes.NST is the only reason I know about the new releases as well,and maybe Instagram(not active,just lurking there and following a couple of interests there)
All very true. On the other hand, there have been no large pleasures and only very small ones may be available.
No travel for business or pleasure. Even trains seem like unnecessary risks.
Big city museums are closed or I can’t get to them.
Even the local outdoor sculpture garden, did not open until midsummer. Whereas once, we could stop by once or twice a week, now it requires complex reservations, and my parents could not stroll as they once did. The garden stopped running the little handicapped golf cart tram.
Forget theatre. Staged theatre readings on zoom are not the same as a real play.
(Hamilton on Disney is terrific, but it is only one play.)
I find I have as little interest in long serials on streaming chanels than I had watch the same shows when they were originally aired.
Everyone is entitled to their own view of political affairs, but generally there have been only two or three days when the news has not either depressed or scared me, or both If your neighborhood/country/poliical party and news has gone more to your liking, count your blessings.
However Counting one’s blessings has to be done at home, since the houses of worship are closed and/or on line.
While it is also hard to keep scent on the inner wrist with extensive hand scrubbing, at least I can at least wear a fragrance/
Sorry for the above rant.
Just wanted to say, it’s okay to enjoy perfume, a pleasure which does not require any risk. and a form of beauty which can be found in a dresser drawer. Fragraces even provide an opportunity to test against a major Covid symptom- loss of smell. For me it makes these dark times a little easier to bear.
I hope your perfumista card was sprayed with the most beautiful of scents regardless of the amount of shopping or sampling this year.
Let us all be thankful that we have lived unto this season.
May we finder brighter seasons ahead.
I completely agree: fragrance is a small joy in these tough times.
Dilana, we are all allowed a rant now and again.
I chose Dusita Moonlight in Chiangmai as one of my top 2020 fragrances for today CP.
Hurray, hurray, I’m stsrtimg my long holidays
Have not tried this het and hooray-yay for your time off!
I’m in Le Lion, too; like many of you, I haven’t tried many 2020 releases. My husband will occasionally comment on my perfume, but this morning’s was hilarious: “Hmm, that’s a spicy perfume. Or rotten. I don’t like how it smells in the air.” I’m guessing the leather was the “rot” to him?
ha! Le Lion does have a bit of fusty musty funk to my nose too, but I like that smell. 🙂
I do, too! Looks like this will be a “reserved for alone time” decant.
No CP points for me today. I don’t think I’ve tried any 2020 releases….
I am feeling a little sassy today which means some bright lipstick (Fenty Dragon Mami), fun dangly earrings, and Francesca Bianchi Sex and the Sea for my SOTD. I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews of it. On certain days I really love it, although I have to be careful not to over apply. A small spritz to the wrist is plenty.
Do you have a full bottle of it? The only one I can wear and have a full bottle of is Sticky Fingers. I am very curious about the new Tyger Tyger.
I’ve been working my way through a sample but it is going on my full bottle list. The only others I’ve tried are Angel’s Dust and The Dark Side, neither of which worked for me. Tyger Tyger looks interesting! I didn’t know there was a new release. I would like to try Sticky Fingers and Under My Skin as well.
Is Zoologist Bee from this year or last year? 2020 has eaten my brain, I can’t recall anything anymore ?
I forgot to wear it anyway. In a gorgeous long time favorite today, Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax. Our area of the US spends all of winter under what we call perma cloud, so the cat and I are enjoying the last bit of sunshine predicted for days. Happy weekend, all! ?
Last year I think? But you smell great!
Love Imperial Opoponax, you smell great!
Ew. “Perma cloud” sounds horrid.
No CP points for me today; I’m in Philosykos on one arm, and Demeter Dandelion on the other. I’m not sure I tried any 2020 releases.
(Getting a little concerned about an order of OJ Osmanthus travel bottles. Have to keep reminding myself that mail is slow these days…)
I hope you hear soon about your order!
I placed an order for StrangeloveNYC oils as they had a 30% off deal with a minimum purchase so I got the whole set plus one that was strangely (!) not included. I received the package on Wednesday and after the requisite at least one day in mail quarantine, I eagerly opened the package! To my disappointment, I was sent 3 of the same oils and that was it! I emailed the company right away and the person was very apologetic, mentioned something about some confusion at FedEx (clearly, I do not understand how this was Fed Ex’s fault as it is very odd for Fed Ex to be packing the items and slapping a label on the package). Anyway, I will be sent what I ordered and I still get to keep the 3…I have not sniffed it yet.
No CP points for me also. Courtesy of therabbitsflower, I am in Shalimar Souffle d’Oranger from 2019 since my most frequently worn scent in 2020 was likely Shalimar Eau de Cologne. (I did think I might do Patchouli Ardent, which is 2020, from another sample she sent me, but one spritz before shower was a big nope…I’m not huge on patch, and it was too much for me.)
If we did this a week from now, I might – just might – have sprayed on Gabrielle Essence…we will see if Santa comes through.
Got some fabulous news that my former co-worker and dear friend was offered the job by the potential employer I spoke with earlier this week. I’m thrilled beyond words…
Congratulations to your friend! Being able to put in a good word for them must have felt great.
I’m wearing my favourite new discovery of 2020.
I got the sample set of Pont des Arts because I had to cancel my trip to Paris in March, due to Covid. So I had money to spend.
While I liked all of them, I instantly fell deeply in love with A ce soir which to me is simply the best vanilla ever. Well apart from Shalimar perhaps. Denyse describes it so well on her blog, and it is in fact her mention of it, and Angela’s on this blog, that prompted me to explore the line.
It is a boozy, floral vanilla that wears beautifully and as I said many times before, I adore it.
Have a great weekend everyone, and 2020 is nearly over!
It sounds beautiful. I see cinnamon is in the notes, yum.
From GraindeMusc:
The sexy one:
À ce soir by Pont des Arts
Bertrand Duchaufour calls it a vanilla blossom, but to me, it brings together three scents that were summarily ejected from the L’Artisan / Penhaligon’s catalogue. Havana Vanille’s fresh tobacco leaf and rum chica-boom sensuousness, matched by the hay, honey and pollen-dusted daffodil of Ostara (though the green here is more sap than hyacinth), with a dash of Amaranthine’s lush ylang-ylang. It’s pretty much got my heart in a love-lock. Who knew I’d fall for vanilla?
Wow! Sounds brilliant.
Yes, I love this one also and immediately noted the similarities to Ostara and Amaramthine. I don’t recall Havana Vanille well enough to pick up on that connection, but I like that you did. I love me some Duchaufour perfumes.
I love all three of the Pont des Arts perfumes. You smell wonderful.
I was very pleasantly surprised!
Did you order samples from their website please?
Yes I did, very good customer service!
She-ra, Indigo Perfumery carries this line in the US. Though they’re sold out of bottles of A Ce Soir, they have samples available of all three perfumes. I enjoy that their samples come in atomizer bottles.
Finishing up a Chanel sampling week after receiving a bunch of manufacturer’s samples from evil bay. Only Riviera made the cut; Coromandel was a hard no with way too much patch, 1957 was nice but unremarkable; Biarritz and Venise were screechy for hours. And none were CP. 2020 really put a stop to shopping and testing. Ah well, lots of Amouages about to come out, for the paltry sum of $350 per. Lol ….
I must say Amouage Imitation really struck a chord with me,I again tested it this past week.It’s becoming a REAL lemming,but I wish they did smaller sizes!
Amouages are available on fragnet so if you are patient…also, OssealdNYC has a 20% off code . I don’t have it handy at the moment but I remember it is good through Dec 27.
It’s Holi-yay.
Thank you…saves me a look!
I think the only two 2020 releases I smelled this year were Angel’s Share and Bitter Peach. I’m wearing Bitter Peach today. I mailed the last of the holiday cards this morning, so I have one more present to wrap and then I am done.
Goodie! No wrapping for me as I am very lazy; no cards either for the same reason. To date, I received 2 cards, both of which are family pictures, nothing personal written on the cards themselves and in one case, a mailing address label on the envelope.
Tempte d”Automne for me, not sure it is a 2020 release, but it is new to me…a truly lovely mildly sweet warm sandalwood that is soothing to me. I have 3 Zoom meetings today, so it is helping me keep calm and cheerful. TGIF!
You smell great!
AND it is a cheerful scent – also, checked and it’s from 2018.
Happy Friday or Saturday, depending where you are in the world. I’m starting the morning with a little dab of Zoologist’s Bee, which came out in 2020, so is close to the CP.
Happy Saturday!Still Friday in SA.
?
And I meant to say 2019!!
SotD = Le Lion
because it’s fun to be part of the NST pride. RAWR!
And because it’s the only thing I have sampled this year that I am sure is new for 2020, with many thanks to Our Lady of Fragrant Excess and Supreme Split Enabler, Hajusuuri. 🙂
Like johanob it has been tough for me to focus on perfume, so I’m ever more grateful for NST. It has been a lifeline, a delightful place to pop in and share beautiful things. Happy FriYAY, friends.
It’s lovely to visit a peaceful spot on NST,even if we do rant about life in general-like I did today!
Perfume is part of my own sanity-prescription!!
XO
the ranting and sharing our lives is wonderful. 😀
Maybe this should be the Song of the Day for NST:
https://youtu.be/CevxZvSJLk8
rawr power! A perfect song for Le Lion Friday. 😀
Nice!
😀
I have one 2020 sample Aesop Rozu , a good summer rose, not too heavy but well rounded nevertheless.
The rabbits in the cemetery are so fat now they barely have the energy to hop away, so from a distance it looks like someone has decorated the grass paths with Victorian jelly moulds.
Have a nice weekend everyone.
Thanks for reminding me … I definitely need to get myself a sample of that one!
That image! 😀 😀 😀
What a smile-evoking image of your fat little bunnies! Thanks for sharing it.
My 2020 release for the CP is Francesca Bianchi’s Sticky Fingers, a gourmand leather scent. Off to yoga, will come back to read later!
Fun name for a perfume!Enjoy yoga!
You smell good!
I’m only participating virtually today: I was going to wear SMN’s Rosa Novella, which among the three or four 2020 scents I managed to try is the only one to strike some sort of chord with me. Unfortunately, in the end I forgot to pack my decant …
*LOL* I might have forgotten to pack something before…
I met to wear Le lion but life got in the way.
Ran to make the bus to meet my girlfriend at the Met and I only had my sample of Gabriele Essence in tow.
If anyone is thinking about visiting the Met it was so so empty and safe.
I am still not getting replies to my comments to my email so if I don’t respond to someone that is why and I will check back later.
That is weird, ltsg. I am going to send a response to the email you sent me, and we will see if you get it…
Also, do you access your email directly from gmail on their website, or through some other email app?
Good to know about The Met. I need to visit the Angel tree.
I’m kinda cheating because one of my favorite 2020 perfumes (of the very few I tried) was a re-release, though the formula was tweaked. It’s Elf-Fulfilling Prophecy by Smell Bent, just so delightful and cozy for the season. My other favorite this year is a warm weather perfume, Jurassic Flower by Füm. It’s described as a coastal magnolia soliflore. I used up my sample by the end of the summer, and in fact my adorable new 15ml bottle just arrived today. I love that Füm now offers 15ml, 30ml, and 50ml bottles. I also picked up a 15ml of Nerola and a sample of their newest release Magnifigue.
Robin, I looked ahead to the future CPs that you’ve posted and am excited to see one devoted to Bowie on his birthday!
Given the name I would have thought the scent would be bitter, but the notes sound warm and inviting and without the implied twist, lol!
Oooh! I need to read ahead. Bowie will be a fun one! I already have an idea…
Good! I hope even non-fans can have fun with it.
I’m joining those of you who are not cp-compliant today as I don’t even have a sample of any 2020 scents. Instead, sunshine this morning put me in the mood for citrus and chilly December temps made me want something warm and comforting, so my hand reached for one of my favorite winter scents, Elixir des Merveilles. ❤️
Good things happening this week:
The new grand ??adopted by my son’s family at Thanksgiving have been fully accepted by their Big Bro ?, who sleeps with his paws hugging his lookalike orange-and-white baby brother. Their baby sister sometimes joins them but prefers to go to class and joins my granddaughter in remote learning each day. ?
We’ve enjoyed numerous virtual Holiday programs from our favorite local musicians this week and tonight will be joining two of my favorite Chicago Tribune columnists in the annual Old Town School of Music Songs of Good Cheer (virtually,of course). Don’t think I would’ve made it thru these long months w/o the joys of music to soothe my soul.
And this morning a group of us neighbors surprised an elderly neighbor who lives alone on her birthday with a Happy Birthday serenade on her front lawn. She was flummoxed and we were overjoyed to partake in celebrating her. A great way to start the weekend!
Wishing good things for all NST’ers this weekend!
What a sweet description of feline harmony with your new grandkitties!
I didn’t smell too many new releases this year but was fortunate to find A Sweet Pastry in Paris which, as AnnieA described above, smells like a buttery lemon pie. This modest Zara output in its basic bottle and unpretentious list of notes (lemon, sugar cane and vanilla are the only ones listed) gets my vote as the best new release! I’v spent probably 6 times as much on a bottle of perfume with only a fraction of the enjoyment. I should qualify this by saying that I have been in need of uplifting comfort fragrances, and that I might be fairly primitive – what satisfies my tummy satisfies my nose too!
I hope you were uplifted!
Hi Hajsuuri – yeah, the lemon assists with that! Apparently this smells very close to Lira – but what I remember about Lira is that the price was a bit too inspirational for me and ALSO it contained something that made my nose itchy (so does Coromandel and Al-Rehab’s Soft and some other high end AND low end offerings). It also smells close (apparently) to Kerosene’s Unknown Pleasures. Unfortunately I’v not come across this brand yet!
I didn’t pay attention to new perfume releases this year either, so I am in good company with Robin. Having said that, I actually had 3 perfumes released in 2020 hanging out in my Sample Stash.
SOTD = Kaffir & Green Fig Cologne Fraiche from LZ/OM Atelier. It’s got a great citrus note up top, then something fruity. It’s all gone from my scent-glue skin in 3 or 4 hours. Not at all the right weather for it now, but I bet it will be great when the Dog Days of Summer return.
CP points for sure!
Danke!
Wow, haven’t heard of that one. You should put it in a saving for summer stash.
I’m another who failed at the CP — I have nothing in my arsenal that was released during 2020. I did wear one of the most recently acquired fragrances I have (in barely a nod to the CP), Soivohle Twelve Keys. I didn’t get the anise-apricot hit from it this time though – it was more iris and garden soil with something slightly spicy-sweet, and a bit of soft plastic. I’ll give it one more go before deciding I don’t need any more of it. Unlike Paracelsus, which I definitely DO need more of!
LOL! I know that feeling! Have you decided what size you’d get Paracelsus in?
No – still waffling between 10 and 30 mls. It’s an extrait, so 10 might do me just fine (especially since I’m on the verge of elderly), but it’s sooooo beautiful that I wouldn’t ever want to run out. Maybe Santa will be extra good to me. 🙂
I’m thinking either the 4mL travel spray, or the 10mL. I am a little annoyed with myself that I missed her sale, which ended on December 14.
Oh man – now I’m annoyed at not even having known a sale was going on until after I’d fallen in love with something! Sometimes life is just not fair. All that said, you might have just steered me to the 10 ml option. I might have been letting greed/lust drive me a bit too much. ?
I was also a cp fail this week. I’m wearing Lush Ginger today from a solid; yesterday I wore Ginger from the black bottle. Earlier this week I was in Clinique Wrappings (both a new and also a vintage version).
My hubby said he still wants to have turkey for Christmas even though it will only be the 2 of us. Glad that he makes the turkey and stuffing. I will be in charge of the vegetables and anything else. I may still have energy to make a small batch of plain shortbread or possibly a savory cookie with cheese and Rice Crispies added for extra crunch!
Happy Friday everyone.
I think we might be doing a different protein for Christmas this year instead of turkey. I guess we’d better figure out what else we’re doing ASAP!
Best of luck deciding!
I was hopeful for something small but if he wants to make it, I’m ok with it. Will have leftovers for weeks! At least there are Christmas shows pvr’d such as the original Grinch and A Christmas Story to keep me occupied while he’s cooking.
I *spaced* the CP today due to my staycation which made me not focus on the day of the week but on whether I had time to get my presents mailed. (I did. And the PO was not bad.) SotD is La Nuit Treasor from a Frag’net travel spray that I tossed in my basket at the last minute. $9.00 almost = free in perfume math. I heavily spritzed as is my want, and now I know what is meant by scents with “laundry musk.” It is not at all bad; but not my style, and this first wearing is not finding all the notes Fragrantica lists. It is office friendly for sure, so that’s something…..
YouTube had La Nuit Tresor hyped as the sexiest perfume ever, LOL. I haven’t tried it, but I knew it couldn’t be true.
I wore Bee today and had planned to do so for all week since I was quite sure it came out in 2020. Nope! It was 2019. I have others like Sloth and Koala that were from 2020 that I could have worn. Too bad! But Bee is nicer. Apart from the strong honey note it has some elusive but enticing floral note that might be broom? It’s unusual. And I did get a compliment from the grocery store checkout guy. In looking things up just now, I saw that Zoologist has a new 2020 release, Snowy Owl, designed by DSH! How have I not heard of it? It’s got a release date of Nov. 30 but then says it’s probably not available until next March. Odd. The notes sound very intriguing! It has a very endearing design on the label, too.
Ooooooh, Snowy Owl?
Very late today…sampled Sorriso…quite nice not sure if I require more.
Was totally feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of 2 kittens on the horizon but now, with a can of Underwood Rosé Bubbles in my gullet, and about 15 things coming tomorrow from Amazon I feel ok with the world. 🙂
That sounds like the right medicine!!! I’ve been going very light on drinking since the summer but I think having a little rosé for the holidays is just the ticket!
Late and a cp failure. I had planned to wear Le Lion today, but woke up late. I rushed to work, and sprayed from the purse stash. Sotd is AdV Signiture. One of my favorites from not this year.
Wishing Keith Richards a Happy Birthday today!
https://youtu.be/_8ijaUa0EZY
I KNEW you’d remember Keith’s birthday!!????
If you’re rushing to work, you must be feeling better, so I’m glad to hear that! Hopefully you get some time off soon. ?