PSA: our next swapmeet will start on Saturday, 21 September.
Meanwhile, it's Labor Day weekend in the US. We're marking the holiday with our same old open thread poll,. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance that says "3 day weekend" to you, what you're planning to buy at a Labor Day sale (and feel free to share any coupons or deals), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Cape Waters [cropped] by Basheer Tome at flickr; some rights reserved.
Yay Labor Day Weekend and upcoming Swapmeet! I’ve had so many great swaps and connections with other lovely NSTers.
I’m still on perfumes I should have been wearing this summer. Today is Eris Parfums Delta of Venus. What a beauty! I’ll definitely be wearing it this fall and beyond.
I will schedule a splitmeet for October too…although we may give those up if there’s not much interest.
Believe it or not, I am thinking about swapping one of my Shalimar MI scents as I don’t think I need two BUBs. I will think about it a little longer😉
I need Shalimar Mi! What could you possibly want that I might have?
😊
Let me know what you have and maybe we can swap.
Email me at my username at gmail and we can talk? I have …stuff… 🙂
Happy Labor Day to all who celebrate. I’m very excited about the upcoming swapmeet. (Thank you Robin!) It’s been a tough weekend as I got my Covid booster on Friday and was laid out with a fever and flu-ish aches all of yesterday, and nothing but Box of Eels would comfort me. Well that and Tylenol.
Oh yuck. Box of Eels is comforting at least.
I’ve had bad reactions to the COVID shots as well. It pretty much feels like the non-respiratory symptoms of flu (headache, body aches, fever, fatigue, brain fog).
I hope you feel better soon! I’m glad your perfume comforted you.
I’ve had the same reaction every time except once. I dread getting my next one.
Ugh. Hope you are feeling a bit better today.
Three day weekend for me, but for no one else in my family. I think I’ll head off on a train somewhere on Monday…not sure where, though.
SOTD was Jardin sur le Nil, one of the few summery fragrances I have here. It’s hot.
My scent find of the week — one that’s been good for many laughs — is Old Spice “Nightpanther” deodorant. Somehow I couldn’t talk Mr. Ockeghem into buying it! 🙂 Too reminiscent of “Sex Panther”…I guess that may have gotten lost in translation over here. Apparently Nightpanthers smell of vanilla and citrus, according to the label. Hmm.
The opportunity to head somewhere on a train (without spending an arm and a leg) is so lovely!
Agree, Robin.
Seconding Robin, the idea of just boarding a train and going off by yourself for a quick day trip sounds so nice.
NJ Transit had its fare-free week this week. Let’s just say I don’t miss commuting at all even if free. I still get the notices about cancelled and late trains …
That “Nightpanther” version of Old Spice is too funny!
Hello and happy Labour Day weekend!
Sotd is TF Soleil de Feu.
I had an indirect perfume compliment yesterday. While browsing for potential fall clothes in a store, I walked by a lady and her friend. She must’ve caught my sillage because she exclaimed “Do you smell that? Something smells amazing!” Definitely made my day!
A 3 day weekend scent would be Tuscany Per Donna. It can make a short break feel like a relaxing holiday. It’s got that little je ne sais quoi.
So what were you wearing that caught their attention yesterday? Inquiring minds want to know!
Amouage Guidance 46 😊
Curious to eventually smell this one as well!
Tuscany Per Donna is a gem!
We’ve got another brutal heatwave coming this week, so I’m enjoying the temperate days while I can.
Today I’m wearing “Tabac Vert” from Rogue. It’s an elegant, old-school woody chypre – tobacco, pepper, carnation, sandalwood, and cedar – with a gentleman’s barbershop vibe. I’m thinking I might wear it again tomorrow to an afternoon barbecue. If you like the original Tabac and/or Old Spice, this is definitely worth a sniff.
I am hoping we are done with brutal heatwaves on the East Coast, but you do have my sympathies!
Haven’t worn that one in a while, you’ve inspired me to spritz it this weekend!
Hope that you and the other NST Angelenos are keeping cool today. 🥵
Happy Labour day weekend up north!
Had a mini-sniffathon this afternoon:
I do not care for Tom Ford Eau d’Ombre leather.And if the elusive Babycat smells lile this(like many have claimed) it’s money saved!
Lush Bridgerton:it’s got the Lush dna for sure,similar to Love,what I remember from Cocktail and some others.I bought a bottle as I like the scent.Also got tiny bottles of Rose Jam and Sticky Dates(showergels),and the Let The Good Times Roll bodyspray(this is a FUN one!)
Did a run-through of Margiela again(25% off plus a 15% loyalty discount at the store that carries the line!)I added Lazy Sunday Morning and Matcha Meditation to the collection.I wish Coffee Break was MORE coffee,or a latte or something.I discovered today you have to test Margiela on skin,it’s a way didferent experience than on the strip!
Hermès H24 Herbes Vives is REALLY good,still on the maybe-list.
I also tested the Eau d’Ikar from Sisley that was recommended as a substitute for my dearly missed Monsieur Balmain.It’s definitely not,in current formulation.so I had to pass(Eau Sauvage is a way better plan B for something similar)
I think that was it,if there was something else I tested it was clearly unmemorable.
XO’s!✌🏻🌹
Hoping I am finally going to get to the mall this week…want to smell Bridgerton too. We’ll see if I actually go.
Haha!I took the chance to go to the mall while the rest of South Africa were home prepping barbeques and extra seats for the big rugby game between us and New Zealand this afternoon(we won,yay!lol)
Do report if you sniffed it!
Excellent work!
😉✌🏻🕺🏼
They did not have it! Or anything much else I was hoping to try.
I purchased the same shower gels from Lush a few weeks ago, but haven’t had the chance to try them yet.
Enabler pin to you for the Sticky Dates!It smells like a fun one!
I just got the tiny ones because my skin is so sensitive to any and all showergels(about!)
Really? Wow, I hardly ever get an enabler pin. Thanks.
Shalimar Milliseme Iris
Millesime
I am thinking about swapping one of my two BUBs. I don’t know if I need that many since there is a new one coming out in September.
Good idea 👍
Today I’m wearing Yves Rocher Orange et Chocolat, absolutely no reason except that I opened the cabinet and it said, “ME. RIGHT NOW.” and who was I to refuse it? If CSP had ever thought to do this (and it’s very much in their wheelhouse — they did a Vanille Orange once and they are famous for the chocolate-laden Amour de Cacao — so I can’t imagine why it never occurred to them) it would have had a lot more vanilla: instead, it’s a little blaze of orange peel and lots of smooth, milky chocolate, so nice.
We were at the mall earlier (my only excuse it that it’s a 45-minute walk and so I got some exercise on a beautiful late-summer day) so I glumly shrugged and went to Lush, which of course did not have any of the limited-edition body sprays, so I give up. I mean, I thought I’d given up two weeks ago, but then I figured I’d give them one more shot. But they’re clearly never getting them in, so that’s that. Not meant to be. Didn’t need them anyway (sour grapes).
I hate hauling myself all the way to Lush and they don’t have any of the new stuff. But good for you for getting in the long walk!
I suspect it’s going to be the same for me — we don’t have a Lush in the city where I’m living but there’s one in the (slightly) bigger city across the river. It’s 45-60 min to get there…pretty sure I will ge there and they won’t have what I want to smell. But…there are other reasons to go there, like a better department store with a food hall, so I’ll probably be checking it out in the next week.
Yves Rocher has so many great fragrances. This one sounds amazing!
Having a lazy Saturday morning here..farmers market, had an impromptu coffee with a friends I bumped into at the farmers market.
We have no plans for the long weekend-and I am really happy about that. I am still a little jet lagged and really missing Scotland.
What’s everyone reading this summer? I am excited for some new book releases this fall.
I am listenting to Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate that moves between the early 1900s and present day in Oklahoma.
She wrote a wonderful book called Before We Were Yours about families with poor children who were basically stolen or sold into orphanages. The research on the book was wonderful.
Shelterwood focus is on children who have little to no protection and what they do to survive and grow up and a present day forest ranger who is searching for the story behind found bones.
Just called the library to keep checked out longer since I don’t drive too far any more.
I loved Before We Were Yours. I have to put Shelterwood on my list of books I need to read.
Ok..I will put Before we were Yours on my TBR list
If you are into biographies like I am, The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Mitford is a great read. It has an older copyright , 2004, maybe? Most folks probs don’t know who she was but for those interested in poetry and lit, it’s a good one. After this
I’ll prob take a break from bios and pick up some light fiction.
Ha, I am old enough to know the author and the subject…I still have a few books by Edna St Vincent Millay but admit it is exceedingly rare that I read poetry anymore.
And took a break from bios too, but currently reading one about William Tecumseh Sherman.
I just finished it last nite. I knew how it ended but it was still obs sad nonetheless, especially after reading about her whole life from Point A to Point B. She was quite the saucy little thing, as well as most of her contemporaries. I just wish she’d been able to find some inner peace for herself. Now when I go back and read her poetry, I’ll be reading it in a different light.
Light fluffy novel next!
Sounds interesting…
GateGirl, oh yes that was an excellent bio!
Agreed. Nancy Milford really brought her subjects to life.
The bio about the Mitford sisters was also excellent. So much talent!
Hey LTSG! Where in Scotland were you and how was everything?
I’m going for a week in October, mainly in Edinburgh. Looking forward to it. Any books you recommend on the history of Edinburgh? Or on Scotland in general?
I ordered Edinburgh, a history of the city by Michael Fry and somehow the book got lost in transit (I can only find it available to be shipped from Europe at the moment), so I’m stuck. 😊
I’m currently reading Bill Maher’s latest book, What This Comedian Said Will Shock You and enjoying his intelligent humor.
I love love love Scotland! What a wonderful country with kind people!
I would plan to visit https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse
We enjoyed this visit and to the Edinburgh Castle.
We did a huge road trip around Scotland and a lot of hiking. Where else are you visiting? We also took train rides and a ferry.
It was challenging driving on the other side of the road, but the roads were so narrow and small its like driving on a one-way.
Well, we only have 1 week at our disposal so we’ll be based in Edinburgh and visit everything there is to visit in town. We’ll go to Leith and see her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia, probably take an easy day trip by train to Stirling, maybe another to Glasgow.
Unfortunately there won’t be enough time for true hiking or seeing the Highlands; that will be for another trip.
The driving part does scare me but we won’t have to do it, at least not this time.
I’m glad you had such a great time.
I am currently reading The Next Mrs. Parrish. It is a sequel, but you wouldn’t need to read the first one. I have read several good books this summer that I will probably mention in our next reading poll.
The fall poll will be early October…
Sounds good. I will have my list ready!
Confession time…
My eyesight is steadily declining,but to the point now where I HAVE to have at least a 1.5 corrective spectacle for reading.Am in denial about aging so I mentally refuse to wear them-or read.And I was a prolific reader all my life!AND i’m an Ophthalmic nurse.Lol!
Get the glasses so you can start reading Spare🤣 Typical nurse, “do as I say and not as I do.” I am the same way!
Lol!I was hoping for an audio version read by the Harry-man himself…🙈🤣🤣
LOL
Did you ever watch Ghostbusters? When I needed reading glasses I got one that looked like this but in brown: https://images.app.goo.gl/EpGucQvWmqrX2v127
Oh I love the glasses!😎👌🏻
I’m reading the slightly sci-fi Babel by R. F. Kuang, set in an alternate England (Oxford mostly) in the early 1800s, a fascinating take on imperialism, language, linguistics. economics, translation. Author attended Oxford, studied linguistics and Chinese language/literature but can tell a cracking good yarn.
Funny timing, as I’ve just ordered Babel tonight along with Algernon Blackwood’s The Willows. I also liked very much Kuang’s The Poppy War series. And I haven’t read Yellowface yet, also by her, but it’s very well received and I definitely want to before long.
I have also heard about Yellowface but haven’t read it yet!
Yellowface was very good, a modern satire, but very different than the epic historical world she creates in her other fiction. (She is quite versatile). Her characters in Babel are also well drawn and believable. Now I have to read The Poppy War series. I always found it Orwellianly evil how the British Empire foisted opium on the Chinese under the guise of free trade. Also, interesting aside that Kuang failed to win some big Sci-Fi award (the Hugo?) last year because the Chinese (the ceremony was held in China) interfered somewhat fraudulently in the judging to ensure that no works by authors who had criticized the Chinese government for its treatment of Uyghurs or whose works engaged with potentially ‘subversive” ideas (like Babel’s translator revolt) would win. Neil Gaiman also failed to win for this reason, supposedly.
I did hear some about that Hugo award controversy. It’s a damn shame there was interference and for a terrible, bottomlessly corrupt reason like that.
If you are into sciency science fiction, where knowing physics formulas and various nerdy science facts – what number is “Iron” on the periodic table?- and whatnot, is integral to the plot, I can recommend “The Hail Mary Project” by Andy Weir, who wrote “The Martian”. Actually I am listening to it via Audible books on tape, and the reader makes it a rollicking good yarn for a “the sun is dying” doomsday story. I am not quite done, but so far I love the narrator, love the marooned alien, and look forward to each time I have time to listen in. It would be a good book for a long drive or flight. It’s good to knit to.
Thank you for the reccie. I enjoyed The Martian.
Like allo, I’m still looking at perfumes I should have worn more this summer. Today it’s Zoologist Cow, which smells so light and meadowish that it’s perfect for this gorgeous summer day.
I hope your weekend includes some relaxation wherever you are, NST.
Yay, wistful summer twins!☀️🌸
Happy Labor Day weekend American friends.
I didn’t have a chance to comment yesterday for the CP but I was in Eau de Rochas which I would have worn much more if August weather had been warmer in the British Isles, as it was still present on my cardigan I wore the same today and tonight added two spritzes of the very different and potent Krizia Teatro alla scala which I hadn’t used in a long time and I had a scare as the atomiser seemed to faulter but thankfully after pressing four or five times it finally sprayed and the scent is intact in its honeyed glory. When one thinks that Krizia has also K and Krazy Krizia really, what an amazing trio.
Glad the sprayer righted itself!
Thank you Robin, it would have been so disheartening, the bottle is mostly full.
I find that this happens a lot with vintage frags/sprayers. It’s like they have to be awakened back into life after decades of hibernation.
Ah, so true.
You have so many vintage perfume treasures. It’s fun reading about them!
Oh thank you, I try to describe my classic scents a little as I experience them without becoming tedious and long winded. These three Krizia perfumes are among my most treasured, I wore K when I lived in New York, it was a signature almost, still have about 20ml from a back then bottle but I have a full vintage bub. Krizia perfumes keep very well.
SOTD is box of eels EDP.
Talk to my sister later to plan visit trip to see her beginning of November.
I did purchase a bottle of Eau Duelle yesterday! That’s I think three for the entire year! some sort of never have I ever bought so little and cleared out so much. It’s been good.
Someone mentioned it yesterday and I have never owned it – so I went on Fragrancenet or what ever it is and they kept sending me emails – 20% 25% – got all the way to 40% plus free shipping.
You smell great and congrats on your new acquisition!
Hi adanst! long time not seeing your avatar!
Oh wow apsara, great score on Eau Duelle I love that one!
Even better, the package was here in one day and I wore it all day yesterday. Delicious end of summer treat.
Yay. Instant gratification. Score all around.
It’s been a rough week, last 3 nights I only got about 5 hours sleep each, so this Saturday morning has been very lazy.
I did go to the gym at 11 to workout with my trainer (so: couldn’t just stay in bed), but could tell I wasn’t rested. Very low energy compared to normal.
Yesterday sprayed some Spiritueuse Double Vanille before bed, but was otherwise commando. Indecisive today, so Salvatore Ferragamo Cupolo on one arm and Masque Milano White Whale on the other.
Insomnia is so horrible, I hope you get some good rest soon.
SOTD is Omnia Crystalline layered with Azurée Soleil. It works amazingly well. I’ve just got this veil of sweet softness (or soft sweetness) hovering around me which is great on another hot day.
Oh that sounds nice. Omnia Crystalline is another one I should have worn more this summer.
I have not worn that for years, but I can smell it by just thinking about it.
Same here!
Wearing CSP Coco Figue by default because I’m wearing the same shirt. Added a couple more spritzes to do it justice. Lots of smoke here the past couple of days. Not sure if a wild fire grew exponentially or the wind shifted but were pretty socked in here in the valley. Makes for a lovely sunset, so there’s that…We’re supposed to have a lighted boat parade tonight, along with some fireworks over the lake. Yeehaw!
As for Labor Day shopping, I’m giving it a pass. No special discounts for anything I’m looking for at the mo. Hope everyone here in the US has a SAFE and happy holiday, and a plain old great weekend for everyone else!
Thank you, Deva and a happy weekend to you!
Are you on a hiatus from work?
From nursing work, yes. I’m camp hosting for the summer, so still working, just in a totally different capacity.
Would you do your summer gig again?
SOTD: Chypre (Le Galion). Tomorrow I am finally going to use my Cuir de Russe sample, and Monday, Vetyver.
I managed a quick visit with my twin cousins who I hadn’t seen in years before they go back on the road to their respective hometowns. They must have taken about twenty pictures of the 3 of us; good thing I had my good makeup on today.
That’s great you were able to visit with your cousins and get lots of pictures.
Hello everybody and happy Labor Day weekend!
It’s been a while since I’ve posted but I’m still trying to keep up with what everyone is doing and wearing, perfume wise.
I started the day with a spray of Obscuratio 25, which has been my most worn perfume this summer. I just wish it had a bit more lasting power, as I can barely smell it by lunchtime, and I use a good 6-8 sprays in am. Nonetheless, I love it.
After a workout and a shower I put on some Eau des Sens, another summer staple of mine. And finally, this evening I thought I would reacquaint myself with Fougère Emeraude (Les Indémodables) of which I only have a few drops left in a small vial. This one is just ok to me. No need for a full bottle.
Yesterday I was at the mall and was offered a sniff of a few new releases (or rather re-releases) from Dior La Colection Privée – Les Esprits de Parfum. The one I liked most was Ambre Nuit, which, to my nose is quite different from the sort of airy, transparent original. The Esprit de Parfum is denser, more ambery, with good tenacity on the skin. In fact I think it’s closer to Mitzah than to AN. Lovely stuff.
If it weren’t for the whopping price of $470 plus tax for a 75 mL bottle and for the fact that I already have several great ambers in my collection, I would have bought it.
I did, however, buy the new Dior stick foundation, which is also very nice. I’m not usually one for stick foundations but was impressed with this one’s ease of application and appearance on the skin. Have not worn it enough to have a final verdict but I’m very optimistic.
Hope everyone has a good weekend. I’m looking forward to fall.
$470!
I wish my Dior counter carried this line. It’s good to see you 👋
Thank you Lillyjo!
I am interested in the Dior stick. I have Tom Ford.
money, money, money.
Nice to hear good things about Dior stick. Might have to try it. Powdery things look too cakey as my skin “matures”, and I just do not have any liquid foundation I am happy with. Time to experiment!
Hello there! Nice to see you post!
$470 for perfume is WAY too steep for me.
Very hot here today, and I’ve spent it in Assam of India. Mr. G is braving the outside world to bring home sushi for dinner.
Hooray for Mr G! Takeout sushi is perfect when it’s too hot to cook.
🐘🍋♥️
Such a perfect scent!
SOTD is Marc Jacobs Daisy. I should have worn this one more this summer. I really do enjoy it, but with all my other scents, it gets put toward the back of my collection.
Enabler pin to hajusuuri for suggesting Clinique Body Butter. And to Jalapeno-It is very nice and since there really isn’t any smell to it, you can wear any perfume.
Oh, I must check out the Clinique! It’s hard to find something that’s unscented. Thanks for the intel.
If you like body butters, it is nice and goes a long ways. I think it is around $40.
Woohoo! I am so glad you like it!
I certainly do. I didn’t think it would be any question since I use so many of the products from Clinique already.
Good to know about the Clinique body butter. I use (and love) a few Clinique products, so maybe I will get some after I knock down the body products stash a bit.
I’m sampling Nightcap by Orebella. ( a brand by Bella Hadid from Ulta) I dogged on this brand awhile back but this one is pretty nice. Ginger, cinnamon and vanilla. Mostly vanilla to my nose. I still hate the packaging.
I took my daughter to the mall and had some lady go nutso on us because my daughter asked what her dog’s name was. She freaked out yelling that we couldn’t pet him. ( we weren’t going to) this wasn’t a service dog. I assume it was an emotional support dog. Poor dog.
Gracious, so sorry you & your daughter got yelled at. People are seriously nuts.
That is craziness!!!
Oh my goodness, so sorry that happened to you guys!
What the heck!? Robin is spot on, people are nuts.
There’s always a Karen lurking somewhere!
That’s why I keep my sunglasses on a la Anna Wintour,get in and get out!🤣🤣😎
I bet you look fabulous in those sunglasses!
Haha!I try my best!(red-framed raybans!😎✌🏻)
What a nut-job! We had to put up a security camera at the office because some people get so
aggressive/belligerent/obnoxious when they can’t get what they want. Absolutely crazy world that sometimes I hardly recognize anymore…
Deva.. she held her arms out like an airplane to block us from the dog! We were at least 10 feet away!
I don’t recognize this world either. I find myself telling the younger generation stories of the before world in hope some of them will grow up to change it.
Wow. People behave like children. We had to call the police last week at my clinic because a patient went on a profanity-filled tirade against the staff who then feared for their safety. And then I have to deal with administrators protecting the “rights” of the patient, that I have to notify the patient regarding the bad behavior before that person can be excluded. What about the rights of the workers and everyone else there? I have learned, unfortunately, that calling the police is essential because we escalate the transgression and have additional documentation, in case this happens again with the same individual – because I am pretty sure it will.
I think if I retire from healthcare, I will need to work away from people.
If you really want to get a laugh, I recommend watching YouTube videos of JoeyB vs. The World. They are funny videos of what the world is coming to. My husband and I somehow came onto them yesterday and were laughing our butt off.
I will look it up! I always like a good laugh.
That woman must be crazy, so wrong.
So sorry LillyJo. That’s just crazy behavior.
Oh my goodness! What the heck? Sure makes you not want to engage with anyone ever again because you never know what to expect.
You’re right lillyjo, there’s definitely a before world!
Geez. Poor dog, and poor you! That sort of response is NOT normal at all.
I wore Bronze Goddess, both yesterday and today. This is one I’d wear quite often in the summer, but this year it sat on my shelf for some reason. I even used the body creme so it as extra fantastic (to me, anyways).
Happy weekend everyone. I’ve been staring long and hard at my backyard for awhile. When we bought this place, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the gravel and rocks (instead of grass). It’s been boiling hot this summer, felt like a parking lot in the back so I’m less than thrilled. Next year I need to have way more plants (in pots, most likely since putting down sod is not possible). Maybe I need a few small trees or shrubs in pots and definitely some ground cover in-between pavers. There are perennials along the fence in a raised bed already (aubretia and columbines); we recently added a few irises and daylilies there too. I grouped pots with annuals this year on the gravel/rock areas where I could and it looks ok for now but it needs more pizzaz! Any input from gardeners here is appreciated; I believe we are zone 6, semi-desert.
I learn something new here so much. I had no idea about plant zones. I’m no help in recommending anything. Except wondering could you turn the backyard into a big patio instead of it being like a parking lot? ( like in the Golden Girls, lol.. sorry I know I sound silly)
Haha.. we already have a patio made of interlock bricks or something. I call it the ‘dance floor’. We move chairs back and forth from the deck for sitting out in the sun; but I’m not as much of a sun worshipper as I was. It’s all the hard surfaces coupled with rock that makes it so hot back there.
Can we switch houses? 😂. I have an acre of lawn and the maintenance ( lawn moving, weed whacking, crab grass removal) which we do ourselves is daunting
Mowing. Not moving 😆
We could! Sounds like you have a lovely property.
SAME. I would like to never have a lawn or garden again, I’m done.
Your ideas about more big pots planted with trees and/or shrubs and something green between pavers are good ones. Woolly thyme is a great groundcover for dry climates (it even works here in the PNW in summer) and doesn’t need mowing so it’s good for in-between spots. If your yard is relatively flat you could even set up a patio umbrella or two to create shade. I browse photos on Houzz to get ideas for little pockets of visual interest in my garden (and my house, for that matter).
Oh thank you! Wooly thyme sounds perfect! I’ll check out Houzz, it’s probably what I need for some inspiration.
I second thyme between pavers, does well in heat. I’m not sure what zone 6 is like but “ semi-desert” makes me think that proteas ( native to South Africa) could do really well. They like well drained, dry ground and there is a lot of variety, very low maintenance and can grow in pots. Big, bold flowers. Also, olive trees do well in dry conditions and can be planted in containers, to keep size down. Banksia ( Australian) another possibility for colour and dry areas.
Ooh, olive trees sound great, thank you! I’m in Canada so will have to see if I can locate them. We still get a winter but I may be able to put some things in the garage.
Proteas grow in gardens here ( 46 south) and tolerate frost and some snow. They seem very hardy. They do even better in dryer regions. Olive trees grow tall so pots are probably best if you don’t want to harvest them in large quantities.
Your plans sound great, what about a water feature?
There’s a terrible huge-ish eyesore fountain on the raised garden area that wasn’t working; it had soil in it so I’m not sure if there were plants in it after it broke. I tried some summer bulbs in there, just to camoflauge it a bit but they burned out from the heat. Maybe not enough room for required soil in there? It’s a cemented-in fountain, so fairly permanent. I may have to investigate if it can be a water feature again. Thanks for your idea!
Would you consider putting in a sun sail or a portico? It sounds like you could definitely use some shade in your yard.
🐇 🐇🐇
First Cut
Omg, I forgot my rabbits until I saw this post!😱😂
😝😂🐇🐇🐇
https://youtu.be/c5NRH_DxWJE?feature=shared
Song match!
👂 🐛
And I forgot to remind people!! Then, just for once, I actually remembered to rabbit when I woke up. Ha.
I’m in TF Eau de Soleil Blanc again because I’m still traveling and this is the only perfume I have with me.
The past 3 days have been a whirlwind of traveling, sleeping in different places, and getting our two daughters settled into college. Friday we got gradtowngirl moved into her (fancy!) apartment, took a walking tour of her campus, and got her stocked with groceries. Yesterday we came back to madtownteen’s college town to pick up one car and spend some time with her. Yesterday was the first day we didn’t need to get anything accomplished and could just enjoy. We took her out to eat and then caught the most gorgeous sunset up on the bluff. She’s at school along the Mississippi with huge bluffs that overlook the river.
I was up early and walked to get coffee, but totally forgot my rabbits til I saw cm8’s post! We’ll head back home later today. It will feel good to sleep in my own bed.☺️
You made me remember when my Mom would come and stock me up with groceries. It was like Christmas unpacking the bags!
Have a safe trip home.
At least I know she’ll have enough to eat this first week, lol.
Thanks lillyjo! Hopefully I can keep my eyes on the road through my tears.🥹
I didn’t know what a bluff was, thank you for a new word.
SOTD!
Let the good times roll bodyspray….to start with!
Crazy testing day again and I walked away with some goodies as well…🤐🤐
Bianco Latte:LOVE
Sora Dora Jany:LOOOVE!!
Giardini de Toscana’s Christos:Fun one with hints of Iris Poudre in the drydown!
Tested a couple of the Diors,Purple something(forgettable),Tobacolor(soo good!)Kabuki something(hmmm….)
It’s good to connect with fellow fragrance lovers here in SA,we’re growing in numbers and I love it.
(You guys can probably guess which two I bought,one a nice 10ml decant and one a full bottle!)
XO’s and Happy Sunday!
You ended up buying a full bottle of Bianco Latte, didn’t you?
Haha!You know me too well Kris!🙈🙈😉
I guess you didn’t listen to those of us that didn’t like it.🤣 We all have different tastes and that’s good!
I concur.
And it wasn’t a blind buy at least!Lol!
So which perfume was the 10mL decant?
Sunday morning scent is Agar Ébène, one that I should wear more often. Remembered to rabbit in the middle of the night! The kids (okay, they’re in their 40s, but still) are having us over for dinner tonight. The menu is reportedly “something African” and will be authentic as the chefs (my DIL and her best friend) are Kenyan. Looking forward to it!
Enjoy the dinner tonight.
Thanks! It was delish.
SheriG I love your SOTD! I have a 15 ml of it and ration it because I find it so special. Wish other people around me would wear more fragrance. You smell great 🙂
I only have the travel spray size … for now. “Dear Santa, …” 😆
Ugali….yum.
That was one of the things they made! Also chapati, a chicken curry dish, and a pork stew. All very yummy.
How cool!
I’m in Sarrasins today, such a glorious jasmine. Went for a hike with a friend in spite of the heat. It was great, nevertheless.
You smell divine! Sarrasins is one of my top 5 fragrances. It is indeed glorious!
I haven’t worn Sarrasins in forever. I am going to have to dig out my bottle.
You will be happy you did!
Sarrasins is gorgeous. I should quit hoarding my sample and just enjoy it.
I should have bought a bottle of this when it was still around. Really great stuff. I also really liked Boxeuses, which in my memory came out around the same time. Now both extinct. Boo!
Totally forgot the rabbits.
SOTD is Shalimar MI.
This one sounds so good as well!Our Guerlain counters and distibutors have unfortunately taken a total nosedive….
Shalimar MVP. Count me among those who (once again) forgot to rabbit…🐰🐰🐰
I rabbitted around 2am already!#SlightInsomnia.
Forgot the rabbits this morning. Trying to hurry my mother up since we are meeting someone at our local county fair. She is a woman who can never be bothered to be on time for anything. It’s always at least a half an hour late. As someone with ADHD, you can’t use your ADHD as an excuse to be late for everything. That is her excuse but I think she wants the attention. Wearing Lyric today.
“She” as in your mom or the friend you’re meeting? In any case, Lyric smells great!
My mother.
We had spring-like temperatures yesterday but also typical spring wind, so blustery as well as warm. Nice to be out though, and the cherry blossom is amazing at the moment. Wearing Vierge de Fer which is quite springy for a Monday.
I love your SOTD, Manuka. I have it too and love it for the summer. I wish I could have purchased the special bell jar bottle for this-it looked like hammered metal covering the jar.
I somehow forgot to post a comment yesterday, so I’m popping by on Monday morning.
I spent some more time testing Epona yesterday. On the first try, it was a very sharp leather, it seemed softer this time, and the drydown reminded me of L’Heure Bleue.
Today I’m wearing Paestum Rose.
L’Heure Bleue has one of my most favorite drydowns. So beautiful. 💙
Trying to catch up with home tasks. I am working about every other weekend for a while, meaning weekends off are just enough to catch up before I head into the next round.
I am commando today but I wore Nothing But Sea And Sky yesterday for a dinner out. I am not sorry to see summer winding down. I went out for walks each day and even the low 90’s temperatures seemed cool in comparison to recent weeks. Still plenty of warm weather left for Bronze Goddess.
I did home tasks all day, even cleaned the vacuum cleaner filters so feeling extra virtuous tonight 🙂
While organizing the perfume fort this morning, I came across 19-69 Purple Haze. I love its earthiness and it has some staying power.
Perfume Fort and Purple Haze make such fun word pairs. 😍
19-69 makes some very interesting perfumes.
Like some others I forgot to rabbit, my night was short but I made the most of a gorgeous 26C weather with sun and white clouds. I applied MB Muddled Plum tonight and I’m testing my new bpal All joys are due to thee, a lovely honeycake of a scent but scary strong in the bottle.
I forgot to rabbit yesterday, too.
Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit x4 so can share 3 sets.
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Fluffy Lemon Top EDP
SOTD = yesterday Le Labo Coriandre 39
Too lazy to post on Insta. Now that I think about it, 4160 Tuesdays is one of my top fragrances this year!
In other news, there was a time when I hated Sundays, not because it was a day off (really!!!) but because the next day is a Monday and it felt like gloom descended on Sundays at 6PM. Anyway, here’s an article from the New York Times about the September blues. (Ooops, just realized I am using my iPad and don’t have access to my email – I will post in a little bit).
Here’s the article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/well/mind/end-of-summer-september-stress.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HU4.1l5Z.7v4rrC-uglnn&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
I’ve had the Sunday pre-Monday dull drums, too. Love a 3-day weekend for this reason! Also why I typically don’t like to schedule activities for Sunday afternoon/evening. I need to have ample solo recharge time to prepare for Monday.
I saw a post somewhere listing the days of the week as:
Monday
Monday 2
Monday 3
Monday 4
Friday
Saturday
Pre-Monday
😅
This is so real. Feeling the pre-Monday right now (due to the holiday here in the US).
I burst out laughing at this! 🤣
I see they took Shalimar MI off the Guerlain website so I am guessing they are getting ready to put the new one on in its place. Hopeful thinking I know.
Ooh, interesting!
I keep checking the website in case it just pops up. I hope it’s soon!
I do too🤣
Pretty sure that there will be a flurry of posts here when that new Shalimar drops!
I’m wearing JM’s sadly departed Wild Fig & Cassis to ward off the heat today in L.A., 90 degrees, though it’s really a lull, as Daniel said, since we’re heading into 104 degrees by late mid-week. I shall have to amass all my strongest heat-slaying perfume amulets, as the mercury will keep creeping up all week.
Gonna be a rough week. Hang in there, my fellow Los Angeleno!
Thank you Daniel & the same to you!
thank you for the encouraging word. The heat can be.oppressive.
I always feel like having a personal pity party when LA has high temps for a few days. 😅
Stay cool!
oh are you in L.A. too, Tiffanie? Nice to have another NSTer in the Celluloid City.
yes, I’m living sweaty life 💦 in LA again today. 😅
Perfume is our super power! 💪✨
Think it’s one of the best scents the house ever produced. I still have a 30 ml bottle, and it’s really nice.
I agree & that’s exactly what I’ve got: a dwindling 30 ml bottle. I’ve also procured bottles for my sister and my sister-in-law, the latter which involved a funny Craigslist caper where the seller would not give me her address only the general location until I was 15 minutes away, then instructed me to meet her at a residential corner where we did our furtive transaction with me shoving cash out the window and her handing over a 100 ml bottle, which I had to spray to make sure was fine. It was. It was also an hour away from my house, but I will travel for perfume! I understood the seller’s personal safety concerns, people in L.A. have been shot when meeting at parking lots to buy/sell electronics, but it made everything way more complicated and clandestine, LOL.
Good morning NST and happy Labor Day in the US.
Very cool this morning and I am here for it, especially after our late August heat wave. I will wear PdN New York, one of my favorite transition perfumes.
Happy Labor Day to you too. 😊
You smell fabulous!
Happy Labor Day back atcha!
sotd = Guerlain Terracotta
Really it’s my sotwe, I wore Terracotta all weekend. 😌 The orangey clock face bottle makes me smile.
I might keep wearing Terracotta into the coming week of hot weather. I feel like a little kid on a food jag.
My then 4 year old son famously only ate orange foods for an extended time. It was macaroni and cheese, canned peaches, carrots, and orange juice for weeks on end. 🤪 The pediatrician laughed and told me not to worry.
I really adore Terracotta, tho the drydown has a clean-edged muskiness that rankles a bit on super hot days. I wish it were more of a skin scent drydown for me. That would be perfection.
I’ll switch to some 4711 EdC late today. Planning on doing some garden tidying this afternoon. I like to imagine 4711 confuses the mosquitoes. 😅
Happy Labor Day to any and all who have cause to celebrate. I’m simply grateful for a day off from the regular Monday routine. 👩🏫
That’s so funny about the orange foods 😂
Terracotta does have a lovely bottle. You’re smelling great!
I’m in Hermes Are La Mousson, which is subtle and lovely to me. I don’t have either melon or aquatic trauma-wish more people around here wore nice scents. I was pet sitting for a friend, so my lone weekend has been long walks with a cheerful little dog on the trails system here.
Funny-it’s not a camping trail but sometimes people do a wild camp. Came across some cyclists from another province who just put up a tent-right by a spot that’s marked as being dangerously eroded. I told them there were animals, too-we’ve all seen cougars, coyotes, foxes, and there’s bear scat. They weren’t too concerned.
Next day as I was walking the dog they kept going back and forth on the trail, and I didn’t hear them as they were on top of us. They seemed aggravated about the dog because he’d bark, as he was startled by their swift appearance behind us. Bo is a very small dog and he was on a leash the whole time. Wish they realized on a shared trail it’s wheels yield to heels, and that way we all enjoy our trail time. Nonetheless we enjoyed our trail time and our long weekend.
That’s pretty poor behavior by those cyclists. And scary for poor little Bo. Glad you still could enjoy the time with him.
I’m wearing Goutal’s Passion today, one of the oldest creations of the house. It’s a heady cocktail of white flowers with a strong Ylang-Ylang note. Not pretty, but to me very beautiful.
I should try that one, because I love Ylang-ylang.
I don’t see it on Goutal’s website anymore, so I have no idea whether it’s still available. It’s a great scent. I think I bought my bottle off eBay some 15 years ago.
I love Ylang-ylang (I can never remember how to spell it in English and was too lazy to look it up) and this one was mentioned a while ago on this website in a post by Erin. https://nstperfume.com/2011/09/16/5-perfumes-ylang-ylang/
ohh, I remember Passion! I wanted it so badly. I bought the body cream, and to me it was just divine and deep and mysterious. A good friend was given a bottle of the EDP and I remember her wearing t and it was beautiful on her, too. Did you know it was based on Folavril? They share the same base notes, and that’s incredible to me. Anyway you smell fantastic-so many good smelling people on this site.
I’m also a big fan of Ylang-Ylang in perfume. Might see if I can find a sample of Passion somewhere.
This weekend has been a huge disappointment for me. My husband and I had planned a simple, low-key celebration for our anniversary yesterday (34 years!). We were going to go out of town after church to spend the night in a lovely historic hotel, have a nice dinner, that sort of thing. All that changed when I tested positive for COVID on Saturday.
This is the second time I have had it, to the best of my knowledge, and the first time to actually have symptoms. So far, this has been somewhere between a bad cold and a mild flu as far as the severity of the symptoms. In other words, it has been only moderately worse than the side effects of the vaccines I have had.
I am feeling quite a bit better today than yesterday, which is a very good thing, as I had considered trying to get a prescription for Paxlovid. I was filling out all the pages of questions you have to answer to set up a consultation with the pharmacist when I figured it would be a good idea to find out just what the prescription would cost. Yikes! I logged into my prescription insurance account to get an estimate of the cost; it told me that my plan would cover $0.00 of the cost and that my cost would be $1377! I decided to hold off and see if I started to get better on my own.
No perfume today. I never wear perfume when I have a respiratory infection. Things don’t smell right when I am congested, so I don’t bother.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. There’s been a pretty big Summer Surge of Covid across the country. Happy I’m not doing hospital work! I hope you’re able to wear and enjoy your favorite perfumes ASAP!
I’m sorry your anniversary plans were ruined. Like Deva, I’ve heard there’s a big summer surge of Covid now (and recently). I got it for the third time myself in July. I’d tried Paxlovid when I had it the second time–I’m old enough that I could get it for free. It’s hard to say whether or how much it helped me, but maybe a bit. However I did really hate it–the awful metallic taste it gives you all the time is very hard to put up with. So on my third time I decided to just try to tough it out with ordinary flu-types of treatment, and rest, and I think I got better at about the same rate. Of course, people and cases are different, but I thought I’d pass along my experience. I hope your husband won’t get it and that you feel better soon and can reschedule your planned celebration.
Maybe it’s just as well I didn’t go through with getting the Paxlovid. I have read of adverse side effects, and also that it is not clear whether it provides any real benefit for milder cases.
What really stinks about the cancelled anniversary plans is that it isn’t the first cancelled trip for us this year. My 60th birthday was the same weekend as the derecho that went through Houston in May, and our travel route would have taken us right into the path of the storm, so we cancelled our planned trip and stayed home. We have also postponed a vacation we were tentatively planning for October since Beryl did $$$$$ of damage to our garage. This just is not my year for traveling.
oh 50_Roses-that’s really too bad. I hope you feel better soon and holy cow re the cost of that prescription. Hope something good happens to you soon.
I used to swear by lemonade made using the lemons from our own lemon tree in the backyard. A glass of two of that seemed to help anything get better faster. Unfortunately, the mega freeze of February 2021 killed the tree.
One of the really nice things about being retired (actually, one of at least 1000 good things about being retired) is being able to take as much time as I need to get well without having to call in sick or feeling pressured to go back to work or worrying about the pileup of undone tasks when I do go back.
Most important thing to get over COVID quickly and successfully is rest. Lie about, drink lemonade or non-stimulating tea choice, and watch funny movies on TV in between naps. Take it easy one more day than you feel like is absolutely necessary. Get better quickly!
So sorry to hear that your plans were ruined by COVID. Hope you recover quickly and completely.
Will you reschedule?
We definitely will make the trip sometime. I just can’t plan anything definite right now. I don’t know how long it will take me to get well.
Definitely don’t rush your recovery!
So sorry your plans got ruined. I definitely think Paxclovid isn’t worth much for most people and it interferes with a lot of medications, which sometimes prescribers don’t catch. And I agree that when I got COVID my symptoms were similar to what I got with the vaccine. But I am likely going to get the new booster because the COVID illness lasted a few days compared to the day or so from the vaccination adverse effects – and I can at least plan when I get sick.
Drat, so sorry. Do keep resting even when you start to feel better!
Wearing Shalimar MI today. Happy Labor Day or Monday No Funday to everyone else!
Hope you had a good Labor Day Deva, and hope the public behaved!!
I’m wearing Myrrhe 55 again from my recent sample. I’ve been giving this sample a lot of use lately and am fairly close to my decision to buy a FB (but maybe a small size because of $$).
This afternoon I am going over to the Museum of Fine Arts here to re-visit the Raqib Shaw exhibit. He’s an utterly amazing artist (I’ll add a link soon), and the first time I went I had such a sensory overload that I almost passed out and had to leave. That’s a bit of an exaggeration but I told some friends that the paintings just about broke my brain.
Wow! It must be this?
https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/raqib-shaw-ballads-east-and-west
Freebie alert for CONUS NST regulars.
Vintage L’Interdit 2003 EDT 50ml about 75% full.
Call dibs here.
Dibs!
It’s yours! email me at vivienne dot elliott1 in the land of outlook dot com.
I hope the folks in the US have been enjoying the long weekend. Our Labour Day is late October, I’m looking forward to that already!
And I managed to post only half of my comment! I wanted to also say that I’m going classic today with Miss Dior, the original that I bought about 10 years ago.
Re: COVID surge. I fly to Seville/Sevilla from California (so: 3 flights each way, a lot of hours in planes) in 10 days. Debating the mask thing. How much will a mask help me not get sick if I’m one of a handful of people wearing masks? I guess I should go see what the latest research says.
Got COVID when I flew last year. 😫 Fortunately just a mild cold for me, but don’t want to be sick on vacation.
SOTD so far: Phi.
Masks help a lot to reduce viral load and prevent or minimize infection to you when not many others are wearing one. Take a bunch, and swap them out twice a day. Don’t be shy, wear one. If someone tries to give you a hard time, tell them it’s for really bad allergies, to stop pollen exposure, instead.
Thanks for the information and encouragement!
FWIW: I wore a KN-95 mask when I was flying here in the US last month. I was almost the only person doing so, but did not get a cold or COVID from my travels.
Nobody gave me any static about it.
Thanks Jalapeño, after reading a little more about current surge, I’ll be masking.
Happy Labor Day NST! It’s been an eventful weekend for me.
Unfortunately, Saturday night was not a pleasant event. Some neighbors were blasting very loud music until the wee hours of the night. It was drowning out the traffic noise from the nearby Interstate. And they refused to turn it down after a couple of people asked them to.
I put in some earplugs so I could get some sleep. Thankful I still have a stash of them.
Yesterday, I was over at a cousin’s house for BBQ. They had quite the spread: dips, veggies, chips, 2 different kinds of jalapeno poppers, ribs, brisket, homemade mac & cheese, homemade baked beans, plus homemade brownies and 4 different kinds of homemade ice cream for dessert. The bourbon ice cream was excellent, BTW. I also met some cousins for the first time and caught up with some I hadn’t seen in about 3 years.
Today was taking care of a few easy tasks around the apartment.
Hope everyone had at least one wonderful thing happen over the holiday weekend.
SOTD = Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser Gold EdT. Perfect for the unofficial end of summer.
I miss seeing you here during the weekends.
Sounds like you had a busy time.
I’ll see if I can pop in on the weekends every so often.
Yesterday was the best kind of family gathering. Food for the body and the spirit.
Sounds like you had a nice get together with your family. Bourbon ice cream sounds fantastic!
Too bad neighbors sometimes act so inappropriately! Sorry you had to endure that.
Everyone there was a cousin of one sort or another of mine, on my Mom’s side of the family. There are a couple of towns out on Colorado’s eastern plains that are probably nothing but relatives, LOL.
Saturday night was the first time that sort of thing has happened. Hopefully it was the last.
That food sounds delicious!
Oh, it was! 😋😋😋
Glad you had fun with your cousins, that BBQ sounds fantastic.
Thanks ringthing!
Hope you will have a quiet night to recover, how un-neighbourly they were. I am actually up at 3am, my building and area are really quiet always. What a feast at your cousin’s, family reunions are the best.
I had a wonderfully quiet night last night, thanks!
Yesterday was not a family reunion per se. Every so often, those cousins get together for holidays. They would invite my Mom to join them when she was alive (pre-COVID), and I was always happy to hear that she had socialized there.
I wore Heure Exquise today, possibly around 10 sprays including what was applied to my shirt. The bottle is getting down there, so I may thunk by year end.
I hope people are having a nice long weekend if possible. We stumbled onto a Hallmark movie being filmed in my town this week; I’ll have to look for it when it finally hits the airwaves.
Oh how funny! do you know the name?
I believe “Christmas Blend”.
Ha, like a tea 🙂
Note to Meredifay-I did send you an email. Let me know if you did not receive it.
SOTD is Dusita La Douceur de Siam. Very pretty rose / floral scent.
I’ve been feeling like I am coming down with something but I came to work anyway. I have tomorrow off.
From the purse stash I am wearing Prada Infusion d’Amande. Almost thunked!
Hope that you are NOT coming down with The Crud!
Me too!
Oh I hope it’s not the plague and that you are feeling better soon, lillyjo.
Thanks ringthing.
Hope you recover quickly Lillyjo, as soon as you come home, bed and plenty of fluids and vitamin C.
I just got home Aurora. I took some vitamin C. I hope you are sleeping by now.