Same old open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last vacation you took (and what fragrances you brought with you), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Shells by walknboston at flickr; some rights reserved.
I just discovered Caron Montaigne. This fragrance is amazing! I wore it to work and was swooned over!
Dixie, it’s a pretty one, isn’t it? Warm and cheerful! I recently had the opportunity to try Caron Acaciosa. That one really captured my heart. Husband thought it was yummy, too.
Never heard of it! I will have to seek it out!
I like Montaigne a lot too! I just put a dab on last night b/c I was looking at some I haven’t worn for a while. It is great! Normally I like wearing it in the early spring b/c it has all that warmth yet some nice spring-y florals too!
ahhhgg! must sniff…….
This is one I don’t know, but your description of being “swooned over” coupled with the NST review have convinced me I have to sniff it next time I’m at a perfume shop.
Fun!
Today I’m wearing Prada Eau de Parfum, and I’m really loving it. I hate patchouli, and don’t really care for amber (why did I buy this then, right?), but this is the perfect skin scent. Chemistry is wild.
I like the Eau d’Ambree better, but I’m not an amber patch person either so know just what you mean!
I need to try the Eau d’Ambree then. I had a bottle of the original Prada some time ago and I liked it in theory, but it never seemed like me, I didn’t feel like I had the moxie somehow to pull it off. Sold it to a friend, it smelled great on her. 🙂
The Eau does not require much moxie 😉
ha! true….but everyone needs moxie scents AND easy no-brainer scents….L’eau Ambree is great for “dashing out the door, no time to decide…just spray (freely) and go” . L’eau Ambree is soft and pleasant —good for places where there’s lots of people. J likes it for when she’s late leaving for class (which is often!)
Hi everyone – I am wearing Tabac Aurea today, over here we definitely passed the peak of summer so it seemed liked an appropriate choice. I’m going to Berlin next week and planning to buy “French Lover” aka “Bois d’Orage” which I fell in love with during my last vacation. Question: I finished by bottle of Chanel No. 19 (EdP) and I am really scared to buy a new one because of all the horrible news about how it sucks after obvious reformulation. Maybe I should go for the extrait, has anyone tried it recently?
I just got a fresh bottle of extrait/parfum at the Chanel boutique. I can’t speak to reformulations of that concentration — though BOY can I about edc and edp 😉 — but I can say I am most pleased that I chose to make the investment. I love No. 19, and have had getting some in parfum on my All Time Wish List for a while now.
Oh, this is great, so not everything is lost! 🙂 Enjoy!
You, too!
(One of the funnest things I saw in Paris was the flight of Chanel perfumes — in parfum form — available at…ready?…Sephora. I almost plunked down my cash right there, except I remembered I really should travel to the temple itself. 😉 )
Love Chanel 19 – but only in parfum form. Whatever is out now seems just great to me!
That didn’t make much sense! I meant whether the #19 parfum that is out now is reformulated or not, it’s pretty great.
I love the older formulation of No. 19, and even I think the new one is pretty good. It lacks the leather note in the base – at least in the edt, which is my favorite of the vintage concentrations – and seems a bit thinner, but it still smells like itself.
I haven’t smelled the current parfum, though.
one of my faves!!!
SOTD – Guerlain Un Air de Samsara. Too bad it’s discontinued. I just love in on a warm summer day.
I finally got the chance to visit the Making Scents exhibit at Longwood Gardens in PA last weekend. Purposely made time during a very busy and stressful period to go and it was worth every moment. Highly encourage anyone living within 120 miles to go and visit. Just visiting the Gardens alone is a worthwile trip, and my 3-yr old loved it as well.
wasn’t the exhibit terrific–very educational and just plain fun. The Gardens are amazing and they also have concerts and fireworks at times. A terrific place to visit. I grew up not too far from there, so really glad you enjoyed our “home turf”
I lived briefly in Upper Darby as a child, so remember class trips there as well. I’ve visited with family over the years, probably about 3 or 4 times. Haven’t been for about 15yrs and am wondering why I stayed away for so long.
Oh, Longwood! I grew up in Wilmington and we used to go there all the time….it was so beautiful on holidays! Of course this was when it was still free, so that should give you an idea how long ago THAT was. I’d love to visit again but live in Florida now.
It’s so hot & steamy here haven’t ventured out or applied a scent yet….probably Bronze Goddess tonight or my new Nuit de Tubereuse decant. Tried Bois des Iles (reading about all that Chanel reminded me) in the heat and it was great!
Who has experienced the Be Never too Busy to Be Beautiful scents? Gorilla/Lush is bringing some back…you can order a sample set online via U.K. Lush…I’m wondering how much I should pay attention to my curiosity here.
Whoops…sorry…went in the wrong place.
The Longwood Gardens, both in general and as regards this exhibit, sounds lovely. Glad to hear the positive reports.
I have a sample of Breath of God by BN2B2BB. I remember it was “interesting”…in reading my notes from when I first tried it, it says, “simultaneously smoky sweet but clean and at moments medicinal all at once, very hard to put into any category…sexy, floriental, fruity, medicinal, nothing quite fits exactly”. But of course, this was a fleeting impression, as I obtained my sample after the line was discontinued and BN2B2BB was closed. I think Breath of God was a combination of two of their other scents if I remember correctly, Inhale and Exhale. If they are coming back with some of the scents, I will probably venture for a sampler pack. Thanks for the heads up!
Good for you! I’m so jealous. I’m not going to have the time to make it down this year. I am hoping if it is a “blockbuster” that they’ll bring it back next year or the year after.
Ann, it was out of sheer determination that we went. Work was hanging over our head, every weekend scheduled, etc. We were soooo stressed out and it turned out to be a perfect remedy, if only for an afternoon. I hope you can find a little nook sometime. The Gardens is 2hrs from where I live now, and it only requires a couple of hours to tour the exhibitions at a leisurely pace. We took a little longer because we had the toddler in tow… Really though, any amount of time spent is worth spending.
Un Air de Samsara was one of my all-time favourites for a long time. It’s perfect for a hot summer day. A bit of mint , a bit of citrus. Glad to see somenone else still loves it!
And a bit of herbs mixed in with the lovely sandalwood…. I don’t wear it often enough, but it always makes me feel light and carefree! Not too many Guerlains that can do that, although I’ve yet to try the AA line.
Sorry for the typo. S/B “someone” else. Opera Fan: may I suggest you try Aqua Allegoria Lavande Velours if you can get your hands on it? It’s discontinued but it was the most long-lasting lavender and sandalwood imaginable! Otherwise you’d probably like the Aquas with citrus like Mandarine Basilic, Lemon Fresca, Pamplelune, etc.
Celestia – Thank you for the tip. I’ve been considering the AA line for their lineage as well as wearability and affordability. You’ve just given me the impetus to go ahead and try some!
Who has experienced the Be Never too Busy to Be Beautiful scents? Gorilla/Lush is bringing some back…you can order a sample set online via U.K. Lush…I’m wondering how much I should pay attention to my curiosity here.
They were really pretty well done, but never fell in love with any of them. I do think a sample set is tempting, esp. since there are several new ones.
The samples are really neat – a glass vial with a stopper, but the stopper has several tiny holes – applies very evenly, without wasting. I’ve used my 2ml samples to the max last week and they seem to be neverending, too!
Oh, I like those kind! Somebody else did them recently and now can’t remember who.
I’m looking forward to this – I have some very old scents from Lush, and somehow missed out on the Be Nevers, although I have heard great things.
I made one of the Lush counter girls squee when I gave her sample vials of Icon and Flower Garden – apparently Icon has become a bit of a cult favorite and hard to find.
Icon is gorgeous – a favourite of my friend, a Lush manager. And it’s coming back soon! It was only available through their Retro site until now.
Oh, thanks for letting us know. I never got around to trying them when B Never was still around so it’s great that the fragrances are back in whatever capacity.
And here I thought that was just a philosophy and a way of life. Who knew. Maybe I’ll look them up and give them a try. Lush you say?
Oh, do! They’re quite lovely and wearable.
http://www.lush.co.uk/gorillaperfume/index.php
Thanks for the link!
I got the set and tested them all throughout last week. They are reall enjoyable, albeit not always mindblowing. LUST is a full, ripe jasmine (the same fragrance as Flying Fox temple balm and Godiva shampoo). IMOGEN ROSE starts of with an intoxicating rose and orange explosion, but dries down to a glorious saffronic rose. Beautiful. THE SMELL OF FREEDOM didn’t make a massive impression, but I’ll test again. ORANGE BLOSSOM is by far my personal favourite – I wore it today to a sunny family barbeque. It’s in bloom and warm on the skin – the deep drydown reminds me a bit of FM Carnal Flower. It’s the only one I’ll probably get a bottle of. As for the rest… thank goodness for the 10ml they offer, should I feel the need! TUCA TUCA is one I bought a 10ml of in July – it’s a creamy violet/over-ripe, buttery banana business. Absolutely lovely when I’m in the mood for it. The only one I couldn’t get a sample of (and sounds MOST up my alley) is THE SMELL OF WEATHER TURNING, a minty/woodsmoke honey-hay, according to someone I know who has tried it. Think that one will be out within the month.
I still think what Gorilla Perfume is doing is wonderful – never bland, very well made and innovative. I hope they do very, very well!
The Smell of Weather Turning? Wow, be still my heart – that sounds amazing. And I’ve been on the lookout for my HG Orange Blossom so this one goes on the list.
You and me both! More heartracing at the above link, with more info on it and some gorgeous artwork!
Weather Turning sounds amazing (scribbles down website for future reference…)!
That name gave me a little pang of longing in my heart for fall…. sigh…
We had the first hint today…breezy and MUCH cooler than it has been, only in the 70s. It felt fantastic.
I ordered the sample set too (though already familiar with Karma and Vanillary. So far I’ve tried:
Tuca Tuca – pretty but maybe a bit too heavy on the super sweet jasmine that’s in their Vanillary which I’m not a fan of, great lasting power though.
Lust – I loved this because it’s the version of Lush jasmine I do really love, heavy and ashy, but I found it didn’t move much and didn’t last long. Will need to test again before deciding about buying one of the mini atomizers.
The Smell of the Weather Turning – I can only vaguely remember thinking it smelt good – slightly herby and very fizzy. It also didn’t last as long as I wanted.
Looking forward to trying Orange Blossom!
oh, I meant The Smell of Freedom above, not The Smell of the Weather Turning!
Hello again–SOTD is Fragonard’s Riviera Riviera, a last blast of lemony summer for what it looking like a beautiful day.
I am leaving on a Canadian cruise vacation exactly four weeks from today. Will spend one entire day in Quebec City–any perfume or beauty shop recommendations from our Canadian friends or other Quebec City travelers? Please let me know how to structure my limited shopping time in town. thanks
I’m sorry I can’t help you, but hope it is a wonderful cruise!
Hi Jepster! I was in Quebec City a couple of years ago, and looked for a perfume shop – no luck. BUT – still dreaming about the almond and chocolate croissants at Paillard bakery and cafe. Bakery is at 1097 Rue Saint-Jean – FYI!
BTW – these are not almond OR chocolate. They’re almond AND chocolate together in a croissant. Heavenly!!!!
we were in Porec, Croatia last week and I was mainly wearing Escale a Pondichery and Institut Tres Bien a la Francaise. great vacation with great scents, they will help me remember these beautiful days during winter too : D
Mm. I love that Pondichery, and I’ll bet it was a nice match with the Adriatic coast.
Hello all! SOTD is a sample of Hermes Vanilla Galante but I cannot smell it! I must be anosmic to it or something which is always a bummer. Then again, watery , aquatic, is not my thing at all. It’s a rare beautiful day in Wa. and I felt light and airy and wanted a perfume to encapsulate that feeling .
But I suppose this scent is not it. ha
I wonder what else to wear then?
I do love these lazy thread days<3
Hi Tamara, have you tried Osmanthe Yunnan, also from the Hermessences? Luca Turin writes in his guide that it’s a perfume of “pure happiness” and I totally agree. It’s light and chearful but not in the least aquatic or watery. I adore it.
Hey Kristina- Nope I haven’t, obviously I need to. 😉
I was just wearing that yesterday…a wonderful treat in the summer. Anytime, really. Though it is one of those things where you go back and forth weighing the value of the (clearly high level) ingredients and composition against the impact on your budget.
Thank goodness for travel sizes and decanting with friends. 🙂
I found Vanille galante to be weather sensitive. Keep trying it against different temps & humidity levels. It’s really just a simple vanilla & jasmine scent- but very nice. Osmanthe Yunnan is excellent as well.
Yesterday I had an opportunity to test the new EL Sensuous Noir in Macy’s. I actually did a side-by side test, the original Sensuous on one wrist and the Noir on the other. The original did a disappearing act, becoming undetectable after about 30 minutes–not terribly unusual on my scent-eating skin. The Noir, however, had good lasting power, as I could still detect it after ~5 hours. The overall impression was of woods and resins with a hint of spice and sweetness–definitely a far cry from the fruity floral smellalikes that have flooded the mainstream market for the last 15 years or so. The “melted woods” note that EL lists for it definitely includes cedar, so any cedar haters out there might want to pass on this one (I happen to love cedar, so this was a plus for me.) I really didn’t pick up much of the florals at all; the woody and resiny notes dominate this one. In spite of its richness and good longevity, however, I did not perceive this to be a sillage monster–I would say that it is rich but subtle. I will need to test this a couple more times before I make up my mind, but it may be FBW.
Drat – I knew there was something I wanted to look for yesterday – sounds lovely!
I tried this the other day along with the original which I never got around to trying before. I must say that I liked the original better, I thought that it was pretty nice as far as affordable, mainstream fragrances go. Great for an everyday scent, creamy and woody and likeable.
I didn’t think the Noir was terribly original, it made me think of many other woody, musky frags like Coco Mademoiselle and Narciso Rodriguez. Pretty sure those two sell pretty well so I wouldn’t be surprised if EL wanted one like that for themselves.
Thanks for the quick review of SN – I couldn’t smell the original, so I’ll have to check this out.
SOTD is John Varvatos Artisan. I almost bought it on Heathrow a couple of months ago but ended up loving Voyage d’Hermes more and felt sorry for not being able to buy both. Artisan is not available here in Sweden afaik, but somehow a tester managed to make its way to our version of Ebay. Yay :). Now I am off to keep track of two more unusal scents with auctions ending tomorrow – wish me luck :).
Good Luck! AFTER you slip in at the last second to get something amazing for a song….do stop back in to tell us what you’ve been hunting. 🙂
PetronellaCJ: Does the Artisan last on you? I had planned to buy a bottle of that but made my son test it out first. It was gone in 40 minutes on him so I didn’t buy it. Loved that wicker-like bottle, though.
Tiara: Yes I definitely get more than 40 minutes out of it :). More like 3-4 hours, which I consider to be OK for a citrus.
ATTENTION SF BAY AREA FOLKS!
October 16th will be the next San Francisco Sniff. If you are not already on my sniffer list (you would have gotten an email already) click on my name here to get to my email. We had a Sniff last April and had a wonderful time – I want to keep the list growing!
SOTD JM White Jasmine and Mint. The sun threatened to come out but has disappeared again. Yesterday I sampled Ninfeo Mio finally (they have gotten some Goutals back at Nordstrom) – I almost bought it on the spot but am glad I got a sample instead because as is the case with so many Goutals the drydown left me cold. I will try it again when I am fresher than after a long day at work – I have to say I loved loved loved the opening. Oh, and cool thing! They had a huge box of spray decant vials on the counter – I just made my own sample.
SF and sniffing…you guys live in the coolest heaven already : )
I’m jealous!
I wish I could go Tama, I would love that.
To meet and hang and sniff with other NST peeps, how wonderful!
Ditto over here in NJ…
It is some serious fun, I tell you!
I’ve replied to your email. Last spring was a great excursion. I look forward to the fall outing.
At Nordstrom’s? A “make your own sample” bar? For any fragrance they carry?
I asked if I could just do it myself and the SA said I could – the sign says to ask for a sample but I don’t think it matters.
And over on Basenotes, it looks like Allen (rogalal) is going to organize another SF get together on Saturday, 25 Sept. There’s probably a lot of overlap between the two groups.
Too bad I work Saturdays – had to make arrangements for the 16th.
Hello everyone! SOTD is vintage Tabac Blond extrait.
I’m still not sure what to make of it. I tried the current EDP a couple of years ago and wasn’t that impressed. But all the talk of it being an amazing leather chypre and Turin’s ““dykey and angular and dark and totally unpresentable” description made me think that, perhaps, it was a matter of concentration and age and convinced me to give it another shot.
Well, the older parfum is certainly better but I still don’t adore it but it’s probably just as well, really. I love both Bandit and Cuir De Russie and I’m perfectly happy with the current formulations.
Thanks to the cool summer, I’ve been on a bit of a leather kick recently. Recent testings included Knize Ten, Jolie Madame, Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur. I’ve tried Cuir de Lancome, SL Daim Blond, TF Tuscan Leather and Hermes Bel Ami in the past and looking forward to trying EL Azuree and the other two SL leather scents. Any other must try leathers you can think of?
Cabochard? And I find a very very soft leather note in Hermes Caleche as well.
Oh, yes, Cabochard is also on my To Try list, I’m just looking for a suitably old formulation as I understand that it’s another one that’s been pretty badly re-formulated.
Also Rabanne La Nuit and, at some point, if I ever get lucky enough, Lanvin Scandal.
Hi Abyss,
try Parfum d Empire’s Cuir Ottoman
and Keiko Mecheri’s Cuir Cordoba.
C.O. wasn’t my cuppa unfortunately and C.C. reminded me alot of Mythique in feel, very light and green suede -like.
Vintage Femme is still my favorite hardcore leather barnyard romp and Cuir de Lancome is my lady in waiting, she’s no hussy in hot pants. 🙂
EL Azuree is great, a milder more wearable Bandit and lasts for daysssssssss.
But Dzing! is what I wear the most, I adore that like no other.
Thanks! Mythique, yes, thanks for reminding me about that one. I still remember Angela’s review and her chiffon suede underwear description 😀 That really piqued my interest.
Love Dzing! but I don’t get any leather from it.
Mythique really is gorgeous, unfortunately I get almost zero sillage from it…
A- true ,I guess I don’t get too much leather either but whatever’s there is heaven to my nose!
I found Ambre Russe to be more leather than amber, might want to give it a try…
Abyss: I’ve really been on a leather kick too, though not as much the last few weeks. I’d recommend the following:
– PG Cuir d’Iris
– SMN Peau d’Espagne
– SL Cuir Mauresque
– ELdO Vierges et Toreros
The last 3 are really intense and animalic, but I love them beyond belief.
Excellent, thanks! I can’t wait until Cuir Mauresque is available in UK this autumn.
Your ELDO recommendation reminded me of ELDO Rien which is supposed to be another good leather. Have you tried that?
You just reminded me that I received a sample with my Tilda Swinton order and haven’t yet tried it! I also think Azuree is great, by the way. Another PG that’s very strange but I like it now and then is Cuir Venenum: very sweet, fruity leather.
I have 4 words to say: grape. slushee. new. boots. 😉
Ace bandage is optional.
oh, but this Emir is getting pretty leathery on my —I’m sending some for you to sample…time to start a new “Joe-packet”…
Grape slushie and new boots? Is it wrong that that made me more curious about it? I think it’s mostly the new boots, part. Love me some new leather boots 😀
Adding the two PGs to my list now!
I’ve been meaning to try that Cuir Venenum.
perfumistas are so curious! 😀
Please report back on the Rien, Joe! I find Cuir Venenum handsome and ususual.
Ooh, ELdO Vierges et Toreros = obsession. I NEED a bottle in my life. What did you think of Tilda’s Like This?
I LOVE Vierges! What a unique fragrance!
Donna Karan New York (signature) perhaps? I find it a lovely, light floral-leather. I wear that it a lot. Got to add some of yours to my to-try list as I’m also hooked on leather at the moment.
Thanks! I only tried DK Signature quickly and on paper so I’ll make sure to give it a proper wearing.
Abyss, also try Soivohle’s Vanillaville and Sonoran Leather.
Oh, gosh, I haven’t even started on the indie perfumers on your side of the pond yet! I always read with interest about Soivohle, SSS, Smell Bent and all those other brands.
Abyss, well I know that Soivohle and SSS are amazing lines and I highly recommend that you give em’ a whirl when you have a chance. Smaller lines seem so much more special and precious to my nose. I feel like I’m wearing their inspiration. It makes you feel good to help support them.
That’s funny, ’cause I’m just starting with one on your side–Isabelle Gelle. Have you tried any from that line?
Thanks for reminding me that I have Azuree at the back of my shelf. Too heavily sprayed with Infusion D’Iris to go straight to it now but I will go there tomorrow..
SOTD is Samsara, and lots of it, in celebration of the cooler weather.
Olenska- Good luck at your showing! Enjoy yourself my dear 😉
IS IT YOU???! Ooooh! I just saw your comment in my email inbox & am on my way to posting it! Hello, hello! 😀
Hi bebe, yes it’s ME. 😀
SOTD will almost certainly be vintage Shalimar parfum; I finally get it! Ooooooh love, love, love, love. And soon cry when I run out of my tiny sample and can’t get more 🙁
Yes, that’s the problem with vintage samples! And you can’t ever know if you buy vintage that you’ll get exactly the same thing.
Again today I’m wearing Voyage d’Hermes. I’ve worn this more than I ever thought I would. It’s SO humid here today (SW Ohio) that even summer scents seemed too much but Voyage seemed just right.
Tiara, I’m so glad you mentioned Voyages. I got a sample when it first came out but I forgot all about it. I’m going to dig it out right now so that I can experience it in heat and humidity. Right now I’m wearing my current favorite hot weather scent, Nuit de Tubereuse.
SOTD left arm side: Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille, on the right arm Micallef Note Vanillee. Don’t know which one I like the best, they are both yummie.
tough choice! I seem to recall getting a burned sugar note in the UBV but the Note Vanillee stays all-yummy-vanilla-goodness alllllll day. I will admit to some bias here: NV is easily one of my favorite “vanilla” fragrances….and if you are looking for a little wood with your vanilla, do try some Montale Boise Vanille.
The NV is hands down my favorite vanilla. Actually, it’s in my top 10. Un Bois Vanille was cotton candy bordering on burnt sugar and became more sweet as the day wore on.
I’ll have to add Daisy’s recommendation to my sample list. Somehow I’ve missed that vanilla.
Boisé Vanillé has quickly moved from unappreciated sample vial to OMG, FB NOW! status. It’s a powdery, vanilla, chypre….intriguing, eh?
Thanks for the tip. It’s on my must try list now.
Hello Daisy, are you sure you don’t mean Chypre Vanille when your talkin’ bout’ the Montale’s?
I don’t get powdery or woods from BV but I get THAT from CV.
You know? 😉
CV is definately FB worthy to me but really so much $$ good grief!
My decant will have to do for now.
But Montales are worth it I think ,at least the ones I love are.
yuppers, got the bottle right here in my hand. I was digging through my baggie of Montale samples and mostly I have the roses….unfortunately most of Montale’s roses go winey on me….nope just double checking my samples: no Chypre Vanille. Of course, now I’m curious.
Daisy that’s strange!
Notes to Montale Boise Vanille- lemon, geranium, bergamot, lavender, cedar leaves from Canada, Jamaican pepper, iris, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean
Notes to Chypre Vanille- vanilla, rose, amber, incense, sandalwood, iris, vetiver, tonka bean
See? thats why I figured you had a mix up.
Ooooo yes my dear, it’s worth trying.
At first it didn’t have me at hello but it then woo’d it’s way in my heart as Montales tend to do, when I looked at the notes afterwards I thought – how could it not?
The sandalwood in the drydown is very nice on me.
You on the other hand have made me curious to try the Boise Vanille again.
I need a T-shirt that says Montale Fanguuuuuurl .
With the ugly bottles on it.
I would wear it with pride. ha 😀
…and yet I get no lavender (blech) in Boise Vanille….LOVE THIS STUFF. I’ll see about getting a sample of Chypre Vanilla and hopefully the rose note in it isn’t the typical Montale rose note. Although I do love Highness Rose and Ta’if Rose is very nice as well……ah! so many things to love, and only two nostrils!
Hi Daisy – I still owe you the Chypre Vanille sample, along with Chypre Fruits. Just popped you a mail about it. Glad you liked the Taif Roses – didn’t go sour on you?
Opera—I was nervous trying the Ta’if Roses—because Montale roses don’t seem to like me! But was pleasantly surprised—it’s a beautiful rose….I’m wondering if I have a spot for another big ROSE in my collection.
Daisy – I’ll send you some more. A refill bottle will likely be in my future – when the budget clears a bit….
ohhhh Opera—we need to talk ! 🙂
You all inspired me to try my Note Vanillee sample this evening. It’s beautiful! I have become quite a Micallef fan. Love the Note Ambree, too, as well as the sea series (Black Sea and White Sea are both great!).
Oh! And Rose Aoud!
I love Micallef Rose Aoud! beautiful soft, honeyed roses but none of the stringent medicinal note that you get in the Montale rose/oud combinations ! yum! Rose Aoud isn’t as long lasting as most of the Micallefs (maybe about 4 hours compared to their usual half life of Uranium type lasting power) –but I just spray freely and once your clothing is scented then it’s all good!
<3<3<3<3<3 ROSE AOUD<3<3<3<3<3
So lovely, right down to it's charming pink jus!
H: I’m with you, I’ve become a huge Micallef fan. I really like Red Sea now too!
Red Sea was really good—just too manly for me. So while I like to sniff it , I didn’t feel it suited me for wearing at all. You wear it and I’ll sniff you 😀
This whole “Saturday yardwork” thing is really cutting into my lazy weekend poll reading/participation! I mean, is tall grass and a few weeds here and there really such a bad thing? The CEO needs a priority adjustment that’s for sure.
Right now I’m testing the new G Nejman Emir !! got it in the mail today! there is a bright orangey note in the opening but it pretty quickly settles into some serious black pepper, the notes list geranium but its a minor player on my skin–I’ve had one teensy spritz on for about 3 hours now and the pepper is still there but I’m also getting more leather and cedar now. I’m not a big fan of cedar but I do like pepper. I’m not at all well versed in the masculines but this seems very new and different to me. Cool.
Just tell him you’re starting a wildflower garden. No mowing allowed.
Ha! Mr. Daisy is very particular about his lawn….I wouldn’t dream of mowing : I probably wouldn’t get precisely the correct angle of the swaths….or something equally dreadful …..but the flower beds are all mine. Let grow wild I’m afraid it’d look like a dandelion farm in no time at all.
I love dandelions! They have so much personality.
Dandelion leaves are marketed as a bitter salad green and make a great diuretic, and the roots are great for your liver….
don’t forget they spread aggressively and then your neighbors get them too! I used to love cooked dandelion leaves when I was a kid. My Gramma said that they used to cook them when she was young in the depression….so of course I had to try it and they were really tasty. Of course now days everybody puts so many chemicals on their yards I wouldn’t recommend picking dandelion leaves for food.
Ah, my grandmother used to make a wilted salad with dandelion greens – cook bacon, use some of the bacon fat for the dressing together with cider vinegar, a little onion, salt and pepper, possibly a touch of sugar, crumble the crispy bacon over the top. But you have to pick the baby dandelion leaves, before they start to flower.
I always forget about dandelions until I see the yellow blooms, so I’ve never managed to recreate this. And you’re right: that it would be hard to find uncontaminated ones, so perhaps that is just as well. Sadly, those things they sell as dandelion greens in some supermarkets are HUGE and way too tough for salad!
that sounds like a dish MY gramma used to make too! Those depression era ladies sure were smart! 🙂
You could tell him there are lawn services for that sort of thing……. it’s just too hot for yardwork!
lOL — the mere mention of a lawn service would send the CEO into a severe apoplectic fit. None shall touch the Sacred Grass…..sigh….
SOTD is Hermes Concentre d’Orange Verte. Nothing better for a hot steamy day.
I love the concentre. Have you smelled juice from the new packaging? Just curious. Original Eau d’Orange is different now. I thought the concentre might fair better since It is a newer concoction anyway.
I think what I have is the new packaging so I can’t compare…Ed’OV has only recently come under my radar. 🙂
That’s cool. I love the odd feel of the concentre. It has a faint, almost dill pickle feel. Maybe cumin and galbanum? I don’t know the notes. Thanks.
SOTD: Lush’s Karma. Feeling groovy!
Two best holiday associations are Hove Perfumer’s Verveine in New Orleans and No.19 on a long birthday weekend in Paris. Must create more !
Love Karma! For some silly reason I managed to get rid of my tiny vial of the perfume and don’t know if it is still available in liquid form. Do you have a solid? I have the cream, which id divine enough on its own.
I have an older bottle and a newer solid tin for travel – which is lighter on the incense (i think, anyway) than the current version. Certainly the liquid form is still available here in the UK although it has been repackaged and comes in edp or perfume concentrations.
SOTD: Lush’s Karma. Feeling groovy!
Two best holiday associations are Hove Perfumer’s Verveine in New Orleans and No.19 on a long birthday weekend in Paris. Must create more !
Used to be a happy user of Karma until something happened – it used to feel lighter and more orangey to me – now it is a clingy incense fest. It might be my ageing nose or maybe a reformulation but now sadly I can’t wear it. Do enjoy!!
I would agree with that most definitely. This however is the ‘vintage’ Karma all scrummy oranges and light incense…yum. I don’t know what happened or when but I wish they would undo it! I have ordered the sample pack of the new Gorilla line- can’t wait.
Thx for the rec, checked Gorilla perfumes out. Already have Vanillary – YUM reminds me of EL Amber Ylang Ylang but less intense and Tuca Tuca – NOT SURE, I love violets but the cassis and musk are v strong might give this one away, looking forward to rerelease of April Violets by Yardley, SCARED of the jasmine one as that note mugs passers by of Lush stores, and REALLY want to try the others.
does anything like this exist:
candied violet, leather, smokey notes, and either black tea or coffee
maybe I can get the violet pastille accord from cb i hate perfume and ~*layer*~ it with other things.
Interesting idea, K – I will be checking back to see what people recommend!
To me, vintage Balenciaga Le Dix parfum is in this vein, but it sounds like you are looking for something with a more stronger violet note.
How about Black Vetiver + La Base + Lonestar Memories or
Black Vetiver (coffee)+ La Base(violets) + Bois Farine (smoke) + leather of your choice (I don’t know many). La Base is gorgeous Violet floral.
Cuir Venenum by Parfumerie Generale is a candied leather you could combine with a violet (Les Berdoues or Violettes Precieuse by Caron) and Bois Farine. I know it’s quadruple layerin, but I hope it helps get your desired effect!
Well, I don’t know about the black tea/coffee note, but hunt up some vintage Jolie Madame for the violets+leather. Heeley’s Cuir Pleine Fleur leans more masculine, less candied, but it’s also a great leather/violet and easier to find a sample of…
K
How about Cuir Ottoman by Parfumes d Empire or Fumerie Turque by SL? Both have smokey/leather notes.
I love Cuir Ottoman, it’s one of my favorites.
I took note of Jolie Madame, Le Dix, and Cuir Pleine Fleur because they seem like things that I need to try but I don’t think they’re what I’m ~*envisioning*~.
What I’m thinking of is more Annick Menardo’s style.
This is such an interesting idea, K – please report back if you find a combination that works!
I was also wondering if you have tried Le Labo’s Gaiac 10? It has dry woods, and a touch of incense-I don’t think it has leather. But it is really a gorgeous scent-to me, it feels a little like Bvlgari Black.
no, I haven’t.
I prefer to just pretend that the ~*exclusive*~ Le Labos don’t exist.
You might want to sample Soivohle Purple Love Smoke, but it’s $$$$$$.
My SOTD is Aftelier Grand Neroli. It’s nice at first spritz, but I don’t see what is so Grand after that. Too fleeting for my taste.
Oh that’s too bad, Carlos. It lasts all day on me. I apply it heavily–maybe that’s why. I got a sample in a swap and fell for it, one of those surprise scents I wasn’t expecting to like. It’s nice when that happens.
It’s probably just me. If I can’t smell my own trail, then I am not happy. HA!
It turns out that Carlos is secretly my twin….
SOTD layers of Infusion D’Iris Body Lotion and EDP. Morning and after a long hot tiring day same again in the evening. I smell GOOD. Am totally lemming anything by Soivohle but needs must that I appreciate what I already have for the moment. SIGH. How can it be that I want more??? Smelled Dzing today and were it not for the fact that I had already sampled a lot of what Harvey Nichols has to offer, my credit card would have been in the slot.. A confused and overstressed nose has led me astray before. So I will make strenuous efforts to avoid Harvey Nichols until payday.
Mmmm! I love Infusion D’Iris. It always makes me feel so ‘together’.
SOTD is Fragonard Miranda. A good tropical coconut scent for a hot, steamy day.
Has anyone tried the Bvlgari Blu Eau d’Ete? I know it’s a limited edition, but haven’t been able to find it in any stores here in Early Bird Specials meet Surfers, Florida. If you have sampled it, I’d love to hear your impressions.
I fell in love with 31 Rue Cambon this week. I have a tiny decant and the first time I tried it several months ago, it just didn’t grab me. Tried it again earlier this week and wow, it was just beautiful. So far that makes three of the Chanel Exclusifs that I love. Can’t wait for those smaller bottles to make an appearance.
I somehow missed that one this year…not sure if Macy’s got it or not. Sorry! Join you in wishing for a small (30 ml!) bottle for the Les Exclusifs.
Yes, I have got a sample of it. The only thing I smell is patch (and I don’t like patch…..) I found it very similar to the blue, but that is my opinion. If you want I will sent you my sample.
SOTD–Started with PdN Vanille Intense.
I work outside, so eventually the heat took its toll.
Tried some Pacifica French Lilac around noon–it’s amazingly true to the flower in my opinion.
Now that that’s gone (thanks, 90 degrees!) I am spraying Theorema with a heavy hand, since I have the six backup bottles.
ahh, my fellow Theorema hoarder….have you ever tried Molinard Iles d’Or Edp?? Soooooo good! many similarities to Theorema only bigger, spicier, more gourmand….simply captivating. I still need to do a good side by side testing of the two. I so seldom have both wrists free at the same time!
ooo – that sounds great! Will have to try some. I need to try more Molinards. I only have Habanita.
Tama—you haven’t moved residence recently have you? the address I have on file for you is still good?
I’m still here!
Lead me not into temptation–I can find it for myself!
I shall surely investigate this lead, and Molinard is so affordable!
Thanks!
crow–I have a note here that says I’m supposed to send you some vintage CSP Vanille Abricot (this summer has been wild, and I’m way behind on my samples and swaps! I know people think I have forgotten them!) –so I can send a couple mls of Iles d’Or as well. The older Edp is almost impossible to find….there is a newer Edt out there….and I’m scared to try it. If you do get hold of the new edt, do a side by side and let me know how they compare. (thou art brave oh Flower of the Crow)
I’d love the samples whenever you get to them.
Is the patchouli overwhelming in Theorema?
I don’t really get a lot of patchouli, if any, on me. I’ve only sampled the edp though. I just get oranges and vanilla, but the vanilla is tempered by cedar or pencil shavings (is it pepper?) so it’s not too sweet. I think it’s very approachable, I notice that I just smell GOOD when I wear it.
It’s not. I’m a patchouli-phobe – quantities that other people never notice just overwhelm me, so I understand your asking! The patchouli is noticeable to me, but it’s tempered by the other basenotes, and doesn’t have that dirty edge that bothers me so much.
What I don’t like is the cocoa note in there.
Thank you so much for the info. 😀 I have a sample of the Fendi Palazzo EdP and I also don’t get much patch from it. It seems that Palazzo is also discontinued :-C
SOTD-Opal by SSS. Hey, does anyone else out there enter their fragrances in a spreadsheet to help keep the madness under control, or is it just my librarian genes?
Um.. (raises hand sheepishly) yep! Do you sort by time of year and weather too?
Oooooh! Hadn’t thought of that. I’ve got them in 3 spreadsheets: scents I own, samples I have, & stuff I want to sniff. Each spreadsheet is sorted alphabetically by house, then fragrance, with columns for L/T star rating, description from “the book”, then my impression. I’m thinking about adding a column for perfumer, & now season/weather.
I must get mine more up to date. I was getting lost. But you gave me a great idea for separating them. Very useful, thanks!
No prob. They make fun of me at work because I tend to color-code in ROYGBIV order, so now I feel vindicated.
Trying to remember what mine contains…house, fragrance, scent category, season, list of notes, perfumer, my impression, whether I’ve fully tested it or not (+ note if I’ve passed it on to someone else), and the all-important: do I need some? I think that’s it.
I have the same 3 spreadsheets! And I’m not a librarian, but both my parents were, so I got that gene. I do need to add more columns. So far, just have house, name, size, and my testing notes.
Yeah… I note seasons, but not weather. Figure I can keep that much in my head. (Maybe.) Alas, my laptop died this week, so I’m without access to my spreadsheet for now. Not to mention my crockpot recipes, my checkbook-balancing spreadsheet, my swap/split notes and addresses…and so on. Guess I need to make that a high priority… I’m helpless without it! Stuck using a Mac mini atm…no good at all. (Well…SOME good. At least I can surf the net.)
Guilty! It’s my accountant genes. What I’d really like to do is find time to set up a database…..
Stuff I’ve bought are kept in an Excel spreadsheet for easy admission at the quarterly confessions. Stuff I’ve tried are in a Word table with notes and brief comments. And stuff I wanna try I keep in the notebook I always carry around with me in my bag.
I always carry my “to sniff” spreadsheet shoved in my bag with notes of where I might sniff for free as opposed to cave-n-pay
I had two sheets going – samples I have, with comments and whatnot, and one of what I want to try. I have abandoned both, now that I am truly out of control.
Oh, gosh! I’m behind on mine! I hate that feeling of losing control…
I’m actually much more relaxed about it all now, lol. I just let fate lead the way.
Seriously, life’s too short to worry about logging sample vials in a spreadsheet. It’s on my list… but so are a lot of other things!!! 😀
In my case, it is my scientist genes. I have two worksheets in an Excel file; one is a wishlist of things I would like to buy, with the house name, fragrance name, source (e.g., Lucky Scent, Nordstrom), and price. The other sheet is for things I have tried. Samples get entered in this sheet after I have tried them the first time. I have it sorted by house, then by fragrance name, with my own personal rating (0 to 5 stars) and comments. I don’t bother sorting by season, since here on the Gulf Coast, it is summer for half the year or more, and even “winter” is seldom really cold.
50 – My spreadsheet sounds a lot like yours. One worksheet for “Wish”, the other for things I already have, either FB, Decants, or samples. Listing Name, House, LT/TS rating and comments, then I do a similar rating for myself 1-5 and my comments, then a column for “official notes” of the scent…sometimes listed separately by top/middle/base, then also a column for any blog review comments. Obviously, there are a lot of us at NST that have 2nd jobs as perfumistas it seems. 🙂
Woodgirl, I love your name AND Opal.<3
Thanks. It pretty much sums me up – grew up in a wooden cottage on the beach, now I live in a wooden cabin in the Fla woods/swamp. Will take woods over floral scents any day. But right now it is just so hot & humid & I, too, have been on something of a leather kick.
Opal….I keep waiting for that to come back. I’m so hoping it’s all I’ve mentally made it out to be!
I do it too. (Accountant, not librarian – similar File Things Properly gene).
Mine’s organized a bit differently, though.
Y’all frighten me. Your doing what I dream of doing-being organized.
I started one this year in order to be able to account for my purchase history with inventory info and allow me to easily do the NST damage report.
Then there is the one that lists all the detailed scent notes, categories, year, and noses.
Then ther is the swaplist sheet…
See, no spreadsheet = I can “forget” all sorts of indiscretions at “quarterly damage report time” –the only time I fully embrace my horrible memory! 😉
I’m with you, Daisy!
Again, I can’t trust my nose still, it reads strange things.
Does anyone other than myself get campfire, albeit very fragrant campfire, from L’Artisan’s La Haie de Fleurie? I also get campfire, slightly less fragrant, from FM Angeliques Sous La Pluie. Is it all in my “head”?
SOT Week has been Ineke Balmy Days and Sundays. I love it’s cold fresh breathe. In this humidity, it is almost as if I have a tiny portable air conditioner, at least for my nose. Aahhhhh. Currerntly loving it but it won’t work for the fall.
I do not get campfire from either of those, but looking forward to hearing if anyone else does!
It is something my brain is translating as smoky – I just don’t know what it is that is triggering that. My nose is still not exactly on top of things yet. I just need to figure it out and relearn what that is. Only one of these has wood, cedar, I think.
Oh, but they probably both have wood. Don’t forget that they never list ALL the notes. They could easily both have cedar, and they could easily both have another wood we don’t know about.
Aha! The plot thickens! I did not know that so thanks for that. I can’t wait unitl my nose gets better to the point I can actually trust what it is telling me. It is a slow process but at this point, I must say, a very enjoyable one. I love smelling good things again.
This might help then:
https://freebox.it.com/2008/03/14/perfumista-tip-on-lists-of-fragrance-notes-why-they-matter-why-they-dont/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I’ve been scouring my small city for vintage perfumes, so far without much success. But yesterday in a really lovely retro shop I scored a few drops of vintage Shalimar EDC for $AUD6. It’s in one of those round bottles with the red and white label and pointy top. The woman at the counter gave an incredulous chuckle as she watched me examine it.
Sitting in the car afterwards, I uncapped the bottle and it smelled seriously off. And holding it up to the light, I could see floaty things in it – not good! But I dabbed some on my wrist and, over the course of about two minutes, I could smell the murk disappearing and the real Shalimar emerging. Wonderful!
There are only four or five mls left, but I’m going to wear it and enjoy it. I have two minis of Shalimar parfum in those annoying little blue plastic capped bottles that fall over all the time. I’m wondering if the EDC bottle will clean up enough for me to decant the parfum into? I’ve never done this sort of thing before.
The main reason people will tell you not to reuse a perfume bottle is to avoid cross-contamination, i.e., contaminating one scent with the remains of another. Since you are planning to refill the bottle with the same scent, that is not an issue. I think I know the bottle you mean–I have one of my grandmother’s that had Mitsouko in it. The neck is too narrow to allow you to use a brush for cleaning.
First of all, is the glass itself dirty, or is most of the “stuff” in the liquid? If the glass is clean enough, and it probably is, it should be quite easy. Just rinse the empty bottle with a little alcohol and let dry before decanting the perfume into it. To speed up the drying, place the bottle in a warm oven, about 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) for an hour or so. I don’t know if you can get high proof distilled alcohol (such as Everclear) in Australia , but if you cannot, use high proof vodka or, if you can get it, denatured alcohol such as perfume diluent or ethyl rubbing alcohol. Do not use isopropyl if you can help it, as it has a much stronger smell.
If the bottle is very dirty, you may want to try washing it with detergent. Place just a small drop of unscented detergent in the bottle with some water and some glass beads. Cap the bottle and shake it vigorously for a few minutes. The beads will help scrub it clean. Dump everything out, then rinse the bottle thoroughly to remove all the detergent. Give it a final rinse with distilled water, then with alcohol, as above.
Oh that is so helpful, thanks! The bottle is relatively clean. I had thought I would need some alcohol – do I go to a pharmacy (drugstore) for that? I guess the principle is that the alcohol has to have the least amount of scent of its own? Thanks also for the tip about drying in the oven.
You do see these round Guerlain bottles quite often on eBay and for a near empty one I think $6 is about what they are worth. I like eBay but was very pleased to have liberated one from the retro store.
You are correct–you want something with the least odor of its own. I don’t know what is sold in Australia, but here in the U.S., the rubbing alcohol sold in pharmacies is usually isopropyl alcohol, which has a rather pronounced odor. Occasionally, I have found “ethyl rubbing alcohol”, which is ~70% ethyl alcohol/30% water, with a small amount of something else, such as isopropyl or methyl alcohol, added to make it unfit for consumption (this allows it to be sold without a liquor license, and without charging the taxes that are assessed on alcoholic beverages). If you can find it, it is usually very cheap. If not, you might just want to go to a liquor store and get the highest proof, scent-free or nearly scent-free, liquor that you can buy. I usually buy Everclear, which is 95% ethyl alcohol and has no scent other than the scent of the ethanol itself. In some areas, such high-proof products are illegal; in such a case, you can use vodka, which has little or no scent as well. Vodka is usually only 40 or 50% alcohol (it contains more water), so the bottle will take longer to dry. That is where drying in the oven may help.
Thanks, especially for the ‘human consumption’ bit. I was wondering about that. I’ll do some googling of local brands before I hit the pharmacies. Rubbing alcohol seems to be useful stuff to have around the house in any case.
Oh, lucky you! Hope you can get the bottle cleaned a bit, and decant your parfum into it.
I bought an empty Chamade parfum bottle, that pretty upside-down heart ($4, cheap!), and poured my decant into it. It makes me happy.
Fun isn’t it?
Today was the day: I am now a proud owner of my very first copy of ‘Perfumes: The Guide’! Now you know how I’ll be spending my weekend…
Enjoy! I bought it about two years ago and have enjoyed it thoroughly. Even when I do not agree with the review of a particular perfume (and I frequently do not), it is still an entertaining read.
I bought both editions and find them very amusing and informative even when I don’t agree AT ALL.
Like 50 and Tama, I find I don’t often agree with LT & TS. However, I have read the book cover to cover like a novel, and re-read sections almost constantly. My copy is literally falling apart!
Now, if we call compiled our individual spreadsheets into one monster spreadsheet, and a few of us transcribed The Guide… we’d have our database!
“all compiled,” not “call compiled” OOps!
I picked it up from the “new non-fiction shelf” at work when it came out & also read it straight through like a novel, enjoying it immensely. I have checked it out repeatedly since then & hate to turn it back in each time. I finally bought a copy a few weeks ago. I don’t always agree with it, but ordered most of my samples by what sounded like I would like. I keep my sample vials in a small sheshamwood box & when I open the lid, it is the most divine fragrance – all those woody, resiny, ambery, oudy, incensey smells mingling into “eau de me”.
By the way, I’ve just finished reading Raymond Chandler’s _The Lady in the Lake_ for the first time. Seems that Philip Marlowe, in addition to his other talents, can recognise a chypre when he smells one – a cheap one AND a good one. In fact, now I re-read that bit, there is a clue to the whole mystery right there.
Oh, have not read it in years — when I did read it I didn’t know what a chypre was myself. Will have to re-read!
Do, and do pay attention to the implications of a cheap chypre vs an expensive one.
For a laugh at ourselves, we should all try saying ‘cheap chypre’ three times very quickly.
Interesting! I read all his books way before I was into perfumes. Now a good excuse for a re-read! Another interesting anecdote – I found out he lived in San Diego (La Jolla) for a time and is actually buried here – about 2 miles from my house (not in La Jolla). My brother went over recently to pay respects – I still need to do that. We are both huge fans and had a dog named Marlowe.
Cabochard. Question: how is the re-formulation? I’ve never smelled the vintage, so would I be able to tell it’s a mere shadow of what it was? I’m on the leather trail right now!
Rushing toward spring here so I am making the most of the last cool weather and wearing Mauboussin (the perfume in the big heavy triangular bottle). Its floral, spicy, smokey and perfect!
yum, fruity goodness! I had the Mauboussin out just the other day too—someone had asked for recommendations for something with a delicious fruit note–I immediately grabbed for Mauboussin! I should have included a note to either wait for a cooler day or get that air conditioner cranking out some icicles!
I dont get fruit on my skin-must look up the notes!
Oh it does! Lemon, mandarine and peach-all of which I cannot smell! Maybe thats my old nose!
nah, my nose is no spring chicken either. It’s probably just what your skin is picking up from the fragrance….mine picks up a lot of the peachy notes. It’s like the new ELdO Tilda Swinton Like This–everyone seems to love it….all I got was a bucketful of maple syrup…..of course this is all part of what makes perfume fun 🙂
I have never tried Mauboussin,
I think that sounds really delicious for winter.
Putting that on the sample list fo show. 😉
I have a large mini that does not agree with me – I would love to pass it on or at leastgive some samples to someone. I’m jasouza9 at MUA if you are interested.
Mauboussin is really nice.
I wish people would stop recommending cheap good finds. I have a hard time resisting buying cheap goodies, instead of saving up for more expensive bottles.
but sometimes those cheap goodies are so GOOD! And now I’m curious about what expensive FB you are saving for ??
Saving for:
Juliet by Juliet Stewart
L’Artisan Tea for Two
L’Artisan Coeur de Vetiver Sacre
Guerlain Jicky EDP
Considering:
Hermes Voyage
Hermes Eau de Claire des Merveilles
but that all tallies up to way more money than i should be spending. But I can always rationalize an under $20 purchase… but when I do 10 of those in a month… then i might as well have bought to from my wish list. Everyone says good things about Mauboussin…
Oh, and the other thing about these cheap purchases, sometimes I buy them unsniffed cuz they are such a good deal, and I think, eh, not me.
Life was cheaper before finding this obsession.
wahoo…nice list—looks like you do have some spending in your future!
I hear you…. and yet I have just bought the CHEAPEST of thrills and have been spritzing away non stop, even on my children! Eau de Varens No 4… from my local supermarket of all places. 5 euros. Notes are Grapefruit, Lily of the Valley and Oakmoss. It is hot here and so it’s perfect right now. When the top notes wear off, (deliciously fressh citrus) sadly that happens fairly quickly, you are left with very sexy smelling skin. Since it is hydrating, you can spray it on all over. Lasts two maybe three hours on me. Everyone loves it and it is ageless, my seven year old and an 81 year old friend have been wearing it. Makes us all feel happy happy, happy!
I have a large mini (or small FB) of this which needs a good home as I do not get along with it. If you are interested, I’m jasouza9 on MUA.
Has anyone tried the other Mauboussin, Histoire de l’eau, with the orange ball suspended in the block?
Yes but only a sample in a perfume shop-so they didnt spray it on lavishly-I cant remember the notes- but it wasnt as nice as Mauboussin.
Just googled it and it has leather -cant imagine why I didnt snap up a bottle but maybe the leather is too faint-I like strong leather as in Bandit!
This morning: older vintage Jacomo Silences – a very classic, quiet, green chype. Perfume Shrine quotes early press material (I think) that commends Silences to the “the refined woman who knows how to combine fragrance and elegance, and for the mature woman wishing to add a great perfume to her social evenings and superb attire.” To paraphrase LT’s Baldessarini review, I can manage the mature woman part effortlessly, so I guess I can wear it. 🙂
Evening: AG Ninfeo Mio – enjoying this version of fig lightened with citrus and cypress.
I love Silences very much! The first time I wore it, in the fall, I thought it was “screechy” and unpleasant. Wearing it in the spring changed my mind, and I’ve worn it a lot all summer.
I get a lot of rose and iris out of it as well as the moss, though, and if it’s a chypre, it’s definitely a FLORAL one. Which seems to be the only way I really dig chypres…
Mals, I was intrigued the lovely description in your summer list on Muse in Wooden Shoes and its mentions by fans here. I think it will be especially nice for the transition from summer to fall.
Oh, how nice!
(I’m not sure the “superb attire” description applies to me… )
Me neither! Fortunately, a good perfume kicks any evening or attire up a notch. 🙂
I’m not sure “mature” quite fits me, either. 😉 At least, not according to my teenager. I haven’t made up my mind about Silences yet. Almost put some on before I sat down to read the lazy poll (which I missed, drat!), but wound up giving Chamade another chance instead.
I have Silences and love it too. Although I am not sure I can do ‘mature’ or refined just yet. I am only 32, and fighting to stay early 30’s as long as I can. The refined part… well,…maybe some days. When I am having to be the corporate professional my job requires sometimes, other than that, I am very ecclectic with my wardrobe and personality. Still… Silences is great and clean, especially in the southeastern US heat lately.
SOTD this morning was Urban Musk, which was an impish, rebellious choice in the 90+ heat, but oddly worked. It always makes me think of white flowers and hot, wet asphalt. Come to think of it, that was more like blending in to the ambient scents.
This evening, I switched to SMN’s Eva. So very refreshing, with vetiver, pepper and citrus, I should reach for it more often in the heat. Hope you are all having a lovely, fragrant summer evening. Be well.
I’ve become a huge SMN fan over the past several months and must try Eva, but I hear it’s hard to find lately. Was not in stock and the usual etailers for awhile, but I haven’t checked lately.
SOTD my trusty workhorse fragrance Montana Homme (the 2001 reformulation). I love the mossy drydown, though you CAN tell that it is not real moss like the old version… this is very linear and stable.
Last vacation I took was to “Mar de las pampas”* in march… and I only took Verveine Agrumes from lóccitane with me and brought back nuttin as there are only hippie essential oils there…and I believe most are industrially made and bought and then fractioned.
* Some “postcards” here, including the hippie shopping complex..it is the all white buildings http://www.mardelaspampas.com.ar/english/postcards.php
Oh, that looks lovely, Kaos! Also love the photos of that beautiful place to sip tea that you linked us to a few weeks ago.
Im glad you liked it!
Well this (mar the las pampas) is a lovely and really small village near the sea here in buenos aires.
The tea place is in the outskirts of Mar Del Plata, which is a big beach destination about 150 kms farther south.
Mar del plata is where i spent all my summer vacations until I was 17 and could decide where to go by myself or with friends 🙂
I used to believe that I was really unlucky going to the same place every summer and going nowhere on winter vacations, just staying home. When I grew up I realized that not only I had been very lucky to go there, but TO HAVE vacations which are a luxury to most of the world’s population. I have visited the States, Chile, Mexico, Spain Uruguay and Brasil, mostly for short 4 or 5 days trips and sometimes (as in the states, where I’ve been to 4 times already) for 10 or 15 days, but although I have friends who can afford it and travel the world I consider myself very lucky and try to learn and “experience” the places I go to, reading in advance and trying to connect to those places. I am 37 and God(and budget) willing will try to travel to somwhere new (or do something new in old places i’ve been to) at least once a year. Traveling broadens my mind if that makes sense 🙂
Oh, that makes perfect sense, Kaos! And, by the way, I was reading this week about research indicating that money spent on experiences such as travel creates far more happiness than money spent on things (except for perfume, I’m sure – but then, perfume IS experience and exploration, isn’t it?).
It makes perfect sense, Kaos. Travel definitely enlarges your perspective.
BTW, I belong to a travel forum, and one of our members moved from the US to Buenos Aires a few years ago. She absolutely loves it, and is really happy there.
Wow, that beach looks gorgeous!
SOTD: my little sample of Hermes’ Osmanthe Yunnan. Smells like smokey dried tea leaves…it is lovely, but not lovely enough to pay what they charge for a full bottle!
So fall and winter are coming up soon here, any suggestions for cold weather fragrances? Something spicy/earthy/woody?
The fall/winter scent that I am most looking forward to pulling out again is Tauer’s L’Air du Désert Marocain – my favorite incense. Also Vol de Nuit and Dzonka.
My new find for fall is SSS Champagne de Bois, you must try it if you haven’t already. Aldehydes, jasmine, clove, sandalwood, labdanum, amber, vetiver. It’s just so spicy and warm and cozy to me.
That sounds delicious! I’ll have to check it out.
spicy/ earthy/ woody covers a lot of delicious ground! All I can tell you is that when cooler weather gets here—the first thing I’m grabbing out of the Perfume Cabinet is Ormonde Jayne Woman….followed closely by OJ Tolu…..then I’m heading for some Amouage Epic…..oh, and then I’ll have a day doused in Mitsouko edp layered with Fendi Theorema…….oy, it’s hot here today….
I want my SSS Tabac Aurea, Shalimar Light, Parfum Sacre, and Bois des Iles. (Champagne de Bois is great, too.)
SOTD is Cuir de Lancome. I had no other choice, since I mowed the lawn this morning– my outdoor-chore gloves add a long-lasting leather note to my skin that clashes with every other scent I’ve tried. Good thing I have the Lancome! I really prefer florals, especially green florals, for summer, but those work gloves really don’t play well with most fragrances.
I’ve been wanting to try the Cuir de Lancome, but it doesn’t seem to be readily available in my area. I like the leather in Hermes Kelly Caleche. What are the other florals/green florals that you like for summer?
Vintage Fidji parfum is an all-around favorite. EL Aliage is great on super-hot days; Chanel no 19 works best in cooler, spring-like weather. EL Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia for when I want to play tropical tourist: it makes me feel as though I should be wearing a lei and sipping a mai tai (with a paper parasol in it, of course).
I think Cuir de Lancome has already been discontinued (Shame!), and it’s gone to the discounters. That’s where I got mine.
Need some ideas here:
Will be in a wedding in early September when it will likely still be quite warm, and need a perfect dressy but not *too* powerful perfume for the event. Outfit: perfect little black dress, gold heels.
Any ideas for something elegant, but good on a warm night? If it were later in the year I’d probably just go with No. 5 but it might just be a bit too warm for all that.
Thanks!
Ah, how about Chanel 31 rue de Cambon?
or bois de iles?
Sacrebleu! No, I mean the perfume by PN. 😉
evening event or daytime? and you probably want subtle (lots of people, close quarters) but also long lasting (hold the vows pastor, I need a quick reapplication…) but also something that isn’t a “difficult” fragrance since you’ll be in “smell nice” mode rather than “making a statement” mode……a few generally well received things I’d consider would be vtg Vol de Nuit, Montale Boisé Vanillé, Chanel Eau Premiere, Cartier So Pretty, OJ Woman, Lyric woman…. if it’s very hot or humid where you are that makes a difference, in door or out door, day or evening…..just watch the application if it’s hot….
oops, I see now you said evening. I love 31 Rue Cambon too, nicely suited for evening. The trick is just to apply lightly ….and stick a sample vial in your bag for re-ap if needed.
Why didn’t I think of Eau Premiere? Such an obvious contender!
I was about to suggest So Pretty!
I see we’re all thinking alike here – I would recommend 31 RC as well.
Caron Montaigne is worth a sniff-I’ve had my sample for a year and just tried it earlier this week and was blown away by how gorgeous this fragrance is and it’s not too strong.
VC&A Bois d’Iris would be lovely (but pricey)
Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois or Bois de Violette
Nasomatto China White or Narcotic Venus.
yes, VC&A Bois d’Iris would be really nice….subtle, very gentle in the sillage department. (and it just happens to be my favorite iris evah!)
Thanks for your all’s responses…so much to smell now! I usually try “fun” things so this is new for me. Just smelled Lyric for the first to,e – beautiful, though I wonder how it would do in heat, but will order a sample or decant for further testing of that.
And I’ve never smelled Bois d’iris (am new to iris appreciation), but will see if I can’t get my hands on some…it sure is an elegant smell.
Hi! Today, I am wearing Bois Farine. I felt like it was the right one 😀
We went to Québec City this summer, and I wore Vetiver Tonka and Ambre Narguilé. And Vanille Galante. Because I felt like they were the right one to wear there. However, while reading “The Catcher in the Rye”, Élixir des Merveilles was the one.
love Bois Farine!
I am a huge Bois Farine fan too. Can’t wait till it’s cooler here and I can wear it to my heart’s content again.
Ever falled in love with a scent strip? I sniffed the new Gucci Guilty in Elle today and swooned. The lilac is present enpough to remind me of the trees I grew up with, but it’s not overly sweet or cloying…can’t wait to sniff an actual sample. This may be love…
I tend to ignore scent strips, so no! But hope the real thing turns out to be as lovely 🙂
Um, that would be “fallen” in love. I can so spell!
SOTD…wore Coromandel…then, on the way out the door, sampled SL Sarrasins…great combo! But I was probably ‘over dressed’ for the family reunion 🙂
Sampling Nahema tonight…uh oh… I love it!
ah, Nahema is wonderful! are you testing vintage or more recent stuff?
SOTD tilda swinton like this. Been wearing this to death since I got my sample, absolutely loving it, Very cold and wet and miserable here so it make me feel happy!
I’ve had to quickly order as a full bottle as I am not sure how i will make it through the rest of winter when my sample runs out!
It really is a great scent– enjoy your bottle when it gets there!
Longtime reader, first time posting. An extremely warm summer prompted me to buy another bottle of Comme des Garçons Odeur 53. The perfect scent for hot weather – in my humble opinion. Like many of my favorite CdG fragrances, however, sillage is remarkably short-lived (and the one’s I don’t like never seem to wear off). I practically have to bathe in it – which always makes me uneasy. I’m a believer that – for men, at least – fragrance is for one’s own enjoyment and those close to you.
I’ve loved all the commentary today
Welcome Udazale!
I hope you pipe up more,
it is always alot of fun reading the threads isn’t it? Although for me at least it breeds more lemmings than one should have. 🙂
Enjoy!
Hi and welcome! That always makes me uneasy too, and sometimes I go ask my husband if he can still smell it when I think it’s gone — you never know, could be “olfactory fatigue”.
Udazale: I understand the worry about overapply. I only have a sample of Odeur 53, but I think I love it and will need a bottle. It’s very unusual — it’s also hard to imagine overapplying it because it’s not brash in any way. It’s more like a “skin scent.”
I was in Ulta today and sniffed Obsession for the first time in a decade. Either the tester was bad or this had been formulated beyond recognition.
Has anyone else had this experience?
I did not wear it “in the day” so probably wouldn’t notice unless I put on both versions. But have heard it’s been reformulated.
Went to a baseball game and decided to wear something close to the skin-choice was AG’s Musc Nomade with a touch of Prada’s L’Eau Ambree. Of all Prada’s new scents, I really love the L’Ambree. It’s subtle and very nice. Of course, you have to like patchouli and amber……
I also recently tried Lauren by RL-it seemed very flat to me. It was one of my absolute favorites all through high school.
I remember Lauren having much more personality, more green. Does anyone else wear this one? Your thoughts?
I agree, the one I sniffed recently does not quite match what I remember. Reformulation seems so likely, but I also find that sometimes even when I find the right vintage of an old fav, it doesn’t quite match the memory.
Noz-Exactly, sometimes I have to remind myself that HS was 25 years ago…… so my hormone-befuddled memory might not be quite what it used to be! 🙂
LOL – you’re right, the nose was completely hormone-fuddled back in the day! 🙂
It has definitely been reformulated. I always hope to find an old bottle at Goodwill. 🙁
You always luck out at your Goodwill!
I do think that the Lauren from the mid-80’s was full of personality. There were definitely green notes in the opening and it never ever seemed “flat” at all to me. I had a couple of guys who always sat clustered behind me in a couple of classes…so one day I asked: what is up with you guys? and they said they liked sitting right near me because I smelled so good! yeah, that was a long time ago though and I’m scared to try Lauren now and be terribly disappointed. 🙁
SOTD is LL Coral Flower from a sample: too salty and bland, and mostly faded after about an hour.
Later I dabbed on some Cristalle, which doesn’t smell as fresh today as it did when I first sampled it (that could be because when I first tried it, I was in the midst of going through several testers of florientals.)
Lastly I put on some Philosykos… I had meant to get a FB of this last week, but didn’t make it to the stores before closing time. I wore my sample again last night and it smelled like dirt and stayed bitter and dry. I began to question my sanity and whether I really wanted to smell like that in public and get that bottle after all. But today is warm and humid, and I’m wearing it again I do get the dirt, but also that sweet note I originally fell in love with.
Samples I’ve tried recently include SL Santal Blanc and Daim Blonde. I fell in love with both, and I think I pretty much need FBs of both… though the sweetness of Daim Blonde is an acquired taste and so sweet it’s almost a guilty pleasure…
Since it was my first time sampling SL over a few days, I began to worry if everything from the famous Serge was this great and if this new perfume “hobby” of mine would seriously suck me in deeper than I thought, so I tried a few others and am glad to say something like A la Nuit isn’t my taste, so there’s just DB and SB on my modest to-buy list 😉
Oh, but Philosykos is such *nice* dirt 😉
Hello–here is the promised review of the Acorelle fragrance I won here at NST a few weeks ago. I chose Lotus Bamboo. Lightly woody and herbal, with decent longevity for a “natural” perfume (about 2 hours on me, lasts on clothes longer). Very comforting and comfortable to wear. It is great in the summer heat and humidity. The package was sent courtesy of Susan at Lushoasis (thank you!), and included several other samples as well. I like this more than some of the other “natural” lines I have sampled, in terms of quality of ingredients as well as longevity. Thanks again, Robin!
Thanks for the review! Sounds nice.
So glad you’re still liking it!
I recently tried Fifi Chachnil, PdN ‘s Vanille Tonka,
Sacrebleu! and PdE’s Eua Suave.
I loved them all for different reasons but only want FB of FC, VT and SB, I can get by with a decant of Eua Suave. The opening of that one is a lil’ too much for my taste but it’s still rather nice in it’s own way, I love roses so it’s hard not too appreciate it.
*Sigh* I love perfume, but there is never an end to what I desire, the list grows like a weed in my lustful heart.
But it is a such a pleasure discovering new ones to love.
Tamara – One bottle at a time, and over time…. Wait for the next big promo at BH. Last fall, there was an InStyle sale – 20%.
Oh, and this past spring, there was a promo of a free bottle of Sacrebleue with a (reasonable minimum) PdN purchase. You never know, just have to keep checking.
Oh OperaFan, I was just saying I want, i.e. desire, lust FB of them but that isn’t going to happen (if at all) anytime soon.
I wish! Oh man do I!
I’m still holding on for my Tauers remember?
Free Sacrebleu? Oh my “Sacrebleu!!!’ 😉
I haven’t forgotten about the Tauers. Fingers crossed that you’ll like the new rose. I was just saying that when you’re ready, you’ll at least know where to look. And if I should stumble across another such promotion, I’ll be sure to let you know.
🙂
KEEP SAVING FOR THOSE TAUERS! but of course you’ve made good choices for future bottles too. I think Fifi Chachnil is an amazing fragrance and always wonder why it seems to get so little love around the blogs.
This weekend I am working it out with some Jack Black hand cream (which has a great punch of eucalyptus) pilfered from my husband. Added to that, Micallef’s White Sea, which has a slightly antiseptic quality to it (provided by the combination of lime and patchouli) that I really like. Salt, sand… sharp, ripe citrus falling from the trees, it is a grainy and textural plea to the senses. It makes me REALLY wish I was at a spa right now getting the works. This is one I would love my husband to wear. Mm hm.
I am going to look for that hand cream, thanks!
Since July 31 was declared National Dance Day in the States, how about a National Perfume Day? People would be encouraged to wear perfume for sure that day and would be allowed to wear it anywhere!
Nice idea! I’m sure there would be protests.
Oh, yesterday I received an ebay win of a 3-piece set of vintage Patou Sublime – I have the modern edt and it is TERRIBLE. I had to get this to see – it is so lush and just….perfumey. I think that is why I like so many Patous – they are Perfume with a capital P. It is in a box so pretty I hate to get rid of it, but don’t have room for it, either. I’ll figure something out.
What all was in the set? What’s the dominant note of Sublime?
It was an edp, shower gel and body creme, all 50 ml. The dominant note per LT is vanillic amber with vetiver, which I can’t pick apart – I’ll send you a sample. I think the top notes turned a little but it’s fine after a few minutes.
I tried it again last night and totally got the vetiver – sometimes I have to have things spelled out!
Tis actually Monday here now but nevermind! SOTD is JM Tuberose. My daughter just asked if there were some flowers in the house as “something smells really nice” but it was me! It’s nice when you get a perfume compliment.
That really is nice 🙂
My niche journey started with me looking for: “the perfect fig” and “the right jasmine”. Then of course I was crazy about iris (I still love iris notes:)), wood, high church incense (I will always love incense perfume). But it took me years to appreciate something that actually is the most beautiful perfume note ever recreated in perfume…. MUSK. If you gave me a musk perfume, say like 5 years ago, I would either call it: too classy, too animalic, too boring because a good, high quality musk does not need a whole lot of other, enhancing notes, that could make it more appealing to mass-market, a true musk perfume could be so pure, and raw on it’s own, you know what I mean? Well, 3 years agowould have called too borning and I’d rather spray myself with tons of Iris Silver Mist or CdG2 to make a HUGE STATEMENT, yeah I wanted to be so original! A few years into my perfumista jopurney… and I still adore my collection of all perfumes with so much “oooomph” and all my CdG bottles are proudly displayed on my shelves… but why is it that after years of going through the weirdest, most original niche scents… and I turn myself to Serge Lutens Clair de Musc or Montale White Musk?” To me, these are the most beautiful, pure, elegant scents. White, delicate musk is so calm,and sophisticated and oh…. just so pure and gorgeous. Clair de Musk is like a whisper of perfume on your skin…. Loving my white musks dearly, I am ready to move on and play with MKK by Serge Lutens or Musk to Musk by Montale… and I’d like to see what happens next!
And don’t forget Malle’s Musc Ravageur!
Sadly and happily I guess, I’m exiting these blogs. After 10 years of searching I have found the one in Profumum’s Vanitas. I have never recieved as many compliments on a fragrance as I have with this one. It lasts all day and evolves beautifully. That companies website is so cool too. You can tell they are true artists who live for ‘fume. But I am a Cancer, I need a comforting signature scent to live in. My “shell”, if you will. And it seems like a good time to exit, most of the great perfume blogs are all but skeletal remains now. I think everyone is spent and turned off by the amount of fragrances released today, not to mention the poor, poor quality of most. It’s exhausting and not fun anymore and I’m done! I think we’ve seen the best of the best now. It feels like it’s all downhill from here. NSP still has great reviews and is still reporting but there seems to be more open threads like these to fill the ever-increasing gaps. Marina from PST is missing, March from PP seems uninspired, Ina from Aromascope checked out completely, Tamara from For the Love Of Perfume had a baby but still, Victoria from Victorias Own has gone on to bigger and better things ,and Jenavira13 from Scent of Abricots might be dead, god forbid. She was a wonderful writer but fell off the face of the earth. And I think most telling of wear these blogs should and may be headed, is how Sali from Pink Manhattan has turned the focus of her blog to the issues of today’s real world, and not the release of Paris Hilton’s 13th fragrance!!! Interesting to see how this family of sorts has evolved in the last decade. As always, to each their own and I wish everyone a happy hunt but excitedly, I’m onto the next!!
Good luck, and enjoy your Vanitas!
This is my first time posting here, although I’m a longtime fan of this blog. I don’t know if it’s been written about here before, but I just discovered “Het Nederlands Parfumflessen Museum” (The Dutch Museum of Perfume Bottles) here in Holland last week, after a friend told me about it.
I absolutely LOVED my visit there and plan to go again in the future, even if it’s only to patronize their tiny shop area. The woman who established the museum has been collecting perfume bottles for 60 years (I have to say that she is very youthful-looking and I would have judged her to be in her late fifties). When her hobby got out of hand, she decided to open a museum. It is housed in a former town hall; the charming little building is several hundred years old. Visitors are led upstairs where she has a FABULOUS collection and she tells about the history of perfume, punctuated with amusing anecdotes and demonstrated with some of the bottles. Then visitors may view the collection (in locked glass displays). Oh be still, my heart! I was delighted to discover that she had a bottle of Niki by Niki de Saint Phalle. I always longed to see one “in person”. She announced that there will be an upcoming exhibition of Lalique, although she has a pretty impressive collection. She also had a perfumer’s “geur orgel” (scent organ) on display. This had lots of intriguing little apothecary-type bottles with the various components used for creating perfumes, before aldehydes were discovered.
The tiny downstairs area was divided into two main sections: A large counter containing numerous bottles of e.d.p. and e.d.t. , divided into women’s and men’s and organized according to scent groups. She handed out test strips of various scents and then visitors were encouraged to try some of the scents in their preferred group.
On the other side, was a fascinating glass-fronted counter with a gazillion scent miniatures for sale! I ended up buying six different new (for me) scents to try at my leisure at home. These were scents I had tried on during the testing.
That is why, for the past three days, I have been wearing “Amethyst” by Lalique and I am madly in love with it, although it is quite different from my usual taste in scents. I also bought are “Perles de Lalique”, which I am also in love with. I’m sure I’ll buy both of these in real bottles. The other four mini’s I bought are “Agent Provacateur”, which I had once sniffed in a shop and liked,
“Soir de Lune” by Sisley, “Gucci” by Gucci, and “Lalique pour Homme” (these last two because men’s scents often smell great on me). I have yet to try out these last four at home and live with them for a day or more to see how I like them… or not.
I’m recovering from a very serious illness and haven’t had a vacation in years. This day out was like a heavenly little vacation!
Here’s the website if you’re interested and ever in Holland.
http://www.parfummuseum.nl
I’m not usually this long-winded! 🙂
Jonette
Oops! I forgot to mention that the bottles all contain the original perfumes — most of them still full! I was shocked/heartbroken! The owner told me that she is the kind of collector who likes to collect intact bottles when possible. I asked why she didn’t decant them and refill the bottles with colored water; after all, no one would know and the perfumes would be worn and loved. But she just shrugged and said it was too much trouble and she didn’t have the time! Sigh. I keep thinking of all those wonderful aroma’s, locked away forever, growing old and undiscovered. This includes a big limited edition bottle of Lalique that I think she said cost over $ 2,000!
Jonette
I think that I would have offered to do the decanting for her – in exchange for a small sample, of course!
you betcha…Cynthia is on the right tract—I think a huge TEAM of us would be happy to do the decanting in exchange for some tiny samples! I might even “spill” a bit of something fabulous on Cynthia if she promises to equally accidentally *spill* something fabulous on me! –if you spill on yourself it just looks like you’re sneaking perfume and that would be cheating . 😉
I’d be happy to “accidentally” spill something fabulous on you anytime!
aww, thanks, you’re a dear! I’d be happy to return the favor! 😀
was wanting to get some opinions on Annick Goutal’s Gardenia Passion. Is it just me, or does someone else out there also find it dismal and grotesque? My daughter wouldn’t let me come within 5 feet of her with it on. 🙁 My BF said I smelled like a morgue.
Annick Goutal is not a really good house for me it seems….but I have to agree with your assessment—I received a sample with a purchase from somewhere (can’t remember now) and it was VILE. My daughter didn’t want to come near me either….I didn’t even want to be near me!
Well…. I’m of a different opinion – though I do understand it can be a bit of a polarizing scent.
Having met Gardenia Passion in the ’90s and purchased a whopping 4oz edp refill bottle in their Paris store in ’02 (the other being a large bottle of Rose Absolute), I can say it’s among my HGs. That said, you’ve GOT to like tuberose, or it’s a deal-breaker. Gardenia Passion is to me like a nice dry, aged white Bordeaux…. ok, at least dry, it’s got – or at least my version does – oakmoss at the base, and goes great with yellow or light, neutral colored sweaters…
It’s chilly and raining today, and the un-summery weather has put me in a nostalgic mood. Nowadays, I wear costly scents that I love, like Amouage Epic Woman. But I’m thinking back to my youth (growing up in the US) and cheap scents I loved back then and still remember with fondness. Anyone remember “Blue Waltz” cologne? I used to buy it at Woolworth’s. I even wore it sometimes in my late teens, and got great compliments from men and women. I recall some women being truly horrified when they learned they had complimented me on such a low-class scent.
I googled it this morning, and was delighted to discover it is still in production! I think I’m going to order a bottle, just for old time’s sake! Is there anything out there these days that is a more up-market, better version of Blue Waltz? (Am I a perfume snob?)
I also loved the scent of Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder. They sometimes brought it out as a cologne, usually for the Christmas season. I haven’t smelled it in 40 years. I wonder if I’d like it now.
Is there any perfume that resembles the original scent?
Other favorites as I grew up were Revlon’s “Intimate”, which became my signature scent for a number of years, “Tweed”, which I received as a present and loved to sniff from the bottle, but was not suitable for my tender years, “Jolie Madam”, and Dior’s “Diorama”. A boyfriend gave me “Fiji” which didn’t smell good on me. When I came to Holland, I discovered that a popular bathroom deodorizer smelled exactly like Fiji!
I’d love to hear about Blue Waltz and Cashmere Bouquet from others here.
Jonette