It’s Thursday and National Pistachio Day. Birthdays: Victor Hugo, Levi Strauss, Jackie Gleason, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash. What fragrance are you wearing?
I was going to jump on the Ambre Narguile wagon, but I can't find mine, so I'm doing a relative, and one meant to honor the original source material of natural ambergris: Hermès Eau des Merveilles.
Reminder: on 2/27, wear an amber fragrance, if you have one. (This is a repeat from 2018.)
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 detail from Necklace of amber beads (2000-1000 BC) Origin: probably Baltic Sea region; discovered in Utrecht. National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden via Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved.
Today's bonus reading: Ambergris, Amber, Ambroxan & Ambrette: What’s The Difference In Perfumes? at Le Parfum Magazine.
Hello.
Sotd is Lush Turmeric Latte.
Robin and anyone interested, I had lots of great food in Malaysia. The most memorable ones are Nasi Lemak (juicy, tender and crispy fried chicken served with the most fragrant and fluffy coconut rice, accompanied by crunchy fried anchovies and peanuts and spicy sambal chili sauce), some of the best dim sums I have ever had, savoury Cantonese barbecue meats (melt in your mouth char siu pork, crispy roast chicken), Spanish Cochinillo Asado (roasted whole piglet)… I am hungry just thinking about them all! I had so much meat I definitely gained a few happy pounds so I’ll be good now and focus on eating my greens.
All that food sounds amazing!
That Nasi Lemak sounds wonderful and so does your holiday.
I shouldn’t have read this when I am already hungry. This sounds yummy!
Huge thanks for the descriptions! I enjoy eating vicariously 🙂
Oooh, nice scent and food! I am dying to get back to Asia to try amazing food. Instead, I end up in Germany eating schnitzel. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your wonderful holiday experiences with us about somewhere I can only imagine going!
Oh, all that food sounds fantastic! I am trying not to drool on my keyboard.
It’s a beautiful, chilly morning here and I’m taking points in Private Collection thanks to a lovely NSTer. Mr. G and I are going out to a fancy steakhouse for birthday dinners tonight (we’re both February babies) and I think Private Collection will be perfect for that too.
Meanwhile, I wore CdG Laurel yesterday afternoon and was enraptured! Was also surprised to learn that it has an amber note, albeit far down the list, but still in there. I’ll have to see if I can suss that note out next time.
Have a happy birthday outing!
Happy Birthday to you both!
Happy Birthday to you both!💐💐
Happy Birthday! 🎂
Happy birthday(s)! Enjoy your celebration.
Happy Birthday, I hope you both have a lovely evening!
Have a wonderful time and happy birthday to you.
Birthday wishes
Yay, double steak birthdays! Enjoy.
Happy Birthday SheriG! (And Mr. G.) I have some Laurel, and I would have never thought it contained amber. I must check this out. Thank you for the idea.
Happy birthday, and enjoy the dinner!
Have a wonderful double birthday celebration.
Happy birthday to both of you!
Happy birthday to both of you February babies – how sweet to celebrate both of your special days! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.🥳
Happy birthdays!
Happy Birthday to you and Mr. G! Enjoy the steakhouse! 😋😋
Belated happy birthday, SheriG!
Sotd Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir for the CP.
Finally a bright, sunny day in the low 40s. Back to work and facing a quite busy day.
On my second cup of coffee and a couple of Korean Bukak chips
Happy almost Friday! 🌞
*Bugak.
Soak up that Sun!
I will! 🌞
What are these chips you are eating,,, and do I need to buy them (and find them)
It is a deep-fried, seasoned seaweed and glutinous rice snack. I got them from Trader Joe’s, but they can be found at any Korean grocery store. They are tasty.
Oooh, you gave me an idea for tomorrow!
Glad to hear that you are finally seeing the sun!
Today it’s Givenchy Pi, just as ambery as all get-out.
And delicious.
Well it’s 10C (50F) on this excuse of a summer morning so I’m wearing Smell Bent Smoked Ambergris for warmth. Thanks for the article, Robin. It was interesting to read about Ambroxan and ambrette. For some reason Ambroxan makes me gag as if inhaling milky vomit- a response I don’t get at all from ambergris itself ( which I’ve also smelled ). My mother used to hunt out antique Baltic amber beads but none as ancient as the one in today’s photo. What a beauty.
Indeed, Kanuka. Gorgeous amber beads. I am a big fan of amber jewelry. It can come in so many different shades, not just the darker ones. A pity there is so much fake amber out there today.
I have the same reaction to Ambroxan, especially if it’s dosed too heavily.
That is not warm enough!!
Honestly I think real ambergris is one of the most amazing perfume ingredients we have lost (for good reason, but it smelled so good).
SmellBent is missed, for sure.
Ambroxan is the auto tune of perfumery.
🙂
🤣🤣🤣
Why is there not an emoji for a spit take?!?
More chores today. We’ll see how much I actually accomplish since my battery feels very low this morning and my patience for nonsense is just about nonexistent…😬
As for the CP, I’m still compliant in Papillon Bengale Rouge. Fairly sure I could wear amber perfumes right into my grave. I just love them. They’re like warmest hug from your favorite person. 🥰 Notes listed from the website include:
SANDALWOOD. TURKISH ROSE. HONEY. VANILLA. SWEET MYRRH
It’s listed as a “Gourmand Amber” but I don’t get any kind of foody vibes. Warm and snuggly, easy to wear, great longevity, and while lovely in cooler temps, I think it wears equally well in all but the hottest most humid seasons. It has a bit more body and density than AdV Ambre Liquide, if that’s your thing.
There’s a crap ton of reviews out there, including here on NST, some immediately falling in love with it (like me!) and some just “Meh” about it so definitely not a safe blind buy, especially with perfume prices skyrocketing…
Stay safe, peeps!
Also, I’m very happy to be digging in my perfume box once again with a bit of joy and anticipation. I came so close multiple times to getting rid of the lot over the past year…so, thank you, NST!!
A couple of friends are shopping their perfume shelves and making an interesting discovery or two,
oh I’m so glad you didn’t. And that’s a gorgeous scent.
Happy to hear that you are back into perfume and didn’t get rid of your stash.
https://youtu.be/DS0lenafd6w?si=XkuDar3-piCCp97i
🤘
Ah, the memories that opener brings back..!😃
Joining this week’s wearers of the lovely Ensens Mythique.
Smelling lovely Annie A.
I’m wearing Amber Absolutely from Fort and Manle, and I’m very glad it’s Friday already. Work is slightly less frantic than it’s been for the last couple of months, which is a relief.
Planning ahead, I’m thinking about Ambre Eccentrico for this evening.
Hope work stays that way Gaynor!
Iris Poudre today. I can’t smell the amber, but it is listed in the notes so I figured I can count a point today.
Of course.
Ambre Narguile, as planned. Well, Robin, maybe someone else will be twins with me?
I can’t figure out where it is! It is a nice 15 ml travel size, it must be SOMEWHERE.
Anyway you smell like amber pie 🙂
Hope you find it soon! Yes, “amber pie” is an apt description – thanks!
Xerjoff Ouverture
From the website: Xerjoff Ouverture is a comforting amber perfume that blends soothing fig leaves with a bouquet of floral heart notes and a base of vanilla, sandalwood..etc etc
Lots of volunteering today. I am pooped
A good reason to be worn out!
Had a dentist appointment this morning for a cleaning. The build up wasn’t bad but two cavities since my last visit. They are going to resubmit stuff for the crown and since I have a root canal for the tooth that has a crown, I have a chance of insurance covering it. But I still set money aside if insurance won’t cover the crown.
I was commando for the dentist but now in BDK Gris Charnel.
Oh dear, sorry about the cavities Dawn.
Yuck. Rough trip to the dentist today.
In honor of the CP, I wore the last drops of my Ummagumma this morning. I received an official sample in a swap ahile back (thank you!) and have been eking it out for months but today I thunked it. Beautiful scent which I know has many fans here. I don’t think it’s even made anymore, there is a newer version, and I have not tried that one. Love the cocoa, woods, incense, resins, tonka. A very unique and edible fragrance.
I’ve never smelled it but I know that lots of NSTers (Deva!) love it. So many perfumes pass me by but I still love hearing about them.
The newer one is supposed to be more intense, but I wore it against the original and honestly couldn’t smell a difference. Maybe they sent me an older travel bottle when I ordered the newer one by mistake?
SOTD = MPG Ambre Precieux
I love amber perfumes and this one ranks up there as a LOVE LOVE!
So I went to the bank today to deposit the withdrawal from my brokerage account. I did not make an appointment because I never did and probably won’t in the future either. I had to wait about 15 minutes. Of course the banker was trying to be friendly and assumed I came from country X. I just said no and did not elaborate further. She was taken aback because I may have looked friendly but I am nowhere near chummy with her. She realized her mistake and started asking me other questions to which I replied with one word answers. Can one be more clueless than her?
Oh boy. Open mouth and insert foot.
LOL, so true!
That’s a gorgeous necklace! It reminds me of when I visited Cracow and was overwhelmed by (and bought some of) the gorgeous amber jewelry on display in all the shops there!
My SOTD is my new Zoologist Lovebird, which is a wondrous and many-colored thing, quite showy and at times soft, at others more sharp and pointed than I expected. When I first spray it on I get “Sweet and soapy!” A minute later, “No, it’s very juicy–tangy–bergamot and black currant.” Yet another minute and I’m huffing it for the gorgeous florals–not quite sure what, but definitely heliotrope and none of the ylang ylang or geranium promised to be there. Amber is, surprisingly, listed as a note, but good luck detecting it! This is a challenging and complicated scent, and I keep re-trying it to sort the notes out but just haven’t pinpointed it yet. I do notice clove and lavender at certain points, but no mint or sage, no kiwi, vanilla maybe?–tonka but no musk. And maybe passionfruit. I did love the gorgeous wrapping and box and bottle (I got the most common green one). It’s definitely an “interesting” and possibly beautiful scent, original, and not offensive (I don’t think), and not clearly gender-aligned. I’d love to hear from others about their experience of it if anyone else has sprung for it.
Thanks to many who expressed support yesterday about my new shoulder. It’s now 5 weeks since surgery. I have an appointment in two more weeks to see the surgeon again. At the two-week checkup everything looked fine. I think pain is just part of the process because this is a pretty drastic surgery on a big complicated joint and I’m in my mid-70’s. I do have an Rx for pain (non-narcotic) that helps. There are simple exercises for me to do at home, but PT is not advised until after my next checkup. There’s still a risk of the whole thing popping out (god forbid!–I went through enough of these with my one hip replacement that went wrong). I’m able to more things all the time, like button my own shirts, drive my car (with care), and cook some foods (with minimal shopping). I think it’s looking more like a 3 month window for trying to be stronger and more truly pain-free.
Good to hear that you do have a checkup scheduled in the near future. Hope you get some positive news from it!
That’s great that you love your new perfume!
I hope you recover fully with no popping issues ( that sounds just awful)
“Popping issues” looks even worse if one is reading comments quickly… 🤐🤪
Glad your Lovebird worked out for you! I do like those bottles.
Sorry the recovery is longer and slower than you were hoping, but hey, you also typed all that! So you really are doing more. Hope PT will help.
Virtual yoga to start the day on a cold but 🌞 morning and, fortunately, a dry one. No amber for me today, instead, one from my favorite fall-winter genre, woody/spicy. SOTD is Terre d’Hermès. I love the vetiver and cedar bottom and especially the bright orange note at the top.
Looking forward to an intimate guitar performance tonight at the Old Town School of Folk Music as part of the Teacher Series. Mr. Laila’s guitar teacher will be performing John Lennon’s music from his Double Fantasy album on a Martin D45 guitar originally owned by John Lennon himself! How cool is that?
Wishing all a wonderful evening’🎶🎸
If only that guitar could talk!
Oh very cool!
I was travelling for the past few days, so no CP points for me then, as I went with what was in my travel bag. Delays both directions, and then this morning I forgot that my work computer settings are locked down and it won’t automatically set time zone, so I had a rude awakening at 8:33 when people were asking me where I was…I thought my meetings weren’t until 11:30, forgetting my laptop was still on Eastern time.
Today I’m CP-compliant in OJ Ambre Royal, which is perfectly nice. I went off the OJ scents because the base seemed so similar, but dipping back into the sample set today, this one works. I’m not a huge amber-forward fan, so I don’t have many perfumes that actually have amber in the name, but I do have a ton of scents that have it in with the kitchen sink somewhere.
I’m not a huge amber forward fan either. I keep trying though.
Oops!!
Time changes and jet lag are brutal.
I am wearing my latest purchase, Yves Rocher Voile d’Ocre. I read on another site that it was a lovely sandalwood, and I am a sucker for sandalwood. Strangely enough, I smell it best from far away; if I hold my wrist to my nose there is just a faint wisp, but further away I smell both sandalwood and cedar. It will win no prizes for strength (I laughed at the Fragrantica reviews that described it as “strong”) but it is, indeed, rather like a transparent veil of scent. I like it and it was very cheap but I’ll be spraying more heavily in the future.
I like perfumes like that, ones you pick up, as it were, at a distance to yourself. It’s an intriguing experience.
I have that with a lot of the Mendittorosa fragrances I tried — I can smell them best from afar.
Cooked (from frozen) red fruits and yogurt smoothie
Two old friend perfumes today, this morning Messe de Minuit, and tonight for the CP on my elbows as MdM on my wrists is still present, l’Artisan l’Eau d’Ambre extrême which some of you have already worn. Yesterday’s gorgeous weather turned to grey skies but it’s still rather mild.
What is MdM?
Messe de Minuit (Etro).
Messe de minuit😃
Oops, I answered too, sorry!
Went to work wearing Gabrielle EdP. Boring? Sure. Bland? Ok… But guess what? At least the finest ingredients were beautifully crafted in order to make this scent and I enjoyed every second of it, every wiff of it while I moved my body. It smelled of QUALITY. Loved it. Like a white cotton shirt freshly laundered now drying in the sun.
My long awaited decant of Boy arrived and the thing about Chanel (that I find fun) is that the same exact fragrance can vary subtlety from one sample to the other. You can still tell it’s the very same fragrance but maybe the accords collected to make it varies from harvest to harvest? In my 100% authentic decant Boy smelled a tad sharper and herbal. The difference is subtle and I find it very fun.
I couldn’t resist myself and I placed a drop of 1932 on top of my hand. After about an hour in – I was sniffing – and I don’t understand something (while I absolutely, dramatically love both Boy and 1932) what I seem NOT to understand is why people compare 1932 to 31 Rue Cambon? I keep sniffing and trying to understand why – and if I didn’t see people mentioning these two together as similar I would have never ever suggested that!!
My impression when smelling 1932 every time is that it reminds me of the original Chance. That’s right, reminds me, not smells like. I went and put a drop of original Chance on top of my wrist and there are tons of differences. But for some reason 1932 alone always reminds me of Chance. The actual original Chance has more citrus and 1932 has more jasmine, that’s for sure. But both share a similar iris framework.
Please can someone enlighten me why people say 1932 and 31 Rue Cambon smell similar?
I know nothing, sorry!
You are the first person I have heard mention a similarity between 1932 and 31RC. I haven’t smelled 1932, so I can’t comment.
Gorgeous necklace, Robin!
Same damn weather. At least Teflon kitty is enjoying it. Waiting for an Amazon delivery that has missed its estimated delivery time.
SOTD = still in Deixis, but pairing it with a LOTV body butter from Dame Perfumery. They work well together.
I hope you get your package tonight.
It’s supposed to be a short lived 50 degrees here tomorrow.
Expected to be almost 70 here tomorrow and Saturday. 🥵🥵
Still waiting for that package, and refreshing the tracking info.
One good thing about a slow moving spring here, is that it lessons the chance of severe weather.
It would stress me a little to see 70 this early. Normal high is 39 right now.
Package arrived 3 hours later than the delivery window. Go figure!
Average high temps here are 45-ish for February. That was almost what the low temperature was this morning.
I no longer trust Amazon delivery times. My Amazon packages go to a Whole Foods anyway and I usually pick up on Tuesdays and / or Fridays.
Most of the time Amazon’s estimates are pretty close for my area. IDK what happened today. 🤷♀️
I made it through the corporate visit unscathed. They were supposed to come at 1 but showed up at 9am. This is the really snooty lady, so I wore Chanel No.5 L’eau. I almost wore makeup but extra sleep won out.
Bad enough that management showed up early, but to have it be the snobby person… Bletch!
You need perfume armor for those visits.
What’s funny is we are not anywhere near an upscale company and she acts like she’s working for Chanel or something. Lol.
Glad the visit was positive, now you can relax, l’Eau was an inspiring choice, light but distinctive and elegant.
Exactly!
You smell wonderful in L’Eau!
sotd = apres l’ondee edt
I love how tender and gentle this scent is every time I wear it. 🩵
Yay for Merveilles! I’m so glad Robin wore EdM today. I dearly love both the perfume and the topsy-turvy bottle.
And for tomorrow, an amber ,,, hmm. 🤔
Also, here’s a fun explanation of how nostrils turn off and on help us perceive scent!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVJZKsnCAnc/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Watch to the end! 😊