Happy Friday and happy International Artist Day, aka Pablo Picasso’s birthday. A quick reminder that the next splitmeet will be a week from tomorrow, on 2 November. Meanwhile, we're off to Turkey! Our community project for today: wear a perfume that is named for a place in Turkey, or that reminds you of a (real or imaginary) trip to Turkey, or that features a local ingredient, or ?
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I'm quite happily on day 2 of L’Artisan Parfumeur Traversée du Bosphore.
Reminder: on 11/1, Rabbit rabbit rabbit! It's November. Wear a fragrance that will bring you peace, happiness or good luck for the month.
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 Istanbul_hdr [cropped] by Antti T. Nissinen at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hello and tgif!
CP sotd is JM Rose Amber that I picked up at the airport duty free for 40% off. Didn’t plan on buying anything in the airport but the deal felt too good to pass up. It starts off with a strong resemblance of Turkish Delight before the ambery base emerges.
That’s a great deal! I am sure you smell lovely. That is one JM scent I have not tried.
JM Rose Amber is a beauty. Congrats on getting it at such an excellent price!
Good Morning NST! I’m hewing to the CP in Parfum d’Empire’s Cuir Ottoman, from a sample. Really great stuff, so not sure why I never bought a bottle. Perhaps I love Ambre Russe even more.
The Ottoman Empire covered most of the Balkans and much of Central Europe and the Middle East at its height, and lasted centuries longer than it should have as it stifled change and modernity toward the end, but it was indeed magnificent in its prime. Since its tentacles and influence reached so far, we have a lot of countries and perfumes to choose from. I hope everyone has a great day and a lively weekend, whatever that means for you!
Twins!
Oh, I don’t know how I overlooked that one when building my list of Turkish related perfumes. I already have Traversée du Bosphore on deck for today but maybe I’ll wear Cuir Ottoman tomorrow.
I did buy a big 100ml bottle from eBay a few years ago for a good price. If you ever want a decant, Denise, just let me know!
That is very kind of you to offer, rabbitsflower. I’m glad you got a good deal on your big bottle! That is always a good feeling.
I’m planning that one for tomorrow. You smell great!
It still blows my mind that the Ottoman Empire and Babe Ruth were contemporary. 🤯
I’ve never thought of it that way — really jolts one’s perspective, doesn’t it?
Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, was known as Byzantium to the Romans: the French name for Byzantium is Byzance, so I’m wearing the original 1987 Rochas Byzance, which manages to be very eighties and completely unclassifiable at the same time — there was never anything like it on the market. Huge solar-flare aldehydes at the beginning, a floral heart but it’s not a floral because there’s so much else going on at the same time, a tumult of spices and citrus and woods and just about anything else you can think of, one of those too-much-is-not-enough scents we loved so much back in the day.
This is a great and complex one and you smell Byzantine!
Great pick!
You reminded me that I have a beautifully packaged mini of Byzance in my jumble of samples and I have rescued it from the chaos to wear soon, so thank you!
Drew a blank for today’s CP. I HD initially thought something from Serge Lutens but his stuff is a little too strong for work when sprayed. In Jicky edp today.
Sherlock Holmes thinks you deserve points:
“But why Turkish?” asked Mr. Sherlock Holmes, gazing fixedly at my boots. I was reclining in a cane-backed chair at the moment, and my protruded feet had attracted his ever-active attention.
“English,” I answered in some surprise. “I got them at Latimer’s, in Oxford Street.”
Holmes smiled with an expression of weary patience.
“The bath!” he said; “the bath! Why the relaxing and expensive Turkish rather than the invigorating home-made article?”
“Because for the last few days I have been feeling rheumatic and old. A Turkish bath is what we call an alterative in medicine–a fresh starting-point, a cleanser of the system.
I’d say Jicky is both relaxing and expensive.😂
😂
*applause*
Ditto!
I’m joining you Robin in La Traversée.
Feeling a bit sick today, had my covid shot yesterday and apparently this is how I always feel afterwards. Thankfully, I will be fine again tomorrow.
We’ve been having some lovely weather this past week, sunny and fairly warm for the time of year. It makes a nice change from the rain.
You and Robin smell great. I’m still kicking myself for not getting a bottle when it was available, and also why did they discontinue it, it had so many fans!
Aw, hope you are indeed better tomorrow…
Happy Friday! I just love how interesting all the historical research done by NSTers is, I learn a lot from CPs like this.
Jalapeño suggested perfume with a coffee note for the CP, so right away I thought of Montale Cafe Intense Ristretto. When I looked it up on Fragrantica, Ristretto also has Turkish rosewater as a note, so I get points!
Thunder woke me up very early this morning and it’s still raining, which we need badly. The rain and wind will bring down a lot of leaves but I have filled my eyes with fall beauty this week. Enjoy your day everyone 🌹
I’ve been in Persian bakery cafes here in Los Angeles where they flavor the coffee with rosewater. Smells and tastes amazing.
That does sound amazing!
Nicely done for the CP!
Thanks!
Checked Guerlain’s site, and sure enough, Rose Cherie features a combination of Bulgarian and Turkish rose, so I’m claiming points.
Noticed they have a Rose Cherie gift set which contains a bottle of RC, plus another scent and fig reed diffusers. Wondering why it’s specified as a RC gift set? Oh, and it sells for $715, egad.
That is a beautiful fragrance.
Rose Cherie is so pretty!
I’m twinning with DeniseH in Cuir Ottoman, for all the reasons she cited. I adored this fragrance when I first discovered it, and I still like it but sometimes I wish it had a bit more grrr or something. Some people on fragrantica say it reminds them of L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme and I’m considering checking that out … as if I need another leather scent. 🙄
Triplets!
I’m wearing Ambre Narguilé and Cuir Ottoman.
As for Ambre Narguilé, scaresbears already explained the connection with the CP yesterday (nargile – hookah pipe). And Cuir Ottoman speaks for itself. Here’s what Parfums d’Empire’s website says about it:
“**CUIR OTTOMAN, as languid as an afternoon in a Turkish bath…”**
“ **Though the leather note is appreciated by connoisseurs, it is so assertive it is seldom featured in perfumery. But it is one of Marc-Antoine Corticchiato’s favourite and he built his personal interpretation of it on the smoky effluvia of burnt styrax and birch.**
**From there, he set off for the Ottoman Empire, inspired by the secular tradition of leatherwork in Anatolia – up to the 19th century Turkish leather was the most highly coveted in Europe. He added iris, which already presents leathery facets, after learning that its powdery notes were often used to soften the smell of the finest skins.**
**In keeping with his theme, he steeped his iris and leather accord in incense tears and benzoin, whose vanilla facets called for vanilla – which is, along with cistus, the core of oriental perfumes. Tonka bean brings its gourmand touch: its tobacco facet intensifies the leather accord and conjures the lazy smoke of the hookah. To make this oriental leather even headier, it is wrapped in narcotic Egyptian jasmine, as white-fleshed and opulent as the odalisques painted by Delacroix, Ingres and Matisse…”**
Did you say it’s both International Artist Day and Picasso’s birthday? Let’s bring it all together:
“ODALISQUES FROM INGRES TO PICASSO”
https://www.alhambra-patronato.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BROCHURE_ODALISQUES.pdf
https://www.lahornacina.com/dossiergranada4.htm
I will end up copying your layering when I wear Cuir Ottoman tomorrow over today’s Ambre Narguilé!
Extra points for you today for sure, Glannys!
SOTD is FM Portrait of a Lady. Beautiful🌹
Beautiful indeed!
Thank you!
You smell classy.
Thanks. It is definitely a classy fragrance.
So beautiful! And that Turkish Rose!🌹
The Turkish Rose is present!
POAL sometimes feels like a Christmas Rose perfume to me. 🎄🌹
I guess I never thought of that.
I am sampling Gallivant Istanbul for the CP. It’s woody and spicy and a good fit for a chilly autumn day we are having.
Nice choice! I really enjoyed my sample of that one too.
I’m copying someone who was wearing SL Cuir Mauresque earlier this week. I confess to not realizing that it has an orange blossom note and since I’ve been on an orange blossom jag this summer, it was a happy discovery. I am also happy to be CP compliant😊
Did you ever find your perfect orange blossom?
Of course I’ve realized how many different versions of an orange blossom fragrance there are and I’m limited to what I’ve tried but I think L’Artisan’s Histoire d’Orangers is pretty hard to beat.
I like many of the others I’ve tried, especially HG Tryst but HdO is the one I consistently reach for. I’d like to find a more indolic OB, like the Orange Blossom in my yard so the search continues!🧡🌸
I think I have asked you before, but have you tried Jo Malone Orange Blossom? That was one of the first ones that sent me down the rabbit hole. Although I don’t wear it much anymore, I do find it to be a beautiful orange blossom scent.
Might have been me in Cuir Mauresque, but also want to say that if you haven’t already tried Santa Maria Novella Eva for the perfect orange blossom scent, you should!
Thank you for the inspiration x 2!!
My pleasure!
I am back from Japan, jet-lagged and tired but it was such a good trip. Fitbit says I walked 86 miles last week, I forgot to check the first week but it must have been about the same. No perfume purchases but I smelled Barenia in duty-free. It must be forgettable since I don’t remember much except the odd top note. It did last a long time on me. I’ll join the Turkey cp in Odalisque, I haven’t worn it in ages.
Glad you had a good trip
Glad you had a good trip and thanks for reporting on Barenia. I was just asking about that yesterday.
Welcome back!
Welcome back!
86 miles? That’s a LOT of walking!
Yes, it was. My feet swelled so much I couldn’t see my ankle bones. But a foot massage helped a great deal.
Ouch!
Welcome home foxbins! 86 miles!
I’m out of town, sitting in a hotel room with the window open listening to a blackbird singing over the drone of an air conditioning unit and traffic. It’s been singing since around 4am, long before dawn so I wonder if its roost is disturbed by artificial lights. Anyway, my only plans for today are to go to the art gallery and then visit some perfume shops and maybe go to the Kurosawa film festival and see Seven Samurai on the big screen. A perfect day in a big city and hopefully I will be CP compliant by the end of it, but in the meantime wearing Pansy.
Sounds like a fun-filled day to me.
That does sound like the perfect city day, enjoy!
Enjoy your time in the city Kanuka!
I’ve been wearing Galop d’Hermes a lot recently because I find it beautiful, elegant, and comfortable to wear anywhere in public.
I like to think of it as a “soft power” perfume; behold the nostalgic image I found while searching for a Madeline Albright quote on soft power (i.e., diplomacy):
https://x.com/madeleine/status/845024783582552065
I have had a commercial sample of Galop lying around since its launch o/a 2016. Like many, I was disappointed then. I don’t know if it’s the perfume that has mellowed or my high expectations for a Christine Nagel rose, saffron, and doblis leather fragrance, but I picked the sample up randomly the other day and found I now love it.
While there are no claims to its rose being Turkish, I’d say the combination of rose, saffron, and leather is as plausibly Turkish as the apple-leather of TDB (which I also adore but never wear).
Has anyone else tried Galop recently, or changed their view of it?
Nooo. But your description makes me want to give it another go!
Def worth another try!
I have never tried it, but have always wanted to.
If you can find one of the commercial spray samples in the little box on eBay, they are worth it. frangrancenet. com.
I think I have a sample of Galop around, but it’s been a while since I tried it. Mine is/was a mini rollerball sample from Sephora.
ha, you are going to start a run on Galop for sure!
Giddy Up!😋
Vaguely compliant in Shalinar Millésime tonka as the OG is the first ‘oriental’ and Turkey seen from occidental eyes back in the day was seen as part of the orient. Noticing again how potent it is, fortunately I love the stuff.
Still in Drôme Provençale and enjoying the weather, there have been floods in some regions but Drôme was completely spared, feeling bad for folks affected though. My holidays are extended until Nov 9, I feel lucky as I’ve enjoyed a month of this easy life.
That’s awesome you are getting an extended vacation! I’m very happy for you!
Thank you Lillyjo, so sweet of you. I hope everything is well with you, the two kids and the dog.
Wow! I’m sure you aren’t upset at spending more time in Provence. 😉 Enjoy!
Glad that where you are at escaped the floods.
Thank you Jalapeno, it sure is nice to relax, it’s 20 to23C everyday. Floods are scary, several little towns further south have been devastated, we feel lucky. Wishing you some rain but enjoy fall in Colorado.
Just spent a silly amount of time trying, unsuccessfully, to find any links between the CP and my applied perfume. I’m testing M. Micallef’s Ylang in Gold. This is a very strange perfume—at least how I am smelling it. It goes on a weird banana and toothpaste combo, not strong, but not pleasant either. Once it dries down I get a fruity wood pudding, which is actually kind of nice. But it is very light–or I am anosmic–and not something I would ever crave. Ylang? Not really getting any, other than a deracinated floral.
In other news–if you are bored by cat and other animal stories, you can stop reading here! 😁😉😼
Yesterday, I had my very sweet kitten in his harness on a leash connected to a box near doors open to the back deck, which I left wide open. That way, he can roam a bit in the sun and get fresh air, and I get to leave windows and doors open, but he won’t run off. He’s just 13 or so weeks now, and much too small to be out and about outdoors on his own. ANYWAY, suddenly I heard a kerfuffle and turned to see the leash straining, but inside the house. I discovered Pico, said kitten, had pulled himself behind our couch as far as the leash would let him. When I pulled him out he purred until I brought him back towards the open door, at which point he flew out of my arms and back behind the couch. When I went out onto the deck to see what could possibly have scared him so much (he is not scared of the large bucks that come through), I saw nothing. All looked well until a very large dark shadow enveloped me and the deck. Looking up, only about 10 feet away, were TWO huge turkey vultures flying from our roof over our deck, around and below our trees, and back again. Their wingspan, and I am not exaggerating! was close to 6 feet. It was like being in Jurassic Park. They were so low, and so disproportionately enormous. They were looking for Pico! Who knew turkey vultures even hunted? I had no idea. Then, if it could possibly get weirder, the two of them got into a fight on my neighbor’s backyard shed roof. Needless to say, the kitten stayed firmly rooted behind the couch as the spectacle unfolded. Eventually, the birds flew off. We’ve had hawks and great horned owls in our trees, but never two at a time at close range hunting a pet!
❤️ your cat story. Glad all ended well.😺
You’re the only one with CP linked bird spotting. Reckon you get a point for Turkey Vultures.
Also, what did you decide on for your perfume related gift from your relative
Ah. Well. This issue with me is more about a family dynamic than logical. But it means a lot to her for me to give her a wish list. Birthdays and fulfilled gift wishes are important to her.
Knowing that a list from which she could choose was expected, I suggested sample and discovery boxes (Sylvaine Delacourte, Guerlain), perfumes (Tryst, Warzawa, Babycat), body stuff (your Astier de Villatte’s body and hand cream, a Balmain Paris hair perfume); and the Babycat candle. Any one of these would be fun, but none would be okay too!
Hah! I missed that entirely.
Wow, what a story, poor Pico must have been traumatized!! I have to admit, turkey vultures kind of gross me out.
You know, I think it is a marketing thing. If they were called condorettes or raven raptors or even peregrine vultures, I think they’d pass more muster! When I am out in the hills hiking, and see them circling high up on the thermals, I often reflect on their sad luck of being called “turkey vultures!” It was just mean to give them such a pedestrian name!
Yes, me too.
Wow — how scary to have huge vultures pterodactyling overhead! 🙀 Good thing Pico knew what to do!
One afternoon I was walking in my neighborhood last year and suddenly noticed five or six strange dark hulking big birds perched awkwardly in a tree. Took me a while to realize they were some kind of vulture. Sinister looking creatures! I could see no indiction of what brought them there. In retrospect, I wonder if they were migrating and had stopped for a rest.
I snapped some photos and hurried on my way.
Pterodactyling! Exactly. Love that.
Poor Pico! I am sorry he had to go through that stress and I hope he’ll forget about it soon.
Scary! I’m glad Pico is ok!
OMG – so scary! Glad Pico is OK!
ZOMG! Glad that little Pico is OK, and hopefully he won’t be seriously traumatized by the experience.
Sometimes people here call turkey vultures “buzzards” which sounds even worse to me. 💀
That’s what we call them.
Scary! Glad little Pico kitty is okay.
Terrifying. I’m glad the kitty is safe. Hawks could also swoop down on it. We had an orange tabby and were told by the vet that the color made it easy for raptors to see. Owls too. We have both in our neighborhood and turkey vultures one hill over, but they don’t usually wing over to where we are, they prefer to hunt in the open hills.
Right? What on earth were they doing floating low through the trees?
Like many of you this week, I’m opting to go with a Turkish rose scent for the cp: YR d/c Rose Oud. Its deep black bottle holds a dusky, dark rose, a little spicy and not very sweet. Surprisingly soft and not overpowering despite its rose, oud, labdanum and cumin notes. I usually wear this one in winter but it’s working nicely today on a mild☀️fall day.
At long last, after much research, our 21 solar panels were installed yesterday, and the guys came today to finish up putting squirrel guard around the panels. We’re ready to go, just need the city’s final inspection. 😻😻and😻are relaxing today after yesterday’s hard work of supervising the crew. There was hammering and drilling on the roof, one guy coming in and out of the attic, another guy going in and out of our basement where the electric panel is located and drilling on the side of the house. Whew! All’s quiet, they just left.
Wishing everyone a nice weekend ahead. Our forecast is for a beautiful one 🍂🍁.
Great forecast here too, have a good weekend.🍂
Have a nice, relaxing weekend!
Congratulations on the solar panels! Wow, what a project.
I’m wearing several sprays of SL Iris Silver Mist. It’s been awhile since I’ve worn this beauty. The cool, crisp weather is perfect for it!
Ah, you smelled great today Gail!
Wonderful! I agree, this weather is ideal for it.
Back home now after a morning doctor’s appointment, and I just dabbed myself with my sample of Fort & Manle’s Amber Absolutely. It’s surprisingly light for this type of fruity boozy amber scent, and I am enjoying.
Hope your doctor’s appointment was no big deal.
I wasn’t sure what to do for the cp but I’ve seen a lot of rose this week, so Delina it is.
Work was crazy busy this week. No time to comment but I did some reading of comments. I’ve been patiently waiting for weeks to hear about a job I applied for and finally got a call for an interview, it’s next week. It sounds like a great opportunity for me so I’m trying not to be too nervous. Luckily I kept my interview (power) suit lol but I don’t have any dress shoes to go with it. I wear running shoes to work currently, so I headed out to the big mall this morning to do some shoe shopping. When I got there the doors were locked and they were on lockdown due to shots fired in the parking lot.😰 I quickly got out of there and headed back home. So scary. I can’t ever go shopping there again now, I would always feel scared. Looks like I’ll be ordering from zappos.
I’m glad you could get out of there quickly, that’s really scary.
Thanks ringthing!
Wishing you the best of luck 🤞for the interview despite today’s scary event.🤗
Thanks Laila! I’m excited!🤩
Yikes! Lockdown due to shots fired is scary. I would have hightailed it outta there too.
Have your ordered from Zappos in the past?
Best of luck with your interview!
Thanks Jalapeno!
Yes, I love Zappos. They have free, fast shipping. Sometimes I get things the next day! This order says it’ll be here Sunday, still pretty good. They also do no hassle free shipping returns. They just email you a QR code to scan at ups when mailing back. Easy peasy. Would highly recommend them as an online retailer.
Oh my goodness. How frightening. Hope no one was harmed.
Good luck with the interview.
Thanks spiderplant! The news said no one harmed. Shots fired over a “dispute.”
Good luck with the interview!
I’m sorry you were in such a scary situation.
Thanks lillyjo!
I’m so glad I missed being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stuff like this is making me want to leave my house less and less.☹️
Glad you are safe, Madtowngirl
Thanks DeniseH! Me too.😰
I’m glad you’re okay! I avoid shopping malls unless I really must go to one (“must” includes occasional pursuit of a fragrance lemming, lol). I find the crowds stressful, and I think malls are too easy for wrongdoers to target (my overactive imagination working overtime). Luckily, most mall department stores that might have said lemmings have their own entrances, so I can slip in and out.
Thanks!
Yeah, I don’t go to this particular mall often and now it will be never. I live proximal to a nicer, outdoor mall and much prefer that kind of shopping for all the reasons you mention. I can pop in and out of the couple stores I’m interested in and then can easily leave.
What a stressful day it has been.
There might be a gin martini in my future.
sotd is Niki de Saint Phalle parfum – which suits the cooler weather if not the CP. Also it is probably the coolest bottle I own, square with the sculptural intertwined snakes on top.
That might be a CP, though, if it hasn’t happened before: favorite bottles.
Enjoy that martini, should you indulge. 🍸
Thank you. I did.
yeah that is the coolest bottle ever. And she was an amazing artist. You smell wonderful. Here’s to the weekend.
Joining Robin and others in the delicious Traversée du Bosphore today. Yum, this one is so good!
Glad you joined the club 🙂
SOTD = Serge Lutens Rahat Loukoum
… from my travel spray BUT you cannot tell because: 1) the travel spray holder is nekkid 2) the perfume name is nowhere to be found on the body of the glass spray EXCEPT 3) HTH is one supposed to read the tiny round sticker at the end of the glass spray? Anyway, at least it smells great – Turkish Delight – so I give myself full points!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBkIUQGR5tK/?igsh=ZDk2ZmRwbDc1emV1
Happy Friday!
Happy Friday back atcha!
I hate those tiny stickers.
ah, I forgot about that one but it’s perfect. I might have a Keiko Mecheri decant of one of her Loukoums, might look for it.
No CP points for me, wearing No.5 Eau Premiere just because I felt like it.
If I had more energy, I would have looked for my Nishane sample of Hundred Silent Ways, since Nishane is Turkish.
Finally a couple of days off this weekend but I have a lot to do.
I hope you can have a bit of rest this weekend.
Eau Premiere is always the right choice, Zephyr2.
Had the first frost of the season last night, but it wasn’t a killing frost. I still saw plenty of things blooming on my afternoon walk.
Another day, more laundry. This time it was linens. I also took a blanket out, since I got a little chilly this morning. And yes, I turned the heat on. But I don’t need it during the day. Tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be near record high temps for late October. 🥶🥵🥶🥵
SOTD = ELdO 500 Years EdP. Turkish rose and incense fits right in with the CP. I think this might be even better than Eau de Protection! 🌹🌹🌹
You have me looking up your sotd!
Unfortunately it only comes in 100mL bottles. But it sure smells good!
This one sounds nice. I am not familiar with it.
I think it might be similar to the original Agent Provocateur EdP, or the L’Agent flanker. Need to test my theory.
Report back.
Did people get free money that I don’t know about? Lol
It’s been so busy here tonight, the line never ends. I’m taking my lunch anyway.
My sotd is Tobacco Vanille. I’m pretty sure I get points.
Drat, I missed the free money too! Sorry it was a crazy busy night lillyjo.
Don’t care how long the line is, you should never skip your lunch!
SOTD is Traversee du Bosphore. Forgot how much I enjoy this one. I need to get it out more.
Same here!