Three questions about your version of what I call the purgatory basket, where you would keep perfumes (presumably samples or decants, but possibly full bottles) that are not love at first sight but that you are not quite ready to give up on. (For examples, see here and here.)
1. What's the latest fragrance you tried, and weren't sure about but weren't ready to give up on just yet?
2. Name a fragrance you now love, but that initially spent quite some time in your purgatory basket.
3. Name a fragrance you gave up on, but that you keep thinking about and wondering if you should get another sample.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Baskets for sale [cropped] by *SHERWOOD* at flickr; some rights reserved.
I have a shopping bag filled with unwanted perfume and cosmetic samples that I try to get rid of gradually as I send packages out. I have a cigar box for samples that I might try again. Dzongkha, Dune and L’Heure Bleue I had to try multiple times before I loved them.
Even though the levels of ambroxan singed my nose, I still want to like Byredo De Los Santos and will try it again.
I have shoe boxes full of samples that I simply never wear. I’d give them all away, except for the fact that most of them are so old that I’d be worried they’ve gone off. Still, when it gets cooler, I might do a freebie giveaway with that caveat — you never know what gem might be in there for somebody!
I just got a sample of De Los Santos and want to like it too but I think it may have too much Sage for me.😬
In case you’ve been wondering, huge Victoria cruziana water lilies smell like pineapple during the female phase of the flowers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIwi5F8Zfa4
Extracts of the even larger Victoria regia water lily have been used in Brazilian perfumes such as Vitória Régia by L’Occitaine au Brésil and Natura Ekos Alma. I’ve smelled these, but I’m not really sure what part of their complex scents actually comes from the water lily.
BTW, if you’re in the DC area, there is a budding corpse flower in the Smithsonian’s Enid Haupt Garden, on the fountain side of the Museum of African Art. It’s projected to open August 10, plus or minus two or three days. The garden closes at dusk. I’d hope they might have extended hours the night it opens but wouldn’t count on it.
Oh wow! Would be so cool to see a corpse flower fully open… Unfortunately that’s at least whole continent away.
Google around! They have become very popular with botanical gardens, zoos, and museums. There may be some in your area.
I came across this one coincidentally when I was visiting the museums. Later, when I searched Instagram for corpse flower, I saw the Museum of African Art had posted it.
I hope you have smelly good luck! 😸
Thanks for the tipp – I did find a botanical garden nearby-ish that has one! Will try and find out when to visit ☺️
Here’s the link to the Museum’s post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzKFUVsLLT/
1) Le Lion. Didn’t care for it at all on first wearing. Don’t even know why I tried it again because I’m a very all or nothing perfume person. But, had a totally different experience the second wearing which just shows I don’t know anything. 😃
2) Profvmvm Ambra Aurea. Literally in my sample bag for years. Plucked it out one day while surfing the Sample Sea and was gobsmacked! So Sticky, dark, and unctuous…🥰
3) Too many to name. When I first went down the rabbit hole, almost everything was unexpected and a bit off-putting to my immature baby nose. Now, having a tween nose, I’m a bit more open to unusual perfumes but will never have a mature, adult nose, so probably won’t be sporting anything like the legendary Secretions Magnifique anytime soon….
In the last wafts of Hérmes Hiris. Had a very nice shift with fun people and uncomplicated patients who were actually nice to me. One even said “please” and “thank you,” which made me just about fall off my Danskos! 😲
Same experience with Le Lion! First few tries gave no joy. Then tried it randomly again later and suddenly, full on crush.
Joining the Le Lion second time around crush camp.
Ambra Aurea is one I keep thinking about. I used up a sample ages ago, I know I liked it, and when I see the comments you’ve made recently, I know I need to smell it again.
I still haven’t managed to get my nose on Le Lion. It’s probably available in the Chanel boutique in Auckland, but that’s a plane ride away. I need a bit more justification than perfume sniffing to jump on a plane, but urge is getting stronger 🙂
Hope you get your hands on both soon!
Yay for nice patients!! Maybe the Hiris soothed them 🙂
That blue bottle may be my lucky talisman..!
I remember those rare days of nice patients/staff you enjoyed working with and going home thinking “That’s why I became a nurse.”I’m glad you got to have that experience!
Every once in a blue moon I have some kind of life/career affirming moment with people. Happens less often these days…
Special place in heaven for nurses.
So glad you had a good shift. Fun people and uncomplicated patients sounds like a dream. Sometimes, when my interactions are easy, I often feel a surge of affection for those folks. My new standard is, “Gosh, they seem reasonably sane!”
Although it’s probably been a while since we’ve all regularly sat down to eat in restaurants, do any of you ever want to tip extravagantly when the wait staff simply does everything they’re supposed to do, with a minimum of fuss and bother? Correct order, reasonable time frame, just enough table visits to ask if I need anything, attuned to my signal for the check, etc. It happens so rarely that I feel the urge to give them all the money in my wallet in gratitude.:-)
Yes, so grateful for genuinely kind, courteous, service personnel! I always feel like spontaneously hugging these folks too, but that’s probably inappropriate! 😄
The flip side is the usual I don’t give a 💩 people that seem to be everywhere. Especially aggravating are people who refuse to make eye contact when you interact with them. It’s as if they just deny your existence! 😡
Yes! Also because I know the last 2.5 years have been very hard on people in fields like food service.
Peeps, thanks so much for all of your words of support yesterday in response to my venting session vis-a-vis the kitten fostering situation. I was (and still am, to some extent) on an emotional roller coaster about it all. Nonetheless, the kittens and I have been having loads of fun — I just got them a kitty tunnel toy, which is a Y-shaped set of short tunnels with danglies inside, and they are finding it quite engaging. Much like foxes in snow, they love to pounce on anything that’s moving under some sort of cover.
Still commando, but I think I’ll wear something summery and cheerful today, like Osmanthe Yunnan or Smell Bent’s Sunshine.
Have a great weekend, all!
Unexpected foster fail! You’re a good mama but a pox on the shelter for lying to you AND knowing they’re doing it. Karma is a b-tch.
Can’t tell you how many times after-the-fact I’ve thought it would be great to have you as back-up (or on point), hajusuuri!
I read it yesterday but was having a very tired day so I didn’t comment. Like most others here, I was outraged by that whole situation, the dishonesty, lack of concern for you as a volunteer, and above all, apparent indifference to the fate of the kittens! And I believe you said it is government sponsored! If so I would certainly get in touch with some representative to complain about what has been going on, as at least a mismanagement of funds. You are an angel to keep the kittens and try to find them homes yourself. I hope that will work! I had a somewhat parallel situation when I fostered for a local shelter group. They wound up not paying for things as they’d said they would, like food, litter, and flea treatments, and another volunteer was very critical of me for not socializing the kittens well when I took them to the Petsmart adoption events. These kittens were fine and very social at home, but the Petsmart was noisy, with people poking fingers into the cages at them, barking dogs nearby, and a lot of foot traffic near an open door. It was a nightmare for any small animal! I got them back home and wound up talking a friend into adopting them. Let’s hope there will be a similar happy ending for your bunch!
PS Here’s my two kittens with my neighbors’ beautiful daughters, in case you’d care to look and see how sociable they were!
https://tinyurl.com/2ueuxr6j
[Ed note: shortened link]
Calypso, that kitten on the right looks very much like Turtle, my little tortie!
At one point in our interactions, I got a similar attitude from the shelter about socializing the kittens. Were they socialized with children? Dogs? Large groups? Uh, no, cuz’ I don’t have kids or dogs, and we’re in a pandemic. What I’ve got is five healthy, happy kittens who love their lives and play, eat, sleep, get petted and loved 24/7, that’s what I’ve got!
My kitties would probably have little heart attacks at a Petsmart adoption event. I wouldn’t be that happy, either….
Oh, how cute 🥰
So glad you and kittens are enjoying each other! The tunnel toy sounds marvelous. The shelter staff? Not so much.
I’m testing Hiram Green Arcadia this morning, and so far (sadly) it is all lily on me … and lily isn’t even one of its notes. It sounded wonderful, and I expected/wanted to love it, but so far, no go. I keep samples in two Chinese teacups before testing, or if they’re in the purgatory category. After that they go into tiny baggies by house. I don’t throw samples out until discovering that they’ve evaporated, because you never know when your tastes will suddenly change, or you’ll hear someone rave about a fragrance and you’ll want to retry it, or someone here is wishing madly for a sample of something that you’re willing to provide.
Now that some time has gone by, Arcadia has turned swampy. Boooo, and into the baggie it goes.
Dammit, now Arcadia has become absolutely delicious. Out of the baggie and back into the teacup!
Lol!
dammit!
Love this!
Excellent.
31 minutes … or maybe 29 as it may have taken you 2 minutes to reply back to your post 🤣
Lol! Your quick change of mind set up record!
LOL 😂
10.5 hours sleep.
Super needy clients this past few weeks
Plus eye infection.
Blah blah
I put samples in the white Chanel boxes when I get an order and gift them out.
I won the bottle of TF Rose de Russie on eBay yippeeeee
I’m on the fence about Gallivant Naples. There’s something about it that makes me feel like I’m licking an oyster shell grit.
Yay for your win! And I’ll admit to never seeing “feel like I’m licking an oyster shell grit” show up in any perfume marketing materials but what a perfect description 🙂
why thank you, allo!
Yay you win!
That is a really great scent.
Sorry about your eye infection, jealous of your sleep!
Congratulations on your TF bottle!
Thank you! I snagged a 50ml.
Of course I could have gotten it when I was consulting at the house of this and many fragrances last year…but was on the fence.
1. I haven’t tried anything recently that I’ve been unsure of, one way or the other.
2. I had to try Onda repeatedly before I “got” it. Now I’m wishing I had a little bit more than a sample but I don’t need a bottle.
3. I keep trying to love Shalimar but I just don’t, though I keep trying from time to time. I totally gave up on Mitsouko a while back.
The PNW is heading in to another heat wave over the next week and I will hate it. Today I’m wearing Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser and smelling quite beachy as I try not to scratch the spots where something bit me yesterday in the yard. I should not have let the ivy grow unchecked for so long!
Robin, thanks for your thoughts on organizing programs. I’ve already started a list for fall.
I have 2 bites on my ankle I keep trying not to scratch. It’s maddening.
And I just added to my list today …we need another TV poll!
I had given up on Mitsouko too, but then I tried the current edp and decided I liked it. Still not something I would wear every day, but I’m very happy to fonally have found a version to enjoy.
Which version of Onda are you smitten with? Still kicking myself (hard!) for not springing for a bottle of the VdE when it was available..! RIP Vero Kern. I loved her whole vibe…
1. Santal Pao Rosa. I’m going to try it again in cooler weather.
2. Cafe Tuberosa. I didn’t fall in love with it until it was almost impossible to find. Luckily I was able to do a swap with a kind nster.
3. MFK APlS. I hated it so much. After I tried the last drop I started to like it but never got another sample.
I’m working tonight and will be wearing Chance eau Vive. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!
What is APIS? I can’t figure it out.
Absolute Pour le Soir
I might have spelled it wrong.
Story relating to today’s theme: My friend who muled my Jicky parfum from Paris fell in love with the SPR when they were at Guerlain, but her husband threatened mutiny declaring HE could not live with her smelling like that. So I sent her a decant I ordered from a decant website, and guess what? Surprise to no one, he thought she smelled great when she wore it 😂. The nose is fickle.
LOVE this story!
Ha, that’s awesome.
Too funny!
She needs to order herself a bottle. 🙂
Husbands. 🙄
Hope your work night goes fast! Stay cool.🥵
I love all three of those perfumes! 🙂
Have you tried Cologne Pour le Soir? I have a BIG bottle and I’m happy to send you some if you like. Hit me up at taiga101 in the land of yahooligans if you want some. ✌🏼
My problem is a *lack* of a purgatory basket. I tend to sample something and make an immediate judgement to get rid of it if I don’t initially love it. This has led to a lot of regrets about not remembering what something smelled like.
So now I have a few baggies sorted by house, and larger bag of emptied samples that I want to keep for reference.
I still say your way is smarter!! I have so many that it’s not worth trying any…
I’m always torn between wanting to purge things I don’t use, and keeping things for reference, because I know my tastes and appreciation have changed a LOT over the years!
It took me quite some time to get to like Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Vert, and now I LOVE it. It’s one of my favorite bedtime perfumes.
Luckily I’ve learned not to judge perfumes at first sniff…
SOTD is Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria La spugnatura – quite refreshing on this hot August day.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
Just looked up your SOTD (how Could I resist with a name like that?). Sounds lovely!
Ditto!
Ah yes, the name itself evokes hot summer days in Italy 🙂
Persolaise did an interesting interview with a product director of Acqua di Parma about this perfume on Youtube. I am enjoying my sample, but it’s not FB worthy for me.
House twins.
I got rid of my purgatory basket this year. I relentlessly went through all my samples and anything I didn’t like got unceremoniously turfed. There aren’t any perfume shops in the vicinity and I haven’t travelled in almost three years, so I’m rediscovering things I own rather than always looking for the next new thing.
Today I’m in a mix of the Demeters I alluded to yesterday, Vetiver (from Thursday) and Grass (from Friday). It still doesn’t smell like fresh-cut grass, but it is extremely nice, if typically short-lived; it’s greater than the sum of its parts. Perhaps I’ll add some Sandalwood or Mahogany to give it a more durable base…. Demeters are pretty amenable to being mixed, as a rule.
So glad that worked, or at least, improved both scents!
1. What’s the latest fragrance you tried, and weren’t sure about but weren’t ready to give up on just yet? That would be Byredo Pulp. I have tried this numerous times and in fact wore it yesterday. I have kind of a love/hate relationship with it, but not ready to give it up yet.
2. Name a fragrance you now love, but that initially spent quite some time in your purgatory basket. This would definitely be TF Black Orchid. I kept going back and forth on it for a few years and then all of a sudden fell in love with it.
3. Name a fragrance you gave up on, but that you keep thinking about and wondering if you should get another sample. I would say Hermes Eau Des Merveilles. I think I have purchased it 3 or 4 times thinking I should surely want this as part of my collection, but it just doesn’t last on me.
I’ve had the same experience with Eau des Merveilles in that I’ve had several bottles that I swapped then repurchased. I’m without it for good now, I think.
Wearing Cassili from a travel spray given to me by a very generous NSTer. Sort of on point. I think I can wear this one precisely because I don’t own a full bottle. If I did, it would languish. But for fun on a grey Saturday it’s perfect on a whim. Although it launched only a few years ago, it reminds me of that tutu and pink top that SJP wears in the opening sequence of Sex in the City. Like the outfit, this perfume takes a certain person to carry it off. Pretty sure it isn’t me, but a gal can dream🩰🎀💄👛🎟 (yezzzz, enjoying emojis on my iPad 😂)
Random other thing for all my fellow animal enthusiasts. Did you see the story about the rare hummingbird rediscovered in Colombia? So much terrible, no good, horrible news between poverty, pandemics, wars, and climate change—this story is a tiny balm. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/05/rare-hummingbird-rediscovered-colombia-age-of-extinction?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Wow, how beautiful! I hope that male has a potential mate nearby! Yes indeed it’s nice to hear some good news.
I saw that story. A tiny balm is exactly the right phrase.
I’m wearing new Atelier des Ors Riviera Sunrise. The blue glass bottle looks so gorgeous, take a look at the photo I took
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg6wqzQDxeO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Answering the questions:
1. Two new Prada Infusions. I love the line and Prada fragrances bit these two just don’t synchronize with the others in my opinion.
2. Atelier Cologne Jasmin Angelique and Rima XI from Carner come to mind.
3. Can’t think of this one right now.
Interesting about the Pradas!
SOTD rose 🌹 Prick
Just started a new book, the Personal Librarian
You smell gorgeous. Just graduated from my 10ml spray to a 50ml bottle.
I’m not ready to give up on Amouage Lilac Love, which is somewhere between sickly sweet and fascinating in the dry down.
Cuir de Russie and Le Lion both spent a surprisingly long time in my purgatory basket. Cuir de Russie is certainly one of my desert island scents now.
Can’t think of any I’ve give up on that I want to give another go. Perhaps the Neela Vermeire sample set – but since I still have the set and its hanging out in the purgatory basket, I guess it doesn’t count.
Wow, from purgatory to desert island! I haven’t tried that one yet, but it is on my list.
Oh – must try. And if you can, skip the edp and go straight for the parfum. It’s a wonder.
I get that! I have a decant of Lilac love that I ruminate about tossing into my giveaway stash, but it keeps, just barely, making the cut of my decants in rotation.
Confusing, right? It’s got something, not sure I can pin it down though.
We’ve got blue sky and sunshine this morning, a nice change after rain and wind, but more rain and is coming this afternoon. I’ll make sure to get out early for a few errands.
1. Something I’ve tried recently but not sure. I’ve been sniffing the three new ones from Fort and Manle. I like All The Queen’s Men, which has a honey note, but the longevity is not good.
2. Something I now love, but took a while. Bengale Rouge from Papillon Perfumes fits right in here. I used up my sample, but it had too much vanilla for me. I kept thinking about it, got another sample, changed my mind and bought a FB from Luckyscent a few weeks ago.
3. Something I gave up on, but still keeping thinking about. There’s a lot of those! I use up the sample, decide no, then I see positive comments and start to doubt my memory. I’m thinking I need more samples of some the range from Les Indémodables.
You have given me permission to go open the Bengali Rouge again.
Bengale Rouge is one of those where I used the whole sample, and then threw the vial away. But now I’d like to sniff it again.
The Les Indemodables all sound so tempting, too. Ready to pull the trigger on their discovery set!
I don’t have a system in place, only one organizer in my bedroom on top of my desk for samples and decants I have tried and a bag for untried samples.
If I don’t like something at first I almost never change my mind so I don’t follow a system.
It was Nuxe Prodigieux le Parfum today and tonight it’s Aqua Di Parma Profumo which I consider a winter perfume but it bloomed in the heat and it’s probably my favorite patchouli.
You smell great!
Thank you! I think we two are the only two sharing such a fondness for Profumo, maybe because it was discontinued it’s not mentioned much at all.
Sorry, which Aqua Di Parma? Always curious about favorite patchoulis.
Oh wait. I may have found it. Based on the 1930 formulation. Now looking to see if it is still being made 😊
Hello, yes it is Profumo, discontinued now, I think Cazaubon and I are the only ones wearing it for some reason.
My purgatory basket has been reduced significantly. I have been adding unloved samples as freebies to swap packages or as extras in freebie packages in hopes they are loved and appreciated by someone else. Like SarahN, when trying a scent for the first time, I almost immediately know if it will work for me or not. Very rarely I gave samples a second try. I have a bag with samples and small decants that I decided were favorites at first or even second sniff, but I have not worn them in a long time. I would not be surprised if some end up in the purgatory basket once a start going over the bag again.
SOTD Demeter Salt Air for this hot overwhelming day. I have not gone outside at all and not planning to do it tomorrow either, except for taking the garbage and recyclables out. Next week will be even worse. Having a lemonade right now and purging my winter clothes. The next kitchen cabinet purge has to wait until temperatures get cooler.
Happy weekend, everyone! 🌞
Ooh, purging! My favorite.
Hot here too, so thankful for central AC.
Stay cool and hydrated! 🧊
Stay cool!
Trying my best! 🍦
I will be joining you in a major purge next week as I prepare for the move!
Glad to have company! Good luck with the purge and the move!
Purging feels so good! But then I’m like “Oh, I used to have a sample of that, I wish I still had it!”. Argh.
I don’t have a purgatory. I either like something or I don’t.
Sampling Herbcraft Hypnotica today but it’s not a me scent.
Anyone here in Italy and want to meet up to go sniffing when I visit in September?
You sound like me, I’m a either like it or not kinda perfumista too.
Won’t be in Italy, but we’ve been watching James May Our Man in Italy on prime and it does look beautiful! Have a great trip!
For better or worse, I don’t keep samples around anymore that I don’t immediately like. I have collected them in purgatory boxes and given them away in freebies.
Yesterday I tried Chanel Eau de Cologne. I used up the entire sample because it was sadly so short lived on my skin. Today I’m in Diptyque Ilio. Another pretty one for summer, but again I’ve dumped the entire sample on my arm and can barely smell it. I don’t need my summer fragrances to be loud, but something with a bit more oomph is what I was looking for. Suggestions welcome!
One fragrance that it took me a few wears to get was Box of Eels. I know, I know. At first I didn’t get what all the fuss was about and then one day it just clicked and it really is as beautiful as you all rave about it to be.
Another fragrance that I feel I should like is Feminite du Bois. I recently got some samples from a generous NSTer and I’m going to give it another try. I’m hoping it clicks like BoE did, and if not, oh well. There are plenty of perfumes out there to enjoy and keep exploring, right!?😀
Thanks all for the kind words yesterday. I had such a nice day with my friend. I’ve missed her.☺️ We are already planning our next get together for next month.
Have you tried Bulgari au Thé Bleu? I like that one for summer.
I haven’t smelled that Bulgari in sooo long
It’s soft and lovely, isn’t it?
I did but it’s been several years. My Sephora used to carry that line but sadly no more.
My purgatory is a Jo Malone candle box that’s about the size of a child’s shoebox. I’ve been very intentional about going through those samples lately – I’m showering later in the morning now that I’m unemployed, so I try a sample, wear it for an hour or two and if it doesn’t knock my socks off I dump it or spritz it in the hot shower water.
I have a few Tauer perfumes that I love but just never think I’ll use a bottle. Ormonde Jayne’s T’aif is one that I’ve been dithering about for at least 15 years.
My SOTD is byredo’s De Los Santos. An immediate love and purchase. I like ambroxan, so Cazaubon’s comment above made me laugh.
I do the same thing with my samples – wear for an hour or two before my shower.
Today went by in a flash! SotD is 10CC.
1. What’s the latest fragrance you tried, and weren’t sure about but weren’t ready to give up on just yet?
Le Lion. After reading everyone’s comments, I think I’ll try it a little more before I give up on it.
2. Name a fragrance you now love, but that initially spent quite some time in your purgatory basket.
See SotD. I dithered on this one for quite a while. Now I’m glad I finally caved and bought a bottle.
3. Name a fragrance you gave up on, but that you keep thinking about and wondering if you should get another sample.
Profumum Ambra Aurea. I tried a bunch of the line’s frags a long time ago, and didn’t care for it. Now that I’ve read so many positive comments on it lately, I think I’ll have to get another sample.
AA is a beauty!
Looking out at snow covered hills and low cloud. My house is below the snow level but it’s cold and dreary and I’m watching the birds feed from the sugar feeder. The smaller wax eyes come in a mob and then scatter when the bigger birds arrive. The sparrows also like the sugar water when it’s cold like this. I am wearing Coco and keeping close to the heater.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/bowlful-waxeyes-0
These are some of the birds that mob my sugar water. They originally came as stowaways on sailing ships from Australia.
Are these the same that stand close together to keep warm? A while ago you posted a link to a necklace of little birds all hunkered in a line, that I loved.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/proverb-loving-fantails-take-flocking-together-seriously
They are not the same. These are fantails which are very curious birds and have tails like fans. When you walk through bush they follow as your feet kick up the earth, as they look for insects that are disturbed
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/fantail-piwakawaka/
Ah. Nothing alike. What those fantails lack in color they make up a dozen times over with personality!
Very pretty little birds!
I thought the silver eyes looked familiar: they’re related to the white eyes found in Africa. This makes me wonder if there’s something evolutionary advantageous about the light eye ring, or it’s something else these birds share.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zosterops
Amazing isn’t it? I remember Robin once posted a picture in scent of the day that features Japanese ( or maybe Chinese ) . I haven’t found any information about the advantage of white feathers yet but will keep looking.
Those are such pretty birds, and aptly named!
Coco is so marvelous.
Wax Eyes are adorable!!
SOTD = Roja Dove Enslaved
This was the “mystery” I mentioned the other day. Naughty because it was totally an impulse buy when I saw that OssswaldNYC was having a 40% off sale. I’m sure this can be bought for cheaper but don’t ask me where because I never looked. It was every bit as good as I remember it being when I sampled it at Bergdorfs!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg7sj-3OnVp/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
As to the poll, the only one I remember not liking at first try but kept trying with more sprays was SL Chergui. Love it!
Saw my niece again today and had takeout dinner at my sister’s. It’s nice when family gets together and this is what I’ll miss given that my other sister (this niece’s mom) moved to PA.
Stay tuned … I may be booking a cruise for May of next year!
Congrats on the Enslaved, I have an older vintage bottle of that and it’s beautiful.
It is elegant and a love!
I was watching a Roja review the other day and thinking I rarely see it mentioned here. Congrats on the bottle!
Thank you. I agree it’s rarely mentioned. We should have a CP of rarely mentioned perfumes!
That’s a great idea!
Nothing beats that feeling when a perfume is as good as the sample! Yay for nieces! And I am very interested in your cruise plans – keep us posted!
Wow, you went BIG with your mysterious purchase!
1- fragrance I am trying out but not sure if it will make the cut
I bought a bunch of samples so a few are falling in the exploratory category. I bought some samples from Henry and Rose and tried out Sheep’s Clothing. I like it but it is SO ephemeral that I actually had to reapply before I left the house.
2 – fragrance that I did not like at first and now love
Avignon, Stash – both I really disliked at first and now love. This is a small category for me. It usually goes the other way – I grow out of a fragrance, just because it is no longer “me” and I rarely go back to it.
3 – fragrance I sampled and gave up on and now reconsidering
Jaisalmer. I seem to like the Commes des Garçons incense series a lot. I have Avignon and Kyoto already.
I wore the Sheep’s Clothing sample today. Remains terribly hot here. My family celebrated the 10 minutes of rain that fell at our house. I am in the beginning part of a four-week stretch of workdays – ugh! – so I barely have been outside at all.
I am the same. More likely to like or love a perfume, and then grow tired of it. But I’m no Darcy (Wont catch me saying , “My good opinion once lost is lost forever”). My opinion’s mutable, so I’ll hang on to a bottle that has fallen out of favor— and often a few years later I find I am enjoying it again.
“I’m no Darcy” – love that.
I got rid of my purgatory basket a few weeks ago. Most were kind of evaporated, so there was no point of me hanging on to them. I am currently still in yesterday’s Amouage Dia, which is either no 5 or no 22 on steroids. I am thinking either Lyric, Coromandel or vintage BaV. I go back to work on Tuesday after having 9 days off. I hate it when vacations start to end.
I should do that, some of my samples are so old they’re no longer meaningful.
Sorry your vacation is almost over!
Due to laziness I will just answer no 2. Lol. Serge Noire. I know..that initial kinda greasy b.o. but it fades quick then it’s oh so good. Hurts so good 🎶
Just drained my Chanel Barritz sample:( always a bummer when one drains a Chanel sample and has no more of them lol. Hey, I guess I won’t unintentionally fume bomb anyone at church haha.
Stay cool out there 😎 🍸
Well then who knows, maybe I’ll come around to Serge Noire some day!
SOTD so far is smoke. Not the perfume kind, but the kind coming from a forest fire just over the mountains from the valley I’m in. We drove through it getting out here on Friday, but there wasn’t much smoke the valley here then. That changed last night.
Not sure I’ll wear an SOTD because…more wine tasting today.
On the questions…I don’t really have a purgatory basket, or maybe you could argue the sample stash is a purgatory basket. It’s basically a huge pile on top of the organizer I used to use for my samples before they got out of hand. I need to organize it, one of these days; used to have it organized by note but like the idea of bags for different houses…would make things easier to find. But I suspect it will be more about setting aside reference fragrances and then a huge basket of the random samples I’ve been sent over the years that didn’t grab me.
I really only have an answer to #2, on fragrances I’ve come back to. Lipstick Rose is the one that always comes to mind, though I know there are others I should be thinking of. It smelled too much like my old grandmother’s pink ’50s bathroom the first time I tried it at Holt’s, and then years later a kind NST’er sent me a sample with another bottle, and I liked it much better.
Hope the wine tasting was fun despite the smoke!
19:01 Sunday eve,weekend is over!We have a public holiday on Tuesday,it’s Women’s Day in 🇿🇦.
I don’t really have a sample or purgatory basket,the ones I do not immediately love just goes to friends or colleagues for a sniff or a try.Many moons ago someone here suggested leaving samples at work in the bathroom for people to try,and I’ve been doing that ever since.
SOTD Panier des Sens Rose Geranium.If you like British Rose from The Body Shop,this is basically it,longevity is just much shorter.Luckily I just got a 10ml rollerball so no big loss there.
It would have been nice if there were more perfumistas I knew in South Africa,to share and exchange samples with,do swap sales etc etc… Unfortunately they are few and far between,and I’ve lost contact with Merlin eons ago.
Happy Sunday all.
XO’s
That is too bad…there must be perfumistas there, just need a way to find them and get organized!
Few more errands to run and some number crunching to make sure I have everything ready for the house/condo closings. Wearing a sample of Slumberhouse Baque and Masque Milano White Whale on my arms, after shower I will be stopping by Nordstroms to spray myself with the De Los Santos tester one more time before I completely write it off. 🙂
Good luck with the closing. I am so glad it sold and you have spotted somewhere quiet in Montreal.
Thank you Kanuka, I am so grateful for the good resolution of this tremendously painful episode in my life. On to the next chapter!
Onward and upward! 🎉
I’ve been so happy about your sale! Hope it all goes smoothly.
Like a lot of people here, I’ve tried not to keep samples hanging around if I haven’t liked them. Just sent off a parcel to a friend with the last of the crazy-huge sample selection the Bay sent a few months ago.
The only No-turned-Yes is Dusita Oudh Infini. First couple of times out my reaction was a childish peeyou! The drydown though is spectacular and unending. Happily, I have a decant coming my way soon – very well wrapped I hope – and that’s perfect as not only is it wildly expensive but a little goes a very, very long way.
1. What’s the latest fragrance you tried, and weren’t sure about but weren’t ready to give up on just yet? EL Paradise Moon. I am still trying to work through and decide on the 8-sample “Luxuries” set I got back in January. (Enjoying many other samples I have, but as an EL Fangirl, I feel like one of these will be “the one that got away” if I don’t get them analyzed.) SotD was Paradise Moon and was “smells good but that’s all” in a way that make me think I’m missing something. I’ll try another scent tomorrow, hope to get a wow. I think I ruled out Infinite Sky, which I like a lot but was very not me.
2. Name a fragrance you now love, but that initially spent quite some time in your purgatory basket. Chanel No. 19 Poudre. My purgatory basket includes 100ml samples. 🙂 I thought I would just let this go sometime. But my mistake was comparing it to my vintage mini of No. 19 edp, found early in my trip down the Rabbit Hole. Last year it hit me: No. 19 Poudre is a scent unto itself (perfect for ladies and gentlemen) and I love it dearly. It lives near the front of the inner shelf.
3. Name a fragrance you gave up on, but that you keep thinking about and wondering if you should get another sample. Kenzo L’Elephant!!! The descriptions written by its fans sound like something I would love, but for me it was N.O.T. like that. A reformulation thing? A skin chemistry thing? *Shrugs!*
No. 19 Poudre is lovely!
I made it to my town’s farmers market today, and happily brought home some really nice baby summer squash, a Watermelon Lemonade scented candle, and a couple of 4-packs of locally brewed beer among other things. Looking forward to going back on some other Sundays during the season.
I don’t have a Purgatory basket per se. I do have the “Give Pile”, which are samples that should be rehomed.
However, I did have a 180 on Angel Aqua Chic EdT, 2012 version. I thought it was rather “Meh” when I first tried it but kept the sample around. Fast forward a few years, and I am really enjoying it now. So that’s my answer for Question #2.
Listening to the cats thunder thru the house as they chase a fly which got inside earlier this afternoon. Pretty sure that one of them will have a McBugget snack as a result.
SOTD = back in TM Angel Aqua Chic EdT, 2012 version. Who knows, maybe I will thunk the sample sometime soon?
McBugget 🤣🤣🤣
I can’t remember which cartoon series I stole that from. It was either Animaniacs or Tiny Toons, back in the 1990’s.