Rabbit rabbit rabbit! Welcome to February. It's also Hump Day, plus National Freedom Day aka the first day of Black History Month. Birthdays: Clark Gable, Langston Hughes, Muriel Spark, Rick James. RIP Bob Born and thanks for the Peeps. What fragrance are you wearing?
I’m in The Zoo (Christophe Laudamiel) Tubéreuse Organique.
Reminder: on 2/3 we're doing Edition 8 of the Picture Challenge, which is detail from Women of Shangri-La, 2002, by Yayoi Kusama. You can see the entire installation if you scroll down here (I cannot post it for copyright reasons). Extra reading: Yayoi Kusama at Wikipedia, Dot on: The rise and rise of Yayoi Kusama at Thames and Hudson, 'Determined to have her story told': Retrospective casts new light on Yayoi Kusama's seven-decade career at CNN, Yayoi Kusama: the world's favourite artist? at The Guardian, The Infinity Experience With Yayoi Kusama at TheViewDeck.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2023, 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 the pebbled rabbit calf-leather bag from Thom Browne, $2,750 via Farfetch. (I could not find a rabbit image from Yayoi Kusama, although she did illustrate an edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland back in 2012.) Bottom image is detail from English: Yayoi Kusama Exhibition via Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved.
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit! 🐇🐇🐇
RIP Bob Born. I was so sad to read the news about his death earlier this morning. Peeps have always been my favorite sweets!
Very cold today. We woke up to the first snow dust of the season. By the time I left home for work it was almost gone.
Wearing and thunking my decant of Nobile 1942 La Danza delle Libellule. Beautiful scent that I will also miss, especially during the fall season.
Happy Wednesday! 🌻
But he made it to 98! And invented Hot Tamales too! Out of repurposed Mike & Ikes! That’s a good life.
Learned more here, including that Peanut Chews (for years, my favorite candy) lost their kosher designation years ago.
https://www.jta.org/2023/01/31/obituaries/bob-born-jewish-maker-of-peeps-marshmallow-candies-dies-at-98
I didn’t know about Peanut Chews — maybe I live too far west for those. Peanuts and chocolate? YUM
For some years they were nearly the only kosher candy you could buy in a drugstore, and a friend who kept kosher used to keep them in her office. They were addictive. The last time I had them they weren’t as good, like most candies
Thank you for the link, Robin! So interesting how Hot Tamales were born. I love them and I have not have any for a while, along with the Peanut Chews. I already have some heart shaped Peeps for Valantine’s day, so I will indulge in some today to honor Mr. Born!
Peeps were a favorite Easter candy for me and my brother when we were little. And we had to have them at the “right” level of aging so that they were perfectly crunchy. 🌷🐣
Lol! “Perfectly crunchy” is the way I like them! But you have to be very patient to wait for it!
Yep! And sometimes we didn’t want to wait. A kid’s patience goes only so far, LOL!
Happy February, and it must be a miracle if I’m early enough to be the first to post today! ✨ )or even 2nd)
Robin, that bunny bag is adorable! Although I would have lost money on a bet that it was from Loewe. And you smell lovely! How are you liking the scents from The Zoo?
SotD is Zoologist Harvest Mouse. At first spritz, it doesn’t smell like fall, although it does smell like sweet sunshine. It’s very pretty, and I’m definitely going to enjoy finishing my sample.
Tea of the morning, which I forgot to mention yesterday, is MF French Breakfast. New favorite! ❤️🫖
Harvest Mouse will be my next sample purchase, sweet sunshine sounds delightful.
I wholeheartedly recommend a sample purchase!
I am pretty sure I have done the Loewe bunny bag before so I tried to find something else. But take a gander at the Loewe bunny “pocket”…is that cute? I’ll take the yellow one.
https://www.loewe.com/usa/en/women/bags/pouches-and-clutches/bunny-pocket-in-classic-calfskin/C623W48X01-7969.html
ps The Zoo, these are good, possibly very good, but there is so much product, are they interesting enough to compete? I expected something a little different.
Christophe Laudamiel is the one who said years ago — it doesn’t matter how much fragrance is released, it’s like music, the more the better, the good stuff will find an audience. I still think he’s very wrong.
But I can see that 15 or 20 years ago, this tuberose would have gotten more attention from perfumistas.
What did you think?
I haven’t tried any of them! I agree with you on his remark, and your supposition. Just too much stuff now. As I learned once upon a time, “full many a rose is born to bloom unseen….” 🙁
He’s so wrong! More bad or indifferent product just makes it harder to find the good ones.
Omg that is adorable! And did you see the raffia one? 😁
Well, not that I would ever own one, of course. I dipped my toe into the designer handbag world a few times, but the rest of me could never live up to them, lol!
The raffia one, yes, I would use that! But I am not a bag person either… I like bags but won’t spend money on them other than the one expensive bag I keep in its cloth wrapper and take out when I put on a dress a few times a year
Although now I’m feeling guilty because actually the small backpack I carry everyday was not cheap, nor was the crossbody I carry if a backpack is not appropriate. But I bought them for utilitarian reasons — they are not designer bags and would impress nobody. They are just well made and have already lasted me for years.
Spending money for quality items that you use for years and years because they work and they hold up, is a really different thing than buying any status item because it will impress other people, Robin.
Well, I hardly wear dresses, so I bring out my good when when I wear my good coat. 😉
Super cute, but with my luck, people would not guess it was a bunny and would think it was…something else.
French breakfast, Marco Polo, Pleine Lune and Eros are my favorite teas by Mariage Freres. Though you are not asking, I am just telling
I just got a tin of Marco Polo, too! I will check out the others you mention. I wish they sold samples. That’s one reason I like Upton so much.
Do you live in the US? I can send you some of mine out of the tin. Pass along your email if you are interested.
Yes, I do, that’s so nice of you to offer. Gosh, I hope it didn’t come off as if I were hinting around.
I’m standing dawt armsakimbo in geemaleland.
I like a well-made, classic handbag that won’t fall apart, and have a couple of non-shouty Coach bags.
Me too. I didn’t think I would ever get a Coach, but I have a black one for winter and a cream colored one for spring/summer. They are expensive, but I have had both of them for years so I figure they were worth the money.
I have too many Coach bags to count but I know the overall quality has deteriorated over the years.
I love my black Coach bag, it’s non shouty. I plan to use it till it falls apart.
It never fails: in this part of the world, if it’s overcast at this time of year, it’s not that cold, but if the sun is shining you know it’s going to be brutal. Today it’s -20°C and sunshiny-bright. On a whim I’m in Mugler Aura EDT, equally bright.
🥶 I hope you don’t have to be outside for any length of time!
No, I’m not working today — that’s retail for you — so I get to stay in and do various chores, which, believe me, I would much rather.
I’m with you on that one. But it’s a good excuse to stay inside and get chores done. ✔️
I’m wearing Rain from Commodity. It is very like the fresh, aquatic scents from the 90s. I used to love those, but I’ve moved beyond them and this one isn’t particularly interesting.
Every so often I still “smell” New West in my brain, so to speak. Such great stuff at the time!
Another cold clear morning. Wearing MFK Grand Soir.
Checking in cold and clear here too!
It’s cold and clear, a dusting of snow that has already melted.
Love your SOTD!
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit. I am in Cuir de Russie and it is very cold and crisp for the SF bay area.
Cold and crisp twins here to the north of you in the PNW and you smell lovely in CdR❄️
Good morning, fragrant friends!
I doused my jumper with Hermes Cuir d’Ange today for some buttery suede comfort, as well as some some menthol and clove medicated oil on the temples to stave off this jetlag.
Been thinking about how Chinese and Straits Chinese medicated balms have given me many childhood scent memories, e.g. Tiger Balm, Axe Brand (minyak kapak) medicated oil, Olbas oil. They are all camphorous, minty and herbal, often used as a remedy for bug bites, bruises, headaches, blocked nose, stomach pains… you get the idea. They are the smell of comfort and care in moments of sickness. I have memories of my parents slathering Tiger Balm on my belly for tummy aches.
Back to work as usual and I’m catching up on emails. I’ve been out of the loop so it was disconcerting to hear of so many tech company layoffs happening in the past couple of weeks. We seem to be doing fine in avoiding a similar layoff, but I am still a little worried.
Heeley Spirit of the Tiger!
https://nstperfume.com/2008/02/14/back-from-purgatory-a-grab-bag-of-mini-fragrance-reviews/
Fingers crossed that your company stays healthy and fully staffed.
ooh i shouldn’t be surprised that someone has already made a Tiger Balm perfume! haven’t heard of that one before, thanks for sharing, Robin.
fingers crossed the company weathers the economic storm!
Those are such comforting scent memories. I hope that all of your favorite scents help with the worry you’re experiencing😊
thank you friend! perfume and good smells are a source of comfort always.
Rabbits x3! Wearing Ambre Russe today from PdE. I’ve had this 10ml since dinosaurs were roaming and it’s still going strong. So many from this line that I like!
Drinking hot tea and dreaming of bed!
Yes! One more reason to love PdE.
Rabbits!
Defying the cold in Songes
I think Songes is my favorite BWF. I have a few BWF I like, one by Lili Bermuda, one by Memo and maybe a few others but Songes really sticks it out with me.
I am about to make a cappuccino at home and relax with a book. I also volunteer at another organization (besides the library) and I am headed over there later.
Haven’t heard the name Lili Bermuda in a while, and it makes me feel warmer already
I bought a bottle of Frangipani when I was there. It’s a nice scent, reminds me of Bermuda. It’s not as much of a BWF love as Songes.
Glad you are feeling warmer already. I looked up the temperature in Bermuda and its 70F partly sunny.
Songes however was inspired by Camille Goutal on a visit to Mauritius, its 79F and sunny currently there.
Hope that helps!
I think I’ll join you in Songes today. It has a lot of warmth along with its BWF.
I finished The Sound of Waves! What a wonderful story. And I learned so much about another way of life that I had no idea about.
I loved Sounds of Waves, more than Spring Snow now that I think about it.
Have you read Spring Snow by the same author?
No – I haven’t read that one. Adding to my list! I read some background on the author, too. He was an unusual person.
I believe in Japan in the 70’s he attempted a coup, and when it failed, he committed seppuku, a ritual suicide.
Sound of Waves I preferred over Spring Snow, but if you like Proust (love & longing/capturing a memory) you will like Spring Snow
It’s been a topsy-turvy week and today I left the house without any perfume. Have spritzed some of my emergency backup perfume, Prada Infusion d’Iris Eau de Parfum Absolue.
Gosh, hope the week rights itself! But meanwhile you smell fantastic anyway.
Glad you had an EBP. Hope the rest of your week is less topsy-turvy!
You’re over the hump now, so hopefully things will be less manic. Hurray for emergency perfume!
Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit! 🐇🐇🐇
I remembered to say/think rabbit X3 first thing this morning, and I copied this cute first line from someone more creative than me!
SOTD = DS & Durga Durga, tuberose bomb to keep me warm on this very cold day here.
Tea of teh day is homemade matcha latte, made with some matcha powder I get at the grocery store. Heat up some milk, add powder and 3 crystals of sugar, and whisk untl my arm gives out. I had a cute little battery operated whisker with a unicorn on it, but it fell apart…
Trying to maintain a regular daily schedule is very challenging when there are no external prods to do things, other than the usual – the cats/chickens/horses/huband needs to be fed/watered/petted…. at varying intervals…
But after a month of semi-immoblized resting, I can feel some motivation starting to come back. I want to clean up the house (not just need to do the bare minimum…) I want to start laying out my garden plans… I want to bake some cookies. LOL. Guess I will bake the cookies first, do a little cleaning while the cookies are baking and then eat some cookies while thinking about the garden!
Hav a good day, one and all. Stay warm, be kind to others and yourself, smell good, give all your loved ones a little tasty treat and something tasty for you too!
I like your plan: cookies first!😋
2nd that!
Thanks for the quick instructions on how to make a matcha latte! A friend gave me some sweetened matcha for Xmas, and I have had no idea how to use it.
The main this is to whisk hard and long! A blender would probably work well!
I keep forgetting the rabbits. But I am in Coromandel parfum today. Yesterday, our dryer died and had to get a new one. It’s still sitting in the garage and not looking forward to helping my dad get the dead one out and putting the new one in.
Good luck with that! At least you smell great!😀
Hope it goes smoothly!
Good luck with the appliance wrangling!
Ugh, appliances! Hope the swap goes ok!
I remembered my rabbits when I was eating breakfast this morning. It was before I left the house, so that counts right?
I’m in Diptyque Fleur de Peau. I love this one.
I slept like a rock last night, the sun is out again, and the coldest longest month of the year is over! I’m in a super good mood today!🌞😁
Saw some sunshine this afternoon, and it felt great! But February is the snowiest month around here (insert ominous music)….
Ugh, sorry about that. But, 1 down, 27 more days to go right?!🌞
So far I think my area has had maybe 0.6 inches of snow this winter. So it hasn’t been bad at all! Just wondering if a major dump is waiting in the wings for later on.
Wearing AG Songes. It’s a gorgeous day and I’m stuck on the computer figuring out social security/Medicare stuff. Maybe I’ll just skip turning 65? But actually, I don’t want to miss out on any of my life. Maybe my three rabbits this morning will help me get through it–along with my coffee and my Songes.
Well you smell fab!
I’m doing the same thing! Can’t we just turn 35 again?
One caveat – be careful about the Medicare Advantage plans. They’re basically just private insurance, although their marketing materials make it look like they’re “official.”
What would you use in place of Medicare Advantage plans?
Can you email me, AnnE? You can reach me via my screen name above. I’d love to chat about this (but won’t bother you if you prefer not).
Hi springpansy, I have sent you an email.
But it said it was an invalid address.
It’s correct. Did you see the 5 after springpansy in the email address?
Hajusuuri would be an excellent person to talk to about this.
Medicare Part A, B, D and a Medigap (not sure what letter but you have a choice).
Like AnnE said, do not take Medicare Advantage. It’s “good” when you’re healthy but God-forbid if something catastrophic happens, you will be in a tangled mess.
I only mention this because Mom’s care went through h e double l. We were able to recoup but we shouldn’t have to phrase it as such.
Okay, thanks. I’m familiar with all that, but still have a question. I’ll send you an email.
I’ll take a break and go for a walk at some point.
Oops – that should have gone with my original post.
That’s a great idea, I’ll join you!
Well, hello! Haven’t seen you for a while.
It’s time to catch up!
It’s dull, warm and humid here. We Wellington folk aren’t used to humidity, it’s what we think of as Auckland weather. I think I’m also noticing it more as I get older, I no longer have the hormones of my youth
I’m wearing Scherrer today, a green that should go well in the warmth.
Humidity bothers me more these days too! But given that’s it’s 2/1, I’d take warm and humid.
Hope it isn’t wearing you down, Gaynor.
I am still in my nightgown and robe, with a cat on my stomach and one next to my hip. I’ve come down with a cold, and with a stuffed-up nose and a sore throat I might skip perfume today and just smell my hot drinks. I haven’t had a cold in years and I had forgotten how miserable they can make you feel.
Oh, no, I’m very sorry. At least you have warm cats to snuggle with you. Cats can be good caretakers. Hope you feel better soon.
Hope you feel better soon! Sending healing vibes!
Hope you feel better soon, foxbins!
Ick! Colds suck. At least you have kitty caretakers keeping an eye on you.
Adding to everyone else’s good wishes that you’re back in saddle again soon. You know the routine-fluids, fluids, rest, more fluids! And cat cuddles will boost your immunity! 🐱
I woke up in the wee hours on the morning and had an odd experience. I repeated “Birdie, birdie, birdie,” feeling quite sure that was the right thing to say on the first day of the month for luck. Later I realized that no, it’s not, and I said my rabbits.
😅 I wonder if you get partial credit for that.
🤣🤣🤣 and then you got it right!
Birdies and rabbits, seems like a nice addition.
*waves*
1)We made it through Dry January!
2) Tech world woes-ish: my contract with the fintech company will stay, but I will not be converted to FTE- which is actually fine with me, as this gives me more flexibility in terms of work.
3) SOTD: Orange Absolute from BeautyPie- Perfect for the 1st day of Feb! Really rich orange/tonka bean scent- a lovely way to wake up on a sunny, cold winter’s day.
Ede! The timing of your SotD is such a coincidence! I just got an email from beautypie this morning with a new product alert of a 6 pack of travel sprays of their fragrances. I’ve been wanting to try some but didn’t want to commit to a big bottle. 5 mls will be perfect. Immediately ordered it, I can’t wait to try them!
Ha!
I really think that the 5ml travel sizes are perfect for trying the scents.
Just a heads up: The bases for these fragrances are very much like a Guerlainard- made to settle down into a skin scent VERY quickly, with a reliance on cashmeran, woodsy bases and ambrette. Sillage will be VERY close to you.
ALSO: Two of their very best- Petals and Red Apple- are no longer sold. They were perfect office/boss babe scents, but they were also not great sellers
Good to hear from you! Hope you are still continuing to love your house and garden. I enjoyed hearing about all the work you did- from the kitchen to the garden! 🏡
Hey! Hello!
It’s great to hear from you as well! How is life on the road?!
I am planning out the spring/summer garden now! I will start my modules later on this month for transplanting in March!
I need to focus and take pictures of the kitchen- It’s done DONE now, and I love it!
Next project is painting the stairwell!
*waves back*
Glad you didn’t want FTE anyway, and hope you keep getting as much work as you want.
I am already at 90hrs/biweekly and have responsibilities that a contractor really ought not have, and I have had to make boundaries clear with other departments as to what my employment entails. The FTE person that they have for this department (IT) is practically never here, only appearing every two months. There no in house infrastructure person, so I wind up doing the main distribution frame maintenance.
Part of my New Years Resolution is not be sucked into a whirlwind of work the way I was with my other job, so I have kindly reminded the FTE of his duties, and cut off any other requests things not strictly related to IT.
Did I mention I was supposed to be a remote IT worker?
Well good for you, that’s a very worthwhile resolution. Stand your ground!
Brr! Won’t make it out of the 30’s today – which I realize is mild in lots of other places but the cold and ice wreak havoc here in the south. I am off this week, enjoying the warm kitchen after a flurry of errands the last 2 days. I took a chilly walk in my neighborhood yesterday and did not see anyone else out. I think I will be lazy and skip my walk today. I have a lot of junk to organize and might as well do it in crummy weather.
Wearing a sample of By Killian Love (don’t be shy) and I realize I tried this years ago when I think it was just called “love”. Very nice, sweet foody vanilla type scent. I don’t get any white floral at all. Not in the running at this point for top of the wish list but it might grow on me.
Have you tried the Extreme? It’s even better!
Forgot the rabbits…oh well.
SotD today is Vilhelm Darling Nikki. It was in my chocolate & coffee sampler, which I do not understand in the least. On me, it basically smells like a clone of Opium. I do like Opium, but it wasn’t really what I’d had in mind for today.
Last night I tried ELdO Tom of Finland, which I very much enjoyed.
You can have one of my extra sets.
I did “rabbit” this morning, but it was the second thing I said out loud. The first thing was “Teflon kitty, I have to go the the bathroom.” Tef was being my furry snuggle buddy again, and I had to let her know I was getting up since she was sleeping in one of my armpits. 🐇🐇🐇😸
A whopping half inch of snow was on the ground this morning, but it had melted away by early afternoon. The best kind of snow; it self shovels!
SOTD = Coco EdP, from the Sample Stash. I have more of this lovely stuff, thanks to springpansy. So I will not be upset about the impending thunk of this sample. 🥰
I was shocked, shocked I tell you, when I opened my blackout curtains in preparation for work and saw snow. Everything melted except what’s on my front steps; I helped it along by sweeping and treating with ice melt.
I was rather surprised too! The last weather forecast I saw last night said that any accumulating snow would be to the south of me and closer to the Shore. HA!
Very happy that the sidewalks in my neighborhood did not have to be salted to death today.
♥
Wow, we did not get even that much snow.
Today I’m wearing Strangers Perfume Cachouli which was in my Luckyscent sample packet I got recently. After giving a thumbs-down yesterday to a chocolate scent I must eat some crow today and admit that I kind of love this one, which is meant to be a cocoa + patchouli fragrance. But if you look at the notes on Luckyscent it’s got the entire kitchen sink in it–I never saw such a weird amalgamation in an ingredient list. (Yes I’ve seen weird notes listed but this combination, like mushrooms + orange blossom, has some weird stuff.) I put some on last night and it smelled so tasty and yummy when I got up this morning. I believe I’m a sucker for the Peru balsam in here. It’s just a warm, honeyed, rounded and quiet patchouli with a gourmand touch and some other nice things like labdanum and tonic. Pretty affordable, too! Some of this might be in my future.
I had the most delicious mushroom soup at an Italian restaurant I stopped in at on my way home from therapy today. I sort of gobbled down the bowl and almost ordered a second bowl on the spot. I think it’s the best thing I’ve eaten in months.
Sorry: Labdanum and TONKA. Which got changed to TONIC. Tonic is fine in its place (with gin and lime) but not in this perfume.
I totally concur with your arrangement of tonic vs tonka.
That’s wonderful about the perfume AND the soup!
I also saw your IG and your chapter in the new book. Congratulations!
Thank you!
That soup sounds marvelous! 😋🍄🍜
It was so good! It was not creamy, but had been pureed so that it still had a bit of texture to it, and was served with a dollop of sour cream (nice touch) plus a small handful of micro greens. Both pretty and tasty!
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Captured by Candlelight
Very nice while it lasted but it couldn’t have been more than 3 hours considering the 8 sprays. I have a few more travel sized perfumes to try / wear from this line. I used to think I did not like 4160 Tuesdays but it has been a wonderful line to know better!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoIzzMcua0x/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=
I did my rabbits this morning and have 3 more spare sets – available for whomever wants them. I was a Girl Scout so I am prepared 🤣.
IIRC, there are several perfumes from 4160 Tuesdays that you are quite the fangirl of!
Borneo 1834 for more patchouli today.
For Langston Hughes’ birthday, here’s one of his poems:
After Many Springs
Now,
In June,
When the night is a vast softness
Filled with blue stars,
And broken shafts of moon-glimmer
Fall upon the earth,
Am I too old to see the fairies dance?
I cannot find them any more.
May we always see the fairies dance!
Love the poem. Beautifully melancholic.
And I did see your kind offer of the sample that you posted late Monday. Definitely interested!
Oh good! I probably won’t make it through February without buying the bottle so I’ll reach out to you once I do.
Thank you for this. So beautiful.
Trying two more samples from my recent Luckyscent purchase of Best of 2022 scents. Left hand is Parisian Musc which is mostly ambrette. Right hand is Annabel’s Birthday Cake which is exactly as named: sweet sweet frosting, I’m getting little else (notes supposedly include latex, lemon, rose, etc.). As it dries down, it’s surprisingly pleasant, but I would not rush out to buy either of these. Both are about to get washed off in the shower as I get cleaned up and ready to go off to my painting class this afternoon.
I should not complain about the cold when it’s in the 30’s here and not like a lot of you are dealing with but this truly is cold for us! I appreciate the chance to wear some of my long-sleeved clothes and sweaters but am worried about my outdoor plants, especially my pretty potted Meyer lemon tree, which is covered in buds; I think the sun will come out tomorrow and hope they’ll last until then so they can bloom and make new baby lemons!