Happy hump day, and happy birthday to Judi Dench! What fragrance are you wearing?
I picked Providence Perfume Co Samarinda.
Reminder: this Friday, 12/11, wear a perfume by Pierre Bourdon, if you have one.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2015, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image via Reminiscence Paris at LinkedIn.
My favorite scent is what I’m wearing today– Milk of Flowers
Hope it is a perfect day!
Any day that includes getting a massage is a good day
Yes!
Happy birthday to Dame Judy! I am wearing Copal Azur today.
You smell great…
One of my favorites!
Hump day indeed! And ONE WEEK until Star Wars: The Force Awakens! YEAH BABY!! 🙂
Feeling elegant today in Lubin’s Black Jade. What a gorgeous scent…This will be my 1st FB purchase of 2016, when I’ve saved enough pennies…..
THANK YOU SHOUT OUT to whoever mentioned buying from The Perfumed Court yesterday! I bought a sample set and used the code to get 36% off! Awesome! And…it’s a local business in the Atlanta area, so I’m happy to support them going forward! 🙂
Woot! I think I’m going to a midnight showing of Star Wars. A friend of mine posted about getting tix on Facebook and next thing I know my hubs has responded with “YES FOR US!”
A friend of ours bought tix for Thurs, 12/17 for his family…..and then his 2 (adult) children found out they wouldn’t be in town that night!
So….The hubs and I are going to double date with them instead! Can’t wait….
We’ll see it many times. I’ve got 3 kids who are READY to see this film too! 🙂
I really like Black Jade too. You smell great!
I’m in the Atlanta area too! I also took advantage of the sample sale at The Perfumed Court yesterday, and I was pleased to see that they’re local. A great selection of scents in testable sizes, and local to boot. It’s a win/win.
Black Jade is really lovely, and I need to consider a full bottle in 2016! I could totally see a Queen wearing it!
Man, Ithink I have reached peak Star Wars- Star Wars makeup, toys, shirts, pants, posters, magazines. I am surprised there is a not a Star Wars perfume, honestly ( I nominate Tabac Blonde for Hans and Lando, Chanel 19 for Leia and 4711 for Luke).
Yeah, baby, Star Wars! Watching the entire series with the kids to prepare them for the big day. The boy is sooo into it. 🙂
Love Judi Dench! Happy Birthday to her! She is such a great actress.
Today, just some Shalimar dusting powder which smells divine….
You smell lovely!
I was just thinking – have you had the experience of things smelling differently on you during pregnancy? As someone who hopes to eventually have children one day, I wonder about that.
Also hope you’re feeling well and that baby 1 and baby 2 in utero are both behaving! 🙂
My sense of smell was totally affected while pregnant. Things smelled very intense to me. I could only wear a very little bit of fragrance. I had morning sickness for almost the entire time, so fragrances mostly weren’t that interesting to me. I didn’t really get back into frags until about 6 months after I gave birth. You just have no idea what will happen. I enjoyed wearing drugstore Chantilly b/c is is very soft and almost not there.
Yes!
My nose is like the nose of a fox!
This pregnancy I’m actually allowed to wear perfume without feeling nauseated or bothered by it. When I was pregnant with baby number one I had a really hard time. Besides perfume, you’re strong sense of smell can affect the things that you eat for instance: I loved it when my husband would make ratatouille and when I became pregnant I couldn’t stand the smell of baked vegetables.
Hope you don’t mind my commenting here. I’ve always leaned toward orientals. But when I was pregnant with my daughter (late 70s) I developed a craving for L’Air du Temps, white floral. Wore it every day, till I had her, then never again. Didn’t develop an aversion to it, just wasn’t interested.
Actually, same with oranges. I seldom eat them, the acid doesn’t sit well with me. Craved them during pregnancy, then lost interest.
So crazy how the body and sense of smell work! I am not a big dairy person but during this pregnancy I want milk or chocolate milk. I am sure that will go away once I give birth. Interesting about L’Air de Temps, after you were pregnant did you wear a fragrance at all or just switched around?
Just went back to orientals, till the last year or so – 35 years.
I’m wearing Worth Courtesan by Mr. Bourdon, which is like a fresher, flirtier version of FdB.
Just got a sample of that – must go try it on now to assess.
I’m not sure I would have made the connection if you hadn’t said it, but you’re right!
Perhaps I’m a Bourdonian.
It’s pretty, right?
Definitely! There’s a romantic touch to both of them that I can see much more clearly now thanks to you. May be time for me to explore the rest of his work…
And now I’m reading about his eponymous line and wishing I could try it.
The original Dolce Vita was awesome too (same family) but the reform is pretty gross IMO.
Forgot that was Bourdon. I have drops left in my decant. Love the dry down which smells like lived-in skin and almost a perfect musk to me. Time to re-up perhaps…
Yes, the musk is so nice in it. I am also at the end of my decant.
Doused myself in Cuir de Lancome today. I can’t put my finger on exactly why this and Cuir de Russie are so perfect for the workplace, but it’s remarkable how a scent can be both beautiful and no-nonsense. I love it.
Ha! Those are my go-to office scents as well. You smell great.
I need to take a trip to Philly so we can waft at each other some time 🙂
More like I need to take a trip to NY so we can hang at some perfume shops (and waft each other 🙂 )! Philly is a real dead zone for perfume stuffs. The closest place is King of Prussia, but even the selection there is meager.
Come on over!! We’ll have an adventure!
Not even joking by the way…do come if you’d like! I’d love to meet you in person.
Yes, Yes, please let us know when you’re in town!!!
You two are seriously tempting me! The hubs and I have off for a week between xmas and NYE, so maybe I’ll see if we can swing a trip. It’s been a few years since we’ve been. All depends on finances though. I’ll let you know. 🙂
Should I get Cuir de Lancome?
I keep reading great things about it and I L.O.V.E. leather fragrances.
But it is often compared to Cuir de Russie, which does nothing for me.
FWIW I find them very different–I like Cuir de Russie quite a bit, but while I agree with the consensus about Cuir de Lancome’s beauty, I just can’t wear it. Too sweet and powdery for me. My variation on ihadanidea’s take might have been to say that Cuir de Russie feels to me like a no-nonsense version of Cuir de Lancome–to me CdL is a much gentler, sweets-for-the-sweet leather. Like Cuir de Russie by way of a cupcake shop. Ok I’m going to stop talking before I really get in trouble with the very very many CdL partisans 🙂
I actually think this is a fairly spot on description of CdL. I like both and CdR is a very no-nonsense sort of fragrance for me, whereas when I’m feeling more casual, CdL works better.
Whew! Would hate to raise the ire of CdL fans–I know you are legion 🙂
I cannot bear Cuir de Russie (ducks flying missiles).
And yes, I’ve tried it a bazillion times. Vintage, current, EdT, parfum, Les Exclusifs, every version I could get my mitts on, in several different weathers and moods. It worked ONCE. Only ONCE was it “leather luxury car seat” rather than “cattle working pens.” I’ve given up.
But Cuir de Lancome I truly love, and I mention it because an aversion to the Chanel (and I get on fine with classic Chanels!) doesn’t mean you’ll hate the Lancome.
It’s not that I dislike Cuir de Russie, but I find it too polished, too polite. My idea of a good leather fragrance is Cabochard. Where CdR just happens to be wearing leather gloves, Cobochard uses those leather gloves to slap you across the face.
Cuir de Lancome would never think of slapping anyone, and though I haven’t smelled Cabochard, my guess is that is would be more floral and pretty than you’re looking for.
Yes, I want more on the Cabochard end of the spectrum too!
And just to truly confuse you, I’ll present a third opinion! Ha!
Cuir de Lancome is not sweet on me, and though perhaps if I had to choose which scent was sweeter – CdR or CdL – I guess I’d choose CdL, sweet isn’t a word I would use to describe it on my skin. Again, my skin does weird things with lots of perfumes, so take that with a grain of salt.
I love them both and experience them on my skin as being fairly similar, but I will have to do a side by side comparison some time soon.
You smell great. I have CdR and it’s great either for teh Workplace OR for the weekend. I love the scent when cuddled up in a sweater. But I also like C de Lancome’s sweeter, somewhat softer scent. It’s damn pretty and should really not be compared to CdR.
Oh – sorry for comparing it then! It seems my experience of it is very different from everyone else’s. As I said, my skin does weird things, so perhaps my take is misleading.
Oh gosh, for my two cents, you can compare whatever you want!! I feel strongly we’re all fully allowed to experience scents differently from the way anyone else does 🙂 Go forth and have whatever experience your skin/nose/brain/memories/social context/etc./etc./etc. lead you to have 🙂
Yes, i agree, perfumes vary so much from person to person, and we all experience them differently, that’s one of the things that makes this such a fascinating hobby!
I think i’m going to be wearing CDL tomorrow!, i’m craving it now.. maybe this evening too.
I think CdL is somewhat similar to Botega Vaneta (sp?). If I didn’t already own BV, I would have bought CdL. Both are so pretty.
This was fun to read! 🙂 h
CdL is not sweet on me either (would have run a mile otherwise), just a creamy smooth leather with floral overtones. I do like CdR too. And I must try BV asap.
CdL is so gorgeous. I should wear mine again soon. I think anything with classic structure and some leather works well for professional settings.
Dame Judi still looks amazing.
I found two drops left in my Lyric decant, so I’m wearing that. I’m getting antsy now to get my FB of it!
You too smell lovely! That was your wedding scent, right? Such a good choice.
Yes! I was surprised I didn’t use it all up that day.
Wearing one of my early love today: Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentré. I know that it doesn’t get the love that regular Pour Monsieur get, but it really is a good fragrance and I’ve been loving it since it first came out.
Seriously, they should do another flanker for PM…revive some interest in the range.
I love PM – but I’ve never smelled the concentree or the new edp version. I’d love to do a side by side of them all.
Wearing Like This today, from the amazing sample set they had at Sephora. 6 samples of EdOL for $12! I like Like This it considerably more than when I first tried it, but I can’t tell. I can’t understand dab vial samples. They make it impossible to judge the true depth of a perfume that comes in an atomizer. Maybe a decant is in my future.
Oh wow – they had EdOL at Sephora? I wonder why New York Sephoras don’t carry them…or maybe I’ve just missed this.
Online only, I believe. This is the only one in the set so far that’s moved me though, honestly.
It’s interesting – I find Like This ingenious, and Eau de Protection is definitely my kind of thing, but beyond that, I haven’t been moved by the rest of this line when sniffing directly from bottles. Haven’t quite figured out what it is yet…
Yes, Eau de Protection has been a winner for me, too. Don’t know if it’s FBW though.
Just for a countervailing opinion, I think it’s a good set! In addition to Like This, MHO is that Fat electrician (despite its name), Fils De Dieu, Jasmin Et Cigarette and Putain Des Palaces are all worth trying.
But yeah, without the set, it’s hard to understand how Sephora’s going to sell ELdO, if no one can try them in person…
Oh it is a good set but very few of them moved me. I haven’t tried PdP yet though. Maybe that’s the one?
I can’t understand online only either. Minimum risk I guess?
It is a problem of assorted sample sets–even when things are well-made, any assortment is just not that likely to have more than one or two things that are really True Love for any given person testing them. At least the ELdO set is only $12 so it’s not too much money sunk into the endeavor.
The online thing: it really is hard to fathom. Maybe it’s a way to test the waters? I believe they had L’Artisan online-only at first and now they’ve got a few bottles in a few brick-and-mortar stores, so maybe this is a way to gauge interest? Hard to imagine it’s very reliable in that regard tho–would guess people buying ELDO online (i.e. the kind of perfume devotees who’ve already tracked down samples) have pretty different preferences than do the majority of Sephora customers!
I like quite a few ELDO scents, but dab samples just drive me crazy. I absolutely need to spray.
Totally with you on that!
Agree. Even scents that I wind up wearing very lightly, I need to spray with abandon to test. It is like trying to read a poem with very very tiny font.
I bought this sample set last week….It’s so good! I had on Dangerous Complicity, and the hubs came back over for a 2nd sniff! 🙂
I on the other hand was totally unmoved by Like This, but went wild for Fat Electrician, Jasmin et Cigarette, and the Cologne of all things. Fat Electrician was my favorite by far. And it was a great way to get to try so many in the line for cheap!
I’m wearing Beloved today and boy, is it a knockout?! My impressions of it now are completely different from my brief test I did on Monday night. I’m especially enjoying the lovely jasmine that wafts up in a puffy little cloud when I move, but that I don’t detect much when I put my nose to my wrist. When I do go in for a sniff, I get more of the wood and spice notes. I get what all the fuss is about. Wowee!
Planning to wear Lyric tomorrow… Kind of hoping I don’t love that one too or else I’m really going to be in trouble.
Twins!
Glad you are liking Beloved so much! It’s a wonderful scent. There’s plenty to fall in love with in the Amouage line (unfortunately, for my wallet).
You smell lovely. Beloved was an instant love for me. It’s just so pretty. I really love Lyric too. I’ve tried a few others but they didn’t move me enough to buy, Thank goodness!
I think you were asking yesterday which Amouage perfumes people like. I’m a little late, but I just wanted to share that I love journey woman.
Ubar, Gold and jubilation 25 are fantastic as well. For a soft one Ceil or Fate.
Not sure if you they still make it but there is a discovery set
Thanks! That’s very sweet of you.
Crazy how impressions change! My experience exactly with Beloved. Glad you’re enjoying it 😀
I can’t wait to try Beloved, i’m hoping to get Epic for christmas, and will ask for sample with it!
L-O-V-E beloved. It is the only fragrance that I have on my to buy list. If I didn’t have my decant, I’d be cryin’. Maybe finally I’ll do it this spring when I get my tax refund?
It was meant to be Gris Clair, but I forgot to bring it to work, so I’ll be sampling something instead…I just got some samples from SSS, so maybe Forest Walk?
I love Gris Clair! I dream about having a bottle, but it’s not even the top Serge on my list. Still some days it fits like a glove.
That was the first niche scent I smelled and it was instant love. It fascinated me from the beginning.
I think it’s fantastic. A lot of SL scents are too sweet or too rich for me to wear more than a daub, but Gris Clair is all lavender, overcast sky, and smoke.
I ended up sampling SSS Yin & Ylang, which is fun to smell thus far (and very different from my normal sort of scent).
I was in the process of rearranging some of my perfumes and had Forest Walk and Yin and Ylang in the same location; they couldn’t be more different from each other but they are both wonderful!
Chilly today, and I’m feeling better. So: Memoir Woman.
Glad you are on the mend. You smell fab!
Gorgeous and perfect for chilly weather.
Safran Troublant is my SOTD. I spilled some on myself this weekend but it turned out to be a happy accident, so I’ve been wearing my sample a bunch this week.
Such a great scent
It’s really wonderful. I’m not sure why I didn’t connect with it the first time I tried it. Weather maybe? Now that I’m wearing it in cool weather, it feels perfect.
Love that one. You smell great!
Why thank you 🙂
That’s an incredibly happy accident. Safran Troublant is beautiful.
Isn’t it good luck?? I feel like usually the rule is, if you spill something, it’s almost always something you’d rather not have on that day! Nice to be surprised so very pleasantly!
Chanel No 5 eau Premiere is my SOTD.
Happy birthday Judi Dench ! I love her hair in today’s photo.
You smell great! EP is one of my go-to scents. It never disappoints!
I’ve been living in all my versions of No 5, including Eau Premiere, these past few weeks. Something about No 5 and the Chanels that really help me cope with stress.
Love Dame Judi Dench! I’m wearing PdN’s Musc Intense which is like a warm hug, love it.
Last night, I kept getting whiffs of MFK Oud off my coat, so I put on Oud when I got home and wore it again today. Fabulous.
All this Amouage talk in recent days made me wear Beloved. I can understand why lovers of classic perfumes like this one, but I still prefer the older Amouages – Lyric, Jubilation, Epic (possibly in that order). I keep trying the newer releases, but forget them immediately.
Do you like Gold? It’s in the same style as Beloved, so I’m guessing it’s not a favourite. Plus it’s very aldehydic in it’s opening.
It’s more ‘appreciate’ than ‘like’ with Gold (I think I like it better than beloved, but haven’t worn it for a long time). I’m pretty sure you’re right and aldehydes are to blame.
Have you tried either Memoir or Fate? (W)
I saw your comments about Gold yesterday. I do like the women’s gold very much – I have a small sample of it , but I always forget that I have a rather large decant of Gold for Men which is a real whopper of aldehydes and white flowers. It’s one of the few Amouage that I like that I can actually wear. Although I don’t wear it very often.
I like aldehydes, but Beloved was a frickin’ dusty-powder bomb on me, almost to Habanita levels. Shudder.
Funny – some Amouages really work for me (Lyric W, Dia, Memoir W, Ubar rerelease, Jub XXV) and some are big fat NOs (Jub 25, Fate W, Epic W).
It seems very powdery to me as well, but also somehow… indistinct? Anyway, I’m happy not to fall madly in love with it – I have minis of all my favourites and that’s enough Amouage for me. For now.
I love Beloved, but I didn’t understand the Opus series at all, of those that I’ve tested. The others I own and love are Homage Attar, Lyric, Gold, and Dia, more or less in that order of preference. I also have Jubilation 25, but most days it has too much cumin and aldehydes for me. Occasionally I find it smells great. Not sure if I’ve tried Epic.
Yes, Beloved reminds me very much of some classics, particularly Balenciaga Cialenga.
If you like Jubilation 25, you might want to check out Epic – I find them similar in spirit, but Epic lacks the cumin.
Thanks, adding Epic to my sample list!
I wasn’t very smitten with the Opera either, on the whole they didn’t seem very distinctive to me. However, I love Opus III, which is a summery floral with a strong mimosa note.
The list of notes for that one had me swooning, pity it’s even more expensive than the main line Amouages!
I seem to have samples of I, II, and V, but not that III, so I’ll look into it. Thanks!
Baiser Volé edp today. And I got a perfume compliment today which was so nice to hear. I handed my train to the same driver twice today and mentioned that I felt bad as I kept handing him work, and his reply was “I dont mind at all. You always have the seat incline just right and it always smells so good in there.” Aww. Yay. But I guess it’s tough bikkies to anyone who has to follow me and doesn’t like my perfumes… :-/
Aww! Comments like that can brighten the day
Aww! Wow that’s a great compliment 🙂
very sweet!
Oh that’s lovely!, love, love, love perfume compliments!
What kind of train do you drive? I have always loved subways and wondered what it would be like to drive one.
It’s always cool when someone tells you that you smell good. And Baiser Voler is gorgeous anyway!
No scent so far, but last night did an inaugural burn of my Thymes Frasier Fir candle, acquired last yr at a post-xmas sale. It’s a huge 3-wick, 17-oz thing that made fully half the house smell fantastic. Despite unusual 50 degree temps (about which I’m elated), it’s beginning to seem a lot like Christmas.
I might need one of those.
I’ve been burning my FF votives.
That seems very delightfui!
Want!!
Amen for the warm season. I haven’t had to shovel yet!!!! What a miracle. Last year we had snow for 7 months. I’m loving this.
And an enabler pin goes to galbanumgal! Three doors down from the salon where I got my hair cut was a store that had candles and stationery and other good stuff for possible Xmas presents. I went in, and came out with no presents for anyone else but a Fraser Fir candle for me.
Wearing Chanel Misia today. I had to take a break from patchoulis, ambers and vanillas. The weather has been in the 60s and I needed a floral!
I know the feeling! This has been a relatively mild December.
I’m gearing up to so a layering experiment with Misia and AT L’ADDM. I recently retested Misia which at first I really, really didn’t like b/c I got too much plastic. But I’ll concede that there are some really lovely powdery notes in there. I’m hoping that L’ADDM will crush out the plastic so that I can enjoy Misia.
I’m continuing my rose theme with AG Ce Soir ou Jamais. I’ve put quite a dent in this bottle since I bought it in the summer. Perfect for all seasons. Fresh but spicy and just gorgeous, if I may say so myself. 🙂
I don’t know if you saw my reply yesterday, but I’m happy to send you a decant of Club de Nuit if you’re interested (pretsky 35 over at hotmail)
Oh, thank you so much! I’d love to send you something in return. I’ll email.
CSOJ is one of my fav dark roses that gets there without the normal spices and patchouli tricks. It’s a gorgeous deep rose.
LdDM for me today. I bought the explorer set but think I need full bottles of this one and PHI. Maybe after Christmas.
PHI is one of my Top 5! Maybe Santa will bring you a FB 🙂
LdDM is on my short list for FB acquisition….You smell great!
I seem to be continuing on with the incense theme this week, wearing Nu today.
After working a 7 days in a row, I procrastinating on taking a shower and picking out what I want to wear today. So far, all I have done is get a load of laundry in the wash but haven’t started the washer yet.
I was going to wear Chinatown today, since my sample finally came…but…I tried it on last night and didn’t love it. The first few minutes of it smelled decidedly old lady to me. After that it settled into a nice scent, but the staying power was limited. I put it on before bed, and not only was it gone when I woke up, but I could hardly smell it on my sheets or my pajamas. My mom said that Chinatown reminded her of Shalimar. I have a sample of that coming, and if they are similar to my nose, I’d rather go with Shalimar, since it’s a classic.
I had a bad night last night (insomnia) so I’m wearing all of my power items today. Big bold dress, my favorite red lipstick, my ring of power (a giant sparkly affair that takes up my entire middle finger), my butt kicking boots and my new fave perfume, NR For Her. I would have gone with Chance, since I wore this NR yesterday, but I can’t find it since I moved. Oh well.
I’m in Chinatown today. I’m having the opposite experience: I tried it at night and it was still there in the AM! Sorry about the insomnia. Your outfit sounds terrific!
Thank you! I feel pretty good in it, even though I’m already dragging.
I’ll give Chinatown another try. Once the initial burst died down, I liked the smell. It might wear better during the day. I’m looking forward to comparing it to Shalimar though, to see which I prefer. I love the idea of classic perfumes, but I don’t always like the scents (I’m looking at you, Youth Dew). I’m glad Chinatown wears well for you!
Terra di Siena by I Profumi di Firenze: Italian sunshine and earth. So good.
I’ll take some of that!
SOTD Chinatown from a sample swap. It’s growing on me. I found the synthetic plasticky smell cloying at first, but now I’m finding it kind of fun(the key being light application). I’m sure the name is influencing me, but it does smell like a combo of bakeries, restaurants, and souvenir shops in Chinatown.
The best part of trying new perfume is making it fun! Glad you are enjoying it.
Sounds like a fun one!
Happy Dench Day!
SOTD is Nirvana Black Body Oil topped with L’Artisan Safran Troublant- a very delicious combo 🙂
Love the idea of this combo!
Just a spritz of Bois d’Argent before errands. Have a great day, NSTers.
Scent twins! Waving hi!
Hi!
Wearing Shalimar EdP today, different from the EdC I’ve been trying. This provided from a tester from a kind NSTer. Folks, I realize this is perfumista heresy, but here it is: I just don’t like Shalimar. Not the EdC, not the EdT. I do not like it here or there, I do not like it anywhere. Thus continues the house of Guerlain and my terrible track record. I don’t like anything of theirs except Vetiver. Grump.
Heh.
It’s okay, I hate fruity chypres (including the Sainted Mitsouko) and they hate me right back.
Luckily, I don’t see anybody coming to yank my perfumista card, because I’d hold on with both hands. 🙂
That’s why we have so many perfumes – to be a perfumista is to have distinct likes and dislikes. No flaw in that. 🙂
😉 Run them over with your tractor.
Ooooo. I love confessions. I deeply dislike Habanita. Ahhh. I feel so much better.
Shalimar, now I like that one! 😉
Whew! It’s a relief to get this off my chest–I hate Habanita too! And Prada Infusion d’Iris. I’ve been blaming myself — haven’t got a good enough sense of smell to pick up their subtleties/complexities/ beauties sort of thing– but actually, they just set my teeth on edge.
I love the Prada IdI until it gets to those base musks. Too bad. All of the Prada Infusions and Candy are no good for me. I just don’t like that much musk.
You’re not alone. My dislike is due to personal associations, but yeah I basically can’t bear almost all versions of Shalimar. I wound up wearing some EDC recently (was making a decant for a swap, from a bottle I inherited) and the brighter, more bergamot-y EDC def was more appealing than the others, and made me “get” what’s appealing about the scent (interestingly, I have a recollection of Angela mentioning that the EDC was also her route into it? maybe I’m making that up, I can’t find it now.) In any case, thanks to unpleasant memories, it’s still literally queasy-making for me, so, no Shalimar for me either. Thank goodness there’s so much other good perfume out there we can wear instead 🙂
I hated Shalimar too, until I tried that Vanille Mexique flanker, which I find wearable and quite pretty. Mitsouko is okay, not the most beautiful thing I’ve ever smelled, but better than Shalimar. Habanita I find nice but I have to spray lightly and be in the mood for it.
I’m right there with you on the Shalimar hate. I’ve tried, and I’m sure I’ll try again, but it just smells of lemon scented cleanser sprinkled over canned vanilla frosting. I do, however, love Mitsy, VdN, and several others.
Well, if you are going to like something, their Vetiver is about as good as it gets.
Rozy vdp for me today. Wanted to remind myself what it was like. Some dear friends gave me some money for tutoring their son. It was unexpected since I would have gladly done it for free, but since I have this extra cash I’m thinking of getting either Rose Oud or this as an xmas gift for myself.
Rose Oud is a beautiful choice. Rozy I still need to sample.
I was thinking about the carbon footprint of perfumes yesterday. I didn’t find too much information except that half of Chanel’s carbon emissions relate to packaging but will keep looking for more information.
Was op shopping yesterday and it seems like all the old Woods of Windsor and Potter and Moore bath salt and soap sets from the 1960s and 1970s, and every half bottle of Avon perfume has found their way to the shelves of the Sally Army . Found a nice piece of 1860s Staffordshire ( milk maid on a donkey ) for $2. It’s a bit damaged but my mum will like it. She had a big collection that got smashed in the ChCh earthquake.
Wearing George and Edi Oak oss solid perfume, made in NZ ( but imported ingredients).
Another perfume oil today, Silver Carnations from Possets.
I only have a couple of Pierre Bourdon perfumes, or really only one, given that Shiseido Feminite des Bois was created jointly with Christopher Sheldrake. So I’m wearing FM Iris Poudre today from a sample I got around 2009. I should really at least try to sample YSL Kouros and FM French Lover someday.
I’ve been busy because my old pay-as-you-go, unsmart cellphone stopped getting reception. It took me a few days to figure out the problem, which is that AT&T and other carriers have taken down the old 2G network. This propelled me to finally buy an iPhone, which I am slooowwwly figuring out how to use. I got the BIG one because of the wonderful high res screen. For example, NST avatars are crystal clear – far more detail is visible than on my 15-inch laptop screen. 🙂
I have the “big one” too and it’s so much better, especially if you use your phone as a GPS or do a lot on the net and don’t want to lug around a laptop. That being said, I recently got the iPad Air 2, and its hands down a thousand times better than any laptop I have ever owned. Congrats on the new Phone upgrade 🙂
Ha…I took forever to get a smartphone, and now I don’t know how I did without one. And my iPad does make NST look way better than my desktop or laptop! So I think that means I need a new monitor and a new laptop.
SOTD for me is Hiram Green Voyage, compliments of Ms. Hajusuuri.
This is probably my #1 vanilla right now. I need to be cautious with vanilla as it either gives me a headache or makes me nauseous, but this vanilla works for me and it does a good job of lasting throughout the day, something I did not have success with from Moon Bloom.
Love that pic of Dame Dench! Hard to believe she’s 81 years old..
I have been trying to put this out of my mind, but it keeps coming up. I think I need to order it, blind, today. The only thing that can save me now is if it is sold out!
A sample can’t hurt. The opening is odd, but it quickly gets to the vanilla I love.
I’m in Lampblack….happy happy!
Nice! That one’s on my maybe-buy list. (as opposed to my defnitely-buy list, which is further subdivided into “soon” and “at some point”…)
Ah yah. I have a similar list, subdivided and rationaled!
Wearing Ferre so I will be okay thematically this week even if I forget on Friday, which is all very possible this busy time of year…
No power at my house this morning, so I came to work early, and showered here, and am now in Seville a l’Aube, since that was the most appealing of my little stash of samples I keep here at work for emergencies! It is serving me well during a day of dumbfoundlying unnecessary crises created by people who should know better.
I believe I have said this before, but I need to get a better job.
dumbfoundingly? LOL, can’t spell to save my life….
Sounds like a rough day, hope it got better.
Scherrer EDT. Oh how I love thee.
Aand then a Obsession For Men on the left wrist and Cinnabar on the right.
Never tried Cinnabar before although I like Youth Dew a lot. My best friend drenches herself in Obsession and her Mum wears a lot of spicy orientals. So that type fragrances are sort of spoiled for me. All I could get from Opium was my an image of my friend’s Mum.
But Cinnabar: HOLY BATMAN whatta fragrance. Let’s see if I must go and go purchase a bottle tomorrow.
No 19 EDT today. So. I have a request for all of you perfumistas. Can you compare/give opinions of your take on the differences/your favorite No. 19. The EDT, Poudre, Parfum? I’d be much obliged. Thank you!!!
Others will know this better than I, but the one thing I can add is that Poudre IMO is basically an unrelated perfume that I wish they’d market under a different name–I think it’s good perfume but I know it feels like a sacrilege to many No 19 lovers 🙂
Ditto that – it should be listed as a flanker to Prada’s Infusion d’Iris IMHO.
Oh yes! Excellent idea, that’s a much better fit!
I have a vintage no 19 EDT mini which is strong leather on me and then goes pooft in 45 minutes.
No 19 Poudre is lovely rooty iris and then quickly turns into Mure & Musc before going pooft in 45 minutes.
My take on it is that I would possibly develop an affair with the [vintage] EDT if it had any staying power. For that matter, Aramis does the same leathery job and stays on all night.
Long time 19 lover here.
The EDT is maybe the most ‘bitter’ but also the strongest leather. A favorite, but with a disclaimer…what I have is about 10 years old and there are many reformulation tales.
The parfum is gorgeous, a bit more floral to my nose than EDT, longer lasting but much closer to the skin.
The Poudre version I didn’t find more powdery but has a musk base that to me was jarring, but that is probably because I have had such a long relationship with the original.
EDP I have somehow never even tried.
Hope that helps 🙂
I have fairly recent No. 19 parfum and EDT (never tried vintage) and like them best layered.
I could write a book. I like the current No 19 edt as a bracing, mainly vetiver mainstay in my collection. Good all year and even to wear like a cologne in the hot weather. I just wore it the other day and it was perfect in our 45 degree weather for a long work day. I love the vintage extrait b/c it has a shimmering golden oakmoss that is just to die for and a very perfect iris accord that puts all other iris accords to shame. The current extrait is still very good with the iris, but more vetiver in the base than oakmoss. I’ve not smelled the current edp, but most comment it is very good and has more rose. I’d buy a bottle of it unsniffed as I have a lot of confidence in Chanel keeping No 19 tolerable. As far as I’m concerned, any verions of No 19 is good, but not that body cream. Too flat and soapy. I even like the “poudre”, regardless of the persistent musks.
What does your book say about the EDC?
Thank you!!!
I have vintage EDC, which to me has a definitely musty-dirty (like clay/dusty dirt) aspect to it.
I’ve never smelled the edc! Now you have me intrigued!!!
The concensus on Fragrantica when I looked it up a couple weeks ago was that for both No. 19 and Cristalle, the edp’s were more floral than thr edt’s. Since I avoid jasmine I went with 19 edt. Cristalle is next.
Thank you everyone for your knowledge and opinions!!!
We have been deluged with rain for the past few days, and the temps have been more springlike than late fall (almost 60F!). I have been feeling very swampy, so today I layered on Nest Wasabi & Pear, then Amber&Ginger from Jo Malone. I smell like a freshly washed and powdered Jolly Ranchers candy- kinda like the bottom of a church lady’s purse. Rather nice, actually!
Over 120 comments already and will read those after I post.
Happy Birthday Dame Judi AND Happy 99th (!) Borthday to Kirk Douglas. Color me surprised re: Kirk Douglas!
SOTD = Naomi Goodsir Iris Cendre
I am doing a week of perfumes with Iris in its name. Today, Iris Cendre is sparkly earthy rooty peppery incensy – I love it!
Late start today. Yesterday I got all poshed up for a celebration luncheon, only to discover that the host, an archetypically absent-minded professor, had invited his guests for yesterday but booked the restaurant for today. So, I suppose I must do it once more, with feeling. To this end, I have wrapped myself in the gentle golden aura of Fate and put on a pretty summer frock, a cerise lippy and an approximation of a happy smile. I found myself strongly tempted by Number 19 today, but it really is my warrior-woman perfume, and probably won’t help me to achieve the right frame of mind.
So did the attendees for the non-existent lunch at least get a sandwich? 😀
No, actually. We looked variously confused, amused or embarrassed and wandered off in different directions. I pootled home and ate some left over risotto.
That is very funny and seems like something that would happen to me.
Omg. I send all my sympathies to you! I just … let’s just say I really, really relate to that variety of academic frustration!!
(Ok fine I’m going to indulge myself in just one story. When I was up for my oral exams–a very serious thing in my department, scheduled many months or even a year in advance, and if you don’t pass, you can’t continue in the program–I couldn’t get confirmation until TWO DAYS beforehand that one of my examiners was even going to show up as agreed. And then on the day of, he rolled in half an hour late to a two-hour examination. Good times!)
Oh no! That’s just rude and a miserable, thoughtless abuse of power! I bet that despite the dreadful examiner you still sailed home triumphantly, but honestly! what a thing to have to endure! We bend over backwards to create the best, most supportive situation possible for candidates, and it makes me very cross when some jumped up mushroom with an ego inflated to bursting point thinks s/he’s a more important human being and can make everyone uncomfortable like that!
Afterthought: oh dear… I’ve just done a “Waterdragon special”! I swore I wouldn’t do this anymore, but there I go again, expressing myself with a freedom, fluency and frankness that tells people what I really think! It’s just–I deeply loathe poncy, ego-driven power trips! They’re utterly unnecessary and they create casualties. You weren’t one, but you might have been, you know? I just always want to say, “Yes, Professor Veryfamousperson, we do all get it that you’re an expert and a national treasure, but calm down now and stop looking for a mirror to watch yourself in!”
You can indulge in a “Waterdragon Special” anytime you want, as far as I’m concerned. I think we all agree that there is no excuse for rudeness, especially by intelligent adults who know better. I have no patience for people who allow their ego to hurt others.
Ditto. Now I know what to call my rampages: the waterdragon special., lol!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, it even *sounds* scarey.
Hear hear! Totally agree.
I had a similar thing happen when I had to take my Master’s exams in grad school years ago: the faculty (both of them) forgot to submit my questions for the two areas of specialty. The department secretary got one of them on the phone, but he ended up advising the secretary to give me the written test for the PhDs for the one discipline (as to count for both specialities?), and then I was writing for hours b/c the secretary didn’t know what parts to delete for the MA level!!!!!!!!!! Academics should never be in charge of anything lol!!!
I’m beginning to agree that academics shouldn’t be in charge of things. Your experience was appalling, and deeply, deeply unfair. No candidate should be expected to perform under such circumstances. In my neck of the woods, there would be An Enquiry, Notes Would Be Made, Discussions Would Take Pkace (for months!) and Processes Would Change. It might not have helped you, but your experience would ensure it never happened to another candidate.
I’m wearing Bois de Paradis today. This is SO not my style–too sweet and fruity–but I got it in a swap and somehow it has wormed its way into my heart. Some days I just need to smell like a woody fruit basket, and today is one of those days.
BdP is gorgeous, but IMHO, hard to wear b/c it is just so rich and powerful. I always need to be in the right mood to wear mine, and only very tiny dabs on the wrists very far from my face. They need to release a watery version of it.
Elixir des Merveilles for me today. I really never tire of this line, though never could get Ambre des Merveilles. The others, I love. An almost empty bottle which is unheard of for me.
I’m your twin today and I agree! The Eau and the Elixir are my faves, Claire is okay, and I like the Ambre the least, though many seem to sing the praises of the Ambre.
Lys Soleia over Yves Rocher Voile d’Ambre is a bit like Shangai Lilly!
Silver iris today, love it’s irisy fruity goodness!, the opening always makes me smile.
i’m hoping there’s enough iris poudre in my sample vial for friday, it’s one of my Top Ten, and i will mourn it’s passing, and must pick up a travel spray soon. i’ve got a 3ml of French lover, but was underwhelmed by it’s lack of projection and staying power.
The sun has come out, and thus so can I, and I will hobble drenched in Vanille 44, because I am using all kinds of awesome swapped samples and decants these days. Sadly, I have to take my cool incense self to the cast clinic for repairs. But at least I will improve the smells there.
Wow, lots of spirited and highly entertaining comments today! And I needed the laughs – our power went out at 3 in the morning, so my morning routine was less enjoyable (and less caffeinated) than usual. SOTD is Flowerbomb for its soft, comfortable vibe.
Spiriteuse Double Vanille today. I love the first couple of hours. But this is longlasting on me and it gets to be too much.
started out the day in Jimmy Choo Stars. At lunch I went and put Shalimar over it. I have been very perfume fickle latley. nothing seems to be wearing right for me.
A very happy day in this house, for PERFUME SURPRISE has arrived! Back on the “surprise” theme Friday, TheGoddessRena posted an offer to provide a box of random samples and I was the lucky person who was bored at work and therefore refreshing NST obsessively that day… Well the box got here today and is overwhelmingly generous. And, true to the spirit of the thing, I am planning to proceed by plunging my hand into this glorious box and putting on whatever comes out untested. SOTD is Chopard Casmir, cozy and sweet. I’ll post some here as I go, though I’m always getting here late in the day since work got unboring. Big thanks to TheGoddessRena for surprises to look forward to!
So glad you’ll have a lot of fun with it. Hope you find some new loves. It’s like you get to have dozens of little presents for the holidays!
Yes! Like an advent calendar but so much better!
Casmir is so lovely and warm. one of my all time favorites.
I had to lunch with the ladies who lunch for their annual Xmas party soooo, I got it all together and even put on high heels and a dress, and totally blasted myself with Chanel Coco edp. Perfect. The one thing I’ve learned from these lunches with many older ladies of a certain age and beyond is that they really don’t seem to mind major fragrance sillage.
You are absolutely right. I recently repurchased Coco after about 25 years. Partially due to you reminding me how wonderful it is. A elderly woman stopped me in the store to ask what I was wearing. I told her Coco. oh yes, she said her best friend used to wear it, and she said I wore it beautifully. Made my day. Thanks AnnS
btw, have you tried the lotion? was thinking about getting it.
I do have the lotion and it is good, but I think next time I am going to buy the cream.
hey, thanks for the info.
Scent twins today.
Today I wore my sample of Aftelier Palimpsest. I liked it for about 2 to 3 hours, but there was something in the drydown I did not care for. I kept thinking I smelled iris, although the listed notes do not include iris. Perhaps it was the ambergris? I have (and love) Secret Garden, I liked the sample of Wild Roses which I wore yesterday, and I liked Bergamoss from the quick test I did a few days ago (I will be wearing it tomorrow), and none of these list ambergris, so that may be the culprit.
I did not like it either and it went to the giveaway pile immediately. To me, it smelled like rotting peaches in warm air.
I know it’s late And I am not sure if anyone is interested. I was just checking Min New York’s website. On their sales pages they have Mohur EDP, NOT EXTRAIT, just want to be clear for 1/2 price. They also have Parfum d’Empire, Azemour les Oranges, Equistris for $50. and probably others that some folks may be interested in. Sorry if I misspelled any of the names.
Thanks so much! I didn’t buy any perfume but got a nice Floris candle for a gift.
I’m so glad that you found something you like!
Bless you! I was sad that I could never have Equistris because I just don’t need 100ml, and here you are rescuing me with a 50 ml bottle on sale! Too bad Azemour turns to ashtray on me, I was tempted anyway at that price.
I snagged the Equistris too. Enjoy! Funny, I was hoping that you would see my post!
Hey, does this qualify me for my first enabling pin? ????
Yes! Sparkly new pin for you.