It's Almost-Friday, National Bacon Day, the sixth day of Christmas (geese a-laying) and the fifth day of Kwanzaa (Nia: purpose). Birthdays: Rudyard Kipling, Paul Bowles, Bo Diddley and Patti Smith. RIP Keri Hulme. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Grandiflora Madagascan Jasmine.
Reminder: 12/31 is New Year's Eve. Do what you were going to do anyway...wear the perfect fragrance to celebrate, share joy and look forward to 2022.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2021, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is March of the Snow Geese [cropped] by John Brighenti at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m off to the vet again, with another cat, so I’m wearing You or Someone Like You. High today in the 80s.
Oh lucky you for 80 degrees, I’m envious. It’s so cold and damp here.
Adding to the envy here.
Me three!
Mee four!
Send me some of your weather…
Hope your kitty is ok.
You smell great! Hope the vet trip is uneventful.
Another cold, damp day here, but at least the sky is less dark. We are supposed to get a few days of sun starting Friday so crossing fingers that actually happens. Very glad to be at home and not traveling right now, vibes for anyone who is suffering through that mess. I’m wearing Tauer Sundowner to warm me up.
I wish I was traveling to the islands right now via private yacht, but otherwise, yes, glad to be at home.
You smell wonderful – it’s the first Tauer that really clicked with and for me in wearing it. Other Tauer perfumes just smell wonderful to me.
You smell great. I hope you see the sun soon.
Randomly in the mood for SL Chypre Rouge: wine gums and tree sap and cough syrup, so bizarre and yet so perfect. Not wintry, exactly, but it does feel appropriate on a winter’s day.
When I was buying my first Lutens years ago (in New York — I remember it like it was yesterday) I was torn between Chypre Rouge (strange, fascinating) and Un Bois Vanille (accessible, comforting), and I chose CR, because lots of scents are friendly and easy to love but nobody does weird and compelling like Lutens. (Of course I eventually ended up buying UBV a couple of years later.)
I love Chypre Rouge (I think we are in the minority). You smell strange and marvelous! I am going to join you.
Another fan of Chypre Rouge here
I also wanted to share that Covid tests are hit or miss, my brother who had cold symptoms last weekend and initially tested negative has now tested positive, so be very prudent and safe in your get-togethers. We are staying home until this huge Omicron wave blows through. Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year!!
This. Be very careful about making assumptions with the home tests especially.
I hope your brother has mild symptoms and recover quickly.
There are so many factors in play here including how the specimen was collected, time from exposure to test, amount of exposure time, sensitivity of the test. I wonder to what end the 1B tests will be good?
Spot on.
I watched a video a trillion times before I got tested to make sure I got it completed correctly. I had over a week before I was actually tested.
Staying home sounds very wise, case number records are being broken everywhere.
My school district just sent an email asking all students and staff to be tested by Monday. Ummm…. that’s a lot of tests. The first appointment I could find less than an hour away is on Tuesday. I have rapid tests because I had been planning to travel, but I’m sure I’m in the minority.
SMH and it’s called not having a plan…
So sorry, cazaubon. I hope he has a mild case.
Staying home is a wonderful thing.
Good morning.
Sotd is MFK Gentle Fluidity Gold.
I was watching Martha Steward on youtube last night and saw some delicious coconut macaroons. I plan to make them this afternoon. I happen to have everything in my pantry so no additional grocery run, yay.
Currently drinking lavender earl grey.
I got my haircut yesterday! I called to make an appointment and realized I was speaking to my hairdresser! She works M-W-F-Sa but I thought she works Thursdays instead of Wednesdays. Anyway, I feel great ringing in the New Year!
So lucky!
I was! I normally try to be the first appointment but the need for a cut removed that desire.
Oh yay and big thumbs up for getting your haircut! ? It does have a “special” feeling to it, getting one’s hair cut close to the New Year. We ready. ?
Yes, we are!
Yay for fresh hair!
Indeed!
A good haircut is so essential to mental health!
It does. I shouldn’t be dreading it but it is back to work next week!
Whoo hoo for haircuts!
It was a weight off my head for sure!
I bet you look and feel great! I’m dreaming of getting my hair washed.?
Too funny!
Lavender earl grey is a favorite of mine!! Yum – enjoy that and making Your coconut macaroons!!
That tea sounds yum.
Woke up in no 5 edt today and now in Eau Premiere. Went on a little Ulta shopping spree. Had more than enough points for Chanel Coco and more no 5 edt with plenty of points to spare. I am almost out of no 5 edt to begin with.
That’s a fun spree – Coco is a great scent for New Year’s Eve and Day celebrations. Hmm, thinking here, it would probably be in my top five, except that for me, my greatest perfume loves have to have some link to the past. I never smelled Coco until I fell down the rabbit hole. My perfume past is filled with Dior, Estee Lauder and Guerlain scents. And Avon, of course!
Love n 5 in all its forms, and Coco as well! You smell fabulous.
I’m wearing my default perfume, Angel Muse. I remember when I first tried this, I didn’t like it much. I think I had oversprayed. Now it’s one of my all time favorites.
It’s 28 degrees here. There is a little bit of sun shining so I am sending it to pl67?
Looks like that bit of sun will be here for a couple of hours tomorrow morning. I waiting for it! ?
You smell great, lillyjo!
Yay for sun! We got a few rays this morning as well, which greatly lifted my spirits.
You smell wonderful! Perfect for a chilly day.
I like Angel Muse , especially in the cold. Keep warm and toasty!
Angel Muse is great in the cold. Love it.
That’s funny you had such a 180 on Angel Muse. Do you have a BUB?
Muse is gorgeous. A sweet friend introduced me to this gem. I’m surprised it doesn’t get mentioned that often.
Wearing African Leather and loving it, from the Memo Discovery Set I received at Christmas.
That is a good one.
Yep, it’s a lovely one.
On this rainy and gray day, when it’s suddenly +8°C, I’m wearing Ambre Imperial by VC&A.
https://www.instagram.com/chemistbottle/p/CYHG86dIuk0/?utm_medium=copy_link
Nice perfume, Lucas!
Thank you!
You smell great!
Gorgeous picture, as per your usual.
Wearing L’Artisan Noir Exquis. I needed a warm, cozy scent to take me thru another dark, rainy, boring day.
Drinking my second cup of coffee and glad my working week is over in two hours. Then, I will relax for the rest of the day. I see deep cleaning and organizing in my schedule for the rest of the week.
Happy Thursday, everyone! ?
You smell great, pfl67! Good luck with your deep cleaning and organizing!
Thank you, Hajusuuri!
You smell wonderful! I plan to start cleaning today too.
Thank you, Cazaubon! I have been postponing that task for a while, but it’s time to start getting serious about it!
Yay for the end of the workweek!
?
I did deep cleaning leading up to Boxing Day; now it’s time for the organizing. Not a forté of mine, but I’m trying to do it in chunks so I don’t get overwhelmed!
It will take me a couple of weekends to do the organizing. I hope to stick to it until I am done.
?
??
We had predictions for freezing rain this morning, but right now it’s just snowing regular snow … so that’s kind of a relief. Freezing rain is the worst. SOTD is Paris-Deauville, which is surprisingly perfect on this cold, wet day.
I’m with you on freezing rain being the worst, followed by ice pellets.
So agree about freezing rain! That weather system is headed to my house this weekend but the meteorologists can’t determine where the ice/snow line is. Really hope we get snow.
Freezing rain is just dreadful. Yuck.
No argument from me! Freezing rain is The Worst. But I have a lot of things on my list competing for second place in “Yuckiest Weather”.
Shalimar Mexican Vanilla, yum, yum. Work is a lot of people frantically trying to finish up today what they thought they had gotten done last week, so I have just given up. 3 day weekends are the best. I can hardly wait for 5:00!
I hope 5:00 is here before you know it!
You will get there with honor, I am sure: then you’re off the tether!
Thanks to a wonderful NST’er, (who also gave me other Chanel lovelies <3 ) SotD is Chanel No. 22. Having tested it twice before, I could not "reach" it. But today, I wore new clothes and made sure I was well moisturized. Then I spritzed 4 times. It has been my wonderful companion all morning and we are still going along just fine. Yes, this being New Year's Eve Eve made me think of it. Will 2022 be the year to add this to the collection? Only Donatella knows for sure.
Sounds like a perfectly perfect coincidence. I think the universe has spoken!
Oh man, n 22 is so beautiful. It’s got everything.
I am always haunting the splitmeets in case someone splits n22 or Cuir de Russie. Wish those Chanel Exclusifs came in small bottles … although they wouldn’t be exclusif anymore I suppose.
I haven’t clicked with No. 22 either.
No. 22 is one of my all-time favorites, and you’ve just chosen my New Year’s Eve scent for me! Thank you!
I’ve been enjoying a Dusita sample set since Christmas, and today’s sample is Cavatina. As a brand, Dusita is so floral, so I’m enjoying everything! Fleur de Lalita and Pavillion d’Or have been my favorites so far.
I love Dusita florals too, so pretty!
What is your favourite Dusita, at least so far?
Fleur de Lalita! I really like them all, but this one made me swoon more than the others, including the extraits, which, while lovely, don’t seem different enough to warrant the cost.
A Dusita sample set would be a great 2022 purchase…You might get an enabler pin!
Do it! If you like florals, it will be a hit!
Initio Side Effect toady.
That’s a hysterical name given the pandemic and your profession!
I LOVE Side Effect! And the name.?
You smell incredible. It is potent enough to last all day and night. 8 sprays?
But of course!
Trying Le Lion again today. I get the Shalimar connection and since I adore Shalimar and Chanel’s my favorite house, I had high hopes but nope, not for me.
A neighbor, whom we wave to but haven’t met, brought over a big tray of holiday treats last night, very nice and she’s young and earnest which was refreshing. I’m sorry to say I ate way more than I should have and have felt awful all day, I really know better but it was good going down.
What a sweet gesture from your neighbor!
It really was. I remember those days, baking and gifting up a storm, but that time is long past.
The forecast for today is for a warm and sunny end of the year
I’m enjoying breakfast in a cloud of last night’s Ubar. It lasts so well on clothes that I can’t use the usual phrases like “traces of…”.
I’m thinking of Fêtes Persanes from MDCI for later today, it continues to be one of my favourites.
Favorites are always comforting to have.
I’m wearing a light spritz of Nick’s Sunflower and waiting to give blood.
Well done you!
Good for you!
Very mild, 15c today.
To continue with ‘forgotten’ perfumes I selected Chantal Thomas’s Osez-Moi, a nice lipsticky, powdery scent but tonight it’s vintage Giorgio Red which is radiating from my skin like crazy.
Wow, those are crazy warm temps for your December, aren’t they?
Keri Hulme was the writer in residence at Canterbury University in 1985. I was a twenty-something masters student studying there and she had won the NZ book awards the previous year for her novel the bone people and it was HUGE, a massive, startling work. Everyone around the English dept. was pretty much in awe of her book and the fact that she was so close by, having an office in the dept. As the weeks passed we would ask one another if anyone had actually seen her , and it seemed like no one ever had. It eventually became clear that she would come in at night, after everyone but the cleaners had gone home, and would work until the early hours…so we only saw her once, at a packed lecture she gave. Later that year she won the Booker prize. I met her a few times in later years and she was very kind to me once, over a slight controversy. An incredible power.
Wearing la dolce vita today. Waiting for summer.
I hope you get your Summer soon and that it is perfect!
So interesting about Keri Hulme. The Bone People is on my To Read list.
I am pretty sure I did not read it until after she won the Booker (that is probably how I heard of it).
11.5 hours sleep
last night was first time in several winters I closed my eyes to the sound of a big pacific storm.
SOTD is le lion- rrrrrrrawwwwwww
off for some errands and like many of you fragrant friends, clearing and cleaning over the weekend.
Last night I only got 6.5, so you should lend me a couple of yours
Hermes Caleche again. Feels clean and strong. Exactly what I need to get through the pile of work before the weekend
You smell wonderful!
L Air de Rien today, one of my favorite scents. Thankfully i have a BUB. So sad its discontinued…
We are on a diet right now and try to count out calories, but had a half bottle of bubbly with our meal of Pasta and baked pumpkin. Such a treat…
You smell wonderful! Yay for bubbly, which is a treat! We will be joining you tomorrow with some!
Excellent perfume and beverage choices today! ??
Ormonde Woman. So great. Still cleaning up after a big Christmas with lots of family and working on letting go of my stress. Our current PNW weather is definitely conducive to staying inside!
You smell amazing! The cardamom is perfect for this PNW weather.
We might venture out for a snowy walk but like you, mostly staying warm inside
Hoping that you have a quiet and peaceful New Year’s, springpansy.
You smell great! My 20 year-old son noticed OJ Woman the other day and commented how nice it smelled. I told him he has good taste!
Could he rock it?
He’s a Cool Water guy, lol!
In AG Mandragore because I chose it and 2 other fragrances (Remniscence Patchouli and Theorema) for Mr. allo to do a (blind) grab and he picked Mandragore. It’s a random but fun way to get bottles in re-circulation. Gotta find something to do on these snowy days…
Excellent choice, Mr. allo!
It’s a blindingly sunny day after an overnight snowfall. For some reason this is making me feel nostalgic for sunny autumn days, so I am wearing Le Labo Patchouli 24.
Love that one. Nice choice.
I’m indulging with four sprays of Tam Dao today to really enjoy the sandalwood. Looks like I will be doing a virtual New Year’s with friends because two of them came back from visiting family with what we are hoping is just colds. I did stop by the little specialty market downtown to pick up some lovely cheese olives and prosciutto for me to snack on! It will be tasty night if nothing else.
So much illness going around, it’s astonishing. Hope nobody progresses into anything worse, and hope you have a lovely virtual New Year’s.
It’s 50 here in Brooklyn!
Robin, how do you like the
Grandiflora Madagascan Jasmine?
Dotd thus far are Prada’s Amande and Feve Delicieuse. I find the Prada lovely, but I’m not getting the full experience since Feve has stomped it into submission. Eventually I will compare it to Heeley’s L’Amandiere. Oh wait, no I won’t – it will have departed. BTW, I recently discovered that Heeley offers 15 ml bottle sets. I also discovered that Miller Harris has a US website. Anyway, I don’t know if my tastes have changed, but I don’t recall Feve being as massive and boozy as what I’m getting from it today. Perhaps my dregs have turned or, ya know, the nature of dregs is that they are certainly concentrated so there’s that.
Heeley has 15mL bottle sets? Uh oh! Dangerous Knowledge! ??
They do! They’re not crazy expensive, but I have no idea how much the shipping is. I could certainly fill up a set quite easily!
File it away, file it away!
Started out quite nice — I always like a big white floral, and the green is nicely done — but then I got too busy with other things and neglected to pay attention, and oddly it did not call out for attention, so maybe it is not so big after all? Will have to wear it again.
It seems not as sweet as stephanotis, which is maybe a good thing for a personal fragrance.
Wearing B&BW Open Sky which I bought blind when they had 40% off the website around Thanksgiving b/c it has vanilla of course.
I was also in a physical store around that time and was going to sample but the SA said they sold out of it quickly thus increasing my desire. ehaeheh
Notes are wild blackberries, soft violet and a cloud of comforting vanilla. This is the EDP not the body spray and I get sweet berries w/ violet and some vanilla in background which will hopefully build
…not groundbreaking but overall nicely done for the price point. I didn’t think it would have much oomph so I did a couple sprays on each arm but may stick w/ one on each next time b/c It has surprising sillage.
B&BW seems to have gotten better and upped their game w/ the fragrance line in recent years w/ scents like Strawberry Poundcake, Bonfire Bash, etc.
Glad to hear it is good! If it was violet + vanilla I’d be tempted to follow in your footsteps and buy it blind, but sweet berries are not my thing.
Gray day here but not too cold at about 25-28 degrees. Funny how one adapts. Helps to be cozy in a deep teal boucle mock turtleneck from Target….
Spritzed on Kiss Me Intense as we headed to a lovely memorial service for a friend’s mom, who passed away on Christmas Day. Such a joyful memorial…daughters and adult grandkids spoke. In many ways, it made me think of my own mom. They even had a Singer treadle sewing machine up front…my mom had one just like it. Our tiny little village is also very busy…I guess people have come up for the holiday weekend. Now I’m going to take a quick nap before we head out to a game night gathering.
I really quite love Kiss Me Intense. It’s not too sweet and the almond/vanilla combo just works for me.
So glad it was joyous, that must be hard to lose your mom on Christmas Day.
Wearing Danat al Duniya by Ajmal today, and really enjoying it. Worked a short day from home, which is good, because the Tween woke up with sniffles and now has a low fever, and I have a sore throat. Have not broken out the home tests yet, as we are indoors and will not budge for days. 2021 is the year that keeps on giving…I really hope these are normal winter colds.
? for you.
2nd that! Take care of yourself missionista.
Song of the Day: https://youtu.be/mh4t8h1U3yE
Another grey day, with an all-too-brief flash of sun late in the afternoon. More household chores, plus phone calls for next year’s wellness appointments.
I have started to hear about people I know personally who have gotten COVID. It’s kinda disquieting… Glad that my plans are to hunker down for New Year’s!
SOTD = still in Divine EdP.
I hope the sun sees you again soon.
Good plan staying in!
Weather forecast says the clouds can’t last the rest of the winter, ha!
I was looking up lucky foods for New Year’s Day earlier tonight. I did not know that pork and sauerkraut were part of that group! ??
You smell wonderful in Divine! I am also glad that I am planning to spend NYE toasting the new year at about 9:30 with my husband and calling it a day!
Thank you! Loving Divine, but a bottle is SO spendy! Sigh.
Jalapeno!
Echoing your covid hitting too many friends and family.
At least 4 family members are positive after flying back from a wedding-I had covid and didn’t go.? 4 friends were recently exposed. Waiting to get tested.
I had some relatives with possible exposures early in the year. Not sure if any of them actually got it, though. Mr. Jalapeno and I have been keeping to ourselves since the beginning of December, though not by conscious decision.
Oy! Too many people with COVID!
Damn Skippy Right!
Great song, thank you!
And same here. Every day, more covid news, just a little too close to home.
You’re welcome, Robin! Today was the first time I had ever heard that one. Mr. Nelson has some surprising talents.
Looks like I am double masking now to get groceries.
I have never heard it either, which seems surprising…I do hear a lot of Willie Nelson on Austin’s public radio station, which is usually what I’m listening to if I’m not listening to XPN.
Are you double masking with an N95/K94? I don’t think I could breathe!
It’s the warmest December on record here. I was feeling smug sitting out on my porch with the cocktail hour wine until I got chased by a mosquito! Ugh. That’s one reason we hope for a freeze here at least once per winter–kill off the bugs! I chose Elixir des Merveilles today because I like it in warm weather. Well I basically just like it. Not doing a lot, but took care of some minor car things and bill things (ugh). I’ve got a horrible flea invasion and I attribute it to our unusually warm weather too. It’s going to require a very determined and somewhat expensive response. At least I smell nice!
A mosquito! In December! Ok, that almost makes cold weather worth it.
HATE mosquitoes!
Flea invasion is even scarier!
SOTDs were 1) Futur; and 2) Parfums de Nicolai’s Musc Intense. I don’t think either will be my New Year’s Eve fragrance, though! Still pondering that one. I’m loving Musc Intense, a recent buy.
I have not figured my Friday scent either…
Thanks to MossyBerry’s comment, I’m going with Chanel No. 22 for New Year’s Eve!
Popping in with a covid update.
Some things(little victories!) have gotten better. But, symptoms have gotten worse as this has gone on. Can’t really complain, because people have died and I’m still here.
I’m hoping someone might know the answer to this. Is it possible to catch it again after a month? I swear I feel the sore throat again and I might have been exposed at Christmas. Only one person, but still. I’ll keep my trap shut. ?
I’m looking for anti-inflammatory foods.
Very tired. I get out at night to walk my dog, but can’t wear a mask. I can’t breathe, so I go later at night when no one is around.
I’ll stop boring you guys.
I hope everyone is well and stays that way.
Re; your question about catching COVID again. Unfortunately, yes. If you had a different strain your first time around, say Delta, and you get exposed to Omicron, your previous exposure doesn’t provide much, if any, protection.
Thanks for the clarification. I think I should isolate again and get tested next week.
I’m so ? at that person.
It’s basically a cold virus and they are all different so yes, I believe you can catch it again. Can you get tested for antibodies?
Within a month??
I didn’t know about a test for antibodies. I’ll find out about that!
AnniePerfumes, you really CAN complain, you don’t feel well and that’s really hard.
I hope you are better soon!
This might help, explains omicron reinfection:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/dec/02/omicron-may-cause-more-covid-reinfections-say-south-african-experts
Robin, you are so kind.
I appreciate the link.
I’ve already been planning a visit to urgent care. I’ll table that, since I feel that sore throat again.
Very late ⏰ but here I am!
SOTD = Chanel Les Exclusifs Coromandel EDT
Such a great fragrance, sadly discontinued but I have a BUB. I also have the parfum with its own BUB (I split the first one) and I will be getting the EDP in 2022ish or whenever I can get it at a lower price point.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYIT5bAOCyE/?utm_medium=copy_link
Looking forward to ringing in the new year. Who would have thought that this is the 2nd straight year that I am not on a trip. Of course I consider myself lucky but still… I’m so hoping we can get over this COVID stuff. My benchmark before traveling on a plane is when masks are no longer required (doesn’t mean I won’t be wearing one but I want the flexibility of not having to wear it). Cruises? Nope, way way out in the future and no more inside staterooms; I would rather pay more and have the ability to open a door to the outside.
Bubbly is chilling in the fridge ready for tomorrow, I just have to decide what I’ll have for dinner!
I am SO SO glad we did not know how long this would be…I think it would have had a serious effect on my mood if I’d known we’d still be in this predicament at the end of 2021.
I don’t know what my benchmark is to get on a plane, just know we have not hit it yet for sure. I have not even eaten inside a restaurant yet.
Chanel Les Exclusifs question for you since you know much more about the line than I do. I would love to hear your opinion about EDT vs. EDP.
I waited too long to get Cuir de Russie in EDT and am wondering about the difference btw EDT and EDP. And do you know why they changed the formula? I have smelled the CdR EDP once and could have imagined things but it wasn’t quite as good as I remember the EDT.
I never got along with Cuir de Russie EDT and vaguely remember sampling the EDP which did not leave me with any impression. I can only speculate on the switch to EDP and that it had something to do with IFRA restrictions.
I did not know Coromandel was discontinued!
Other stuff:
I never want to go on a cruise. After at least 4 relatives tested positive and were all on the same flight, planes are a long way off.
I’d like to visit family. And meet IRL some NSTers. My car.
This doesn’t seem to be ending. I want my crystal ball so I know if 2022 will be an improvement.?
Coromandel EDT is discontinued but it leaves on as an EDP and Parfum.
* lives on …