Saturday is National Sense of Smell Day. We're celebrating all weekend long by smelling things and talking about them. (And, maybe, by trading things to smell? The swapmeet is still open!)
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite thing to smell right now (perfume or otherwise), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Lilac [cropped] by judy dean at flickr; some rights reserved.
[repeating a comment I left on Friday’s poll in case anyone else wants to weigh in.]
Taking votes…I am working more now, plus volunteering and trying to get back into a regular yoga practice, plus all sorts of stuff. Anyway, it is getting harder to keep doing polls 6 days a week and I’m going to start by giving up one day. Monday would potentially be the best day, and thus every lazy weekend poll would become a lazy 3 day weekend poll.
The other option would be for me to turn every Friday poll into a lazy 3 day weekend poll? In which case we could move the weekly project to Thursday?
Opinions? (And I will post this again for the next few polls so hopefully everyone will have a chance to give their opinion, although do me a favor and only give it once)
I’m in favour of anything that makes your life easier, and keeps this community going:) I don’t mind the potential change to Thursday for the weekly project, and a three day open thread.
Whatever works best for you. You put so much work into this important community and sometimes I wonder how you do it.
Whatever you prefer, I am ok with it. If i have to vote, I prefer the first option, giving up Mondays.
I’m kind of with everyone here…whatever is your preference – based on your schedule. My work schedule is such that I often don’t participate much during the week, so extending the weekend works well.
Agreed — whatever works better for you. And if you start with Fri-Sun and then decide Sat-Mon is better, go ahead and switch! I think we will all adjust.
Yes, this!
Me three!
This, yes, this!
Whatever works for you, Robin. When the whole Community Project project came about, I swore I could not comment more than once a week (it could be three but that was so long ago!). Thanks for keeping up NST!
Having said the above, is there a way to pre-schedule present a fresh slate Monday to Thursday and one for the long weekend? Also, maybe we can just make the SOTD a roulette SOTD like someone suggested yesterday?
I am going to do a roulette community project next month, but I do think the idea of doing the community project all week was not mine, it just sort of evolved…and nobody should feel compelled to participate in a project on Friday, much less Monday through Thursday. I notice that people sort of almost apologize for not doing it all week and nobody should apologize ever for wearing what they feel like wearing.
I can only speak for me, but I only extend the CP for the week if it causes me to remember scents I have and haven’t worn that much. I like that about it.
Hear hear!
What ever works for you Robin! Try a few different schedules and see which one works for you and we will follow. It’s already great you keep this community going!
Hello!
Hope everyone is doing well 🌹
Heeley Iris de Nuit
Hi Omega! I am well and out of town to see my nephew in his school play…so I am commando til Sunday afternoon.
Aww how sweet, enjoy your time with your nephew:)
Hubby and I had some yummy cardamom rolls this morning from Trader Joe’s. The spice scent was very nice as we lingered over coffee, the newspaper and sweet rolls. Mr Cardinal sang his courting song in the backyard. It was a very relaxing morning, the best kind.
Sounds perfect!
I really want to try those rolls!
How nice! Now I need to go to TJ’s.
Oooh. Might be a reason for me to hit up TJs. I’ll be near one late in the week.
Mmm… Now you’ve got me thinking I should bake some cardamom buns this weekend!
I had cardamom gelato & a latte this afternoon so we are vaguely on the same path 🙂
Wearing vintage Private Collection thanks to a generous NSTer swap.
Encouraging everyone to post your unloved fragrances at the Swapmeet!😋😋😋
Just posted!
Yay!
Happy weekend, people! It’s cloudy and cool and I’m not mad about it. Might get some rain but nothing like yesterday when a whopper of a storm ripped through. Thankfully is was very short lived, but the huge cottonwood next to me had me worried for a bit. 😅 Speaking of which, in just the few days I’ve been here the cottonwoods have gone from skeletal looking to bursting out with wee bits of greenery on each little stem. Soon they will be sporting an enormous crown of green.
We are off shorty to check out some more petroglyphs while the weather holds. Did a good deep clean and oiled all the woodwork yesterday in the living area of the camper during the storm. Now just need to do the sleeping area. As for perfume, I’m wearing SL Arabie for its lovely rich and dense odors of spices with a little bit of sweet thrown in. I’m not sure why I don’t wear this more often, which I guess is a perfumista’s common lament.
We are getting storms here all weekend. The trees always make me nervous.
I’d be nervous too if a large cottonwood tree was near me during a storm. They are notorious for being less than sturdy as they age.
National Sense of Smell Day! I can get behind that. 😉
SotD is MF Viole Nere. Finally bit the bullet and ordered a sample. It doesn’t smell as dark as I expected from the notes and reviews. Maybe I was too stingy with my spritzing? Skin too dry? Sniffer not up to snuff? I dunno. I think my violet search will have to end, and I’ll just stick with Jolie Madame. It’s the best so far!
Off to shop for new eyeglasses. Wish me luck! It’s starting to rank down there with trying on bras and swimsuits.
Good luck with the eyeglasses!
It’s getting harder to find anything that’s not ” trendy” .
It is! Either huge frames with wild shape or color, or boring. I want just a bit of the former.
Ha – agree about finding the right glasses frams. Bras, swimsuits, glasses frames and adding jeans.
Right!
I have been looking at frames too…did manage to get new progressive sunglasses but still working on the regular glasses.
Battle half won!
Let’s all go together! 😀
I like looking at frames. It’s just hard to decide. Word of advice…if you find a pair that suits and feels good from a shape and size – make a note of the sizing. They usually list the lens width, bridge width and arm length somewhere. Sometimes you can also find the lens height. I have a pair I bought over a year ago that fit well, so I now look at online frames and know if it’s the same sizing it will fit well.
Thanks for the advice, Lizzie. I did save the measurements from my favorite pair, but it’s uncommon these days, since the best arm length for me is 135, and almost everything now comes in 140 or 145. Even though some adjustment can be made, it doesn’t usually work very well for me. 🤷🏼♀️
The search goes on.
I’ve reused some of my glasses frames in the past if I haven’t liked the current offerings. The downside is that sometimes replacement lenses can be as expensive as a new pair of glasses.
Yes, I was thinking of doing that!
Wearing En Passant today since the weather is warm enough for it. Grudgingly at work today and have to do some grocery shopping afterwards.
Sorry you’re at work, Dawn! You do smell great.
Cloudy and rainy this weekend so didn’t feel like wearing the spring fragrances. I went with Mitsouko EdT.
Perfect. We’ve got that weather here too.
Super rainy for me yesterday. There were even a few bits of snow and sleet mixed in during the morning.
Fortunately, today’s weather is much nicer!
Like Kelly Red, I am smelling cardamom! Making a Swedish currant cake for a potluck tomorrow, and it has about 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom for additional flavoring. Still in the oven — smells wonderful.
Oh yum!
Mugler Week is not over for me yet, and today I’m in A*Men Ultra Zest, which amps up the original with a big zap of orange in the top. Very fun, very energizing.
House twin in Alien and Alien Fusion – we smell wonderful.
When I stepped out of the house this morning it was already 65 and felt almost muggy! I am pleased that the weatherman was off on his rain prediction and it’s currently 75 and sunny with puffy white clouds.
I’m doubled up on orange blossom in Glossier’s body hero body cream followed by Art Meets Art Like a Virgin LE. I smell yummy.
Hoping the weather stays like this.🤞 It’s prom for madtownteen this evening. She’s heading off with friends in a bit to do makeup and hair and then they’re off to dinner. She’s not really what I would consider a girly girl, but she shopped and bought her own dress and it is so *her*. A black midi dress with velvet flocked flowers. She painted her nails in OPI vampsterdam. My baby girl, all grown up.🥰
Aahhh! I’m so excited for her!
My son’s prom was supposed to be spring of 2020.. grr..
I so wish he could have gone.
Thanks lillyjo!
Grr is right, young people missed out on so much that year.
That’s such a shame your son missed out on his prom. The school didn’t reschedule it later on?
Have fun, MTT – I am sure you are beautiful! Will they stay out until the wee hours?
Thanks MossyBerry! Yes, she plans to hang out and watch movies afterward at her bestie’s house who lives just a couple blocks away. She’s the third kid, as I told her “let yourself in, we’ll be in bed.”🤣
We thought we were going to get rain too. Once it got close to 57, I opened the screen door for the first time in months! Open all day. Today is gray and we will likely get rain at midday for next 24 hours. We need the rain…been a dry winter.
Hope that madtownteen had a wonderful time at her prom!
Almost 1 year old grandbaby coming over soon and I can’t wait to see him. After he leaves, I’ll be joining Dawn in En Passant for your photo, Robin, and for all the gorgeous lilacs I found on my walk yesterday. We’re working on rebuilding our deck and will be for a while. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
AND, I’ve just added a couple more items on the SwapMeet.
A year already! Have fun!
Oh, wish I could borrow a 1 year old grandbaby! Hope you had a ball.
Freebie-If anyone is interested, I have a full bottle (100 ml) minus a few sprays of Vahina by Sylvaine Delacourte. My email is k r i s p o n t o at sio dawt midco dawt net.
This is taken!
It turned back into spring here after a week of unseasonable chill, just in time for a leisurely weekend. I’m working in the garden (! With both legs!) and smelling yummy in my Orange Gelée. Just rehabbed my salad greens bed, took out all the scraggly bolted stuff that I’d left for the bees to wallow in, amended the soil and planted two rows of mixed lettuces. Thinking I’ll tuck some radishes at the other end, amid my Italiko Rosso chicories and pet dandelions — both now nearing the end of palatability for the season but they get to stay put and be nurtured the rest of the year, for next year’s cool-season salads. Also have a few natives and plants for cut flowers to snuggle into the spaces between my currently-riotous California poppies.
You day sounds very fun! Poppies are an excellent flower to get riotous. I was a lemming for the Orange Gelee, too, so another Enable Badge to Robin. I have not use it yet since I am still in long sleeve weather here, but I love the metal tube and the color.
Glad you were able to get so much done!
I’m in Eau de Rochas Citron Soleil
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6RhPA8InKH/?igsh=MTBjMmV5MHlxaXZkcg==
That one sounded fun 🙂
SOTD = Eau de Commando
… getting my hair cut later this afternoon so commando it is.
In the meantime, please enjoy my Caturday post!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6RW9YlOI_C/?igsh=ajBwdHc2NjNwMzlo
I vote cute on the cat. It’s pretty cool.
BTW ulta has 20% off today on lancome. ( since you mentioned the lveb iris absolute the other day.)
Definitely a cute kitty!
A very cool and cute kitty!
I’m very happy to have the weekend off. It’s gloomy off and on showers and storms. I just finished cleaning out my pile of mail and will be playing keep or donate? With my daughter soon.
( we go through her closet once we run out of hangers. Lol)
My sotd is Chloe Love Story eau Sensuelle. The 2nd worst perfume name in my collection.
Oh… I posted some stuff in the swapmeet.
I wish the wouldn’t have discontinued Chloe Love. I liked that one.
I didn’t get to discover that one until it was too late.
You inspired me to pull out my L’Eau de Chloe EdT today.
An eventful morning here as Bertie Wooster the cat somehow got stuck between the bed frame and the wall, and was limping after I got him out. Off to the Urgent Care vet, but the news is good that it is a soft tissue injury rather than a fracture. He’ll be on pain meds for 7-10 days but should recover fully. I’m wearing Opus V, an “extra” that DeniseH included with my swap goodies.
That would have given both him and you a fright, glad Bertie Wooster is OK.
Oh gosh he must have been scared! I am glad he will be ok.
Poor Bertie! Hope he feels better soon.
Aww poor baby, glad they are expecting a full recovery
Poor Bertie kitteh! Glad that it wasn’t a fracture.
Here in Kentucky, it’s one of those days that open up summer: strong breeze, increasing humidity in the air, that slow but steady rise in temperatures, and a morning with cloud cover that gives way to afternoon’s strong sun. I’m always in the mood for a fragrance rich in tuberose or orange blossom, but today I want the flowers coated with the sensation of cool water—thus SOTD is Lascia Ch’io Pianga by Filippo Sorcinelli. The house seems rather under the radar, and most of the scents are too churchy or too strange for me to handle, but a few—like this one—are among the most beautiful fragrances I currently know. It’s delicate without being wimpy, and the white floral notes last all the way to the very end. In fact, the last thing I smell of it, hours later, is an orange blossom akin to the opening of Vero Kern’s Rubj.
It’s a perfect scent for the upcoming summer!
Well that does sound lovely!
Good morning! It’s another sunny autumn morning here, if only we’d had such settled weather during summer.
I’m smelling lots of coffee right now. I was trying to take a sip while writing this with the cat on my lap. She bumped my arm and I have coffee all over the place.
Otherwise, I can still smell last night’s Ambre Eccentrico on my clothes and I’m thinking of something floral for today, maybe Adieu Sagesse.
Oh drat, sorry about the spilled coffee! But since I am so late getting here it is long since taken care of 🙂
Haircut twins with hajusuuri today. Was commando for said hair appointment (because my stylist is pregnant and I worry about scents being a problem), but now that I’m back home I’m in a single spritz of Kerosene Broken Theories. My sniffer has definitely changed in the past year — I used to do four or five sprays of just about everything, but lately one spray of anything is usually plenty. Maybe, as AnnE suggests, it’s dry skin, or maybe it’s my sinuses or something. My perfume collection will last beyond forever if this keeps up!
I used to douse myself in perfume. Now I find 2-4 sprays is plenty. I do have sinus problems so that could be it.
Me too, although weather changes seem to affect it most. Found out I had chronic sinusitis from a CT Scan years ago. The resulting migraines and sinus pain make me very unpleasant to be around at times. 🙃
Good to know I’m not alone!
I have perfume eating skin and a trigger happy finger. 😂 6-8 spritz is my minimum.
Used to be mine too! I don’t know what happened. 😆
I had that issue when I hit menopause, everything was too strong. It has resolved now.
Glad it resolved for you. Pretty much my whole perfumistahood has been post-menopause, so it’s been interesting to try to think what might have changed recently — brain, nose, or something entirely else. It did become noticeable after we had a week of below-15-degree weather and our garage flooded, so maybe somewhere in all that mayhem my brain decided minimalism is good? The world may never know. 🤣
I ended up being commando all day,
Say it isn’t so! 😁
So we were only haircut twins. 😆
I’ve noticed that some perfumes smell very different here in Colorado than they did in NJ. I’ve also seen changes between pre- and post-menopause perfume preferences. There are some notes I can’t stand now that I didn’t mind earlier.
But I’ve always been an application minimalist.
I can imagine the dry air of Colorado might have a completely different effect on perfume than the closer-to-ocean air of New Jersey!
Started out today with a delightful fragrant Chinese tea. Then the main smells were musty mulch, lily of the valley, onion grass and mint. I’ll be ending the day with Alien and a top-off of Alien Fusion (love the musk in that one), pizza and dish soap. Probably some cat food too! 🙂
Great line-up!
I like the smell of old mulch 🙂
A long sleep, a bunch of sales on eBay and a compliment at the grocery store on Perris Rose Taif.
Sounds like utter bliss to me😊
I found a baggie with samples in my drawer today and sprayed on Thomas de Monaco Eau Coeur. I liked it before but today not so much, maybe because it’s already hot here. It has some pretty florals and then also musk and woods, and Ambroxan. Something in it is really pricking me in the sinuses and I don’t like it. I’m not usually that sensitive to Ambroxan and wonder if it might be the Virginia cedar. I almost never can stand cedar. The rose part of it is truly lovely though so that’s too bad.
Due to specifics about arrangements made previously and my brother’s death I am now facing the unpleasant prospect of petitioning the court for guardianship of my mom. This means going through many many regimented steps and hiring a knowledgeable attorney. I consulted with one woman I liked very much this week, but the details have made me feel overwhelmed. It’s a lot to try to cope with when you’re already grieving.
On a somewhat bright side, in researching the Texas laws about all this and likely costs, processes, etc., I found an attorney in Amarillo whose page was eminently clear and I liked it a lot. On second glance she had a familiar last name and she turns out to be the mother of one of my favorite (and smartest) colleagues! I would not hire her because I need someone who knows the county courts and judges here, but I can consult her and get advice and referrals. I told him and he’s letting her know I will call, and somehow this feels very reassuring. (It also makes me feel OLD! My colleague’s mother is younger than me!)
I don’t know if anyone is watching the k-drama Queen of Tears (Netflix), but it is one of, if not the, most successful ones ever, and the two final episodes are dropping this weekend. It’s an enormous event and I am enjoying it so much. Every episode is guaranteed to make you cry buckets! lol! But it’s so romantic! Can’t wait for tomorrow and the final one. Apparently the actor who plays the big villain has been making appearances in Seoul to beg for people not to hate him!
I am very sorry for your loss and the troubles that you are going through. Legal matters are always the most troublesome.
My paternal grandmother is 90+ years old and she had been a frequent visitor to the Intensive Care unit in the hospital these past 2 years. Everytime we’ve been told to expect the worst and somehow this tough lady pulls through. It will be a very difficult legal process when she passes because she has 8 children and they are all scattered in different countries and states. God knows how they will work things out…
Is it possible to help her make a will? That would help the situation so much. It seems that there are so many times after a death a family gets involved in squabbles and that they can turn quite heated. I’m fortunate in a way that there’s really no other people involved in Mom’s estate and nothing is going to be contested. Of course the key thing is then that I’ve got to make my own decisions and preferences clear too, since I’m not going to be around forever!
I spoke to my dad about this because nobody wants an ugly family situation but apparently he thinks it’s better if he doesn’t take the initiative, since some of the siblings might think he has an ulterior motive and persuade my grandmother into cutting him a fatter slice of the pie even if he has no intentions. Money makes ugly thoughts… Sigh.
Just a simple will dividing everything equally between the 8 children and naming a lawyer as the executor should be pretty neutral. Good luck!
I’m sorry for your loss and these difficulties while grieving. Very hard. Glad you will have a trusted contact.
Thanks for the K-Drama recommendation. I haven’t watched that one, so I definitely will put it on the list. I binged Crash Landing on You at the beginning of COVID and was alternately laughing and crying through it all. I’ve watched a number since.
Queen of Tears is written by the same person as CLoY, and it has been an even bigger success with viewers, both in Korea and internationally. It’s quite phenomenal and a lot more tear-jerking than CLoY but also has outrageously funny parts and subplots.
Hi Calypso, I’m so sorry for your loss. I was seeing your posts on Instagram about your brother’s treatment and then was surprised to learn that he had passed suddenly. I’m sorry you’re having to go through all these legal things too; what a pain. I wouldn’t know where to begin with all that either. I hope you find good people to help you through it.
Thank you. He did die quite suddenly. It was expected because the oncologist had given him/us the dire prognosis and advised hospice, but we still thought we had more time with him. I guess you can never be sure of such things.
I’m very sorry for all your grief and legal hassles, that is a lot to deal with. Sending you hugs.
Thank you. Hugs are exactly what helps at such a time as this.
This is very tough and I wish you the best. In hindsight, my parents thought of “the after” way ahead. My parents left each other what they own, they converted everything to cash (over time), there was no probate for my dad’s estate and my mom’s was relatively simple even though it took time because as far as we knew there were no deadlines.
Calypso, I’m so sorry for the hard days you’re going through. I hope that reference works out for you!
In the meantime, it may be worth it to check with your town or county to see if there are any legal services offered especially for elders, if you fall into that category (sorry to use that word, but it’s the usual one.) They may at least have some free advice.
Hugs. That’s a lot to deal with. Especially after losing your brother so abruptly and recently.
Hello and happy weekend!
Sotd is Bitter Peach.
My favourite thing to smell right now is the loaf of milk bread baking in my oven. I try to make a loaf of something every weekend. It’s fun, an upper body workout and great time-killer all rolled up in one!
Oh, I bet that does smell wonderful.
I think it will be another day at home. Lovely day yesterday, but my husband caught a cold so I stayed close and did a bit of organizing/cleaning. I think I’ll continue that today. Am thinking it’s a Black Perfecto day, since it’s cloudy and rainy.
I was hoping he’d forget, but my husband reminded me on Friday afternoon we should go look at three kittens being treated at our vet. From a farmer who has been unsuccessful at trapping the feral females on his farm. But he grabs the kittens. Turns out the boy is spoken for, but the two girls aren’t. They’re the two that are bonded. It’s earlier than I wanted, but I’ll probably cave and go with it. They’re being treated for respiratory viruses and won’t be ready for a home for another week. The boy is a love bug…you can just tell. The girls less so, but that might be shyness. Never had kittens. I’m still not really ready…I miss Agnes.
I once had a kitty named Agnes, it’s a great cat name. Hope all works out well for the girls.
Isn’t it? We named her on the fly…it was just after French director Agnes Varda passed away. We are thinking of continuing that tradition, if we get this pair. Likely Fanny [Ardant] and Claire [Denis].
I hope your husband feels better soon. Aww, I can relate about the kitties. I wasn’t really looking to get another one after I lost my boy a few yrs ago. But there was a feral kitten in my neighborhood about a year after he had passed. She meowed at me, looked at me all curious and sweet. Looked hungry. Well, I decided to lure her with salmon and took her home lol. She was frightened some but I have a good amount of experience with cats and I did things slowly with her so she could adapt. She ate like a horse, she was so hungry. Took time to socialize her the best I could. She is a content kitty now, very sweet, greets me when I come home. I told myself I wasn’t getting another one but she had something to say about that:) She is a great. Her name is Juji, it means “heap of love” ❤️
A great cat*
Having lost a great many cats over the years, I know how painful it can be and how unique and special each individual cat is. At the same time, there is something greatly healing about kittens. It’s not just new life, but also, their pure joi de vivre! and their extremely silly antics, plus their endless curiosity about the world. It’s wonderful you will get two so they will have playmates and companions.
I understand not being ready after losing a dearly loved cat. But you may have been selected by The Cat Distribution System to have those kittens.
LOL. I was kind of freaking since there were 3 and we wanted a boy. But now it’s just 2. And…one of the girls is orange, which is rare and like my late, beloved Penny, who I had for about 17 years. That CDS has a devious algorithm….
Happy Sunday NST!
Almost thought it was Monday lol. Storms have cleared out and it’s warming back up again. My Golden Knights lost last night but it was a good game lol. Was listening on the radio as I was working on a project and didn’t want to be too distracted lol. Reading about these posts about bread and rolls makes me want some! 😋
Wearing Honey Oud Floris 🐝 🍯
Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend 🌹
It seems like a lot of us are dealing with storms this weekend.
It’s downright hot here, very early for 80sF. And just Thursday we had a hard freeze. Makes it challenging to get dressed, especially as none of my pre weight loss summer clothes fit.
I’m wearing Chanel #5 Eau Premier, which smells great. I do have a perfume question: can someone tell me the difference between Eau Premiere and Chanel #5 l’Eau? I’m eyeing both.
It’s muggy and raining here. I’m fighting to not turn the air on.
I think L’eau is very different from Eau Premiere in that it feels almost like a veil. Do you still have my email? Resend me your address and I will send you some.
Thanks lillyjo! Sending you a message.
I personally like L’eau much better than Eau Premiere, but have had both. IMHO L’eau is much lighter with more citrus and a toned down version of Chanel No 5. I also like EdT Chanel No 5.
Thank you! The edt version of No. 5 is mystery favorite so far.
My favorite, not mystery!
I really liked both Eau Premiere and No. 5 L’Eau when I sampled them. But I have a bottle of No. 5 L’Eau and not one of Eau Premiere. I find L’Eau can easily be a 4-season perfume.
Thanks for weighing in, Jalapeño. A four season easy to wear perfume sounds nice.
Woke up to a thunderstorm at 5am. Fortunately it’s stopped now, so I can get my shopping errands done. Planning to make an apple pie today. I’m wearing SDV over orange vanilla lotion which is yummy.
Glad I haven’t had any early morning thunderboomers to deal with! Yikes.
Hi everyone! Long time no post. I just got back a few days ago from a big trip to Istanbul, Doha (Qatar), and Paris, with a side trip to Caen! I had a great time, met up with my brother and sister-in-law who live in Doha now, saw an old friend and a cousin, got to know my French conversation partner in real life instead of online, and bought a TON of soaps and perfumes and other goodies. I’m still recovering from jet lag and feel tired a lot, but I’m already dreaming of where I want to go on my next big trip (next year or later since I’m very low on vacation days now!)
Perfume purchases:
–In Istanbul, at one of my favorite soap stores (Home Spa), I bought a chocolate-scented essential oil, plus some soaps for me and lots of mini soaps for my coworkers (only 30 Turkish lira each, less than $1)
–At the airport duty-free, I bought Guerlain Terracotta (on sale for 49 Euros!!) and Coco EdP.
–In Doha, I bought Rituals Eclat at one of their fancy malls. It’s faint, but very nice. I’ll spray with abandon.
–In Paris, I bought a bunch of old testers in a dusty little box at a flea market. Included are Diorella, Opium, Champs Elysées (already have), Fahrenheit, and a bunch of other things.
–I visited the Serge Lutens store and bought L’Orphéline in the beautiful limited-edition bottle. I finally got to sniff all the Lutenses!
–I bought some soaps and other things at Panier des Sens.
And I was tempted by the duty-free Guerlains at the Paris airport, but I’d already bought so much! I’m so pleased with how my trip went–I had a really good time and did a lot of things. And ate a lot.
I’m catching up on some of the old posts here when things are slow at work! I’ve missed keeping up with your news.
So happy it was a great trip. You have some awesome perfume purchases!
Thank you!
Wow, what a wonderful vacation! Lucky you to find such little treasures at a flea market. If I ever get to Paris again, my goal is to spend a day at the Marché aux Puces.
I went to the one in Montreuil, one of the eastern suburbs (but right next to Paris). It was really a bazaar, people selling old used things and new cheap stuff. There were some new “tester” bottles of what looked like genuine big name perfumes, but I wasn’t sure if they were authentic. There were also a ton of NIB knockoff brands I’d never heard of. Then, there were some used vintage-looking things, but I stuck with just my little samples!
What fun! Did you haggle en Français?
Heh heh, I didn’t need to, the guy said normally he charged 50 cents each but since I was buying the whole box, 5 Euros. That was fine with me! And it was en français!
Amazing and what fun to do all that shopping! I’m particularly intrigued by the dusty old box and its marvelous contents!
Yes I thought they looked genuine since they were old and dusty, like someone had had them in a closet for a long time! They’re all manufacturer’s samples. Besides the ones I mentioned, there’s also Bulgari Omnia (which I’m mostly anosmic to), Jean Paul Gautier Ma Dame, Azzaro Visit, Azzaro Chrome, Dior Higher Energy, Mademoiselle Rochas, Jean Couturier Marjolaine, Cacharel Promesse (I think; it’s hard to read), and Courrèges In Blue.
That sounds like an incredible trip, and well worth the jet lag! Good to see you back.
Thanks Jalapeno!
Glad you had fun and got back safely. Wow on the flea market find – I love that kind of thing. Please give us a report on your favorite. Hope your work week ahead will go smoothly – jet lag is tough!
Thank you! It was my first time seeing if I could find anything vintage ;). I’m trying the Champs Elysées now and it doesn’t smell like my original bottle. Either it’s a reformulated sample, or it’s gone off, or mine has gone off, or…? But that’s okay, more to try!
Did you have a batch code? My older bottle of CE edt smells more true than my newer edp bottle. Maybe it will open up on a future wearing!
Oh good question! I looked up the batch code for my original CE bottle and it’s from 1996, when I bought it :). The sample I got at the flea market doesn’t have any numbers on I can read, faded as it is. I realize I said “testers” above, but I meant samples (I blame jet lag!) I’m testing them side by side now, and blech that sample is no bueno.
What a ball you must have had!! Thank you so much for the detailed acquisition list, it gave me great vicarious enjoyment 🙂
What a great trip, thanks for sharing all your fun finds.
Very spring-like in BF Au Adela Narcisse today! Happy Sunday!
And a Happy Sunday to you, Deva!
Happy Sunday!
Smelling so freaking good today!
This all sounds amazing! I am a bit jealous about the Lutens store, I bet it was great!
It was! It was so cool to see all the scents at once.
Laundry day for me today, so I’m smelling detergent and fabric softener. I finally got around to stripping the bed and washing all the linens.
Yesterday was a super stormy day. Plenty of rain, some thunder and lightning, plus a bit of snow/sleet mixed in during the morning. Glad I didn’t have to go anywhere or do anything outside. It smelled of cold petrichor and snow from the mountains. 🥶🌧️🌧️🌩️❄️
SOTD = commando, except for Dionis Peach and Cream lotion on my shins. 🍑 It’s a little odd that I consider something really fruity to be a cold weather scent. Just can’t handle it in warmer weather.
Oof, you’re still getting snow! I hope it warms up soon for you. I think fruity scents are lovely in the cold!
It was a few flakes here and there. Nothing accumulated. It was mostly very cold, heavy rain. Glad I had some wool socks handy! 😉
Chamade edt for me today, modern version from a tester. Overall I enjoy it, but the type of rose in it, or the rose in combination with some other part, does not work for me. I do love the galbanum and hyacinth wafts. A warm and humid day here, with a breeze that is bringing some raid. Like others, I am trying to hold out on the AC.
I totally failed…came home from DC and after 2.5 hours in a hot car I had the ac on within 5 minutes of my arrival. It was not actually that hot in my house (it’s stone) but it was so stuffy…
Chamade doesn’t quite work for me either! I prefer Chant d’Aromes and Jardins de Bagatelle.