Our tenth annual 'stepping back' poll: can this group of shameless enablers help each other not buy perfume? Let's find out.
Name a perfume you've been itching to buy but suspect you might not need, and tell us why you think it might not really be a good use of your money. Maybe everyone will talk you out of it. Or, maybe not so much.
If you participated in this poll last year, tell us if you ended up buying the fragrance anyway!
Note: image is Crater Lake [cropped] by aspearing at flickr; some rights reserved.
Well, all of the fragrances I was yearning for last year (10 CC, Wazamba, Knize Ten) are still on the wish list, none having been purchased or fallen out of the sky into my lap. I rearranged things to increase my perfume shelf space yesterday, and was just looking at it a few minutes ago, thinking what a wealth of lovelies are at my disposal. I’m not exactly itching to buy anything at the moment, but am pretty sure I will be as soon as lucasai reminds me of the men’s version of the Prada L’Eau Ambrée that I’m wafting this morning.
I mean, Knize Ten is *ridiculously* affordable, only $75 at Luckyscent, and if there’s a more sophisticated leather, I don’t know of it (no, not even Chanel Cuir de Russie). If you don’t already have a really great leather on your shelf, maybe this should be the one. It may not fall into your lap, but it could be at your door in a week….
Oh dear. I have lots of great leathers (it might be my most populous category), but you make very good points about value and sophistication. It’s a wonderful scent and easily obtainable, unlike some others (Doblis, I’m looking at you … or would be, if I could find you anywhere).
It’s eve more affordable if you don’t buy it. Sine you have so many leathers, ask yourself, is there an occasion or mood which your existing collection will not provide.
For what is worth, I think of K10 as my butchest leather,not my most sophisticated.
You smell wonderful today! I had Wazamba on my list for ages, found a good deal last year and bought it with no regrets, I love it. 10 CC, on the other hand, is a disappointment. I have the body oil through a swap here and the scent is very subtle, so I got a decant of the perfume which is still very subtle, like I can barely smell it. Maybe it’s just me but I’d say pass. Just my 2 cents!
Have you tried layering the oil and the perfume?
Envious of your Wazamba! And interesting about your experience with 10 CC. I’ve only had tiny samples and thought faintness might be from inadequate application. Maybe that’s why people buy multiple bottles of it at a time (per LS)? ?
I think 10 CC used to be stronger in the past but has been reformilated.
Adding my voice to the others saying 10CC ain’t what it used to be. It fades fast, and I had a problem with the sprayers, yes in the plural. Bought them through Luckyscent, so not a discounter. I had to return my bottle, AND it’s replacement as both leaked pretty profoundly when I sprayed the perfume. Putting down the bottle on my desk when I finished, I noticed it left a bright ring in the wood where perfume had pooled. I’m on my third bottle for the one order, and it’s sprayer is acting a little wonky too— I am being very very careful when I use it as I don’t have it in me to return it a third time.
Still a beautiful perfume, but now a little lacking ?
If it’s a defect, I would not think thrice of returning it and getting a refund and this means you can switch it for another perfume!
Wow, that is just sad.
I frequently think about buying Tom Ford Lost Cherry, it smells like the sour cherries I had growing on my childhood farm, and the almond extract my mom used to make Christmas cookies. But oof that price tag.
I suggest waiting for the Sephora sale and you can get up to 20% off. It’s pretty potent so a travel spray will last you a while.
The 10-mL travel spray is pricey per volume, but it’s not a huge amount of money, and it really is a terrific scent: I’ve never smelled anything so convincingly sour-cherryish. (And the sprayer of the inner bottle unscrews, so you could reuse it if you wanted to — I know you’re not supposed to, but whatever, we all do things we’re not supposed to.) I could never spend $275 (CAD) on a one-ounce bottle, but $85 for 10 mL seems doable.
I say go for it.
This is the scent I always spray on when in a store with TF. It’s really delicious! Agree that the price is nuts-o. There is a seller on Etsy that is selling 50mls for $69 including shipping, from Russia. Seems legit.. also has many other TF scents.
I would personally not take a risk on anything from Russia, especially since Tom Ford is one of the most counterfeited brands.
Ditto!
+1 here. There have been a lot of TF fakes from Russia, some of them really hard to identify. And filling a despite with Etsy is much harder than with eBay
How do they do that, I wonder? Do they manufacture it from start to finish or fill empty bottles?
Makes me angry!
Start to fini
Sh manufacturing (which has gotten much better – hard to spot inconsistencies) + fake juice
Also vote for the travel spray to dip your toe in.
Another recommendation for the travel spray – it’s such a nice bottle and sprayer and a great way to own some of this (even if the travel spray is $$$ per ml, I can afford it while a full bottle is out of my reach).
That one sounds good to me too. Go for the travel spray.
I am trying very hard to not even *want* to buy anything, because I have a wide-ranging collection that I love and am thankful to have, but you know how it is. (Of course you do: that’s why this poll exists). The first bottle I ever emptied was the long-forgotten Dieci by Pierre Lorain, and I found a bottle online. I doubt it’s a fake: why would anyone bother? I am very, very tempted to order it, because I have such fond memories of it, one of those delicious seventies oakmoss things from before I even knew what oakmoss was but I knew what I liked. I’ve been sitting on it for a couple of months: I want to pull the trigger but I don’t want to. Someone stop me! Or don’t.
The last few days have been viciously cold (-20° to -30°C) and windy, which mean I have winter-dry hands, so I put on a few drops of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Riche, which not only calms everything down but also smells lush and beachy — you don’t need to wear any other scent when this stuff is on the job.
If it’s rare and the price is right, I say go for it!
I just went down the rabbit hole and ordered a bunch of samples of perfumes I have fond memories of, so I’m the wrong person to talk you out of it! I’d say jump on it while you can, because you may not be able to find it again.
I agree with hajusuuri on both counts. And agree there is little need to fake something so few probably remember. My rules about online purchases are to avoid splash bottles (too easy to refill with a fake) and not to buy from sellers in dicey countries (the specifics of which I will be silent to avoid offending anyone). So far I’ve had reasonably good luck.
Oh, my, I did participate last year, and in the interim have purchased both of the scents I wrote about: HdP 1804, and Memo Winter Palace. No regrets — and both are in the decants I brought with me to Ireland.
Itch pretty well scratched, then. I am sure another will arise.
Am sitting in a very friendly, vegan-oriented tea room In Galway, enjoying the first day of relaxed COVID rules here — and, like many, am still wearing my mask for the most part. Drinking a delicious oat milk chai. I expect that things will be wild tonight — the first night since early December that pubs and restaurants will be able to stay open past 8. I’m staying home!
Tea room! I just love the sound of that and wish we had some tea rooms/houses here in NYC that were casual vs. the stuffy options like The Plaza. Enjoy your new freedoms!
Is Alice’s Tea Cup fun / casual? It’s hard to tell from the write ups.
It is fun & casual BUT it’s closed! The owners are looking to sell.
Aha, thanks.
Yes, I participated last year, and yes, I bought a vintage Guerlain or two off Evilbay. But you knew that.
This year’s mild thoughts of a no-buy leapt on a fast horse and disappeared over the horizon about a week into the new year. Thoughts of a low-buy followed quickly on another fast horse. Hoo boy have I been busy this January! Hey Robin, when is the next splitmeet? Some of my new bargains definitely call out for splitting.
I’ve got nothing on the to-buy list at the moment, but, you know, give me half an hour or so, lol.
I originally wrote “… nothing on my wish list, this very second, but who knows what the day will bring … “
Laughing at the low/no buys flying by on horseback lol.
How can the best of intentions compete with vintage Guerlain?
They oughtn’t: do I still remember the vintage Apres L’Ondee I put back on the shelf?? You betcha!
Oof. I bet that still smarts.
LOL! I’m on another nearly-no-buy, we’ll see how long that lasts. Last year started well but by the third quarter when the Great Guerlain Panic hit I fell off the wagon spectacularly.
What did I miss re:The great guerlain panic?Did they cull or reformulate again?I’m aware of the new packaging of some perfumes….
They did a complete revamp/repackaging of most of their scents. Many things were discontinued or now restricted distribution. There was definitely some reformulation but nothing dramatic or horrible.
I’m joining you on the “nearly no buy” list. I did well last year until the last 3/4 months. Oops! ?
So one of my chores this weekend is to do the schedule for 2022…will try to remember to come back here and tell you, but if I don’t, ask me again on Monday!
I am late, but next splitmeet is 5/21
SOTD = Dior Feve Delicieuse
I am in Tonka heaven! No IG pic (yet); instead, here’s my Caturday post:
https://www.instagram.com/hajusuuri/p/CZCWE5zufSC/?utm_medium=copy_link
I don’t have anything in my wish list right now. This week, I just ordered and already received the new Frederic Malle Cafe Society Home Spray. It is still in the box as I am still fomite-phobic although not as bad as the first six months of the pandemic when I let mail sit for a minimum of 4 days before opening; nowadays, 1 day is good enough. I look forward to enabling ? further.
In other news I found out that the laptop I use only for work is on Windows 10 and I will need to replace it because Microsoft will stop supporting the OS in May and my laptop’s processor is not compatible with Windows 11. The good news is that since I only use it for work, I don’t have any files to transfer. I will also be reimbursed up to $1,000 which I would like to leverage before it disappears!
You smell great.
Thank you ?!
are there any knitted kittehs today?
No, not today….possibly tomorrow.
Oh yeah!
Gosh, I can’t really think of anything that’s truly on my wish list. I decided to do a no-buy again this year (at least 6 months) while I “de clutter” my collection (doing a 365 project for 2021 made me realize I need to move a lot out before it all goes bad…). I did buy a couple of things at the end of the year to get ahead of the no buy, but I’m feeling good about pausing. Wearing something different every day last year made me realize that I have a lot of beloved perfumes that weren’t getting worn enough.
I think it is very hard for a perfume to go bad (so you should keep and not declutter any you like now or liked in the past) and always be sure to clear the sprayer of any you have not worn in a while. I just spray in a tissue once or twice. And yes, a pause is good – did one year-end last year myself.
I’ve wanted Angel eau Croisiere since it came out in 2020, talked myself out of it a bunch of times and gave in; the bottle arrived yesterday. It was a blind buy which I never do but first thought is that it’s figgy and delicious, so I’m not sorry. Nothing else is on the wishlist right now.
Sotd is Imperial Opoponax.
Oh yay! Probably the last good Angel flanker. Good price too.
Yes, excellent price! That pushed me over the edge.
Sounds like a good version of Angel. Good for you for purchasing it!
Thanks! It will be perfect in warmer weather.
Love a blind buy that goes well!
I wish I could remember last years stepping back, but I don’t.
I want OJ Woman in the worst way. I want the 30ml that is out of stock right now. So am sitting on my hands and wallet.
I’m with you — that one is definitely on my list but until the 30 ml comes back, I’ll make do with my various samples of it. No space for a large bottle of anything.
Hmmmm. I didn’t know there was a 30 ml. I am joining you in love for OJ Woman.
I didn’t either springpansy until I spent a whole lotta hours doing perfume math. OJ emailed me and said it would be in stock in February.
Technically, I am in a no -purchase zone, but I would have bought it the last day of 2021 if it had been in stock.
That makes sense, right?
Absolutely makes sense.
Ha, ha, etc. apsara: oh yes that make sense!!
I would never try to talk anyone out of OJ Woman at any size!
then it sounds like our work is done here!
Hello everyone and have a lovely weekend!
It’s been a crisp yet sunny day so I even dared to go cycling, did a bunch of kilometers on the snowy roads.
Today I’m wearing Nishane Nanshe.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCdsNsIg-b/?utm_medium=copy_link
That would be very scary to me!
I’ve got two that I’d like to pull the proverbial trigger on: Synthetic Jungle and Gloria by Cacharal. Gloria is discontinued and so can’t be found except on eBay for $250+ and being that it’s a blind buy, that’s out of my comfort level. Also thinking (and hoping!) we might see Synthetic Jungle on the next splitmeet and can make do with my samples for now.
SOTD: Rose 31 body lotion
Temps are crazy-low, so staying put today. Time to make some more soup, however!
I would totally be up for a Synthetic Jungle split. It’s so green and gorgeous!
I still need to sniff that one. I have a love hate relationship with green notes, so it could go either way with me.
PSA: Bergdorf – 30% off beauty, Synthetic Jungle included. You also get 10% cash back via Rakuten
Gloria is amazing. I’m sorry I didn’t buy it when it was easy to find and not $250. Not sure it’s worth that much, but it was lovely.
PSA: Bergdorf – 30% off beauty, Synthetic Jungle included. You also get 10% cash back via Rakuten
Whoa. Thank you? ??
Funny that this is the poll today as I have been telling myself I don’t need to add Byredo Pulp to my collection. Fortunately, or unfortunately I broke down and ordered it yesterday.
I have also been thinking about Imaginary Authors Fox in the Flowerhead, but have a lot of BWF fragrances so probably don’t need anymore.
SOTD is Eau de Protection.
Have a great weekend everyone.
I bought both of those and have no regrets.
The IA would be a blind buy. Does it smell like BWFs?
I’ll butt in here and say no, but you do need a love for jasmine and hyacinth. I think of bwf as being tuberose, gardenia, ylang – none of those in Fox. I love it.
Butting in yet another time – the IA samples are 2 ml sprayers and worth the price imho.
No, it’s floral but not big.
Pulp is so much fun!
+1 for Pulp. I think of it as Prozac in a bottle
If you have an IG account, you can enter a giveaway by the brand.
I don’t have an account, but I maybe better get one ?
Oh,you definitely need Pulp,good choice!
The Fox in the Flowerhead bottle is awfully cute.
I thought so too!
Now hmmm, do I need Fox in the Flowerhead? ?
My finances won’t currently let me buy a full bottle of pulp. I got a sample last summer and it is very good. I’m excited for you to enjoy a full bottle!
SOTD Tom Ford F* Fabulous.
I am not really itching for anything right now.
Maybe a full bottle of TF Lost Cherry. I have a travel size that I bought last quarter, and that is going pretty low since I heavily spray on it. The scent is very fleeting on me. I may get another travel size once the other one is finished.
Happy weekend, everyone! ?
I’m glad you will have a more relaxing weekend by not meeting up with unwanted guests even if they are family. You smell f-ing fabulous.
Thank you, Hajusuuri! ?
I am very happy to have my regular weekend running errands, resting later, and not thinking about spending a risky, stressful evening with
the unwanted guests. They are flying to Florida on Monday morning, and I wonder who will get the “surprise visit” now. I thought about warning some of our family members there, but we decided to avoid unnecessary stress and let them deal with the situation. Who knows, and they may be happily welcome there.
Happy Weekend!
I’m also somewhat disappointed with the longevity of Lost Cherry,but still,what a gorgeous perfume!I got a 30ml and I am happy with that.Aromatics Black Cherry is still my favorite of the two,pity it was LE.
Happy Weekend Johanob! ?
I never tried Black Cherry, and I regret it because I always postponed getting a sample. Now, any still available is very pricey.
I love Lost Cherry, and a full bottle is worthy if it has to be reapplied several times during the day.
Lots of joy in re-applying perfumes during the day,I totally agree!
I bought myself a whack of samples and a couple of discovery sets for Christmas, and then I got a gift card from Luckyscent, so I thought I might find something in those samples that I couldn’t live without. Tihota has stepped up to the plate and that’s what I will be spending the gift card on when it comes back in stock. Today I am wearing Agonist Black Amber from a decant I didn’t know I had. Lovely. What have I stepped back from? Not much.
If you have a gift card, I don’t see how you can be expected to step back
The only two things on my radar to try are Goldfield & Banks Sunset Hour and Guerlain Musc Outreblanc. Papilon Perfumery Hera is on there too but no release date is known yet, I’m guessing this summer.
Trying to keep the purchases down to 6 or less this year. We’ll see how that goes. Last year was a spectacular failure.
Oh, and I’m wearing Or du Sérail.
You smell delicious.
“6 or less” ???
Now now, let’s try to be supportive!
?
LOL!
?
‘K: I support 12 or more!
Oh, Ive just read about Hera, she made it for her daughter and it sounds amazing! Definitely on my list!
You did an amazing job cleaning the cupboard not too long ago so don’t feel too guilty about any minor breaks of low buy this year
Perfumes are like vegetables: the more the better!
Yes, and perfumes are often plant-based so you’re also working toward a plant-based life!
I was trying to tie that into the veggies, kanuka, but not sure I did a good job.
I think you did a very good job! Made me laugh as I thought of all the ways wearing perfume actually saves the planet and that Michael Pollan should get onto it.
Y’all are not helping!!
Define “help.”
Ahahaha
Hera is on my wish list too! I’ve “stepped back” more than once from Angelique.
Sotd is FM Promise from yesterday because it promises to stay around for a long time.
I think that I am finally slowing down my perfume buying after trying to make up for lost (collecting) time. I’m hoping to focus on a few “investment” fragrances rather than succumbing to impulse aka I’m going to look for healthier/cheaper dopamine hits
Mr. OF luuurvs that one. I’ve caught him sniffing his wrist when he’s worn it!
That is adorable! I can totally picture the scene.
Mr. Allo kept asking “What’s that? I like it.”.
And if memory serves me, Mr. OF also couldn’t get enough of Profumum Roma’s Patchouly on you (a reverse Hai Karate situation). Mr. Allo loves that one too
I suspect that this time last year it was Arquiste Boutonniere, which I spent a fair amount of time sighing over. A friend gave it as an out of the blue present in the fall, which was delightful.
Oh how nice!
Trying Spendiris today. I’m not usually big on iris perfumes, but this one makes me understand the appeal. I think they are often too candied-violet for me, but this one is almost vegetal on me.
My wishlist is long and I have no interest in being talked out of any of them.
My real problem is that I am drowning in samples.
ITA – that’s how I view samples, too, plus I like having samples of scents I like for travel purposes, or did back in the days when we traveled.
Oh I wish the Dusita perfumes would reach my shores,dying to try the Splendiris!
Vee, I don’t think you risk being talked out of anything
I just read the comments and now I’m afraid to post what I’ve been itching for because I see myself buying two bottles after everyone’s ‘help’!
OK, that’s true. Especially with hajusuuri out here with her perfume math!
Just had a “what smells so good, oh it’s me” moment. Maybe I *do* need an iris perfume.
I have a travel spray from LuckyScent, just sayin’. It was perfumath free ?.
I love iris perfumes and own many. Splendiris is at the top of the heap. I wear it year round but enjoy it most in spring. You smell wonderful!
Three on my list. Well, I should say three at the top of the list. There are always more.
OJ’s Ormonde Woman
Fzotic/Fazzolari’s Ummagumma
BUB L’A Dzing!
I WILL buy both the Ormonde Woman and the BUB of Dzing! (if I can find it at a decent price) at some point. What about Ummagumma? It’s really different than anything else I have and I love it. But do I neeeeeed it? (Do I need anything? Yes, I need a few new clothes. I’ve been doing a good job avoiding fast fashion. Just need a few classics that will see me through for many years.)
And I’m wearing Hermes Rose Ikebana today. And it looks like a beautiful day – yippee!!
In my opinion, Ummagumma is a must.
+1 on Ummagumma. It is very unique
Second this.
Agree!
Fourth this!
Will you look for a vintage Dzing, or go with the current one?
Oh that’s a good question. The partial bottle I received several years ago was in an older style bottle, like this: https://tinyurl.com/2ewa9bf7
so I suppose I’d want vintagey. No idea how the new smells!
Thanks; as a dedicated Ebay/Mercari, etc. lurker, I always wonder about these things!
i am still thinking about a bottle of Salome….and maybe another BUB of Aromatics Elixir….
Salome YESSSSS.You can’t NOT buy Salome!!(sorry!???)
I’m always on the hunt for a new iris perfume,and Korloff Iris Dorè has been on my radar for a while.I have not smelled it yet,but reviews seem very favorable.Any thoughts or perfumes you can compare it to?I do have a pretty extensive iris collection,from superfloral to “funeral of a poet” Iris Silver Mist,so do I need this one?
Also discovered a boutique selling the Fragonard perfumes near me,any suggestions of favorites/need to sniff will be greatly appreciated!
Happy Weekend!
XO’s
(oh,SOTD No.19 edp,a favorite-favorite iris!)
You, of course, smell terrific!
Thank you!I know it’s one of your favorites as well!??
I’ve got a sample set from Fragonard. A lot of them are light inconsequential things to my nose, but I do like the one called Fragonard. It’s the sort of floral I think of as classic.
Thanks!I did see a mini or sample set on the shop’s website,maybe I should start with that.
Yes, you need that one! Never say no to an iris perfume! ?
I’m going to calligraphy “Never say no to an iris perfume” and display it prominently.
LOL! That’s great! For iris lovers, all iris perfumes must and deserve to be tried, even if some of them don’t work for us.
Oh I love this!And also,TRUE!
Absolutely love the Encens Feve Tonka soap, although oddly I haven’t tried the perfume version.
Thanks!I am planning to look at everything Fragonard,so soaps are definitely on the cards as well.
I have a bottle of Fragonard Eau Fantasque, which is now discontinued, but I like it, it’s different. It’s not a heavy hitter, so you can spray with abandon! Their soaps are also great, and highly scented.
Thanks,I’m very keen on the soaps,they don’t seem to he outrageously priced.
I like Billet Doux by Fragonard. You’d have to like powder. I don’t remember the notes but it’s a powdery, creamy carnation scent that smells like it’s sifted with powdered sugar. It has vintage vibes. The bottle is very pretty. It’s a winter sleep scent for me. . For all I know, it’s been disco’d because it is a strong scent with great lasting power.
Thanks Petunia!Love some powders,LOVE carnation!Will see if this one is still available.I’ll report back asap!
You smell great!
Merci!Today I am in Wick Reine du Volcan,a stupendously awesome South African perfume.
Hmm, I’ve had a bottle of Amouage Lyric on my list for forever, but have neither the space or the budget for it. Same for MdO Violette Fumée. I’ll stick with samples.
I’d also take OJ Woman, if the 30 ml comes back.
Fox in the Flowerbed has also been on my mind. Given the price / bottle size, I could see an order for that going in sometime in the next few days, so that I can get it at my sister’s when we go down in February.
Fox in the Flowerbed has such a nice bottle that I would get it immediately!
Also hankering a bit after Fox in the Flowerbed. And I hear you on Lyric — the only reason I own a bottle is because I determined that I deserved it after giving birth. I wouldn’t recommend that as a strategy for acquiring expensive perfumes, though!
Well that IS a good excuse. Not one I am likely to exercise in the foreseeable future or ever again though ????
I think a lot of us are thinking about Fox in the Flowerbed and it isn’t too spendy. Might as well go for it!
Sold! I’ve bought the Fox in the Flowerbed.
Giving birth is a lovely reason to buy Lyric, but is very unlikely to be a reason I’ll have now. That one will have to stay on my list.
I was able to buy a travel set of Lyric at a discounter for a greatly reduced price several years ago. I’m still working through the first vial. The set included three.
Fox in the Flowerbed is really pretty. Enjoy your new bottle!
Beautyencounter.com and Fragrancenet have Amouage for some decent prices. Both are legit places. Lyric is wonderful.
Hmm…will look there. I shouldn’t…but I will!
Ive just bought a vintage Chamade, so happy! Nothing on my list except Hera that I read on someone’s list right now and Sonoma Scent Studio discovery set as soon as I have someone going to the States!
Three cheers for vintage Chamade — such wonderful stuff!
Good find!
Hi everyone!!
Yesterday I wore Wild Cherry by Mancera but come night time I pulled out a sample of Lavandes Tranion. Had been trying it again. Lavandes Trianon smells like lavender and white chocolate to my nose. Exactly that. Smells gourmand. I will probably not buy a full bottle because just as is the case with white chocolate for me, can have some but couldn’t eat too much – I am enjoying the sample but couldn’t see myself not getting sick wearing Lavandes Tranion overall.
I do have a huge bottle of Wild Cherry on my wishlist and I just don’t see why I shouldn’t own one. I can wear it anytime and anywhere and any amount but the results are always the same – makes me feel cozy, secure, smelling great and loving it more and more.
“…and I just don’t see why I shouldn’t own one.”
? I haven’t tried Wild Cherry but the notes look good.
Now I also want Wild Cherry!
…and I suspect that posting to our “step back from the edge” poll actually often results in a “sure, go ahead response” more often than we’d like to admit….
This is why I love it. Some will step back and some will just assure themselves that getting their wishlist fulfilled is the next step hehe
I have Wild Cherry, and it was relatively inexpensive at fragrancebuy . And you are right, I can wear it anytime, anywhere and I don’t see why you shouldn’t have it either.
It is sold out now but I can get it from Mancera or less expensive from other places.
I had my eye on MB Pine & Patchouli the end of last year and already jumped off and bought it blind a couple weeks ago.
It didn’t wow me w/ initial testing but I shall revisit it.
Have felt a bit overwhelmed and stressed this month, between the world and work, and my perfume mojo is low…some days I have had no desire to put anything on even . Last year it was in overdrive…dare I say manic?? I did get rid of several bottles last year and need to venture back in the Closet of Shame to see what else needs to be rehomed this year. I love hajusuuri’s posts as she goes through stuff and plugs away in her parallel universe and that gives me motivation too!
I have a very hard time rehoming perfume stuff, for full disclosure. This will be a project once I can survey my collection in one spot … they are currently scattered. I have a mountain of samples which I’ve kept for reference purposes but I will venture a guess that I have not touched 95% of them. When I’m ready, I will have a freebies post of at least the samples.
I’m with you on the low perfume mojo and the decluttering. Slow and steady wins the race!
I really hope your spirits rise and life lets in a bit more peace and fun. You had a tough year last year ( I hope your sister is doing well). Sending lots of love.
Thank you, Kanuka.? My sister has been feeling better and better. My uncle had made the comment recently w/ the Covid surge here something like…I don’t think your sister should be working…ehaeheh? And my brother and I thought the comment quite funny b/c my determined sister worked every week during her treatment off weeks so there would be little chance of that now. People want autonomy…for their lives to be normal and keep up their routines of course and my sister is no different and perhaps even a bit more stubborn than most.
Love hearing that your sister is doing better and better. She sounds like a tough cookie in a good way!
I am so glad to hear an update about her, too!
Sending you hugs during a hard January.
Thanks, sistine.
You mentioning January reminded me of my co-worker’s comment yesterday…”I am doing dry January during the week but allow myself wine on Friday and Saturday…”
ehaehaehaeh? I said, “You aren’t doing dry January…you’re doing arid January…”
“Closet of Shame” – love it! ?
My “lists of longing” are usually focused on fragrances that are long discontinued and/or too difficult or expensive to acquire, like Botrytis, Theorema, or Douce Amere. So, that provides a certain in-built restraint to my buying habits. I do, though, sometimes lose it and go on a bargain basement blind buying spree.
A few mentions of Ormonde Jayne above made me reach for Tolu this morning. I have a tiny decant from one of you fabulous people, and it’s providing a good degree of warmth on this cold and blustery day.
I was so curious about Theorema since I’d heard such great things about it but had never smelled it. So, I bought a mini of it on the Bay for not much money and transferred the juice to a spray vial. It is indeed lovely! I also would buy a bottle if I stumbled across one at a garage sale or something, but I balk at paying big bucks for something long discontinued that I’m not sure is the real deal.
Agreed — some of those prices are ridiculous!
I am aching and longing and pining for a couple of scents ( and have been for ages ) BUT
Memo Winter Palace – available here BUT $479
Zoologist Bee – from USA . This would be No $289 for the perfume and $80 for the shipping
Silky Woods. Available here $325 BUT a blind buy
Vagabond Prince Enchanted Forest …also from the US and about the same as Bee
The thing is they are expensive BUT also big bottles, so 50ml will probably linger for years to come. Also I could buy a nice fountain pen instead ( also a long list ) ,or save my money. BUT a they have been on my list for ever. BUT knowing me, the longing and pining is almost better than the perfume. PLUS ( this is a bit random) In the old days you used to get the bonus pleasure of a brown paper package covered in a glorious arrangement of fabulous stamps. It was so exotic and special. Now everything is dumped in plastic and ugly to boot.
I may order a bottle of Mary Quant Havoc from India as my mother wore it and it may have stamps?
Pity the post office is not shiiping to NZ/AU right now, I’d be happy to send you stuff. I think you are likely to get stamps from India.
I am really curious. I don’t think the Havic will be the same as the version I remember but the stamps…that could make it worthwhile. Thanks for the kind offer, so sweet. Half the time I am sure perfumes work their magic in the imagination in the same way that planning a holiday to a foreign destination does
I agree with that sentiment. I enjoy my wish list (and have fun rearranging it) even when I don’t buy anything on it for years.
Oh, I hope that sentiment comes with time.
Three years after falling down the rabbit hole, my wish list is still a ticking time bomb ready to explode on a bad week/month.
Yeah, it took me longer than 3 years to get there
Memo Sintra has been on/off my wishlist since release,but I have been living on generous samples provided by my favorite sales person at Skins Cosmetics.Also the $$$$$ holding me back,waiting on a good discount,maybe over Valentines…
Aww, I miss old, stamped packages, too – haven’t thought about that in years.
“…the longing and pining is almost better than the perfume.”
♥️ Completely agree.
Also miss stamped envelopes and packages too. My mother loved collecting stamps and buying different artists featured on US stamps. Stamps told a story.
Your comment about stamps reminded me of my dad. He collected coins and stamps. He had custom boxes made for his collection. The stamp collection was bought by the dad of one of my brother’s classmates. As to the coins, he picked out the ones he considered the most special, put them in 4 snacking cheese containers (the ones that are the size of a smallish wheel of brie) and we drew lots to determine which one we got. It had been 8 years and I only looked up the tiniest one a while back and almost missed the tiny mint mark. It will be a project at some point. We’re still dealing with the rest of the collection.
I remember stamp collecting being a ‘thing’ even when I was young. Soaking stamps in saucers to float them off envelopes. Your father’s collection of stamps and coins sounds amazing.
Ohhh, the stamps! This reminds me of the time I ordered an international edition of a textbook off Amazon when I was in grad school 15 years ago (SOOO much cheaper), and it came wrapped in brown paper with about 30 stamps on it.
You may have access to better fountain pens but I’ve always found the fancy ones in North America not to live up to expectations (and you pretty much have to buy the fancy ones because otherwise you can’t get fountain pens here). They look nice and feel nice, but don’t write well. I have a $30 Lamy that I picked up in Germany and it’s my favourite by far. So for me…money saved that I can use on perfume.
One fountain pen I really want is a handmade American maker and the other is discontinued, celluloid, so only available second hand and expensive. I am fussy about nibs as I have very small handwriting so tend to favour Japanese brands. I have a couple of Lamy pens and I like the good solid clip but my favourite ‘cheap’ pen is made by Kaweco
The handmade pen sounds lovely, and I can definitely see going with Japanese pens if you like a fine nib. I’m all for the fountain pen purchase!
I had a sample of Winter Palace and swooned over it. I used it up and started looking for a good price for Winter Palace (you can get it here at Discounters for app. $200 USD). But then I decided to just get another sample instead. So…it’s still nice, but I no longer feel the need to have a FB. I think I often have that experience – but that might just be me!
I am up there with 1. Cazaubon, trying to keep it under 6 bottles this year and 2. Pixel – I fell off no buy horse badly and looking forward to splitmeet this year. Nothing concrete on my to buy list yet, although new releases from TRNP (or fear of discontinuation), ADL, Slumberhouse and Papillon would create new entries on that list
There’s always lots on the list of future purchases. I agonise so long before buying that, by the time I actually do buy a FB, I have a sense of achievement and I’m immediately on to agonising over the next thing.
I don’t blind-buy (except once), so I’m generally more excited about any samples included with the purchase
I’ve spent a stupid amount of money already this year, and ordered a couple of things from Luckyscent. USPS isn’t posting here, so I’ve had to pay courier charges. To reduce the shipping cost per bottle, I bought two – Harem Soiree from Arte Profumi and Meraki from Fort and Manle.
I’m currently contemplating Safari from Ralph Lauren. Lots of people have suggested it compares favourably with Antonia from Puredistance, which it does. So I don’t want to be talked out of the cheaper option!
I will not talk you out of it, not least because I know nothing about it
Hmmm… I suspect my next FB purchase will be Arbolé and I also suspect none of you can talk me out of it.
Also hankering after Bee…
The weather has been trying to blow us away since late last night — I barely slept with all the hullaballoo. Mildly calmer this morning with frequent 40mph gusts and it’s supposed to calm down around mid-day, but it was also not supposed to be a hurricane-force event last night, so who knows? But it’s weirdly warm and I’m gardening in a T-shirt. Picked up some various lettuce, arugula, sugar snap pea, and shallot starts to kick-start my springtime garden, plus some more bare-root strawberries to fill in some gaps in the strawberry bed. Shelling peas that I planted in October are growing lushly. Raspberries and fruit trees are getting a nice layer of compost. Roses will be pruned, if I can stand the wind long enough. And then, we cross our fingers and wait for rain.
Keeping the Dior thang going in Eau Noir today and smelling like warm licorice cookies, if there was such a thing.
It’s still windy here. And we could see the glow from the Big Sur fire last night… this morning we can see the smoke. Ugh, can’t believe we have fires already
Whoa, Nellie — I hadn’t checked the news this morning and hadn’t heard about the fire! NWS says seasonally appropriate fuel moistures, so hopefully once the wind event passes the fire will run out of steam (so to speak).
Personally, I think you should buy both asap. Nothing like having your own perfume eco system. Sorry about the wind. Most nights in summer I get woken around 2am by the katabatic wind. It peters out after 90 minutes or so but is enough to keep me awake. Hope your gardening goes well.
I wouldn’t talk you out of Arbole! It’s beautiful.
SotD vintage Heaven Scent. So many memories, and moss and resins and sandalwood <3. Has anyone ever done FragranceNet's PurplLux and did it help with planning purchases or was it just one more way to spend? I signed up already, but wonder if anyone had any thoughts.
Heaven Scent was gorgeous. You are lucky to have vintage.
I knew that would bring you out!?❤
I really, really want Dior Tobacolor but their bottle sizes–125 or 250mls–give me pause. I have so much perfume 30mls would be plenty, but Dior doesn’t do travel sizes of these. Also, after not buying samples for a long, long time, a Dusita discovery set and five other samples arrived yesterday, so I might want some of those. I’m also running out of Bombay Bling…I don’t really need any of these, do I? Anyone interested in a split of Tobacolor?
SOTD is Silky Woods, from a sample, to be followed by Amouage Crimson Rocks, Bogue LITA, and BDK Gris Charnel.
Oh that’s sad they don’t do the 40ml in Tobacolor? It would be the perfect amount.
I keep eyeing a bottle of Oyedo but it’s at the top of my price range for perfume purchases, surely there’s a less expensive citrus I could love, and I already know I’m buying a bottle of Saint Julep before summer (hopefully just a travel size but I can absolutely see me caving and buying a full size). Does anyone have less expensive citrus suggestions?
Oh, I forgot SOTD is Tam Dao!
Twins!
I do like Oyedo…
Have you thought of buying a discovery set (5 x 7.5ml) that includes Oyedo, some back-up Tam Dao, and maybe some other Diptyques you like?
I know I am not helping
NinaV that is a dangerously good idea! If nothing else I can make it my birthday present. Birthday’s not until July so I can save until then!
I got myself one for Christmas
But, what if the set is sold out? I suggest buying it now and wait until your birthday to open.
Goodness I had a rough night. The wind was whipping the redwoods around the house like they were rose bushes. Debris was flying through the air. I have what I hesitate to call PTSD lest I offend a war veteran, but something like it from when a huge old Oak crashed across our backyard, missing the house by about three feet and crushing everything in it path. I remember the sound of it so clearly, and all night I could hear things crashing down. At one point I got up to try to walk off the adrenaline and saw, of all things, a large cat out on our back deck with leaves and branches swirling around it. I hurriedly turn off the alarm and went to let it in. It gave me a long stare and then turned and headed back out into the night. The winds finally died down around 6 AM. The back of the house is a tip, but like snow drifts, there are piles of leaves and branches and then completely bare spots.
So, not a great night.
Consoling myself in Plum this morning. I absolutely swore off purchasing FBs of perfume blind, a promise I broke within two weeks. I’ve got bottles of Penhaligon and a Comme des Garçon, unsniffed, making their way to me this week.
Stay healthy everyone, if you can. But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t. This omicron is stealthy.
I am with you on the wind. The big windows in my mother’s house once blew in during a southerly storm. We had been watching nervously as they bowed in and out for hours and then whack they went, shattering glass everywhere. The whole room was sprayed with dirt and mud, the curtains shredded and the racket was incredible. Trying to board up the windows was a terrifying process as the wind was still gusting over 100kph, and the whole house was shuddering and the roof seemed to lift. The water in the toilet disappeared due to the pressure. Now, our neighbour’s trees sway dangerously. They will fall on our house, not hers, so she doesn’t care.
Grrrrr to your neighbour!
I may be too late in writing this for you to see it—but your story has been haunting me. Watching the glass strain in the pull and push of weather pressure, and then, KABOOM!
I think I told you about our duck misadventure. If you see this, and I haven’t remind me to.
And I hear you about watching your neighbors trees sway precariously over your house.
That sounds really scary. I hope you have a peaceful night tonight.
Which Commes des Garcons are you getting? Sorry about your stressful night, definitely sounds scary.
So sorry for your scary and restless night! I hope today has been calmer.
Sisters in wind-induced sleeplessness! Things have settled down somewhat here, but apparently we had 95+ mph winds near here last night. Nothing in the back yard is where I left it yesterday, but we’re fortunate in that the house is at least a tree length from anything that could fall. I’m so sorry about your anxiety, and hopefully you can have a very peaceful and restful night tonight!
I feel ya! We actually did have a neighbor’s giant oak crash onto the back of our house, when I was 7 months pregnant with our first. We were just so thankful it didn’t hit us in our sleep! When we have big windstorms, if my kids are home I make them sleep in our finished basement, since there are still some big trees nearby (though most are much less likely to reach our house).
Well, loving my new contact prescription! The world is so fresh! So clear! So sharp! They’ll probably cost me the earth because they’re “specialty” lenses, but this is the best I’ve seen since I has my retinal detachment 10 years ago. The wonderful lady who fitted me and convinced me change brands did right by me and I will be handing her a nice gift card when I pick up my lenses!
So to celebrate, I’m wearing Shalimar MVP, because it’s straight up joy in a bottle! Which is what I’m feeling right now. ?
Like Neo waking in the Matrix, I’m realizing hospital nursing is only getting worse, and I need to listen to Morpheus (aka T-Rex) and find my way out. The struggle is real.
If you know a nurse, love a nurse, or are a nurse, these 6 minutes give the most accurate representation of hospital nursing in the US I’ve seen thus far. Straight up honesty. Notice these are all people with many, many years of experience…all quitting or have already quit…
https://youtu.be/PrDyii0P4DU
That was a good video exposing the true problem – greed. I was happy to hear the California bill passed. My mom worked as a nurse for 40 years, fortunately before things got this bad. Thank you for all you do!
I just watched the video, Deva, this is so wrong. I don’t live in US, but I can empathize with you, so sorry you have to go through this.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
That video is enlightening ?
Thank you for sharing that video.
Great, big hugs to you, Deva…MVP is joy.♥️
I just watched the video,thanks for sharing!
Also,I am so so fortunate to work at a wonderful hospital with great resources and awesome(well,mostly,lol) colleagues.The OR has always been my passion!
I hope you find a clear answer,and a better path!
XO
This of course was a response to Deva,my phone is acting up!!????♂️
I saw that video on the NYT website. It’s just tragic, what we are putting frontline healthcare workers through. I say “we”, because it’s a national disgrace, but so many of us are trying to do right. Too bad so many “leaders” are not. Hugs to you, Deva, and your colleagues.
My SOTD is Jeux de Peau. We have actual snow! Inches of it! I am so happy, the dog is thrilled, the world is beautiful and white and wintery for now.
No perfume buys on my radar. I’m sure there’s lots of gorgeous stuff out there that I would love, but I have a lot of gorgeous scents already that deserve skin time.
We had a light dusting here as well, but now all gone❄️
Funny how dogs love the snow and cold, ripping around with uninhibited joy and enthusiasm for life. Lovely to watch them so happy!
Soooooo I decided to keep my purchases under 5 bottles this year (in my books coffrets count as one bottle!) and to wait at least until spring before buying a new one.
But I’m afraid I got off to a rocky start because I’ve been really itching for two scents that are not even on top of my wish list:
1. Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur
2. L’Occitane Osmanthus
(it seems that I am craving gentle refreshing fragrances that I could spray with abandon)
And this is how I am trying to talk myself out of buying them:
1. I have too many new bottles – no need to add another one right now! Memoire is not going anywhere – why not wait until spring/summer?
2. It’s only a simple osmanthus scent, there are more interesting perfumes you could buy instead
But I want them so badly! Help
I have been/still am using your reasoning for Memoire. I was surprised how much I liked it; but agree it won’t suddenly go “poof.” I don’t have any thoughts for the L’Occitane. That is one of many brands/houses I have not yet connected with.
So the L’Occitane can be had in 10 ml for not too much. I say you buy that to scratch the itch, and keep thinking about the Memoire.
I tried to scratch the itch with the shower gel from the same collection and, if anything, it made the itch even worse
But I am usually not mad about L’occitane fragrances. I am going to try this one again on my skin and see if it’s really that nice as I thought that one time I tested it.
I didn’t know L’Occitane had an Osmanthus! That’s a hard note to resist
This morning I ran 8 km in snow, wearing Tam Dao ❄️
It was just starting to snow when I got out of the house, but by the the time I finished there were at least 5 cm of snow on the ground. I was so happy with myself ?
Very impressive and you smelled great to boot!
Thank you ?
As you should be! That’s a good run!
It was! ?
Love Tam Dao and I love that you wore it on your run. Nice job!
♥️
Yay for your chill-run, and you did smell wonderful!
Oh thank you! ☺️
Now you can reward yourself with Memoire…it’s under $100 so technically it is perfumath free…
?
I guess I could… ?
I’m in Miss Dior Cherie EDT (2010) this Sunday. Pretty! ?
I think I’m in safe territory because the three at the top of my wishlist are above what I will pay for a self-made purchase (though I will allow my husband to indulge on my behalf for birthdays and the like): Amouage Gold, Byredo Flowerhead, and Hermes Vanille Galante. I would also like to replenish my Iris Poudre, but that probably won’t happen either!
Wearing Jasmin Marzipan today, maybe for the first time in a year?
I like that trio! I buy the Vanille Galante in 15 ml, but Flowerhead isn’t sold in a travel size, is it?
PSA: Bergdorf – 30% off beauty, Iris Poudre included. You also get 10% cash back via Rakuten. I will also reply back to your post on Tuesday 1/25.
I’m not putting any restrictions on myself, since I’m not spending anything on the fun stuff I used to be able to do pre-Covid! In fact, today I received a package with a bunch of samples I ordered plus a blind buy of a small bottle of Summer Peaches by the Tea Room by Strangers Parfumerie. They didn’t have a sample of that one available to purchase first, so whoops! It’s dangerous for me to do online shopping late at night, because that’s when the impulses reign and I am weak. Anyway, I’m glad I like it!! It’s a light green tea scent with some peachy and musky notes. Veers a little aquatic at times, but not too much for me.
Can anyone recommend a really juicy peach or nectarine fragrance that smells realistic? Also, what’s up with perfumes that say they have a certain fruit in them one moment, and then they switch it to that fruit’s blossom the next? Aren’t they different? Orange blossom smells nothing like orange fruit.
The peachiest thing in my collection is vintage YSL Champagne. It doesn’t smell like a freshly sliced peach, but it’s a very peachalicious chypre. Sometimes I layer it with No. 5 Eau Premiere and pretend I’m a bellini.
?
Ohhh I love Champagne/Yvresse. You are like super lucky if You have a bottle of the original Champagne!! Yes this is very peachy-chypre. Plus I do enjoy the subtle mint in it amidst all the notes.
That sounds delicious! A peach bellini!
What about Hedonist? IIRC, that had a peach note…
Another good one.
Ooh, interesting! What brand is that from?
Viktoria Minya
I love peach! For mass market, there’s J’Adore, of course. Rouge Bunny Rouge Lilt has a wonderfully realistic peach at the open. Then there’s Gucci Rush if you like your peach in sledgehammer form, lol. And Tom Ford Bitter Peach if you like the price in sledgehammer form.
Ha! I will look into those! I’m avoiding prices in sledgehammer forms, but not peaches ;). They’re my favorite fruit WHEN THEY”RE GOOD, which isn’t often around here.
Not as well known but superior IMHO:
SoOud Ouris Parfum Nektar by Stephane Humbert Lucas
https://olfactoriastravels.com/2012/08/03/review-sooud-ouris-parfum-nectar-and-eau-fin/
I have the extrait version which I got from the now defunct Henri Bendel. It came in various concentrations from cologne (“Eau Fine”) and surprisingly, an Eau de Parfum (which I don’t recall) as well as the extrait. My bottle is a tiny 30mL and has a black top.
That sounds delightful too! I found the Eau Fine and the Parfum Nektar at Beverly Hills Perfumery. I’ve never ordered from them before, but they sell samples. I might be putting together an order…
Hello, hello NSTers!
Ready for a sequel? “Technology is a PITA, Part 2”. Our microwave died this afternoon. Mr. Jalapeno was warming up some cold coffee in it when it started making a weird noise. I came into the kitchen and said “Wow, that doesn’t sound right”.
It wasn’t. And Mr. Jalapeno’s coffee was still cold even after being in there for 2 minutes. So he went out to get a new microwave. It took going to a couple of big box stores to accomplish it. Then he spent 3 hours installing it. It went much smoother than our previous microwave install (HA!).
Now, on to the Poll!
Yes, I participated last year, and yes, I did get that cute little 4mL bottle of Soivohle Paracelsus. It’s an extrait and so concentrated that I am set for life with that one.
Current Jonesing?
I might be in the market for a 15mL BUB of SSS Incense Pure. If I am, I won’t be talked out of that one.
But seeing mention of the Angel Eau Croisiere reminded me that I really did like that one.
BUT! I have full bottles of the OG Angel EdP, Angel EdT, and Womanity. If I combined spritzes of them in the right proportions, I might be able to fake the Eau Croisiere. So there’s that.
Gonna try and keep bottle acquisitions down this year. 2020 and 2021 were stupid crazy!
SOTD = back in Midnight Poison again.
Ugh, sorry about the microwave — at least it is solved already!
It’s such a drag when appliances go.
I have a couple of mfr samples of Angel Eau Croisiere I could send you, if that’ll help tide you over. Ping me at emc dawt 71 17 in the land of gee-mayle.
Ugh about the microwave but great that you were able to find a replacement and was able to install it. As much as I love my air fryer, there are just some things you have to use a microwave to heat up. Surprisingly, my Costco has a very slim collection of microwave. When mine breaks down, Best Buy and Lowe’s are good options for me.
I’m wearing Paracelsus this morning, thanks to your enabling!
I’m wearing my latest indiscretion, Benjoin Boheme by Diptyque. It hasn’t been on their website lately so I was worried that they may have discontinued it.
As for wants, I’ll probably pick up Chanel Boy and TRNP Dragonboat in the spring. I also want to get a backup of Felanilla and Eau Premiere. I also want to sample Iris Malikhan by Maison Crivelli and Rouge Assassin by Jovoy.
That’s a good one although I can only take it in small doses cuz it’s so strong to mr
Which one? I don’t find Benjoin Boheme strong at all. Perhaps it has been reformulated since you last sampled?
Wow, such fun to go back and read the poll from last year! My wish list items then were Atelier des Ors’ Choeur des Anges and Nuda Veritas, plus Zoologist’s Snowy Owl which hadn’t come out yet.
Pixel kindly sent me a decant of Choeur des Anges, which I drained and so yes, dear reader, I did get the full bottle! Of that and Nuda Veritas. I got a decant of Snowy Owl very late in 2021.
I just went to have a look at the poll from last year!Great to see there were some Fragonard chatter back then as well(on my maybe list this year!)
I realized I didn’t really answer the question of what’s on my wishlist for this year. Right now, I’m thinking Papillon’s upcoming Hera, and St. Clair Scents’ Song of Aubrac. I also look forward to seeing what Scent Trunk will produce this year; and I’m developing a tradition of getting DSH Perfumes’ annual set of Heirloom Elixirs. And no, you won’t be able to talk me out of that! Feel free to talk me out of other FB purchases, though. I’m like johanob — I need to “shop in my closet” this year. And I think I now have back-up bottles of the ones I really crave.
It took me wayyyy too long to realize I already have ENOUGH.They were all hiding in boxes,in dark cupboards,on top of each other,unreachable.I now have access and it is awesome and exciting.
Good morning. Ok I did not get a bottle of Mancera Wild Cherry yet because lately I spent too mich $$$ on other perfumes – why can I not feel so guilty though? – but I just blind bought a bottle of Montale Intense Cherry. I found a really good deal on it so I just couldn’t pass up.
Well…I actually don’t need NST folks to help me get away from the edge,I just have to look at my current collection.Which I have been doing for the past two weeks on and off,getting rid of the boxes I kept them in,seeing the backups of backups…of backups(Mitsouko!!Jicky!!L’heure bleue!!!Idylle!!!…yes,during a serious Guerlain phase I backed up the backups…lol).
So my point is,I’m good!I have most of the perfumes I always wanted,in all the categories imaginable,my favorite notes,favorite houses,longlost gems….Time to SERIOUSLY shop in my own closets and cupboards!I went through a perfume slump recently,but now I am excited again!
Happy Sunday folks!
My last 2 cents on the poll:Love what you have,enjoy what you have,and USE those precious mls before the angels take their share!(The voice of reason from Lush is all but gone from TWO bottles,so I think the angels can stop rummaging through my collection now,thanks….lol)
XO’s
The revisit to my Guerlain collection also lead me to go and have a look at the Guerlain website after someone mentioned there were big changes….
Indeed.
Glad to have the old bottles,missing the bee bottles most of the collection were in when I last paid attention.Some exciting new things,and I do like the new packaging.The candles are gorgeous,I would love to smell them all!
Love your post ♥️
Happy Sunday, johanob!
Thank you!
Happy Sunday NinaV!
?✌?
I’m with you on shopping my collection! Went crazy on the backups last two years, I’m done now. Loving what I have.
Yes!!Oh and it was you who told me about the Guerlain shakeup,thanks!
Glad to have a “classic” Guerlain inventory to shop from…at home!
I plan to copy you and shop in my closet more this year! And if I really need a perfume purchase pick-me up, I’ve really liked several of the Zara collaborations with Jo Malone, and they’re so affordable that they’re perfumath free!
Oh nice!Also news to me,the Zara/JM collab!I shall investigate!
I want to be able to go on a sniffathon to my favorite perfumeries,and not buy anything.Just explore!a goal for 2022.
The first set of eight was called “Emotions”, and you can get a discovery set at their website. There’s another set called Vibrant Cities, also available in a discovery set. There are a few others, too, in a series called Rain.
Wearing no 5 today. It’s getting a little easier without Jake. Went to see a couple puppies at the local shelter today with Jake’s surviving buddy. It was a little too much for her and we didn’t get a puppy today and I am okay with that. When Sephora has their spring sale, I will get either a full bottle of Lost Cherry or Tobacco Vanille, can’t afford both with the discount and gift cards.
Glad it is getting a little easier, and that you went to look, Dawn!
Feeling springy today. Wearing 4160 Tuesdays Tokyo Spring Blossom.
That’s a lovely spring fragrance, you smell great!
There’s lots I’d like because I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to scents. Someone mentions something, I want it and forget other scents I’ve wanted. But, thankfully, I’ve learned to back away and am trying to focus on what I have.
I had wanted and bought Chanel No. 19 last year, which I wore this morning. I had planned on Angel Muse because it’s so cold out, and we were up and out at 7:30 am. But, the hand went for No. 19 – maybe because I slept poorly and needed a pick-me-up.
Monday again but I had such a nice weekend. Went to two movies ( Nightmare Alley, Spencer) and had the entire cinema to ourselves for Spencer and only 3 others for Nightmare Alley, so kind of like a private viewing. Enjoyed both. Bradley Cooper was very good in NA but I was not quite as keen on Kirsten Stewart in Spencer. She was too rat-a-tat in her speech for me. I have to admit to generally avoiding anything ‘royal’ so I was hard to please. Afterwards bought fresh cherries, apricots and nectarines. Omicron has finally arrived in the country. We are under a “ red light” ( traffic, not prostitution) which isn’t that restrictive except for numbers allowed at gatherings. Schools and universities are still open ( must be double vaxed for the latter), shops open ( masks), domestic travel still operating ( masks, double vax or negative test). Anyway, wearing Immortal Beloved as it’s nice in the heat.
Hi Kanuka ?
I am glad you had such a lovely Sunday. Thanks for the movie recommendation and take care! Omicron is a sneaky little bastard.
Glad that you can still retain a sense of humor at least!
I’m curious about Spencer,still not too keen on going to an actual movie theater as we are still in the midst of Omicron.
The fruit sounds devine.Happy Monday!xo’s
More gardening today — apparently this is a getting-s***-done weekend. Still Dior-ing in Oud Ispahan, which is more oud-y and less rosy than I’d remembered, but suits the grubbing-in-the-dirtness of the day. Like johanob mentions above, I definitely resolve this year to buy less and dig out all the half-forgotten samples and back-of-the-closet FBs and wear the darn things, or pass them along.
Me too! Most of my gardening work today was pruning my English roses. I still have a few non-David Austin roses to prune, but I got to all the English roses I grow in pots. Still wearing the Dioramour I spritzed on before church this morning.
I had to un-pot all my David Austin roses — they just weren’t thriving and I suspect it just wasn’t possible, given our hot dry summers, for me to get enough water and food into them in containers. They’re all in the ground now, pruned as of yesterday, weeded/mulched/fed as of today, and if the dang deer will just let them alone they might just be gorgeous this year!
I’m sure they will! I have a couple that aren’t terribly happy in pits but I have to dig up a huge Annabelle hydrangea before there’s a space for them in the ground. And then there are two that are SO happy in their pots that they’ve outgrown them!
I had zero FB purchase plans but then some people here shared the name of some Facebook groups with me (ok, I’ll admit: I asked!) and now I find myself with a bottle of Ambre Russe and a bottle of Gentiane Blanche and some lovely Hermes soaps!!
The purchases I am contemplating are samples: I am curious about 4160 Tuesdays (but have a feeling the line likely won’t be my thing) and want to try more of Miller Harris because L’air de rien is such a great fragrance. Sitting on my hands for now but this could change at any moment.
I recently noticed that First inFragrance Germany still has some bottles of Mohur Extrait, for a lot of money. Grapple, grapple.
I just got an email today from Neela Vermeire saying that Mohur Extrait is coming back into stock. You can email her directly to get in line for it.
Ah I will ! Thanks for the info.
Ack, I went and looked, and they are out of Mohur Extrait too. Oh well, POAL, up next, I guess. After Casablanca. Anyone actually have St. Clair Casablanca-it was a little bit of a sensation when it came out, but I don’t see it mentioned much any more.
I love this poll -you all are so persuasive either way!
I’m on a No Buy Everything for 2022 but in 2023 I will have saved so much money I could conceivably splurge without spending on a FB of Neroli Outrenoir. This is hands down my most complimented perfume and ppl ask me to write down the name always. I also feel really great when I wear it. But is it worth the now very marked up splurge?
Just heard this news: RIP Thierry Mugler. Plenty of love for his perfumes here.
Truly an artist. RIP
Oh no….a LEGEND of fashion and perfume!!
Such an Icon,I recently watched a fashion show he did in 1984,ridiculous and fun!
I’ll wear Miroir de Majestes on this Monday to celebrate a life well lived!
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It’s no longer the weekend, but I wanted to chime in so I’d have this “on record”. I found it so informative to go back and read what I wrote last year! Last year, Les Indemodables discovery set was on my wishlist. Even with LOTS of encouragement, I did not end up buying it. In the meantime, I’ve blind bought lots of cheapies. ARGH!! Lesson learned, do not fall for cheapie blind buys, they add up. Even when they are not outright fails, they are often things I would not have purchased a full bottle of had I sampled first.
My goal this year is to make more thoughtful purchases, and to buy less than I did last year. With all that said, what remains on my wislist are the Les Indemodables discovery set (will wait for good GWP from Luckyscent) and Sticky Fingers (I’ve really fallen for this but will finish my decant first). If anyone is curious, the cheapie blind buys in my cart that are now axed are: Perles de Lalique and Moschino Toy Boy!