It's Flag Day and National Bourbon Day on Saturday; Father's Day (US) and Beer Day Britain on Sunday; and Bloomsday on Monday. We're marking it all with our same old open thread poll.
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your latest fragrance layering success (or disaster), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Under the Sun [cropped] by Joel Olives at flickr; some rights reserved.
Bourbon day!! I had enough Bourbon up in Saratoga 🐎 to satisfy me for the rest of the year. 😝
Hermes Barenia from a sample. Interesting fragrance
No horse riding or farmers market for me this morning… ☔️
Tell me more about Barenia. I have been wondering about that scent.
It’s not as long lasting as I want it to be
What does it smell like?
I think you told me, but don’t remember much about it.
Chypre! Tart and Woody…
Barénia not reminding me specifically of Angel, but it brings me back to the 1990’s for some reason.
I comment from a perfume reviewer “ Barenia is extremely well-made, always attractive and its sweetness is never sickly or off-putting, but it does also come across as rather familiar.”
If I had to pick one horse out of the paddock it would be Galop over this one. But it’s not on discounters or on sale, and hard to find
Thanks so much!
I am stalking sites to buy Galop
Love the photo, Robin!
I am continuing incense week with Lutens L’orpheline for a coolish day. We have a memorial service to attend this afternoon, the third funeral we’ve been to in less than six weeks. And I just found out that a friend of mine has a malignant, inoperable tumor and isn’t expected to survive very long. Hug your loved ones today.
Sorry about your friend. 😔
So sorry to hear about your friend. Thank you for the reminder to hug more💕
I’m sorry ringthing.
So sorry ringthing. That is a lot in a short amount of time. Take care.
So sorry
Gosh ringthing, that is overwhelming. Stay strong and best wishes to your friend.
So sorry for such a sad time for you.
I’m so sorry, Ringthing. Hugs.
Thank you everyone.
Very sorry to hear about your friend.
So sorry about your friend, ringthing. Thanks for reminding us that love is all.
Happy weekend!
Yes! I do want to share my layering success! I went to Kiehl’s and came out with a bottle of their Original Musk. I tried layering it with my Chanel No. 5 body cream after shower last night. Divineeee!!
Sotd is MMM From The Garden. Tomato leaf galore.
I’ve layered Kiehl’s with SL Fleurs d’oranger with success. Your combo sounds fantastic!
Nice!
The Original Musk is excellent and what’s even better is that it isn’t expensive. One of these days I will layer it with no 5.
Agree. Love that Kiehl’s musk.
While putting together a swap for a fellow NSTer I was digging around in a box of refills, can-live-without bottles, and empty boxes, and discovered a couple of scents I completely forgot I even owned, so I hauled them out to give them another go. One of them was Hugo Boss In Motion from 2002, which I think I must have bought because of the cool bottle, but today I’m wearing the other one, the original 1994 Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, and it is, as the young people say nowadays, mid — nice enough, inoffensive, but a very average fougère.
The funny thing is that it has a fair bit in common with Clinique Chemistry, which came out the same year, and I think that one is just amazing: I guess it’s like the difference between my version of boeuf bourguignon and a master chef’s version. Anyway, I gave it a shot, and now back into the box it goes until I find someone who wants it.
That HB was a cool bottle, especially in some of the special editions.
Laughing at your comparison. Yep, that’s my home cooking!
Saturday SOTM is TF Violet Blonde. Haven’t worn it in quite a while and hadn’t really forgotten how gorgeous it is, but am surprised all the same at just how amazingly different it is than anything else I own. And, I suppose, how different it is than most recent releases. Maybe it was discontinued because it’s too retro for today’s market?
I wore VB the other day after what felt like a long time. It really is a beauty.
The perfume market seems to be people that just want something new, or the next popular thing. I watch fragrance YouTube videos and it seems like anything that isn’t sweet gets criticism. Especially in the comment section.
Sad that so many are limiting themselves to a single genre, and chasing the popularity vote instead of experimenting and discovering what truly appeals to them.
I’m in Lush Silky Underwear today. Kept my spray level down to about 3 since we’re heading out to visit with hubby’s mom and dad. Haven’t worn this in awhile and it’s hitting the spot today.
Happy Saturday everyone! It’s a beautiful, sunny day here.
Have a great visit!
And I henna-ed my hair today with Lush Jasmine Fluff, we almost match 🙂
In Montale Ristretto Intense Cafe for a cool, rainy day. I do not get the coffee note at all. I can only smell caramel, rose and vanilla. Very sweet and more suitable for winter time.
Having my second cup of coffee and a thick slice of lavender bread that I ventured to make yesterday for the first time. Really good!
Happy weekend! 🌞
pl67 –
I was late to respond yesterday.
Please email me at vivienne dawt elliott1 in the land of outlook dawt com for the Jo Malone.
Thank you, Apsara! Emailing you now.
Happy weekend!
Glad your bread turned out!
Thank you, Lillyjo! I am glad and surprised that it came out so good! 😀
That bread sounds divine, well done and enjoy.
Thank you, Aurora! The bread has such a delicate flavor. Very delicious with a cup of tea or coffee.
Was your lavender bread made completely from scratch? Or was it a version of the ice cream bread?
Here the recipe:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/53172/lavender-tea-bread/
That lavender bread recipe sounds amazing. We have lavender growing out front. Hmmm.
I’m wearing Angel’s Share on this overcast and cool morning. The plan for the day is to list some stuff on Ebay (no fragrances, just household stuff and some clothes) and do laundry.
Joining you in laundry, I have a ton.
Is selling stuff on EBay worth the hassle factor ? I have things that are too “nice” to just give to Goodwill, but every time I look into listing things somewhere it just gets a little overwhelming.
Don’t waste your time with Goodwill. They will charge retail prices for what they get and how much they pay their workers are sweatshop wages. I didn’t know until my friend, who worked there for a couple months told me.
I did not know that! I have other options for donations and I will adjust accordingly! Thanks for the heads up!
As an eBay seller, I can tell you that Goodwill is a for profit organization.
Local thrift shops who directly donate to local causes has been my way to go with items I don’t sell on eBay.
Perfume math worked out for me.
I returned a sweater to Nordstrom and paid my bill.
So…that overpayment managed to be a bottle of Chloe Atelier Des Fleurs Cedrus. mmmmmmmm kind of free 🙂
I have enjoyed Bois Imperial so much, I thought I would give this a whirl.
Laundry, eBay listings, shred and tidy my casa. Mani pedi later.
What do you think of the Chloe Atelier line? I’ve been tempted by the jasmin one. Can you tell if there is noticeable ambroxan?
lillyjo, I bought the Vanilla and sold it after a few uses.
This one I will unwrap and wear today and let you know.
Layering today is Bath and Body Works Butterfly shower gel and lotion with Dusita Splendiris perfume. I love Splendiris, but sure wish it lasted longer.
Kris, thx so much for sending me some of your precious Splendiris. I’m really enjoying the decant. It has such old-fashioned vintage-y vibes to me in the best way. I too wish it lasted 3x as long, but it’s a lovely ride while it lasats.
I was thinking of it after you mentioned you liked it.
Had a fantasy perfume dream last night. First one ever. I woke up this morning so disappointed when I realized that (of course!) it was a dream. I was working with some famous nose, a man, bald, but not Duchaufour, on a perfume for some event. I wanted it to be heavily blueberry (??!!) but tempered by crisp florals and the hint of basil. I kid you not. Weird, huh? I did a little sleuthing this morning to see if I have any blueberry perfumes— Fragrantica reminded me of Fenty. Fenty was definitely not the scent I was going for. Strangely, I can almost (but only almost) recall the scent we were tweaking. Oh well.
In the vein of cheerful, brisk fruit, I put on Plum (Mary Greenwall) today.
WOW! You’re very creative in your dreams! I’d love to smell your new perfume!
Yep! Fenty – and I like it in the summer!
My fantasy perfume dreams involve strolling around a flea market and finding a booth with a box of vintage fragrances all jammed in together. Very occasionally, this has happened, though more in years past before everyone started listing everything on evilbay. But even now, I find amazing stuff.
smell dreams are wonderful 💙 and blueberry is a delicious smell. 🫐 I would wear that perfume.
We’ve finally got a clear sky after days of rain and cloud. Of course, a clear sky in winter means nippy temperatures, but it certainly looks good.
I’m continuing the incense theme in Kyoto.
We are not expecting clear skies here until Friday, so I envy your clear day yesterday! But the nippy, not so much 🙂
I’m not doing much, but at least I unpacked my suitcase (after three days!). My SOTD is Arquiste Venice Rococo, which I just love. I smell pretty. Kitty who went to the vet is still refusing to eat, and worrying me. But I got a new kitty water fountain and it was discovered and drunk from within one minute!
Poor kitty. I thought she liked the G-I food the vet prescribed? But the fact that she is drinking water is a very good sign.
Yeah, she loved it the first time she tried it and now won’t give it the time of day. That’s a cat for you!
Getting a pet fountain was one of the smartest things I ever did. Hope your kitty starts to eat soon.
Calypso I hope your kitty begins to eat soon. They can be such fickle eaters sometimes.
Wearing Celine Zouzou. While I still think there are more interesting (or less pricey) vanillas out there, I am really enjoying it on this cool summer night. Musky caramel vanilla. Mmm.
Mmm. Sounds nice
Hello darling NSTers, thank you for the supportive messages and emails! Last Wednesday night, my darling aunt, the Dowager Duchess of Whimsey and High Tea, passed away peacefully in my arms after 43 days in hospice at home. Those of you who told me hospice nurses were something special were 1,000% right. Mom, the big sister, has been taking it hard so I’ve had special duty keeping her calm and cared for.
I wore the same scent for over a week: the IA fragrance my aunt remarked that she really liked on me right before she became unresponsive – How to Say Bicycle in French. I had immediately ordered a bottle since I only had a sample. I’ve come to really love it because of my association with it now.
The famous line from Patrick Swayze in Ghost/ The love inside, you take it with you. My faith, romanticism and innate optimism makes me believe that, and the expression on her face after she passed was a wonder to behold. As ringthing said above, hug your loved ones!
My condolences LesLiesse, your aunt sounds like she was very special. I think you are too, for the love you have shown to your aunt and your mom. 🌹
Ringthing, my hugs back to you for your friend’s health situation! Our friends are the family we choose for ourselves I believe. Thank you for reaching out to me through your own grief!
Lillyjo and Jalapeno were asking about you the other day and I told them that you had let me know your aunt had taken a turn and you were busy administering pain medication to her. Since I hadn’t heard from you, I had a feeling she probably had passed. So sorry to hear this as I know how close you were to her. Hold your memories close to your heart and know that she is at peace now. Take care my friend.
Yes Kris I will hold those many many memories close! Thank you for that insight! Already the release from the intense present has allowed Mom and me to reminisce about my aunt at all ages- young girl, high schooler, Maid of Honor, chef turning out Thanksgiving dinners for 10 in a studio apartment kitchen (she insisted!), devoted caregiver during Dad’s multiple heart surgeries, first-time bride at age 66 then deliriously happy newly-wed. I feel like I have gotten back multiple aunts in the last few days. All of them adored and slightly mischievous with her noted sense of humor.
I am so sorry, LesLiesse. Sending you and your family comforting hugs.
PL67, thank you for reaching out ! 🤗
I am sorry for your loss, LesLiesse.
Glannys, thank you 🤗! Loss is part of life, and the world goes on, even if our corner goes dark at times.
I’m so sorry for your loss, sweet LesLiesse. Peace and strength to your family.
Thank you lillyjo! Mom has been taking it hard so I’ve been focused on her. We’ve taken her now to 24 hr caregivers, so I can get help and also keep using my aunt’s cg’s. We’ve had several big changes and it’s been a challenge to navigate.
oh dear, I’m so sorry. It’s wonderful you have a perfume to ease your sadness. Please take comfort wherever you find it. And thank you for the reminder of the importance of living in love.
Tiffanie you’re so right about using perfume to ease my pain! Ironically about IA’s HTSBIF, the bottle came in a whimsical imitation book which my aunt would have adored! I just have to keep it in that book cover/ box -it’s too cute! And the herbal scent has quite grown on me- I felt this way about The Harmonist’s Invigorating Fire. I couldn’t tolerate it after the January fires in Los Angeles, but now I like it.
My deepest sympathies on the passing of your dear Aunt, LesLiesse. It was evident how much you love her in your posts. Hugs, and be gentle with yourself now.
Jalapeño, thank you for noticing I was missing and your kindness! It’s amazing how much time you spend in hospice just sitting- but all my coiled energy was focused on my aunt as well as Mom. The nurses would be on their phones but I just wanted to focus on the two of them depending on where I was at the time. I think I crammed a second lifetime of hugs into the last few months. The Love Inside You Take It With You!
So sorry for the loss of your dear aunt, you will find comfort in having been with her all the way. She seems to have had a peaceful end. Hospice at home is a blessing, so glad her experience of it was positive, Elle repose en paix à présent. Almost two years ago one of my aunts went to Switzerland as there was no assisted suicide in France. She wasn’t dying but was losing her sight and had made the intellectual choice to end her life. I was very sad but respected her choice. Sending hugs and comforting thoughts, dear friend.
Coucou Aurora! Thank you for all your kindnesses! Oh gosh, such a blessing to be in her home with quiet and love so unlike the hospital. None of my fears came true- it was beautiful and she looked so amazing at the end with this small, gentle smile on her face. I feel as if my uncle scooped her up in his arms in a huge bear hug with a passionate kiss as soon as she left us. Yes I’m a romantic I know. I was scared of hospice because I felt insecure about carrying out my part- especially the morphine. But the nurses and caregivers were amazing-!I don’t know how they do it, as they were crying as hard as I was I swear.
Sending you and your mom my deepest condolences, LesLiesse. Always wise advise to give our loved ones a hug, I’m glad to hear you were able to be there with your aunt at the end.
Thank you tulipani! I read awhile back we all need five hugs a day for optimal health. I was pleasantly surprised that whenever I gave my aunt an extended hug or crawled into her hospital bed, her vitals improved: O2, pulse, bp. And during an extended hug is when she said she liked the IA HTSBIF. Mom and I have been hugging a lot to get through this.
So sorry LesLiesse. I hope you take some comfort in knowing you gave her all your love and the best care possible and the best end possible. Your aunt was lucky to have such a loving niece. Condolences also to your mother. Very tough.
Denise H, thank you for your insight, yes it is comforting. Her caregivers took a lot of photos of us interacting, and I’m grateful. So much is a blur because of exhaustion but now I’ve got photos too that show the answer to the question “did I do enough?” is a heartfelt, dark eye circled yes.
I late but offering more condolences, and extra for your mom, it is so hard to lose a sister.
Robin, no such thing as late in this situation as I appreciate every moment y’all took to offer support! I’m an only child, so I can only try to understand that deep bond first forged in a shared small childhood bedroom continuing through to being next door neighbors for the last 25 years. And again thank you for creating this community full of such kind, supportive and fragrant folks! What an uplifting experience to participate here!
I’m sorry you lost your aunt, who sounds like an enchanting person. She was lucky to have you there with her.
Calypso, enchanting really sums her up (not that I’m biased at all 😉 ). She was both enchanting and enchanted by so much in life. Yesterday I was laughing through my tears when I went to grab some clips she had given me bags of potato chips- they each had a bright color flowered on the end. No plain utilitarian clips for her- only floral ones! 🌸🌺🌼
Oh, LesLiesse, I’m so sorry to hear this. Wishing you and yours much comfort and strength during this painful time.
Thank you Daniel! Mom and I are grateful for the support! You were traveling to visit your mother and sister then your reunion which I hope were wonderful for you, so you may have missed about how my aunt commented on my new fragrance and I’ve been wearing it day after day because it’s comforting me. I’ve been wearing scent daily in 2025 and this was the first time she commented after my hugging her. A scent memory to cherish!
Adding my condolences to you and your mom and sending 🤗 🤗 of comfort to you both. How sad and yet how beautiful your post was, and what a kind, caring and gentle soul you are. Your aunt and mom are fortunate to have had you in their lives.
Laila, sad and beautiful sums up her passing! We all live in a large condominium complex with 300 units and lots of staff. Everyone has shared some sort of delightful anecdote with me about her as a neighbor. If I am all those lovely adjectives you used to describe me, well the credit goes to my mom and my aunt as that’s what they modeled for me as they took care of family and friends!
sotd = le Jardin de Monsieur Li
I love citrus scents, including Mr Li, but there is something in the garden that challenges my nose a bit every time. Fascinating rather than off putting though! Makes me want to wear the scent more often.
Father’s Day tomorrow, sigh, it hangs a little heavy on my heart. I have daddy issues to put it mildly. 😆
But perfume and perfume talk will be a lovely distraction.
Oh! I wore PoaL last night, so beautiful.♥️🌹 See that, I’m already distracted. 😀
Maybe it’s the pistachio, but in any case a beautiful distraction is perfect. Smello-therapeutic? Needs some workshopping
😅 smello-therapeutic is a winner for me!
Hope your heart is a little lighter now that Father’s Day is almost over!
It was hard for my son today too.
Yesterday’s SOTD was Cheirosa 62. With all the Father’s Day chaos, i wanted something about little more cheerful for a rough day. Tonight’s dinner will probably steak with sautéed mushrooms. I am debating if I should go with Narciso Rodriguez edt or should I go with Number One Intense or just say screw it and wear Lyric today.
Bring out the heavy guns! Hard to think how anything can withstand Lyric.
I hope today ends up being easier than you anticipated!
I’ve just realised that I haven’t yet worn one of my favourite winter perfumes this season, so it’s Chambre Noire today.
I have that, and always forget to get it out and wear it! You smell lovely.
It’s quite warm here in L.A. today so I’ve brought out a cooling marine and beachy fragrance, Estee Lauder Azuree Soleil.
I’ve had a pretty easy day off today. Today is my Sons Birthday (23!) He got a video game as a present and I haven’t seen much of him since. Lol! I didn’t even have to make dinner because he wanted Sushi ( which I say yuk, so I ate something different)
There is chocolate cake of course.
My sotd is Chloe Lumineuse layered with BBW Gingham Gorgeous.
I will be back at work at 1 today instead of working my normal Tuesday at 1. That means that it’s Cheirosa 62. I just want something easy to wear at work that I can have in my jacket pocket without adding too much bulk. I don’t carry a purse to work. Today is the start of the Semi Annual sale at Bath and Body Works and I am not seeing anything worth buying but funds are going to be tight for a couple weeks.
I visited my mom in the hospital yesterday and it was a bad visit and it looks like it will be a bad day too. Maybe tomorrow I shall visit.
Dawn, I am sorry it was a bad visit, bad day.
Oh, that’s too bad about your visit. I hope you’ll have a better one soon. Actually, I had a GOOD visit with my mom yesterday, to balance out the rather bad one last time, when she literally did not open her eyes the whole time I was there. Sigh.
I’m still commando and will figure out something to wear later. I think I had a bat flying around in my house last night! You cannot imagine the feline excitement (but perhaps can imagine my scream as it passed by my head!). This happened once before, and I think it came down my chimney. Anyway, I opened up the door to the downstairs porch and I guess it must have flown out, because I did not find it anywhere this morning.
My SOTD yesterday was SL Nuit de Cellophane, which was cheery and light. I am revisiting some of my Serge scents to figure out which ones work for the summer heat here. That one will do.
I’ve been on a vetiver kick recently – warm weather inspires me to spray the stuff with abandon.
Saturday was Sel de Vetiver from The Different Company, for Father’s Day I wore Malle’s Vetiver Extraordinaire, and today I’m in Encre Noire from Lalique. All three are fabulous. I think tomorrow I’ll wear a few precious drops of the discontinued Dior Vetiver, generously gifted to me by our very own AnnE.
Happy Monday, everyone.
Happy Monday! SOTD is Cedre Sambac by Christine Nagel. My favorite of her compositions are ones that balance two opposing notes together, such as this one. The jasmine in this is so delightful, and the cedar reminds me of the Buddhist temples in my hometown.
It’s another cold clear morning, and I’ll be wearing my warmest coat for the walk to work this morning. I’ll also be wearing Neela Vermeire’s Ashoka, it has a spot of incense tucked away among all it’s other notes, I’m continuing with last week’s CP 🙂 .
sotd = Hiris
Robin’s mention of layering scents made me realize I never like to add anything to Hiris. It stands alone. 💙 But now I’m curious what might work well? Hmmm 🧐
With my Hiris, and almost all my iris scents, I use BBW Butterfly body gel and lotion since it has iris/rasberry/vanilla notes. I would not want to layer another perfume with that one but I’m sure you could.