The usual open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you can't decide if you should buy or not, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Hellebore 3 [cropped] by geishaboy500 at flickr; some rights reserved.
So, I love aromatics and citrus, and also green. However I need to think about fragances for fall. I am about to buy some Demeter .5 oz bottles. Does anyone like any Demeter scents for fall and winter?
Eggnog!
I’ll second Eggnog. Holy Smoke, Fireplace, and Gingerbread also say “fall” to me.
Demeters are fun to play with. Combining Paperback with Whiskey & Tobacco always reminds me of Grandpa’s den. 🙂
Good morning all–well, I treated myself this week to one of Andy Tauer’s new Explorer Sets. A great deal for we perfume “hounds”!! Thanks Andy! Also, while on vacation a few weeks ago I visited the Bermuda Perfumery. It was a lovely space with a sweet little museum and a back garden where I had high tea (in about 1,000 degree weather, but never mind, I was in the shade of an umbrella!). Treated myself to a bottle of Jasmin, but was really impressed most by the men’s section, particularly “Cedar”. They have a nice sample set (one for men/one for women) that would be a great introduction to the line.
The little bottle of Oleander I bought reminded me of Bermuda every time I smelled it.
That’s how I felt about the Jasmin!! What a lovely place.
I ordered an Explorer Set too! I have been wanting bottles of Une Rose Chypree and Incense Rose FOREVER, but didn’t feel I needed a full 50 ml of both. So I got those two plus LADDM. So psyched for their arrival just in time for fall!
You will love all of those. Just got cool enough to break out the LDDM this week and it was wonderful.
I’m so happy that Tauer has the Explorer sets out now too! It would be nice if more niche brands did this, they’d probably get a lot of business from perfumistas who don’t want 100 ml (or even 50 ml) bottles.
Hello! I’ve been really busy recently (working on going back to school among other things) so haven’t had as much time for the perfume hobby and have been reaching for the things that I already own and enjoy instead.
I did just get back from a week abroad. I took a travel spray of OJ Tiare with me which served me incredibly well and someone gave me a bottle of Dior J’adore L’Eau Cologne Florale. Is anyone familiar with that one? I haven’t smelled any of the J’adores in years so I wonder if it’s even worth opening or if I should just pass it on.
Haven’t tried that J’adore flanker. When I was new to perfume, I tried J’adore several times, assuming that the fact I saw it everywhere meant that it must be very popular. It didn’t do it for me, though!
Good luck with school! I find I get sort of nostagic about my time as a student when I’m out of school for a while. . . 🙂
I was never a huge fan of J’adore myself and this is the second flanker of it that I’ve received as a gift. I guess I’ll just have to try it and see if it might work as an easy summer floral.
Thanks! I’ve been thinking about going back to study for a couple of years and I’m really excited that I’m finally in the position to actually do it. My family are being really supportive as well, which is particularly nice.
What are you going back to school for?
And so glad you’ve got the support of family! It is so scary to return to school after a long break–will the time and money be worth it?! I know I sure didn’t regret it, though!
I loved the J’Adore L’eau when I first sniffed it and asked my sister to get me a bottle for Christmas. I sprayed it on and was enjoying my first full wearing – until my husband came out and said “Do we have ants again in the bathroom?” Puzzled, I said “No – why?” He said “Well, I could tell you sprayed for bugs in there and I thought it must be for ants.” Sigh…. Of course, your mileage may vary, and I hope it does!
Abyss I’ve sniffed it and I would be, let’s say, pretty surprised if it turned out to be your thing!!
Miracle of miracles – it’s the first day of fall here in Austin and it’s actually cool!! I love it. Think I’m going to pull out Tableau de Parfums Miriam, one of the few perfumes in my collection that I never wear in hot weather, and go see a matinee of Austenland!
Just saw a preview of Austenland yesterday and want to see it. Do report back, please. It sparked a conversation in my friends as to which Austen character one should step in to play 😀 My best friend would be an Elinor or Jane. I hope the film is great fun. In any case, you’ll smell wonderful. Miriam is a delight. Enjoy!
It’s definitely a fun, well-written, well-acted little movie! Recommended – but only if you can do with some irreverence mixed in with your Austin! 😉
Irreverence and silliness are great! Though I love Austen’s work, it has not been canonized 😉 I hope to catch the film soon. It may not stay long–it is only showing in one theater and a few times daily here. I’m a sucker for Austen themed work.
If you haven’t seen it, do check the Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube. LBD just won an Emmy for their YouTube series. So, you see, I’m squarely in the target audience for Austenland. Thanks for checking it out. Have a lovely Sunday. (Hmm, feeling really off perfume topic here. . .so SOTD is Aroma M Geisha Blue–cosy and calm for a Sunday afternoon with tea and book :D)
It’s triple points time at Nordstrom. They have a couple of frag GWPs, including Diptyque and Baiser Vole. Skipping scent this time, I ordered a couple of lipsticks from Lipstick Queen, a brand I haven’t tried before.
Having a hard time deciding on scents at this transitional time of the yr…so far Eau Premiere has been a reasonable choice.
Oooh, off to check the beauty section, thanks!
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to say thank you for a fantastic swap last weekend. Looking excitedly forward to a partial bottle of OJ Woman and a fb ot Eau de Sud arriving in the mail. That was loads of fun. I’ve been super busy so absent for a few months on this site. It’s nice to see all the old familiar posters here.
For transition/fall: I just pulled out my bottle of Jacomo 08. I love its sweet, spicy, milky chai smell for the changing weather. It’s kind of a lightweight scent, but that’s what satisfies. Also, I just discovered a sample of Attar bazaar Persian amber in my mess of stuff. It’s super thick and scary brown and starts of kind of edgy but over time just gets sweeter and sweeter. It’s a really gorgeous rich amber. Can’t believe I overlooked it before. I think I was fixated on their Tunisian amber.
Anyone have a favorite amber based scent?
Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles is not incredibly original, but it’s really pretty. Someone here mentioned an Italian (?) amber as being both very good and very cheap…
I looooove Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles. My bottle is coming out in a month or so when it gets a little colder. You are right, it’s very pretty. I spray my scarves with it.
Yes, I’m just about to decant some now for a swap I did here last week! It’s L’Ambre de Carthage from Isabey. Although the LuckyScent review and a comment described it as quite masculine, I disagree. Perhaps because my skin amps sweetness and I find many ambers too sweet, but this one is very balanced yet full-bodied. Write me at standing (dot) armsakimbo (at) gmail (dot) com if you would like me to send you a sample. 🙂
Yes please! I will email you.
I found Amouage Opus VI–like all the Amouages, it’s a big scent, but I love its ambery hugeness. Perfect for fall, when the breeze can dilute some of the intensity.
I like Nobile 1942 Ambra Nobile. It’s not too sweet or too bland.
I’ll have to try. thanks!!
Ambra Aurea and Fiore d’Ambra by Profumum are really nice but a bit pricey. Although they claim to have a higher percentage of fragrance oils than the typical EDP so that might justify the price.
I think there was a basenote poll of favourite ambers and the 3 that came out top were Ambre Sultan, Ambre Russe and Ambre Precioux. I also like L’occitaine’s Eau de Beaux very much…
Oh thanks for letting us know! I just ‘graduated’ to ambers – before they were too much for me or turned too sweet on me (I’m a vanilla sweetener/amplifier) but now I’m really getting into them. I can’t wait to try these three!
Yes, Ambre Sultan is beautiful. I got a bottle from Beauty Encounter for a very good price several months ago. I think it is still discounted. Almost tempting to get a second bottle for back up.
I find Jacomo #8 so easy to wear! I can completely consider it as an early fall scent! I have been avoiding my fall scents so far, but whenever my denial over the end of summer comes to an end, I imagine J#8 will make it into my rotation, too!
Jacomo 8 is wonderful. I was just really enjoying the cloveyness of it today. Are there any other tea based frags that you like? I’m thinking tea and spicy gourmand is the way to go for fall. Plus amber of course!
Whenever folks discuss Jacomo #8, I always recommend that they try Tea for Two, as well. T42 is very similar, but a little more assertive and with a strong smokey note. On me, it borders on the smell of clove cigarettes! Unfortunately, word on the street is that it’s discontinued, but I think it’s still available online.
I’ve tried other tea scents, but those are my favorite two. The Jo Malone limited edition was ok, but like all of that line, very soft and a little too inoffensive for me! Bulgari Black is technically a tea scent, but I don’t get much tea from it–more rubber and spices. I have a lovely DSH perfume oil called Ceylon, which a honeyed tea scent, but I fear it may *also* be discontinued! Couldn’t find it the last time I wanted to order more. And just a note, the new Piguet Chai isn’t a tea scent at all, I’m sad to report.
Green tea scents don’t belong in the same category to my nose–much softer and greener as a whole.
Jacomo 8 has been mentioned so much recently, I have to try it asap. I’m just hoping that it isn’t too sweet.
I adore Atelier Cologne’s Oolang Infini — it’s not spicy, but it is a wonderful soft tea scent. Very comforting and very pretty.
Yet another Jacomo #8 fan. I don’t find it too sweet, Jonette; to me it’s just like chai tea.
I love Jacomo 08!
It just goes to show that you don’t have to break the bank to get a perfume that hits the spot.
Wearing Cuir de Lancome. Bye for now, summer perfumes…
I wore Cuir de L one night this week for the first time in months. SO GOOD!
I’m just about to put my Cuir de L away for the summer. See you in three months!
I usually like fragrances like Jo Malone, Love Chloe, Michael Kors, white florals and some fruity scents. I was looking for something for fall and winter and wondering if I would like Marni. It doesn’t sound like my usual type of perfume, but it seems like it is getting great reviews. Any thoughts?
Everyone at NST seems to love Marni. I was really excited to try it, so I got a sample from Nordstrom. Unfortunately, I can’t smell any of the spices and the wood is really faint and fleeting and it dries down to something generic on me. But that must just be me and my skin and/or nose?
Speaking of Nordstrom, I much prefer them to Macy’s. When I walk through Macy’s, the folks with the basket of free stuff offer it to the folks in front of me, but when I walk by they act like they can’t see me. Not that I want their free stuff — I’d probably be allergic to it anyway 🙂 The folks at Nordstrom don’t treat me as if I’m invisible and treat me with the respect due to a fellow human being.
I agree–I’ve had much better service at Nordstroms than Macys. My suspicion, based on conversations here before and personal observations, is that the Macy’s folks have been given some very specific directions on what to sell. I know my Macy’s is also not really all Macy’s–I’ve had SAs tell me that they only know their section of the fragrance counter, that they don’t work for the other vendors. Never ran into that fragmentation at Nordstroms. Thad said, the “fancy” Nordies downtown seems to prefer me more when I have make-up on look cuter!
Oh, thank the gods for Saturdays!
This has been such a long week! I worked nearly 12 hours on Thursday, hoping I’d be caught up. But no, I had to put in nearly 11 hours yesterday, too. Now I have a “plan” for my classes next week, but I can feel that they aren’t quite settled in my head. Might have to rearrange some things on Monday. . . *sigh*
Lots of neglected house things to do this weekend, but it looks like it will be a pretty day, and I slept in a bit this morning, so that will make it more pleasant! I also have a wedding reception to attend this evening, so that will be fun!
One of my “chores” is going to try to get to the post office in the 4 hours that they’re actually open today. . . gotta send out nearly 10 packages from last weekend’s swapping! I fear postal service is becoming an anachronism, and it makes me sad! Glad I can do my part to support them this weekend–assuming I can get there in time! 🙂
My mother is a retired teacher, and she put in her fair share of long days, too.
They were threatening to close the Post Office on Saturdays, and I so glad that that didn’t happen.
When I was student teaching many years back, I was fortunate enough to work with two teachers who had over 20 years under their belts. Knowing that about 50% of new teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years, I was especially paying attention to what strategies they used that seemed to make the work not overwhelming.
It was especially notable that neither EVER worked more than 8 1/2 hours a day–they’d figured out ways to do the work well without constantly being at work! I have really tried to live to that model (well, I’ve stuck to 9ish hours/day), but this year, with so many changes in my school, I might just have to accept longer hours for a while. I literally have twice as many “preps” as I’m accustomed to, since they’ve cut a science teacher from my building. Hopefully, I’ll figure out a rhythm soon!
Oh, and an update on my missing perfume shipment. . .
My payment was reversed by the credit card company. Barney’s told me to place the order again. When I suggested that I wasn’t super-pleased with the FedEx service I got–didn’t require a signature and left it at my front door, exposed to the world–they suggested I’d order it on 2-day expedited delivery and they’d reverse the $25 charge. 2-day requires a signature or pick-up at their office. I picked it up on Wednesday after work!
Very pleased to have my perfume, still not in love with FedEx! (I had to wait 40 minutes for my package once I got to their office just before 5–the box was still in the delivery truck, and the fella wasn’t back for the day, yet!) Anyway, two lovely, luxuriously large bottles of L’eau d’hiver and Lipstick Rose are now mine! 🙂
Yay!!! I like happy endings.
You’re such a romantic! 😉
I’m so very glad you finally have your perfumes! It has been quite a battle, and I’m so glad you persevered. Thanks for the rest of the story. Enjoy your gorgeous FMs, and spray lavishly 😀 Now you have to make the big decision of which to wear first!
Yeah, you know what I’ve noticed? 100mL is really a lot bigger than 50! 😀
Might encourage a perfumista to get lavish. . .
I have issues with getting packages too, but mine are the reverse of yours. I haven’t had trouble yet with packages being left on my front doorstep yet, but it would only take one time to ruin it for me. Our front door is set pretty far back from the front edge of the house, and the house is painted a light brown that is almost the same color as a brown box, so packages on the front porch are camouflaged. Packages requiring signatures are a problem. I don’t get off from work until 5:30 on a good day, the nearest FedEx pickup location is over 40 miles away, and I can only get to the Post Office on Saturday morning. I think the UPS office is open until 7, but once when I went there to get a package that was undelivered because of no one being home during the day, the driver hadn’t returned by 7 and they made me leave. My employer does not allow us to receive personal packages at work. If a package has a name of a vendor that they recognize as being not work-related, it is refused. Package tracking is great, but it doesn’t let you know when to expect a package until after it is shipped, and even then the delivery date can change. I wish someone could come up with a better system for working people to get stuff without worrying about it being stolen or having to use vacation time to go to the Post Office/FedEx/UPS location.
Do you have a friend or neighbor that you could have things delivered to who could sign for you? We used to have issues and then I started having things sent to my hubby’s office. Before that he used to have stuff sent to his mom’s. She was good for that because she doesn’t work or drive and was always home to sign.
My boyfriend has reminded me several times already that as he works from home, he’d be happy to accept packages for me.
(Did you note that–*boyfriend*? Yup, it’s official. Mr. Spicebomb (microfiche) and I are more than dalliance! 😀 )
more than *a* dalliance, that is! 🙂
Just in case the grammar police are out today. :]
Boyfriend, now, eh? (squeals with girlish delight)
Thank you for your glee! I’m pretty happy about it, too! Haven’t had a fella in my life that I felt comfortable labeling a boyfriend in YEARS! 😀 I even discontinued my subscription to Match. . .
Marjorie has a boyfriend!
Marjorie has a boyfriend!
Hahahaha! Thank you Poodle for your friendly taunting! 😀
Woo hoo!
Oh, what happy news! The eternal romantic in me is sighing with pleasure.
Nice 🙂
A boyfriend who is willing to accept delivery of your perfume packages? Sounds great! 😉
My husband is home a lot during the day (he mostly works in the evening), so he usually can receive/sign for packages. The problem is when he can’t be there and a package requires a signature. We really don’t have anyone else we can use. Sometimes I have had no idea I would have to sign for a package until after the order was completed, sometimes not until a day or two later in a shipment notification, as there was no indication during the checkout process that it would be so. In those cases, even if I had someone else able to receive the package for me, it is too late to change the shipping address once the order had been processed.
I really do find it terribly frustrating! And there *must* be a better way! Like you, my job does not easily allow for me to get to offices during normal business hours, and teachers get nothing like a lunch hour–maybe a lunch 25 minutes–in which to run errands!
And while I can wax nearly patriotic about the US post office after having lived in Madagascar, where the inefficiency and corruption were endlessly frustrating, they really need to do better here! The hours are too limited, the buildings are old, and dark, and unpleasant. The workers are clearly unhappy, leading to often poor service. I wonder what it would take so that they could run it more like a business and less like a government service?
Madagascar?! You must have seen some awesome animals!
Yeah–it’s a ecology-nerd heaven! I spent a month doing lemur censusing while I was there. The nonprofit I coordinated with also asked me to keep a running log of other interesting critters I encountered while I was “en brousse.” I can’t imagine how much different that work would be now with internet being more accessible around the world! Might have done a better job officially identifying things!
Ecology nerd heaven, indeed!
I’m happy you finally got the perfumes and that they were worth the wait! You smell wonderful.
Thanks!
Good to hear! Smart of Barney’s to pick up that $25 fee.
Yes, I’ve been very pleased with the service from Barney’s in all of this!
Congrats on the guy and the wonderful Malles; not sure which is more exciting, lol!
Ha! Unfortunately, in my experience it is *MUCH* easier to find a satisfying fragrance than a satisfying relationship!
Good evening friends!
I’m sending fragrant wishes from Warsaw to all of you. I’m here for an internship and will be going back home next Saturday, after a perfume workshop where Olivier Durbano will be a special guest. Can’t wait!
Today I had a day off so I met with my Warsaw friends and we had a sniffa! It was superb.
After the day I’m impressed with Phaedon Tabac Rouge and new Violette Fumee from Mona di Orio house.
Is the violet in Violette Fumee prominent? I love violet.
No, it’s not a prominent violet to me and it kind of stops smelling of violet shortly after application. Plus it’s quite masculine. Unusual.
Dearest Lucas…you know I have no discipline when it comes to perfumes. I just leminged this and ordered a decant, unsniffed!
Oh sweetie! I give you so many lemmings that I’m getting excited for you and a bit embarrassed as well…
Which one was the lemming this time? Mona di Orio I suppose?
Yup..the Violette Fumee 🙂
Happy weekend, everyone!
My scent of the morning was Blackberry & Bay, and post-workout and shower, I’m in Bottega Veneta.
I’d love any London fragrance shopping tips any of you might have – I’m heading over to the UK on Thursday for a much needed vacation. At home (Ottawa, Canada) I really don’t have access to anything much outside of the mass marketed brands (thank goodness for decanted!), so I’m looking forward to trying everything I can get my nose on. I’d also love to hear any non-fragrance related London advice, if we are allowed to veer off topic.
This is a timely question! I was in London in August and I guest-posted at lucasai’s Chemist in the Bottle blog. Lucas left a comment one above yours…just click on his name 🙂
Thank you! I found your post and enjoyed it very much!
Thanks for reading it. I agree with all of Abyss’ suggestions, especially if you have any hankering at all for Ormonde Jayne perfumes as the shipping fee is exhorbitant due to ridiculous postal regulations.
What a wonderful trip, Hajusuuri! Great post!
Thanks for reading it Nozknoz. It was my first full-length posting and it took a while for me to be satisfied with it. I have a lot of admiration for people who maintain blogs and posts regularly!
I would head straight for one of the Ormonde Jayne shops. Perhaps the one around Sloane Square because you’ll then also be in the vicinity of Les Senteurs, Amouage boutique, Jo Malone, Harrods (complete with Roja Dove’s Urban Retreat!) and Hermes. There’s also a Nicolai shop close by. Then head to Liberty and Selfridges. Covent Gargen for L’Artisan.
You’ll be really spoilt for choice in London, have fun!
All the suggestions above for perfume. As a side note, I found the service at harvey nichols better than liberty. The roja dove (5th floor at harrods) has the advantage of people not hovering while you pick.
On non perfume things, if you are at harrods, don’t miss the v&a museum just down the road. If you are into gowns, textiles particularly. Is there any particular thing you are intersted in?
Also, the food hall at harrods is generally overpriced. (Food) Fortnum n mason is pricey but at least worth the price. Personal opinion.
All – Robin kindly left the Swap Meet Episode 3 open. I just posted my Freebies post — do go check it out!
https://freebox.it.com/2013/09/14/the-swapmeet-episode-3/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Just adding…it will be open thru Monday.
I have finally tried a salt scent that I “get”–Durango from En voyage. it’s not trying to be aquatic; it’s salty skin under a clear blue desert sky. somehow Durango manages to convey spaciousness while the salt centers it.. Very fabulous and going onto the FBW list
I like salt and am curious to try more scents with it. Thanks for mentioning this one. I’ll have to remember to look for it.
Thanks for mentioning this. I, too, have been searching for a ‘salt’ scent, so I shall have to seek this out.
Finally a day that feels like fall. It’s raining here and I have missed the rain for months. I am wearing a sample of Worth Courtesan today. Sadly, I get initial vanilla and then some faint wood, certainly not the seductive scent I was anticipating from the name. I don’t know if reformulation has gutted it or what has happened, but it is a scent I don’t need to try again or keep.
Sorry but I cannot remember it, although I know I tried it.
SOTD: Eau d’Italie Paestum Rose – great for the transition from summer to fall.
That’s a nice one but it doesn’t get mentioned much it seems.
I don’t wear it often but sometimes nothing else will do!
Yes, perfect.
My birthday is this Thursday, so I’m looking forward to that. Gonna be 34. Crossing my fingers and hoping some nice-smelling surprises are coming my way. 😀 I got a bottle of Mitsouko for my b-day last year, so who knows.
Happy Birthday a bit early! Ah, I remember 34!!! I think that I wore Armani then…..something with an 80’s feel. Hope your day is happy and your year ahead terrific. Don’t forget to treat yourself to something smelly!!
Happy birthday! I’ll cross my fingers and hope you get some fragrant presents too.
Happy Birthday! I was a newlywed at 34…I think I was wearing Diane von Furstenberg’s Tatiana around then. It must be long discontinued by now.
Tatiana used to be so gorgeous.
Yes, indeed. Sigh.
Happy Birthday in advance. Mitsouko is a hard act to follow. 🙂 I hope you receive something wonderfully fragrant this year, too.
Aw thanks for the early birthday wishes, everybody!
SOTD: Bn9 West Broadway
SOTDY (yesterday) Jo Malone Vanilla and Anise, and then later applied Mugler A*Men Le Gout du Parfum on top of it – Yum!
Not sure what frg to wear to an outdoor party later this afternoon, it has turned cooler and is a beautiful fall day. Decisions, decisions… 🙂
For the last day of Summer 2013, I am wearing Heeley Sel Marin; very marine, ocean, sea-air and sea-salt! Then starting tomorrow, I’ll break out the thick, heavier scents…i.e. Tuberose, Oud+Rose, Incense, Woods, Herbaceous, Greens (Pine-y, forest-y)…
Heavier florals, even florals for women, when mixed with my own chemistry smell totally different giving the feminine florals a dirty, animallic, masculine edge!
Sel Marin is very special.
Has anyone ever heard of Parfums Charles de Cappy? I bought a bottle of “Iris Noir” EDT, which looks ’70s or ’80s in origin, in an op shop. Lo and behold, I’m rather enjoying it but I’m struggling to learn anything about its origins.
I have not, sorry.
Swung by Atelier Cologne’s shop a bit after 12 noon today they still were not open! I was hoping to try Silver Iris and Gold Leather. So much for the city that never sleeps 😉
A few doors down I popped into Tory Burch to see if her new (and first) fragrance was out, and indeed it was. The gal there gave me a spray on a card and wow did my nose smell Cliniques Happy scent. My mind was drawing a blank at the time but later on it came to me, and I can’t say I’m super fond of Happy. Nevertheless I took the one spray sample they offered me and off I went.
I’m a Tory Burch fan, I appreciate her style, but that new scent did not do it for me… and it also seemed too fruity floral for TB, but there it is.
SOTD: JM Agava & Cacao.
Was very surprised at the TB, although I only tried it very quickly on paper at Bloomies.
Surprised and disappointed. I knew the notes, and wasn’t excited, but I was still a little hopeful. She’s impressive and I guess I just expected something really wonderful.
I do like the packaging. I think she did a nice job with that.
I did not get to see the packaging in person — Bloomies just had a little lab bottle. But it did look nice in pictures.
Hi everyone! So this is the first weekend in a while where I haven’t been dealing with a sick parent or a sick dog. (knocking on wood) My little poodle was officially diagnosed with Cushing’s disease and she’s started meds. She goes for another test next week to check the levels and tweak the dosage. I’m hoping she’ll start feeling a bit better.
I haven’t bought any perfumes lately with all the vet bills piling up but I am saving my pennies for Sniffapalooza. I’ll probably need more than pennies though.
Poodle, have you ever attended a Sniffapalooza? Just looked at their site, and it sounds fun, but like an olfactory overload. Can you sort of pick & choose the events you want to attend? Think I’d enjoy the samples/giveaways, and try not to sniff too much.
I’ve never been and my sinuses will probably shut down by noon. Lol. It will be fun though. I’m looking forward to the fumes but more so I’m looking forward to meeting people and finally putting some faces with the names. I have these mental images of what I expect certain people will look like and it’ll be interesting to see just how wrong I am.
I’m glad that you finally have a diagnosis for your dog. I hope that the meds work. Years ago, my mother-in-law had an old horse with Cushing’s. He was a sweet old guy with lots of personality.
Thanks. It’s been a rough summer with her. Within two days of starting the pills she was back to laying on the furniture which she hadn’t done in months. It was always the hardwood floor. I’m seeing other little changes too. I know it’s not a cure but I just want her to feel better.
Hi Poodle,
I’m glad you’ve got a diagnosis for your little dog. My friend’s Corgi had Cushings and Prednisone (much as I hate that drug, it does work wonders) extended its life and made it more normal. Hug your doggy for me.
Just got the Ormonde Jayne Woman partial bottle in the mail today. I swapped blindly based on what I had heard about this perfume and oh my dear gods is it ever a bewitching beauty. Reminds me of walking in the woods when the fallen leaves are just starting to get that slightly green/musty smell. Perfect for this time of year. Already trying to figure out how to get more of that juice. Thank you so much Merrily Row.
OJ Woman was my first true SWOOOOOoooon of a scent! I sniffed it and I suddenly understood what fragrance could be! It spoiled me instantly and probably helped push me into fragrance snobbiness. So glad you’re enjoying it! (I’ve heard rumors that some people inexplicably don’t enjoy it as much as I do!)
I had a 1 ml sample of OJ Woman, dabbed about half on, and was underwhelmed. Do I need to spray it or use more? It was…nice, but not something I had to have, like I HAD to have a bottle of CdG Kyoto after using up the sample.
Gosh, it’s so hard to say! It’s possible we just have different tastes. I’ve also heard folks say that there’s some aromachemicals in OJ Woman (and some other OJ scents) that many are anosmic to, so they don’t get the full heft of the scents. But yes, I certainly prefer a full spray of it over a dab!
I have heard so many people praise it–I’ll give it another try sometime soon and spray liberally.
None of the OJ scents have ever done anything for me. I envy those of you who love them.
I usually don’t wear perfume as an epitaph, but New Jersey by United Scents is today’s small tribute to the Seaside Boardwalk. It struck me as cheap and cheerful at first; after the hurricane, it struck a note of hope for rebuilding, but now it is a memento of something really truly lost & gone forever.
Between the hurricane and the fire it really is awful.
Yes. 🙁 For a time it looked as though our Boardwalk might have a second life.
Jillie’s guest post on Bois de Jasmine yesterday highlighted Balenciaga Le Dix, which encouraged me to get it out today. To me there’s nothing else like it. The post invites readers to assign perfumes to favorite film stars, and I want to follow up on other suggestions, too.
Also wearing SL Bois de Violette these days.
That was a great scent.
I’m so glad you’re wearing Le Dix – I reckon that it has to be my favourite perfume, and there is truly nothing else like it. I am lucky that I’ve got several backup bottles, but don’t know what I’ll do when they’re gone …. I now want to smell the Bois de Violette!
This comment is of course for you, Nozknoz!
BdV is very different from Le Dix, but also wonderful. Le Dix has a touch of bitterness that makes it a leather to my nose. BdV is more like an amber to me; it’s a bit like Attrape Coeur but not that sweet. It’s definitely worth a try!
I’m thinking of gilding the lily and trying them layered. 🙂
Blind bought a sealed vintage chant d’aromes edt from oxfam, and fortunately, i love it. It is really pretty, soft and green perfume, which makes me understand the love for oak moss . Funnily enough, i think it makes me itch (vtg no 19 does the same thing) so apparently it is an allegern (for me).
Although all that means for me is putting the perfume on clothes instead of skin.
Glad it worked out!
Hello, Robin and the rest of you. Excuse my english, it is not my first language. I want to compliment this site – the users and writers are nearly always polite, reflected and opinionated, so the tone is always pleasent but not watered down. I have been reading this site for about three years now, and it has really helped spark my interest in perfume. The reviews are both nuanced and well-written.
As for my next purchase, a Hermes counter just opened near me. Eau de Merveilles is really lovely. It reminds me of the summer holidays with my family in Cannes. I love that the salt note is so prominent. I tried Azemour from Parfum d’Empire, which was charming, but I really wished the salt note had been stronger. All in all, I am really glad I found Eau de Merveilles, although I wish I had found it earlier in the summer. It seems just perfect for warm days working indoors.
Excuse your English? What’s to excuse? I’d never have known it wasn’t your first language. Your sentences are clearer than mine are sometimes and it’s my first and only language. 🙂
Welcome! Eau de Merveilles is lovely and I think it works in any season.
Welcome!
Ditto, your English is wonderful!
Suddenly occurs to me that Azemour & Merveilles might layer really nicely!
Happy Autumnal Equinox! It will be at 1:44 PM for those of us on the West Coast. It rained yesterday and that made a frog start croaking in my backyard. It’s actually a bit chilly in the house. It will be hard to choose a SOTD because the cooler weather has really opened up my choices.
This bad cold is still working its way through my system, so I still can’t smell. However, I had a perfume dream! in the dream, I was getting dressed to go somewhere special and needed just the right fragrance. I spritzed on Diorama. There was the hounds tooth bottle, in my perfume closet, and the scent was as wonderful as I remembered.
Real life: I used to wear Diorama in the early ’60s. I haven’t smelled it since. I know it’s been reformulated, and I’m afraid to try it and be disappointed. Is there anything currently available that strongly resembles vintage Diorama? That peculiar dream is haunting me!
Funny (or maybe not) that you would dream about perfume when you can’t smell!
Can’t think of anything close enough to matter. But do see Angie’s reviews, she at least suggests things that fill the same sort of slot:
https://freebox.it.com/2011/02/21/christian-dior-diorama-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thanks, Robin. I did read Angela’s article but was hoping for even more leads.
That’s an amazing dream, Jonette!
LT describes the original as “a sunny orange-peel version of Mitsouko.” That’s a tall order! I think maybe PdN Maharanih is a chypre with an orange peel note, and there’s PG Aznevour. Please let us know if you find anything similar to Diorama!
Good call on the the Maharanih, not that I have ever smelled Diorama but Maharanih is a perfume of such character and presence that I can easily imagine it in the same league as a classic Dior in its glory days. And yet I hardly ever wear Maharanih. It is one of the strangest and most exuberant perfumes I have ever smelled but I find it just too distracting, at least for ordinary occasions. If M. has a fault it may be that there is just too much going on in it, too many unresolved details.
Thanks, Nozknoz. I haven’t tried either of these, but will certainly try to get my hands on samples. I promise to report back.
Thanks to you, too, Annemarie.
It was my birthday today and my guy took me perfume shopping:)
I had already realised which one we were both going to like so I was surprised when he mentioned quite what an expedition perfume-shopping is! Apparently I had spent almost an hour having him smell a few other things I liked before going to the shop which had the one I already knew he liked, and which I liked too:)
As expected, I was very happy to come home with Tubereuse Criminelle! It is both my first, and my favourite tuberose:)
I also bought myself Santa Maria’s Nostalgia on Friday. I have been looking for a leather to love for a long time, and I really enjoy this one. I am also fond of Mughetto…
Happy birthday, and congrats on your new bottles!
Thanks Robin:)
I found a shop selling vintage clothes and also Santa Maria Novella about a week ago. They are charging R600 ($60) a bottle. When I went home to look, these are selling for about double that in another city – and in the US too. I don’t want to ask in case they say – ‘What! We better double the prices!’ But I assume they are discontinued given that they only have about 6 or 7 in the range – no Patchouli, and no Fieno though.
People seem to compare Nostalgia to Bulgai Black, and some say it is like a cross between Bal a Versaille and Femme, but to me it smells a little like Lush’s Voice of Reason (though I find that one almost repelling) and Tauer’s Lonestar Memory (which I like very much but can be way too much if worn too often!) This is more subtle and subdued after the petrochemical top notes have dissipated:)
Wow, that’s quite a deal! Wish I could find a bottle of Eva for that price.
The only scent I’m familiar with from SMN is their patchouli. I’ve commented on NST before about how many years I’ve had this bottle, which I bought from a friend. It was nearly full at the time. I’ve used it many times over the years and now it’s about 1/4 full. I think I’ve had it for 12 years or more and it still smells great! It is STRONG stuff, so just a small dab or two will last a day and anything more will clear a city block ! The juice in my bottle is now dark, so maybe it isn’t as good as it was originally but I can’t tell. I like to layer it with Yardley Evelyn Rose, which always nets me compliments (mostly from other women).
The patchouli soap from SMN is absolutely fantastic! Once the packaging was removed, it scented the entire bathroom and a bit beyond.
So my experience with this brand is that it delivers great quality for the high price tag. I plan to order a new bottle of the patchouli, just because I think the old one has had a long enough run. I’ll use the old stuff judiciously to scent my bath water.
A friend of mine visited their shop in London a couple of years ago with instructions to buy/get samples of some of their scents for me. They were very snobbish and also insisted that they didn’t make samples available. So I will probably need to order samples from an online supplier.
Just editing my comment: I wrote Yardley, but it should have been Crabtree and Evelyn’s Evelyn Rose.
Happy birthday!
Thanks Poodle!:))
Eva is another they don’t have. And that Patchouli really sounds fantastic! I don’t think they are known for very good longevity or sillage, so I think that may be unique to the Patchouli?
They had one bottle of Rosa left, and part of me wants to scoop it up, but, though I usually prefer rose, the Mugghto suits me better this time:)
The Citta de Kyoto was very nice but vanished much too quickly, and the Ginestra was a nice floral but perhaps too sunny in disposition!
The Melograno seems to be one of the best known, but I’m not sure I’m a fan of those aldehydes!
Finally coming out of lurking to say hello and how much I value this site as a new perfumista. I found NST and the world of perfume through Alyssa Harad’s wonderful book a year or so ago and haven’t stopped sniffing yet!
My current scent obsession is SJP’s Lovely and I’m reading Chandler Burr’s The Perfect Scent and it’s really fascinating getting to know some of what goes on behind the bottle.
Thanks again for this site and it’s followers! I learn more every time I log on!
I’m pretty new myself in the world of perfume. Although I’ve been around it all my life, I never really took it seriously. Now it really is a highlight of my day to check out what’s happening on this blog. I too have learned a ton, and it’s just a fun community of people.
Welcome! I love it when the lurkers de-cloak!
Welcome! Hope we’ll see you again 🙂
Happy Birthday! Congrats on your perfume. It’s another one I need to try — I have no idea how tuberose smells. How sweet of your guy to go perfume shopping with you.
Thanks Jonette! It’s actually 12:14 now, so birthday officially over, lol!
He asked what I would like for a BD gift and I suggested that he come shopping with me, and buy me a perfume we both liked! (on me, since he can’t be bothered to wear frag -).
Since he has brought me perfume (from overseas) before he already knew that we wouldn’t be looking at any Coty!
The first few times I tried Tubereuse Criminelle (some months ago) I was ok with the ‘winter-green’ top notes but had to scrub it off once the more obvious tuberose came though! Somehow, though, its a note I’v learned to love – especially in this menthol-y variation:) Tuberose Gardenia by Estee Lauder is a lighter softer one that I also like now – and – I’m even coming around to Poison, lol!
It’s rainy. It is “for real” fall now, I’ve got on vintage Scherrer and it is the best chypre, bit of citrus and animal with that touch of “what is is that…” smoky mystery.
Does anyone have any BPAL favorites for fall? I’ve never tried any of their scents… are they worth exploring? I never read anything about them on here, so…
I haven’t tried that many BPAL scents but I do have a couple of favorites and they are both rather suitable for fall! I am very fond of both Miskatonic University and Snake Oil! Miskatonic University is a warm, woody and creamy coffee scent, it is quite simple but so gorgeous! Snake Oil is a spicy, oriental and slightly medicinal vanilla, really unique!
That said I’m not very fond of the company itself, their customer service or the hype surrounding BPAL. There are a lot of indie companies that I much rather support! All of my BPAL samples have been aquired through swaps and care packages. But I do believe that I will have to order Snake Oil and Miskatonic University at some point…
I just found my future signature scent/the perfect one/the holy grail (I think)! Sova by Slumberhouse, I am yours (right now at least)!!