Quick PSA: the 2016 Prix Eau Faux is still open! (And apologies for running the same image 2 weeks in a row — I'm having some computer issues at the moment. I may replace it later.)
Today, our usual weekend open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you're hoping to find a sample of soon, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Purple Hyacinths [cropped] by Roman Boed at flickr; some rights reserved.
SOTD is Jardins d’Armide again. I’m not looking to find a particular sample at the moment, I’m just looking to find my samples and the rest of my collection among the dozens of boxes still unpacked
There will be a Boston meetup Th 3/31 at 6pm at Colonial Drug
Wish I could join you in Boston — I hear such great things about that store!
Happy to join you; where is colonial drug? Thanks
In Newton, a slightly long walk from Watertown Sq
I probably won’t be able to join this time, but I hope I will for another one soon.
I can’t do that one but perhaps another time.
I have a client till 5:30 so might get there a little past 6.
Not complaining about two weeks of hyacinths. 🙂
Wearing Ostara today. It’s raining and chilly (they moved the local Easter Egg hunt to next Saturday, making me wonder all over again just why it wasn’t scheduled for the day before Easter in the first place). Daughter’s home from college for spring break this week. Sons are at area academic challenge tournament today, representing their high school social studies team.
Rain on the redbuds… it’s spring.
You smell gorgeous, and spring like.
Remember these famous lines?
When daffodils begin to peer,
With heigh! The doxy over the dale,
Why, then comes in the sweet o’ the year;
For the red blood reigns in the winter’s pale.
“The doxy over the dale” always makes me think of a trollop traipsing over hill and dale in a bonnet with streaming ribbons, and yet I’m sure that’s incorrect.
We have two redbuds, and both have sunshine on them at the moment – a rare tease before the March deluge begins here.
SotD is Ostara for me, too. I have twenty daffodil blooms nodding at me from a vase on my desk. Their fresh cut aroma on top of a couple spritzes of Ostara is making me dizzy in the best possible way.
OOOOH.
I just looked up redbuds – they are beautiful.
Just a few dabs of Drole de Rose for me today. And I’m not looking forward to having to walk to church in snowboots tomorrow for Palm Sunday! But I’m in the choir so it has to be done.
Oh, Palm Sunday! Enjoy your singing and know it will be appreciated, especially if the weather turns. Those who make the effort to hear you on a cold spring day will be extra grateful.
I spent a few years volunteering as a choir pianist. It was so rewarding to see how thoroughly the music was enjoyed by the listeners (and the singers, too!).
Thanks Tiffanie! I hope you’re right.
I felt like wearing Champagne de Bois today, so I am.
Spring perfume-related question: what got me falling down the rabbit hole was a desire to smell like spring in Aix-en-Provence, around late April-early May. (It’s where I spent my junior year of college.) Any ideas? Or is anyone living there who can sniff the air around then and tell me what’s blooming?
Bexca, I don’t know if you’ve read her blog, but Megan in St Maxime is very close to Aix-en-Provence and I’m sure she’d be happy to hear from you.
http://meganinsaintemaxime.com/
Ooh, I haven’t read it yet. Thanks for the tip!
You’re welcome!
You could also try Demeter’s Provence Meadow, although I have no idea if it comes close. 🙂
I’ll check it out next time I’m around some Demeters.
I don’t know if the smells have changed much, but I remember Aix only starting to smell more strongly in June. It’s when you get that typical mix of dried herbs, pine trees and lavender. I wish someone would put that in a bottle.
I’m speaking about the country around Aix, inside the city it smelled mostly of cars, boulangeries and cheese on market days. I too spent a year there, 20 odd years ago. The smells are what I remember most fondly.
Have you tried the L’Artisan Provence scent, which comes in room diffuser or those ceramic boules? I don’t know if it will match your scent memories precisely (I’ve only spent limited time in the south of France) but it just smells so darn good, I don’t think you’d regret trying it. They list the notes as lavender, hay, rosemary, tomato leaf and basil, and truth be told none of those are usually my favorite notes, but it’s all beautifully blended and winsome. Gets two thumbs up from me!
That sounds interesting, thanks for the tip.
Will be curious to hear what you think if you get a chance to try it–I feel like it’s one that flies a little under the radar, would be curious to know if others like it as much as I do!
C.H., I’ll have to try that! Not what I’m looking for necessarily, but it sounds great.
Yeah, I don’t know if it smells like spring in Aix specifically (I was only there for a weekend once, and it was in late June or July I think)–but I do think it’s just good, in general! After I mentioned it, I thought I better cross-reference to see if I’m the only one who likes this thing, but not to worry: EauMG, Persolaise and CaFleurBon all give it the thumbs up too.
One note: the room diffuser is, paradoxically, much less diffusive than the crystal form of the scent that goes in the balls. So if you want it strong, go for a ball; if you want it quieter, go for the room diffuser. (I’m actually thinking of buying a new set of reeds from a crafting store to see if I can’t help mine diffuse a little more–it comes with a set of black ones that almost look lacquered and I think that might be part of why the scent’s transferring only verrrrry slowly.)
We may have been there around the same time, austenfan: ’93-94 school year for me. I had left by June, so what you describe definitely wasn’t the smell then, much as I’d love to smell it!
http://www.richardluescherbritos.com/46%C2%B0n-08%C2%B0e—switzerland—swiss-pine.html
Have you checked out these Richard Luescher Britos scents , a collection cenred around certain areas of the world, the longitude and latitude. Swiss pine is one but one closer to AIx features lavender . I also think Terre de Hermes is a great limestone, flinty rock, green and earthy scent …very Mont Sainte Victoire.
Oh, Mont Sainte Victoire! I used to see it every day on my walk home from university. Adding Terre to my to-try list. I’ve never heard of those Britos scents before, and it looks like Andy Tauer did the France one. Could be good….
http://www.richardluescherbritos.com/44%C2%B0n-03%C2%B0e—france—wild-lavender.html
Hi there. I hope my reply doesn’t come up twice ( computer issues) but I would look into Richard Luescher Britos Terroir series. There is a Swiss Pine one, too…all centred on places around the globe and interesting (i have never tried them ). Andy Tauer is responsible for this one. Beautiful web sits anyway.
Also Terre de Hermes: mineral, green, earthy puts me in mind of limestone or schist outcrops on wild hillscapes covered in tufts of bitter grasses, lavender etc. A Mont Sainte Victoire worthy scent.
SORRY everyone! Computer says grrrrrr….it told me I hadn’t logged in the first time.
Ah, no worries!
Twins! It’s snowing/raining here today and this felt right!
That’s what it’s supposed to be like here tomorrow.
Hello Bexca, I live near Aix and for me the quintessential Spring perfume is Après l’Ondée… almond blossom, clean air and raindrops…. that would be early spring! Later there is definitely hawthorn here which is strong and somehow Frederic Malle’s L’Eau d’Hiver might be a good fit with its notes of hawthorn, heliotrope, honey, jasmine and iris, all notes I associate with Provence actually. L’eau d’Hiver is so light and perfect for spring too. Running in the countryside I smell predominantly wild thyme. Demeter’s Provence Meadow sounds promising but I don’t have access to the Demeters. I have a website and a blog too, it launched just after Christmas. http://irridessence.com/
Lucky, lucky you to live near Aix! Your website is lovely; I’ve added it to my feed. I tried Après l’Ondée a while ago and didn’t like it, though it might be time now to see if my opinion has changed.
Hmm, maybe it was hawthorn I was smelling. I’ve been meaning to get over to Barneys for a while to check out the Malles….
Bexca thank you for your kind words! I adore Aix and have been here 17 years now. Enjoy checking out the Malles- my personal favorite is Iris Poudre, almost a Holy Grail.
Hope you like the Apres l’Ondee better second time around. I didn’t mention it above but of course it has such a pretty violet note and I remembered afterwards, that’s another element to springtime here. I have wild violets in my garden and often get wafts of their sweet, delectable perfume.
Hope you find your special perfume. Maybe you should come back for a visit? We could meet up. ☺️
I’m trying to figure out if I can sneak in a trip this year. I’d love to come back for a visit and meet up!
Thanks for the link to your blog, Rebecca. I enjoyed the post on essential oils — to me “oil” means lipids so was good to be educated about that. Appreciate the link to Malle’s perfumer videos.
I’m wearing Un Jardin En Mediterranee. Trying to get the fig notes that it is based on. Tomorrow maybe I’ll wear Caligna or Versense and see if I can smell figs in them.
The fig in JeM is light, but it’s there!
None of those are my most figgy figs but I do really enjoy all three!
Philosykos is the most figgy perfume I know! Last night I attended a lecture by Jean Claude Ellena in Aix. It was AMAZING. Interestingly he mentioned that particular Jardin… he said he knew exactly what he wanted and it took him only three days to create. He was generous, fascinating and humble. Felt so privilidged to attend as places were very limited.
Wearing the huge Ubar. This is one massive floral, and I love it.
Ubar is great! You smell wonderful!
Wish I could join you in Ubar! I am on the road and don’t have access to my bottle but I will enjoy it vicariously.
I’ve just received a sample of Ubar from a very kind and generous NSTer- u know who u are!, I’m so looking forward to trying it next week. U all smell fabulous.
Cold and dismal here in the DC area, with rain and/or snow predicted. I don’t mind it, as it’s the last hurrah from winter and the coming spring will be all the more delightful.
Sampling Grand Amour again, which is lovely. I think I might want a decant, as I feel like I’m missing something and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m dabbing or because it’s the perfume itself.
DC area meetups are still open, and anyone interested can email me at harukirumi att yahoo etc. We are definitely meeting on 4/16 at Arielle Shoshana. Other venues/dates are in the works!
Most Goutals do better sprayed, and you may want to try Grand Amour in EDP. It’s much better that way.
Thank you for the tip!
Holly, I have a FB of Grand Amour EDP and would be happy to send you a 3ml spray decant. You can email me at chez dot Kline at the Verizon dot net.
Oh! Thank you so much! That would be lovely. 🙂
A squirt and a half of Carnal Flower today, as promised, for the first leg of our Spring Break road trip! I smell pretty but not, TOO, too big. 🙂 About to wind down the Oregon Coast into California for a week with Mr. Spicebomb.
I haven’t sampled any of the newer Chanel Exclusifs, since they stopped carrying them at our local Nordies. I would love to sample Beige and Misia, at least to know what folks are talking about. (Possible Misia would be right up my rose-powder-violet alley, but I have limited success with Chanel.)
Have a great trip! I love that Oregon coast journey, it is so beautiful.
Thanks, Gi! First stop is Yachats, OR, and the location is beYOOteeful!
That is such a beautiful part of the country! I hope you have a great trip!
I feel so spoiled living in the Pac. NW!
How far down will you go? I love the far north of CA too….a drive into the Lost Coast is wonderful. If you head into Arcata, nice farmers market. I bought some nice lavender scented items from a goat owner…. Road trips are great! Have a wonderful time!
End of the line is San Francisco, where we’ll spend a handful of nights before we turn back around towards home. We certainly will pass through Arcata–Mr. Spicebomb hasn’t been to the Redwoods since he was a kid, so we will be playing there a bit before we head further south. Thanks for the tip!
I think you would like Misia Marjorie Rose though it is quite powdery. It reminds me a lot of Love, Chloe for some reason. I have Beige and find it kind of meh. I even thought about giving it a way in the freebie meet. Not sure if it may be the honey note in it, but it is not my favorite.
I can do some powder, so that’s not an immediate turn off. I don’t know if I’ve sniffed Love, Chloe, but I have Balenciaga Paris which seems like a pretty powdery violet.
I tried Misia thanks to a fabulous person on here and I know I will be buying a bottle of it eventually so if you’d like I could pass on the remainder of my sample to you to try. I know I don’t have your current address though so we need to touch base for that. I think I still have your email.
Have a fun trip!
It warms my heart when I see people generously sharing samples. You rock, Poodle.
People on here have been super generous and sweet to me so I love to return the favor whenever possible.
Wow–thanks Poodle! I’d love to try it. 🙂
Envious of your trip down the coast – I’ll be out in the yard digging in the dirt, and will dedicate a handful or two of it to you. 🙂
Thanks, Sheri! I had some plants that needed to get in the ground before the trip. Thank goodness for the nice couple of afternoons we’ve had this week. I’m happy to be travelling, but no question part of me would be just as happy playing in my garden.
Enjoy your Spring Break, Marjorie Rose. My is just coming to an end (we return to work on Monday). I really like Misia when I first sniffed it. I like it so much, I ended up buying a FB. After wearing it a few more times, I realized it was just “ok” on me. It didn’t last very long on me. That ended up being the deal-breaker and I found it a new home. I really like Beige. Beige and Coromandel are probably the only 2 scents from Chanel that I truly like. Chanel is just a difficult line for me to wear.
What is up with my grammar today? So sorry everyone. I blame it on the heavy meds I am on from my surgery yesterday. LOL!
No one would ever believe I was an English teacher.
Hope you are feeling in tip-top form very soon. I think you deserve time off from concerns about grammar. Use your energy for fragrance enjoyment and plans for napping. 🙂
Lol! Thanks Tiffanie! I just might do that!
Yeah, I’ve been very slow to warm to Chanel. I used to only like Bois des Iles, and then only when it was warm outside. A few years later, I *got* No. 19 (and now I *have* it in a couple forms!). I’m trying to decide how I feel about No. 5 these days. . .
Oh, what a wonderful ride you have ahead of you! Road trips are the best, enjoy!
Thanks, Deva! It’s been great already!
How many perfumes will you take on your trip? Have a wonderful time, so exciting. I am saving up for a trip ….thinking San Francisco to Vancouver but squiggly.
Ha. Well, perfumes. Yes. I have packed, uh, a few. 🙂
(…goes and counts vials and minis in her luggage…)
Appears to be approximately a baker’s dozen. Very happy with my choice of Carnal Flower today, so it will probably get preferential treatment tomorrow as well.
San Francisco to Vancouver would be a WONDERFUL trip! You’d definitely want to squiggle towards the coast and into the mountains somehow. It would be a shame to miss either. And taking the long way (western side) of Puget Sound in Washington is worthy of consideration, too, especially if you take the extra couple days to explore a bit of Olympic National Park. Gorgeous temperate rain forests up there!
Before I moved out here, I did a trip where I flew into Seattle, drove ’round the sound, over to Mts. Rainier and St. Helens, down to Portland, over to the Oregon Coast and flew back from Portland. It was two weeks and it really felt like a tour of the “best of!” Wish I could take all my friends from other parts of the world on the same tour!
Sounds fantastic. I hope you have a really happy time with lots of chatting and good food and perfume
SOTM is a rather overwhelming melange of things I was considering offering up in the swapmeet. Just a last final check to make sure that I don’t want them anymore.
That’s funny!
It finally begins to feel like spring here. Last couple of days were still a bit cold but the sky was clear, the sun was shining and birds were chirping.
In this springy spirit I’m wearing Jul et Mad Aqua Sextius today.
I’m going to Milan for Esxence on March 30th – anyone knows of any new exciting launches I should seek while being there? Have to admit I have been too busy with work lately to follow what I should especially look for during the perfume fair.
Masque’s L’Attesa and Aedes de Venustas Cierge de Lune! It looks like Perfumer H isn’t on their list, and Peccato Originale isn’t either, but I’d be interested in their stuff if they’re at some other venue in Milan. Nishane sounds interesting, but their line is so huge that you could spend an entire day getting through it.
I’m so excited for you to be going again, and I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Ah rightm L’Attesa is the one that I’m drooling over to try as it has so much iris in it – iris and orris root (butter) too!
I got an email from Aedes that they invite me to discover their new launch so I will definitely look into Cierge de Lune as well. I like the name, I’m somehow drawn to names with “luna” related words in their names.
Looking forward to seeing what you think of Cierge de Lune – I was fascinated to read that it’s based on the night-blooming cereus, I don’t know what the flowers smell like, but they look amazing and that’s a good start 🙂
I’m talking about Henry James this weekend and so wearing Portrait of a Lady in his honor. And because I love it!
Nice! Hope the talk goes well.
I also hope the talk goes well. Is it about a particular novel? I recently taught his brother William myself. I love his writing–so wonderful, brilliant and funny!
PoaL actually, and The Wings of the Dove!
Do you have a favourite novel? I lnow James didn’t like it much but I like Washington Square.
I love Washington Square – James his own worst critic perhaps. I love PoaL too and am embarrassed to say that there are few James novels or stories I don’t like. The Ambassadors is admittedly a slog . . .
Hee hee…the sky might fall in if you say stuff like that.
I’m wearing Box of Eels today to swan around the house like a queen, though I am pretty sure the cat is laughing at me.
Happy Weekend, all!
Scent twins! Except I am a swanning around my local Tractor Supply, and the grocery store, which actually has a Starbucks inside, so I can sit here and drink Starbucks Vanilla Latte and talk about Tractor Supply at the same time. They have chicks and ducks there this weekend and I was tempted but resisted. 🙂
At first I thought you said your Tractor Supply had a Starbucks inside, and I was all WHOA JEALOUS. But then I realized that I’d still be jealous if my grocery store had a Starbucks, or any coffee place at all, inside.
Getting my chicks next month.
I guess some of us are spoiled :-). Yesterday, I participated in an after-work gathering in a museum. I was chatting with someone who works in another building near mine and she said, wow, you’re in the building with 2 Starbucks! Yep, and they can only be accessed by people who had passed through building security.
Hah! My cats don’t laugh at me, they just look at me like I’m insane then go under the bed.
Sounds like fun to me. T-Rex would have a good time “swanning”‘with your cats. Sad to say, I have never swanned. Not once. I have tripped many, many times, though, ????
🙂
Wearing the Tauer Incense Extreme today. We’re supposed to have a vernal equinox snowstorm here, so I’m squeezing in one warm-weather sea-and-sand fragrance before the white stuff starts falling.
To all who chimed in on my “work uniform” musings last week, thank you! My husband also voiced support, as did a coworker who suffers from the same clothes anxiety. I ended up going all in & ordered everything online. I can’t wait to start wearing it… paired everyday with a new perfume. 🙂
olenska – I was sick all week and didn’t wear or read about fragrance I was afraid I would take something I loved and turn it into nooooooooooooooooooooooo it reminds me of when I was sick.
But I know this about “work uniforms”. Here’s what I did. The year I turned 55, I got rid of all my clothes; sales, ebay, dress for success, whatever and took the money and went to Eileen Fisher. I invested in 5 minute dressing. I have 5 colors in my closet. black, grey, taupe, cream, saffron. I wear leggings every day. and a scarf.
If Vera Wang can build a 600 million dollar empire while wearing leggings every day of her life, I’m probably going to be okay.
Everything packs, almost everything is machine washable., everything coordinates.
So glad I did this. So I collect scarves and jewelry for pops of color.
Apsara, I hope this finds you feeling better. Thank you for sharing the story of how you lightened and reorganized your wardrobe. I really like E.Fisher’s subtle color palettes, though her clothing is entirely beyond my budget. But if I win the Powerball… 😉
I miss Sandra Garratt Multiples. At one time, I owned 3 shirts, 2 pants, 2 skirts, and a tube belt, every piece of which was mixable-matchable with the others. All cotton and so cheap (pricewise, not quality-wise).
Olenska, I’m betting you will love your “work uniform” strategy. I did something similar to apsara–I hired a stylist to come to my home, look at all my clothes, and tell me what worked and what didn’t. I went shopping to fill in the gaps. Now all my clothes coordinate with each other and dressing is a cinch in the morning.
It really makes sense to coordinate as you describe, rather than have dozens of unrelated garments that you bought at different times. Praying for a partial match is such a sad way to start the day.
Do you ever miss the variety of your old wardrobe…even if it didn’ t hang together as well as your new one. Or do you just feel free now?
Well, I’m holding on to some of the more colorful pieces for extracurricular use. But I long for sober simplicity… and I guess with middle age comes the realization that I no longer need my clothes to do the talking; I’ve gained the confidence to speak for myself. (Hoo boy, do I ever! I’m a salty old broad in the making…)
Here’s to salty old broads. I’ll drink to that.
Good morning!
New amazing discovery of the week: Rose Flash. I considered writing to Andy Tauer to tell him how joyous it made me. What a happy explosion of rose that one is!
I bet he would love hearing that! It really is a beautiful, happy scent.
Really? Maybe I will. There is the most spot on review by a reviewer on basenotes.
Yeah, that’s a nice one. His fragrances, in my opinion, are so unique. At first sniff, they seem weird (in a good sense), but then you can’t help but to continue sniffing yourself. If people are looking for a unique, yet fascinating scent, Andy’s will fit the bill. 🙂
Agree.
Rose Flash is pure joy to me! One of my favorites — so glad you found it and love it!
I know, right? It’s amazing. I can’t remember if I’ve ever had such an addictive gotta-smell-it-constantly reaction to a perfume.
Do you spray or roll? I dislike both options. I wish the 30ml came with a screw cap.
I have the rollerball, and I like it — a little of this scent goes a long way on me, so I might find it a bit overwhelming if sprayed.
Yes, Rose Flash is gorgeous! Congrats on your new find! I agree that Andy would love to hear from you, he’s very approachable!
Can you imagine being as good at your job as Andy is at his? I imagine that he must feel quite proud of what he has created.
Holly – do you spray or use the roll on? I’m trying to decide between sizes. Both feel wrong to me. I wish it came in a dabber or screw top. And the roll on just isn’t very pretty looking in pics. I’m thinking of getting it and decanting.
I bought the rollerball unsniffed, as it was the only option at the time. I’m not a fan of rollerballs, but I’ve found that the Flash series have such huge sillage that dabbing from the rollerball works well for me. It sounds to me like the spray would work better for you, as you could certainly decant all or some of it into a prettier bottle.
Today I finish off my set of Cloon Keen samples with “Infusion Assam”. Notes of bergamot, smoked assam tea, mate, tonka bean and jasmine. To me it smells a bit like commercial iced tea tastes (say, Liptons) which is fine – it means I can definitely make out the tea amid the flowers. It lasted about 2 hours (might have done better if I hadn’t started cooking chili). Not going to go any further with this one.
Well, it was fun doing an Irish brand for the week of St Patrick’s Day. I liked all bar one of the samples as smells, but as often happens most just didn’t last on my skin. I ordered the FB of “Sybarite” last night. Of those that didn’t make the grade with my scent-eating skin, I most admired the chestnut-scented Castaña and the green mango & lime ‘Tulum’.
I hope these show up in the US soon, because I’m VERY curious about Castaña.
It’s a gamble if you haven’t tried it, but I have half a bottle up on the swap list. I guess it’s the original formulation, which I heard is slightly less nutty and a little more jasmine – but I still found it pretty nutty!
Thank you for telling me! I’m strictly samples at this point, though. Someone bolder will get to enjoy it.
Sun Mi is offering Castaña at the swapmeet right now! ;^)
I think I missed when you did Lune de Givre – what did you think of that one? It’s the only one I have but I iike it a lot.
Looking at my (very brief) notes, this disappeared almost immediately on me. A lot of perfumes don’t last on my skin, and this was one of them. I first discovered this problem with one of the Amouages (!!! – of all things!) which neither I nor my partner could smell *immediately* after spraying it on.
Interesting! Skin is so funny. Glad you found one that worked for you.
Still wearing No5 EDC . . . it’s fast becoming a habit :).
Riddle me this: I spotted Chanel Coco, Coco Madamoiselle, Chance and Egoiste at TK Maxx. My first thought was ‘fakes’ but then of course they can’t be. It’s just I find it nigh impossible to come across Chanel (Chanel! oh la la!) at outlet bargain dustbins. Don’t they work hard to protect their brand and takeback all unsold items or some such?
Coco used to be my signature back in the day. Too bad it’s laden with such emotional baggage I can’t wear it anymore. I might’ve bought it otherwise. Or I’ll just wait until it ends up with and extra ‘reduced to clear’ discount lol 😀
I saw those Chanels in TKMaxx a few weeks ago too. Not massively discounted but still.
I wish MY local TJ Maxx stores would get these! (It is TJ not TK in USA.) They only always have Red Door and a lot of Elizabeth Taylor and J Lo scents etc.
Not very spring like in the Midwest today and we had a bit on snow last night. Thus I am wearing Coco today,
I really would like to sample Chanel Exclusifs Coromandel and Cuir de Russie to see if they are ones I may be interested in.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Happy weekend, everyone. I have a question that’s been on my mind for a while now. Lately, I have noticed that I like scents that have that strong “alcohol” like note. You know the smell when you first put alcohol on you? At first, its strong, but then calms down? Does anyone know what note that is? I notice it in scents like “Intense Café” by Montale; “Un Matin d’ Orage” by Annick Goutal; and “Cherry Musk” by Ramon Monegal.
My SOTD is “Halo” by Victoria’s Secret.
I’ve wondered about that “alcohol” smell, too. I think I get it from some of the Atelier Colognes – perhaps Mistral Patchouli and Bois Blonds. Now I need to go sniffing . . .
So, I’m not losing it. But, it still boggles my brain. Geesshh! Just want to know what that note is.
I think it’s a “woody amber,” which you can google to get more info on. Another poster here once described it as “fancy alcohol.” I can’t unsmell it now, and I particularly hate it in Coco Mademoiselle…
I will check that out. Thanks for responding.
I think I know what you’re talking about. I got it recently when I tried AC Santal Carmin. I figured it was because I seem to be anosmic to most of that one, so I was smelling the alcohol where normally the aromachems would mask it/drown it out.
Interesting fact. Never thought about it like that!
Testing Jeux de Peau on one arm and Boxeuses on the other. Not crazy about Jeux, but have to say the combination of it and Boxeuses commingled with the aroma of my morning coffee is quite delectable. Happy Saturday everyone!
It’s pushing noon and I’m sitting here in my jammies trying to talk myself into doing something useful. It’s beautifully sunny and cool outside but the wind is gusting like mad and I’m beginning to consider stitching a hankie to my arm for convenience. My neighbor awoke early and decided, presumably since the construction behind us isn’t going on today and we might miss the noise, to get out his grinder and work on his demolition derby project car. I believe I may be a bit grumpy.
Since I’m determined to go outside and finish up the yard work, I’m wearing a hefty dose of Tabac Tabou which seems to be getting a fair amount of wear for something I thought I didn’t like.
No sense in doing something useful on the weekend- you will throw off the balance of the entire universe if you insist on going so. BTW, you smell great????
That’s a wonderful image and its twice as good the second time around????
No SOTD yet. I have moved all my full bottles from my perfume cabinet to the the crisper drawer in my fridge. I feel a bit bereft without them in my bedroom where I can look at them several times a day, walk by and open the door to get a random sniff, etc. It seems my enjoyment of perfume is not only linked to the olfactory system, but also my occular system. Not sure if I will keep them in the fridge, but it does make sense. I guess. *sigh*
Pouring cats and dogs here and I was lucky to get the grass cut before the sky opened up. Thanks to all who participated in my swap, and hope all you ladies and gents have a fragrant weekend????
You’re going to have the best smelling salad on the block!
You need one of those dinky little fridges with a glass door, like the ones used to store white wine.
Our fridge is so full of half-used jars of pickles, spreads and jams, pastes and olives ( all bordering on vintage) that I doubt I could find room for perfume. But who needs food?
Ah yes. The vintage spreads. My husband doesn’t touch vegetables until they have been in the fridge a minimum of 10 days, and spreads etc. until they are at least 8 months old… I guess it reminds him of growing up in Scotland? It makes for entertainment on weekends… me and the kids watch my husband clear through tupperware of mysterious bygone meals. Yesterday he thanked me for the delicious stew he found in his fridge at work. I swear I made that stew last month!
Oh I had many vintage mysterious spreads and jars and pots of penicillin, but they all went bye bye when my fridge died a sad and lonely death. It seemed just so WRONG to put them in a new pristine fridge. Hence all the room for perfumes ????
Ohhhhh wow a glass door fridge for perfume, like for wine. A new dream is born 🙂
Yes! If I had an electrical outlet in my closet, I’d seriously be contemplating making room for a little fridge in there.
I’m actually looking for perfume recommendations, and hope that you knowledgeable readers coukd help! Anyhow, I’m on the hunt for a gourmand, specifically something with berries, vanilla, woods, maybe some floral added in, too. There are so many options out there, but I’d like to see what I might be missing, lol. It woukd help if it has lasting power as well; I feel that a lot of recent releases would start strong, but fade so quickly and don’t have much projection. Thanks! 🙂
Interesting challenge! Vanilla, berries, woods, staying power…. Hm! My first ideas are OJ Vanille d’Iris and Serge Feminite de Bois–but I also want to recommend the Monday Mail, you’ll get more extensive feedback! If you click on Monday Mail at the bottom of this page, you can see examples.
Yes, Monday Mail might be a good option.
Maybe original Hanae Mori for your vanilla-berry-woods?
Boxeuses is fruity, leathery and a bit vanillic. Nice abstract gourmand with an inedible edge.
Bless me, Donatella, for I have been a bad, bad girl. There I was, putting a bottle of Lyric into my LuckyScent shopping cart just for fun, you know, like one does when one is stalking a perfume, and up pops a little ad saying “20% off Amouage,” and then I fell on the “purchase” button, and, well, there you go. I’ve never thrown down that much money on a bottle of perfume, even on sale, but I figure after a very trying pregnancy, having my beautiful baby boy, doing without sleep for seven months now, and giving up basically everything that’s good to eat in order to accomodate his food intolerances while I breastfeed, and given that a rather daunting birthday is right around the corner for me, I figure if I’ve ever earned a splurge, this is the time.
So my bottle arrived yesterday, and I may have applied it more than once in the course of the evening, and may have gone to bed with my arm glued to my nose, and may have even surreptitiously huffed that gorgeous cardamom-sweet milk drydown under the covers after middle-of-the-night wakings. God, I love this perfume. Worth every penny.
You do sound like you deserve it, and more. I’m glad you’re having such a good experience!
I say you might think about a backup bottle….????
Enjoy your Lyric, girl!
The great thing about Our Lady of Perpetual Indulgence is that she always grants absolution. 😉
When you really love them, they are so worth the money those Amouages. I hope you enjoy your Lyric as much as I do my Gold.
Life is too short to not enjoy the things we love. You are very deserving of getting that perfume. Hope you enjoy every drop of it!
I love how perfume makes everything that much better.
When those discounts pop up, you know it was meant to be 🙂
And you know that lovely little bottle of Lyric is looking at you adoringly, asking, “Hey! What took you so long?”
Yep, you deserve it. Enjoy!
cardamom + sweet milk dry down?!?!?! oh GOD that sounds amazing! i’ve been seeking milky scents actually since having my son! (and I feel you on the diet – my husband has celiac, so to be safe I’m not eating any gluten either as long as I’m nursing him). Someday we’ll have a full range of food available to us again!!
I started really craving milky everything after my son was born — milkshakes, malted milk, whole-milk yogurt, you name it — and then bang! No dairy allowed! Still, I sort of want to breastfeed forever. 🙂 I can recommend Philosophy Cinnamon Buns shower gel as a really yummy milky/pastry scent — I just stand in the shower and lather and lather and lather and inhale and inhale and inhale!
I haven’t tried Lyric, but you’re description of it sounds absolutely swoon worthy.
Enjoy you’re new bottle, u definitely deserve it!
I went off dairy for a while but couldn’t tell if it made any real difference. it might be an intolerance that he will outgrow? perhaps you could try re-introducing it in several months? no gluten kind of sucks, but no dairy would hurt for that long! i think i’m intending to let my son self wean, so it might be a while before i’m back to gluten.
I also appreciate this picture! I was noticing the hyacinths peeking up around town yesterday afternoon, actually. The irises have also started to bloom (daffodils have been open for two weeks here). And more buds on my rosebush! It’s looking quite like spring.
Dzing! today, because the weather is actually quite cool (freeze warning tonight, apparently) and I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull this off during the summer.
Oh, and I’m trying to decide which samples to order from SSS. I might start with the roses?
Rose Musk and Rose Volupte. 🙂
Thanks!
My three faves are Tabac Aurea, Champagne de Bois, and Nostalgie…
Yes, I hear good things about all of those! And I’m a big Gigi fan, so that’s an extra point for Nostalgie.
Hard to go wrong with SSS. My favorites are Tabac Aurea (Mals gets the enabling pin there), Champagne de Bois, and Incense Pure.
These last days have been hard here in my country, hence my incapacity to think, let alone talk about perfume. But today I’m wearing vintage Joy. 🙂
Is it the Lula scandal? Wishing you better times, and of course you smell fab! I love Joy!
Thank you, Austenfan. I’d rather call it a ‘coup d’état’ attempt. There is an overwhelming mass of jurists, historians, artists and all sorts of intellectuals, not to mention the entire working class, writing manifests, petitions and organizing some sort of resistance. I don’t want to say anything polemic here, of course, so let me just say that yesterday was beautiful, historical and I wore wonderful Rumba. You can take your synesthesic conclusions, lol.
Abiding by the very wise NST comment policy….but I hear you sister.
S2
I do believe it has saved us more than once!
Agree Robin! The rollercoaster has been too much for this little perfumista here, but I feel I should have been more laconic. Please feel free to delete my answer.
It’s ok as is unless it bothers you, in which case I will delete it.
Thank you, Robin. I felt the need to express myself since I feel we truly care about each other here. xoxo
I was feeling some pangs of guilt myself, as I know about the comment policy, which I think is very wise. I hope things will get better in your country, it seems to be going through difficult times.
I actually wore Carnal Flower today, wondering whether you like it or not? It’s big, and it’s lush, yet like all the Malles it has an odd sort of restraint about it.
I’ve been laid up with a bad cold so no perfume today or yesterday. I have had plenty of leisure to buy samples and decants though – erk.
Hope you feel better soon. But, I know that shopping for samples and decants always makes me feel better.
Thanks! I ordered 5 ml each of Santal Carmin and Ambre Nuit and 1 ml each of Coromandel and Felanilla.
Felanilla ????
Hope you get your sinuses right soon.
Nice to read about approaching spring in the northern hemisphere. Autumn is fast approaching here, but the weather is still warm and I’m still wearing the perfumes I associate with spring and summer – Le Temps d’une Fete has been on high rotation.
I’ve been trying to keep up on reading, but lazy mornings have meant I haven’t commented over breakfast as I try to do. My mother has been visiting over the last week, which has been lovely, she is 85, so we’ve not been rushing about. We had a couple of days in Nelson, a very scenic area of New Zealand.
No perfume yet, but I’m thinking orange blossom, I haven’t worn Fleurs d’Oranger for a while.
Autumn and orange blossom scents go so well together.
Glad you got away to Nelson for a few days.
*Love* LTdF – and Nelson is really pretty. Enjoy your mom!
Le Temps d’Une Fête is such a beauty!
I’m in the Southern Hemisphere right now as well. Like you I went for an orange blossom scent, Hanbury, and it suited the warm temperatures Santiago is still having perfectly!
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/18/smell-expert-sissel-tolaas-breathes-deep-and-then-follows-her-nose-in-melbourne
Interesting article in the guardian about a Norwegian artist/ scientist who spends her time walking around and smelling the air and her environment, and doing nose ‘work-outs’ . She also works for a variety of companies, including Aesop. Worth reading.
Life is very autumn here: lead grey skies, low sunlight and trees that seem to glow with some internal yellow light. It’s fascinating watching the way the yellow leaves creep up and spiral around the Silver Birches…kind of like the way grey hair appears seemingly at random and the takes over. Because the garden is so bright, as if gold plated I’m going to wear Ostara, too. I know it’s a spring scent but last weekend we had to cut down a wind damaged, split silver birch and the smell was divine…a cross of creek-side young willow and grass ( so much scent in its mulched and chipped branches).
Have the best weekend. I’m off for a cliff top walk along the edge of the pacific ocean. No land in sight …just the sea all the way to Chile! Fantastic.
I’m not much of a walker, but yours sounds pretty perfect.
I had such a hankering for Chanel no 5 today. I might wear it again tomorrow.
Not the best of days – lost my phone, it’s cold and grey, Lumi is restless, J is on a work trip and the perfumes I tried today were all mediocre.
On the funny side, my second thought after the worry about the sensitive work e-mails in my phone was: ‘Shit, I JUST took those photos for the blog and now they’re gone!’
I need to find something nice to read and something lovely to wear. Have a beautyful weekend, all!
Is Lumi teething? Dogs do get restless over that. Sorry about the phone, it must be a nuisance.
Wear an old favourite and your world will soon be fine again.
Sorry about your day.
Ooh I am so sorry. Do you have one of the phones that can be wiped remotely?
My mood has been immeasurably improved by my 7 year old daughter, whom I overheard lecturing Lumi (who is 4,5 months) after she had misbehaved:
‘Lumi, I understand that this is all very difficult for you, as everything was done different in your family (meaning the dog family), your mother gave birth to you and there were other puppies and now you are confused. I am not a puppy. You are a baby puppy and we need to take your needs into account. But we don’t have other puppies here, so you need to get used to our rules. Life changes, as do tastes! And our brains are 10 times larger than yours! (A somewhat unexpected twist there.) But I understand, Lumi, I do, that your life is very difficult. So is mine.’
That is really delightful.
I love this–I am imagining the look on your daughter’s face as she delivered it, and Lumi’s as he listened. I especially appreciated “I am not a puppy.” Just in case he was wondering about that…
That is super! Hope phone issues are resolved soon
Awwww, that is so sweet!
Awww that is adorable!
I think she will being heading the U N one day.
What an intelligent and sensitive child!
I love it!!! Lumi is in good hands with her!!! 🙂
So cute! Thanks for sharing!
This is amazing 🙂
Heehee!
This made my day 😀 Sorry about your phone though.
Thank you for all the lovely comments! For a moment there, I really felt I had succeeded as a mother 🙂 Phone still lost, though.
I finally read an article that my husband cut out of the paper last month about local reporter Caille Millner’s meeting with Mandy Aftel. It is mostly a publicity piece for Mandy Aftel, but the last paragraph sounded like every budding perfumista. I read it and thought about how many of us have had Caille’s experience:
“I placed my bread on the conveyor belt and waited. An inane conversation was happening in front of me; I steeled myself against it. Then I realized that I could place my wrists against my nose and inhale–there it was! Beauty flooded into my nostrils. For a wonderful moment, the outside world disappeared.”
Today I’m onto to my fourth or fifth application of Lostmarc’h Iroaz (from the sample swap at the Bay Area meet up last week)… Nice scent by extremely fleeting… In her review on NST, Jessica describes it as nearly impossible to over apply. Yup.
Oh, thank you for the quote, how nice!
Testing three newbies this afternoon, the Hermes Rhubarb, the Atelier Bergamot and the the new Diptyque Eau de Sens. Rhubarb is my favorite of the three–so naturally it’d turn out to be the most fleeting too 🙁 Boo. At least it’s priced with the Hermes regular line though–I def could see it being an Hermessence, and paying those prices for something gone in a hour… oof.
Meanwhile I admire the other two–they’re just not me, particularly, but they have nice things to recommend them! I think Eau de Sens particularly might smell nice on a dude who might like an orange blossom but doesn’t want smthg girly, and the Bergamot is wonderfully tart, if you’re looking for that.
Rhurbarb had not yet arrived to my usual Hermes haunt. Very curious to try it! Eau de Sens didn’t impress me, but I’m not a huge fan of orange blossom and I was also distracted. Will give it another go.
Oh, I think I’d only say Eau de Sens is worth revisiting if you’re really determined to be thorough. I found it at once spicy and VERY clean, and rather a masculine orange blossom, which I’m sure will be a great fit for someone, and it is nicely made IMO–but if orange blossom isn’t your thing, and I wouldn’t guess “very clean” is either, then I think you’re safe skipping it.
Rhubarb, on the other hand, I hope comes to you with all due haste! 🙂
Needed a bit of glamour around me and Coromandel is doing its magic despite my jeans and tee outfit and chores and general puttering around.
I always seem to forget that this one gets stronger through the day, I hope it calms down a bit before I go out…I was not judicious when applying.
Scent twins! I think Coromandel is complementing my jeans & tee very nicely. 🙂
Today is freezing but I determined to be spring aware with Angelique by Papillon, which seems rather lovely. Have spent a lot of time unpacking and organising but feeling rather relaxed after sneaky pizza which really cheered me up. Enjoying watching the end of the six nations as I write!
I’m wearing the decidedly non-springy Coromandel today, from my splitmeet decant. I just got it and couldn’t wait to try it. It was a really good blind buy. I am really enjoying it.
I was sniffing my wrist and thinking that Coromandel smells really similar to something else, and it took me a while to put my finger on it, but then it hit me: It’s reminding me of Chergui, but maybe Chergui’s smoother, more refined sister. Anybody else get that? Maybe I need to do a side-by-side comparison.
While I haven’t tried Chergui there do seem to be quite a few reviews comparing them on fragrantica-having bought Coromandel just a week ago I skimmed a few reviews recently.
I find them similar as well and I would say it’s the musk and incense. I also get chocolate in both even though Fragrantica does not list chocolate as a note in Chergui.
I can see it.. I get a little bit of a birch tar note in Chergui, and sometimes birch tar leather notes read as chocolaty to me.
Busy weekend….but it’s all good! I need a housekeeper, chef, and a driver. Until I get rich and famous, I guess I’ll keep doing all of it myself! 🙂
SOTD: It’s complicated. Started out in Body Shop Red Musk. But shortly after hitting Belk and Ulta today for an Easter dress and such, I find myself simultaneously wearing Dior Addict, Tender Romance, Sensuous Nude, and Givenchy Live Irresistible all at the same time. I’m a little skanky! LOVE the Tender Romance best….
I know there’s not quite as much discussion about designer frags on here, but has anyone tried Signorina EDT? I found a bottle on clearance at Marshall’s for 20 bucks and I’m very intrigued by the milk mousse and rice notes. (Especially since I’ve been looking for scents with milk notes). Any thoughts on this one?
If I see it in my store, I’ll buy it on the spot! LOL I love rice notes! 🙂
I haven’t tried it but I will if I can find it. Watch this space
Will do – thanks! I get the impression the EDT may have been discontinued, so I’m not sure how readily available it is.
Hi. You might not see this but I couldn’t find it in town. But I’ve made a note of it.
I was afraid of that – I guess I’ll either just take the plunge or return it! Thanks for your efforts, though!
I think that Barqs mentioned Signorina recently and possibly Koenigsberg.
Sadly I can take no credit for this one. ;^)
Oops! ????
Maybe this will help:
https://freebox.it.com/2012/04/05/vera-wang-princess-night-swarovski-aura-ferragamo-signorina-perfume-reviews/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
http://boisdejasmin.com/2012/03/salvatore-ferragamo-signorina-perfume-review.html
Hi Holly! Thanks for finding these articles. I did read them, but they both reference the EDP which I hear is a bit different – featuring panna cotta rather than rice steam and milk mousse. The reviews seem fair enough though, so if the EDT is at least decent, I guess I’d be happy!
Mmm, sounds nice, will look out it.
SOTD is Havana Vanille because after 10 days of warm muggy sunny weather we got a big storm and cold front and it was all gray and chilly this morning and I wanted something a bit comforting and cheering. The azaleas have been absolutely spectacular here. Unfortunately they don’t have a fragrance. Oleanders are starting to come out now too. It will be back into the 80’s by Tuesday and MUGGY. But all is beautifully green now and bluebonnets are out along the country roads.
I have booked my air ticket and hotel for SHANGHAI in May and am REALLY excited! It’ll be my first trip to anywhere in the far east and is a bit intimidating too. I hope to get in some fun shopping–any tips from anyone?
I’m excited for you for your trip to Shanghai! No tips from me sadly, bit I hope you have a great time planning and then actually experiencing the trip. I’ve never been to east Asia… or any part of Asia actually. My goal is to travel more in the next few years.
I haven’t been to China in years, and then I wasn’t flush enough to take advantage of the shopping opportunities (so, not much has changed!), but I DO recommend you eat, like, EVERYTHING. I still think about the dry, sour chicken dish I had at a Szechuan place. Also, all the baozi (dipped in dark vinegar, amazing), and the most indulgent thing I’ve ever eaten, probably: mantou in condensed milk. Mmmmm. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks!
Tell us more! I love reading about meals (almost) as much as reading about perfume!
What a fabulous trip. I bet it will be fascinating. From what I’ve heard, Shanghai has a lot of shopping. Look forward to hearing about it when you are back.
SOTD is Dame Pear, Waterlily & Amber. The kids and I actually celebrate Ostara, so since they’re still at their dad’s, I get to go play Oestara bunny and hide eggs, have eggs boiled so we can color them and write our wishes for the coming year on them and throw dinner together in the slow cooker so it’s one less thing to do later. Oh yes, and their baskets, from which I’ll no doubt be cleaning candy wrappers up for weeks to come. Le sigh. 🙂
Currently, I’m hoping in the next couple weeks to score samples/small decants of Chanel’s Misia, 31 Rue Cambon, Cuir de Russie and a Guerlain Shalimar Initial sample to decide whether the latter is worth grabbing a bottle while I still can.
And last but not least, off to go put in window screens and have a quiet cup of tea before getting to work. But it’s a fun sort of work and makes me smile at how far the kids and I have come. It’s going to be a lovely day.
Enjoy the day. 🙂
I was just rummaging around in my file cabinet and found some vintage Bal a Versailles parfum in its little upholstered hinge box. Put some one and yowza! The pee/orange blossom is only a trace, but the dusty fur/wood/spice element is totally intact and gorgeous.
SOTM before shower: BaV parfum.
SOTA: after clients: Parfum Sacre. I know this is a 90’s type perfume, but somehow it smells contemporary/vintage and really good on me. I’m crazy about it.
Actually I’m not sure if the BdV is pure perfume or parfum de toilette. I’m assuming it is perfume because it’s in an elaborate little box in a satin cushion, but maybe that is how they sold the PdT long ago. In any case it seems like perfume concentration.
I used to own a very vintage lyre bottle of the PdT but it was unopened when I got it and I sold it that way so never got a chance to make a comparison to the little one I have.
At the weekend I tend to take my time over breakfast before going for a shower, so today I started the day in a few remaining drops of Guerlain “Cuir Beluga” for the vanilla custard effect. After showering I changed to “Eau de Madeleine” from Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger. The official notes are Top : Citrus; Heart : Incense, Rose; Base: Leather, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk. I get the incense with a hint of citrus; to my partner the sandalwood is prominent.
This is a scent that might appeal to the Amouage lovers out there, and the bottle has a slightly goth appeal. It doesn’t last very well on my skin (not much does!) – maybe half a day tops. I’ll probably add something more robust before the day is out. :^)
I haven’t tried anything from that brand yet, and it sounds like something I might like. Thanks!
Relaxing after a very busy weekend, wearing Cuir de Lancome. So very good.
U can’t go wrong with Cuir de Lancôme.
Today, on the first day of spring I’m wearng another fig scent, this time Caligna. This is one of my favorite L’Artisan fragrances, FB worthy.
SOTM is Cuir Mauresque. After a glorious, warm and sunny Saturday in which I overdid it a bit on yardwork, today is cool and rainy, and I’m quite enjoying having an excuse to do pretty much nothing but sit in a comfy chair and huff my wrists. 🙂
I tried Après L’ondee for the first time today, oh my it’s exquisite!
I could see myself wearing this one a lot in the spring and maybe the early autumn too. So beautiful.
It is! Glad you got to try it.
There is an interesting article in the New York Times on Nike as a fashion company:
“Last year, Macy’s did a survey of the most Instagrammed fashion brands. Nike was No. 1, with 47,747,991 hashtag mentions — two and a half times that of its closest competitor, Prada, and almost six times that of Michael Kors (as well as Coach) — and 18,715,326 followers, four times that of Prada, and three and a half times that of Kors. In the 2015 BrandZ study of the top 100 global brands, done by the research firm Millward Brown, Nike ranked as the most valuable apparel brand at 28th, four spots ahead of Louis Vuitton and 14 ahead of Zara.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/fashion/nike-fashion-olympics.html?contentCollection=weekendreads&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=c-column-middle-span-region®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-middle-span-region&_r=0
Now, if they could just revitalize sport fragrances! There is, however, one small impediment: the name. if you google “Nike perfume,” you’ll find that Nike is a Spanish perfume brand founded in 1929 and apparently still active. 🙂
I was just thinking wouldn’t it be great if supermarkets had a perfume aisle. It would improve my life so much.
🙂
I like the idea, although the reality would be potentially hazardous to the credit cards.
Whole Foods, the expensive natural and organic chain in the U.S., has a few fragrances, such as Pacifica. It’s always very tempting to add one of the little rollerballs or solids to the cart.
A couple of my local pharmacies have Roger et Gallet, with similar temptation at each visit! Used to have one quite nearby that carried Demeter too, but no longer 🙁
Mine has quite a large perfume section in the makeup-haircare area. Unfortunately, it’s stocked with fairly dull celebrity scents and mainstream stuff I’m not that interested in, though the store where I used to live carried Pacifica and Thymes Ltd. as well as a really nice candle selection.
I keep saying: I’m voting Kanuka 2016! 😉