It's Monday, National Red Wine Day and the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. Birthdays: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Edward Burne Jones, Robertson Davies, Janet Frame, Rita Dove. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Tauer Perfumes Rose Flash (and a lot of it, since I totally forgot I'd pried out the rollerball — I basically poured it on).
Reminder: on 9/1, Rabbit rabbit rabbit! It's September, and the start of the long Labor Day weekend. Wear a fragrance that pays tribute to your own work, paid or unpaid; or that will bring you good luck for the month.
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 have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Menthe fraîche- Fresh mint [cropped] by @ S@ndrine at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD
Cassiopea, a nice fragrance and a nice star constellation
I finished Paper Palace last night. Don’t be fooled by the pretty pink book cover… It was not a light summer read. At the end I was getting a little fed up with Elle and her dilemma but I am glad I read it.
Tea is Marco Polo
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/24/garden-evening-mists-tan-twan-eng-review?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I have been reading a couple of novels by Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng recently and think you might like them. Garden of Evening Mists is probably my favourite as it centres on a garden and references the history and aesthetics of Japanese zen gardens. It’s a lush, tropical novel set in the 1950s by a tea plantation.
In my mental book queue somewhere near the top is House of Doors. I wound up not particularly liking The Gift of Rain–I really enjoyed the history and atmospherics, but not the actual story—I am a sucker for anything Penang. But maybe I should read Garden next
I’ve read house of doors and the Somerset Maugham inclusion was interesting but the style is even more ponderous than Garden or Gift. I am also a sucker for Penang which is why I am reading the novels. The characters are all a bit same-same.
You just totally put me off it—I found Gift pretentious in its ponderousness, if I am honest. I kept wondering whether a woman writer could have gotten away with all of that and been so well-received in literary circles. Esp if the undercurrent romance was with women.
Ok- I found it at my library 📚
I will let you know when I read it
I loved Garden of Evening Mists. Have another of his on hold, but can’t remember now which it is.
Hello!
Extra shot of coffee today with my sotd – Ristretto Intense Café.
My Guerlain SA sneaked me a blotter of the soon-to-be released Tobacco Honey. It’s heavy and very thick “amber-coloured” honey. Need to test on skin once it’s out!
PSA: If you haven’t heard, Oeillet Pourpre is being discontinued (my shop said by the end of this month), so if anyone’s been thinking about buying, contact your SA to confirm. 🙂
Ooh, can’t wait, our launch is 9/15 in Montréal. Embruns d’Ylang is also discontinued along with Oeillet Pourpre, and there are rumors about the imminent demise of Herba Fresca.
No!! Not my Herba Fresca!!!
Time to get a BUB?
Oh my gosh, a report on Tobacco Honey. Can hardly wait, for some reason I want this to be a perfect creation.
If anyone gets this for the splitmeet, sign me up!
Ditto
I’m in vintage Mitsuko EDT, and a drop of the parfum for good measure. My bottle is old-it says acqua, fragrance-something like that. And since it was a tester it also lists the notes-oakmoss, proudly, in the base lol. the EDT is my preferred concentration and there is something about wearing a small amount at this time of year that makes me really happy.
Hope everyone has time to draw a few deep breaths today 🙂
Man, I loved those old Guerlain tester bottles with the basic structure printed on the back. It helped my early education so much, in the pre-internet dark ages.
The (late-nineties, oakmossy) EDT is by far my favourite concentration of Mitsouko, too. It has a restrained viciousness that the EDP and parfum can only dream of. The other concentrations are just too smooth and refined: I want a little savagery.
Pyramus, I also have some Caswell Massey soaps-I have a box of oakmoss soap which is so deeply densely perfumed-I used that soap, too, to give a bit more depth. Those soaps are really nice.
That iteration of Mitsouko sounds amazing.
It’s pretty deep, and peach-y, and mossy 🙂
So, my air conditioner went out yesterday, in 108 degree heat, and 111 degree heat index. I was such a rag today that I put on the first scent to hand, so I’m in Hermann A Mes Cotes.
Ack! Hope you can get it fixed asap!
Oh my goodness, hoping for a speedy repair!
This is no replacement for getting your AC fixed but the portable AC is good for a temporary solution and is very easy to use:
https://chilwellportableac.com/
I somehow ended up with 3 of these – if you decide to purchase, just make sure you stop yourself from getting sucked into buying some of the extras they try to sell you.
Try to keep cool by having lots of ice-cream today. I hope your AC gets fixed asap.
Hope your AC gets fixed soon!
Blargh! Hope that your A/C gets fixed ASAP. Can you get to a cooling center or something like that?
I am lucky because the AC repair company I use was able to make it to my house within two hours. I only missed an hour of work, and my house was already a few degrees cooler when I left to go back to work.
Great news! Heat that intense can be fatal.
Oh that’s wonderful.
Happy Monday! Lovely sunny day here today, spent the morning lounging on the balcony with the dog. I’m doused in Profumum Dincanto, which smells like a more summery floral version of Coromandel. Patchouli is very prominent.
I’ve never heard of this perfume, Cazaubon-and it sounds beautiful 🙂
Yay for lounging in the sun with the dog, and your perfume sounds lovely. I would love Profumum dearly if they weren’t so pricey.
Sounds like you had a great start to Monday.
Today I’m in the most indefensible thing I own, Lady Gaga Fame. I know perfectly well that it’s not much different from a hundred — a thousand! — other similar scents, but for some reason this one just grabbed me by the throat. And it’s surprisingly durable, too: I put some on last night before bed and could still smell it this morning (though of course I topped it up after the gym). Nothing sophisticated or unique about it, but I sure do like it.
I envy you going to the gym. It’s been so hard after vacation to get back into it
I’m a real homebody and would gladly spend day after day inside, but I made a rule for myself when we moved last year: the building has a gym, so every day I either I had to go outside or I had to go to the gym. With a few minor exceptions, I’ve stuck to it — and often I even do both. I used to skip the gym all the time because it was a twenty-minute walk from home and it was just so tedious to drag all my stuff there and back: now I don’t have an excuse and it’s done wonders.
I used to live across the street from gym and it was amazing to just hop over there, watch SVU (or whatever I would have been watching from my couch for the next hour) and then dart back home. No gym bag, no change of clothes, no friction.
So a best of class choice? I will have to sniff it out, maybe at Kohl’s or domewhere?
I bought caswell massey’s trio travel pack recently to try a few. Today I believe I grabbed peony. Lights were off so I am not sure. Down side, 2 of the three have leaked when on their sides. Not a great for ones meant to travel. Peony is nice. Also had samples of their honeysuckle and almond which my mother loved.
Bummer about the leaky perfumes!
Oh wow, I would complain to them! That really is silly for travel perfumes.
Your story reminds me of one time years ago I thought I’d dab on a little of my Chanel No 5 Parfum from the bottle and wound up pouring it down my arm. I went to the grocery store afterwards and got looks from some people. No 5 pure parfum is pretty potent when you accidentally put too much on, haha. I since learned using pipettes are a better way.
That is always the one bad point of dabbed samples and bottles. You always run the risk of it being spilled.
I poured it down my arm, onto my pants and shoes, and just enough got on the carpet — I will be smelling it for weeks, I guess.
In Prada Infusion d’Amande.
I ended up not meeting my friends on Saturday. Severe anxiety took me over before leaving home. I am not ready to socialize with anyone yet. It will take time to reach that point again. Instead, I made some pasta, had a glass of wine, and watched tv on the couch until late. It felt good just being by myself in the quiet and comfort of home.
Having now my third cup of coffee. I need energy for a day full of boring meetings.
Happy Monday, everyone! ☕️
I am sorry for the social anxiety, but you did the right thing. Be patient with yourself, my dear.
I’m glad you listened to yourself and did something comforting.
Take your time.
I think either way would have been fine but you know yourself and chose what worked for you. I know you have a support system (as I did) and it still took quite a bit of time before I was ready to face the world.
You did the right thing, home is a sanctuary and your evening sounds perfect. Maybe when you are getting stronger invite your friend to your home.
Glad that you didn’t try to force things. Grief has its own schedule. Hugs.
Glad you were gentle with yourself.
First of all I ADORED all of Andy Tauer’s Flash Series. My favorites were Rose Flash and Fruitchouli Flash. That Fruitchouli Flash became a signature scent and I think I went through 5 bottles. I asked Andy to scour the planet for any that might be stashed away somewhere but alas no there are no more. Rose Flash is such a gorgeous jammy rose…YUM. So you smell very good.
I am wearing my new summer favorite called Ki by Mirko Buffini. It is a golden shimmering amber with top notes of orange and some kind of cinnamon aldehydes (not a perfumer so I don’t know the details) it also has a toasted sesame note and the dry down is a slightly dirty musky amber.
Since others are talking about books and such I am reading Grand Hotel Europa and it is FANTASTIC.
Welcome to NST, assuming this is the first time you’ve posted. In any case, I did not like Fruitchouli and gave away my bottle to someone who used to post here. That said, your SOTD sounds great!
Thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds good.
The book sounds great, thank you and maybe while traveling one day you will find a bottle of your beloved Fruitchouli Flash.
Hello and welcome!
Such a shame that the Tauerville Flash perfumes disappeared so quickly.
Ah, and I had missed that review in the NYT, thank you! Adding to reading list.
For anyone who wants it,
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/books/review/ilja-leonard-pfeijffer-grand-hotel-europa.html
Welcome! I have missed many Tauer fragrances and hope that one day, through a swap or random happening, I’ll come across them. Sniff-full thinking!😊
Another Monday. Commando for a routine doctor appointment this afternoon; afterwards I’ll put on some Allure edt, I have been craving it. Perfume cravings are as strong as food cravings sometimes.
Speaking of cravings, our local ice cream shop has my favorite flavor this week, peanut butter explosion – their creamy peanut butter ice cream with chopped Reese’s cups. The temptation is strong since it will be gone this weekend.
Just reading “creamy peanut butter ice cream with chopped Reese’s cups” makes me a little dizzy with desire! I love all those nuts and nut flavors (even tree nuts of course) in candy and ice cream. I will concentrate very hard on getting back into my mint tea zen now.
That ice cream sounds scrumptious. Allure is lovely!
Do get the ice-cram😀 and you will smell lovely in Allure, I finished a 30ml of the EDP in this case last year and I miss it, I don’t remember if I try the edt, is it your favorite concentration of Allure?
Yes, I prefer the edt as I do in the Chanels I have. I can’t remember the edp, it’s been too long. The edt is just so warm and pretty, and the drydown is lovely.
Thank you very much, good to know, I also like Coco edt better than the edp.
It behooves you to patronizie this fine local store this week
Yes I’ve decided that’s true.
Allure EdT is one of my favorite fall scents. I always know it is getting close to October when I crave it. You smell great!
Thank you nebbe!
Do they sell pints to go? My local shop does, I just had a bowl of their peanut butter ice cream not one hour ago. 🙂
Yes but then I’ll eat a pint. Better for me to get a scoop.
Pretty sure that I have never tried peanut butter ice cream. 🤔
If it’s your very favorite flavor, then YES! Get some!
I will, I could say you guys talked me into it but I already have.
OMG want that ice cream.
I do love Jeni’s salted peanut butter chip, but yours sounds better.
I’ll have a bite in your honor 😉
I tried IA Cape Heartache late last night, and can still smell a hint of it this morning. Pretty well on CP; a project I’ve been working on for three months at work blew up on Friday for a completely stupid, but in hindsight predictable reason that goes back to my company struggling to grow up and move from being a regional player to a national one. Lots of heartache this weekend about that. Oh well, if I end up throwing months of work out the window, at least I have plenty of other projects to move on to.
That said, I’m not sure I’m an all-out fan of Cape Heartache. I was intrigued by the idea of mixing pine with strawberry in the opening, when it wasn’t overpowering, but then the strawberry totally took over and it was too sweet for me.
We’re sisters in IA perfumes this AM. 🙂
Sorry about your wasted time and effort re. Work.
I was visiting Cape Heartache recently for a similar (aka work-based) reason. All that effort for such little result – sigh
What an utter pain in the tuchus.
Oh no! Sorry about the frustrating work issues.
Spending the morning in Memoirs of a Trespasser. And, between the announcement of the new Guerlain honey-tobacco concoction and pyramus’s mention over the weekend of the sweet tobacco goodness of Ambre Narguilé, I got a hankering for that kind of scent for fall. Sooooo … since Mr. G just engineered a bit of a windfall in my IRA account, I have just sprung for a set of the Hermes exclusives, including AN. Yay!
Nothing better than a windfall-I hope you enjoy your new perfumes treats in the best of health 🙂
Awesome!
That sounds like a brilliant use of your windfall. How exciting.
Congrats on your windfall!
How nice! Enjoy your windfall.
So glad you treated yourself.
Again testing Slow Explosions (IA), an unwitting tribute to my work environment 😉 !!
I think I would love to hug someone wearing this, especially in a thick wool sweater on a cold day. But I am pretty certain an actual bottle of this in my home would languish totally unworn.
My husband and I are watching the first season of Men in Kilts. The first four or five episodes were fun. I have never and have no plans to ever watch Outlander–but the two actors from the show have a good rapport. And even if some of the “spontaneous conversations” feel a little scripted, I forgive them. Two handsome men (in kilts!) driving around Glencoe and doing daft things is about my speed for tv these days. If that sounds like something up your ally, check it out 🙂 Now that I think about it, they would both be excellent candidates for Slow Explosions in their woolies and tartans.
Slow Explosions is one I’ll likely go back to test again, as well. It could work for the CP, too, although for me the explosions have been fast lately. 🙂
I appreciate that! “Slow” may be aspirational for my work as well.
Love the idea of “up your ally” but meant alley!
Apparently the latest season of men in kilts is filmed in NZ though I haven’t seen it. Good luck with your work.
Never heard of Men in Kilts, but would love to rewatch the extremely charming Monarch of the Glen.
Oh, I loved Monarch of the Glen! That was a fun show.
We watched men in kilts, it was fun. 🙂
For this week’s CP I looked up what flowers and plants are associated with luck and then found some perfumes with those notes. For those interested, I tracked perfumes with notes of clover (and pretend it’s all four leaf clovers 😉), peony, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and marigold. Today I’m in Sweet Clover & Woodsmoke by Solstice Scents from a spray sample. I enjoy it but don’t need a bottle.
Clever spin on the CP.
Thanks for doing the research on lucky flowers and plants! I definitely appreciate your efforts. 😉😎
Glad to be of service!
What a smart idea!
Well you’ve basically perfumed yourself for the entire week, Robin. I like Tauers other roses but I’ve never smelled Rose Flash, still I’m sure you smell good!
My SOTD is Hiris because it has more than a hint of carrots so I’m convinced rabbits would love it
I can’t tell right now if I smell good, or if the carpet smells good! Luckily I was wearing washable flip flops or they’d smell too 🙂
You smell fantastic! I do miss Hiris.
I have many Tauer offerings and I am waiting until tomorrow to start wearing them. I heard Tobacco Vanille calling my name today.
Then I’m sure you answered 🙂
Wick Fabulous Human for one hell of a Monday at work!
Hope everyone is having a better day!
🌹✌🏻🤗
I do hope to smell this one day! They hadn’t quite launched in the UK last time I was there, but the next time I get there I’m going to look for it. (Or, you know, the next time I get to South Africa, which I would LOVE to do, but as my in-laws are in London the UK is likely to happen sooner.)
The UK is up and running according to Lauren the founder,so maybe you’re in luck sooner than later!
Do try out Reine du Volcan as well,it’s so unique and special!
Sorry that your Monday was extremely “Monday-ish”! Hope that tomorrow is an improvement.
https://janetframe.org.nz/index.php/books-print-1/poem-posters
Janet Frame lived in a small house further down my street, very close to the botanic gardens. She wrote some poems about the gardens and if she went there now she would see the daffodils and magnolias in flower. She also wrote about a magnolia that grew in the grounds of the Seacliff asylum , where she spent many years. I never met her but her work has had a huge impact on my reading and I love re-reading her writing, knowing the places she lived. I was fortunate to win a Janet Frame memorial award ….the link to this week’s CP… and am thinking of wearing a real spring scent, Ostara.
I watched an angel at my table ages ago which really got to me. Years later I read the three volumes of her autobiography. I remember enjoying and appreciating those books a lot, but it’s too long ago to remember why.
You must have felt very honoured to win that award, and living close to where she used to live just makes it even more special.
Ostara is wonderful any season but seems to suit spring in particular.
I loved everything you wrote in this post😀, I wasn’t familiar with Janet Frame.
Nor had I known anything about Janet Frame. Thank you for sharing the link, Kanuka; “How I Began to Write” is one I will return to. And the “poem posters” site looks great.
What a lovely post! Congratulations on your award, and how wonderful to live so close to her home.
I’ve been feeling tired so it’s timely that I am leaving for Drôme Provençale on Sep 7, I’ve started to pack to get in the spirit of things but my room is waiting for me there with all the essentials already.
I spent the day in vintage Jardins de Bagatelle edp with its heady mix of white flowers but tonight I’m in Lush American Cream for comfort, apparently I need it quite often because there is a sizeable dent😀.
Don’t forget to pick up some lovely lavender products
Thank you Annie, definitely, I’ll stop by the distillerie Bleu Lavande for soaps and essential oil. There is also a salon de thé there with lavender ice-cream and lavender macaroons, both so good and refreshing.
Have a wonderful trip! I just went to the Bleu Lavande in Québec 10 days ago. Would have loved some lavender ice cream and macaroons. I ended up with lavender honey and a sachet.
Oh, great that you visited the shop, sorry I created a lemming for the salon de thé, the solution is to visit Drôme provençale.
Safe travels, and enjoy your trip! Knowing that you have a room ready and waiting is a wonderful feeling.
Thank you Jalapeno, yes I realize how lucky it is, all my summer clothes are there, even an electric toothbrush.
SOTD =No 5. I had to go in person to the Credit Union to get a little problem sorted out, which was done pleasantly by a new enough employee that she’s still eager to make friends with customers. Efficient and friendly, and then I had a savory crepe and a ginger cookie for lunch. Yum.
Power on, temperature moderate, adorable hubby has only 2 more infusions to go, and then he will get CT’d and MRI’d from top to bottom and they will decide if he is indeed a candidate for surgery…crossing all fingers and toes…hope Avery one has a good week!
Every one. Good lord, what is the matter with spellcheck these days?
Fingers crossed that your husband and you get the best possible results from chemo and news from the tests.
Spell check is a law onto itself😀
Your lunch sounds delicious. Best of luck for hubby!
“What’s the matter with spellcheck?” is probably a very popular meme.
Best wishes for your hubby!
Hoping for all good things.
Crossing my fingers!
Fingers and toes crossed with you!
In Cristalle Eau Verte that needs to be refreshed — I zipped home for lunch, thinking I could do a bit of work here before returning to campus for meetings, but we are having our chimney repaired and it’s pretty loud, so I will reapply and return to the office.
First (official) day of classes today. I was ready but had tech issues in the first class (not user error!) and was apparently more tired in the second than I’d realized: I dismissed class 20 minutes early, unintentionally. Ack.
Weather is reasonable here but will heat up toward the weekend. Labor Day is not a holiday for us (yes, it is a US Federal Holiday, but none of the three private colleges where I have taught — in three different states — observes it). At least we no longer have the first faculty meeting of the year on Labor Day; that was very hard for my colleagues who had school-age children.
Ha, but I bet those students were happy with their extra free time! Hope the rest of the week goes more smoothly.
Posting and running today in Galop, on my way to get my hair cut.
Galloping in Galop (sorry)
😂
I just Galoped right by…
But came trotting back to tell us that! 🤣
How’d the haircut go?
Dreamy. I have such a wonderful hairdresser — a beautiful, strong, outdoorsy woman whose daughter and infant granddaughter are always playing and napping at the salon. She’s great to talk to and knows just what to do with my curls.
NICE!
In Piper and Perabo’s Arid, which fits the late-summer weather. Getting through this travel spray fairly rapidly, so might be worth getting another one, or possibly a full bottle. Something to ponder
A new to me house.
I’m reminiscing about my trip earlier this year, and wearing my purchase from Athens, Manos Gerakinis Sillage Royal.
So nice to have an olfactory souvenir!
At work today and happily wearing Eris Delta of Venus. I’m quite captured by the Guava note and hoping Eris has a Labor Day sale😋
Indigo Perfumery in Ohio usually has an anniversary sale in October… 😉
Thank you for the tip!
I wore Narcisso (white cube) for the first day of school. 2nd grade for my son, and year 18 of teaching high school English for me. As usual after the first day, I’m exhausted!
You smell great for your first day back!
Thank you!
Hope all went well for both of you!
A day of cleaning for me. Finished a HUGE load of laundry and am now doing yet another load of dishes. Teflon kitty is snoozing on her kitty hot pad as I type this.
SOTD = commando, with Korres Guava Body Butter on my shins.
The work never ends, does it? It’s a yucky day outside anyway.
Nope, dirty laundry and dishes are everlasting.
But yeah, it was rather grody when I took the kitchen trash out at lunchtime. Decided that a cleaning spree was a worthwhile use of time.
Kitty hot pad? Did it cool down there?
No. But Teflon is almost 12 years old now. We keep a veterinary grade hot pad plugged in year round. She is NOT a fan of air conditioning.
Teflon is a lucky cat.
She is. She’s in good health and still rather active. We played “fetch” a couple of times earlier tonight. And the mystery rash on her front legs from earlier in the year is slowly clearing up.
SOTD = L’Artisan Parfumeur Safran Troublant
Looks like I’m a week early for the CP but this is one of my favorites and feel lucky to have it!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwgIZshRgRS/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I mentioned trying to return the LUSH x Barbie body spray at a boutique but was told that since I paid via PayPal, I need to call-in the return. I did so today and take a guess? I was told I need to return it at the boutique and that they need to call it in for me to get a refund. The boutique was about 18 months out of touch with return policy…. Looks like I need to go back to the store and will not accept a No.
Your Safran Troublant BUB is now a Perfume Unicorn, methinks. 🦄
Too bad your LUSH body spray return is becoming a big production.
Sorry about the return woes. Hopefully they don’t give you a hard time when you go back.
It’s been a rough day today.
I did stop by Sephora and sampled the new Jadore L’or and it’s pretty decent. It’s an in your face heavy floral. It’s also $170 dollars! Lol. I resampled JhaG Lust for Sun and almost bought the travel spray for some retail therapy. It’s so close to Christmas though, that I figured I could wait for the sales.
.
$170 for J’Adore L’or?!? That’s crazy.
Have a relaxing evening, $170 is crazy expensive, are there gold flakes in the perfume?
Hope tomorrow is a better day.
It’s tiring how $$ perfume is these days.
I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow and that it makes today’s cares seem far far away💕
Meant for lillyjo but I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow too, ringthing😊
Thanks, allo 😽
I’m fighting a cold, but smelling like a rose and patchouli garden in bloom today in Dusita’s Rosarine.
Tea today was Georgia Tea Co.’s Snowflake because I wanted something easy to gulp down in hopes that hydration will help move these germs out of my system.
You are the third person I know about here in NJ that is fighting off a cold! Feel better soon. 🤧🤒😷