It's Almost-Friday, and it's Louis Comfort Tiffany's birthday. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in Maurice Roucel's Insolence, for Guerlain. I'd forgotten how much I like this one. I don't think it is a big fan club, though.
Reminder: on 2/19 wear a perfume by Maurice Roucel, if you have one. (suggested by Elisa)
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: bottle image via 1stdibs, "Art Nouveau Tiffany Favrile Decorated Perfume Bottle by Tiffany Studios".
SOTD: Safran Troublant (L’Artisan Parfumeur)
Nice choice!
love this one. you smell great!
Twins! I was going to wear Iris Ukiyoe today, to continue my iris week, but today dawned grey and chilly with me in a grey mood as well, so I needed Safran Troublant’s warm embrace.
I have a bottle of SF on its way to me (I’ll be offering up some for the split meet). I’m so excited! Great scent, especially during transitional weather.
I liked Insolence. I used up a bottle in short order right after it came out, but didn’t replace it, IDK why. That bottle is beyond lovely.
Oh and I am wearing Iris Poudre today!
I wore iris poudre yesterday, from my new valentine’s bottle, you smell wonderful and elegant. and i love Insolence edp!- on my FB wish list.
I would not mind having that bottle 😉
And glad to see another fan. I never bought it though, just think it is a fun scent.
I recall it being perky.
Maybe that is why I didn’t get more, I must have gone through a non-perky phase.
I’ll have to get another sample of it…I don’t really remember how it smells…
And it’s probably been reformulated by now!
Perky is a good word for it!
I want to add my support for the beautiful Insolence EDP (I wore this earlier this week).
I just bought another bottle of it too, after not owning one since its release. I like it better than I remembered.
Me too! I’m wearing it today 🙂
I forgot all about Insolence! I’ll dig up my sample. I remember liking it, too.
A spring-like day ahead. SOTD is Chanel Misia.
No spring here, unfortunately!
Misia, my first Chanel. Beautiful.
Thanks to kpaint for encouraging me to try this in the winter- Orange Sanguine…..I drained my entire sample this morning loved it so much in the cold! Smelling this in the cold transported me to the late 70s in middle school where my winter scent was always vintage Cristalle (never wore that one in the warmer weather)…..I am eyeballing a super large bottle of Orange Sanguine as ounce for ounce it is more cost effective and I can make plenty of decants for family and friends.
The huge Ateliers allow for dumping some into a hot bath too, without too much guilt. Just sayin’ 😉
That alone, I think, would tempt me to get a bottle from them. Most of their scents fade on me inside of two hours, but to have a splash of it in a bath sounds heavenly.
I am lucky as it is over four hours later and I still smell delicious! Good longevity on my skin….
six and a half hours and still going strong! I definitely need to get this!
Funny – most scents I have to heavily apply and only get a few hours wear at best. Most of the Ateliers have massive sillage on me and last all day.
You are a lucky one then. Ateliers never last more than a couple hours on me.
There’s Orange Sanguine shower gel and bar soap and body lotion.
I know! I have been eyeballing the soaps too! my original intent was to purchase the discovery set (which I haven’t received yet) and then use the discount towards soap purchases….from what others have told me they are quite large and can be cut in half) I still need to sample the other Atelier fragrances before deciding on what soaps I want….if I decide to go the soap route…which would be more practical….BUT I WANT THAT HUMONGOUS BOTTLE!!!!
LOL! I actually calculated what the cost would be ounce for ounce…with the discount for buying the discovery set and the free 1oz travel that comes with an engraved leather case it is roughly $19 an ounce…..do I really need 7.7 ounces of one perfume? No! But I know it would be well received by both male and female family members and close friends so I am willing to share….and I might get the travel 1oz in a different scent and have the leather pouch engraved with someone else’s name to give to them as a gift…..
Or you can offer up part of it for Splitmeet.
yikes! Not brave enough to host one of those and won’t be around this Saturday 🙁
Glad you’re enjoying it! Seville L’Aube is another winter orange for me. It makes me think of smudge pots burning in a winter orange grove.
I love Seville l’Aube! I have a sample of Orange Sanguine I have neglected, I’ll have to try that this weekend. 🙂
Love this one two but then to wear it in summer.
Gucci Envy, I think it’s the Edp. I’m not sure whether I like it, but it has plenty of character.
I am not familiar with Gucci Envy but I saw it mentioned several times this week by NSTRs that love it. You must smell great!
Actually I’m not really enjoying it at all. Something about the drydown puts me off. I tend to enjoy green, but not this particular green.
I don’t love it either, and I’m also a big green fan. The LOTV puts me off at first (not an LOTV fan) though that part dies pretty quickly. What comes after doesn’t wow me, though. Glad to see I have some company in this regard. I’ll try it again in warmer weather and see how it fares.
I really like Envy even though I don’t have any. When I tested it, it makes me think of a bracing cold rain on a hot summer day. Very refreshing!
Aside from DK Delicious, is there any other current fragrance that smells close enough to Envy? My good friend wore this for years but is afraid to buy another bottle as she heard the topnotes are off….any other good substitute that isn’t discontinued or too expensive for her budget?
I have heard the Jo Loves The Flower Shop is similar – I don’t know the Gucci but might be worth a try, although the Jo Loves range seem to have annoyingly limited distribution outside the UK.
Thanks!
I’ve been wanting to try that one, but can’t get a sample. Their distribution is frustratingly limited.
Gorgeous bottle. It reminds me of one that I inherited from my grandmother, but I don’t know it’s provenance. Must look into that.
Spritzed the crap out of my hair with my new Epic, and already got a compliment on it, which doesn’t happen often, so I’m pleased. They also commented that it was “so soft,” and I wondered if that was just my scent-eating chemistry or if in fact this is a soft one. No matter what, I’m loving my bottle.
Also, the second set of samples from STC arrived, and I have been introduced to Theorema, which of course smells like Christmas and inevitably I love it and mildly regret introducing myself to something so hard to find. BUT – I have heard several people say that the scent of the products in a beauty line, Moroccan Oil, smell a lot like it, so I’m going to look into that. Anyone here think that’s true?
I have had the same fears of falling for Theorema. Can you still find it?
I ordered a tiny sample from STC and the lovely ladies at STC tracked down some for me, but I doubt that it was easy to find. I hadn’t looked into it too much yet though because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it.
You can still find Theorema on Beauty Encounter. The price has climbed up a bit but not outragously so.
Oooh dear. And now I know. 🙂
I was trying hard to not buy another Amouage decant, but you’re making it hard to resist.
If it helps, I know some people get pickles from it (even people who like roses), so maybe the fear of that would be enough to dissuade you? 🙂
Yep, pickles. Not bad, but I can’t get past the initial blast of something that should be on a burger 😀
I wonder how much more attention from men I’d get if I smelled like a burger. Makes me think of the Guide:
“The question that women casually shopping for perfume ask more than any other is this: ‘What scent drives men wild?’ After years of intense research, we know the definitive answer. It is bacon. Now, on to the far more interesting subject of perfume.”
Now I’m even more intrigued!
(raises hand to pickles) But I’m glad you’re enjoying your bottle and hope your day is sunnier than yesterday was.
I have the body cream and I get a whiff of pickles too! But oddly it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s just another twist in a complex fragrance. The “silk road” inspiration seems apt. 🙂
Oooooh, that bottle! Do let us know more about your grandmother’s?
It is a favrile (a word I just learned from the above and doing a little Googling) bottle that was always on her dresser when I was little. When we had to pack up her life’s accumulation of items, I took it, especially as I didn’t think anyone else ever cared about it. It could have contained some of her perfume at one point in time but there isn’t much of anything left in it now. I hadn’t really stopped to consider where it might have come from until now. Will do more research and get back to you.
Do you know about these kind of things?
Only a little about glass – I know more about pottery. For this, I know, “Oooooooh, Tiffaney!” Do let us know what your research discovers…
Well, I doubt it’s actual Tiffany glass unless all favrile glass is categorically Tiffany? Who knows? I’ll find out and update you.
Glad you’re feeling better, and Epic is helping- perfume compliments give me such a thrill! i have received a couple when wearing Epic too, it’s such a wonderful perfume.
Thanks honey! Glad to know I’m not the only one. Wafting at you from across the Atlantic. 🙂
Wonderful wafting!
Glad you are liking Epic so much! It’s a great scent. It is amazing how nicely the hair diffuser trick works for scents that might be a bit overpowering otherwise. Glad I learned that one off you 😉
That’s so funny that you use it to diffuse the scent – I do it so someone might actually smell me once in a while. 🙂 I think there’s something about my chemistry that makes it impossible for *anything* to become overpowering, even when I want a little projection. But either way, I am so pleased my trick worked for you in the way you needed it to. *waft waft*
It sounds like we have the same sort of skin/ perfume problems!
Shall we start a support group? Sillage-less Anonymous.
Might join you in that one.
I do like the smell of the Moroccan oil and its does have a sort of celebratory and warm orange feel to it so it could be worth a try, and glad you have got a compliment on Epic, it is lovely.
Thanks!
Are you having a better day today?
I am thank you- sometimes I think we all have our less than super moments. Also am so looking forward to the weekend which helps!
Yay for compliments! You’re making me really want to try Epic. I didn’t realize it was a rose perfume. I should have a vial in the sample set I got from STC. I’ll see if I can dig it up later, after my SOTD wears off.
Let me know what you think – I know it’s not for everyone.
It’s been years since I used the Moroccan Oil line but my recollection is that I wasn’t fond of the smell and it reminded me of urinal cake – which Theorema doesn’t remind me of at all 😉
That is definitely not the aesthetic I’m going for 🙂
IMHO, there is NO comparison between Theorema and Moroccan Oil, although MO is a pleasant smell.
Thanks for the feedback!
That bottle is incredibly lovely!
SOTD is Box of Eels to make me feel put together and in control since I woke up in a very curmudgeonly and cantankerous mood.
Happy Almost Friday Day!
Scent twins. We smell lovely!
Aww – hope it helps! Love me a good Box of Eels.
I hope the Eels help.
It’s funny how in general I think a lot of Chanel scents give people that feeling of being more “with it” or “in control” even if they feel anything but. Lots of NSTers have written about that.
It’s so true and good observation. I’ve said this for 31 RC, but many have commented on the power of these scents.
That’s true! I’ve been wearing No. 19 since it came out in the 70s and it is still my best “get a grip” perfume.
I think that the formality of many Chanel perfumes accounts for this. I have only begun to wear them, as they always felt too “grown up” for me — and sometimes they still do. But it is that grownupness that makes me feel properly formidable when I need it. I still only own a couple of decants and a FB of Misia, but I now am wishing for more.
Now there’s a Friday challenge: perfumes for the curmudgeonly and cantankerous.
Ha! Sign me up.
Parfum de Therese today. My decent is almost empty. Uh-oh! decision time.
Looked up the Jo Malone herb collection on their site… I would be tempted to buy the coffret with all 5 scents, except that it costs the same as it would to buy each bottle separately. What is the point of that?
Blerg… *decant
Tho my ‘decent’ may be running low as well
Blerg! A great exclamation. ????
Good point! Better to buy small decants and see if you fall in love with one particular scent. I like the idea of coffets but know there would be one or two I didn’t like and would never wear, and that’s just not cost effective.
The beautiful box they come in which has actually dried herbs imprinted on the cardboard….I myself said the same as you…want that coffret for the box and bottles alone!
Exactly!
It is SUCH a hard decision when you use up a decant of a beloved but $$$$$$ scent. Oh FM, the choices you make us make!
Dousing the sample of Eau de Gentiane Blanche.
Feeling like a clean bed linen ahhh…
Annick Goutal Eau du Ciel smells like sheets dried outside in the sunshine to me. And while I am generally not in favor of smelling like laundry, for that one I’ll make an exception from time to time.
LOVE Eau de Ciel but it has been reformulated…that was my first AG purchase in Paris in the mid 90s….walked into the store intent on buying Hadrien….walked out with Ciel! (did eventually buy Hadrien in the States)
Right. I think it actually went out of production for a while and then they brought it back, and then there may have been other refos I don’t know about. I have a mini I bought in 2010, I think.
Yes…it was out of production for a while ….made my own sample of the new version at Saks last spring….it has the backbone of the original but lacks something…..I kept my empty bottle of the original from the 90s at home and used that as a point of comparison…might have something to do with rosewood becoming harder to source…I read somewhere once that the original AGs used a lot more of natural essential oils with the synthetic notes…I am sure that what is on the market now is pure synthetics…
True 😉 If it were to fall from sky, I would happily use it. If not, I put a stop to it: no full bottle!
This all explains why I fell in love with Eau de Ciel, it disappeared, and when it reappeared it just wasn’t the same! I didn’t know about reformulation at the time and was just sad.
Exactly how I feel about Chanel Cristalle….I just can’t wear the current formulation!
Oooh, just the encouragement I need to seek some vintage. 🙂
ScilianaNC- even in pristine condition vintage is also not the same as it was in the 1970s for the top notes are off (and it isn’t as fresh and crisp as I remember it to be)….but the backbone and the IFRA restricted ingredients are still in there so there is a definitive difference in the drydown…. that one, just like the original Prescriptives Calyx, needs to be brought back with fresh ingredients in its original formulation to truly experience it…..
I have a mini of Cristalle EDP (from the release year, as far as I know) and the top notes seem to be intact. That said, this and the current EDT are the only versions I’ve tried so I don’t have a long-standing history with Cristalle to compare to.
Feeling a bit off today. May have been the seafood salad I had last night, boo.
I wanted something a bit cheery today, but was completely indecisive. I put on Chloe because I hadn’t worn it in a while and then I glanced at my new bottle of Infusions d’iris and thought “duh! that’s what I should’ve worn” so then I put that on – on top of Chloe. And it’s working out really beautifully. I’m getting all the pretty floral bang of Chloe and then the softness of the iris and a little powder. It’s like the scents are standing side by side and being agreeable with each other.
And that bottle…. love!
Feel better.
I don’t get on with Chloe (probably mostly b/c it’s nothing like the old KL one which I wore as a signature for years), but I can see it playing nicely with Id’I.
I’ve read that Chloe can be a bit polarizing. Mine is rather old and in a mini a friend gave me many years ago. I don’t wear it much because this kind of floral normally doesn’t do it for me, but it is what I needed today.
I have the original in perfume format…..one word…. GORGEOUS!
The new Chloe is different but I like that one too….maybe because it reminds me of a family member who wore that religiously until she discovered Peony Blush and Suede…part of the reason I have so many half emptied bottles is that I “inherit” everyone’s leftovers and then talk myself out of buying something that “I” really want because I have too much of others’ stuff!
I have a bottle of the original Lagerfeld Chloe in EDT. Though I think it is technically beautiful, I never wear it. And yet, I can’t swap it for the life of me. I always list it in my swap list and never get a bite. So if anybody wants it……
No! No! Don’t swap it! Keep it for yourself…you never know …one day you might be drawn to it!
I can’t wear it now. It took up too much space in my teenage years for it to be worn untainted now, but gosh, it was a great fragrance.
If only people could behave as well as your comingling perfumes ????
Ha! so true.
I hope your stomach settles but at least you smell good.
Thanks, it’s just more annoying than anything else right now. If I get worse though I might leave work early.
I love accidental layering that works! I hope you feel better soon!
I normally don’t layer at all, but I was in a very “meh, whatever” mood today, probably due to my stomach, but it worked out for me scent-wise 🙂
that combo sounds really good!
Hope you feel better and can see the Chloe and Iris would be a lovely combination – genius!
Lovely! It’s fun to layer and see what happens. Glad this combo is working for you.
Sorry you’re having an off day – seems like it hit everyone at least once this week. Hopefully the scent combo is helping.
I like the idea of that combination – bet you smell great.
SOTD: Nest’s Indigo.
This is my February ScentBird pick, and I’m conflicted. On the one hand, it smells soooo good….EXACTLY like sweet iced tea on my skin. On the other hand, it’s just a tad too sweet in the drydown. Just a tad though! LOL Very cozy though, and totally different from everything else I own….
Friday approaches! Hang tough y’all! 🙂
Definitely too sweet a scent for me. I received this with a Birch Box recently. Unfortunately that’s one area BB falls short on, fragrance.
Same verdict here….it’s just too sweet. It’s getting on my nerves almost 3 hours in….LOL
Oh well. It will get occasional use, and the ScentBird bottle is the perfect size to keep around.
It just isn’t for me but that bottle is so gorgeous!
Narciso EDP is my choice today and happy to say I can smell it with stink bomb out of the office..
Yesterday 2 people commented to me about how strong her perfume is. Something needs to be done soon!
oops, wrong spot! oh, well…
LOL! Maybe you could start sniffling and snuffling and even cough a bit? Maybe try to tear up? 🙂
Give her a present of something similar to what she wears but milder. “I sniffed this and thought of you!” Not so subtle hints wrapped up in a pretty bow…”Perfume is my hobby too! I used to wear a signature scent but now I’ve branched out! What others things besides XXX do you like? I betI have some other things I could give tou samples of. I love to share…”
Sounds like you’ve been down this road before. Good ideas!
🙂 Why fight ’em when you can makes friends and love the problem out of existence?
SOTD Encre Noir…
have we ever had a vetiver week and did I miss it?
Oh, good suggestion!
Oh, yes! Vetiver week!!!
Brilliant! Let us see how many we have in the market right now!
It is on my list!
Vetiver week would be excellent. I’m wearing The Different Company Sel de Vetiver today (from a sample but a bottle is on the way). I also have bottles of Sycomore, Roja Dove Vetiver Extrait and vintage Carven Vetiver, plus samples of Vetiver Extraordinaire and Atelier Vetiver Fatale. Maybe a vetiver fortnight?
Would you have any suggestions to replace the Encre Noir? I have developed a sensitivity to Iso E Super and am longing for a new boozy vetiver perfume to replace it.
Hmm, boozy. I haven’t tried Vetiver Fatal yet (sample backlog) but that’s meant to have a fruity note. And people say Sycomore is like Encre Noire, but I wouldn’t say it’s boozy. Maybe there’s a bit of whisky smokiness though? There are also probably lots of boozy fragrances with a strong vetiver note – I’m weak in that area, sorry.
I forgot I also have a sample of Heeley Vetiver Veritas (pure brutal vetiver). I just had a bath to warm up though, so now I’m wearing Ambre Narguilé.
Lampblack is lovely! By Bruno Fazzolari.
Another vote for Lampblack, and perhaps Lutens Vetiver Oriental?
I love to recommend Fat Electrician, nice and smoky…
I second that. I’d also add Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental.
I LOVE Fat Electrician! One of very few that gets compliments! (That’s good all by itself!) 🙂
Hey did you guys know they sell ELDO in 30ml bottles? Even more affordable, from an already affordable line…
I might have to buy this one when my next bit of spending $$ comes in…
Unless someone wants to swap for a little of my vintage other-things stashes?
I’ve got to remember to test this one. I do tend to prefer vetiver in the summer, though…
Head straight to the Chanel counter and buy some Sycomore which smells just like it (even better!), but no iso E.
Thank you. I shall order samples of all except the Chanel, because we cannot anymore! I live in a perfume desert so I shall have to wait until my little turnip truck drives me to a big city where there is an actual Chanel counter!
What did I miss? No more Chanel samples? Wha????
Yep, Chanel has prohibited the decanters from selling their perfumes. STC and TPC both had excellent sales in January to sell off all of their stock.
I saw the sale but I didn’t really pay attention to why. Jerks.
I feel like a parrot but what a beautiful bottle! 🙂 I am wearing 24 Faubourg EDT today. I have a few Roucel scents and decided to start a day early.
I’m saving my little bit from my sample for tomorrow. I actually had a bottle of 24 Faubourg edt briefly in the 90s, and I don’t remember what happened to it. I think I lost it one of the times I moved and my mom helped to clean me out. I believe it’s also from the time I “lost” my Dune, Venezia and Rive Gauche…..
Oh no.. You must have been heart broken at the time.
No, actually, I was literally divorced and heart broken, and my mom could have thrown out half of what I owned and I wouldn’t have noticed. But I am sorry for them now…..
Nice!
I only have one other Roucel and will save it for tomorrow.
It will be fun to see what everyone chooses.
I’m also wearing 24 Faoubourg today, from the cute mini bottle (complete with a tiny etched design) I keep in my office drawer. So pretty!
Hey Twin!
You smell gorgeous – if I remember I think that is my choice for tomorrow.
🙂 Thanks SophieC!
SOTD is Chanel no 5 extrait. I find this is has such clarity and crystalline structure, its beauty is almost mathematical if that makes sense. Hope NST’ers in Ottowa are not totally snowed under. I hope to comment a bit more often again.
No 5 extrait does have a lot of good architecture! I think that’s why it stands the test of time.
No, I get that sense too – that No. 5 has “edges.” It seems almost architectural to me.
Makes perfect sense and somehow captures No5 better than anything else I have seen written about it.
I hope you’re still on the mend, Hamamelis.
Thank you so much Holly! Very much on the mend, with ups and downs ofcourse. I had a lovely holiday with lots and lots of rest in Abu Dhabi which has given me a big push. Now I need to adjust to snow here…
I’m so glad you’re continuing to improve! Abu Dhabi must have been fascinating – I’ve always wanted to visit the UAE.
Sounds like a great trip! Lots of sun always makes a big difference. Good to hear you are doing better!
I couldn’t make up my mind about what to wear today, but No. 5 extrait sounds perfect! We are now scent twins. 🙂
🙂
What a great idea you had today. I wear the edp somewhat frequently, but almost never the extrait. A mere two drops has had me swooning for hours.
Waving, howdy!
5-Star week 2 nears the end, and I’m in Eau Sauvage, which feels like the apotheosis of colognes. So radiant, so good.
I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow: I don’t own a single Roucel, not even a sample. I sure wish I had some vintage K Krizia, though: that stuff was an aldehyde monster.
That’s my scent today! I have a little mini. It’s a very classical aldehydic floriental, not too sweet, really digging it.
I mean K de Krizia of course, not Eau Sauvage.
Of course, and I remember it so well from the eighties, that gorgeous frosted-glass oval bottle and that scent, like No. 5 dialled up to 11, like an explosion in an aldehyde factory. Spectacular. The only thing close to it these days that I know of is Clinique Wrappings, although that 2010ish reissue of Guerlain Vega was also reminiscent of it.
I love big aldehydes is what I’m saying. Also, you smell awesome.
🙂 Yep, not a bad dupe for Vega at all.
Someday I need to hunt down a vintage bottle of Sauvage!
I am with you…not one Roucel…not even a sample….
You smell exquisite. Sometimes I wonder why I bother with any other colognes at all.
Aaahh, I’m with you on the vintage K. I sure wish I had kept just a little bit.
I’m having a bit of an iris fest this week. Hubby gave me a bottle of Iris Poudre for valentines, it’s been on my FB wish list for about a year, so i’m very happy. SOTD is Volutes edt, sad to hear this easy beauty is being discontinued, glad i’ve got a 100ml bottle.
Really wish i had Iris Silver Mist for tomorrow, or Insolence which i really love, but hey ho i haven’t done too badly this week!
I’m saving towards next FB purchase- another iris, Heure Exquise edp in march, it will be a blind buy, but i feel quite confident that i will love it.
Very nice valentine present!
OOOH, Iris Poudre! I saved up and got one last year, and I’m so happy to be able to spritz lavishly.
Heure Exquise is lovely.
You can’t go wrong with Heure Exquise imho!
You may want to test Heure Exquise first if you have a chance – I am a fan of iris in perfume, love AG, adore No. 19 (generally considered similar to HE), and yet there was a mystery note in HE that I just didn’t like, despite repeated tries with my sample. However, I seem to be in a tiny minority and most people do love this scent.
I do think they’re similar, but I like HE and prefer No. 19 as well. I think it is *because* HE is so much softer than 19 – I need those visible bones, or something. Or put it this way, I love 19 precisely because it is uncompromising and businesslike and angular. I wouldn’t want it to be softened.
Thanks for your’e comments every one!- unfortunately i think Heure exquise has been discontinued, in England at least, it’s not on any department store websites, or in London store’s carrying Annick Goutal, that i can find.
I have had reservations about it being soft, but i’m going to take the plunge any way. I really love No. 19, so i hope i won’t be disappointed by the differences.
Oh, if you’ve got both you’re golden. 🙂
Iris is a prominent note in HE, but IMHO, the HE edp is a bit more on the rose and sandalwood. The HE edt has more iris. Is it hard to mail frags to the UK? I have TONS of both edt and edp Heure Exquise….
Mayfly, the French AG website still offers Heure Exquise (I have plenty backup but still would get nervous if it were to be discontinued). I think AnnS’ s observations conc. EdP vs Edt are spot on. I have and love both, and I have no 19 in Edt and Edp….
I’ve worn No 19 in EDC (vintage) and EDT (current), though not extensively, and Heure Exquise in EDT and would never have thought to connect the two. I get more of a direct connection between Heure Exquise and the original Oscar de la Renta parfum (I think they’re both descendents of L’Heure Bleu?)
What a delightful gift! I too am sad about Volutes and really surprised, I would have thought it a more interesting perfume than a number of their recent releases but can only assume it’s not been a good seller for them.
Yes, such a shame, i’m surprised it’s not more popular, i too find it more interesting than some of their recent offerings, but also reasonably ‘safe’ too, so you’d think that would make it a hit.
Needing a lift this morning, so I am in Le Labo Bergamotte 22. It seems to be helping!!
Oh, I like that one — and perfect when you need a lift.
Ah an early and continued favorite for me in my perfume life!
I’m testing Dior Gris Montaigne today – it’s nice, but feels a bit generic, as Kafkaesque says. Probably not a threat to my perfume budget. 😉
I love Gris Montaigne. I understand what you mean about it seeming generic, but for me, it makes for the most perfectly pulled together ‘Office Scent.’ Which sometimes is exactly what I need.
I love Gris Montaigne, too! When I first sampled it last year, I could hardly smell a thing and quickly forgot about it. Then early in my pregnancy, when I could barely stand any perfume, I reached for it as something super light – and immediately fell in love. I now have a 30 ml decant and expect that I’ll continue to enjoy it once my pregnancy fox nose is gone. 🙂
I agree. I often wear it when I don’t want to “offend” anyone with my scent 😉
SOTD is TF Fleur de Chine, courtesy of a very lovely and generous NSTer. I’d never smelled it before I put it on this morning, but I can see why everyone loves it. I can’t believe they’re discontinuing something this lovely.
I’m still considering buying a FB of Volutes before it is gone. Anybody have an opinion on the EDT vs EDP? I have a decant of the fragrance, but I don’t know which formulation it is.
You smell beautiful. I have a bottle of FdC, but I think I need more…
Thank you! I inherited a generously sized decant, so I’ll have to see if I need more or not. It is a truly lovely fragrance.
You smell glorious. For what it’s worth, I prefer the EFT which seems (unsurprisingly) lighter, more hay and honey and little less smoke. the EDP I recall being denser but equally possibly closer to a strong oriental. Certainly on Fragrantica there seem to be some comments on both which are worth checking before making a purchase.
The edp was headache-inducing for me. I can’t remember the exact differences between the two, but I remember easily preferring the edt.
Ooh Fleur oriental is gorgeous, i’ve only spritzed in store, but it seemed a stunner. Good prices on ebay too…
I also love the Edt of Volutes and usually i go for edp formulations if theres a choice, yet this one is airy and diffusive, i found the edp a bit too dense. Apparently there’s more iris in this one, and i think it’s lovely 3 seasons a year; (Autumn/winter/spring), really versatile.
I will be the sole vote for edp! Love it’s depth.
Volutes EDP is sweeter and more cherry-tobacco to me. I have the EDT which has a more prominent iris note and becomes more powdery. Less sweet to me as well. I like both but prefer the EDT.
Thank you everyone for the Volutes input! When I get home I’m going to figure it out and order, possibly tomorrow. I want to buy it from Amazon if I can, simply because I have two $5 gift cards for doing radio surveys, and what better way to use them?
I am wearing Iris Poudre as well. Had a sample of the matching body butter so I slathered that on too. Perfect for a rainy day here!
Thumbs up!
Thanks! 🙂 If anybody is having longevity or sillage problems with their Iris Poudre, I can recommend the body butter, it is quite potent. My husband said he could smell me from the hallway outside the master bedroom and that was before I sprayed the edp. Feel like I am radiating IP to the sky!
You smell gorgeous!, i’m so thrilled with my new bottle!
Champagne de Bois for me on this sparkly cold morning. We had 16 inches of snow on Tuesday and my neighborhood is still pure white and dazzling.
I was thinking about CdB for today – you smell great! It’s perfect for cold weather for sure.
beautiful choice! I also like TAbac Aurea for cold snowy weather!
My favorite SSS.
And Winter Woods too 🙂
Sounds like a pretty sight. I like snow for the first few hours until it turns into a dirty mess here in the city. SSS makes some good cold weather scents! You smell like sandalwood heaven!
SOTD Dries van Noten. I’m completely clueless for tomorrow, I don’t even have one drop of a Roucel scent (I checked through my sample collection too)
great choice.
I rarely touch this one; it goes in my reserve shelf along with POAL, Bois des Iles extrait, and Coromandel. I tend to sniff from their caps and stopper daily 😀
Haha! I have a few on reserve as well 😉
I love this stuff. Impatiently waiting for my bottle to arrive from Essenza Nobile.
After Kevin’s review yesterday, I’m wearing Oud Palao. I don’t love it as much as he does, but it’s very nice. It could be an oud perfume for people who usually don’t like oud.
This is one I love some days and others am indifferent to. I guess that’s always the case to some extent, but here it seems to be more than just my mood. I wonder what it is?
I hesitate to call it skin chemistry, but I do think that the condition of the skin has an effect – whether it happens to be dry or not, if there’s any product on your skin, if anything you’ve eaten is eminating from your pores. And the weather has an impact as well.
Also, one thing I have noticed is that once you know a scent well, when it has fallen into place, you may never experience some things you smelled in the beginning. For example, I don’t get that musty medicine cabinet smell from Trayee any more that I used to get. And while the scent is smoother as a result, I miss that somewhat weird beginning.
This all makes sense. I also have an all-to-often-slightly stuffed up nose, which must play into it. It effects not only whether I can smell, but also what notes come through.
I’ve also had the experience of getting to know a perfume and losing some of its initial weirdness. The rottenness of Pulp has disappeared and the heavily ashed aspects of Iris Cendre, although I still like the former and love the latter.
Also in play is what I’ve been wearing. I was away for ten days with almost all rose perfumes and when I came back wanted nothing but dry dry irises and incense. On days like that, Oud Palao does not work!
I’ve noticed that, too, Annikky. It’s fascinating how the nose and brain work on perfume compositions.
I liked it the few times I sampled it, but not enough to buy it. It’s not very Oud-y to me either. It is more prominently amber to me.
So far I’m in the remains of last night’s Lyric Woman. So lovely that I’m thinking about wearing it again (but torn because my sample is almost gone).
I understand the conflict! Lyric is so beautiful.
Lyric is drop dead gorgeous, isn’t it?
I seem to be among the few who don’t get Lyric – or Epic either, the only two Amouages I’ve tried in detail. Too subtle maybe?
Finally I made it this week! SOTD is from the back of the drawer: Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Coeur de Vanille. I don’t wear this often b/c it’s a bit on the gourmand side for me, but it has this ravishing immortelle/cinnamon/labdamun accord that gives it so much warmth and heft, and today it just one of those cold winter days that needs a bit of cozy heft! Cheers!!!
Gosh that sounds good, and I somehow never tried it.
I really don’t recall of all the DSH that I like, how I actually ended up with CdV. Not my usual, but it is quite good. I’d trade it in a heart beat for some of the Cardamom and Khypi!
Ah, that was a nice one!
I’m wearing Jour d’Hermes today. I’m still going through my grapefruit love fest. Someone recommended this one to me last week . It is very pretty.
I am a fan of Guerlain Insolence. It is one of the oldest bottles in my perfume collection. It’s one of my favorites. Lots of beautiful notes, but lots of fun also!
It was fun! And you smell great today.
JdeH is a great fragrance, and I have a few samples that I am saving for summer. So lovely and smells wonderful on everyone!
Love Jd’H!
It’s warmer than it has been, and most of our snow is melting away.
The lamb in the laundry room is bored. He knocked all the canvas bags off the laundry sorter sometime between last night and this morning, and then he PEED ON THEM. I mean, squarely in the middle of them, as if he’d knocked them down for the express purpose of it. (I dunno, maybe he has a grudge.) I think he’s going to go back and hang with the rest of the flock soon, if Gaze can manage to get home before dark and sort things out.
I’m wearing my small sample/large decant of Musc Ravageur. Some days it comes close to being nauseating, and some days it’s sexy as H. I’m not sure which version it will be today.
Aaah, the always adorable willingness to excrete upon things. Baby lamb 1; Mals 0. Hope the smell doesn’t stick.
Young male mammals all develop the same idea about how to express annoyance and boredom, it seems!
Lamb in the laundry room? This sounds like a story that starts with, “I must’ve had too much to drink last night.”
Ah. Well, my 17-yo son has a small flock of ewes as his FFA project, and there was a 3-day old twin that got really cold and undernourished* when we were having some bitter weather, so he had to bring the lamb in for us to warm him up and bottle-feed him. He’s been in the laundry room for almost three weeks now. (Good thing we’ve got outdoor carpet in there – we’ll take it out and hose it off as soon as possible.)
*This is a chicken-or-egg thing – lambs or calves get cold because they don’t nurse (maybe because mom was feeding the other twin, maybe because they were napping), and then they’re so cold that they don’t have the energy to get up and nurse… it’s a vicious cycle.
Three weeks? Obviously I’m behind on my NST participation. The little guy is lucky to such nice people to take care of him. How long will it be before he can rejoin his family?
Sorry, I should clarify. You said “soon” above, I was just wondering if he is ready and strong enough.
Oh, I’d say if he’s bouncing around and knocking the laundry sorter over, he’ll be fine. He’s pretty aggressive with the bottle, and my guess is he’s going to be aggressive with getting milk from all the ewes, too. (Takes a village, right? 😉 ) In any case, we’ll be checking on them daily and if he’s not thriving we’ll supplement him with a daily bottle.
I’m sorry, it made me laugh so hard! And believe me, as we got a dog recently, I completely sympathise (although she’s been behaving brilliantly most of the time).
“I’m bored, let me make a mess on this thing.” Uh-huh.
Enjoy that doggie!
LOL! That really does sound like a baby mammal!
Yep.
We have occasionally had a baby calf in the laundry room, but they make WAY more mess than lambs.
So sorry about the recent lamb activities, although they are fun to read about!
I’ve tried MR a number of times and it’s always slightly nausea-making. It smells really *sweet* to me, though, not animalic in the way I imagine it should smell. What do you get?
It is sweet. It reminds me of food you eat at the fair, delicious but too much.
And I do find it animalic, but less so than I had imagined. Sometimes it reminds me of, um… masculine junk. (Can I say that?) I used up a sample of the oil (sadly d/c) and then one of the edp, and when that was gone I got a 3ml decant. As you can see, I’m still on the fence about it.
What I’m finding odd about it now is that it was distracting me, so I took my shower. It’s still there – it’s one of the few things that lasts and lasts on my skin – but now it’s reminding me quite a bit of Shalimar.
Ha! I have been working off a 2ml decant and in three or four tries, haven’t stuck it out for long. Maybe the junk comes later?
wearing Oajan today. I’ve really been enjoying this one.
Day four of my roses week and I’m wearing BPAL Harlot, which is two kinds of roses, cinnamon and incense. I’m getting the cinnamon, and possibly the incense, but very little rose. Should have worn Whip. I’ll be kind of glad to be done with roses week (I did it to myself). After Tocade tomorrow I’ll be ready for something green or citrus, or anything but rose (and vanilla).
Love the name and the notes, but sorry you don’t get the note you came there for. I haven’t tried any BPALs yet but I might have gone for that one if you hadn’t mentioned it.
Aside from Whip, do you have any other favorites?
I have purchased several samples from BPAL, but they were rather hit and miss, rather than looking for something specific. I like Bathsheba, and Maiden, both from the Ars Amatoria line.
This was hilarious to read. Sorry to hear the lamb is being a pain in the butt, but it’s making for some really good stories. 🙂
This was for mals.
Oh, we’re having fun most of the time! The dog is about to Diiiiiiie to go in and play with Snowflake, and he is most sad that we won’t let him.
Hey, maybe they’d be good for each other- gamboling, jumping, baaaaaing, barking, and wear each other out so the whole house can get a good nights sleep!
We haven’t let Hunter play with Snowflake because I’m afraid the lamb would trigger his preying instinct. I think he’d start off just playing, but once the lamb started to run, I think he’d chase. He’s a big enough dog that he could do some damage.
When we first got the sheep last year, they were in a small field bordering our fenced yard. Hunter got in there and started chasing them, which is dangerous because a predator animal can literally run sheep around until they have heart attacks, even if he never catches them. Now we’ve got Invisible Fence just for that reason (the neighbors have goats, too).
I’m feeling moody and out of sorts – I thought the weather was supposed to warm up this week and it’s 12 degrees this morning. Gah we have had an unusually mild winter this year but February is still February so I’m going with the moody Gris Clair today.
Gris Clair sounds appropriate for an out of sorts day – I really do think this time of year does that to all of us sometimes.
February always manages to be February, doesn’t it? Hope it warms up for both of us.
SOTD: Iris Meadow by Aerin
Not really doing anything for me. A little too “fresh” maybe. Thank god it doesn’t last that long so I can use something else later in the day 😉
I was just noticing what a nice job they did on the rollerball packaging for the Aerin line. But they are all too fresh for me!
Robin, I love Insolence (edp)! I never wear it, mind you, but I love to sniff it.
sotd: PdN Juste un Reve
Interesting that you love it but don’t wear it! Why?
Well….let me think about how to answer your question ~ my not wearing Insolence probably has to do with several issues; the first being the sheer number of perfumes I have, I just never seem get to it, and 2. when I’m in the mood for violet, I generally always go for Balmain Jolie Madame because that’s a top 10 for me, and 3. I would categorize Insolence as a “fun” perfume and I generally go for more classic styles or things that I consider more office friendly (not quite so loud). For instance, I also truly love TM Angel (& it’s many flankers), Alien Essence Absolue, Cacharel LouLou, and Poison but hardly ever wear these because I consider them “fun” and a little loud for most days. But I will always have bottles of these, even just to sniff the caps or spray on my hand during the evening while reading or watching television!
That makes sense, thanks!
You smell gorgeous.
ELdO Afternoon of a Faun for me today. The first time I wore it to work, one of my colleagues (who is not usually the impulsive sort) burst out, “You smell delicious! DELICIOUS!!” It’s a special fragrance that overrides self control, so I brought her a decanted sample of the deliciousness. 🙂
Ah, there, now I need to go find that!
So lovely– rose & geranium on a deep bed of moss…
So nice of you!
It was a pleasure to see my colleague bloom like a flower with joy! 🙂
I like this one a lot, too. And what a nice thing to do!
It definitely opened up a whole new avenue of conversation for us, which was great.
I like this one a lot as well, and three cheers for sharing!
Hip hooray! 🙂
I have been wanting to try this and you’ve inspired me to find a sample or decant right now!
Hope you like it– I find it bewitching.
I loved Insolence. The problem was that by the time I decided to buy a bottle all I could find in stores was My Insolence, which is quite sweet.
No SOTD yet, but it will be Chanel No. 5 extrait. Hamamelis mentioned it above and it sounds great for today.
Still battling this head cold, but I think it might be breaking up though. Wearing Lolita Lempicka today. I hate it when I can’t smell.
After 2 weeks of spring, we are now back to our regularly scheduled winter… rain, wind, and hail. SOTD is something warming: Arquiste J Crew #57
I’m sampling Bruno Fazzolari’s Seyrig. It opened with a burst of something peppery, although not the ubiquitous pink pepper note. It piqued my interest, as I’m not sure what it is but I suspect it might be the aldehydes. Shortly thereafter, the florals made their presence known (rose de mai, ylang ylang, syringa flower accord, muguet accord) and Seyrig simultaneously became sharper, similar in scent and feel to White Linen but with a muffled soapiness. I wore White Linen for a while many, many years ago but there is something in it that smells shrill to me, and the same goes for Light Blue. Both of them make me think of snorting Lemon Kool-Aid, that sort of powdery puff of chemicals, and aluminum. I dunno where that came from, maybe licking the monkeybars during recess? Anyway, luckily this phase is very brief, the scent has become softer and deeper a couple of hours later as the base notes make their presence known, and to me it now resembles Chanel No. 5 more than White Linen. I’m wondering if that’s simply the effect of the aldehydes, and if I had any White Linen I would definitely layer it with Chanel No. 5 to see what happens.
I’ve found Fazzolari’s scents to be really well done, and the ones I’ve tried thus far have a retro feel to them that seems to be a popular theme these days. His use of oakmoss instead of harsh woody aromachemicals probably contributes to the retro vibe. That being said, so far the ones I’ve sampled do not move me beyond appreciation into lust.
My goodness that was long! Oops!
To redeem myself:
PSA: SSS is starting international shipping as of next week.
https://sonomascent.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/checking-in-with-some-news-and-signs-of-spring/
Oh, thanks for that!
You’re welcome!
Thank you! I wouldn’t have known had you not pointed that out, ‘cos I stopped reading the SSS site– too depressing, to be tempted by unattainable delights! Now I’ll be in like a tobber’s dog!
Ah– that would be “robber’s dog”, though as a neologism for a Friday morning, “tobber'” is handy and not without charm. I can hear myself saying, “Oh honestly, that chap really is a useless tobber!” Or, ” This situation really is three kinds of tobber, isn’t it?”
You’re welcome!
And thank you for “tobber” – that’s a new one for me!
Oh thank’s Holly,! like waterdragon, i get depressed that i can’t sample SSS (along with DSH), and have stopped looking at her website (i’m in England).This is exciting news!, i wonder if shippings cheap, i usually have a rule not to pay more than a fiver for shipping, but might have to make an exception!
You’re welcome! If you check the link, Laurie does mention that shipping is expensive.
Hysterical! I spit out my peanut butter sandwich laughing at the idea of “snorting lemon kool-aid”….I too wore White Linen back in its day but haven’t revisited it in a long time out of fear as I am sure it has been reformulated….had a free Sephora travel spray of Light Blue and work with someone who wears it religiously so I don’t mind that one…and I know what you mean about the moneybars growing up…we must have licked our fingers after we played on them because I too can recollect the scent and the taste!
Interesting that SSS is now shipping internationally…that will make plenty of folks happy! I haven’t bought a fragrance from Laurie in a while because the shipping even in the States got to be a bit steep (especially when others, like Dame Perfumery, who is also a one man show, do it for free)…in December I was about to purchase a one ounce bottle of SSS Lieu de Reves until the shipping came up as $13 which seemed a bit high for a $70 bottle….so I passed…..I wish there was a way for Laurie to keep the cost of shipping down….especially on small orders…..
I can recall the scent and taste of monkey bars, too, though I’m sure I never put my mouth on them intentionally… lol
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_17/177-5405842-6728744?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=organic+india+tea+sweet+rose&sprefix=organic+india+tea%2Caps%2C161
Totally off topic (or maybe not since we are talking about taste and smells) this is the tea I was talking about yesterday…the Organic India Tulsi teas come in a variety of flavors…you must have had the original in the green box…the Sweet Rose is unbelievably fragrant and delicious and I highly recommend it…my favorite of the Organic India Tulsi line and I have tried just about all of them…there is also a Cinnamon Rose but I prefer the Sweet Rose…..and the price is sweet too!
I just found those Tulsi teas about a month ago and have completely inhaled with great enjoyment both the Sweet Rose and the Cinnamon Rose. It is astonishing how strong the rose aroma and flavor is in both of them!
Thanks for the link! I just ordered some food-grade rose petals/buds so I can start mixing them into my teas. I got some butterfly jasmine, ku-ki cha green, and citron oolong teas to start experimenting with.
Oh. I am going to be contrarian. I think that SSS’s perfumes are amazingly well-priced. Small businesses cannot get breaks on shipping, and packaging is less routinized and hence more expensive. So it sort of evens out in the wash, for me.
Second this!
I am a huge supporter of small businesses and I agree that the prices are relatively reasonable for some of her fragrances…it is the cost of shipping that gets me…nowhere else have I seen shipping for one 1/2 oz bottle alone at 13 dollars….even when you have to pay for shipping it is usually under ten…I have been purchasing from SSS for many years and years ago she did not charge as much for shipping….if other small businesses are doing it I just wonder why she isn’t….maybe she needs to change her mode of delivery….
And don’t get me wrong…I think Laurie is a genius and extremely talented perfumer…in fact one of her fragrances is my holy grail scent…it’s just that when I feel the hankering to order I stop dead in my tracks when I see the cost of shipping…but that’s just me….and I understand that small business run differently than large multimillion dollar corporations that “sell” perfume….I just wonder how some small businesses can offer affordable shipping while others can’t…..and I guess how we decide to spend our money is a very personal matter….
I hear you. I guess with small venues, I just imagine a few dollars added to the cost of the item, or to the cost of the shipping–it evens out… I recently looked into a 1 ml sample being sent to me (in US) from a Canadian perfumer. The cost of the sample was about $18, and the cost of the shipping $16, so $34 for 1 ml. Had to pass…!
I absolutely agree. And I also think that small businesses have the right to make money, too. They are not charities, making sure that perfumistas everywhere get to try everything cheaply. There are different business models and different price points and different motivations behind brands and Laurie’s offerings seem fair deals to me.
ykinna- I will be curious to see what shipping will cost to send to Belgium 🙂 ….
I haven’t checked yet, but I guess it will be quite a bit – it almost always is, when ordering from the States. Plus there is the completely random risk of custom duties.
But I still remember when I tried to order stuff to Estonia years ago and most brands wouldn’t ship there at all (SSS used to, btw). Or if they did, they considered it such a risky destination that the cost was enormous. Many things are still difficult to get there (and occasionally here, too – Sephora for example doesn’t ship to Belgium), so I’m grateful for small mercies.
Licking the monkey bars! I don’t think I ever actually did that, but I know I *considered* it.
I didn’t like Seyrig much, but it was the base I didn’t like. Too ambergris-y or something.
I was intrigued by Seyrig when I tried it but will do the No5 comparison. I agree about the Fazzolari scents- but I really feel like I want a representation of his work to use more liberally. Any suggestions?
I haven’t sampled Seyrig or any other of his scents except Au Dela, which I did like enough to buy.
I want to give Au Dela and Au Dela Narcisse some more time as so far, I’ve liked them the best.
Wendysue, as far as I know Fazzolari’s stuff has very limited distribution. Are you interested in actually going to a store to spray liberally? I’ve only seen them on his website, and Twisted Lily and Scent Bar carry them in their stores as well. Did you buy his Discovery set or just a sample of Seyrig?
I have some Twisted Lily samples. Now I recall dabbing several along my arm because I wanted to explore them further on a visit to NY. My fav was Au Dela Narcisse, but it was not available anymore. I sprayed Seyrig and got a small sample.
Thank you for your review. I love comparative perfumery!
Not too long. I had Seyrig on my sample list so it’s nice to read such a comprehensive review.
Thank you!
I’ll now add that the floral phase lasted a few hours and then the floral notes totally disappeared once a long rather mundane woody resinous dry-down commenced.
I like the mini-review! I’m not an aldehyde fan and Seyrig was a no go for me. I’m a fan of the relatively mellow and springlike Jimmy – and not just because it’s named after James Schuyler, although that’s a plus. Lampblack is cool too, although I’m not sure how much I’d wear it so haven’t gone FB.
Thank you! I haven’t yet tried Lampblack but it sounds interesting and Robin liked it so I’m looking forward to it. I also haven’t yet tried Room 237, as it sounds like it has the potential to be a scrubber.
Yes, I get the humor and fun of Room 237 conceptually, but I hate how it smells.
I’m in No. 19 Poudre today. I wore 24 Faubourg yesterday, but neglected to comment. I really have to be in the mood of 24 Faubourg and I can’t be sure I’ll have any desire to wear it tomorrow. I wanted to do the “Maurice Roucel” thing, so I struck yesterday while the iron was hot! It’s my only Roucel.
I know you were all wondering. 😉
I also only own one. I’ll be wearing 24 Faubourg tomorrow.
Feel the same way about the right mood for 24, Fabourg, so I probably won’t wear it this week. It might be a nice break from the roses and violets I’ve been wearing, though…
31 RC today, as people above comment it makes me feel pulled together even what this is but an illusion. Also makes me focus on focussing rather than wishing I didn’t have a million reports to prepare!
Glad it’s helping you focus 🙂
Thanks!
Sending some focus-enhancing vibes your way! I guess I don’t even need to say that you smell great.
Thank you on both!
You just reminded me I have to spend my gift cards!
Today I’m wearing “Anubis” by Papillon Artisan Perfumes. This went on smelling like a heavy, syrupy, oily unguent (and I mean all of that as praise, not criticism). Later I got honey, incense, something animalic. Lovely stuff, and as I thought it was quite strong I sprayed less than usual so I can’t blame the perfume that it’s no longer projecting after 7 hours.
Although it’s darker and heavier than Nanban, there are enough points of similarity that I’m not sure I need both. I’ll likely do a side-by-side test, and in the meantime it makes my shortlist but no crazed impulse buy this time. :^)
I want to try it even more now!
I would love to hear your opinion. For example, I definitely think Anubis would be too much in hot weather, whereas Nanban might be manageable. But I’m a sucker for an evocative perfume name, and Anubis straight away makes me think of ancient spices and sacred oils. Call the same scent “pretty flower fairy” or “Gangland shooting” and goodness knows what I’d think of it. :^)
🙂 I am the same way about perfume names. But I think the Anubis Effect only works if the scent matches the name at least to a certain extent. If it doesn’t, I think I might actually like the perfume less, as I would be disappointed. Also, considering how horrible many perfume names are, I think some credit for an evocative name is totally deserved.
There is in fact a place in Brussels that sells Anubis, but it’s soooo far from where I live that I’ve never made it there. It’s on my list, though. (I’m very curious about Salome as well.)
Anubis is interesting, that’s for sure. The scent immediately brought a strong and specific association from childhood of my dad polishing his leather Army boots with Kiwi black polish. A pleasant scent memory, but not exactly what I want from a perfume.
Oh my goodness! The smell of Kiwi shoe polish! I used to love that smell!
Me too!
me too. my dad polishing his leather-soled loafers on newspaper…
Yes, my dad did that too. I love Anubis. It goes on strong but settles down to a lovely hum quickly. Love Salome as well – not terribly animalic either.
I still have an old tin in the basement…might take a sniff tonight 🙂
Oh wow, I thought Nanban was much heavier than Anubis. Your review of it is really interesting since I never would have thought it was so similar to Nanban. I totally got the honey, incense and animalic notes as well, but Anubis was much more about leather for me and Nanban is all tobacco and incense on my skin. I’m really curious now what a side by side comparison would be! Let us know if you do that.
I didn’t notice a similarity at all, but haven’t tested Anubis for a while. For me, the jasmine in Anubis is huge with the lovely oiled leather in a supporting role (as far as I know, I’m the only one who gets clobbered by the jasmine). Nanban is quite different, sweet black pepper/coffee opening and then big incense. I will need to do a side by side now, you’ve made me very curious. I like them both quite a lot, but the jasmine in Anubis means I have to be in the right mood for it and Nanban seems lighter weight and more versatile to me.
I have Anubis and Nanban and on me I don’t see any similarities between the two scents. Nanban is more iris on me, Anubis is more tobacco and leather on me.
This morning I wanted lots of rose, so I layered Marni Rose with SL Sa Majeste la Rose. For some reason I got an instant headache, which rarely happens, and now I don’t even smell much rosiness. I should have gone with Kilian Rose Oud again.
Oof! Nothing worse than a headache from one’s own perfume! 🙁
Luckily, I’m at home today, so not inflicting it on innocent passersby. 🙂
Bummer about the headache. Sounds like a good combo. After the initial drydown, I always feel like Sa Majeste lacks some kick.
Agreed. That’s why I’ve been layering it with other fragrances lately. Doesn’t keep my interest on its own.
Theorema on my arms, bumped up with a little musc ravageur at the back of my neck from my sample spray. To increase the Roucel factor, sure, but also if I have to leave the house at 8:30, I better be warm. (I tend to work nights so I’m not much of a morning person)
So far, it’s a pretty good combo.
Theorema in the streets, Musc Ravageur in the sheets 😉
LOL! I am envisioning your words as lyrics to a rap song!
Lol, me too!
Ahahahaha!
At 4 am, Theorema seemed like a necessary choice. The spicy floral is enveloping and invigorating at the same time. Glad to see it is still obtainable.
I am not a backup purchaser, categorically, but I am tempted. Hopefully it will stay relatively inexpensive a little while longer…
Sounds like a superb combo!
You know, I’d do it again. It worked a treat against the cold downpour on my walk back home this morning, freshly de-crutched and newly be-caned.
Trying Eau Duelle for the first time…
This is really nice…plenty of vanilla and wood. I read Robin’s review from when it first came out and I agree it is a little too well behaved perhaps. I shall have to see how it progresses today.
This the EDP and I am curious how the EDT differs if anyone cares to weigh in please…
And I reviewed it before they came out with the EdP, which I would have hoped was a little less well behaved!
At the end of the day, I can attest it was lovely and ultimately not so well behaved methinks. It seemed to reveal more spice during the afternoon and held my attention throughout the day. Looking forward to wearing it again!
The edp smells like you just imbibed in a very freshly made tanqueray and tonic with extra limes, and then brewed some black tea in a pot and got whiffs of some vanilla baked good…. I would love to know what the edp smells like. But I adore that snappy g&t opening to the edp.
Oops – I mean the edt. Sorry!
Great description and I could smell the gin and tonic and tea with the EDP too. In the afternoon I seemed to get more spice…perhaps the baked good coming through. All in all thoroughly enjoyable.
Wearing Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk layered with Le Labo Musc 25 . Love this together.
Happy Almost Friday !
I’m in Jour d’Hermes Gardenia from a sample from Nordstrom’s. I don’t think I would have guessed “gardenia” first… maybe magnolia? I guess it depends on the magnolia. I get a little carnation as well… not a spicy carnation. No carnation is listed in the notes… this would be very nice on a man. I like it. End of review 😉
Nice mini review. 🙂 I sampled that a couple of days ago at Sephora. At first I liked it, but there was a hint of something that reminded me of whatever brand nail polish remover my mom used when I was a kid. I couldn’t shake the association.
Hmmm… I kinda see what you mean. And I am wearing it! Maybe I’ll get a pedicure today….
Okay, couldn’t decide what to wear so, inspired by ihadanidea I’m wearing Epic. I still get pickles, but today I quite like it. For my wallet’s sake I hope it starts to bother me later.
🙂
Bless me Donatella, for I have sinned. I wanted to hate all the Amouages but I have failed at that! LOL!
You know, it’s a real shame there isn’t a ‘like’ button. I have nothing intelligent to say about your comment, but it made me smile. ;^)
Me too. I really should stop sampling the damned things, but I can’t stand not experiencing potentially interesting fragrances. I’ve been enjoying Epic all afternoon and wondering what I thought I had against smelling like pickled rose blancmange.
Oh no. Why does this comment make Epic sound enticing rather than nauseating?
🙂
Sore from kickboxing last night- got some of my rage out. Will be speaking to the corporate office regarding my issues with the apartment. And since my tax forms are now available, will be meeting with a mortgage broker again, and biting the bullet.
Chillier a bit today, so TF Noir pour Femme today- a couple of spritzes on top of homemade cocoa butter cream.
Exciting! I always hated renting, loved owning my own place.
Very nerve wracking. I delayed so long because I wanted to save a bit for retirement and such, but there is nothing I hate more- truly hate more- than not having control over my own home (or at least the appearance of control) and I at the point when I Am Too Old For This S***(tm). So big girls pants it is then.
I recently moved into a co-op and I’m so happy to be paying into a system I believe in (and have a little say in) rather than a terrible one I abhor…
Don’t know if coops are an option where you are.
That is exciting! I’ll probably be doing the same thing here in the next few months.
SOTD = Bond No. 9 Silver Factory
Iris, incense and birch-tarry smokey even though birch tar is not listed. Reminds me of a combination of Jubilation XXV and Boxeuses, dialed back 50%. I have a decant from 2 years ago and won’t be replacing it when it’s gone. I think LT gave this a 3 which is a fair assessment.
A few people have mention Silver Factory over the last months so it made it on my “to sniff” list. On my department store adventure over the weekend I asked about this one at the Nordstrom’s Bond No. 9 perfume counter. I was told it was not a Bond No. 9 perfume. When I pulled up a photo of it on my cell phone, the SA just walked away from me! I wasn’t rude at all. In fact, I said, “I might be mistaken, let me look it up.” Weird experience. She didn’t come back, so I moved on.
How odd and rude! I think it is now just called Silver, after they stopped using the Andy Warhol references.
Ahah! She did have “Silver” at her counter. I did not know they were one and the same. Next time.
Yes. It was so odd that I was simply mystified.
Actually, I had the same experience at Saks! I think those SAs have a “this person will not be buying today” detector.
And that is a pretttttty accurate detector!
I’m all for that if it gets them to leave me alone 😀
I don’t mind being left alone but if I have a question and the SA says “I’ll be right back” nad does the disappearimg act, I get super annoyed.
If that behaviour was a perfume it would be called “Beyond Rude”
A flanker of “R’oud Elements” 🙂 !!!!???
OMG! R’Oud. A great Le Prix Eau Faux entry!
Hahahahaaa 🙂
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Kerosene/R-oud-Elements-14495.html
There you go, ladies! The name and perfume are real 🙂 ….and “Beyond R’oud” would be a great flanker name!
I was also thinking of ” Super L’Oud,” an oud-laced musky musk with a floral fruity heart amped up with Iso E Super and pink pepper aldehydes.
Super L’Oud is perfect! I would run far, far away!
I loved that when it was first released, but haven’t reached for it lately. I feel like it is a bit overpowering I guess.
I only used barely 2 spritzes and it is sticking tenaciously. It is lighter than Jub XXV and Boxeuses.
Dithering between Gucci Envy and Tocade… Decided to save Tocade for tomorrow. I have a 15ml bottle of Envy which is just enough for me, green florals not quite being my thing.
Hello, all. Slept long and heavily, and as often happens with me after that sort of night, I don’t want food or perfume or people. I probably will by tonight, but in the meantime, I’ve drunk very hot tea, anointed myself with a slightly aromatic body oil by Trilogy (local skin care company, quite good) and I’m hunkering down to work at home, all alone and boring. I like thinking about all your scented socialability, though, and when I emerge from my cave, I think I will loiter outside SSS, to see what I can see. I do hope Dame follows suit with international postage. Be well, everyone.
Sometimes a hermitage day is called for!
If I am not mistaken Dame offers his soliflore rollerballs for international postage…..and the New Musk as well….
Aha! Eggzellent! I shall pursue my enquiries…
Wish I was there and we could drink tea and go through SSS together! I don’t think I have talked to a non-family member ( apart from at the supermarket) all week…one of the downsides of working at home.
I have a general question about Amouage fragrances please…
I am debating getting the Women’s sampler set but was wondering if many of their scents are oud heavy or not? I am not entirely against oud but it often feels too pronounced to me in certain fragrances so I am wondering if it has a big role in the Amouage line please…
I don’t get oud in Amouage, at least not in the female sample set. Incense in almost all, but not prominent oud.
Thanks, good to know.
I’m in the “can’t generally pick the notes, but know what I like” camp, so I wouldn’t place too much reliance on my comments, but I don’t associate oud with Amouage. I have tried at least a spray of most of the women’s perfumes.
I agree with Foxbins that there is lots of incense, and I’ve realise I’ve become quite an incense fan.
I enjoy incense so it seems like I’m in the clear to proceed… 😉 thanks!
I’m with Foxbins – I don’t tend to associate oud with Amouage. I’m wearing one today that supposedly has oud in it (Epic Woman) and I’m not even picking that out.
According to Fragrantica, there’s no oud in Fate, Jubilation, Memoir, Sunshine, or Journey. Honour apparently contains it as a note, but it seems like it’s low on the list of what people get from it. Not to enable, but maybe it’s a safe buy, oud-wise.
Thanks for the due diligence! 🙂
If there is oud in Honour, I certainly didn’t find it.
I would say the women’s are mostly either incense/rose or very feminine floral. I know Epic is supposed to have a bit of oud, but it’s what I think of as clean western oud rather than the barnyard variety.
Nice…I guess I’m in the cleaner/less barnyard camp…thanks!
I was planning to wear 24 Faubourg, my one FB by Roucel, but it doesn’t feel right for the wet day and the dress I’ve decided to wear. I’ve gone with OJ Orris Noir, and will cekebrate others people’s Friday tomorrow with 24 Faubourg.
And grabbed the wrong bottle, so actually wafting OJ Woman. Equally lovely!
I’m wearing my blind buy Roja Dove Lilac extrait. I love it. It’s not very powdery on me and each time I sniff my wrist I pick up another facet. I knew I could resell it if I hated it, but I’m glad it worked out.
Ohhh, is it really LILACy?
Thats what I want – a real lilac…
have you tried Pacifica’s French Lilac? That is pretty lilac-y to my nose….
I have a solid of French Lilac so I’ll try them side by side. Reporting back later!
The solid is softer and more diffuse (because of the wax base)…the EDP is fresher than the solid and the roll on (which is perfume concentrate and my favorite) is the strongest and longest lasting….I have worn it to work and gotten many compliments from those who never notice some of my fragrance choices…..
As bardot noted, the solid doesn’t last long–about half an hour on me. French Lilac is a bit sweeter and more powdery than the Roja Dove. Roja Dove Lilac has a bright bergamot top note that the French Lilac solid doesn’t have and I think it adds a nice counterpoint to the lilac and woods.
Me too – blind buy that turned out well. I didn’t care for the Pacifica lilac, it seemed sharp and not very lilac-y to my nose. I tried the spray version.
Good to know, Foxbins!
Accidentally spilled an entire sample of Iris Silver Mist on myself this morning. Boo hoo, I’ve been hoarding this little thing for a while and now it is gone. On the bright side, for the rest of today…I AM IRIS!!
LOL, sorry for the spill, but you smell fantastic!
YOU ARE TOTALLY IRIS!
This made me smile. Thanks.
That’s so sad, but at least it fell on you!
Wearing Dans Tes Bras (Dante’s Bra made me laugh). I was going to save it for tomorrow but was just in the mood for a warming and challenging skin scent. Plus, I kept thinking I was smelling it for a few days and that always means I have to wear it.
Began the week in Insolence EDP, broke Roucel to wear Miel de Bois (which surprised me, but I was hardly breathing, so who knows what it really smells like), went back to Roucel in Roberto Cavalli Oro (not such a lovable vanilla oriental) and changed to Beyond Paradise last night, which I liked much more than I remembered from a prior roller.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Probably Roucel!
Love Dans Tes Bras. I read recently that Frédéric Malle had Roucel create this scent for his wife, but she prefers Carnal Flower. Oh well, all the more for me. 🙂 I have bought backups as I fear discontinuation now that Estée Lauder owns Malle.
It may be irrational or just hopeful, but if future results can be based on past actions, Estée Lauder has done the right thing with their fragrances.
At least until about now (heard the faithful hate what happened to Youth Dew). On the other hand, even Aerin Private Collection Ylang and White Moss are gone, unceremoniously.
I’m wearing a bit of Rochas Femme today. I got a craving for it last night and wore some to bed. It was especially yummy so I decided to carry it on today (applied with a lighter hand than I did last night, however).
I always seem to forget that I always get sick in February. There must be some way to to avoid this, but I haven’t found it. Home today and wearing Pichola, which I really love. I think it’s my next FB purchase, even though it’s pricey.
Winter fatigue? When I was a kid we had an advert with “It’s like sending your sinuses to Arizona” played on New Zealand TV. It was so intriguing. I mean, do you post them? Stick them on a Greyhound? An aeroplane? And where do they stay once they’re in Arizona? So many unanswered questions! Get better though.
Ha! So funny!
Definitely winter fatigue. Also I teach and this is the time of year in the US when everyone is sick, but the twenty to thirty year old set still come to class despite what is ailing them. I’m too old and have lost my resilience!
I’ll keep my sinuses as far from Arizona as possible, tyvm. My sister lived there for a few years and every time I visited horrible things would happen with my sinuses and I’d have to borrow her husband’s Claritin. Then they’d clear up when I got back home.
I’d be happy to ship them to Palm Springs, however 😉 (along with the rest of me)
Hey Kpaint – had the same problems with sinuses and lungs in Arizona! It seems that the non-indigenous planting wreaked havoc on me and the lack of humidity made it all even worse. I don’t know about Palm Springs…
You can’t do Salt Lake City then because DRY. I’ve only gone there on a business trip and I probably used up half a tube of lip balm!
Any of those mountain/arid places are awful. Boulder, Tucson. After that, I LOVE that hit as you deplane in the tropics and that wall of humidity hits you…it’s like life for your skin.
Decided to wear Frapin Esprit des Fleurs. It’s really more of a spring and summer perfume, but I just wanted some today. It’s light, but as with a lot of lighter florals, it it stays with me.
Wearing L de Lolita today. It is a vanilla gourmand composed by Mr Roucel. My curiosity about this fragrance has been completely satisfied in this wearing and I shall be rehoming this perfume perhaps at the next swap meet.
Twins! I like it, but I like the bottle more.
Nothing today, but I did a bit of sniffing at the airport and now in Infusion d’Iris. A bit of comfort to brave a long haul flight.
I love Insolence and have it in both the EDT and the EDP.
Today I’m wearing Tom Ford’s Black Orchid EDT.
I was planning on continuing on with my roses and violets week but I got distracted by an Alaia sample that arrived yesterday. I spritzed a hand and Ooh La La – love this! As in the kind of love that immediately sent me searching for a FB. Will see how it wears through the whole day before buying, but it has reached the discounters and is available at very reasonable prices.
I think this got a Luca Turin 4.5 stars! In the past few weeks I have been keeping a list of perfumes to try from the comments or from my perusal of Style Arabia looking for any new 1 star perfumes (I know, right, but I really like to disagree with LT). Alaia Alaia Paris made it to my list despite it not being a 1 star.
I’m continuing Maurice Roucel’s week with L de Lolita Lempicka, warm and not overly sweet, with a little anisic edge (immortelle?) that keeps things interesting. I love the bottle, and, kept in its box, the juice is still blue.
Yesterday was Shalini, which I was very, very, VERY excited to try. (Thank you, Elisa P!) And it was… a scrubber. I got a blast of rubbing alcohol, a hint of something warm and a little sweet in the base, and then nothing. ☹ It occurred to me that the sample might have gone off, so I had my uncle smell my arm. He could smell it, and volunteered, “That’s a really nice one. It’s a shame you can’t enjoy it.” Well, lots of money saved.
The same thing happened to me with Shalini! I got my hopes up, and then didn’t smell hardly anything.
It’s a good reminder that no matter how many reviews you read, you just never know how something will smell to you.
442 comments. Whew! I’ll make it 443 to say happy birthday to Louis Comfort Tiffany.
My mother named me for her high school friend with the last name Tiffany. I wonder if there was a family connection there? With an uncommon last name like that, I would think the chances are high.
Wearing Ambre Narguile again today to fend off the chilly, rainy weather. Of the Hermessences I’ve tried, this is the one that stays with me for the entire day.
Looking forward to Roucel Friday and hoping someone will wear the absurdly-named Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style Love (so kawaii!). Certainly Frederick Malle Dan Tes Bras (such a tender name) will get some love, too.
You smell lovely. I’m often tempted by those Harajuku Lovers when I see them at discount stores, but have never actually bought one.