Happy Almost-Friday and happy National Fried Chicken Day! Birthdays: Frida Kahlo, Hilary Mantel. (Plus a quick PSA: the summer reading poll is coming up this weekend.) What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm taking points in Pierre Guillaume Musc Maori.
Reminder: 7/7 is World Chocolate Day, and shockingly enough, we've never done a chocolate project (I don't think, anyway). Wear a perfume with a chocolate note, with bonus credit if chocolate (or something related to chocolate) is in the name. If you don't have a perfume with a chocolate note, partial credit for wearing something with a note you like to eat with chocolate.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2023, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image via Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Facebook.
You smell great Robin! I’m in another round of Lys du Désert, 23 spritzes. It’s another scorcher here today, 40+ with the humidex. The overnight « low » was 23 at 4am… I was up to enjoy it, lovely pink sunrise at 4:30. Now back inside under the fan.
23? Wow! I think you’ve sped by Hajusuuri. 😉
How did that play out?
No problem at all! It just seems to melt into my skin.
I did 16 sprays yesterday and that was nowhere near cazaubon’s 23 spritzes.
I think I would pass out!
L’Artisan Piment Brulant for the CP. I must admit that can barely smell cocoa or chocolate in this one – it makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the beginning. For me, this is a fresh pepper fragrance, and I love it for it. There are not enough perfumes that are fresh and spicy at the same time, in my opinion.
One of my absolute favorite L’Artisans. I love the wet pepper scent, though I do get a bit of chocolate in the base, very subtly. It smells like summer rain to me.
I do not get any cocoa or chocolate either. I only smell fresh cut green peppers. Very refreshing for hot summer days.
Funny, I get all kinds of chocolate from this one! I love it; so weird and good.
Wow, this scent is a real shape-shifter!
This sounds good! Will have to seek it out next time I am in A Real City.
I think it is discontinued. 😥
I got a bottle of PB not too long ago on a discount site, so there are still some floating about
Also: I had my first real Ukrainian language lesson today! (Vs. Duolingo) We spent the hour going over key pronunciation differences between Ukrainian and Russian (the instructor is a native speaker of both languages) and acquainting ourselves with the alphabet and short dialogues. There were some interesting surprises in the alphabet!
Oh, congrats! I am so happy when people learn Ukrainian. Especially in these times. I understand you are a native Russian speaker. If so, Ukrainian should be easy for you.
Oh, definitely not a native speaker! English is my first language, but I have a doctorate in Slavic languages and literatures, with Russian as my specialization (neither my undergrad nor grad programs offered Ukrainian, though the latter had it briefly just as I was finishing up). I want to be able to chat with my Ukrainian-speaking students. I’m afraid the false cognates may make reading literature in Ukrainian quite a steep mountain to conquer.
Ah, ok. I assumed because of your name. I thought maybe you are one of those Russian speakers that left their country while being young, so they have native proficiency in both Russian and English.
I find that knowing a similar language helps a lot when learning a new language (Swedish and English are good examples). If you know Russian on such a high level, I think you’ll do great learning Ukrainian. Good luck!
(Actually replying to Glannys) — I’m just a Vysotsky fan 😉
I’m in Lea because it was mentioned yesterday. You guys, my bottle is suffering from evaporation.😩 The volume is definitely shrinking and the juice has gotten concentrated and amber colored vs the straw color it was when the bottle was new (to me, it was a lucky ebay purchase). Anyway this led me down the rabbit-hole of course of trying to see how I can get my hands on another bottle. I read on fragrantica and one other blog that it is still in production!!?? under the label Montaigne market located in both Paris and Saint Barth. Is anyone familiar with this shop? Although….even if it’s legit I am not planning a trip to either of those places anytime, well, ever because: flying. I am going to try and email them.🤔
Please let me know what you find out about Lea – I gave up looking quite a while ago. Interesting that it might still be in production.
I will! This is what my internet sleuthing found
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkfHeWRHhaJ/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==
Interesting! Thank you.
Dang! They emailed me back already and said that “Lea parfum is done”☹️ guess I’m back to stalking ebay.
Oh darn. Thanks for the research.
Have you wrapped your Lea bottle neck in Parafilm?
Feeling grumpy as not enough sleep and now we have wildfire smoke. Since we don’t have AC, windows have been open and fans on all night. Oh well, this too shall pass.
I am going to take my grumpy self and join Robin in Musc Māori, feed the neighbor’s kitty, then take my guest to my favorite garden store and then get coffee.
Oh and in honor of National Ice Cream month and our chocolate CP (I am such a team player), I did make homemade stracciatella ice cream on Tuesday and it was delicious!
Oh — the ice cream must be divine!
Coffee and a trip to the garden store ought to cure the grumpiness!
Ooh, your ice cream sounds fantastic! Coffee, garden stores and a cat sounds like a great day!
Allergies plus smoke were doing a number on me. I tried wearing a mask, and this helps more than I expected! Especially if you are sort of sitting around trying to stay cool, it’s no bother at all and dramatically decrease ear, nose and throat raspiness. I love my CPAP machine for the same reason, filtered air all night long helps a lot
Ugh, sorry that you are now dealing with wildfire smoke.
Oh drat. I am sick of smoke already…and really we’ve only barely suffered here. Good luck to you! Masks really do help if you can stand to wear them.
Did someone say reading poll?? LOL
I am off to the library later today to volunteer..
SOTD musc ravageur
Oh, you smell marvelous, darling!
MAH-VE-LOUS!
I should wear this one more often. Something about it reminds me of Shalimar. What about you?
Do you believe there was a security issue at the library and we all had to be evacuated. All is ok (Lions are ok), but seriously-who would want to hurt the library?
On the bright side I met my better half for lunch and then went home. So no volunteering today.
Wow!! I suppose a crazy book ban person?
Almost chocolate day, so I’m in almost chocolate: Yves Rocher Neonatura Cocoon, salty dusty cocoa powder with vanilla and patchouli. Simple but terrific.
oooh, that sounds yummy!
I finished the last of a decant of L’Eau de L’Artisan. Aromatic, which is a relief after all of the inadvertent sweet scents I’ve worn this week.
I have such a soft spot for L’Eau de L’Artisan 🙂
Continuing Vetiver week with Vetiver in Chestnut. First I’ve tried from this brand, and I love it. I’m awful at picking out notes, but it feels quite light, with a softness to it. Not barbershop-y at all. 👍🏻
Ah, it’s orris root.
I might not be back today; waiting for a flight now. On to Seattle to visit my aunt, who is now in a care place in Tacoma near her family. Can’t wait to see her and her new place. It’s brand new and everyone loves it. Yay!
Then on to Anchorage and up to visit my bro and SIL in Wasilla. I haven’t been up there in several years. The biggest change is I’ll get to see their log cabin, which *they built themselves!*. I saw it with only a pile of logs waiting to be stripped.
Text or email when you are here!
👍🏻
What a wonderful trip! Wow!
Thanks, Calypso! It’s starting out well.
Sounds like a great trip!
Thanks❣️
Safe travels! Enjoy!
Thanks so much! I hope you are feeling AA little better today. 🤗
Have a safe and fun trip!
I’m glad to hear your aunt is in a nice place.
Thanks, lillyjo. Yes, she deserves it. 🙂
Safe travels and enjoy the visits!
Thanks, I will. 🥰
Agree that sounds like a wonderful trip! Enjoy.
Thank you, Robin!
Fun, fun, safe travels and enjoy time with family!
Thanks, Meredifay! It’s so nice to have some family that you like to be with. 😉
Wearing Angel Liqueur, my favorite version of Angel. We are having dinner with friends then going for a boat ride this evening, so I might switch to Coromandel. I will probably need a sweater, and yesterday it was 90F! I do love a summer cold front. We had wild rain and wind last night.
A big difference in weather today here too.
Have a great time!
My favorite too.
Not CP compliant today. Wearing Fzotic Pantoum for another hot, humid, uncomfortable day.
Thank you for all your comments yesterday. As always they are very supporting and comforting. I feel better today.
Having my second cup of coffee and ready to face a day of long meetings. I am glad is almost Friday.
Happy Thursday! ☕️
I’m glad you are feeling better 🌷
Thank you, Lillyjo! 🌻
Happy Thursday to you!
Thank you, Jalapeno! 🌻
Changing things up today with 24 Faubourg — but still sticking (mostly) to Hermès.
After watching Cocteau’s “Le Sang d’un poète” (1930) yesterday, I’m moving on to the second film of his Orphic trilogy: “Orphée” (1950).
Last year, Hermès had a gorgeous silk scarf called “Sous le charme d’Orphée” designed by Alice Shirley. I so wish I had been able to get it.
Oh I need to investigate the Hermès scarf!
It has mostly disappeared from Hermès sites, but there is a blog post about it here: https://thelibrainretired.com/2022/07/25/scarf-of-the-moment-sous-le-charme-dorphee/
It’s cooler today but still too hot for much, so I’m in Le Dix dusting powder once again.
I have some, too, and it is perfect for hot weather.
Hello everyone!
Reporting back after taking my second and last final. All A’s. I’m over the moon.
I wore L’Heure Bleue EdP today, which hits the perfect balance between richness and radiance.
Have a great day everyone!
Congrats on the A’s!!!
Hey now, congratulations! Something to be proud of for sure! 👍🏼
Nice!🙌🏻🙌🏻
Congratulations! And smelling great!
Wonderful!
Woo-hoo!
Congratulations on good grades! Doesn’t it feel good to be done for a little while?
Your hard work has paid off! Congratulations! Woo hoo and now a trip to Iceland!
W00t w00t w00t! Congratulations!
Congratulations on your excellent work!
Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations on your perfect grades! Enjoy the trip with your mom. ❤️
🌟🌟🌟 Congratulations, Coumarin!
Fantastic news!
The CP had me stumped for minute there; gourmand doesn’t feature much in my fragrances. Plus, I have an eye exam in an hour, so I was staying scentless (but then lunch was a salad with a bit of onion on it, whoops). BUT! It dawned on me that I have a sample from DSH that features chocolate – called Dark Moon. It’s part of her holiday collection, but it doesn’t seem to be too much for right now. Description from site: ‘A rich and sophisticated ‘chocolate chypre’ with notes of red wine, dark chocolate, and warming holiday spices’
Nice stuff!
I really like Dark Moon, especially in the winter. You smell great!
It’s hot which doesn’t scream chocolate to me, but I’m mostly working inside today so I tried Dame Chocolate+Rose. I got the Chocolate box a while back with small sprayers of each of the chocolate perfumes, although I dropped Chocolate+Milk and it broke – it smelled nice on the floor! The rose is pretty dominant in the Chocolate+Rose, not my favorite. Will probably wear the Chocolate+ tomorrow to really lean into the CP.
The rose in Chocolate+Rose fades rather quickly on me. I wish it didn’t.
Currently enjoying scorching coffee, toasted cracked wheat sourdough with my favorite preserves- TJ’s Blueberry. I couldn’t find this jam at any TJ’s last year and I’m so happy it’s back. It’s the little things! 😁
CSP Amour de Cacao for me today. I’ll be indoors (again) so it won’t be too heavy. It’s a not-too-sweet chocolate that almost everyone likes, although they don’t recognize it as a perfume per sé. Mostly there are comments about baking cookies, pastry, etc. I don’t find it that sweet but I guess some do.
On every day off, I’ve gotten a text from the hospital because they are still short staffed. Today must be really bad because the text changed from “need help” to “We have a SPECIAL offer for you! Call now and find out!” Maybe staffing is now trying to play “The Price is Right” game. So weird. Hurry up September! 😃
Gosh I would have been tempted by the special offer! Lol
A new car? A Hawaiian trip? A extra break on your shift? Lol
Nothing could induce me to do more than my regularly scheduled hours. Not even a Hawaiian vacay🌺
I found out the hard way that caramel chips are seasonal at TJs. I now always check the shelves where they would normally be and when I see them (probably not until October), I am going to clear the shelf.
Yes, I really wish the pumpkin oat milk and pumpkin cream cheese were staples year round. And like you, when they do come back in stock I will be clearing the shelves! 🙂
Lillyjo! I’m sampling Kerosene Summer of 84 today and you wanted to know about it–it’s a nice mixed citrus, grapefruit-forward. Not as sharp as Guerlain Pamplelune and not as sweet as an Atelier citrus. It’s nice, but my summer citrus #1 will always be Profumum Roma Acqua Viva.
A “cooling trend” set in last night, so the temps today are *only* supposed to be in the low 90’s after yesterday’s 102F at my house. Ugh.
They dare to call that a cooling trend? 🤣
Thanks for the info!
I was also interested in Summer of 84. I’m always up for a good grapefruit note!
Happy Thursday!
I was in the mood for a funhouse fragrance today:La Petite Robe Noire,not sure which version this is(illustration on the bottle is a long one-shoulder black dress).Love it.
🌹🤗
That’s the Couture version. The best one imo. You smell great!
Thank you!Ah yes,Couture!🌹✌🏻
You smell wonderful! I am a big LPRN fan – the flankers and the bottle styles are overdone, but I’ve enjoyed wearing any and all of them I’ve tried.
Me too!I have 3 or 4 of the variations,maybe one day I should “layer” them all?🤷🏼♂️😉🤣
Do it!🤣
🙌🏻🙌🏻😉
😱You would be smelled all around the world!
Haha!So defo not a bad idea then?🤣🤣🙌🏻🌹✌🏻🤗
Worth Courtesan, which has cacao listed. I detect a light sweetness, which I might have thought was a floral-tonka thing. As I said earlier, I had to use Fragrantica’s Search By Notes/My shelves feature to get my CP points this week.
Courtesan is a wonderful summer scent.
No shame in poking around Fragrantica to get some help with a CP.
Just tried Roja Dove Diaghilev and posted a review. If you have vintage Mitsouko or Givenchy III, you pretty much have Diaghilev. For over $1,000 for 100ml, it’s going to be a hard no and I love it though. I will content myself with the 9 bottles of vintage Mitsouko.
Currently in Lyric right now.
Oh good to know!I’m covered with both vintage Mitzi and 111!
Still stubbornly sticking to vanilla. A ce soir by Pont des arts is my choice for today. This might be my favourite vanilla, actually. I bought it during the first lockdown after I read about it on Graindemusc.
I will wear chocolate tomorrow, I promise!
I could probably also do a whole vanilla-month!
I just love vanilla in perfume! Which vanilla is your favourite?
Eau de Rochas today and tonight Clinique My Happy Cocoa Cashmere, a travel spray coming handy for the CP.
Eau de Rochas is such a stunning cologne.
Glad you love it too, in summer it’s so refreshing but it has presence too with the mineral note and patchouli.
That Happy Cocoa Cashmere is such a cheerful little sniff.
Yes, it really is and that format is irresistible.
My aunt came over today about an hour earlier than expected. She called ahead to ask if it was ok. I said yes and then turned into the Tasmanian devil of cleaning. Lol. We then went out for a nice lunch. I wore and thunked Nest Sunkissed Hibiscus body oil. I got this from a gift set, I wish it was sold separately. I am currently wearing Samsara.
LOL at “the Tasmanian Devil of cleaning”!
Glad that you had a nice lunch with your Aunt.
That’s so great with your Aunt visiting and the nice lunch you had!
Hope you had a wonderful lunch with your aunt, lol it reminds me of myself cleaning before my brother arrived.
Ooohhhh that is a difficult question!
The Vanillas in Guerlain esp Shalimar and Jicky
Atelier Cologne Vanille Insenseè
CSP Vanille Abricot which I wore quite recently!
Gaultier Squared was an absolute gem!!
Which are some of your faves?
This was answering austenfan.on the vanilla question!
No probs, I like floral vanillas, so A ce Soir, Vanilia, Fleur des Comores. But I also greatly enjoy Havana Vanille, Vanille Havane, Vanille Tonka, Vanille Intense and of course Shalimar.
I’ve got a chocolate perfume figured out for tomorrow but until then it’s too hot to wear chocolate scents. It has cooled off a bit today with a high of 83 but the last two days have been fairly miserably hot. Today I’m in Songes, which I’ve been wanting to wear since I rediscovered my bottle of Montale Intense Tiare on Tuesday. They’re both lovely. I’d say Intense Tiare gives you a long, steady beachy tiare scent with tinges of coconut while Songes goes strong with the florals and vanilla blend for hours and then fades to mostly vanilla.
Yesterday I refreshed all day with cold Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale from the fridge. I love the verbena note in that one. And I started my hot weather perfumes week with B&BW Coconut Lime Verbena on Monday.
I’m really excited to watch the last two episodes of season two of The Bear tonight! And I finally watched Casablanca on the 4th and can’t stop thinking about it.
Hopefully your relatively cooler weather will make it out to where I am sometime soon.
I hope so too!
Was at Sephora this morning briefly. Their perfume section at the location was sparse. But they had a bunch of purse sprays at another display. I tried Maison Louis Marie n 4 Bois de Balincourt on one wrist and n13 Nouvelle Vague on the other. They were fine. I would probably think n 13 a lot if I was newer to fragrance, but it is similar to other things I already have that I like much more.
Always fun to try something new though.
Happy-almost-friday all!
Interesting that the perfume section was sparse…I also notice that their online selection seems less interesting than it once did.
You’re all getting tired of me wearing Terracotta so I won’t mention it. 🙂 Made it through the past two nights without resorting to Ambien, thank goodness, but am still waking up before 5am and thus am feeling extremely cranky, discouraged, and fragile. I’m putting together a grant proposal to help fund my thesis research and oh, lordy, it’s a doozy! Part of me wants to crawl under the bed and have a good cry; part of me wants to drop out of grad school because what the heck am I doing also working full time and being a single mama; part of me wants to quit my job and run away to sea. But no, I will lace up my figurative boots and spend the rest of the day familiarizing myself with regional fire and climate adaptation plans.
And then I will drink.
Oh gosh that all does sound overwhelming but your research also sounds both challenging and truly important! I’m glad you’re sticking with it. We all need you.
Stick with it! Research is so important, no matter the field.
You can do it Isabella!
Not at all tired of hearing about Guerlain Terracotta!
You’ve done amazing things in the past. You can do it again.
Keep going! You can do it!
As someone who did not finish grad school (I “dropped out” with a MA) I hope you will find a way to persevere, then again, the grass is always greener, right? I’m sure you will find a way to do what is right for you. Meanwhile, we’re all rooting for you!
Stinking hot and humid today. Pretty sure I saw the air temp hit 93 degrees F, and the Real Feel temp was around 97 or so. YUCK!
A quiet day of getting some things done, which I really appreciate after yesterday’s aggro.
SOTD = Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Toit, from the sample stash, and Bliss’ Lemon & Sage Body Butter on my shins.
Surprise! I am wearing perfume today!
You smell wonderful!
Have you noticed if your sense of smell is any stronger because of the perfume hiatus?
Sur Le Toit is not my thing, I think.
I haven’t noticed a change in how sensitive my sniffer is, due to my perfume hiatus. But I have been paying much more attention to ambient smells in my vicinity. Some, like hot concrete or sun-warmed pine needles are rather pleasant. And alas, there are the NOT nice smells, like the stink of the garbage bins roasting in the summer sun. Bleah!
I only went out to retrieve my mail today. I’m glad you were able to get things done today.
It was rather grody when I took out the garbage at lunchtime. Welcome to July the HOT!
That lemon + sage scent is soooo good.
Yesterday and today my AC was like: “lady, you’ve got to be kidding me — if it’s 95 outside yer not gettin 72 inside.”
SO glad that we had extra insulation blown into the attic right before COVID shut down the world! It makes a difference with the energy bills.
I woke up briefly at 4-something this morning and heard the A/C plugging along.
I’m in YSL Paris today because it’s too hot and humid and the chocolate has all melted. 🙁
Thank you everyone for kind and supportive comments yesterday on my friend’s death. It helped and I wound up looking at a lot of old photos and smiling over them.
Going out for a big Chinese dinner tonight at a nice restaurant!
My oldest perfume love, you smell wonderful!
Enjoy your dinner!
Time to put some chocolate in the fridge or freezer?
I saw this yesterday and immediately thought of you and your kitty club!
https://www.uinfootwear.com/products/w1109546-us?_pos=5&_sid=77c7e5cb0&_ss=r
Have a great time!
In a tiny spritz of Cristalle Eau Verte because 1) I want to use I up before summer ends; 2) it’s very hot today; 3) Mr. skal and I have been deadline with tummy bug all week and this was the first day I could contemplate fragrance. We are both on the mend, and my case was far milder than his. Better this week than next, when we are traveling. (And it’s not COVID.)
I may try Borneo 1834 tomorrow — cannot remember who posted this week about wearing it in hot weather, but I may as well give it a try.
I hope you feel 100% soon!
Oh ICK! Stomach bugs feel even worse in the heat of summer.
Feel better soon!
Deva wore it earlier in the week and I wore it today! I also had hot soup at lunch. I swear if you do the opposite of what one normally expects, some wonderful effects show up!
I’m glad you’re on the mend and that your husband is not far away from his own recovery.
Hot as blazes today. Had to rush to the office for a meeting this morning, so Lubin Kismet was the first thing I grabbed.
No time for my regular smoothie this morning, so I just had it for dinner instead: yogurt, protein powder, blueberries and banana.
Kismet is gone now, so thunked another sample: taking a point for P. Guillaume Djhenne, for the cocoa bean note. I keep sniffing my wrist… not quite gourmand, not quite masculine, but delicious nonetheless. Maybe chocolate in perfume isn’t so bad!
Ah, and don’t remember if I tried Djhenne but sounds like I should!
I’ll put on Olympic Orchids California Chocolate after I have my shower. It’s too hot now for anything except sunscreen.
I’m home alone as hubby is caddying for his brother in a local golf tournament; plus tomorrow and Saturday as well. I’ve gone before but ended up with heatstroke so I just bow our now. It’s great exercise to walk the course since there are lots of good hills to hike but no thanks to overheating. There are also marmots on part of the course; always funny to watch them.
Hope everyone is staying cool!
Marmots *are* funny! They are the high altitude cousins of prairie dogs.
Pretty cute! Although we had one under the hood in a vehicle one time. Not too much fun trying to get them out.
I’m in Akro Dark today, gathering up a point. I like this, but hadn’t noticed it goes through a phase when it’s a little masculine on me. That makes it a like, not a love. A pretty strong like, though!
We’ve had an afternoon of rain, both hard rain and some slow, peaceful sprinkles. We needed it badly. I kinda wished I’d left some chili in the freezer for days like these, but it’s either not there or so deeply buried I can’t find it. 😆
I always find that tub of chili months later when I no longer need it!
SOTD = Serge Lutens Borneo 1834
😍😍😍 Points for sure!
Thank you for your kind words yesterday. No one know what the future holds. I know she wants to fight it and many times it is already 3/4 of the way there.
Here’s the link to IG:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuX_fJ1xsog/?igshid=Y2I2MzMwZWM3ZA==
SL Borneo 1834 seems to be rather elusive in these here parts! Never seen a bottle IRL.
I forgot to post my SOTD yesterday, which was Serendipity 3, so I’ll claim a point for that plus a half point for showing with the Lush Posh Chocolate this morning.
Today’s SOTD is a sample of Argentum’s Magician. I’m getting myrrh, benzoin, chili, and black pepper, but it feels a bit flat and listless. I had high hopes because Delphine Thierry did this line, and I love the spicy scents she has done for Lubin, but there is no comparison for me.
Tea today was the new-to-me Italian Grey from Clipper Ship, with rosemary. It toes the line of being *almost* savory and I’m thinking it will be a good lunchtime tea.
Serendipity 3! Have not smelled that in ages.