A quick PSA: The next splitmeet will start next weekend, on the 23rd.
Meantime, talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance you're hoping to find in the splitmeet, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Utah, Route 143 #7 [cropped] by ~jar{} at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m huffing the after effects of Montalé Chocolate Greedy this morning. Still going strong 12 hours post spritz, too. I lurrrve this one (because not a rose petal in sight!) but I have my much cheaper CSP Amour de Cacao to fulfill my chocolate needs. The dry down of the Montalé is much deeper and rounder than the the CSP, so I will gladly use up my sample but no need for a FB.
I spent my lunch break (uninterrupted!!) in the massage chair in the break room. I feel a profound affection growing between us and breaking up will be hard to do. I may consider extending my contract based on that chair…
Hope everyone has a relaxing and safe weekend! Stay well. ✌🏼
I had exactly the same reaction to a sample of Chocolate Greedy: nice enough, but I already own the far more reasonably priced Amour de Cacao, so why would I need this?
The only chocolate scent I ever tried that could stand up to AdC is the late, lamented Aquolina Chocolovers, thick and malted and grownup. There are probably others, but that one was amazing.
Oh, malted! 🤩
I did some perfumista research for a friend years ago who was looking for a chocolate-based scent, and the winning sample was Chocolate Greedy. Now, whenever I sniff it, I think of her. Haven’t tried Amour de Cacao, though. I’ve been in a gourmande-y mood lately, so might search some out!
Give it a whirl, it’s quite nice!
You smell great! I have a Scentbird decant of that one; need to get it out for the cooler weather.
Glad to hear you’ve had at least one peaceful lunch break, and wow to the massage chair! Somebody up in management has a brain.
Ha, no! The chair was purchased with money provided by the employees. Pretty sure management gifts stops at back scratchers. 🙃
I would never get off of that chair! Lock the door😊
Does Angel fall in the chocolate category? I feel like it does, but what do I know?
I just had the most delicious sample truffle at a new to me chocolate shop the other day. Could be dangerous.
I didn’t lock the door but I did turn off the light. ☺️
I once went to a dentist who had a massage chair in his waiting room. I was almost rude to the receptionist when she said it was time for my exam…
Has anyone tried Aftelier Cacao? It’s been on my to-sniff list since before I even became obsessed with perfume, and for some inexplicable reason and in spite of multiple Aftelier purchases, I’ve still not tried it. Love her chocolate and saffron body oil, though.
I like how that dentist thinks!
Aftelier is a line that doesn’t really float my boat. The only one I found that I liked was (strangely!) a rose scent. Wild Roses, I think..? I have not tried the chocolate one. There is another indie perfumer who did a few chocolate based scents but I can’t remember who… Maybe DSH?
Couldn’t stop thinking about that new CSP vanilla and I was just in a vanilla mood but I wanted something darker and more complicated and frankly a little weirder than a CSP, so I’m wearing L’Artisan Parfumeur Vanilia, which I’ve been wearing with pleasure for nigh on 20 years. No cupcakes here.
A classic at this point!
I love Vanilia! It somehow manages to be big and strong without bringing on the shrill/cloying quasi-headache that most vanilla scents provoke for me. Zero cupcakes; maybe a whiff of the vanilla scent of the inside of an oak barrel?
Happy weekend to everyone. My work break is slowly coming to an end but I’m still going to laze away this afternoon and tomorrow.
Parents are coming back from their trip to Turkey in an hour.
SotD is La Parfumerie Moderne Belles Rives. An amazing and not well known rich, buttery iris.
Enjoy your weekend with your parents!
I am all for rich and buttery iris.
I agree with you on Belle Reves!!!
Today is my last day of work before I am on my final vacation off the year. I have a couple day trips planned but nothing major planned. Wearing Happy Heart right now.
Enjoy your vacation! Sounds like you deserve it
Enjoy it Dawn!
Happy Saturday! I’ve been in non-stop POTL for two days. Shameless plug for hosting a split coming up: I remember after I did the POTL split, I waffled a bit, should I have bought this bottle, maybe samples were enough, but it was a cult favorite for so long, and I love having more than a sample, etc, etc. Yes, if you’re thinking about splitting just do it! You meet wonderful NST friends and you share a fragrance together that otherwise folks won’t buy and now, POTL doesn’t seem to be available! Ack. I’m glad I did it and am wearing it now thinking of all of you.
Thanks for doing it! I think of you when I wear it.
♥
Same here, SP – I am sure I never would have got around to trying it if you had not been one of “The Bold Ones*” who do splits. A Luckyscent rep. emailed me last month to say that they were still trying to get in the edt, but that was the last I heard. *not exactly applicable ’60’s TV reference.
You smell fabulous! Thank you for reminding me how cozy POTL is for fall. Spritzing has forthwith commenced:)
Yes, it’s a fall and holiday fragrance for me.
Can someone please inform me of what POTL stands for?
Hi majokkobiachan, POTL actually stands for the brand: People of the Labyrinths. Their fragrance I am talking about is Luctor et Emergo. The POTL nickname goes back years – for some reason, that’s how we always referred to it.
It stands for (The) People of the Labyrinths by Luctor et Emergo.
And I see above that I had it backwards … thank you Springpansy
I have have never regretted hosting a split!
Happy Saturday indeed!
Not great sleep, but an open calendar today. Errands, some treadmill time, laundry. More manifest binge watching later.
My robe smells of box of eels from yesterday so I think I will add more post shower.
I did go to Chanel website to check prices on a new bottle and it’s out of stock!
Oh poop! Sorry to hear it’s out of stock.
money saved till the bottle is really empty.
all those bottles sitting in shipping containers along with everything else!
I can see to Catalina Island from my kitchen, the container ships in Port of Los Angeles look like they stretch all the way there.
That is so interesting. We in the Midwest only see somewhat sparsely stocked shelves if we do our shopping after 3 or 4 pm on Saturdays.
WOW. I know that view, but not full of cargo ships like that!
I live near the largest port in the US (Norfolk VA) and recently flew over the area and it doesn’t seem to be like that here. There were 6 cargo ships hanging out, which doesn’t seem excessive to me, but who knows.
I’m wearing Breath of God today. It’s just perfect for this blustery but still warm fall day. I’m walking a friend’s dog today, so I get to hang out with a gorgeous collie there and my doggo at home. Not complaining!
Have a great, refreshing weekend.
What a great weekend!
Such a great perfume…and dogs! Love them.
I did a meetup with a new-to-me local perfumista for a swap: she got AP Bois Farine (and extras), and I got Centauri Gaea (and extras). We were both pretty happy with how that worked out, and if I can bring myself to go back to local meetups might see her again.
That’s so nice you have a local swap friend
Wearing Shalimar today. I was hoping that I would love it it last, but no. It is too much for me.
Is Kevin ok?
Will he write something again? I loved his reviews so much.
Hi Veronika, in case it helps, the way I wear it is one single spray just above my navel underneath clothes in cold weather… heat and distance do wonders and then I really enjoy it in the sillage coming from my top. Sniffing directly from skin is a no, especially in the opening.
I wondered the same about Kevin, I also loved his reviews.
The only Shalimars I like are Philtre and Eau Initiale
I recently bought Philtre and I like it too! It’s much more lemony and also less of the darker Shalimar notes but I also much prefer the sillage to smelling directly from skin. This and Vanilla Planifolia are right now my favourite Shalimars.
Ooh now I have to check out the Planfolia – hope it appears in the splitmeet!
For some folks, the difference between EdT and EdP makes Shalimar tolerable.
I do better with older versions of Shalimar, 1970/80s decades are best on my skin.
Kevin is ok! None of us are writing reviews anymore other than Jessica, for a whole host of reasons, not necessarily the same for all of us. Both Kevin and Angie will write if the spirit moves them, and Angie hasn’t written since January, Kevin since May, so I guess the spirit is not moving them at the moment. I can’t remember my last review but it was way back in 2019.
We have been doing this a very long time
I’ve been reading this blog since 2009. I was a young student back than with lots of drama in my life: exams, relationships, no money and uncertain future.
And whenever I felt hopeless I used to read your perfume reviews as a form of escapism. Where you described that Santal Blank is like expensive pencil shavings, or when Kevin described his love for antique shops, soaps and candles and how he cozyed up with his cats that smelled like perfume.
Thank you for those. Until spirits move you again L’ll read some of the old reviews again – they are worth it.
Thank you Veronika! All of us wrote reviews regularly for a really long time, and so we’re also all glad to know people still read them and enjoy them.
Hi, all,
When my eyes are truly opened up, I will shower and wear Kulfi. I think.
Getting my Christmas list together and am curious if anyone has tried Jilted Elf, yet?
Sephora sale coming up along with every other store. I have no will power. What’s on your list?
I’m thinking of getting a skin tint. I typically wear foundation in the winter but I’m thinking this might be a more natural option
Good choice! I don’t normally wear makeup these days, but foundation is really tough to get off. Any brand choice?
I’m eyeing the Huda Beauty Glo-wish
I was a fan of Laura Mercier. Maybe, I should try a sample.
Putting in a good word for the Ilia akin tint. I really like it.
Good to know
Hope to find one that comes off easy and I don’t end up with pimple face for days.😊
I’m going to join you in Kulfi, perfume-sister!
We smell cozy!
I’ve got loads of skin care on my Sephora list.
Belief True Cream Moisturizing Bomb
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant face wash
Drunk Elephant C Firma Day Serum
Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Anti Aging Moisturizer
Grande Cosmetics Grande lash
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Face Mist
The Ordinary 5% Lactic acid serum
The Inkey List PHA Toner
Topicals Faded Serum
That’s a list! I’ve been lazy with skincare, lately.
Thanks! After a lifetime in the sun with horses and tennis, it’s time for damage control. I also use Retin A at night.
I’ve just started retinol and currently using 0.5% ordinary serum for the last 3 months before I upgrade to retin-A. Noticing my skin is smoother and finer grain but not necessarily improved on appearance or more resilient, but maybe a bit more dehydrated. Also wondering if I should start vitamin C or not. Have you noticed positive changes with retin-A, SmokeyToes?
Sephora probably hates me — I wait for their sales and then stock up on enough of all my skincare standards to last me to the next sale.
I only buy during their sales too and only brands that are exclusively at Sepora. Their points program is just so lackluster…Ulta really beats them at that game now so if I can find it at Ulta I get it there.
In Penhaligon’s The Favourite, which shares some slight DNA with another of my fall favorites, Le Cri de la Lumière.
Thanks to all who weighed in on my first world angst yesterday. Some days all the great things in my life seem, well great. At other times they just seem overwhelming random and unfair when so many in the world are going through hell. I was on a call very early yesterday (early for CA, not for most of the planet), and a doctor, a woman from Afghanistan, said something to the effect (I’m paraphrasing) that it is too easy to forget the massive human insecurity and cost for communities, families, individuals that have to incessantly fight for freedom. Freedom and fighting can start to feel like one and the same for whole generations.
Anyway, woke up this morning in better fettle. My husband and I began plotting a trip to NYC for the spring. It has been at least 5 years since I was there, and the plans cheered me up. Hope when it gets closer to the time, I can figure out a way to meet some of you NST fumies that live in or near Manhattan!
That rings true to me, thanks for sharing what she said
Wow, very profound and thought-provoking words from the doctor. And yay for trip to NYC. Hope you get to have a meet-up.
Your doctor had interesting insight. Generations to come is an overwhelming thought.
It would be nice to meet up with this bunch. I hope your plans work out, it would be great to see you!
I’m game … I hope the date and time work out!
Yay! It is a while away yet, but it is good have it to look forward to.
Thanks for sharing what the physician said. It’s not just about freedom and fighting, but add to that disparity of health care and food insecurity. It’s a mammoth fight on all fronts.
We really do forget how fortunate we are.
My thoughts exactly.
I’ve switched to my heavy-hitters this last week or two–Mitsouko, Ambra, Lyric, etc. I want warm and spicy, even if it’s nearly 70 by mid-afternoon some days still. No SOTD right now except the warm, spicy melange on my hoodie. Probably will supplement it with more warm, spicy scent post workout and shower!
Is your Ambra from Etro or another house? I love Etro’s and would love to try other perfumes that put me in a similar frame of mind.
Aqua di Colonia Santa Maria Novella di Firenze. I always forget the name of the house, but I should have been clearer! I haven’t looked for it outside of Italy. I bought it in Florence.
Ooh I hope to by a bottle of perfume in Europe one day. Thank you for answering my question!
mb03 for the morning, Fille en Aiguilles in the afternoon.
We tried another farmers shop today. They had cute little donkeys and goats, very funny to watch.
We bought a duck and had a nice roasted duck with cabbage for dinner, and I finally made a Torta di Riso today with great success. Will do some housework tomorrow plus maybe some gardening.
Have a great weekend
Your dinner sounds amazing!
“We bought a duck and had a nice roasted…”
When I initially skimmed through this, I thought you bought a live duck. Then I read the roasted part…! Thought you had clobbered, plucked, and roasted a pet duck…🪦💀
My grandma used to buy live ducks and fatten them up before…well you know. They were only pets to us kids 😂
My grandmother was raised on a farm in Indiana and you’d think she would understand just what you’re talking about. But, she had a special chicken she was friends with and was very traumatized when her father, being a practical farmer, killed it to put on the table. 😢
😢😢 I can sympathise with your grandmother. When you live around farm animals as a sensitive child you see them as the sentient beings they are. Then again all our lives are built around animal exploitation and small self sufficient farms are the least of the two evils..
I stopped eating meat coming from mammals 7 years ago and it makes me feel a bit better, but difficult to reconcile this as things are.
My grandma did her duck raising in the guest bathroom of her (non-US) big city apartment. It was a total thing apparently in the 70s and 80s
Ha, no pet ducks for me…
I haven’t made duck in ages, but ’tis the season — I like to do David Tanis’ menu of roasted duck breasts with a salad of grilled peppers with olives this time of year, when it’s turning fallish but there are still fabulous sweet peppers available.
In Shalimar Philtre – I am really glad I bought this not least cuz I love the bottle
Got my tween his Halloween costume. My Cruella wig came in too and now thinking about how to turn my white Maltipoo into a Dalmatian. Ideas?
You smell great Jasmina!
Yasmina, of course 😊
Thanks!
Was it you that turned me onto to this Shalimar??
I’m not sure; it could have. Hajusuuri was my enabler, I know that 😀
Love it 😊!
Does the dog tolerate clothes? If they do I would say doggy sweatshirt and black fabric paint…
I was actually thinking of finding some non-toxic washable fur paint 😂
That could work!
Cow costume at petco, chewy local shop, etc.?
Sounds like a fun Halloween! You smell great, did you find a smaller bottle?
I had a 50 ml muled over from France. My ideal size is 30 but that’s not available
I love the name Philtre!
What does it mean?
Phil for love–its a potion for love!
I’m wearing two perfumes at the moment (courtesy of NM testers): Byredo Tobacco Mandarin on one arm and FM Synthetic Jungle on the other. I like both but Synthetic Jungle wins.
Liking Tobacco M is probably no surprise since it’s mostly a sweet amber woody fragrance; I don’t think it’s different or interesting enough in the end to justify the cost.
Synthetic Jungle was a total surprise because I tend not to like green scents and this is intensely green in the beginning; I also get a slight whiff of something resembling plastic (could it be my imagination?) but then it all turns into a very pleasant slightly green flowery scent which makes me want to keep smelling my arm. I don’t think I would mind wearing this one.
Happy weekend everyone!
I don’t like the name of this new Malle and that’s keeping me from even wanting to try it
Me, too.
You’re not the only one, yasmina. I’ll try it eventually, though.
It is certainly not a tempting name.
It’s not a tempting name and I don’t think the image it suggests necessarily fits the perfume, which is in the end a fairly tame green floral, but I’m glad I overcame my hesitation and tried it.
I’m having the same problem — I love green scents and I love FM in general, but the word ‘synthetic’ is very off-putting. As is the report of a whiff of plastic in it, which is a deal-breaker for me.
Thank you for the mini review of Synthetic Jungle! Agreed about the name being a turn-off, but I still have affection for many FM scents. I haven’t tried anything new from them since they were purchased, though (has there been other new scents??). I have been curious what it would do to the line.
Say this Jungle sounds like a good one. I’ve been a fan of FM in the past.
I enjoy Synthetic Jungle, enough to buy the 50mL bottle – so much cuter than the 100mL!
No scent, humoring my husband’s covid nose. I am still symptom-free; DH is still doing fairly well — occasional fever, light cough, some loss of taste/smell. We should be done with quarantine in another week.
We are supposed to get the first proper rains of the winter this week, yay! So I’m busy with pre-rain chores this weekend. Brought up firewood for the wood stove; need to check the gutters and drains next.
Hope your husband continues to do well and you remain symptom free!
Wishing your husband and yourself continued goodness through covid.
I hope your quarantine is smooth and uneventful and that your husband recovers easily. Enjoy the rain!
Wishing the best of health to you both!
I really hope it rains up here as well. Our oak trees have been super stressed, dropping loads of sap and leaves. I’ve been leaving out a large bucket full of water at the far back of our yard, which is open to any and every wild thing, and it gets emptied almost every night.
I hope your husband gets well soon and you stay COVID free. Here’s to rain!
Back in Tam Dao again, was a bit more liberal with my sprays this morning and I regret nothing.
I approve of having no fragrant regrets!
Ha ha — I’ve never regretted Tam Dao!
Me either! It’s so good.
You inspired me! Tam Dao & no regrets for me today!
You smell great!!
I love that photo, it reminds me of home.☺️ Birch trees are my favorite and my parents house is surrounded by them.
I’m in Box of Eels, inspired by apsara yesterday. The sun is back out today and it’s gorgeous again. I have some errands to run and then I’m going to try and find a good recipe for carmel, apple, oatmeal cookies. I picked one up at the local grocery yesterday and it was delicious!
Tomorrow I’ll meet my parents for lunch as they make their way through town on the way to Florida. This is the earliest they’ve ever gone. They are anxious to get down to their new house. Construction is due to be complete this week and then they’ll be there til next spring. I’m sad that they won’t be home for the holidays but looking forward to March when I’ll be able to get down there for a week and check it out.
Enjoy the precious lunch with your parents.
Hang on tight to all your madtownkiddos, they will help with the holidays.
Thanks AnniePerfumes! Yes, my college daughter will be home for a month over Christmas and I’ll enjoy every minute of it. My oldest is in utah and I’m just hoping he can make it home for a few days for either thanksgiving or Christmas.🤞
How exciting for your parents to see the finished house! I hope they have a safe and comfortable drive.
Thanks sistine! Me too!😀
Please share any recipe you find that you like.
Hey LizzieB, this is the recipe I used
https://www.landolakes.com/recipe/17890/caramel-apple-oatmeal-cookies/
I doubled the apple because I didn’t have applesauce in the house. I was hoping they’d turn out chewy and they did. I discovered after the fact that Kraft actually makes caramel bits 🤦♀️ I got the little squares and chopped, next time I’ll save myself the work.
Gosh it seems like they just got back from Florida. Safe travels to them!
Ha! I know right?! Six months here, six months there is their plan.
Thanks lillyjo!
Wearing Dusita Anamcara and very much warming up to it. It’s really sweet and nectar like, fruity and juicy with lots of orange blossom. So sweet I think it may almost be a bit sickly in the summer, better in cool weather. It’s also very potent!
In the morning I wore Chloe Naturelle as bought a small 30 ml bottle and don’t regret it. It’s a mimosa perfume, zingy and fresh with may rose, very pleasant. Supposedly made of natural botanical ingredients only, and it does smell natural and it’s easy to wear.
Yesterday I watched one of the best films I have seen in a while: 120 beats per minute. It’s a French film about the Act Up AIDS activist group in Paris in the early 90ies. Won the Cannes Grand Prix 2017 and really deserved. I’m still a bit shaken. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2fhO2A4SL24
Thanks for the link to the film. I will get my son to find it on his computer. Chloe sounds lovely. Mimosa perfumes are gorgeous
It’s hard to watch in some parts but also very beautiful with incredible actors. It’s directly based on the personal experiences of the director who was a member of Act Up as a youngster in Paris in those years and now a small piece of history.. it’s easy to forget how hard those years were. I think I would have liked this film anytime from 17-18 onwards, definitely not for younger people!
Chloe is very nice and also quite accessible so easy to sample! I love mimosa too.
I’m sitting on the couch, looking for motivation to do the supermarket shopping. NST is not helping with that
I’ve been testing some more samples from Luckyscent. I was very surprised when they arrived on Friday, I’d read that USPS had suspended shipping to New Zealand.
I’ve had a first sniff of Dusita’s Anamcara, I’m not sure about its opening. I can’t decide if I’m smelling something a bit plasticky or something like grape bubblegum.
I also got Divine Perversion from Hedonik, Francesca Bianchi’s new line. Again, only early impressions, but I like it so far. I’m not good at descriptions, but it’s rich and sweetish, and very clearly related to the other Francesca Bianchi perfumes I’ve tried.
Why would she start a new line?🤔
Exactly my question…
Should I buy Sticky Fingers, now? Always big concerns.
Glad your samples made it!
I’m in Cristalle Eau Verte, and kicking myself for not buying a bottle when it was more widely available. I should never have taken this for granted! Ugh.
That’s a lovely one…and it’s still available on the Chanel website 😉
I noticed that! Thanks for the tip. 😊
My stars, I sound grumpy. It’s actually been a very good day, so I shouldn’t dwell on an unfortunate decision. I smell great!
The weather is gorgeous; the humidity blew out of here last night and I’ve had the doors open to air things out. Also baked Congo bars, so the kitchen was needing the cool.
Helped the hubster clean out the herb bed, which was overgrown with weeds. The survivors, bless them, are in pots and some empty spots in the flower beds. Sage, Greek and Italian oregano survived, as did the bay bush. I think they’ll all winter okay.
I picked up a vegetarian cookbook earlier this week. Almost every recipe looked delicious, so I caved. I think I’m going to go meatless a couple of days a week to start and see how it goes.
Dog park tonight! 🐕❤️
That’s grumpy??? That’s me on a sunshine day.😂
You are reminding me of all of the stragglers of herbs to bring in and weeding is a whole different issue.
Go vegetarian! Its easy-peasy. Easing your way in can help and there are so many more tasty and healthy options out there now.
Have fun with your 🐕
Many years ( decades!) ago, I had a vegetarian cookbook. I remember I made Eggplant Parmasan. I think it was the best thing I ever cooked.
Eggplant Parmasan, IMHO, can indeed be one of the best things one has ever cooked!
“The survivors, bless them” is pretty much my gardening motto! 🤦🏽♀️
Such a beautiful day here – breezy and the first below-50’s overnight temperature. I headed out for an early walk and turned right around to get a jacket. SotD started out to be Aromatics Elixir edt (thanks for the tip, Smokeytoes) but I couldn’t find the bottle before my eyes lighted on Robert Piguet Casbah. This is one of the few that for me is a one-spray wonder (I used 2). It starts out crazy smoke and pepper, then starts revealing other notes in a most delightful way. It was one of the first perfumes I paid more than $50 for and is also way to the edge of masculine, but it works for me.
I have been eyeing bottles of Aromatics Elixirs in eBay, thinking this may be one of these perfumes with very nice sillage that improves on judicious spraying and under clothes. Did the EDT work for you where the EDP didn’t?
AE edt works very well for me – I do get sillage and that nice next-day on clothes experience! The backstory is while stalking various bottles on Ebay (and I am confident of the ‘bay as a source for some great finds), Smokeytoes wrote that the current edt is very good. I cut the Gordian Knot of choosing which Ebay prospect might be in good shape, vintage or vintage-ish, edt or edp or other, or special reserve, or whatever and got 35% off at FragranceNet for 30 mls of the current edt. It is very representative of what I remember from “the old days” and I knew I’d get something fresh and wearable in public. Problem solved!
I just checked and they don’t have it at the moment.
Nice! Thanks for the tip and approval of the new version, MossyBerry- it smells nice to me and close to what I remembered- if very, very potent- even if I’m starting to love green earthy perfumes which I didn’t before. So I’m sure the EDT is more than enough!
I’m terrible at the eBay stalking and I’m almost always outbid but I have managed to find a few things I love. Especially second hand clothes! Buying very little in stores nowadays.
Gourmand Coquin for me because I wanted to smell delicious. And because I read something on FB I think about how expensive bottles are on eBay. I bought this at discount about 6 or 7 years ago.
It’s a gorgeous day out but we are lazily watching college football. We spent most of the day yesterday out and about…enjoying cheeseburgers and cherry shakes before the local parlor closes for the season on Monday. Then stopped in at the local Fall Fest north of us to hear music and wander a bit. It was a good move, because it allowed us to avoid the craziness today and tomorrow. Last big tourist weekend we think. There’s an art crawl next weekend in the far north of the peninsula that we will go to on Saturday.
You do smell delicious! Gourmand Coquin is one of the best gourmands. On me it is quiet (I don’t know if it is my nose or my skin) but I don’t care, I put it on and keep sniffing myself. The prices on eBay are totally crazy and in the thousands. Glad I have a back up, I use it as comfort perfume.
Up early to go buy a tree to replace one that bit it during the extraordinarily hot weather over the summer and has to be removed before it goes up like a roman candle. It has been chilly and gorgeous here all day, but it was socked in with fog as we drove west to the nursery. I wore Paris-Deauville to match all the greenery. Thinking about taking a nap — something I rarely do.
What was your tree? A big variety to grow or many years, or a smaller, quicker type?
We were constrained by our city’s list of approved replacement “street trees” and its blessing on where we could plant it (it can’t go in the same spot where the dead tree is, because it’s right next to a fire hydrant – oh the joys of having a corner lot). We chose a “Vanessa Persian Ironwood” as the replacement tree, and we think we know where it will go, but we have to wait for our permit application to be approved. What’s a little sad is that it’s a lovely tree in nearly all seasons, but it’s (probably) going in the easement strip outside our yard proper so the neighbors will get to enjoy it more than we do. Oh well. 🥴
Wow – a lot red tape but that is an attractive tree. Corner lot twins; happily we have a well-established red pine next to our fire hydrant, so we won’t have to worry about replacements. Hope you get your answer soon, and that the planting site will be to your advantage.
Fingers crossed that your red pine doesn’t suffer the fate that our also-well-established Ponderosa pine met. It’s huge, and taking it out will be quite the process, but luckily there are two other trees (a hemlock and another piney thing) and a couple of rhododendrons in the immediate vicinity so it won’t look too bereft.
SOTD = Daly Beauty Eau de Jane
From a sample, a small one, for real! Woohoo! Maybe I’m just vulnerable to all things Chanel No.19? This smells more like the EDT but who’s complaining. Not moi! It’s a citrusy green floral. 🥰
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGKSmJAKQ5/?utm_medium=copy_link
In other news, I have been getting text messages 2x a week regarding sending in my mail-in ballot. So what if I have or haven’t? Does the state have a right to monitor my voting participation OTHER THAN confirming to the extent possible that I am who I say I am and my vote is my own and I only voted at most once?
Remember the time I was getting harassed to let the texted know if I had been vaccinated for COVID-19? I threw it back at her to say she should have access to the data already if she is working for the NJ Dept. of Health. It is not my problem that she is not authorized to access that info. I told her to talk to her boss and stop asking me!
I just got a text, right now and several phone calls this week. How do they even get my cell?
My state also sent me 2 mail in ballots last year. They do not have it together.
There are ways … nothing is really private anymore.
Oh, Similar to No. 19 Edt? That is very tempting!
Yes, although I have to say that the galvanism blast at the beginning reminds me more of the EDP. It has a vintage vibe without powderiness.
Always glad to read about another member of the green family. BTW, many years ago, we moved from Georgia to Indiana. It is amazing how the political ads and furor change when you don’t live in a “battleground” state. A sad commentary on the state of ideological debate, perhaps?
I just tune them out as noise. I am annoyed though at the twice a week Have you voted yet texts. It is my business, not anyone else’s.
Chiming in late, wearing AV, and oldie but goodie. The hubby isn’t feeling well, so I’m making copious amounts of chicken soup. His Covid test was negative but he’s coughing and wheezing, I’m not sure he’s out of the woods just yet.
Hope hubby feels better soon
Oh, good luck to the husband!
Wearing Prada Infusion de Amande. Went for a walk in the sunny, spring-like weather today. Amande was a perfect scent; it seemed to warm up nicely since I was wondering what smelled so good when we got back home.
We had hot, almost humid weather yesterday, followed by storms, and today was cold — felt like October, maybe for the first time all this month. So am jealous of your weather! Hope your Sunday was nice too.
Oh dear, very unstable weather for you. We did have another spring-like day again; even sat outside for some sunshine. Wish it would stay!
Thanks everyone for all the kind words of support yesterday. Today was a better day. I got home tonight to find a Christmas list from my daughter on the table. Lol. All make-up. I guess I better get on it!
My sotd is Tobacco Vanille. Perfect for a cool fall day.
Happy your day was better! ☺️
💜
I’ve been wafting nicely all night! An interesting thing happened with a co-worker, who happens to be from Nigeria. She said “Oh, I knew it was you I was smelling. When I walked by the area where you were documenting, even when you weren’t there, I could still smell it. You smell “Arabian.”
I just happened to be wearing Montale Arabians Tonka, which is lovely. Apparently, it has a distinct “Arabian Style” since she identified it immediately. And through an N95! Anyway, she was a big fan. 😊I’m bringing her in some samples next week, so I hope she enjoys them. It’s rare I ever meet anyone interested In perfumery, so it made my night. Sadly, too busy to take the massage chair for ride. 😢
I have an ST Dupont exclusive to the Middle East scent that smells exactly how you would imagine a Dubai or Doha incense scented mall would – aka very “Arabian.” If you enjoy these kinds if notes Deva I’m happy to send you some!
Thanks! That’s very generous and I appreciate the offer but I think I’ve got my hands full with these 25 Montalé samples. They’ll keep me busy for quite a while! 😊
Awesome story!
That’s lovely!
Wearing Cypress Shade today. A green jewel, very aromatic. Smells like green, sweet, milky sap. Love it. My favorite GREEN perfume of all.
Who makes Cypress Shade? I love greens? Always looking for a great new one!
* I love greens period (no question mark) sorry for the confusion.
I’m in Chinchilla this morning, swanning about in bed getting caught up on the sweet nothings of Sunday’s social media and blogs. Mr. OaklandFresca says I’m spuddling. Might be! For my moonlighting I’ve been assigned a brief article on palliative care—remarkable as it will the third time I’ve had to write on this subject in 2 years. What is the universe trying to tell me? November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month (what? Not on your calendar? I am shocked 😍), so I better get cracking.
Good luck with your writing. Hope it goes well and you get some perfume time, too.
Spuddling is such a great word! Good luck on the article.
I’m wearing BROGUE I love YY. An awesome ylang ylang. Sadly it seems to have been discontinued- or maybe it was a limited edition? I can’t find it listed at Lucky Scent or the BROGUE website anymore. It seems to have just disappeared from one day to next.
There really should be a better warning system for when a favorite perfume is about to disappear. Like a tornado siren, or amber alert. Lol.
THIS. 🤣
YES – LOL – I might even get over my Luddite feelings about my phone if we got alerts that way…
Someone PLEASE invent this app, and add settings for skincare products and favorite lip glosses as well!
It was a limited edition commemorating Luckyscent opening NY location
In a hurry to eat something before I go to work I start toasting a pumpkin spice English muffin. While waiting I spot a lonely peppered pickle in a jar, so I ate it just to get rid of the jar. Then the English muffin popped up, so I ate it with cream cheese. NOT a good combination, I tell ya! Lol!
Happy Birthday to Norm Macdonald may he rest in peace. I miss him. SNL did the bare minimum of a tribute. If I hadn’t already quit watching them, I would quit now.
Anyway wearing Oud Bouquet today. One spray and I am good until tomorrow. Deva has me wanting to investigate Montale now. I heard about one called Gold Flowers that supposedly smells like the original Armani Gio.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve done the same. A few raisins left in the jar, plus an old cornichon, and then I really think it is time someone ate the final sliver of Christmas cake . . . 🧟♀️
It’s the “don’t let good food go to waste” in us. Lol
When I get back to the van I’ll see if I have that one. If so, I can send it your way. I bought the “25 Best Sellers” set on Twisted Lilly. You can hop over there and peruse the 25 at your leisure and let me know what you’d like to try. You can email me at taiga101 in the land of yahooligans. ✌🏼
Thanks Deva, I will check them out.
Hey there Lillyjo! I just read about that sewer rat of a customer you had to deal with and I hope you are feeling better today. Treat yourself to some new perfume and spray the bad vibes away.
Hey back Kanuka!
I am feeling better. I should know better to not engage with sewer rats next time!
I was very surprised SNL did not do more.
Monday morning (6am) and I’ve just been outside listening to the dawn chorus which is magnificent at this time of year: tuk, bellbirds, grey warblers, blackbirds, sparrows, thrushes, and more! What a boost. Okay, perfume….been obsessing on marzipan since reading the Colm Toibin Thomas Mann novel as Mann grew up in Lubeck, the marzipan “capital” . His mother was Brazilian, where the sugar came from. There is a marzipan statute of him apparently. A real treat when I was a kid was Battenberg cake. I haven’t seen it for more than thirty years but it was a rectangle of sponge ( pink, brown, yellow squares) wrapped in marzipan. I loved it but it was so expensive. Wearing Rabat Loukhoum my only almond scent.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/battenberg-cake
Looks like it was just pink, not brown…false memory syndrome
Wow. All those bird sounds. I bet it was lovely.
Wow! Sounds like you live in a place teeming with life with that chorus! I love the song of birds in the morning and also observing them.
I’m very fond of marzipan too and it’s probably my favourite sweet to eat, especially with dark chocolate. Thus almond and marzipan are also favourite scents! I like Lush snowcake for marzipan scent, especially the soap. Never smelt the Lutens, but maybe I should hunt down a sample.
Thanks for the Lush tip. I live close to town but surrounded by forest and trees and no traffic and in spring it is like being in an arena of bird calls
Everything about this is making my mouth water — the dawn chorus, the Battenberg cake, the Rahat Loukoum… We get lovely bird song here in the spring, but the last time I camped in the Sierras next to a meadow I’d forgotten what a world-class dawn chorus sounded like. Just laid there breathless in my tent while what sounded like 1000 intricately interwoven songs poured through the air like a flood of green and gold light.
Is not it incredible, just the sheer volume of the sound
I had the best summer job for two years in university – recording the dawn chorus of flycatchers in a marsh in the Rocky Mountains. I still go back to that moment in the dim swamp as the birds wake up when I need a “happy place”.
Oh, how wonderful. It’s such a special time of day
Oeillet Bengale for church and errands. Will head to local place at halftime to get Mexican food and watch rest of Packers-Bears. I am tired…I stayed up watching the madness at the end of the Tennessee- Old Miss game.
Heads up that I will be doing a split of Baiser de Russie next weekend.
Finished reading The Silent Patient. Enjoyed it quite a bit. Suitably creepy for this time of year. (Not ghost creepy or anything…)
You smell great and I agree about the book too!
VS Pear Glace. Lotion, Spray and perfume. One that illicits so many fond memories.
Slept a glorious 8 1/2 hours! 4 am till 12:30. I could have slept all day. Long week of no sleep.
Still tired and my pup is laying beside me. Reason enough to not do anything but play on the computer.
Happy Sunday!
Chanel Riveria from a decant. Lovely stuff..I mainly get orange blossom/neroli. Reminds me of Elie Saab some? What I wanted Elie Saab to be anyway lol.
Well, I’m in a couple of versions of Habanita. They are both beautiful, start to finish. ❤️