Happy Almost-Friday and happy National Scrabble Day! Birthdays: Catherine de' Medici, Thomas Jefferson, Nella Larsen, Eudora Welty, Seamus Heaney and Al Green. Update: RIP Mary Quant. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm commando for a doctor visit later this morning. I'll report on my fragrance this afternoon.
Reminder: on 4/14, for Pan American Day, wear a perfume named for a place in North or South America, with bonus points for places that aren't New York City.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2023, where I'll try (but usually fail) to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Bosque seco (dry forest), Horizontes, Guanacaste, Costa Rica [cropped] by thejaan at flickr; some rights reserved.
Not sure what to do with the CP for tomorrow – looking forward to others’ clever ideas. SotD Ambrette de Noir by Aerin Lauder. I like the non-sweet vanilla opening but seem to recall it did not last long. We’ll see how it does today. Shout out to Robin and anyone else growing tuberoses in pots. I just got 10 bulbs from Old House Gardens (thanks, Robin – and they sent me 5 free gladiolas!), and I wonder what size pots you use for success! Thanks for any and all tips.
Much of this is from an email I sent another reader last year (and I am not doing tuberose this year, bought a frost-proof gardenia instead — might switch back to tuberose next year):
Kevin starts them in soil wrapped in burlap inside large trays, each bulb in its own separate little sack, so as to avoid root rot, which can be a problem. Then he transplants into separate clay pots after they sprout, then again into larger clay pots when they get big.
I am a lazy sod. I used big plastic pots (guessing 2 or 3 gallon? maybe more?), and put 2-4 bulbs in each, started inside under plant lights in the basement, then when it got warm out, I stuck the big plastic pots inside (prettier) pots outside in full sun — so I did not transplant them even once 🙂
While they were still inside, I kept them in the boiler room in our basement. A few times, I left the grow lights on for days before I remembered to turn them off at night. Who knows, maybe that helped! After they finally sprouted I was better about turning off the lights at night. (And I am sure you can do without lights, mostly you want to keep the pots warm until they sprout, then you’ll need sun even if from a window)
I do think anybody can grow them if you have enough sun. Put them in dirt when the bulb company says to, don’t water them too much while you’re waiting for them to sprout, don’t let them dry out once they’ve got decent growth (which on my porch and given that I did not transplant, meant daily watering).
I’m sure I would have done better if I’d put fewer in each pot, and also I did not feed them regularly which I know Kevin does. I have killed more plants with fertilizer than I can count, so I just figured I’d feed them once and that’s all I did.
Thank you so much! I think I am going to direct pot them because we are close enough to warm weather here, and I do have a heat mat and grow lights. Do report on your gardenia. I will let you know if the tuberoses join my potted jasmine in giving me fragrant moments in late Summer.
Good luck!
Robin, good luck with your doctor visit.
Wearing Hermes Eau de Neroli Dore. Simple and refreshing on this 90 degrees day. I am glad is breezy and not humid, so I will enjoy again my lunch time outside.
Happy Thursday! 🌞
Thank you pl67! You smell great, that might be my afternoon scent.
90 degrees! That’s crazy for mid April.
It is! We reached 87, but the weather is great. Windy and very low humidity.
We are expecting the same for tomorrow. Then back to 50’s and 60’s.
Perfect perfume pick for the weather!
Thank you!
I have really had a hard time with this CP–just not able to think of any options apart from the obvious Bond New York ones. But for today, given your birthday list, I think I’ll choose to wear Caterina de Medici by Profumi di Firenze! Thanks for the idea!
I am sorry! Sometimes I don’t realize how hard they are going to be. I might do Lonestar Memories or Clementine California, or Paris*LA. Hope people will come up with other ideas!
Ahah! You just gave me an idea. For tomorrow. Excellent.
At least I don’t feel so lost, knowing that someone else was having a hard time.
I’m wearing Dzing!, pulled from a bag of random decants.
I do like a perfume with an exclamation mark
Geography, day four: SL La Fille de Berlin, a thorny rose of the sort I love. Doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with Berlin (or girls, for that matter: it’s very grown-up and quite genderless) but the name is sort of irrelevant: it’s terrific.
It is terrific.
Gorgeous perfume, both scent-wise and the color.
I’m wearing vintage Dune for Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan, for CP points. There’s also Warren Dunes, one of my favorite beaches in the summer. We had picnics there when I was young and would run up the dunes and slide down. My legs couldn’t take it now!
Good one!
Maybe I’ll wear this tomorrow. My CP tie-in would have been otherworldly.
I like your CP tie-in, and of course any excuse to wear Dune is a good excuse.
Sleeping Bear Dunes! I’m directly across the lake from you. One of my oldest friends lives near there.
I don’t live there but it’s a great place to visit 😊
Hmmmmm, that gives me an idea for tomorrow! I was going to punt on this CP since I don’t have any placename perfumes that I can think of.
Thanks!
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, this is a challenging CP.
I’m baaaaaaaack from North Carolina. I have peaked in a few times, but honestly not a lot as we came home with very bad colds. At least we were able to spend time with the grandkids and make memories.
Anyway, today I am wearing Dusita Splendiris although sadly I can’t smell it much.
Welcome back! I hope you recover quickly and that your nose returns its former smelling glory very soon🌹
Thanks so much my friend!
So sorry you are sick! Worth it to see the grandkids, I’m sure.
Join allo in wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thanks Robin!
Feel better soon Kris!
Hopefully it will be soon and thanks.
Welcome home, Kris! Hope you are feeling better soon.
Thank you Gail. It is always good to get home.
Welcome back! Feel better soon Kris.
After enjoying smelling it on a friend recently, I went ahead and ordered a sample of the current iteration of Polo. It arrived yesterday and it’s very nice indeed! I will be investing in a FB … or maybe two, if it’s as good on Mr. G as it is on me. (He has already co-opted my bottle of Italian Leather.)
How cool to hear it’s still good stuff!
Indeed!
Glad that Polo is still worthwhile. I have some fond memories of it.
Beyond worthwhile — it’s truly lovely. I’ve had two small spritzes on my wrists for 12 hours now, and it’s still completely lovely. I’m smitten!
In my beloved Chanel 1957 today. Partial CP points as this was an ode to New York City, though not explicitly named after it. I am running out of this current one, can’t wait to break into my back up bottle.
Its so warm in NYC today! I am in a silk shirt and a flowy maxi skirt. Feels like summer already 🙂
Tomorrow you can wear its next door neighbour, Jersey!
I am envious of the East Coast temperatures, last night we had a frost advisory! I’m wearing Clementine California today, so I smell fruity and summery. I was sorry to see that Mary Quant died. Her clothes were in every fashion magazine when I was growing up.
My mother had a wonderful Mary Quant makeup kit, with a black block mascara and little colour palettes, all bright colours. She also wore Havoc perfume for a while and had packets of colourful tights. It was all groovy! Especially compared to all the other clothes sold in town.
I had a great Mary Quant makeup palette/case with eyeshadow, blush, lip gloss, mascara and a little spray bottle of Havoc. I think it was two levels, maybe a little drawer below? I bought it in London in the ‘80s. I also have her book “Quant on Makeup” published in ‘86. It’s a really cool design – like two books side by side, one opening to the left and the other to the right, both sharing a common back cover. I’ve never seen anything like it since. What an amazing influence she had on the fashion world and in cosmetics.
I would *love* to send you some of today’s heat! I will keep trying.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, the neighborhood, the nei…. you get the idea. Sunny and clear.
I’m back in Jicky (I really love this one) but in the edt today.
Checking in sunny and clear in SE PA! And you smell great.
Reversed engineered the CP: I am wearing Vanille Insensee, and I’ll say it’s in honour of Vanilla, Pennsylvania.
I did not know there was a Vanilla PA!
Hello all!
I unwrapped my bottle of Cuir de Russe extrait last night, but backed off before I undid the baudruchage. I felt the need to photograph it properly before I broke into it. So I pulled out my Cuir de Russe EdP today and boy is it lovely! I forgot how much I love it. A bit bitter and animalic but plush and floral at the same time.
Been knitting up a storm trying to finish some sweaters that I’ve half-completed over the years. I ended up staying up way too late just knitting along. ☠️
Have a great day all!
Excited for your unveiling of your CdR parfum!! How are you planning to break the seal? I managed to snip of just the top loop of the baudruchage on mine so I could keep the wax seal and bottom loop on the bottle.
Ah, my half-finished sweater…you have made me feel encouraged that it can be done. Good for you and yay for new sweaters!
In recent discovery Osmanthe Yunnan (Hermes). I’ve wanted a bottle since forever and I finally caved. Best money spent in some time. It’s beautiful stuff.
My 100 ml bottle is almost drained. Already bought a travel spray so I don’t run out 🙂
Congrats on your new bottle! After all, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying life, right? 🎉
Still commando as I have spent the whole morning scrubbing paint off the floors, touching up baseboards and resealing the bathroom countertop. It’s only 1pm and I’m ready for a nap. Will be sooo glad when this nasty job is finished. It seems neverending.
It sounds like Jackson Pollock did your decorating. What a horrible clean up. Hope you get done soon.
That’s exactly what it looks like! I’m getting close to the end, but I have to do 2-3 passes over each area because it’s hard to get them all, depending on the angle of the light.
I am sure it is all going to look fantastic when it’s done and your furniture arrives!
I am excited to receive the dining room furniture tomorrow!
Just reading about your clean up makes me want to nap!
What a huge job! I’m sure once the furniture is in, it will be all worth it.
You’re getting there!
I am wearing Olyssia from Sylvaine Delacourte. I ordered a sample kit of the orange blossom collection. Olyssia is a mix of orange blossom and jasmine, loving it so far, may be a bottle worthy, i will try the others too.
Trying to make almond paste.
I love almond paste, looking forward to hearing how yours comes out. I tried the Delacourte orange blossom scents but don’t remember the names, that one sounds lovely.
It didn’t turn out great unfortunately. If you have a good recipe, please share.
It’s Friday so for the CP I’m wearing Kingston Ferry, Olympic Orchids. This was a blind buy, years ago, ( along with Bay Rum) and I didn’t really gel with it so it’s been in my sock drawer ever since. I’m going inland, to Power of the Dog country today, always especially beautiful in autumn when the poplars and willows turn yellow, contrasting with the wide blue sky and slow blue-green river. Going to pick rosehips for jelly and escape the drizzle.
Rosehip jelly sounds great, enjoy thr trip inland.
Sounds like a lovely day!
Enjoy your day Kanuka!
Sounds like a great day!
Picked Mauboussin Histoire d’Eau today and tonight OdlR Volupté with its Sophia Grojsman fruits which I’m really enjoying.
Is your Volupte a newer version?
It’s vintage, I got it because I’m not sure how it fared through reformulation.
Today I’m wearing a bit of my prized, vintage bottle of PdN New York for the CP. This bottle is about the only time I’ve regretted sharing out so much in swaps. I bought a BUB a few years later, and the reformulation was a huge disappointment. That was a little while before reforms were an everyday thing, and I was crushed. Oh well, I’ll enjoy the rest while I have it! It’s not as if I’m running low on perfume or anything. 😆
I didn’t even know about reformulation until I came to NST. I just thought I had a bad memory. Lol. It didn’t help that SA’s would say ” oh yes it is the same”
Haha. Yeah, the joke’s on us. 🙄
To be fair, though, most SA’s are just thrown out there without any training, or they’re fed b.s. by the product reps. I was a perfume SA for a millisecond, and in addition to 3 lines, I also had 1 skincare line and one nail care (!) line. I was actually employed by the brand distributor, not the store (a very high-end one.) I was given a run-through of all the lines by my rep in about 1 hour.
I remember an obviously more well-informed customer asking me a question one day about a new skincare product which was due out. I had no clue, and he went off in a huff. I had not done my homework!
Sad but I think the days of ANY sales person knowing ANYTHING about the product they are selling are long, long gone. And it doesn’t seem to have boundaries. Asked a ranger last week about some not difficult questions about animal species and habitat around Mt St Helen’s and just got the Deer in the Headlights look. Same when I get report at work. Most have no idea of the big picture, history, etc., and are just clicking off tasks on their task list as they got through the shift. Not only do so many not KNOW, so many don’t CARE. 🙁
I have a few perfume choices for tomorrow, which surprised me.
Today, Alien eau Sublime called my name. A favorite that I am now afraid to thunk. Realistically I probably have at least a year if I wore it frequently.
I’m trying to see what I have for the swapmeet. I should not be smelling them though, because I keep changing my mind. Lol.
I never swap anything unless I am absolutely sure I never want to smell it again.
When the Alien calls, you must answer, Grasshopper!
Wishing you’ll find a backup of Eau Sublime whenever you thunk it.
I did not realize that Alien Eau Sublime was d/c’ed.
Are you hoarding? 🤣
I think I might be! Lol
Only have one eye open at the moment so sipping some scalding coffee in an attempt to wake up. Really short on sleep the past couple of days because this place is SO incredibly noisy. Finally found a park to park in and let doggo get in her sniffage and run abouts, but you’d think it was the Jardin des Tuileries what with all the grooming, mowing, clipping, blowing, etc. Not to mention the guy who has his truck stereo blasting. 😳 Can’t seem to find a quiet corner hereabouts.
BUT, the sun is out! So, I needed a sunny perfume to match and decided to go with my solid summer stand-by of PdE Corsica Furiosa. Spraying early so it will fade enough to be under the radar at work tonight. And in a spring sort of mind (although weather hasn’t been cooperative!) I’ve been eyeing Ninfeo Mio with longing, as well as a few other more springy scents. 👍🏼
Just got an update from Moby’s people, and they are doing fantastic things with him! I can’t tell you how happy I am that I sold to them and that they got such a dependable vehicle. Really, stupid I know, but I dreaded selling him to someone who would not care for him and send him to the junk heap way before his time. Love my Big White Whale and the kind folks who adopted him! 🚐
And apparently I’m on the good side of the CP as there is a Corsica TX and a Corsica PA! ShaZAM! 🙃
Ding ding ding! 🔔 😀
Deva, you just gave me a hint. I could wear Paris tomorrow and still get points for Paris, Texas, which I know exists because of the movie. 🤭
🙌 Score for AnnE! Happy to be of help. 😀
I’m going to join you in Paris!
Excellent! I wonder if any others will join? 😁
So glad that things worked out with Moby and his new people!
Une Zeste de Rose for me today, something I bought many years ago and wear rarely,
RIP Mary Quant. I loved her makeup when I was young. It was all so much fun and such great packaging. Mod stuff rules.
Une Zeste de Rose is a very pretty fresh rose.
CdG Kyoto this morning and the Capsule Legion for the beautiful anise note.
Love Kyoto 🙂
Gods, what a day. Posting WAY late as a result of all the crazy, and from an annoying VPN program that would not shut up until I activated it. I think I am competing with lillyjo for yuckiest day of the week.
It all started with Mr. Jalapeno’s shoulder surgery appointment. At 6:15am. That’s ugly early in my book. I dropped him off, and came back home to try and get a little more sleep.
Around 9:30, I get the first call I am expecting. Mr. Jalapeno is out of surgery, and it went fine. He will spend about an hour in recovery. I get the second call, and set off to pick him up, plus get post surgical instructions. And two post op prescriptions.
Since the pharmacy is on the way home, I decided to stop there and drop off those scripts. And that’s where things went sideways. While I was getting those filled, I had what medical professionals call “a sinkable episode”. The pharmacy called 911, over my protests.
By the time EMTs get there (not long at all), I am safely seated in a chair thanks to 2 other customers and a store employee. My BP is 88/55 and my fingers are blue. Those EMTs are rather insistent that I go to a hospital and get checked out.
I am just as insistent that I have a post surgical patient in my car, and that he needs to get home. So the EMTs call in a third person who will take Mr. Jalapeno home while I go to the hospital. I gave Mr. Jalapeno my house key to get inside.
During the ambulance ride, my BP gets back to something resembling my typical. I did have one moment of nausea, but did not hurl.
At the hospital I have an EKG and several blood tests. Nothing unusual found. But I have not eaten, nor had much in the way of water on a very warm day. The ER doc and I come to the conclusion that I could have been somewhat dehydrated.
Got a Lyft ride home from the hospital. There I find out that when I left, Mr. Jalapeno had no way to pay for his prescriptions. I had taken his wallet home when I dropped him off for surgery. The EMT that took him home paid for those prescriptions (!!), and got reimbursed by Mr. Jalapeno.
Been in Slow Mode since my little incident.
SOTD = sweat and stress. Plus a healthy dose of thankfulness for the kindness of total strangers.
OMG! Glad you are both okay. Take care!
I will be better at taking care going forward.
Ah, Jalapeno, I think you win for luckiest day of the month, if not year. 😢 I’m so glad you both got home, and yes indeed, the kindness of strangers can be surprising. ❤️🤗
Glad that it is almost over. I’m beat!
Holy Krakatoa, what a day! So sorry for all the stress for you and the mister! Those EMTs!! Man, they deserve a medal for sure. I hope things look much better for you both tomorrow.
On the plus side, I suspect that I will sleep well tonight.
Oh my goodness! What a day! Glad you are both back home.
I’ve had shoulder surgery; glad your hubby got his meds! He will need them.
Mr. Jalapeno has now had both of his shoulders done. This one was less “complicated” than the first.
See what happens when I don’t post my usual? You get in trouble! Anyway, glad you were checked out and ok!
Me too.
Pauvre Jalepeno! (It’s sounds better in French) What a crazy day! I hope this late post finds you and Mr. J resting more comfortably and that tomorrow is very boring😊
Thanks allo!
Dang Jalapeno! I am so glad you are ok!!
To quote Monty Python: “I’m not dead yet!”
I am so sorry you have such an awful day. I hope you and Mr. Jalapeno feel much better tomorrow. Sending hugs. 🌻
Heh, Mr. Jalapeno was feeling better yesterday than I was.
Appreciate the hugs!
Wow wow wow. That is a story! Hope you can both take it very easy tomorrow.
Wanna hear the kicker? I ended up walking to the pharmacy last night after I posted b/c I remembered that I had left my prescription glasses in it. Fortunately that was about 1/4 mile.
And fortunately they did have your glasses! That really is quite the day.
What a day, yay for the kindness of strangers, both of you will get some rest today to recover, I hope, perfect reason to curl up with the cats.
I went to bed early last night, so I didn’t see your comment until this afternoon. Teflon kitty was my snuggle buddy again this morning, though.