PSA: the next swapmeet will start on Saturday, March 15 (and then we'll have another in September). The next splitmeet will start on Saturday, April 26.
Meanwhile, a bunch of somewhat random questions to while away a February weekend. As always, answer as many or as few as you like, or just talk about something else altogether.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. Is there a fragrance someone was wearing here recently and you thought huh, maybe I should try that?
3. What's your favorite month of the year, and what's your least favorite?
4. Name one thing that helps you get through your least favorite month of the year.
5. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything: something you discovered, or bought, or read, or saw, or something great that happened to you recently.
Note: top image is Signs of Spring [cropped] by John Brighenti at flickr; some rights reserved.
My answers:
1. Commando so far. Might pick from whatever ya’ll are wearing, saves brain energy 🙂
2. I smelled Devotion briefly on a scent strip in Ulta but keep seeing mentions and thinking I should go back and try on skin.
3. June is my favorite, February is my least favorite.
4. Two small but important things to brighten the month if I can’t leave town in February: trying to keep blooming flowers in the house (my amaryllis have all finished, still have a few paperwhites, might have to buy a new orchid next week) and trying to have lots of fresh pomegranate seeds in the fridge at all times.
5. I am going to have to think on that! It has been a very February-ish February.
Not sure if you have tried Akro Bake, but IMHO Devotion is almost exactly the same.
Thank you so much, did not know that! (And I have not. Devotion is much easier for me to try, though.)
Ack, although come to think of it I know I have one or more Akro samples floating around. I better take a look see.
Robin, so sorry that February has been February-ish for you! Fragrant hugs!
Blooming flowers are a great antidote to anyone’s least favorite month. I will keep this in mind for next October (lovely month with leaves turning, but personally too many traumatic events have happened that particular 31 days). I shall research what’s in season to lift my sad spirits!
It’s ok, it usually is! I get through it — and I am sure you find ways to get through October! Halloween candy always works, right? 🙂
Chocolate is always a sure fire mood lifter for me. And Dipped in Chocolate is on my sample list.
Very February-ish twins with you this year, Robin. Oy vey!
Exactly. 12 more days…
1. I wore Joy yesterday and today I’m in Eau de Joy, its younger sibling — the same basic structure but fresher and brighter, with a ton of zingy aldehydes up top and less of the civet below.
2. Yesterday someone mentioned Fugit Amor and it sounded right up my alley, carnations and cardamom, but the price sort of horrified me.
3. October is my favourite month because that’s when fall really sets in, and I love fall so much. Least favourite might well be December — getting properly cold, and working-in-retail Christmas madness too.
4. What gets me through December is remembering that like everything else, it does eventually come to an end.
5. If you don’t know the British TV show Taskmaster, you really should fix that gap in your life. (There are lots and lots of offshoots in various countries, but only the original will do for me.) It’s impossible to describe this wonderfully deranged game show in this small space: just Google “YouTube taskmaster season 12” along with “solve the riddle” and “pop the balloon” for two sterling examples of the sheer madness of the show, with one of the best casts they’ve ever had. (There will be swearing, if that bothers you, but they *are* British.)
I am a huge fan of Taskmaster and I agree, only the original can hit the spot for me. One of my all time favourite contestant is Morgana Robinson.
So many great tasks and one that always come to my mind right away is Sue Perkins’ sausage win. Might be the foodie in me and I really want try them.
Also, who can forget Patatas!?
I didn’t get Morgana’s vibe at first but now she’s one of my favourite contestants ever. I like the really chaotic ones — Morgana, Bridget Christie, Lucy Beaumont, Munya Chawawa, Sally Phillips, Julian Clary, the ones who will say and do things that you never could have predicted.
I tell absolutely everyone who will listen that they should check out Taskmaster. There’s nothing quite like it.
No 19 edp
No
June/ February
Feline fur babies
My son and husband take turns cooking for me when I come home exhausted. I’m so blessed, especially because my son is a really great cook 🧑🍳
Yay for Mr. CM8 and Mr. CM8 Jr! That’s just lovely.
🙂
Does your Son do delivery? 😃
Ha, sign me up too! Or can he come give my son cooking lessons? Followed by motivation lessons?
Ha!! He needs to give ME some cooking lessons! And motivation lessons too! I wish I had his energy!!
Lillyjo if you lived closer he’d definitely cook for you!!!
1. I’m in Bois des Iles EdP – my current obsession.
2. Pyramus described “Catalyst For Men,” from Halston, and I thought “Ooh, I need to try that.”
3. Favorite month is September, least favorite is December.
4. Knowing that I’ll see my daughter at Christmas.
5. I just re-watched a wonderful French documentary, “To Be and To Have,” one of the most evocative and poignant movies about childhood I’ve ever seen. (Available with a free week of Kino, via Amazon Prime. Highly, highly recommended.😊)
Love that documentary.
I remember seeing that documentary soon after it came out, and parts of it have always stayed with me. I wonder what little Jojo is up to now!
All the children are adorable, but Jojo is just the sweetest, funniest kid. Yes, I’d love to know how life turned out for him!
Commando
No
June/March
(Close runners-up for favorite: October, April)
I used to get through March by reminding myself that there were only “x more weeks” until the end of the semester. Now that I am a year-round office drone, we shall see how it goes. (TB fair it’s possible that I will take two international business trips this spring, one on late March and the other in early April. Both to (probably) milder climates. That should help.)
Our grandson turned tw
ACK. Still have clutch thumbs.
Our grandson turned two this week! He really is a KID now (and he is very tall, like his mum and maternal grandpa). He is also a kid who will not eat either cake or ice cream — ice cream, sorbet, gelato have been long-standing aversions. And it’s summer for him right now, so it’s not about eating cold foods when the weather is cold.
“CLUTZY thumbs” !!!
Two is such a fun age! Especially when they’re not your direct responsibility!
1. Agar Ébène (thank you, auto-whatever, for adding the accent marks).
2. I keep thinking I should try one of the variations on Shalimar that so many of you love, but I just can’t seem to do it. Someone who was the bane of my existence for about a decade used to wear the OG Shalimar, and the word just rubs me the wrong way somehow.
3. Hard to choose a favorite. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons, and within those I suppose I’d choose May and September … but April is lovely too. Least favorite is January, hands down. Horrible month.
4. Whiskey helps. 😂
5. Mr. G is out hunting down bagels and cream cheese as I type this!
I think you are wise to not bother with the Shalimar flankers. A bad association perfume will never smell good to you. Perfume is so much more than scent.
So true. And maybe a little bit sad? But it’s not like I don’t have alternatives! 🙂
Shalimar and its flunkers 🤣
I agree that perfumes are more than just how they smell.
Hah, I see what you did there! 😂
Funny, I did not care for Shalimar at all years ago, but I have to say that I love Shalimar MI and quite taken by Shalimar MJ.
Based just on its notes list I ought to at least like it, but the negative association with the name … I just can’t do it. If only the iris flanker were called something slightly different. Or maybe I can get a decant and relabel it, put it away until I’ve forgotten what it really is, and THEN try it. I’m old — I’m sure I’ll start getting forgetful sometime soon. 😂
😂 I’m old too so I know the feeling.
I have the same issue with Shalimar that you do.
You and I have a lot in common!
Except my person was an overbearing in-law. 😬😱
I’m wearing Amouage Lilac Love today, and it’s this gorgeous, creamy lilac scent with a hint of cocoa. I’m also reading Prophet Song—it’s intense but beautifully written.
Someone recently mentioned they were wearing Velvet Haze by Byredo, and I thought, hmm, maybe I should try that. I love a good creamy, musky scent with a bit of patchouli.
My favorite month is October—cool air, golden light, and all the cozy things. My least favorite is February—it always feels like winter is dragging its feet.
Fragrance and books get me through February. A great scent can shift my mood, and a gripping novel keeps me from fixating on the gray skies.
I just bought a new Chanel lipstick—Allure Extrait in Libre Rouge, and we are thinking of vacationing in Wales this summer 🙂
I’ve been to Wales quite a few times and think it’s really beautiful, plus interesting with all those old castles. I especially loved the city of St. David’s with its very beautiful and old Gothic cathedral. Aberystwyth is also very interesting. It’s great you may be going there!
I read about St. David. Thanks for the suggestion! Last year in Scotland we had a great time and enjoyed the hiking. So I think we would like also Wales. We shall see..
In answer to your question yesterday, All the Colors of the Dark is a NY Times Bestseller so I thought you may be familiar with it. It is a thriller and love story. If you look it up on Goodreads or Google you can read more about it.
The title I have heard but not the book. Thanks!
I meant the I haven’t heard about the book other than seen the title pop up, but didn’t know what it was about or met anyone that has read it yet
I am wearing Lise Watier Neige, it’s very comforting, the same time it smells clean, fresh.
2. I am always inspired by all you are wearing, I think lately, i remembered wearing Joy.
3. It’s April, May and least favourite is January
4. Perfumes and books help.
5. Not sure about wonderful things, I am demotivated lately.
Demotivated here too! But I solemnly SWEAR I am going to make a dent in the taxes this weekend.
Ugh, taxes are currently the bane of my existence. I have a pile of possibly relevant papers to go through and find what is truly relevant, what is recyclable and what is missing, and then figure out how to retrieve whatever is missing from whatever data base the info hopefully continues to reside in.! Good luck on your tax work!
I did it, I did it! All except for one stupid form that I don’t have yet, but it is 95% done. I am so happy.
Hope you made some headway too!
Happy weekend!
1. LV Myriad
2. Kris mentioned Coco Noir and I think I need to revisit it
3. Favourite is December because I LOVE Christmas and least fav is July, the dead of Summer. I do not fare well in the heat.
4. Ice cream. LOADS of ice cream.
5. Planning a trip to Kuala Lumpur this Easter holiday. They have their Raya celebration around that time so it should be festive? Need to look into it.
Ha, ice cream is how I get through LIFE. The weather hardly matters to my ice cream consumption 😉
And what fun, would love to go to Kuala Lumpur!
1. Babycat. purr..purr.
2. No.
3. Sept – Oct. are favorites. March, not so much, it feels endless.
4. Fresh sheets, burning incense daily, Sumo oranges and walks by the Pacific. Finishing the NYT crossword puzzle.
5. Wonderful things – I watched an Oscar nom movie yesterday “Slow” from Latvia. No words, just a black cat. Visually stunning and poignant.
AND, I ordered a bottle of Tobacolor yesterday from Dior. Done.
Time definitely speeds up after march.
I really don’t have favourite months but, having said that, I am filled with wonder in October when the dawn chorus of birds is at its loudest and comes in waves of sounds from the hillside and valleys with all the this, bellbirds, blackbirds, thrushes, sparrows singing. Listening to the birds as the sky begins to lighten brings an almost overwhelming joy. The worst month actually started yesterday, when all the university students return for the year and spend the first weeks getting incredibly drunk at various flat parties. Already the footpaths and roads are literally covered in smashed bottles and broken glass ( no more dog walking in that area), the beautiful river gets filled with rubbish ( mattresses, road cones, trolleys) and the cemetery cops a lot of discarded cans and human waste on graves. Burning old couches is a thing. It’s really depressing to see all the discarded junk in natural areas where birds/ fish live. Makes me sad about humans. I’m wearing CDG Peppermint and planning to go for a walk with the dog soon. I’m always curious about the perfumes everyone wears but never enough to order samples.
On my list of books I still have The north light by Hideo Yokoyama on my list to get on the library that you recommended awhile ago . They never ordered the book for me so I am trying an interlibrary loan. Have you read anything else by this author?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/04/six-four-hideo-yokoyama-review-crime-thriller-phenomenon-japan?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I’ve read a couple. Six Four was good and also the one set around a plane crash ( Prefecture, I think). Some readers find them very slow but slow books are my favourite books so it wasn’t a problem for me. North Light is probably the easiest place to start as it’s shorter and with fewer characters/ plot twists. Cheaper than lipstick if you give up waiting ( esp. as an e-book).
https://www.japansociety.org.uk/review?review=563
Seventeen ( not Prefecture) is the title of the novel centred around the JAL plane crash
Yes, if they come back with a “no” I will just buy the North Light
I really loved some of the Japanese authors you recommended in the past so I always kept this on my list with a star next to it.
Hearing birds in the morning truly is an overwhelming joy. I can’t wait to hear them here soon.
When I lived in Saudi Arabia, there were no birds. No birdsong.
I didn’t realize it until you realize there is no sound in the morning.
So yes, lillyjo, it is a joy to hear them.
I would really miss hearing the birds too! I told my ESL group here about how robins are a sign of spring, and to watch out for them when they return from the south. Bird migration is so interesting.
So many fascinating comments already and I’m running late on only 6 hrs of sleep. Will divide up my answers over the long weekend when more time.
1) Cyan Nori for Mr Engineer because he’s retired Navy and loves the seaweed dry down
2) I was encouraged to try the lavender Sleepy line at Lush (forgotten who recommended so please identify yourselves for applause) which I did. I bought myself matching lavender Ugg slippers (an extravagance I’ve long put off). Slippers & Sleepy gel have not quite coordinated yet 😆😉 but are working on it for more & better sleep!
Special shoutout to Robin for the Harneys Lavender tea recommendation, which is next on my purchase list!
Have a beautiful restorative Saturday (or Sunday for those across the dateline) NSTers!
Technical correction: sprayer not working for Cyan Nori, now sotd Hypnotizing Fire.
Cyan Nori is a really nice “ seaweed” . I also like their Green Cedar . I spent several months testing perfumes for their “ relaxing” qualities when I was suffering a great deal of pain and awake during the night, between pain killer doses following cancer treatment/ surgery. I tested all my lavender perfumes and then went through ambers, jasmines etc. They all distracted from pain and encouraged deep, slow breathing but the absolute winner was Chypre Mousse which is a very “ still” perfume, almost like a mulch, cave dwelling scent. Very blended. Abel’s Pause was also good. Jicky was a bit sharp ( so not as initially relaxing) in the opening but then good. Aesop Marrakech Intense was another good one. Basically, perfumes that didn’t have an opening blast but had constant depth were good for breathing/ relaxation regardless of notes.
What insight from personal experience! Many thanks Kanuka! I also like Pause and Nurture too. No CN today due to sprayer problem. I haven’t worn Hypnotizing Fire since the LA Fires last month. My snoot must have recovered because the scent is dramatically different to me, calming and soothing, like a warm fire on a cold day.
I’ve added Chypre Mousse to my Try list, Kanuka!
Great recommendations! Thanks for the story. Hope you are all better now?
It looks like thegoddessrena received your email so I take it you two connected.
Yes Kris, thank you for pointing out what I should do. Thegoddessrena is a delight and will be sending me a box of joy Tuesday. Woohoo!!!
Super!
1. I’m wearing Rosine LeSnob 1, or Gothic Rose. Luscious.
2. Several people have mentioned Joy recently. I know I’ve tried it before and liked it–would love to get my hands on a vintage or at least older bottle of it.
3. Favorite month now is probably April, or maybe March, because it’s always a beautiful time in spring here with so many things blossoming–jasmine, gardenias, magnolias, azaleas–and isn’t yet too hot. Least favorite: November. I hate it when the time changes and it’s dark early, it’s often gray and rainy here, and I often find the holiday season overall quite depressing due to sad memories.
4. What can brighten the bad month: It’s tough to avoid it. I just try to read, communicate with friends, and stay above the depression.
5. Good things: I’m planning to attend two conferences, one in April and one in June, where I have papers accepted, and both relate to an ongoing project I’m hoping to do (maybe a book project?), so I am pleased about that. One is in Philadelphia and the other is in Edmonton, Alberta, where I’ll see some old friends and try to take at least a short side trip to Banff, an incredibly beautiful place.
Alberta is on our bucket list
The Canadian Rockies are just stunning!
That’s great about your conferences. The side trip to Banff sounds wonderful. Maybe you could do one of the Banff Centre residencies one day, even short term.
Alas I’ve heard they’ve suffered a lot of funding cuts, like so many other places.
Oh yes, Banff whenever possible! It’s stunningly beautiful there!
Banff is on my bucket list.
1. Miss Dior Parfum (2024) on one wrist and Miss Dior Cherie EDT (2007?) on the other. My old bottle seems a little off, still interesting but not long lasting. The new sample is fruity and veeeery tenacious…
2. Profumum Roma Alba and JM Velvet Rose & Oud that were mentioned yesterday.
3. June is my favorite and January my least favorite month.
4. Running, TV shows & snuggling with my cats
5. Something wonderful I discovered recently is VC&A Bois d’Iris 🤍
A day can’t go completely to the bad if Bois d’Iris is in the picture.
I love your #5 as well.
1. I haven’t yet decided on a scent for the day, but I’m thinking about PdN’s Le Temps d’une Fête.
2. There are so many things that people mention here that I haven’t tried! Recent mentions of another PdN, Number One Intense, have prompted me to add it to the list for my next order of samples. I have had it in mind for years, but I think I had better try it again before a purchase.
3. I have two favourite months – August for the signs of spring and the hope of a decent summer, and February for the actual summer. My least favourite is November, it’s so often colder than I think it should be in late spring, and it’s a dead zone between my birthday in October and Christmas 🙂 .
4. See 3, looking forward to the Christmas break.
5. Sticking with the weather theme, we have had a few gorgeous summer days recently – and I found some stunning dressmaking fabric yesterday!
It’s a stunning day here, too. I find the strong, constant wind around Oct/ Nov pretty depressing…especially if it involves flying into Wellington. Ugh.
1. I am wearing Fils de Joie. Not so heavy-hitting as Sarrasins but more heft than A La Nuit.
2. I should try Lillyjo’s Devotion. Eventually I will, but I go into stores so rarely now. I buy most everything but groceries online.
3. I like April, the rains have mostly stopped and the temperatures start to rise. December is my least favorite, it’s dark and cold.
4. Reading helps me through all the months but especially the dark cold ones. Oh, and cookies.
5. People I have never met in person sent me food via GrubHub right after my fall. On another website I comment in the food forum so the delivered food was tailored to my tastes. I was so moved and grateful because I really could not do much more than open a soup can. It partially restored my faith that people can be kind to each other.
Devotion reminds me of Cloud but with a sweet lemon signature rather than sweet musk. Have a happy weekend!
How wonderful you got those special food deliveries!
Your #5 is so sweet and thoughtful!
As I mentioned to Robin, if you have tried Akro Bake, it is very similar to that. It is kind of like a lemon pastry.
Sorry, I am talking about Devotion.
While you haven’t tried Devotion the fragrance, it sounds like you received a lot of devotion via food deliveries while you recovered!
How are you doing now foxbins?
1. SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Invite Me In EDP. Love it! 😍 Almost done with the January Joy Box 2025! More loves for sure.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGG4iigRyXx/?igsh=dmZxMWIzMnB4MnJk
2. Rauque
3. Best month November (and December); Worst month July / August / September
4. Nothing in particular. I keep myself busy and just think that the days will pass, quickly. Thank goodness for A/C!
5. I just realized I now need to change my door decor! It’s the little things …
I just changed my table cloth to spring but will get a separate one for Easter.
I got a cute tablecloth with bunnies and all sorts of flowers on it for spring!
Wearing Mugler Angel, a new version from 20023. It is a softer, gentler Angel, which falls short of the mark for me. The only berries and sugar is in the first minutes and then it is a chocolate nougat on me. Like, a chocolate Charleston Chew tastes. Likeable, but not a knockout.
I have a bottle of a pre-2019 version coming my way via ebay. I have high hopes for something potent. I want to be bowled over by a tiny dab and brought back to 2000 when my friend bathed in it.
Someone mentioned Bois des Iles EdP and I have a bit of that I need to bring over to my desk so I can indulge.
Favorite month is October, least favorite is March. It always feels like the back end of February.
I noticed as I get older time goes so quickly. I think that having a routine and also taking naps gets me through the slow months. All of a sudden it is May and we are looking at nicer weather and sunshine.
My cats are getting older, the turn 15 in May. Both of them had a heath issue in the last year, and we have got their issues stabilized so they can continue being their happy, relatively healthy, silly, fuzzy selves. It is a huge relief. Yes, one of our kitchen drawers is a cat pharmacy, and yes, we can’t really go on trips more than one night since they need us to give daily treatments. But they are sweet, precious boys and we are so happy to have more time with them.
I agree with you on the current Angel. I hope you love the version that’s coming.
I agree that as I get older time goes quicker than it ever used to. I frequently take naps in the afternoon during the winter months as well. I also keep to a routine too when I can.
May you spend many more happy days with your cats! ❤️ I also have two, they are 11 and 9 years old, currently very healthy but I know there will come time when we’ll have to deal with health issues and be ready for some sacrifices.
Happy to hear that your sweet kitties are doing well! Hope you have more good years with them.
I’m out for lunch but posting about a visit to Kuhl Linscomb for some perfume sniffing. Attention, Houston people, they’ve got some things on a 50%off sale! It includes one Lubin and both El and Ella from Arquiste.
I tried several of the new Arquiste scents and so far the winner is Almond Suede. Lots more leather than almond! The SA Vanessa also showed me the new candle Dog Paws. Omg, it’s so strong! Exactly the smell of corn chips! Not my thing!
I was actually there to find new earrings and was successful in that quest. Pics to follow on Instagram! I tried the new Creed, Queen of Silk, at Vanessa’s urging, and it’s a very pretty white floral. I’m not interested in buying it though.
Thanks for the report on the candle. I know several were interested in hearing what Dog Paws was like.
Ha, more thanks for the candle report! I wonder if it is selling.
1. Hiram Green Shangri-La. It just called to me this morning.
2. Way too many to think about. I feel like I have a pretty big collection but there are still so many houses I haven’t tried.
3. July is my favourite, as the weather usually turns to summer at the beginning of July and isn’t too crazy hot (though mild temps cannot be counted on any longer). February is my least favourite — just rainy, cold, dark, I always get sick, the January beginning of year optimism about the annual plan at work wears off, etc.
4. Candles, planning travel. I’m going to go look into that Lush Sleepy spray today.
5. I have decided that if Mr. Ockeghem gets to spend the whole month of September in Europe for his sabbatical next semester, I am going to take a long weekend or most of a week and go somewhere on my own in October. Doing all the kid running for a month is a lot harder on me than on him, since she’s on his way to work; it’s double the driving for me since I work from home. Now I just have to figure out where to go!
Report back when you figure out the details of your trip!
I quite like the Sleepy shower gel! I feel it working in the shower. I rub on my check slowly in a circle and inhale, like the old Vicks VapoRub medication. Very calming!
Chest, not check although after seeing dome large unexpected repair bills 🤬 maybe I should rub it there 😆
Thanks for reporting back on Sleepy shower gel. I think that will be my next purchase in Lush.
I got the Sleepy powder, and used it last night on my pillow. I wish it had a bit more lavender to balance out the tonka; it’s a bit too sweet for my tastes. Mr. Ockeghem can’t smell right now, so I can’t tell if he liked it on his pillow or not.
1. Today it’s Jo Malone, with ginger bikkie on one arm and orange marmalade on the other
2. I’d like to sniff all the 4711 new/new-to-me, as I could do with a new
3. My favourite month might be May. My least favourite month when growing up Back East was January only because it was a month further away from spring than February, and longer to boot. Now that I’m on the West Coast the November dark, cold rain can be quite depressing.
4. I therefore often put up holiday lights very early to keep the darkness away.
5.My latest big purchase was not in fact a lovely perfume, but a moon phase watch! I’d wanted one for a while.
Those watches are very cool! Nice purchase!
I’d love a moon phase watch but it’s hard to find one for the southern hemisphere. There are some double phase watches but they are very expensive. What did you buy?
I bought a Citizen Calendrier. Swatch might have a double moonphase…?
Frozen mango and yogurt smoothie
Felt so tired but not sleepy this evening so had a coffee but of course I’m going to have trouble sleeping tonight for sure. I continued with rose this morning, Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater, honestly I don’t know which is best between this and Chloe Rose Naturelle Intense for a pure pink rose, they are both so good. The Chloe is rated poorly on Fragrantica I realized yesterday, I have no clue why as I find it so lovely, so well, natural but perhaps people wanted a more intense experience.
1. Tonight vintage Avon Timeless which smells as good as vintage Halston
2. Lancôme LVEB Elixir because Lillyjo liked it and our tastes are so similar but no strong lemming in general, I have so much in my collection
3. June because it’s my birthday month and full of roses and lovely weather, Jnuary as it always seems to drag on
4. My exotic smoothies brighten up my diet
5. I have received the new rug for my bedroom and am very pleased with my choice, pure wool and handwoven and -40%.
Leave it to you to find a good deal on a handwoven wool rug!
The LVEB I have is the L’Extrait. It’s similar to Oud Bouquet but without the sweetness. The Elixer is the newest one which I think is raspberry and leather. I like that one too but it reminds me of Tuscan Leather which I don’t wear much.
Hopefully you can get a little sleep tonight. I slept poorly last night and am hoping for some rest myself.
Thank you very much for the mini review Lillyjo. I have the extrait too which I like a lot along with the iris flanker.
Aurora you are timeless and classic in your taste to me: roses, literal Timeless fragrance, vintage Halston, hand woven wool rugs! All standing the test of time and universally appreciated! Have you written your own personal review on the other site? I think you would put forth a poetic effort.
Merci Leslie. It is true that I have a good number of vintage classics, it occurred naturally over the last fifteen years because when I was building my collection vintage bottles were the more affordable option. Today not so much and anyway I am on a low buy. I haven’t written a personal review.
Vintage Avon Timeless had a gorgeous bottle.
1. Not sure yet what I’ll wear tonight as I just woke up. Something easy and uncomplicated like BdI, Fils de Dieu, or I may open my BUB of Omnia. I love wearing more complicated perfumes like the one I wore yesterday (Zelda) but they require a certain level of attention, focus, and introspection which I find a bit distracting when at work.
2. Based on Lillyjo’s complimentary comments about Devotion, I tried it at a local Ulta not too long ago and promptly picked up a travel spray. They accidentally gave me the “Intense” version which I didn’t care for, so had to return and get the original. I really would like to try the body creme but will not pay $97 for it. The travel spray edp is the perfect size, imo.
3. Usually I’d say October-ish since fall is my favorite season. This year I think I’ll say April, specifically the first week because that when my contract is completed. Really can NOT wait! Least favorite is high summer. No thanks!🥵
4. Air conditioning!
5. Very excited about my new bike and can’t wait to load it up and get on the road. My summer gig has me over the moon and I’m hoping it works out well, and that this is a park I can return to (even though it’s a bit of a drive) because it has everything I want in a summer work camping job- decent hourly wage, free parking and hookups, smack dab in the middle of miles of biking and hiking trails, a chain of lakes for the really hot days, and a Costco within a 15 minute drive! ☺️
Happy weekend!
You know I love summer but I couldn’t live without your #4!
Wow, summer placement sounds perfect!
ITA w meredithfay that your summer placement sounds ideal! How marvelous for you!
I hope you love your summer gig! Northern MN is gorgeous in the summer, but make sure you have something to combat the mosquitoes!
DEET is gonna be your very good friend this summer, I think.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today? Encens Mythique
2. Is there a fragrance someone was wearing here recently and you thought huh, maybe I should try that? Not that I can think of but that can change on a moment’s notice😂
3. What’s your favorite month of the year, and what’s your least favorite? Probably my favorite is November as I love cooking for Thanksgiving. Probably January as it is usually long and bitterly cold here.
4. Name one thing that helps you get through your least favorite month of the year. Not sure. For years I have had a sugar cookie every Saturday night and that makes me happy. I know-it’s weird, but I try not to eat a lot of sugar.
5. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything: something you discovered, or bought, or read, or saw, or something great that happened to you recently. As I mentioned earlier this week, we are in the process of remodeling our twin home, which is exciting to me. It is also a little nerve wracking as I am so organized and am trying to coordinate the different contractors coming in around my husband’s back surgery this Monday.
Kris, any specialities a la Kris for Thanksgiving? I too rally enjoying cooking for Thanksgiving. Gratitude is such a great reason for a major holiday! Do you make your own sugar cookies? I think it’s very healthy of you to limit your sugar. I feel inspired! How long will your renovation take? Good luck and prayers for a hassle-free recovery for Mr Kris!
Mostly the usuals for Thanksgiving. What might be different is that I make twice baked potatoes rather than the typical mashed potatoes. I also make buns in a wreath looking shape with parsley on the top. Otherwise, turkey, dressing, yams, potatoes, buns and pecan or pumpkin pie.
I buy my sugar cookies, but have made them.
I hope the remodeling will be done by about the first part of April.
Thanks for thinking of my husband. I will be with him tomorrow for that and he will be coming home on Tuesday.
A luscious menu! I’m a bit of a worry wort with family members too. I think it’s a stress relief personally.
I hope you are able to get everything to come together. That’s a lot on your plate.
Thanks. I am sure it will be fine. I am just a bit of a worry wart.
Hope everything goes smoothly with your husband’s surgery tomorrow.
Thanks ringthing!
Hi everyone! Long time no post, but I am on VACATION now so hope to be more present for the next week at least :). I’m working on using up samples since I can spray with abandon and really test them out while I don’t have to go to work. Hooray!
1. Strangers Parfumerie Oliver. This is a bit odd; I feel like it doesn’t know what direction it wants to go in. And it isn’t very potent, or maybe my nose still hasn’t recovered from my sinus issues. Oh, and now that I’m looking at the list of *33* notes on Frangrantica, no wonder I’m confused! Sheesh.
2. Iris Poudre–still haven’t sniffed it.
3. June is my favorite, and February my least favorite.
4. Fortunately, Restaurant Week falls in February in Chicago–it’s a great way to try places that are normally way too expensive, and it’s fun to get together with friends for that. We trudge out in awful weather for good food!
5. Like I said, vacation! I am loving all this lounging time. I’m reading a fun mystery too, Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton.
Socks, the Iris Poudrebis heavenly.!I wore it for Galentine’s Day and when my friends hugged they said I smelled sooo good. Also the sillage is quite extended. I’d already had the IP on for a few hours of errands when I met them for lunch. Kris gifted me a sample and I think it’s a definite purchase for me along with the Encens Mythique!
Thanks LesLiesse, Iris Poudre definitely gets a lot of love!
Hey Socks-
I think you will enjoy Local Gone Missing. I read it a couple years ago so don’t remember it exactly, but I do like her books.
Also, if you email me, I would be happy to send you a sample of Iris Poudre. Email is K r i s p o n t o (all letters together) at sio dawt midco dawt net.
Why thank you Kris! I will send you an email 🙂
Just emailed you back.
Hey socks! So nice to see you and hope you have a great vacation week 🙂
Thank you Robin!
Hiya socks! Always glad to see you pop in.
Hi Jalapeno! I’m happy to see you too!
Diptyque Oyedo for my Sunday run. 10k – yay!
Wow, congrats!
Thanks, socks!
Smelling lovely!
SOTD Mon Precieux Nectar, which does well in the cold, and never irritates my sinuses. Which is why I wear it only every 8 or 9 days, to reduce the chance of developing a sensitivity.
2. People mentioned Iris Poudre, which I lovedwhen I first got it, so I sniffed my travel spray, but now the musks in it seem overpowering. Has anyone else had the experience of noticing musks more and liking them less after the hormonal changes of menopause? These days, there are some mainstream perfumes people wear at the grocery store that are just overwhelming. Never used to have that happen.
3. I love summer in the Wyoming mountains, but summer in the mosquito infested humidity of the Michigan temperate rainwoods is not so much fun. Spring in Michigan, before the June 2nd hatch of mosquitoes and deer flies, is probably my favorite time- spring planting, buds bursting open all over, so hopeful! I used to love winter, but we have now lost most of the elders in my family between Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Day, so it takes more effort to celebrate the holidays now.
4. Holiday cooking helps- making one grandma’s mince meat pie, my mom’s cinnamon rolls, and other grandma’s tapioca pudding, butter shortbread, and sugar cookies always helps!
5. Preparations for our trip to Europe-Amsterdam museums, Paris museums and cathedrals, then a shrine to Sara Kali, the patron saint of Romani people in an out of the way corner of the Camargue (very long story, don’t ask!), and some beach time, before the flight home on Icelandair, with the layover in Iceland, are proceeding. I signed up for on-line French lessons, since the little French I have was acquired in Morocco, spending time with a Peace Corps nurse who spoke French with a distinct Louisiana accent, which made the Morrocans laugh, but I know I need to at least try to make myself a little more acceptable to Parisian shopgirls to have any chance of successfully ordering a croissant, let alone a Chanel lipstick at the Chanel boutique! (I learned this lesson when I went to Spain, landing in Madrid, and talking to the lisping Castelellanos I met with the half Shoshone/ half Mexican accent of the mestizo Chicano farm workers whose kids attended my little country school occasionally. I got some looks until I started copying the people I was talking to!) I may have one day to myself while adorable hubby and the tour go see the beaches at Normandy, which I have heard first hand accounts of from relatives and do not need to see in person. So any suggestions for perfume shops I should go to?
Your accent stories reminds me of the time I was speaking French-Canadian French with a woman from probably Normandy, and she exclaimed, “Que c’est rustique!” Hmm.
Yes, a polite way of saying “You sound like a country bumpkin to me!” LOL
Will your day to yourself be in Paris? Or Normandy? I went to the usual suspects in Paris in the fall. PdN has multiple outposts, and I found that the salespeople were very tolerant of my sniffing, leaving, and returning, and also of my apologetic English (I can read French decently but can’t produce it. Someday I should sign up for a conversation class, as five years of Duolingo to refresh one year of high school French hasn’t worked for active vocabulary). ELdO had a shop very close by the PdN I went to in the Marais. The nice thing about both is the ability to get small bottles that will fit in your luggage without breaking the bank and your customs exemption.
I was also going to go by Uni/vere Parfumerie, because they carry Anatole Lebreton, but I sampled them all before I got to Paris and there wasn’t anything I desperately needed a FB of. With a kid and spouse in tow, I didn’t get there. Uni/vere might be worth a shot, though, as they carry a range of brands.
Thank you for the thought rec’s! Yes, I will be in Paris, and adorable hubby can have a day away from me, which he will be needing- he is going to be short of alone time on this trip! So I thought I would map out a little adventure of my own, and maybe have a buddy from the tour to come along. Chanel for big name glam, a couple niche places for samples-maybe Santa Maria Novella? Maybe someplace I could get reasonable scarves for my sister and sisters -in-law, maybe an art store- fun to bring back a tube of Sennelier real lapis lazuli alternating oil paint or something. Maybe a bookstore.?
Not terribly reasonable, but lovely silk scarves are very close to the PdN and ELdO in the Marais at Neymo.
I appreciate any suggestions. A less reasonable scarf might be a present for me! 🙂
https://neymo.com/en. The quality of the silk is very good — heavy, nice feel. Also I like the different shapes (square and arrow) and sizes. I came home with two presents for myself. 😀
Your vacation plans are amazing. Hope you both have the greatest time!
Rainy day , Amouge Journey woman
What is your favorite Amouge?
Dia – I’d be tempted to get another bottle, and at full price.
That is a beauty!
One of the NSTer send me a small decant of one of the Opus scents and I have to say I haven’t smelled this sort of rose before. Interesting..
I recently fell in love with Lilac Love
Jubilation 25 Woman. I like Lyric a lot, too, but there’s just something about Jubilation — probably also many years of memories in it.
That is a good one ☝️
Both Jubilation XXV and Jubilation 25 are beautiful, but my favorite Amouage is Interlude Man.
I will have to try interlude man
It’s frankincense heavy, and to my nose, unisex. YMMV.
Sotd- SUNPLOSION for an Aloha State of Mind, Simone Andreoli (because I had a major plumbing problem develop while I was enjoying a sunny LA long Valentines weekend with Mr Engineer resulting in a long, vexing, possibly $$$ experience but it’s nice to have an engineer take care of the fluid dynamics issues for you). Now, exhausted but enjoying my SUNPLOSION sample.
Favorite month: December because I love snow, skiing, all the holiday hoopla, and my 12/15 anniversary of meeting Mr Engineer.
Least favorite month: October, which is a gorgeous month, but full of bad memories of deaths over decades. I breathe in deeply Oct 1 and exhale on Halloween at 23:59. Last Oct, relieved to report that nothing happened.
Something wonderful: JOINING THIS COMMUNITY CUZ YOU’RE FASCINATING AND WONDERFUL !!!!! Robin gave me my warm welcome on New Year’s Day when I joined, followed quickly by hellos from tulipani (literally 2 min after my initial post), lillyjo, kris, allo, jalapeño and aurora Al in the first hours! Many others followed making me feel like a real true member right away! Thank you all for responding to my questions and commenting back! Truly a delightful and uplifting way to start a New Year and happiest fulfillment of a New Years Resolution yet for me!
Good people know good people LesLiesse. It’s been great seeing you post here. 😃
😊🤗
Hey, are are a real true member! All anyone has to do is jump in and you have done that 🙂
With both feet, wrists and behind my ears Robin! You make this community what it is – thanks for making the world a better place!!!
🥰
🥰
Today I am wearing Mugler Aura body cream. My least favorite month is January. My most favorite is probably May because the days are still getting longer.
Almost every day someone is wearing something I want to try but currently I don’t have anything on my list.
Something hopefully wonderful is that my Son is taking his last 2 classes to get his associates degree. It’s taken him a while but fingers crossed he will be done soon.
Oh that’s lovely lillyjo, good for him and his mama! I wish I could get my son back to school.
That is wonderful news, lillyjo!
That’s a terrific accomplishment lillyjo! Good for him!
How wonderful! I’m so happy for both of you💕
Thanks everyone!
Great news💕
Congrats mama!
Fingers crossed for your son, lillyjo🤞
Awesome news about your son! Big hugs for both of you.
1. Fancy Nights.
2. I definitely want to try Devotion and will seek it out at Ulta. And Deva loves UmmaGumma so I got a sample recently. And all the talk of Joy makes me want to revisit it, and the list goes on and on!
3. Favorite month is October, it’s so gorgeous, and least favorite is March. 31 cold gray days where the precipitation goes from ice to mud.
4. I try to budget for a little retail therapy, maybe a new lipstick and nail polish for spring. Or something good smelling, of course. And plan something like a visit to my daughter or having friends over.
5. I found my bottle of Fancy Nights! It was hanging out behind some backup bottles.
I rarely wear lipstick anymore but I love it when the spring displays start coming in. It’s like candy!
Fancy Nights is an excellent cheap thrill!
It really is. Seeing you reminds me that I want to wear Obsession while it’s so cold this week, too.
Go for it!!
1. L’Artisan L’Eau D’Ambre Extrême. I didn’t realize this was a JCE creation; no wonder it’s so good.
2. I’m always intrigued by Serge fragrances I haven’t tried and have been inspired to get many of the ones I have after someone here mentioned it.
3. My favorite month has become April and even late March because I know Spring is coming and I can relish every second of it. My least favorite month is January because it’s so dark.
4. Candles and trying to get outside as much as possible make January easier for me.
5. We’re looking forward to another walking trip in the UK and it’s fun to see the details coming together.
Is your trip coming up soon?
June🌸 And that seemed so far away until we realized we need to do more long distance walking to get in shape!💃
Re: spring coming, isn’t that deep loamy green scent of the flower buds pushing out from underneath their winter sleep in the ground the most intoxicating?
Truly!🌱
My boyfriend and I would love to do a walking trip in Italy. He has experience with this kind of trips, but it would be my first. I am used to long running, but walking all day with a backpack requires different kind of preparation… Anyway, it’s something we like to think about, hopefully it will happen one day 🙂
I hope you’re able to do the trip. It’s such a great way to see the countryside, meet people and exercise enough to eat all the tasty foods along the way😊
I’m popping by to say that I’m wearing Trayee from Neela Vermeire.
Smelling good, Gaynor!
1. Sampling Isvaraya today and notes are below. Kurkdjian reworked this in 2024 is my understanding but I never sniffed the original. Getting mostly white flowers and patchouli so far.
2. She-ra Mini has appropriated a B&BW spray called Fresh Vanilla Blossoms that I bought but never wore and it’s great on her.
3. I think November may be my favorite. I love the fall and anticipation of Christmas. January and February are both no good. ehaeheh 😆
4. Humor and fragrance are my driving forces year round.
5. I finished the first draft of a document for work over the weekend. With all the research and analysis, took about 12 hours total. Have to have some attorneys and other stakeholders review and give feedback but it’s a huge relief. 😅
Notes: Indian plum, jasmine Sambac, Patchouli, vetiver, labdanum, prune jam accord. elemi, amber.
Congratulations on finishing that extensive draft! Well done She-ra! I may have to try humor and fragrance instead of dark chocolate to get me through my October trepidations – much better for my waistline!
Congratulations on the work done! 👏
White flowers and patchouli? Ooooooooh. Sounds up my alley! Have you compared it to Tauer Le Maroc Pour Elle?
Sotd 4160T Doe in the Snow.
For those celebrating, enjoy your President’s Day holiday.
Doe in the Snow is a cute name! Spellcheck changed it to For. Stupid Spellcheck. 🙂
I do enjoy a cute name, meredifay That said, Abel’s Laundry Day is a favorite scent of mine, and I refuse to wear it when I do laundry. 😆
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Fifth Sense EDP
Minty toothpaste 🦷! 💚
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGME04jx4fO/?igsh=NWp1MDFyZzV2YnUw
It was a nice celebration yesterday for my aunt’s 88th birthday. Saw a bunch of cousins AND the next generation. The dinner started early (5-ish) but by the time we were done, I was FULL. Then we went to her house and had … more food (cake, fruit and wine).
This was not the Medicare / Medicare Advantage essay I wanted to share (that will come) but it serves the purpose of helping one figure out advantages / disadvantages of choosing one versus the other.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/business/medicare-medigap-advantage.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xU4.IoX8.hZroWs019Rj5&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Congratulations to your aunt on her 88th! Well done! Her party sounded fun and delish! (Also the Joy Box photo has me excited for next year.). What do you think of Fifth Sense?
I like Fifth Sense EDP. It has a peppermint toothpaste smell which I think is refreshing.
I opt for refreshing most days over gourmand or spicy.
So were you able to determine which works the best for you? I was fortunate to have a husband in the financial services industry so that helped me a lot plus he is 4 1/2 years older than me so I could see how what he had worked. We were both satisfied so I ended up getting exactly the same thing he had. So far so good.
I am team traditional Medicare. At this point, I am still too young to pick but when I do, I will be choosing the traditional.
Good choice, but that’s just my opinion. We are fortunate to have a good supplement too. We have had very little that has not been covered and for that I am thankful as my husband has had quite a few surgeries last year.
Sounds like a perfect party. Happy Birthday to your Aunt!
It was and thank you!
Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for posting the essay link.
I did. The essay link was easy to understand.
Thanks for all the well wishes for my husband’s surgery. It all went fine and I will bring him home tomorrow. I told him I was not coming back tonight as there is a severe cold snap here. It will be -25 tonight and that is not counting the wind chill. That will bring it to 40 or 50 below zero tonight. Need to stay in where it is warm.
SOTD is Shalimar MI.
Glad to hear your husband’ surgery went well! Stay warm 💛
Thanks Nina!
Glad to hear it went well! Shalimar MI is chef’s 😘.
Shalimar MI is always a good choice😉
So glad the surgery went well!
Stay warm! I saw normal temperatures coming next week throughout the country.
Yes, 40’s and even 50’s next week. It will be a 70-80 degree temperature change.
Was thinking about you and your hubby earlier today. Glad to hear that everything went well! But those temps! YIKES. 🥶🥶🥶
It’s getting cold here too, but not like THAT.
It will be warming up at the end of the week.
Yeah, but a couple of miserable days to slog thru before that happens.
Yikes that’s cold! Glad to hear Mr K is doing well! Answered prayers!
Yes, we were fortunate that a lot of people were praying for us.
Glad to hear all went well, and you’re smelling fabulous.
Thanks so much!
Hooray! So glad it went well.
Thanks Socks. Hope to get your package out tomorrow. Added a few other goodies to it.
Glad everything went well with the surgery, Kris! Smelling great in MI.
Thanks Gail!
Excellent news!
Thanks Robin.
So the cold air from Way Up North has arrived early. Temperatures started dropping after lunchtime here. Hmpf! Neither Teflon kitty nor I are fans about that. Got the faucets dripping already.
Poll answers!
1. Back in Poison again. That 1oz purple bottle is so freaking cute!
2. Encens Mythique had been mentioned a fair amount recently, and Kris thoughtfully sent me a sample to try.
3a. Favorite month of the year? Not sure I have one. But any month without me experiencing hail or tornadoes in it is pretty d@mn good in my book.
3b. Least favorite month? Varies. This year, February has hit pretty hard emotionally. In the past both March and November have been less than stellar; March for the sense of neverending winter, and November for noticeably shorter days.
4. Whatever gets you thru the least favorite month? Well, February is short… 🤣 Kitty snuggles and phone calls with my brother help a lot.
5. Something wonderful? OK, this is gonna be funny. Late in the evening on Valentine’s Day, someone I went to junior high with sent me a text saying “Happy Valentine’s Day. Thinking of you.” We had a nice conversation texting back and forth for a bit. Even grouches can get lucky sometimes. 😉
Encens Mythique gets 👍👍👍 from me. I’m not usually a spicy fan, but the depth and richness of EM really transports me somewhere else.
I think one of the miracles of our collective memories is when someone from our past not only remembers us, but remembers us in such a happy sense that they reach out to us. Out of sight, out of mind in a permanent sense would be horrible to me. Delighted this happy communication happened to you on the holiday!!!
I hadn’t seen this person in many, many years. We used to have the same homeroom back in the day. Reconnected last summer when we were attending our respective high school reunions, since we did not attend the same high school after junior high.
EM is amazing
I am quite intrigued by it. But I am in the middle of a perfume monogamy streak with Poison right now.
Cheating on Poison with EM is ok in my book 📖
Enabler!
But seriously, either way my clothes are going to smell great the next day. Both perfumes have lovely drydowns.
So, are you going to pull the trigger and buy EM? Inquiring minds want to know.
Nice to have an old friend text you on Valentine’s Day. New romance in the air? None of my business. I didn’t just ask that. Who am I kidding? I did just ask that.
Dunno if I will get EM or not. I have a dentist appointment next week, so that cost is on my mind.
New romance? Nah. No indications of that AFAIK.
Dentist should give out gift cards so we can treat ourselves after the appointment!
I was going to ask about romance too. Lol.
Either way it’s nice to get a Happy Valentines 🩷
🤣 at “dentist gift cards!”
Darn. I love romance!
Everyone could use a friend. 😉
Ooh, love your #5!
Thank you Gail!
Love your poll responses!