Happy Almost-Friday and happy Almost-September! It's also the International Day for People of African Descent. (And a quick PSA: the next swapmeet will be on September 23.) What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Aftelier Candide.
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 Garden bokeh in the afternoon with the old Lumix G1 and the even older Porst Color 1:1.7 f=50mm lens [cropped] by Torsten Behrens at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hi all! Happy Thursday!
Time for another tenuous connection between a scent and my profession, and it is about a writer and a book again. Long time ago, I read A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami. The protagonist is an advertising executive, but he used to be a translator or at least an owner of a translation agency. One of his girlfriend’s jobs is a proofreader. Besides, Murakami himself translated several books from English into Japanese.
Now, my scents of the day are Mitsouko (most of the day) and L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons (applied recently after a shower). La Chasse aux Papillons means butterfly chase, so it is close enough to “Wild Sheep Chase”. “Mitsouko” is apparently a Japanese word which Guerlain interprets as “mystery”, and Wild Sheep Chase is a Japanese book you can call a mystery, although it is more of a mock mystery. It begins very similar to a noir novel, with the protagonist living a mundane life, but the deeper we go into a plot, the weirder and more supernatural things get. Unlike a normal mystery, you cannot figure out what’s going on by using logic and deduction. We have a supernatural sheep, a woman with magical ears and a ghost. It is a surreal story. Later I found out that this is the third book of a trilogy, but you can totally read it as a standalone work.
Oh, and references to translation are not important in this book. I just wanted to wear Mitsouko and reread A Wild Sheep Chase.
I like your connection. I read A Wild Sheep Chase after reading, and loving, Norwegian Wood. Your descriptors of weird and surreal are spot on. I cannot say I liked the book per se. Maybe I need to reread it. I did not know it was part of a trilogy.
I love your elaborate connections! Interesting to read that you are a translator. I started working as a translator full time in late 2020, it’s an interesting (and underestimated) job isn’t it?
Thank you!
I agree that it is interesting. I also think it is underpaid. Although, I guess, everyone thinks their work is underpaid.
Mmmm, translators are notoriously underpaid, I think. I’m lucky enough to work for the EU, which means hard work but more than fair pay, but I’m very aware that most translators struggle moneywise.
This whole post made me smile!
Mitsouko is gorgeously temperamental on me. But when it works, it’s amazing.
Hello.
Sotd is Barbie x Lush. Starts off with cherries and lemon, quickly met with something like buttery pastry. Then comes the part that I enjoy (and had always been a dream of mine to smell like): Lush Shop. It literally smells like the inside of Lush. I adore it. Very cute. I am slightly ashamed to say I bought a BUB. đ
HK is expected to be hit with a super strong typhoon around midnight tonight and horrible weather will last 3 days. So I will be stuck home for the next 72+ hrs. Thank god for streaming services.
Hope you ride out the storms safely.
Stay safe. I will have to check out that Lush, Iâd love to smell like the inside of one of their stores too!
Be safe! Hopefully no damage to your home.
Stay safe!
Be safe, happy888cat!
Yikes!
Once my sister and I were coming from Narita to old Kai Tak aka/shortest runway ever and a typoon was in South China Sea. We landed on the third try.
Be safe!
Typhoon sounds more ominous to me than hurricane, stay safe.
Hope that you stay safe and dry from the typhoon’s wrath!
Wearing Guerlain Pao Rosa.
So glad I am working outside today, because I am enjoying the beautiful end of summer day, windy, cool, sunny, just perfect.
Happy Thursday! đ»
Weather twins! Happy Thursday.
Thank you, Ringthing! We can’t ask for better weather!
Perfect here too! Have a good day.đ
Thank you, Madtowngirl! Enjoy your beautiful weather!
You smell great!
Thank you, Cazaubon!
Perfect here too! I see the temperature going back up next week.
It will be in the 90’s here next week. I guess summer is trying to say goodbye in the best way it can!
Iâm glad youâre enjoying your weather today! đ€ Hugs to you. đ€
Thank you, Nancy! Hugs back! đ»
End of summer is so lovely on the east coast of the US, enjoy it.
Thank you, Aurora!
That is a lovely Guerlain!
Pao Rosa and Rose Cherie are big favorites of mine. Both beautiful!
Indeed they are!
Serge Lutens Douce AmĂšre. Exactly what it says on the label: sweet and bitter, perfectly balanced. It’s one of my happy scents.
Mine too! You smell great.
Gosh, have not worn it in ages. Should get the bottle on my desk…
I’m wearing LeucĂČ by MCG, because it was what I grabbed out of my current grab bag. Not my favorite MCG.
Ack, I can’t remember it!
Wearing Nicolai New York for a perfect cool, sunny day. It’s bracing and will hopefully motivate me to get out of the house, I’ve turned into a bit of a hermit the last couple of weeks. A dear friend who has worked with my mom in the past is in town for a month and she has provided me with some extra time off that I am enjoying.
I’m glad you have had some respite.
Maybe resting at home is the thing you need to rest and recharge your batteries. Enjoy your quiet time, ringthing. đ€
I adore New York and find it very soothing. Maybe you just need to stay put a bit.
For no reason at all I’m in Sables by Annick Goutal.
That gooey resinous everlasting daisy magic is a perfect fit tonight.
I love Sables, it’s such a simple perfume but so satisfying.
You smell lovely, Sables is so comforting.
Like Portia, for no reason at all I’m in Prada Cuir Ambre. Those were the 30 ml bottles of pure parfum that were so exclusive. They were too exclusive: I bought mine at Winners, super cheap. It’s like a cousin of Tabac Blond by Caron. Def no problems with longevity, either đ
I got one of those bottles from Winners too! Wish they had some of the other scents.
Envious of both your Winners shopping luck! It’s been many years since I’ve seen anything nice – although I did find Cuir de Lancome and a couple of Goutals ages ago…
The Goutals were probably from the same time, 2014 or so. I remember posting at Perfume of Life: Five oaks and Cauzabon went Winners-ing after I posted ( I think I’m remembering this correctly). It was such a good buy, and so unexpected. I remember there were a lot of Piguet fragrances at the same time.
Yes, that was it! We each got a bottle.
Iâm in Dune, felt right for the last day of August.
I am back home after several days in the north woods visiting my parents and picking up my older daughter after her 3 month summer camp job. I had the best time! It was a great way to end the summer. I checked everything off my mini bucket list that I wanted to do: go carts, mini golf, and boating. With the added bonuses of hitting the flea market and teaching my older daughter how to drive manual transmission. I grew up-literally- out in the middle of nowhere and the deserted country roads are a great place to learn. My son even joined us for a couple of days because he told me âI wanted to see my sistersâđ„° The three of them genuinely enjoy each others company and stayed up late each night talking and joking. It makes me so happy.
Now I have piles of laundry to keep me busy for awhile. As one can imagine after being at summer camp for 3 months, there is a lot of dirty laundry!
Anyway, enough about me. How are all of you?! Whatâd I miss?đ
I canât tell you what you missed cuz Iâve been away from NST since June, but I can tell you that you smell great!
Thanks Yasmina! I thought the same when I sprayed it on this morning.đ
I remember my dad teaching me to drive a manual. Itâs fun to think about now, but nerve wracking at the time. For my driving test, I had the choice between driving the Volvo station wagon (manual) or the Chrysler NY Brougham (automatic). I chose the boat. đ„ đ
I do love a good land yacht!
Me too, Mossy. â€ïž
LOL my parents had a powder blue Chrysler Brougham. It was huge!
Leg room in the back seat for days!
My brother had a big honking Buick that we called “The Land Shark” in the late 1980’s. I am just now learning about some of the crazy stuff he did with said car… đŹđź
Sounds intriguingâŠ
I love your SOTD and love the story about your kids bonding:) Everyone should know how to drive a standard.
So glad!
And will you please come teach my son to drive a stick??
That sounds like an awesome time!
I discovered earlier this month that I am VERY rusty when it comes to driving a stick shift. It’s been automagic (yes, I typed that on purpose) transmissions for me since 2012 or thereabouts.
Weather is shifting back into summer over the next week, so Iâm enjoying a liberal dousing of Dior Grand Bal.
Your sotd sounds so pretty from the notes.
In Iris Poudre one of my favorite FMs!
Iâve discovered a fabulous drug store brand bubble bath gel that smells so different then what US bubble bath smells typically are like – it is with amyris, a new to me scent
âFresh piney balsamic with a citrus nuanceâ is how Fragrantica describes it
I remember discovering Kniepp, lavera and balea and lots of other brands when I was in Germany. There was so much choice compared to here.
I love Iris Poudre-I nearly wore it today. I’d love to smell it on someone else-I bet you smell fantastic.
Cool overcast morning here; another storm moved through last night and I do hope that means the smoke will be gone when the clouds lift.
Fat Electrician for me today. I work a lot with Red Seal trades at work, so electricians fit right in.
You smell wonderful! Thatâs probably my favorite ELDO.
You smell great today!
Today’s delight from the languishing Guerlain samples (all gifts from NST’ers) is Epices Volees. I did not know it is a sibling-scent with Iris Torrefie and Bois d’Armenie in the L’Art et la Matiere line. It is acting like Iris Torrefie in that at first you don’t think you’ve sprayed on enough. Then, it starts wafting. Another beautiful day with balmy, light breezes so we opened the windows this morning. A vote in favor of some continued hot weather here because my okra and tomatoes need it. And I want the night bugs to keep singing! Hope everyone saw the beautiful Moon last night or this morning.
Alas, it’s been raining over this way, although we sure needed it
Fingers crossed you get auspicious weather to ripen your harvest.
Ah, the night bugs have been almost too much here lately, but it’s a wonderful, gorgeous too-muchness!
It was too cold for the crickets last night. But it will warm up over the next week, hope their song will return.
The super blue moon was totally hidden by clouds last night! I was bummed.
There’s been a noisy cricket around for the past week or so. I can’t tell if it is inside of outside.
Too busy looking at the gorgeous sunset in my area last night to remember the Super Blue Moon. đłđ€Ș
Iâm in Akro Dark from a sample. Still trying to decide on this one. Might go for a travel spray rather than a full bottle.
Weâre supposed to have a reasonable chance of rain over the holiday weekend. Iâm trying to believe. Trying to have faith in the forecasters. Câmon, rain! I took my car in for service this week and got it washed. Maybe I need to go to the car wash on Saturday?!? đ§
I think you smell wonderful. I happen to own a full bottle with nog regrets but I think, depending on the size of your collection, a small bottle is probably all you will need.
Thanks, austenfan. I agree, Iâm thinking a traveler is all I really need. I just keep thinking thereâs another chocolate fragrance out there that Iâd like better.
In office-worthy No 19. No one here, though, to (barely) notice it.
All the better!
On my way to the county fair while wearing Au Couer du Desert. It somehow fits the county fair vibe. Can’t wait to pet some animals and eat a bunch of junk food.
Have a great time at the fair, Dawn!
Still commando.
Yesterday was a day of errands starting with doc appointments in Pasadena, damn it was 104 degrees.
I saw a sample of Ellis Sunfruit on my counter and tried it. Granted I am not a summer fragrance lover and am glad the Chanel Eaux fragrances fit the bill.
But Sunfruit I really enjoyed as a later summer lovely. And because my doc is across from Sephora, I popped in and grabbed a travel spray.
All doctor appointments, esp those in weather like that, should be followed by a perfume purchase đ
Agreed! And since Scentrique is having an anniversary sale this weekend I think I will follow word with action.
That’s just too stinking hot. đ„”đ„
It clouded up last night as rain moved in so I missed the supermoon. But it is raining now and we need it so badly so it’s a happy day. I have grocery shopping to do and I’m wearing Lolita Lempicka.
Such a pretty perfume!
So glad you got rain. The trees sound like they really need it.
Hurray for you getting needed/wanted rain!
I’m wearing Belles Rives by La Parfumerie Moderne. Apparently this perfume was inspired by the Bellerives hotel in Lausanne which borders Lake Geneva. As the French side of this lake is one of my favourite holiday destinations and because part of the reason I work is to pay for my holidays (not the loftiest of motives but there it is), I thought this might work for the CP.
The perfume is a beautiful floral iris, that is very easy to wear. It is one of my favourite Corticchiato creations.
I think Pohadka by Ys-Uszac is inspired by the Lavaux vineyards , which was the reason I blind bought it so long ago. I love all that area too and could happily live there and watch the lake with the mountains in the distance.
I wasn’t aware of Pohadka’s inspiration, I did try it once though and probably still have that sample stashed somewhere.
A friend of mine did an internship in Lausanne’s University Hospital ages ago and I visited her during that time. We did a really nice hike in those vineyards and the views are just breathtaking. It’s somehow very soothing to the soul to look upon that kind of landscape.
More years ago than I want to think about (pre-Ockeghem tween) we hiked across Switzerland from the border with Lichtenstein and then wound up on Lake LĂ©man / Genfersee and took the boat across to Geneva. Such a lovely area of the world!
(Though I recommend more the mountains in German Switzerland, just amazing for the soul. And easier for me to talk to people there. đ )
Rabbit rabbit rabbit. Hurray , the worst of winter has probably ended ( though we had a flurry of snow last weekend) and spring is near. Weâve had beautiful weather to watch the moon light up the hills, and today Iâm travelling to real dark sky, twinkly star, Milky Way territory for a few days. The mornings will still be sub-zero but the days crisp and blue, I hope. I am wearing the very simple, easy going but actually lovely Clarins Eau Extraordinaire, citrus and jasmine.
Had a partial view of the moon last night, will get a better look tonight hopefully. Enjoy your blazing dark skies!
Having been in suburbia for many years now, I am always stunned at what the night sky looks like when away from city lights.
Oh, wonderful, enjoy the trip!
Strawberries and yogurt smoothie and soup again because it was only 17C and cloudy today.
I picked Eau des Vignes which always strikes me as charming but is meant for warmer temps and tonight sprayed away Lolita Lempicka Elle l’Aime Ă la Folie, I had finished my 40ml of the original Elle l’Aime last year and replaced it with that folie flanker, it is a quite more concentrated version, more lime although it’s supposed to be mandarin and that myrrh, I’ve always had a soft spot for this line, it’s probably my favorite of the Lolita Lempicka I still have the EDT too confusingly called L l’Aime which is pleasantly tart with red currant but very evanescent.
Your SOTD sounds quite intriguing!
It’s definitely a summer scent, citrus beachy florals and myrrh, really perfect in its genre, better than Bronze Goddess imo. It’s still in production.
Chanel Boy again today. I got a sample from the Chanel fragrance & makeup boutique that opened nearby last fall. I really wish the Exclusifs came in 15 or 30 ml sizes. I would overpay for that in a minute. The 2.5 oz is just too big and spendy to add to an already slightly bloated collection.
I would love it too if they did a 15ml or 30ml size.
Kilian Good girl gone bad.My very first purchase(blind) from the brand from Macy’s in Chicago.I actually just wanted the white clutch SOOOO bad,so the fact that I loved the scent was just an added joyous bonus!
*Nordstrom Not Macy’s!
Sad to say the flagship Nordstromâs in San Francisco shuttered its door this month. My sister and I and one of the nieces (when she was barely 2) have nice memories of the place.
Oh nooooo! I loved that store.
San Francisco, too! I knew they were pulling out of Canada, but not that they were in so much trouble in the U.S. (In Canada, it’s always easy to understand, they never get enough inventory up here, and then the stores up here stopped measuring feet and having knowledgeable staff, or even staff who wanted to be in any way helpful. They’re not a legacy brand up here so they had to stand out and they never really meaningfully did.) I didn’t realize they were on a slide in the U.S., too.
Sad when the stores we grew up with closes shop!
It happened a couple of years back with our version of Nordstrom:Stuttafords!
Most of my Amouage/Bond No.9/HermĂšs in my collection was from Stuttafords.They had a wonderful tearoom as well when I was a student.
I have fond memories of the Nordstrom in Spokane, WA. I used to get Godiva chocolates there as a splurge my first year in college.
That one is still there to the best of my knowledge. It’s in River Park Square, which is new-ish. It’s not the biggest Nordstrom ever, but then, that’s Spokane. It’s also all that’s left downtown, as The Bon / Macy’s is gone.
I’ll attempt to take my kid there for shoes when we visit my dad in October. I don’t know if the U.S. stores also no longer offer any assistance in the shoe department…if so, I will be annoyed. Shoes were Nordstrom’s thing.
I’m wearing Ecrin de Fumee to match the slightly smokey air outside. Ha!
How are you liking it?
I do really like it so far. It seems well balanced and very wearable; smokey and sweet without being too smokey or too sweet. And PSA, it looks like it’s already at the discounters! I will resist because I don’t need another tobacco scent.
I ordered it for a nice price at Jomashop.
For my CP/work tie in today, I’m in Sa MajestĂ© La Rose. Early in my career as a therapist, wearing this powerful rose beauty proved too much for a prospective client. Needless to say, I’ve toned it down (some) since thenđŹ
That’s just one of the most perfect roses, though! I’d personally be thrilled if a therapist showed up wearing it.
Me too!
It’s Friday! I enjoy my job, but I like weekends more. I’m wearing JHAG’s Mad Madame today, sometimes that name seems so suitable.
Ah, most people probably do enjoy the weekends more!
In Chic et Boheme for no reason at all except I like it.I canât believe tomorrow is September!
Yeah, this year has flown by.
Bronze Goddess today because if it ain’t broke…
But there are some work connections — I work outdoors a good amount of the time and certainly get bronzed, and I *have* been called a goddess in the workplace, specifically with reference to my abilities and accomplishments, which is a darn nice compliment. I suppose Friday will call for something smoky, but there’s so much smoke in the air here again today that I’ll probably be compliant without trying.
Points for creativity!
Enjoying my wafts of OJ Champaca, which is now a steady hum in its far dry down. It has a bamboo note and bamboo is one of the plants that is said to symbolize luck (my take on the CP). I went into the office yesterday so didn’t wear perfume, but in the evening I put on some DSH La Danse des Bleus et des Violettes for the clover note. What a delightful perfume that I should wear more often! It’s in the vein of Apres L’Ondee.
Ooooooooh, CK Truth has bamboo in it! That’s a possibility for me tomorrow, then.
SOTD = Solstice Scents Estate Vetiver
Perfect patchouli and that is no mistake!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwoDk59xgNz/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I was finally able to return my LUSH x Barbie body spray! I will check my balance later but I got email confirmation that it has been credited to my account. Of course, since Halloween is back đ, I couldnât help but get a bar of the ghost shaped soap and the Lord of Misrule soap and a sample of Demon in the Dark soap. And to think I have an OTT soap collection already âŠ
I was checking out the LUSH Halloween stuff online earlier this evening. Tempted by some of the Lord of Misrule goodies.
Posting late today!
Busy afternoon of taking donations to both Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill. And moving some furniture. So I will hopefully sleep well tonight.
Teflon kitty is still under the weather. But she managed to drink some water and keep it down late this afternoon.
SOTD = commando, except for Korres Guava Body Butter on my shins.
Sending good sleep and healing vibes to Teflon kitty. When is your move date?
Thanks. Teflon is not her usual self right now, and it’s upsetting.
The move date is unclear. Gotta sell the house first. And there is the division of assets to be dealt with.
Poor kitty, itâs so distressing when our babies are sick. Sending you lots of strength and positive vibes. I have been there myself (divorced twice) and itâs a tough time. Hugs to you.
Thank you.
Hopefully some good sleep is ahead tonight and I’m sending good vibes to Teflon kitty.
Thanks Gail. I had a decent night of sleep last night but felt oddly unrested this morning. I think the physical activity will help.
Hoping that Tef feels better without another trip to the vet.
I hope Teflon Kitty is able to keep more down soon!
So sorry Teflon is going through a rough patch at the moment, you have enough worry as it is.
Good news that my sister is home from the hospital and she did not have a stroke. They said she had a complex migraine. She’s a lifelong migraine sufferer but apparently this was something different.
My sotd is La Danza Libe… I can’t spell it. I’m super lucky to have this to wear this fall.
So very thankful to hear that your sister did not have a stroke! Great news.
Will she be prescribed something for the complex migraine?
They did give her something but she has to follow up with her doctor.
You smell great and Iâm so happy for your sister! Hopefully she can avoid another migraine episode like that.
Good news. I hope she feels better soon.
Great news about your sister. You smell wonderful!
Glad your sister is back home; that’s great news. My good friend struggles with migraines so I know how debilitating they can be.
Oh that’s a relief.
Not that migraines are great (I say having had migraines when I was in my 20s), but glad it’s not a stroke.
So glad to hear your sister didnât have a stroke! That must have been scary for all of you.
It’s great news!!I’ve had one of those migraines,lasted 3 days!!
That’s such good news! I’m so happy for your sister and your familyđ
So relieved for you all that your sister didn’t have a stroke. It sounds like an awful migraine though.
I’ve always been curious about La Danza.
I wore Prada Infusion d’Iris today. I probably oversprayed as I sprayed myself when we were out.
We finally got some rain (woohoo)! And it’s been much cooler out today. Who am I, as I never thought I’d never get tired of hot weather.
So many people have had unusually hot and dry weather this year. Glad to hear a few folks are finally getting a break.
đ°đ°đ°!!