It's the first weekend in December, plus Saturday is National Fritters Day, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and Britney Spears' birthday. Sunday is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
We're marking everything with our usual open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, any plans you might have for the month of December, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Magic bokeh! [cropped] by Kevin Dooley at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD Samsara- I smell blissful
Guerlain has some great stuff. I was wondering if those of you bought the extraits will be doing any splits at our next split meet? Or before..
I am tempted by a few but they are too expensive
Yesterday I was at Sephora near the NYPL main branch after volunteering and all the perfume testers are now attached to the shelves. You can move them a bit..
We will try to see the Rockefeller 🌲 this weekend and do some other holiday things
Tea is Eros by Mariage Freres and some angel food cake from the farmers stand
Hope you make it to Rockefeller! Did you see Hermes has come out with eyeshadow quads? Way overpriced, natch 😉
Yes! I have been lemming those quads 🙂
I have a bronzer from this line and love it
You smell amazing! Samsara was my signature scent when it came out…and I wore it steadily for a couple years, longer than any other. I haven’t tried it in a while, and I’m a little scared to do so. But the memory of sandalwood and jasmine makes want to seek it out.
I heard Sephora had to nail down the testers, but haven’t been in to see. I do like being able to pop in and try new designer scents.
I have an older bottle of Samsara – the sort of coffin like shape, and I adore it. Also have a small bottle of the parfum.
It is sandalwood bliss to me..
With the testers, it is just unwelcoming the way they have it now.
Samsara’s coffin-like bottle….LOL I had never considered that before but it’s so true. Over the years I have bought and sold/swapped away Samsara numerous times trying to get it to work on my skin because I appreciate its genius but it always ends up overwhelming and wearing *me* instead and so I give up and then someone else posts about it and I try again and the cycle continues. I have a handful of like that.
You smell wonderful. The red-bottle Samsara edt is still popping up on Ebay at tolerable prices from time to time. I think it runs circles around some yet delightful recent Guerlain releases. And I’m one who’s rarely met a Guerlain I did not like.
Me too! Ditto on everything ♥️
You smell marvelous! I have some vintage Samsara extrait and it’s sooo darn amazing. This is probably my favorite of all the Guerlains other than the AA line (Pamplemousse and Mandarine Basilic). It just ‘clicked’ with me.
Me too!
Samsara is amazing
Samsara is a beauty. I think I have a bottle somewhere….too many bottles….
I read about the testers at Sephora. I imagine it’s because they were losing buckets of 💰because of theft.
The whole situation with perfume at Sephora is odd to me .
I’m still stalking those adorable mini extrait bottles of Samsara on evilBay. That’s the only version I haven’t tried yet.
You smell wonderful!
I would say all versions are wonderful ♥️
Today is a rare day without rain, so we’ll be headed out to get cut our Christmas tree this afternoon, after Ockeghem Teen’s rehearsal. We were planning to do this tomorrow, but it’s going to start raining again, so we’ll just brave the mud today and not get rained on. It’s too early, if you ask me, to get a live tree (well, recently live), but we’ve had to get used to that since moving here. Many of the tree farms opened last weekend and are already sold out. I’ve found one that opens the first weekend of December, and that seems to be as late as we can go. It doesn’t help that every year at this time, CBC starts running articles on tree shortages.
No SOTD yet. Will see what I get from my advent calendar today (yes, I know it’s a 12 days of Christmas calendar, but I’ve chosen to interpret it as Dec. 1-12).
Sending you sun and dry weather! I never had a live tree. They must smell wonderful! 🎄
We are tree farm weekend twins!🌲
Hope you find a nice tree! We got a bit more snow overnight but the sun is out today.
Growing up in New England with an ample backyard, I remember my father planted a series of small Christmas trees, figuring it was an investment for future years. This worked out well, low maintenance and a good run of seasonal trees. The best part – aside from the smell – is that the trees really stayed fresh for weeks, one could cut a tree when wanted, no fear of missing out. And the tree would be returned to the land eventually, either chipped or on the brush pile for later winter burn.
I love it! Sadly, we’ve never had enough of a yard for this.
Your father was a wise man.
Enjoy the break from the wet weather!
Happy weekend everybody!
Sotd is Chanel No.19 Poudre. If nymphs were real I bet they would have this in their collection.
I picked up a fake tree and I am going to start decorating it with string lights. I still need to buy more ornaments though and something pine scented to place under or next to the tree.
Other plan this month close to Christmas is my birthday! I think it will just be something very simple and tbh, I don’t know if I am ready to admit I have aged more! 🙃
As my favorite skincare expert Caroline Hirons says: old is the goal! Happy early birthday!🎉
Thank you! 😊
My birthday too this month. The day after Christmas so that is how I got my name. I was born 30 minutes after Christmas. Although my parents spelled it with a K. What is the date of your birthday?
Mine is on the 21st so I am a Winter Solstice baby!
👍
I’m also on the 26th :- )
Happy Birthday to all of us December children.
Birthday twins😉
My husband’s birthday is the 26th as well. We celebrate it instead of Christmas. 🙂
Holiday bebes!! My sister was due Christmas Day so my (French) mother picked out the name Noelle but then she came 3 weeks early on Dec. 5th. My mother still kept the name. I can’t wait to give her the Tilleul Provence Sante perfume I got her, she was just bemoaning her lack of linden perfumes so I snuck onto evilbay.
Kris with a K…of course they did:)
It’s actually Kristi, but haven’t gone by that for years. There are a few that still call me that.
You and my dad are birthday twins! Hope yours is filled with all the hood things in life!!
Thank you so much!
Super very happy birthday to Daddy Deva as well!
Hi NST, happy weekend! I’m wearing Jo Malone Myrhh and Tonka from a generous NSTer, it’s perfect for a gray, chilly day.
My sister isn’t coming after all, she has an eye infection that is proving very hard to treat and her doctor advised against travel. Mom and I are disappointed. My sis did have a Portland Leather mystery box delivered to my mom’s house and we are opening it on FaceTime this afternoon, so that’s exciting. I have a couple of PL bags and love them.
Sorry about your sister! I hope her eyes will be okay.
I tried FaceTime unboxing with my close friend too. It was fun. ☺️
Thanks, I’m looking forward to it 🙂
Ouch! Sorry to hear about your sister! A Portland Leather mystery box sounds exciting!
Sorry your sister can’t come, exciting about the box.
Gray and chilly here too. Sorry about your sister☹️, but have fun opening the mystery box!
I love your SOTD
Thanks, me too!
I hope your sister’s eye will be better soon. I think a facetime unboxing will be very fun!
great idea!
That sounds like a fun video visit! Too bad you won’t get to see your sister in person.
Hope that your sister’s eye infection will finally clear up. Hugs to you and yours!
Thanks Jalapeño!
Wishing your sister and her eye gets better soon.
Happy weekend Perfume People! I’m getting ramped up for the holidays, and although they are bittersweet, I’m trying to really focus on good memories and happy times. So I’m wearing my biggest, best holiday (anytime really!) perfume- Kenzo l’Elephant. A fabulous holiday in a bottle and I love it! When they tip me into the casket (or into the dirt) I hope someone has the sense to hose me down with this lovely stuff. I could spend eternity wafting glorious scent particles from the grave! 🐘
As far as Christmas gifts so, I’ll be spending money on the camper to upgrade the electrical system which will be my gift to myself. T-Rex’s gift is still up in the air, although I did air-fry a burger for her last night. Pretty sure she enjoyed that. A couple of friends will get some goodies in the mail, and that about wraps up all my Christmas shopping. Done and done, although I do very much miss Christmas shopping in person for family and friends. When you found the perfect gift, and they were so stunned when they opened it…! 🥰
Anyone remember Zayre? When I was a kid, my mom always dragged me to their Holiday Midnight Madness sale to stock up on wrapping paper, bows, etc. Good times! I think they even sold perfume…Probably Charlie. 🙃
Do you have any of your friends or family close to where you are at now? That must be hard being on the road by yourself. What am I saying-you have T-Rex. A dog is just like family.
No, I don’t know anyone in NM. My closet friend and her family are in Asheville, NC. We talk regularly but I haven’t seen them since I did a contract at the local hospital there in 2020. I did that specific contract because I was feeling pretty lonely, plus it was the height of Covid, and no one knew who was going to live or die. She and her husband are both physicians (although she’s not practicing now,) so they were at high risk as well. Luckily, there was several openings there for travel RN’s. And even better, we all lived through it. 🍀 Might be time for another visit this coming year! And T-Rex is good company, just limited conversational skills.🙃
My grandkids live in NC so we drive through Asheville every year. That is a great city. We are always just driving through, but I wouldn’t mind spending a little time there.
It’s grown exponentially. I lived there for a short time in 2000-2001. 2020 was the first year I went back and I was astounded by the changes and growth. And traffic…😬 it’s a great place to have a little getaway. Tons of stuff to do and see.
Deva, DO I remember Zayre?! The smell of the caramel corn, the starch in the fabrics, the floor polish…
https://www.facebook.com/drwilliamlester/posts/726443712623601/
I think I will wear Charlie tomorrow. 😛
Wow, a lot of people “of a certain age” remember that store! Yeah, Charlie and Opium were both my mother’s mainstay scents. Is Charlie still sold? I should check that out…
The original ad assured us that Charlie is a “fragrance that’s here to stay.” FragranceNet indicates that changes have been made, but some sort of Charlie is out there.
I remember Charlie! At one point, both my Mom and I wore it. But that was ages ago…
I wore it too.
My samples from STC arrived yesterday, so I’m wearing Shalimar MI on one wrist and Shalimar MVP on the other. At first I couldn’t smell the Iris until I compared them side by side. They are similar (to my nose) with the MI being slightly *softer*. Very pretty. I was trying to decide if I needed a bottle but checked the Guerlain website to see that it’s sold out. Guess that means I don’t.😆
It’s another gray gray day here. Ugh. I hauled my you know what out of bed this morning anyway and headed to 730 barre class. Then a latte from the coffee shop across the street afterward. This has been my Saturday morning routine for weeks. Today I completed my 50th class since joining the studio in September. I’ve managed to lose a few pounds, but more importantly I can feel the difference in my body. And mind. Next goal is completing 100 classes.💪
I am hoping we’ll get our tree tomorrow. The little mom and pop tree farm that we’ve been going to the last few years has 2 golden retrievers that have free range of the farm, and so I can talk my girls into going if not for the tree cutting at least for the dog petting.
I started my wrapping yesterday. My mom has been having all the kids presents shipped here which means double the wrapping. Good thing I love to wrap. Always have, and I’ve perfected the art over the years. I enjoy the process as much and the finished project. 🎁
Hope you find the perfect tree. Give some extra love to the doggos from me. Totally get the wrapping presents love! One year I made all my own wrapping paper and people really enjoyed it. I had a friend who opened her gift very carefully and saved the paper. 💝
We sure will! I think those dogs are in heaven during the holiday season when they get all the scritches they can stand.
Wow, homemade wrapping paper! Now that is next level gift giving.
Sample twins. LOL. I ordered some samples from Luckyscent the other day. I am still trying to find a vanilla that I really like and haven’t found it yet. However, I do smell it a little in the Shalimar MI. I will see if I find the perfect one in my samples.
Getting samples in the mail is so much fun! Which did you order? And I think I’ve asked this before, but you’ve tried Dame Vanille Farfelue right? It’s mostly aldehydes to my nose.
Yes, I have tried that one and you are right it is mostly aldehydes. As far as vanilla scents I ordered Afro Bake, Divine Vanille and Nicolai Vanilla Tonka. I also ordered Nicolai Violette in Love and Tauerville Rose Flash.
I admire your wrapping skills! I’m terrible at it.
There is a Shalimar MI gift set (EDP + lotion) still available on QVC.com. They don’t put “Iris” in the product title, just description. I think it’s not being returned in some product searches because of this.
Also has a promo right now: $20 Off Your First Order of $40 with Code HOLIDAY20
I’m scentless so far, which is a crime against my collection. I have a sample of Guerlain’s Tobacco Honey that I’m steadily draining. It got a spontaneous compliment on Thanksgiving when I took a photo with my cousin. That’s perfume world gold.
We put up my ancient artificial Christmas tree and lights Thursday…and I would not have bet 10¢ on it being upright in the morning. I have two cats we adopted from a shelter and they are too curious. My plan today is to be brave and decorate it, as so far it’s still standing.
I agree with you that spontaneous compliments are PWG!!! Glad you got one. Hey, do a random grab from the collection – first scent you lay eyes on.
You know perfume people well! I have embarrassing numbers of samples. I’m bad about not liking something but still holding on to it for some sort of reference. I’m trying to do Portia’s THUNK plan. Today I drained that Tobacco Honey. Very cozy on a cold grey day.
Be well.
Portia’s THUNK plan is very good – it at least made me reorganize the hoard. I think holding on to samples for reference is okay. 🙂
Tee-hee, I’m going to remember that one, going scentless is “A crime against my collection.”
Yay for your Xmas tree surviving one night of curious kitties!
“A crime against my collection”! So true
SOTD is DSH December again. It embodies everything I associate with Christmas–evergreen needles, wood, spices, incense, a suggestion of something edible, and hint of something like candle wax. Now that I have a FB, I can spray it on rather than eking out dabs from my little mini.
I am enjoying my advent calendars, and the cats seem to be enjoying theirs. I found a cat advent calendar at the pet store that has a different cat toy for each day. Today’s was a little mouse (presumably catnip scented). Felix promptly killed the little intruder and dumped it in the water bowl.
Yay for cat advent calendar!!!!!
I should have a cat advent calendar, or more than one, honestly. Somewhere I read that Trader Joe’s has them now too. But I haven’t gone to TJ’s for awhile and certainly won’t try on the weekend, it’s too much of a madhouse there.
I got mine at either PetSmart or Petco, I don’t remember which. I actually bought it last year, then it disappeared into the black hole that is the middle bedroom aka storage room. I am trying to clean out that room and the cat advent calendar resurfaced, so they are getting it this year.
*waives* at you from the middle bedroom aka storage room chez Mossy…
Had a horribly sleepless night and finally got to sleep at about 5. More coffee please! SOTM is Memoirs of a Trespasser while I wait impatiently for the bottle of Omnia Ambra to arrive — it’s still on track for today, according to the USPS. Sample vial has been thoroughly tinked so at least that much of my resolve remained intact, but I do not believe I’ll have the willpower to wrap the bottle up and wait for Santa to “redeliver” it. 😆
Santa 🧑🎄 came early
Indeed! I’m very excited. 🙂
Hope you’ll have a much better night.
Oh my god, me too. I’m planning on bedtime tea AND melatonin tonight.
That’s a rough night.
Hope that your bottle has arrived by now!
It has! It’s here it’s here!! And of course I’ve sprayed already, because I have zero self-control. But I thought of a plan to (more or less) keep my resolution — I will make a little decant, and THEN wrap the big bottle for Santa. Kind of cheating, but we all knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the new love. 😉
That is funny! Enjoy your new bottle.
SOTD is Eau de Protection.
I don’t always do it, but I try each December to attend some Christmas event like a symphony, concert or play. This year an old coworker of mine and I are going to A Christmas Carol at our local theater. Two of our former coworkers are cast members so it should be fun. It’s not for a few weeks, but we are really looking forward to it.
You smell so good. I just sprayed that yesterday in my rose-fest and it stood out in the crowd🌹
It definitely stands out. Somedays I really like it and somedays I am not so sure. I have quite a few rose scents that I like better, but I come back to this one from time to time.
The play sounds like so much fun! Although it didn’t work for me, I love Eau de Protection on others.
I don’t know that it always works for me either. See above in my note to Allo.
Ah yes, of course.
I rather liked Eau de Protection when I tried it, but did not spring for a full bottle. I was on a 30mL or less kick at the time.
50 ml is plenty of it for me. I do like it, but not sure I will repurchase it when it is gone.
I’m breaking my days and days of Cristalle streak by wearing All That Matters
No tree because one feline grandkid wants to climb it, another attempts to take off the ornaments and the third has PICA so she tries to eat it
For gifts I do what have done before… on giving Tuesday made a large donation to Animal Care Sanctuary in lieu of gifts for family and friends, all of whom are animal lovers. This is a stand alone no kill shelter in Pennsylvania where our eldest lived for almost seven years. They take in animals from all over the world including those others can’t handle due to significant medical issues. They have the only pre vet internship in the country to generate interest in becoming a veterinarian. They have programs that allow individuals to take a dog or cat for the weekend. They go into schools and have programs that teach kids kindness towards all animals. They are just amazing and I am thrilled that my family and friends are now donating as well for my birthday and Christmas presents 😻😻😻
That sounds like an amazing animal shelter! There are some good no-kill shelters here in Houston and up in Austin that I usually donate to. (They are focused on cats but do a lot of good with TNR and helping out homeless cats too.)
We haven’t had a tree in 11 years because Felix likes to chew electrical wires and cords. Not the thick ones like you find on appliances and TVs and such (thank goodness), but the thin type such as headphones. I worry that he might chew the wires on the light strings, which are fairly thin, with possibly tragic results.
I love what you do in lieu of Christmas gifts, I think it’s amazing to support the shelter.
What a fantastic shelter and very worthy of your donation! We’ve always had shelter dogs and cats. We are also so grateful for volunteers who go into the shelters and interact with the animals and take videos and post them online. That’s how we found our last two doggos.
It’s the best. My sister donates to Meals on Wheels for me and I donate to Operation Catnip for her.
Wow! This sounds like a great animal shelter, and I am sure they are thrilled with your generous donation to them.
Thanks for telling us about a worthy organization that does such good work.
Very cool that they have a pre-vet internship
I am wearing Tobacco Honey from a sample. Even though it is nice, thank god it’s not full bottle worthy for me.
Yesterday my husband surprised me with a real Christmas tree, normally he is the one who insists putting up the artificial one and i much prefer the real one.
The Christmas market that i visited yesterday was lots of fun, all local small businesses with great stuff.
Yay for real tree!
Nice of Mr. Hera!
I am back in my now-usual scent Indigo Smoke. I can’t seem to get enough of it. It’s somewhat quirky and stays interesting. Yesterday I didn’t manage to post as I was busy. But I wore Amouage Lineage, because I got some Black Friday samples in the mail. It’s a very subtle scent and I do still like it after having tried it once at Neiman-Marcus. It’s a quiet scent with salt and incense, and puts me in a meditative mood. I’m not usually one for marine scents but this one is nice. Might look for it in Duty Free along the way as I embark on my trip next week! I’ve been reading up on etiquette for female travelers to Saudi Arabia and have decided not to wear some of the brightly colored clothes I was planning on. I’ll do a more subtle palette, and that’s ok.
I have met several nurses over the years who had worked in Saudi in the 90’s. Hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip. ✈️
Who will watch your kitties while you’re gone?
My ex is coming here to stay and he will look after things. He likes cats, fortunately, because these guys are pretty messy.
As a former guest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, keep everything on the downlow.
Yes, times have changed, women can drive, but it is a Kingdom that can change the rules anytime.
Dress modestly, cover up when you need to. Follow the directions your sponsoring organization has provided to you. Women wear lots of makeup and fabulous clothes under their hijabs, but as a westerner, better to stay on the modest side of things.
Have a good adventure!
Thank you for the advice! I’m going to take some scarves for use if needed, and I’m never one to go for much makeup, but I do at least plan to wear some pretty jewelry, so I can feel good in my otherwise dark colored outfits. I am glad someone else warned me about not showing the soles of your shoes and not crossing your legs, because I tend to do that.
My nice student who has been there tells me that people will be courteous to me as a Western woman but even moreso because I walk with a cane.
Safe travels!
Thank you very much! If you want to get a laugh or gawk, take a look at the hotel where they are putting up the conference speakers. I kind of gasped when I saw it.
http://www.narcissusriyadh.com
Fancy!
We used to refer to this as “ Saudi Gaudy” since it’s all so over the top.
Muslim holy day is Friday and the hotels have the best ever weekend brunches.
Because so many of us westerners lived on different compounds, they were a wonderful opportunity to meet and eat and visit for hours.
If you get to go, enjoy the Saudi champagne- it’s sparking apple juice, sparkling water, muddied fruit and mint! Delish!
Looking forward to hearing about the changes you experience.
Ha ha, I love that label, and will keep it in mind! I’ll definitely try that champagne, mmm. It does sound very good. I hope I’ll get to enjoy some of the good sounding brunch too!
So, are you one of the speakers? It looks beautiful! Have a great time!
Yes, I will be speaking there. It’s exciting! We are going to have some kind of tour and I also would like to visit their big Islamic Art Museum. My talk is on Saturday afternoon. I’m hoping that by that day I’ll be a little adjusted to jet lag so I can be alert to give my presentation. There’s also supposed to be some time to meet with members of the public, which I am especially interested in doing.
DANG!
SotD from the haute monde: Bortnikoff Musk Khabib. It contracts to a close scent bubble sooner than I’d like. But otherwise, it’s a fabulous musk-and-vintage-lovers’ scent. Still in the dusty depths of cleaning and donating. Progress has been made but big decisions still loom. Perfumed hugs to all who are dealing with accumulation issues!! A bit of happiness this week thanks to some neighbors who decorate for Christmas a la Griswold. And, they seem to be a bit competitive. 😀 😀
Good luck with the decluttering – decisions, decisions.
So many decisions. 🤨
Decluttering sucks.
It does, but I have made some clams on eBay! And can find what I’m looking for.
We’re shortly heading off to the big annual craft market, the Thorndon Fair, which is about 10 minutes walk from here. Unfortunately, it’s not a nice day, windy and showery. The weather is always unpredictable here, some years at the fair I’ve been freezing cold, others I’ve been sunburnt.
I’m going to wear my latest purchase, a blind buy of Scherrer 2. It seems like a nice rich floral on first sniff. My unsniffed purchase of Scherrer was so successful that I thought I’d carry on 🙂
Hope the craft market was great fun despite the weather!
I think my samples from Luckyscent, Akro Bake and Rundholz something something 1492, are arriving today. In the meantime I’m wearing Madhat Mysore Lime.
I got some battery-operated stick-on-the-window snowflakes yesterday. The blurb on the box says “Takes 3 AAA batteries.” What is doesn’t say is that EACH snowflake takes 3 batteries so I need 12. I usually have 2 or 3 laying around, who keeps 12 AAA batteries? My Christmas bargain is not such a bargain now.
I do – I get the biga$$ (although they are really inexpensive) package from Costco!
Also, if you are up for a decant of Akro Bake, I still have quite a bit from the most recent Splitmeet …
Same here, we buy batteries in bulk at Costco.
But I don’t need 50 AAA batteries, I have hardly anything that uses them. I used to buy them at Costco but they would run out of juice before I could use them all.
I recently bought a battery caddy on one of my supermarket runs. I was afraid maybe it was just a waste of money, but it really is nice to have all the batteries in one place, instead of scattered around in drawers here and there. It also makes it easy to tell what I have or don’t have, so I don’t over buy. I came with a battery tester as well, which is handy.
By the way, do you know that the easiest way to find every AA battery in your house is to suddenly be in need of some AAA batteries.
Lol
Yes. You suddenly discover that you have every size of battery EXCEPT the one you need. 🤬
Or else that the one(s) that you do have has gone dead in storage. I found that two of the three 9V I had were no good.
SOTD = Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit
Nice!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0XSKP8xXlC/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
In other news …
1. It’s very strange that as of yesterday, I have been seeing repeats of posts I’ve already liked in Insta. Anyone having the same problem?
2. Shalimar was mentioned on an article in this week’s NY Times about a couple who got married. Somehow, the groom “knew” that Shalimar meant something to the woman he loves. It was a very nice comment.
3. Newish trend – Buddymoon!
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/style/buddymoon-honeymoon-with-friends.html
(Usual caveats apply re: paywall)
Random Insta: Have you seen the vid of the cat stealing the perfume bottle?
No! Now I have to look for it!
Sent it to you💚
🙏
I get that all the time on Facebook.
That would annoy me to no end! I have not liked anything on Facebook.
I’m seeing repeat recommendations for stuff I’ve already watched on YouTube. A little annoying.
Ugh! I never got around to subscribing to YouTube and maybe I never will.
I’m not a subscriber either. I just poke around on it for grins.
It was a frosty morning and no sun. I actually enjoy waiting for Xmas more than the day itself, I’m waiting to see if my brother can come, he broke his ankle last month and still has a cast.
It was Tocca Colette today, it doesn’t last although very pretty so tonight I’m in Weil Suki Essence, a favorite plum, dates, cinnamon and incense perfume, that one lasts and is a firm favorite. It used to be a steal at the discounters, not so much anymore.
I hope your brother makes it! 🩼
Thank you Deva, he’ll know by Thursday.
Ouch. A broken ankle is not pleasant at all. I had one as a kid.
Having an Ormonde Jayne moment. In Ambre Royal, which I think I got through an NST swap, and am contemplating my new ginormous bottle of Prive my mum got me for my birthday. It is a tester bottle–120 mls! Anyone CONUS-side want a sample of Prive? Ping me at ann dottie eisenberg atta girl comcast dottie net.
In animal kingdom news, a coyote came through our backyard a couple of nights ago, peering in at the kitchen window. We’ve had everything from ducks to foxes back there, but never a coyote–and it was big and, as my husband noted, well-fed. I plan to bring our kitty in earlier in the evenings now. Don’t want him on anyone’s menu.
Update on my Royalty Scents debacle: Well weeks of complaints
sent to the company (I first alerted them in mid-October) and inquiries with my credit card and Paypal, and me threatening to alert the Illinois better business bureau–or some entity like that, etc etc. has finally yielded almost total repayment of the $340 they withdrew from my PayPal account without my authorization (they were simultaneously withdrawing the same amount each month–$19.95– from one of my credit cards). The reimbursements were numerous but small, in amounts as low at $1.01– they submitted dozens of refunds to both my credit card (weirdly) and Paypal. The first set of refunds came almost immediately after I brought the problem to their attention, but they only reimbursed me about a third of what they owed. A second set of refunds came again after weeks of me trying to contact them with no response. And then a third came a week or so ago, in one lump sum of $85, with me still short about $20. At this point I am giving up, but just sharing this sad little tale as a warning.
What is Royalty scents?
A decant service. I actually really liked the service, until I discovered the double-dipping. Actually, I still liked them, until I found they were recalcitrant about paying me back the money they erroneously deducted and refused to respond to my inquiries.
Yikes. Keep the kitty safe from that big old coyote!
No kidding!
Glad that they have reimbursed you (mostly), and I hope that you get the remainder back. Things shouldn’t have to be such an ordeal but it’s almost mandatory now to keep track.
Needless to say–disappointing.
They do not sound legit. I hadn’t heard about them before, and won’t go looking. So sorry you’ve had to deal with this.
And definitely keep that kitty in at night. I’ve seen a coyote wandering through our very urban neighbourhood — one morning while I was jogging — and thus our kitty acquired afterward is an indoor cat, very much against her will.
You too? Wow. We are not doing animals any favors. I kind of like seeing the occasional fox, but the coyote was big and burly, and slowly sauntered past our kitchen window like s/he wasn’t scared of anything!
I’ve just re-spritzed my SotD with Jolie Madame, one of my true, true loves. ❤️ I don’t know if it’s even for sale anymore, but I have plenty for the rest of my life, lol!
It was a chilly and very grey day today, but going to the town center for the annual Christmas walk and arts&crafts shopping was certainly cheering. Bought some locally-made candles for gifts and a jigsaw puzzle for Mr. E. that is an image of the town. One of the candles is named “Seas and Greetings.” (The town is on the ocean.) 😁
Such an incredible fragrance!
One of my favourites too, amazing!!!
The name of that candle is “Dad Pun” level, definitely!
😅
Thunked the very last of a manufacturer sample of Chanel 31 RC EdT today.
I’ve started to call movers. And discovered that any timeframe less than 4 months is considered a hasty move! This is gonna be interesting…
Kinda mind-boggling that less than 4 months is hasty. Hope you find someone who can do better than that.
Today’s conversation was very promising.
But most movers are now booking into January. I have to be out sooner than that.
If worst comes to worst, I do the UHaul thing.
I moved cross-country driving a UHaul truck, hiring local labor to load and unload. My last move, from N. Cal to Portland, used a moving company and cost me 5K, and I thought that was a lot since I had done all the packing.
If you don’t mind me asking, which moving company did you use? And did you like them?
I used Allied CA to OR. I liked the driver but the labor he hired was careless with the furniture. I had a terrible experience moving with Mayflower from NYC to Portland. Just sayin’.
Oh my goodness! What do they do with relocations / people who get new jobs? I got a job offer and had to move across the country within 3 weeks, with a car being shipped as well. It’s not like you usually get many months in these cases.
And you smell fantastic — one of my favourites. I’ve got one of those manufacturer samples in my travel bag and a backup for whenever it’s thunked.
It’s not like movers will refuse to take anyone earlier. They can just charge people more for what they consider a “rush job”.
Right. My employer paid.
Love 31 RC. One of my favorites, but I don’t ever want to run out, so I don’t wear it very often.
Do you have a bottle, or a decant of 31 RC?
I have a full bottle of the EdT that I probably bought about 7-8 years ago. Back then it wasn’t quite so costly.
I was *very* lucky to get my preferred movers on only 30 days notice. Good luck to you!
Thanks cazaubon!
Last time I moved, it was DIY/UHaul. There’s a reason why I stayed put for 23 years after that.
Ouch! I’m sure you’ll find a way!
So far, I have talked with 3 moving brokers.
Winding down my vacation this weekend. Had a nice walk today and did some chores, then off to our town’s holiday gathering which I normally would not attend but my husband had committed to help out. Fortunately, it was a lovely day.
I wore Chanel No.5 layered with Eau Premiere. I might have to get a backup bottle of Eau Premiere for 2024. I would miss it if it ever became unavailable.
I try to read a book each vacation. I am reading Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. I am a decent cook but I cannot imagine cooking for a living. I love reading Bourdain’s descriptions. Such a sad loss than he is passed on.
I loved that book, having worked in a kitchen for a summer (albeit a German one, but somewhat similar vibes). Kitchen work is hard, and after that summer I’ve never had any inclination to be a chef even though I’m a pretty darned good cook. He really was a great character and a great writer.
I previously worked in an office that was open seating (although I am special and had my own dedicated seat). Anyway, our “neighborhood” was named Anthony Bourdain and when he died, there was serious consideration of renaming the neighborhood. In the end, it was left the same although I hope it’s a lesson for the future set of names. BTW, even college names could have been renamed as well due to various unfavorable news.
Spritzed Cabochard this morning because so many NSTers have been wearing it lately. I agree with others that the newer version still holds up. What a classic!
Have some of you read Tom Lake? What did you think of it? I’m thinking of getting it for airplane reading since I just found out that it is set in the cherry orchard area of northern Michigan (not the UP but the north part of the Lower Peninsula) where I love to go for my summer vacations.
PS: My SOTD for today, Sunday, is Ravissante. And since I’m not going anywhere I sprayed on LOTS!
I personally really enjoyed it. I know a few people felt it was kind of slow to get going.
I slept in a bit late today so am just now sitting down with my first cup of coffee on the West Coast. Does anyone else drink nicer coffee at home on the weekend than they do on the weekdays? I buy Stumptown bags for the weekends, and I feel like it makes these mornings even better to drink the extra tasty stuff. My weekday coffee is just fine and certainly not bad coffee, but it doesn’t have the level of flavor that Stumptown does.
Perfume wise I still smell like yesterday and last night’s L’Erbolario Ambraliquida. It’s a very nice sweet and not-chewy amber with some citrus and rose mixed in. Since it’s so long lasting I’ll probably have to choose another amber perfume to spray over it today.
Yesterday we went to the movies to see Godzilla Minus One. I thought it was so good, and I had tears steaming down my face by the end. I think they did a great job with the storyline of following some soldiers who’d just survived WWII and all the hardships, feelings, and guilt they faced. Then on top of dealing with that they have to contend with Godzilla! Anyway, some parts were predictable but I didn’t mind and still heartily recommend it.
Same coffee everyday for me! But lately I’ve been drinking Cafe Bustelo, which is crazy cheap. Otherwise I would ping pong from expensive (Stumptown and similar) and either TJ’s or Costco.
Thanks for the movie rec. I haven’t even seen previews, will go sleuth now
Just received my last two perfume purchases, Francesca Bianchi Encounters and Guerlain Fève Gourmande. They are both wonderful. Will wear Fève tomorrow, today it is Encounters.
The Ocean Beach Christmas parade was last night and it was too crowded, too long and cold. I don’t care about ever seeing it again, but I have a friend who comes to town every year to see it, so I may not be able to avoid it.
Enjoy your new perfumes. How do you find Encounters?
It’s really lovely. I was leery of it because I’m not an oud fan but it’s much more iris with only a hint of oud.
that sounds very nice!!
How different is Feve from GC in your opinion please? Most reviews say they are quite similar and I have GC so I was not in a rush to try it but I know you also have GC and did buy it so was wondering what you enjoyed that made it worth the FB. 🙂
I didn’t buy it so much for the smell, because I have plenty of GC, but as a collector (wanted to have it in the new bottle). I think they do smell very similar.
SOTD = Aftelier Alchemy
One of my favorites!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Z2m4kxGG7/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
In other news, I finally succumbed to ChatGPT, the free version. I asked it to develop a cover letter. My first impressions are that it gave great structure but I had to spend a lot of time re-wording and re-summarizing. It made me sound like the best candidate in the universe which I know it’s supposed to do but too much is, well, TOO MUCH! I will keep using this free version until I need it for the other features like researching a company. The version 3.4 only has company info until 2020. I asked it to “write a cover letter”, then copied and pasted my resume (for which I removed company name and my personally identifiable info) and the job description of the job I am applying for. The results came back instantaneously but as I mentioned, I spent time re-working it.
Wow that’s amazing! I still haven’t tried it.
I’ve played with it once, results were a “starting point” but definitely not “final draft”. Need to play with it some more and give some thought to what use cases would most benefit me. Keep sharing your experiences, I enjoy hearing them!
Honestly I think I can reword one of my old cover letters for any job faster. I played with it for a bit, but mostly to show my spouse how bad it is at answering fairly specific questions in his area and my old academic field. The more specific the question, the worse it is, especially in medieval / early modern fields where it just…doesn’t…get it.
Testing Lorenzo Villoresi Yerbamate. Not love at first sniff, despite my usual adoration of greenness. I think it’s the tea note that isn’t working for me.
It has been a wearing couple of weeks in Spiderplantland. Sadly, we had to cancel this week’s much anticipated trip to the omphalos (aka NYC).
Hoping things improve for you.
Thank you. I’m confident all will be well.
I likewise usually love green and never fell in love with Yerbamate, although I did think it was a cool scent…for someone else.
I join cazaubon in hoping things get better!
Thanks, I’m sure they will!