It's Monday, President's Day and the World Day of Social Justice. Birthdays: Louis Kahn, Ansel Adams, Gloria Vanderbilt, Robert Altman, Sidney Poitier, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kurt Cobain. What fragrance are you wearing?
I am still on vacation (we head home Thursday) with my one fragrance, the not-very-steampunk Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum.
Reminder: 2/24 will be Steampunk Friday... do whatever you like with the steampunk theme. Suggested by JB and seconded by a bunch of other readers.
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: with apologies, I do not know who made this shoe or if indeed it ever really existed, but it appears in several steampunk sets on Pinterest. It looks vaguely Alexander McQueen-ish but I am pretty sure it is not by McQueen.
p.s. I meant to include a link to a comment by JB on the weekend poll, for anyone who is needing inspiration for a steampunk fragrance
https://nstperfume.com/2023/02/18/lazy-weekend-poll-five-favorites-edition-3/#comment-1090619
I think the shoe is too undefined to be anything by an actual designer: it doesn’t seem to have an overriding aesthetic, but looks like it just had a bunch of stuff from a craft store hot-glued all over it. Definitely not McQueen, who was laser-focused.
Today I’m in the resolutely un-steampunk Hermessence Ambre Narguilé, which has a bit of a Serge Lutens souk feel to it. It was far and away my favourite from the original batch of four, and it might still be my favourite of the line, although I haven’t tried every single one.
It is an excellent morning for a walk, in my opinion — overcast, no wind, 5°C — and today is a holiday in my province, Family Day, so we are going out for a long stroll, so much nicer than a boring spell in the gym.
I think you’re right. It looks McQueen-inspired at best.
I know exactly what you mean. At a glance, with the blocky shape and the encrustation, it calls to mind some of his shoes from the Atlantis collection, among others. It’s just that there’s a *lot* going on on that shoe: most designers are going to pick a single idea and take it as far as it will go, however baroque the results, but that one has butterfly wings and bird wings and maybe a dragonfly and some hanging beads and clock parts and a rose and…. Still, it can’t be denied that it has a steampunk feel, for better or worse.
And for my purposes, a steampunk feel is all it needs
Hope you got that long walk!
I’m starting with Paloma Picasso today, a good contender for the I mean business category. I have a lot of domestic work to do today; after a shower, I’ll probably switch to White Cube.
Paloma Picasso is definitely a good one for I mean business. I can still picture that magazine ad from the 80s in my head and that lady did look like she meant business!
You smell wonderful.
Thank you, Aurora.
Get it done! Yeehaw!
Lol 🤣
Trying to decide by Friday what the most steampunk fragrance I have is. For CP points today, I’m in Elixir de Merveilles. I think Serge Mansau’s bottle would be right at home in that world.
Agree about the bottle!
I will have to think about what I have here with me at our weekend getaway that fits the “steampunk” category. Maybe Secretions Magnifiques, which is in my latest Luckyscent sample bag that I brought along. But that will have to come later, as right now I’m trying to do emergency prep for a “one-way” video interview that I have to record. I discovered the invitation to the interview in my Gmail junk mail folder last night, and it’s due tonight, so I’ve got to crank it out before 10 a.m. when we have to check out of the house. (Total fluke that I checked my junk mail; Gmail is usually so good at catching spam vs actual email that I rarely look at the junk mail there. Outlook…different story.) Hope they don’t mind everyday attire…
Good luck! I never check my junk folder either.😬
Oh no, good luck! And glad that you happened to find it.
I’ve had Gmail misfile things in the past. What a pain!
Hi all. I have not posted in a while, so I just wanted to leave an update. We moved from Malmö to Lund last week. It is a temporary apartment, so we must leave it in May, but it is really nice here. No idea where we will go next. Looking into other, cheaper countries, but that’s not easy either.
But we are ok for now.
I have randomly grabbed a perfume – Creed White Flowers. Not bad.
Glad you are ok.
Good to hear from you!Stay strong!🤗🤗🌹
Great to hear from you, I hope you are able to settle somewhere longer term.
Adding my good wishes that you can get settled more permanently!
Fingers crossed you can find more permanent accommodation soon.
Nice to hear from you! I’m sorry to hear things are unsettled, moving is difficult. Wishing you a long-term safe place to call home for now. Ultimately may Ukraine become peaceful and all its citizens be able to return home.
What cazaubon said. All the best to you, Glannys.
Best wishes to you and your little family, thanks for posting here.
Glannys, so glad to hear from you!! Lund looks beautiful (and I had never heard of it, now I want to go). Hope mom & kitty are well.
Oh yes, it is quite picturesque! We are looking forward to visiting the botanical garden and other open air sights once it is warmer. The old town is lovely, and we have not seen all of it yet.
So glad to see your post!
Hope your mom and kitty are well.
Thank you everyone for support!
Lovely to hear from you, and I hope that your Mom and cat are doing well.
Hi Glannys. Glad you posted. I hope your housing situation resolved but at least for now you are in a good place!
I loved the poll over the weekend and decided to go with one of my no brainers this morning: no. 5 L’eau.
I had a lovely laid back family weekend. The sun was out, I got a couple new plants, cooked some good meals, and got my reading mojo back! I lost it about a year ago and I’m not really sure why. All I can figure is that I read a couple of books in the same timeframe that I really felt unenthusiastic about but forced myself to finish anyway and then it just turned me off to reading at all.
Anyway, I downloaded Reese’s book club app and just started with the first pick. I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine over the weekend and loved it! Now I’m onto the next one. She’s got 80 books on the list, so that should keep me busy for awhile.😊
She has got some good ones on the list. I have read several of them.
She does! I’m looking forward to getting back into reading. Sometimes I think I get overwhelmed with choices and I don’t know *what* to read. I’m totally fine with letting someone pick, and I love lists.😉
Ah, I quite enjoyed that book. So sad but so hopeful!
What plants did you get?
I agree. Her character made me laugh out loud, but also broke my heart.
I got a dieffenbachia and zz plant to keep my snake plant company. Here they are:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0S9Iwvk8l/?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=
Lovely! Those plant stands are gorgeous, too.
Thanks! I am really happy with them. It’s always a bit of a gamble ordering things online.
They all look beautiful!
Thanks! They make me happy.😊 Hopefully I can keep them all healthy and thriving!
Those plant stands look mid century-ish in the best possible way!
Right?! Our dining table is midcentury and that’s the room they are in.
Love the plants!
Thanks!😀
Happy Monday!
We had a very hot day with a surprise afternoon thunderstorm,resulting in steam literally rising from the streets!Perfect scenery for a “Steampunk”-themed day!Haha!
I love the clashing worlds of the steampunk idea,romanticism vs industrialisation,leather vs lace…
SOTD!High Frequency from Initio Parfums.Almonds/Heliotrope-ey wonderful floral.I must say this house is growing on me.
XO’s✌🏻🌹
Ah, when you describe it that way, seems like there would also be lots of great layering steampunk combos.
I don’t think I probably have anything that qualifies for the CP this week. Oh, well. Today I am in Zoologist Civet.
Getting ready for our next big snowstorm tomorrow night through Thursday. They are saying 9-16 inches of snow with 50 mph winds. Fun times!
Oh wow, that’s a lot of snow!
And it is about the third or fourth time this winter. I don’t remember a winter like this since the 60’s and 70’s. We had huge trucks taking the snow out of our townhouse complex as the piles were so high.
You must have gotten all the snow we did not get this winter! It is our first winter ever (in my 25+ years in PA) with no snow at all.
Wow, we’ve had so little snow this year that I would have a harder time dealing with a big storm than usual. We’re in false spring and I’m loving it. Hope you get everything you want beforehand.
I just had to pick up a few things at the store and it was crazy there, especially since it isn’t starting until midnight tomorrow night. It’s not like we are going to be in the house for days, but people stock up like they will be stuck for weeks. It really is kind of comical.
The same kind of grocery store panic happens here whenever there is *any* snow in the forecast. I shake my head at people freaking out about 2 inches of snow!
I wish that I was exaggerating.
Wow! Hope you keep power and all those good things.
We have been lucky with power this year, so I hope that is not an issue.
That is a big honking dump’s worth of snow! Plus that wind! Ach!
Yes, it was 40+ degrees today and by Thursday when the winds pick up it will be well below zero again. I am so ready for spring.
RIP Richard Belzer (Munch in Homicide and Law & Order: SVU).
I’m trying Memo French leather today. Roses and leather, maybe fits the CP? I’m not sure. I like this more than the other two leathers I’ve just tried, African and Irish.
I think it’s perfect for the cp!🌹✌🏻
Okay, steampunk perfume. I’m going with Squid because I think squids ( like octopus) have a real steampunk vibe: three hearts, can change colour, squirt ink, they have tentacles and the giant squid live way down deep in the ocean ( about 300ft) …plus kraken are steam punky too.
Kraken are very steam punky!
That’s a great choice.
Excellent as always, kanuka!
That is quite a shoe! I wouldn’t mind owning something so raucously outrageous, though I’m beyond the stage of my life when I might have worn heels that tall.
In a rather un-steampunk manner, I will be going through a bag of samples this week to systematically see if there’s anything in there I like. When I’ve gone through the bag, I’ll put it up here as a freebie, if I remember to. Today is Unter den Linden, which to be honest does not remind me of Berlin at all. It’s a perfectly lovely scent that I do not need to own more of.
I somehow missed the stage when I could wear heels that high entirely. Except I did used to wear Candies, maybe they were close, I don’t know (and I know younger people probably don’t know what Candies were).
I remember Candies! I think they are what Olivia Newton-John was wearing at the end of “Grease”.
Ha, could be! They were dumb shoes and I did not wear them for long, and I pretty much gave up heels entirely by the time I was out of college.
For Steampunk, I’m thinking of older perfumes like Cabochard or Jolie Madame, lovely perfumes that don’t seem much like modern perfumes. Maybe also chypres, so today I’m wearing Mugler’s Chyprissime.
Yes, those would work!
I’m going with Dzing! today for a “not exactly, but kind of” interpretation of our cp. Soft leather plus some caramel popcorn plus saffron and ginger and lots of musk. I can see a steampunk circus!
Steampunk circus sounds perfect to me!
Also, there were so many vaguely piratical steampunk collections (McQueen & Dior esp) that I think Lubin Idole or L’Artisan L’Eau du Navigateur would work.
you smell great!
There was an episode of the New Zealand detective show Brokenwood Mysteries that involved a kind of steampunk party or event or club or something. Almost everything I know about steampunk comes from that. In general that show was kind of clever and sometimes funny, with nice scenery. I looked it up and it was Season 6 Episode 1 (I think), titled “The Power of Steam.” I think you can find it on Acorn via Amazon Prime (if you subscribe).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11261194/
I keep meaning to watch that show! Eventually I will get to it.
I absolutely LOVE Brokenwood. I think you will enjoy it!
Thanks springpansy! It is overwhelming how much good tv is out there.
In Magnificent Gold. Do I want a bottle? Could I find a bottle these days? Oh the questions.
Does anyone have any recommendations for steampunk novels? I’ve liked Parasol Protectorate…
Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley is one that comes to mind. Also, bits of the Golden Compass trilogy (Philip Pullman) are steampunk-ish.
And there’s always Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea!
Jules Verne could be considered a steampunk precursor, as could H. G. Wells.
Pretty clueless about Steampunk, maybe I could wear CdG Black? Anyway, I’m in the glorious Songe d’un Bois d’Été which I haven’t worn in far too long and am appreciating today.
I am pretty sure CdG Black works! One way to look at it, if you were a character in the movie Brazil or the movie Baron Munchausen, would you wear this fragrance? That of course casts a fairly wide net
I am loosely interpreting steampunk for the bottle shape than what the fragrance makes me feel / think.
Awash in Amouage Memoir today. Trying to find a pharmacy that will refill my nebulizer machine. My 2 local pharmacies don’t have the ability to order them. Calling my health insurance to see where I can get one.
Good luck Dawn!
Well it was a weekend.
Commando still but showered and dressed.
Saturday started out normally – got in car to drive to Pasadena for hair cut, then drove down street to Whole Foods.
20 minutes later at check out line – my wallet and checkbook gone.
Run out to car. Nope. Call hair salon. Nope.
Apple card texts me – 1000.00 in purchases at the Home Depot. Nordstrom texts me – 1900.00
Call police, call every card I thought I had, all accounts frozen. And today is a federal holiday so cannot get new account numbers.
I had prayer cards from my mothers, fathers and brother in laws funerals and a tiny picture of me at 18 with an 18 month old nephew on my lap. The one who is 52 now.
Drivers licence, medicare – you name it, its’ gone.
Slept on sofa downstairs cause my address was on license and I pictured whoever did this coming to my house. Locksmith coming today to add more locks.
yep, dear readers. quite the weekend.
Ugh. I’m so sorry that happened aspara. Infuriating and scary.
Yikes! Very scary and upsetting.
Apsara, that stinks. I know it’s a real ordeal to restart accounts and obtain new ID. And so sorry about the family mementoes you’ve lost.
So sorry this happened to you. The gall of the thief to use your stuff!
I’m so sorry! I hope it’s very quick to get this resolved!
Oh, how terrible. I am so sorry this happened to you.
Oh I am so sorry this happened to you!
I hate thieves!
Oh no. That’s just so awful apsara. I know it is all a pain in the neck but especially sorry for the sentimental things you won’t be able to replace.
I’m so sorry for the loss of sentimental things as well as the PITA of replacing the other things.
Today is also my brother’s birthday. I think he would be pleased to know that he shares the day with Ansel Adams. 🎂
More absurdly warm weather here for February. There is a chance for record breaking temps on Thursday. We shall see. 🥵
SOTD = Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Rosa Rossa EdT, from the Sample Stash and hajusuuri. I’m still on a rose kick. It’s quite pretty but doesn’t hang around for very long.
Happy Birthday to your brother!
The Guerlain AAs don’t last long on me either.
Thanks! I know the AAs were not meant to be big honking perfumes, but having something disappear that quickly on my scent glue skin is a little disconcerting.
Happy Birthday to your brother! And I hope your 😺 is starting to feel a bit better.
Yes, warm weather here again! Unseasonably warm this whole week apparently. But the direction we plan on going to head back home in 2 weeks is unseasonably cold now. Let’s hope things balance out soon!
There’s another one day plunge in temps expected for this weekend. Same thing happened this past Saturday. Really weird!
Spooky is doing OK. She did get a shot at her vet appointment, so she was a little groggy after that.
Happy Birthday to your brother!
Are you expecting any of this week’s winter storm?
Thank you!
Just rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. So far, my area has received less than 1 inch of snow this winter.
My dream winter!
It is unseasonably warm here today, so I went with banana samples! Blackbird Y06-S and CSP Vanille Banane. In comparison, the Y06-S smells like a perfume interpretation of a banana, with floral and milky notes emphasized, whereas the VB smells like a candy interpretation of a banana, specifically a Runt Candy Banana (and neither smells like what I find actual bananas to smell like). They are both fun, and I’m impressed with the longevity of each. I was so sure I had a sample of LAP Bana Banana, but my notes tell me otherwise, so I’ll have to order one soon.
Drinking more Chocolate Puer today. I have a feeling I’m going to be on this kick for a while yet.
Sounds like I can give the CSP Vanille Banane a pass!
I actually love both, and agree entirely with your description.
I have Y06-S and really enjoy it. Hmmm…maybe a steampunk contender this week….
SOTD = Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles
… bottled in steampunk!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co5xdUVOg9E/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
So I went shopping last Friday. When I shop for little things, I add up the cost before I get to the register so I can determine whether or not I meet the threshold to get a discount. I was shocked that I had to buy another item to make the minimum purchase to leverage a $10 coupon. Anyway, when I got home, it still did not sit right with me that I spent $25 & change. I looked at the receipt and saw that not only was their NJ Sales Tax off (6.66% vs. the correct 6.63%), but I shouldn’t have had to add a 4th item. I went back today to let the store know there’s something wrong with how I was charged. Although I got the return and the difference back, somehow, the sales tax ended up being 6.68%! The cashier just said that the sales tax came from “corporate” and there’s nothing she can do about it. I told her she needs to get to Corporate and let them know their basic register practice is wrong. Regardless, when I worked in Jersey City, a similar thing happened with the cost of breakfast (I am a creature of habit and got the exact same thing everyday). I ended up getting a little over $6 back. All these to say check your receipts because the stores don’t always charge correctly.
Gah, what a bleeping nuisance about the receipt shenanigans!
Your Hermes bottle looks like it is a special edition. Would that be correct? I don’t remember them looking quite like that with all the gold around it.
Interesting! I tend to always check my receipts but never look at the sales tax. I will now!
My sotd is Rose Jam.
It was very busy at work today due to the holiday.
Ah, forgot it was a shopping day too. Get good rest tonight!
Thank you. I’m going to try.
I *almost* reached for my travel spray of that today!
I think we are both on a rose kick lately.
Late entry in Tubereuse Criminelle because it seems steampunkesque.