March is halfway over and the swapmeet is open for business. It’s also Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, and the equinox is coming up on Thursday.
We're marking all the occasions with our usual open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite perfume for spring cleaning, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Crocus [cropped and background extended] by Sergey Urzhumskov at flickr; some rights reserved.
Gres Cabotine
You smell like Spring!
I am trying LOL. Even though it’s cloudy and cold today
Oh and I keep meaning to ask you, what are your favorite lilac fragrances? Which ones do you not like? I might do a week of lilacs soon.
I actually don’t know most lilac perfume but love the flower.
I always thought Liz Clabourne Vivid was lilac but it’s not listed. I think the Pacifica Lilac is very good.
Also the original Gucci Guilty line.
Yes the Pacifica one is most realistic to my nose. My daughter loves that one!!!
Bath and Bodyworks has a new fresh cut lilacs line. I really want to try it but it’s only available online. I hope it comes to the stores eventually.
That would be great!!
Iris Poudre. Happy SwapMeet Saturday NST!
On a cold, clear, after the rain day, I’m going to amble through a nearby park by stopping to smell every budding flower area.
Excited to witness my first swap meet!
Feel free to jump in, LesLiesse. It’s a great way to try new scents and say farewell to those you’re no longer enchanted with!
Oh DeniseH thanks for encouragement, but it’s rather intimidating for a n00b. I’m trying to familiarize myself with all the new scents as well as lines. It’s like a foreign language. Then there’s the guidelines to master as well. I’m happy to watch. Plus I just sent off my first fragrance gift, to lillyjo, paying Kris’s and Daniel’s generosity forward. I am making progress!
Well, you certainly smell good!
Thanks to a lovely, generous person – Y-O-U !
Do look at the swapmeet. There are people that are offering freebies too.
Will do. Question: who is Kevin I see referenced?
Kevin did a review on a candle yesterday. Robin has certain people like Kevin, Jessica and others that review fragrances on here from time to time. Others would know on here, but not sure if they also have their own perfume blogs or are perfume “experts” or what the connection is with Robin. Hey! Let’s have her answer.
Happy weekend NST Peeps! For all those participating in the swap meet, I hope you find your hearts desire. 💞
The wind died down yesterday afternoon so I made it to the post office to pick up my goodies. Today, happily immersed in non-windy weather, I’m wearing Astier de Villatte Ambre Liquide which Kevin just reviewed here a week or two ago. I bought a 10 ml bottle of that one and Delhi based on comments from NST folks whose sniffer I trust and admire. Both were blind buys, which I rarely do these days, and both are winners! So, a successful and happy purchase that didn’t break the bank. I also love the bottles which are same shape as the larger ones but a bit more squat. The caps are substantial and the bottles reminds me of an old apothecary type bottles, so I love the whole vibe including the cute little boxes they came in that make storing them super easy. I know the candles were also mentioned but they’re a bit steep for me. Has anyone tried their incense sticks? I may have to take one for the team and try them out so I can report back to you all. 😉
I think I am getting your wind today. Enjoy your new goodies!
Thanks, and sorry for the wind! It wasn’t terribly cold here yesterday but that wind just cut me in half like a machete. I hope it’s fleeting at your place and moves east quickly! Look out all you folks in the eastern US… 🌬️
Oh yay, so glad you like them both. I am still pissed I did not buy Grand Chalet when it was still easily found in small sizes.
I gave Kevin some incense sticks a bit back and he did review them:
https://nstperfume.com/2021/05/17/hot-humid-astier-de-villatte-tucson-incense-arquiste-nocturnal-green-candle-home-fragrance-reviews/
That’s kind of crazy they don’t offer that one in 10ml as well. It’s the perfect size, IMO. I wonder what the rationale behind that is..? Thanks for the link, I’m off to check it out!
They did have it in 10 and 30 ml, I think? But they don’t seem to restock the tiny sizes much if at all, maybe they just do them once as “intro” sizes, I don’t know, and also few of the US retailers bring in the small sizes.
Robin, I know you’re unlikely to take me up on it, but I would love to give you a hefty decant of Grand Chalet. What am I going to do with 120mls if you don’t help me??? Drown. Help!
In the land of geeee male le slic orth ell
oops – 150mls!!!!!
I haven’t tried anything from Astier de Villatte, but the brand is rapidly making its way to the top of the list of things I need to try.
Explore at your peril (or at least your pocketbook’s peril)!
They sell it at Tessuti in Auckland
Am burning some Hollywood incense, in the amusingly sinister smoking-cat burner.
I love that cat! 😻
Happy weekend!
Sotd is Sticky Dates. I love it and it ranks top from all my Lush body sprays.
Has anybody tried the new Lush Mossy Bottom? I am very intigued and my store still hasn’t got it. What I have tried though is Mr. Wallet. It’s a really good one! Sweet (but not too much!), comforting peppermint candy.
Scent for spring cleaning? I don’t think I wear a specific scent for chores but if I do, it’ll probably be Amouage Dia 40. Soapy aldehyde galore. Gorgeous stuff and smells clean and fresh. Definitely motivational.
I used a bit of Sticky Dates shower gel this morning (mixed with Sunrise) but I guess we are not quite twins 🙂
I used Sticky Dates shower gel too😉
Twins!
I’ll take us being sisters!
🙂
When I wore the (to my nose) unisex Kenzo Jungle Homme earlier this week, Robin reminded me that L’Elephant was equally versatile in the gender department. And that’s what I’m wearing this morning. Loving the spiciness of it on this chilly morning.
Great cold weather scent, Daniel.
🐘🐘🐘
Love the elephants!
Hi everyone, happy swap day if you are playing along. I am pretty much ok with my collection so chose not to swap today but I am already thinking of changing my mind lol.
I’m in green scent mode still with vintage No. 19.
Hi ringthing. Are you getting this crazy wind today?
Definitely! I saw a tall stack of plastic bread trays on a dolly careen across the Kroger parking lot where a pothole at the entrance caused it to topple and blow around everywhere, and there’s a thick haze in the air. Do you have to work tonight, lillyjo?
No thank goodness. I’m picking up my son from work right now then staying home. I just got an alert saying my city has the worst air quality in the U.S today due to all the dust blowing around. The sky is gray and yellow .
I’m glad you can stay put. Take care of yourself.
SOTD is Indochine. I love this scent!
Rain and snow yesterday, but not enough to amount to anything. A little slippery driving around this morning, but it will warm up again. It’s almost spring!
Kris, I will join you in Indochine today.
We smell great!
Yes, we do!
You smell fabulous, Indochine is lovely.
I think so too and thank you 💕
Still cold this morning so I’m finishing up a decant of AG Myrrh Ardente from a generous swapper which is quite warming and delicious and cozy and all the good adjectives. Definitely need a bottle of this. Good luck to me as it’s d/c I’m pretty sure.
Very good luck to you!
I saw the new Steven Soderbergh movie Black Bag yesterday- which I found incredibly dull and pointless. But Cate Blanchett’s character has a desk littered with perfume bottles and doused herself with a Penhaligon perfume ( one of the ones with a cap like a mounted head, which was how I felt after watching it). Today looks like it will be sunny and bright so I’ll wear Interlude. I’m reading a really good novel called The South by Malaysian author Tash Aw. I’ll find a review and add it. If you liked House of Doors etc. you might also like this.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/feb/13/the-south-by-tash-aw-review-an-intimate-epic-begins?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Review of The South
Fancy spies wearing Penhaligon’s Portraits? That is disappointing right there. Trailer was not enthralling either.
Even the best actresses can’t save a dull film! I like her, so thanks for the warning that the film is lacking.
Sotd Perris Montecarlo Mimosa Tanneron. My favorite mimosa scent. It is so beautiful, I am considering to get a BUB.
I placed a new order of Jaisalmer from Ministry of Scent and I hope it arrives safe and sound next week. I am waiting now for my credit card company to get my refund from LuckyScent, after I disputed the charges.
Cold and grey day here. I will have dinner with my sister tonight before she goes on a long business trip. I hope it all goes well for her.
Happy weekend! 🌻
I hope you get the new bottle and the credit on the other one.
Good luck to your sister on her business trip!
Thank you, Lillyjo!
Happy weekend to you, pl67 🌹
Thank you, Ringthing! 🌻
LuckyScent is pretty good about fixing things that go wrong, in my experience. Hope it gets sorted.
Good morning! My clothes are wafting last night’s Narcisse Noir, it is a beautiful perfume, I bought a bottle back in 2010 – it’s hard to quite comprehend that’s 15 years ago!!!
We’re heading out shortly for the supermarket, I’ll add some elegance to the experience with Bois des Iles 🙂 .
I was just reading Laundry Loves, and in the chapter on fancy clothing they say something like “No big evening for your beautiful cocktail dress? Wear it grocery shopping!” I think many of this understand from a perfume point of view
I am wearing Messe de Minuit but it is not pleasing me today, so I might wash it off and put something else on. Maybe something light and fruity, I am feeling tired, sore, and cranky.
Something cheering/soothing is in order, perhaps with a nice cup of tea…?
Tired, sore and cranky! Been there, done that! Hope you find a scent to smooth out your day!
Doing a sniff TF sniff-off of Tuscan Leather and Lost Cherry. I was thinking both were in the pipe-tobacco neighbourhood, and it turns out I really like the former. That’s good, as I still have half a bottle of that, and just a couple of ml left of the latter’s travel spray.
SheriG I saw your comment about Private Collection earlier this week, if you’d like to try some, pls email me at Ladenisa(dawt, as in period)hamilton at the geeemale and I can send you some.
Shalimar MI today.
Made a white bean and vegetable soup; it will be good for dinner since it’s cool out today. We got more snow overnight but it’s now starting to rain.
You smell good and I bet the soup does too. Yummy!
Thanks Kris! I just sampled the soup; it’s pretty good. It has a little kick too from the Rotel.
Oh, that sounds really good!
Rotel works its little magic again! One of my go-to cooking secrets!
I’m sampling a perfume by Octavia Morgan called Dark Rose. It’s definitely dark and sultry. I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out what it reminds me of. It’s rose/patchouli so maybe it’s just the general smell that is familiar.
I was getting together perfumes I want to swap and my daughter says ” hey what are you doing with my perfume?!” ( I store my limbo perfumes in her room) she then says ” put them back Mom, that’s my private property!” Lol.
I put them back for today anyway.
Ha!!! Love your daughter 🩷🩷
Quiet day for me, as the family has gone snowboarding. Snow sports are not for me, but I was happy to wake up at 5am to make them breakfast and send them on their way! I then had a leisurely trip to the farmers market. Sad to see that it’s the last weekend of the season for my apple stand, so I stocked up.
Thanks to all who replied to my comment yesterday about not knowing what hyacinth smells like and greatly increased my knowledge! I’m more curious than ever and will keep my eye out for them at a nursery or even Trader Joe’s… seems like they have sold hyacinth bunches in past years!
Has anyone tried the new Prada infusion de rhubarbe?
https://youtu.be/2VomCj_man0?feature=shared
I haven’t tried it but this is a nice video review.
Natori
Going to be Mon Precieux Nectar after my shower. We had lots of wind yesterday but no big problems. The devastation in the south is heartbreaking. Today I continue the great decluttering of 2025! I am such a pack-rat, but I just can’t take it any more…