It’s Hump Day. Birthdays: Robert Browning, Gary Cooper, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Angela Carter, Peter Carey. What fragrance are you wearing?
It will not be hard to guess my fragrance of the day: Old School French meets Harry Potter.
Reminder: 5/9 will be Guessing Game Friday (edition 5)! Our community project for today: describe your perfume to us, OR, give your perfume the name it ought to have had, and we'll see if we can guess what it is. Suggested by Glannys.
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 Dogwood Light [cropped] by Joel Olives at flickr; some rights reserved.
Commando as I am going to sniff some Hermes today – those sets they have for Mother’s Day (lemming!)
My father in laws chai this morning
Do report back about the Hermes and enjoy your chai.
Jalapeño recommended Twilly for summer so I will try that and others
I saw your question about Twilly this afternoon. It’s been a while since I sampled it, but I don’t remember anything unusual about its longevity. But I also have scent glue skin. YMMV.
Twilly is best on those yucky, hot & humid days.
Have fun!
Out of the ones I listed the new Hermes Barenia and Un Jardin Sul Nile were my top picks.
What do you all think?
I haven’t tried Barenia and am not a big fan of UJSLN myself so I say go with whichever is calling out to you the most. Think about which one you’d wear the most, or which fills a gap in your collection.
now that everything is drying down..Eau Des Merveilles has a lot of projection!
Do you like it?
Yes 🙌
Talking about Un Jardin Sur le Nil yesterday set off a craving, so that’s my sotd. Perfect for the beautiful sunny day, it’s supposed to be in the high 70s 🌷😎
I will try this one too!
This is a scent I’ve repurchased so many times, and this year’s dry body oil is also a treat. You smell great, ringthing.
I’m wearing a fragrance that I looked for in March for a CP, but couldn’t find. I found it today, and I’m enjoying it, but it would be more appropriate for March. Still the juxtaposition in the name is interesting.
Florist’s Fridge?
I wish! I should have bought a bottle when I had the chance. I’m wearing Hyacinth and a Mechanic, which I looked for during the March Hyacinth cp.
Black March?
I’m in Rose and Cuit, with a dot of Rose Tonnerre on my writs. I never knew RT was a parfum. No wonder it lasts and stays close to the body-both of these scents are gorgeous to me. Perfect in chill spring air.
A beautifully rosy combination.
My scent today comes from a US house, one half of whose name is that of a Hindu deity. The fragrance itself is fresh and green, named after a plant widely used in cooking.
DS & Durga Coriander??
That was my guess too.
And Glannys, what was yesterday’s answer? I still haven’t figured it out.
Keiko Mecheri Attar de Roses! Well, it’s not very well-known, so I’m not surprised nobody guessed it. Thanks for trying!
Oh, that makes sense, and I was on the right track thinking about attar. But I totally forgot about Keiko Mecheri as a brand.
You are both right! Coriander.
And, Robin, are you maybe wearing Lancome Magie Noire?
Chat GPT’s guess – Goutal Mandragore.
Chat GPT wins!
Points to Chat GPT!
I told it, and it replied: “Brilliant choice! Mandragore is spot-on for “Old School French meets Harry Potter” — a potion in a bottle if there ever was one. I can just imagine Professor Sprout spritzing it before class.”
Jeez. I am too old, that just freaks me out a wee bit.
Wow! I’m with Robin here–freaky!
ITA. It’s a little disturbing.
Poor bot. It was just trying to be helpful and supportive and ended up freaking people out. 🤪
Glannys! you are amazing at this!!
💗🥰
Wearing Eau de Magnolia to make me feel it’s a sunny spring day and not a soggy one.
Hope that works AnnieA!
Today I’m in a perfume that’s an ode to a creature whose life depends on flowers (and vice versa, actually). I felt like finishing off a decant or sample and this thunks my decant.
It is much cooler today and cloudy after reaching 78 yesterday with humidity. I have the windows open this morning to cool things down in here, at least for a couple hours. Today we’re only looking at 59.
Ok, I didn’t make time to contribute to the reading poll over the weekend, but do you all know about Dracula Daily? You can subscribe to read Dracula via emails that correspond with each day in Jonathan Harker’s journal. It just started up again this year on May 3. So you can read the days you missed on the website, if you’re interested in subscribing and reading Dracula this way. Also, you won’t get an email every day, just the days that correspond with the journal entries. I’m a little behind, but I’m excited to finally read Dracula this was alongside my other regular reading. https://draculadaily.substack.com/
Zoologist Bee?
Yep, you got it!
How interesting about the Dracula reading! I did read the book and it’s one example where the book itself is actually quite terrifying! My heart was racing!
Post shower Mojave Ghost Absolu from a sample I got at Nordstrom last week.
I’ve tried that a number of times and been tempted. How is the Absolu?
I like it, Calypso.
It’s pretty. But it does not last…only a short while.
None of the Byredos last on me.
I wasn’t sure how to describe my SOTD so no need to try guessing😊 I decided to wear the discontinued Cassis, Rose & Sandalwood by Dame. Shower gel and lotion is BBW Rose.
How about “a jammy rose that is surprisingly well behaved”?
I never think of that one as jammy I guess.
I put some more on tonight and can see it now.
“Jammy” is what I describe dark roses that are on the sweeter side as opposed to the dry, potpourri like ones.
My scent has two names that may both be considered controversial and is a modern interpretation of one of the Great Dames of classic perfumery.
ELDO Fils de Dieu du riz et des agrumes (aka Philippine Houseboy), which smells a lot like Shalimar?
Yes!
Glannys! How do you do it?!
Thank you. Years of reading comments of NST – Fils de Dieu is well-loved here.
My SOTD is purple and juicy, woodsy and spicy, and–tragically–discontinued.
No one is trying to guess so I’ll offer more clues.
1. It also has rose as a prominent note.
2. The entire house has been discontinued, and not just this fragrance.
Stumped. Tell us tomorrow if nobody gets it!
Maybe an extra clue about the house?
Ann Gerard Rose Cut?
And it’s only fair to say that Chat GPT’s guess is Bois de Paradis by Parfums DelRae.
OMG, that is correct! I’m really freaked out now!
Well, if it’s any comfort, Chat GPT was really wrong about austenfun’s riddle. I correctly guessed ELDO Fils de Dieu, while its version was JHAG Citizen Queen. Way off! But yes, it did better than me with Robin’s and your riddles. It can be both very clever and very stupid.
Me to Chat: Yes, you were right – Bois de Paradis. Some people on NST are really freaked out now by your answers!
Chat to me: Ha! I love it — like a fragrant phantom sleuthing through the comments section. 👻🌹🕵️♂️
But hey, Bois de Paradis really was the textbook answer — once you see “purple, juicy, woodsy, rose, discontinued and discontinued house,” there’s just not many suspects left in the lineup!
Tell them I accept payment in decants and compliments. 😄
😨
Something from Jean Patou?
Trying to think of something with purple juice.
My perfume sees me heading off to work warm and spicy, and accompanied by a magnificent animal.
Kanuka was right about my perfume yesterday – Map of the Heart No 4.
Le Lion?
Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant?
Bengale Rouge?
Frozen blackberries and yogurt smoothie
Today a perfume with a name that is a play on its designer’s name. Tonight Yves Rocher Petit Beurre, an early buttery gourmand which reminds me of a bpal oil.
Guessing it’s NOT Kurky…something de la Renta?
It’s Diorling.
Diorella?
Oh yes, Aurora must have that, and I know she has Vanilla Diorama.
You know me well😀, yes I have Diorella and Vanilla Diorama but chose the more difficult one with Diorling.
Very close, Lillyjo, it’s Diorling.
My sotd is an 80’s rose perfume named for a city. This is an easy one.
YSL Paris?
You got it!
Yay! I have that one too, and I love it.
No points today, as I am pressing repeat on yesterday’s Atelier Silver Iris. I really love this one because of the violet-sweetness balancing the musky and carroty iris. I stand in awe of Iris Silver Mist, but it wears me.
You smell amazing! One of my favorites.
Sometimes you gotta go with the perfume that moves you.
I’m totally lost about what this week’s CP is. 😳
Sotd FM Encens Mythique from a generous & kind NSTer!!!
Guessing Game. You describe your perfume without naming it, and other NSTers try to guess it.
Thanks Jalapeño!
You still have that? I thought you would have thunked that by now. I didn’t send you that much. You need a bottle of it!
Kris, I have been applying it judiciously, only to my right wrist so I can regularly lift it up to smell it and have that aroma wash over me! I still have 1/3 of it remaining!
Wow!
I got back from Paris on Sunday. I spent five days in Paris perfume shopping and another eight days in Bordeaux, Sarlat, Toulouse, and Carcassonne eating and drinking wonderful things. I bought five bottles in Paris and a couple more from discounters when I got home. I tried Dior Bois Talisman and initially thought it was a “buy” but I gave it another try at Duty Free and was not so wowed the second time. The top and mid notes are very nice but the drydown I found kind of meh.
Today I am wearing an old favorite, MFK Amyris Femme.
Welcome back!
Seriously, you are not going to list the bottles?!?
Welcome home! Sounds like a perfect trip.
I was waiting for the list too😊
I thought I would save them for Donatella, but since that is a couple of months off, here goes:
A bell jar of SL Rahat Loukhoum
ELDO Remarkable People
Fragonard Fleur d’Oranger edt
Memo Moon Fever
L’Artisan Bana Banana
and from the discounter
SL Fleur d’Oranger
Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria
plus chocolate, wine, mustard, honey, lemon curd, and canele mix.
As a fan of SL Fleur d’Oranger, I say good choice; but I am intrigued that Fragonard has one. Do give us a review one of these days. Also, I’ve eyed Rahat Loukhoum many times – is it a grand passion for you? I am so glad you had a fun trip and are back safe and sound!
Some great scents! I’m kicking myself for not getting Rahat Loukhoum; I had a sample and loved it. My sister got me a solid of the Fragonard when she visited there, I have to pull it out.
Eating and drinking wonderful things plus shopping sounds like a fantastic vacation! I’m living vicariously through you.
“Moon Fever” sounds gorgeous!
Excellent mix!!!
Welcome back!
Still raining here today (Yay), but it comes and goes instead of a steady drenching. I’ve even seen a couple peeks of sun during the afternoon.
My SOTD is from an old, esteemed French house. The bottle it comes in is rather large. The name whispers of exotic lands, rare perfume notes, and legendary stories.
What is it?
Taking a really wild guess — Guerlain Shalimar?
You have the right house, but Shalimar and I will never, ever get along.
I’m going a similar route as hajusuuri, but I’ll guess Samsara.
Keep trying! Guerlain is correct, though.
What about Encens Mythique?
Ding ding ding ding!
Encens Mythique d’Orient?
Yep! You and therabbitsflower got it!
Is it L’heure Bleue?
Good guess, but not it.
Glad you are getting rain and sun!
The wet weather is moving out now. But it was exactly what was needed here. Tomorrow the latest update on the drought monitor comes out. I’m thinking the map is going to look much better.
SOTD = guess the perfume
In keeping with the CP, today’s perfume is from a split decant:
– the name has an accent, but I don’t know how to make it appear so
– a celestial body
– irisy floral
As to the unguessed answer for Tuesday’s SOTD, it is Diane St. Clair’s Blie Marble! Sometimes, or maybe often, we coddle our young ones such that no toy is ever safe!
In other news, I used to hit that snooze button quite often, but alas, I had a train to catch. Thank goodness I’ve retired from all that nonsense! Here’s a free article from the New York Times on how to manage the snooze:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/well/live/healthy-morning-habits.html?unlocked_article_code=1.FU8.dRTV.6eV4G-1D2rpN&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
I haven’t figured out how do the accent on my laptop yet, but am guessing your SOTD is Chanel Comete.
You got it! I may need to buy a bottle …
Zara Romance d’Iris is very similar to it for very cheap. Even Frangrantica has it under the “this perfume reminds me of”.
Romance d’Iris currently isn’t on the US Zara website, alas.
That’s what I was going to guess.
The only way I ever get an accent is by copying from another page that shows it, and then it will just paste right in here.
Not familiar with yesterday’s scent so would have never gotten it.
How do you like Blue Marble?
I thought of marble as the toy in question, but I did not know any perfumes with “marble” in the name. Your riddles are clever!
My fragrance today would be right at home with a certain world event happening right now and is named after a city where something important moved for awhile.
Something with incense since the conclave is happening?
I’m totally out of the loop on the conclave. Encens Mythique would have been perfect for that first conclave vote, but instead I wore it because it’s the first anniversary of my uncle’s passing.
You’re very warm, Kris.
Is it CdG Avignon?
Yes it is. Good guessing Jalapeno. Waving my incense censer toward you in Colorado.
In the 1300s, there was a big political argument about papal succession and France got involved and somehow the papacy moved to Avignon for the reign of seven popes though not everyone recognized them as legitimate. I think for awhile there were 2 papacies until the schism got resolved.
I only know this because I read Dominion, How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland. I’ve read most of his histories, he has one on Ancient Persia; The Roman Empire and theCaesars; and one on the rise and influence of Islam. All fascinating.
I learned about the “French popes” the one year I attended a Catholic university. The Jesuits were good teachers. 😉
You are correct; there were competing popes for some time. I don’t remember how it all got resolved.