It’s Hump Day, National Sangria Day, International Human Solidarity Day, and there are 11 more days to go for 2023. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing Bruno Fazzolari Lampblack, my favorite fragrance purchase of 2017.
Reminder: 12/22 will be Best Buy Friday...wear your favorite fragrance purchase of 2023. If you didn't buy anything this year, pick a favorite from a prior year. (This is a repeat from 2016)
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 Paperwhite narcissus [cropped] by Renee Grayson at flickr; some rights reserved.
I am wearing 100Bon Musk & Jasmine, one of my favourites of 2023.
I love everything about it, it is natural, long lasting, smells amazing and reasonably priced.
Last day at work before the Holidays!!
Yay for jasmine, yay for time off work!
Yay, enjoy your holidays!
I think Aurora has mentioned your SOTD in the past.
Yes, I do own two 100Bon scents I like very much but not this particular one.
Which ones do you have ?
I am wearing my newest purchase from a few days ago Fueguia 1833 Xocoatl . Warm, vanillic, boozy
My last day of volunteering at NYPL for 2023
I will say wave to my lions
Hey, did they long since clean off all that graffiti btw?
No- the damages are about 75K and the library doesn’t have the money
That’s so awful. In so many ways. 😢
That truly sucks.
Oh gosh. So sorry.
Hello.
Sotd is Tobacco Honey. I wonder if this can be layered over Bee to create the ultimate honey bomb?
Currently replaying Wicked soundtrack for the millionth time. So wish I could be back at Broadway right now, watch a production and head over to Junior’s for a slice of cheesecake…
Love that Guerlain! More honey sounds delicious
OMG I think that combo might be lethal. TH is nuclear.
I was so disappointed in Tobacco Honey. It was a nothing on me.
Money saved, I suppose.
On me it was…honey, and some tobacco. So, truth in advertising. But personally I want something else in there to complicate it. So, also for me, money saved.
I’m wearing just a tiny spray of Baume du Doge, because it’s a very rich heavy fragrance that goes a long way. Its combination of orange and spices makes me think of a seasonal pomander and it just seemed right for today.
I loved that one. I wish they hadn’t discontinued it. You smell great, and very seasonal.
2nd all of that!
I’m in Lankaran Forest. I’m almost at the end of my decant, and trying to decide if I want to invest in a full bottle.
Or get the 15 ml discovery set!
I’m in Coromandel, and thankful the weather has stopped being so extreme 🙂
You smell divine!
Thank you!
You smell wonderful!
Thank you-my best friend’s name is Dawn, and it’s her birthday today 🙂
LOVE Coromandel
Smelling fine.
Today I’m listening to podcasts while doing a gazillion chores (laundry, vacuuming, baking, general kitchenry) and feeling very classy in Jacques Fath Pour l’Homme, a lush, complicated amber of the sort I can never resist.
What are you baking? I’m finally in the mood to make some cookies!
I was baking nothing as Christmassy as cookies! I made a batch of bran muffins (and, not baking, a batch of CBD edibles).
Still commando due to lingering crud. However, I’m excited to get my mail, hopefully today, because I have a Tauer split and two travels size scents from Divine waiting for me. I haven’t heard anyone talking about the newest Tauer so I’m assuming most were not bowled over by it..?
Hope everyone is getting things checked off their holiday list! If you don’t have a list for whatever reason, you are my people! 😊
I hope the crud leaves you soon and you can enjoy your new fragrances.
Thank you! Feeling better this afternoon.😎
I have a list, always, every day, although longer around the holidays for sure. But it is aspirational. I have not cleared it since the 1990s, probably 🙂
“Aspirational” is definitely the way to go! 👍🏼
Well, hello, sister! 😄
You mean the limited edition Nexin? It’s very well made, unfortunately there is a lot of vetiver in it which is not my favorite note by far. It overpowers the rest of the composition. I put my bottle up for sale and no one is inquiring, so I think the word is out that unless you are a vetiver fan, don’t bother.
Yes, Nexin! I forgot the name. I tried it today after my forwarded mail finally got to me. I like Vetiver so this is a win for me! 🙌
Yay for feeling a bit better today, and your mail catching up to you!
Continuing my tragically discontinued theme this week I’m wearing Alexander McQueen Kingdom, which also has an all-timer bottle design. I’ve seen people say this one has cumin in it but the notes list celery seed, so maybe that’s it, but either way it’s a skanky, sexy, grown-up fragrance. The skank is offset and blended with ginger, which gives it an almost bracing feel, like a spicy cocktail. In an age where all the cool kids are wearing Baccarat Rouge 540, this would stand a chance of finding fans but it had the misfortune to come out during the fruity floral era so *poof*.
In any case, it represents the brand well, especially when still under Lee’s direction.
I adore Kingdom! You smell fabulous.
I forgot to post my sotd yesterday and it was Sycomore, a 2023 purchase and another amazing vetiver.
Today I’m going to wear 34 Boulevard Saint Germain EdP. It was a summer trip to Paris purchase and I love it.
34 EDP is one of my favorite winter scents. You smell beautiful.
Thank you! It’s so spicy and warming😊
Have you been able to compare the Sycomore EdP and EdT side by side?
I haven’t but it would be interesting. I watched Persolaise’s review of the extrait and he said that it’s sweeter than the EdT or EdP. Since he finds the EdP and EdT too “swampy,” the sweetness softened it for him.
I bought this when it first came out and gave it away. Clearly, I did not give it appropriate time. My loss.
I wonder how you would like it now. I think it’s so interesting the ways our noses/tastes change.
34 is a love for me, too.
Hello everyone!
Been incredibly lazy this week post-semester. Jicky is very happy I’ve been home so much. I’m trying to cull my clothing and books but it’s not very fun. 😂
I’m in Superstitious today, aldehydic jasmine without equal. I know this one was very polarizing but I cannot get enough! Both clean and naughty with a brilliantly indolic jasmine. I remember a few complains about the base but I find it very compelling. Wish I had gotten a back up, but I probably still have 95% of my bottle.
Have a great day everyone!
You smell terrific! I love Superstitious but no one around me does. I share the need for a books and clothes cull too.
Yes my friend thought it was a little strong at first but to be fair he didn’t give me much notice before picking me up! I would have sprayed it a bit before. 😅
Superstitious is amazing!
I’m glad you think so too!
Lemming born, as I’m a sucker for jasmine.
I really like it. It’s very 70’s floral to me. It’s a bit hard to find now.
Nobody deserves a lazy week as much as you! Enjoy. 🙂
Thank you! I think you do too, though. 😁
Superstitious is such a great name for a perfume.
Isn’t it?
Downsizing things is never fun. But it sucks less to be doing it on your schedule and not someone else’s.
LOVE Superstitious!
It’s true, it’s on my own terms!
Pretty underrated scent to me. Glad you agree.
Rainy in Los Angeles today, so Shalimar Ode a la Vanille (2010) is providing warmth for the damp and sweetness for the season. Plus, it blends nicely with the waft of my Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso with a splash of milk.
That whole scene you’ve set sounds amazing-you smell great, and I bet the espresso is a fantastic addition to your scent 🙂
It was a. nice combo. Thank you.
I’m in vintage Liz Claiborne (in a blue triangle “limited edition” bottle). This is a recent acquisition in 2023, but you never know how older bottles have been kept. This doesn’t smell as good as I remember from sneaking a spray (or three) off my mother’s dresser when I was sixteen 🙂
Liz Claiborne (the brand, can’t remember if I smelled the perfume) definitely brings me back to my teens!
I had a mini triangle with the cap outlined in blue, yellow and red.
SOTD is another fragrance I think I purchased this year. I really enjoy this iteration of Chanel No 5. It is the EDT.
Me too! I love how it smells like No.5 and sticks around only for so long to end the evening or whatever shortish event you’re wearing it for.
This is why “short lived” is not a problem for me with perfumes! Just means I get to wear something else once it wears off
Actually, on me it lasts for most of the day. I confess I do where the Chanel No 5 Body Cream on my legs do maybe that ramps it up a little on me.
I’ve been craving spring and spring flowers lately so today’s favorite purchase of 2023 is Regime des Fleurs Gold Leaves. It smells like the mock orange or pittosporum tree (honestly not certain what the tree is) that I get whiffs of on late spring/early summer walks in my neighborhood. RdF was a brand I started actually exploring and sniffing late last year-early this year thanks to some generous samples sent to me by pfsh. Gold Leaves was the first that I bought from them after finding a good deal on a partial bottle. In fact, it was the first bottle I bought in 2023! The other two I bought from them this year, and both also from great deals, were Willows and Falling Trees.
Yay for great deals on partial bottles! And Gold Leaves sounds lovely.
Wearing Diptyque Volutes, which the clueless SA at Nordstrom’s told me was discontinued. No, it’s just limited to the Diptyque boutiques now. Sigh. So much misinformation.
You smell fabulous!
I love that and bought it in both EDT and EDP. I waffle between them and can’t decide which I prefer.
I love them both and have decided that the one I have on that day is just the right one.
I think you can only get it in EdP now Cazaubon.
Yes, I believe that’s all I saw at the Diptyque shop in October. Fortunately that’s the version I prefer.
I have both and I love both!
Being a perfumista involves a LOT of self education, doesn’t it?
Today from my 2023 Shortlist:
Ivoire de Balmain parfum
It is so much more elegant than I am, but well-suited to Day of Meetings.
I’m going to politely dispute what you’ve just said-I think you’re elegant, and so is your SOTD 🙂
:- ) I do indulge in the occasional elegant turn of phrase if nothing else…
Vintage Ivoire de Balmain is gorgeous.
Ivoire is elegant, and perfect for a Day of Meetings. I’m sure it’s perfectly suited to you, as well!
I’m wearing PdN’s Maharanih Intense. It’s not a recent purchase, but it leapt to mind this morning and now nothing else seems right.
Gotta go with the perfume that moves you.
I’m doing the early shift today. Thank goodness! I’m scheduled until 3:45 but I think I will leave at 3:30. I won’t miss the 3 extra cents in my paycheck. Lol
I am wearing Angel’s Share. Perfume YouTube keeps talking about how it smells like apple pie. Does anyone here think that. To my nose it’s woody, and boozy.
Enjoy your evening, Lillyjo. I think it’s the cinnamon in AS that gives an effect of apple pie.
Thanks Aurora! I ended up staying the last 15 minutes. I have tomorrow off and plan to enjoy it.
I need to revisit because I don’t recall it smelling like apple pie at all. Apple Brandy does, not Angel’s Share IMHO.
Now I will have to revisit Apple Brandy!
Ambre Narguile smells like apple pie to me but Angel’s Share does not.
They are also comparing it to Ambre Narguile. I think they are nuts! Lol.
Glad to hear that 1) you had the early shift today and 2) you have tomorrow off! Enjoy!
According to my Word document, I do have a sample of Angel’s Share. But I don’t have any sniffing notes on it. 🤷♀️
Apples and yogurt smoothie
A beautiful, quite mild day. Started the day in Eau de Patou and now I’m in Alix Grès, edt, a lovely chypre, alas no longer made, I also have a small bottle of the extrait.
And it wouldn’t smell the same anyway, so enjoy your vintage!
Ah, you’re right, Robin.
Today I’m in Mayan Chocolate which is one of my favorite discoveries this year. Failed a final so today was a retake that I think I did much better on. On retakes, the best one can get is 70/passing but I just don’t want to repeat this class and not advance
Fingers crossed for the pass and moving forward! Great that you have the option of retaking the exam.
Hope it’s a pass.
Hope that your retake went well today.
Hermes Un Jardin a Cythere
Yum, I love this one
I had a medical appt this morning and yay, I don’t have osteoporosis any more, just osteopenia. The drug I took to rebuild bone did an outstanding job. So I am celebrating in one of my 2023 purchases, La Religieuse. I think that there is not enough jasmine in the world.
Oh, hurray! I’ve had similar success with a year of bone buildup treatment! It’s good news all around!
Bone health is so important-good on you both for maintaining healthy bones.
Good news, and you smell great too!
Excellent news!
Excellent news!
Great news foxbins!
We are having a lovely unseasonal cold snap the last few days. Rainy and overcast and sitting about 20C/70f. I’m off to town today to catch up with a bunch of friends at different places and times. From lunch to theatre at night.
Wearing Atelier’s Cafe Tuberosa. It’s so weird and satisfying.
Portia x
I loved the pictures of the pool you posted on IG 🙂 And whatever you’re doing keep it up-you look great 🙂
Heya Carole,
Thank you.
One thing I really love is being submerged, in any pool
I love Cafe Tuberosa. You smell great!
Thanks MissGoldsmith.
Cafe Tuberosa was one of the better offerings from Atelier Cologne.
Envious of your current temps!
Portia, your description of Cafe Tuberosa is spot-on! It’s definitely a lovable oddball.
Commando so far, but just took a break to shower and change clothes (the WFH life makes for a weird schedule). I will throw on some Cabochard – a great (free in perfume math?) buy of 2023.
My appetite has been really low the last few days. I’ve not been getting enough protein (or nutrition in general) as a result. Next task is to see if I can entice myself to eat. Not sure what’s up.
YAY for Cabochard.
I think a lot of us are eating in strange moments and looking for pre made food, not ingredients, in the kitchen. Good luck.
Definitely. I have zero interest in cooking these days. I’ve been having precooked meals delivered, actually, which really helps (definitely a luxury)
Oy about the lack of appetite. If I feel like I need more protein, I usually fry an egg (over hard) with extra egg whites. I used to be able to add cheese stopped six months ago because it was not making my stomach happy. I can eat cheese but my body rebelled against the egg / cheese combo.
I really like making a thin omelet with green onions, rolling it up, then eating it with soy sauce and hot chili oil.
My appetite has dropped too and nothing sounds appealing. I think it’s the weather/seasonal blahs.
Knowing that you *have* to eat, but nothing sounds good is a horrible feeling. Are you under a lot of stress right now?
No, stress is low. Also not sick. Or crushing on anyone 😂. Only changes are that I significantly reduced my alcohol intake about a month ago, started going to the gym and lifting weights, and have been really focusing on increasing my protein intake. I’m flummoxed! Won’t worry about it too much unless it persists into next week.
SOTD = Guerlain Shalimar Iris
Love! ❤️❤️❤️
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Fx-KHRmoL/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I had my follow up with the New York Department of Labor (NYDOL) representative today. We used WebEx which I had to install but I made it! He was for sure following a script since he went through the same thing the other guy did 2 months ago. When he started to look at the resume, I politely asked him to stop because I have a new one – same guts but presented differently. I sent it to him towards the end and he took a minute to look it through and said if that was what the career placement firm did, it looks good. I had to clarify that the guts were mine, it was just presented differently. To remind me of my obligation, he said if I applied to 3 different jobs at 3 different companies, that would qualify as having fulfilled my job search requirement for a week. I then mentioned that I may end up applying to 3 jobs in the same company and he had to think if that is acceptable! Huh?🤔. Anyway, done for the year for now; I will restart next year!
Why does it need to be three different companies? Three different jobs should be fine. Sheesh.
Seriously… he had to go “2 different jobs for the same company sounds fine. 3 different jobs for the same company … ummmm … should be fine too …”
Hajusuuri.. I don’t really understand what is going on ( it’s me) are you applying for new jobs? And what does the DoL have to do with it? Sorry for not just knowing.
My retirement came with a package, including outplacement services if interested. I can also collect unemployment and so why not leverage that (after an aggravating turn with the websites not being clear) and the outplacement services? For unemployment, besides providing a lot of paperwork, I am also required to do 3 activities per week to show I am making an effort to look for a job and there are follow-ups with the NY State counselors.
Oh I understand better now. Thanks.
Isn’t Shalimar MI just wonderful??? I love it, as everyone knows, by buying three bottles🤣
I am with Lillyjo. I thought you retired and if not, why do you need to go through the DOL? Were you filing for unemployment? I think I missed something too. What type of job are you looking for? I know-too many questions and none of my business.
I retired with severance and outplacement services and unbeknownst to me until I saw it in writing, subsidized benefits (paying < $250 / month vs $1,300 / month). I have a good number of transferable skill sets. Assuming I apply for and get an offer, I will decide based on how I love or hate the commute. Even if I don’t work anymore, I’ll be fine too.
Retirement is fun once you get used to it. You may enjoy it and you can always volunteer.
You’re not letting any grass grow under your feet, are you?
Not feeling very festive this week, just trying to make it through. So I’m cheering myself up with 31 Rue Cambon today, one of my favorites from the split meet this year.
This past weekend, my mother in law had a health setback. She’s mostly fine now, but it unleashed a whole slew of issues she’s been avoiding and concealing. Like her financial situation and her lack of planning for her and her husband’s needs as they age. Between the two of them, they have five kids, but because we’re the ones nearby, the burden has mostly fallen on us. The whole situation has made me very contemplative and a bit depressed. The silver lining is that it has also made me grateful for all I have, and immediately crushed any desire to spend frivolously. My MIL is a woman who is beyond generous and spent extremely freely, and now has to deal with the consequences. Sadly, she does not have Donatella’s bank account! Ha!
Thanks for letting me voice my recent woes. It has been so nice to come to this space the past few days and just read about everyone’s day and SOTD. So very comforting.
So sorry to hear this. I am grateful every day for my parents’ financial planning and security. It would not be possible for me to support them and myself and I’m glad I don’t have to. I hope a decent solution can be worked out and that you are not unfairly burdened.
I too am relieved that my parents are like yours! At least we only have one set to focus on.
I’m sorry you are feeling down.
I hope you will start feeling a little festive in the next few days. Hugs to you. 💙
Thanks for the hugs, lillyjo!
Hugs tulipani. That’s a difficult situation for both you and your MIL to be in.
Thanks Jalapeno, NST hugs are the best!
Ouch! Like you said, “only” one set of parents need help. It’s unfair for you to be saddled with supporting them and I hope your husband and his siblings can come to a reasonable agreement.
You are in one of my all-time favorites.
Sorry you are going through this difficult time with family. I was fortunate enough to have parents that planned very well financially. As an only child, this helped me learn how to do the same. Thankfully, my husband is the same way. It is difficult enough dealing with elderly parents’ health and wellbeing and then their deaths without having to throw the wrench in of finances.
Hugs going out to you. Remember, to take care of yourself too.
Thanks for sharing. Sorry you’re going through this. It’s a good reminder to me to save more. I could do better.
So sorry tulipani, that is really stressful.
Another late post for me today. Got busy late this afternoon. Been burning thru packing tape like there’s no tomorrow.
Twins with tulipani in not feeling very festive, though it’s been longer than a week for me. I do appreciate the Xmas/Hannukah/Diwali lights that neighbors have up, though.
SOTD = commando except for Korres Grecian Gardenia in the usual spots.
Yes, the holiday lights do help. I think I will sit by the lit Christmas tree tonight.
That plus a warm, soothing beverage sounds like a lovely interlude. Go for it!
Checking off more things on your list!
Or trying to, heh!
I think holidays are difficult for many of us. I really miss my parents and though my grandfather died years ago, it was on New Year’s Eve. He was one of my favorite people. However, I have to remember to be grateful for so many things. I have been blessed beyond measure.
Yeah. Being solo during the holidays can be incredibly isolating. Especially with the emphasis on togetherness and family.
There’s one house in my neighborhood that has some new lights. I can’t figure it out, but it appears to be a hologram of the baby in the Manger on their house. It looks super cool.
Some people in my area have those projectors that shine a bunch of little dots on their houses. They don’t seem to be a trendy as they were a few years ago.
Edit: “AS trendy…”
I am not feeling festive either. Not down particularly, just not festive.
I did not really want to do a tree but I did as much to keep things normal for my son, and because we’ll have family here at Christmas, as for any other reason. But now I am glad I did because gosh, it is good to have lights and pretty things inside when it gets dark so early and it’s so often grey out during the day.
Anyway, thinking of you Jalapeno.
Thank you Robin.
Wow, I just got caught in a huge downpour and my umbrella was in my car! duh!
Went to an interview. Actually put on shoes that weren’t Allbirds or Birkenstocks, so that was wierd.
Have been on calls and emails all day with recruiters. My newly updated resume might be working, fingers crossed.
SOTD is O Unknown, cause I feel like I am stepping into 2024 with much unknown.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you, the new resume sounds promising!
I’m glad to hear this!
Sounds like the new resume is off to a good start!
Good luck! Plus you have a good perfume on to match the moment😉
On New Year’s, I will put out some extra-good new work vibes for you! How do you like your scent today?
Good luck to you! I love working. Hate job searching. So I understand the struggle
Scent for today’s CP was Violette Volynka. Maybe my skin was drier today, but it seemed more faint and less leathery than usual. This was was of my best buys this year, and not because it was a good deal, lol! Rather, because it will always be associated with a fun day of meeting other NSTers at the end of a stressful trip. It was such a relief to have fun and meet new friends! Yay for NST. ❤️
“One of” my best buys…
That’s a good reason!