Tell us about a summer vacation, any summer vacation: one you took, one you plan to take, one you'd like to take. And tell us about the perfume that best matches that vacation.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is TBNMS Stand Up Paddle Boarder [cropped] by NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at flickr; some rights reserved. [Note: this was taken at Thunder Bay, Lake Huron.]
Hello NST, I missed you!
My sense of smell finally returned this week, and I’ve started using fragrances again. It just so happens that I got back from a brief vacation in Sardinia last night! It was lovely—the sea, the nature, the food—I highly recommend it. I brought along Diptyque Philosykos EDP and FM Lys Méditerranée, two of my summer staples.
On the way home, I succumbed at duty-free shop and bought a bottle of Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Blanc. I’m usually not a fan of musk fragrances, but this one seemed so well done: gentle, enveloping, calming. The only thing that bothers me now is that the musk lingers on my skin for an incredibly long time (I usually like my fragrances to disappear after 5–6 hours). Oh well—time will tell if I made the right decision.
Your trip sounds lovely! And glad your sense of smell is back!🎉
Yay, so glad!
Some day I will succumb to my favorite of that series, the blue.
How lovely.
Yay for your sense of smell returning and thank you for sharing your Sardinia trip – sounds wonderful!
Nice to see you back Nina.
So glad you can smell again! I’m a fan of Au The Blanc, it’s one of the few things I’ve repurchased since I fell down the rabbit hole although I didn’t replace my last bottle. I don’t remember how long the musk lasted for me.
Very happy to hear that your sense of smell has returned!
Welcome back, NinaV! Great news about your sense of smell! And your trip sounds quite lovely.
SotD is TF Eau de Soleil Blanc.
Perfect timing for this poll for me, as I am officially on vacation as of yesterday! Off work til Monday, June 16 now.
My summer vacation is always the same: a trip to northern wisconsin, my home. No, it’s not fancy, but it’s something I look forward to every summer. Madtownteen and I will be heading up Monday morning and I’ll drop her off at her summer camp job and then spend a few days with my parents. Sadly for me, this is the last summer I will be able to do that. They have their house for sale and are in the process of building a smaller house in the western part of the state next door to my auntie (my moms sister) who was widowed 2 years ago. To say I am broken hearted about this would probably be an understatement. We moved up north when I was 9, so for the past 48 years I have called up north home. There are a lot of emotions I’ve been trying to process, which have been complicated by the fact that they were not forthright with me about coming to this decision and then they dropped it in my lap like a hand-grenade 6 days (6 days!) after dropping my baby off at college. The following days included lots of tears and lots of restless nights. But, I’ve had the entire winter to work through some things and my moms breast cancer scare this spring really shifted my perspective. I’ve really been trying to focus on the bright side (because there is always a bright side, right?!), and the bright side is that both my parents are still with me and this move is coming by choice and not by force because one of them is gone. Plus, I get to spend next week helping with some decluttering and purging, and I love that!
Anyway, I’ll bring along with me my little travel spray of Eau de Wisconsin perfume to help me seal in some scent memories of my beloved home.❤️
Good for you! “Don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that you had it and now have those memories.” Or something like that. I can’t remember where I read that, but it’s great advice. I grew up moving just about every year so I never developed that kind of attachment to a house, but I do have it for the PNW. Fortunately, it is unlikely to be sold! Have fun helping with the decluttering, and be ready to swap stories. Keep tissues nearby! 💕
Thanks SheriG! Yes, “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,” Dr Seuss.😊 And you’re right, I keep reminding myself that even though the house will be gone (not gone, but someone else’s) I have all my memories that no one can take away from me, and soooo many pictures of wonderful times spent.
Yes, cherish those memories and, hopefully, your parents will make same great one in their new home too! And I hope you’ll find some exciting stuff in the decluttering process 🤗
Dr. Seuss! So full of sage advice … and so kind. Thanks for reminding me where the thought originated.
I have a sign over the inside of my front door with that quote so when you leave my home you will see it and hopefully smile. Just because your ‘home’ is no longer technically up north doesn’t mean you can’t still visit there at times and make more memories!
Enjoy your vacation, and keep that bright side in view!
My family home was destroyed in an earthquake . It was also a place I loved but the big lesson is that it’s actually not the house or place that matters but the people in it. If you have family, you still have a ‘home’.
I hope you find closure in doing something you love. My family is complicated, from the highs of being successful to the lows of jail (not my immediate family). The expanded family had a nice piece of property with several houses. Time flew and with all the drama, the (one of the) houses and the property got subdivided into unrecognizable pieces.
I’m touched by your comment and it’s bittersweet-ness. Have a great time and enjoy the declutter.
I have the mirror image. My 84 year old mother has lived in same large house with huge yard and a barn for almost 50 years. I know she loves the house – as do I and my siblings – but there is so much to do to maintain it and no bathroom on the first floor. She is one hip fracture or serious illness away from having to move out and that would leave me – who lives halfway across the country – with trying to arrange an alternative living situation and clean out. She toys with the idea of arranging for full time help if she gets sick. Not only would this NOT solve the bathroom problem but if her whole enjoyment is working in the house and yard, she would not be able to have those activities anymore.
I think it is much better to be proactive as your parents are. They may lose a little time in the existing house but will have peace of mind that they made the transition when they were not under duress.
SOTM is Lostmarc’h Iroaz, to encourage my roses — they are slow to bloom this year so maybe they need to be reminded what roses smell like?
One of my favorite summer vacations was the last road trip my parents and brothers took, back in the 70s. We piled into the Ford LTD and drove from Seattle to Lake Tahoe, where it proceeded to rain copiously for three days. We gave up and piled back in the car, headed we didn’t know where. Ended up in Sacramento, at a funky motel complex surrounding a swimming pool and a small man-made lake (small, but big enough that one-person sailboats could sail on it). There was a walking path all around the lake, maybe a mile long I’d guess, and they showed movies outdoors after dark. Our parents pretty much ignored us kids as we each found things to occupy us. It was heaven.
That sounds like kid paradise, right? Possibly I would enjoy it today 🙂
It was glorious — probably for the parents too. 😅
I love that ‘kid paradise!’
I decided today that my SOTD is probably one that would be my signature scent, if I had to pick just one, rather that Iris Poudre that was my selection yesterday. My SOTD is Hermes Eau des Merveilles. I have come to love this one!
No plans for a vacation this summer at this point, but since we are retired plans can change. The weather is gorgeous today at 73 degrees and it is hard to beat that!
Hermes Eau des Merveilles would be a great choice for summer vacation!
It would be.
EdM is way at the top for me, and my favorite time to wear it is summer.
I normally wear it in the cooler months but have found myself grabbing it during anytime of the year.
Kris, first any chance of seeing your grandchildren this summer since your previous trip didn’t come to pass?
Second, have you ever layered the FM and H together, Queen of Layering?
We are not going to see the grandkids as they are going next week to Arizona for two months. We will probably try for this fall.
I actually don’t layer perfumes. I usually use a shower gel and lotion that may compliment the perfume. A lot of people do layer perfumes here.
I hope the fall trip goes off perfectly smoothly. And Mr K’s back treatment & meds are working?
Is there a reason you don’t layer parfums? I’ve only layered them once and it was glorious: your sensational Ira Poudre w Daniel’s Prada Infusion de Mimosa. I need AI like Glannys used to generate a suitably poetic name for that combination. I have started buying lotions with compatible fragrance- just 2 to start, thanks to your inspiration.
I’ve had some pretty good summer vacations in my life, so it’s hard to pick. Before and after business school I was able to take long vacations, one hiking across Switzerland and then bumming around France and the area where I lived as a kid in Germany. The other was travelling around Australia for the first time. I’m not sure how I’d scent the first, but maybe L’Heure Bleue, as we watched some beautiful sunsets from hotel terraces. For Australia, I’d have to choose the peach body butter I bought in Perth; I can’t remember the brand now as it was long ago, but I used to be able to get it in Vancouver until I couldn’t.
No big trip this summer, though, as Ockeghem Teen has to take summer school to make up the classes that did not work for her online.
I had to do summer school right before my senior year of hs, I still remember how hard it was to go to school when everyone else was off! I wish her luck.
Fortunately in our case she has the comparison to how horrible the classes were in online school, so I hope that’ll keep her motivated for the month.
Good!
SOTD is vintage Zen by Shideido, a memory of my student days.
no holidays for me until mid september, but we will go to the Maremma, in the southern part of Tosacana. we rented a house again, that we were in 2021, so looking forward to a great vacation of 3 weeks!
Sounds wonderful
That sounds lovely! Fall is a wonderful time to go to Italy — we were there last October.
I went for a beautiful walk yesterday, around an estuary that was filled with birds: Black Swans, Shovellers, Shags, Paradise ducks. It was -1C but sunny and the ground was frosty and white, the water steaming, and the sky blue. Not quite summer but beautiful all the same. I was hoping to find a bottle of perfume in one of the nine op shops I went to, but no such luck. My favourite find was a dinky, magnetic chess set from Qantas ( airline) from the 1970s ( I’m guessing). Nice to think that airlines once gave out chess sets for inflight entertainment. I played my husband over lunch as we ate Thai green curry I. A small restuarant. A really perfect day ( I won, which made the chess set an even better buy). Wearing Tumeric Latte. Have a happy weekend everyone.
That does sound like a perfect day!
I remember airlines used to give out decks of cards…hard to imagine that now, much less a chess set.
Airlines used to give out small bottles of perfumes as well. I’ve seen some of those branded sets.
Too many vacations to remember.
The ones of my mom and dad and sister and me in the station wagon on the way from NY to Florida are supersweet. I can see my mom pouring coffee from the thermos for my dad and stopping at picnic sites along the way.
My sister and I tend to travel according to weather, so many vacations/ trips are fall and winter when we go to warmer climates. Her son/daughter in law and two granddaughters are all in Ireland today to look for a home. They have decided to move there and the graduate starts at Trinity College in August. I see vacations there for us.
SOTD is Gaiuic 10. I was going to sell this, but gave it another try and have a wonderul, new found appreciation for it.
Off to gym!
How lovely, Ireland here you come!
My yearly holiday is in Drôme Provençale, it has become a tradition and I do enjoy it but there are still two or three places I would like to visit like Istanbul and the perfume I chose this morning, vintage Ysatis matches well I think, ornate and opulent. Tonight it’s Lavanila Pure Vanilla which smells yummy, I think with Outremer Vanille, AdP Vaniglia this is a favorite.
I thought I would make it to Istanbul by now, and Budapest, among other places…best laid plans, right? But your trips to Drôme Provençale always sound wonderful.
Thank you Robin, I feel so relaxed and carefree there.
Istanbul is great! I hope you make it there eventually.
Thank you, for the moment I have to make do with cats videos from there🐱
That Outremer Vanilla is great, and cheap as chips!
Isn’t it? A straight, baking vanilla and long-lasting.
Hopefully you will make it to one of your “bucket list” destinations.
Thank you Jalapeno, I used to travel more for sure.
SOTD–Fragonard Riviera, Riviera–a lemony mimosa scent, perfect for remembering a vacation in Nice. But, that was in September. Still, a lovely time for any seaside town. Also thinking of a great trip from many years ago with my sister and a dear friend to Canada. Theatre geek that I am, we went to the Shaw Festival (Niagra on the Lake) and the Shakespeare Festival (Stratford) and saw at least a dozen shows in a week…a real busman’s holiday!
That does sound wonderful!
Hiya jepster! How have things been for you?
I’ve talked before about childhood summer holidays and the scent of sun-warmed pine trees, that smell always takes me back. SL’s Fille en Aiguilles will be perfect, it covers both pine and my need for something cosy, it’s cold here today.
Last night, I compared a couple of perfumes to see if I might need both, and I’m glad to say I don’t 🙂 . I bought a sample of Djelem, from a brand called Suleyko. Although it’s much lighter, but is similar to Ambra from Omnia Profumi. If you find Ambra a bit hefty (and it is powerful), Djelem would be worth a sniff
Yay for not needing another bottle, right?
A few summer vacation memories & scents that remind me of them:
CA Early morning hot air balloon ride over Napa/Sonoma wine country – one with the wind, earth, and sky: C&E Sonoma Valley, figs and grapes and green.
MD Assateague Island National Park camping – Atlantic Ocean and wild ponies: Dior Dune, sand and sea and sky.
TN Great Smoky Mountains- first glimpse with mountains surrounding green valley: Dame Earth Mother, a desire to roll gently down the hillside and become one with Her.
CA Cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in a Ford Mustang convertible: Pacifica Lemon Blossom, fresh fragrant, and salty air and bright 🌞.
No such fun today. Just planting a few herbs and veggies and annuals, now watching the Sox game and relaxing. SOTD philosophy Nude Rose, a light fresh rose with a hint of green, works when I’m outside in the garden or inside the house.
Happy Saturday! 🌹
Those are great pairings Laila! At the moment I would pick the Pacific Coast Highway in sunshine (it rained here part of the day and was humid the rest).
Didn’t get to post yesterday. If I had to choose a signature scent it would be Courreges Eau de Liesse.
I adore:
the scent (Cristalfizz? Yes please w a glass of Cristal to accompany),
the name Liesse= jubilation (a spritz of unfettered delight -yes please),
the bottle (modern, feminine, pretty, feels good in the hand),
even the bottle color -a gorgeous sunny shade of golden summer sun (hey grab that bottle of parfum full of champagne and sunshine for me- yes please), and
of course, the name as modified by a half-French friend of mine where Leslie S becomes LesLiesse, my moniker on Duolingo for awhile.
Just wanted to let you know to look at yesterday’s posts as springpansy left you a message.
Your scent you would pick for your signature scent sounds very nice though I am not familiar with it.
Thank you Kris! I responded To springpansy’s kind comment.
I would love to send some Liesse to you but I don’t really know how. Is it a decant? Where would I order supplies? Do I need a mini-funnel? I need guidance.
Thanks for the nice offer, but no need to send a decant.
There are a few different ways to make decants. I looked at YouTube videos to learn how and it is really quite simple. I just found supplies on Amazon but there are people on here that have much more experience and can give you tips too.
Oh gosh, great idea! I will look at the videos on YouTube.
😊
Ringthing-I used the Jergens Rose Body Butter today and it is quite nice. It is the same texture as the others of course and the smell is pleasant enough. I will admit I like the sandalwood and citrus ones a little better as I think the scent projects more.
SOTD with my Jergens Rose Body Butter is Dame Cassis, Rose &Sandalwood.
Thanks for your thoughts, Kris. I will get the Rose eventually, I really like the texture of those body butters. Moisturizing but not too heavy.
Kris, did you ever try Roses de Chloe?
No. The original Chloe perfume has something that turns on my skin so I figured the rose one probably would too.
Incense is a CP I can really get into – I’m starting early with Armani Privé Encens Satin.
You did start early, I have not planned my week yet 🙂
Hi everyone. My daughter has a birthday coming up and has asked for Korean beauty makeup. I know some people here have ordered K beauty before, and I am looking for recommendations of reputable places to order from. Also if you order from outside the U.S is the price what the total says or do you get charged more after the order?
My sotd is Zara Fleur Patchouli layered with BBW Gingham Gorgeous. I bought the matching Gingham Gorgeous shampoo and conditioner yesterday. I smell pretty awesome 😀
Cool! Great layering Lillyjo! Is the shampoo and conditioner good? Only a week until the semi -annual sale!
I’ve used different scents before and find them to be pretty good. The conditioner is pretty light. I should probably use a deep conditioner.
I really like the Gorgeous scent. I had only tried the blue Gingham before this one, and didn’t care for it much.
I ordered from YesStyle a few years ago. The price you pay is what the total says, nothing extra. I would advise giving extra time for arrival, shipping might take over a week and the tracking isn’t always super detailed, from what I remember.
I also really like YamiBuy, and they ship from within the U.S., pretty quick.
Oh thank you! I was hoping to find something within the U.S if possible. I will check them out.
No K beauty recs here, sorry. But I might be able to help you out on the hair mask front. I’ve been trying some recently since I’ve grown my hair out and the ends get dried out and beat up.
Soko Glam and YesStyle spring to mind. Haven’t ordered from the former, but have from the latter and it was fine, without any additional fees. The Illiyoon items on Amazon (not makeup, but moisturizers) have been effective too.
for lillyjo
Thank you! Adding to the list.
I am wearing a sample of Signature White from CocoPink. I bought some samples a year or so ago and this one was actually my favorite. It is supposed to be vanilla, heliotrope, amber and sandalwood but I get a white musk. It is the oil form and it lasted all day. Husband and I took a weekend roadtrip.
I don’t have any spectacular summer vacations that stand out but I remember being allowed to go to a friend’s summer house when I was about 14, being picked up by (older male, teen) friends of her brother and I recall sitting in the back seat of the car being driven by 18 year olds I had never met before. I don’t think I would ever allow my daughter to be transported that way, though it turned out fine. My scent I would associate is the old Bain de Soleil orange sun gel.
Bain de Soleil! I keep meaning to check out the new Vacation version, I did love that smell. I think it was SPF 4 or something 🙂
Monday of Incense Week, thank you Robin!
Today I chose Kyoto, for calm. I’m taking my mother to the salon for a haircut. It’s pretty stressful taking her out these days because she can hardly get in and out of the car, but for her haircut she’ll do anything!
ringthing, my mom was the same 🙂 I usually drive a truck and if I was taking her anywhere I had to bring a small tupperware stool, to help her get in and out of the truck. I felt like on the the mouse footmen from Cinderella! Hope you and your mom have an excellent day 🙂
Thank you carole 😉
Hope all goes well. It’s wonderful of you to take her since it means so much to her.
How did your Mom’s hair appointment go, ringthing?
It was fine and necessary but it wiped her out. Thanks for asking, Jalapeño.
Happy Monday!
Starting the incense week in SL Chergui.
Hope your Monday was a good one Glannys.
Ouarzazate — it’s hot here and this one feels like a summer incense — for incense week. Let’s see, favorite vacations. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many special vacations, but I’ll go with last summer’s which was walking the Camino Portugues in June with Mr. SP. Fun and challenging and meaningful all at once. I brought my little 5 ml decant of Obvious Un Ete (now renamed to Milk & Matcha) and enjoyed a tiny spritz after my nightly shower until it was empty. As we carried everything with us, I didn’t bring others (not even samples) to keep the weight down – yes, I was counting ounces!
I will be wearing Ouarzazate this week for sure!
I hope everyone’s Monday is going better than mine. My mother is in the ER and we don’t know if she is going to be admitted or not. While my dad is waiting on some news, I ordered some groceries to be delivered and took advantage of Sephora offering free same day delivery, I ordered the 8 ounce Cheirosa 62. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. Wearing Theorema for a little bit of comfort while I wait for news.
That’s very worrying, I hope your mother is OK.
Theorema is gorgeous, and we will hold some positive thoughts for your family’s health issues. Take care.
I hope your day – and especially your mom – improves.
Fingers crossed that you get some good news about your Mom soon.
I, too, hope you get some good news about your mom.
So much stress! Do let us know what happens.
I’m joining springpansy in Ouarzazate, a lovely light incense.
I will be joining you soon!
I am wearing vintage Aramis, the first men’s fragrance that made me swoon over a boy when I was 16. He had a red Buick and we drove all around and listened to Emerson, Lake & Palmer on the car stereo. It still takes me back. The genius Bernard Chant created this one in the 1960s and it’s sexy as hell 65 years later. I’m wearing the aftershave, which is stronger than many EdPs produced today. And did I say oakmoss? It smells a lot to me like the original EL Azuree, (EL owns Aramis) but that one is a bit more sweet. Reminds me of Cabochard too. A real classic.
What fun memories! Devin does that for me 🙂
Gorgeous late spring/early summer day here. I had an afternoon follow up appointment with my new eye doctor, since the first visit showed something that was a little out of the ordinary. Nothing to worry about, but something to be monitored.
Lots of fond memories about family vacations. We went to several states in the western US and even made it to British Columbia once, before Canada required passports for US entry. Not sure when my next solo jaunt will be.
SOTD = L’Artisan Timbuktu. Perfect match for 82-ish degrees and sunshine.
You smell great, and glad you’re taking care of those eyes!
Oh Beautiful British Columbia, so glad you had a family vacation in Canada – ah no passport required, a simpler time – I’ve been too because many of my father’s family lives there.
Hope everything will be fine on the eyes front now that you are being monitored.