It's Tuesday, plus Wright Brothers Day and Maple Syrup Day. Birthdays: Ford Madox Ford, Penelope Fitzgerald, Art Neville. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm commando for an acupuncture appointment and will pick something this afternoon. Tea at the moment is Numi Golden Chai.
Reminder: 12/20 will be the Holiday Special...wear a perfume inspired by or based on a holiday โ any holiday! โ or wear a perfume that seems perfectly suited to the holiday of your choice. Suggested by therabbitsflower.
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: the Lightscape teapot from Nymphenburg ("Inspired by the Far East, Argentinian designer Ruth Gurvich created her Lightscape designs in collaboration with Nymphenburg. Each piece was first molded in paper and then handcrafted in porcelain. Delicate Asian landscapes adorn these beautiful vessels") is $3,010 (oh dear) at Kneen & Co.
Hello everyone!
I’m in a wisp of Le Lion for my flights today. I didn’t want to go too light since it will be a long day.
My friend and I have made a pact to read James Joyce’s “Ulysses” over the break, so my Kindle is charged and waiting. Not sure why we picked it but it seems more manageable as a group project. ๐
Have a great day everyone!
Have a great time!
Thank you!
Love Le Lion (alliteration :)). You smell great!
It’s so divine, and I can smell it through my mask. ๐ฅฐ
Happy travels Coumarin!
Thank you!
Very good luck with Ulysses, and safe travels!
Thank you. So far so good, though I’m ignoring the completion percentage on the bottom.
Keep doing that ๐
About 10% in. ๐
Don’t peek!!!
smelling great! have a wonderful time!
Thank you!
Do check back on Mr. Joyce’s great work. I…could not deal…therein lies a tale. You smell wonderful and safe travels!
Thank you! It’s a journey for sure, but I’m enjoying it so far.
Last year we had an exhibit at the library dedicated to James Joyce. I have never read anything by him!
Safe travels, and have a most excellent time!
I went with Caron Tabac Blond this morning, from a tiny decant of the vintage EDC formulation. I donโt know why this feels Christmasy to me, but it does. ๐
Wow, vintage Tabac Blond! You smell awesome!
Thank you! It is gorgeous. ๐
Vintage Caron at Christmas is a nice touch ๐
I was hoping to wear Nuit de Noel this week, but my sample has evaporated. ๐
Tabac Blond is wonderful stuff.
What an exquisite tea set. For the tea drinker who has everything?
I’m wearing one spritz of Cashmere Mist for my annual physical this afternoon. Between myself, my husband and my mother, I am spending lots of time in doctor’s offices, wearing a few measly drops of some mild perfume when I really want to bust out the heavy hitters! Soon.
I’ve been thinking so much about madtowngirl with the school shooting in Madison yesterday. So much terrible unhappiness in the world.
I’ve also been thinking of her. It’s such a tragedy.
Thanks for thinking of me ringthing and lillyjo. I was at work yesterday when it happened and first found out via text. Total shock, followed by feeling physically sick to my stomach as I watched the news throughout the afternoon and evening. There are no words for how awful this is.
Thanks for checking in ๐น
So awful. Sending hugs to you since you are our Madison representative here.
Sending you fragrant hugs.
It is really heart breaking ๐
Good to have you checking in today, madtowngirl. I am so sorry.
Sorry, awful news.
I’m in Eau d’Hadrien-body wash, cream, EDP and EDT. Very small amounts of each. Love the elegance of having matching body products. I still love this fragrance after decades of wear-it still feels very special to me.
It still confuses me why fancy, matching body products are relatively rare. This is often the only time they are available, in the form of gift sets, which is great unless you don’t actually need the perfume itself.
I think they are rare these days because so few people have signature fragrances.
Very chilly morning walk with the pup. Her Christmas present – a new doggie coat/vest – hasn’t arrived yet. This was a morning she could have used it, though she didn’t complain, sweet girl that she is.
I’m in “Dans Tes Bras” from Frederic Malle. I mention it often here; it’s in my top 5 most worn from the house. If it’s possible for a Malle to be underrated and under-the-radar, this is a candidate. Gorgeous, cozy, sexy stuff.
Love your sotd, Daniel!
Every time I see that fragrance mentioned, I think of the โnicknameโ someone here gave it years ago โ โDanteโs Braโ. ๐
I think it was the husband of someone who used to comment here, and he had misheard the perfume’s name.
I am wearing Celine dans Paris today, last two days at work and then on vacation for two weeks.
Huzzah! Same here…
Enjoy your vacation!
Yay!
In Ginger Biscuit, wishing I had some actual holiday cookies on my last day of work for the year. Well, it’s not as if I won’t be having some holiday snacking in the near future…
Enjoy your time off!
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/nz-falcon-karearea/
I was out walking on the hills yesterday when I heard a native falcon ( karearea) in the distance. Their call is quite distinctive, angry chatter crossed with a high pitched dentist drill. They are very territorial. Sadly, I only heard it but didnโt see it. Itโs been interesting adjusting to the different bird calls in this area, compared to home. Lots of Californian Quails on the hills , and kingfishers by the river. Very few nectar eating birds (tui, bellbirds) as itโs very dry here, and not much in the way of native trees. Another baking hot day but I have to head home . Apparently our twenty year old fridge has given out ( I seem to be plagued by broken fridges) and needs replacing. I will stop at the orchards in the way for cherries and apricots. Wearing Diorling again. Nice teapot but not for me. I prefer studio ceramics with a bit more weight and give โฆ oat biscuits rather than macaroons.
Ha! “…oat biscuits rather than macaroons.”
SOTD is Histoires de Parfums 1926 Turandot – old school leathery spicy floral.
I tried all five 2024 perfumes I have. I will wear them again next week and give more detailed reviews, but here are my first impressions in a vert condensed from.
Celine Zouzou ๐ A pleasant woody musky vanilla, but a bit boring.
Fragonard Lilas ๐๐ปA body-lotiony lilac.
Guerlain Rose Amira ๐๐ปPOAL-light. Like it.
Jul et Mad Callisto ๐๐ปThere is something pretty there, but either ambroxan or iso e super drowns almost everything.
Serge Lutens La Fille Tour de Fer ๐๐ปLike it! Starts as spicy rose, ends as iris rose.
Thank you for your first impressions, I’m keen to sniff Rose Amira and the SL. I’m writing my list of things to try when I travel overseas in April ๐ .
These two are my favorites in the bunch!
Iโm going to see if I can find any of these at the fancy-shmancy mall today. Iโm not really a rose lover but Iโve been surprised before. Looking forward to your reviews..!
love that SL, Glannys. It’s was available so inexpensively on a discount site earlier this year and so I bought it. It’s gorgeous and easy to wear. Can’t wait till you review it in detail ๐
I think it has impressed me the most so far. We’ll see if I change my opinion on any of the scents after the second wearing.
Wow – discounted already?!
I have a sample of La Fille Tour de Fer on the way and I am very curious so thanks for your take on it! I am continuing to hope all is well and safe for you and yours and to hope for peace in the New Year. <3
Hi MossyBerry, re: your comment yesterday about buying FT on the SL site, may I ask how you accessed the “Holiday Offer” aka discount for certain Gratte Ciel bottles? Thank you๐
Hi allo – sorry I did not get back with you Monday. I did check the site, and the same discount pop-up (a tiny tag icon with 15% sort of floating on the upper left) did *not* appear; also, the GWP’s had changed. I’d guessed the discount was on “last chance” items. Today also is different, in terms of samples and GWP’s. I hope the discount comes back if you have your eye on something!
Thank you!
Sounds like the rose perfumes were winners! ๐น๐น
Lovely teapot! I like the soft imagery juxtaposed with the geometric design and sharp edges. I donโt like the price. ๐
Still enjoying Snake Oil and its earthy grounding elements. Have a wonderful Monday!
Was the fancy mall Fashion Square?
Yes. Anything more detailed than that, Iโm pleading the fifth. ๐ค
๐คฃ
And just now realizing itโs not Mondayโฆhence the teapot. Duh me.
๐
Wearing my old friend Shalimar today and feeling a bit nostalgic about it. This was the perfume that got me into collecting.
Smelling wonderful Desirae!
Wonderful
This CP is made for me – there are so many things that I can’t get here that I do lots of perfume shopping whenever I leave the country!
I’m wearing Guerlain’s Neroli Outrenoir today, it reminds me very strongly of my trip in 2019. I dithered a bit about buying it and I’m so glad I did.
I love your SOTD. I bought the hand soap which has really good staying power. You smell great, too, like a lot of other people here today.
Lovely! I just got my nose on that one recently. Isnโt perfume shopping the best when done in another country?! ๐โ๏ธ
It’s still gray and raining here, so I lit a sugar cookie candle and I’m wearing La Liturgie des Heures. I am debating with myself about making some cookies, on the one hand I don’t need the calories, but on the other I really want homemade cookies. The candle alone is not sufficient!
A sugar cookie candle sounds nice. Go for making some cookies!
I don’t think I have anything that reminds me of the holidays so I am just going to wear whatever sounds good this week. Today it is snowy and dreary out so need something that could be considered a cozy scent. I decided to go with Indochine.
You absolutely canโt beat that one! You small lovely! ๐
Thanks. I like it this time of the year.
Time to break out the “Winter Warmer” perfumes!
Cardinal today. So beautiful it is.
I have been on hold with social security for a total of 10.5 hours.
Is that Heeley Cardinal? I love that one. Ugh–I need to call social security with a few questions but ….
SP, as I mentioned to apsara, our live-and-local SS office was very helpful even though one has to apply online or by scheduled telephone conference.
Yes, Heely Cardinal.
It’s a gorgeous incense. And it is out of stock at Fumerie and Luckyscent. May have to get another 10ml from Scent Split.
Went to SS office the other day. Waited. They were no help.
Called Medicare. They told me to call SS.
So I am just screaming into the void here while creating listings on eBay.
Seriously, 10.5 hours? That is nuts!
I feel nutty.
Omg apsara! Iโm so sorry. I canโt think of anything more annoying. But youโre smelling gorg! Thatโs Heeley, yes?
apsara – how annoying!! Wondering, do you have any access to a convenient, live-and-local SS office? Although I and Mr. Mossy ultimately used online and telephone conference for our main work, our local office was very helpful with pointers and certain types of advice.
Mossy, Did you call your local office or go in?
Went in – ours had a check-in screen that dispensed a number ticket. We never had to wait more than about 15 minutes! I live in a small town, but the office is a regional one that serves what seems to be a 50-75 mile radius.
Thanks.
10+ hours!!! So sorry, that’s crazy.
That’s horrible. Sadly, not surprising either.
I love Heeley Cardinal. Last time I wore it, however, my daughter told me I smelled like moth balls. I find incense perfumes very comforting and โcleanโ .
PG Indochine today for another atmospheric river of rain to drench us here in Seattle.
I’ve started my holiday baking (freezing most of the batch) with snowballs cookies over the weekend and Martha Stewart’s Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies this morning. Link below. They’re very good, but I’m still on the hunt for the exact molasses spice cookie that I want – big and chewy with crisp edges and lots of ginger. I’ve made so many different recipes but they are never exactly what I am looking for.
https://www.marthastewart.com/339353/chewy-chocolate-gingerbread-cookies
Happy baking!
Thanks, I do enjoy it!
Scent twins!
Yay! ♥
Do you have a favorite recipe for snickerdoodles?
The one I make the most often is the NYT one for gochujang cookies. Just leave the gochujang out, increase the cinnamon to 1/2 tsp and you get an amazing snickerdoodle cookie. Or leave the gochujang in and you get a very interesting spicy snickerdoodle!
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023675-gochujang-caramel-cookies?unlocked_article_code=1.iU4.wEDy.mhBSb3BVQz_m&smid=share-url
Those cookies look fantastic. So do I understand properly, you have not ever made these before?
Wait duh, you already tasted one and they’re very good but not what you wanted.
I had not made them before today, but yes, ate two today. Mr. SP really liked them and he doesn’t generally like ginger-molasses type.
I am trying to talk my brother in law into making me a gluten free version…we will see how I do ๐
How funny! This same recipe showed up in my cell phone’s news feed this morning!
Guess that means I should try it, huh?
FYI – if you do, I had to bake a couple minutes longer than the recipe said AND I didn’t add as much expensive chocolate as she said. 7 oz is a lot – I added more like 4.5 oz.
Lovely and interesting teapot, Robin, when they’re expensive I enjoy them nonetheless because I’m quite happy with my blue and white willow teapot.
I reached for Floris Malmaison this morning, a favorite carnation and tonight it’s Boudoir and I’ll inevitably smell of it when I wake up.
I don’t care what any of them cost because I never buy them ๐
You smell fantastic, love Malmaison ๐
๐ Yes, the teapot is strictly eye candy. Thank you Robin, there’s still a faint trace of Malmaison on my wrist this morning, no offense to Bellodgia but Malmaison really is the prettiest carnation.
I agree! Lorenzo Villoresi’s carnation (Garafano) also used to be just lovely.
I’ve got a couple perfumes on that remind me of Christmas or at least the December holiday season. On my left arm is Masque Milano Mandala and on my right arm is Smell Bent A Scent Called Home. They complement each other very well with the MM being more incense and holiday spices and the SB a warm amber with orange peel and chai spices.
Those both sound perfect!
They did hit the spot today!
You smell so festive!
Yes, these were a great pairing! I may repeat it another day this week.
Claiming some Christmas Festivity point in Coco Noir. It was another of my first current (in 2012), designer, purchases. I’d started following The Non-Blonde and Perfume Posse by then, and CN was *not* well-received. But I went from a magazine strip to a carded sample. Then I lurked on Ebay and got a bottle at a slight discount, circa 2013. Although I do experience other perfumes as of finer quality, this vintage-chypre-civet-amber-loving gal is a fruitchouli fan, too. Also, one of my new paths in 2024 was drinking more tea as my morning eye-opener. But even though this is Tuesday, I happily accepted the coffee Mr. Mossy had made, as he won today’s Early Riser competition! ๐
You smell very nice, I have a soft spot for CN, I think initially people were disappointed that it didn’t smell very noir, so to speak.
I started liking CN much more when I got over the scent not matching the bottle.
What you and Aurora say is noted in those initial reviews! I agree CN is not my idea of “noir” and the bottle is very attractive.
I love Coco Noir. I guess I could wear that for a Christmas scent.
Coco Noir has such a gorgeous bottle.
Wearing Heure Exquise today. I’m still working on a “thunk”, but it won’t be by year-end.
I’ll make my seasonal shortbread (with Toblerone) this weekend. If I do it any sooner, we’ll probably just eat them all. My trial batch of Linzer cookies are all gone now. We are so weak!
Cookies are so good, we can’t help but eat them!
Isn’t that the truth!
But homemade cookies are so much better than store bought!
Exactly! I have a few recipes that I tend to use year after year now, after much trial and error.
One time I attempted a savory shortbread (with a few cheeses and some cayenne). It ended up just as crumbs! Upon reflection, there was no egg or liquid in the recipe so that was probably the downfall of it. Plus I probably added too much cheese; it was a total disaster!
Sometimes the disasters are part of the fun. ๐
My mincemeat is cooling before it’s little nap in the frig.. I also re-cemented the corner of my stove door gasket that had popped loose, and cleaned all the creosote off the stove door glass while it was cold this morning. So now we have a nicer view of our fire. I feel like I accomplished a lot today! Well, I also postponed a dental appointment til after the new year, that probably accounts for some of my quiet joy. ๐ SOTD is cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, coriander, ginger, spice, brown sugar and apple brandy, with a base of hickory smoke from the fire. Burning hickory wood is the best!
Oh my, I really should clean the stove door glass too.
I’m home from work and looking forward to having tomorrow off. This past weekend was just crazy busy. If you imagine the worst clearance section of any store, that was my whole store! We finally got it looking presentable today.
I’m still wearing Alien The taste of Fragrance. I have a hard time wearing a perfume longer than 2 days but I am determined to finish this bottle!
What type of store do you work in? I bet now is the busiest time of the year.
We sell everything from clothing to tools and toys. It’s been a madhouse especially on weekends.
Get some rest today, in between the laundry.
Are you thisclose to thunking? It’s pretty surprising how long it takes to finish a bottle! I thought I’d be done my Heure Exquise by now.
Yes, I thought I was going to finish it last Saturday. I am hoping for this Saturday now. Lol.
It’s a strong perfume so I can’t douse myself but I am even reapplying in the afternoon!
Hopefully soon! It might be a good one to keep in your back pocket for the “management” days. I have Aromatics Elixir and original Poison for days like that!
Glad that you have tomorrow off. Maybe you can get a bit of relaxation in?
I will relax a bit but I have about 4 loads of laundry to do.
Today was my last day of volunteering at NYPL until 2025.
I know I will miss it ๐ฆ ๐ฆ
There is so many beautiful decorationsโฆand the tree! With all the beautiful birds
Hope you will enjoy your time off anyway ltsg!
Today’s teapot reminds me of those old 8-bit video game graphics.
Spent part of this afternoon trying to diagnose why some of the Xmas lights I put up won’t light. I tested all the strings beforehand, and I split the lines between 2 different extension cords. Guess that means there is a damaged lightbulb somewhere. UGH!
SOTD = back in Iris Underground perfume oil.
I hope you don’t have to go through too much more trouble to get the lights to work.
We shall see how much effort I put into finding the culprit! ๐คฃ
These lights are at least 15 years old.
Oh, that is the worst. I do not like to be wasteful but admit I give up on string lights really easy.
I am hearing my Dad swearing at Xmas lights in my head.
๐
Hope you will find the solution for the light that doesn’t light up.
I had not done it in years, but when I was getting the gasket cement, I saw a squirt bottle of “Creosote cutter/Wood stove glass cleaner” and it worked well, without an hour of rubbing, which is what I had been avoiding, ๐
No wonder you had a sense of achievement! You’ll enjoy that all Winter ๐