Happy Almost-Friday and happy Halloween! Birthdays today: John Keats, Ethel Waters. What fragrance are you wearing?
We continue crazy warm for October, but I'm in Hermès Vetiver Tonka anyway.
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 Alternate Reality [cropped] by Scott Robinson at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hello and happy Halloween!!!
I won’t be dressing up but with my sotd I feel like I am. I am wearing Lush x Barbie, so I feel like a lot of fun, super bubbly and PINK!
On the candy front, I purchased TWG’s new Tea Teddies. They are super adorable fruit gums that you can eat as is or dissolve in a cup of hot water. I got blueberry and raspberry & vanilla. Delicious and fun gummies for adults!
And I am hoping to finally see the Barbie movie this weekend…am I behind or what?
well, yes, kinda.
🙂
I am playing catch up with horror films too! Watching The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, from 2021. Thank goodness it isn’t actually scary, because I am a baby. Lol.
Oh, I am way worse than you. No way would I watch that.
It was my first movie theater movie post-COVID (still seems funny to say it).
I have not been back! I was starting to lose my taste for movie theaters even before covid, now I have no interest.
You may be late but it’s better than never arriving. Like me. 😉
Ha!
I’m in the same movie group as Deva. 🫡
Well, we will see if I even watch it. But that’s my plan.
Lovely photo, Robin. 😍
Bonjour mesdames et messierus! Very busy day of running around to pick up dog and rig wearing Cuir de Nuit which is the only thing (perfume wise) I picked up while gadding about. 14 days (really 16 of you include traveling days) is 100% possible in a backpack. Fellow travelers were stunned and I was secretly patting myself on the back. 😌
Hope everyone is well, have been so busy that I haven’t had much time to check in here to get the latest doings. I feel compelled to thank all the French people for their courtesy and kindness. If you hear ANYTHING non-complimentary about country and people, don’t believe it! Just a winner of an experience all around, just like it was 30 years ago. 🇫🇷
Doggos allowed just about everywhere in France and if I had a kizillion dollars I would move myself and doggo there in a hot minute. Doggo would look so cute in a little beret! Smell well, y’all!
So glad you had a good trip! The pictures looked wonderful.
We also just did 16 days in a carry-on bag each, but we stayed in a lot of places with washers (one in Florence even had an honest-to-goodness separate clothes dryer, which was such a huge luxury that I could overlook the loud traffic going by all night). I’m glad the backpack worked out — it’s so much easier to move about when it’s all on your back.
I’ve been following your photos, too. Absolutely lovely! One of the folks on my trip had her checked bag go missing for 3 days, which is not a good way to start a vacation. My 2.5 gallon ziplock made a decent wash tub but the real thing would have been much better. Are you back home now or still traveling?
Home since Sunday, though Mr. O and I took a trip up the Rhein about an hour for an overnight in a castle last night, because why not do that on a random Wednesday when you can? 🙂
Ooooh, romantic! 🥰
Oh yay, welcome home but sorry you had to come back! So glad it was a wonderful trip. Were the people on your tour nice too, I hope?
Yes, almost all were very nice, flexible, and easy. A few of the single ladies meet up for tours around the world and that’s the only connection they have. Meaning, they met on a past trip, don’t live anywhere near each other, but tend to buddy up and travel together. I thought this was amazing! A duo have made it work all across the globe (even though they have vastly different political and religious beliefs) by agreeing not to discuss their opinions with each other or anyone else in the group. Kind of like your “no politics” rule here on NST, Robin! It was a delight to meet and hang out with them and I’m hoping to maybe join up with a couple travelers in the future. Got some great traveling tips, too. A couple of older gentlemen (I use that term loosely) were a real PITA but I was on to them immediately and founds ways to avoid them for anything more than a “Hi,” “Goodbye,” or “So nice to meet you,” which of course was a flat out lie in my part. These two were the reason many countries detest American tourists. I’m already looking into another trip for next fall…😃✈️
Hurray for a wonderful trip, glad all went well, and I think that’s a great idea to join up with the travelers you liked for another vacay down the line.
I never even thought of it but it does sound good! Thank
There’s always a fly or two in the ointment, isn’t there? My stepmother (I think I told you she did the same tour as you earlier this year) liked most of the people on her trip too.
I am so glad you had a wonderful time!
I did, thank you very much! I’m looking into doing this more often as I haven’t traveled internationally since 2016. I had quite a few hesitations and concerns, but all in all, everything went smoothly and most of my worries ended up in the garbage can which is right where they belong. 🗑️
Great to hear that you had a fabulous trip!
Thank you!
Welcome back!
Can’t wait to know how excited T-rex is with the back home greeting!
I think T-Rex was stressed and over stimulated. They said she never stopped barking, and she very RARELY barks as we travel. She doesn’t even bark if someone knocks on the camper. I think she’s pretty exhausted and will sleep like the dead for a good couple of days.
I’m so glad you had such a great time, I’ve been looking at the photos you took during your holiday. I was particularly pleased to see a picture of the interior of the cathedral in Albi.
I’m also glad to hear that you enjoyed the country and its people. It has been my favourite holiday destination for years!
I bet you will be glad to see TRex again.
I loved Albi and wished we spent more time there. We had a docent led tour of the Toulouse (Henri) museum in the morning, quick run about, a long lunch, and then hit the road. Are you able to view stories on instagram? I had a video of the interior that gives a much better look. I uploaded it on my regular feed here if you missed it.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBzV1deyskO/?igsh=MTZ1eHZnaWw5M2Q2Yw==
I just watched it, thank you. The museum was another highlight. Interesting to read about the different hypotheses regarding his short stature. Osteogenesis Imperfecta was the one I remember but others were mentioned as well.
France is a wonderful place to travel with a dog. I remember one holiday I had left my dog outside a baker’s as I think one ought even though my dachshund was to small get close to any edibles in there. The lady in the shop had noticed me settling her outside and actually opened the window of her shop so she could have a proper conversation with my dog. It was hilarious.
In Albi, I had lunch at a restaurant with my dog and the first thing the waiter did was get her a large bowl of water. He excused himself very graciously about not serving me first but as he said: It is hot, and dogs often suffer in the heat.
From what we were told it was most likely Pycnodysostosis as he had many of its symptoms. His father was his mother’s first cousin, as you probably know. What stood out to me was his earlier paintings, which I had never seen. They are incredibly beautiful and hauntingly sad.
I didn’t remember about the pycnodysostosis, probably because I had never heard of it before visiting Albi. Osteogenesis imperfecta was mentioned during my medical training so that stuck in my brain.
Oh, forgot to add that I learned why there was a large-ish Dutch population in SW France, which I’m sure you already know, but it’s all these things I’ve learned! So many! Like what woad is and what it did for the Toulouse area, and on and on! I chose this tour company because it really focuses on educating travelers on the history of the areas visited. Our French guide said “Now you know more about France than most French people, eh?” 🤣
I actually didn’t know about the Dutch in the SW of France but I did know about woad, or “pastel” as I came call it. There was a lovely line of cosmetics that used it, called “graine de pastel”. I remember using their body cream for a while.
It’s just great to read about the wonderful time you had, you’re probably feeling a lot more energetic because of it.
glad you enjoyed the trip.
Thank you!
Glad you had a great time! The pictures were very nice!
Thanks!
You’ve warmed my heart with your positive report of French people and I’m so happy for you that this first trip was a winner.
It was definitely a winner! The people were all really so polite and helpful. Plus, all so effortlessly chic! 🤩 I bought scarves (I refuse to divulge how many) there and by the end of the trip all the ladies were asking me about the many knots I used. We even had a last minute scarf hunt in Toulouse because I wanted to find one that was dyed the traditional way using le pastel. They ( the tour company I used) also have an immersive 6 week independent study in some countries where you learn the language (as best you can in the time period given) and then live in the area while also traveling locally to get to know the history and people of the area…would LOVE to do that in France! 🇫🇷
Welcome back! Your trip sounds like it was an amazing experience. Glad you enjoyed it!
Welcome back, Deva! What an amazing trip you had! ❤️🇫🇷
The trick-or-treaters have finished now. Happy Halloween!🎃
I’m wearing Dodo from my Zoologist discovery set. So far, on my skin it is a fruity rather than aromatic scent, which I am enjoying on this warm Texas Halloween day. Can anyone who has this tell me what they think of it? The majority of the Fragrantica reviews are pretty scathing, mentioning body odor comparisons.
I know I did have a sample but can’t find it now, and am afraid I don’t remember it well enough to comment. Sorry I’m no help! And yes aren’t you tired of the warm & humid weather? I need it to cool off to save on my air conditioning bill, among other things!
I layered Lush Death&Decay and Malle Carnal Flower for Halloween.
We heard two very loud explosions last night/early in the morning. The only relevant news I found today is that a drone fell in Kyiv and caused a fire. Could be it, although I thought it was closer.
The second client emailed me today about my test. This was a copyediting test, not translation, and the task was to edit an original document in English. They said overall I did well but was a few marks away from passing. However, they took into account that English is not my native language and want to give me another chance. So I can review the document again and add more edits. They even gave me some information about the errors I missed, which helps a lot.
This test was quite challenging, and some parts of the task were quite different from what I normally do, so I am not surprised I missed some things. I am going to give it another go, using the pointers from the client.
Glad they gave you pointers and another chance. Good luck! 🍀
Thank you!
Yes, I wish all my clients were that helpful!
That’s more great news Glannys, on the work front anyway.
Unexplained explosions, that’s not great news 🙁
Good luck with the retake . I hope it goes well.
So sorry about the night-time explosions. How unsettling for you, Mom, and Kitty Cat. I’m glad you’re getting good feedback on the copy-editing.
Glad you get another chance. And also, I bet a lot of native speaker in this big ole land of ours would fail that test. So pat yourself on the back for almost passing.
The funny thing is that I applied for the position of Ukrainian and Russian Copyeditor. But they have the test in English only, so I have to do some English copyediting to prove I am qualified to edit Ukrainian and Russian copy. 😂 To be fair, a big part of the test is spotting inconsistencies in styling and formatting, so I understand their logic.
Glad to hear that you are getting feedback from another client, and that they are willing for you to re-test.
Unexplained explosions in the middle of the night, not good at all.
First stanza of Keats TO AUTUMN:
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close-bosom friend of the maturing sun:
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’erbrimmed their clammy cells.
Off to look for a perfume that feels like that. Any guidance?
I think we had a community challenge for this particular verse. Maybe try looking in the history of Friday projects?
Thanks so much, I will!
While looking for it, I found a fragrance directly inspired by this poem: https://nstperfume.com/2010/06/09/jo-malone-english-pear-freesia-new-fragrance/
Found the CP:
https://nstperfume.com/2018/11/02/friday-scent-of-the-day-11-2/
So my choice was Ambre Narguile!
And we were twins 🙂
CB I Hate Perfume Apple Picking layered with Burning Leaves is also a perfect fall fragrance (if he still makes those).
I love your choice—Ambre Narguilé is a favorite. I’m also considering Mitsouko for the slight air of melancholy I get from it (and to think of Keats dying so young is sad), but may yet settle on YR Voile d’Ambre for its sunniness. What an enjoyable dilemma!
Frapin 1270.
Happy Halloween, all! Or happy Reformation Day, if you’re in my part of the world (though Halloween is increasingly celebrated here, too — anything for a marketing opportunity). The bells in the big Protestant church near us started going crazy at 3:15 p.m. today, so maybe that’s the time Luther nailed the Theses up? Or maybe they just were having a service then? Anyway, the state holiday here is All Saints Day tomorrow, so I had to go out and stock up on food.
I’m in Hiram Green Shangri-La today, just ’cause. It works for a foggy day that feels like fall but really isn’t quite cool enough.
Happy Reformation Day ockeghem!
Some countries in Asia celebrate All Saints Day as well. It’s a day to visit relatives’ graves.
Happy Halloween !
I am wearing Sisley Izia and drinking a cup of Irish Breakfast tea.
Happy Halloween Barqs!
How do you like Izia?
Happy Halloween Barqs!
The hand went to TF Violet Blonde this morning, and it’s feeling more “vintage” than usual.
We were very close to being twins today! I switched at the last minute.
I am feeling somewhat vintage myself this morning. Not sleeping due to monkey mind racing thoughts. Got a massage yesterday, which was wonderful, but still thoughts over election are consuming me.
Chilly this morning – have a throw over my knees as I finish my coffee and get packing to go to see my sister. Perfect fall Cali weather.
Florida is quite hot, yuk.
Well, at least sunny and no hurricanes on the horizon. The only fragrance my sister wears is an ancient bottle of VS vanilla lace? and the little solid of Lush cardamon coffee, so I have to temper what I wear on the flight and what I pack.
I think to feel fallish today a few sprays of Silky Woods while I pack and get some laundry done.
Happy Halloween-ie for those who join in. Tomorrow is Dia de los Muertos, which I much prefer here in LA.
Ah, your sister has my beloved Vanilla Lace that disappeared many moons ago. I loved it so and have yet to find anything that evokes the same feelings in me. Happy travels! I hope you and your sister have a great time despite the hot humid Florida weather. ☀️
Thank you Deva!
Any day with my sister is what we call ” no bad days” or ” in this house we dance.”
It has stood us well through many difficult times as we have grown older together. We choose to lift the other up when one is down.
I am sure T-Rex is so happy to have you back!
Cardamom Coffee is quite nice. Mmmmm.
There are some really cool Dia de los Muertos events in Colorado that I heard about too late.
Safe travels to you!
To be read like a cowboy: Howdy y’all! I’m ridin’ out Halloween as a cowboy and smellin’ mighty fine in Angel’s Share. Feels like the Texas heat made its way to the Big Apple….
Perfect choice ltsg!
Chilly here this morning as I noticed it was 37 degrees when I got up. I think it is supposed to get to 50 today, but it will be cool tonight for the kiddos that are going door to door for Halloween.
SOTD is Chanel No 5 EdT.
Not sure I will see any Trick or Treaters here.
Happy Halloween! 👻 🎃 Sampling a new one by Marissa Zappas today called Carnival of Souls and notes are below. It’s lovely…a sweet, powdery mix w/ patchouli and vanilla in the dry down.
Notes: Mimosa Cream, Violet, Saffron, Coconut, Amber, Patchouli, Vanilla, Incense and Musk
Carnival of Souls sounds wonderful!
I got an email from Arielle Shoshanna about your SOTD today. Thanks for the description!
Rabbit rabbit rabbit! We’re expecting rain and hail today so the longest winter keeps on giving. On the bright side I can see violet, magenta, Ruby red, and hot pink rhodendrons all in flower from my bed…the contrast with the lush bright green leaves is intense. Makes my eyes and senses happy. I’m meant to be on a three month writers residency but the residence hasn’t been lived in for some years and currently has no gas hot water, no fridge and no working washing machine so I’ve come home while everything gets mended. I can manage cold water but not having a way to keep food was a bit trying. Funny though…because I can remember many summers of living with no fridge and just a meat safe set up in an outdoor, shaded area. Other items kept in a cold creek. Wearing Chypre Mousse for the CP.
Kanuka, I can’t believe you had hail even! We were 80 degrees today, just crazy hot for Halloween, so I feel like we’ve stolen your summer.
That’s lovely you’ve got a residency…hope they get the place habitable for you.
It’s been a short week after our long weekend, and I’m still very ready for the next weekend, work is not a happy place with big budgets cuts and job losses expected. My job should be OK, but morale for everyone is somewhere below rock bottom.
Meanwhile, I’m smelling great in Trayee.
I am sorry you are facing that at work.
Layoffs and budget cuts suck.
Oh yuck, that’s so hard.
I’ve been gathering neglected perfumes to take to work and giveaway. One of the perfumes is MJ Decadence. I had to wear it today to be sure. I actually really love it, but it gives me a bad association. This is my no.1 reason for getting rid of perfume. I wish I didn’t associate so deeply.
It’s super windy out but at least it’s not snowing like last Halloween.
Oy! At least you got good weather. I don’t recall the snow last year but recall that my offerings were barely picked up. We seem to have more kids this year although it is early yet.
Aw, sorry to hear that you have a bad association with a favorite perfume.
Blue skies and temps in the mid 50’s here today. Decent Trick or Treating weather for Colorado.
Would it be worthwhile to make yourself a decant of the perfume if you still like it? That way, once it’s gone, it’s gone. And hopefully the negative association fragrance can have a proper “good riddance”.
same for me! There are a few perfumes I can only wear when I’m feeling strong, and a few I’ve given away because they gave me the heebeejeebees.
It’s better to let it go than to have the negative weight hold you down.
I had a wonderful time in Chicago but was super busy with my conference so, regrettably, had no chance to visit Mertz (sp?) or meet up with anyone there. Now I’m tired and have two more (Zoom) conference talks coming up in two weeks, plus another knee surgery on November 11th. It will supposedly fix problems from the previous ones. I hope. With that plus the election I’ve been very stressed out.
SOTD is Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin, which is maybe more summery with rose and geranium, but it’s basically still summer here even though November is tomorrow. (Ugh.) This is quite a pretty fragrance. I somehow wound up with a small sample bottle. I think I do have something perfect picked out for tomorrow.
Yesterday I had to make a special trip to Walgreen’s to buy Halloween candy, and luckily it was already marked down. The reason for the trip (ostensibly) is that we now have FOUR families out of the eleven in my little townhome community who have young children and I’m hoping some will visit. Or maybe hoping not so I can eat all the candy, ha ha ha. I bought Kit-Kat and Reese’s cups.
Very nice. Wegmans had some candy remnants on sale.
Welcome back!
The Target closest to me had almost no Halloween candy left on Monday.
I love mini Kit Kats and Reese’s too much 💕 so I don’t buy them. 🤭😅 Hope you get some knocks on your door. 👻
Aw, hope you saw some kids! I was a bad neighbor and went to yoga instead of giving out candy. I do feel guilty but I need the yoga more.
Sorry for the work + health + election stress…hope everything works out as it should.
L Air de Rien today, i think it fits Halloween with its musty smell.
i am livid, because we had our quarterly meeting of the employees and when we – the workers council got there – they had threatened nearly everyone to leave early, so that only a few dared to stay. this is major harassment. time to talk to a lawyer to get our legal rights.
i am still fuming….
Employers across the world have gone nuts. Here we’ve had a few hospital systems taken to court due to “wage theft.” A couple of systems now owe multiple millions in back pay to employees. I say get together with like minded folks and take a stand! Best of luck!
SOTD = Zoologist Tyrannosaurus Rex
🦖 🦖🦖 in all its gorygeousness! ROAR!!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBzN_FlR0gK/?igsh=M2xnOTg2d29xZGth
I paired it with a $1 toy at Target yesterday. Wonky, but cute!
As I predicted, I got several bags of candies at Wegmans this morning: Milky Way minis ($1 off) and Kinder Joy minis (not on sale). I set them out outside for the kids to pick up. Being the “responsible” person that I am, I also included a note that states it contains nuts. As an aside, I was flabbergasted when I saw a caution on a jar of peanut butter that states “contains peanuts”.
And, speaking of black cats, here’s an article from the Wall Street Journal about adopting, you guessed it, black cats! 🐈⬛
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/black-cat-halloween-bad-luck-pet-adoption-b43f3b64?st=TpLXaE&reflink=article_copyURL_share
This peanut allergy is such a ridiculous, very American manmade problem. I’ll take all the nuts the nut allergy people don’t eat, thank you very much! 🥜
Two of the best cats I’ve ever had were black cats. I would totally get another one again! 🐈⬛🐈⬛😻
I love black cats! Our girl is the sweetest and purriest ever. 🖤
How smoky is T-Rex for you? 🦖 Inquiring minds want to know. 😁
Very very smoky, just the way I like it!
It was 48 degrees when I woke up this morning in L.A. so I ran into a coniferous forest, crunching on the soft carpet of dead needles in the undersea green light and inhaling all the pinene molecules of the living trees, where bees were already exiting hives overflowing with fall honey. In other words, I put on Lutens Chene. From a decant from a kind NSTer.
beautiful! 😍
Excellent!
I heard that MFK Absolue Pour le Soir had been re-released, so I am wearing some from my original bottle. It fits with the CP because it makes me very happy when I wear it.
Deva, I loved your IG photos and welcome home!
Aww, thank you! So many beautiful things to see! I hope you enjoyed 🇯🇵 as much as I enjoyed 🇫🇷! And
Testing L’Heure Defendue a gift from a perfume pal. I think I might need a full bottle.
Wrong fragrance. My autocorrect changed it. Patou Heritage Collection LHeure Attendue
Lots of VERY nice things in the Patou Heritage Collection!
Your autocorrect is very sophisticated! 🤭
You’d smell good either way. L’heure defendue is a sweet patchouli powerhouse, and I like the Patou, too. 🍄🎃😸
Songs of the Day:
https://youtu.be/uINn4mkqL0M
https://youtu.be/pmfrYyEdeUU
Happy Halloween, NST! 🐈⬛🎃👻
So it seems the mountains got a decent amount of snow yesterday. As a result, both Arapahoe Basin and Keystone ski areas will be opening on Saturday. ❄️
No snow for me, but it sure felt like it could have snowed this morning. I think the low temp was around 25 or so? Teflon kitty was reluctant to get off the bed for breakfast.
SOTD = back in Burberry Brit for Women again today. That sugared almond note is perfect for Halloween, as is the amber-ish drydown.
25!? Yikes!
I heard the heat coming on when my thermostat hit 67 early this morning.
I thought 51 degrees was cold this morning. 😅
I have a sample of Brit, must give it a sniff! 😁
Notes I get are lime, sugared almonds, and a light amber. Wonder what you will discover?
Happy Halloween! Wafting Poison edt, the more recent version. Lots of cute kids so far coming by for treats on our warm and mild night.
Beautiful bottle, perfect for today! 💜
Oh, great choice for your sotd! You smell fabulous, of course.
Poison is a scent memory from long before I tumbled down the rabbit hole. I remember its compelling smell on a coworker when it first came out.
sotd = Insolence edt
Because it smells like candy 🍬 and a little Insolence goes a long way today. 👻
Hope everyone is enjoying a happy day of treats. 🍫
I love October and all the holiday decorations 🎃 tho pumpkin in a pie is my favorite 🥧 so I’m ready to rabbit for November. 🐰😊
Halloween is an insolent holiday, isn’t it? Great choice!
You smell so great! It’s such a fun scent, and perfect choice for Halloween. 🦇 🎃
I wore Dior Addict today. Just waiting to see if we get any kids for treats; at least we have some mini chocolate bars. It’s clear and cool out; I’m glad the rain didn’t materialize for tonight.
Never tried Dior Addict. I *hated* the name when it came out so much that I never bothered.
I can understand that. If you ever get a chance to sample it, I recommend it. I cherish the remainder of my bottle.