It's Wednesday and National Drink Wine Day. Birthdays: John Travolta, Yoko Ono, Paco Rabanne, Toni Morrison, Louis Comfort Tiffany. It's also Ash Wednesday, and the first day of Ramadan in some countries (other locations are starting tomorrow). What fragrance are you wearing?
For energy, enthusiasm and independence, I'm in Lush 25:43.
Reminder: on 2/20, we'll honor the Lunar New Year (which was on Tuesday) by wearing a fragrance that reflects the qualities of the (Fire) Horse: energy, enthusiasm, independence and passion.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2026, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Rocky Mountain Horse [cropped] by Rennett Stowe at flickr; some rights reserved.
I really love the image you chose for this post, Robin 🙂
I’m in Heeley’s L’amandiere in an attempt to think about spring things. It’s one degree over zero here and things can start to melt. If I squint I can see the beginnings of buds on trees. This beautiful fresh fragrance helps catapult me into spring.
There are fantastic horse pictures on flickr, it is hard to choose this week!
I have thought about nothing but spring for weeks, so I hear you!
Happy belated Lunar New Year and as ockeghem said, “Happy Everything”! I will definitely celebrate with a glass of wine later (for National Drink Wine Day).
I’m very behind and will answer the poll questions later but yesterday I was wearing NG Corps Equus for some serious horsey vibes and today I’m in Passage d’Enfer for that red label and the fire that is “enfer”🔥
Oh, perfect, would not have thought of Passage d’Enfer!
The name of this one is misleading to me. I expected more fireworks and prancing red devils with pitchforks, something along the lines of Rousse, but it’s very mild on me, despite the name.
Oh, mild on me too. Still a good idea to match the name with the cp theme.
I agree, it’s actually quite a light fragrance (on me). You probably know this but Passage d’Enfer is the name is the street where L’Artisan has its administrative office in Paris.
Happy Everything allô! Hat tip to our OG for that perspective!
Sipping Nocturne Oriental
For the Fire Horse, Rania J. Ambre Loup – the spice in this one reminds me of fire & smoke woods, amber embers
Aha, maybe I need to think of the fire angle more than the horse angle.
For the CP, Aramis Perfume Calligraphy Rose. The bottle looks elegant and the scent resonates energy. I’ve not worn it in so long that I forgot what it was like so I had to wear it a little while before claiming points for the bottle and also the juice! The amber is quite powdery, but I think the resins will bloom later. It is sunny and supposed to get near 70 today which sounds like perfume-bloom weather to me. 😁
The Aramis Perfume Calligraphy series was so good.
I think I am CP compliant in Hermes Eau des Merveilles Elixir. Hermes for the horse and the elixir for energy!
Points!
ITA w LTSG, Kris. Very good interpretation POINTS! Seems like Hermes has a golden opportunity with the Year of the Fire Horse. Will be interested to see how they interpret it.
Oh, good. I thought it was worth a shot.
Surprisingly Hermes appears to have nada for the Year of the Fire Horse. Not even a horse bag charm in red. Color me surprised!
https://www.hermes.com/us/en/content/344638-lny-greeting-2026/
https://www.hermes.com/us/en/product/small-decorative-horse-H1708198v10/
There was definitely a red horse bag charm, I suspect it is long since sold out.
https://www.homestolove.com.au/shopping/lunar-new-year-gifts/
And another style:
https://www.hermes.cn/cn/en/product/hermy-horse-charm-H1199258v01/
And the red envelope for 2026:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU2iTagk6Dq/
Oh, very good. I suppose anything Hermes gets you halfway there due to the icon logo and the leather. I’ll have to keep that in mind this week.
I thought the logo was at least for 1/2 point😉
I think the Elixir is a key component as well!
In Montale Full Incense for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lent Season.
Happy Wednesday! 🌻
Happy Wednesday to you! How is Kito Kitty doing? I got behind on comments…
Thank you, MossyBerry
Kito is doing much better. The new food has helped him greatly. He has a follow-up appointment in 3 weeks.
You smell wonderful, that’s the only Montale I really like.
Glad Kito is doing better.
Thank you, Aurora! Full Incense is also my favorite from Montale. Most of their scents have not worked for me so far.
So happy to hear that Kito is feeling better! Good luck for his next vet appointment! 🐈🍀🍀
Thank you, Jalapeno! He is more active and playful. I hope he is fully recovered soon.
Watching Olympics Hockey Czechia v Canada and rooting for 🇨🇦 in honor of the fictional Shane Hollander. Me, watching hockey on tv – unimaginable!
Sotd of the day after 2 commando days is a gift from a very generous NSTer that I’ve been longing to wear: Lagerfeld for Men! He was like a bucking bronco the first five minutes, but now is a frisky, cantering but better behaved musky leather. Quite enjoying it.
I’m wearing a traditionally male scent in early but personal compliance w CP- for my beloved Dad! Hoping my tea subscription finally arrives so I can sip fire horse tea from my fire horse tea set!
Lots of overlapping celebrations/observant day with Ramadan, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras & Ash Wednesday plus let us not forget Hump Day. Whatever you chose to observe/ celebrate, may it be a beautiful fragrant day NST
You smell great, LesLiesse, and I think Lagerfeld for Men is perfectly unisex.
The longer I have it on the more I am charmed by it!
This makes me happy.😊
😊
Did you watch the game between USA and Sweden, too? There have been some excellent matches at the Olympics this year.
Gosh 3 of the games were OT 1-goal victories. Quite nail-biting!
I’ve been scrambling through my stash looking for my sample spray of Montalé Arabians Tonka to wear tomorrow, but can’t find it anywhere. It’s probably in the bottom of a purse stored somewhere and I lack the energy and the will to take the hunt that far.
Today, I’m wearing Korres Saffron, Amber, and Cardamom from a bottle sent to me a generous NSTer. It fits the weather if not the CP. After a vibrant sunset last night, this morning is windy, cool, and cloudy with a lot of airborne particulate matter. Doesn’t make for good out-dooring so we will probably be streaming some movies today.
In the spirit of the Fire Horse, I thought I’d throw out this charity if you’re inclined to give. It rescues wild horses (and burros) from all over the U.S. languishing in lots, starved and abused by the U.S. government, most of them going straight to kill pens. Pregnant horses, foals- it doesn’t matter. It’s called Skydog sanctuary and info is available here:
https://www.skydogranch.org/
No affiliation, just a genuinely good cause and appropriate this lunar year, imo. 🐴
The animals get much needed veterinary care, hoof services, and proper feeding until they are a normal weight and can be safely released to forage as they were meant to on a large tract of land in Oregon. They also have a satellite ranch in Malibu. They have a big presence on social media and are easy to find on IG. Every horse, burro, donkey, or zonkey is filmed right off the rescue trailer, the medical care given if needed (many horses arrive injured, infected, wit a missing or infected eye, and with damaged hooves). Then there is follow up on what herds they end up with and regular updates thereafter.
Thank you for providing the link Deva!
Thank you for the link, Deva. So many animals need help.
I’ve seen travel sprays of Arabians Tonka in a few spots on the Internets. Those look pretty cool.
Hello.
Sotd is Amouage Line 618. It is surprisingly mass market oriented. What I mean is it’s a simple fruity creamy vanilla without much depth or complexity. Not bad but for that price tag it leaves me wanting.
Malaysia is fun and lots of good food. Yesterday was Lunar New Year and it was fun and festive seeing many people wearing red and traditional Chinese Qi Paos for the occasion.
Glad to hear you are having a great time in Malaysia!
So glad you saw it, must have been way cool!
Since it’s Paco Rabanne’s birthday I might have chosen Fidji but aldehydic florals no longer ring my bell.
So I went for Comme des Garcons Sequoia, in the bright red bottle. At least it’s the right color for the Firehorse. Sequoia is like pouring out a jot of rum at the foot of a redwood tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, but I wish the longevity were better. Hubs and I went to the NoCal redwoods last summer and hiked all through the hushed ancients forests and along the treacherous coast with signs everywhere saying beware rogue waves.
I bet that is beautiful seeing those huge redwoods.
Yes it was. I can see why people liken them to a cathedral.
DH, I’ve always wanted to see the Sequoias! What an awesome-inspiring memory!
Are you done with aldehydic florals for good? Or taking a break?
I’m mostly done I think. I love Chanel No. 5 and some others, but it’s not my fave genre.
Ah, you smelled great today! For a bit!
I’m wearing Emanuel Ungaro Diva, it definitely fits the CP, the name says it all. I’m still wondering how this escaped my notice until recently.
You are smelling wonderful today Gaynor.
SOTD = Pacifica Mexican Cocoa
The bottle is mostly red so it counts for my version of the CP. Every time I wear this, it smells even better! I also somehow have the solid version of this but I wouldn’t normally knowingly buy this. Perhaps it was a gift with purchase? 🤔
Aaaaannywaaay, I finished a mini project of replacing the light in my bedroom. It was quite a bit harder than I thought because I did not know it was made up of two circular light bulbs. I looked (not very hard I must admit) but did not see replacement bulbs in the basement so I had to drag the two pieces to Loews for which they only had the smaller one. I finally ended up ordering from Amazon and picked them up yesterday. I also have to return the 12” one (easy) although I have to figure out how to recycle ♻️ the bad ones. I may need to do a little bit of “research” but may end up just including them in regular recycling if I can’t stand seeing them loose for the next two months when we have a biannual dumpster. Hmmm, come to think of it, not sure if I am using biannual correctly? All I know is we get the dumpsters in April and October.
You smell good! I absolutely love the Mexican Cocoa and will be sad when it’s gone; my bottle is almost empty.
If the light bulbs you are trying to recycle are CFLs, look for a hazardous materials disposal center in your area, since they contain mercury.
And yes, you are using biannual correctly.
Morning: the last drops of Guerlain Oud Essentiel sample. I liked it – it’s not particularly original, but it’s a beautiful rose balanced with oud and leather. It works for the CP: independence + passion.
In the afternoon, I wore Knize Ten after a shower. Independence, passion, and energy.
You’re really delving into the essence of the symbol Glannys!
It was a rough Fat Tuesday yesterday. After about an hour at work, I was so over it. We ran out of the fruit filled paczi by 9 am and had just custard and buttercream filled ones left. Taking it easy today in Narciso Rodriguez for her edp today.
Too bad I could not have stopped by! I generally prefer custard or cream cheese fillings in any sort of pastry. Enjoy your wind down day!
I hope you had a day off after the crazy from yesterday!
I’m currently at The Inn On Third, a lovely little bed & breakfast establishment, in St Petersburg, Florida. Brought Bulgari’s Eau Parfumee au The Vert with me as it’s such a fresh fragrance & given I live in the North east of Scotland it’s very warm here for me, even in February! My brother picks me up tomorrow morning & I will be staying with him & my sister-in-law just outside Tampa for a week. As I did last year, I negotiated with him my two solo days in St Petersburg to do the cultural things I didn’t do here this time last year. He is anything but a ‘culture vulture’, one of our many differences (!), & I didn’t want him to be waiting for me & becoming impatient because I was taking too long in this gallery or that museum – worked a treat last year & is doing so again this year. I have caught the sun both days I’ve been walking around, so I’m in my room at the b&b with a fan going nineteen to the dozen & imbibing lots of cold water! I will have a glass of red this evening to celebrate National Drink Wine Day (thank you for that, Robin) & may even stretch to a second.
Oh good for you, glad you are in warmth and soaking up the culture (and the wine) too.
Have fun with your brother later!
Thank you, Robin. Thoroughly enjoyed my couple of days here, especially when my husband sent me a photo yesterday morning showing at least a foot of snow in our garden! Glad I travelled on Monday as I don’t think yesterday would have been conducive to getting me here without delays, potential missed connections etc.
Oh, even better to miss a foot of snow!! Good for you.
Sampling Cuir Ottoman today and notes are down below. it’s lovely. I am late to the PdE party but everything I have tried is well done. To me this is more suede-like than leather. I was reading Kafka’s old review and in it she quotes Luca Turin’s review on this one as follows…
This leather is in fact barely a leather at all, more a sweet-woody-tea-like composition. It is solid and beautifully crafted, but feels a little like the compulsory figures at skating: solid, precise, impressive, and unsurprising. 😆
orris, jasmine, leather, cistus labdanum, styrax, tonka bean, vanilla
Love Kafka’s quote – thanks for sharing and I am sure you smell wonderful!
Decided on Guerlain Samsara edt.
Red bottle for lunar new year 🧧
It is! I never thought of that.
Samsara is perfect for a Fire Horse year.
It seems to be!
I am wearing Harvest Mouse today. It’s a long way from a Fire Horse, but beautiful all the same.
Ha, it might actually be anti-points 😉
Pears, clementines and yogurt smoothie
Badgley Mischka this morning, a favored fruitchouli and tonight Fleur de Chine which was the first TF I ever bought, still a love.
You smell very elegant in Fleur de Chine. A love for me too.
Thank you Lillyjo, FdC is so classically good.
Smart move to get Fleur de Chine when you could.
Yes, it wasn’t around for very long.
It’s the last of our ‘fake Spring’ days and I’m treasuring every moment. Temps to mid-60’s with bright 🌞 and blue sky. Even had the window to the screened porch open for awhile and the cats were thrilled with the in-out freedom they had.😻😽😺
SOTD is Bigelow s Winter Lemon No. 1821, a nice blend of citruses, florals, musk, sandalwood, soft enough to wear to yoga earlier. Looking forward to the library book discussion tonight, The Ghostwriter by Julia Clarke. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with as many twists and turns as this one has, where absolutely nothing is what it seems; I’m not even sure if the long-awaited ending is for real! A real page-turner.
So many things to celebrate today, to repeat what ockeghem said, “Happy Everything”! 🍷
I’ve noticed that there is more daylight nowadays. That’s something else added to “Happy Everything!”
I have definitely noticed too! Yay!
I’ve been enjoying fake spring all week. It’s back to winter here on Friday.
My sotd is Devotion.
Hope the wind isn’t headed your way along with the return to winter.
Ah, Devotion, so lovely. Hope spring will come around for good in Michigan soon.
Congratulations to Mikaela Shiffrin on her gold medal in the women’s slalom in the Olympics! Lots of people in Colorado are happy for her. 🥇
And on a related note, the mountains here are getting a glorious snow dump! A few ski resorts had 15 inches of accumulation, with more to come thru Friday. On the downside, this much snow after such warm and dry conditions mean there will be avalanches. Still happy to see the high peaks covered in white.
SOTD = Dior Midnight Poison. Pulled out my bottle after a few mentions of it here recently. After several years, I finally noticed the rose note! It’s very shy and doesn’t stick around for long. But it’s there.
Glad to hear your mountains are finally white. Ours are too, however fleetingly.
The highest peaks had some snow before this, but the foothills have been bare this winter. Not sure if the snow made it down that low. Clouds have been covering the view over there.
Fingers crossed against the avalanches, congrats for the snow!
Thanks Robin! Just for grins, I will report snow totals from the mountains when everything calms down.
Glad you got snow! We had some yesterday too. I noticed the same subtle rose note in Midnight Poison; Dior made some great ones!
Glad to hear that other dry places are seeing snow as well!
Our local resorts (close to the city) are touting 15 cm of snow, not quite your 15 in! But more than they had going in, I guess. It was actually snowing here at my house this morning, though it didn’t stick.
I still haven’t seen much snow here this winter, personally. Rumor has it there *might* be scattered snow showers in the area on Friday.
She had a good run ⛷️ I was in tears for her ! 🥇
Those two runs she had were amazing. If she decides to retire after this, it’s a fitting end.
Glad Colorado is getting some snow but yes, avalanches are a real threat. You smell great, haven’t smelled MP in a long time.
Thanks Aurora! The sprayer on my bottle could be better, though. It squirts instead of spraying sometimes.
It was looking pretty grim for some of the ski areas before the weather changed up in the high country. Latest forecast is now showing snow up there until Saturday.
Majda Bekkali Mon Nom Est Rouge. Energy and Passion.
Oops. Wrong thread.