It's Monday and Earth Day (the 2024 theme: Planet vs. Plastics). What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm taking a park greenery point in Annick Goutal Mandragore. (I'm also cheating since I did not announce the week's community project until today.)
Reminder: 4/26 is Frederick Law Olmsted's birthday. Wear a fragrance that connects to a public park you love, or wear something green (Olmstead liked greenery over showy flowers), or that evokes a Frederic Law Olmsted quote, or ?? More reading: When Parks Were Radical: More than 150 years ago, Frederick Law Olmsted changed how Americans think about public space at The Atlantic, 8 Famous Parks Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Plus a Tiny One You May Not Know About at How Stuff Works, or find lots of information at Olmsted Network. The Frederic Law Olmsted home in Brookline, Massachusetts is administered by the National Park Service.
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 Prospect Park [cropped] by Phil Roeder at flickr; some rights reserved. [You can read more about Prospect Park in Brooklyn here. The Lullwater bridge was installed in the early 20th century and replaced a stone and wood bridge installed by Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux on the same spot.]
I am the opposite of green today in Rosa de la Patagonia by Fueguia from a sample
Is it pretty?
How is your SOTD?
I like it, so far so good
On a whim I’m doing a week of Mugler so I can cap it off with the greenest thing I own. Today I’m in A*Men Pure Coffee, which is essentially the original scent plus a big overdose of caffeine, so bracing. Definitely my favourite flanker from the A*Men line.
Coffee twin!
I guess I’m also taking points, since I’m wearing Un Jardin Sur Le Toit. Maybe I’ll wear the Jardin fragrances this week.
That’s a good idea. I think I’ll join you for a couple days.
I’m in Abel Nurture again. Getting close to thunking. I’ve enjoyed this fragrance, and paid about the equivalent of a latte for the bottle. Maybe partial points because it is an all natural fragrance.
Stopped at my favorite coffee place on my way to work and when I do I have to parallel park on the left side of the street. Man, I just suck at that lol. My brain is so conditioned to parallel parking on the right side of the street. I end up being about two feet out from the curb. If I were taking a driving test I would definitely be a fail.🤣
I can’t parallel park without pulling in head first. Lol.
Why is the street like that? Is it in England? Lol.
lol.😂 it’s the capitol square. All four blocks are one way only and rotate counter clockwise around the Capitol.
That sounds confusing and awful!
Haha, it is! Before I lived here I would find myself trapped driving around and around the square and then turn off to inevitably find myself facing west when I wanted to go east or north when I wanted to go south. To make matters more complicated most of the surrounding streets are one-way. It’s like the Bermuda Triangle of driving! lol We’ve lived here for so long now I don’t get confused anymore but I’m sure it’s a nightmare for out of towners.
I will walk blocks rather than parallel park, I’m terrible at it.
I think you probably have lots of company in that regard. I’m not bad, but having a small car with a backup camera helps.😉
I stink at parallel parking as well. That was the worst part of Driver’s Ed.
Hello.
Sotd is Montale Ristretto Intense Café. I have got to admit, I am actually anosmic to I think 90-95% of the scent. I bought it blind and only worn it 3 times. Tried it again today with the hopes of smelling what all the reviews refer to as “delicious, authentic, strong coffee”, but NOTHING. 🙁
HK is going hard on being green. The government stopped restaurants from giving out plastic utensils with takeaways. I bought a cup of gelato and they gave me a thing paper spoon that felt like egg carton material. 1/4 way into my cup the spoon bent 90 degrees like a sad, wilted flower. I was at that point too far away to go back for a new one. I would rather they taxed customers and give us better made things because it’s frustrating since the green things are impractical at best… I think I will start carrying a cutlery set everyday from now on. I mean, I already carry a straw. (I HATE paper straws. They go mushy in 5 minutes) Sorry, rant over.
I wash and reuse my plastic straws at home, and I know a woman who used to carry a metal straw around with her. I thought it was odd at first but now it makes sense.
I carry my straw with me.
And a fork as I am very bad with chopsticks.
I see lots of metal straws these days! Keep meaning to buy some.
I use glass straws. Just gotta remember not to chew on them though!
In Canada, disposable plastic utensils seem to have been largely replaced by bamboo, which is biodegradable, at least.
Fully agree on paper straws. Ick. I use angled metal straws at home (and clean them regularly and thoroughly with that wee bottle-brush thingy).
Bamboo is so much better than those egg carton things.
I use the brush thingy too! I have a bigger version for cleaning my water bottle/ tumbler.
I carry my own set of metal cutlery in my purse, you can find sets at camping stores.
Thanks! Will go have a look.
I wish I could find the plastic boba straws I packed back in December. They haven’t turned up yet.
Things always seem to appear again when you don’t need them anymore.
Or have purchased new ones! 😒🤬
Feeling groggy today, so I’m in Malibu Lemon Blossom for its bracing pick-me-upness. I think I’ll need to shore myself up with some extra tea this morning. Fortunately it’s gorgeous out — I think if it was grey and chilly I’d just go back to bed.
Just finished my travel size of this, and yes, very cheery
Groggy twins today.
It was over 81F yesterday so it’s time to find higher ground. A Cool front is supposed to come through mid-week but I’m not waiting around. It’s snowing up at my future campsite, which makes me very happy! I hope it stays cold for a very long time!
Didn’t know it was earth day until I read it up top. So, if it’s “green week,” I’ll start off with several sprays of PdE Corsica Furiosa this morning because I love that initial green blast and the soft lovely bay dry down is just as good in its own way. I got a love letter from the IRS that says I owe money from 2022. Cue the tragic music..😭
Hay*
Sorry about the tax bill, but you smell great.
After 40 minutes on hold, they finally accepted my donation. 🥲
https://youtu.be/eAi64gH07jM?feature=shared
For the first part of your post.
I have to still think on the tragic music.
I love the RHCPs! The “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic” CD was my favorite to bike to. It was in constant rotation, along with Metallica “Black” because that driving beat made my legs just keep going and going and going… 🚴🏻♀️
I got one of those letters too, my sympathies!
Ugh, sorry! 💸💸💸💸
Oy with the tax bill. I have an open item regarding 2021 NY State …
Nooo! If you end up owing are they going to charge you all the interest accrued from 2021?! 😭
Well, you smell just lovely in your Corsica Furiosa!
Thanks, I love this one, even more so in warmer weather. That opening blast of green is very bracing!
Bletch on the correspondence from the IRS! Maybe you need to listen to some thrash to clear your head for a while?
I’m an official curmudgeon because I can’t stand loud anything anymore. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, cars, sirens, loud music of any sort, loud talkers, yappy dogs, monitors alarming, bed alarms, IV pump alarms, kids screeching….Oy, I have no tolerance anymore- it’s like my sensory system has just been burnt to a crisp. 🔥 I’d probably thrive in a sensory deprivation tank! 😀
Then I will listen to some on your behalf. 🤘🎵🎶
But I have hated leaf blowers for ages. Dunno what it is about the sound that sets my teeth on edge so effectively. Just thinking about it raises my hackles.
At the doctor’s office for a check up. Wearing Amouage Memoir today.
Hope it went well.
I went with something green, outdoorsy, and evidently Scottish for Earth Day. I am wearing Melancholy Thistle from the Jo Malone Highlands ‘23 collection which has notes of thistle, Scotch broom, and lots of ivy. I love nature and perfumes inspired by it
What a striking name it has!
IIRC, the bottles for that JM collection were quite striking.
I am wearing Gorilla Perfumes Fresh As. It is a fairly realistic green scent of pine, so it kind of works for the CP.
Being a fan of Hitchcock’s Vertigo, this weekend I read D’entre les morts by Boileau-Narcejac, which was the basis for the film. I think I actually enjoyed the book even more, knowing the film.
Anyway, a fictional perfume is mentioned in the book – the protagonist is trying to “recreate” the woman he lost by finding the perfume she wore. I only have access to Russian and French versions of the book, so this is not the official English translation:
But he perfume was gone. Flaviers persisted.
“No, I have no idea,” said the saleswoman.
“But actually, how shall I explain it to you? A perfume that smells of stirred up soil, wilted flowers…”
“Maybe Chanel No. 3.”
“Maybe”.
“They don’t make it anymore, sir. In a small shop, you might still find some. But not here.”
I had two thoughts after reading this dialogue:
1) The perfume may be fictional, but I like the sound of it.
2) I share your pain, Flaviers. Discontinuations suck.
I too love Vertigo, and there’s an homage called The Green Fog, by the Canadian director Guy Maddin, that you might enjoy. It’s a movie that roughly follows the plot of Vertigo but is constructed entirely out of footage from movies and TV shows that are set in San Francisco. (Since the dialogue is rarely going to match, it’s mostly just cut out altogether, leaving a series of pauses and reaction shots that are weirdly delightful.) The title refers to that green aura that appears around Judy/Madeleine after Scotty has metaphorically resurrected her, except that here it shows up repeatedly, like an uninvited guest, as well it might in famously foggy SF. And there’s a hilarious and very fitting twist on the ending. The director made it available to watch for free on Vimeo. Highly recommended.
Thanks for recommending. Alas, after 10 minutes of watching it, I was completely lost. I don’t even see any plot in this film.😢 I guess my brain needs dialogues. Maybe I will try rewatching it later with the sound turned off – the soundtrack is too much for me.
There’s just barely a plot! It’s meant to call to mind the scenes in Vertigo more or less in order — Scotty’s near-death that leads to his vertigo, Madeleine jumping into the bay, the bell-tower, the transformation scene. It’s sort of a joke, a riff on how movies are edited and understood. But if it’s not for you, that’s fine — there are lots of movies I don’t like. I’m just a real fan of Maddin. (I’ve watched his thrilling short film The Heart of the World dozens of times: it’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.)
Oh, my, this awoke a vague memory in me of a film (possibly only a story?) in which a man desperately wanted to recreate the perfume of a woman he loved and lost. He brought something of hers (a dress?) to a man who could, allegedly, recreate any scent. I am sure now it was a movie or tv show because there was a sort of secret office you went to in a skyscraper…. lots of mystery. And then when it was recreated, there was a terrible and tragic ending. I’m so frustrated I can’t remember more, and now I will be pondering this all day!
It almost sounds like the plot of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer but in the modern setting.
Happy Earth Day, all! I celebrated with my usual Monday a.m. activity of taking the recycling to the truck; I think I may have been the first one there today. Then, back home, I went for a walk, and admired our beautiful blue bio-sphere and sniffed flowers (even with the wind kicking up a bit, as usual). I think there is some kind of Earth Day activities going on at the university, but, this was good enough for me.
I am uncertain as to what I will wear today. I am thinking Peach Blossom, Violet and Vanilla. Those are earthy notes, I suppose. Or Peony and Blush Suede. I may do that instead. I’m not sure.
Lilacs are definitely in the air here…except mine, which are very unhappily situated.
Acqua di Parma Magnolia Nobile and a cup of English breakfast tea.
A few days ago, I returned from a Rhine River Cruise with my in-laws to celebrate my Mother-In-Law and Father-in-Law’s 60th wedding anniversary. We started in Amsterdam. I could read a little bit of NST, when the internet was working on the ship, but couldn’t manage to reply. I thought it was so cool that I was visiting the subject of last week’s project.
I didn’t buy any perfume in Amsterdam, but I did buy a bottle of Dior J’Adore d’Eau at the duty free in the airport, and I bought two bottles of 4711 at their store in Cologne, Germany. 4711 Jasmine and 4711 Lime & Nutmeg.
I wish I had done more research, because it would’ve been very nice to visit an Amersterdam perfumery.
Ah, what a shame! I was there last October and didn’t do a lot of fragrance shopping — saved that for Paris — but I did go into Parfumerie Marjo, which was quite nice, though they didn’t have what I was looking for (they had some CdG but not a lot). And the staff didn’t pounce on me, which is so rare. I hope you get to go back some time.
The 4711 shop in Köln is great, isn’t it? I bought a bunch of things when I was there a few years ago. It’s just about irresistible.
Yes ! 4711 was a lot of fun. We loved the fragrance fountain there. And now, when I wear one of my new colognes from there, it brings back good memories 🙂
Oh extra belated bonus points for you!! Hope it was a fun cruise.
Thanks for the points 🙂
Yes, we did enjoy the cruise !
I forgot to mention that you smell great Robin. I love Mandragore.
Thank you, and so glad…have always wanted to do one of those cruises.
Sort of a dreary Monday – overcast and chilly – so I’m counting on Serge Lutens’ “Fleurs d’Oranger” to lift my spirits.
Hope that did the trick Daniel!
Definitely helped!😊
Craving lemon so I am in Lemonilla today. Later, I plan to move on to Bake and finish off a sample from a generous NSTer. 🥰
Had a busy weekend and yesterday I took She-ra mini and 2 friends to lunch, a bead store, fro yo and a park. They were very good with some not unexpected highs and lows 😆 and I am tired today! Second cup of coffee…stat! ☕️
What a lovely outing! But yes, bet it was tiring.
I love green fragrances so I’m looking forward to the week💚
Starting off in Eris Green Spell.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone mention Green Spell.
I think hajusuuri and I usually hold down the Green Spell fort😊
Wearing Biehl PC01 today, as I seem to want to have my greenery surroinding a bunch of tropical fruit.
🙂
Happy Monday, all. Wearing Chanel No. 5 L’eau.
I took a weekend trip to see a very good friend–we’ve known each other since third grade. We had a wonderful time hiking, wandering, chatting, cooking. I have just now posted on the swapmeet, sorry to be late to the party.
Sounds like a fun weekend!
Smelling great today!
Your weekend sounds so restorative.
Wearing J’ai Ose, which has a little bit of everything: moss, woods, fruit, florals. One of those kitchen sink 70s scents.
Yep, I remember those!
I’m taking CP points by wearing Azemour les Orangers, always good to have an excuse to wear it! We are having gorgeous weather and it is COOL, which it won’t be again for a long time, alas. I need to get out and about a bit later on and enjoy it. First I’ve got a Zoom meeting to get through.
For my health (and weight) I am trying a Mediterranean diet plan and the recipes on it are actually very fun and creative, and easy to make. Yesterday I made eggplant capers rounds, and they’re delicious. I now have a refrigerator full of fruits and veggies. A nice tuna salad is on the menu for lunch, with plenty of crunchy celery, cucumber, and dill.
CAPRESE rounds, i.e., eggplant rounds with a slice of tomato and basil leaf, baked awhile, then topped with a little slice of mozzarella. Autocorrect.
That sounds delicious!
Oh, and brush them with olive oil. A good fat!
Yum.
A new way to make eggplant! 😋
Not green necessarily, but very naturalistic today in Immortelle Corse. It really reminds me of a dry and dusty vegetation.
I was down with a mysterious 36-hour bout of fever, aches, and chills this weekend. Tested negative for Covid and no one else around me is sick, so I’m very puzzled. I spent most of yesterday on the couch watching tv and youtube fragrance channels. Thankfully I feel back to normal today.
Glad you feel better! You smell wonderful.
I did that yesterday and I wasn’t sick.
Maybe you had a bout of food poisoning?
A friend did suggest that, but my stomach wasn’t off at all. I suspect maybe I was fighting an infection, but I have no clue what it could be. Just glad to be back to normal today.
Whatever it was, I’m glad that it’s gone too!
I’m feeling earthy in patchouli lotion, with a few shots of Gourmand Coquin overtop. 🙂
Patchouli is great for Earth Day.
That sounds over the top in the best way!
Who makes the patchouli lotion? That sounds like a great option for warmer weather…
Unfortunately it’s a discontinued B&BW lotion. Will be so sad when it runs out.
Apple and yogurt smoothie
I chose violets today with Météorites first version and tonight it’s a comfort scent, very linear and simplistic Chabaud Lait concentré, it has the merit in all its milkiness never to turn sour.
It looks like my favorite apples are no longer in season here. So I have to decide if I will eat a different variety of apple, or switch over to a different kind of fruit.
I’ll start the week with green, and wear Chamade, one of my all time favourites.
Perfect!
Two rejection letters to start my Monday.
And the last of my BoE EDT. Gone, all gone. Amazing. The only thing I ever get to the bottom of is Indochine and Chergui.
Still have BoE EDP and a friend coming home through London next month.
My nephew flew to London quickly Saturday night. A dear friend from the Japan years is dying from cancer. My nephew is at hospice with him and his family now. Hold your dear ones close.
So sorry about your friend.
So sorry apsara! For both the very ill friend of the family and the ($&@“?!;) letters. I have some BoE edt if you need your fix. You can email me at Taiga101 in the land of yahooligans.
Deva, thank you for the offer..and your kindness.
I’ll get a bottle from Heathrow duty free next month.
My friend is excellent at bringing me back exactly what I request.
That is an awful way to start your week, I’m so sorry for you.
Wow. That is the Monday-est of Mondays. So sorry to hear about your friend.
I’m very sorry apsara.
Sorry to hear about the two rejection letters. May your week get better from here!
Well gosh
It better!
Accidentally on theme for this week with Mantes-la-Jolie.
Oh good! Kevin really likes that one.
Our Olmsted park system is a hot topic of late. Delaware Park is our crown jewel here, but Humboldt Parkway that connects the park to downtown got paved over in the 70s in the name of “urban renewal”. The city wants to cover a portion of the expressway with a tunnel and restore a section of the Parkway. The opposition wants to tear the whole expressway down and knit the city back together in Olmsted’s image.
Getting Shalimar Iris all over my hands while making swap decants!
And PSA the luckyscent code is still good through Tuesday: TAXBREAK for $20 off $125
Thank you, just did some quick reading and bookmarked a few articles on the subject…
This is a cool cp this week. I’ll have to read up on the links your provided later, Robin. I do love parks and get so much pleasure from being in them.
Today I’m in an old decant of Strange Invisible Perfumes Fire and Cream. I found it and some SIP parfum samples when I was going through my boxes for the swap meet. Of course, I wish I’d been able to buy a bottle of Fire and Cream before it got discontinued.
I love parks too! His legacy is just incredible.
SOTD = Chanel No.19 EDP
Green you say? 😇
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6E4jpSRByp/?igsh=MXI1eTBod291eWhvNQ==
On this Earth Day, here’s an article from the NYTimes that hooked me in with an account of an octopus 🐙 absconding with a camera and photo images shown by it (he or she) taking photos from its perspective. I’m not sure if you can see comments but if you filter to NYTimes replies, there’s a short video. There’s also a Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher; I haven’t watched but can confirm it’s available.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/opinion/earth-day-octopus-teacher.html?unlocked_article_code=1.mU0.XXmV.xGaFuEGbaiHV&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Love the squirrel! 😍
Green indeed!
Great squirrel!
I’m accidentally on theme today in Zoologist Cow. I will have to read the links, thanks for providing them, Robin.
I had my six week check up with my surgeon today and he’s very pleased with my knee. I’ve even been released from physical therapy which is fine with me (I’ve been really good about doing my exercises at home.) I have a good friend who had a knee replacement last fall, we’re going to start walking together on Friday. Yay for walks!
Usually, good outcomes = good patients and nice/versa so pat yourself on the back for all the hard work you’ve done, are still doing, and will continue to do, except now you have a friend for company! 🚶🏻♀️🚶🏽♀️
Glad that your recovery and PT has gone well! And now you have an exercise buddy.
Yay you!
Oh excellent!!
Good news about your recovery!
No green perfumes for me today, although I have several in The Sample Stash and among my full bottles. I seem to be on a BWF kick.
SOTD = back in L’Interdit EdP, modern version again today. But I did use a Verbena Cream lotion on my shins, so half credit, methinks.
I don’t recall ever smelling the original L’interdit. Have you ever tried it?
I’ve never come across the original L’Interdit. Givenchy has always been kind of hard to find for me.
Love the bottle style of the modern version, though. The 50mL feels really nice in my hand, and isn’t awkward or clunky.
I started out this morning wearing Shalimar edc. When I got to work though a coworker gifted me with a bottle of perfume that I had recently gone crazy complimenting her on. It’s called Melina by Burj Dubai. I think it might be a clone of Oud Bouquet. At some point I will do a side by side. The bottle is a little out there, but I smell good.
It was so sweet of her.
How cool! What a lovely gesture.
How nice!
Switching into Bel Respiro 💚
Perfect, love that one!