Welcome to our 6th annual spring reading poll! Please recommend a great book to add to our reading lists, and tell us what fragrance we should wear while reading it.
Or, do what I do and record here everything you have read since the last reading poll. And if you want more recommendations, scrolling through the literature tag will bring up all the older reading polls.
(Or, as always, just talk about something else.)
My recent reading...
...will be added here by Saturday afternoon, I am running late, sorry!
Update...
On the fiction front, I will start with what is easily the best book I've read so far this year, and it will not surprise me if it holds that spot through 2025: Richard Flanagan's Question 7, which was nominated for prizes as both fiction and non-fiction (Flanagan himself says labels are for jam jars). This is the one I will scent: Candide by Aftelier, which is altogether too optimistic and "pretty" for the book itself...do wear something light and pretty to keep your spirits up, but do read it.
The New York Times says that Question 7's "presiding spirit is W.G. Sebald", and if you don't care about Sebald, skip this paragraph, because while I was reading Question 7, I also started on Carole Angier's biography Speak, Silence: In Search of W.G. Sebald (I believe recommended by Kanuka), and at the same time (I like to have many books going at once) I re-read three of Sebald's books: The Emigrants, The Rings of Saturn and Austerlitz. I did not care for the Angier biography, which was to my mind overly focused on the detection of real-life sources for Sebald's material. This might be worthwhile (see W. G. Sebald Ransacked Jewish Lives for His Fictions at the Atlantic for one positive review), but to my mind misses the point — I never thought the Sebald books were "true" in the sense of non-fiction — and as a literary project, is so intensely un-Sebaldian as to be annoying (see Speak, Silence, In Search of WG Sebald: Seek his books instead at The Irish Times). If you've never read Sebald and would like to, see Where to start with: WG Sebald at The Guardian.
I read two fiction works by the French writer Anne Serre, The Governesses and The Beginners, and decided she is brilliant but not really my thing. I also liked but did not adore At Dusk by Hwang Sok-yong. I did adore yet another autobiographical novel, Eurotrash by Christian Kracht.
I read two mysteries last quarter: parts of Elly Griffiths' short story collection The Man In Black, plus the first in the Rowland Sinclair series by Sulari Gentill, published in the US as A House Divided.
Non-fiction besides the Sebald biography included Golden Boy: Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood by Martin Booth, also recommended by Kanuka and wonderful, and Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight, which was quite good but I would have been happier with the 400 page abridged version. I am determined to avoid biographies over 5-600 pages for the immediate future.
Note: top image is detail from Woman Reading with Peaches, Henri Mattisse, 1934, [brightness and contrast adjusted], public domain, via WikiArt.
Good Morning NST!
I’m wearing a small spray of Iris Bleu Gris from Maitre Parfumeur & Gantier, created by the genius Jean Laporte, founder of L”Artisan. RIP. It’s a really gorgeous but polarizing iris. Smells somehow like a vintage fragrance upon first application, while also modern, then goes rooty and green and mossy and powder makeup-y at different times and is super strong and lasts into the next day. Someone on Basenotes described it as a gothic iris and I think that’s correct.
Thanks to some reccies here, (I think) I’ve just finished The North Woods by Daniel Mason, it was excellent. The history of America and humanity told through the lens of one plot of land and those who passed through it over 300 years in Western Massachusetts. That’s a reductive explanation, but the characters are well-drawn, their passions and vices and struggles believable, heartbreaking, and generously told, with a great sense of place.
I’m looking forward to see what others are reading and to taking notes as you all are an erudite bunch.
My recommended reading which haunts me is Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, a riveting true account of a young woman’s experience (she is a teenager in 1914 as World War I breaks out) working as a nurse’s aide with wounded soldiers and seeing her fiance and brother and almost all their idealistic smart set of friends go to war and few return. The collective disbelief of a world war, the optimistic boats that they will ‘rout the Hun” and be back by Xmas, the growing despair as the war drags on, the tension as they wait for letters and news, the bombings, the grim daily deprivations and slog of existence, the slow change from patriotic idealism to disillusionment as well as the close friendships formed and the tenacity of the human spirit, and the widening cultural and ideological schism between elders and the young war-scarred generation, are all conveyed with simple yet eloquent prose. Published almost 100 years ago, it feels very modern and timely, which is a testament to the author as well as youth.
The North Woods is SO good.
I’ve actually got a book about apples in my library Kindle queue I plan to read this fall which was influenced by this book.
Will check out the Ms. Brittain’s book. Sounds like something I’d enjoying reading.
Screenshotting North Woods so I can remember it. I always wonder about how a specific piece of property (land or house or other) touches the lives of so many people. I went to school in Western Massachusetts and have nostalgia about the area as it is.
This author wrote The Piano Tuner, a quietly devastating novel about Burma.
Thanks for writing about North Woods, downloading a sample to my kindle.
Both of those books sound great, thank you!
Trying Lust for Sun by Juliette has a gun. I do not get this brand at all. This scent does nothing for me which has been my experience with other fragrances of theirs. As we like to say, money saved.
Just finished The Wager by David Grann which is a riveting account of an 18th century British sea adventure based on journals kept by the men who survived shipwreck. It’s so well told and is astounding to read about what these men endured. A foreign world and time. Highly recommend it.
Another amazing (albeit sad&tragic) true story I also just finished is Sweet Taste of Liberty. This is about the life of Henrietta Wood, born in the early 1800s into slavery, I was freed and then kidnapped back into slavery for 20 years. She sued for back wages and was awarded the largest settlement ever. The settlement, sadly, was nothing near what she was owed. Pulitzer winner and affected me greatly.
Just started Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. 📚
I have had the same experience with a couple of brands. JHAG is one for me also, and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz fragrances all smell exactly alike to me. My theory is that there’s some ingredient in their bases that overpowers anything else they put over it.
Yes, there is nothing in JHAG that works for me.
Nothing I smelled from JHAG tempted me so I’ve stopped smelling them. I hope somebody tells me if they make a masterpiece.
Hi fragrant friends,
Am listening to The Persians in my car.
Am reading Challenger on my kindle, am really enjoying having grown up in the age of Americas’ first astronauts. There is a National Geographic documentary coming up at the end of the month about Sally Ride that looks great.
Am listening to On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous on audible.
Ocean Vong is going to be at the Japanese CC later this month, got a ticket yesterday to attend.
SOTD will be Satori post shower. I need all the Satori I can get these days.
I absolutely love the title On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. Just read a few reviews and added to my list, thanks!
I read Vongs book and I felt he was trying too hard and too pretentious.
We hosted him at the library during a fundraiser event and I wasn’t impressed with him in person either.
That’s disappointing to hear!
Another excellent book by a Southeast Asian writer is Cambodian American Anthony Vesna So’s short stories called Afterparties. It’s really great, mordant and biting and blackly humorous. So’s parents survived Pol Pot’s mass genocide but the intergenerational trauma persists. Stories are set in working class Stockton, CA . He was only 28 when he died of an OD right before Afterparties came out. What a loss. One last book, a novel set in Cambodia right after Pol Pot with a jaded American emigre character is Lightning on the Sun by Robert Bingham (heir to a publishing fortune). He also died of a heroin overdose – at 33 – shorly before his first novel came out.
Afterparties was bittersweet to read.
Just finished my first Ngaio Marsh book, A Man Lay Dead. Turns out it’s considered her weakest – and even she disliked it! Still, I had fun with it. It’s a classic country house mystery with red herrings and twists, even if the plot has some holes, the clues could have been crafted better and the solution asks for some serious suspension of disbelief. The beginning is strong, but the middle and end are a bit weaker.
I enjoyed tracking clues (with some help from ChatGPT!) and liked the portrayal of characters and their relationships. I actually think that the psychological aspect is quite strong. Well, the Russian characters are full of cringey stereotypes, but I took it as accidental comic relief. Overall, a fun read—3.5/5. If this is Marsh’s worst, I’m excited to read more!
Forgot to say I wore Heeley Oranges and Lemons. And now, after showering, I am going to bed with a few spritzes of Bring de Reglisse.
It’s great to see a new Ngaio Marsh fan! I’ve read most of her stories, and recommend reading ones set in New Zealand or in the theatre, where she has a strong background.
I’ve just started re-reading A Man Lay Dead. A couple of weeks ago, I visited Blenheim Palace, near London, and the tour guide talked a lot about house parties. I’m keen to see if I visualise the story any differently.
Yes, I plan to read Enter a Murderer next – theatrical setting and quite well-received, as I heard.
Blenheim Palace? I love Blenheim Bouquet, so I would enjoy seeing this place too. Speaking of house parties, I was shocked by the whole concept of ragging shown in the book. To think that grown up people would engage in this childish cruelty, and it can be socially acceptable…
https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/events/in-the-quarry-also-known-as-relief-workers-by-ngai
Ngaio Marsh also went to art school and used to paint scenes from near her home, like this one
She is quite multi-talented!
That is very cool, Kanuka. Thx for posting.
Keep going, she gets better!
Excited to read more!
SOTM is Profumum Arso, from the dregs of a dabber sample, and finally ordered the small bottle on the theory that, if I don’t do it now, it will either get discontinued (it was released in 2010 so getting up there in age) or will become prohibitively expensive and I’ll be kicking myself. The relief of having made the decision … ahhhhh. 🙂 For reading, I’m still stuck re-reading old favorites so not much help from me on the poll.
I find myself doing a lot of buying under that theory lately 🙂
Good for you, SheriG. I know I’m a broken record but I really like Profumum Roma and think they do excellent fragrances!
Good morning! I’m home after a month travelling. It was a great trip, but it’s great to be home. Everything went very smoothly, we rose to the challenge of various forms of public transport, but we did have an unexpected night in Sydney on the way home.
We were supposed to just transit through Sydney on the way from Bangkok, but our flight from Sydney to Wellington was cancelled due to bad weather in Wellington. It was a bit of a muddle and we got to see way more of Sydney airport than we wanted to, but we were put up in a good hotel and rebooked on the same flight the next day.
I spent way too much, and have a few things to confess to Donatella, but I’m already thinking about the next trip in a couple of years!
For the reading poll, I can recommend Kanuka’s latest, The Grand Glacier Hotel. Our local newspaper had an excellent article yesterday about Kanuka and her book.
I can also recommend any novel by Iain M Banks, if you enjoy science fiction, noting that he used the ‘M’ for his SF works. They are mostly quite long, and ideal to take on a long flight.
Glad you made it home and glad you avoided the Wellington weather. I would have have been scared sick landing in that wind. Will be great to hear your news. Welcome back!
Welcome home Gaynor, so glad it was a good trip!
And if the article is online, do post a link!
I hope this works: https://www.thepress.co.nz/culture/360646057/stranded-south-author-laurence-fearnley-novels-cancer-and-southern-isolation
Perfect, thank you.
I saw your picture and you looked adorably chiC!
That’s a great article, and nice photos, too! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for these recs, Gaynor, especially from our own Kanuka. I will check them out. Welcome back home and I look forward to hearing about your perfume ‘sins.’
No perfume today or the last few days, have felt under the weather so am avoiding triggering my nausea. Fun.
I love detective novels, and am nearly up to date with Jane Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan series. They are extremely readable, so I fly through them even though I want to take my time.
I listen to Hugh Fraser narrate Agatha Christie books every night as I go to sleep. He is one of my top favorite narrators, he seems to have limitless capacity to bring each different character to life. I also adore Dan Stevens reading Murder on the Orient Express. Which reminds me of one of my favorite tv talk show misunderstandings
https://youtu.be/Bn25VyP2p6c
I will have to look at Jane Casey, I need a new detective series soon! Am going to read a few more of the Sulari Gentill books to see if I love them, so far not sure.
That clip is a crack up!
I’ve seen it over a dozen times and I laugh just as hard each time, haha
I hope you like the Maeve Kerrigan series!
Lol at the clip 🤣
Hee hee!
That’s a really thoughtful response to the Sebald biography, Robin. I’m wondering ( now) if one of the reasons why I liked it is because I spent a couple of weeks in the area where he grew up , walking through some of the same villages…so I think that might have added something. I do ( also) think that trying to pin Sebald down ( through nonfiction) does miss the point of the shifting, immersive enigma of his writing. Like you, I read and loved Eurotrash. At first I wondered if the narrator might turn me off a bit but I was really drawn in after 20 pages and it’s one of my best books so far. For a decent ‘ crime’ novel I’d recommend Seicho Matsumoto, A Quiet Place ( Japanese). I need to add some more books but have to think which ones. Wearing Gris Clair.
I really enjoyed the biographical sections, especially reading about his childhood and schooling, and his parents & extended family. That must have been really fascinating if you were in those villages.
Exactly — Sebald is enigmatic, that is what makes the books what they are, and it felt like she both admired that but at the same time, could not stand to let any mystery remain.
But also, I do think there is something about all the biographies I have read in the past few years…it is though the authors do all the research and then they can’t stand to let any of it go to waste, and editors can’t or won’t rein them in? Or they’re trying to be sure their work remains the definitive biography so they have to include every detail? (I am going to try your Gauguin biography though.)
Sotd FM Angeliques Sous La Pluie. It’s raining in LA and the air is full of petrichor and negative ions!
I got bupkus on the reading front. I’ve been MIA for my book club since March.
Personally, I’m adjusting to hospice rhythms. The nurses are angelic – Angeliques Dans La Maison!
Hope you are taking care of yourself as well as your aunt.
Not yet, but soon. Haven’t washed my hair in 10 days and no mani/pedi for 7 wks. The homes are clean (I’m now responsible for 2) and I’ve got 5 loads of laundry sorted for my exciting rainy Saturday nite.
How is Mr K feeling?
He does have a herniated disc but will have therapy and then probably a steroid injection. They don’t want to do another surgery unless they have to. He is doing pretty well right now. Thanks for asking.
Glad you got hospice angels. The mean hospice nurse must be VERY rare! Hope things will let up a wee bit, it is nice to have clean hair 🙂
The reading can wait, though.
No clean hair yet! Too tired. Four hrs of sleep. New nurse- had to let one go for coming late and leaving early. Not a team player.
Shoot. Hope you find a good replacement.
🙏 tonight is the first night
You get a big fat pass, LesLiesse. You are doing exactly what you are meant to do at this time.
🤗
Two fiction books that I would definitely recommend are Broken Country and All the Colors of the Dark. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall was fantastic and I didn’t want it to end. It was a book club pick that was about a love triangle, a murder followed by trial and a few twists at the end I did not see coming. The genre would be a combination of historical fiction, thriller and romance. Well worth reading. I am sure many of you have already read All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. I believe this was on some bestseller lists for quite a while. To me it would be considered a mystery, but definitely a tragedy as well. It was a bit long and I thought it dragged on a bit, but it was still very good. I know I don’t get into the descriptions of the books very well, but you can read them on Goodreads or other sites if these genres interest you. Two of my favorite books I have read so far this year.
SOTD has nothing to do with the book I am reading now, but I am wearing Zara Romance d’Iris. Enough with iris this week. I will go for something else the rest of the weekend.
Thanks Kris, going to look those up!
Recently purchased Graydon Carter’s memoir, which I am looking forward to reading, but I’m keeping it for long haul flights in September to visit our friends in Oak Ridge North, Texas & Seattle. Haven’t worn perfume for a few days but we’re off to Dublin on Wednesday until Sunday so I’ll be using the dinky travel size of Eau Parfumee au The Vert during our time there, though I may be tempted to pop in to the perfume department of Brown Thomas to see if there’s anything that takes my fancy! Last year when we were there I ended up chatting to a lovely young man in the Hermes concession who, when I told him I loved it, gave me three sample size vials of Muguet Porcelaine – I do wish they’d bring it back.
Not to be an enabler, but fragrance buy.ca has some testers. You may want to check there. I used to love Vanity fair when he edited it-I’ll buy his memoir, too.
Thank you for the suggestion but I live in Aberdeen, Scotland so purchasing from Canada isn’t an option given postal costs, import tax etc!
Ooh, Graydon Carter’s memoir!
I want to read the version before the publishers make him take out all the juicy but libeous stuff.
I was just thinking of him and Spy Magazine the other day, Oh how far we’ve come (very sadly) from the ‘short-fingered vulgarian’ days, if anyone remembers that reference.
The ‘juicy but libellous stuff’ you mention is exactly why I’ve had to keep telling myself not to peek at it before I start to read it properly! Roll on those September flights…
Wearing some Fugazzi samples, yesterday was Cash Flower and today is Orange Crush. Neither really getting top marks, I can smell the Guidance on my sweater more.
I only read on my vacation but just finished Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson on plane rides. It is a political critique of our current society’s inability to get large projects and investments done, due to lack of confidence in government on the right and crippling regulation on the left. A little depressing overall, with some interesting facts, such as it is more expensive to build a mile of highway here in the USA than anywhere else. Also that we are building fewer houses (per population) now than previously and the lack of housing drives people to cities (red states) wherein housing is more affordable.
I am taking notes on all the great books you all are reading. Ready for some diversion in my reading now.
I am not sure I am up to reading anything about modern politics, but will keep that in mind for later, thanks Zephyr2!
Even though I had a rare Saturday off, I was pretty busy yesterday. Spent the day visiting my mom, cleaning and taking care of some things while wearing Lyric. Still in Lyric and will finish up some cleaning and relax a little bit today. I wanted to wear Coromandel yesterday but my mom hates Coromandel and I had to avoid that one yesterday. So will be Coromandel today. I am halfway through the 5th book of the Leiberman series.
Before I forget, May the 4th be with everyone!
May the 4th be with you Dawn.
I believe they are terribly old memes, but just heard about Cinco de Kylo and Revenge of the Sixth today 🙂
Never heard of Cinco de Kylo before but did hear of Revenge of the Sixth.
Had to get away from iris scents for a little while, though I do love them. Today is Eau des Merveilles. This has become a favorite for me in any season. What is so odd is that I tried it over the years several times and I either didn’t like it or I couldn’t smell it. Now, the last year or so I have fallen in love💕
Perfect because you are so MERVEILLEUSE yourself Kris !!!
LOL. Thank you my friend.
🙌🙌🙌
https://youtu.be/5gbDgptNlvA?feature=shared
🙌🙌🙌perfect video!
🤣🤣🤣 He is so funny!
Sotd Oribe Valley of Flowers in hopes that Oribe will inspire me to find some time for self-care.
Enjoying skimming about your book discussion. Book readers are just the most wonderful people imho!
Yes. Self-care is very important!
AH-men! Amen!
LesLiesse, please take care of yourself. A hot shower is good for the soul.
Ive been taking quick hot showers at night, but I have long hair. Its a bit more involved. Really need some quiet time. Hopefully new night caregiver works out so I can relax and sleep.
Yesterday I threw my Derby party! It was a success! I made batch Mint Juleps
I wore Rose Amalfi by Tom Ford
Since the last poll, the most disappointing book I read was Evenings and Weekends by McKenna. I really struggled with it and had to force myself to finish—unfortunately, it just didn’t land for me.
On a more positive note, I absolutely loved In Memoriam by Alice Winn. It was beautifully written, emotionally rich, and completely engrossing.
If you read My Absolute Darling (note: heavy content and multiple abuse triggers) and found it compelling despite its difficult subject matter, you might also be drawn to Dark Horses. It’s a similarly intense, dark read—but I couldn’t put it down.
Right now, I’m reading All the other Mothers Hate Me and I’m curious to see where it goes.
I hope your horse won!
I was cheering for Journalism, Luxor Cafe and Sovereignty 😍 Those were my top 3
Yay for successful Derby party!
I also made Bourbon Balls, deviled eggs and Mint Julep cupcakes and lots of other bitings. Basically I followed I followed Martha Stuart’s Derby menu and made everything
My goodness, what a hostess! That sounds lovely. I adore bourbon balls and deviled eggs.
Also SOTD is Galop by Hermes. Testing this one again, as mentioned by Carole awhile back.
Your books sound good and your party sounds like it was a success. I picked Sovereignty to win so I should have been there betting. I don’t really have a bucket list, but if I did, attending the Kentucky Derby would be on my list. I loved going to the races when I lived in Phoenix years ago.
I’m sitting in DTW nursing a cucumber martini (I cannot remember the last time I had a martini of any type) — I missed my connection (RAN to the gate, to the extent that my knees would allow, and although the plane was still at the jetbridge and didn’t leave for another 15 minutes, they’d already closed the door). So I have 6.5-hour layover here and am using my Delta voucher wisely. 😉
SOTD is regular Prada Infusion d’Iris, the most unobtrusive scent I own.
Reading: I may have mentioned last fall that I’ve been on a Margery Allingham kick (other NST knitters may know why). She is fascinating: her novels (mysteries; a contemporary of Agatha Christie) differ in style from one to the next. Some have been (to me) real duds, but two stand out:
1. Traitor’s Purse. I think you have to read one or more of her earlier Campion novels before you read this one to get the full impact. It is a brilliant fever dream set at the height of WWII.
2. Hide My Eyes: I am only halfway through this one, set in London in the early 1950s. Saturated with evil.
One element of her work — even in the novels I don’t love — is that her detective protagonist, Albert Campion, often hovers at the edges. The reader gets to see the story unfold via multiple characters — this device feels more complex to me than the very detective-centered Marple/Poirot stories. YMMV.
Given that I’ve not finished Hide My Eyes, I will hold off on suggesting a fragrance. But I’d pair Traitor’s Purse with Roísín Dubh, a dark, inky, papery rose.
I’m sorry you missed your plane. I hope the rest of the trip goes smoothly.
Thank you! There are many far worse airports to be stuck in. DTW is not bad at all. I’m listening to live piano music while charging my phone.
The first 2 Allinghams I read were such duds I never went back…I should try your 2 picks, thanks!
And ps…6.5 hours!!! You have my sympathies. I’d have a martini too.
Ugh, yes. Can’t help thinking that if I were in the EU, I’d be getting more meaningful compensation than a $24 meal voucher. At this point, I’m just hoping that my flight goes out on time and arrives safely!
Yes. Sweet Danger (for example) just doesn’t know what it wants to be — it’s all over the place.
I’m a bit late posting but since this poll is for the weekend I guess I’m still on time. Sadly, I don’t read so much any more, except things for my own research/writing (philosophy). I am in a book club with somewhat unusual proclivities since we mostly read classic novels or short stories, especially French or Russian (a long story why). Anyway our current book is Voltaire’s Candide, which I’ve read and even taught before, but it’s always fun to re-read and somehow always seems timely, too. If you’ve never read it you’d be surprised by how funny and irreverent it is. I’m also in charge of giving our group a quickie summary of Leibniz since he was the target of the novel’s very pointed satire.
My SOTD is Arquiste Flor y Canto, an intense and beautiful white floral. I visited Mom today and she was pretty bright and talkative, which was nice, but she also had a very bad choking spell, which scared me. We finally got her settled down. And then I went out for a very nice Chinese lunch of chicken and cashews, with lots of vegetables of course.
I’m sorry about the choking spell; that is terrifying.
Would love to hear your “quickie summary of Leibniz.” Isn’t literature fun?!? (I mean that in all lighthearted seriousness.)
Candide is so funny. I’m sorry about what happened with your mum ; it must have been awful.
That is so frightening, Calypso.
Had it happen with my Dad a few times.
Glad you went and had Chinese.
Gosh, how scary.
Happy Monday NST 👋
Today I am wearing a concoction of bitter orange and orange blossom that has a romantic back story. It’s from one of my favorite perfumers known for spices and woods, from an original niche house.
Could it be Diptyque Eau des Sens?
No but good guess! Another hint: the romantic back story happened in Spain.
Seville a l’Aube!
Ding ding ding, we have a winner! 😊
The name of my SOTD pays homage to both a plant and a continent. Still, I can think of another plant-based name that would describe it quite well: Violet Vetiver.
Is it Byredo Bal d’Afrique?
No, but a very good guess. My perfume doesn’t dance around the bush — it dives deeper into African wood.
Oh dear, I’m stumped! Is it one of the Memos?
No! Here’s a hint about the house — it’s literally a place of worship for beauty lovers, especially if you know Latin. It started as a boutique.
Ok, it must be Grenadille d’Afrique by Aedes de Venustas!
Yes! Winner, winner!
Thank you!
Finally gave my neglected tresses some ❤️! 🎉 Was going to wear Jones Road’s Shower to celebrate, but when I opened it my nose said nope. Sotd Oribe Desertland again for that juniper and lavender. (Would have worn DS & Durga Big Sur Eucalyptus but im out & a BUB (is that full bottle acronym ?) is $ !)
BUB is a back up bottle. Enjoy your day today!
Does a BUB come into play if they discontinue a fragrance you quite like?
Either you buy more than one because you’re worried it might be discontinued, or you find a bottle of a perfume you love at a good price so you buy it, knowing you will wear it (often it’s a bit of a classic so little chance of growing tired of it).
FB = full bottle
FBW = full bottle worthy
Not quite the same.
So I FB Desertland today and also bought the body crème in the same fragrance. Maybe that’s not good layering? Two of the same?
P.S. your finger print shouldn’t work on Apple Pay on an empty stomach. Just sayin’
Good layering is whatever you decide it is. Remember, perfume is subjective. 😉🌈
Whatever floats your boat is good.
I love a matching body cream myself.
I think it solves the sillage problem as my skin absorbs fragrance quickly.
Yay, so glad you found time to wash your hair.
💆🏻♀️💆🏻♀️💆🏻♀️ yes that’s a hair washing emoji 😆
Scent of the day is Kai body cream and perfume. This is great for the spring and summer if you like gardenia and to smell like the tropics. The body cream is so nice!
I’ll bet the body cream is great. Kai smells so good.
Popping by to say that I’m wearing Scherrer 2, a hefty floral that will help me pretend it’s not autumn yet!
Keep up the pretense! It is how I pretend winter is never coming…
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/26/wrong-norma-by-anne-carson-review-unjoined-up-thinking-at-its-best?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/03/being-beast-charles-foster-review-man-whoate-worms-like-badger?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Two books that I think are worth seeking out are Anne Carson’s Wrong Norma and Charles Foster’s Being a Beast.
The Carson is a selection of mostly prose pieces that don’t necessarily link to one another in a structured way, but cover a wide range of subjects from authors ( Flaubert etc) to events like eating dinner in a noisy restaurant with friends, or swimming – which is a great piece. They are united by the fact that Carson is a terrific observer and thinker.
The other book is Being a Beast in which an English writer attempts to live as an animal ( badger, otter, fox etc.) by spending time living, behaving, eating ( worm diet) etc. as an animal. It’s quite eccentric ( some people think it’s a bit pretentious) but if you read it with curiosity you understand how genuine and profound the book is as he tries to examine the human/ animal ( anima) connection. There’s also mention of scent and sniffing in there. Wearing harvest mouse.
Thank you Kanuka! I had read something about the Foster book but it did not grab me, will give it another look, and the Carson book sounds great.
The Foster book is very English, in the way that Wind in the Willows is English. Might not be your thing. But I think you would like the Carson.
Well I do like Wind in the Willows, but gotcha 🙂
Waiting for a potential drought-busting storm to roll in. Temperatures have been dropping since lunchtime and the wind has kicked up. Some places in the mountains are expecting FEET of heavy, wet snow.
Nothing like that for me, of course. But plenty of rain anticipated.
SOTD = Diane EdT. This is an early 2010’s scent with gentle floral notes and soft myrrh. Glad I got it while it was still around.
I had to look up your sotd since I wasn’t familiar with it. A Diane von Furstenberg scent that escaped me somehow. It sounds lovely!
I do have Tatiana in my stash so will have to give it a wearing this week.
Sephora had it back in the day. It still smells good to me. Someday I will unwrap the EdP. 😉
Hope you get the rain you need!
Rain is coming. It’s just a question of how much.
Fortunately, the drought in my area currently isn’t bad. Last time I checked the monitor, it said “Abnormally Dry”, which is the lowest level.
Wore Demeter Pistachio Ice Cream today. Had a very busy weekend but I wore Zara Livre Blanc on Saturday and a few sprays of BBW Macaron Cloud over Dove Macadamia and Rice Milk body cream on Sunday.
It seems that I was craving light, fluffy scents this weekend.
Gail, I thought of you yesterday.
I walked by a lady and I am certain she was wearing Lutece!
It really took me back right away.
Oh that’s fantastic! I’d love to smell that in the wild.
I did finish my bottle awhile back!
Light & fluffy are perfect for Spring!
I think it was maybe the weather. It’s been a bit cooler and thankfully we had some rain this weekend.