Happy Best Buy Friday! Our community project for today: wear your favorite fragrance purchase of 2021. If you didn't buy anything this year, pick a favorite from a prior year.
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
I didn't buy much this year, but I finally have a little bottle of Tauer Perfumes Phi — Une Rose de Kandahar.
Reminder: 12/24 is Christmas Eve. We won't have a community project but there will be a poll starting on the 23rd, so if you're around, do tell us what fragrance you're wearing.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2021, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Sugar Cookie Wreath [cropped] by Daniel Ramirez at flickr; some rights reserved.
Whee, first comment!
I’m wearing Moonlight in Chiangmai, by far my favorite of the decants I got in the splitmeet. I’m already halfway through my 5mL and am considering purchasing a 50mL bottle. It’s really unlike anything else I have, although it makes me think of Ormonde Woman and Fils de Dieu, both of which I like a lot.
In other news, someone at my (kinda small) workplace tested positive for Covid, so I’m off to test soon. SMH!
Good luck!
I hope the test will be okay
Same here!
Same here.
Good luck, Missionista!
Good luck!
Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the good wishes, everyone! Rapid test came back negative, and the PCR results will come in a few days. There was a looooong line of people waiting to get tested.
Hope the PCR test comes back negative as well and you can breathe an even deeper sigh of relief. Sending a ? your way.
Hope that both tests come back negative!
Good morning, NST folks! I bought mostly sample sets this year, and the standout was from an indie perfumer whose line is called Angelos Créations Olfactives. He’s from Greece, and wow, what a talent! So far, my favorite is Salon dt. You can read about it here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/angelos.olfactives/posts/
However, my BestBuy must go to Tabac Eau de Cologne. I bought that huge, honking 10 oz bottle unsniffed just because I’ve wanted that bottle for forever. And was I ever surprised when I ended up loving it! Not bad for less than $25. ?
I think I wore this along with other masculine scents in the 80ies, it’s really good
I really like Tabac’s bottle, too. And I like any perfume bottle to be huge and honkin’ for dressing table drama! 😀
Yeah, baby!
10 oz — you are set for life!
Uh-huh. ??
Wearing Guerlain Encense Mythique D’Orient, my favorite full bottle purchase this year. It had been in my “to buy” list for several years. Even though I splitted the bottle, I am happy that I have enough to enjoy for the rest of my life!
Having my second cup of coffee with a couple of mini sea salt brownies.
We are having the last warm, sunny, beautiful day outside. Back to grey, cold, and rainy days tomorrow.
Happy Friday, everyone! ?
You smell great! This is a beauty, I bought it when it first came out.
Thank you, Apsara! It is one of my favorite perfumes. It always puts me a big smile on my face.
Mine too!
Mmm, sea salt brownies sound great, have one for me.? Happy Friday!
I will happily have one for you! ?
Have one for me, too, pretty please? ?
One for you too! Still have some left!?
You smell gorgeous!
Thank you, Cazaubon! ?
You smell wonderful. Encens Mythique would definitely have been my pick if I had purchased it this year!
Thank you, Tulipani! Encense Mythique is such a beautiful scent and worth the money. A tiny spray lasts forever!
You smell wonderful – I love EM, too, but it’s a little shy with me.
Thank you, MossyBerry!
Sea salt brownies sound so good…
They ARE…!
Incense and brownies sound like a great start to the weekend, IMO.
Yes! I need a good start to the weekend to finally start the holiday shopping!
Oh, good luck with that!
I haven’t bought anything this year (that I can remember — honestly the last two years have been a blur) and I hardly bought anything last year (mostly Lush solids), so I’m going all the way back to the last two liquid scents I bought, in early 2020.
In January of that year I surrendered to Mugler Angel Philtre Volupté which, since it was meant to be layered, I have stacked on top of SL La Fille de Berlin, which I ordered from Sephora in February 2020. And the combo is not bad! The Philtre is mostly sandalwood and vanilla with a little tobacco, and it seems meant to warm up and round off anything it touches: it does this very well with the dark thorny roses of LFdB.
What was your/do you have a favorite Lush solid? I plan to visit a Lush store this weekend.
Rose Jam and Lust are the best of the ones on the Canadian website — a vivid citrusy rose that always makes me happy and a take-no-prisoners jasmine, respectively. They are both excellent scents and combine beautifully (because rose and jasmine generally do).
The important thing to know about the solids is that they rarely smell like the descriptions. Goddess is supposedly jasmine, sandalwood, and oudh, but in fact it smells a *lot* like cola, in a good way. Sun is an orange sort-of-floral with absolutely no lasting power, but it’s nice while it’s there. And Dirty is a strange but compelling spearmint-tarragon thing — if you love both of those scents then you’re all set.
They appear to have gotten rid of a number of their solids, as they will do on a regular basis, which is a shame, because otherwise I would recommend 1000 Kisses Deep, a very nice fruity osmanthus, and What Would Love Do?, a brilliant tangerine lavender that is much better than it probably sounds.
Thanks, Pyramus – I’ll look for all of these.
Seconding the Lust solid! Sometimes all I do is take off the lid and get a whiff.
I am sure you smell great! Philtre sounds like something I should have bought.
I’m wearing Hermann A Mes Cotes. I got a decant a few years ago, and never tried it. I started using it this year and fell in love. When there as an announcement that ELDO was discontinuing their 30ml bottles, I purchased one.
Oh good, just in time then!
My recent bottle purchase
Ormonde Jayne
Royal Elixir Eau de Parfum
Green notes, orange, bergamot, jasmine, rose, amber, cedar, ambroxan, tonka, patchouli, musk
Ooh, that sounds nice!
2nd!
I get lots of compliments
I’m wearing my favorite buy of the year, Perris Monte Carlo Tubereuse Absolue! It’s such a pleasure to wear.
Given the rumors of school violence, today is a tense day for me, and quite a few students are absent. I’ll be glad when this day is done.
I hope the day goes well for you. My daughter is a sophomore in HS and her school sent out an email about that tiktok. I see one area school cancelled school today.
Hope all stay safe. Several schools in my area cancelled classes too. Pretty scary stuff!
Wow, had not even heard that but it’s all over the news. Ugh.
I had a mini of Scherrer gifted to me and loved it a lot, so I bought the big bottle of the EdT. This is something that I can wear everywhere and smell good. I am more and more drawn to yesteryears Chypres, might be getting old but I am okay with it.
Aren’t yesteryear’s chypres great? You smell really good 🙂
I ❤️ this one, and for some reason, I bought more than one BuB. Let me know if you want to try any other versions.
And inspired by you, I too bought Scherrer EDT this year and I love it! Here’s an enabler pin for you!
Oh, thank you, but isn’t it beautiful?
Old School Chypres rock! ??
Hello and TGIF!
Sotd and my favourite is Shalimar MVP. I adore the og but this is just so yummy and satisfying. I of course have a BUB as well!
Currently drinking…water. Stay hydrated!
SotD and BUB twins!? We smell great!?
I’m in Shalimar MVP. Definitely my favorite buy of this year. I went against my no blind buy rule and figured if I didn’t like it I could easily find someone here who did and swap. Well, I DID like it, so much so that I jumped on a BUB when I had the chance. My first BUB ever, I feel like a real perfumista. lol
Last Friday I got all my Christmas shopping done! Packages have been coming in all week and today the final ones should arrive. I’ve got a day of wrapping planned. Usually I have one or two last minute gifts hanging over my head, but not this year and it feels good. Plus, the sun is out.??
My first BUB ever was Shalimar Vanille…Mexique! Guerlain has gotten Shalimar vanilla flankers dialed in.
Twins with you in getting all shopping done and the ? ?is out here, too!
Triplets with sunny weather! ????
Hello everyone!
Yesterday was my birthday, and today will be the last day of my mini vacation visiting friends in Dallas. Back to the regular world.
I only brought one perfume as I knew I’d be shopping this week, but I may have gone a bit overboard. I’m in the one I brought, Cuir de Russie, but I can’t wait to share what I picked up. I have some confessing for Donatella….
Have a great day and stay safe!
Happy belated birthday, Coumarin! ?
Thank you!
Happy birthday! You smell great!
Thank you! Not sure if I would say this was my FAVORITE purchase of the year but it’s high.
Have a great birthday….you smell good!!
Thank you!
Happy belated birthday – you smell wonderful in Cuir de Russie. Overboard? A birthday weekend? Impossible!
I like that logic but my bag is definitely heavier on my way home.
As it should be!
Happy (one day late) Birthday!?
Thank you!
Happy birthday week!
Happy birthday, Coumarin! You picked a terrific fragrance for your trip, enjoy!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy belated birthday!
Glad you got to see friends and buy a very special treat!
Many happy returns, Cuir de Russie purchase twins.
Hope it was a wonderful birthday!!
Have a happy year Coumarin!
Happy birthday for yesterday!
Happy birthday and can’t wait to hear about all your goodies!
Happy Birthday! ?
Happy late birthday! You smell great, and we all look forward to hearing your confessions. 😉
Happy birthday and keep celebrating throughout your minivacation! ?
Happy Belated Birthday! ???? Here’s to celebrating in style!
Cuir de Russie is fab! You smell exquisite.
WHOOO!
Happy Birthday- and many, many happy returns! Cuir de Russie is an EXCELLENT B day gift!
Happy birthday a day late!
Friday, yay!
My best buy of the year and this was very close to a tie, was OJ Damask.
However, its still chilly in LA so I am wearing a sample of the new AdV Encens Japonaise.
It goes on like the original L’Artisan for AdV. Will see how it goes through the morning.
I’m curious to try Encens Japonaise and am guessing you smell amazing in it. Please keep us posted as it dries down. I lamented not being able to try L’Artisan for AdV so this could be my second chance:)
Thanks for commenting on the new AdV. The L’Artisan one had way too much cumin for me and smelled like bad BO, hoping Encens Japonais is better.
Thanks for the report back on Encens Japonaise! I will definitely get around to sampling this. I still have a sample of the original L’Artisan but never got a hold of a full bottle, it was hard to find by the time I discovered it.
Very good to know, thanks!
Okay, am about six hours into Encens Japonaise. And yes, I have work to do but somehow this seems pretty important to report on.
The description is opulent and spicy so I was expecting spicy opulence! Not so much though. I thought it very much like the opening of the original but then it begins to dry down and change.
The and black and pink pepper comes through – no blast, not harsh at all and it starts to envelope me in a warm softness of woods and rose. The freshness from the opening doesn’t fade completely and it continues to evolve into more incense. It’s incredibly well blended and wearable.
I love it. It’s not just a winter scent. The AdV scents other than the original never did it for me – something always weirdly unexpected would happen halfway through. To my nose, anyway.
This will be my holiday gift to me.
Again hoping they add travel sizes…
Thanks for the lowdown on the new AdV perfume!
I only bought a decant this year, but one of the best buys of the past was Ineke’s Idyllwilde. When I don’t know what to reach for, this one just seems to always be right.
Trying to get the last of my Christmas stuff together–boy the holiday jumped out at me this year!!
Yep, that one is lovely. Good luck getting it all done jepster!
I always think of you when I wear Idyllwilde!
As do I!
I’m in Green Spell and what a spell it casts. Last night I listened to Persolaise interview Antoine Lee and really enjoyed it.
I have much to share with Donatella but I keep telling her (and myself) that I’m making up for lost time, life is short, 8 spray minimum, I’ll only regret my economies, etc. etc.
I here you! After mentioning my love of big bottles I was reminded that, having collected many perfumes, I now appreciate the 30ml size! So that’s economy, I think.
I’m wearing Messe de Minuit, from the last splitmeet (or maybe it was the spring one? Can’t remember). It was a blind buy and I love it.
You smell wonderful, one of my favorites.
You smell wonderful – perfect for Christmas Holiday time!
Excellent pick for the holidays!
I am currently in Clinique Happy right now even though I want to be in Coromandel. Coromandel is my favorite purchase of the year. I know it will be a rough day at work and don’t want Coromandel to be ruined by it. I will be wearing it tomorrow though.
Coromandel is so beautiful! Great purchase.
I love Happy. Always will.
I will too. Undemanding and inoffensive.
Good thinking, and hope work goes better than expected!
The gold star for this year goes to Slowdive, which I’m wearing lavishly today. Supposed to boot up and head out into the woods but it’s so wet and frosty out that I’m dragging my feet. I’m sure I’ll feel great once I’m hiking up the hill, though, and I’ll smell terrific.
Yay for wearing your SotD lavishly!
“Running up that hill…”
https://youtu.be/wp43OdtAAkM
I love how you’re our DJ! 😀
Lillyjo and I take turns! ?
I’m joining a few others in Shalimar MVP as my pick. I just loved sharing in the collective NST enthusiasm and excitement for this scent. And so glad that this massive blind buy was a success. Although it’s a flanker, it has solidified Shalimar as my favorite of the Guerlain grandes dames.
Happy friday and happy upcoming holidays to all of you. NST has been such a positive and comforting space for me this past year, I wanted to say a word of thanks to Robin and all of you. I’m so impressed that it’s been place of uncompromising civility and thoughtfulness, along with many chuckles, many things learned, and many wonderful smells!! ?
Here, here!
how in the hell did I miss buying MVP? how???
thanks to a generous nster – I do have a sample I love.
It’s the people who make NST the very special place that it is. Very thankful for both!
Hmmm, I think my best buy of the year was Guerlain’s Le Plus Beau Jour de Ma Vie, got a lovely bee bottle from Saks this fall. But I was in the mood for Vanille 44 today so I’m wearing that. Have a happy Friyay!
Happy weekend to you!
You smell great in V44!
You smell great, Cazaubon!
Also, I have you to thank for today’s CP pick. ?
Happy Friyay back atcha!
Last day of work before 2 weeks off – woo-hoo! Now if I could only change the course of this new variant so I wouldn’t have to be anxious about leaving my house, that would really make me happy.
SOTD is Dune, although if I paid attention to the CP I would have chosen Akro Dark. Definitely see a full bottle of that one in my future.
Yay for 2 weeks! Boo to covid!
I hear ya on that variant. Not liking the news on that at all.
I didn’t buy much this year. I think the only bottle I bought was Baiser de Russie, which I’m wearing. A lot of sprays, since I’m home alone. As far as decants go, Shalimar MVP wins.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Ours will be quiet, likely. May try to persuade my husband to go up to our library/event pavilion for a free string quartet concert tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise, there’s an indoor farmers market tomorrow also. And a nearby winery has been serving Swiss fondue of late…we definitely need to go there.
Gosh I love Swiss fondue, and have not had it in ages. At a winery sounds even better…
Pretty sure wine + cheese is a complete meal…
It does sound luscious, doesn’t it? I make fondue at home with a pre-packaged combination that one just heats up and puts in a fondue pot. It comes from a real cheese shop and it’s actually delicious, but it’s not the same as the real thing in a restaurant, of course.
Fondue at a winery around Christmas? Wow.
SOTD = Lush Confetti
It’s Day 17 of my Perfume Advent Calendar and my brand was Lush. I picked my only perfume purchase from Lush this year and it’s a good one!
I am in the office today, my last day of work before my 2-week vacation! I am flabbergasted by people who are so self-aware that they only think of themselves. Case in point: a guy on the platform yapping away without his mask on and kept walking around, blowing air out forcefully; I finally just walked way further up so as not to breathe in his expelled air. Another case in point: a guy who couldn’t stop reading stuff on his cell phone. I probably would not have said anything if he stayed in his lane walking the same direction as me, but no, he was drifting back and forth that I finally had to mutter than he needs to pick a lane. I’m sure he heard me but seriously, it should take a bad accident for people to stop reading while walking.
I have a family get together on Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing everyone!
Have fun with your family 🙂
Thank you!
Enjoy the family gathering.
Thank you. I am looking forward to it. The last time the same group got together was in September when we were on the downswing of COVID but now, it will not be as carefree.
Scent twins!
I love twinning! First time ever that I could recall!
Commuter-brain kicks in and people forget the most basic stuff, like not exhaling forcefully with no mask during a pandemic…Seems like it would be obvious. Clearly commuter-brain is a strong force to reckon with.
Some people just don’t care. Period.
I’m envious of your two week vacation. I hope you have a marvelous time!
Thank you. A staycation is exactly what I need!
Yeah, I call that « alone in the world » syndrome.
Have a fun visit!
Thanks!
Yay for vacation! Enjoy your family gathering!
Thank you…I have to try not to keep checking email.
I call that “CoU” syndrome, where CoU stands for “Center of the Universe”.
Enjoy getting together with the family!
I called it this in my head!
I am now a little nervous about the get together…we’re huggers and I am debating if I should text some rules. One of my cousins is immunocompromised.
Oof da. Me personally, I would err on the side of caution. What risk can you live with?
Well, my favorite perfume purchase for the year has to be OJ Champaca, but I can’t wear it today because the new bottle is still wrapped up awaiting Christmas and I tinked the sample pretty thoroughly last month. Instead I spritzed on Woman, the only other OJ bottle I own. No regrets here!
You smell great!
Thanks!
OJ Woman is gorgeous, it was one of the samples I got in my DIY fragrance Advent calendar this past week. You smell great!
It’s one of my top ten, or maybe even top five. So gorgeous.
I’m in Hiram Green’s Vivacious, which is, paradoxically, a sophisticated violet gum scent.
Violet gum sounds so good to me! I need to try Vivacious again.
🙂
That sounds rather offbeat!
Chanel Sycomore, which I bought a few months ago, but I had been admiring this scent for such a long time.
you smell great!
That is such a lovely–and very powerful–scent.
You smell wonderful!
What a coincidence! Someone on IG asked me if Parfums Dusita Le Sillage Blanc was in any way similar to Sycomore and I had to say no, at least to me.
In Tam Dao today which I’m sure surprises no one! It was a reward for finding a new job and has been lovely all fall and into the winter!
Congratulations on the new job!
Congratulations!
Congrats!
Congratulations!
Congrats on both the new job, and the new perfume!
CONGRATS!
And Tam Dao is a great reward!
You smell peacefully divine.
Thank you all!
Congrats on both! ????
Somehow I missed this yesterday — so happy for you Adrihazel! Great way to start 2022.
Wearing Gris Clair today because it whispered to me, it smells so good. Haven’t worn it in too long. Had PT this morning and I can see progress, which is encouraging, then went by the bakery for some quinoa sourdough bread. Nice to be out on a cold sunny day!
So glad the PT is going well. I hope you continue to improve and start 2022 with a bounce in your step.
Thank you!
I love Gris Clair, and don’t wear it often enough. You smell great!
Glad to hear that PT is going well for you!
Yesterday I picked up my new glasses. For 20 years I’ve worn black heavy frames (Elvis Costello was my guide) but I decided to go opposite with round wire frames. Given that I can’t see without my glasses, and I had to wear a mask in the shop, I should have taken my time choosing and taken the pair home on appro. I didn’t …which is why, instead of looking like Alexandra Octavia Cortez, I now look like Granny Clampett. Here’s to ageing 30 years in a day, and being able to see the process clearly, with sharper eyesight! Wearing Confetti…at least I got something right this year. Off now to shake my walking stick at youngsters in the park and work on my holler.
I always find looking at frames frustrating! You can’t see and you almost need to live with them for a day. Taking them home on approval is a good idea.
Oh my!
Choosing glasses is not easy. I’ve got a pair I wear at home for really close-up things like threading needles, and deciding on the frames just for those was really hard.
You have my sympathies! The frame I had before my current ones, I was going for a sexy librarian vibe but ended up more early ’80s computer nerd. This time around I think I tried on almost every pair they had.
Well thank you for the laugh, but I truly am sorry…I have made serious errors in frame choice myself and I know how much it hurts.
“Wow, you look old for your age” is a compliment, right?
And you should have replied “ You look better without my eyeglasses!”
Excellent.
Will test Confetti if I find it this weekend when I plan to go to a Lush store. Picking glasses is a bummer – but Granny Clampett is not IMHO the *worst* look to end up in! My last pair has the annoying feature of catching and pulling out a hair when I take them off. Even if I think to check whether one is caught, I can’t figure out how to free it. I need them only for distance, so I take them on and off frequently when out and about.
And if you don’t find it, I will send it to you. Please just remind me via email!
You’re the cat’s pajamas, H – will do! 😀
Thanks for the laugh! I also can sympathize, having worn glasses for close to fifty years now.
Sorry about the glasses! It’s so hard to pick. What I do now is narrow it down to a few choices, take selfies of myself with each pair on, then go home and study them carefully. My problem is that I have a narrow nose so they tend to slide down and pinch my nostrils.
What a great idea!
We are indeed twins! I am wearing old eyeglass frames because I am not confident about my eyeglass frames choosing skillz.
I’m so sorry your glasses didn’t work out for you. Your story made me laugh a lot though.
I’ve been sticking to the same brand of glasses (and the same opticien) for years. So far it has worked.
“You darn kids!” *shakes cane*
Oh my. Picking new frames is a total pain in the you-know-what. Which is why I haven’t done it this year. Too many other pains to deal with.
But I got a good chuckle out of “Granny Clampett”!
Picking out a new frame with a mask is nearly impossible
Wearing By Kilian’s Angels’ Share, a best buy for several reasons: I’d wanted it since it first came out, then Sephora had a sale which discounted the price 20%, AND I had a gift card I’d been saving for just such a purchase. Oh, and I really love it as well–perfect for the gray, rainy weather we’ve been having this week. Happy Holiday wishes to all!
I like that one a lot – didn’t realize Sephora carried it!
Wow- you smell lovely!
And that was a great deal!
Nicely done!
Good job you!
My most favorite fragrance purchase so far this year (although I only had one that didn’t work out well) was Parle Moi de Parfums Milky Musk. I wear it quite often and under other fragrances as well. It’s also very cozy post shower and before bed. I’m off for a doctor’s appointment. Happy Friday, all!
Hope it went well! I’m glad I participated in your split!
Hope you got good news at the doc!
My favourite office scent buy for the year was Chanel Paris-Venise, and boy, did I ever need something nice to counter the rough re-entry to working Live. Bought the shower gel as well, and that makes the morning shower quite delightful.
Do you drive to work or take public transportation? My trains are still not reliable and they don’t consistently call out delayed or cancelled trains or those that have become local trains.
I’ve been on transit, which is fairly reliable here , although I also walk partway and work earlier hour to avoid the worst of rush hour.
I’ll semi-fit with the CP with Cabochard. I’ve had it for decades, but bought another FB this year. My other purchases are all heavier and warmer scents, and don’t seem right for a morning when the sun has finally returned.
Yay for sun!! I’m really enjoying it here today.
I didn’t buy any full-size perfumes this year (except for Azemour les Orangers, which is currently wrapped under my tree), so I’m wearing a sample of Francesca Bianchi’s Sex and the Sea that I picked up last month. I’m really enjoying it—such a great sunscreen scent, with more complexity than your usual fare. I’d love to see some thoughts on Bianchi’s fragrances here sometime! They’re really unusual—I haven’t liked all of them, but every one has been really interesting.
I really like a lot of the Francesca Bianchi perfumes, they are certainly all interesting and potent! I haven’t tried Sex and the Sea, but I have a FB of Lost in Heaven. I’m hopeless at describing perfume at the best of times and Lost in Heaven seems to have lots of everything. Fragrantica confirms that, it says amber, woody, animalic, then goes on to include heaps more, and that seems about right 🙂
I’ve got The Dark Side on my list of future purchases, and maybe also Luxe, Calme, Volupté.
The only problem for me is that my aging skin is getting increasingly sensitive to perfumes and Francesca Bianchi perfumes are the worst at bringing out a rash. They are strictly spray on fabric only.
I bought a bottle of Under My Skin, which I find a skin scent. It has a slightly…fatty? aspect to it, which I don’t mind but another friend took against it.
I have Sticky Fingers, Lost in Heaven, Angel’s Dust, Luxe Calm & Volupte and Tyger Tyger.
I have Sticky Fingers and partial bottles of Tyger Tyger and Luxe Calme Volutes. The rest, to my nose, are skankfests for which I am not a fan. They are all very well made though, so there’s that.
In Arquiste Infanta en Flor which I had wanted for nine year and is probably my favorite leather.
You smell lovely!
Thank you Cazaubon! It makes me feel elegant even though I’m in a track suit.
We are house twins! I’m sure you smell good even though I have never tried Infanta en Flor.
Hello house twin, Arquiste has some really great scents.
Wow, that was some serious perfume patience! Nine years?!
Loving the cookie photo! ?
I’m in Shalimar MVP today. So surprisin!?
Havn’t tried, but thinking it will go with cookies?!?
You don’t say ?
Somebody should sell cookie wreaths like that!
SotD for the CP: Alien Fusion. It is on sale at Mugler’s website, but I would not consider it a cheapie. However, it is tied with Iris Torrefie for my “best buy.” In both cases, I sampled first, the got the FB. (And both times the samples WERE like the FB I got.) In the case of IT, I nabbed the old style bottle discounted from regular retail at Saks, after I was alerted by an NST’er. Still not cheap, but I got a bunch of freebies and a Guerlain lipstick case with my cash back offer. The Fusion was a deal in my mind because the discounters only had the large size for about twice as much. 2021 is the year I realized 30mls is a great size for a perfume when you have, er, *lots* of other perfumes. Happy Friday, and so hoping you all will have some path to Holiday joy in the week ahead. I <3 NST.
IIRC, that Alien had a really nifty looking bottle, didn’t it?
Yes – very pretty bottle and even the box, as well as a wonderful scent. It’s light on the basic Alien formula, though that is there, and a cinnamon-stick and floral blend to fill in the difference.
I’m in Bois d’Armenie, which closely defeated MVP for today’s community project.
I’m becoming more of a Guerlain girl lately. I still cannot wear any of the classics but in the past couple of years I’ve fallen in love with no less than five Guerlain perfumes: MVP, Bois d’Armenie, Shalimar Philtre, Cuir Beluga and SDV.
Happy weekend everybody!
You smell wonderful!
Thank you!
You smell wonderful – Bois d’Armenie was my dark horse winner this year.
Thank you !
Happy Friday, all!
1) SOTD: Wearing my very best buy in terms of price, Bagatelle de Gabrielle, which I bought for $29.99 at Marshalls- but retails usually for $190. It’s a beautiful fragrance, fresh and light- orange blossom & tonka.
2) I started the new job- and these past two weeks have been a whirlwind of trainings, meetings, holiday dinner parties (all vaccinated, of course!) and celebrations of the change of the name on the various stock exchanges. The people I work with are amazing- truly diverse and smart, smart, smart. I am so lucky I landed here, and I feel that I am on the ground floor of something big.
Never heard of your perfume bit the notes sound lovely. So happy for you and your new job!
It’s so good!
It was so nice to read about your positive new work experience thus far – hope it continues that way for you and ‘something big’ becomes a reality. Good luck!?
Yay on how the new job is going!
Curious to know why it’s important to mention All Vaccinated because: 1) my assumption is that it is the norm already and 2) having read a number of handwringing type of holiday hosting comments, how do you know for sure unless they either present vaxx cards / pass or everyone is tested. Also, it seems like vaxx or no vaxx has no bearing on contracting it vs. not but does on the severity. A colleague and I were just discussing this today and there are no good answers.
1) There are those who will wonder, because in some areas COVID vaccines are *still* not a thing.
2) the goal of any vaccine is prevent 1) death and 2) the worst symptoms of the disease. The first point is key- I have had a ‘mild’ case of flu that developed into pneumonia when I was younger- and I still hear my labored, rattled breathing in nightmares.
Sadly, this.
Thanks. We don’t have any one vocal about being an anti-vaxxer which is overall probably for the best. As to deaths, I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure…not even close.
By the way, I may not see your response since I inadvertently did not subscribe!
Congratulations, it all sounds very exciting!
Sorta not participating in the project, wearing Durga, which I am surprised to discover I have had since 2018, according to what I have written down. Didn’t think I have had it so long! TGIF, I have had a long week at work, on -call, paged several nights. Today is the last day of this rotation, won’t have to do it again until after the holidays.
Happy, happy, merry, merry, everyone…
Late response, but glad you will have a break from on-call!
It was an anxiety-producing week for me, given the surge of the omicron variant coupled with the horrible storms and subsequent devastation here in the Midwest. But this morning’s yoga class by the ocean was especially soothing: Warm sun on my face, salty sea air, rocky cliffs, waves gently washing on the shore.
Ok, well, that part about ‘by the ocean’ is not altogether true, although the sensations experienced are. It was my SOTD, JM Wood Sage & Sea Salt, layered over a BBW lotion from a few years ago, Sage and Sea Salt, that took me on a much-needed escape to the Atlantic sea coast and memories of many wonderful trips to its rocky shore even though I was actually sitting in my living room right here in suburban Chicago. Wood Sage & Sea Salt is my contribution to today’s cp; I haven’t bought very much this past year but finally succumbed to this one and I’m glad I did. It’s definitely my favorite fragrance purchase of the year.
And I’d like to share with you a poem my teacher shared with us this morning, ‘my brain and heart divorced’ by John Roedel. I think it’s a beauty but it’s a bit long and needs to be savored when you have time. Enjoy, and enjoy the weekend ahead!
https://wavianarts.blogspot.com/2021/08/my-brain-and-heart-divorced-by-john.html?m=1
I am late (office Xmas party last night) but so sorry to hear you’re anxious Laila.
Morning yoga by the ocean makes me jealous though! And that’s the perfect poem for it, you must have a good yoga teacher.
Oh! Ewww! For all my fellow arachnophobes, and our NST’ers from AU: https://abc7chicago.com/huntsman-spider-australia-news-queensland-health-minister/11352240/
Nope nope nope nope nope!
Oh, Australia. Did I check inside my shoes before putting them on every – single – day while there? You bet.
NOT going to look!
Another gorgeous sunny afternoon, which was perfect for more errands. I will sure miss seeing the sun! The yucky cloudy weather is going to return for the weekend, sigh.
I was rather surprised when, after taking stock of the Perfume Stash, that I had 5 solid candidates for today! Two perfume unicorns, a BUB of a perfume favorite, an unexpected perfume crush, and a bottle that I had to get after swooning over a wee sample of it.
SOTD = Soivohle Paracelsus extrait. This was the one where the sample made my eyes roll back in my head after the first sniff. 4mLs of this could easily last decades!
We were Sun twins! Cloudy this weekend twins too!
Usually I am a day or two behind you in weather phenomena.
You and SherriG love this one. It wasn’t as sunny in NY.
We sure do! I got a lot of chocolate and a bit of tobacco today in addition to the dark rose.
Hello everyone! So many beautiful perfume choices today, very happy reading about these. Mine surprised me (I bought a lot this year, including the celebrated MPV and the lovely Perris Monte Carlo Jasmin de Pays), but today my favourite buy turned out to be the 20ml leather-clad travel spray of Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. I had been half thinking of getting a bottle, when I realised it had been largely withdrawn/discontinued in this country (and everywhere else??) so the day I spotted it on a clearance shelf in a local department store was a happy one. It smells much nicer than I remembered-maybe I understand Iris better than I used to-and it gives me the feeling that despite everything, I can still learn, and have been learning, not just waiting…I will be offline now until the new year so wishing you all a peaceful weekend and happy and safe times in the weeks ahead.
Happy New Year Dolce Vita! Be well!
Happy New Year!
Wishing you a warm and wonderful end to the year, and a happy new year ahead!
Happy Holidays to you, DolceVita! Be safe and be well!
Working tonight and all weekend. I’m trying to stay positive. My best buy of the year is a repurchase. Chanel Chance eau Vive. I find it very uplifting.
Sending you a little bit of “oomph” for those mental batteries!
Eau vive is a great choice for staying positive! Sadly, that one gives me a headache, but my younger sister loves it.
I don’t even know how this smells. I need to rectify!
I only bought two whole bottles this year (that I remember), Belles Rives and Ella. I’m wearing the latter. Interestingly I didn’t love this one at first. I tried when I got my bottle of l’Âme Perdue in January 2020 in Brussels, when Covid was already happening but we were not that aware of it yet.
I was given a sample of it and this summer it suddenly clicked. I’ve gone on more or less the same journey with Le Parfum de Thérèse, Une fleur de cassie, Diorella, Manoumalia, Amouage Gold and numerous others. Not liking them much at first, but feeling somehow intrigued, and therefore tempted to keep on trying to figure them out, only to be hopelessly smitten sometime along that journey.
Not all my great fragrance loves have needed that much work, some of best loved ones were swoons at first sniff, Heure Exquise, Sacrebleu, New York, Rien and all the classic Guerlains to name a few. But somehow not liking some from the first sniff makes them somehow worthier of being part of my collection
Back to Ella, it’s love. It’s cool, glamourous and delightfully overripe. It enhanced my day, which has been pretty good regardless. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Ella is a love for me, too, although we clicked right away. As I’ve mentioned here before, it reminds me of my mother’s signature 1000 without smelling too closely like it (so I can wear it without feeling like I’m dressing up in her wardrobe). The last time I wore it its fruitiness really struck me and made me giggle — cool and glamorous, for sure, but also mischievous!
Definitely mischievous!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend as well, Austenfan.
Luxembourg must be heavenly decorated at this time of year, I imagine.
Are Christmas markets in full swing?
As much as they can be under the circumstances. It is a nice country to live in. It has a certain gentleness.
I wrestled long and hard over what was my “best” fragrance purchase this year. The January Joy Box from 4160 Tuesdays? The monthly scent subscription that has put some lovely but (imho) overpriced fragrances within my reach? The Zara collaborations with Jo Malone, which are great buys? The Heirloom Elixirs from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz?
I finally went with the vintage EDTs of Chanel No. 19 and Cristalle that I found online this year for reasonable prices. I never want to be without them! So they’re my favorites, at least today, and I’m wearing Cristalle.
Excellent! Your patience was indeed rewarded!
That is a great choice!
Vintage for the win!
Going all in on the CP today in Winter Palace. Do not regret a penny of this most-expensive-ever (for me) purchase.
Good, most regrets are a waste of energy 🙂
So late to the party because of my busy day at work tying up loose ends before my week of vacation. Yay, vacation week!
I bought a good amount of wonderful perfumes this year, and today I went with one that I also tried for the first time this year. It was Frassai Blondine. It comes on a little strong at first, but I love it.
I am even later — joining you in the yay for vacation week!
I want some of those cookies!