Saturday is the International Day of Peace, World Gratitude Day, and Leonard Cohen’s birthday. It’s also the last day of (astronomical) summer…the Autumn Equinox will start early Sunday (in the northern hemisphere, at least). We've got 3 questions, but first, a few PSAs: the swapmeet is open! Donatella will be dropping by on October 3rd, and we'll have our fall reading poll on the 5th.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. Name a perfume, or a brand, or anything about perfume, that you are grateful for, and tell us why.
3. What else are you grateful for as the seasons change this month?
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Water games in Venice [cropped] by Hervé Simon at flickr; some rights reserved.
First, just a quick note to say I’m behind on comments (again!)…will read Friday on Saturday or Sunday 🙂
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
Eau de Néroli Doré
2. Name a perfume, or a brand, or anything about perfume, that you are grateful for, and tell us why.
First, the people! Perfume people are just nice people. Second, grateful that my early years as a perfumista coincided with Jean Claude Ellena at Hermès.
3. What else are you grateful for as the seasons change this month?
Grateful as always for lingering summer weather. Grateful that pomegranates are coming back in season.
Happy Saturday! My poll answers:
1. I’m in Ambra Aurea this morning, and likely all day as it’s my current obsession.
2. I’m grateful for the sheer variety of perfumes — there is something to enhance or soothe any mood or circumstance, any kind of weather, any event or celebration.
3. I love the changing seasons, and friends tease me about my near-pagan reverence for the solstices and equinoxes. At this particular equinox, I’m grateful for the lovely summer we had here (not too much overbearing heat or smoky air) and for the sunny, crisp mornings of early fall. Mr. G was raised in Southern California and wishes it would be sunny and warm all the time, but not me — I love the four seasons, and especially the points of inflexion when one season gives way to the next.
I love the 3 seasons 😉
Well, after our burst-pipe adventure last winter, there IS one season for which my love is near non-existent. 🙄
1. St Clair Scents First Cut
2. I’m grateful that Diane of St Clair Scents is still hanging on in these challenging economic times and grateful for her exquisite creations.
3. Grateful to be alive and well enough to enjoy the change of seasons which is always pronounced in my neck of the woods with the glorious autumn foliage and grateful that my eldest has taken an interest in cooking and makes me soup from scratch when she comes to visit ( she says we are heading into “soup season “)
We ARE heading into soup season, and soups from scratch are the best! What has she been making? Is she done with nurse practitioner school?
Done and looking for employment. But now my other nurse is in grad school lol As far as soup goes she’s been making chicken soup, lentil, butternut squash and pea.
Definitely soup season- just made a huge pot myself 2 days ago. 🥣
Deva I’m coming over 😉
I got a sample of First Cut with my little bottle of Casablanca, and I loved the first exploratory sniffs. Looking forward to a full day wearing of that one soon. You small great!
Thanks!!! I love Casablanca too.
Having children cook for you is a blessing.
Absolutely agree !!!!!!!! Used to be my son who was the chef in the house but the eldest female has suddenly taken an interest
Hello and happy weekend!
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
LVEB L’Elixir. The opening is very nice. Lipsticky raspberry. But the whole lveb dna is quite weak. Maybe 1/4 of the OG? It’s the furthest removed flanker to date. I’d like it more if it had more resemblance. It’s also noticeably less sweet.
2. Name a perfume, or a brand, or anything about perfume, that you are grateful for, and tell us why.
I am grateful that perfumes come in beautiful bottles and treated as an important part of the artistic creation process.
3. What else are you grateful for as the seasons change this month?
Cooler temperature for sure! I love to layer when I dress. A cute cardigan, denim jacket etc. My skin also fares better, less oily or less of the occasional pimple.
I have a serious weakness for cardigans…it is nearly the only good thing about cold weather.
1. Glossier You.
2. Grateful that I hung onto my vintage bottle of Obsession through the years that I took a bit of a hiatus from perfume wearing. Even though I don’t wear it often, it is very special to me and would be the one bottle I grabbed if the house was on fire. Not that I plan on the house being on fire!!
3. Grateful that my 3 kiddos are happy and healthy, and that the youngest seems to be settling into college like she was made for it.☺️
I wish I’d kept more of my old bottles when I stopped wearing perfume!
Happy Saturday everyone!
My sotd is Etro Messe di Minuet, it smells so good.
I’m grateful for NST as a place where I can share my hobby and I get a lot of joy in interacting with perfume people. I always learn something, get to read about new perfumes and reviews, lemmings are born….it’s such a special place.
I am with SheriG in loving the changing seasons and fall is my favorite. I’m fortunate to live where the foliage is beautiful and it’s usually crisp and pretty with a nip in the air. Today we are expected to reach 90F so that’s a fitting end to summer, I am very ready for cooler temperatures and wearing sweaters.
We usually get pretty good fall color…hope it’s a good year.
1) Korres Cardamom, Amber, and something else I can’t remember.
2) I absolutely love how transportive perfume is (and scents is general).
3) Of course, grateful for Fall, my favorite season. 🍂🍁 Grateful for trying new things that push me out of my comfort zone. My worst fear as I age is becoming stagnant. I hope I’m always willing to try new things, meet new people, and keep learning new things.
Bonus Content: 🐶
4) T-Rex was very grateful for almost five months of going to the office with her hooman. She was the official greeter of every employee and camper that stopped in. Many of the younger hosts came in and sat on the floor with her and just loved her up. Both the UPS and Fed-Ex guy gave her biscuits and love every visit. As soon as she heard the truck coming, she was up and at the door waiting to greet and eat! 😉 So, I’m grateful to all the people that took the time to be kind to her. She had to share the office with a miniature dachshund part of the day, and both hoomans were successful in pulling this off without any bloodshed. That was a feat in and of itself! Grateful for my small, simple life. Grateful for this little corner of the web where everyone shares not only a common interest, but some uncommon stories.☺️
Happy weekend!
I bet T-rex was a big hit with everyone who met her!🤗
She IS a big hit. With everyone! I know I’m biased because she’s my dog but dang! She has got some kind of magic going on because everyone immediately falls in love with her. 75 year old men who haven’t had a nice word to say about anything for the last quarter of a century will get down on creaky knees to bask in her glow and talk baby talk to her. She’s a good foil for my curmudgeonly, sorta antisocial self. 🙃
The office intern!
Ha! She thinks she’s the BOSS and only accepts payment in the form of Milk Bones. 🙂
Of course!
1. I’m in Atelier des Ors Villa Primerose.
2. I’m grateful for Prada Amber Pour Homme that started my scent adventure and I’m thankful for the people in community that I got to meet by far.
3. Thankful for a great time during holidays in Turkey.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DALzlqxoRwo/?igsh=Y2pvNGtrbzRpNTc4
Happy Saturday!
Strange “Spring” day with heavy snow on the mountains and chilly winds here in my valley!
1.)Xerjoff Accento.Testing from a sample.It’s 1 of those perfumes you really wanted to love but it’s just nice…
2.)Grateful for the perfume community,especially here at NST,and Sebastian(The Perfume Guy)that put so much effort into getting news and info about perfumes and the perfume world to us!Grateful for the brands that still makes me excited about perfume and the fact that there is always something new to discover,and also something old(in my collection) to rediscover!I love this little hobby of mine.
3.)Grateful for the life I’m priviledged enough to lead,the people in my life,my career…life is pretty good!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
XO’s
I hate cold weather horning in on spring! Sorry!
So glad life is pretty good JB.
Today I am testing OJ Kashmir and will report back to all.
I am grateful for the opportunity to shift my love for cooking to a love of fragrances that filled a huge gap in my life a long time ago, and led me to new communities – especially this one.
I am grateful for my cloche bottles of SL tucked away. SL really opened the gates for me.
AND wow, I am grateful to be able to have retired this year.
Retirement is great, isn’t it? Do what you want, when you want…
I’m so glad you are enjoying your retirement. I know it was a big decision.
It is great. Mentally freeing.
Congrats on not missing the Rat Race!
Not one bit.
I am wearing Paco Rabanne La Nuit edp. I love this stuff in all its animalic glory.
I am so grateful that I found out about niche and independent perfumes. I have so many wonderful scents that would never be sold in a department store.
I love fall. The light changes just so, and the weather is warm but not too hot and then cool but not too cold. Is there somewhere I could move where it is always fall?
I cooked up a storm yesterday, a roasted pork shoulder, braised cabbage and apples, and roasted spiced potatoes and carrots. It was all delicious and I am looking forward to eating the leftovers.
Aha, always fall. Even I could maybe live with that.
And that sounds like the perfect fall dinner!
I’ll join you today in la nuit for the first cool rainy fall day we’ve had.
1. I’m in Atelier des Ors Villa Primerose.
2. I’m grateful for Prada Amber Pour Homme that started my scent adventure and I’m thankful for the people in community that I got to meet by far.
3. Thankful for a great time during holidays in Turkey.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DALzlqxoRwo/?igsh=Y2pvNGtrbzRpNTc4
I’m grateful for your photos. They are always so beautiful and evocative. And I’m glad you had such nice holidays in Turkey.
Such a lovely bottle!
Welcome back!
SOTD = Tauer Heraud Elixir
Sweet malted cocoa vanilla, perfect for a gourmand lover 🤎!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAMN-ntxJ2Q/?igsh=MTBwYmV5ZDh6YmZ6Yg==
I am grateful for this community. As a confession, and if I had already mentioned it before, I googled (before it was a verb) “most expensive perfume in the world” which yielded one of the Creeds. Bada-bing-bada-boom and the links led me to NST!
In caturday news, are you seeing double? 🤣
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAMPFasRVap/?igsh=c2YwemtmcjV2eG8x
Oh, and I am happily transitioning to fall-ish weather! My fall wreath is already on my door.
Mine is going up today.
Did you ever find out the most expensive perfume in the world? It could not be a Creed. I hope.
It was definitely Creed although I can’t recall which one.
Huh, that is a surprise.
Sounds like that new Tauer would be perfect for Halloween, if one wanted to go the sweet route for perfume.
So true!
In Lyric from a generous NSTer friend. We never would have met if it weren’t for NST and a swapmeet years ago💕
I’m grateful for this community, for perfume intel but mostly for the warmth and lovely people.
Though I wish summer lasted a little bit longer, I’m looking forward to getting cozy and wearing my fall/winter scents and clothes.
Lyric is lovely. It’s one my ultimate favorites in terms of perfume.
It’s such a gift when we find a fragrance we love that much❤️
twins
Hi Twin!
1) Badgley Mischka for me today.
2) I’m thankful that there are so many perfumes to sample that I can never even get to them all- can never get bored!
3)I love everything about fall but am thankful to live by in a place where I can see amazing wildlife like elk and deer and bears- especially the elk which are super active in fall.
We just get the deer. Would not mind seeing an elk. Don’t like seeing bears!
I spent a summer in Alaska working at a salmon canning factory for school money. One would look up and a moose would be starting back at ya.
I still haven’t seen a moose in the wild! I want to (but from afar😂)!
Once you’ve heard an elk bugle, you will never forget the sound!
Truth! We have a herd in the neighborhood so we hear it a good bit in the fall but once he was standing right in my yard outside of the bedroom window at 3AM and did it and it scared me to death haha! Sounded like someone was getting murdered.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
Earlier today, if was Indochine again, because I was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. It’s now evening and I’m wearing L’Astre from Le Galion.
2. Name a perfume, or a brand, or anything about perfume, that you are grateful for, and tell us why.
Pretty much everything about perfume, it’s a great hobby and I’ve met so many lovely people on line and some in real life.
3. What else are you grateful for as the seasons change this month?
I’m very grateful that my mother is still able to come and visit. She headed home earlier today, we both had a lovely time, but everything is getting harder for her at nearly 94.
So glad you saw your mom again Gaynor, and so glad you both had a lovely time!
How lovely to have your mom at 94. Sending her lots of health and a hug.
1) I am wearing a sample of Acne perfume by Malle. Not sure it will be full bottle worthy but fun to try it out.
2) I am thankful for the perfume community and the ability to explore new things. I also like watching YouTube, The Perfume Guy (Sebastian) and Anne Lauren and others, so entertaining. I am thankful for samples because this hobby is expensive and there are a lot of fragrances on which my opinion changed, for better or for worse, as I wore them.
3) Fall is my favorite season. When I lived in New England, I loved watching the leaves changing. Here in Texas, I love that the really bad heat is finally dissipating. I am thankful I am healthy and I feel good.
I have lived my entire life in the New England territory and I would absolutely LOVE to move to Texas.
Since I am thinking of moving to New England I would love to know why you want to move!
https://youtu.be/cf1uyvA00E4?feature=shared
My coworker brought me these plum dumplings today and sent me this video recipe. They are delicious. I know so many of you are good cooks and thought I would share.
I am working all weekend so answer the questions later.
Sotd is Rose Cherie.
good luck with work! You smell great
Thanks!
good luck with work! You smell great
OMG, Lillyjo! When I read the words plum dumplings, my ears perked up and I thought, could those be what I think they are? My Romanian grandmother used to make them and they were one of my favorite childhood treats. My mom never made them and neither did I, as I’ve always thought of them as labor intensive (not to mention calorie-dense).
They must be a more broadly Eastern European dessert, the lady in the video does not speak Romanian. Who knew?
Thank you for that trip back in time! ❤️
My coworker is from Bosnia. She said her grandmother made them too. I might get brave and try to make them myself. They are so yummy!
At work are you eating them cold?
I was surprised that they are boiled and not fried. I thought they would be like plum-stuffed doughnuts.
So, did you get the Shalimar Jasmine? I am curious what you thought. Mine comes on Tuesday.
You might enjoy this, Kris:
https://youtube.com/live/N_9niTOl1P4?si=PgUnZwjoTjps1sSR
Yes, this was interesting. It sounded like it took him a while to get into it. Of course, he didn’t like Shalimar MI and I loved it.
I’m looking forward to his upcoming blog post about it which he mentioned in the video. I’m also looking forward to your thoughts about it!
I got it but haven’t tried it yet. It’s a hectic work weekend and I didn’t want my mood to influence my sense of smell. Lol. I will wear it tomorrow.
Those look amazing. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
Plum dumplings? Never heard of them before, but they sound quite tasty.
I go back to work on Tuesday and not looking forward to go back to work. Wearing an unhealthy amount of Lyric today and happy that I did my cleaning yesterday instead of today.
I am twins with you but the opposite of unhealthy amounts, which is unusual for me as I am a upwards of 32 sprayer.
Lyric- two sprays because I am sending her off to another home 🙂
Saying goodbye?
Yes to someone who really wants her 🙂
Perfect then, she’ll move into her best life!
Interesting reading the answers to the poll questions 🙂
Beautiful day here and I’m using it to boost me along as I get down and dirty with a deep fall cleaning. Took me two days to do the outside of the camper and inside/outside of the truck and lawdy! Does Biggie Smalls SHINE like a diamond. The end result is very satisfying but my right shoulder is toast…
SOTD appears to be orange oil which I’ve been using to oil my woodwork inside. Will eventually spray something more pleasant. Hope everyone is enjoying these early fall days! 🍂🍁
Oh, but the inside must smell great now!
1. SOTD is Amouage Love Blossom. It’s borderline too-sweet but I just love it. Making my way through a decant and contemplating a full bottle.
2. I’m so grateful that my love of perfume has led me to this priceless corner of the internet! All of you have been such sources of wisdom, comfort, daily amusement… the list goes on!
Thanks for all the sympathy and advice about my kidney stones on Friday. Several of you mentioned drinking lots of water, which is exactly what my doctor ordered. Turns out I might have already passed my bigger stone (which explains the intense pain), my scan only showed tiny stones which were not obstructive. And I feel much better now.
3. It was wonderful to walk to the farmers market yesterday in cooler weather, and to be able to buy good strawberries AND apples. Best of both seasons.
Happy first day of fall!
Glad to hear that you may not have to have surgery for those kidney stones.
What a relief, so glad the worst is already over !
Glad you are feeling better.
Yay for feeling better and not needing surgery to deal with your stones!
I’m very grateful for the blackbird that sits on the deck railing beside my kitchen window and sings for more than an hour every evening before flying away to its roost. It sings, cocks its head and listens for a reply, and then carries on as dusk falls. Similarly, there were three bellbirds in different corners of the graveyard this morning, all taking turns to sing, and all singing the exact same notes…so a call and echo from one end to the other. The bellbirds have dialects, bounded by their territories. So those in my garden have a different call pattern to those in the graveyard, and they learn the songs of their neighbours to fit in.
First day of spring: grey, rainy and cold. But quite chirpy with birds. Wearing Bois de Vanille.
Now I am off to google bellbirds…I have no idea what those are.
https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/bellbird
You can hear their song, too
Lovely, thanks Kanuka!!
Thank you for that, loved to hear the bird singing. It is so different and beautiful.
Grateful to have my parents healthy, for having a warm blanket, for eating chocolate and for not living a a war zone.
Wearing Chamade from a cheap vintage bottle I found and being grateful for it too!
Chamade is so lovely!
Those are wonderful things to be grateful for.
1. SOTD (Monday) is Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman. Nice on an overcast day with a definite hint of fall chill.
2. Grateful that my sense of smell has returned, that we have a sense of smell in the first place, and that I will be able to do some sniffing in the big department store in town and in some of the little boutiques.
3. Grateful for all the good wishes from NSTers after I expressed disquiet about our weekend in Dublin with our students. Everything went well — one mild case of food poisoning, one 21st birthday that did not result in too much post-celebration misery, and overall a great, if exhausting, weekend.
Glad to hear that your trip into Dublin was mostly uneventful!
Wearing Gris Charnel on my last day of vacation before I head in to work tomorrow afternoon. After 9 days off, I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I don’t think anyone does.
Oh, I just tried that last Friday and was very taken with it! But all I had was a bit on my arm. How do you like it when wearing it for awhile? Also, they had the Extrait as well as the original–any thoughts on those?
The extrait version is a little deeper and richer than the edp. I prefer the edp. The extrait is “reasonably” priced for what it is but I see no reason to own the extrait.
Thanks!
Love reading all the weekend poll entries – what a lovely bunch of folks we have here.
I’m enjoying “Scent” from Costume National today; it’s perfect for a cool, morning walk with the pup.
Agree, NSTers are such a lovely group. ♥️
and Mm-mm! You smell fabulous. 😊 My morning walk with the resident cattle dog was almost chilly at 63 degrees! It’s almost comical that the high for today is 86. 😅
1. I am wearing Shalimar Millesime Jasmin today. I definitely smell the Jasmin which is slightly indolic. It’s pretty soft and powdery on me.
2. I am very grateful to the NST perfume community. I love coming here and having people be nice to me! Lol.
3. The change to Autumn means that there will be a window where I don’t have the air conditioner or furnace running. I am grateful for Money saved!( although I do prefer the spring version of this savings)
So do you like Shalimar MJ? Can hardly wait to receive mine tomorrow. Hoping I love it ♥️
I do like! I will do more sprays next time though.
Glad that you like the Shalimar Jasmin! It’s been receiving mixed reviews, from what I have come across.
I was able to turn my A/C off over the weekend. But I will probably have to turn it back on today.
I haven’t turned mine officially off, but it hasn’t kicked on in a few days.
The sun was shining brightly enough that the temp in my apartment went up 5 degrees from this morning. So I definitely turned it back on.
sotd = Vanille Galante
So comforting, a fall-ish scent but not pumpkin spicy, and sometimes VH smells of bananas to me. 🍌 I love it! 💛
I have an unexpected and welcome work from home day this first lovely Monday of autumn. 🍂
I’m gently tidying up my closet on my lunch break. It’s time to donate things I haven’t worn in a couple years. It feels good to clear things out so I can see clothes I enjoy that I had forgotten.
This evening I’m getting my flu shot and COVID booster. 😬 I’ve never doubled up vaccines, but I want to stay well. A family member is having lithotripsy for kidney stones in two weeks. Gotta keep this household healthy. 🤞
Stay well, fragrant friends! 🤗
Good luck with the vaccines and good luck keeping everyone healthy!
Good morning! I’ve still got lots of NST to catch up on after a busy week. Today I’m wearing Angélique from Papillon Perfumes.
Good morning Gaynor! (Afternoon by now I guess.) You’ll catch up, we’re not going anywhere 🙂
Still groggy on Monday, after I stayed up WAY too late on Saturday night. Messing with my sleep schedule gets gnarlier the older I get, ha!
1. SOTD Monday = L’Artisan Timbuktu, in one of the older 50mL bottles. Why don’t I wear this more often? Commando on Sunday. SOTD Saturday = thunked my sample of MMM Tea Escape.
2. Late for Gratitude Day. I am thankful that I am back to wearing perfume. I was not at this time last year.
3. Late for Gratitude Day 2.0, but I am thankful that Teflon kitty and I have a roof over our heads. Also thankful for NST. It has been a place where I can share my highs and lows. That sense of community and belonging is so valuable. Thank you, all.
W00t (x2) for the THUNK!
Thanks! I suspect I won’t be thunking anything else for a while…
Thank you right back Jalapeno!
💗🥰
OMG I am binge watching Slow Horses.
Testing Dyptique Bois Courses today. It’s very lovely and very expensive. I can see a split or decant, but theres not much sillage after two hours.
Isn’t Slow Horses so good?! Gary Oldman is amazing. I get a visceral reaction watching his character, like I can almost smell the stink! 😝
It is sooooo good. I am just loving it. Gary Oldman is great.
I was a bit too rush to judgment on the Dyptique. The dry down is getting better and better.
Oh well…this is the most forgiving group!
I want to see it so bad and hope at some point my tolerance for stress & violence returns to its previous levels! But will add a plug for the books, which are really fantastic.
Wearing Alkemia Come to Me from a sample, with rose and musk and amber, meant to be a little bit magical, which reminds me of the Arthurian saga I just finished, The Bright Sword, by Lev Grossman, a retelling of the Knights of the Round Table and quite brilliant for those who can’t get enough of this stuff.
Like Apsara, I too am grateful for Mr. Serge L., who expanded my horizons beyond what I thought possible. I’m also grateful for Robin and NST and all my scented friends across the bandwidth and in person who have brought me such joy and new scent experiences over the years and for my mom, RIP, who instilled her love of fragrance in me. Also grateful for our newish rescue dog, who rescued us from sadness after the passing of our previous canine companion, and keeps us healthy walking and running to exercise her. All our dogs have been great, but she is also the most emotionally intelligent dog we’ve ever had, (half cattle dog, half some kind of shepherd) and a good and sensitive soul all around.
So happy your new dog is working out great!