It's the first Friday of Autumn (unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you know what to do). Also, happy Johnny Appleseed Day! Birthdays: T. S. Eliot, Olivia Newton-John, Serena Williams. The swapmeet is still open! Our community project for today: wear something to celebrate the new season.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
Me: still sick (although feeling a bit better), still commando, yadda yadda yadda.
Reminder: on 10/3, wear a fragrance that you feel is misunderstood or underappreciated, either by your fellow perfumistas or by others around you.
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 Stellar's Jay in Idyllwild California [cropped] by Dirk DBQ at flickr; some rights reserved.
I hope everyone who is sick recovers soon!
I’m wearing Theorema today. While it often appears on Christmas fragrance lists, I believe it also makes a wonderful fall fragrance – golden, fruity, and spicy.
Agree! It makes me think of fall colors as well
Theorema is wonderful. I think I will wear it Sunday.
Happy Friday NST!
Sending get well vibes to everyone dealing with illnesses.
I had planned to wear Chergui today because imho it’s a perfect fall fragrance, but my husband has a job close to Lake Michigan today and I’m going along. The hand landed on No 5 L’Eau for a cloudless and cool morning with a walk on the beach later on.
Oh, I love walking along the beach of Lake Michigan, looking for pretty stones. I hope you have a wonderful time and see some autumn leaves (or is it too early still?). Where will you be?
The leaves are just turning so there are splashes of fall color. I prefer to go further north but we are just in St Joseph today. There’s not a cloud in the sky 🌻
Beach walk twins. I’m hoping to go tomorrow if I’m well enough…less lake, more ocean in my case!
That’s a perfect reason to switch perfumes…have a great time!
I’m traveling and grabbed a decant from a bag I brought with me. It’s a perfect transitional scent — but for spring – Delrae Mythique. Green and Iris-y. The last of a decant received two swaps ago. Furthermore, I’m tickled that a swap package I sent out Saturday, the first day of the swap meet, had arrived at its destination by Monday, to the pleased surprise of the swapper.
That was very speedy on your swap! I have a bottle of Mythique, luckily. I associate it more with spring, interestingly. (I’m wondering now if there is a good Mythique scent for fall…. maybe.)
You smell great today!
Not at all on the CP today; have to go into HQ to present again. I went for PdN L’eau Chic today, which reminds me of my trip to Paris last winter…well, I guess it was fall, officially. Maybe that is CP compliant. 🙂
Hope everyone’s on the mend.
That seems good enough reason for points! And hope the presentation went well.
Not really CP complaint but currently in Cheirosa 62 today. I am quickly draining my 1 ounce bottle. I didn’t expect to like this as much as I do.
Bigger bottle next time?
Hello and tgif!
Sotd is Guerlain Tonka Sarrapia. Perfect rounded, fuller bodied and delicious scent for fall. I had been waiting all summer for a chance to use this again!
I was in Hermes to test out Barenia Intense and Lovestosmellgood was so right, it’s got more meat to it than the original. I like it sooo much better. Not enough for me to whip out my card though. Give me a few more visits and we’ll see.
What is pretty tempting though is their limited Paddock. It struck me as a very Zoologist scent. Maybe because it’s animal (horse, obviously) inspired. It has no apparent sweetness, crispness nor “spark” and is a rather dry, rooty and unusual scent but as a perfumista, the imagery it conjures and evokes is very appealing.
Tonka Sarrapia sends me to heaven whenever I smell it. You smell amazing!
Gotta check out Barenia Intense — I liked the original but not enough so this might be the upgrade.
Do they have Paddock in stores now? How exciting!
This one is full-on fall. I’m wearing Tea for Two.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh
You smell so wonderful.
Clinging to half a bottle.
In Guerlain Santal Pao Rosa. Decant thunk!
Happy Friday! 🌹
Yay for thunk! Happy Friday pl67.
Thank you, Robin! Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Santal Pao Rosa is gorgeous! Definitely decant worthy.
It is a big favorite of mine along with Rose Cherie.
Sending healthful wishes to all on this first day of fall🍁
I’m wearing Olympic Orchids Woodcut today and feeling very cozy and CP compliant.
Gearing up to send out Swapmeet packages today. I’d love to send more! Ignore my wishlist and try me on other fragrances.
Had a great time at the M’s game last night (we won, of course😊). My brother, who knows more about sports than I do, said that we’re close to a first round bye, therefore skipping the initial Wild Card series. It was a perfect evening for an open air game (love the retractable roof!) and taking the bus made it so easy.
Go Mariners!
Woo hoo!!!🎉⚾️
Congratulations on the win yesterday. 😉
Thank you, Jalapeno😊
SOTD is Eau des Merveilles. I guess this could be a fall scent, though I wear it year-round.
I almost put on a drop of Ambre des Merveilles today, but nope, not ready. You smell great regardless!
You are the one I thought of when I put it on because you mentioned it yesterday.
Pre-shower I’m in Memoirs of a Trespasser for points. Later I will likely be back in Idyllwild because I’m in that can’t-get-enough honeymoon phase. 😉
And you will smell great in both scents!
After escaping for five years, Covid has caught me. GEEZ.
And I had vaccines scheduled for next Wednesday for travel to NYC.
No wonder I haven’t smelled anything for days.
Commando for the forseeable future – GEEZ
Oh no! I’m so sorry. It’s apparently a bad time as so many of our group are ill. I really hope that your case is not a bad one and that you’ll feel better, and smell more, very soon.
Ohhhh I’m so sorry. I had covid for the 2nd time last year and it was the sickest I had ever been. I hope it passes quickly for you.
Get well, soon!
Oh no, I’m so sorry!! I am on round 3, probably…do take it easy it is not to be messed around with.
ARGH! So sorry to hear this apsara. Is your NYC trip in jeopardy?
Wow, so sorry to hear that, what a bummer! Hope you feel better soon. I’ve had it 2x despite being vaccinated, planning on getting this year’s vaccine soon.
Get well soon! B
After escaping for five years, Covid has caught me. GEEZ.
And I had vaccines scheduled for next Wednesday for travel to NYC.
No wonder I haven’t smelled anything for days.
Commando for the forseeable future – GEEZ
That’s bad luck! Hope it doesn’t linger long
Oh no! I hope your symptoms aren’t too bad and that you can still go on your trip.
My spring flowers are open in the garden now: jonquils, freesia, grape hyacinth, aurum lilies ( calla lilies) and I’ve noticed hyacinth plants being sold in the supermarket. The very first shoots of the silver birches are beginning to open and most scented of all, the tarata ( a lemonwood/ pittosporum) is in full flower which drenches the garden with its sugared/ waxy lemon scent ( think DG Devotion as a soy candle, and it would be that). Wearing Pleasures as that seems like an easy spring scent. It’s not yet 5am and the stars are twinkling: Jupiter just rising, and Pleiades clearly visible in Taurus, and Orion. To make it even more idyllic there’s a ruru ( native owl, morepork) nearby. Bit frosty but lovely.
Lovely description to read and imagine.
So many blooms, I’m so happy for you!
I love your description! And Pleasures is perfect for that scene!
Your vivid description was poetry! Thank you!
Happy Friday to all!
Sotd Replica Jazz Club. One of the thingns I enjoy about summer is music outdoors, but fall makes me want to be inside candlelit clubs w Jazz music. There are fewer of those but worth the excursions!
Eotd (*excitement of the day) happily waiting for a some Zara Leather Jardin to arrive in the mail! Can’t hardly wait!
I’m excited for you on your eotd!
Report back on how you like it.
I think I need to try it in cooler weather as I like it but no more. I’m getting no grapefruit or rose notes. The leather smells spicy like The Harmonist Invigorating Fire. I thought this would smell like a brighter floral stag Ombte Leather I wore last week, which I really enjoyed a lot. I’m going to definitely try it again when the weather cooperates.
Definitely want to hear your thoughts on Leather Jardin. It was a successful blind buy for me, but it very much a cool/cold weather perfume.
I blind bought Zara Cocoa Bliss after loving Gourmand Coffee, and was very happy with it! The good news is that the sample from a most generous NSTer smelled nothing like the store tester, which was not at all enticing. This sample decant smelled fresh and spicy, just not the notes I was expecting.
Hmmmmmmmm. “Fresh and spicy” were not what I got with my bottle. Mine smells like a leather shop with plenty of heavy black leather and a hint of birch.
You going to blind buy based on the NST sample?
I’m with you on the music🎶!
I can’t wait to hear some wonderful jazz indoors!
It’s a beautiful day here again!
I’m wearing Shalimar MJ. I originally thought this would be a spring perfume. It’s rich enough now though that it’s perfect for fall.
Weather twins and scent siblings!🌞🙌
Flanker triplets with you and madtowngirl!
Weather triplets with you and madtowngirl!
One spray of Santal Exotique–warm and cozy for fall and not so loud so I think I can get away with wearing it in clinic. Might pick a non Friday shift next (and final!) term so I can 1)be more active here and 2)get to experience more supervisors. Tomorrow I’m going to Austin with my husband because there’s a reunion of a company he used to work for
Have a great time in Austin thegoddessrena!
Thebgoddessrena! Lovely to see you post-enjoy your trip!
Vol de Nuit extrait, for its holden glow, perfect for autumn!
Bonne récupération for all of you still suffering!
Thank you! I am not sure I ever seen so much crud around here at once.
I am reorganizing my huge perfume collection and spritzing along the way so I am wearing a strange mix of several perfumes: the original Eau de Jatamansi cologne for the end of summer, Lvnea Amethyst for the beginning of autumn, and vintage Comptoir Sud Pacifique Coeur de Raisin EdT for the fall harvest season. The latter one is such a bizarre little scent! It has beautiful muscat notes, but ultimately it smells like a hot and bothered musky raisin. I think I bought it ages ago in search of perfumes with muscat notes but I don’t really know what to do with it now and I’m putting it up for sale. Maybe there’s someone out there who wants to smell like this. Has anyone else come across this scent??! It’s definitely very different from the modern CSP vanilla perfumes.
I have a bottle of Olympic Orchids Carosello that opens with a muscat note, followed by floral and green notes. I really like it and for some reason, it reminds me of spending time at my beloved grandmother’s house even though she wasn’t a wine drinker.
Happy weekend!
Sampling Les Indemodables Immortelle Solaire today. It’s a lovely citrus opening, and the dry down is sweet and herbaceous. I haven’t smelled immortelle before so maybe that is what’s coming through.
Interesting enough for another couple of wears, though it won’t be a buy for me. I can’t see an everyday use for a full bottle.
Swapmeet has been fun so far! Thanks everyone who has been swapping with me 🙂 Hoping to rehome almost all, if not all the remaining bottles.
So glad the swapmeet is fun!
I like immortelle sometimes, other times nope.
Shalimar MVP. I need to order a decant of the new one and do a side by side.
We’ve got 77 and blue skies for the first Friday of autumn. It doesn’t get much more perfect than this.😎🌞🍁🍂
This weather has been incredible. I’m not expecting rain for at least a week ( we could use it though)
Going with ringthing’s original thought and wearing Lutens Chergui for both of us. Happy that fall is here and we in Seattle are still having incredible weather. Where is that rain???
Get well, everyone. This is reminding me to get my flu and COVID vaccines soon.
Yes! I am already plotting my flu shot.
I’m wearing Shalimar Millesime Iris. I’ve been wanting to wear a Shalimar after all that l’essence chatter for weeks now, and I’m finally getting around to it. L’essence should probably be a safe blind buy for me, but I plan on trying it at the stores soon. Does anyone know if it’s at Neimans or Bloomingdale’s?
Hope everyone has a peaceful weekend ahead!
I think LesLiesse had found hers in store but I don’t recall which one. Maybe call ahead before making a trip.
She did. See my note below. Nowhere else had it.
Neiman Marcus
Bloomie’s would be a reasonable assumption. Maybe check their website first?
No, they aren’t from what I heard. Just through the website.
I finally found an in-store sample at the local Saks Fifth Avenue. Neiman-Marcus had the display but no L’Essence as of 9/8. They may have stocked it by now. Bloomingdales told me they were only carrying it online. Nordstroms said they were going to start carrying it but probably closer to Xmas.
Nice bit of research you did there!
For the past couple days, I’ve been wearing JM Blackberry & Bay. I’ve had the bottle for years, but never loved it, but it’s just perfect right now. The weather is still plenty warm, and it’s back up to 87 tomorrow, but the evenings are cool and the trees are turning.
We went to the Art Institute of Chicago the other day, and enjoyed both the Institute and the nearby parks in gorgeous, sunny, coolish weather. It was such a good way to enjoy an early fall day. We didn’t stay for Chicagohenge, but maybe we’ll time it better next fall.
I love, love, love the Art Institute. It provided a welcome respite now and then when I attended grad school in the Chicago area.
I also love the Art Institute of Chicago! A highlight of any Windy Coty visit for me!
SOTD = Bvlgari Black
I have the 40mL version and I am pretty sure I have a BUB. It is very good and perfect for autumn even though it does not feel like autumn. 🍂
In other news, here’s a NY Times gift article on milk / lactose intolerance. All I know is that I have certain “dairy” that I should avoid at all costs!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/well/eat/health-myths-dairy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.o08.RQ8-._M_XuZf_xgI3&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Also, I don’t have a link to it from Reddit but I just saw a picture of someone with hives in the gym, all because his temperature went too high too quickly!
That 40mL hockey puck bottle was so cute!
Bvlgari Black will forever remind me of you hajusuuri.
I’m so glad that I am not lactose intolerant. I love cheese too much!
I am wearing one of my $20 miracle perfumes, Fath Essentials Tempete d’Automne (Autumn Storm) because I have taken the CP quite literally. It’s a softly spicy musk. It doesn’t last very long, 3-4 hours, but I have some much more expensive scents that are equally short-lived. It perfectly suits today’s sunny, not-too-warm day.
Did you ever hear from Deva? Maybe I should check with her again for any updates.
No. I hope she is doing okay.
Kris, you’re gifted at keeping track of our community’s life emergencies! What a blessing!
Wearing Hiris. It was cool enough to put on a long-sleeve shirt today!
Soup season is here! I’m making a batch of cabbage roll soup, a new recipe for me.
Love cabbage rolls in the crockpot but never had it as soup. Bet it is good.
I hope so! The recipe is almost a mash-up of what my hubby had as a kid and what I had as a kid. Mine were made with sour cabbage and bacon, hubby’s were regular cabbage, beef and tomato sauce.
Mine were same as your hubby’s.
Sounds delicious Gail!
Thank you, lillyjo! I hope it’s good. The pot is full to the top!
Never had cabbage rolls growing up. I think they are something I’d enjoy now.
Ooh, they’re delicious! I recommend trying them if you can.
My Grandma Jenny made the best stuffed cabbage rolls! You just don’t see it on menus very much anymore.
I’m in the midst of some very changeable spring weather, yesterday was a repeated cycle of sun and heavy rain. We had a few minutes of particularly heavy rain just as I was helping my mother get slowly up the path into the house, a triumph of bad timing!
I’m wearing SL’s Le Proie Pour L’Ombre this morning, and might switch to Diorling later.
Well drat, doesn’t that figure? Sorry if you both got soaked.
My SOTD is Bois 1920 Sushi Imperiale, one of my earliest niche fragrances, and probably 20+ years old, but still smelling fine. It’s a combination of fruit with spices and Tonka, but not too sweet or heavy. I’ll count it as autumn-adjacent. Here in Houston it’s still pretty much full summer, though we have promises from the weather man of lower temperatures and a lower dew point in the coming weeks. I’m being plagued by allergies, probably ragweed. (But at least not sick, thank goodness!).
Today I am feeling more relaxed and less stressed out for two main reasons. (1) I’ve decided to quit my Korean class. Though I learned a lot, it’s turned out to be very difficult and I’m probably flunking (EEEK!), which is embarrassing, to be sure. But it’s too much emphasis on quick learning and repetition of phrases, no doubt helpful in for a visit or daily life, but not taught in conjunction with grammar, which I must have. I’ve heard about a very good online language tutoring service that matches you with an individual who meets your needs, and you can schedule as you like, and I believe it will work better for me.
And (2), I’ve accepted the fact that I need to have a shoulder replacement, and scheduled a visit for the relevant x-rays in about a month. It will be the same surgeon who did my right shoulder. It’s an awful surgery and a difficult recovery, but I’m living with too much pain. For reasons, I think, of both language stress and pain, my sleep has been very disrupted, and I have had to take steps to try to improve things. (Thanks for listening as I went on for awhile here!)
Please get well soon to the many of you who have been sick recently. I’m so sorry.
I commend you on having the courage to make those difficult decisions and wish you well going into the future.🤗
Good for you for making these decisions Calypso. I know that stress often comes for me when I have been indecisive. I hope you can sleep well tonight.
Glad to hear that you are feeling more relaxed after making those tough decisions. Best of luck going forward!
Oh good then, hope you find a better way to learn Korean.
So sorry about your shoulder, but of course glad you will get it taken care of.
Meanwhile, hope you get some SLEEP.
Impressive decision-making there calypso! Brave and bravo!
I’m joining the ranks of the unwell today. However, I just have a very sore back. Don’t know what on Earth I did to it in my sleep, but it’s hurting like nobody’s business between my shoulders.
Thunked a summer showergel from LUSH (Intergalatic), so today Rose Jam was opened up for Fall. I have a couple others waiting for later on, including Lord of Misrule.
SOTD = Rose Anonyme. Figured I’d double down on rose after the Rose Jam. And Rose Anonyme is a lovely transitional perfume for these warm Autumn days.
I know that back pain, it’s awful!
I hope you can rest well tonight and be pain free in the morning.
Thank you lillyjo. A couple of Advil before bed tonight ought to put me right to sleep. We shall see what tomorrow brings.
Ouch! I’ve had some back issues in the past and know that pain. Take it slow and easy.
Thanks Laila. It was worse this morning, so that’s telling me I have a bad sleeping habit which needs to be corrected ASAP!
Ugh, but so glad it is your back and not something worse, although I do know that when your back hurts it feels all consuming! Good luck, hope it will get better quickly.
Advil is going to be my back’s very good friend tonight. Still hurts less than menstrual cramps, though.
Feel better jalapeño! Congratulations on your thunk!
Thanks LesLiesse! I am much better at thunking body care products than I am perfumes. 😀
Finally Friday! Sorry you’re still sick, Robin. 🤗. I think the other day you mentioned you might wear Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles for the cp, so I am wearing it for you today! I like amber notes in the fall, and L’Ambre is a woody, powdery amber, warm and comforting. Fortunately, it’s not too heavy, because the temps are in the mid-80’s with bright 🌞. If not for the cp, a summer fragrance would be much more appropriate!
I had coupons expiring and took advantage of BBW’s current sale to treat myself today. Those of you who like gourmand scents and coffee notes like me might really like the new Vanilla Cafe fragrance – espresso, vanilla, and hazelnut. I got the moisturizing body wash, body butter, 2 body lotions (all full size) + a mini Amber Suede fragrance mist, for a total of $16.36. Practically free!
Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead!
I’m planning on using my coupons on this sale too. I want to try the new Touch of Gold.
It’s nice, has orange blossom in it, beautiful packaging. All the moisturizers are on sale for $4.95, including the body butter and moisturizing body wash. I had a 25% off coupon + a coupon for a free mini up to $8.95. Used both. Good luck!
That Vanilla Cafe sounds like a cross between Angel Muse and the OG Black Opium.
Never smelled the Angel Muse but, yes, it does smell somewhat similar to Black Opium. I have and love that one and the Vanilla Cafe will be great for layering
Oh, thank you for wearing my pick! It was very summer here today too, a dab would be plenty.
I’ve enjoyed all the bluejays this week. Yes, they are a naughty bird, but I am rather fond of them and their calls. Our Eastern jays have almost Tiffany glass-like patterns of black and blue on their lower half which I find beautiful. I see and enjoy the Western varieties when I visit family in Utah. No CP points for me, alas. I spotted my vintage Jardins de Bagatelle edp and just had to spritz.
I love the blue jays! We feed the birds and if Mr. Laila is lax in his morning duties, the blue jays let him know. They call out – loudly – Peanuts, please. We want our Peanuts!!!’
Don’t see as many bluejays as I used to here in Colorado. I am seeing more bald eagles, though.
Maybe that’s why I am seeing fewer bluejays?
Ack.
I used to see blue jays here in Texas, even some when we first moved into this house 10+ years ago but none for years now. We have lots of cardinals, the occasional woodpecker and recently a rose-breasted grosbeak. We have a lot of yellow and black finches and those might be my favorites.
Add birdwatching to my ever-growing list of things I want to do when I retire.