Happy Memorial Day to those of you in the USA! And happy weekend to everyone else.
We're celebrating with our usual open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume store you wish you could visit this weekend, anything.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Am currently sampling Geisha Vanilla Hinoki which was a free bonus from Indiescents since I’d accidentally received someone else’s order and this got included in the reshipment. On the other hand, the other person’s order means that I easily have samples for the leap of faith project since I got to keep them
A gift from the postal gods- how fabulous! 🙂
What do you think of it so far?
I think Geisha Vanilla Hinoki is a fabulous vanilla.
There seems to be a lot of clove on my skin so it didn’t really work for me
Scent twin!!
I’ve really fallen for this one over the past few weeks — it’s become my go-to comfort and bedtime scent.
Spent a large part of today doing some spare riom ‘tidying’, but so far it just looks messier than when I started 🙁 I guess that’s what I’ll be doing tomorrow :-/…
Wearing large doses of Fleurs de Cedrat mixed with AA Herba Fresca.
Oh, that “messy while you tidy” phase is essential to the process! You’re almost there! 😀
Thanks Marjorie Rose! I need that encouragement 🙂 sometimes I just walk in, look around, feel totally overwhelmed and walk out again.. lol
Do you have any good music you could distract yourself with? I have found that serious cleaning is very well-matched with listening to vinyl, in particular. (Natural breaks every 20 minutes or so.)
Music will help. I kep thinking music today but somehow never got there… maybe that’s what went wrong. The mess is like one of those sliding tile puzzles, where moving something relies on something else being moved, and despite having culled heaps, my emigrating sister just dumped ‘treasured possessions’ off, and I just have no idea where to find room. I regret being such a helpful sister 😉
I hear you. I get overwhelmed easily by those kinds of activities. Maybe just stand and look and then go away and write down what you want it to be, then break it down to smaller tasks that you can do and finish, so you build in little rewards along the way…
Sounds like my craft room. . . 🙂
I’m having that same morning. Trying to organize stuff that’s still sitting around from our move but it’s just looking messier. I love Herba Fresca. Nice and bracing.
Nice and bracing was the plan, and it helped heaps.
I could never do the minimalist thing, but I know- stuff! Hope you have better luck with your arranging 🙂
It must be organising season! I got to the end of my little bit of string with various messy bits yesterday, and started tidying, too. Of course, I created new messes in the process, so guess what I’ll be doing today. Also discovered it’s very hard for me to throw things out if I can perceive any possible future use for them, but I really do NOT need five pairs of yoga pants and that the two older pairs (perfect condition, but now far too big) will NOT be just the thing to wear to paint bedroom, even if I keep them tight around my waist with a belt. Oh dear….good luck, Perthgirl, Elisa.
I just tell myself that it doesn’t matter where I start, since it all has to get picked up eventually. That cures the whole frozen-with-indecision-on-where-to-start issue for me.
I got a dumpster delivered the other day for major tidying. I cleaned the garage out today. That was neither fun nor funny. Ugh. But I got rid of a lot of junk and that makes me happy. When I was in the thick of it I asked myself what had I gotten into. It does seem to get worse before it gets better.
Leaving in a few hours for a whirlwind visit to my SIL and BIL’s house in NoVa, for my nephew’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor tomorrow afternoon. Nephew’s birthday is next week, so we’re taking his gift along (a funny t-shirt and a bottle of VC&A Midnight in Paris, which I sincerely hope he likes). Will take my decant of DelRae Wit with me and hope it keeps the visit pleasant. I like these people a lot, but crowded family things make me twitchy and I’m not looking forward to sleeping on the pull-out couch.
Again, woke up with an achy lower back — after the 4th night on the new mattress. Is it too soft? We’re going by the mattress place today to talk to them about it, but if anybody has advice I’d love to hear it.
A cousin had the same issue and was told to put a sheet of plywood between the base mattress and top mattress for more support. Worked like a charm for him.
My parents did that, too; it really worked for them as well.
crowded family things make me twichy.. hahaha. I can relate.
Consumer Reports put out a mattress feature last year? I think, and I’ve been meaning to read it. They’re the best. Get your hands on this if you can.
The CR issue was from Jan/Feb this year. My sister and BIL are looking to replace theirs this year.
I love CR, but usually find the mattress reviews less than helpful since a) I can never find the exact items they review anywhere near me and b) mattress needs are so individual. Sigh.
Some mattress places let you exchange the mattress if it’s not working out. And it’s really impossible to find out if it’s the right mattress without spending a few nights on it first.
Hopefully the pull-out couch isnt worse. But Wit will help, Im sure of it 🙂
Hope it is fun and you get some breaks from the big gatherings… i do remember there was a good return policy when we got our mattress. you shouldn’t have to resort to a board…the mattress should suit you. It is important. We forget how much time we spend in bed.
Pull out couches can be a killer. We used to sleep on one when visiting my BIL and it was incredibly painful, so we finally started dragging it onto the floor to sleep, which was a slightimprovement.
We just got a new mattress (from Bob’s Discount for anyone who knows thst chain with their cheesy commercials). It’s a medium firmness gel foam top, and I haven’t slept this well and pain free for years! Hopefully they’ll let you exchange it if thst have some sort of guarantee or just good customer service.
We actually wound up on their guestroom bed, which has a rock-like mattress with a memory foam topper. I am achy today. 🙁
New experiment will be to go back to the old mattress and see what happens…
Aw shoot! Next time you’re up here we’ll have to do a meetup.
I agree with LizzieB. I don’t think you should need to alter a brand-new expensive bed to make it comfortable. Does it have a deep pillow-top that’s making it too squishy?
No pillow top! I hate them. This one is labeled Super Firm, but I have my doubts.
Pullout couch torture devices! Ugh. And I’m with you on family-twitchy issues.
This is probably of no use to you, but is there a custom mattress place anywhere nearby? There’s one in my area (Santa Cruz CA) whose mattresses come with zip-off tops — you can custom-pick all the layers, and swap them out if you don’t like them or when they become compressed. My side of the bed is firm, my husband’s is softer, we’re both much happier than trying to find one mattress that fit both of us.
Santa Cruz! I envy you. Such a great town.
Sady, there is not. I live in a semirural area.
But what is the union of the two sides like? We tend to clump from one side of the bed to the other with some frequency, and it sounds like the junction between the two sides might be annoying to roll over.
Just in case you end up with the plywood board solution: make sure someone drills /a lot/ of holes in it (lattice effect ideal). Otherwise the bed base can’t do its ventilation job.
Thanks for the advice.
We have a Casper mattress (no affiliation) and really love it. I had back problems from our previous mattress and this one did the trick
In recommendation space…I love our Tempurpedic. It was expensive, but I love it. I do believe there are so many choices today in mattresses that finding that right one is possible.
I love my “new” (it’s been a few years, now!) mattress, but my mom hates hers. I think the mistake she made was not buying one of those types with wrapped coils (or whatever it is) so that you can’t feel your partner moving around at night. She says she sinks towards the middle and it’s never flat. Of course, now she’s spent $$$ on a mattress and put up with it a few years, she doesn’t want to admit she messed up and have to do it again! I think suffering at night isn’t worth it.
It sounds like it’s too soft. It might pass – it always takes time to get used to a different mattress – but it would be best to exchange if you can and your back doesn’t recover soon.
Also think if you’ve been doing anything different recently or have been more tense. Try to get in some light walking.
I got one of those Sleep Number mattresses. I’m not sure it’s ideal, but it does allow me to tinker with the settings if I start to feel I need more firmness for my back or softness for my hip joints, and couples can have different settings on their respective sides of the bed.
Thanks to everyone for sharing advice! I’ll keep you updated. In other news, I managed to forget my Wit 🙂 and am in No. 5 Eau Premiere, which my 17yo son & nephew picked out for me from the recants in my purse.
I’m in the Hamptons this weekend, I know it’s a scene, a lot of Chanel and Birkin bags all over the place, I’ll be wearing Fleurs de Citronnier for brunch 🙂
Wish I were in the Hamptons! I hate the feel of the beginning of winter when it feels like the world is closing in, and a warm vacation by the sea sounds like a dream.
I wish I could enjoy the Hamptons.. since I grew up out there it has a different meaning for me and the city folks (even though I’m one of them now!) drive me batty. Beaches are beautiful, however..
And I do love the architecture and gorgeous landscape.
The Southfork is less crazy if you happen to have a car and some time to explore that area.
We are in the city , at home, enjoying the “quiet” while everyone is in the Hampton. Enjoy
Today I am wearing Patou Joy de Bain perfumed body mist, I scored a sealed box on evilbay a few months ago. Perfect for humid mid 80’s temps – my impression is a veil of lovely flowers on a creamy backdrop. It has presence but isn’t overwhelming so it won’t irritate me in the heat while I am outside later in the day with the family.
That sounds lovely – a veil of lovely flowers on a creamy backdrop. Nice..
Wearing vintage Moment Vole de Fragonard today. A perfume find from my basement boxes. My aunt gave this to me, I think late 80’s. I never opened it. 30 ml gold like canister. I’m not sure what the notes are, but I think I smell aldehydes (?), maybe violet. I feel like I smell pretty darn classy.
That is indeed a find!
That sounds lovely.
Wearing Beloved Amouage, or Amouage Beloved. It’s gorgeous and just what I need to get me through yet another day of preparing for my exams next Saturday.
You smell beautiful! Hope it helps you stay focussed!
You do smell gorgeous. Hope it helps with the studying!
Just finished baking a batch of chocolate brownie cookies and my apt. smells so delicious.. new recipe I’m trying and I think I like!
Waiting for our house guest to arrive, mr marlow, and trying to get motivated to start my studies.
Couple of sprays of Juste un rêve currently.
You smell great!
Yummy! How is Juste une Reve?
Hope you enjoy your canine visit! I would love to have a doggy visit, but not sure the kitties would be as enthusiastic.
Juste une Reve is a strong scent on me. Coconut and white florals, and quite persistent. I have to be in the mood… kindof the same with Terracotta.
Mr Marlow is a big fluff ball. His hair has gotten long and he’s sweet as pie. Wherever I sit he follows and lays right by me.. I love that.
Yum to all of it! How fun to have a doggy visit too…
Yum!
I tried layering Diptyque Eau Rose and Kilian Love and Tears today- fresh pink roses and fresh and fresh white jasmine. It works! I plan to spend the weekend avoiding the horrible heat.
That sounds like a really nice combination. Stay cool. 🙂
Mmmm.
Well it’s hot here, so time to break out the Ananas Fizz. I have officially broken up with it and it’s in my “for sale” bin, but one last booty call won’t hurt, right?
Ohhhhhh. sigh. Those booty calls are so rarely as satisfying or exciting as our memories of them, are they?! Hope it helps you say goodbye and move on. 😉
I’m starting my vacation today and have resolved to start sampling from my untouched discovery sets. First up is ELDO Dangerous Complicity.
Vacation! Woo-hoo! Sounds like a fun plan with the discovery sets.. enjoy.
I have now sampled 5 of the Francesca dell’Oro samples I got from indiescents. This is a very well-made line! If they were more easily-accessible, I think they’d get a lot of perfumista love.
Today I am re-trying “Lullaby.” On first sampling, it seemed like a very “commercial,” safe floral, with a bit of tropical fruit. But that might be just right for today. I will be outside at twin 5 y.o. boys’ birthday party. This morning, it is showing more coconut than I noticed with a single spray. Still very tropical and sweet.
“Olfactive notes: red apple, coconut, hibiscus, tiaré, osmanthus, vanilla berries, orris, oak moss, amber.”
I have also sampled “Francine,” which I won’t likely try again. It is a very green, herbal scent. There’s a moment just after the top notes fade with galbunum and mint/basil herbiness that’s pretty good, but otherwise, it feels like a bold man’s cologne to me.
“Olfactive notes: lemon, sparkling bergamot, galbanum, basil, lentisque, jasmine sambac, precious woods, musk and amber.”
Last night, I sprayed on Page 29, which I immediately found very sweet–vanilla, tonka, and other heavy-hitters. I didn’t like the initial nose-to-arm sniff very much. But I found that as I did my shopping, it was very pretty wafting from a distance. So, more testing will be in order on that one, too.
“Olfactive notes: tangerine, bergamot, citrus note, rosewood, elemi, orris, vetiver, flower bouquet, leather, labdanum ciste, tonka bean, vanilla of Madagascar, musk”
Modern Ivoire. As I went outside I wondered which of the wall-climbing plants was blooming and giving off that great fresh green scent . . . and realised it was Ivoire. Hehe.
That’s what I call sillage!
It’s the annual Day of Dread here on the Jersey Shore– the kickoff of the non-stop tourist traffic jam called summer. Today’s SOTD is Clinique Aromatics in White, which would be a perfect beach scent if only I went to the beach. From May to September we can hardly get near it, but Labor Day and afterward is totes for locals.
Yep, that was my summer on L.I. Loved it before Memorial Day and again after Labor Day. I feel your pain.
Only good thing is all the money I would make in restaurants and catering gigs that paid my way through college.
I hear you re: the profits– but oh! the drag races, fist fights, and litter! Oy… Post-Sandy, it’s been a stickier subject than usual around here. Many homes remain uninhabitable, but hey! We have a shiny new Boardwalk and a YUGE new bronze statue honoring summer tourism! Whoopdedoo! ????
Many still remain uninhabitable? Hmm.. I don’t hear much about this. I like going to Ocean Grove. Such a quaint town, beautiful homes, good food and shopping and family friendly beach.
PBS, NPR, and Frontline collaborated on an hour long special about the slow recovery which aired last week; it’s very sobering…. Ocean Grove IS beautiful. Ever been to Cape May? Heaven.
Oh! I’ll need to check out those specials. Surprised my NJ friends didn’t mention these to me.
Cape May I’ve heard so much about. I really need to get there, maybe this summer!
Heh! I saw what you did there – not spell-check / auto-correct 😉
On purpose!????
“annual Day of Dread”
I spewed tea! 😀
Get out yet sackcloth bikinis and Brain de Soleil-scented ashes!
“yer”, not “yet”
“Bain”, not “Brain”
“Brain de Soleil” is apt, even if not intended!
I’ve only been to the Jersey Shore once and it was over 20 years ago. We actually booked a trip there last year after Labor Day, but my mother became ill and we never went. From what you describe, don’t think I’ll try this summer.
If you stick to the touristy places, it *looks* shinier… Yet stray but a little… (cue “Jaws” theme)
Try to enjoy it when you can
The shore is so beautiful in the fall…
Love “YUGE”.
Hee hee!????
Up far too early to help my co-op build a roof deck in the rain. Wish I could spray on a blanket.
Haha. So sleepy I didn’t even get to the part where I reported the LL Gaiac sample I sprayed on instead of a blanket. 😉
Sounds like a nice project, I’d love to see it.
I got my first perfume rejection, and on my birthday, no less. A friend, whom I’m not that close with, told me she couldn’t give me a hug because I wear perfume. Mind you I was wearing the far dry down of LB Roma which is not really a powerhouse, and was a faint wisp of vanilla at that point in the evening. My instinct was to feel bad and apologetic, but I caught myself and said that I’m sorry she’s so sensitive. It was kind of a downer but now I feel inducted into perfumista-dom. Mostly I get no comments, and, infrequently, a compliment.
SOTD is Tauer Zeta from the generous hajusuuri. Perfect honeyed linden for this warm day while I try to straighten up before the in-laws come by to see our new apt.
Awww. That’s not nice to hear, ever! But especially on your b-day. You’re right in that she must be highly sensitive to scent, but even so…
grin & bear it for the birthday girl!
I don’t get many comments on scents I wear either and find it odd. Either I don’t wear enough for folks to smell, or I’m not wearing scents that people like, or I’m just not around people that like to praise others.
Zeta is a beautiful!
I get compliments on my perfume all the time.
Jeez! To tell you you’re actually unhuggable due to your perfume? Pretty judgmental and cruel besides. ????
Yeah, and I’m not sure it’s even an allergy thing. I would have more understanding for that. It seems like it’s more of a disgust thing. I’m not sure how people who are that sensitive live and function in a city that is wall-to-wall people and full of smells of all kinds.
They try to make other people as miserable as themselves with passive/aggressive BS.
Don’t let them! !!
🙂
I think you have this one pegged. People who consistently make others unhappy are a waste of time and energy.
Actually…I completely understand it, despite loving perfumes. Some scents give me headaches basically instantly and other ones make me want to throw up. Yes, cities are full of awful odors, too, but just because walking through a city makes me hold my breath doesn’t mean I would voluntarily hug someone covered in an odor I can’t stand. Having been on both sides of this perfume debate, I pretty strongly stand with the party in pain. I’ve never tried LB Roma, though.
Zeta is gorgeous and I would be happy to give you a hug.
Thanks jirish! The feeling is mutual.
Happy Birthday to someone who brings scented joy to the world!
Thanks Pixel!
You know what? I’m such a horrible person that I would have said, “Oh, how awful to be you! No perfume? How dreary your poor life must be! Hope you have better luck next time round!” I’m glad you can frame the comment and attitude as a coming-of-full-age down the perfume rabbit hole, but still….happy birthday, by the way. I’d have hugged you!
Weeell, that’s what I would have liked to have said. But it IS dreary to have an unscented world. The odd thing is that I’ve known her for quite a while and she never seemed to notice, but it’s only recently that it came up that it was a hobby of mine. So I’m not even sure she could smell anything. It was like it was more about the idea that I like it and wear it.
“better luck next time around….” 🙂
I think we should all give Elisa P a giant group hug on the count of three! 1…2…3…HUG!!!!!!!
Awww. Received 🙂 Thanks ♡
Happy birthday! Geez, I would have told her she could have held her breath instead of making it all about her. But I’m just that kind of nasty.
You’re not nasty because that’s what you would have done:hold your breath for 3 seconds! But my father-in-law not affectionately called my Sphynx cat a slimy animal today, when she jumped on his lap and he wanted her off. So that trumps my friend’s comment right now. People.
Rock On Poodle!
Happy Birthday to the more gracious half of the interaction.
Actually, this happened Thursday(my bday)night when I went out to dinner with friends. Thanks for your vote of confidence!
Who needs friends if you have perfume?
Perfume doesn’t disappoint 😉
And I need a Twisted Lily report!
Yup, see way below…finally got around to it!
Happy birthday!
It’s funny, Zeta is the only perfume I’ve received a negative comment on. I was testing it out a year or so ago (I think it’s a great linden blossom) when my manager came into my office an asked if I smelled “kitty pee?”
I’ve had plenty of people not care for my perfumes, but it’s usually on a matter of taste, not because they smell something bad or off. Sad to say, I haven’t worn it since!
Huh. I maybe would say “cleaning product” maybe with Zeta, especially in the first 5 minutes. But I certainly don’t get cat pee. Some green fig perfumes smell like cat pee to me.
Me too with getting “cleanser” out of Zeta (along with a number of other linden scents).
You know, oddly, peach yogurt always smells a little like cat pee to me. I eat it anyway.
Virtual birthday hug sent your way. Hope it was wonderful.
I think you should wear Sables next time you see her. It does sound like disapproval more than anything else.
Sables is too good and sophisticated that it’d be a waste. I’ll wear a few healthy sprays of Insolence 😉 Hope your leg is feeling better.
Hah! I’d like to really try Insolence. I never have. Leg is about the same. A bit less swollen. Still pretty immobile other than careful hopping to bathroom. Long chat with a friend in CA today, though, which was great. Thanks for asking…
I actually really like Insolence(the edp, not the edt). If you like Apres l’Ondee or L’Heure Bleue, you might like it. I can send you some if you like. Or bring you some next meet-up.
Have you tried a heating pad or massage? I do both for my hip and it helps a lot.
Happy birthday! I would totally give you a birthday hug in your Zeta — never enough linden in the world!
Thanks Isabella! I really like Zeta(RIP 🙁 )and am happy to have a decant of this one.
Happy Birthday Elisa P !
To quote Seinfeld, “People- they’re the worst !”
LOL
There was an article in the New York Times recently about how, “Sometimes a seemingly trivial comment will lodge in our brain and start to fester, ultimately exhibiting a shelf life equal to that of pemmican or granite.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/fashion/comments-manners-insults.html?_r=0
I imagine this person was wrapped up in herself, oblivious to the effect of her comment on you, and wouldn’t remember having said it even 30 minutes later.
It might be worth thinking of the most charitable explanation possible for her comment – such as she is feeling uncomfortable about herself these days and her anxiety makes her push back against others – and then silently wish her well in getting through whatever her difficult spot is.
I do like a spritz of Roma every now and then!
Wearing Ninfeo Mio on my wrists and Santal Carmin on my chest, which actually don’t go too badly together. It wasn’t planned but I decanted the Santal from a damaged bottle and wanted to test the new spray.
First day of half term and a long weekend off work, which is a relief. I’m watching the tennis at Roland Garros (or replays since it’s raining) and the children are building a den in the garden.
I think fig and sandalwood are a nice pairing.
Has anyone tried Le Mat by Mendittorosa? Luca Turin gave it such a glowing review lately that I’m curious. I think Oxford St Selfridges may have it though they’re out of stock on the website.
I read that same review, and he has similar positive things to say about the rest of the line, kind of a JCE feel.
Samples (through their website) are a little too pricy for me to investigate blindly. Like yourself, would love to know if anyone has any familiarity?
A clever perfume shop would keep an eagle eye on LT’s iloveperfumes and start offering perfume sample sets.
FYI, the Perfumed Court has Pekji and IndieScents has samples of nu_be.
I am wearing BV Knot and waiting for my step-granddaughter to get here from North Carolina – only 5 months old, but we haven’t seen her yet. Can hardly wait!
I have been reading The Crimson Petal and The White. I know several have commented on it here in the past. I am finding it quite enjoyable.
Have a great weekend everyone!
That’s exciting! Enjoy your new grandbaby!
Oh, how special! 5 months old.. so dear.
That sounds wonderful. How exciting.
How sweet is that? Enjoy your time with her!
Enjoy the babe!
I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend. I’m going back out with my realtor to look at places in a little while. Wish me luck. I’m wearing Rossy de Palma.
Good luck, sweetgrass!
Oh, good luck! I loved house-hunting, but I know it can be stressful. And you smell fabulous, so that should bring you some luck.
Good luck!
Happy house hunting.
Good luck to you! Hope you find what you’re looking for.
Good luck! And Rossy is great.
Thanks! Today was good. I saw 6 places and liked 3, though one in particular stood out to me, and if I can get answers to a couple of questions.. I might be making an offer. Now I’m just hoping somebody else doesn’t get it before I do.
Very good luck to you!
Productive day! Sounds a bit nerve racking, but hope it works out in your favor.
Hope it works out!
So, anything to report? Any prospects? (And does the market give you time to actually consider your purchase or will you need to jump on it?) *fingers crossed* for you!
ACK! I’m such a nerd. I now see your response above me. This is what I get for commenting before coffee.
Very exciting to be considering an offer! Yay!
Thanks! I think I have at least a little time to consider. Our market has cooled off a bit, so it’s not like it was a couple of years ago where properties could go almost immediately.
Also, I think everyone here would appreciate that the townhouse I’m considering offering on has a built-in perfume closet. Okay the listing says it’s a closet that was converted to a “dry bar” but whatever. I know it’s really a perfume closet. 😀
You are very wise to recognize the true nature of that space. 🙂
No perfume yet as I have a client coming for energy work right after lunch…
But I thought you all might find this interesting: I was in an antique store the other day and paged through a 1941 copy of Brides’ Magazine. Saw two perfume ads for scents I had never heard of (and I mainly wear vintage) – Menace by Hartnell and Something Blue by Gourielli. Anyone here ever smelled either of them?
Happy and safe weekend to all!
How interesting! I just saw a listing for “Enchanting Menace” perfume on eBay yesterday and it gave me a chuckle. I looked it up, and Menace seems to have been renamed by Evyan who bought out Hartnell. The ad copy for it include the phrase “deliberate witchery” which is definitely better than most of what we get 70 years later.
http://evyanperfumes.blogspot.com/p/perfume-list.html
What an interesting list of names. Tiny waist? Wonder what that smells like.
Thanks for the link!
Yeah, interesting choice of words…..
Enchanting Menace appears on ebay from time to time. They don’t make ’em like they used to, do they? 😉
You know my feelings on that! 🙂
Layering some llocitane scents
Working Memorial Day-
I ordered a sample of Bergamoss and Palmipset from Aftelier, not familiar with this line at all. Any suggestions
I’m just starting to get familiar myself. A generous swapper gave me a number of freebies from the line, and I would like to get more vanille smoke, especially the perfume strength. Bergamoss didn’t work for me, just didn’t care for the scent. And you already know about my love for the chocolate saffron body oil 😉
Palimpsest I’d like to try as well.
I love the name Palimpsest, but as much as I appreciated the thought that went into it–I found it boring to wear.
But my favorite scent from her line holds no surprises –Wild Roses. A bit head-shoppy, but I really like it.
I think all her body oils are great… I need to order one soon me thinks…
I wish I knew about her when I lived in SF
Yes.. I need to sample some body oils
If you like incense, Ancient Resins is lovely, and not expensive as Aftelier’s go. I struggle with her ambergris so most of her scents are a no-go on me; but I enjoyed Lumiere and Oud Luban.
Thanks for the suggestions
Second the Ancient Resins! This is great stuff, I put a little on my hair and shoulders at bed time. It smells great, and after a few weeks of this, the skin on my shoulders is notably soft and smooth. I’ve started putting it on my hands as well.
Also like Lumiere, and Honey Blossom, a greensish Linden. Bergamoss smells good but doesn’t last an hour on my skin. 🙁
Cuir de Gardenia Parfum
Vanilla Smoke Parfum
Didn’t like
Secret Garden
Palimpsest
Was allergic to something in the Parfum Privee (the most expensive per mL) I got a rash on the exact section of skin where the rollerball touchex.
Good to know, thanks for the suggestions
Does the perfume version make a big difference in staying power?
when I tried Vanilla Smoke EDT (or I think it was the EDP), it smelled like band-aid. The parfum was a different story altogether – a powdery vanilla. I am debating which packaging to purchase.
Honey Blossom and Cepes and Tuberose are favorites of mine from Aftelier. In my single days, I used to joke (sort of) that I’ve wound up with a new dark secret every time I’ve worn Cepes and Tuberose out for the evening. 😉
Both are on my must try list!
A busy weekend clearing out a room ready for painting next week. We emptied 2 big bookcases that need to be moved and took the opportunity to bring a pile of them to a charity shop.
Started the day before showering in the last drops of a decant of Serge Lutens “Jeux de Peaux”, which was very pleasant. It doesn’t last, but that is fine for something I am only wearing pre-shower. Afterwards the main SOTD was Keiko Mecheri’s “Ume”, from a FB I bough on holiday in Toulouse (thanks to Koyel for the shop recommendations). I love how the opening plum scent turns into something more like a sweet/sour green apple on me. I don’t love the mediocre lasting power, but that will give me the chance to try something else this evening. :^)
For scent of the evening, I fancied something with incense but that would suit the fine sunny end of the day. Cloon Keen Atelier’s “Sybarite” fits the bill. Off now to enjoy a curry! :^)
I can beat you on the shelf count — I emptied 4 tall bookcases, and spent most of yesterday painting! Today will be more of the same. Back is getting achy 🙂
Hope your redecorating goes well!
Are you back in England, or still in Paris?
Happy weekend all! I’m in the Rolling Thunder corridor in the DC area and it’s quite a sight!
I’m kinda sorta testing Diptyque’s Eau des Sens from an eensie decant. Initially when I spritzed it, I got a slightly soapy blast which somehow simultaneously anesthetized my nose, made me suddenly anosmic and then made me perform the allergic salute. I have never gotten soap from orange blossom like many do, so this was a first. Now it’s all settled and I’m getting a pretty but faint all-round orange which I think would work well blasted on straight out of the fridge on hot summer days. Although honestly, considering my initial reaction I’m probably not too reliable as to how it smells. 😉
Speaking of which, I’ve been testing Romanza and am close to buying a bottle. HOWEVER, yesterday after spritzing I was cruising around outside in 90 degree weather in the hopes of sweating like a pig to see if I could finally detect the supposedly heavy animalic notes. Up close, no. But at some point, I got a distinct barnyard whiff which I’m not sure was Romanza or the fresh layer of mulch which the landscapers dumped everywhere a week ago. I have had this experience with animalics before – I detect them slightly sniffing off of skin, but later on I catch them much more distinctly wafting around me. Any thoughts as to whether this could be like a musk anosmia?
This is making me not want to try Romanza…
I recommend getting a second opinion or two.
Am I the only one who likes the smell of mulch?
I think I may have to try Romanza.
It’s been incredibly humid since this morning so I thought NVC Bombay Bling will be a perfect scent to guide me through the day.
Happy weekend to all
Ooh, I like that turquoise-colored BBQ!
I’m in Dame Perfumery Cassis, Rose & Sandalwood today. Perfect for a relaxed Saturday.
If I could visit any perfume store this weekend? Let’s go big: I’d like to go to the Maison Guerlain.
Wherever you are, have a lovely Memorial Day and/or weekend everyone!
CR&S is a really cheerful scent!
It is! I’m really happy with it because I generally can’t take fruity scents, but it’s just tart and floral enough to work for me.
I walked past that store on the Champs Elysées the other night. It was after a crazy day at work and I just wanted to see more of Paris than the office, the metro and the apartment, so went for a stroll. Too late to get in of course.
I also read in the Air France magazine about a new-ish Parisian perfumery called ‘The Harmonist’, where the schtick is that Feng Shui principles are used to diagnose the right perfume for you, from a set of blends representing the 5 elements and the yin/ yang opposites. Sound a bit hokey, but also could be fun if only the prices were less aspirational. They have opened a branch in LA if my Googling skills don’t deceive me. ;^)
Goodness that gave me a laugh. If only life’s little luxuries were about what we need, rather than what we want…
Technically, I’ve been past the boutique once like 20 years ago. But I was in a tour bus and couldn’t have gotten out, even if I’d wanted to. …If you end up visiting any interesting perfume stores, fill us in!
I saw something about The Harmonist on Fragrantica. I agree: it sounds like fun, if not for the aspirational pricing.
I love that BBQ, too! It’s one of “my” blues–I’m drawn to objects that are powder blue or that retro turquoise blue, and I can easily plop down some cash for a appropriately-colored butter dish or whatever. I have a rotary phone (I’ve *nearly* got working), a Electrolux fan from the 60’s (I’d guess), etc, etc. It’s as close as I get to having a sense of style and home decor. 😉
I love aqua/turquoise. It’s such a great color because it has the calming effect of all blues, but it’s also a happy color because of the yellow tinge. I bet I’d go gaga over your rotary phone!
Trying out SSS Rose Musc today, which is slightly more restrained than Rose Volupté, I think? I’m not sure I’m getting the musks yet, or if I ever will.
Are you anosmic to musks? Maybe it’s just really soft musk? The SSS rose scents are definitely on my to-try list.
No, they showed up! Just not at the start – or, if they were there, the rose was blocking them out. I enjoyed Rose Volupté more, I think, but this one certainly has its charms. And it’s got quite a lifespan, too!
Well, that’s good that they showed up for you! It seems they’re supposed to be sort of soft: Laurie describes the scent as “still almost a soliflore.” Yep, I definitely need to sniff both of those.
SOTD: Vintage Diva!!
I officially lost my Evilbay virginity to this lovely bottle. The pics matched my late 80’s bottle, so I held my breath, and jumped. It’s the real deal, and an unopened bottle, too. I am one happy girl! ????
LOL, you sound like a happy camper. Congrats on your find!
Thank you! If you’re an old school Diva fan, I’d be happy to send you some. It’s good ????
Fabulous!
It truly is!
The ‘bay can be scary! I haven’t yet had the nerve to do anything but “buy it now” for perfume, but I did win my very first auction on a handbag recently and was very proud of myself. Congratulations on your first venture – was it an actual winning-the-bids thing or the (slightly) tamer buy it now approach?
Buy it now. I was deep in the Diva listings. So I think it was overlooked. But I recognized the older bottle right away. If you want a little, let me know. ????
Still suffering from a head cold, so brought out the big guns – Tauer Incense Rose – to cut through the fog. Dreading my 12 hour shift tomorrow, followed by an 8 hour shift on Monday.
Hope you get through those shifts ok – sounds exhausting.
I hope you feel better! I think you deserve a sick day.
Testing my Hermes scents which arrived yesterday. I do appreciate the small sizes.
Scent of the moment is Eau d’Orange Verte, which is as advertised. Yesterday’s was Eau de Narcisse Bleue, which my nose read as iris not narcissus. Anyone else have that experience with it?
Happy for a long weekend! Tomorrow morning will be manic — it’s my husband’s volunteer fire department annual pancake breakfast, and as usual I’ve got kitchen duty. Looks like we’ll have good weather, that should mean a big turnout.
Good luck with the breakfast – sounds yummy.
I definitely don’t get narcissus from Narcisse Bleue, but I’m not sure exactly *what* I get — it’s a lovely, light and fresh citrus/floral on me, and “fresh” in the dewy spring morning sense of the word, and not in the dryer sheet sense. 🙂
I agree on getting iris and not narcissus in Narcisse Bleu! I’m glad you said that. It’s nice, but not my thing.
Happy Saturday Everyone! Weather seems to be better today in Houston. I hope we stay rain-free for a while so it will give the water an opportunity to recede. I wanted something nice and clean today so I went with Chloe. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!
I’m at work and it’s horrible, but I smell fab in 3 (!) generous spritzes of Corsica Furiousa. If only I could disappear into my scent trail and live happily ever after….but I did get a lunch today, so that’s a plus!
Hope all in the US are having fun times (or not so fun as the case may be!) with family today. I KNOW everyone else is enjoying a SUPERB weekend. I am living vicariously through you ????
Poor baby. We’ll have extra fun…for you.
You do smell fab! And if it’s any consolation, I am doing home improvement stuff and not having a superb weekend either.
One down, two to go. Hope work is gentle to you this weekend and that you’re enjoying your CF. My husband has to work the holiday. In fact he’s worked every holiday except New Years, his last choice. Kind of sucks. They’re not very democratic where he works.
You smell like greeny green heaven! Sorry about work, though.
Trying out vintage Jolie Madame today. I like the opening but it needs another wearing before I decide if I like it or not.
That’s okay Dawn. I love it enough for both of us! Yum.
My condolences to anyone working this weekend…
I’m sampling Auphorie Miyako this morning. It sprayed on oily, because they advertise that it’s ethanol-free. The top notes of peach, osmanthus, and freesia are clear up close but from further away my first thought was “musty closet with some mildew somewhere.” It’s not a scrubber, but not my taste. However, I will say that I got 2 generous-sized spray samples for $13, shipping included, and that an entire bottle of this award-winning scent is only $99. (They raised their prices recently, it used to be $75).
What?! You *don’t* want to smell like a musty closet and mildew???? Clearly, you’ve got bring that one over for a swap! 😀
I’m still in bed, because I’m bone idle and also, Dakkie is on my feet, and he’s so warm and soft and sweet I don’t want to give up the moment. He brought me his blue knitted mouse –Seraphina– but he didn’t seem to want to play fetch, so here we are. I put on some Baiser Vole extract when I got up to make tea before, so I have warm feet AND I smell nice. Oh, and it’s a particularly nice pot of tea. Bliss on a cold Sunday morning!
Sounds lovely lovely!!! Enjoy your tea
Cold and wet Sunday morning here. I haven’t chosen a perfume yet, but I’m impressed to find I can still smell last night’s Miel de Bois, I don’t have many things that last the night.
I’m trying to get up the energy to go in to work for a while. Tomorrow will be less of a nightmare if I get some things done today, but right now it’s proving very hard to get motivated.
Perhaps you should enjoy today and let the nightmare tomorrow be what it will be. Bigger, smaller, a nightmare is a nightmare, andvit seems a pity to visit tomorrow on today. Mind you, I’m about to heave Dakkie off my feet and settle into writing a lecture, so I’m not really in a strong position to offer this sage advice!
I sampled Imaginary Authors A City on Fire earlier today, gifted to me by an extremely kind NSTer (you know who you are). 🙂 Wow, interesting scent. VERY smoky, but not tree-burning smoke or cigar/cigarette smoke – kind of like the smokiness that lapsang souchong has sometimes, but with a slight minerality, like metal or rock burning (but not quite). Rather masculine and very linear all the way until I showered it off and switched to Wood Sage and Sea Salt (so as not to gas out the bodywork practitioner I’ll be seeing in a bit).
Yeah, I found that one to be pretty literal. Have you tried the Bull’s Blood, yet?
Not yet, aside from sniffing the sprayer. Read the notes for it and kind of chickened out. 🙂 But should try it today while the weather is still cool-ish – supposed to be warmer tomorrow, and then in the 90s Tuesday. Egad.
I’m not sure I was *ever* brave enough to put that one on skin. I think I only sniffed the blotter.
And yes, we will all need to be thoughtful of our fragrance choices this week! It sounds like someone is turning the dial to “summer” Tuesday!
I got up my nerve and sprayed a single spritz in the crook of my elbow, and then went outside to dig in the dirt. Very odd scent – sort of body odor-y, a bit metallic, and rather fungus-y. Not really like mushroom, exactly … or, actually, exactly like mushrooms, but the kind that are growing somewhere you don’t want them. The scent is compelling in a way, but not really pleasant, or unpleasant either. After a couple of hours doing battle with our wealth of weeds, I showered and switched to Escale a Portofino. Ahhhh.
Sounds like an interesting olfactory experience, at least! Not many scents provide that, so I’d say that’s a win! (And you really have more courage than I do.)
I’ve already managed to wear Une Rose, Le Labo Tubereuse 40 and Sarrasins today. Bloom!
Well, I’m about out of Tubereuse 40, might as well enjoy the last sprits before it evaporates. Will sure miss it.
Hope you all have a good weekend!
Does anyone know what’s going on with Adjatay by the Different company? I wanted to try this new launch, and it was listed as ‘coming soon’ on luckyscent, but then any mention of it just dissapeared. Anybody knows where I could get a sample?
Breakfast = oatmeal + brown sugar + cinnamon swirl bread + vanilla icing.
Ugh, already too much sweetness today.
Lunch = a few salty almonds + a tart kiwi fruit
SotdD = Eau des Merveilles, my favorite not-sweet scent
Happy weekend, everyone.
Get some protein, stat! 🙂
Ha! You were right about the protein. My dinner was chicken and chickpeas with fresh basil and marinara.
We have a tradition with some friends to get together for dinner and every family cooks one course. So I’ve spent the first half of the day baking three cakes: lavender-almond-orange; hazelnut-rhubarb-sour cream and chocolate-caramel-cream cheese (plus cherry coulis with kirsch, salted caramel and date sauce and sour ceam and vanilla sauce, in case the cakes seem too understated otherwise!). And then I spent the second half of the day eating the cakes and what other people had prepared.
Kind of paniced in the scent department, as I was late, and randomly sprayed Mimosa & Cardamom. But it’s always a good choice when there’s lots of food and many people and you don’t want your perfume to dominate the room.
Annikky, how mouth-watering that all sounds! Utterly yummy! I never know what to admire more: your clothes and style, or your cooking! It sounds as though, even by your high standards, you excelled yourself this time. It makes my effort in making chocolate chippies look very humble in comparison.
You are very kind! Of course, you have no way to check what I’m telling you, the cakes may have tasted terrible…
Anyway, if you google ‘Diana Henry lavender almond cake’, you should find her recipe in the Telegraph. I maintain that it’s a perfect cake for perfumistas. I skip the candied peel, etc on top, but add orange blossom water to the frosting. And today I used pale pink rose petals from the garden to decorate and it looked so lovely.
Oh, how I miss cake! Those sound just fantastic (especially the hazelnut/rhubarb) :^)
If you are really interested, the rhubarb cake recipe is up on my blog (I hope Robin doesn’t mind me saying that) – just search ‘rhubarb’. The blog version is with almond flour, but just use the same amount of hazlenut flour instead, if you prefer – it gives a more intense, deeper, nuttier flavour.
Wow, Annikky! All of those cakes sound delicious. Your friends are very lucky!
They are all good cooks – we also had some excellent scallops and Indian lamb curry.
I didn’t use to bake much before Brussels, I found it too prescriptive, but I’ve grown to enjoy it and there are a couple of things that I can do pretty well. But I’m technically hopeless (also when it comes to cooking) and usually need a recipe to make things work.
You know, I was thinking, “I bet they’re *all* great cooks!” Still, I maintain they’re lucky. ???? …No, baking isn’t as conducive to freestyling as other areas of cooking, is it?
I will now be thinking of the scallops, curry, and your cakes as I sit here watching my college softball team on TV–while drinking a Bud Light Lime-A-Rita from a can. ????
I was going to buy an 8-Pack of the Bud Light Lime-a-Rita last weekend for a graduation party bit chickened out at the last minute the nking I would be the only one drinking it. I also wanted to check out the “nutrition” label but there was no label (not surprised since alcohols seem to ha e gotten a pass from the FDA.
Anyway. Is the Strawberry one good? There was a 12-pack variety pack with Stawberry, Lime and a thrid one I don’t recall — Mango maybe?
This sounds like a perfectly nice evening to me. I’m an obsessive sports watcher (less these days, but still) and although I almost never drink beer, if I do, I go either for something that monks make in secret in obscure parts of Europe or… flavoured.
Forgot scent today. Now wearing just a spritz of Bel Ami, after having walked into the hotel room bathroom and seeing smoke curling from one of the cfl light bulbs that had burnt out. Smells like warm bakelite.
We are also looking for a house, in the Charlotte area. Headed back there Tuesday. Rain is forecast here Sunday & Monday, so we’re checking out an Irish pub tomorrow for lunch. Have a great weekend all.
So very rainy today, it gave me a good excuse to have a completely lazy in-the-house Saturday. Made some manicotti and am testing Kiste. Spilled too much out of the sample vial and this is strong stuff so was a bit overwhelmed at first but it is nice. Lots of honeyed fruit and a pretty tobacco.
Kiste sounds lovely – it has been on my to-try list for a while now.
For some reason, kiste smells like phenol to me. It is, probably, what to other people reads as boozy peach; to me, it only reminds incidents I had with spilling phenol on my hands. Instantly toxic, white dead skin and other such pleasant things
Wore what might be called a copious amount of Muguet Porcelaine to what might be called a boring family dinner.
What a great salve perfume is for many of life’s situations.
Agreed!
Ditto yesterday ????
Have a great Sunday!
Sigh. All this talk of housework is making me a bit jealous! Not much time for puttering around the house for me this weekend! Maybe in June.
Today is Mr. Spicebomb’s birthday (he’s a youngin’ at only 36, while I’m a far-more-mature 2.5 years older than him). I promised him a cheesecake, and I intend on delivering! But I woke up with a headache, and so far the magic of coffee isn’t making it go away.
Yesterday, we spent all day with friends celebrating the birthday of some five year-old twin boys. Fun, but it takes 2 hours to drive down there, and introvert me was *done* socializing a couple hours before we actually left, and then there was the drive home. . . I think this is why I have a headache. Today will have the family birthday lunch for Mr. Spicebomb, so there is more socializing to be done. I think I need my 3-day weekend to be a 4-day weekend so I can rest! 🙂
I think whenever I get around to cleaning myself up this morning, I will follow the lead of others above and wear Zeta. It is a perfect warm-weather scent!
Happy Birthday to Mr. Spicebomb! My in-laws were here for all of three hours yesterday and I had to take a nap when they left. Yay Zeta!
One of the guests yesterday fell asleep on the sofa. I was pretty impressed/jealous that he could do it!
Oh yum, cheesecake.
I will sadly only get a bite or two. I’ve become terribly lactose intolerant in the last few years, and it does not like me back. I am trying a new recipe for “greek yogurt ‘cheesecake'” with no cheese so that I can have a slice of something beside him. Hopefully it won’t be too sour and will feel sorta like dessert. 🙂
A story about the 2.5yr age difference: When my mother met my stepfather (who is 2.5 years younger than she), she knew he was a “keeper” when he suggested taking their respective kids bowling … on their SECOND date. We were on another such outing and my mom and I were taking a break, sitting in that little cafe that all bowling alleys seem to have, and she was fiddling with a small newspaper clipping. I asked her what it was, and she rolled her eyes and handed it to me. It was a filler piece (for you youngsters out there, that was a way of filling out a page when the articles didn’t fill the available space) that said studies have shown marriages are more successful when the husband is 2 to 3 years younger than the wife. I said, “He wants to get married, doesn’t he?” She kind of hung her head and muttered yes. That was April of 1968 – they had met in February, and were married on Memorial Day weekend that year. Almost 50 years later and they still behave like newlyweds.
So there you go, Marjorie – the statistics are in your favor. 🙂
I find that oddly reassuring! 😀
And how wonderful for your parents! We should all be so fortunate.
That’s a great story!
Oh my gosh! That’s wonderful to hear. Thanks for sharing.
I hear you so much on the extended socializing. Just did three days with friends with a baby. I love the friends and the baby was really well-behaved, and I still feel like I ran a marathon. Hang in there–I will wish for a very quiet evening and day tomorrow for you to recover!
Thanks, CH! I was told by a guest at the party yesterday that she didn’t think I was *actually* an introvert. So I guess I mask my needs well. 🙂
Hope you get some well-deserved rest, too!
Oh too funny, I just had a conversation in which someone said smthg very similar to me–I replied, “Yes, there’s a word for that. The word is ‘overcompensating’!” 😉
Look what I found, the Broadway Character Study series on YouTube, where you can watch as actors transform into their characters with makeup, wigs, etc. Here’s Tony Sheldon getting ready to play Bernadette in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpIaFH7f0Gs
Yesterday I tested nu_be Carbon, which I liked. I guess I’d describe it as sort of a gourmand with a savory twist. It doesn’t sound like something I would like, but I do. Very nice.
IndieScents offers samples.
Hi Nozknoz! You might like these, too. Actors performing ‘solos’ from Shakespeare. Some of them are very good.
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/series/shakespeare-solos
Wearing Plum today, which I know you like. Squelchy Monday here and all the sparrows are lined up along the corrugations on my neighbour’s iron roof, waiting for me to put out bread.
Hi Kanuka! What a find! Just the right dose of Shakespeare for me, too. 🙂 Plum is such a versatile scent. Still Sunday here and a rainy evening, which is a relief after a hot, muggy spell.
Didn’t Tony Sheldon look good – especially before he put on the wig. People are so talented.
Yes, it really made me wish he’d done films so that I could see him in something!
I’ve been sampling a few new-to-me things from a generous NSTer and I’m really loving Ann Gerard Rose Cut. So much so that I just ordered the Ann Gerard discovery set which is a pretty good deal if you order it from the website. I can’t believe I’ve never tried this one before with my affection for roses. I’m also excited to try the others from the line, particularly Perle de Mousse.
Will look forward to hearing how you like them! I found Rose Cut beautiful but not quite me, so I’m curious whether the others have a similar feel or if they are different enough that they might work out better for me.
Back from a day trip to Brighton, and it was a beautiful day to be at the seaside. I did have a chance to pop into a TK Maxx, and yes, there were Penhaligons and APs aplenty and even a Miller Harris. I ended up with a £17 pound bottle of Ivoire EdP, ending my perfume-buying drought for the quarter if not the year.
Just. So. Envious.
The one I went to in downtown DC had the most abysmal perfume selection. Flankers you’ve never heard of to things that you never had the slightest interest in. I did a great selection of useful gym clothes cheap, though.
Yes! Have also had good gym clothes luck. Actually now feeling somewhat aghast at what full retail turns out to be for those things, as I’m finally needing to replace some high-quality gear sourced from Marshall’s/TJ Maxx years ago. Should hit the racks again.
Out of town but had a few extra minutes and stopped into a TJ Maxx which had a “large sample” of Adam Levine for Women for $8, so I couldn’t resist 🙂 It smells great, and as I recall someone pointing out, the drydown is actually even nicer than the top notes. Only one concern which is that as I got in bed to go to sleep–with my wrists closer to my face–I started wheezing a bit. Could just be the dry air here but to err on the side of caution I went and washed it off thoroughly. I haven’t really encountered this before–what are people’s strategies about maybe-allergic reactions to a new fragrance? Is it a one-strike-and-you’re-out kind of thing? I’d be sorry to abandon the fragrance when I’m not even sure I was really allergic…but on the other hand maybe it’s dumb to risk it. I mean I have no shortage of perfumes that I can def wear without any difficulty breathing!
Perfume allergy symptoms for me so far have all taken the form of contact dermatitis – I will usually give them one second chance to see if the reaction was an anomaly. If it happens again, off that scent goes into purgatory. Only exception was OJ Orris Noir – I gave that several chances because I love it SO much, but no dice. Not sure what I would do if symptoms were respiratory … maybe try the scent under different circumstances? Upright versus lying down, in a room with greater air circulation, like that?
Yes the scent did okay when I was in a larger space, walking around, etc…and I did like how it smelled so I’m tempted to give it another go… Just can’t tell if I’m being foolhardy!
One strike you’re out is my vote. For me, skin contact allergy is pretty straightforward.
That does seem sensible. It would be very silly to create a medical emergency for myself over perfume!
Be careful if you suspect you are sensitive to a fragrance. Perhaps spritz it on paper and sniff from across a room to see how you react. Don’t waste time on one that doesn’t work.
I have an uncommon sensitivity/allergy to sulphur, sulphates and sulphites in food. If I eat something with a sulphurous compound (calcium sulphate in bread, sulphur dioxide in dried fruit, and so on), I get a very particular migraine-type headache. Luckily naproxen sodium will knock the edge off the pain. Because of the very specific symptoms of that headache, I can always tell when I’ve ingested something that has too much sulphur for me.
Recently I tried a new perfume, and within an hour I had my sulphur headache. I hoped it was caused by something I ate, but I couldn’t find a food or drink to blame. A few weeks later I tried the fragrance again, and the same headache symptoms recurred. That scent is now in my perfume purgatory.
There are many sulphurous compounds used in fragrances, so this particular perfume must have an abundance of them, or it uses something I am especially sensitive to. This has never happened to me before with fragrance. I feel a new sympathy for people who have headaches or respiratory problems caused by fragrance. Let’s be careful out there, people! 🙂
Oh sorry to hear about this scent disagreeing with you–which one was it, may I ask?
And meanwhile yes I also have a lot of sympathy for people who have bad reactions to perfume. Much as I (obviously) love fragrance, I can’t say I think I ought to be allowed to make someone else feel ill just so I can enjoy my totally elective hobby!
My headache inducer was Annick Goutal Rose Absolue. I was surprised as I’ve never had a headache reaction with a fragrance, and I’ve tried Annick Goutal fragrances and other rose scents without any difficulty in the past.
Ohhh noooo that’s so sad!!! I sniffed that one recently and fell completely in love with it! I’ve yet to react that way to a perfume; I hope I don’t have a negative reaction to any that I fall in love with first!
If I’m sensitive to something it will usually bother my eyes or occasionally make my throat feel scratchy and those scents will end up in the go away box. No second chances because I don’t enjoy being irritated. Since this usually happens during the top notes, I’ll just wash it off as best I can
Oh interesting, yes I suppose as I think about it, up ’til now I’ve always had problems with the top notes too–or at least, I didn’t get past the top notes because I scrubbed as soon as I started feeling sick. Usually that’s sinus-y or yes it will bother my eyes. This is the first one I’ve had a respiratory response to, and it’s odd that it didn’t come up for a few hours… but as I say, I’m not 100% sure it was the perfume and not just that my throat’s a bit dry. Hm.
I quite often get wheezy when I have over applied a scent, especially if it has a strong jasmine, gardenia or musk note. Pohadka makes me a bit uncomfortable but I love it, so spray my clothes rather than me. Usually, applying less and not spraying around my neck helps as does refraining from actively breathing in the scent (by holding it up to my nose). Fortunately, the perfume selection is so dire here that it is unlikely I will ever pass out on the department store floor. Still, if it makes me breathless or my chest feel tight, it’s out.
Oh maybe spraying (lightly) on clothing would be a good way to retest–that way if anything goes awry, I can take it off immediately. But yes, it’s the respiratory symptoms that make me nervous… but I’m encouraged to hear that feeling a little wheezy has not necessarily be a precursor to very serious reaction for you!
Mornin’. That was a grudging grunt. I’m desperately tired and I’m GRUMPY! Can you believe this–a student rang me at 1.30 this morning, tearful, panic-stricken, threatening, desperate! I get it that doctorates assume Everest-like proportions in people’s minds, and I get it that writer’s block would be devastating, but 1.30 a.m.? Honestly, I wouldn’t ring someone after 8.30 unless I noticed their house was on fire. So what perfume will carry me through today, NST? I don’t have a clue. Maybe something with clear notes, like Cristalle or DKNY Woman. I quite like that vodka-tomato-leaf-bitter-citrus thing it does, and it would be anti-soporific, I think. Grumbling off to the shower now, then I shall stump off to work. And woe will betide anyone who takes the lift to travel just one floor down today, because There Is An Escalator for short trips….
Actually, I chose 19, ‘cos we have had good history, and as I sprayed, I announced very firmly that if she plays up today, I will Give Her Away, so there! There are 11 emails from the student in my Inbox, not one of them an apology. Now having a double grump, with bonus points and a free gift.
Oh dear–that’s really very worrying. Please take care, that sounds like a person who may need more help than a supervisor can give. (Actually, I realize I don’t know what your specialty is but presumably even if you’re in psychology, I can’t imagine one is allowed to treat the same students one is supervising for a doctorate!)
She’s coming in today–I insisted. Here’s the thing: if her new work is as bad as she’s claiming it is, I’ll recommend that she downgrade to an MPhil–still a higher degree, but more encompassable. If her work is as good as I suspect it is, I will kill her thrice, give her a right royal bollocking, reassure her that everyone goes through this at least once (though no one has ever rung me at 1.30 a.m. before), cure her writer’s block, and get her to check in with me daily for the next few weeks until she’s climbed this mountain of difficulty.
Wow, you are a true hero. I’ve never had a professor show anything like that level of investment in my work. (Ha, maybe I just didn’t know I needed to call them when I’m sobbing about it at 1:30 in the morning?! 😉 )
Hoping she appreciates how very lucky she is to have you directing her education!!
And, just to follow through, the new work is just fine. Excellent, actually, though the writing is uncharacteristically pedestrian. The student is exhausted (v. sick three y-o), lonely (happens with a D, when the only other person fully engaged with it is a distracted supervisor), full of self-doubt (comes with the territory in the the doctoral journey), despairing of ever getting a permanent job (I can’t answer for that) and just generally as throng as a tick in a tannery. She’ll be fine, eventually. So will I, but now I somehow have to make it through 4 hours of teaching and workshops this afternoon. Errk.
You sound like a great adviser. I’m sure she appreciates it, when she can think straight. (I have not yet cried in front of my adviser, but it’s only a matter of time.)
Waterdragon, your student really is incredibly lucky to be supervised by someone with such a thorough and nuanced understanding of what students are going through, and I am certain it will make such a difference in her getting through this successfully! The catalogue of completely off-the-wall remarks and advice I’ve gotten even from my relatively kindlier professors–well sufficed to say, it def has not helped matters 🙂
Ajellyfish–if it happens, know that you are not alone 🙂 I think I’ve only done it twice… but it’s entirely possible I’ve blocked out some bad memories at this point!
Wow…you are way too nice. I would never call my advisor outside of lab at all except in a case of serious, serious emergency, and definitely not between, like, 22:00 and 09:00. Geez.
…I’ve definitely cried in front of my advisors. I try really hard not to, though.
My immediate reaction was the same ad CH’s.
…”as” CH’s.
Far out! I actually said the other F-word, privately. You poor thing. I belong to the generation that went through university avoiding supervisors at all costs but my husband’s students are always ringing the house at weekends, or emailing ‘Hey! Can you send through yesterday’s lecture coz I slept in….’ etc. But 1.30am really takes the cake.
Yep, I would be very free, frank and fluent with an under-grad who behaved this way, but I am making allowances for this poor soul. She’ll never ring me at that time again, but she sobbed hard saying that I am “always awake” then, so she thought it wouldn’t matter! When I pointed out that I’m not awake from choice and that the dear man and the cats are hardly ever wake than, she looked suitably abashed… she’s very able, but stressed to the eyeballs. I feel for her: there should be some joy in doctoral study–it’s not meant to be a degree acquired through suffering and enduring, though I’ve begun to wonder if that’s what the government wants…I’ve sent her off to Student Affairs — financial assistance, counselling, etc, and I’ll see / speak to her daily until she’s through this crisis.
Today was another 3-scent day. Pre-shower was the last drops of Juicy Couture “Dirty English”, which after last week’s Morillas scents had an all-too-familiar fresh cleaner smell. Main SOTD was Annick Goutal’s “Musc Nomade”, first time trying out a mini-bottle I got a while ago. It’s a very smooth comfortable scent, but only good for a few hours (I should have used the shower gel first I guess). For the evening I added Amouage Interlude, one of my all-time favourites.
04:00 alarm call tomorrow so that’s enough from me. Have a good week everyone!
Yesterday’s SOTD = Bvlgari Black. I went to a barbecue and it was just the perfect scent to go along with the charcoal smell ☺
Today’s SOTD = Atelier Sous le Toit de Paris. Just because. It is HOT out there!
I left work early on Friday and made the trek to Twisted Lily. I already had Carner Barcelona Palo Santo on hold and I just wanted to explore more without the crowd that was there during Sniffapalooza. The boutique had a 15% off Memorial Day sale (a slightly better one online through 5/30) and I did not want to waste it so I sniffed through a LOT. I was looking forward to smelling Amouage Myths Man and Woman but they were not yet available.
Besides Palo Santo, I also ended up with a FB of Jeroboam Insulo (Vanilla, Jasmine, Musk) and samples of Grace Coddington Grace (sheer starter rose), Aroma M Vanilla Hinoki, Coolife Le Quatrieme and MCG Rrose Selavy. I almost also came home with A Lab on Fire Rose Rebelle Respawn but I don’t need a FB.
Biggest disappointments with so many good reviews and positive comments (YMMV and no offense to anyone who loves these fragrances): Maria Candida Gentile Rrose Selavy – rosy musty wet basement; La Parfumerie Moderne Desarmant – sheer artificial smelling flowers.
Others worth mentioning —
Aroma M Vanilla Hinoki – I could barely smell this one in-store but brought home a sample. I am coming around to liking it even though the first few minutes smelled just like Tang (for those unfamiliar, Tang is a powdered orange drink). The packaging was actually disappointing…the beautiful bottle was really just a plain bottle with colorful paper wrap around it.
Apoteker Tepe – the bottles are very nice but the juice, just meh.
Blocki – worth exploring further…the bottles have a very nice square metallic finish with the brand logo / scroll work.
I’ll stick to mid-town NYC for the next few months while the weather exhausts itself to Fall!
I found Grace so pretty at first – such real roses and stems and leaves – but it simplifies after a few minutes. Are the bottles as cute in real life as they look in photos?
The Grace Coddington bottles are as cute in real life as they are in pictures BUT, despite the hefty high quality body, the cap is cheap cheap cheap very light plastic. I see a limited edition bottle in the future with a glass cap.
The perfume is nice and simple and I see little girls spritzing away (and I guess that means repackaging to something that is more kid-safe).
Thanks! Too bad they didn’t do the cap in a good quality lucite. I guess I should try to see it before I buy it for the bottle. 😉
It looks nice. I also meant to say that the perfume is very easy to wear and when one is looking for a no brainer citrusy rose, it fits the bill. Don’t be surprised if I confess to a bottle at some point in the future 😉
Oh I’m so envious–I’m noticing only too late that the price on Au Pays… Neroli Blanc Intense (favorite of the things I tried last time I was there) had been dropped from $98 to $60. I don’t really need it but at nearly 40% off! Pained to see the “sold out” tag. Very glad you had more success!
Will be curious to hear what you make of the Blocki perfumes. I smelled them but have already forgotten (which doesn’t seem to bode well but could say more about my memory than the perfume!)
Had I not wanted to confirm my dislike of Rrose Selavy, I would have asked for one of the Blockis but which one? It’s all a blur which is not necessarily a bad thing; it just means I will definitely sniff them again the next time I encounter them!
Sounds like a good perfume outing you had on Friday!
In response to your question about the Bud -aritas: I’ve only had the raspberry and lime, so I can’t comment on the other flavors, but they’re pretty good. They’re actually malt liquor and are 8% alcohol. I think there’s a new bottled version that’s 4%. Anyway, they’re good if you want to just crack open a ready-made drink and not mess with making a cocktail.
There’s something to be said about convenience! Last year, I had an apple cider bud light and it was so good I had two and the alcohol content was deceptive due to the sweetness.
Thanks for the update hajusuuri. I recently tried Rrose Selavy and Desarmant and had the same take. At first I thought that Desarmant reminded me of L’Huere Bleue but I realized that I was actually smelling a camphorous note. Still curious about the new Amouages too. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Since taking notes feel like work, I don’t do it when I go sniffing. I just happened to mention the most glaring disappointments and it sounds like we share the same thoughts about these latest “darlings”. We all perceive perfumes differently, even people who like the same perfumes could have anomalies. If you haven’t read it yet, you should read Undina’s The Royal Nonesuch of Perfume post.
Did you try all the Apoteke Tepe’s or just the new ones? The new ones are pretty dull, I think, but I like anabasis (shiso!) and the paredam. I agree with you about Rrose Selavy. It was just too camphorous. Sounds like a fun outing regardless!
I tried them all and they all seemed oddly watered down. I’ll need to retry.
Yeah, even the Anabasis is light and a pretty fleeting, much more like an EDT. The Paredam on me has a little more presence, but I haven’t worn it a lot so don’t have a full picture.
Thanks for your report! I guess I didn’t miss the Amouage after all. I mostly spent my sniffing time with Jardins d’Ecrivains, Oriza l Legrands, and Bruno Fazzolari. I had the same reaction to Vanilla Hanoki-couldn’t smell much, and since I’m not a vanilla fiend, I didn’t ask for a sample. I really like the MCG, maybe because of that camphorous phase- which registers to me as salty green pepper. I find that oddly compelling.
My other likes were BF Au Dela and Jimmy. I need to go back to check out the others you mentioned.
I was temptednto get the Bruno Fazzolari sample set but thought that would be kind of not smart because the entire line was right there for sniffing and none had grabbed me so far.