August is winding down, and we're marking the last weekend of the month with our standard open thread poll.
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance that will remind you of Summer 2023, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Blue Poppy #154 [cropped] by judy dean at flickr; some rights reserved.
Coolish and rainy all day, so I’m in the cozy Hermessence Ambre Narguilé, warm sweet tobacco. I loved it immoderately when I got it, and then put it away because I got tired of it — it’s quite sweet and very very linear — and now I’m into it again. This is why we have collections and not just one signature scent, as far as I’m concerned.
It’s been years since I sampled that one, and (iirc) on my skin it was apple pie and sweet pipe tobacco. Lovely. You smell divine!
Exactly, My interests cycle and stuff that I lose interest in I don’t get rid of because eventually I’ll want to wear it again.
YES to a perfume wardrobe!
I’m spending the morning in Armani Cuir Amethyste … and some gasoline fumes from the heavy-duty blower being used in my back yard. The grout in our path back there needed to be cleared of moss and refilled, and apparently part of the process is blowing detritus around. I don’t really mind because it will look so nice when he’s done. Maybe I should have worn Ganymede to complement the blower fumes. 😆
Hope it looks lovely when it’s finished SheriG!
(But do hate those fumes and the noise of the blower…have been looking at battery powered blowers, if anyone has a good one, do comment!)
We have a Toro plug-in electric blower that works really well … as long as it’s just our deck that needs blowing. We’re limited by the length of the extension cord. The work being done yesterday was too far away from the outdoor outlet, or I would have had him make the swap.
Thanks!
The DEWALT and Greenworks battery=powered blowers are both very good
Oh very good to know, thanks so much!
Hello!
Thank you so much for all your kind words yesterday, I truly appreciate them.❤️
Sotd is TF White Suede. Baby powder, laundry musk and a fraction of suede. It’s not bad, like, I smell nice?
The fragrance (well, in my case, body care) that will remind me of Summer 2023 is Dior’s new-ish J’adore Golden Shimmering Gel. It makes your skin look so pretty under the Sun and minus the greasiness you get from shimmer oils. (Confession: I am a total magpie)
Doggo update: Took her to the vet today and the bald patch on her tail is from a secondary infection dur to her allergies. The vet prescribed some cream for it and pills for her allergy. Check-up is in 2 weeks and if her allergy is still bad then the vet may put her on long term medication or administer an injection (which is easier on her liver and safer, and I am more inclined to this option). The vet shaved her tail but left the tip so now it looks like a lion’s tail.🤣
I’m sure you smell nice and it must be a relief your dog is being treated. Fingers crossed the meds do the trick.
Aww, tail sounds cute!! I hope she will clear up fast!!
Glad that you got to the bottom of your doggo’s issue. (No pun intended; I just typed it out!)
Poor doggie with allergies! Hope the meds help!
Wearing Deneuve extrait today. We got our electricity back last night. The electric company was talking about getting it back by Wednesday afternoon. So many were mad saying that they were going to lose fridge fulls or just bought groceries.
We lost Comcast last night and part of this morning, but our power stayed on. Our part of town has many old trees, and every couple of years, Duke Energy has to do a good bit of trimming and clearing.
Jersey today-for the farmers market and brunch with a friend.
Trying to read Paper Palace again-this book is one I am not enjoying
Volunteering yesterday at NYPL was a lot of fun. It was good to be back in the swing of things and with the people.
It seems like it was a long time ago since I read The Paper Palace, but I know I did like it. Sorry you are not enjoying it. There are plenty of other books out there to choose from.
I think it came out in 2022, so you have probably read a zillion books between now and then.
LOL. Not a zillion, but quite a few.
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Oakmossery (customized version)
I am so happy just simply looking at the bottle and wearing the perfume enhances that joy! The customization was added Orris butter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwao01BOWD_/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Back to the LUSH x Barbie body spray – I wore it again after my shower and other than an initial fruity smell up top, it just became this generic nothingness. The rice note I thought I detected was something else, including my imagination. I will try to return it to the store and see what happens. I’m not a habitual returner unless there is something wrong but this one was just not up to (my fairly low) standards.
In other news, here’s my Caturday contribution:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwaoa9Wu8MZ/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I was tempted to get the LUSH x Barbie body spray, but after your review and other bad reviews online I am glad I did not buy it blindly. Money saved!!!
I love that bottle.
You smell wonderful! I’ve really enjoyed my decant! <3
Hope they take it back, that’s too bad.
LOVED your Caturday picture this week! 😻
Happy Weekend!
In an extraordinary turn of events I am scentless today….SCENTLESS!
Lol.
The plan was to do some testing at Skins cosmetics today,but I was literally in and out of the mall because it was so crazy busy.My main objective today was to find formal black slip-on shoes in patent black leather,I need to replace the pair I’m basically living in.But alas!Could not find what I was looking for.Also,somewhere in the past couple of years either shoe sizes have changed or my feet have gone a size bigger,as I struggled with the 41’s today,and had to try on 43’s mostly!And no half sizes(or 42’s) in South Africa which drives me insane.Zara probably has the most uncomfortable shoes on planet earth,I love the chunky black shoes but they are extremely difficult to get on and off.Okay,shoe-rant over!
XO’s!🌹✌🏻
It’s so frustrating when you go to buy something that should be easy to get, and you can’t find anything suitable! I’ll have the general impression that shops are full of choices, then there is nothing when I start looking in earnest.
Yes I so agree!
I did find something similar which I bought,but it’s not exactly what I wanted.Plus yes,there was one shop that had the perfect shoe,but at $700 it was a NO….LOL.
Don’t get me started on feet getting larger. I’ve gone up two full sizes since I was in my 20s.
Crazy!It’s the sort of thing that induces panic in me,because I hate the unneccesary interaction I HAVE to have with salespeople then,asking for different sizes etc etc.And it makes online shopping for shoes impossible because I cannot tolerate the whole schlep of returns…set in my ways I suppose!
I am having similar shoe problems! Have returned a pair of my all-time favorite walking shoes (would have been my third pair) because the left shoe in my usual size is now too short. Same brand, same model, same size (even same color), BUT possibly different factory — these are New Balance and I think they outsource some of their production. But I’ve recently had a similar problem with dress loafers, and even going up TWO (European) sizes they still did not fit (this happened in a brand I’ve worn before, but a different shoe).
Trainers/sneakers are the worst!My brand has been Nike for years,and I’ve had to go 2(!!) sizes up with nikes,from UK8 to UK10 with my last recent purchase.
I’ve been having that problem with Camper ballet flats. I’ve lived in them for…decades? (Probably.) Usually no problem with ordering a new pair online in a 42, but the last pair I got was clearly a full size smaller when I put them on (but still a 42). I still fit all my other shoes just fine, and I’m fine in other 42s still, so I think it’s just Camper…which is a shame as that’s their top size for women’s shoes (and often impossible to find stock).
For this last pair, I bought a shoe stretcher and worked on them for a month or two, and it helped a bit, but now I’m wary of buying more.
I’m just wary of shoe-shopping now in general!Lol!
I’m luckily(?) not into shoes that much,I just need some practical ones that fit well and last forever.(well patent black for formal/semi-formal,normal black shoes in the mens department are excruciatingly boring!!🤣🤣)
My brother has complained about his feet getting bigger AND wider as he gets older. So you are not alone J B!
And it seems that shopping for shoes is just a big PITA. I can’t remember the last time I bothered. Probably pre-pandemic…
Shoes are so critical. I have reached the age where I refuse to hurt my feet and I can’t stand not being able to walk freely. And I will pay more for shoes than other articles of clothing. I wear sneakers now most of the time but also clogs by Birkenstock and Dansko. I am on my second pair of Dankso patent clogs.
It’ll be hot here today and tomorrow, but I can feel that fall is in the air. I’m wearing Memo Tamarindo today, for that tropic feel.
Same here…not chilly, but the air feels like fall.
I am in one of my iris favorites today – Dusita Splendiris.
Book of the week is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I see it has been on bestseller lists for years. Pretty good historical fiction.
You probably already knew this:
https://www.vogue.com/article/the-seven-husbands-of-evelyn-hugo-explainer
No, I did not so thanks for sharing.
Great book
In SL Iris Silver Mist.
A day of running errands, and later today, I will have dinner with one of my friends and his wife. They asked me to stay overnight at their place just to talk and watch movies. I may accept their kind invitation.
Happy weekend, everyone! 🌻
Enjoy your evening.
Thank you, Aurora. Looking forward to a nice and relaxing visit.
Sounds like fun, and you smell great!
You smell great!
It was hard for me to do “normal and fun” after my Mom passed away,I’m glad you are taking the step to just have a good time.
🌹🌹🤗
Have a wonderful time!
Smelling wonderful today! It sounds like a nice evening ahead for you.
That sounds like a great evening!
Have fun!
Hope that you had a wonderful time last night!
Wearing the last of my new travel sprays, La Valse Bleue. Like most of them, I find they smell lovely but have no sillage, you have to put your nose up to your skin. Actually I find many perfumes have that issue nowadays. I smelled Carolina Herrera Gold Myrrh Absolue, VCA Patchouli Blanc and VCA Santal Blanc last night, and it was the same story. Lovely up close, zero sillage. I almost thought my nose was broken, but then I sniffed Black Afghano and YSL 6 Place St. Sulpice and nope, I can smell those just fine.
Black Afghano is a good one to use as a litmus test!
really!!
I couldn’t fall asleep and then slept in late. Much refreshed now, I chose Coriandre parfum de toilette today and tonight I Profumi Di Firenze, a cozy vanilla and patchouli.
I too find going back to bed sometimes works very well!
I recently learned that waking up for a while then going back to bed used to be the norm before the industrial revolution:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180325/Sleep-like-a-Victorian-to-help-insomnia.aspx
That would work so much better for me
Ugh, I hate those nights when I can’t fall asleep easily.
Big thunderstorm here last night, through the wee hours. Temperature went from 82F (!) at midnight to 71 by dawn. Lots of what Mr. Mossy explained was cloud to cloud lightening. I think it was part of the conditions that created a dramatic continual rumbling and flashing, rather that the big claps and booms. But we did have a few booms. Our young cat is not afraid of storms, but he got very snuggly last night! Almost 3 inches of rain, but not much wind. I went into the guest room this morning and opened a drawer where some perfumes I’ve not looked in a while are kept. I have a few mls of Alyssa Ashley White Musk from a random lot of Ebay cheapies. I’ve never heard of or seen this brand anywhere but on the ‘net. Quite pleasant, but I’d say Clair de Musc or Kiehl’s is your best bet for this kind of musk. Here’s hope that everyone has a restful weekend. Oh, and I ended up having my banana split for breakfast.
We also have infamous “Highveld thunderstorms” in Summer.I love the thunder and lightning bolts!!
They, truly, are awesome. 🙂
Kiehl’s is so good. I leave that one on my bedside table for random spritzing.
Kiehl’s musk is *that* kind of smell. Until I fell down the rabbit hole, I was more of a sandalwood/patchouli person. But musk has slowly but surely won me over. My dear Father dislike musk very much, which may have influenced me.
Some are better than others, definitely! I remember my sister and I both having Jovan musk when we were kids.
Totally with you on Clair de Musc and Kiehl, I’ll add Just Musk by Mayfair (a re-issue of Lentheric Just Musk), a cheapie here in the UK, hope it exists in the US, so good.
I think that thunderstorm season has passed its peak in NJ. Thankful for it, too!
I miss thunderstorms — they are rare in my part of the country, but I used to love watching them come in when I lived in Chicago. You could see them coming for miles — flat lake, flat land. And I remember one that came in when we lived in Nürnberg, and desperately needed the break from the 40 C heat — it was beautiful to watch from the generic apartment tower we were temporarily living in.
That said, allegedly there’s a chance of thunderstorms here tomorrow afternoon.
SL De Profundis. How I love this. I just don’t find it melancholy at all. If I ever get to Paris, it will be my bell bottle!
Smoky again here in Seattle, but had a lovely coffee with a perfume friend today and that makes it a great day right there.
You smell amazing!
I agree, De Profundis is lovely.
Sounds like a great day minus the smoke
De Profundis is lovely.
I don’t find De Profundis melancholy, either. In fact, I find it quite the opposite! Would you mule me a bell jar too, when you go?
Yay for coffee with a perfume friend!
We’ve been off to a good start with Sunday morning housework, the bathroom is cleaned and it’s not quite 8am!
I haven’t decided on today’s perfume yet, but I can still smell last night’s La Couche du Diable on my clothes. We’ve been playing lots of Diablo 4 (or rather my beloved has been playing and I’ve been watching, I’ve got tendon problems that mean I need to be careful not to overdo things with a keyboard and mouse), and I like to wear appropriate perfumes 🙂 .
We usually go for a nice long walk on Sunday mornings, but it’s dull and grey, and it’s just started to rain. Maybe this will just be an indoors day.
You did better than me, it is 10 pm and I am not done 🙂
Hope you enjoyed the indoors day Gaynor!
I’m wearing the last dregs of my little sample of Parfums MDCI Nuit Andalouse. It was the chief competitor for my purchase when I visited Fumerie in Portland last November with Foxbins. And I am still loving it and craving a bottle! (I bought La Ravissante instead, and don’t regret it.) It’s just one of those perfumes that truly caresses you and makes you feel beautiful and lulled by its sheer luxury. Mmmm.
Earlier today I made a big batch of curried cauliflower soup. It might seem a crazy thing to do on a day where the temperature is in the 100’s, but it’s mainly a matter of chopping, some initial sautéeing, and then some simmering where you can walk away. Later on when it’s completely cooled I will puree it and then have it cold tomorrow. It’s got a lot of spices and smelled wonderful as it was cooking! The recipe I’m trying recommends including one chopped apple and I think that’s going to prove to be a brilliant thing to include. It also recommends coconut milk, and though I know that would be delicious, I don’t have a can on hand and will substitute regular whole milk later. I know it’ll be very tasty! I love a good cold soup in summer. Does anyone have any other favorite chilled soup recommendations? Our heat shows no signs of abating, and I’m likely to be doing some more such dishes later on in the week.
I love a little bit of apple in a curried soup. I have made a curried butternit squash soup recipe that calls for apple.
butterNUT, of course
Just gazpacho, because the tomatoes and peppers are in season and it’s delicious.
Second this. We add wee cubes of avocado to ours at the table because we’re Californians; not sure if this would make the Spanish clutch their pearls…
Cucumber soup. We use a plain yogurt base, add chopped garlic and fresh dill. Garnish with chopped walnuts and a drizzle of your favorite olive oil.
Sounds like a great soup
No cold soup recommendations, but a watermelon/feta/mint salad is a wonderful treat for the hottest of summer weather for me.
I remember tasting vichyssoise as a child and thinking it was the best thing I ever tasted. And, of course, I haven’t made it myself. Maybe it could never compare to the memory.
I make gazpacho quite a bit in the summer.
CSP Aloha Tiare with a spritz of Ormond Jayne Frangipani on top. Our church was having a Hawaiian theme picnic at a town park by the water. Unfortunately, it was rather chilly and drizzly for much of the time. (Think PNW weather…) but fun, nonetheless. Tons of food. Can’t beat a brat boiled in beer, then grilled with sauerkraut and mustard.
And, thankfully, my peach tart was eaten so nothing to bring home and clean. Someone brought a mixed berry and rhubarb cobbler that was yummy.
I’m ready for another nap. Here’s yesterday’s…. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwYyMaPPpEc/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I love a good tiare note. And a brat, too!
We are back from Australia. Less said about the return voyage the better (we finally have our luggage, and it’s downhill from there) but we did travel halfway around the planet and return safely. And we got to hang out with the most adorable baby in the world (Nana Skalolazka is not remotely biased).
I’m commando today, not intentionally, just so very busy getting ready for the semester — that starts Monday, but I spent the past week, including last Sunday, leading classes and other activities for our new students.
Welcome back! I’m sorry for the travel troubles.
You can be 100% biased Nana.
Welcome back! Glad that you have been reunited with your luggage.
I have *no* doubt that this baby is the most adorable! Glad you are back safe and sound, and best wises as you gear up for your student!!
I am in Linen Vetiver today from Banana Republic. I suppose this one will remind me of summer ’23 since I have had it (a FB) for almost two years and I finally just started using it. It’s nice and light and pretty, perfect for a hot day. The Republic line-ups rarely disappoint; I’ve owned a few of their FBs.
Linen Vetiver sounds nice…have not tried a BR fragrance in eons.
The TJ Maxx near me has a rotating lineup of the BR frags for next to nothing, and they make for a fun little treat. And I agree — even if they don’t always wow, they rarely disappoint.
Just decanted some SL Bois et Fruits. I’m smelling mostly Bois, less Fruits but I’m enjoying it on this hot, but unfortunately smokey day.
You smell wonderful. Bois et Fruits was one of my first bell jars.
😊
😀
Sorry to hear that you are still in the thick of smoke.
oh my so lazy I am today. Finally showered and dressed and off to get a mani pedi.
SOTD is Chinatown.
Love your scent for today.
Its good to have lazy days
What color(s) did you get for your mani/pedi?
oh my so lazy I am today. Finally showered and dressed and off to get a mani pedi.
SOTD is Chinatown.
Chinatown is just the perfect one at times.
I’m wearing Gucci Rush, because it sounded good. It has such nice sillage, enveloping but not cloying.
The evening light looks like fall. I’m ready for it.
This is the one in the red bottle?
Yes, the plastic box bottle.
Gucci Rush makes me think of Halloween.
Why? Altho Rush is sweet enough to have a candy corn note.
When I tried a sample of Rush, something in it reminded me of warm stereo components.
Maybe the sample I had was not in the best of shape. But I liked what I smelled. And the odd notes made me think of the goth-y aspects of Halloween.
This will definitely go down as the Summer of Bronze Goddess, but yesterday I had lunch with a friend while wearing (a mere two spritzes of) my banana-split-topping Rahat Loukoum and at one point he put down his fork and said, “GOD, you smell good.” So, putting RL back in rotation! I so rarely get comments on my fragrances, maybe because I’m fairly subtle in how I apply them, but I love when I do, and somehow it always puts a little asterisk next to the fragrance in my mental library.
Biscuit’s first soccer game of the season was today, and now we have nothing planned for the rest of the weekend, aaahhhhhhhh… We built a big marble track situation in the dining room this afternoon, and spent the morning gardening — FINALLY we’re getting some serious summer produce, and all the lemon cucumbers we can handle.
I love Rahat Loukhoum. 🙂
What a nice compliment!
Making homemade waffles this morning and I am whipping the whipping cream for the top. I will add blueberries to mine and the kids bananas.
After the shower I think a jo Malone for today. Not sure which
Oh yum! I need to make waffles again, it’s been too long.
We used a Martha Stuart recipe and I made the whipping cream with a dash of vanilla and some sugar
Cool and overcast again, I actually closed the patio door and put on a fleece this morning. Fall is here I think. Wearing Ambre Nuit to celebrate.
Since you are wearing Amber I decided to copy with Jo Malone Midnight Musk & Amber
Closed patio door twins, but for opposite reasons! Too warm here.
But the sky now looks like an autumn sky despite the temps.
Last night I made a chocolate zucchini bread by combining an NYT recipe and an Smitten Kitchen recipe and added more zucchini than either one said and it was delicious. I topped it with whipped cream and berries and yes, I also ate it for breakfast with my coffee.
SOTD: SL A La Nuit. Finally found a jasmine that I really like!
A la Nuit is a gorgeous jasmine. I am jealous of your breakfast! 😋
A la Nuit is fabulous!
Yay!🎉
LOVE A la Nuit! 💕💖
Hi, house twin! Your zucchini bread sounds perfect for breakfast! 😀
That zucchini bread sounds wonderful! I did something similar with Smitten Kitchen zucchini fritters tonight (though the opposite — added more egg than it called for b/c I halved the recipe and didn’t want to halve the egg…and it turned out better).
Twilly! It’s a sunny but cool day here. Got in the car and my husband complimented me…he likes Twilly a lot. I do too…I consider it an easy going scent.
And I’ve eaten some banana bread leftover from the picnic yesterday. Yum. Will also have some of the fruit salad leftovers.
About to make a peach crisp with the extra peaches from my tart recipe.
Save me a slice of the crisp!
Wearing Smell Bent The Hot House for some greeny green💚
My favorite from Smell Bent is still St. Tropez Dispenser. It’s a perfect summertime perfume for me.
SotD Santal Majescule. I’ve read reviews on Fragrantica this weekend, which is where I got the idea. Earlier today, I also did a spritzing of Liz Claiborne from a red triangle bottle I have, also because of Fragrantica. I have quite enjoyed both. In other news, I found a complete set of BBC’s 1981 Brideshead Revisited at Half Price Books for $6. I remember loving it back in the day, and it has held up quite well. Mr. Mossy and I have been working through it this week. The production follows the novel more closely than any other adaptation I can think of, which for me, is not a bad thing.
Gosh have not seen that in years. I should watch it again, I think it’s on Britbox.
It is on Britbox (or at least it was a few months ago when I binged it). No Forsyte Saga tho, which annoyed me.
Thanks Vee!
Oh my goodness, Liz Claiborne from the red triangle bottle! Have not seen that since the red triangle bottle lived on my dresser in high school ca. 1988. 🙂 I can’t even remember what it smelled like…should go look it up. I think I loved the bottle as much as / more than the scent.
That triangle is so ’80’s, thought I did not have it then. I did like Liz Claiborne’s fashions but perfume was not on my mind back then. The reviews on Fragrantica tend toward the current version being similar to what they remember so maybe you can find a tester!
It is such a good adaptation. $6 is a steal!
Finishing up a week of work. Gotta get through 5 more workdays, ugh! And 104 today but it looks as if it will drop into the 90’s next week.
I wore MFK Gentle Fluidity Gold, trying to stay subtle in my little workroom.
104 is too hot to work! Sorry you have 5 more to go.
Finally got power back! I am a big fan of modern technology, if you call hot running water modern. LDDM helped me tolerate the irritations.
YAY for getting your power back!
Cold showers suck.
How right you are!