It's Monday, and in North America, we're expecting a total eclipse today. It's also National Zoo Lovers Day, International Romani Day, plus Jacques Brel’s birthday. What fragrance are you wearing?
I thought I was all out of Eau d’Italie Baume du Doge but I just found another sample (while looking for something else, of course). The opening is showing its age but after a few minutes, delicious.
Reminder: 4/12 is National Licorice Day. You know what to do!
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 and then things got a little crazy [flipped & doubled] by nosha at flickr; some rights reserved.
Love Baume du Doge & you smell fabulous, Robin! No SOTD yet but I finally got up the courage to ask our good-smelling neighbor who walks his bulldog past our house each day (my dog is friendly with his dog) what he was wearing. He seemed a bit embarrassed but mumbled Tobacco Vanille. My skin really amplifies the sweetness of that Tom Ford but smells great on him. He says his girlfriend gave it to him. Nice gift, I told him.
Why thank you!
And that is funny that he was embarrassed 🙂
Dog buddies!🥰
Does your neighbor know your interests? Cause Tom Ford wouldn’t make you blink.
Hi Annie! No he doesn’t know about my ah ‘interests.’ They are pretty new neighbors and are not super chatty so I don’t want to push it lest they think I’m some weird perfume stalker. Hehe. Our dog definitely has her buddies, as well as those she doesn’t warm up to. Just like people I guess.
Yay you for getting up the courage to ask your good smelling neighbor about his SOTD!
Hello.
Sotd is TF Cafe Rose.
Sad to be going home tomorrow. Can’t believe it’s been 10 days already! Had a great time and I would recommend KL to anyone looking for a travel destination.
I have just *the* licorice scent for Friday. I thought I lost the bottle but found it hiding at the back of my closet the other day. I think I will buy a pack of licorice to chew on for double CP points! (But not the salty kind. Ew. Sorry.)
I’m with you. I had a German co-worker who loved double-salted licorice. I tried it once. ONCE. The horrified memory haunts me still. I love regular normal licorice, though.
I bought some salty licorice at IKEA of all places because my friend has never heard of it. She said it was one of the most confusing and off-putting candies she’s ever tried. Lucky me though, as I got the rest of the bag!
It tastes like ammonia to me😝
Yeah that doesn’t sound pleasant! More for me. 🥳
Pyramus it might be one of those cultural taste things that you had to grow up with. Though my DH didn’t grow up with salty licorice and he likes it alot. Natto, the gloopy fermented black beans popular in Japan, seems like another of those things whose smell and texture might throw off some Westerners. The DH, who lived in Japan for awhile, never developed a taste for natto and I tried it when we were there last summer but my brain kept telling me I was eating something ‘spoiled’ and to cut it out.
Oh, these things are most definitely cultural. North Americans think commercial bread just tastes like bread, but absolutely everyone who comes over here from Europe think it tastes sweet like dessert, which it probably does but I’m used to it.
I had the chance to eat natto when I was in Tokyo and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’m not a picky eater but there are things I am just never going to try, things lots of people eat all the time, like hundred-year-old eggs and brains and natto.
And bugs…
Definitely true, though I do like natto! I didn’t love the texture but the taste is nice.
You smell beautiful! That’s one of my time-tested faves.
Speaking of licorice, I was tempted by a bag of licorice jelly beans on sale at the drugstore the other day. Hmm, maybe it’s still there!
It’s always sad to come back from a vacation. Good luck on re-entry!
Addition: PSA!
Licorice is not good for you if you have high blood pressure and/or heart problems. I can’t remember why that is, but I’ve read the same thing on more than one reputable medical site.
Liquorice can cause problems though not to the same extent in everyone. It can cause hypertension and influence your electrolyte balance. This is mostly observed when it is consumed chronically and in large doses. The cause is a substance called glycyrrhizin that gives liquorice its sweet taste. The same effect is observed in people drinking herbal tea with liquorice root.
Thanks, austenfan!
It would work out better if salted licorice were positioned as a savoury snack, as it simply does not fulfill the qualifications to be candy.
It tends to contain a lot of sugar as well though.
I’m one of those weird people from North West Europe who love salty licorice. I cannot even imagine not liking it.
I’m an American who hadn’t even heard of it until a few years ago. But I am obsessed! I can’t keep it in my house or I’ll eat it all. Very sugary, but so well-balanced with the bitter tastes.
You smell pretty.
I tried salted licorice a few years ago and just couldn’t. NOPE! Edible dissonance for my tastebuds.
Being somewhat literal in Moon Bloom. Not in the path of totality, but there’s not a cloud in the sky. Just heard that the town of Bloomington IN is having William Shatner narrate the eclipse…can already hear it in my head!🌞
What a great idea! I hope he does it super dramatically.
How could he not? 😄
What a riot! Wish I had made plans.
Love the tulips!
I’m trailing Shalimar MI this morning. I did 4 sprays before work and it’s lasted very well. When I first got the bottle I was a little disappointed in the longevity but upping the spray count has worked well.
Hope everyone who has plans to watch the eclipse has great weather and the proper glasses! 😎
I will join you in Shalimar MI. Four is about the number of sprays I have been using. Can’t seem to get enough of this scent. So glad I bought two BUBs. I believe I heard this year they were doing a rose version. Would love to try that when it comes out.
This is the first time I’ve gone with four sprays and it’s perfect. I’m so happy you have two BUBs. You should NEVER be without it because you are the most devoted lover of la jus! 🇫🇷 I think Thierry Wasser needs to know about your unremitting passion for this perfume. You could be the next “Face of Guerlain” Maybe I’ll write him a letter… 😉
🤣
Rose? My nose is twitching in anticipation.
I could be wrong on that, but it was mentioned here a few months after Shalimar MI came out.
No problem! I won’t be pining, just interested.
Didyouhearmeeightsprays
🙌🏆🥇
I really enjoyed SMI. I find it very long lasting on fabric, but not as much on skin.
I reckon I can do a six-day licorice week, so here goes. First up is the original Lolita Lempicka, licorice and candied violets, so delightful. Sweet, but less than you’d expect. Some days I just wanna bathe in it. It’s the smell of childlike happiness.
I hope everyone who wants to see a decent eclipse gets to. I’m juuuuust outside the path of totality — they’re promising 99.89%, which is good enough for me, I bet I’d never even know the difference — and it’s a bright clear day, which I was not expecting: it was miserable and overcast for the four days prior. So that’s a bit of luck! Going out now to get my eclipse glasses, and then there’s nothing to do but await the show.
Oh lovely, hope you enjoy the show.
(I honestly think I must be the only person in the world who could care less about the eclipse, but I hope everyone who wants it gets it)
It was a real experience! At maybe 75% coverage the light turns strange, as if the air were becoming shiny and metallic, and the colour kind of drains out of things: it all becomes cold and slaty as opposed to the usual warmth of sunlight. Even at 99.89% totality there was lots of light left — you’d never mistake it for night, nor even twilight. So weird and so memorable. It really was worth the trouble we went to.
Yes, based on my 2017 experience I can see why ancient cultures were so impacted by celestial events of this nature. I want to to say it’s a holy experience, but don’t want to ruin it by associating it with any religion. Maybe transcendental is a better adjective. 🙂
Robin, I know there are at least 3 of us. 🙂
Glad I’m not completely alone.
I’m pretty ambivalent myself.
Join the club!
This week I’m exploring some new decants and minis received in the last two weeks. First up is Gucci Winter’s Spring.
How is it?
It is a little too powdery/yellow floral for me.
Gotcha.
Hello all!
I’m doing a week of extraits since I brought home a little box of m from my storage unit. Today is Parfum de Merveilles, with its lovely dark cognac barrel accord. I have a rather plain tester bottle, unfortunately.
Off to the doctor this morning, then some studying. My semester is so close to over and I barely feel ready.
Have a great day everyone!
That haul!! Good gawd almighty! 🤩
😇
Yesterday I wore Encens Mythique , today an oud oil that has no name.
Enjoy the eclipse
Oh dear, ear worm…must not get ear worm…
Rainy day here, so will watch the eclipse online. In Ambre des Merveilles to match the weather.
You smelled great today!
I’ll have to scour my hoard (horde?) of samples for something with a licorice note for Friday. Meanwhile, I’m testing IA Cape Heartache this morning and not finding it very forest-y, although it is quite pleasant. Will be commando later on for a Pilates session and, hopefully, some afternoon gardening. We’re enjoying a multi-day break from home repairs while waiting for various flooring installers to become available.
CH is a nice one.
We did an afternoon yard & patio clean up here too…still more to do later in the week.
Wearing SL Iris Silver Mist.
Here we are in Albany, ready for the solar eclipse. The weather is great. We will be in the 60s and so far few clouds in the sky. Crossing fingers it stays like that.
Coffee and a blueberry muffin. We brought a picnic basket, so we have lunch and goodies for the rest of the day. Festive mood all the way around. The vibes are really nice.
Happy Monday! 🌞🌘
Hope you have a lovely time!
Enjoy!
Sounds like a great day! Enjoy!
Enjoy.
Hope that the clouds held off for you!
It’s finally sunny here! Still quite cold, but sunny. I’m using my sample of Synthetic Jungle. I normally don’t wear green scents-I find they don’t suit me. I think this one is beautiful. Very very green , and then a beautiful lily of the valley. Reminds me of expensive soap. I like it.
Hope everyone enjoys the eclipse today-we should be in 97 percent darkness for it 🙂
Enjoy the sunshine!
I really like Synthetic Jungle. If it weren’t for the Malle pricetag is probably have bought a bottle right away.
I’m wearing Narciso White Cube this morning. Sun coverage during the eclipse will be 26%, so if it’s cloudy I won’t be upset, especially since I saw all of the total eclipse of 2017. That one was amazing.
Ditto. In 2017 I was in Greenville, SC. Beautiful day had some lovely conversation with an amateur photographer and self-proclaimed “Sky Junkie” while it was happening. Best view ever as he let me look through his telescope..!
Ready to head out and see what we can of the eclipse in our local park, with our cereal-box pinhole viewers, later this afternoon!
Wearing Atelier des Ors Lune Feline for the occasion.
You smell amazing! Although when it comes to Lune Feline, I think I love the name even more than I love the scent itself.
How clever of all you guys to pick moon related perfumes.
Have to work until closing time today. Monday is a normal day off for me but my coworker requested off and I am working. I might be able to sneak out for a couple minutes and watch it. Wearing Dia today. It might be a little heavy for work but I don’t care.
Hope the day won’t feel too long, you smell elegant in Dia.
You smell great! Hope you got to see a bit of the eclipse!
I only have two licorice scents and two anise scents. I am wearing one of the latter, Mandragore Pourpre, for partial credit.
I have finally pulled the trigger and submitted my website in the coding course. Another certificate of completion, this time in responsive web development.
The dilemma is – how do I use this website? Is it good enough for clients or should I just use it as a concept for something more professional?
I am leaving the link for your honest opinions – https://ukrloctrans.netlify.app/
If you have time, can you take a look? I would like someone’s else perspective.
Hi Glannys. Congratulations on your project. I found the content very easy to navigate and very clear to read, content wise ( though I was a bit confused about what the Volvo “ band” was in that sample where you insert option. I think the problem is with me though). I really enjoyed seeing that you included your other interests etc. to build a rounded profile.
My one thought re. Using this professionally was with “ design/ graphics”. To me the site works really well in information/ navigation but it might need a bit more visually to grab my attention and make it seem really polished. Typography/ colour/ graphics/ images…those elements could raise it even further, and make it more “attractive” ( if that is important). But really clear, informative and concise ( and no typos!)…was so easy to navigate.
Good luck! And congratulations!
Wow, you even checked the samples! Thank you! The “band”, I think, was a real music band on the road – they explored different ideas to create something spectacular as a marketing campaign.
Yes, I agree. The visual part is lacking. The course was more about structure and layout, so I was not really taught the whole web design thing. Some basics, like where to get images, fonts, icons, leaving enough white space, but it is actually a web development, not a web design course. Plus I am really self-conscious about my looks, so I hate photos of myself.
One option I am considering is a service that makes websites for freelancers for free. They use site builders instead of coding from scratch, and the results look very cool. They get a commission when the freelancer signs up for a certain hoster. Maybe I should send them the link and apply for this service.
Yes, it might be a good solution to outsource for more visuals and graphics since you have that free option.
But it’s already very useable as is and you look very friendly too.
Thanks.
I think it works well in the situations when a client and I already made the first contact and they, for example, ask to see the sample translations or ask about my specializations. I just have doubts whether I should actually put the link on LinkedIn, where it could significantly impact first impressions of me.
I like it! It’s clear and concise, and like kanuka mentioned, very easy to maneuver around. Unlike kanuka, I like the absence of flash and fancy fonts, colors, or graphs/photos, except maybe in the header/upper banner area. I don’t know anything about creating something like this so my opinions are probably moot, though. I also like that you did use some graphics in a “quiet” way, like in the list of your interests, etc. Go you! I think it’s wonderful! 🙌
Thank you! I especially wanted a user’s perspective. Yeah, I loved using icons – they really brighten up everything and make the website look a bit more modern.
Welcome to the world! I love the simplicity of the design and the content was very clear. I was expecting to see a little blurb on each of the icon boxes (you know I clicked on the perfume icon first) and was hoping to see a little blurb on it, but you do you! Overall, it is a wonderful entry to the translation world!
Thanks! I did think about adding some descriptions to “Interests” and “Other fields of work”, but writing all that content kind of tired me, to be honest. Besides, I wanted to avoid information overload. Maybe I will add very short (1-2 sentences) descriptions later.
It’s a very clean and navigable design. I think it would work well in a portfolio to present what your work is like.
Funny that you say it – it was meant to be a portfolio website (according to the course requirements). I kind of expanded it.
Wow, excellent! To me it is very close to being something you could use for clients…I do agree with others though that it needs something just slightly better on the front page banner.
I would move your picture to the About section and have some sort of graphic — but I don’t know what! — that was both professional and visually appealing. I do like how clean it is though, I would not “gimmick” it up.
Thank you! Yes, I had the same idea about the images. But I could not find the right image for the “hero” section (or banner, as you guys call it). I will think about it more. The front page kind of looks like a business card at the moment. The modern approach seems to be placing a large hero image as the background in the top section. Hm.
I’ve got nothin’ for this CP unless I expand it to anise, and then it’s only a bottle or two. So I’m going with Jil Sander No. 4, since anise is there in the background (or so says Fragrantica). It works for a rainy day where I’ve had to think in German a bit.
Enjoy the eclipse, everyone who gets to see it! We’re very far out of the path of totality here, and it’s supposed to pour rain all day, so no eclipse watching for me. But the one in 2017 was pretty cool.
Expand away, or skip it!
We’re “got nothin’” twins this week. Last time I had licorice it was Good & Plenty in 1979 and I broke a tooth. I nixed any and all licorice after that, which might be excessive, but there you go. 🤷🏻♀️
Un Bois Vanille includes a licorice note! It came up when I was making my list and I know you do enjoy that one. 😉
Revisiting a sample of Sarah Baker Gold Spot. Not an oud fan but it burns off to a nice vanilla.
Yay for the eclipse! 🌑 Watching the live NASA feed and living vicariously through my best friend who is is Mazatlán.
That NASA feed was awesome, wasn’t it? I was watching it on PBS.
Yes, NASA coverage was excellent. I had it on for 3 hours ehaehhe I love listening to smart people talk.☺️
Beachwalk…one of the scents I brought to South Carolina. We will experience the eclipse from the beach area . We didn’t get glasses or anything, so it will be experience rather than watch. It’s bright sunshine, 67 degrees. We are about to head out for a walk.
According to my watch, I slept over 10.5 hours last night. We got no sleep the night before because we had to get up and leave for the airport just before 4 am.
Laughing at the salted licorice comments. We lived in The Netherlands when I was 11. I absolutely loved dubbel zout licorice. I’d buy these single diamond-shaped pieces that were about 3” x 2”. My tongue would turn black. Only one in the family who liked it. I tried it again as an adult and couldn’t handle it.
You can always bring a colander for a low-tech viewing version!
That sounds great. We walked on the boardwalk, and I had a piece of paper with a hole poked in it. Old school. We took photos of that, but then a very nice guy gave us his glasses. They had an extra. Very cool. We only got to 71% but it was fun.
I saw someone use a Cheezits, since they have a hole in the middle. I laughed pretty hard seeing that.
Too funny!!
Had a great (and sweaty) workout this morning, then hurried home to put on NASA’s reporting on the eclipse (cloudy and rainy here in Seattle but we’d only get a partial view even if skies were clear).
After my shower, my fragrance for the cp will be an old favorite: dshperfumes Ma Folie de Noel, a beautiful anise fragrance with some sweetness and soft incense.
ooh that dsh fragrance sounds really nice, springpansy
Thanks, it is!
Incense and anise? That’s an unusual combination.
Very soft on the incense.
Wearing Boucheron this chilly morning. I have my final art class today ( acrylics) and will miss it when it’s over. It has been so peaceful and absorbing, definitely something where the process is as rewarding as the finished work.
That sounds lovely…can you take another class?
SOTD = Jo Malone Honey & Crocus Cologne
Nice! I was cleaning out a shelf and found the bottle!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5gl7ReRNNW/?igsh=MWZmNWxvMnY0OWc5dA==
I have my eclipse glasses ready, have several windows unshaded (no different from the usual) and will be going out around 3:15 or so. One neighbor already has 2 beach chairs on the sidewalk! We are just slightly below 90% totality at the peak. It could be my imagination but the hairs on my skin feel electric.
Yesterday, I attended a christening for my friend’s granddaughter. I was super-surprised that there were 6 babies in total that were baptized at the same time. Of course I did not remember my own baptism as a baby although I could imagine that I was the only one because, you know, I am special 🤣.
Multiple babies being baptized at once? That’s a new one to me. But I haven’t attended very many baptisms/christenings, tbh.
I am not sure that I have ever seen more than one baby done at a time.
I’m having a wonderful time in Alsace (or whatever it’s called in English 😉). I saw loads of wild daffodils today. I have been in this area loads of times, but this is my first time seeing my favourite flower in abundance in the wild.
Such a beautiful time of year, and as this region has had loads of rain as well, everything just looks so fresh and healthy, it’s just wonderful. I’m wearing samples. Yesterday I reacquainted myself with Indochine, which was a very nice surprise and today I wore a ByKilian. I think Intoxicated or something equally trite. I wasn’t smitten.
I love that whole Alsace and Vosges region, and the anticipation of crossing the Rhine on the car ferry ( as I was travelling from Germany) . The spring woodland flowers are amazing, anemones etc. Have a happy time!
The daffodil is my favorite flower as well (despite my screen name) and there are so many varieties. Sounds like a great trip at this time of year.
I’ve always seen that area referred to as “Alsace” in US textbooks when I was in school.
A huge mass of wild daffodils sounds incredible. 🌼
We’re watching the live eclipse coverage as we eat our breakfast, very cool. I saw one when I was a child, but it didn’t get as dark. It was a full eclipse, but I assume the moon wasn’t quite so close to us, and a bit more sun peeked around the edges.
I’m wearing Scherrer today, it’s a fabulous green floral.
I don’t remember ever watching an eclipse directly…
The skies dimmed a wee bit here in LA, but not a lot of eclipse drama. My sister in Montpelier, Vermont, however, says the town is filled with totality seeking visitors.
Nothing too daring today – I’m in Guerlain’s L’Homme Ideal EdP. I hardly ever wear it, but it’s just right at the moment, for some reason.
Victoria at Bois de Jasmin describes it as a masculine twist on La Petite Robe Noire; I need to revisit the little black dress to see if I get the connection.
L’Homme Ideal is fun to wear, if you like slightly sweet, almond/Amaretto scents – there’s nothing spiky or challenging going on, (and really nothing overtly “masculine” about it,) but there’s a heady quality to it that I’m finding pretty compelling.
I guess they both had the almond + tonka thing going on? I know I tried L’Homme Ideal but I barely remember it.
Hi all!
I spent a good chunk of time catching the eclipse. It must have dropped 20 degrees when I started to the middle of the eclipse. Flies surrounded me, nowhere else, finally my dog. He was doing things he had never done. A new fence is needed.😬
A big hug to anyone who needs it.
Sounds like your eclipse experience was far more eventful than mine. Teflon kitty slept thru it.
It actually was interesting! Though, I defer to Teflon kitty.
Pyramus it might be one of those cultural taste things that you had to grow up with. Though my DH didn’t grow up with salty licorice and he likes it alot. Natto, the gloopy fermented black beans popular in Japan, seems like another of those things whose smell and texture might throw off some Westerners. The DH, who lived in Japan for awhile, never developed a taste for natto and I tried it when we were there last summer but my brain kept telling me I was eating something ‘spoiled’ and to cut it out.
The first time I saw natto on the original Japanese version of “Iron Chef”, I was horrified. It didn’t even look edible to me.
Pear and yogurt smoothie
Mauboussin Histoire d’eau, plummy and leathery and tonight Clinique Aromatics Cherry, I never understood the craze for cherry but this one is from earlier, and more interesting.
Cherry notes do bad, bad things with my personal chemistry. No can do.
Interesting, with me it’s just that I don’t care for chemical cherry, at least this one does smell more natural, not a favorite though.
I end up with “cherry cough syrup from hell”. Or, that’s been my experience so far. Not sure I want to continue that line of experiments… 🤢
Near perfect eclipse viewing weather here in Colorado. Unfortunately, I did not have a pair of eclipse glasses. So I did the next best thing, and took my colander out of the kitchen and onto the deck. I had a mass of tiny little crescent suns once I figured out the correct viewing angle. The sun dimmed a little bit, and the temperature dropped a couple of degrees at the peak. But nothing like totality.
SOTD = vintage Cabochard, thanks to AnnE.
Oh, that was clever!
Some of the physics students at the University of Denver had a similar setup that the local news showed. They used a custom grid to demonstrate the diffraction effect.
I was not there for the eclipse viewing party. Parking in the city of Denver is notoriously horrid.
So glad you thought of something to still watch the eclipse. Does Teflon go to the deck sometimes?
Tef will hang out by the sliding glass doors sometimes for the sunbeams, but she is not allowed outside on the deck. Fortunately, she hasn’t shown any inclination to go there.
McGuyvering.😎
I’m honored to have it called that!
I was really craving big florals today, rather unusual for me. So I wore Grand Amour, from an ancient bottle. It still smells amazing.
It’s lovely how nicely some of the old big florals age!
You smell lovely. My bottle is vintage too and yes, it smells amazing.
I’ve been wearing Rodin Bis today for the lovely and quirky anise note. I think I’ll be able to be CP compliant all week since I love licorice and anise.
Perfect!
Hi Allo!
Hi, AnniePerfumes!