It's Friday, plus Math 2.0 Day and Billy Eckstine’s birthday. Also, Kevin Bacon is 64. Our community project for today: we're doing a variation on six degrees of separation. In place of film, you can use perfumer and/or brand, and we're starting with Chanel No. 5. Can you get to the fragrance you want to wear without going more than six steps from Chanel No. 5?
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I am 6 steps from Chanel No. 5: Boy Chanel (by Olivier Polge) -> The Beat by Burberry Elixir Parfum (Dominique Ropion, Olivier Polge and Beatrice Piquet) -> Boucheron Miss Boucheron (Anne Flipo and Dominique Ropion; I probably have some somewhere, but I am not going to wear it) -> L'Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons by Anne Flipo -> L'Artisan Parfumeur L'Eau de L'Artisan by Olivia Giacobetti -> Diptyque Philosykos by Olivia Giacobetti.
Reminder: 7/15 will be FBW Friday...wear a full-bottle-worthy perfume that you have not yet bought, but would like to. (This is probably a repeat.)
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2022, where I'll try (but obviously sometimes fail) to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Figue [cropped] by sabin paul croce at flickr; some rights reserved.
I spent a *ridiculous* amount of time on the community project, and it was good fun. I tried to use only things I have owned, I tried to focus on my favourite perfumers (Sophia Grojsman! Christine Nagel! Bernard Chant!), but eventually I just went for the straightest possible path to my target:
Olivier Polge, the house perfumer for Chanel, has obviously dabbled in No. 5: how could you work as a Chanel nose and not snatch up that formula to play with? Polge worked on Liberté for Cacharel, the house which released the marvellous Loulou in 1987. The nose for Loulou was Jean Guichard, who two years earlier worked on the wondrous La Nuit de Paco Rabanne, which I am wearing today (it’s nighttime *somewhere*). I have the sleek art-deco spray parfum, so rich and lush it’s practically visible as a halo around the wearer. It is dark and carnal and wickedly beautiful, and I am so happy to have some.
I had a bottle of La Nuit in my early perfumista days where I didn’t appreciate it like I should have and I swapped it away. You smell great!
I know exactly what you mean. I smelled it when it was launched and instantly recoiled from it: for years and years it was my go-to for horrible, incomprehensible scents, because I was too young and callow to understand it. Eventually I got a vintage decant, fell in love with it, and hunted down some vintage of my own (I knew it had been reformulated along the way and I didn’t want that). It was worth the wait.
Great work — I need to revisit Nuit on a cooler day!
It’s night here, 3 hours to dawn. Love your list
So nicely done!
1. Chanel No 5 to Chanel Paris-Deuville (same house). This was on Tuesday.
2. Chanel Paris-Deuville to Marc Jacobs Daisy (Jacobs attended first Chanel show in Paris in 2018). This was selection for Wednesday.
3. Marc Jacobs Daisy to Dame Cassis, Rose and Sandalwood (Jeffrey Dame worked with Marc Jacobs in the past.) Thursday pick.
4. And for Friday I went from Dame Cassis, Rose and Sandalwood to Roses Elixir Montale perfume (rose notes).
There you have it! Have a good Friday!
I’m impressed, and you smell heavenly!
Happy weekend!
Perfect, thanks for playing — I know this was not the most popular cp ever!
But, but, I think it *could* be! 🙂
I wouldn’t want to work this hard every day, but seeing how everyone solved their puzzle is so much fun!
So clever to do it day by day! I wasn’t nearly as focused or creative.
I am not doing the CP. So yesterday I received a full bottle of Week-end in Normandy (I love how cheap Nicolai prices many of her 30ml bottles). I bought it unsniffed, although I have had a sample of Week-end. I like it a lot. However, I am confused because Fragrantica has all three versions listed, Week-end a Deauville, Week-end, and Week-end in Normandy, each much the same notewise, but each slightly different. When I ordered the bottle from Luckyscent, it was listed as simply Week-end. On Nicolai’s website, they only list Week-end in Normandy, so perhaps the other two versions are discontinued.
Interesting, and I honestly don’t know! Glad you like it though.
I decided to make this as hard as possible.
Shawn Maher, an independent American nose for own brand Maher Olfactive; his limited edition Benton Park.
After choosing this end point, I learned that Maher is self taught (really surprising given the complexity, balance and innovation of the scents I have sampled) and he does not ever seemed to have worked for other brands. Much tougher than I had hoped.
So here goes:
Benton Park shares an unusual note combination eucalyptus and tuberose with Carnal Knowledge: Dominque Ropion for Frederick Malle (first degree of separation);
Dominique Ropion, Oliver Polge Anne Flipo, all IFF Master Perfumers-Burberry Rhythm (2nd Degree of Separation)
Oliver Polge Chanel No 5 Red (3rd Degree of Separation)
Chanel No 5 – (4th Degree of Separation)
BRAVA! 👏👏👏👏👏
Excellent Dilana!
Applause. And now I want to sniff Benton Park.
I couldn’t even commit to a Chanel week and it’s my favorite house. Yesterday I wore Paris-Paris but today is gray and rainy and Wazamba called out to me.
I saw that there’s an article in the NYT about how the golden age of thrifting is over. Not in small towns, thank goodness! I found a beautiful sterling silver bracelet at a thrift store yesterday for $2. Haven’t found any perfume for a long time.
Thrifting is over?! Boo, I love thrifting.
Thrifting will never be over to me – there’s always estate & garage sales – but the chances of finding a Hermes scarf at Goodwill are pretty much over. I haven’t read the article yet.
I would just read the comments…
I read that, too! Way too much fast fashion from China that doesn’t even last long enough to be thrifted. Also, commenters pointed out that many who would previously have been donors and even thrift stores themselves are listing the best things on Poshmark, etc.
I can’t comment on thrifting, but I feel clothing materials are not as nice as they were before the financial crisis.
Congratulations on the bracelet!
Thanks!
What a great find. My only find this year was a 1940s Movado watch, engraved and working. Mostly it’s just rubbish. Except for cheap books..Never perfume.
Wow! And you’re right, never perfume.
Last year I did find a bottle of Shalimar for $9, which was eagerly grabbed by a Guerlain-loving friend. First time in a long time, though.
That gives me hope lol
Wow, great find! Congrats.
SOTD is Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino -> Dior Escale a Portofino (by Francois Demachy) -> Bourjois Evening in Paris / Soir de Paris (reformulated in 1992 by Francois Demachy and Jacques Polge) -> Chanel No 5 (by Jacques Polge). Only 4 steps!
I’ve never sniffed Evening in Paris, but now I want to 🙂
This was a fun CP, Robin. Got the little gray cells working.
Neat work!
Didn’t Tom Ford or for Chanel? That would bring you down to 2. To
So glad!! (And I am reading the Hercule Poirot series right now so little gray cells made me laugh.)
I wondered if anyone would catch that reference 🙂
Poirot is my go-to stress read. I can’t begin to estimate how many times I’ve read those books.
I was in the mood for orange blossom today, so I’m in Art Meets Art Like a Virgin LE (perfume name inspired by the Madonna song)-> Madonna is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress-> Marilyn Monroe was also an American actress, singer and model -> it is said that Marilyn wore Chanel No. 5.
We have gray skies and drizzle today, but the forecast for the weekend looks perfect.🌞 I have a much needed haircut this afternoon, and may add a much needed pedicure to my day.
Happy Friday!
That’s an ingenious path!
Thanks!🤓
That was an interesting way to do the CP. I like it!
Thanks!😀
Man, I love early Madonna songs. I’ve had “Papa Don’t Preach” stuck in my head for three days. Great choice!
Enjoying Prada Infusion de Mandarine today.
Fun! Reminds me I need to try to smell the 2 new ones.
Forgot it was the CP today and in 1270. Tomorrow I will wear Eau Premiere.
🙂
I’m wearing Dior Cologne Blanche to celebrate, because I snagged the original trilogy box from their US site the *second* it went live yesterday. Now I can splash with abandon since I know more is coming! Happy Friday everyone!
PS I promise I will stop taking about cologne blanche soon…ish? Soon. Maybe. Hopefully. I’ll try!
I would like to sniff that trio again, it’s been so long.
Excellent, congrats!!!
Why stop talking about it? It sounds like it’s making you very happy.
Okay, bear with me–this was definitely the most challenging CP to-date!:
Coco Chanel, or Gabriella as she was known as a girl, was the creator of Chanel No. 5 (but of course). In 1924, Chanel launched a business venture with Pierre Wertheimer, a wealthy French entrepreneur. The two formed the Chanel corporation with the goal of expanding Chanel perfumes to a mass and global market. The first project was launching Chanel No. 5 in Galeries Lafayette. Coco grew dissatisfied with her profits from the business, although Wertheimer had fully financed production, marketing and distribution (hers was 30 percent share). So, when WWII brought the Nazi’s to France, Coco petitioned them to seize sole ownership (Wertheimer was Jewish). However, fully understanding which way the wind was blowing prior to the Vichy debacle, Wertheimer had transferred his shares to a Christian friend who held them during the war and returned them once hostilities ceased. When Pierre died, his son Jacques took over the business. When Jacques died, the business went to his sons, Gerard and Alain Wertheimer. The brothers expanded the family’s business and today own vineyards in Napa Valley. And while I cannot say for certain whether they ever met Jean-Charles Boisset, they share a great deal with this French scion, who was born into a great French wine family (in Burgundy), and who went on to found his own perfume house, JCB. Boisset, and like the Wertheimers owns extensive vineyards in Napa Valley. His perfume house has three famous French noses, including Bertrand Duchaufour, who created Boisset’s No. 8 Antoinette. Duchaufour is renowned for his off-kilter combinations that fuse cultures and scent palettes. Among his most successful ventures has been with Neela Vermiere, for whom Rajasthan and Paris were among the scent inspirations. My favorite from the NV house is Pichola, by Duchaufour, which is what, my dear reader, I am wearing today!
An intriguing path!
Thank you for the lesson on the (shameful) history of Chanel.
Thank you for the bonus history lesson and you smell divine!
Very interesting perfume-history research! Thanks. And now I’m going to see if I have any of Bernard Duchaufour creations.
Wowza! You did some work on that one.
Standing ovation! What a champion !
Very nicely done, and of course, you smell fantastic…love Pichola.
Well done, you 🙂
Wow! May I ask which vineyards the Wertheimer brothers own in Napa?
I looked it up 🍷: https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/France-s-chanel-buys-napa-valley-wine-maker,585804.html
Impressive dive into perfume history there.
Strong work!
I’m wearing Au Coeur du Desert today.
We be-bopped around town yesterday and found this tree:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfvJmBfuz4p/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
If any of the avid gardeners here can identify it, that would be wonderful. Although the scent of the blooms was delicate and light, it had quite a throw as I smelled it across the street. Like Toucan Sam, I followed my nose and found a couple of them. One in a planter and one in the ground.
Also found a store selling oil roller ball perfumes made locally and named after specific PNW locations/ideas/plants etc… I ended up getting a candle (Salish Sea Spray) instead, which has just enough throw to perfume the van.
Also, hat tip to those who not only participated, but excelled at, the CP this week! Wish I had it in me, but nope, my brain is soft and lazy these days…(lillyjo, name that song!😀)
Happy FriYAY! Hi JadainGa if you’re reading! 👋🏼
https://youtu.be/3M9ncAkKSNM
I think this is a mock orange tree. We have them here in the great lakes region, they bloom in June and the flowers are some used in wedding decorations. They do smell wonderful!
I think it might be too. We have them here and they flower in December
https://www.thespruce.com/mock-orange-shrubs-2132723
But they are not big trees, big shrubs
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ringthing is right! Finally was able to use my plant app and it identified those blossoms as Mock Orange. The blooms just smell divine! If I could have a floral perfume that smelled like that, I’d wear it constantly!
The tree looks a lot like the stewartia pseudocamellia we added to our front yard (in Oregon) a couple of years ago. Ours is still too young to develop a whole lot of flowers, but it has a few this year — I’ll have to go out and sniff them.
Ahhh! I didn’t know it! I suck!🤣
How I miss the 90’s though.
I left a link at the bottom of the list to the video. I KNOW you know it! 😀
Yes, once I clicked I did. Beating myself for not instinctively knowing. Lol
Not only is the poll devilishly challenging, but the respondents so far have been fiendishly clever in their solutions. I’m pleading a 7:30 am dental appointment this morning as an excuse not to even try.
It’s so satisfying to follow one’s knows — it engages such a primal part of the brain.
Ooops, NOSE, lol!
Got a song for you Deva, and lillyjo, too; and check out the maxi dress:
https://vimeo.com/16768751
That’s a lovely video, thanks for posting! Maxi dresses and JM never go out of style! 😀
Another warm humid day. Testing the new versions of Teone Reinthal Blue Lotus, Tahitensis and Darjeeling, which are variations with tahitian vanilla and darjeeling tea notes added respectively.
Happy Friday!
Happy Friday cazaubon!!
I am wearing Chanel Eau de Cologne after all the CP work I did yesterday. 😁
I laughed out loud when I read this. I almost went with Chanel No. 5 cologne–I have a bottle from the 1980s or 90s. THAT would have saved me some time with the CP 😉
If I had any No. 5, I would most certainly have worn it today!
No 5 parfum—-no 5 EdP—-no 5 EDT —-No5 Premiere—-
Sotd—No5 L’eau
This was the best I could do
Which is your fav no 5?
I have only ever owned the edp! Bought it once; was gifted it twice. I think I’d like L’eau, so I am sure you smell wonderful.
It’s more No 5 for the summer
Yes, exactly.
You smell wonderful. 🙂
I most like to wear the edp. On other people, I love the smell of the edt.
😊 I love fragrances on other people too and not on myself. Like Santal 33, love it on other people, smells like dill on me
yes! I get the dill note as well. Not my favorite note in perfumery. 😉
I have to say that my favorite is definitely L’eau. I am getting very close to starting my third bottle.
I am wearing it today, from a tester at a department store
I’m in No. 5 L’Eau as well and seconding your pathway. Thanks for doing the work!
I think we get points
Of course you both get points!
I think my favorite No 5 may be the Fragments d’Or version, because oooo sparkly!!, but also because it’s a soft gentle No 5. My second favorite is Eau Premiere.
The edc or edt. My current bottle is probably from the 80s, it’s edc.
80’s you are lucky
No. 5 L’Eau, then Eau Premiere.
Have you smelled the current version of eau premiere? Just wondering if the juice is still the same?
Sad to say, but I have not sniffed the current version. My little sample was purchased right before Chanel cracked down on all the decanters selling their stuff. So it’s several years old now.
L’eau —> my mom wears No. 5 parfum and EDT and if I try to wear those I feel like a little kid playing dress up. But I can wear L’eau, smile and think of my mom, and still feel like a functional adult.
Had to give up for today on the CP. I started in high hopes with SotD Angel Nova. But stalled out at every turn. I enjoy everyone else’s ideas – very good CP!
Piece o’ cake. Angel Nova is Mugler, Olivier Polge worked on Chyprissime for Mugler, and Polge is the perfumer at Chanel — he did a couple of variants of No. 5 including L’Eau. (I only know this because Mugler was on one of the various chains I constructed while putting a ludicrous amount of work into this CP.)
Pyramus: *you got it* I think I even have a sample of Chyprissime! LOL, at least your ludicrous amount of work got a win 😀 I wondered off into movie realm: Nova was the love interest in “Planet of the Apes” played by Linda Harrison…
I toyed around with the notion of a Mugler today, but those require a happier frame of mind for me.
SOTD is Eau d’Italie’s Rosa Greta, which is named after Greta Garbo. (One degree). Greta Garbo made a cameo appearance in Garbo Talks (which is also named for her), a movie starring Anne Bancroft. (Two degrees). Anne Bancroft was in Don’t Bother to Knock with Marilyn Monroe. (Three degrees). Marilyn Monroe made her famous quip about wearing No. 5 to bed. (Four degrees). Took some reverse engineering, but I got there. 🙂
Tea today is an F&M Darjeeling.
Got to see an outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing last night and was paying extra attention for perfume/scent lines because of our CP a few weeks ago. I had forgotten that Claudio and the Prince tease Benedick for wearing civet to attract Beatrice. (I also forgot what a D**** B** Claudio is, although the emphasis of it may have been a directorial choice for this production).
Amazing. The performance sounds wonderful .
Very good!
IDK, maybe the character Claudio really is a D*****B**?
One of its noses (Sonia Constant) did work for Tom Ford and Burberry, so you follow the degrees from there.
Fragrantica is essential for this game.
Fragrantica was the only thing that kept me in the game!
Yup. It would have been a miserable slog without that resource.
Agreed, and NST’s encyclopedia of perfumers was quite helpful, too.
My mind is mush today so not participating in the CP, but I smell really good in Rhubarbe Ecarlate. I’m a sucker for pretty much anything with a rhubarb note.
I adore rhubarb especially rhubarb pie or crumble. Have a happy weekend!
1. Chanel 5 was launched in 1921 but even more remarkable is the fact that 1921 marks the first recorded performance of a lady being sawed in half. P.T. Selbit worked the saw ( lady unknown) and it all happened in London. Tom Ford, London
2. There are 29 London town and cities throughout the world. One of the smallest is on the Pacific atoll of Kiribati. It was named by a French priest, Father Emmanuel Rongier and he lived in a house named Paris. YSL Paris.
3. At least 23 towns named Paris are in the US but our favourite Paris is the great perfumer Paris Hilton
4. Hilton comes from “hill settlement” and recently Kate Bush’s Running Up that Hill made a comeback . Her most famous song is Wuthering Heights. Poesie Wuthering Heights.
5. Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Brontë but originally published under the name Ellis Bell. Her real name did not appear on the book until 1850 , the same year that California was admitted as the 31st US state . California Reverie.
6. California is the world’s almond capital and today I’m wearing the scrumptious Rahat Loukoum. The End.
Only on NST does one get a reference to Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights. 🙂
I’m pretty sure this isn’t even the first time I’ve seen a Kate Bush Wuthering Heights reference on NST, and I haven’t been here all that long in the grand scheme of things. It’s so nice to be among my people. 🙂
Love it!
Rahät Loukoum IS scrumptious! You smell so good today.
Woohoo!!!! Bravo!!!!
Where is the animated genuflection emoji when you need it? 🙌
I literally laughed out loud at #3. 🤣👍
So glad you worked Paris Hilton in there. Applause, applause!
Ha – love this!
you win!
You had me at, “first recorded performance of a lady being sawed in half. ” <3
Love your loopy connection stories 🙂
We’re not worthy! We’re not
worthy!
One of the most delightfully surreal things I’ve ever heard was an episode of the Men in Blazers soccer podcast when Big Boi from Outkast was the guest.
Yes, they discussed soccer. But they spent more time talking about Kate Bush and owls. A great listen if you have 30 minutes to spare.
You can tell I’ve been in isolation all week. Such a funny distraction
Thanks for the Men in Blazers podcast. Classic!
Kanuka, you win this cp for sure!
You smell delicious!
I decided on a CP answer yesterday evening.
Chanel No 5 > aldehydes
shared with Guerlain Liu, Jean-Paul Guerlain et Mathilde Laurent > Rosa Magnifica, Mathilde Laurent > Cartier Baiser Volé, from Cartier BV > Must de Cartier, my sotd.
Excellent work!
Thank you Robin, this CP was enlightening, plus it got me to wear one of my favorites, Must which I call the green Shalimar.
Yesterday I went to the National Museum of Asian Art (former Sackler Gallery) and Freer Gallery — my first museum visit since 2019 or very early 2020. If you’re in the DC area, there is a wonderful exhibit on the art of Zen that ends on July 24.
In the bookstore I found, on sale, a gorgeous and humongous cookbook of Iranian regional foods. Here’s the website of the author, Najmieh Batmanglij:
https://www.najmieh.com/recipes/
I think of Iranian cuisine as the perfume of gastronomy.
PS: How adorable is this Guerlain Cheek and Lip Tint with its Mitsouko cap? 😻
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/11/16/fashion/16SKIN-2/merlin_130077281_1364d119-7b60-4f60-a0f4-79e76a9af446-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp
From an article on make-up tips for mature skin.
That is truly adorable and makes me miss the Barney’s Bag Event…
Dang, that IS cute! 😍
I’m wearing the exquisite 2019 limited edition Diptyque Essences Insensées Tiare.
Tiare is called “the Tahitian Gardenia.”
Ernst Beaux created both Chanel Gardénia and Chanel No. 5.
How nice to see you. This week I am in isolation and we are down to using powdered milk. I always smile remembering your powdered milk order back at the start of Covid. Was it 20lb? Anyway, hope you are doing well and that book looks incredible.
These recipes look fabulous! Also, Mr. Mossy and I rather like powdered – and canned milk – we also keep some on hand…just in case…black coffee is good, but I would always add milk if I can!
Hi, Kanuka! It was 50 lbs — can you imagine? 😹 I only order 8-lb bags now. 😅
One thing I learned from the pandemic is how relaxing it is to order in bulk via mail rather than having to remember to run to the store.
Great to see you, too. I hope you feel better soon!
One of my favorite museums in the world.
Happily “stranded” on Lopez Island (excuse for not participating more fully in the CP), I do have a Chanel connection to share.
Yesterday, we took the inter island ferry to Orcas Island where a dear friend of mine lives.
On her 65th birthday (she was born in 1957), I gave her a manufacturer’s sample of Chanel 1957. If I’d been a really good friend, I would have sprung for 75mls:)
In celebration of my birthday this year (born in 1961), this talented artist friend drew an incredibly beautiful bottle of Chanel 1961 for me. What? You’ve never heard of this Chanel Exclusif? Neither has Chanel.
I was so touched by her incredibly thoughtful gift and am giving any CP points to her 🙂
♥
What a lovely story, and a lovely friend!
That is so cool. What a fantastic gift
Wow, how wonderful!
How lovely!
Allo! This is so sweet!
fabulous! Thank you for sharing your birthday moment with us.
I am passing all of your lovely comments on to her 🙂
That is just the best.
That’s a really cool story about friends who “get” each other.
I love this!
sotd = Bois des Iles from a sample
Wearing the 5th perfume Ernest Beaux created for Chanel (after No. 5, No. 22, Cuir de Russie, and Gardenia).
I couldn’t make my brain do degrees today, and I wasn’t up to wearing No. 5. Sometimes she wears me out a bit, tho I love her so.
Wishing everyone a fabulously fragrant Friday, mwah! mwah! mwah!
Thank you Tiffanie, air kisses right back at you! I love all of these Beaux perfumes and No. 22 and Bois des Iles are ones I hope I can wear sparingly and enjoy forever!
Sparingly is my method too. They both feel quite “big” to me, in a more is better kind of way.
Is your Box of Eels sample EdT, or EdP?
W00t! We are twins assuming you are wearing the EDT.
The Fourth of July Highland Park parade shooting has unfortunately overshadowed most of my week. We live nearby in a suburb not unlike HP, have been there many times, have watched my own community’s parades with my grandkids when they were little, and I know the HP Chief of Police well, having worked with him when he was a young outstanding officer at a previous municipality. For all these reasons, this tragedy really hit home for me. Many July 4th events in this area were cancelled and we stayed home most of the week, venturing forth only yesterday to a Tom Petty tribute band concert. Though they were excellent, the music failed to stir me the way it usually does.
So, as not much of a Chanel wearer and not having the wherewithal to do the ‘6 steps’ cp by perfumer/brand, I’m wearing vintage Coty L’Aimant and just doing a few lateral sidesteps to vintage Chanel No. 5. From what I’ve gathered in prior research: Like Chanel No 5, the first fragrance to contain aldehydes, L’Aimant, created in 1927, is also an early floral aldehyde; it’s often been called ‘the poor man’s Chanel No. 5;’ although created by Francois Coty and Vincent Roubert, I’ve read that Ernest Beaux (the perfumer for No. 5) previously worked for Francois Coty prior to the release of No. 5, so perhaps his influence was felt in the creation of L’Aimant?; hence, my tie-in.
Hoping to get to an ABBA tribute concert tonight (Dancing Queen, the very best!) if the rain stops as promised 🤞, then a beautiful weather weekend is ahead along with dinner out at a Greek restaurant with some dear friends tomorrow. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend ahead. Peace to all ☮️
I’m so sorry about the impact the Highland Park tragedy has had on you. I hope you do get to the ABBA tribute concert, most of their music is just plain fun! L’Aimant is an excellent choice, though I’ve never worn it — just read about it. Enjoy your Greek restaurant — you’ve reminded me that it has been way too long since we went to our favorite one. Maybe this weekend!
Thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot. I was really looking forward to the ABBA music – they don’t call the group the Dancing Queens for nuthin’! Packed a wonderful picnic with shrimp salad, brioche rolls and Summer Shandys, but when we got there they had just cancelled the concert. 🤬. So we went home and ate and went to a nearby outdoor symphonic concert. Waiting now for it to begin, not really in the mood for classical music but I’m grateful for this second opportunity anyway!
I’m sorry for your sadness, Laila. It is difficult when terrible trouble lands so squarely at one’s doorstep. I hope your make it to the concert and find some relief there.
Thank you for your kind words; it means a lot. Because of my Eastern European heritage, I’ve felt a strong kinship with the brave Ukrainian people and their suffering. I think having this latest tragedy on my doorstep and feeling yet another kinship with another suffering people is why this affected me so strongly. Feeling better already having gotten out a bit more the last two days.
Biggest hugs to you, and yes, peace to all!
Thank you so much!🤗 ✌️
Hugs Laila.
Thank you so much!. 🤗✌️
Adding more hugs and good wishes, and so sorry the ABBA tribute was cancelled. Hope there are better things to come this summer.
Thank you, Robin. Despite my initial disappointment, the concert we did go to was lovely, the music reflective in spirit yet celebratory.
Wearing No. 19 on one arm and Cristalle on the other.
Oh wow, you smell great! Two of my faves.
Double dose of excellence!
This!
Great combo!
Trying out the new Prada Infusion de Vanille today and it’s very interesting. Getting smoky, spicy vanilla w/ some citrus…the initial blast reminded me of root beer.🥤Really enjoying it so far.
What is projection like please?
Projection was strong at first and died down in 2-3 hours I would say but it was a pretty warm day here yesterday…low 80s…which can affect that. I really loved the fragrance and it persisted on my forearms just had to put my nose a bit closer.
Now I want an icy-cold root beer! 😋
She-ra, Princess of Vanilla, you’ve got my attention. That sounds delicious. I’ve got to get to a perfume counter very soon.
This means I would love it for sure!
Mmm… root beer.
Benzoin…is it at all like Prada Candy?
I have sniffed Candy but it was years ago. I liked it but don’t remember it well enough to compare. Those were my pre-vanilla compulsion days. 😉
🙂
Ooh, that souns appealing!
Well, yesterday I wore Chanel’s Paris-Deauville, because 1) I love it; and 2) I was going to give a presentation in a smallish conference room, so didn’t want to overwhelm anyone. For today: Deauville is a seaside resort, which Chanel and friends visited as a holiday destination. It is in a part of Normandy called the “Flowery Coast.” So today’s SOTD is the new A’mmare by Carthusia, which is an aromatic, unisex fragrance with notes of salt, rosemary, bergamot, mint, and more. The name is a play on the Italian for “to the ocean.” Points?
Tossing out random thought: it is so rare, at least in my world, to be overwhelmed by a perfume. I rather miss those days of my youth when I would smell ladies in bombshell perfumes, with perhaps some cigarette smoke for good measure! In fact, being one free of any allergy or breathing issues, I think even now, and even if I thought a perfume was gross, I might get a kick out of being trapped with tidal wave sillage. But of course, OH, you were correct for a formal meeting. End of brain dump. 🙂
Long ago, on an airplane going from coast to coast, when smoking was still allowed in the air, a very nervous woman filled the empty seat next to me. She sat down, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
After a few hours, she dramatically woke up and asked me did I mind if she smoked “just a bit.” I said it was fine, and she took just three or four puffs then put out the cigarette.
Next she pulled a wrapped, boxed, full bottle of Opium out of her huge carry on bag. She said she bought it duty free, just the day before on an international flight. Did I mind if she tried it? I said of course it was fine. She sprayed herself at least six or seven times – throat, back of her neck, arms, ankles.
The wafting perfume plus the smoke was intoxicating – a real bombshell moment. I loved it, though I am sure others around us were not as pleased.
Thanks for the word and scent picture, tiffanie: I have some of those memories, too. LOL, those ashtrays in the arm rests…
I remember people smoking on airplanes and trying the perfumes they bought in duty free! I thought it was how grown ups lived and wanted to do both.
Great story! Those were the days.
Of course you get points !
Hello everyone! Enjoying the inventiveness and creativity so much this week – Robin, thank you for posing such a complex CP when some distraction and fun is needed by so many at present. My wobbly effort for today: Chanel No.5, released by Chanel as part of a rivalry with Paul Poiret, fashion designer who also released perfumes > Poiret’s perfume label was called Les Parfums de Rosine after his daughter > Les Parfumes de Rosine was revived by Marie-Helene Rogeon and Serge de Oliveira has made a lot of perfumes for this company > Serge de Oliveira has also made the scent for Ultra Doux Provençal Honey shower gel > Provençal? Provincial! Get me back to Paris – Chanel Les Eaux Paris-Paris, which I am wearing today as my newest purchase from last weekend (another difficult journey, another grab in duty-free) and enabler pin to apsara for this light and very enjoyable shower of roses. Cheers everyone, wishing you all a good weekend.
very nice! It’s fun to see how the perfume world’s history has played out over so many years.
Nicely done DolceVita! And congrats on your new bottle.
Ugh, what a morning. I had some strange & disturbing dreams that took a really long time to shake. Not really nightmares, just STRANGE.
On the plus side, Spooky did NOT throw up after lunch today. I’m wondering if she was just eating too much wet food in a single meal. Still making a vet appointment for her & Teflon in the near future.
Here’s my shot at the CP.
Chanel No. 5 –> Chanel No. 5 L’Eau
No. 5 L’Eau –> Chanel No. 19
No. 19 –> Clinique Aromatics Elixir
Aromatics Elixir –> Clinique Wrappings
My thought process: No. 5 L’Eau is an easy one step away from No. 5. Then in the early 1970’s, Chanel followed perfume trends and came out with a great, green beauty in No. 19. So that’s step 2. Clinique came out with Aromatics Elixir in the same time period, so step 3. And Clinique Wrappings is a perfume cousin to AE, albeit separated by a couple of decades. Still a green perfume to my nose. That’s step 4, and where I ended up at.
SOTD = Clinique Wrappings. I wanted to wear it for a couple of reasons. 1) HUMIDITY! Icky sticky today. 2) Needed a comfort scent after hearing the horrible news from Japan.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I have all the perfumes that are steps away from Chanel No. 5 in one form or another. Not No. 5 itself, though.
All wonderful scents; I was trying to do one that included only perfumes I had, too! Joined you in sadness about Mr. Abe.
Likewise for me, I chose scents I’ve worn for my little attempt at today’s theme.
I freely admit that was not originally my angle. I just wanted to reverse-engineer a justification for wearing Wrappings today! 🤣🤓
I’m so sad about Mr. Abe. Sometimes this world is too much.
Love your choice, you smell great. Wrappings is a wonderful comfort scent. I like it mostly because of the way it smells, so beautiful, and also because it smells completely odd to me. It’s not like any other perfume I can think of.
No. 5 smells odd to me in that way, too. I sometimes wonder how much of my appreciation for strongly aldehydic scents is “conditioning” (marketing, familiarity, tradition) and how much of it is simply love, the way I love the smell of a red rose.
I ramble but am curious to know if you don’t have No. 5 in your collection because your perfume shelf is already full, or is it because it’s not a favorite?
Very glad Spooky kitty is slowing down on decorating the floor after lunch. I hope the visit to the vet shows she and Teflon are in fine form.
I don’t get along with the OG No. 5. I tried both the EdT and EdP that were available at Macy’s in the 2010’s and recoiled from the result. I figure it’s a case of incompatible chemistry.
Not concerned about Teflon’s annual vet exam. She seems to sail thru it with flying colors. Spooky is the problem (fur)child right now.
Glad Spooky kitty did not barf today! Your Six Degrees of separation made sense for sure but of course methinks everyone should have kind of affinity with No.5 in one way shape or form but you proved that it is not so. Since 10+ years had passed, would you be willing to give it another chance?
Chanel No. 5 was very soapy on me/to me. I might not be up to trying it on skin again, but cautiously sniffing it on a paper tester strip instead.
I am perfectly fine with not loving (or even liking) a couple of perfume legends. You can’t please everyone, and shouldn’t try.
I’m glad Spooky had a better day!
Thanks sistine! I am, too.
Ugh to the disturbing dreams but yay for Spooky keeping lunch down!
They were some of the weirdest ones I have had in months.
Glad to hear you had a no barf day, I did too. 🙂
SOTD = Chanel Les Exclusifs Bois des Iles EDT
Box of Eels is a kitchen sink of a perfume and pretty much would have fit regardless of which perfume came before it! I posted a picture and my explanation on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfxOMbVOgjx/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I had a last minute dinner get-together with a friend yesterday. We haven’t seen each other for 7 months! In any case, a good time was had by both of us. I satisfied my craving for a strawberry margarita 😋. Also, I had a doggie bag so all I have to do is heat up stuff!
Now off to read most of the postings!
I’m glad you had a good time with your friend!
Thank you.
Yay for tasty leftovers, a strawberry margarita, and dining out with a friend! Sounds great!
I even have enough for tomorrow!
Meeting up with friends is such a pleasure, glad you had fun!
box of eels twins! 😀 😀 I’m so glad it gets love around here. I might never have tried it otherwise.
In late 2019 my parents went to their local Lush store and bought me a bottle of Tank Battle for a Christmas present. They were able to give it to me two weeks ago. I’m wearing it today, and I didn’t think I could make it fit the CP but then I figured out two ways to (loosely) do it!
1) Tank Battle was released in 2016. So was L’Eau no. 5, a tribute/ flanker to Chanel no. 5.
2) My mom wears Chanel no. 5. My mom and dad bought Tank Battle for me. Between the two of them, they have purchased probably 55 years worth of Chanel no. 5.
Love the family link. Have a happy weekend!
That’s a present to be treasured for sure.
I think I rather liked Tank Battle when I had a chance to smell it, but did not like that it came in 100mL bottles only. Is that still the case?
Unfortunately yes. Maybe Lush will continue expanding its range of travel spray coffrets and it will show up in a future set?
Love the family connection!
So glad you finally got your present! And points, of course.
I just smelled Tank Battle last week, it’s really odd/interesting, in a similar way to Tubereuse Criminelle. Enjoy your belated gift!
dang, Tank Battle is an awesome name. 😀 Very glad it is finally in your hands.
I was up all night with a sick daughter and am feeling off today. I just wore a spritz of eau de Soliel Blanc.
Bath and Body Works sent me a coupon for Halloween merchandise! I think this is the earliest I have seen Halloween being pushed. Jeeze Louise.
Halloween? Now? That is the premise for a horror movie!
Oh oh, hope your daughter feels better soon and you as well. I really should follow up with B&BW because I have not npbeen receiving the coupons.
Oh dear, hope everyone gets good sleep tonight.
I hope you and your daughter both feel better soon!