It's Friday and National Chocolate Pudding Day, plus the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Birthdays: Pearl S. Buck, Peter Lorre, Laurie Lee, Gilberto Gil. Our community project for today: name a favorite "real life" smell — anything, really! a plant, a food, a place, whatever — and wear a perfume that reminds you of it. It does not have to have your chosen smell as an actual note, it can remind you of it for any reason. (Do be as farfetched as you like.)
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.
For the smell of the air around Taos New Mexico on a sunny morning in early spring or late fall — crisp air, creosote bush, piñon smoke, I don't know what else — I'm in Comme des Garçons Ouarzazate.
Reminder: 7/3 is Independence Day weekend in the US. Celebrate by declaring your own independence from whatever no longer serves you, and mark the occasion with the appropriate fragrance.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2026, where I'll occasionally manage to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Stripes [cropped] by Bob at flickr; some rights reserved.
At first I thought those were umbrellas on a beach pictured from above, but I guess it’s chalk? Anyway, pretty photo!
I’m in the last bit of my tropical cocktail concoction from yesterday. It’s really hanging on well. I’m gonna shower then probably wear for Amour de Cacao to bed.
For those who wanted the ice cream recipe, see below. I’ll preface it by saying it’s not heart healthy in slightest. The ADA would strictly prohibit it. The POTUS would probably arrest it and send it to prison for 40 years claiming it’s an instrument of domestic terror. It’s very rich, decadent, and creamy. I doubt I could eat a bowl or even a whole cone. I’ve been very satisfied by using a tablespoon and dipping in a *few* times a day. You might want to take a statin first. 🙃
I started with vanilla because it’s the base for just about any flavor direction I decide to go at a later date.
In large bowl beat 2C heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks. In a separate bowl add 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk, a pinch of salt, and 2t real vanilla extract or paste. Mix well. Add condensed milk mixture to whip cream and gently fold until incorporated. At this point I added some Heath Toffee Crunch bits, but you do you. Freeze overnight. It takes that long to set up, unless you make it very early in the day. Then dig in! 😋
Hehe, thx for the recipe, Deva. Sounds decadent and yummy. I remember years ago friends had ice-cream makers that looked like cocktail shakers that you filled then submerged in rock salt and ice and they whirred mysteriously for a long time and then it was done. I particularly remember a chocolate banana vanilla ice cream that we devoured. But I don’t think I ever asked what went into it. Sometimes better not to know, eh?
That sounds like the “proper” way to make ice cream, and the exact reason I never thought to make it because one needed “equipment” to pull it off. I think it actually has egg yolks in it when made this way, too.
OOh, thank you!
YW!
Do you think we could add fruit to it?
I think the only factor that might be an issue is if you used a lot of high water content fruit in it. Not sure it would affect how it sets and freezes..? But it’s easy enough to research online. Good luck!
They are the exposed vigas (timber logs) on the outside of an adobe building in NM.
Wow, I was WAY off, thanks!
Well hey, how can you tell? I knew what photo I was looking for 🙂
Ooh, I was right! I’d never seen a painted timber version, though.
I don’t think it’s that common.
I saw lots and lots of big as last month in Santa Fe.
The best ice creams are not supposed to be “healthy”. Thanks for the recipe!
Yum! You only live once, after all.
So, I was planning to wear Rose Perfection for my memory of the rose section of Kyiv Botanical Garden, but I accidentally grabbed Floris Night Scented Jasmine and realized it only after spraying. Which means I am not CP compliant, but otherwise happy: it’s a lovely fresh green jasmine fragrance.
Happy Friday!
Thinking of you and all Ukrainians, Glannys, & wishing for an end to this horrible war.
I second Deniese’s comment.
Thank you both!
Glad that you picked a scent that made you happy, regardless of the CP.
Roses are happiness, in my book! Glad you’re still able to enjoy their fragrance. Your country’s resilience is amazing and inspiring but I wish you and your compatriots didn’t have to endure this war.
I am in the midst of my 5 week apricot frenzy as I buy boxes of them from the Santa Monica Farmers Market and make jam and cobblers and crisps and just eat bunches of them each day (they have such a short season) and give them to friends and relatives.
The vendor I buy from, See Canyon Farms on the Central Coast, drives down 3.5 hours each Wednesday to supply the market and a lot of the local chefs buy from him. The rest of the year he sells peaches and many heirloom varieties of apples. But the apricots are my special joy and weakness. I wrote about them here:
https://www.altaonline.com/culture/food-drink/a70460342/royal-blenheim-apricots-california/
And so my scent of the day is Boucheron Jaipur, which as Luca Turin said, smells like an apricot marzipan pastry.
I’ll check the link later but I remember smelling your SOTD on a friend, probably 40 years ago. She just smelled divine, and I bet you do too. If you feel like talking about the heirloom apples I am all ears 🙂
Thank you Carole. It’s a lovely fragrance. Re heirloom apples, I will prolly post about them in the fall when they come in. The farmer I buy from must have about 20 different varieties. He is a true treasure. But even on the Central Coast with its rolling hills and open vistas, development encroaches. He told me that he used to rent some land next to his where he grew apples. Then the property got sold to an LLC. Two rich guys. They built a 30,000 sq ft home with 5 levels underneath (!) and are now subdividing the rest of the land for 1 acre mansions and have cut down every tree.
Ugh, that kind of development is so sad to see.
The apricots this year are wonderful! We have a few bakers at our gym, my friend Galena brought in an apricot/peach Galette that smelled delicious.
https://themindfulfork.com/the-lost-orchard/
The Lost Orchard by chef Raymond Blanc, who created a heritage fruit orchard ( mostly apples) is a nice read, full of information about the origins of many species. There are a few apricots in there. Enjoy yours! Love Jaipur
Oh thank you Kanuka, I love books like that and will read it! Have you read Wildwood by Roger Deakin? An eccentric Brit (the best kind) who traces the history of humanity’s relationship with trees and travels to a corner of Tadjikistan/Uzbeckistan where apricots originated. People from the area used to camp out there all summer to eat fruit and harvest fruit but now many of the timeless orchards have been cut down or neglected and the traditions are slowly lost. Deakin also wrote a book called Waterlog about wild swimming. He often had to sneak onto private woodlands to swim in rivers and creeks that used to be public domain due to centuries of use but are now behind fences. He’s a wonderful writer!
I chose Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile edt for the CP. Years ago we spent a week at the Oregon coast (in a gorgeous house owned by the company I worked for — it had a genuine wine cellar!), and Iris Nobile was the only scent I brought with me. Every time I wear it I’m transported back to that time and place.
Oh perfect!! Plus you smell fantastic.
What a wonderful memory, SheriG!
Hello and tgif!
I am continuing with my favourite food smells. I simply cannot resist the smell of popcorn. Butter, caramel, plain, it does not matter! I am channeling that goodness with V&R Bonbon Caramel Crunch.
I think all 3 of the new Bon Bon line smells pretty good. I especially like the cola one.
That cola one is really realistic!
Ok, need to try that!
If people like cola scents, I will recommend L’Aromarine/Outremer Cola. A photorealistic rendition for the nose, and all of $25. I gave mine to my son’s girlfriend and she sniffed it, did a double-take, and said, wow, amazing. She couldn’t believe it.
Does ULTA have them?
When I was a kid I would pick up stones from river beds and sniff them – that mineral, cold smell was great. And I love the smell of stones mingled with incense in proper Gothic cathedrals. Passage d’Enfer combines that cold stone and incense smell with lily, oud, musk and benzoin in a perfect mix. I have smelled so many other perfumes with “mineral notes” and none have been as good as PdE. And while I normally would run away screaming from any perfume that advertises itself as featuring “clean / white musk”, here the musk mingles perfectly with all other notes. Including, yes, pencil shavings which I also liked to smell when I was a kid!
The small 50 ml bottle I still have was my first proper niche perfume purchase from Lucky Scent. I have other bottles of PdE and I like the current version but this one is special: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaDd2TMR1EQ/?igsh=MWc0Z2Y4emIzOW1lYw==
I love that story of you picking up rocks and sniffing them as a kid. Sounds like something I’d do. I get a bit of that clean minerally scent from Dzongkha, which of course is another L’Artisan. They were on to the minerally smells long before the current crop.
Yes, they were on to mineral notes, oudh and many other notes well ahead of time! I love Dzonghka, it’s another one of my favorites from L’Artisan, though this one didn’t fare so well with reformulations and smells a bit like a ghost of its former self..
River Stone twins!
Passage d’Enfer is lovely. Excellent choice!
My favorite smell first thing in the morning is freshly brewed coffee, rich and black and strong. ☕️ I have several fragrances with a strong coffee note but they are fall/winter scents. Since it’s now summer I’m revising my coffee-note favoritism to the iced coffee mochas and lattes we like to bring with us to the many outdoor concerts we go to here in town and neighboring communities.
So my SOTD is Cacharel Noa Fleur, which blends coffee and nutmeg notes with the June flowers of peony 🌸 and rose 🌹into a summer harmony and one I like to wear to the summer concerts. And, yes, I’ll be wearing it to both tonight!🎶
Happy weekend!
Happy weekend. Enjoy your concerts.
Have fun Laila!
That sounds beautiful!
Happy FriYAY! We made it, what a week!
My SOTD post-gym is Tiempe Passate by Antonia’s Flowers. It reminds me of my childhood growing up on the Eastern End of Long island, the smell of salty sea air, rock rose, and sum warmed skin.
You smell SO good! I love that fragrance and was excited to hear that Antonia is selling Tiempe Passate again. I’m waiting patiently for Antonia’s Flowers, my favorite from her line.
Thank you! I loved the original release too. I wish they’d come in body products, I love a good cream or shower gel.
Have you tried the re-issue of any of her scents? Verdict?
That sounds so nice. Putting it on my list
It’s interesting, after 6 hours or so, just when I think that it’s disappeared, it comes back. It’s low sillage though, nice for the office.
Oh thank you. And it smells like the original? I think I have a sample somewhere…
Such a great fragrance! Still hoping for a travel size!
Wearing Comme des Garcons Jaisalmer for more of a smoky incense.
yum, yum, yum.
You smell marvlous, Dawn. I agree with apsara. I want to eat an Indian desert that smells like this.
CdG’s Incense series is so darn good!
After being at the barn this morning, my favorite real-life smell has to be a horse. Today I got to groom mine myself, and I came home smelling of warm horse, hay, and that sweaty horsey smell.
After a shower, it’s Melograno. Also trying the Violette_FR Lip Gloss and Lip Jelly, the gloss seems more like a stain, or at least it’s supposed to be.
Looking forward to the Norway vs. France World Cup match today!
Oh, the smell of hay, sweet feed, and horses is so comforting – you smell wonderful! I’ve seen a bit of press about the Violette_FR products, let me know what you think?
I love a good lippie, Perfect Fig (discontinued) by Lancôme is a favorite. I just ordered a tube of Moody lipstick by Face Stockholm from their recent sale. I’m looking forward to trying it.
Their Veil shades are nice. Cranberry (brick red) and Friendship (peach/coral pink) are my two favorites. And their eye liner gels are good, they don’t budge, even after a spin class!
It might be indelicate but horse doodie is the only good smelling doodie on earth! Why is that? 😆
😆
I was curious about the Violette_FR lip products, so I am glad to hear that you’ve tried one.
I like the smell of a mountain stream tumbling over boulders near a scree slope, high up above the tree line in the alpine zone. The water has a real mineral scent and when you add that to the proximity of heated scree there is a mix of mineral, surface dust and something flinty. It’s hard to describe but I would match with Hermes Terre if I had it. Have a happy weekend. I’m off to see Robin Hood this morning.
Have fun! Hermes Terre is wonderful juice.
River Stone twins indeed..! I like Terre d’Hermes but it has a lot of ISO E-Super and since I’m completely anosmic to it, the scent feels patchy with a big waxy void in the central spot. The rest of it smells really nice though!
That’s odd. I had a bottle of it about 15 years ago and don’t recall it having ISO-E- Super. Must have changed. To me it smelled of stone.
Have you smelled ISO E-Super in isolation, as in Eccentric Molecules? It does not have a strong scent in its own, I’m told, it’s basically a filler and modifier, but Terre D’H contains a lot of it. I was looking up sample formulas in Fraterworks recently and this is what they have: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0682/1448/9400/files/TERREDHERMES.pdf?v=1730787205
It makes up more than half the formula. If you can smell it, it would actually magnify the flint notes, but in my case, it is an olfactory blockade..
Kanuka, it definitely always had iso e super….and I love iso e super, it is part of why I love TdH. Without it would be very flat, and can imagine in akimon’s case it might well be blocking other notes as well.
hmmm, thx for this Robin. I guess I like iso e super too then. I was trying to get one of my sons to take a small bottle I have of Terre d’Hermes. (I’m keeping the big one). He says he has too many. (he might have 8 bottles). Ha. Will try my other son. They tend to take bottles which their girlfriends say smell good on them when they come over.
Oh, and a funny little story. One of my son’s friends was visiting from Philly and they came for dinner and somehow he got to complaining about how L’Occitane had d/c’d his fave cologne. He couldn’t remember what it was called, so I ran and got my vintage Eau des Baux. He said that was close and same bottle but not the one he used to wear, (so it must have been Eau de Cade or the original L’Occitane EdT) but I offered it to him anyway and he kept saying, are you sure? He couldn’t believe it when I told him how many bottles I had. Sooner or later I’ll get another as it is very pretty and unisex, but meanwhile I have plenty to keep me busy.
8 bottles — chip off the old block!
That is funny!! It is weird that they d/c Cade but kept all the grooming products. They are still making Baux under another name.
This is such a vivid description!
That conjures up the Homer Tunnel and exploring the alpine area on the east side, waiting for our turn to go through, back in the days when it was one way.
I think the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is the most beautiful road in the world – for any NSTer who makes it to New Zealand, put this on your list!
It’s been a long time since I have been above the tree line at altitude. But I remember that smell you are describing.
I’m wearing a dab of Black Raspberry Vanilla oil by Solstice Scents. We have black raspberry bushes and they are ripening right now. Every year we invite our friends over for dessert: home made pound cake and vanilla ice cream with as many raspberries on top that they want. We put out a turkey roasting pan filled to the brim! It’s indulgent, delicious and simple.
Sounds delicious
how wonderful. You smell great, Kelly Red.
That dessert description is making me drool.
What a lovely tradition!
Today I finished off my decant of 7 Virtues Afghanistan Orange Blossom (thunk!). I got to remove a line from my spreadsheet rather than adding one. Yes, I have an Excel file for my perfumes. Yes, I am a nerd. One worksheet is a list of my collection, with the house name, perfume name, bottle size, age (if known), concentration, olfactory category, and approximate amount remaining. I also have worksheets for reviews (my reviews, that is), purchases, and lists of perfumes swapped, given away, or used up.
I find the file very useful. The reviews help me to remember what I have tried and what I thought of it, so I don’t inadvertently buy another sample of something I already tried and disliked. The Collection sheet keeps me from denial about the true size of my collection. I can’t lie to myself that I don’t really have “that many” perfumes when the proof is right in front of my face.
Do you keep track of how often you wear specific perfumes?
No, I don’t.
I wish I were more like this. It’s not from lack of trying, but eventually I disappoint myself. Not just with tracking perfume, but also organizing money, groceries, any kind of necessary expenditures, life in general…🙃I think I’d be in better overall shape if I was able to be a bit more organized. At 61, I guess I’ve just accepted that I’m one of those “fly by the seat of your pants” people but I’m not sure if this is a personality trait of if I was just raised wrong. 🤣
I have a gigantic Word Document that tracks my samples. But I don’t include nearly as much info for perfumes that you do.
It started with me trying to figure out just how many bottles I owned, and realizing I had no idea. I figured the best way to document them was a spreadsheet, as it would make it simple to search, sort, and edit. Then I got to wondering just how much total volume of perfume it all represented, so I added the volumes. The lists of perfumes swapped or given away keeps me from wasting time looking for something I no longer own. The Reviews worksheet has my impressions of everything I sample, and my own rating, from 0 to 5. I try to remember to add new samples to it when I acquire them, to remind me what I still need to try out.
Spreadsheets do keep one honest!
I’m thinking about a warming chocolaty scent for today, maybe Arte Profumi Velvet Rouge, with chocolate and chili notes.
I’d rather stay inside all day, but I’ve got to venture out to drop off some urgent shoe repairs.
Walking to work on Thursday, I discovered my favourite boots were no longer waterproof – I arrived at work with water squishing up around my toes.
Then yesterday, I kicked my foot against something on the floor in the office, and the sole separated from my boot. I’ve got way too many shoes, but not an infinite supply of comfy boots!
Gaynor, be glad you got to drop off urgent shoe repairs…every single place anywhere near me that used to do shoe repairs is gone.
So true! The last and best one near me closed two years ago when the owner retired.
The nearest place I know of to get shoes repaired is about 40 miles away from where I live.
Ewwwwww. Wet feet is one of the ickiest sensations I can think of. Especially if you can’t change out of the wet stuff right away.
It’s a rainy summer day, and I am wearing Eau des Merveilles, reminding me of the first time I wore it in England, on a rainy summer day.
Excellent!
SOTD = Frederic Malle Acne Studios
Wonderful, sunny fruity perfume!
In other news, here’s an article from the Wall Street Journal about building up for retirement. I was lucky with my parents for making me save!
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/how-to-build-a-retirement-that-actually-fits-your-life-d9fddd09?st=GHogoq&reflink=article_copyURL_share
You were definitely lucky with your parents teaching financial responsibility to you.
My parents didn’t really discuss any of this with me or my sisters, but my dad did a great job saving for his retirement and then his estate. My husband and his dad talked often about saving and investing, and I learned a lot. We’ve had many conversations with our young adult children about saving, and they’re off to a great start!
Happy Friday at the end of one of the best weeks of 2026 thus far (not a lot of competition in that category, but the year isn’t half over so….) !
Sotd Zara Cocoa Bliss for chocolate but also the peach and passion fruit notes! I was inspired by this scent to layer passion fruit and peach purées between chocolate pudding in a parfait glass for a delicious dessert. If I had the energy + time I would celebrate National Chocolate Pudding Day that way.
Did enjoy some fragrance retail therapy to celebrate. I ordered a Balmain Discovery set because I wanted to try Vent Vert. Also a sample of Bogue Mem from Lucky Scent.
Happy Friday!
Happy Friday Lillyjo!
Happy Friday LesLiesse!
Joyeux vendredi mon amie!
Danke schoen!
Ooh, I hope you report back on the Balmain set!
Will do!
Today I am wearing my sample of Rinse Cycle by Noyz. It has guava, lemon, pear, musk, and sandalwood. I’ve not liked anything by this brand, until now. ( I think they might be exclusive to Ulta) I think this is supposed to smell like clean laundry, but it doesn’t smell like detergent. It’s just very fresh and happy smelling.
Fresh perfumes tend to not play nice with me at all. More for you!
Those are an intriguing combo. You must smell delightfully summery!
Posting late today. I’ve been groggy and sluggish all day, for whatever reason. A late afternoon workout has perked me up a little bit, but I still have a case of 🐲 butt.
Streaming XPN from Philadelphia this evening. They have a radio program called “Land of the Lost” which streams on Fridays. Lots of New Wave and the like. Currently hearing The Clash.
A favorite smell of mine is Teflon kitty’s fur, especially spots between her shoulder blades and on her little head. If I still had any AG Musc Nomade, that would be perfect (purrfect?). But I don’t. My sample of it got thunked rather quickly.
SOTD = back in Bottega Veneta. Because I wanted to.
You smell beautiful in BV, but I have to ask. What is [dragon] butt?
It’s a bad pun about being tired. Dragon butt = dragging butt.
Gosh I’m embarrassed that went right over my head! But I’m quoting that in the future because my house is the House of the Dragon [butt] !
My brother and I are guilty of making far too many bad (or Dad) puns. Been doing that for ages, too.
There is nothing on the planet like the wonderful smell of a kitty’s head😊
Oh dear, so many options! Most of my favorite smells in real life are flowers, especially roses and lilies of the valley. I have SO MANY of both in my fragrance collection! Lavender would also work, though I don’t have nearly as many lavender fragrances. But today, I wrote in my blog about the new Jo Malone limited summer collection, based on vegetables, so I’m going with one of those — Scarlet Beetroot. TBH, it doesn’t smell like beets, but it is a bit sweet and a bit spicy, and I like it. I could have gone with one of Hermés’ Jardin fragrances too, I love those.
Demeter Beetroot smells pretty darned close!
Have you smelled CdG’s Rouge? It’s beetroot in a bottle.