Happy Hump Day, and happy Chocolate Cake Day! What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm wearing DS & Durga HYLNDS Spirit of the Glen. Tea at the moment is an Assam (Mangalam Estate) from Upton.
Reminder: 1/29 will be Shalimar Friday! Wear Guerlain Shalimar, or a Shalimar flanker, or a perfume that is related to Shalimar in some way (it does not have to be by Guerlain!)
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2016, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is 10-0121- RR Extreme - Slice rev3 by Junelle Caravana at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD is Musc Intense by PdN, tea of the moment is Oolong Châtaigne from L’Univers du Thé.
I like Mangalam Assam, my favourite Assam is called Halmari, have you ever tried that one?
I have not — do you buy it from Upton? If so, do tell me the code of the one you love, they have quite a few from Halmari Estate.
No, I buy mine in Brussels. It’s Halmari – SFTGFOP, it’s powerful, without being bitter or too tannic.
Thank you! I will buy samples of a few then, they seem to have quite a range of offerings.
I think TTA34, TA46 or TAD1 are probably closest to what I have.
Lovely, thanks!
And is it sick that I immediately assumed TAD1 would probably be best since it’s most expensive?? But I do want one of the bolder ones because I usually splash a bit of milk or cream in Assam.
Well, with tea you do pay for quality, mostly. TAD1 looks best, anyway. It seems to have the most ‘tips”. I recently bought some GTFGOP1 from a German e-tailer (tea-tailer) (https://www.nibelungentee.de/Tee/Assam-GTGFOP1-Golden-Tipped-Halmari.html) which was more expensive than my usual, but seems to have more tips. I haven’t tried it yet. My current Halmari has a lot of tips and has this strong fruity and woody smell, that is just wonderful. I tend to drink my Assams with just a little milk. I enhances the taste.
Hello Austenfan
I have MuscIntense too, bought it almost unsniffed in Paris..now I don’t know what to make of it.
I love the drydown but the opening? I don’t know if it’s my skin but it smells like a dry liquor..how does it work for you?
even in colder weather and smaller dabs, the top notes are difficult..
thx
today it’s SL Fumerie Turque. I lovelovelove this.
But, please be honest, do you think Fumerie Turque is an odd fragrance to wear in the office? I applied lightly. I bathe in it when I’m around the house or not worried about office colleagues.
I don’t think it’s weird! You should wear what you love! and Fumerie Turque is one of my favorites.
I generally wear what I like, but once in a while a colleague will ask “what’s that strange smell?” (and I get paranoid knowing full well it’s my perfume but then pretend I don’t know what they’re smelling!!). This “what’s that smell?” question has been asked when I’ve worn FM Dries Van Noten and TF Tobacco Vanille to the office…(so I’ve stopped wearing those 2)
that’s such a bummer…I love both of those scents–you have great taste. your coworker needs to broaden his or her horizons about fragrance! hahahaha. I know some people are sensitive to fragrance in an office environment–I just know that’s no fun because most of us spend the majority of our time at work and so that definitely limits your freedom to wear somethig you’d prefer.
It’s hard to believe that someone would call Dries Van Noten a strange smell. Strange nose perhaps.
I actually have an issue with Dries. It has what thegoddessrena called “exploding musk”. I normally don’t have a problem with musks but this one interfered with my breathing so Dries no mas.
Dries is one of my most complimented scents! Maybe they’re confused because none of those are perfumey perfumes, so they can’t figure out where such a delectable smell would be coming from?!
Exactly!
I think it’s all about how much you put on. The only frag that I never have the nerve to wear to work is Amaranthine – just b/c I think it smells like I just had my way with someone. Otherwise, even biggies or weird ones can get by if you only put in a wee dab.
I agree about Amaranthine. I have it. Love it. Would never wear it to the office….a little too ‘sexytime’
No, but I wear Paris YSL, Rien, Amoureuse and Aromatics Elixir to work. Though not all at once.
😉 hilarious
Maybe that should be a Friday community project! 🙂
Tempting, tho, huh?
THAT would be a statement.
😉
I might just give it a go, just for science of course!
I wear Alien to work, so maybe I’m not the right person to ask…but I say go for it! If you get too self-conscious you can always scrub.
I can’t afford Serge Lutens, but the notes as listed by Fragrantica sound divine. Unless your office has a policy against wearing fragrance, or one of your co-workers is allergic, I say go for it.
No way! I love FT and have made converts wearing it on planes and in offices. Carry on…Perfume Sniffer.
You smell great! When I want to wear a scent that might be iffy in close quarters, I limit application to my chest and that seems to work. I can smell it but it minimizes sillage.
Well, I can say I do wear it to work. You smell great!
I wouldn’t want people to think I smoke, but it doesn’t actually smell like cigarette smoke, does it?
The key is a light enough application to keep whatever you wear within your personal space. I used to work with someone who wore so much Coco Mademoiselle that she could perfume not only a conference room, but also the hallway outside. Fortunately, my cube was far from that area. Nothing against Coco Mad, which worked very well on her, but I wouldn’t care to be immersed in it all week.
Hi nozknoz,
That’s why I hesitate with tobacco/smokey perfumes in general, I am worried it will smell like smoke and people will think I’ve been smoking! But SL FT has never smelled like cigarette smoke to me so I never gave it a second thought.
I think there’s such a negativity about smelling like perfume at all these days. I can think on one hand how many people wear fragrance at my place of work and I work at a large campus.
I’ve figured out that I receive the off-putting comments when I’m wearing non-traditional fragrance – things that don’t smell like flowers. Well, after reading through all these comments I think I’m just going to let it go! I love SL FT (like crazy) and I’m not going to stop wearing it. I wear it so lightly that I know it can’t possibly be offensive. Maybe I’ll even wear FM Dries Van Noten and Tobacco Vanille again, because I love them and miss wearing them Mon-Fri 😉
That sounds like a workable approach, Perfume Sniffer. I’ve already decided that if anyone complains to me, I’ll apologize sweetly and blame my shampoo. 😉
Wearing Guerlain Songe d’Un Bois d’Été today.
I want to sample this one. Do you own this scent or are you sampling?
I’m sampling–although I defnitely would like to have a bottle.
Thanks Elizabeth! I’m very curious about this one.
I really liked all three of the Les Deserts d’Orient, but Songe is probably my favorite.
I think Ihadanidea said the same. I’m curious if you find this a tad masculine or unisex?
I am the wrong (male) to ask–I wear everything from Yatagan to No. 22. I think it has enough Guerlain “roundness” and sweetness to be firmly in the unisex/ungendered camp, but it is the most traditionally masculine of the bunch.
So interesting. I hadn’t even considered where it might stand on the masculine/feminine scale because I liked it so much, and just wanted to wear it. Personally, I’d rate it as unisex because on the occasions I’ve tried it, it doesn’t feel particularly “manly” to me. But then again, I do like woody scents, which some may consider masculine territory.
Thanks to both of you for the clarification!
Ooh – just looked up the review on the Non-Blonde and it sounds delightful. Since I am exploring leather (and already know I like oud and spice) perhaps I should explore? What are the main notes you get?
I loooooooove this one. Love love love. You smell fabulous.
Such a pretty name. I’ve not smelled this, but it sounds very pretty!
Agree!
A long day of school today. I’m thinking maybe Mimosa & Cardamom for something light but snuggly that won’t drive my lab group bonkers. I only wish I could be wearing it at home with a big pot of tea in front of me!
On another note, (no perfume pun intended!) I have a bunch of teas from Kusmi coming in the mail soon, trying to recreate a blend from La Tisaniere that I used to be hooked on. It’s Linden, Violet, Jasmine, Rose. I already have some Kusmi Violet (amazing!) so I bought a tin of their Rose Green, Jasmine Green (which is lovely), and Linden (which they only have in the bags) and am going to try and recreate my long-lost tea blend. I have done a smaller scale version with the Kusmi Violet and Kusmi Jasmin, with some Fauchon rose, and it was close, but I think it really needs that Linden. I hope I don’t sound like a crazy person. I think about that tea all of the time.
What fun! Not crazy at all, I mix teas all the time to replicate things I can’t easily buy or replace.
That sounds like a wonderful tea project! I really love Kusmi tea’s, my favourites are the violet and BB detox, which is green tea and mate with grapefruit. I’m going to try the green tea with jasmine soon, and the linden tea bags sound lovely.
I love the taste of the BB Detox but the mate does not agree with me…felt very dizzy after drinking half a cup! And I swear that every time I order from Kusmi, that is the sample they send me 🙂
Oh no, thats dissapointing, is mate really strong? i’m not even that sure what it is, i guess it’s lots of caffeine?
I don’t know. I do drink lots of caffeine, and neither espresso or guayusa (which is related to mate, I think?) makes me dizzy. So I sort of assumed it was some other component, but who knows!
It can be strong stuff, that’s for sure. I sometimes forget that and wonder where my weird buzz came from.
Mayfly, we are twins! My favorites are the violet and BB Detox as well. That grapefruit in the Detox is just amazing. It makes me feel so happy when I drink it!
Oh wait, my other favorite is the Almond green, which is out of stock right now. 🙁 So three favorites.
I read your post and promptly bought myself some Kusmi Violet. Sounds divine. Please hurry, Amazon!
Ooh you’ve got a treat in store for u!
Oh yay! If you like violet you will love it. I find this one is especially good as a kind of tea dessert latte with a little steamed milk and honey.
I haven’t seen the Linden. Do you order from abroad? I would love to try that.
I ordered in the U.S., but it is kind of tough to find on the website because it doesn’t come in the tins. The easiest way to find it is to just search “Linden”. I’ve never tried their Linden, so I hope it’s good! I’m excited to try it.
I recently ordered some Kusmi violet tea and LOVE it, but the day I drank it my son (whom I breastfeed) was awake all day and half the night. I’m not sure if the tea was to blame, but it sure seemed like he got a big caffeine wallop!
Oh no, i hate it when the things u eat and drink effect you’re breast milk, so annoying!
Oh no! I bet it was the tea. He had an exciting day! 🙂
I loved that La Tisanière one too. Have never found an adequate replacement.
I AM SO GLAD SOMEONE ELSE HAS TRIED THIS. I go through phases where I become obsessed with finding some and have never had any luck with it. The last time I had it was in 2010, and I have never been able to find it since. 🙁 I cannot stop thinking about it.
I am wearing a child of Shalimar, ELdO Fils De Dieu. emptying a sample. this one sits somewhere between Shalimar eau Legere and Shalimar with an exotic (to a western nose) twist. Brighter and sunnier than Shalimar, but with enough dirt and leather to muck it up a bit.
I am drinking more Shanghai Breakfast and contemplating an order from TWG tea.
Love Fils de Dieu! You smell wonderful!
I have never tried any of the TWG teas but have been tempted too…if you order, do let me know if they are good!
I’m very tempted to blind buy this after reading the weekend post on perfume notes, and rice notes in particular. Some of my favourite scents have been blind buys. Some of my least favourite have been impulse buys. I don’t seem to do the sensible middle ground.
Ambre Cashmere Intense, already have a friend who has ordered it after smelling mine! Yeah a perfume partner in the making!
I read blog like this one because so few in my life think about or will wear perfume.
Tea is pets chai 🙂
Peets not pets
That’s the PdN? Is it very ambery? Sometimes PdN’s smell nothing like their names would suggest.
After a rather odd opening, it settles into the cuddliest amber I own. Kevin has a great review.
mm, can’t wait to try this one!
It is my first one from that line. I think the name fits for this one.
Wearing TDC Osmanthus. I used to wear this a lot, got tired of it and now, wearing it again, remember why I wore it a lot
Wow, that chocolate cake looks good. This has completely enabled me to buy some when I get the rest of dinner groceries after work tonight 🙂
I’m in Tam Dao, drinking Earl Grey Supreme by Harney & Sons, and have a heating pad at my desk chair for my achey back. I threw it out Saturday night when the hubs and I shoveled the driveway. I wasn’t able to sit upright until yesterday so today will be a test of strength. I can always move to a recliner in the lounge area though and I’ve got meds.
Yeesh, back pain is the worst. I hope it gets to feeling better! With Tam Dao, Earl Grey, and a heating pad you are definitely off to a good start. But it is never fun when your back goes out. Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks. I am doing a lot better. Sunday I couldn’t even move. I’ve a lot more mobility now, but still fairly sore. I’m more angry at myself for doing something so ridiculous, especially since I was doing so well with my new exercise routine. Oh well, reset in February!
Have you tried ice packs as well? (Though I’m sure you’ve had enough cold!) I find that sometimes when I throw out my back heat makes it worse while ice helps.
Heat definitely helps in this case. It’s easier for me to move when I’m warm.
u poor thing, hope u feel better soon.
Glad you’re starting to feel better. Hope you’re 100% soon!
Back pain is miserable, hope you continue to feel better. You do smell great in your Tam Dan!
Dao, autocorrect strikes again.
I am shocked I did not throw my back out shoveling this year!
I can’t believe I actually did it! I knew I’d be sore because shoveling isn’t an easy thing to do, but I really feel stupid that I threw out my back…. and I’m the one who exercises regularly! 🙁
My husband is the one with Old Man Back. No lie – he can pinch a nerve and be out for the day just by bending over to tie his shoe laces – I’ve seen him do it. At least I get to take advantage of his pain/muscle relaxer meds he’s always got on hand…
Among the many things my husband has been doing when his back went out are: brushing his teeth, sneezing, rolling over in bed, and walking in a straight line on even ground 😉 I am always annoyed when I hurt my back and he is fine, so I know exactly how you feel.
Hahaha! YES! My husband is the same way. One week before we moved from our apartment into our house he threw out his back just by sitting up in bed! He sleeps in weird contorted positions sometimes and really messed it up. He literally fell back in bed in pain.
It’s more a point of pride that I hurt my back when he’s the weakling!
Unfortunately, shoveling is not about strength but totally about technique and endurance. We are in shovel hell up here most of the time, and what always pains me afterward is my hands and forearms and shoulders. Shoveling is really hard on the body. One time my hubbie and I both shoveled for 5 hours to get our driveway done. And then we had to do it again a few days later. That was the hell of last year… this year has been reasonably kind to us. I hope you feel better soon.
Ugh, yes, you are right though. On top of having messed up my back my arms and hands were really sore the next day as well.
Glad you’re feeling better! My hip is killing me today and I’m wondering if I was drugged and forced to shovel snow cuz I don’t remembering doing anything strenuous. My husband is sore from digging the car out, though.
Oh, so That’s What Happened when I get those random injuries! Drugged forced labor. Ha!
Can we get an MD to put that in a note for work? 😉
Thanks. It’ll be a little while yet before I’m back to 100%. We did most of the shoveling Saturday night after the storm – started at 10 pm.
Sunday my husband finished shoveling out the end of the driveway where the plows came through.
God bless my husband who always does the end of the driveway where the plows pack it in. That is hard work!
I tend to get an achy hip from unknowingly sitting sideways and crossing my legs while sitting at a desk. Perhaps you sat wrong?
I have to consciously make myself sit with my feet on the floor in front of me or I end up gimping around for several days. Took me ages to figure out because I naturally sit with my legs to the left, leaning on my right hip, even if my legs aren’t crossed. I’m doing it now, in fact, and have just corrected. You would think that trying to reverse this habit for ten years would do some good.
I’m sure it was from some unconscious straining of sorts as well. I don’t have an office so I’m mostly in my feet carrying a heavyish bag which might’ve contributed.
So sorry about your back! I hope you feel better soon, and in the meanwhile, Tam Dao + Earl Grey sounds like an ideal comfort scenario!
This was my first thought – ooh chocolate. Not having remembered breakfast hasn’t helped either. So sorry to hear about your back and hope the heating pad helps and that you are right as rain very very soon.
Oh, your poor back! I think shoveling is hard not only due to the weight of snow, but the strain of twisting makes it just lethal. Hope your pain is more muscular than neurological- an odd thing to say, but muscular pain is much easier to treat, and hope it is soon right as rain.
Thanks. It is just muscular. I was really worried at first, but now it just feels like an annoying pulled muscle. It’s a lot better than before. I asked the guys at work to move one of the recliners to my desk so I could still have access to my phone and do work. Plus I took a muscle relaxer so I’m good for the rest of the work day 😉
I’m working from home today, which seems to call for some sort of Giant Perfume, but so far I’m not wearing anything. I was planning on wearing Sarrasins (which I loved daubed from my tester) but I tried it from my spray decant last night and…bubblegum? Anyone else get that?
Probably I’ll end up in Joy again. I always want to wear Joy!
Joy is always a great choice!
I love getting to wear those huge scents at home. When I was stuck inside all day last Saturday for the blizzard, I sat around in my pajamas wearing Ungaro’s Diva.
It felt wonderfully decadent.
*overapplies, sighs happily*
Go with your bad self.
I love Diva! Now I have a picture of you in satin charmeuse PJs with a thick velvet robe……
I’ll have to amp up the glamour next time. There was a lot of fleece going on.
😉
Yes to the bubblegum. Sarrasins was a scrubber for me for this reason.
I’m glad it’s not just me!
SOTD is Kiss Me Tender by PdN. I needed something soft and sweet today. I primarily get soft marshmallow, almonds and hay but yet it smells like perfume, not foodish. I can’t imagine the current intense version of KMT because, for me, this scent’s appeal is in it’s softness.
Yeah, I’ve wondered about KMI too – I really enjoyed KMT but by the time I finished my 3ml sample and thought about buying a bottle, it was gone and I haven’t been tempted enough to try the Intense instead.
Hi Mals,
I’m surprised you like this one because of the hay note? Perhaps that’s why you didn’t feel tempted to buy.
I did not get a lot of (so-called 😉 ) hay in it!
Lots of anise and heliotrope, but also an intriguingly green note – weird, but fun. I actually wore it in a steamy August when The CEO and I were taking our daughter on a college-visiting tour, almost four years ago, and it even stood up well to DC weather.
I’m sure you are much better at discerning notes than I will ever be! 🙂
This one is lovely. I think I’ll pull out my old sample to wear again this evening (if it hasn’t dried out).
It’s a great sleep scent!
I surprised myself by liking Kiss Me Tender! Come to think of it, why did I even order a sample? It certainly doesn’t sound like something I’d want. Anywho, I promptly bought a decant and then squirmed when I read it was discontinued and eyed the bottles still left online which were too big for my needs. Then I thought hey! I could do a split or rack up $ eventually on ebay if I bought several gigundo bottles! Finally I bought a sample of Kiss Me Intense last month which I have just dabbed. I’m doing a perfumista’s version of squinting to “see” if I can detect any difference. Naturally it would be so much better if I knew where my Kiss Me Tender dab sample is and could do a side-by-side comparison. I made the mistake of looking for reviews, and bumped into something that said that some of the gourmand notes, bitter almond and incense have been accentuated in Kiss Me Intense. I’m not usually a fan of gourmands or bitter almond. In fact, I actively dislike bitter almond. So now I have to forget what I’ve read and try to be objective. Even the name gets to me, as Kiss Me Tender really is so soft and puffy and like a sweet little cocoon and Intense does not connote that at all.
Let me know what you think if you find your original sample. I’m very curious.
Reviews sometimes skew my objectivity too. When I was relatively new I bought several frags based on rave reviews and felt meh about most of them. Almost daily I see love and hate opinions about most of the perfumes that I own. 🙂
Petunia, I did find my Kiss Me Tender sample! My first impression is that it’s softer, rounder, better blended and not so … intense. 😉 I think the KMI is sharper at the top and perhaps has more anise and bitter almond and less of the soft heliotrope note.
However, since the top notes in KMI have dissipated, I’m going to do a blind side-by-side test tomorrow and I’ll let you know how it goes.
You are a dear! Thanks so much Holly. I had a feeling that the reformulation wouldn’t be for the better.
Oh, this sounds dreamy!
It is very pretty. Too bad they messed with it then discontinued the original.
I made it to the office today (woohoo!), but boy, was it a challenge… and a workout. Wearing Habit Rouge and will empty my sample by the end of the day. I can’t believe I haven’t bought a bottle of this yet.
Hahaha, it’s my first day back in the office this week as well. You smell great.
Yay for getting out of the house!!
Habit Rouge is a classic, and relatively cheap on discount websites. Definitely a great buy!
I got mine really cheaply from ebay, it’s so beautiful.
Well done and you smell great.
I really need to try that one…
Wearing my Santal Majuscule sample and enjoying it, although it’s so cozy it may lull me into a nap. Another cup of tea may be in order for me as well, as awakeness doesn’t seem to have fully set in just yet.
A friend who is starting her own Etsy store has asked me to collaborate on candles with her. I did take a couple perfume making classes last year, but never made any candles and I’m certainly no nose. But still, I’m going to go for it and play around. Should be fun.
Do many of you play around with making your own scents?
That sounds like fun!
I’ve never made my own, but when I had samples of stuff I was “meh” about I’d try putting a few drops in a lamp ring and perfume a room that way. I may not have liked it on me, but if it smelled good on paper then I’d scent the room with it.
When the opportunity to take the class at the School of Visual Arts came up, I didn’t think I’d do it at first, but eventually I realized that even if I’m clearly not going to be reaching Jean-Claude Ellena heights of perfumery, it would feel good to challenge myself in a way I hadn’t before, as well as to train my nose.
The experience and especially my final project for the first class (an autobiographical scent and monologue) woke me up after a long sleep, creatively speaking. It was an unexpected game changer. I know it doesn’t sound like a natural progression, but it ultimately influenced me to start writing every day, and to take a second class, but I’ll admit that hadn’t been scent-making in recent months. But this should be fun. I’ve already made a Pinterest mood board 😛
That’s so wonderful you found something to motivate you so much!
Thanks! I’m really grateful for it, and will fully admit that it was completely unexpected.
Barqs sent me a gorgeous candle that she had made herself in a swap. I burned it down and poured the residual wax into my tart burner… It smells so lovely that I just continue to reheat it. Amazing last power. I’m not sure how she’d feel about me pimping her out but maybe you can ask her advice the next time she posts. She’s a sweetheart!
Ooooh! Go Barqs go! I am definitely interested to hear more.
I’d never be able to make something good enough that I myself would want to wear it, but I do think there’s a big market for pretty simple scents! Couple of drops of grapefruit essential oil and voila, scented candle 🙂
This is true – something that simple can be really lovely. I’m hoping to make it more complex than that if only for my own creative satisfaction, but yeah, I’m not expecting to create a masterpiece. I’m frankly more interested in creating it than I am in whether it sells 🙂
Fun! You will have to keep us posted on how it goes!
I’ve never tried scenting my own candle, but it sounds like fun! Let us know how it goes.
I’ll keep you posted!
I did a couple of scented hand soaps a few years ago, but nothing was “just right.” I got bored and quit messing around with the fragrance oils… wonder if I would have been more interested in it if I’d gone for essential oils instead.
I can absolutely understand that.
Did you use mostly synthetics?
Yes.
I had the same problem. Some of them can be good imitations, but others just don’t compare. And inevitably the naturals are so much more expensive.
How fun! I got a set of essential oils, but I haven’t played around with them yet. I do love smelling the local candles at New Seasons and those could be good inspiration if I ever made my own. I think it is more likely that I would try scenting a candle with my favorite perfumes (mmm Shalimar would make a wonderful candle).
I definitely have fun layering my perfumes, especially with lotions and body washes. Currently I don’t have the knowledge, equipment, or time to make my own scented products, but it sounds like great fun! Good luck!
Thanks! I technically don’t really have the time either, but I figure – why not?
And you’re right – Shalimar would make a great candle. I wonder if such a thing exists?
Madini makes a perfume oil, “Olive Flowers” that would probably work to scent a candle.
I’m not a crafty kind of person. I have tried stuff, but it stresses me out. Glad you’re going for it!
Oh I’m not one either. Knitting and such is just not my thing at all. But it doesn’t feel like a craft to me. More like an outlet for creative expression. Definitely not as important to me as writing, but still satisfying to try!
I monkey around a little bit with mixing EOs, but nothing earth shattering that could be sold. Mostly I love peru balsam, rosewood, vetiver, etc. I did make my own soaps with EOs from a goat milk base a few years ago, and that was a lot of fun.
That sounds lovely! Did you keep them for yourself, or give them as gifts?
I did both. I think about doing it again b/c nice soaps are so expensive. But the goat milk base is expensive to ship b/c it’s sold in 5 lb blocks….. Lots of fun!
I have an arsenal of essential oils in my possession (probably more bottles of those than conventional fragrances) so yes….I blend all the time! For the past week due to my nausea issue (and not being able to wear any conventional stuff) and inspired by the recent NST post on opoponax fragrances I made a blend with bergamot, cocoa, coffee, angelica, lavender absolute, galbanum, styrax, tuberose, three types of orange blossom, Tonka bean, vetiver, Bourbon vanilla, oakmoss ( a nice large dollop…take that IFRA!!!), ambrette seed, tangerine, sweet orange, four types of neroli, five types of sandalwood, “apricot” isolate, ginger, “peach” isolate, grapefruit, labdanum, beeswax, peru balsam and, last but not least, opoponax. It is “marinating” in a huge one ounce glass stopper bottle…surprisingly it smells quite good but the longevity isn’t so great so I keep having to reapply!
Oooh! I’d love to talk to you about this a bit more. Would you be cool with me sending you an email with a few questions?
yes …ask away!
That sounds really interesting – I have never even tried to make my own perfume, but play with essential oils and sometimes wear just pure rose oil as a scent (I read Jerry Hall does that which gave me the idea). It can work surprisingly well. Especially layered with something like Paris. Keep us posted on the candles.
I love a good rose oil. I have been meaning to try using mine as a base underneath another rose scent. You smell lovely!
I’m saving for a still so I can extract oils from some trees in my neighbourhood and native plants that were used by Maori for scent. The still is copper and looks beautiful. My problem is that my brain goes ‘blah blah blah whatever’ when instructions and recipes are involved, so I tend to do things badly and then lose interest.
That sounds amazing! If you do move forward with it, do keep us posted.
And you’re not alone in hating directions. My brain turns off the second I read them. Still, we manage to muddle through 🙂
That would be awesome! It would be fun to have a still. I would definitely be curious about traditional Maori fragrance materials.
The problem is that I would have to travel around the country to get some of the raw ingredients for Maori scents as they don’t grow this far south. And I don’t really have the money or maybe the sticking power to see the project through. But I could have fun with just our local trees…which would be a start.
I play with making my own stuff, with varying degrees of success. It can be kind of an expensive hobby, especially with naturals. I had been playing with naturals a lot, but I’ve moved back towards synthetics because I just can’t afford a lot of really good naturals (like tuberose, osmanthus, orange blossom absolute, etc.).. at least not in a quantity that I could do much with. Synthetics are fun in their own way, though. It can get complicated because you need more materials to achieve the kind of complexity that naturals have. And by synthetics I’m not referring to fragrance oils, just to be clear.. I’m referring to individual aromachemicals, like hedione, geraniol, ambroxan, iso E super, etc.
I’ve never made my own candles, but last year for Christmas I did do some scented wax melts with natural scents. I’ve also never tried making soap, though I’ve thought about it.
Oooh – I’d love to talk to you about this too!
My email is (all one word) mary (K) brunner at le google mail if you wouldn’t mind chatting about it!
I wouldn’t mind at all! I’ll shoot you an email. Mine is countsjc at the gee mail just so you know who’s emailing you. 🙂
I had favorited an Etsy store that sells lip balm and candle-making supplies. I don’t even know why I did it. Anyway, I will email you the link. I was just perusing it over the weekend and saw that they sell hundreds of scents for cheap.
I play around with essential oils a lot, and I have some experience making candles and soaps too. I actually repurposed some unscented candles I had around the house just yesterday and used cardamom oil which I love on its own. It’s pretty easy to figure out, and I really enjoy it.
Byredo 1996 on neck and chest. Plus on the back of my hands I’m wearing dabs of Rozy voile d’extrait. I recently got a 5 ml decant of Rozy vde but it’s so highly concentrated I’m afraid to go all out and spray it!
love 1996.
1996 fan club! It’s one of my winter top five favorites.
I’ll join in the 1996 fan club! You smell great!
Me too!
SOTD: EL Pleasures Pop.
Chit Chat OTD: Bought a new bird feeder, to supplement our feathered friends’ winter diet. Our old feeders were worn out and nasty. WOW! In less than 24 hours, every bird in the area is happy happy happy! 🙂 Gonna add a new peanut feeder and finch feeder this weekend. It’s the little things in life that bring the most joy!
Thanks Elizabeth! I’m very curious about this one
Oops… don’t know how this happened…
I was going to comment that we fill our bird feeders, and by we I mean my husband, daily. We have two different types of seed feeders and two suet feeders. It’s an expensive hobby but very enjoyable. I love looking at the cardinals and woodpeckers especially.
We just got a new feeder, too! It’s completely clear and sticks onto the window so we can the birds up close and personal from inside (where it’s warm). Brilliant idea, except for the poop on our windowsill now…worth it! 🙂
We have ours hanging on poles off our deck, so we can watch from the living room. We LOVE watching and looking thru our bird guide book to ID them. The funniest birdwatcher is our big tomcat though! He sits on his perch looking out the window, and sometimes he’ll meow and growl under his breath…wishing he could hunt! I’m sure his intentions aren’t good! 🙂
You can’t take the predator out of the house kittie!
I plan to buy a bird feeder soon, to entertain/torture my house cats. 🙂
Me too! We just adopted a kitty, we’ve been petless for a few years, and he would LOVE to watch the birds from the back of the couch.
Aw, bird feeders are fun. My mother has a large one that hangs near her kitchen window – it was *very* popular during the recent snow, and she said she’d never seen it so busy!
I love my parent’s feeders. When I visit them I will sit outside and watch the birds (and other creatures) for hours. I’ll even use binoculars to see as close as I can. Fascinating stuff!
I love it when you get to recognise individual birds ( return feeders ) and notice their particular characteristics, and how they fit in with the other birds in the pecking order. I wanted to try putting out food for our resident Harrier Hawk ( thought a road kill rabbit might tempt it ) . That would be so cool, eh.
I can never decide which is my favourite Tauer, Lonestar Memories or L’air du Desert Marocain: it always seems to be the one I happen to be wearing at the moment, which right now is Marocain. Mmmmm.
great choice.
I love LADDM best. 🙂
I sprayed some Smell Bent Walk of Shame, but I think its gone bad. I remember liking it the first (last?) time I wore it. Now its kind of a soapy mess. I think I’ll just spritz on something else since I’m running late. No time to scrub.
How is Spirit of the Glen? I keep meaning to try that one…
I’m also interested to know. A few years ago I took a road trip around Scotland to tour the different distilleries. I’d love to have a perfume that reminds me of that time!
I find that Skive reminds me of my time on Islay. To me it has a bit of peat and Whisky barrel…but no bracken, fern or heather. I don’t actually get much leather from it.
By Kilian has a whiskey perfume now, but I haven’t tried it.
I cannot make up my mind if I like it or not…but it’s bold/rough (and interesting) like the others in this series, and Dottie, I think it will certainly work for that purpose! IIRC, Kevin hated all of this collection.
Ha, interesting. I will certainly order a sample. Thanks!
I liked it enough to put my sample in rotation, but not enough to buy. I love whiskey scents, but this one was a titch too sweet for me. This series is interesting to me. Just tried HYLANDS Foxglove the other day, and it reminded me a lot of Penhaligon’s Hammam Bouquet — something that smells like Daphne at first sniff, and then becomes more legible as rose…
I think I’ll wear Vanille 44 again today (anybody else do this? I feel like I’m always getting reminded of smthg I like and then go on a jag where I wear nothing else for a week.) Verizon never showed yesterday and now says they cannot come for a week. Mmmmm.
I usually wear the same perfume 2-3 days in a row. For me, there’s a positive feeling associated with the familiarity of a perfume over a few days. It’s like a companion in a way. (I know this sounds weird!) Then after a few days I’m ready for a change of pace.
When I go on a single-perfume jag, it’s usually for no more than 3 or 4 days, which feels like a long time. I’m a terrible perfume monogamist.
I can go a little longer but yeah it’s very hard for me to imagine a signature scent. Which is odd, I am happy to wear the same jeans and boots day after day, or carry the same purse–I’ve had the same glasses since 2007! I dunno why I really get tired of a scent after a week…
Totally know what you mean abt the familiarity! Like re-reading a favorite book.
Every now and then I go through periods of addiction (to Safari, to No. 19, to Soivohle Centennial, or Mary Greenwell Plum). I don’t think I’ve gone longer than a week wearing any one thing every day, though.
Yeah I am POSSIBLY exaggerating a smidge–I started keeping a fragrance journal in July, not on a daily basis but everything I wear in a given week and there aren’t actually any one-perfume weeks! Even when I wear something a bunch of days in a row, I usually still put on something different at night or after the gym or whatever.
Yes completely. You forget about something and then wham, remember it and carry on wearing it till the same thing happens with another perfume. I think it’s one of the reasons the Friday Projects are such fun and such a good ide a- they make us remember/think about bits of our collections that might have been overlooked for a little while.
Absolutely–sometimes I’ll have a hankering for something in particular but very often I forget about things. The reminder is wonderful! (And then, I’m also hoping this year I find a better way to array what I’ve got–I keep almost everything tucked away to shield them from light but I really need a cabinet I can open and look at to remind me of my options!)
That does sound fun! I’ve only made a couple of things, also at perfume workshops, though nothing I’d want to wear 🙁 I’ve culled some DIY stuff on the internet for candles-one of them uses Crisco which looks like a simple one but not sure I’d want to burn Crisco.
This was meant for ihadanidea! Not sure had it escaped.
My SOTD will probably be Cristalle EDP when I get it together today. It’s all green and yellow and somehow warm and invigorating at the same time.
I woke up with a very painful hip from what, I have no idea. I’m hobbling around after a hot shower and a pile of Motrin and Tylenol, hoping it takes the edge off soon! Ugh. I think I’ve been taking walking for granted all these years. Note to self… Glad my boss is easy going about this kind of stuff.
Ugh, hope you feel better soon. The Cristalle should help – lovely choice!
Thanks Dottie! Cristalle is definitely a good pick-me-up.
I’m thinking it’s time for a new mattress for me due to the regular aches and pains when I get up from sleeping. I just got the latest Consumer Report which covers mattresses, so I think this is the year.
Our feet, knees, hips get a lot of wear and tear here in NYC & the boroughs with all the walking we do. I’m grateful too that I’ve not had any major issues so far!
I was having problems sleeping for the longest time where my knees and hips were always uncomfortable. I thought it was because of the mattress and bought a new one ($$$$). It made no difference.
Then got a body pillow ($) which changed my life forever! I haven’t slept so comfortably in years…
Yup, I’ve been using a leg pillow for years and it definitely helps my back!
That’s interesting. I’ll need to research this as well. Thanks!
I second the body pillow idea!
We bought a memory foam topper a few years ago which has made a big difference. Except for last night 🙁
Cristalle is just perfect. It has emerged as one of my top fragrances that I love to wear. Sorry about your hip…. we got a new mattress in November b/c I realized that our old mattress was just contributing to the troubles I have with my lower back and hip. I was crying over how expensive a good mattress is! But I also had to do some PT during the past few months for an “entrapped” sciatic nerve. Which is code for sitting too much at my desk job and being totally out of shape. A few months of good and proper therapy will fix you right up!
I had a little twinge in my sciatic(my butt) all week and I wonder if it’s just the extra tension from walking over snow and ice. It’s starting to loosen up a bit and I used a hand-held massager over it. Otherwise, PT it will be! I love my Cristalle edp. I’ve also ordered a decant of the EDT which I think will be great for warmer weather.
I love both the edt and edp. The edt has more upfront interest – lots going on, but the edp lasts longer. It has different accords. Both are lovely!
BTW – cheers to you b/c today I’m wearing LFdB!! Yum!
🙂 Glad you’re enjoying it. It was definitely the prettiest looking juice in my collection.
I hope the bum hip resolves quickly!
Thanks Petunia! Me too since walking is my primary means of transportation in NYC.
I understand – same in Montreal. I dread falling on the ice and hurting myself as I goeverywhere on foot – no car.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks SophieC! It’s improving a little.
Oy – you poor thing. Feel better soon!
Thanks ihadanidea!
Back from my work trip and just exhausted!! Wearing Dior Ambre Nuit and am shocked by how much I am loving this! I have worn it several times but today I am getting an almost woody sweetness that I never noticed before? I have no idea what I am smelling but it sure is gooooood! Happy Wednesday, y’all!
One of my favorites. You smell great!
you smell great.
Absolutely gorgeous scent that one is. Love it tons!
Hi all – I am finally dug out of the snow (never want to shovel again, I am so frickin’ sore) and all the little ducklings (I mean, college students) have returned to campus after a very interesting end to January Term travel.
I am in Gardenia Oud from Smell Bent. I really like this one, though I wish it had more sillage.
I’m on my second day wearing Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleure from a brand-new full bottle. Love it, and LOVE the sprayer on this bottle – the spray is so fine it actually feels dry.
Congrats on the acquisition! Such a pleasure to spray from a new full bottle.
That’s a great perfume! Enjoy!
I am at work wearing Serge Lutens L’Orpheline and drinking Stash Chai Green tea.
How do you find L’Orpheline? I loved it on the scent strip, but it turned truly awful on my skin. Not sure what happened there. So sad.
I love L’Orpheline! I have a full bottle and I think it is a very pretty scent.
You smell lovely. I really liked l’orpheline when I had a sample of it.
Chocolate cake day? My current craving is for chocolate cake, so I just happen to have one in my fridge. 🙂
My SOTD is Lilac Path by Aerin Lauder. I bought a small bottle yesterday on a whim, which is unlike me. I visited the nearby Nordstrom to return a gift and with store credit burning a hole in my pocket, of course I wandered into the (sadly small) fragrance department and discovered the Aerin Lauder display. I know this line is not particularly beloved by the perfume community, but Lilac Path is simply a lovely scent, like burying my nose in a fresh blooming lilac bush. Plus, the longevity is good on my skin. This afternoon I’ll be checking out some country homes with my realtor and Lilac Path should work well for the occasion.
(Sidenote: the only time my husband has ever said, “You smell good!” in response to a perfume – he merely tolerates my obsession – is when I was wearing En Passant, so I figure I could use more lilac in my collection.)
sounds like a great choice. my mom’s favorite flower is the lilac so it always reminds me of her. I really enjoy en passant as well.
En Passant is a beauty. Lilac Path is similar, but more straight-forward pretty. I’d compare side-by-side, if I could find my misplaced travel spray. 🙁
Well, that’s sweet of your husband! Mine likes the soft florals as well… he sort of tolerates a lot of my collection, but let me pull out a BWF, a floral woody musk, or even a pedestrian department-store floral like Marc Jacobs Daisy, and he’s all “Mmmm, come here and let me smell you!”
Hope your real estate search goes well.
That’s funny. I always read that men’s favorite perfume scent for women is vanilla, but whenever I wear anything with vanilla (even something as sublime as Cuir Beluga), my husband simply says, “You smell like vanilla extract.”
The worst is when I was wearing Ambre Narguile and he said something smelled like potpourri. My response was that it better smell like the most expensive potpourri in the world! Sigh.
I’ve read that too, but mine doesn’t like vanilla either (and I really don’t wear it so no problem). I generally have to wear Salome, VdN, Centennial, Mitsy, etc. to elicit a compliment. He likes perfume-y perfume.
Dottie, I’m guessing you’re NW of Raleigh, this might be a haul, but the biggest perfume selection I’ve found here is at Saks in Triangle Town Center. Creed, Hermes, Jo Malone, lots of TF, Bond, plus the usual.
Though Nordstrom has the wides range of Chanels, still only mainstream.
I sampled the Aerins and found them to be very pleasant and wearable, even if they don’t cause a stir. I sent my niece a travel sized En Passant for her birthday but I’m afraid to ask her how she likes it. I don’t want to put her on the spot-that’s the risk of gifting someone perfume I suppose.
You smell lovely – and lilac and hot chocolate cake sounds about perfect. I was really interested to read your about your husband’s comments as En Passant and Lys Mediterranee have both had that effect, and I get similar responses to vanilla.
Also, the Aerin line seems rather lovely to me not heaving hitting but some really appealing and elegant and wearable scents.
SOTD = Chanel Coromandel
I fell in love with the oriental base, which is quite reminiscent of Shalimar (in keeping with this week’s theme yay!). However, the more I wear this the more I notice how Coromandel differs from a typical oriental. It’s much more woodsy (the Chanel treatment of woods is superb) because of the patchouli, but it never turns too green. Instead, the spices veer the patchouli into “chocolate” territory, although I wouldn’t say Coromandel is gourmand. Definitely a good one to split.
Counting the days to the splitmeet!
This is an excellent description of Coromandel. I also find it woody and chocolately but not green or gourmandy.
I wore this last night after a long hiatus, and had forgotten what a beauty it is. You smell great!
You smell great! I’m eagerly awaiting my decant from STC! I love the combo of chocolate and patch-so rich and warm and earthy. If I could afford a bottle of SL Borneo 1834, I’d have that in my collection as well. Both manage to do that combo with such elegance.
I love the patch in this. It’s just right.
Ooh! Thanks for the perfect excuse to wear this on Friday!!
Cuir d’Ange for me today. This is weird stuff….ok, weird in a soft, super refined JCE kind of way. I think it reminds me of ‘new car smell”, maybe? I love it.
I actually got a bit of new car scent from that too!
I agree, quite an odd scent. I thought I wanted more of it because there is something about it, but I decided against it. I think its the heliotrope that gives it a quirkiness.
It reminds me of the smell of new (and no doubt terribly expensive) shoes.
Does it remind anyone else of Vanderbilt? Mind you, a very elegant, expensive version of Vanderbilt, perhaps hidden inside a luxe handbag.
Miss Dior vintage EDT. I think my nose is going through some kind of development lately. I used to find this one too spiky and angular; now it’s spicy and warm, a soft classy leather that seems right up my alley. If it was a color it would be dark green.
Might be a shape shifter…
Had to run out to the pharmacy this morning. This is the first time I have left the apartment since the baby. My hubby unpacked all the boxes so I was able to do one spritz of Angelique Noir and put on Rouge Orage Chanel lipstick for my 1 block walk to Duane Reade
Yay for good husbands and a moment to yourself!
Even a trip to Duane Reade deserves lipstick and perfume! Did you move yet? Give that new-baby-head a sniff for me 🙂
Yes, we moved the same week as I delivered. Still in the city though but just to a more family friendly building
WHOA. I somehow missed that detail. You *are* superwoman.
HELLO AND CONGRATS! Great to see you here again! 🙂 I bet you look and smell fab.
How are you feeling?
Yay! You look and smell fabulous.
How is everyone (including your one year old) adjusting? Hope you’re getting some sleep!
No sleep but it will change soon.
The 13 month old doesn’t understand the baby- she treats him like she treats our cat
Aw. “Who are these creatures who also want time with MY mommy?”
I’m sorry for missing the right moment, but huge congratulations anyway!
Sending hugs from Brussels.
36 years after giving birth I still find the prospect of moving and giving birth in the same *month* horrifying. You are Superwoman in my book! Hope life settles in quietly soon.
Congrats on getting a few moments to yourself. I remember the first time I was away from my new baby after we all got home was a trip to our local CVS. I think I spent an hour there just walking up and down the aisles so I could have a minute to myself.
That was me today! i needed a moment
Oh lordy — moving in the midst of new-babyhood!? You have my compassion and fiercest respect! Hope you’re feeling well and enjoyed your walk.
I am amazed and so impressed you managed to move and have a baby the same week – and congratulations again!
What a team! Giving birth, taking care of sibling, moving, and still writing on NST! Clearly your perfumes are giving you super powers!
Wow! I am tipping my invisible hat to you because you are indeed Wonder Woman!
Thank you!
I am so happy we are settled though and none of my perfumes got broken in the process.
I often don’t have time to post but today is a good day and I often read this blog when I am up burning the midnight oil.. i.e.: up with baby all night long
Congrats on the move (though how you accomplished it right after giving birth is astounding) and getting a moment to yourself. I hope you get to pamper yourself (I’m not sure a pharmacy trip counts as pampering), you certainly deserve it!
Congratulations and best wishes to Super Mom!!!
Congratulations on the baby and the move. I have you to thank (blame) for making me curious about Maison Kayser. I have been to Bryant Park store twice in the past two weeks. That almond croissant truly is the best (and, sigh, expensive).
I’m wearing Black Opium today. I’m not a tea or coffee drinker, so I’m drinking diet coke.
I think Diet Coke was the only liquid that entered my body for a good 10 years when I was younger 🙂
I’m wearing Trayee. People tend to focus on Mohur and it is beautiful, but so is Trayee. It’s also the more interesting of the two, in my opinion. Plus potentially good for people who kind of want to explore incense, but are in fact not that keen on the note…
PS Dog update: Lumi is afraid of the piano and keeps barking at it. She seems to think it’s a big black dog. My sister keeps playing to prove it’s not.
So funny about the dog and the piano! My dog goes nuts when there is live music in the house – piano, trombone, saxophone, or just people singing. He “sings” along with it. It’s hilarious.
I liked the first three NVs too, but I was surprised to find that I liked Trayee best.
This really does sound hilarious, thank you for this mental picture 🙂
I’m exactly the same, all three are great, but Trayee is my favourite. The only one in the line that doesn’t work for me at all is Ashoka.
I love it.
I have a friend that is an opera singer and her chihuahua mix pup tries to harmonize with her when she rehearses at home. It actually becomes problematic because my friend then can’t hear how she’s singing, but it’s an adorable problem to have. The video documentation of this killed me.
LOL!
😀
Trayee is on my wishlist. I’ve heard lots of good things about it and since I love incense fragrances I think I’ll like it.
As our tastes seem to overlap quite a bit, I highly recommend trying Trayee 🙂
Agreed. I usually dislike incense in perfume, but I love Trayee.
Glad that you agree!
Agree! And actually my favorite Neela is Bombay Bling. I find Mohur conceptually beautiful but I did not fall for it the way many have. To each her own–it’s so nice the line has such distinctive, complex scents that if you like it, you LOVE it 🙂 Honestly the best kind of perfumery IMO.
I like Bombay Bling a lot, too, it’s one of my favourite fruity scents (Pulp is up there, too). The other thing I like is that the line is small and well curated.
Totally. I love that everything in the line has a clear reason for being there. Pichola didn’t work for me but I totally get why NV added a white floral (and proof’s in the pudding, Pichola clearly found its fans!)
Pichola didn’t work for me either, Bombay Bling and Trayee I am so – so with, but I love Mohur and Ashoka! I agree, one of the pleasures of the line is that it is small, but sort of covers all the bases. NV is excellent on so many levels.
Aww – how old is Lumi again?
She is three months now, but we just got her this Sunday, so everything at our place is completely new to her.
I have to exercise extreme restraint not to post pictures of her on Facebook all the time.
I say go with it. There can never be too many cute animal pictures on the internet.
Also, if you are in the mood for adorable entertainment, or even want to submit a picture of Lumi:
https://twitter.com/dog_rates
Aaaw…those dogs are ADORABLE. Wish my dog was that photogenic. Thanks for sharing!
Go for it! My husband shamelessly posts pictures of our cats on a regular. I’m sure there are eye rollers out there, but also the appreciators.
What name does ‘Snowy’ the dog (Milou) in Tintin go by in the Estonian edition? Is it Lumi ?
You smell gorgeous. I asked and received Trayee as a collective family birthday present, after testing it for many weeks. It is really lovely.
Hope Lumi will start to appreciate this big black dog!
I love Trayee it’s my favorite of the original three NV. So funny about the dog! We just adopted a cat and he enjoys walking on the piano keyboard in the middle of the night 🙂
I agree with you Annikky. I love all five of the Neela Vermiere fragrances but my two favorites are Trayee and Mohur.
I am embarrassed to admit I have never tried any of the Neela Vermiere scents and must change that. Meanwhile Lumi sounds so sweet and funny and silly – do keep on telling us about her doings please!
Lumi! Belated congrats on your new addition! I bombard my friends regularly with photos of T-Rex and if they roll their eyes, I haven’t heard about it. If people find a photo of a puppy (or kitten, or baby anything!) anything less than wonderful, they have no soul.
I’m with you on Trayee being the best of the first 3. In fact, Mohur EDP smells like oily pencil shavings to me. Mohur extrait behaves quite differently and is in its own class.
Today, I am wearing Jasmin Rouge by Tom Ford. Beautiful fragrance!
Jasmin Rouge is very beautiful! It’s one of the few Tom Fords that I really think is outstanding.
Jasmin Rouge is my favorite Tom Ford perfume. The soap is very lovely as well.
You smell glorious – a colleague who I shared an office with used to wear that and it’s what got me interested in the Tom Ford line.
Atelier Grand Neroli from a sample. I’m volunteering at my son’s middle school today in the writing lab, so I want something to counteract the smell of pre-teens!
Ha!
Do you like it?
You might need an entire vat of Grand Neroli to pull that off! 😉
I am wearing Orlov Cross of Asia. It’s nice, but does not inspire me to sign over my life savings. At least so far. It’s quite a different style from what I would normally gravitate toward. There’s a sharp top note that I’ve smelled in other perfumes (that I don’t like), but I can’t identify it. I’ve smelled it in JM’s Wild Bluebell… Can anyone guess what it might be? I keep hoping it will go away, but 2 hours in it’s still hanging on.
I was disappointed by the new Orlov scents as well. I washed off Flame of Gold because the scent was so screechy and piercing. I’m so glad that I only bought small samples.
SOTD is Eau de Cartier Essence de Bois. I like it. It smells very classy, but still peppery and sharp. Looking at the notes on Fragrantica, I’m not surprised I like it. It hits a lot of my favorite notes.
I’m officially addicted to Stash Breakfast in Paris tea. It smells, and tastes, so good.
OH, Hi! I will have to try both the perfume and the tea! Thanks for the descriptions…
Hi! They are both nice. I wouldn’t say Essence de Bois is particularly groundbreaking, but it’s a nice, wearable oud.
The tea is so good. It really does smell like Shalimar, and sometimes like Jicky.
Aaaarg, I wish I knew. My FB got the boot…I just donated it!
SOTD is YSL Cinema, inspired by the BdJ post on mimosa earlier this week (Cinema smells mostly of mimosa and amber to me).
Wearing vintage Bal before my shower but thinking that after my shower, I will give vintage Miss Dior a go or just continue on with vintage Bal.
Stick with vintage BaV!!! 😉
I’m wearing a new decant of 31 Rue Cambon which actually smells quire different than the decant I had before. This is the 3rd version of this I’ve experienced which means they probably are regularly tweaking the formula to comply with all the rules. This version is lovely.. although the oak moss is not as strong, and I do love me some oak moss.
You smell great!
Interesting…I wonder which version I have. And I too am in favor of more oakmoss – in just about everything!
That is interesting. Do you prefer one over another or do the differences not matter too much?
They do matter! One I ended up giving away – it was so different than I was used to. Was too much of something, not sure what, but the it was not the 31 I had come to love.
Interestingly the version I’m wearing now (thru a freebie meet) doesn’t have the same longevity as the one I got from STC a year ago.
Thanks for clarifying. It’s so strange how that happens (not really given reformulations but still I am always surprised when something smells different from one bottle to the next a little later). Will have to go and investigate the latest 31 and see if it smells like my old decant as I had been seriously pondering a full bottle
FWIW, I just purchased a bottle on eBay that was made in 2014 (looked up the batch code). It seems pretty great to me and not noticeably different from the 2 decants I had previously. I wonder if the decanting process might make a difference in how the scent fares?
SOTD is CSP Amour de Cacao. Matches that photo perfectly and I plan on indulging in something very similar after my job interview, which is in about 20 minutes. I have another lined up for tomorrow, too. Onwards and upwards, as they say!
Thank you all so much for your kind words and encouragement. It warms me to the cockles of my little heart. Hope everyone has a fantastic Hump Day ????
Bestest luck!
Knockem’ dead Deva!
Wow! You work fast! Hope it went well.
Good luck with the job interview!
Good good luck. And well done on getting something lined up so quickly.
Good luck honey!
Wow! Good for you, and knock ’em dead.
Good luck in your interviews!!
Perfect perfume choice, and thanks for letting us cheer you on. Good luck with the hunt!
Vintage L’Heure Bleue today, which feels like a treat! I recently picked up a sample of non-vintage L’Heure Bleue to do a side-by-side comparison, and it made me sad. The new formulation lacks something that was dense and textural and soulful in the original, and smells high and thin by comparison. The deep tenderness of the original is gone, and instead it smells, really, kind of peculiar. I wonder if I would have loved this perfume as much as I do if I’d smelled the current iteration first…
I think about that sometimes too. I also feel sorry for people – even if they like a current formulation – that never get to smell a fragrance in it’s true glory. It’s like if the first time you listened to some amazing piece of music it was in crappy stereo.
Great analogy Ann!
Yes, love this analogy, (vinyl geek here!)
Another vinyl lover here, and that’s a perfect analogy! When I smell current Jolie Madame or Cabochard they feel mutilated, like poorly digitalized music. Thank the perfume gods I never knew the old Guerlains, so I can naively enjoy them.
I had a similar experience recently when I tried modern Balmain Ivoire. I read a review that said they were very similar, but unfortunately to me the modern version was pretty, but lacking just those exact elements that made the vintage so haunting and human to me. I will treasure every drop of my tiny vintage bottle!
Now I really want to smell a vintage version, but maybe it’s better not to know since I love the current version.
Probably best to spare yourself the doubt and moral confusion of contemplating a $300 vintage bottle on Ebay… 😉
Yes, reduce the angst in your life, resist the temptation to sniff vintage!
I’ll take your advice if I can resist temptation.
I read on MonsieurGuerlain that production of the EdP and Parfum of LHB and Mitsouko has been suspended because one of their raw materials made them smell different. If your sample is new, that might be the reason. However, the EdT apparently was not affected.
Ugh, I just bought a bottle from the 2015 batch. I wonder if I should try to return it?
I would if I were you. I know that Nordstroms, Saks, Bergdorf, and NM will take fragrance returns.
After the gray, grumpy, frustrating day I had yesterday (the best part of which was my spritz of cuddly Musc Tonkin), I’m wearing Fleurs d’Oranger and enjoying the sunshine.
I’ve been job hunting and finding that jobs in my field – that I could do in my sleep – suddenly all have education requirements that I don’t meet. Experience doesn’t get you far when applications are all processed and sorted online and not being able to check a box means instant rejection. I can NOT afford to go back to school right now, especially to “qualify” for jobs that I’m actually over-qualified for and to work in a field I don’t really love.
Actually, lately I’ve been noticing that even the low-paying part-time jobs list pretty unrealistic education requirements. I am considering working a few hours on weekends shelving books at the library, and they require an associates degree or two years college education.?! I also noticed that several hotels in the area are looking for front desk staff with a four-year degree. I did this job when I was a teenager and would not consider doing it with an expensive degree unless it was a dire emergency. It’s like waiting tables without the tips 😉
Is this a new trend? I know that when I was interviewing people to replace me in my last position, many younger well-educated applicants had terrible writing skills and presented poorly so I don’t see how it would help to weed people out.
Phew! Sorry for the long post, but I’m flummoxed. Is this a nationwide thing or just the result of having moved to a college town with lots of unemployed graduates?
Oof I am SO sorry to hear that. I have heard that increasingly college/university degrees are taken less as evidence of skills and simply as proof of sticktoitiveness, ability to show up for something consistently and complete a years-long undertaking as an adult (as opposed to high school where parents might’ve been making you)…but you’d think that lots of experience–gained from showing up day after day!–would be at least as good for that!
I am hesitant to give advice because you are in the middle of it so know far better than I the situation, but I’ve also been hearing a lot lately about how it’s important not to be intimidate by what an employer lists as qualifications and apply anyway, with sense that they signal not what the employer actually requires but a dream candidate who likely will not materialize, and the employer will select from a field of people who all have some but not all the requirements. I fully see what you’re saying about automated applications and I know firsthand that filling out a million applications and fielding mostly rejections is INCREDIBLY demoralizing, but my inclination is to say stick with it… Will be interested to hear if any HR folks have ideas (like maybe contacting a hiring manager outside the automated process to ask advice and signal interest? I really don’t know.)
I was unemployed from 2012-2013, and I noticed that then too. I had over a decade of administrative and customer service experience at the time, but the listings for entry level roles, even as a receptionist, were requiring a college degree. It seemed insane then, and it still does. At the time I took it as employers taking advantage of the change in the job market, and throwing around their hiring weight, so to speak. I don’t know if it’s still like that in the market, but I know how frustrating it is to see jobs that are at your level, or below, suddenly demanding to see proof of a degree that has nothing to do with the job.
Yes!! I left a position and they actually wanted me to come back and work per diem(hourly w/no benefits). Since I’d already left it had to be submitted to HR and was rejected because of new degree requirements. And I’d worked there for 6 years!
So sorry for your frustration. It’s true that many very well educated inexperienced applicants do not have good writing skills. Are you on LinkedIn? After some time, my son found a job in his desired field through it, despite not having the usual required degree. Someone just noticed the work history. You can represent yourself exactly as you want a prospective employer to see you. Then, see if anyone bites and make adjustments accordingly.
A friend of mine just went through the same thing. She went over two years without a job because she doesn’t have a degree. She finally found a crumby entry level job that is just okay for now. She has a good attitude but it can’t be easy to start from the bottom at a much lower income level.
In Rochester (US) it’s often a question of connections, and LinkedIn is of some use in that respect. Connections can get you in the door, degree or not. And in some fields, skills and natural abilities can trump a degree even today. It’s a crazy world out there, and it’s easy to lose confidence and belittle yourself. I think many of us have been there. But you are right now, and it sucks. Wishing you strength, determination, and good luck, too.
I’ve just heard that too, that LinkedIn really can be a good way to make direct contact with the people who count even if you don’t have someone else to introduce you. It sorta makes sense, too–I think basically having a LinkedIn account at all says, “I am willing to be approached for networking.”
Thanks, everyone. I’m obviously feeling a bit whiny today, but I AM fairly stubborn and am applying for the positions anyway. I’m just having a good ole “life isn’t fair” pout 😉 I wasn’t sure if I was imagining the shift and having poor luck or if this was a new HR fad.
I remember applying for jobs when I was in college and being rejected due to plenty of education but no experience. Well, the foot’s on the other hand now, ain’t it?
Yeah if it’s any reassurance, I know SO many people who, even given shifting trends toward emphasizing degrees, are still in the “How can I get five years’ experience if no one will hire me without five years’ experience?!” boat. It’s rough out there. Hugs to all.
If you’re on LinkedIn I’d recommend reading Liz Ryan’s stuff on the modern jobs market. She makes a convincing case that it’s FUBAR and has some great suggestions for things we can do about it. Good luck! 🙂
I really dislike several aspects of my current job, a couple vicious nutty co-workers being the worst part, but there are aspects of it that I greatly enjoy – learning new things, the stability of working for an essential function in a large organization.
I read so many stories about the difficulties older women encounter seeking new employment, that it is pretty scary to think about quitting this job, although at least once a week, I have that impulse to stomp my foot, announce “I have had enough of this, and I am done!” and walk out.
Good luck to everyone looking for a job!
Slept poorly, woke early, and its heavily overcast here. Can’t seem to get rolling. Pulled vintage Blue Grass for after my shower.
Have a great day, all.
Hope you sleep better tonight!
Thanks, Robin, I’m sure I’ll make up for it tonight.
SOTD is SL La Fille de Berlin. I am over-doing the perfumista salute this morning. But I just smell soo good! I even wore a sweater the same color as the juice. I just wanted some of that rose!!!!!!!!!!!!
That color is swoon-worthy! You smell and look great!
🙂
Yay!! So glad it’s still scent-love.
I still haven’t tried this one! But I remember the juice being such a pretty color in the pics.
I can send you a little decant of this if you want. Email me at me username at the gee mail place.
Wearing Rose Ikebana today per Victoria’s winter suggestion list on BdJ and other NSTers…
I love Lush’s Baked Alaska soap which I think is mostly a verbena/citrus type scent…do correct me if you disagree… 😉
Any suggestions for perfumes which are similar to Baked Alaska please?
Hard to believe there is a dessert I have never eaten, but I have never eaten Baked Alaska! Do do not even know what components the perfume would need, other than I assume it should be creamy?
I have never actually had the dessert either 🙂 but I’m the Lush soap is straight verbena/citrus and, I assume, bears no resemblance to the dessert and the verbena/citrus scent of the soap is what I’m trying to find in a perfume.
I know L`Occitane makes a couple different verbenas perfumes now that I think about it but was just wondering if any of the soap users out there might have a good fragrance suggestion to emulate the soap. I just love that soap. 😉
I’m pretty sure Baked Alaska is cake and ice cream inside of meringue that’s been toasted with a blow torch, but I could be wrong.
Yes, it was the dessert of choice at many early weddings I’d gone to. The scent of the soap and the dessert don’t exactly match. Though I find the Lush names don’t always make sense.
Didn’t Alaska just pass a legal marijuana bill? Maybe it’s not a reference to the dessert… 😉
My mom used to make me Baked Alaska on my birthday! I didn’t like cake, so she made it with a brownie base instead, and my choice of ice cream which was always peppermint stick. I’m still amazed she pulled it off, because the meringue has to perfectly insulate the whole thing when you bake it in the oven.
I’m having minor surgery on Friday and will probably miss Shalimar day, so I’m wearing it today in modern edt and tomorrow in vintage extrait. Shalimar was love at first sniff – I had never tried it till I fell down the rabbit hole ten years ago, none of the women in my life wore it. The time I wasted!
I’m slightly worried about Friday. Shalimar has a decided creosote/tar smell to me, not unpleasant for a wooden fence, but rather unexpected, perhaps, on a mad old bat assessing applicants for a senior role at work. I really want to get the citrus-vanilla-oriental complexity other people experience with Shalmar, but I just don’t! I think I might wear something else on my Friday at work –Wit, perhaps, or 31 Rue Cambon–and join you all in Shalimar on my Saturday to see if I can learn it better. Maybe all your comments will trigger something in my poor brain that will make me understand.
Shalimar smells like petrol on me so I plan to wear Amouage Ubar instead, as I cosider that to be a classic floral in the same league as Shalimar.
I love the gasoline opening! 🙂
Good wishes for speedy recovery!
Hope everything goes okay.
Best wishes for Friday!
Good luck, ringthing.
Hope all goes well!
I’m wearing Mona di Orio Nuit Noire. Sometimes I wish that I lived in a more humid climate so that I could wear this one in all it’s glory… it’s just so much better with a bit of humidity. But it is gorgeous without too!
Oh, you smell really good today! It has been too long since I wore it last time. I love to wear it in the summer months, and often on the brightest of days, but not necessary the hottest. Lovely thing, so glad it’s back.
I’m wearing Serge Lutens Vitriol d’oeillet, lovely. Needed something with just a little edge and bite today, that later turns down the volume to nice.
Good morning from steaming Auckland. I’m not used to summers that feel like a version of Singapore, but here we are in the high twenties again, and for many weeks to come, apparently. I love my typically summer perfumes, all cologne-y and refreshing, but if I’m not careful, I’m going to get very tired of hanging around with Narcisse Bleu, DKNY Woman, Cristalle and all their green friends. I really don’t want to get “fresh fatigue'” because all these are lovely and serve a good purpose in my collection. However, I’m working at home today, and I can shower fifty times if I need to, so I’ve taken the opportunity to play a little. I’m wearing a hefty dose of Black Cashmere. Will its warmth and friendliness overwhelm me in this heat, or will I subdue its tendency to encroach and envelop? This is an amusing experiment, far more enjoyable, I have to say, than the work tasks I’m pottering around with! Be safe in the snow up there in TOH, everyone.
Hope it is working for you, and JEALOUS of your steaming weather!
I haven’t showered it ft, but it’s not as convincingly beautiful as usual, maybe. I haven’t ever experienced snow like you’re having, though Kanuka will have done. I’d gladly send you our summer in exchange for some cool air.
SOTD = VC&A Bois d’Iris. I find this an extremely satisfying scent. Right now I am in one of the less sweet, fewer flowers, more woodie phases, but I have confidence the iris will put in another appearance in a while… Also enjoying my job more than usual today. 🙂 Always a nice change.
I am having perfume problems. All my scents smell as if they have been stored in someone’s armpit. Nothing smells right to me. Just sprayed Skive and it was nasty, in a nasty way. Like fresh Tarmac. Did anyone ever find that going through menopause affected their smell? Or is it the weather? So depressing.
Dear Kanuka, it may be both! This weather is perfectly horrible and isn’t helping the taste or smell of anything, but I have friends whose tastes in food, perfume and colours did major flip-flops during menopause. It seemed to me that every day was an exploration of self for them–nothing was consistent from one day’s end to the next. Things seem to have settled, though not necessarily back to where they started from.
Hi Waterdragon. Thanks for the information. Menopause seems to be one of those ridiculously taboo topics. I asked the assistant at the skincare counter about menopausal skin and she blushed ( poor thing). My 80 year old mother denies going through menopause and when pressed will only refer to an unusually warm winter in Christchurch ( during her fifties ). Bof! Number 19 bath gel will get me through!
Interesting that the subject seems taboo! ‘Cos, really, no one’s going to be able to work out that it’s happened, of course! I suppose that it’s a relatively new condition; many women before the 20thC presumably died in childbirth or from disease before they reached the age for menopause. Perhaps people don’t know how to talk about it.
I’m no use at all, though I’d like to help– I realised one day in my very late fifties that it had been a while since I’d had a period, sat back, and thought, “Oh well, this must be the menopause then.” In fact, by then it was all over, red rover, and I hadn’t even noticed, so I obviously had what’s called “a good menopause”. Post menopause, I still get migraines, and my skin has lost and continues to lose some of its elasticity, particularly on my arms (I don’t ever inflict my bare arms on the suffering world!) so I began to use products with the word “firming” in the name. Decided quite soon that they weren’t effective–after all, I’m getting old; gravity demands its dues–and now use Trilogy rosehip for everything. It works as well as anything else. I try to be patient and accepting about everything else that turns up. For instance, I now bruise if I bump myself; never used to. I don’t heal as fast from minor cuts or burns; used to heal like a war horse. I have some permanent annoyances, like a Morton’s neuroma in my right foot. Happens. No more high heels for me. In other words, I try to find the flow and go with it, and for what it’s worth, those of my friends who have had the same attitude seem to have managed better than those who have treated themselves like a “stop the aging clock” project.
Also, though everyone recommended finding a “sympathetic” female doctor, I didn’t bother. Well, I didn’t need to exactly, did I? But honestly, my regular GP, a thoroughly decent human being and a good scientist, dealt with my queries and ignorance with objectivity and humour, and if I wanted to bitch (sometimes I grieved for my fertility-sounds ridiculous,given my age, but it was occasionally hard to accept that there really was NO chance any longer of a baby!) I talked to Isabella-the-cat. She kept all my secrets…I am more irascible than I used to be, but I don’t know if that’s really the menopause. I was probably always going to be a horribly grumpy old woman!
Waterdragon, I adore your description and sense of humor. I was thinking about the term “hysteria” in Victorian literature and that it was most likely a symptom of perimenopause. Now, perhaps it’s your “irascible”, and is acceptable if not celebrated depending on the individual and the change in culture.
Thanks Waterdragon. Luckily I don’t find menopause depressing ( just that I can’t enjoy my perfumes at the moment and my skin is sore – which could be due to eating too many apricots!) I tend to be horribly matter of fact and blunt about certain things, almost to the point of being inappropriate ( a friend bought me a book about autism in women that I read and found a bit boring…and I told her so, which proved her point ). Lovely low mist on the hills and you’ll like this: the pohutakawa has just begun to flower and is full of bellbirds and tui. So much for the NZ Christmas tree!
Blunt is good. Very culturally appropriate in A-NZ.
I want pohutukawa! I want tui! I want the heartlands…I can do anything for 18 months. It’s not long. Not really.
My mom has always been open about menopause, and she has told me before that things smell different to her, and on her, after she went through it. She’s also experienced a change in smell and taste since she had some minor surgery on her parathyroid. Hormones definitely have a connection to our senses, so it makes sense.
Both for me. Lots of things I loved started to nauseate me, and weather definitely affects how I perceive things.
I’m finding that coffee also makes me a bit queasy at the moment. I probably just need a good long walk…seems to fix most things .
Wearing Smell Bent Never Never Land. Dry, resiny amber goodness (hmmm…spell check tells me resiny isn’t a word – I’m sure you know what I mean though).
Never Never Land was one of the first Smell Bents that I ever smelled and it’s still one of my favs!
Amouage Dia Man. Back to work. Yikes.
I have a sample of this, which I’ve never tried. Going back to work is never easy!
And after a camping trip it’s even harder. I still feel like a cave woman! Austenfan, I encourage you to try Dia Man, it’s a nice warm vetiver scent, I think.
Wearing Une Fleur De Cassie. Makes me feel more awake after a too early start. In other unrelated news you are all tempting me back to tea. I have a lovely put of Rose tea my mother gave me and have decided to have some as soon as I get in this evening.
Une Fleur de Cassie and a pot of Rose tea sounds wonderful, perfect for this miserable weather.
Thanks Mayfly- the weather really is dull isn’t it!
Too many comments, I have to go back and read later.
Wearing Shalimar ode a la Vanille Madagascar, as I have just enough left in the sample for today and tomorrow. And then, happily, it will be out of my life forever! With the bonus of having used up a sample! I really don’t like this stuff very much.
I admire your commitment to finish it. I just tend to neglect the ones I don’t love.
It couldn’t have been worse than the Mexican Shalimar…
Hello everyone! There have been so many comments here of late that I don’t have the chance to read over breakfast, so I’ll have to catch up after work to see what everyone has been wearing.
I’m reading Lizzie Ostrom’s book Perfume, A Century of Scents (it can be surprising to see what turns up in Wellington bookshops), and am up to the 1930s. I’m feeling inspired to wear the one thing I have dating from that decade, so it’s Vol de Nuit today.
That’s on my to-read list. What do you think so far?
Snowflake the lamb is doing just fine! I think he’s grown a bit.
Wearing lovely Alahine today.
Will Snowflake become the Wilbur of your family? I’ll bet he is adorable.
Um… well… my 17-yo son bought the sheep as his personal moneymaking venture, so Snowflake will go off to market in a matter of months.
I mean, *I* couldn’t eat him. I couldn’t eat an animal I have personally hand-fed. But we don’t keep farm animals for pets, they have a different purpose.
They do grow fast in a good environment! Lambies! I love ’em.
Yay Snowflake!
Nice to hear Snowflake is doing well with your TLC! And Alahine is just yum. I can still smell it on my scarf from last week’s wearing.
Wearing Azemour les Oranges today, first time from my shiny new bottle!, loving the pithy, juicy orange and slightly murky green oakmoss combination- how i love a good chypre, especially a fruity one!
Love that one – you smell lovely!
It sounds perfect and like a hint of summer
I’m sampling MFK Ciel de Gum today, it’s too early to tell whether I love it or not.
On another note, in February’s Portland Monthly magazine Angela Sanders is featured in an article about self-publishing. It was an interesting read, and apparently a good way for writers to get noticied.
Yay Angela! I’m a bit behind in my Angela newsletter reading, but this is a good reminder to catch up.
I was going to ask for a link (I love Angela’s mysteries and her monthly newsletter!) but decided to go look for it myself.
Here: http://tinyurl.com/grp85zz
Nice, go Angie!
I’m wearing Coty L’Origan, from a stoppered cube bottle that was issued by Coty for an anniversary celebration. I believe it was part of the series that LT describes as “confidential restorations of four Coty classics that I’d swim a mile for” by perfumer Daphne Bugey. (This is under his review of Kenzo Amour, which she created, in The Guide.)
It smells very much like Grossmith’s Sham-el-Nessim, which LT recommends for those who want to know what L’Origan originally smelled like. He notes that, historically, 1906 Sham-el-Nessim was “an enthusiastic copy of François Coty’s magnificent 1905 L’Origan” and that Grossmith’s current restoration is remarkably faithful.
http://arabia.style.com/beauty/beauty-guide/fall-winter-fragrances-2013-luca-turin-reviews-valentino-lancome-grossmith/
All the more reason to be dismayed by Coty, which has all the original formulas for Chypre, Emeraude, etc., and knows perfectly well how to produce excellent perfume, even within current IFRA restraints, and yet simply refuses to do so.
It’s so odd, isn’t it? I wore vintage L’Aimant the other day, and I love it, love it, love it….the current version seems like a pale imitation of the original. Why don’t they just make the original?
L’Aimant is one of my favs, too! Seriously, if Roja Dove and Grossmith can survive on the market for this level of quality, Coty could easily have a niche section producing the originals.
I liked L’Origan and Shem-el-Nessim also. Perhaps the pendulum will swing back to rich-smelling fragrances one of these days. Fruit and fresh can’t last forever, can they?
I KNOW. So many of those early Coty things just pull at my heartstrings. I would seriously pay $$$ for “niche versions” of several of them.
I’m working through a big bag of 2ml samples from scentsamples in the UK. SOTD is Lalique’s Encre Noir. I don’t much care for it, but I’m enjoying the chance to try so many different things. And as I work away from home Mon-Fri, it’s great to pack 5 different scents in the space of a travel soap. 🙂
I also found some very interesting perfumes available at Blooms, most of which can be bought as 1.6ml samples. Things like Tauer, Beaufort, Parfumerie Générale, Nishane and Arquiste.
Also ordered the 5 CDG incenses as samples from luckyscent in the US. They just do 0.7ml samples so 2 of everything for me. Can people really test a perfume in ‘live’ conditions with one 0.7ml sample?
I can get several wears out of a .7ml sample. In fact, my vial of Shalimar from TPC still has some left in it, and I wore it every night for almost two weeks, before I moved on to a bigger decant.
Hee, I buy 2 of each dabber sample as well and empty them into an atomizer.
No, I don’t think I can, so I don’t. I always opt for a spray sample.
I got my Penhaligon’s order yesterday, so I’m wearing my brand new Ostara today.
I feel springyyyy oh so springyyyyy…
You smell wonderful and indeed quite springy!
Another day of grabbing a sample on the way out. This one was unlabeled, but I think it was Filles en Aiguilles or else something equally piney.
Today I wore Mauboisson Histoire d’Eau, a beautiful oriental with mandarin orange in the opening and an incredible ambered cedar in the dry down.
Sounds lovely.
Started off in Tauer Eau d’Épices, then my bottle of Aramis Calligraphy Rose showed up on the porch from Beautyspin so I sprayed that on. Unfortunately despite all the rave reviews on this one it smells odd on me and is going immediately to the swap pile. So much for that!
SOTD = Chanel No.19 EDP
No spine strengthening needed for today but just felt like wearing it. It’s a good thing too because I had to offer moral support to a colleague working on the same project. It’s still going on but the project team got a congratulatory note from the company’s Biggest Cheese — if he only knew what is still happening behind the scenes…