Our twelfth annual 'stepping back' poll: can this group of shameless enablers help each other not buy perfume? Let's find out.
Name a perfume you've been itching to buy but suspect you might not need, and tell us why you think it might not really be a good use of your money. Maybe everyone will talk you out of it. Or, maybe not so much.
If you participated in this poll last year, tell us if you ended up buying the fragrance anyway!
Note: image is Crater Lake [cropped] by aspearing at flickr; some rights reserved.
At this point that would be pretty much ANY perfume… 🙂 My collection is a lot smaller than many others’ here, I think, but I still have more perfume than I will ever use up over my lifetime.
I guess the one on my list that I could be talked out of is Jubilation 25 Woman. I love this perfume, or at least the 15-year-old iteration of it that I have a decant of. The decant, though, could probably get me through my whole life, since I’ve only ever dared to put on one tiny spray at once. I guess if I had the FB I could spray more liberally, but would I? It’s so strong. Anyway, maybe it’s been reformulated?
Box of Eels is also on my list but I think the only thing talking me out of it is price.
Ummagumma is on my list but on a day like today, no one is talking me out of that — I need all the warmth and comfort I can get to go out into -12C weather. Plus the travel spray is nearly free in perfume math. I should just buy it, but then I think I should leave it on my wish list as an affordable gift for someone else to buy, but then I won’t want it so much at my birthday in May…been going back and forth.
Bundle up, those of us in North America! It’s COLD out there!
Going to enable you – go for that Ummagumma travel spray!! I hardly ever buy bottles anymore. I keep trying curate down to a small collection which might actually get used up!
This is exactly what I’m trying to do as well. 💯
Ummagumma is a wonder! I have FB that I bought at Fumerie in Portland iirc. And compared to other perfumes and prices, his are quite moderate. Okay, never mind! I just looked up the price and thought it was less. I must be remembering what I paid back in 2018…but it’s still worth it imo.
I’d prefer to talk you into buying Jubilation 25 🙂 . It is potent, but gorgeous.
Life is short. Get the Ummagumma travel spray. It might be limited edition.
The “collector” impulse in me wants to buy the full set of Chanel Eaux (I have Deauville and Riviera). But I just do not need ANYTHING, so I won’t buy them despite the price point being fairly reasonable for perfume these days. I think if I had a local source for interesting perfume, I would be much more tempted to continue to try and buy but I think I’m done buying samples online. (I have hit the age where the impulse is to reduce my belongings vs add to them!)
Same here, especially as it pertains to samples. Oh, and if you want a bit more of reasoning for Les Eaux, they do seem rather similar.
Maybe wait for summer to get more Chanel Eaux, in winter you may be less likely to wear them. Also try them again and see which you really love and only get the one you like best.
I really like Deauville in the summer. I also had a sample of Venise and thought it was meh so I would sample before buying FBs. I know they are reasonably priced, but you may not be thrilled with all of them.
Life is uncertain. I bought them all.
The only one I would not replace is the Edenbourough. It’s beautiful, but I associate all the others with warm weather, heat and light whereas this one is more fall, a bit of overcast skies.
I haven’t smelled the 2 most recent Chanel Eaux, so I have no idea if they would be worth your while. But I heard a lot of nice things about Paris – Paris.
Wearing Tauer’s PHI today. It’s magic in these cooler months. 🥰
I don’t think I’m anywhere close to the edge of any perfume buy these days. I have a feeling with the exponential rise in prices, not only in perfumes, but everything else as well, more people will find it a bit easier to step back. If you’re still wanting to jump, go for it! Just pack a parachute. 🪂
We’re off on a walkabout in the blinding sunshine. My bones are feeling great, just soaking it all up and maybe feeling not quite as old and stiff.☀️
Will you send me some Sun?
I will pay extra for fast delivery!
Here’s some sun and blue sky as well as a huge plant and a baby T-Rex:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2DRMDtOhj1/?igsh=MWJuOXU5YWdxYjkwNQ==
Hoping you get sun very very soon! ☀️
It looks a bit like an overgrown Teddy Bear Cholla, but googline other Sonoran cactuses it seems more likely that it is a Jumping Cholla.
I think you are absolutely right! And thanks to Calypso, I now know how to pronounce is correctly! What would I do without you perfume people?! I get smarter every day that I hang out in NST.🥰
I’m in Molinard Habanita, a favourite cold-weather scent, guaranteed to warm me up.
I don’t need talking out of anything right now because I was fairly extravagant in the last quarter so I’m done shopping for the time being. I have enough!
You smell wonderful in Habanita.
2nd that!
The only ones on my to buy list is the Gris Charnel extrait and Eau de Hongrie. I am trying to keep full bottle purchases to only 2 this year. Wearing Coco Mademoiselle today.
I really love Gris Charnel
I want to love it, but…
If you say it one more time I won’t believe you 😂
I’m sorry 😞
I’m sorry I was so late getting here to delete the duplicates! They are zapped now 🙂
I probably could give an enablers pin to allo for a recent FB purchase of L’Artisan’s Iris de Gris having fallen for it from her split last year.
Loving this one so much, especially for layering. This is also a special bottle as I purchased it in Paris and had my name engraved on it – who knew this was a thing!
I would say I’m content with what I have for the time being. We’ll see how long that lasts. 😉
SOTD: Eau Des Sens
I’m a proud enabler and it’s even more wonderful that you purchased your FB bottle in Paris!
Haha. Thank you again for hosting that split!
Please share how you’re layering Iris de Gris! I’m not reaching for it as much as I was when I first got it.
I like it with green scents or other iris scents. Lately I’ve layered with Philosykos, for example.
Drôle de Rose Is another one I layer it with. Such a pretty mix.
Happy weekend everybody!
Sotd is Violette Volynka.
That brings me to the Hermes that’s calling my name, Oud Alezan. I love oud and I already have so many of them. Do I really need another rose-oud in my collection? No. But I am very intrigued by how Hermes will interpret this done-to-death combo…
Hermes may surprise you…who knows!
Sorry no help here since I am interested in that too!!
I am currently almost buying a bottle of Terracotta. I’ve wanted this for quite a while and always talk myself out of it. I don’t really know why that is.
We have about 8 inches of snow with more arriving tonight and tomorrow. I decided to go into work tonight because it looks like the snow plow guys have done a pretty good job with the roads. I start my vacation tomorrow.
My sotd is Terracotta from a decant and a generous Nster.
Snow!!! You know that Terracotta is a great vacation scent, and a perfect remedy to a snowy winter. Think of the health benefits of buying it.
Ditto!
My thinking exactly!
I hope your vacation is filled with sunshine. Even when it’s cold, if the sun is shining it seems so much warmer. ☀️
Thanks Deva!
I vote yes for Terracotta. It’s can be found at a reasonable price and it smells like a mini tropical vacation in the middle of a snowstorm, plus it is gorgeous for summer. Happy almost vacation! Glad your roads are in ok shape.
The drive home was worse but I made it!
You should be able to buy that for a steal. I say go for it!
Will also be something to look forward to wearing as you deal with the snowy, winter days.
It keeps sneaking up in price too.
Enjoy your vacation!!!
I will!
Have a good work shift tonight Lillyjo and then a great holiday. Terracotta is not very expensive and if you’ve wanted it for a long time I would say get it and then buy nothing for one month. If we were on the same side of the pond I would send you mine because I always go for Nuxe Prodigieux le parfum instead.
I had been waffling between the two for a long time. Now I can’t find the Nuxe anywhere.
Have a great work time tonight and stay safe out there.
I’ll be the contrarian on Terracotta. When I smelled it the first time it came out, all I smelled was mothballs.
It doesn’t work for me, either — I bought it unsniffed and returned it (thank you, Nordstrom).
Ditto this.
Lucky me that I have forgotten what mothballs smell like!
Enjoy your vacation!🎉🤩
I’m staying home and will be enjoying every minute!
Enjoy your vacation! Terracotta is a great pick me up for cold winter blues.
Thank you!
I like Terracotta too so would of course tell you to go for it. I have thought about getting another bottle of it as well. I had one quite a while ago and really enjoyed it.
If you can afford it, get the Terracotta. The bottle is gorgeous and suits the perfume so well. I am quite happy to have it.
I feel like I have reached the point where, instead of casting my perfume net wide ( trying everything) I want to set the net deep. My instinct is that I should just focus on the three perfume houses that never seem to truly let me down: Serge Lutens, Amouage, Guerlain and concentrate on exploring them. I like the sense of order that comes with that. BUT Athen I think that it’s not the houses but the noses that I should focus on. NOT Serge Lutens but Christopher Sheldrake. And then Bernard Duchaufour, another essential. And I don’t much like Thierry Wasser’s work and much prefer Jean Claude Ellena. And it’s all rather academic anyway as I don’t order samples or have access to many perfumes in shops, so we’re talking blind buys. I am attracted to burrowingin, though.
Yesterday I was able to test Lost Cherry and liked it more than I thought BUT is was so faint I had to hold my wrist to my nose (4 sprays). Thirty minutes later I could barely smell it at all. I was at the movie The Holdovers and got increasingly distracted by the fact that I could barely smell my perfume. Wearing Rahat Loukhoum today and felling much better. Delicious.
Talk me out of an Amouage blind buy Latitude or Serge Lutens Encrin de Fumee
If you like leather fragrances, I have only good things to say about Christoper Sheldrake’s Rauque for Roberto Greco. It’s sublime! And it might be a limited edition – isn’t that what enablers always say?😎
Okay, so now I want Rauque more than the others. Happily, I won’t buy any as I am just going to work through what I have.
You might want to put it at the top of your list, though. Just sayin.’ 😉
Again we meet on this scented path, allo! I have been absolutely obsessing about Rauque since I fell in love at first sniff a couple of weeks ago. It’s already on back order at Luckyscent. Perfumelogic tells me that I can order it in two days, after I get my allowance. 😁 (Part of the Mr & Mrs E financial plan.)
Hello, AnnE! I’m absolutely no help because I’m busy thinking what I can sell to pay for a BUB!😬
I can’t help either way with Latitude, but I can suggest not blind buying Écrin de Fumée. I can give you a sample.
Thanks Gaynor. That would be amazing.
I blind bought it and I love it. flirting with disaster, I am.
I personally would try and sample any/all of the newer Amouage scents first.There was a definite shift in my experience of the brand’s offerings after Christopher left.
I agree with you. They changed quite a lot and I found far fewer that seemed appealing to me. It’s strange to say but they began to seem more spare and “intellectual” or perhaps “conceptual,” and less beautiful and/or sensual. However I did feel strangely attracted to Lineage upon first trying it, about six months ago, and I finally sprang for a full bottle recently. I bought it from a dealer on eBay, and it’s currently in transit. I’m eagerly awaiting it and hoping it will live up to my visions!
So maybe then Thameen needs to be inserted in the list and Amouage deleted…that is where Christopher Chong is now.
I did not know this!But not surprised then that I enjoyed Bravi so much from Thameen!They’re just really pricey over here,more than Amouage!
Really, even more $? I have not tried a single one and never really looked at the prices. Sorry then.
Both the Serge Lutens and the Amouage are newish so I’d say wait and see if something takes your fancy so much that you want it immediately.
Good advice. Also, shipping to NZ ( from overseas ) is so incredibly slow that I have learned that “ impulse buying “ doesn’t work. If you have to wait 4-6 weeks you often lose the initial rush of desire so. Any purchases are somewhat anticlimactic. Unless they are a true longing.
It’s gusting snow and freezing rain here at 14F. It hardly ever gets that cold here, last night the furnace came on at 3 a.m. and it’s set to 62F. The poor hummingbird’s feeder is frozen, I need to get a heater for it.
There is nothing on my “To Buy” list except a travel size of TF Cherry Smoke whenever the brand gets around to doing travel sizes. Today’s scent is Muscs Kublai Khan, always cozy when the weather is cold. I think I might make a beef barley soup for dinner.
I was thinking of you yesterday when I walked the dogs. We had to keep to the shadows as it was very hot, hard on the paws of even an invisible dog. Keep warm.
Yes, some summer days here Real Dog couldn’t walk on the pavement. Plus, he was black and would get very hot in the sun. I’m glad you kept to the shade. Today I think Invisible Dog must be content with juryrigging something in the back yard for the hummingbirds. It’s awfully slippery out.
MKK is such a good one!
I love MKK but a good friend whom I trusted told me it really made me smell stinky and unwashed and so I gave up on it. I only had a sample.
Well, I can’t imagine how a “good friend” could say that! I think, “I don’t care for it” would suffice. Geez…I say if you like it, get it and wear it whenever you want.
Oh, it wasn’t like that. I explained my concern and asked her honest opinion, and that’s when she said that. It was not as bad as it sounds, trust me!
I might not wear it around that friend, but if you like it, I say get it. But then, I love the stuff. I’d like to smell more people wearing it.
Agreed — don’t wear it around that friend. Otherwise, have at it. (I, too, love MKK — I get “cozy,” like foxbins, and never perceive any skank.
TF Cherry Smoke was in a travel size around Xmas as part of a set containing all the cherry scents that TF currently has. IDK if it’s still around or not.
I’m wearing Profumum Confetto (and still on the cp theme for our week).
I looked up my post from last year’s edge poll. I mentioned that I loved my travel size of Eris Mx. and wondered about purchasing the full bottle. No one talked me out of it–but they did suggest that it should be a purchase IF I finished my travel spray. It went on sale at Indigo over Memorial Day weekend and I bought it. I haven’t finished my travel spray but that’s mostly because it’s easy to bring with me when I travel. Not sorry about the purchase (and I did split some of it). And the cherry on top was getting to meet Barbara Herman, founder of Eris Parfums, at a summer event in Seattle.
For this year, a discounted or partial bottle of Chergui if I find one. And I’ll be one who continues to buy samples because it’s a chance to smell things I never would otherwise and a way to avoid blind buys which generally don’t work out for me.
Sending you an email.
I’m content with what I have right now, tbh. It always amazes me when I do the old seasonal swap out of my perfumes, how much I actually own.
I didn’t buy what I was hankering for last year: Rima XI. My new reason for not purchasing it is that it’s probably been reformulated. Avoid! Avoid!
Not really longing for anything right now, but I did slink over to the By Kilian counter in Saks last week on the sniffa with Calypso. I huffed Dark Lord, the object of my affection, and chatted with the SA about it. He was familiar with Gucci Guilty Absolute, which is similar to DL. I was kinda impressed with that! I have a bottle of the Gucci, which is the reason I really don’t need DL. But I still want the DL. 😫
I’m in Organza Indecence today and was in Theorema yesterday. I hope everyone has a lovely Saturday. Stay warm and safe! 🥶
You smell lovely, sometimes when something is on my want list long enough I no longer want it due to reformulation or I just fancy something else more.
Oooh, I’m not helping here, but that Dark Lord is something else!
It really is amazing!
Oh, I’m always on the edge for vintage! Next up on my list to hunt down are Capucci Yendi, Leonard de Leonard, and Madame Rochas.
Last year I was lemming Fougere Bengale, but I think I’m safely over that one. I obtained a mini edp of (long discontinued) Rochas Mystere, and I swear it’s almost a dupe of Fougere Bengale, though a bit mustier. I’m glad I’ve tried both, but I don’t need a full bottle of either. Heck, I don’t *need* a full bottle of anything.
It’s snowing horizontally today for the big lake effect coming this evening. Hunkering down!
Mystere is gorgeous!
It is!
Wish I was in the southern hemisphere today!
Happy Weekend!
It’s fun to read my comments and thoughts from last year,the world was such a different place back then…
I never did buy the Irisss,or even get a decant from that particular seller.Iris D’Ore from Korloff is also still not part of my collection,but I did end up getting my 30mls of Ganymede which I mentioned last year!
Earlier this week I mentioned the things I smelled during my mini-sniffathon,and of those only Heaven can wait is still on the maybe-list.Usually my level of infatuation with a perfume must be immediate,and I honestly cannot say that anything is really calling my name.I smelled all the new Amouage perfumes(Kanuka!) recently as well.Cannot say any of them intrigued me either.
SOTD!
Dear Rose Bloody Rose edp.I bought this probably about 8 years ago and this was my first time wearing it!Gorgeous spicy rose and two people asked and commented about it during the day!(I’ve mentioned somewhere recently how ridiculous my blind-buying was back in the day,when I just started to be seriously obsessed and wanted it all I did about 90% blind buys!This was not a blind buy at least!Haha!)
I have way too many perfumes already and considering that,I should be content…until the next obsession comes along!Haha!
This was a mouthful!
Stay warm up north!
XO’s
Exactly: content – until the next obsession comes along! 😀 😀 😀
Haha!I did not mention my recent interest in carnation scents….that’s a whole other essay!!✌🏻🌹
♥
Oh I love carnation, vintage Bellodgia is hard to beat, also Floris Malmaison.
I would read that essay! I truly love the scent of carnations in actual flowers of the dianthus family, but haven’t ever found an appealing carnation scent. This might simply be a case where I prefer to leave the smell alone in nature rather than putting it on me.
Oh,just to say I smelled the last 5/6 from Memo as well the other day….yawn!Such a pity because I want all those bottles even though I’m not a bottle collector at all!🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️🤣
Hi J B! I’ve sniffed most of the newer Amouage perfumes, and haven’t been really enthused about any of them either. They’ve changed, and don’t seem to be using the same caliber of materials as they have in the past. I know that’s vague, but it’s my impression.
Glad to hear you picked up Ganymede! I sprung for a FB of that one last year, with no regrets. It’s gorgeous.
Spot on regarding the Amouage,my sentiments exactly!
Ganymede is amazing and garnered me many compliments! A must have in your collection
100% agree!!👌🏻👌🏻
That’s really interesting about the Amouage. My last Amouage was Love Tuberose which I really like a lot but Journey is really my favourite by a long way. It works so well in all seasons. Hope you are t too hot over there. We got to 30C the other day which was rather shocking.
Yes,Love Tuberose was one of the very last of their later works that I really enjoyed as well!Summer here has been wonderful,scorching days with a standard thunderstorm most late afternoons.Perfection!👌🏻🤗🌹
Ooh, I love and bought that one too!
I did like Heaven Can Wait when I tried it back in the fall, but for me it was also a maybe. It was nice, but not an immediate lemming. It is nice that FM has smaller travel sizes, but it’s still not cheap.
I would have taken a travel size if they had it in stock,yes!But not interested in gerting a whole 50/100mls of it!Like with Parfums de Marly Delina,I’m happy with the 10ml travelspray I got.
I know this is supposed to be a dis-enabling themed LWP, but I am generally not a rule-follower 🤣;
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2E5f4XvI3e/?igsh=NDZpd3FvYXVleXo3
Oh well.
Aurora has mentioned that ETRO has a carnation scent called Dianthus. Maybe something for you to keep an eye out for?
I might do some sniffing today at Nordstrom but their selection here is so limited these days. My little sister and I are going shopping and to lunch for her annual Christmas gift. I unashamedly use her for cover at the Chanel counter because it’s easier to distract the SAs when there are two of us and I can spray more liberally😎
I would love a bottle of Daphne Guinness Daphne but no amount of enabling will get it for me unless I go to London because I can’t get it here. We are considering going there this summer (I nabbed frequent flyer tickets several months ago) so my enabler(s) might convince me to make the trip😊
Go for it — London sounds fun and I really liked my sample of Daphne. I’m glad to hear it’s still available even if only in London. We have lots to talk about.
Have a fun time with your sis!
Thank you, sp😊 We had so much fun wandering around and catching up.
Speaking of catching up, we definitely have lots to talk about💕
Enjoy your day with your sister. I live in London and can’t recommend highly enough and also perfumes purchased abroad don’t count, they’re souvenirs😉
Thank you, Aurora! We had a great time today. And I can’t agree more about souvenirs😉
Oh do make the trip to London! I haven’t been there in 10 years and I am feeling frisky (although currently not doing anything about it).
I’m sad, because I had the opportunity to go there in September (way paid) but turned it down because of my mobility problems. Not only is foreign travel onerous but the UK in particular is not good in accommodations for people with walking disabilities like me. Everywhere there are too many steps and no elevators. It was very very sad for me but I must face the facts.
I’m so sorry you weren’t able to take the trip and I know what you mean about the onerous parts of traveling, especially internationally.
It’s such an incredible city and I would love to spend more time there.
My Nordstrom is very very sad for sniffing also. In fact, our entire mall is, even though the mall is (shockingly) high traffic and is very high end (standalone shops from Tiffany & Co, Gucci, YSL, Louis Vuitton, and so forth). The only other department store is a Macy’s, though, so no place else for less generic perfume houses to set up counters.
I feel for you. I compensated today by “drenching and drenching” Chanel Boy (this is the way a friend and I describe lavish “sampling”)😎
I haven’t been to London for years, but it is a great city. You need to go this summer if you can swing it.
We had such a good time this past summer walking in the English countryside (Cotswolds) that we’re tempted to keep the momentum going. We only spent a day in London and wished we’d had more time so we’ll see if it’s this summer.
Fingers crossed you get to London and nab a bottle of Daphne this summer!
It’s practically blizzarding in our neighborhood, and the power has been flickering on and off since the middle of the night due to high wind gusts, so we’re clenching everything we have and hoping for the best. I have been naughty lately with perfume-buying so there’s nothing left on my wish list. (It was pretty much the same situation last year — do we see a pattern? 🤣). SOTD is L’Ambre des Merveilles.
L’Ambre des Merveilles is perfect for your weather. We’re quite cold north of you (Seattle), but no blizzard here, thank goodness. I hope your power stays on.
I noticed that Bellingham was about ten degrees colder than here pretty much all night (the wind refused to let me sleep, so obsessive temperature checking went on here), but I didn’t think to check Seattle. Glad you’re not getting our wildly blowing snow — Portland isn’t flat, but it’s nowhere near as hilly as Seattle.
Good luck, hope you did not lose power!
We did, yesterday afternoon. We have now decamped to my folks’ senior living apartment (they are in California so their unit here was empty and well-powered). We saw at least two downed power lines on our way out of our neighborhood, and there’s no word yet from the power company on when things will get fixed. I’m worrying about pipes bursting and house plants freezing, but at least we had a place to run to.
I’m so glad you have somewhere to take refuge!
Us too!
Fingers crossed for your house & your pipes & your plants!
Sorry to hear that you lost power. But glad to hear you had somewhere safe and warm to go to!
The only fragrance that keeps telling me to buy it and that I probably will buy at some point is Dior Eau Noire. It’s such a distinctive scent and has two of my favourite notes in perfume: lavender and immortelle.
Still, the latest Nicolaï iris keeps popping up in my mind as well, as does the extrait of Divine Spirituelle and a few JCE Hermessences. I’m so glad that I’m not a great fan of Nagels work for Hermès, it’s saving me a lot of money and room in my cupboards.
I do not often go sniffing anymore. Sometimes I miss it, but my life has changed so much these past 3 years, that some things just had to give.
I feel the same about Hermès.
Me 3! Saving me tons of money.
Sotd is Coco. There’s a nothing I can think of that I want or need now that I have Geisha Noire, which I really wanted. Only thing I want to sample is Zoologist Penguin.
Horizontal snow and lake effect ramping up here too, but we only have about 4″ right now. The wind is intense, blowing it all around.
I had to look up “horizontal snow”,and on youtube that looks hectic!The last time I experienced actual snow in my part of the world and country was back in 1981!(yup,I was 5!)Stay safe!
How is Geisha Noire?
I think it’s dark and sexy. Luckyscent gives only 3 notes: black amber, sandalwood and tonka bean, but I smell a bit of smoky incense and maybe some vanilla. I got the oil roll on and I’m enjoying mixing it with other oils I have.
Sounds very nice
Sorry to interrupt in this chain, but how is your health, do you feel better yet LTSG?
Not yet!
😞
This virus is hanging on
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/301038574/antarctic-penguin-spotted-far-from-home-in-nz-potentially-for-the-6th-time-ever
This little Penguin showed up a few days ago…had swum all the way from the Antarctic, about 4000km!
That’s incredible! And it’s so cute.
The beak reminds me of a sharpened lead pencil. Very unique!
That is an over the top ridiculously adorable penguin. Thank you for sharing!
I think we got about a foot here. It was super windy yesterday! Today just still.
UGH. Horizontal snow makes me think of the Great Plains. But it can happen in CO as well.
The only thing I have considered is a back up of Cristalle EDT because it was my first Chanel as a child in the 70s and one of a few fragrances that I considered to be signatures. Since it’s sold out (again!!! I waited two or three years while it was in sold out status until darling hubby bought it for me for Christmas this year)
Wearing Hiram Green Vetiver on one wrist and Vivacious on the other. Going to test this sampler packet sent to me by a dear friend and then pass it on to one of my favorite NSTers.
Realized I left a dangling sentence 😁
Since it’s sold out again I don’t need to be talked off the ledge
Ummm… well, it’s restocked. So since no one here talked me out of it… 🤣🤣🤣🤣
😃
Only because I have already used 1/3 of my Christmas bottle!
Enjoy your FB
Thank you ltsg!!
If it’s restocked, get two!!
You are so bad 😂
I agree – you love it, it’s special AND you’ve already used 1/3 of your new bottle? GET TWO.
Y’all are really not talking me off the ledge 😂
I agree!
Do it!
😈😈😈
So far this year, it looks like you have spent more in perfumes than moi 🤣!
It’s the first time in ten years I’m not paying college bills 😂. So I’ve been making up for lost time 🤪
Yay for the end of college bills! Congratulations!
Thank you!! It’s a huge relief!!! Not having to budget and eat peanut butter sandwiches lol
And I’ve got a birthday coming up in three months so I can always put it to the side for that and then there will be nothing to report to Donatella
HA, Donatella knows!
Lol!!!! I’m still not counting it 🤪😜😝
Going to pile on and say GET TWO! Who knows how long it will be around this time?
I am wearing Hiram Green Arbole Arbole.
I do not have any itching to add any perfumes to my collection right now. The only two in my list that I would not hesitate to buy are Francesca Bianchi Sticky Lips and Jo Malone Honey and Crocus, but they were limited editions and not available anywhere.
I woke up with temperatures in the upper 50s. So crazy! We are expecting an Arctic blast to arrive later tonight. We will be in the lower 30s and 20s for more than a week. I am sick and tired of winter and summer!
Going out in a while to see my twin nieces. It is their birthday, so we will have early dinner and cake. They already had a small party at the daycare yesterday. Today is only a family gathering.
Happy weekend! 🌻
House twins
Happy birthday to the two young ladies!!! I remember when they were born!! Time flies
Thank you! They are 4 years old now. Time flies!
Wow, I remember when they were born too! Happy birthday to them.🎉
Thank you, mtg! 🌷
I hope you feel better soon.
You smell wonderful and of course the happiest of birthdays to your twin nieces!
Thank you, Hajusuuri! 🌻
Happy Birthday to the twins!
Thank you, Lillyjo!🌷
Have fun! I love Arbolé Arbolé, you smell great.
Thank you! 😊
Today we are scent twins!!!
Belated birthday wishes to your sweet nieces! Hope you had a wonderful time with them.
Thank you, Jalapeno. We had a very nice time!
Day 4 of this virus: I’ve named it ‘The Unwelcome Guest.’ It came, overstayed, and now it’s rearranging the furniture in my sinuses. 🤧
I bought that Fueguia 1833 perfume so I am good.
Has anyone tried the new Guerlain release Néroli Plein Sud?
Feel better soon.
Thank you!
I hope you feel better soon.
Sending hugs!🌹😉🤗🤗
Ugh, I hope you feel better soon!
Oh, I see you posted on this. I’m very sorry. I hope you’re keeping hydrated and maybe trying steamy showers or hanging your head over a steaming pot of water.
I have been taking lots of steamy showers to try to get things moving so I can breath normally
My son has been making me lemon water with honey the last few mornings. It’s been so sweet. 🥹
Ugh, sorry about the crud!
I have been thinking about Chloe Rose naturelle intense since the summer when I sniffed a whole lot of perfume at the duty-free. It’s the only perfume that appealed. I passed on a good deal because it was a 100ml bottle and I rarely get that size anymore, I have enough perfume. Recently I got Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater and it was everything I love in a rose perfume and as natural-smelling as the Chloe so I think I can wait a while.
It does come in a 10 ml travel spray, if you can find one. But it’s not a bargain when you compare the price to the bigger sizes.
Thank you Robin, I didn’t know but yes, travel sprays are overpriced in general.
I haven’t seen that Chloe here yet. I keep looking.
It’s pretty simple but lovely and classic-smelling, I hope it will be available in the US soon.
Haven’t seen Chloe perfumes around lately. TBH, I haven’t been looking for them, though.
I’ve always got my eye on a few things, but I also have some more samples on the way, so I’ll wait to see what I get there before I make any purchase decisions.
I might be waiting a while, USPS tracking shows my samples are currently going in circles around the US East Coast, when they should just have gone on an international flight straight from LA to New Zealand. Three trips around Delaware, then to New York, an appearance in Chicago looked promising, but the next scan was New Jersey, they are back in New York as I write this.
PS, I just looked back at last year, and I was obsessed with the Patou Heritage Collection. I blind bought three of them after that, that was very successful and I’m still thinking about a fourth. I was madly enabled by all of you 🙂
You can’t go wrong with Patou and it would make your collection complete.
I hope you’ll get the fourth! I love the Patou Heritage fragrances.
This happens when they ship to Canada, too. I had something not long ago that was shipped from LA to NY and then somehow back to my house on the West Coast. I’ve had a theory for a long time that everything going to and from the U.S. goes through Ottawa…supposedly not true, but then my holiday card took three weeks to get from Vancouver to Seattle, which are 2.5 hours apart by car. I could have *walked* it to my sister in 3 weeks.
😂
I am sorry to laugh but your description really made me giggle! I’m watching a package circulate quite a bit but the kicker is that it’s actually NOW in Houston but keeps going around town from north to south… who knows when it will arrive HERE!?
I just today learned that a package I mailed to a friend on December 27 didn’t arrive. I thought she was failing to thank me and I finally asked but she didn’t get it. So I looked it up via the tracking information and it did not leave Houston until January 8th! (It said on my receipt at the time “estimated arrival date Dec. 30th”!). It is now at least “in transit” to St. Louis. I hope she finally gets it! This is ridiculous!
USPS has been flakey for me over the past 4 months now. IDK what changed, but their once sterling service has definitely gone downhill.
I’m in Khol de Bahrein.
Feeling mentally tired and a bit exhausted in general.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2CczOQIUHj/?igsh=MTUzdWcxdHEzb2I5bg==
Lovely photo! You smell great, I hope you’re able to get some good rest.
Wonderful! Kohl de Bahrain was also on my finalist list for its Jordan almond note!
Joining you in the tired department!Hang in there!
Always a pleasure to see your beautifully composed photos, lucasai.
Wow, it’s that time again? I recognize that photo but can’t believe it’s been a year. Time flies.
Looking at last year’s poll, I was lemming Idolo’s Love & Crime, but resisted and continued to thin my samples and decants during the year. I’m down to just a handful of each which feels much more manageable for me.
I’m in Beauty Pie’s Element 79 again from a…decample? I think it was Nancyleandros that coined this term. I’ve got 4.5 mls, which to me is larger than a sample, but still a small decant. I will definitely be purchasing a bottle of this when it’s released. I emailed BP’s customer service to see if it will be released in bottle size and they emailed me back that it will! Sometime this spring. Their fragrances are practically perfume math free (for members), so I may even get two.
Yep, that was me! 🤗
I thought so!😁 That’s a great description, I knew exactly what you meant when you said it.
I’m not craving anything in particular right now, so I guess that’s good! Like many of you, I already have a ton of perfume, and I’m trying to use up some samples and decants because I feel overwhelmed by the amount I have. That doesn’t keep me from wanting to try new things all the time!
I’m wearing Sweet Anthem Emily today, from a sample I probably got from an NSTer but I can’t remember. I wore it on Thursday too and was delighted to discover it made me CP-compliant since it has both honey and almond notes! It’s quite nice, but I don’t need a bottle. Does anyone else have experience with this brand? Looking at their website, the prices seem very reasonable, though their sample set is sold out at the moment (I guess that’s the universe pulling me back from the edge and telling me NO!)
We got a few inches of snow yesterday, which was melty and slushy, and now the temperatures are going down. It’s going to be very cold the next few days, so I’m very glad I’m off work until Wednesday! I’ll only have to go outside to give my dog bathroom breaks, and she better be quick. Stay warm everyone!
Yes I have been curious about this brand and agree the prices are reasonable. Hope you and the fur baby can stay warm.
Hi Socks, I have a 10ml bottle of Sweet Anthem Juliet (Jasmine Sambac, orange blossoms and pink pepper) and would be happy to send it to you if you’re interested – l es li cor t he ll ATTT GEE MALE dottie commy
Aww that’s so nice of you, thank you! Emailing you now 🙂
So far I have seen only an inch or two of Champagne powder-type snow. But plenty of cold!
Hi Jalapeno, I’m so glad you’re able to post again and that you and Teflon made it safe and sound to Colorado! Powder snow is so pretty, and easier to brush off the car than the heavy kind. We actually got some bright sunshine today, so I thought of you! I love sun shining on the snow.
Thanks!
Hello everyone, I can’t quite believe we will be socked in with a big freeze soon because it’s a mild 64 degrees out and sunny. Several cats are out on the porch enjoying the warmth and kkkk-ing at the birds. (Kek-kek-kek). But meanwhile I’ve brought in all my plants to save them from Jack Frost, except for my big lemon tree which I need help with.
Today I’m wearing another sample I was generously given by the SA at our local perfume place this week from Mind Games, Ruy Lopez. (I gather that all the names of this line are either chess moves or chess players. There’s a whole schtick to this brand that is kind of annoying, as are there glitzy bottles.) Anyway I am really liking this one quite a lot. When I read the notes the word “plum” stood out–I’m just such a sucker for anything with plum! Dark and a bit sweet and rich! (Are you paying attention, Coumarin? I know you love plum also.).
The one thing I’m lemming is the perfume that got way in Saudi Arabia. Somehow when I was choosing things to buy in the pretty little shop in my hotel in Riyadh, I got mixed up and didn’t buy the one I really wanted, Reef 19. It’s a white floral. The notes listed are jasmine, lily of the valley, and white musk. In general I liked their perfumes because they are well blended and smell somehow “pure.” I don’t really know for sure what the ingredients are. Anyway, there are sellers who have it on eBay and it’s around $120-140, which is twice what it was over there but still quite a bargain given contemporary prices. They seem to me to be high quality scents and the bottles and packaging are elegant and gorgeous. I certainly don’t NEED this since I came home with four other fragrances from them, and on top of that, splurged on a treat of Amouage Lineage for myself when I found a bottle on eBay for a good price. Still…. like most of the rest of you, I have TOO MANY PERFUMES and there have also been a couple of jewelry purchases recently (my other expensive passion) that shall go unmentioned.
You could tell me, “Maybe you’ll be invited to go back next year to the same conference, so you can buy it then and have a new souvenir!”
I happen to like the brand Mind Games because all three of my children played chess in both national and international chess tournaments.
My feline grandchildren were also enjoying the sun and warm weather today.
I hope you get invited back and buy a bottle as a souvenir 😆
You would know more then and appreciate things more because I infer that all the scents are named after famous chess moves or rather strategies, I guess.
Maybe you’ll be invited to go back next year to the same conference, so you can buy it then and have a new souvenir!
I saw what you did, Robin. Ha ha ha!
🙂
If you like plum I can really recommend Ys-Uzac Immortal Beloved. It is very boozy and rich, like plum soaked in liquor with a heady rose background. Great sillage and lasting power. But definitely boozy. I love it.
Also, we just chuck an old towel or blanket over our lemon on frosty nights throughout winter. It works fine in hard frosts.
Thank you for that tip and also for the perfume recommendation. I don’t know that line at all.
Last night I was looking for a sample of something and found a bottle of POHADKA from ys- uzac. Damn.
Even better, right behind it was the original bottle of JEKE, the one with all the glass pebbles in it. I am wearing a spray of it right now.
Definitely find a way to keep track of that perfume you really wanted to get. I hope you end up with a bottle of it somehow.
I’m currently contemplating an FB of Francesca Bianchi Under My Skin, which is available at a decent discount at 30ml on Jomashop. Anyone purchased from them before? (Enabler pin to SheriG if I go for it. Huffing my arm as I type this.)
Then of course if I spend $25 more, I get free shipping. There are a bunch of Masque Milano, PdE, Serge at decent to huge discount (assuming someone went out of business). They also have some of the now discontinued Bottega Veneta. So maybe I need a BUB?
Oh, the perfume hoarding brain at work. (The plus side: my hoarding is very focused on this one category. Okay, also a very specific style of antique Japanese pottery that’s hard to find, so the collection is constrained.)
Not trying to do a no buy this quarter, just no impulse or blind buys over 10ml.
I’ve purchased from them, no problems! Report back if you get it; not sure if you watch perfume reviews on YT, but Smurfygurly really liked it! She’s a delight!
I bought a couple of FBs from Joma, no issues.
I buy from Jomashop all the time and have had great luck!
I’ve bought from them without any issues. I’ve been eyeballing their selection and they have had quite a few niche heavily discounted
Be careful with Jomashop. If something is listed as “Ships in 1-2 weeks” that means they don’t actually have it and may eventually cancel your order.
I almost bought from them once, and then noticed they added an extra insurance fee. So I didn’t order.
I have had that a few times, but when I called them, they were either waiting for it from a warehouse or waiting until a holiday was over. I have always still gotten them so sorry you have had orders cancelled.
I’ve been tempted a few times by offerings on Jomashop, but have never purchased from them.
Off-poll-topic mini perfume rant:
Article recently (Fragrantica) on two inaugural perfumes from brand Gumamina, a collab between two female perfumers.
Looked intriguing.
Attractive, e-commerce enabled website. Bottles are $300 each (50ml) or the pair for $550. Sold online only. The answer to the FAQ question, “Do you offer or sell samples?” is a terse, “No.”
I would really like to understand their thought process here, how they expect consumers to perceive this, and what consumers (if any) they are really hoping to attract.
My gut reaction is repulsion, and no desire to explore or learn more about each of their individual brands.
Pretty sure they’re hoping to attract people who are easily separated from their money!🤣 I also wouldn’t be surprised if it were some type of scam.
I too am turned off by the terse no on samples! Thank you for the rant!
I’m annoyed by them just reading that! Way to start off humble, people.
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays The Darkest Bloom EDP
It’s from the 4160 Tuesdays Joy Box project. Not my favorite but not bad either.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2DynaOR6LA/?igsh=aHd0em5xM3V5emVn
There’s no need to take me off the ledge because, surprise, I have no perfumes on my list! I have been trying not to click on the new perfumes post, specially the ones with the red bottles. I know it has only been 13 days but so far so good!
Have you smelled the new Guerlain?
Maybe you didn’t mean to, but you sound a bit wicked, LTSG!
Resisting …
So far so goid for me too! I am still waiting on a 5ml decant of Neroli Plein Sud I ordered in December though.
It’s been over two weeks now!
You’re doing pretty good so far this year!
Cold today for LA. Actually coldest I can recall.
Went to Pasadena for haircut and picked up groceries on the way home.
Wearing Jo Malone Whiskey and Cedarwood – it was from a From the Library or something collection? It’s just yummy.
Found a bottle of Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline behind it! Wow, put it for sale on ebay. And Agonist Black Saphir was right behind that one.
So in the spirit of being surprised by what I own and clearly don’t need anything… I want –
Aedes de Venustas Cafe Tabac
LV Oud Nomad
Dior Tobacolor
Stay warm all.
I am so grateful for this community:)
The Cafe Tabac has my interest too. The only AdV that has worked for me though, is the original.
I did get a sample from Aedes.
I love it.
Cafe Tabac and Tobacolor are both on my “to sample” list. Sample mini-goal right now is to simply not order new samples until I at least sniff everything from the last sample order.
I’ ve completely failed with your mini-goal, so good luck! 👍🏻
We accept failure joyfully.
Thanks, apsara. 💖
I need to memorize that.
Tobacolor has been on your wishlist for a while now, hasn’t it?
Yes it has! I grabbed the Dior Gris at duty free in Paris and let
Tobacolor out of my head.
Nothing on my wish list. I’m enjoying vintage Dune today.
You smell amazing
I think I will join you in Dune today.
I’m not on a ledge — yet. I’m going to Paris with my husband in March, our first trip back since our honeymoon MANY years ago. Sooooo, I’ll be doing some perfume-shopping, lol! I’m excited to visit the stores in the Palais Royal, especially Parfums de Rosine and Serge Lutens.
I’ve slowed down my perfume-buying considerably, as I now have so much, and so many choices for different moods and seasons; it’s a bit embarrassing. I make exceptions for travel souvenirs, though! Suggestions for Paris?
I suggest Jovoy, they have a huge range.
One MUST make exceptions for souvenirs!
Jovoy is great, I would also recommend (but please bear in mind that I’m a huge fan of the house so very biased) a visit to one of the Nicolaï stores. I particularly like the one on Rue des Archives. Printemps has a great and varied collection of perfumes and close to it is the lovely shop of Oriza L. Legrand, even if you don’t end up liking any of their perfumes, the shop is lovely and they sell very beautifully packaged soaps as well.
I would second austenfan re: Oriza L. Legrand. Many of their offerings aren’t easily available on the US/Canada side of the Atlantic.
I looked at the poll last year and I was debating whether to buy back up travel sprays of Zoologist Bee and Civet. I did buy them and ended up giving them to my top NSTer.
Though I do not have near the collection that many of you have, I don’t have any desire for anything more than what I have at the moment.
I have been busy this weekend trying some vanilla samples I received from Luckyscent. Bianco Latte seemed too strong and I just did not like it. Tihota was nice, but I thought it smelled just like vanilla cake and it is a bit pricey for cake so I think I will pass on that one. My last one I tried was Vanilla2 by Maison Tahit. It was a very sweet vanilla to me, but very reasonably priced. I am no connoisseur on perfumes, so my descriptions are terrible🤣 I am giving up on vanilla for now. I just don’t think it is me.
Lastly, it is -21 degrees as I write this and that is not counting the wind chill. That is -45. A little chilly.
I saw it was -52 with the windchill in Bismarck a couple of days ago. I have been in that weather in Saskatchewan before and it is not nice.
Stay cozy💕
Stay warm and inside!!! That’s cold!!!!
Oh do try Pacifica Island Vanilla! It’s $23 (+ tax) at Whole Foods! The other one is Outremer Vanilla – so perfumath free I can’t even remember how much – got from Beautyhabit.
I second the Pacifica!! It’s been in our wardrobe since it first debuted
We don’t have a Whole Foods, but thanks I will check these out.
Yikes! 🥶 I hope you can manage to stay inside all day, and until the cold front passes.
Hope you’re staying warm, Kris! We aren’t as cold as you, but I’m debating making cookies just so I can put the oven on.
Wow, that’s cold.
That is what I would call bleeping COLD! And the wind just tears across the landscape out there in SD…
Testing the last of my Hiram Green sampler pack from an always generous friend. Arbole, Hyde and Arcadia. Hyde smells like bbq meat 🥩….don’t mind it at all but not sure I would wear it in public. Of the three I prefer Arbole. Also last night tested Slowdive and Moonbloom. Lovely too. But I still like Arbole the best. Something about it gives me a vintage vibe, something that I would have worn in the 70s like Heaven Scent.
Well, something like 1970’s Heaven Scent has my attention!
Well that’s my interpretation…. Ymmv
BBQ meat!? Sounds like it has the perfect name in Hyde!
You will be trying it soon enough!
Hyde smells like bbq to me too. Arbolé is wonderful.
Agree!! Honestly, I have enjoyed the entire sampler pack!!
Hyde sounds like Zoologist T-Rex (just to be sure we’re not talking about deva’s faithful companion) and is the reason I like it!
Ha!!
Jotting down “Arbole”. My mom had Heaven Scent powder when we were kids.
Well like I said to MossyBerry that’s my interpretation…. It definitely has a 70s vintage feel
I love those types of scents! I’ll have to get a sample.
Agree 100%! Arbole is my favorite Hiram scent (although I’ve not tried his last 4 scents), and Hyde… way too smokey!
I really liked Vivacious too!
I’ve heard more than one person say something about Hyde = BBQ.
😜😜🥩🥩
I reviewed my response to last-year’s Stepping Back poll. I strongly like all three Patou’s I purchased from the Heritage Collection, but all are 100ml bottles. I just don’t need any more big bottles, but the bottle is often an enjoyable thing…main takeaway is that any **one** of them would have told me the story of “the last hurrah” of Jean Patou. I’ve been eyeing Jeux de Peau and Feve Gourmand whilst on my no-buy. I am stepping back because I already have several from Serge Lutens and Guerlains that I love, love, love. I have such a long history of successful blind buys that just getting samples is rather academic. I already know that either will be a strong like or even a love, and it’s best to just enjoy what I have. But I would like one of the new-style bottles from Guerlain. 🙂 SotD Encens Jinhae, which may be a bit too rosy for me. I am trying to decide what perfume to wear for the family wedding next week. I will default to Iris Torrefie if nothing else calls to me. Also in the running: Tauer Sundowner and Apres l’Ondee.
I wish I had a successful blind buy history. Mine is atrocious.
Me too – had to give it up, too many costly disasters.
I’m with lillyjo on this. Although I’ve had a few successes, my record isn’t good enough to continue with it. Especially with vintage bottles on evilbay.
I keep trying to step back from my vintage mania!
It’s always a challenge.
By the way, I vote for Apres l’Ondee. It strikes me as perfect for a wedding.
I never had and “oops, I hate this” blind buys, but am at the point where I don’t want to expand my already-too-large collection with anymore “it’s just a like” bottles.
Still have to regularly talk myself down, though
I am finally realizing that a too-large collection is “a thing.” 😀
You have some great options in mind for the wedding. Have fun and safe travels if you will be on the road.
You just reminded me how much I like Golestan…. So much that I didn’t thunk my sample
And you reminded me I should take Golestan out for a spin, too!
👍
FWIW, those 100mL Patou Heritage bottles are beautifully shaped and not at all clunky. They feel wonderful in my hands.
I have a bottle of Ummagumma with only a few mls left, so I’m wearing it today in an effort to stay warm and finish a bottle. It is cold here for us in southern California, although nothing compared to what others are dealing with. The real issue is houses here are very poorly insulated so they don’t hold heat.
Did you end up finishing the perfume you were trying to finish over the summer? ( sorry, I can’t remember the name)
No! It was Tauer’s Lys du Désert. I got through about 25-30 mls and threw in the towel. Will have another go this summer.
It’s a damn shame houses in CA aren’t better insulated.
Damn shame. I made it all the way to Jan 7 before grudgingly turning on the heat.
There are some perfumes on my wish list but I am resisting and planning to get them during my trip to Paris in May. We decided to go a couple of friends together to participate in the commemoration events and concerts for the 100 th anniversary of Aznavour. It will be nice to visit perfume places too. Planning to get Bien Aimé jours heureux and la vie en fleurs also Celine peau nue ( purse spray).
That sounds lovely.
Testing Fzotic Vetiverissimo for the second time today, and I’ve fallen in love with it. I love that it has no citrus in it, and it’s quiet. Bit softer than my other vetivers.
Okay now, I need to be talked down on this one! Since I’ve already decided to spring for Rauque, which is beaucoup de bucks, I should hold off on this one for now, right? But…I ordered the sample set, and they offer the price of this to be subtracted from the price of a full bottle afterwards. This brings it to a very reasonable price. Hmm….🤔
I say go with the vetiver and get a sample/decant of the expensive one for now. By the time you finish the sample size, you will have forgotten the dollar duel between the two and can buy the more expensive one without remorse because you will have forgotten that they were dueling. That way you get a full bottle of each, but one is just slightly delayed, and no guilt. It’s all a mind game. 😀
This makes perfect sense to me!
Perfumelogic at its best! Thanks, Deva.
But…but…but….
Rauque is a Limited Edition! 🫨
Well, that changes things. Okay, pack your parachute and JUMP! Getting both is the only answer to this perfume equation. You’re getting a discount on the Vetiver, right? So, in perfume math, that bottle is free. So you’re only buying one REAL full price bottle, right? Divide the cost of that bottle by 12, then subtract that amount from your budget. You can use the budget of your choice, that way the bottle is paid for by budgeting your budget! 👍🏼
Deva, you are a genius!!!
Love your budgeting plan. 🤗
You could also spend less with the Vetiverissimo travel spray, 9 mls for $54. Or maybe you prefer full bottles, which I understand, but just saying…
Thanks, springpansy. I love travel sizes, yeah. In this case, however, a full size is only 1 oz. And so much more cost-efficient.
I don’t really want to be talked out of this one, do I?
My feeling is that if you can pronounce the name Fzotic Vetiverissimo correctly you have earned the right to buy it.
🤣 Best answer! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maybe get the travel spray of Vetiverissimo?
Too late, I’ve already been talked into getting the bottle, lol! (Which is what I really wanted, if I’m honest.). 😳
Well, in that case, you’re good! 🤣
Gosh, it felt like autumn this morning. I get up about an hour before sunrise now but once the sun arrived the sky had that clarity and depth of colour that somehow seems like looking into space, bringing the leaves on the trees into sharp focus. Very autumn, and crispy cold. We haven’t had summer yet, except for one or two days. Brr. I went to Poor Things yesterday and it reminded me, in style, of the 1990s French movie Delicatessen. I now want to watch the later again, for comparison…same sense of surreal in settings and camera work. Wearing Immortal Beloved .
Oh, you must smell good!
A male friend I respect posted quite a rant on Facebook about how Poor Things was just thinly veiled pornography. It made me not want to see it. Any thoughts?
I think that’s one way to look at it though the character Bella makes a point of being “ in charge “ of her sexuality and I actually don’t agree with your friend. I do think there is too much sex in the movie…too many scenes that didn’t add anything ( when she is a prostitute in Paris) which dragged the movie down. I think the surreal story and amazing visuals made it worth it for me, it was definitely twisted but I felt it lacked the cruelty of pornography. A young friend of my sons was put off the movie as he was disturbed by elements of pedophilia ( young girls brain in adult body) but again, that’s not really how I saw it. I saw much more as a Frankenstein movie, updated…the result or extension of twisted imagination than sexual fetish. And Hanna Schygulla is tremendous in it. But I definitely get where your friend is coming from. But, personally, I found Barbie to be far more problematic.
If you could imagine Fassbinder making the movie Amelie or Delicatessen you would have Poor Things
I think it’s an interesting choice of movie to choose to be outraged about as “thinly veiled pornography”, and would be curious to know what other movies he’s ranted about as vocally for the same reasons within the last 5-10 years.
Yes, there’s sexual content. IMHO there’s nothing erotic about it, and I do not perceive the work as attempting to elicit sexual arousal.
Same. I did think the Paris section dragged a bit. But I’m going again so I can appreciate the artistry of the sets and scenes more. A top 5 of 2023 for me
Your weather description sounds perfect. For fall. I hope you get some summer soon!
What house is Immortal Beloved from?
Ys-Uzac. It’s Swiss . I have quite a few of their early perfumes which were affordable but haven’t tried any since 2018
Ah, yes, I remember that name.
Today I’m trying out the last sample of the five I collected the other day from Mind Games, Sans Voir (now that’s not a chess move I’ve ever heard of–??), which they say features rose and palo santo. However, the actual list includes a bucket more: grapefruit, sea salt, jasmine, cypress, freesia, “mystical rose” (?), and palo santo. (By the way, these are nice 2 ml samples, and I see they sell on their website for $7.50 each!). (I’m saying this for Houston people–visit Kuhl-Linscomb and you can get some free samples now!–ask for Asher.).
Anyway, I do get the slight salt note, and freesia (that’s strong), but the rest is just rose rose rose. It’s a pretty rose but a bit too sweet for my taste. And what does palo santo smell like, anyway? Is it a bit spicy?? Something in here reminds me of cinnamon. It doesn’t seem to have much staying power. I’ve already re-sprayed my arm so that I can keep sampling it and seeing how it develops.
I made lentil soup with kale last night and it was pretty yummy, but it’s always better the next day! Yay!
It means blindfold chess
And your soup sounds delicious
SOTD = Tom Ford Ebene Fume
Everything but the kitchen sink!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2F3ONcRMoY/?igsh=amQ2bGgxZm1jb2Qx
Such a weird day, weather-wise. I thought it was going to be nice and sunny and 🥶 but it was like a perfume development where it went from sunny to flurries to cloudy back to sunny again. Bah!
Heh, sounds like you had a taste of Colorado weather today.
I’m enjoying the long weekend, slowing making my way to some chores while staying at home with my son who is babysitting his cousin. Earlier today I had lunch with my college best friend, I’m terrible at keeping in touch and haven’t seen him since before the pandemic! I’m working on reaching out to people more this year.
Shucks, I didn’t respond to the poll last year! But I strongly suspect that same thing was on the top of my wishlist because it has been for awhile. Maybe even from the previous year. It’s Chypre Palatin. It’s quite helpful keeping it there because when I’m tempted by some blind buy or impulse buy, I ask myself if it’s likely to be better than Chypre Palatin and the answer is always no!
Wow! I applaud your restraint. It’s also an excellent strategy, if you can manage to not buy that most-coveted bottle.
Ha, that is exactly how I avoid many purchases…by telling myself it isn’t as good as something else I want (but won’t let myself buy because it’s too expensive or the bottle is too big).
RIP Joyce Randolf, best known by me as Trixie on The Honeymooners. She was 99!
She was!
I don’t know if I responded last year. For 2024, I am going to try to stick to 3 full bottles – but may fall short. Still vetting vanillas – started this a year ago . Last year, I bought dry/woody vanillas and I seem to be hankering for a straight up or sweet vanilla. Narrowed down to Bianco Latte (sweet) versus Obvious Un Vanille (straight up). Tihota was nice but rather pricey. I think I could get the other 2 both (almost) for what it costs.
I think I went over my 3 bottle limit in 2023 because I was often choosing between 2 perfumes and caved for both. Fear of missing out.
I don’t know if I can be a perfume collector and stop collecting. I do feel bad that there are some perfumes I rarely wear but I blame my changing tastes. But some of my past purchases that I still wear and enjoy -Stash, Bvlgari Black, Black Cashmere – are difficult to find now. So glad I have them. I enjoy perfume every day.
Wearing Obvious Un Vanille for a cold, dreary Sunday. But I got all my nagging tasks done.
Stay warm!
I have stopped collecting…I don’t know if I ever thought of myself as a perfume collector really, even though I did in fact buy a lot of bottles! But I just thought of myself as a perfumista, not a collector.
Currently, I want for nothing. While there are a few things I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on in very small quantities, I have more than plenty to keep me occupied. Mostly, I’m trying to do some downsizing in increments. But for insurance, I’m also imposing a no buy through April.
SotD – found an elderly samp of PdN Number One that I had never broken into so gave it a try. Immediate regret. So Not Me. I struggle with tuberose.
I still have a “want to buy” list but I think of it as largely dormant…it’s mostly things I won’t buy because the bottles are too big. But if everybody came out with 10-20 ml bottles tomorrow, I’d be in trouble!
Tuberose is a challenging note for quite a few people, I think.
By any measure of sanity, I should have NO business whatsoever thinking about more perfume. Yet, here I am.
I am considering either a small bottle of CK Obsession or a small bottle of Chanel Coco EdP. I should have pounced on the $30 bottle of Obsession I saw at the duty free shop when I was flying last month. I haven’t seen a price come anywhere close to that bargain.
Staying hunkered down and indoors as much as possible during this Arctic Blast. Teflon kitty is NOT a fan. She will be happy when summer rolls around.
SOTD = more Boyfriend Body Creme on my shins.
Don’t get the Obsession yet. Sending you an email. 😉
Oh! Good to know!
Jalapeno, your email keeps bouncing back to me, saying you’ve been blocked.
If you still have my email, can you send one to me?
I think I still have your email address. Tried sending something your way earlier tonight.
standing dawt armsakimbo aat gee male
I don’t think measurements of sanity have any place here 😉