Happy Friday and happy Lunar New Year's Eve! (Today is the last day of the Water Rabbit. It's also National Pizza Day. Birthdays: Thomas Paine, Carmen Miranda, J. M. Coetzee, Carole King, Alice Walker.) Our community project for today: wear an auspicious fragrance to ring in the Year of the (Wood) Dragon, or burn or wear incense to honor your ancestors.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm was going to wear Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline, but it's too heavy for my mood this morning. I'm in Aedes de Venustas Oeillet Bengale instead.
Reminder: on 2/16 we'll have a Friday project...and I'll announce it by Monday! Yes, we've run out of projects again, sorry.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2024, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Dragon head [cropped] by Sergiy Galyonkin at flickr; some rights reserved.
I decided on Dzongkha today for its woody notes and incense.
Great choice for the CP!
Twin! We smell great.
I’ve been sick since Tuesday night, and today I am finally feeling well enough to wear a scent.
My choice as an auspicious fragrance is Lush Karma, mostly inspired by this article (showing Lush Good Karma gift set) – https://www.getsortd.co/blog/lunar-new-year-2024
Also, Karma has orange note, and oranges are supposed to bring good luck:
“Oranges and tangerines – good luck and wealth.
They are often displayed as decorations and exchanged as gifts among friends and relatives. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine sound like “luck” and “gold”, respectively. If the fruits have leaves and stems attached, they also represent fertility.”
Source: https://www.thechinesezodiac.org/chinese-new-year-foods/
Today is also the ninth anniversary of Kora the House Panther entering our home. She celebrated by biting me twice – just to remind me who is boss, I suppose. 😼
Glad you are feeling better!
Thanks! Second cold in two months – is my immunity system sleeping or what? (rhetorical question)
Great choice, Glannys! You smell lovely and auspicious.
Glad you feeling better. Kora the Incorrigible! 🐈⬛ Sometimes I think biting might be the answer to all of life’s problems. Kora learned this much faster than the rest of us.
Glad you’re feeling better!
Hope you’ll be 100% soon.
Cats…
Can’t be mad with them long – these little psychos are too cute!
Happy birthday to Kora! Glad you are feeling better.
Thanks! Technically, this is more like the homecoming day. Her birthday is in summer.
Hope you’re feeling 100% soon!🤗. One of my little darlings likes to stick a claw in my hand and then bite me real quick in the same spot when I pet her and leave her mark on Mommy’s hand for days. 😻
She brands you as her own! 🤣
😹
I’m glad you’re feeling better. Give Kora a pat from me if you get a chance.
Thanks and done! 😀
Teflon kitty is fond of giving her human love bites from time to time. So she completely understands where Kora is coming from.
Glad to hear that you are feeling better today.
I’m in Tam Dao for the cp and for some calm.
I’m currently sitting in the waiting room while madtownteen gets her wisdom teeth out.😰 The lady in the waiting room that decided now (now?!) was the time for a FaceTime visit was not helping my moment of zen. Thank gosh for noise canceling AirPods and Beck’s Morning Phase. And sun!🌞
People are so thoughtless with their loud, incessant FaceTime shenanigans in public. It’s one of my pet peeves on public transport Madtowngirl.
Good luck with MTteen.
I’m right there with you. And in check out lines at the grocery or coffee store. Just rude.
Thanks Portia!
Madtowngirl, so smart to have your Airpods with you. I hope all goes well.
I planned that well, didn’t I.😉 Thanks Jks, she’s home and doing good!
Good luck to madtownteen.
Also..people are dumb.
Thanks lillyjo!
Lol, yes, people are SO dumb.🙄😂
I’m struggling to understand why many people need to facetime these days instead of having a regular phone call. I find it rather awkward, even with family members.
Right. My parents do like to FaceTime with my kids every couple of weeks when they are down in Florida for the winter because it helps them feel connected. But agree, many of these conversations seem like they could be accomplished with a phone call. ie: lady in the waiting room.😏
I admit that covid made it seem weird to me NOT to be on Facetime when chatting, at least with family. My sister and I sometimes talk multiple times a day, always on FT unless driving. It is so much nicer to see the face of the person you are talking too.
But I would never sit and facetime in a waiting room.
You smell great. And get to enjoy pampering a teen for a couple of days.
Thanks! Yes.☺️ We’ve got nothing planned but a weekend of tv and soft foods. Fridge and freezer are stocked.
You need to go hire Kora Kitty to bite her. That’ll get her off her FaceTime quick as a wink!😁
Lol.😹
Alas, Kora is a perfect angel with strangers. Bites are reserved for family members! 🤣
I hope the procedure was successful! I had my upper wisdom teeth removed ages ago and it was a breeze. Probably because it was the only time I’ve ever been given nitrous oxide, lol! Worked like a charm and no side effects. Do dentists even use that anymore?
I’m with you on the annoyance of such phone use in public. Oh! I channel my mother, thinking “Where are their manners?”
Thanks AnnE! She came out of it like a trooper. They do use nitrous oxide to help calm the nerves, but then use IV sedation so they don’t remember a thing. As we were leaving she said, “that was fun! I took a nap!” ….ah, drugs…..
I’m with you on the manners. So many people are just plain rude.
I’m so glad to hear that madtownteen came through ok.
Oh, the tyranny of smartphones! 😠
Good luck to madtwnteen, wisdom teeth extraction, especially with more than one at a time can be a bit painful if memory serves.
Thanks Aurora!
Good album for calm! I love the noise cancelling function.
Isn’t that album the best?! It’s my favorite road trip album.
Glad to hear the outcome was good despite the aggravation, hope the rest of the weekend goes smoothly. Since Kora kitty only bites family members, I have another one of my little darlings who specializes in biting strangers who’d be willing to help you out.😻
Thanks Laila!😹
Morning Phase is such a good album! I keep the CD in my car at all times for emergency de-stress situations.
I hope madtownteen’s recovery is smooth and quick.
UGH! That is truly obnoxious behavior.
I had to get wisdom teeth removed as a teen too. My sympathies to madtownteen. Sure hope she doesn’t get a dry socket; those hurt like Hades.
Getting over a cold so I didn’t want to wear anything heavyish. I am wearing a sample of the newly formulated EL White Linen. It’s very nice and I feel nostalgic. It reminds me if Beautiful. I am eager to see what people are wearing today. Happy Year of the Dragon!
Of not if. Sorry for the typo.
The new Malle’s legacy version? On Monday I tried the non-legacy White Linen. Like an old-fashioned floral soap, but in a good way. Liked it!
Yes, Glannys. Very nice but I’m not sure if I want to spend the money on a bottle.
Good to hear that it is nice.
Hope you’re 100% soon! I have some vintage White Linen I love, my favorite scent I always wear to celebrate the Fourth of July; it just says ‘summer’ to me. 💥
Feel better soon!
I hope you are completely recovered soon.
In Comme des Garcons Kyoto for the CP.
We had very shocking news earlier this morning. A co-worker and his wife died of food poisoning on Tuesday and Wednesday while back home in India for a month vacation. Very tragic. He was one of the lead structural engineers in our team. Meetings and site visits were already scheduled for next week when he was supposed to be back in the office. What a thin line between life and death…
On my second cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cherry cake from a loaf, I baked last night.
Happy and healthy Friday, everyone! 🌻
Oh I am sorry pl67. How sad for the family.
So sad indeed, especially for their two sons.
How very shocking and sad indeed! It won’t be easy for all of you to process this news.
Your chocolate cherry loaf cake sounds delicious.
I am tempted to get a second slice of the cake, but I am trying to limit the amount of sweets that I have daily.
Oh, that’s just horrible. I’m so sorry.
It is. Going on vacation and never coming back.
Wow! I’m so sorry to hear that! That must have been a very virulent bug.
I wonder how many more people got sick because of the same food they ate.
You smell calm and fortunate.
What a horrible thing for your co-worker! A very sad day for you, your company, and their family. Sending hugs.
Thanks, AnnE! Kyoto is one of my favorite incense scent! Great for a day like today.
This is tragic, food poisoning can be so dangerous.
So tragic, that both husband and wife are unexpectedly gone.
Oh no… What a shock! Human life is so fragile sometimes.
I agree!
That is terrible 😢 Sorry for the loss of your co-worker and his wife.
So sad and depressing for sure.
What a sad loss. I am actually afraid to travel to certain countries (India is one of them) for fear of food poisoning.
Same here. I have never traveled to India or other countries I would love to go due to food safety reasons. My youngest sister and her husband, who travel a lot overseas for work, are always concerned about food, especially when they have to go to rural or remote areas. Very scary.
I feel like this about “street food.” I don’t care if it’s here in the US or anywhere else across the world, there’s something I’m me that yells, “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” 🚨
Twins! And I’m so sorry to hear about your colleague and spouse.
Hi twin! We smell wonderful!
What a horrific tragedy, I’m so sorry. Makes one appreciate every single minute.
We have to be very thankful and enjoy every single moment that life gives us. After my mother passed away, I decided to do at least one thing daily that brings some meaning to my life and brightens my day, no matter how small or big it is. Life is too short.
Beautiful!
You smell good. It is so tragic about your co-worker and wife.
Thank you, Hajusuuri!
I am so sorry to hear about your colleague. Such a shock! Sending a hug.
Thank you, MossyBerry.
Wow. That is horrifying. My heart goes out to their friends and family members.
It is horrifying. Family members are already flying for the funeral service and burial, which will take place there.
That is so sad and shocking. I can’t imagine the feelings of the rest of their family.
Very traumatic, especially for their kids to lose both parents at the same time.
Oh, what a horrible thing. I am so sorry.
Very scary and unbelievable.
How sad and shocking. Sending great, big hugs, PL67.
Thank you m, She-ra.
I could have worn Cartier Le Baiser du Dragon but I decided to go for the wood instead, so I’m in vintage Hermès Rocabar (the one wrapped in the wee blanket). It doesn’t smell specifically of wood, but like an entire forest all at once, deciduous and coniferous, their saps and resins and woods plus some of the flowers and green things that grow in their shade. And then, at the very end, vanilla! Where did that even come from? I don’t know, but it’s magic.
You and I seem to favor a lot of the same scents. I did go for the Baiser today and I get warm, woodsy notes of vetiver and cedar from it. Not familiar with Rocabar but it sounds wonderful!
Hello everyone!
I’m in a cheeky dab of Mandarin Mandarine today, a smokey marmalade with a touch of tea. I’m glad I got a bottle as it seems to be discontinued.
When were lived in China (as an elementary school student), people were always giving each other little mandarin trees this time of year. I didn’t particularly like to eat them but the color was so brilliant.
Have a great day all!
You smell fabulous. I bought Mandarine Mandarin as well, so glad to have it. I need to wear it again soon.
Perfect SotD – you smell wonderful, says this Mandarine Mandarin fan!
Glad to have you in the club! I loved it instantly.
We had good foresight with that one!
Coumarin, This is a great description of Mandarin Mandarine, which I appreciate and have worn from decants trying to understand but which ultimately just doesn’t work with my skin.
Thank you! It is an unusual one, that’s for sure.
I chose Caleche for the CP, in part for its woody notes and in part to honor my mother and two grandmothers — Caleche’s powderiness always reminds me especially of my paternal grandmother. I don’t think she actually wore scent, but some combination of her Oil of Olay and (maybe) baby powder created a soft halo around her. She had been a first-grade teacher, and she passed away when I was in college but I have such vivid memories of her energy and zest.
Your choice sounds perfect for honouring the women in your life. So nice.
Seconding Kanuka- what a lovely tribute. Calèche is one of the staples in my perfume wardrobe.
Calèche is so wonderful, in 2022 it was my most worn perfume. Very touching words about your grandmother.
That’s a lovely description of your grandmother. How lucky you were to have her in your life for so long.
What a great choice, love it.
Oh Robin! We were almost twins, but I decided I’ve been wearing Oeillet Bengale a lot lately. You smell great.
I’m not CP compliant in Shalimar MT, but I am wearing enough sprays to scent a dragon. I’m working from home; my husband is out of town, so I kind of went wild. I don’t need to go out until after lunch, so hopefully the wafting will be a tame dragon by then.
Took the kitty to the vet yesterday. She had a cold a few weeks back, lost some weight and hasn’t really regained it. And she was overdue. Her vitals and internal organ bloodwork seemed good. They’ll send out the bloodwork to check other things, but they thought she seemed in good order. So, a bit over $400 to hear she seems fine. Amusingly, the first thing they said was, “Oh. She’s a calico. Is she the typical calico diva?” I confirmed she is.
Hope the good news about your cat will be confirmed. Calico cats are beautiful.
I had one of those vet visits with my calico (torbie!) right after Christmas. She went off her food for a few days, which is very strange for her as she’s so food-focused. I suspect she chewed on Christmas tree branches, because it didn’t last long and the vet confirmed she’s in perfect health.
🤞all is well with your Calico Diva from my three 😻😻😻.
Aw, hope that your kitty’s bloodwork comes back OK.
Hoping that your cat is expensive but totally healthy!
I so wanted to wear an incense perfume for the CP, but I am meeting a friend for lunch and didn’t want to be in something too overpowering at the restaurant. I decided to wear something safe and went with FM Iris Poudre. Definitely one of my favorites.
You smell wonderful!
Thanks you. I know you like it too.
I’ve waited all week to wear Encens Mythique, a very special fragrance for me and I had realized I haven’t worn it much recently.
I always try to wear something new for the lunar new year, but didn’t get my act together this year. So I’ve picked up some red wooly socks to wear instead, and these have barely been worn in the back of my drawer, so I think it’s good enough!
Happy lunar new year all!
Happy Lunar new year to you!
A happy one to you as well.
Happy new year, you smell great!
Happy New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy lunar new year!
Good morning all!
I’m wearing Dior Mitzah, from which I get quite a bit of incense. I wonder if Dior will ever bring this one back (and why, oh, why did they discontinue it in the first place?).
I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday but wanted to wish NST a very happy 19th birthday and express my gratitude to Robin for keeping it alive and well. A warm hug to all of you for being such a wonderful bunch of people! ❤️
I bet you smell great, I have a decant of Mitzah that I’ve never worn so you inspire me.
Thank you Aurora! I also have a decant with maybe 3 mLs left in it. I’m not going to save it though, for fear of evaporation.
Matzah is so perfect for the CP! If Dior brings it back, it would most likely be reformulated.
Thank you, H! That’s true, a tiny consolation. 😉
It would probably be a clean floral, knowing how they like to recycle names at Dior .☠️
Thank you adanst!
I’m joining Robin in AdV Oeillet Bengale. I hadn’t worn in it in quite a while and while I like it, it is one that I could probably go without. Just not quite my style.
I’m going to meet a friend soon for a walk, lunch and then we are joining a little crafts class of making Valentine cards this afternoon. Should be fun and it’s always good to see her.
That sounds like a good day. Hope it goes well.
You smell wonderful! Hope you’re enjoying your afternoon.
Hey twin! That sounds like a fun day.
Happy FriYAY! I’m wearing Angel’s Share today because I need a bit of sweetness and a (big) dollop of booze. It hits the right spot on a cold morning.
Off for two days now which is a relief because I’m ready to quit (no surprises there!) for many unmentionable reasons. Just called my contact at the agency and he asked me to “give it another week.” I think he said that mostly because he is going on vacation next week!😂
The highlight of my night was a patient who pooped on my shoe, although this is not the reason I’d like to quit. Quite a big SPLAT on my toes and all I can say it thank god for impermeable shoes and bleach wipes.
Poor lady is 95, looked just like Gollum, scampered faster than jack rabbit on speed, and is so demented she doesn’t know who she is. And some people want to live to be 200?! Egads! Oh, and security had something to say about where I parked last night …
Wheee! 🤠
I hope Angels’ share makes up for the unauspicious day.
It’s a lovely immersive perfume! 🥰
You are a saint to endure all that you do. I would not last one hour.
My clock is tick, tick, ticking..! And definitely not a saint since I had to really work at keeping my mouth shut at some of the things I’m seeing. “New Management” has definitely made some drastic and authoritarian changes.
Oh no! Yeah, I hear my sister’s stories from the Psych ER and it’s hard to believe what you have to put up with in a hospital. (She had one patient come in years ago and write down as her complaint on intake that she was “PIST”. “PIST” is now a thing in my family. 🙂 But that’s one of the tamer stories.)
Haha! I feel like that would be a great name for a dog. “Pist, SIT!”
Oy! So sorry about your experience. What’s up with the parking? I thought you got a permit?
I did! I called to talk to the manager of security today who was “unavailable.” Different rules for trucks and campers vs small vehicles apparently.
Sincerely wishing you better days ahead! 🤗
I fell those better days right around the corner, thank you! 👍
ZOMG! How did you not scream profanities in the parking lot?
I almost typed something that would have been a horrible scatological pun but caught myself in time.
Ha! I’m always delighted by scatological puns, admittedly less so with the real thing.😅
Deva, I hope your days off are super restful!
Thank you! 😊
I think we can compare patient stories. Mine was mentally ill, never let me get a word in while he ranted about how bad the hospital was and how he planned to sue but refused to leave when he was already discharged. All this while wearing a parka and hat but had his gown open to the back for all to see.
I have stories like that too. Years ago, I had a lady that went into DTs from alcohol withdrawal and got out of the hospital while staff was in report. She walked up to the interstate with her gown open and holding a catheter bag and had cut her IV. She was flagging down cars telling them she needed to go to the police station. Luckily, someone brought her back to the hospital.
Ha! Yeah, sounds familiar! The issue that gets me so het up is generally not the patients so much as it is such incredibly poor management in hospitals. From staffing, to patient flow/in house transfers, to the very real intimidation practices used against staff, to lack of safety and security, to wasted funds on frivolous crap- that’s what really chaps my hide. I could write a book…🤐
I’m wearing Prada Infusion d’Iris from a sample I found in my sock drawer (score!).
It is supposed to dry down into incense but I’m currently luxuriating in juicy, tart mandarin and greenery. Nary an iris in sight but no complaints from me!
Ok, mystery solved…upon closer inspection the sample is actually Infusions Mandarine. Clearly I need better glasses 😂.
That one is lovely, my one mandarin bottle.
That series is really good.
Went commando for grocery shopping and now off to work in Kyoto. The place I went to didn’t have chicken wings and I will have to get that after work. The chicken wings are for Super Bowl Sunday.
Hope you managed to find some, Dawn! I imagine more chicken wings are sold today & tomorrow then the rest of the year combined.
Hello and tgif!
Sotd is Japanese zuko or rubbing incense. I am feeling zen and calm.
I might apply Tam Dao later for extra woodiness.
That sounds lovely!
Interesting!
I’m wearing Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion today, which has both incense and woods.
I don’t see that one mentioned, those ET are good, for my part I have White Diamonds.
You smell wonderful – I need to wear that again soon.
https://www.dunedinchinesegarden.com/
We have an authentic Chinese garden in town ( apparently there are only two others outside China: in Vancouver and Portland) and most of the New Year celebrations take place around it. It was built in Shanghai ( prefabricated) then shipped over and reconstructed here. It’s a beautiful place but quite noisy as it backs into the railway line.
The connection to the Chinese Community begins here with the gold rush of the 1860s, and then the establishment of businesses in town once the rush finished in the 1880s.
I’m wearing Black Anise which is a perfume built around Star Anise.
It’s lovely, a lot of water features.
Is this Black Anise from Abel? I got a sample of it and I liked it a lot though it skewed very traditionally masculine for me, so I will have to wear it few more times to decide if I can pull it off.
To me it’s like Bkack Opium with anise and sweet booze on top
Wow — I never realized our Chinese garden was rare!
Me either! Or that they were prefabricated!
Interesting about Chinese gardens. My niece had her wedding reception at the one in Portland.
Gosh, that must be a stellar location for a wedding reception! Almost makes me want to get married! 🙃
Wearing Indigo Smoke today for the incense note, and because I thought it would be auspicious to wear something I adore. 🥰 The incense here is rather wispy, whic is perfect for an incense-phobe like me.
I ordered some Aedes samples recently, and tried Encens Japonaise this morning, which was a meh for me. Copal Azur was an absolute scrubber! I was immediately transported back to church and feeling nauseated as the procession passed by with the censer sending out such fumes that it made me cough.
Copal Azur was a bit on the masculine side for me.
Good approach to the CP!
So sorry you hated Copal Azur, and so interesting it was so churchy to you. I don’t think of it that way but I didn’t go to a church that used incense, so what do I know!
Thanks, Robin. Obviously most people did not have a traumatizing experience with incense, lol! But I always had a sensitive little nose. 😄
I had expected Copal Azur to be different, since I had smelled that burning before and thought it was fine. Much different than frankincense! But no, same visceral reaction.
Well, and there’s almost certainly frankincense in there too.
I’m testing a second sample of Les Indemodables Oriental Velours. I tried it a while back and put it on my list of possible purchases, which I’m trying to narrow down, and I couldn’t remember Oriental Velours well enough to make a decision.
My conclusion is that I like it, but I don’t think I’d wear it enough to buy it ahead of many others.
I do love Oriental Velours and occasionally contemplate a full bottle. Do you have a favourite in the line?
In Ortigia Sicilia’s Mandorla, smelling a bit like an almond cookie.
Almond cookie sounds good.
You smell great!
Smoothie is a soup from the supermarket tonight, potato leek.
I spent the day in Fleur de Chine which smelled beautifully refined, I have a 50ml bottle and the big decanter bottle, so I should wear it more. Tonight it’s Encens Flamboyant for the CP, just like a church in Provence.
You smell fabulous.
Thank you Cazaubon!
I was looking for my bottle of Encens Flamboyant earlier today and couldn’t find it until after I had put a different perfume on. Almost perfume twins today!
Waving almost twin, EF is a gem of a fragrance, Victoria is a fan too, she wrote an article about it.
Her article was a big push for me to get the bottle I have now.
You smell wonderful.
Thank you very much, it had been a while since I had worn those two.
I went with a favorite, TF Shanghai Lily to keep me calm and composed for my UCLA job interview.
And added a spray of Perris Rose Taif cause I like it.
🍀
Break a leg!
Good luck!
Wishing you every kind of luck there is!
Best of luck!
Hope it went well!
I went with a favorite, TF Shanghai Lily to keep me calm and composed for my UCLA job interview.
And added a spray of Perris Rose Taif cause I like it.
Good luck with your interview. I hope it goes really well.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Good luck with the interview!🤞🤗
Hope that your interview went well today!
I hope it went well! My fingers are crossed for you.
Beaming good job vibes to you, Apsara.
SOTD is FM Heaven Can Wait (feels auspicious 🙂 ). I really like it, I only bought a 10 ml spray, but would like a full bottle. My favorite FM- bottle is the 30 ml black one, so I’ll wait a while and see if it becomes available.
Oh, perfect name for a NYE fragrance, right?
I completely forgot about the CP this morning and put on Eau de Protection (which might have some incense, I haven’t checked).
You smell beautiful, Robin. Œillet Bengale is the only Aedes I have a bottle of. It’s such a stunning scent and still so very wearable.
I have fallen behind on Aedes and have not tried the last couple, but I am happy with the ones I have 🙂
You don’t have to wear incense! Eau de Protection seems an auspicious way to start the year.
I’m sure it counts if there’s a dragon on the bottle!
I’m test driving a sample of Hiram Green’s new carnation scent, Philtre, which was hoping would be a fiery red dragon breath kind of perfume. It’s an incredibly beautiful and well made all natural perfume, just not fiery and predatory and carnal enough for me. Could be because it has a little bit of vanilla in it and on my vanilla hating skin this translates into powdery fluffiness that obscures and mutes other notes. For any carnation lovers this is a must try but it’s just not quite there for me. I might try to dig up a sample of Hyde, from the same house, later on for more dragon vibes. It has vanilla in it too but it’s being eaten by powerful leather and smoke notes so one dab should do the trick.
Have you tried DSH Oeillets Rouges. It is one of my favorites from her vast catalog!
I’ve thrown on about 4 different samples today, and nothing really vibed with the CP. You’ve inspired me to get out Hyde!
We need more carnation frags!
Nice photo!
SOTD = Chris Rusak Io
I wore it because I love it, the incense and the red to signify good luck for the upcoming Year of the Dragon. My paternal side is very much against incense and visitors know NOT to even think about burning incense.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3I-31txvRr/?igsh=anRxbmZ6a2tzZHgz
I wore 2 measly sprays this morning, got my haircut (long overdue) and when I got home, sprayed with abandon…ok…6 sprays. Love it! 😍
In my quest for low-buy, no buy, I added another rule that states if I buy things on a gift card received prior to January 1, 2024, it doesn’t count. I went to Target the other day and got a bottle of Fine’ry Midnight Cafe. It is still in its shrink wrap but I shall open it soon.
Tomorrow, we’re celebrating the New Year with a dinner at a Chinese restaurant, then dessert at my sister’s place.
Happy Lunar New Year everyone!
Happy new year! In my book gift cards don’t count. I have $500 in gift cards I plan to spend. 🙂
Happy Lunar New Year Hajusuuri!
Happy New Year – your evening sounds delightful. And I agree those gift cards don’t encroach into a No/Low Buy.
A happy one to you too and have a wonderful time tomorrow.
Happy New Year! Enjoy the day tomorrow!
Xinnian hao, hajusuuri!
I had a friend text me “Gong hei fat choy” earlier this week.
Happy Lunar New Year! 🐲
Happy new year!
Happy New Year!
I also think that gift cards don’t count.
Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year!
Congrats, Robin, on 19 years of providing this wonderful gathering place 👏. I’ve learned so much, been here posting for 10 years but probably reading for a few more before I got the courage to join!
I didn’t have to think twice about what to wear for today’s cp – Cartier’s Le Baiser du Dragon is perfect! Warm and woodsy and it highlights the decades-old connection between the Cartier house and China; its bottle is inspired by one created by Cartier in 1925 and adds a Chinese touch to Art Deco. ❤️
We already started to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a World Music event at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday, a Lunar New Year concert featuring several musicians performing Chinese folk songs using a variety of Chinese instruments including a zhong ruan (a kind of lute), a khaen (a large bamboo aerophone), and various Chinese drums including tom-toms. Although the music was traditional, the arrangements reflected the fact they were being played in Chicago and so added a blues-y note. 🎶. Absolutely fascinating!
And I learned about the significance of the dragon in Chinese culture, representing the ruler of the universe and nature and uniquely possessing the attributes of the other 11 creatures of the zodiac. I wore a red knit shirt I’ve had for a long time that has a beautiful bejeweled black dragon on its front and really felt in sync!
One more musical event this week I’m really looking forward to – the University of Chicago’s 64th Folk Festival is this weekend. We watched it online last year and will be attending in person tomorrow night. A great variety of music and performers are featured, and I highly encourage you if you have any interest in this music genre at all to watch on line – it’s free both nights! Info at this link http://www.uofcfolk.org/streaming.shtml.
It’s been a glorious Spring day here with blue sky, 🌞, and temps in the mid-50’s and I am grateful🙏. I hope your weekend is blessed in some way!
Thanks for the link. I look forward to listening.
I came across my bottle of Le Baiser du Dragon when I was searching for my incense perfumes earlier today. Decided I wanted something with more incense in it.
I was at the Old Town School of Folk music in 2013 to see my absolute favorite singer/songwriter and I really loved the venue. So chill, laid back, and intimate. Enjoy all your “doings” over the weekend! 🎼
Oh, I’m curious – who’s your absolute favorite singer/songwriter that you saw there?
It’s Mark Lanegan who went space trucking in 2022. Sometimes I’m startlingly crushed by the fact there’ll be no more music from him, but so happy I got to see him live. His voice is whiskey, cigarettes, and the rending of the human heart. ❤️
https://youtu.be/dHZovvTWr88?si=4I02RkIzP27XhE6P
Thanks for that, it was beautiful. I was not familiar with him.
You smell fab, and you must look it, too!
I have a soft spot for Chicago. 💙 I visited a few times as a young adult and always loved it! My husband and I went for a niece’s wedding a few years ago and added a few days for ourselves. The concierge at our hotel told us about a music festival going on around town, and we decided to go to an Indian classical night with several performers. It was at the old library building, which is stunningly beautiful. The concert lasted from 8:00 pm until 8:00 am the next morning! 😯 There were entire families who stayed the whole time. (We almost did.) It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
What a neat experience you had at the Indian classical music festival! Yes, the Chicago Cultural Center, as it’s now called, is stunningly beautiful! Back in the day, when it was the main Chicago library and I worked downtown, I spent many lunch hours there. It is still my favorite building in Chicago. They do continue to have numerous musical events there as well as private events such as weddings.
Thanks, Laila! It’s good to know that the building is still a civic space. It would be a shame to see it go private.
Laila, thanks, and thank you for the link.
Was going to wear Dzongkha but decided to save it for tomorrow. Right now I’m in Viole Nere but when that burns off I plan to add a spritz of Encens Mythique, which I don’t wear enough.
Viole Nere is new to me. I bet you smell great.
I’ve been curious about the Viole Nere. How do you find it?
I love it, violets & patchouli. 🙂
Mmm, must sniff. 💜
I’m twins with a lot of people here today in Kyoto. I need something to clear my head amongst the sturm and drang at my kid’s school. The school announced some changes to her mini school classes on Wednesday so that they could accommodate more kids in the mainstream school, and a bunch of moms are now freaking out that they’re trying to close the mini school altogether (this is not entirely baseless, as the School Board has been closing AP and honours classes and really anything that caters to special talents, but is overblown in this instance). I woke up to 50 messages in the WhatsApp group and finally had to mute it. I just don’t have time to keep up.
But this leads me to reflect yet again on how TERRIBLE so many supposed “managers” and “administrators” are at change management. They make decisions in secret and then announce them to all the stakeholders as faits accomplis, with no communication on why (and in this case, the communication to parents didn’t even say what the change was, just that there was a change), and then they wonder why the conspiracy theorists come out of every corner. The director of my spouse’s department has torn apart what was a good, collegial culture with this approach, and my kid’s school administration is the same. Sigh.
Anyway, I’m glad it’s the weekend.
Gosh, I know how you feel. Managers are just the worst at managing. Absolutely. Everything. Really sad that work/school culture has been so negatively impacted by horrible managers, and it seems to only be getting worse.
That sounds stressful. And if the stress was unnecessary, infuriating. I hope you have a peaceful weekend.
There’s a reason I am seeing the word “manglement” so much on the Internet lately.
Reverse-engineering vintage-ish Poison edt for the CP. I was wearing it because I just got it. It’s an opulent party of notes including incense. I will think of that as a New Year’s reminder to restrain perfume spending and enjoy what I have. That in turn will help bring fortune in the new year, right? 🙂
You’ve had some great vintage finds lately!
I’m on fire in La Curie Incendo!
Gearing up for a 3 hour online class. I’m really interested in the subject so it should be good. And I have my camera off so I can sit here and spray perfume with abandon (after the “fire” dies down🔥)
I’m a no go on the EL Legacy Collection but I’m curious what others are thinking and trying to remember who likes which of the originals (e.g. I think of Oakland Fresca and Knowing)
You smell wonderful! Love that one!
Thank you!
Hope your class went well!
Thank you! I really enjoyed it. And what’s not to like about learning and getting continuing education credits while sitting on my couch smelling perfume?😎
So farnI’ve tried Estee and White Linen un the Legacy collection. both are lovely. I just put on Esteebso it’s early, but the dry down from White Linen was gorgeous.
I’m correcting my neglect of my Memo Tiger’s Nest travel spray by wearing it today for the CP. I sure love this one!
You smell great!
I am so late today! I had a medical appointment in the early afternoon and then I had to go grocery shopping. I recently had a birthday so I celebrated by buying a bottle of Philtre and 3 pounds of sea scallops (not from the same vendor :-)) so I will be eating well and smelling good very shortly. Today I am CP compliant in Les Liturgie des Heures.
La Liturgie, not les.
Ooooooh, sea scallops! YUM!
Oh, a very happy (belated) birthday to you! 🎂 Enjoy those scallops! I’m interested in giving Philtre a sniff, but none of his perfumes have not worked for me so far.
I imagined you in a very classy fishmonger’s.
Wishing you a belated happy birthday and a year filled with many days of eating well and smelling good!🥳
Happy belated birthday! 🎂
Enjoy those scallops!
Happy belated Birthday!
Many happy returns of the day foxbins, enjoy the scallops.
Belated Happy Birthday, and I hope you enjoyed your treats! 🎉
Happy Birthday & enjoy the scallops. I think I could eat 3 lbs all by myself! My fave seafood!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your wonderful purchases!
Happy birthday, Philtre is a worthy gift to yourself!
What a great birthday present, enjoy!!
Currently looking at blue skies and happy little white clouds in the sky here. Predicted snow totals have been radically adjusted downward from yesterday: 1 – 3 inches is the current forecast. There was a dusting of snow this morning, but it had disappeared after a couple of hours. I’d like to send this kind of snow over to lillyjo and CM8!
Yesterday was a bittersweet day for me. My Dad passed away 35 years ago. My brother and I talked about it when he came to help me recycle an old CRT TV. Felt good to have someone who understood the emotions of the day around for a bit.
SOTD = doubling down today! Boyfriend EdP (the original from 2010) and Boyfriend Body Creme on my shins. It’s perfect for the CP with both myrrh and woody notes. My 50mL bottle has aged gracefully. Took my a while to find it, since my perfumes are not really organized yet…
Sending you a hug after your bittersweet day. You smell incredible – I love Boyfriend.
Thank you sistine.
It’s been ages since I’ve worn the EdP. It smells much deeper and richer than I remember.
Sending 🤗🤗🤗 on this bittersweet day for you. I lost my dad when I was 14 and my mom when I was 25, I know those emotions well. Nice that you had your brother to share and hopefully offer comfort to each other.
Thanks Laila.
Geez, you were young when both your parents passed. Hugs to you.
Sending comforting hugs, Jalapeno! 🌻
Our temperatures for the weekend were also adjusted from yesterday. The so much expected 60s went someplace else. We will be in the upper 40s – lower 50s. It looks like the rest of February will be super cold.
Thank you PL67.
The meteorologists were fudging their predictions here from the get-go. Parts of Colorado are still in drought, so even though snow can be inconvenient, it is also needed. But it won’t be a big dump.
I’m glad you didn’t get the predicted snow.
Sending hugs. I don’t think we ever get over the loss of a parent. My grandmother lived to be a hundred years old. She talked about missing her parents until she passed.
Snow is still coming. Its arrival has been pushed off well into the evening hours. I am provisioned up for tomorrow with chili fixings and toppings.
So glad you weren’t alone on this day.
Thanks Aurora. Me too.
That original Boyfriend is amazing, deep & rich, & you smells great on this difficult day. Glad it’s bringing you solace.
Thank you Denise H.
Glad I have the original formulation. I was quite skeptical about the relaunch and never saw it.
Hugs to you. My mother died three years ago yesterday and my dad 28 years ago on February 4th so I am feeling as you are this month.
Thanks Kris.
For the longest time I could not remember which day my Dad had passed on. I could narrow it down to 2 days, though. I think it was a protective response.
Sending hugs. I’m happy to see you wearing perfume again. 🙂
Thank you cazaubon!
I wore Boyfriend EdP again today to watch the snow come down.
You’re so lucky to be close with your brother. I’m glad you are now geographically close, too! Keep scenting those shins!
Thanks Deva.
We are fortunate that we love and respect each other, even though we are very different people. Long ago we agreed to disagree on certain things…
My shins are well supplied with lotions and potions. 😉
Sending hugs, Jalapeno.
Thank you She-ra.
I’m in Dzongkha today. It’s really helping me feel grounded – I’ve been job hunting for a while and have been feeling unsettled and insecure, but today I’m feeling a bit more centered. I thank the perfume.
The best of luck with the job hunting!
Fingers crossed you find the perfect job, glad perfume helped.
Good luck, Sistine! You smell wonderful!
Sending good vibes for your job search!
Dzongkha is amazing and I wish L’Artisan still made it. Hope it is your superpower for the job hunt.
Best of luck to you! I’m saving Dzongkha for tomorrow, you smell great.
I hope things settle down for you soon. Good luck with the job hunting!
Sending good luck, continued centeredness and hugs.
Work has been very stressful lately. A lot of changes from corporate. I’ve heard the same from of my retail ” friends ” in the Mall.
I am non cp compliant today. I went with what called my name.
Lolita lempeka. I way oversprayed and think I might have made a few people sneeze.
Gotta go with a perfume that reduces your stress!
In Memo Winter Palace — there is a dragon on the bottle, so I say it counts.
Feeling everybody with major work stresses — things are really bad here but I appreciate that I have more job security than many people do.
Wishing you all a good weekend, and a Happy New Year!
Of course it counts!
Also want to give a belated thanks to Robin for managing the NST forum, a place of refuge for us.
I wore Avignon today. The first incense perfume I ever bought and one I didn’t like at first. Somehow incense is always “clean” in my mind. Kyoto is literally incense and soap to me and I almost wore that one.
I caved and got the EL Legacy tester set. I might test this weekend. I have this weird hang up about not testing on busy days, since a bad scent could ruin my mojo.
I am wrapping up almost 3 straight weeks of work so really need to chill this weekend.
I don’t test if I am feeling moody. I don’t want to ruin a perfectly good perfume.
Or make a bad one worse?
Thanks Zephyr2, and hope the weekend is chill as can be!
Beaming good job vibes to you, Apsara.
Stealing a few sprays of the DH’s CdG Jaisalmer for CP compliance. It was his birthday present last year so sorry not sorry as it’s so gorgeous and even when I bought it I figured we’d both enjoy it.
Of course I forgot about the incense. Wearing HdP Ambre 114 today. Because I just love Amber. Happy weekend, everyone!