Quick PSAs: the next meetup poll will be on Saturday 17 September, and the next splitmeet will be on Saturday 24 September.
Today's poll is a rerun from 2010, and it's easy as pie: choose one (really! only one!) fragrance that you don't think gets enough attention, and tell us why you think it's so special.
Note: top image is Old Glory (Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Mizner of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, takes second place in the design elements category of the active duty division of the 2015 Army Digital Photography Contest with "Old Glory.") via U.S. Army at flickr; some rights reserved.
I don’t have a comment for the poll, but I called the NYC boutique and they said that they have the Exclusifs in edp. No idea if they have testets yet, but when I asked her which ones, she said, “All of them.” Can anyone confirm? Has anyone tried them? I wish that I wasn’t 12 hours away.
Interesting.. I’m waiting impatiently for my bargain bottle of Misia edt from eBay, wish I could afford coromandel as well before the edt’ become hard to come by.
I understand. I’m in that boat with Sycomore.
Yes, I can confirm because of an email I received from the Chanel.com official website in early August saying that anyone wanting to still buy a bottle of the original Exclusifs should do it now (in August) because in September the would all be EDP’s (like “Boy”) and cost much more.
On line it’s still EDT and EDT prices. Might be the time to act though if anyone is on the fence about one. I am in panicked indecision. Maybe the EDP will be better, I think? Maybe they’ll ruin it, I worry. Ach.
I KNOW!! I just purchased a FB of Beige & Sycomore- cash. (Doing my xmas shopping early) I was too afraid not to! Now praying 31RC will be basically left unscathed until I run out of samples and find some
…that would be… find some cash
Texting even in a car as a passenger is dangerous apparently. Must speak 2 my perfume or NST addition!
😉
Can’t think of anything for the poll (yet! although maybe Noa? or vintage Nocturnes de Caron? Both lovelies and not mentioned that often on NST)
started my morning in “Hajusuuri” which bloomed nicely on the tops of my feet in yoga and non-offensive as it is basically a skin scent of essential oils.
Now I will be dousing myself in Mexican Cocoa for this week’s challenge for its almond (nut) and NUTmeg (seed)….YUM!
I’ll add more to the poll as I think of things…I will have to look at my book of “finished bottles” to come up with some more ideas….
Oooh, can’t wait to try it!
I am actually more anxious to know what you think about the osmanthus blend as well as the solid perfume in that package…crossing fingers it suits your taste 🙂
What do you have in your Osmanthus blend. I am looking at Eden based on your recommendation and wondering what I should get to combine Osmanthus with
I added yuzu, immortelle, labdanum, vanilla, “apricot” isolate (which you can purchase at White Lotus..they have the best “fruit” isolates!!) and frankincense…
But if you want to keep it simple you can just go with yuzu for the top note and vanilla and frankincense in the base.
Honestly, clarissa, the osmanthus alone is a perfume unto itself…it is very complex…fruity and leathery a the same time….you could, essentially , wear it on its own…but I suggest you dilute in a carrier oil first….
…because it is REALLY potent undiluted!!!
I’m a Noa fan, though I think I’m the only one I’ve seen posting it as my SOTD in recent history. It feels like waking up to room service breakfast in a luxury hotel, with crisp white sheets and a great view.
LOL! that is a good description! yes, it WAS you who made me think of it!!! I don’t have any Noa on hand but I did make my way through multiple bottles (maybe three or four?) and EVERYTIME I wore it I got a compliment! and it is so stinkin’ cheap!!!!
I need to get a bottle of Noa in my life!
Cheaper than that hotel room???? It took me a while to appreciate this one.
I am going to let Elisa P talk you into that one because I myself am trying to be so very good with my expenses and I don’t want to be a bad influence on you 🙂
I remember when you mentioned it. I had to look it up and came close to pulling the trigger. Will have to look again!
I think MFK’s Acqua Vitae is one of the most effortless and beautiful fragrances I’ve tried, in the musky radiant daytime floral category. The opening hour is all the fun though and needs frequent reapplication. I wouldn’t turn down a bottle of it, that’s for sure. I breezed through my sample in no time.
What about you Robin?
My vote (this time) goes to Eau d’Italie Baume du Doge. Was wearing it last week on a cooler evening, and it occurred to me that I had not seen it mentioned in the SOTD in eons. It is such a great scent — anyone who likes the work of Bertrand Duchaufour should try it.
Kevin’s review:
https://freebox.it.com/2008/11/12/eau-ditalie-baume-du-doge-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I never tried this because a didn’t like Paestrom Rose. But you’re right, I never see out mentioned. I’ll see if I can find a sample.
Well, you may not like it, of course! But I do think BdD and PR are both bad fits for the Eau d’Italie brand — I think they would have done better under some other brand name.
I’ve just read Kevin’s review, it sounds wonderful- I’m going on a city break (without the kids!) with my husband in October, and have just discovered that Eau d’italie have a shop there, perhaps it will be my perfume souvenir..
Oh, even if you hate BdD, hope it is a wonderful vacation!
Thanks Robin,I haven’t tried any from the line yet, so I’m sure to love one of them (hopefully!)
I just bought a bottle of this last week. I wasn’t familiar with it, but the shop I visited had Eau d’Italie have price. I’ll be wearing Baume du Doge often!
That would be half price.
Very nice buy, congrats!
I have and love this one – a great fall scent.
I am not Robin and although I do not have the regular Aqua Vitae, I do have he Aqua Vitae Forte and it is a perfect everyday, everywhere scent.
I am going to nominate Chanel No 19 edp and ask if anyone has tips for procuring a few year old bottle of it. Anyone have one for swap or sale? Message me via the email in my avatar. I love this beauty and my sample it out from my 5 ray old bottle. It’s perfect.
I don’t know where you are, but on ebay there is a seller of vintage perfumes, she is located in Spain (Sam) and I have very good experience with her. I think she has a 2008 one in her ebay store.
She’s not the least expensive option, but do agree she’s reliable and I had a good experience as well. The name of the store is Euro-Glamour-Zone. Live in the U.S. and the store ships here.
Hi Galbanum gal and Gvillecreative, maybe it is the same with a different name, but via the Dutch ebay her store is called Sam in Barbate (and not Euro Glamour)
You guys are great. I will check out both sellers. Thank you!
Has anyone else noticed a HUGE amount of vintage Chanel No 19 recently on ebay from Hong Kong? There have been 2 sellers (pinkshop617 and trendygroup2009). For months, they’ve been posting a lot of vintage perfumes.
On the U.S. ebay, sam-in-barbate and EuroGlamourZone (I didn’t look up the spelling, so it may differ slightly), are the same. One is the shop name and the other the seller name, or e-mail identifier. I got bought something great from that seller; I think it was a fabulous vintage Coco EdP.
Thanks Nozknoz, this is a very timely mention of this seller as I am currently looking at a vintage bottle on her site but am dillydallying, so I’m glad to read of some firsthand experience. It isn’t very expensive but when it’s vintage I get a bit askeered???? I might just take the plunge now.
I’m curious to know your impressions of the current formulation vs. your slightly older bottle. I love the current formulation and trying out a better older version would be icing on the cake!
hajusuuri, my experience is that the edp varies less than the edts. Older vintages of the edt can vary by quite a bit, though I’m hardly an expert. Own one (splash) vintage edt, and it has more leather and vetiver than the edp.
Nice! I prefer the current EDP over the EDT but a more leathery vetivery EDT sounds fabulous.
Chanel No 19 is one of the most varied perfumes that I have experienced. You can buy 3 or 4 bottles from the last 20 years and they’ll all be remarkably different, even within one concentration (edp, edt or parfum). None of them are bad, but you’ll most likely like one bottle a lot more than another, and different people will like different bottles. There’s no ‘wrong’ No 19.
I received two samples in a swap with an MUA’er about 5 years ago. Both are nearly my favorite samples ever. I’ve tried reaching out to her a few times to get pictures of her exact bottles, but unfortunately, she’s been MIA lately (I hope that she is doing well– super nice woman). One sample was from the 2011-ish edp; the other was a ‘vintage’ edt. I’d kill for a bottle from that exact edt batch, but I have no idea what the bottle looked like.
Via a swap here on NST, I obtained a vintage refillable bottle of the Chanel 19 edp. I really love the edp– so much more rose and lily of the valley, with less galbanum and oakmoss. It’s much less sharp and much easier to wear, imo. That said, vintage smells like something of a bygone era. I sometimes wonder if it’s something that I should wear to work. It almost smells risque when compared to the newer edp.
The newer (5 years ago) version is more… pillowy? It’s hard to describe. It seems more like a floral cousin of Sycomore to me. Sometimes I get a LOT of vetiver in the drydown. It’s by far the easiest to wear of the 6 versions that I have.
I haven’t smelled newer bottles. Can anyone chime in about those or about those lovely 100ml splash bottles that you see from the 80s or 90s?
I wore splash EDT and EDT sprays (the one in the silver metal rectangle that was refillable) in the 70s and 80s and I just remember it to be a galbanum/oakmoss powerhouse….I tried the EDP when it first came out (was that in the 1990s???Not sure) and remembered not really “loving” it as much as the EDT I remembered (I ended up gifting it to my mother)…at the time I bought it I did not realize it was reformulated and it was not meant to be identical to the EDT. I just assumed it was a more concentrated EDT. But I should probably revisit it because a more “pillowy” version sounds intriguing!
You should revisit it! You might really like it now.
I preferred the edt for a couple of years and think of it as THE spring perfume, but the edp seems great year round.
I have a 2015 bottle of the EDP and an EDP bought in about 2000. The latter smells very prominently of vetiver, quite a spike of it. In the older bottle I don’t notice the vetiver that much; I get a lot of powdery iris though.
Like chocolatemarzipan, I bought the EDP originally thinking it would be a stronger version of the EDT, which I loved but found quite short-lived. But the EDP has different emphasis in the notes, and I wondered why I found it strangely depressing. Years later, once you could read about such things on the internet, I discovered that iris does have a melancholy effect sometimes. It was not just me!
I do actually prefer my most recent bottle of the EDP. The best vetiver I know, not that I’m an expert.
I totally agree about the edp being one of the best vetivers!
There’s no ‘wrong’ No 19.
Thanks! One could get obsessed with chasing after the perfect No. 19 😉
I love your post and everything you say about Chanel No. 19!
If you are looking for a bottle from 2011, you should look for bottles that have a batch code starting with 4 or 5. I have bottles from that year and they all start with 4 or 5 batch code.
Gille, I was looking for something else and noticed a lot of it on pinkshop. I was intrigued but haven’t taken a chance so far.
I’ll nominate Diptyque Eau Rose, which is a lovely rose and blackcurrant scent. Very easy to wear.
I love Eau Rose too, discovered it this summer after Elisa mentioned it in a post on BdJ.
By the way, I just got the STC email today as you probably did as well. Not sure if there was a typo…as is, the 5% / 8% codes are fallingforfall / autumleaves
yup, got it, thanks!
Yes this is an amazing fragrance
I like and own several Diptyque scents but not Eau Rose even though I love nice Rose Scents. I have been contemplating this for a while, and eventually I will own it. Another lovely Rose Scent is A la Rose By MFK.
I think that Mugler Over the Musk does not get enough attention. The Les Exceptions line gets mentioned, but never this one. It’s a creamy, sexy musk, and always reminds me of the seventies. I feel like a disco queen when i wear it! In a good way:)
It’s true that some of the others get mentioned, but even then, not as much as I’d expect.
OMG, I decided to try this out of my sampler set today and I really like it. The only one I have not tried from the set is Fougere Furieuse. For Splitmeet, my candidates are Supra Floral and/or Over the Musk and my humongo bottle of Cedrat Enivrant.
So overall, I would say that the Mugler Les Exceptions doesn’t get too much attention. I don’t fault the quality / concept but rather the anemic distribution.
I LOVE your photo! Who is that? What a darling pup!
Thanks, “Homey” is my brother’s 8-year old 12-pound Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He’s the naughtiest and the biggest of the three cavaliers that own my brother :-). My sister took this picture when we were in Portland in early August. I have a shot of all 3 jockeying for position on a tiny dog bed but it looked too fuzzy to be the avatar.
Well I guess I know which splits I am joinjng
I’m so glad to hear that you tried it and liked it! I’ve never participated in a split meet, but, I just might for this one.
I LOVE Oriental Express from that line. I’ll have to move Musk up in the queue.
My favorite as well!
I wore a neglected gem from my own collection, Songes and had one of those “Why don’t I wear this more often?” moments. I do think as far as BWG go, Songes is loved here, but I think Carnal Flower is worn more often (although that is a tuberose).
Ooh yes, Songes is a gem!
SoTD: Amouage Opus 1. Feels too humid for Lyric.
My vote would be for PoTL Luctor et Emergo. It hasn’t been mentioned much of late; perhaps it’s fallen out of favor. My first trip down the rabbit hole of niche. Love the cherry/incense, always get compliments when I wear it.
Yes, it’s now like a forgotten cult classic!
I love Luctor et Emergo too and haven’t ever found anything quite like it. The only reason I didn’t buy a bottle when I initially smelled it was the rumors of easily shattered bottles and these days it just has too much competition in my collection. It’s a nice evening scent and I may need to buy a new decant some day.
I’ve had my bottle for a while. The shape seems fragile but so far no mishaps, fingers crossed. May need to get a backup before it disappears. As @Robin says a forgotten cult classic. And perhaps get some of the ELO Bendelirious too. Thanks for the tip @AnnieA.
Speaking of neglected cherry scents, there’s ELO’s Bendelirious…
My vote is for Dita von Teese by Dita von Teese.
1) Pretty inexpensive and still not too hard to find
2) It’s not something I normally go for: rosy retro floral with the dreaded peony note, but it’s sparkling and clear, not too sweet and doesn’t give the throat burning or grate on my nerves like others in this category usually do.
3) it’s really wearable and seasonless and I’ve gotten compliments on it.
I like the sound of “pretty inexpensive” and I also like a peony note……recently became ‘addicted’ to the Meyers summer limited edition Peony dish soap….gosh that one smelled good!!!! Same for the winter limited edition Cranberry dish soap which smelled exactly like Escada’s 1994 Limited Edition Un Ete en Provence EDT from 1994.
I think Dita woukd appeal to those who like Pacifica Persian Rose and French Lilac. It smells all red and purple to me.
I missed those Meyer’s! I’m loyal to the geranium, though.
And that would be me! (big pacifica fan here!)
Love those Meyers dish soaps….sometimes I wish they would turn them into real perfume!
Actually, you might just be able to layer the 2 Pacificas and, Voila! Close enough. I think I’ve inadvertently worn Meyer’s cleaning products.
Ooh, you’ve sold me on sniffing this, as I’m definitely a lover of those 2 Pacifica scents. I’m in Persian Rose today!
Not hard to find, but relatively hard to sample! I’ve still never smelled a single one of her scents.
I think TPC has some of them, but I’ve never seen them in any stores. It’s the only one I’ve tried, though I’m curious about Erotique, since some people are comparing it to Stash, which I probably won’t smell any time soon, since no Ulta.
Thanks!
Morning, all. I’m sitting in Wellington airport, soon to fly back to Auckland (boo!) and the purrs (yay!), having had a great time in the freezing cold middle of NZ. I met Gaynor, and we went sniffing: we didn’t buy, but I might have found a new love in Histoires de Parfums 1969, which went on as an appealing, non-sweet peach, became ordinary, disappeared, then suddenly returned and was really LOVELY. How interesting! I shall investigate further.
One of the things that made my weekend wonderful was meeting Gaynor. Just as happened when I met Kanuka, we talked about everything, including but definitely not restricted to, perfume. Somebody on NST commented recently that perfumistas have lots in common, and it really seems to be true. We found we enjoyed many of the same things. And, I have to tell you, Gaynor’s lime green patent leather boots are spectacular and created instant boot envy. Forget my red ones– dull and boring by comparison! We went to the shop that sells them but the red ones in the same style were too big for me and the bright pink ones too small. Damn!
For the poll: a perfume that doesn’t get much mention (including from me!) but that I think is worth remembering is Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente. It needs the right mood,but it’s really lovely when the mood is on you. It’s rich and and sweet and slightly medicinal; encompassing and enveloping and friendly. It’s one of the very few that I would restrict by season, at least in Auckland, when the humidity is high, but for those of you in colder climates than ours, it might be worth thinking about as a cheap(-ish) thrill for weekends in jeans and jerseys.
So glad you two had a good time. Must have been quite a sight…the two most stylish women in NZ together in the same place.
Awwwww….(blushes) thank you!
Myrrhe Ardente is indeed fabulous.
I just saw this coffee table book at the library earlier today:
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Beauty-Mark-Ultimate-Eccentric-ebook/dp/B015XEWZIM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473553302&sr=1-1&keywords=Dita+Von+teese#nav-subnav
Oh man, I feel like most things I wear are a little like this! I think TF Scent, YSL Nu and SL Chene don’t have the same passionate followings that they should.
In fact, I am going to put one of them on for my co-op’s work party day today. I’ll report back details 😉
YSL Nu is lovely. Apparently there the latest Yves Rocher Secret d’essences Accord Chic is somewhat like Nu. Has anyone smelled it yet?
I feel like SHL 777 does not get enough love. Almost all of their fragrances are amazing: Khol de Bahrain, Soleil de Jeddah, Rose de Petra, O’Hira, Taklamakan – all top notch.
SOTD – scent less for now as I am at a soccer game. Will put in something light as I am going to an event in TigerLily
I agree that the SHL 777 line does not get much attention. Enjoy the Tiger Lily event!
I’m a fan and think he does a great job with his perfumes. I only ownRose de Petra, butI would own full bottles of others if they were (much) less cost prohibitive. I’m also fond of Generation 2022 woman and Un Nuit a Doha.
Yes, the prices.
Ditto! This is the reason I haven’t explored this line.
I agree. Even those that aren’t to my taste are good.
SOTD is my very last drops of Pacifica Persian Rose. It’s officially drained now.
Hear me out on this one: for today’s poll I’m going to nominate Chanel Coco. Obviously, it’s got decades of familiarity now, but I do think it’s overlooked in the Oriental family because it’s not ‘groundbreaking’ the way Shalimar and Opium were. Why do I think it’s special? It has that Chanel magic that makes it polished and very wearable–which, for an Oriental scent, I find subversive.
Question for NSTers: Does anyone know how the Amouage solid perfumes are in terms of (a) shelf-life and (b) overall character compared to the liquid perfumes? (That is, I’d expect them to have lower sillage, but do the scents smell the same and have comparable longevity?)
I haven’t tried any Amouage’s in solid perfume, but I agree with u on Coco, such a beauty.
It really is beautiful!
I agree with you about Coco. I find it so beautiful and easy to wear. I love Opium very much, but I feel it requires an event or mood to enjoy. Coco almost always gets me complimented, which is always nice.
Yes, Coco is so easy to wear. And I know what you mean about Opium (although I don’t wear it myself). Weirdly, though, it seems to work excellently as an everyday fall/winter scent on my mom.
Can I just say that you smell great?
Thx!
Yes on Coco. I always spray it on at airports and such and need to buy a bottle of my very own.
Right!? (That’s how I wear No. 5.) I’ve loved it since junior high, but all I’ve ever owned was a little spray sample. That’s where store testers come in. I mean, why let their juice just sit there and evaporate when I can show some love by actually using it? ????
I have one of the solids (either Gold or Dia, I can’t tell any more). The compact is lovely; it came with an extra pan of solid, sealed in plastic until you open them.
I bought the solid because it cost a lot less than the perfume, but, ultimately, I was unsatisfied because the scent was much lighter. In general, I don’t trust the longevity of solids because it seems to me that they are not properly sealed against evaporation, oxygen, and contamination.
I also have Lyric body cream, which seems more perfumed than the solid, and it has the advantage of a tight-fitting lid. Another option is to look for the perfume on discount sites.
Thanks for the input! I’m just filing away information for now, before I possibly find myself in desperate need of a FB–or before I stumble across a major bargain.
That’s a very interesting observation about Coco. It’s as if Chanel observed the success of Opium (1977) and maybe also Lancome’s Magie Noire (1978), and then decided to bring out something more refined and wearable for its own, more conservative, customer base. I’ve somehow never smelled Cinnabar so I’m not quite sure how it fits into the picture.
Coco is a tad to sweet for me; Opium too … too … I dunno; but a small spritz of Magie Noire is heaven.
Yes, it was surely meant to be more conservative in the ‘volume’ department. It’s that refined, wearable, less-loud overall effect that makes me think of it as subversive: it’s like ‘The Sneaky Oriental’, which is a complete oxymoron for other perfumes in the category.
I haven’t worn Cinnabar, but in the bottle it smells spicy and loud like Opium to me. Opium is too sweet on me, too. I’m not sure if I’ve smelled Magie Noire…
You may also consider an Amouage travel spray. I bought a travel set of Lyric off a discount website for a really good price. I think it is 30 mls which, IMO, is a perfect amount. The travel spray is beautiful, works great and easy to take along.
Thanks, Petunia! Those travel sprays do look pretty. If I ever do end up pulling the trigger, I’ll certainly look at all the options in my quest for a good deal.
I’m gonna use up my tiny splash bottle of Penhaligon’s Vaara, this weekend – the top is cracked, and it’s evaporating. So I’m applying it liberally.
It’s interesting to read everyone’s responses to the poll!
I’m going to nominate Les Nereides Patchouli Antique- it’s a weird and magical patchouli scent, the review in The Guide is perfect, TS refers to it as “a fairytale” perfume, which is so true. It took a while to grow on me, but it’s now one of my autumn favourites, and one of my hubby’s favourites on me. It can be had on eBay for a very good price too!
Old hippie here! 😉 I’ve never tried this one, and you’ve certainly made me want to!
A neglected fragrance . . . how about Voyage d’Hermes? The cardamom and citrus are refreshing, then there are pretty flowers and wood. It’s got a tea note, but I don’t recall it being mentioned on NST recently.
Hey NST, happy weekend to all. Robin, thanks for the photo at the top of today’s post. I had to stare at it for a moment to figure it out.
As the person who is sitting on her fingers so as to not whip out the credit card due to my recent no buy policy I am NOT in any way shape or form encouraging you to make another purchase by attaching this link…however since you mentioned wanting a full bottle of Atelier yesterday I WILl steer you in the direction of getting it dirt cheap!
http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_cid_perfume-am-lid_t-am-sid_trefp33w__products.html
and fragrancenet has the Oolang also discounted (not as low though!)
ooooh, decisions, decisions . . . Thank you for the Atelier PSA. 🙂 I’m sitting on my fingers for the moment, too.
ack! and now I feel terribly guilty for sending you the link 🙁
but I am sure it will be there still when you want and need it….so yes, sit on those fingers!!!
Agree Voyage gets forgotten — I like it, and I still forget to wear it!
Glad you liked the photo. The US Army has some amazing images on flickr from their photography contests.
Hm. I would vote for Tabu. It doesn’t get a lot of love these days, but it is the grandmother of every balsamic patchouli earth-shaker that has ever followed… and I love so many of them, I can’t not love Tabu. The older, the better. I am convinced it ages in the bottle like wine.
Boy that was a favorite of mine waaaay back in the day! Along with its sister scent Ambush. Makes me want to head over to ebay to see if I can find an old bottle.
I like Ambush, too– powdery balsams and clean lavender. Very nice.
Twenty years or so, ago, I used to sell perfume. About once a week, an elderly man would come in, take off his hat, and liberally spray his head with Tabu. Every once in a while he would buy a bottle. At the time, I thought it was peculiar, now, I think it’s fabulous.
Reminds me that I once saw a teenage girl on a train do something like that with Angel. She took off her baseball cap, spritzed it liberally with Angel and put it back on again – backwards of course. All while talking non-stop to her friend. Sorta yucky sorta cool!
Oy! Everyone who hugged her ended up wearing it too!
Oh, I love that image!
Gosh, I can’t remember when I last smelled Tabu. Will have to try to…
Try for vintage if you can– it’s a bit smoother, I think.
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for mentioning Tabu. The few times I’ve seen it written about on this site in the years since I discovered NST I have always responded to the writer – back in my young, free & single days I had a dear friend called Diane (who died suddenly some years ago now) who wore Tabu & called it “instant brothel”, which always made our group of friends laugh. I always remember Diane whenever I hear or read Tabu mentioned.
“Instant brothel” is the truth! Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.
Wearing Institut Tres Bien’s Violette de Parme today, which I love. For neglected, although not by me, I’d suggest Une Rose. I think it gets overlooked in the thicket of roses and of other Malle goodies and it’s seeming simplicity may draw attention away from it, but to me it’s the perfect grown up full flowering rose.
I will say that Malle is one where the cost difference between the Euro and the US dollar is shocking. I was lucky enough to be in Europe and bought my only full bottles there. I wonder if this is true for SHL 777 too. The prices in the US are very high and so I’ve never let myself fall in love. (This from a woman who has a bottle of Mohur extrait. A gift! But you take my point.)
Yeah the ‘special’ pricing in the US gets on my nerves, for Malle and several other lines. This is why I buy some European brands from First in Fragrance, which is in Germany (no affiliation). FIF has the European prices, and then they knock of 19% VAT for sales to the US. Super fast shipping too, and reasonable pricing on samples. The only downside is that they have a high minimum for free shipping, so I either wait til I have several FBs to buy, or I go in on a joint order with other perfume friends.
Essenza Nobile too. I buy quite a few things from them as the prices are so much lower. Free shipping for 180€ and over.
I came across a shelf of John Varvatos scents the other day and tried them and thought some of them were nicely done…Artisan….but I couldn’t recall a mention of them. Kevin’s reviews are pretty favourable. Also some of the Cacharels. Noa has been mentioned but Amor Amor, too. Loulou. And closer to home: Aesop Marrakech and Mystra….both excellent scents.
Wearing Coco. Thumbs up to Creosote!
Thumbs up to Lou Lou! another Cacharel beauty!
Hi Ms Marzipan! Eden is another good one. I think I’m slowly figuring out that I have a bit of a crush on the 80s and 90s perfumes…but that might be because they are on the shelves so I can try them, and they are better than the recent releases on the neighbouring shelves. Coco, hypnotic poison, loulou, terre de hermes, dune….etc. seems to be a good period in mainstream and mall.
Agreed! the 80s and 90s were great decades for mainstream perfumes! I think about some of the beauties that I wore back then…they were so easily accessible and reasonable priced….. some would probably even come across as niche in today’s market…and there also seemed to be a lot more diversity, right? Not everything smelled the same!
Ah, you smell(ed) fabulous in your Coco!
Oh, how I would like to live in a Euro-Glamour-Zone. I am living in a Canuck-Hiker-Zone, it would seem. Wearing Cuir de Lancôme, which is telling me that even though I have to work on a Saturday it’s all okay.
I so love cuir de Lancôme, when I crave it, I know autumn has truly arrived.. U smell fabulous of course!
I really think I should get this as my next blind buy. I love leather scents and have been trying a lot of perfumes off the men’s shelf recently. I would like something half way between Kelly Caleche and Skive on the leather-scale. A cosy, real leather but with a hint of glamour.
Sticking my nose in to say that I blind-bought CdL and spent quite a long time trying to find the leather…it was a soft (very soft) floral on me. I’m afraid I never joined the fan club and sold my bottle soon after. When I think of a leather with a hint of glamour I think of Habanita.
So I nteresting! I blind-bought CdL and am bananas for it. It’s definitely a floral leather on me. I find it cosy and warm (thanks to the saffron, I think) but definitely not soft. ‘YMMV’, eh?
I blind bought it because I kept seeing it mentioned here. I’ve only worn it once or twice, but will bring it back out soon. I love it. I love Kelly Caleche too.
Maybe “Cuir X” from Parfumerie Moderne?
Your CdL is a favor to any co-workers you have!
SOTD: Jessica McClintock. Wore it to my wedding 15 years ago this month. Was introduced to the fragrance in 1995 and have loved it ever since. Now, after 21 years in the perfume business, I still love it.
I’ve said it before (probably more than once!) but this is my husband’s favorite perfume. He has bought me numerous bottles, and sadly they’re all still full. I’ll wear it from time to time but LOTV is just not my thing. I can see how this would be a top pick for a wedding, however.
Happy 15th anniversary! Mine is Sept. 23rd and we’ll be 16 😉
Wow, floralgal! We have an anniversary month and almost the same number of years of marriage in common! Congratulations on your anniversary too! Ours is on the 29th. I love LOTV and the green edge that Jessica McClintock gives it. It’s always fresh. I don’t know what to suggest if you aren’t crazy about this fragrance. Perhaps wear it for your anniversary and your husband’s birthday?
That’s excellent advice! I will definitely where McClintock for my anniversary because I know that will make him very happy 😉
Oh that’s a beauty! The gal who works in my supermarket wears that one and when I see her I literally follow her around the store 🙂
That’s my mom’s scent and it smells just beautiful on her! I’ve tried but it just doesn’t suit me. 🙁
You reminded me that I have a mini spray of Jessica McClintock, so that is my SOTD. Very LOTV forward, but that doesn’t detract for me.
Only one??? Well, I never hear anyone talk about Agonist Black Amber, and for me it’s one of those first-time-I-smelled-it-the-top-of-my-head-lifted-off perfumes. Totally mis-named and not an amber at all, but a heavenly incense that opens with a greeny herbal liqueur note that I wish lasted more than a few brief minutes, and with a lingering sort of kelp-y note — a refreshing, oceanic kelp-y note, not a low-tide note. 🙂 Outside of the norm for incense fragrances, and so, so good!
Wow. I love the sound of kelp in a scent. One of my favourite smells in nature.
I love the actual smell of the sea and true seaside smells like kelp — it’s too bad that “marine” = calone in most perfumes!
The eminence of fall has got me really hunting around in my cabinet for gems to wear and I re-discovered a couple this week. VW Boudoir, which is so tame when compared to some of my newer faves like Maai and Salome, but was pretty earth-shattering when I started venturing out of my basic department store finds. Also the original Lea as well as the Extreme, Angel Liqueur de Parfum, Rose 31 and Montale’s spectacular Patchouli Leaves. My little man happened to be walking by my room just after I’d sprayed some on in preparation for bedtime (it smells about perfect two or three hours in) and loved it so much he asked me to spray a tissue with some and leave it on his dresser so he could enjoy it in his room. I was so proud. 😉
Also, I’ve been getting back into some of my indi scents and having fun mixing to see what I end up really enjoying. Earlier in the week the blend was some of Liz Zorn’s Lilacs and Heliotrope over SSS’s Rose Musc, and then some of SSS Velvet Rose over Ava Luxe’s Sweet Patchouli. Loads of fun. But a surprisingly sexy and somewhat blasphemous blend is JHAG’s Lady Vengeance over Chanel No. 5 edp. It’s stunning and achieves this perfect balance of provocative yet classical all at once… Definitely a recipe for the “perfume to wear on a first date” arsenal.
As for mainstream recent finds, I actually really, really liked Miu Miu. It isn’t fruity, is a fun take on lily and I’m trying really hard to talk myself out of buying a bottle at least until it pops up on the discount sites. It just smells cool, blue, pretty and bygone, which I really like sometimes.
I really like Miu Miu. Originally i thought it would be a good summer scent. I sprayed it on the other morning, when it was still cool, and I liked it even better.
I like Miu Miu too, but not sure if it’s because I adore the bottle and like the brand in general or if I like the perfume. I mean, I was pleasantly surprised that it was LOTV and black pepper and very wearable, but would I love it if it was by some celebrity I’ve never heard of? Would I wear it? Am I just a sucker for floofy kittens? Well, yes to the last one. I’m going to have to re-sniff some time.
I agree it got the big yawn from the perfumistas and I think it deserved more.
I actually felt bad that it was received so poorly. Miu Miu gives me a “bad ass” vibe. Similar to Gucci Rush. Although, they certainly don’t smell the same.
Tough poll question! Not sure I’ve got a really good one to add today, but guess I could throw out Balenciaga Paris. Very pretty, green violet that doesn’t seem to get much love.
My SOTD is Essences Insensées 2015.
Watching the clock for 4pm US Open women’s singles final to start!
You smell great!
Balenciaga Paris got a lot of respect when it was first released but it has slipped off the radar a bit since then. I try to like it and I do really like the opening, but there is some note in the middle that I can’t identify but which annoys me a bit.
That was an excellent match in the women’s final.
Absolutely riveting.
So happy Kerber won!
Agreed!
Floragal. i love LOVE ESSENCES INSENSEE2015! I only have the small solid but put alittle on mynwrists @ bedtime bcoz it sits close 2 my skin and it smells Heavenly!!!!! I saw a FB at Neiman Marcus and am TRYYYYING hard not 2 purchase.
Great suggestion!!!! U smell Heavenly
Did you see the new one they’ve got out for this year? The theme is roses.. not a big fan of roses but will definitely try it.
Thanks!
Flower L’elixir from Kenzo! It’s fairly new, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody else mention it. It’s a great spicy oriental with stewed raspberries in, and one of my top 10 scents. Very unique and not at all like the original Flower.
I smelled this at Ulta. I loved it.
I just tried this and I agree it smells wonderful. The sample card mentioned something about a limited edition for the 15 year anniversary of the original Flower release. I hope they keep this one around.
So many Santa Maria Novella colognes are attractive, interesting, unpretentious, and easy to wear, and the prices are reasonable, too. I wish SMN did some discovery sets or travel atomizers like the Hermes nomad sets. Especially a men’s set: the world would be a better place if men wore these instead of all those nasty, meretricious sport clone colognes.
Also, I have a question for anyone who lives in Seattle or has visited. I’m going there next week and would appreciate suggestions for what perfume to take. It’s a really different climate and environment from DC, so I’m having trouble focusing.
Has anyone visited the House of Matriarch shop? Is that worthwhile? Any other special perfume shopping there? We’ve got Saks, Neiman’s, Nordstrom, etc., here, so I’m thinking of more specialized or local shops.
L. – House of Matriarch is actually on my very short list of houses to sample. I haven’t made it yet but from what I’ve read and heard, it was enough to make me want to try them.
It’s interesting, Rapple, I ordered a sample set when Kevin first reviewed the line and thought they all had a common thread of traditional Indian attar (like the majmua attar in beeswax that I sent you several years ago). After Luca Turin reviewed them recently on perfumesilove, I ordered a couple of their newer fragrances and found them very different. Still mainly natural and interesting. So I’d like to be able to sniff the whole line quickly and focus my sampling. I’ll try to bring back enough to share!
I’ve read that Nordstrom is going to carry this line, too, but I’d like to observe them in their natural habitat. 🙂
I think you may get another stone for your enabler’s pin! You’re lighting a fire under me to start sampling again! Olympic Orchids is another line that I’d like to try.
I have been lurking on HoM also- Madrina and black No.1 look interesting. Our local bloggers here did a nice write up on them ( The Scented Hound Or Colognosseuir) and piqued my interest. They do have small sample bottles 4 purchase… Would love to hear more
Lucky you. Hope it’s a fantastic trip. I get a lot of wear out of my Olympic Orchids scents but there isn’t a store ( I don’t think ). I am curious about the Blackbird store though. Report back, please.
It appears to me that Blackbird doesn’t have it’s own shop but is rather in a good number of boutiques in Seattle, from Cairo to La Merde (seriously). You have me curious now.
I think the Blackbird shop is a design shop and maybe the perfume was commissioned by them?
OK, that would explain it. I feel my odds of finding it are low but we’ll see.
In Seattle there’s Parfumerie Nasreen, which has a lot of niche things, and Barney’s, which is quite appreciated as well. If you make it up to Vancouver BC, we have a group of us NST’ers who like to show people around…
Ah, now I remember that Kevin and others have enjoyed Parfumerie Nasreen.
PN is a lovely local gem in that it has great selection. Also comes with heavyhanded sales pressure from shopkeeper, fyi. Impossible to browse privately.
: $
Portland is only fours hours away—we have Imaginary Authors, Slumberhouse, The Perfume House, and Fumerie Parfumerie.
So tantalizing!
i’m going on an Alaskan cruise next year and will likely spend time either Vancouver and / or Seattle. I’m taking notes now and when you report back on your adventures!
Thanks for asking about Seattle, I’m going in November and have been wondering what perfume adventures to squeeze in between conference panels!
Do you have the full Chanel Exclusifs & the full Hermes (including Hermecenses) lines at Nordstrom in DC? If not, thw downtown Seattle Nordys is still a good option, they are just finishing up a remodel & they have a few additional lines i havent seen or heard of elsewhere (but you may have) like Parfums de Marly.
Essenza in Fremont is a cute shop in Fremont, they have Santa Maria Novella/Serge/Olivine Aetelier/ L’Artisan/more, along with gorgeous jewelry, soaps, linens, baby gifts, and a pretty fountain on the middle od the store.
Plus, lots of good food & browsing in that area including a fun undergeound antique mall that makes great browsing.
Near Essenza is Show Pony, which has a small selection of local-made oils & perfumes as well as candles & cute stuff.
The weather has been cool in the morning/evening & warms up during the day, so scents that do well in both temps will suit nicely. The weather is unpredicatable hour over hour, so bring a layer wherever you go for just in case 🙂
De-lurking (can an old timer lurk?) to participate today…
After thinking over all of my lovely vintage scents – and there are several that would qualify for nomination in this poll – I decided to nominate a newer one: SSS Cocoa/Sandalwood. This is one of Laurie’s naturals and it is such a subtle and beautiful scent, and one that is much more sophisticated than its name would imply. I highly recommend this. Price isn’t bad either!
Oh I loved that one…drained two bottles when it first came out! It was a beautiful bedtime scent….
How very appropriate with your screen name!
I tried that but it just didn’t work for me, sadly. Have you tired Equestrian yet? If so, what do you think of it? I’m going to sample it as soon as my “no buy” is over. Love many SSS scents! Glad you de-lurked????
I recently got Equestrian and Pacific Forest and PF so far is winning. If you like Forest Walk, you will LOVE PF!
I agree, H. – I love Pacific Forest! (and Forest Walk)
Good to know, thanks!
Deva, I test for Laurie and I’m afraid I might have offended her with my comments on Equestrian! Here I live smack in the middle of Thoroughbred country in central KY and have worked in the T’bred business forever, and I so much wanted to love Equestrian.
Unfortunately for whatever reason my nose didn’t pick up any of the main notes, and it just didn’t work for me. 🙁
That was a first because I love Laurie’s perfumes!
That’s totally what happened when I tried cocoa sandalwood. My brain had preconceived notions but my sniffer didn’t play along. I’m quite sure if you are testing for her, she values all of your feedback- good, bad, or indifferent. I absolutely love FW, TA, and WW, have a 17ml of each and SO appreciate the various size bottle Laurie offers. Thanks for responding ????
Rapple, have you tried Pd’E Tabac Tabu? It smells like a horse’s neck to me, although I’m probably mistaken since it’s been 50 years since I’ve been near a horse.
LOL! Trust me, the smell of horses’ necks hasn’t changed! :-))
Is that a new Pd’E? See? I told you I haven’t kept up with new releases. I haven’t tried it and I generally like the Pd’E fragrances.
Rapple, here’s Robin’s review:
https://freebox.it.com/2015/12/02/parfum-dempire-tabac-tabou-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I like it a lot better than she did, but that’s to be expected as our tastes so often diverge.
Sometimes my scent memories are accurate and sometimes they are totally off, and I was never around horses very much. It may be more metaphorical, like thinking Pd’E Cuir Ottoman smells like leather. It was a limited edition, but they’ve said they will do annual versions. 🙂
Thanks! I run much closer to you (and to Jessica and Angela here ) than I do to Robin so I’ll check this out – or the latest version.
I vote for Diptyque eau de Lavande because it is tough, animalic, leather lavender; because it does not smell how usually lavender is rendered in fragrances but like a real lavender plant. It is unique but wearable (even in warm weather), and not excessively expensive + it comes in a small (20ml) bottle as well. Also, it is different from the rest of Giacobetti’s opus. Finally, I am mentioning it since I think the NST review missed it (sorry, Kevin, I love your writing style!)
I went on small sniffapalooza today and finally happened across MFK Grand Soir. I first read about it here:
https://freebox.it.com/2016/07/07/maison-francis-kurkdjian-grand-soir-new-fragrance/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
It immediately went to the top of my “to try” list, such as it is, then I promptly forgot about it because memory cells are scarce in this neuro network. ANYWAY, I was chatting with the rep at NM today, she sprayed a bit on a card, and it was love! I had a strenuous, knock down, drag out internal struggle as I remembered I HAD TO RESIST (sadly, my brain cells did remember my “no buy” promise to myself)!
My prediction? Floral lovers will hate it and floral haters most likely will love it. I DID cadge a spray sample and was informed by aforementioned SA it was “The Last One!” What a boon! ????
And to top it all off, making a great day perfect, I stopped at Ye Olde Grocery Store on the way home and found Thomas’s bagel packs were buy one get one free! Fantastic! Then I saw they had PUMPKIN SPICE!! OMG, I’m in olfactory and gustatory heaven! Can life get any better?! ????
Oh, forgot to nominate a scent for the topic! I have (very) limited perfume experience, so keeping that in mind, I think Bvlgari Omnia (the original) doesn’t get enough love. It’s unique without being polarizing, suits just about any occasion, works well in all weather conditions, is quite sophisticated without being stuck-up, attracts floral lovers as well as floral haters, and it still relatively cheap and available. What’s not to love?
Agreed. You summed Omnia up perfectly.
What’s not to love? The bottle design! Hate it…dog toy meets weird sex toy meets child’s bulky puzzle toy. Apart from that…it’s fine.
Ha! You are right. And hilarious!
Kanuka, you are absolutely right about that! How could I have forgotten that cheap a$$ bottle and crappy spray mechanism?! Every time I wear it, I’m on emotional seesaw: love this perfume/hate this dam* spray mechanism! Life is hard sometimes ????
Oh goodness you had me laughing… the pumpkin fiend strikes again! any mention of food always makes me happy! I am anxiously waiting for my grocery store to get in their limited edition pumpkin pasta sauce we talked about the other day….mmmmm….
and good for you resisting the temptation and lure of a perfume purchase 🙂
I’ve noticed you haven’t mentioned the name of the store that houses this saucy gem. Are you trying to keep all your fellow pumpkin lovers in the dark, thereby scooping more for ms. chocolatemarzipan8? ????
Hee! Hee! That would be Stop & Shop 🙂
they do a limited time pumpkin extravaganza and have numerous of their store brand items in pumpkin flavors
There’s a Basenotes split (remik) for Grand Soir!
Omg! You’re killing me! ????
A bit late to the party as usual, but I was just thinking about this the other day! One scent that no one EVER seems to mention is Pavlova. The modern rendition is merely so-so but the vintage (late 70’s to early 90’s, I believe) is gorgeous. A powdery, refined tuberose, not the kind of scent that I normally gravitate towards but it’s really lovely and just so different from anything else out there. I scored a 1/4 oz parfum on Ebay several years ago for a song (maybe because no one ever seems to pay attention to it!) and the bottle is half the fun: painted with trailing pink flowers and leaves, lovely art-nouveau lettering, a pink satin bow around the neck, and the bottle sits inside the box on a bed of pink satin. Definitely worth checking out if you can find it!
Oh my God!!!! Blast from my past! I think I still have an old empty bottle of Pavlova at my parents’ house in a shoebox with my toeshoes! LOved Loved Loved that one!!!!
Oh wow! Perfect scent for a ballet student, love that you kept it with your toe shoes 🙂
Yes, I so agree with the beauty of the packaging of Pavlova. The fragrance is reminiscent of a bygone ballet era.
Oh yes, that’s a great one!
I have a mini of Iris Prima which is very reminiscent of tired scuffed wooden floors and the scent of new leather ballet flats, although not our satin toe shoes. I wonder what that scent would be ?
Iris prima is lovely!
Always loved that smell…”scuffed wooden floors” and the rosin on the toe shoes!
10 Corso Como! It’s one of my absolute favorite scents, and hardly anyone seems to wear it at all! In fact, thinking about it is making me love it again so much that I think I’ll layer it over the vestiges of the Rose Jam bath I took this evening to counteract the sore muscles brought about by trampolining. That’s right; I went trampolining today and it was AWESOME.
Trampolining looks like it would be an absolute blast! Pretty sure I would manage to break a leg, but what fun it would be in the mean time, ????
I didn’t break anything at all! However, I woke up sore ALL OVER. I’m not even kidding. It appears to be a full-body sport. At least I’m proud of myself for having exercised….
I love 10 CC, my favorite sandalwood scent.
APOM!
I fell in love with APLS and then started seriously delving into the rest of the MFK line. If you are the rare aficionado of orange blossom as I am, this one is gorgeous. Very simple and pure and radiating beauty and clarity and the innocence of a sunlit day.
OOOH that sounds lovely….have you ever tried SSS Jour Ensoleille? That is an orange blossom I love….
Yep, love Jour Ensoleille! 🙂
When I first discovered SSS I bought numerous samples and did not think that one would be a love….but boy did I fall hard for that one!
Can I nominate Amouage Dia. Everyone talks about Gold and it seems like Dia gets almost no love.
SOTD is vintage Mitsouko edt. Nahema almost edged vintage Mitsouko but the Queen won out.
Dia is one of my favorites. It is so beautiful!
It’s a gorgeous day here and I’m wearing VC&A Lys Carmin, but later on I’m wearing Absolue Pour Le Soir. Deva’s mention of Grand Soir brought it to mind. I own both the Cologne and the Absolue so I am hoping I can resist Grand, but who knows. I thought Salome would fill my skank requirements for a long time but succumbed to the siren call of Maai last week. Donatella will be getting an earful this quarter.
As for unsung lovelies, there are only two or three of us here who wear anything by Carner Barcelona. I think they make good stuff and my favorite is D600. An iris on a woody vanilla base, it has good longevity, is totally unisex, and isn’t too rooty or too powdery on me. It’s one of my “no-brainer” perfumes, smells good in any weather and on any occasion.
Foxbins, this is totally different than APlS and CPLS. I recommend sampling. Then I recommend buying. In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. That way you can prostrate yourself before Lady Donatella and get MBA (multiple bottle absolution) all in one fell swoop. Not that I would EVER enable. But I think you’ll like it ????
I agree on Carner Barcelona. Love D600 and also think Costarela, Tardes, and Cuirs are excellent.
I have CPLS and APLS and can’t wait to try Grand Soir as well, pretty sure it will be great.
Chanel Allure doesn’t get much love. It’s fruity floral, nineties style, so quite sweet without being sugary. I have the EDP and the cedar in it balances the fruit notes very nicely. I think it’s very well done for its type. As far as I know it has not suffered through reformulation.
Excellent choice, and highly underrated 🙂
Ditto that! A woman I worked with in the late 90s wore that religiously and I loved it so much I purchased my own bottle….drained it rather quickly…it really is a Chanel that does not get much love.
When I first read your comment I thought you meant ‘woman in her 90s’ who wore Allure and I thought whoa! Go lady! 🙂 Actually, I am always interested in hearing what perfumes older women wear. It probably means that they are really great perfumes!
This was going to be my comment too! I particularly love the EdT.❤
I will nominate MPG Eau de Camélia Chinois. I never see this mentioned anymore. One of my first perfume loves. Anytime I wear it, I remember how much I love it.
It has everything I love in a perfume, powdery soapy clean , but at the same time it is interesting. I should wear it more often.
I just received an unloved bottle of Anne Pliska from another perfumista. To me, it’s the perfect fall oriental I’ve been looking for! I was hoping to love Theorema, but it just runs too sweet for me. I feel like this is a great (and relatively reasonable) alternative that we don’t hear that much about, even though it’s been around for years.
That’s a great one! Looking forward to wearing it if cooler weather ever gets here. You smell fab!
Soivohle Gardenia Batik is very underappreciated — it’s very pretty, smooth and eminently wearable with absolutely no annoying parts plus it’s available in affordable travel sizes. It’s been out all summer and it appears that it hasn’t been reviewed on ANY perfume blog which I find completely baffling considering how wonderful it is
Easy!
Secrets de rose, by les parfums de Rosine…
Only two reviews online…Unbelievable!
I am not a rose person at all, but I passionately love secrets de rose, it’s up there with the other, much more popular, rose I love: Mohur (and, to a lesser degree, Alahine).
SDR is so velvety and luminous, juicy yet comfy, lush but relaxing… Green and red and pink and cream… Going to spray some on…
Since the poll clearly says “only one”, I will not mention AG’s Ninfeo mio, BK’s Ambre Oud or G’s Bois d’Armenie – they all had a “moment” but now seem lost and forgotten…
I’m anxiously awaiting a break in our 90 degree weather to break out my Bois d’Armenie! A favorite. I’m glad you *didn’t* mention it! 😉
🙂
…Enjoy it!
I think I’ll nominate Burberry Brit Rhythm. I happen to like lavender. This one is comforting and kind of sexy.
Le Temps d’Une Fete today.
So many comments from yesterday are making my fingers twitchy for shopping. But I’m resisting…for now.
Resist! Resist! ( I have secretly chosen to be NST’s voice of reason since I myself am sitting on my twitchy fingers these days 🙂 !!!)
and yes, as a lover of lavender Britt Rhythm is great!!!
Good one! Totally agree with you on Rhythm.
I will try this next time I’m in town. Love lavender, especially with vanilla.
It’s commonly at TJ Maxx or other discounters.
SOTD- a mix of Eden Botanicals bourbon vanilla, coconut pulp, lavender absolute, labdanum, peru balsam and, the star of the show, tuberose fine…..
That sounds brilliant. Really interested about how your scents open and dry down. Do the notes take turns or are they all present throughout?
They do indeed take turns…most of the blends develop and are not linear…which can at times be problematic as you may like the way it smells at certain points and then really dislike it at others…and sometimes there is no turn taking whereas they blend to create one odd sort of note that morphs over time…it really is a lot of fun and a nice creative outlet….I would encourage anyone here to try it…you really don’t have to be a perfumer, per se….and even if something turns out god awful there is always a chance to turn it around by adding another essential oil to the mix…I do this all the time…tweak it 🙂
I’ve just ordered some kanuka, manuka, pine, lemon and nutmeg from a New Zealand supplier in an attempt to recreate my morning walk. Very exciting!
I can’t believe 15 years have passed. It seems like just yesterday and still so fresh in my memory. A very somber and bittersweet day today. Sending good vibes to all and taking a minute to remember all those who are no longer with us.
SOTD is MFK Grand Soir. Be well NSTer’s.
Scents of the weekend:
Sat morning Nobile 1942 “Rudis” before showering, then SL “5 o’clock au Gingembre” for the day (too weedy for me) and finally Parfums de Marly “Hamdani” for the evening (maybe a little early in the Autumn for this leather brute of a scent).
Today in SL “La Fille en Aiguilles” which is very nice, but I have piney incense covered with N-Cigale’s “Pin Mystic” so I won’t be going back for more. Off to the airport again, partner in tow, and looking forward to a weekend in Paris at the end of the week rather than the usual commute home, yay! : ^)
Your three words: “weekend in Paris” have made me insanely jealous! Although I AM just 30 min. from Paris, Ky. Somehow I just don’t think it will do it for me. :-/
Enjoy Paris!
You have a Versailles relatively nearby too, if you need to get out of the urban sprawl of Paris. :^)
The other Mr Koenigsberg spent almost a month in Kentucky several years ago, mostly in Louisville but also visiting the home of the Kentucky Derby, eating ‘real’ barbecue food and so on. The descriptions and pictures were fascinating. But no doubt it is all tediously familiar to you – we always crave what we don’t have. :^)
And make sure you pronounce it Ver-sales! 🙂 And Athens (just a bit SE of me) is pronounced with a long A.
Seriously, I do appreciate where I live – I’m right in the middle of the Bluegrass and horse country. It truly is beautiful.
(I’m still jealous…;-) )
Thus far, my SOTD is the gentle remnants of AG’s Myrrhe Ardente, which I wore to bed because I reminded myself of it in my comment yesterday. You know those Sanderson furnishing fabrics that fade gracefully until they’re just a sort of beige and the merest memory of colour, but never actually wear out? That’s MA. So, I have decided to wear Bel Respiro over the top. I get much more longevity out of BR than most people, and there’s a pre-faded quality to it that I think might be rather nice with MA. So that’s me sorted this chilly Monday.
In other comments, Dakkie and Isabella ostentatiously ignored us for three hours after we got home yesterday,,but finally Dakkie succumbed to the need for a two-handed tummy rub. He purred so much he dribbled, which was both enchanting and disgusting. Izzy is too elegant for tummy rubs, but I did receive a very discreet smooch on the back of my calf. I think the Waterdragon household has returned to equilibrium.
I’m going to wear my Wellington-bought shoes today. I had better not get blisters!
Have a happy week up there.
Hope your new boots are instantly comfy.
You might want to inform your fur-clan that they have it pretty good and that some cats have to endure the indignities of vehicular travel. I have to admit that my weirdos would rather go with us than be left alone but I suspect that’s an aberration.
Kuumba Made Amber Paste
I’m surprised that it isn’t better known. It costs around $10.00, it’s long lasting, and smells like it could be in the Serge Lutens export line.
Agreed…one of the best ambers to my nose…I finished mine lickity split….in fact there were several from Kuumba Made that I adored…Water Goddess being one of them as well as their variety of musks…..I used to buy them for seven dollars each at my local health food store….then they disappeared 🙁
Kuumba Made for sure!
Gaultier 2. An Incredible, Warm, Sweet, Sexy scent that I think just didn’t get the love it deserved. I Loved the smell of it on my skin, especially the dry down…
Great stuff. I layer it with Timbuktu and get compliments every time.
I’m a ‘party of one’ with my fave low key discontinued scent: Casaque. Not as sweet as Ysatis, cooler then a single flower scent, the best scent and worth hunting down on ebay. ( I have enough for the next five years.)
Party of two.
I find that many of the indies who make high quality oils are often overlooked. Regina Harris and her Amber Vanilla are a non-gourmand vanilla that is amazing, and Michelle Bergman’s Black Gardenia is heavenly. Jalaine’s Silk oil is one of my desert island scents.
Patchouli by Reminiscence — yes, patchouli, but clothed in amber and tonka: warm, cuddly /and/ elegant, quite wonderful.
I was going to mention the excellent Cuir Beluga on the grounds that Turin and Sanchez consider it mediocre, then decided that Cuir Beluga isn’t actually neglected here or on other blogs, so that’s why I’m not mentioning Cuir Beluga;)