Happy Friday and happy World Heritage Day / International Day for Monuments and Sites. Our community project for today: Pick a place you've visited, or would like to visit, that has "intangible cultural heritage", tell us about it, and wear a fragrance you think fits for whatever reason.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I went with Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe ("the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush, a major power in the ancient world from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE."), in present day Sudan, and I thought right away of Tauer Perfumes Au Coeur du Désert but it's going to be pretty warm here today, so I switched to Comme des Garçons Ouarzazate.
Reminder: on 4/25, wear a lilac fragrance, if you have one. Suggested by chocolatemarzipan8.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2025, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Meroe at sun rise, Sudan [cropped] by Valerian Guillot at flickr; some rights reserved.
Couldn’t find Avignon but found Kyoto for my SOTD. I would love to go and visit Kyoto but in June my coworker is going to Japan in June. I am jealous of her and not in an ugly way and told her I want to see some pictures.
I would love to go to Kyoto too! and would love to have a bottle of the CdG.
In Profumum Roma Olibanum, on this Good Friday for the Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and the Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura. They were declared as World Heritage sites by Unesco in 1980 and 1990.
Italy, the country that I have visited the most, holds the record for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites with a total of 60 sites.
Happy Friday! 🌿
60 is a lot for such a small area.
I agree. It is like the whole country is a World Heritage Site.
Italy is pretty incredible that way. I travelled there quite a lot in the nineties and I can only recommend it.
Absolutely! Everywhere you go in Italy you find interesting and amazing places to visit.
I chose Kilimanjaro National Park as my World Heritage site. I climbed Kilimanjaro in 1999 and it remains one of the highlights of my travels. The route I took was not technical, and if you could manage the altitude you could almost always reach the top. The view from the summit was amazing, I could see the curvature of the earth. The scent I’m wearing is African Leather, though the scent of snow and unwashed clothes is really what it smelled like.
So … a layering of Demeter Snow and a BO scent? 😂
Wow, how wonderful that you did that!
Love Killi, love staying in Killi.
So glad you were able to climb.
African Leather & sweat – excellent choice!
Congrats on your Kilimanjaro climb!
Today’s intangible heritage is near and dear to my heart — the Culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking (https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/culture-of-ukrainian-borscht-cooking-01852).
I must confess, for most of my life I wasn’t a fan of this dish. But lately, due to some health concerns, I’ve been eating more liquid food – and borscht (one of my mother’s favorite dishes) has grown on me. In fact, I had a plate of it yesterday and will have another later today.
As for my scent of the day, it’s CdG Rouge — because of the beetroot note, of course. A lot of people say it smells like borscht, but neither my mom nor I agree. I do get some beetroot right after spraying – but it’s not cooked beet, more like fresh beetroot juice.
This is essentially another interesting incense perfume from CdG, and I’m always surprised by how they keep releasing new takes on the theme without repeating themselves. Rouge is earthy, vegetal, and spicy, but not heavy. There’s a hidden freshness in it, yet it still smells warm. Weird in a good way.
What an interesting choice, and I’m glad you’re liking borscht more because it’s supposed to be really healthy. I didn’t realize that these cultural heritage sites also included cultural contributions like cooking or recipes. I must read more about that.
Oh yes! Borscht, baguette, coffee – I almost did a full meal this week. 🤣
Love of borscht skipped a generation in my family too — my maternal grandma made and ate it all the time and I love it, but my mom won’t touch it. Diptyque’s Kyoto has a good beet note too — less quirky than Rouge but still unusual enough to be a surprise.
Interesting! Beet is not a common note. I should try Kyoto, thanks for recommending.
Borscht is also popular in my Polish heritage, but not a favorite of mine. But the beet salad with horseradish I bought at the Polish deli yesterday is very yummy! 😋
My mom would probably enjoy it. I think she has a thing for beet – she loves shuba salad, and she also makes a beet salad with walnuts and garlic.
Aha, perfect!
You need a bottle of Demeter Beetroot!! Or not, you get the real thing. And I admit it is of limited use, but I do like it.
I eat beets almost every night, and do like borscht but have never made it and I should try.
Beets were never A Thing in my family. I didn’t try them until well in my adult years. Now I enjoy roasted baby beets in season.
In Eau d’Hadrien for its cypress note, with the Everglades as the corresponding world heritage site. It’s been decades since I’ve been there. Temps are supposed to reach the upper 60s today, so not an
inappropriate choice weather-wise, either.
I miss seeing the Everglades, such wild natural beauty. Have you seen Clyde Butcher’s photography? He specializes in FL shots.
Striking images, thanks for the tip!
Good match! It’s been a long time since I’ve been there too.
Sotd Guerlain Encens Mythique for a memorable visit to the Vatican while I was studying overseas in Europe during my junior year of college. The Sistine Chapel ceiling – no photo or video does it justice imho. And also this scent for Good Friday.
Triple duty today: mtgs w banker and attorney and then to hospital.
Robin, thank you for this inspired CP! I’ve learned so much about UNESCO Heritage sites. Very uplifting!
I agree with you about the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo mesmerizing work of art is something to see and enjoy in person.
I also love this CP. I have enjoyed it and learned a lot more about different sites.
Mesmerizing – perfect description !
When I went to the Vatican Museum, there were halls and halls filled with cupboards, and each cupboard had something on top: A vase, a small painting, a sculpture. But I just knew that the cupboards were filled with other stuff I couldn’t see. So many treasures! I should go back. And the Sistine Chapel was amazing.
I really felt we needed almost a whole week just to see the Vatican- Ignoring the rest of Rome if that’s possible. Also I would go off-season next time.
Scent twins! I was going to natter about how perfume itself is an “intangible cultural heritage”, but now I can say “see above”…!
Scent triplets. I hadn’t figured how to tie it in either. I just wore it because it’s cool here today. I will just say “see above” as well!
Wow,‘first I’ve never twinned with anyone and now I’ve tripletted ! This makes me day!
This is the first time I’ve ever twinned with anyone, AnnieA!
So glad it was fun!
🥇
Hope all your meetings went well today.
Yes, professional efficient on time! Big relief!
In a sampling of Profumum Roma Arso, for my beloved Olympic Peninsula. Almost the whole of it is a protected site, and it runs the PNW gamut, from rain forest to Pacific beaches to the alpine prairie of Hurricane Ridge (first place I ever took photography seriously). Arso apparently means “burnt”, but the smokiness in it is more campfire than big blaze, and its pine resin note is spot on for a northwest forest. Plus leather, always a favorite for me. Another hit from Profumum, and the travel-size bottle is already in my cart, waiting impatiently.
SheriG, do you know Sequim WA? Mr Engineer while in the Navy was stationed there and insists nots the lavender capital of the world. Do you agree? The photos he sent me to meditate on while quaffing a lavender latte were quite lovely. I just have a hard time believing France isn’t No 1 for quality lavender.
I know where Sequim is, AND how to pronounce it, but I’ve only driven through it on my way elsewhere. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to discover that it’s the lavender capital (per capita maybe?) — a tiny town in Oregon called Milton Freewater was (and maybe still is) the per-capita pea capital of the world, so why not lavender in Sequim? 😁
Arso sounds like something I should try.
Quite a few NSTers have mentioned the Olympic Peninsula for this CP.
It’s so gorgeous there, and less populated (people just don’t like rain, evidently), so if one’s goal is quiet and solitude, it’s the place to head to. The views from the summit of Hurricane Ridge are spectacular. Plus, there are marmots there!
Hello and tgif.
My heritage pick is Nice, France and my perfume is one that I bought while I was there 4 years ago: Fragonard Ile d’Amour.
I visited the Fragonard factory (major shopping moment) and lavender farms where I bought many freshly extracted essential oils. I would love to go back.
Travel Envy! Also, now I have “Nice in Nice” by the Stranglers running through my head.
The entire Côté d’Azure! So magnificent!
I would love to back, too! Wonderful memories!
Wearing vintage No. 5 today in honor of Mont-Saint-Michel. I visited once and though it’s become quite touristy, I was able to imagine its storied history.
So beautiful there.
And you smell great!
😊
Somewhere else I want to visit (or visit again)! This is a make your Bucket List twice as big CP 😆
Happy Friday all! My SOTD is Coromandel, by Chanel, from Tama’s bottle. 🙂
I’m not sure if Loves to smell Good saw my Anime favorites, but they are: Vampire Hunter D, 1985 and 2000, Hellsing Ultimate, The Monogatari Series…
Goth Anime is also a favorite…. Gilgamesh, Trinity Blood, Ergo Proxy, and Shiki are all favorites.
I am gonna look those up!
And House Twins
Nice!
I chose Acqua di Scandola, for the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Corsica.
Excellent.
I am in the new Chanel Chance Splendide
Spring dress on
Beautiful weather this weekend
What do you think of the new Chance?
Oh, I’m interested too. I love the original Chance (EDP).
I’m butting in to say I think it is lovely. It’s a fruity floral with Musk . Very feminine. It’s a perfect sundress perfume.
Thanks lillyjo, that’s a great description.
Ditto!
I like it!
I am pretty sure I can’t smell musks – so it fades on me- but that is just to my nose. 👃
I find it to be a nice spring scent , not offensive
PSA FRMODA has most perfumes 10% off today 🥕🐇🌼
Revisiting two samples from Francesca dell’Oro today: Vanille 08:00 and Vanille 12:00. Notes are below. They are both nicely done…not FB worthy methinks but in the “would happily wear if a bottle falls into my lap category”. The day it rains bottles of perfume will be a good day. ehaeheh 🤣☔️
08:00 Top notes are Pear, Solar Notes, Pink Pepper and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Vanilla Absolute, Orris, Confetti (Sugared Almonds) and Peony; base notes are Tonka Bean, Musk, Ambroxan and White Cedar Extract.
12:00 Top notes are White Peach, Pear, Apple, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot; middle notes are Vanilla, Vanilla Absolute, Whipped Cream, Freesia and Rose; base notes are Caramel, Macarons, Tonka Bean and Cedar.
Well, that sent me on a FRMODA tangent I wasn’t expecting this afternoon 🙂 Enabler pin pending!
Moving from Luang Prabang to Bagan/Pagan in Burma today. I have visited it with its’ first name and then government change name.
This country and its’ people break my heart.
Indochine for the note of the ubiquitous thanaka tree.
You smelled great today apsara!
Today I’m in Bulgari Black, for the UNESCO World Heritage Site we visited last September: The Zollverein coal mine in Essen, Germany. I don’t wear this one very often, but every time I do it’s like slipping into a favourite, comfy sweater. The mine buildings are actually pretty interesting — it’s 1920s heroic modern industrial, very Bauhaus.
Yesterday’s SOTD was Avignon. I’m wondering if I should go there in November…still trying to figure out that trip.
Nice match, would not have thought of that.
Wow. I am getting more travel ideas than perfume ideas.
I feel the exact same way about Bulgari Black. It was really unique and ahead of its time.
My nose wanted L’Artisan Seville l’Aube today and since it is very warm, it smells especially good.
I’m hoping tonight’s cold front doesn’t cause too many storms, everyone around here is still cleaning up after the last round of bad weather.
I was worrying about the cold front too. I got downgraded to just regular storms but with a lot of rain. I hope you don’t get anything severe.
I hope you don’t either.
Hopefully both you and lillyjo will have relatively uneventful weather with that incoming front.
Did you get a lot of snow?
Nope. I had an inch or maybe two on my car this morning, but it was gone by lunchtime. The mixed rain/snow got rid it.
The general concern here is roads and sidewalks freezing overnight. But it looks like the pavement in my complex is dry right now.
Frozen cherries and yogurt smoothie
This morning Passage d’Enfer for land of frankincense in Oman and incense route desert cities of the Negev in Israel. A lot of us seem to have chosen incense perfumes. Tonight it’s YR Cantate parfum which I’ve had since over a year ago, possibly two years but never opened before and it is paired with cultural practices related to Taif rose, Saudi Arabia, intangible cultural heritage of humanity since 2024, so quite new. That parfum is lovely by the way.
Nice to hear that YR put out something nice recently. I’ve heard grumblings online they aren’t as good as they used to be.
Also, I think they might be slowing down on new fragrances? Wonder if they are not doing well.
You may well be right. The last I recall were Nouveau Genre, Cuir de nuit 2019, and Voile d’ocre 2020, some years ago they also pulled out of the UK.
So sorry, I wasn’t clear in my post, Cantate parfum is from 1995, so thirty years old, it’s a vintage bottle I had acquired sometime ago and never opened.
I’m wearing Cire Trudon Médie, which is one of the samples in my perfume travel bag. No real link to any cultural heritage that I am aware of. Pretty, and rather unremarkable.
Tomorrow I will visit Strasbourg which is on the Unesco list. I hope my bag contains something more meaningful to accompany that visit.
Hope the trip is going well!
Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State is on the World Heritage list. We are still out of town until May 1 and I still have very few fragrance choices with me, so my fragrance choice today (Bond 9 Scent of Peace) doesn’t really work, but it’s the closest I have with me for something green, fresh and plant-like.
From the Unesco description of the park: Olympic National Park is renowned for the diversity of its ecosystems. Glacier-clad peaks interspersed with extensive alpine meadows are surrounded by an extensive old growth forest…
It’s a gorgeous place.
And I have never been in Washington State at all! I am overdue a visit.
Yes, you are!
Come one come all! We’ll have a Perfumista Party!💃🎉💐
That would be wonderful!
I ended up in vintage Diorissmo because it’s my Grandma’s favorite and her birthday – she’s been gone for a while but still felt I should celebrate her. Plus I work from home and it brings this beautiful spring day right inside. So no direct connection to intangible cultural heritage….but Diorissmo smells like spring, it’s spring in Ohio, Ohio has a UNESCO site in the Hopewell Earthworks, and that will have to do.
What a delightful way to honor your Grandma! Diorissimo was my first perfume passion. My college roommate got a bottle as a gift but preferred wearing Jontue. She let me use up the entire bottle of Diorissimo! It was spring after a long NYC winter- I was besotted. You smell gorgeous practicalann!
So nice of you to remember your grandma that way. Isn’t perfume wonderful?
Vintage Diorissimo is beautiful. What a wonderful tribute to your Grandma!
I have enjoyed this CP a lot, both looking up more information and hearing from others about their choices and the adventures that they reflect. After some thought, I chose one that is in some ways similar to the one Robin chose and showed in her illustration: Reef Abaya Arabs perfume, to commemorate my trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December of 2023 (some of you will remember it). They took our conference participants to a recently designated World Heritage Site called Diry’iah which is an ongoing restoration/excavation of the first fortification of the House of Saud in the Arabian desert. It’s located there because there is an oasis there, and we did see the green area weaving through the remaining buildings, which look a lot like the ones Robin shows above (though those, from Egypt, are MUCH older). I don’t have any particular scent memories, except that there were small trees/shrubs with blooming plumerias, which smell wonderful, but I don’t seem to have any plumeria perfumes. So I am wearing Reef Arab Abaya, which I bought there in a shop in my hotel, a nice, masculine combination, cologne-style, of pineapple, patchouli, and leather. I’ll re-post some photos I took there on my Instagram site, since several of you are on there and can view them. (If you want to follow me there let me know here–my site is restricted because of all the weirdos the site has.) Here’s a link with lots more info: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1329/.
Lovely that you have one you bought there, that’s extra points for sure!
Two places with ‘intangible cultural heritage’ on the World Heritage list I have visited and that hold special memories for me are Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park bordering Tennessee/North Carolina.
Cahokia Mounds is a Native American city, the largest pre-Colombian settlement north of Mexico that presently maintains 51 of its original 120 mounds, honoring the cultural and religious traditions of this population. The Great Smoky Mountains park is relatively untouched by time and offers a glimpse into the flora and fauna (including many endangered species) prior to the influence of mankind. As a nature lover and admirer of Native American culture, Dame’s Earth Mother is my choice for the perfect scent for both sites.
But today I’m remembering another special place visited, not listed as a World Heritage site but it certainly could be, Assateague Island National Seashore, a narrow 37-mile island bordering Maryland and Virginia (in MD it’s Assateague, in VA it’s Chincoteague). So narrow that both the sunrise AND sunset were visible from our campsite near the beach! Ocean wind and waves, salty marshes, sandy beaches, maritime forests and tiny flowers that bloom at night in the sand! But it’s most famous for its wild ponies, descendants of horses brought to the barrier islands in the late 17th century that roam freely on the island and star in the famous children’s book, Misty of Chincoteague. (Several stood just a short distance away as we ate breakfast in our screened house, and their ears perked up as we ate our Rice Krispies – Snap! Crackle! Pop! – breakfast. I kid you not! A bit scary, but we were ok 😅.). For this perfect melding of sun and sea with the sandy earth between, vintage Dior Dune is my perfect SOTD for today’s cp.
Sorry this post is so long but so many memories arose for me! Wishing everyone a lovely weekend ahead – Happy Easter, Orthodox Easter, Passover, or whatever you celebrate – but most of all, wishing you ☮️!
You make an excellent point about places that aren’t World Heritage sites but could be. I’m thinking both Garden of the Gods and Red Rocks here in Colorado would fit.
I loved that book!
What a nice memory.
As soon as I started reading I thought MISTY!!! Such a happy childhood memory and I’ve always wanted to visit that area. I had forgotten until your marvelous post. Like I said, this is a Double Your Bucket List CP!
Combining the CP with my personal SMN week, today I’m wearing a sample of Citta di Kyoto. Japan, and the Kyoto Gardens in particular are high on my list of places to visit.
Citta di Kyoto has such a long list of powerhouse notes that I was anticipating a heavy-hitter despite the EdC concentration. What I’m getting though is mostly iris, with a jumble of notes behind it. It’s not a bad jumble by any means, but it’s not one of those blends where notes are so melded together that you can’t identify any one in particular. It is definitely EdC strength, which is fine because that is how it is presented.
Today’s tea is Clipper Ship’s Rwanda Rukeri with milk. A malty, breakfast-style tea.
I just opened my Aedes Perfumery box 📦 (I know, it has been a few weeks) and it came with 6 “free” samples, including SMN Incenso, Magnolia, and Opoponax. I haven’t tried them yet.
SOTD = American Perfumer / St. Clair Lisbon
Floral! I am pretty sure there are intangible cultural heritage in Lisbon although there are many visual references to culture. I’ve been there twice – worth the trip for sure!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DImnA9BxrN0/?igsh=cjZucGZudHB1eHAw
So I did a walkabout this afternoon hoping to see what’s out for Easter decorations. To my disappointment, there was only one, that’s right ONE, that was worthy of having its phot taken. Even I have an Easter door decor!
I noticed that our Easter decorations were not selling as much this year. We will have quite a bit left come Monday.
Costco had less Easter stuff this year than they did last year.
Still sticking with pretty florals to celebrate the art of perfumery in Grasse and ingredients derived from natural sources (flowers!) and am wearing SSS Jour Ensoleille. Yesterday was, funny enough, another jour perfume, Jour d’Hermes Absolu. It was a perfectly polite perfume to wear to see the musical Parade last night, and the remnants remained this morning when I went to the Dept of Licensing to finally get an enhanced driver’s license. I’m SO glad I stalked the online appointment setting system and managed to get one for this week.
Jour d’Hermes Absolu is quite pretty!
I don’t have a cp connection today. I wore Dune because it called my name, but I suspect there might be a match.
I haven’t bought my Easter ham yet, I keep thinking about making something else. The problem is I don’t know what else to make. I will probably buy the ham tomorrow.
You can match with me today in Dune!
Hello twin! We smell wonderful. Dune is so special.
My brother and I will be having steaks for Easter dinner. He’s not a fan of either turkey or ham.
Do you grill the steaks?
My brother does, yes. Weather is not an issue; he grills year-round.
Song of the Day: https://youtu.be/v2AC41dglnM
I had a little bit of thundersnow last night! That’s definitely not the usual. I’ve been watching intermittent snow and rain/snow bands fall during the day here. No accumulation, though.
SOTD = Clinique Wrappings, for a World Heritage Site that I have actually visited: Yellowstone National Park.
Great song and band!🤘
I knew you would appreciate that one!
Love your fragrance and the song – a popular one at my favorite ballpark when they’re on a roll and doing well (unfortunately, not happening lately ☹️.)
Thanks Laila!
I hear you on the sorry state of local baseball teams. Mine is currently the worst in MLB.
See, you even have us beat in that category – we’re right behind you, though, we might catch up. Sorry state of affairs. 😢
Snow! It will be interesting to see what the weather has in store next in your neck of the woods, let us know.
Wrappings is perfect for your weather. I realize I haven’t worn it in ages.
Snow in April is not unusual for the area, LOL. It’s much preferable to some other weather conditions that could pop up.
I could smell Wrappings this morning when I woke up to feed Teflon kitty her breakfast.
I have never been to Asia, so I picked Anna Zworykina Hue as my scent for the project since it is about the site in Vietnam