We're whiling away the last weekend in March with our usual open thread poll.
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite fragrance for a crisp spring (or fall) day, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is 14:12 [cropped] by Tomoyuki Kawashima at flickr; some rights reserved.
We’ve had a bit of a weather turn around here. While it’s been quite nice (some would say perfect) with full on sunshine and temps in the high 70’s low 80’s, the wind picked up overnight and is a harbinger for cooler temps over the next several days. I’m not mad about it. 😎
I’m having a dark, moody day. I consulted the Baby T-Rex to see if we could just stay in bed with the covers over our head for the foreseeable future but she wasn’t having it. She has too many things to sniff and too many tail wags to give to complete strangers. A dog of little discretion…😉
So, to fit my black mood, I’m wearing SL Cuir Mauresque from the ugly, tall black bottle. I’d bet my bippy that the formula changed when the bottle did because the original sample I had years ago had a lot more dark funkiness to it, which initially repulsed me then sucked me in with the force of a black hole. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Hoping everyone’s weekend is bright and beautiful! Good health to all the kitties and doggos out there, too!
You smell great-I too dislike the gratte-ciels. But I did like the graphic novel-style advertising for them.
Thank you Deva and Baby T-Rex for this dose of sunshine and smiles! You say your mood is black but you’re sowing good vibes on my end!
Here’s hoping the blackness slowly subsides and is replaced with the bright and beautiful you are sending our way.🤗
T-Rex knows best, I am sure…hope that black mood does not last.
“Cause I fell on/Black Days….”
Happy Saturday!
I’m wearing a spritz of N°5 Eau Premiére.
Update on my first made-from-scratch pizza…
It was a hit! Not nearly as complicated a process as I’d imagined, and definitely worth the effort. Thanks for all the encouragement from you lovely folks.
Some admittedly mundane details: As a complete novice, I had trouble stretching the 24-hour-proofed dough into a 12-inch pie; it wasn’t very cooperative, and I need to learn better coaxing techniques. I’ll try again tonight, and I’ll make sure the dough has warmed up a bit more (from the fridge,) which might help. I’ll also note if there are any differences with a 48-hour proofing.
So my first attempt was a smaller pie than I had hoped, and though it was quite round before I put it in the oven, it lost some shape when I somewhat awkwardly transferred it to the steel. That said, the crust bubbled nicely, as a good Neapolitan pizza should. I baked it at 550℉ for four minutes, then moved it under the broiler for two minutes.
I kept the sauce simple: San Marzano tomatoes blended with olive oil and a 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, topped with fresh mozzarella, and finished with a generous sprinkling of torn basil. Very light and delicious.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Première scent + première pizza! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the play by play Daniel! Mangia!
While it may not have been perfect it sure sounds delicious! Kudos for your efforts. 😋
I know this is probably sacrilege, but I use a French rolling pin to roll out my dough because I couldn’t get it to stretch enough using my hands alone. It’s worked well so far.
🇫🇷🇮🇹🍕
Interesting! You’re right, it’s not recommended, but good to know it’s worked for you. I’ll try it some time!
A delicious pizza on your first attempt is good news, since it should be all uphill from here!
Yay to one of the GREATEST perfume ever created by mankind: seriously, #5 Premiere. I enjoyed reading Your foodie comment too.
Great recap, Daniel. I feel like I was right there with you, flour-dusted apron & all. And you smelled marvelous in No 5 Eau Premiere.
W00t w00t w00t! Glad it all turned out for you.
Yay to #5 Premiere. Yay to the pizza.
Cold out today — -11ºC, windchill of -19ºC — but at least it feels like spring: all the snow is gone.
Today I’m in Choc de Cardin, one of a batch of vintage fragrances I ordered last year. I thought it would be more of a chypre than it turned out to be, and in fact none of them was the oakmoss bomb I had hoped for, but it’s still pretty great, very eighties.
I did a whole lot of decanting a couple of months ago but didn’t label the vials, just put them in little zip-lock bags with the contents written on them. Today I labelled a bunch, because I am going to be bringing them with me on our trip next week: we’re doing the same cruise we did in 2025. Exactly the same one because we enjoyed it so much the last time, 14 days to cross the Atlantic, with nine at-sea days. (We have no need of ports of call: we just want to be on the water.) So looking forward to it! We’ll be away for 22 days in total, so this time I’ve packed 22 different scents, because I hate to repeat myself and I like to have a lot of choice.
Pyramus, sounds dreamy! How will you decide which to wear? Mood? Weather? Shipboard activities? Cruise theme?
We just wear what we normally wear day-to-day: collared button-front shirts, dark trousers, lace-up shoes, in the general vicinity of business casual. (Neither of us even owns a pair of jeans.) There are dressy nights and some people do bring dress-up clothing, but that’s not us. We also don’t wander around in a bathrobe and flip-flops the way some people did.
When we got back last time we had lunch with friends who thought a cruise ship was really starchy, with dress codes and all sorts of rules, and we told them that you can basically wear what you like and nobody cares at all. We’d had such a good time that we sold them on the idea of a long crossing with few stops, and now they’re taking a transpacific cruise from Vancouver to Japan this fall. We should’ve gotten a finder’s fee from the cruise line.
Wow, now that’s the way to get away from it all for awhile (except for your fragrances, that is!). Enjoy!
Enjoy your vacation! If you’re saying -19 is spring-like, I’m a complete wimp. It’s currently 8 here and I’m not wanting to go out.
Oh, it was cold, all right, but the quality of the sunlight and the complete lack of snow heralded spring anyway. It’s coming, I just know it is. Any day now….
I have been on 8 cruises but never a transatlantic crossing. I will have to remedy that!
I highly recommend it! We’d been travelling seriously for almost 20 years and the destination was always the point, but we’ve been pretty much everywhere we ever wanted to go: this time, the journey was the point, and we enjoyed it more than I can even say. Two weeks with no stresses, no unpacking and repacking, no worrying about catching trains and planes to get to the next stop on your itinerary: hotel, transportation, food, and entertainment are all in the same place, and it’s sort of magic. If we could get on a ship and be on the water for a solid month, we’d do it in a heartbeat.
Yeah, we travelled back east this week and experienced all the weather. I have to say I was glad to get back to the West Coast where it’s 10, not -5.
What fun, bon voyage pyramus! Hope this cruise is as good as the first one.
Sounds like a lovely trip. Have a great time!
This story had a happy ending but for a minute there I feared you were going to say that you decanted into all those vials and then couldn’t remember what was where. I suppose if they were from your own collection you could have figured it out eventually but I have way too many unmarked vials sitting around either received in swaps where the label had smudged or decants I made with friends thinking, of course I’ll remember what this is and label it when I get home…and then months passed and I found it and had no idea. Interesting about the cruises. I feel the same way except on land…we now try to stay at least a week in one place to really get the feel of it and the rhythms. Otherwise it all blurs.
Happy Saturday NST!
Sotd Abel Laundry Day for both optimism + energy. As per usual, no laundry is touched when I’m wearing no L/D.
Hi LesLiesse, I recently received a sample of Abel’s The Apartment. A very interesting fragrance. Curious is you have tried that one.
Hi SP! Would you believe it was a blind buy? No sample, no discovery set, so I haven’t smelled anything else by Abel. Have you tried it yet?
Yes, I’ve been wearing it. They’re calling it “a dark, sophisticated gourmand fragrance designed to transport the wearer to the epitome of Parisian chic.” I don’t find it very sweet and I’m really enjoying it.
Ooo LaLa!
I’m saving my Laundry Day scent for when I do laundry – actually the first day in Spring when I can hang my laundry outside! This is the only household chore I truly enjoy and look forward to for many reasons; it usually doesn’t happen until April but lasts as often as possible until sometime in October.
You can hang laundry outside? Wow, how dreamy! It must smell amazing afterwards drying in the sun.
Yes! I’m old enough to remember laundry day with my mom in the basement of our 2-flat and how she used the old wringer washer and the only other option to hanging laundry outside on inclement days was hanging it in the basement – there was no clothes dryer! Laundry day back then required a lot more physical labor yet it had many unseen rewards.
Great memories together!
Laundry…the basement…it’s all coming back to me now.
I remember those days at my grandma’s house.
I love doing laundry too-I even iron pillow cases and special items when I have time. If you like reading about laundry look for the book Laundry by Cheryl Mendalson. It’s related to her book Home Comforts, which every person on the planet should read. She is a lawyer by training and she loved her grandparents-one set Italian, one set from the Appalachians-and she breaks down the science and art that is housekeeping. She even explains why things need to be done a certain way. Both books are great read.
My Grandma still used her washboard, even after having a washer and dryer. The cleanest laundry I have ever had.
One of my fave chores as a kid was hanging laundry out on our backyard line and then retrieving it, all stiff as a board. I didn’t mind raking in the fall either.
LesLiesse, it does smell amazing after drying in the sun. Especially the sheets! We had a backyard big enough for a laundry li e when I was a kid, and I used to bury my nose in those fresh sheets. Ahhhhh….
Another favorite laundry memory triggered by your post: when my grandtwins were little and stayed here for a couple of days, I was carrying my laundry basket outside and my granddaughter said, ‘Grandma, what are you doing?’ I explained, and the next morning, she picked up a clean shirt I had just washed and dried outside, buried her little face in it and said, ‘Ooh, it smells like sunshine!’ I will never forget this moment ❤️
Didn’t have room to reply to your last comment below. That is a memory to cherish. 💖
Abel renamed some earlier perfumes when they changed the design of their bottles. Black Anis became Coat Check. There might be more but I’m not sure.
I do not like the new bottles are all and hope I’ll be able to decant them into my old bottle. Coat Check? I’m not sure what to make of that name.
I don’t like them either. The shape is meant to suggest the letter ‘A’ when the the length of the cap is included.
Well at least I understand it now. Thanks Kanuka!
It’s warming up a bit today with a clear blue sky and bright 🌞, a beautiful Spring day in the neighborhood. My peony shoots are up about 1-1/2”!
SOTD is an old BBW favorite, Forever Sunshine. Its bright orange notes – mandarin orange, apricot, tangerine – are so cheerful! Not only does it fit the day, but I wear at least a spritz of it once a month to commemorate all my furbabies that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge for the love, happiness and comfort they brought me, not only when they were here but the ‘Forever’ memories I have of them – they all truly were ‘Sunshine.’
Happy Weekend!🌈
Your scent sounds like a happy cousin to Laundry Day with its cheery notes. That’s a beautiful remembrance of your fur babies
I absolutely love that!!
What a great ritual, Laila.
Peonies, how exciting! I adore them. Your fragrance ritual is lovely, and I bet you smell like sunshine, too.
Peony shoots twin here! I love them too, but I only have one clump of them because they seem to attract ants so I can’t cut them and bring them into the house. Ants are my nemesis.
Wearing two late-winter scents, namely Ginger Biscuit and Guerlain Tobacco Honey. GB is not shy, but the TB is shouting it down.
Well I should certainly hope the TH is winning!
Azemour today. It hit 70F, so spring is here! I might take the pine cone wreath off the front door tomorrow, it looks too wintery.
I try to go with seasonal and holiday themes. I switched mine (St. Patrick’s Day) to a Spring bunny although I really would much have rather switched to one marked Easter (but I don’t have one).
Oh, lovely. I love Azemour, and haven’t worn it in a bit.
70! Can’t wait for another 70 day…
SOTD = Akro Bake
So good! Vanilla and lemon go very well together!
I stopped by Bath & Body Works to ask for help vis-a-vis opening the laundry soap. How difficult could it be you ask? I tried, I really really tried. I was sheepish (or maybe there’s a better word) asking and I finally did. It looked easy-peasy. While there, I was looking for perhaps additionally discounted Peeps stuff. Well, they have run out of Peeps stuff except for the bags and something else that I clearly did not want! Anyway, I got home and tried to open the laundry soap. Aaaaaargh! Seriously, I have a feeling that it just wasn’t meant to be. I will try again tomorrow and if I still cannot do it, I will bring one of the bottles and have someone there open it for me. I have 3 of them …
Gracious, is it meant to be child proof or something?
That’s what I thought at first but no, it was just my fingers and wrist not doing what they’re supposed to do. I will try later.
Oh I always thought vanilla and lemon go good together.
They do!
Did you ever get that laundry soap open?
Just got home this afternoon from a very long week — 6 cities in as many days, lots of flights from Montreal to the Maritimes to Toronto, and then drives. I think Ockeghem Teen managed to validate some university picks, and take some others off the list. I’m tired, though. A two-hour drive out of Toronto on Thursday took over four hours in a torrential downpour and stop-and-go traffic most of the way. And flying these days is just downright unpleasant. I prefer to minimize the flying, but it was not to be this time.
No interesting perfume seeking — the one day I might have gotten to a perfume store in Montreal, it snowed and we didn’t want to walk too far. But I am eagerly awaiting my consolation samples on their way up from Luckyscent. Apparently they’re in the USPS black hole after they leave the U.S.; they may arrive sometime in the next week, I hope.
I’ve been enjoying your IG photos!
I remember those trips with our boys. After awhile all the talks blurred together, but we certainly got a feel for the campus, the neighborhoods, even the students, and not just the bouncy enthusiastic guides showing us around.
Yeah, definitely some blurring. The first time you hear that they have a system of blue emergency light poles across campus and helpful academic advisors, the teen is interested. The sixth time, she realizes it’s just par for the course. 🙂 Fortunately we were going after a real mix of campus / teaching types, so that helps keep things a bit separate in our minds.
Bois Imperial for a coolish Saturday in Los Angeles. Got a compliment at UPS and a Lowes. I’ll take it!
Two compliments is great!
I’m wearing a perfume from a small local perfumery – Fragifert. I’ve mentioned it before, it’s run by someone I worked with many years ago (probably about 30 years ago, I’m startled to realise!). I’ve bought a few travel sprays, because I’m keen to support his business.
The perfume is called Satrape, it’s a spicy jasmine, a bit more indolic than I generally like, but it’s faded a little now and is really quite nice.
I’ve always wanted to try his interpretation of the Grand Maori Perfume but he might not make it anymore.
Fragifert is such a unique experience. I sniff my Te Kete Kakara A Taane samples when I miss NZ.
I wore Elixir Sensuelle this morning – it worked beautifully for a fragrance. Amazing stuff.
Then went to my Daughter’s little friend’s birthday party (showered before) and wore 1932 with my new dress (Daughter had a new dress too). Dress cost $15 lol but looked like a $200 one.
Got home tired and happy and just put a tiny dab of Cuir de Russie from my newly acquired (thanks to the best swap ever) very vintage dab bottle. The bottle looks like the one of oldest ones.
Listen guys, I don’t know if this Cuir de Russie with a long dabber is a 100 or 70 years old – but I assure You it smells DIVINE. Unbelievable.
First of all some perfumes turn bad, some stay ok and don’t turn bad but macerate and age well. Usually as well all know (and I personally found it to be true) the more citrus and light floral perfumes can spoil sometimes – but the ones with heavy wood/incense/spice actually last forever.
Here is the thing though: this super vintage (as vintage as one can get) doesn’t only smell fresh and perfect, it smells like heaven.
Despite being a leather fragrance it is so soft and smooth. It’s as soft as a plush blanket. Or an Angel’s wing. Yes it is leathery and spicy but in what velvety, fluffy and smooth way. It is but the smoothest fragrance I have come across despite having such a heavy-accord sounding list of notes. It’s dreamy. It’s magical. I feel like a unicorn-infested (LOL) forest is about to grow around me with some Disney-birds landing on my shoulders. Oh and butterflies gently wafting around me.
I bet you and your daughter looked great! I was stunned to learn from your post CdR parfum is discontinued. I have about 12 ml left in my bottle and I refuse to hoard it. I agree with you it’s agreat scent-I find it clean and complex. I try and use Imperial Leather soap if I’m going to wear CdR-it’s not expensive and compliments the parfum. Try the soap if you can find it.
Oh I definitely will find it now. I bought myself a bottle of Coco shower gel for Christmas (almost gone now so sad) but for 3 months I showered in the most luxurious way and it complimented my vintage Coco EdP and parfum.
Chanel body products are luxurious and well worth it. I buy myself the Paris-Venise shower gel and I think I like it even better than the perfume itself.
Carole I’m glad you’re not hoarding it but wearing it in all its glory.
Thanks, DeniseH:)
I love your descriptions! & what a shame that Chanel has d/c some of its extraits. The vintage ones really are like genies, wafting gently out of their bottles and transporting us to another time and place.
I’m working the late shift this weekend. Today I am wearing Shalimar Millesime Jasmin. My favorite so far. I am excited for the Rose one to come out.
I tried the Vera Bradley Peach something at BBW. It’s pretty if you like peach, which I do.
I’ve said this before, but the reason I found NST was because I was searching for a peach perfume by the old brand called Smell This. Lol. That was a lucky day for me😀
I didn’t know that (how you found NST). That’s great! Agree – finding NST was a lucky day for all of us.
Have you found a favorite peach fragrance? Or just enjoying the hunt?
Speaking of peach fragrances, I’m not sure how I happened upon Kyse’s Pêche au Yuzu, but it’s a fresh, beautiful peach forward fragrance. I’m not usually a big fruit gal but this one always makes me happy when I wear it.
I will look for that one. Peach + yuzu sounds wonderful!
The perfumista in me wants to say or Allure or Champagne. Honestly though, I enjoy the hunt and think body sprays tend to capture peach pretty well. I just don’t like anything that smells like air freshener, which I guess would be added musk.
I really do love Casmir, but had to quit wearing it due to association.
Yes, the hunt is a big part of the fun!
I heard that the Rose Shalimar should be out in April. Sounds like it may have some gourmand aspects as well; I saw this on yt from Sebastian (The Perfume Guy).
Thanks Gail, I will watch his video.
Btw, a coworker called me Gail last night. She said she always thinks it’s my name.
Oh, that’s funny!
I hope your shift goes smoothly and all the customers treat you like the patient saint you are. Spray and smile!
Thank you. My patience was wearing pretty thin at a few points.
I love your NST origin story, lillyjo. My entry into the perfume blogs was buying two bottles of Ava Luxe at my local Goodwill and not knowing anything about the brand so I googled the name and found chatter on makeupalley about it and I couldn’t believe there was this whole world dedicated to exactly what I was trying to learn more about and tons of indie perfumers and fragrances I’d never seen at the department stores, and reviews and SOTD and all sorts of fascinating info. That led me eventually to basenotes, Perfumes the A-Z Guide by Turin & Sanchez, and all the blogs.
I’ve never found fragrances at any Goodwill/Sally Anne’s. I love this story of how you found your interest in fragrance, and how you found NST.
I found a Gwen Stefani perfume once. I think they put all the perfume online now for auction.
I think that a lot of the Goodwill stores do use the online auction option now for perfumes and other things they think are valuable, but at least in L.A. there are lots of other charity shops besides Goodwill that I have been known to lose an hour in. It helps if you hit it just right, of course, shortly after the fragrance is brought out. The finds are fewer now that everyone has phones and can look everything up, whereas before you actually had to know the fragrance was rare/valuable/niche/discontinued.
I was stunned when I saw other people talking about perfume. I honestly thought I was just a lone weirdo obsessed with smelling perfume. I also was stunned by the fact that there was so much perfume I had never heard of!
I found NST by googling “most expensive perfume in the world”. The answer was Clive Christian. I should do it again and see what comes up 🤔.
I bet there are a lot of contenders now.
Funny cuz I don’t think Old Clivey is all that popular here, at least I never see any posts about Clive Christian.
Ooh, my ears perked up at the mention of a Shalimar with rose, might have to try that one.
I bet many of us found our ways here by searching for a scent. I was doing this decades ago, with various fragrances, and kept getting hits from a site called MakeUpAlley. And that was the beginning of my journey. I felt much as DeniseH did: wow, it was a whole new world opening up!
Hello AnnE!
I’m glad we all found our way here🙂
Thanks, lillyjo! Me, too ❤️
I forgot that story!! And I ended up on the MakeupAlley fragrance board only because I’d ended up on their skincare board already, for who knows what skin-related worry…at the time, whatever it was, I probably thought it was important, ha…now I pay almost no attention to skincare whatsoever and I think my skin looks much better since I stopped trying 🙂
Same here with my skincare. It’s pretty much moisturizer when I remember.
Pretty sure I ended up at NST via Frangratica. Definitely glad that I did!
Wearing Penhaligon’s Changing Constance for lots of changing weather. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
I don’t know this one but I’m sure you smell lovely🌸
Thank you! 😊
House twins!
😀
SOTD is Dusita Splendiris. Beautiful scent. Decided I better purchase a BUB today as I’m finding myself reaching for this a lot lately. I never thought I would become such an iris girl until a few years ago. Same with rose. Now, those are two of my favorite notes.
Good for You. Both are beautiful notes. Yay to BUB. I love that. That’s what I did with #18 – had a BUB follow the first one so I *never* have to run out.
I have never smelled Splendiris but I’m sure it smells gorgeous.
I also love that feeling when among some of my favorite perfume there is this one or two I tend to reach often for. “What should I wear today?” but hand automatically reaches for that one bottle I just can’t stay away from.
When I think of Iris, I immediately think of you and pl67.
Yes, pl67 loves iris. So does JB but I haven’t seen him around lately. Must be busy taking care of his ophthalmology patients in South Africa.
I think of Vee when someone mentions Dusita.
I’m wearing Penhaligon’s Night Scented Stock from what must be from a 1980s or 90s bottle I originally bought for my mum. It’s not as spicy as carnation but similar . I spent a happy half hour standing in a bridge watching a young pied shag hunting fish in the mouth of the river . It swam just under the surface so it was very easy to follow by the trail it made in the water….very fast, and dart like. It was great watching it but it only caught one small fish. I’m not sure what happened to its sibling as there used to be two of them. There was also a white faced heron. They stand so incredibly still before striking, almost unbelievably still. Saw a couple of trout and the usual junk thrown in by people: road cones, cans, shopping trolleys.
There should be a sofa-all good dumpsites need a sofa, complete with sprung springs that look like a tetanus shot waiting to happen:)
I loved your description of your time on the bridge.
“a tetanus shot waiting to happen” brilliant description Carole.
I’ve seen a couple of couches like that! Ack!
That’s sad about all the junk. I will never understand how people can be such pigs.
I had to google pied shag…what a beautiful bird! (And for anyone else wondering and as uninformed about birds as I am, it is a kind of cormorant)
I’m in Heeley’s L’amandiere. I was hoping to bring on an attack of spring. It’s a cold clear weekend here and I went to another city yesterday to enjoy a day away. I had a great day but stayed too late and ran into one more snow squall on the way home-the light kind of snow that swirls everywhere and makes it hard to see.
I have work to do today but I have some books I want to read-one by Diana Henry who is an Irish food writer. I’m enjoying her work and there are a ton of podcasts with her which are worth your time, if you like a good podcast or hearing about good food.
The other is The Bloomsbury Cookbook by Jan Ondaatje Rolls. It’s the history/biography of the Bloomsbury Group complete with scores of beautiful pictures and illustrations. It’s a fantastic read plus it’s on real heavy paper which adds to the sensorial aspect of reading. I’m going to spend the day doing restorative yoga and reading for pleasure. I gave myself a really chic black manicure and I want to play with my Chanel Rouge Noir lipstick-I do love the rouge noir line. I find it really wearable too but it’s not a shade I can just slap on and go-I need time to sheer it out and make sure it’s not too gothic for everyday wear.
I had to look up your lippie! Wow, that’s a fantastic color.
Carole, I loved reading about the books you are looking forward to and why, your Chanel Rouge Noir lipstick, and, of course, your SOTD. I hope you have a great day with your restorative yoga and reading!
Thank you for the Laundry and Home Comforts book recommendations yesterday. I will definitely check them out.
Oh good, my library has The Bloomsbury Cookbook so I’ve added it to my “to read” list 🙂
Currently in Cheirosa 62 while straightening up the house. Since I haven’t taken a shower, I am debating on if I should go the Lyric route or no 5. Outside of watching Call the Midwife tonight, I am going to be binge watching the show Daria. If you were a teen in the 90’s and watched any kind of MTV, you would know what I am talking about.
I remember Daria from Beavis and Butthead. I only saw a couple of episodes of the Daria show.
I didn’t watch Daria back in the day, due to utterly hating the theme song, but finally caught up with it a few years ago. Ironically, I loved the songs used in the episodes
I loved the Daria series. And I was in my early 30’s when it came out.
Sticking with Uncle Serge again today with Vetiver Oriental. I wish I had more of his older perfumes…
Had a solid nights sleep and it’s amazing what it does for one’s mood! That, and some ibuprofen. Now I feel like I can face the day, although it must be said my days are fine in general. It’s seeing so many other people struggling in so many ways and it makes me sad and occasionally very angry.
As to NST origin stories, all I can remember is trying to find a dupe for VS Vanilla Lace online many moons ago and somehow discovering niche perfumery via BPAL…I never did find a dupe but I’ve found many other lovely scents that have enriched my life if not my pocketbook. 💸💸💸
Isn’t VO fab? It’s a chocolate vetiver. Reminds me of a certain time in my life every time I sniff it:) And I’m glad you got some sleep. I find life difficult when I have insomnia.
Glad to hear that you have reached ‘Outlook: Good’ today, Deva. You’re wearing one of my desert island perfumes; VO is just such wonderful stuff. Hope you’re enjoying some sunshine today!
So glad you are brighter and better rested today!
It’s amazing how much a good night of sleep changes things. Same goes for a bad night’s sleep.
It’s Sunday morning and I’m wafting Seconde Peau. The weekend has been more full of stuff to do than usual, starting with Friday dinner with a very old friend I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. He’s always been very hale and indomitable, but these past couple of years have taken a huge toll on him physically. I was glad to find that his mind at least remains unscathed. Perfume-wise, because I was rooting around in the purgatory bin I was reminded to re-test Evening Edged in Gold. I liked it well enough on first spritz to move it to the general-use shelf, but I tried it again last night and found it screechy. It might be one where a single spritz is quite enough.
That perfume must be a top contender for “Best Perfume Names Ever.” 🏆
Agreed!
SOTD is BBW Rose body wash and lotion with Jeffrey Dame Cassie, Rose and Sandalwood edt. I sure wish Jeffrey wouldn’t have discontinued this series of scents. Some were really good.
I didn’t realize he’d discontinued this series. I love the Cassie Rose Sandalwood, glad I have a large bottle!
Me too. He has gotten rid of so many that every time I go to his site another one is gone.
Sublime layering for a Sunday!
JD Lime, Gardenia & Benzoin is so pretty for warmer weather. But the one I really wish I would have picked up was Mate, Heliotrope & Patchouli.
Happy Sunday and it’s sunny!
Sotd YSL Libre L’Absolu Platine. Perfumers: Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaïm. Two types of lavender (no wonder why I’m craving). A delicious Amber Floral.
I hadn’t worn this in awhile and this morning – swoon! I loved it so much that even though my travel spray isn’t empty I went online to Jomashop and got a great deal on a small bottle. Donatella’s jaw will drop soon as I have been applying retail therapy extensively this quarter AND have been the recipient of classic NST largesse.
I can’t wait to see what you have in store for Donatella!
Please remember I’m a beginning perfumista so my nose is unsophisticated. I just bought things that made me feel good or were a reasonable less expensive approximation of something far more expensive.
Your nose is perfectly sophisticated!
It’s always super fun for me to read the confessions. I get to learn about more perfume.
Lillyjo is right. Don’t apologize for liking what you like!
This morning I decided to go for Gabrielle parfum. I received nothing but compliments – like “ooohhh la la” type of comments not just the usual “You smell good” but more passionate compliments. I find it to be extremely long lasting and very fizzy and bubbly, beautiful, pleasant perfume.
Nice 🙂
Chanel Sycomore last night and Sycomore this morning. Might be a total Sycomore weekend, thanks to a package I came home to last night after a concert. From a generous NSTer.
But I wore only the far drydown of the marvelous Ninfeo Mio to the concert itself (thanks to another generous NSTer).
Unlike the woman sitting next to me, who apparently did not get the memo about not wearing strong perfumes in enclosed public spaces and was radiating either way too much Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille or some ghastly clone for 2.5 hours.
I like Tobacco Vanille, judiciously applied, but this was so strong it actually interfered with my focus on the music – Brahms, Beethoven, and Schumann.
I hope everyone is having a good weekend and that spring warmth comes soon for all you Northern folks.
DH, I didn’t see the post about the concert. I take it -indoors? I tried a sample of TV, and it was too pungent for me. It was a wonderful program it seems, olfactory overload aside.
Unreal someone would drench themselves in TV for an indoor concert, or any concert where you are sitting in close quarters with others really.
I think caring about perfume has made me wear less perfume in public…it is so annoying to smell other people’s bad choices, LOL…
Sycomore is wonderful. It’s such an elegant vetiver – you smelled fab all weekend.
I’m not sure I could picture any TF scent going with classical music.
Monday here already!! I’m starting the working week with style in Mitsouko.
Have a great week, you smell fabulous
Smelling fabulous.
Well, I’m starting to come out of hibernation. And a good riddance to March! This is my least favorite month, and if I could, I would spend it in Hawaii or somewhere similar.
Right now, I’m wearing the remnants of two scents – Meo Fusciuni’s Little Song, and Grey Flower by Reiss. The former is from a sample that was in the purgatory dish, and while I admire it, I don’t need it. Well, I don’t really need anything right now, since we’re going to be moving soon. The latter is from a bottle that a friend gifted me a long time ago, and it’s definitely been voted off the island.
What to put on next? Perhaps something more spring-like, such as Paris-Édimbourg., hmm?
Wishing you smooth sailing with the big move!
Thanks, springpansy! It’s only 20 miles, but stressful nonetheless. 🫣
I moved six blocks, exactly one mile in 2019. It had just as much stress and work to do, so I feel ya.
Don’t care much for March, either.
Boy, March in Hawaii…that would be a dream. It was a LONG winter, and frankly still too chilly.
Good luck with the move!
It was indeed a long winter. Made up for the last three mild ones, that’s for sure.
Thanks for the good wishes!
Paris-Édimbourg is one of only two fragrances my wife will wear. (The other is N°5 L’Eau.)
Best of luck with the move!
Good luck with the move! Hope things are uneventful and the weather cooperates with you. Are you downsizing?
Not really (it’s a long story.)
I hope you have a smooth, easy move.
SOTD: Abel The Apartment. A classy cherry fragrance, it starts with rum and cherry and ends with myrrh and tolu balsam – middle notes are cacao, tuberose and jasmine.
Lips: French Girl Le Lip Tint – Ambre Rose
Reading: The Water Horse – just starting. And need to finish The Eights (highly recommend).
After church, I took a long walk and then vacuumed out the car and will give it a wash tomorrow. I never used to care, but I’ve found that I really appreciate driving in a clean car. Who knew?!
How I came to NST: It all started with my search for vintage Worth Je Reviens back in the early aughts, which led me to Makeup Alley, which led me to a huge rabbit hole that included many tunnels filled with delicious fragrances, and then to blogs like NST. 🙂
Sounds like an interesting scent. Have you ever seen the movie of the same name? It’s excellent and worthwhile renting if you haven’t.
I have not seen it — thanks for the recommendation!
Did you get your vintage Worth??
I did!
🙂
😺
Warming into the 60’s today, partly 🌞 and breezy, quite a nice day for March. A dose of Vitamin D and some bird🐧-watching from the hot tub this morning, a late breakfast at our favorite diner, and looking forward to some folk music tonight from our favorite banjo-master and other guest musicians 🎶.
SOTD is another YR oldie but goodie, Pur Desir de Rose (perfumer Annick Menardo). Water notes add a sheerness to this slightly jammy, spicey red rose (fortunately, without smelling ‘aquatic.’) Very enjoyable for Spring.🌹
Happy World Piano Day 🎹
https://www.pianoday.org
Have fun at the concert Laila!
Happy Sunday!
wearing Chanel No. 22 extrait layered with Beige, smells amazing.
Sublime!
Inspired layering!
Sotd is the beautiful, multi-faceted vintage Safari, compliments of a very generous NSTer💕
A classic now!
Monday morning, and I was in a couple of dabs of Rêve d’Ossian until I had to scrub it off. I think there might be something wrong with my sniffer, possibly related to some sinus issues I’ve had lately. I am pretty sure I enjoyed RdO the last time I sampled it, but this time it was sharp and unpleasant — same thing that happened with Evening Edged in Gold the other day. Clearly that one stays out of purgatory until my nose recovers.
Can you use a neti pot? Or is that a big old NOPE?
I’ve used a cousin of the neti pot, a squeeze bottle version. Those helped for years, and then it seemed like they were just making things worse so I stopped. I still have one, and a few packets of the saline stuff, so it might be worth trying it again. Thanks for the reminder!
Spent the morning straightening up the hose and opened some of the windows. Didn’t get to watch Call the Midwife since I went out to dinner but recorded it. So I will watch it tonight.
After my shower, I will wear that new bottle of no 19 that I got. After my shower, I think that I will play Halo or Quake.
It’s really hard to get a hose to go straight. 😉
My brother had to get a new hose recently. His was permanently kinked and not in the best of shape.
Had a luxuriously lazy day yesterday lolling about, but did enough “work” to feel minimally accomplished. Started and finished “A Long Long Way” by Sebastian Barry which is one book in a short series that I read completely out of order. No harm as they can be read independently as well, with familial (and familiar) characters traveling back and forth in time and geography. This book in particular is not for the faint hearted as most of it takes place in Flanders and Ypres during WWI…I enjoy his books immensely and hope over the coming summer to read his entire catalogue. I’d say I’m about 6 or 7 books in so far. I’m always learning something new and needing to look up words, events lost to time, and geographical locations. Ex: Boche, Maconochie, and many others…His prose is Chef’s Kiss! My right eye is a bit aquiver because it’s been a while since I read for such an extended period…👁️
I’m sticking with Uncle Serge again today wearing Arabie, which I think I obtained in a swap here many moons ago. I don’t have enough different scents to do a week of Uncle Serge, so I may have to press repeat. Or maybe not. 🙃
How’s T-Rex feeling now?
She’s doing much better, thanks for asking! Hope kittiecat’s ears are doing well. 🐱
Teflon is a little itchy right now. I suspect it’s going to take a while for the allergy therapy to kick in.
It’s going to be 80 degrees today and then snow, rain and ice for the rest of the week. Since we have warm weather for the moment, I went with Eau D’Italie. This is quite refreshing.
Bellissima Kris!
Thanks.
Fingers crossed we both get a decent soaking later on this week!
We need it badly!!!
For sure. Snowpack numbers have gone from scary to horrifying.
Happy Monday!
Sotd CITRUS! CITRUS! CITRUS! For optimism and energy. Layering H Eau d’Orange Verte by JCE and LV Afternoon Swim sample by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. Going for a Monday Plink on the A/S.
🍊🍋🍋🟩
I’m wearing Patou’s L’Heure Attendue. It translates as The Awaited Hour, which seems appropriate for a working day – I enjoy my job, but the best part of the day is the moment I go home!
I am late and it is now around 3:30ish Tuesday there? So I assume you are getting out soon…
Hi, all 😎
It’s warm enough to have the windows open, even though they’re so dirty. Another day.
Wearing Paloma Picasso, just love a mossy green chypre on an early spring day.
Hi ringthing! You smell heavenly in one of my favorites of the mossy green chypre genre.
Those mossy green chypres were so good.
Am in Rose 31 fragrance and lotion as I continue to wait for the washer and dryer maintenance person to appear.
Hope you didn’t have a super long wait.
Hope they are fixed!
We broke the previous record of 79 degrees today reaching a temp of 80 and we’re expecting Kris’s weather here, too. Strong storms expected late tonight and tomorrow night, then temps crashing down into the 40’s on Wednesday. I don’t know what’s normal anymore!
Starting to get the house ready for Easter dinner. SOTD is AG La Violette (the vintage one in the old bottle). Green and violet, perfect for Spring. It reminds me of the beautiful wild violets that will soon be popping up in my yard. Right now the wild blue Scilla are scampering about everywhere.
Happy Monday!🪻🌼
Abnormal is the new normal! 😵💫🤪
You’re right. This weather is crazy!
Colorado had quite the weather turnaround this weekend. It’s currently in the low 80’s out here. Feels like May. So I went from needing the heat to turning the A/C back on. But typical weather is quite volatile this time of year. Back on the weather rollerccoaster!
SOTD = Demeter Hyacinth. Simply gorgeous and perfect for Holy Week. I am seeing buds popping up on the lilac bushes out here. Will probably see blooms in a week or so.
Hyacinth and Lilacs – two of the most beautiful harbingers of spring🌸
I loved huffing hyacinths when I was a kid. And the purple bearded iris that so many yards had back in the day.
I was just like you, huffing hyacinths. And the bearded iris is my absolute favorite.
I was huffing my hyacinth just today, and we are also triplets with the purple iris. The complexity of that scent and the beauty of the flower in bright Summer Sun is a foundational memory for me.
We are going between heat and air conditioning too. It’s crazy!
Absolutely bonkers!!
Wearing HG Dilettante, another harbinger of spring😊
There’s a bunch of great smelling people here today!
I was in Balmain Ivoire. It felt cool enough for it today; so glad I have this in my collection.
Yesterday I combined the BBW Black Tea spray along with JLo Still. We had a birthday/pizza party to attend so I wanted something not too overwhelming. It was a pretty good combination.
Ivoire is so elegant. Hope you had fun at the party!
Thanks Ann! The party was fun, there were 2 birthdays to celebrate; plus we have another one this week.
I agree, Ivoire is so lovely. It’s been awhile since I had it on. They don’t make them like this any more.
Party on! 🥳
Thank you all for your good wishes on the move. I don’t know how many more I have in me! We did, however, pass our goal of staying at least 5 years in our previous house. 😁
At least for that! And it’s a good number of years, not so many that you could have built up a level of detritus that is hard to move 🙂
We’ve moved so many times in the last 10 years that most of it has been jettisoned already. 😄
Except, of course, the perfume.
And I’ve been in my house 27 years, ACK.
There’s a lot to be said for that kind of stability.