It’s our same-old open thread poll, just-before-the-holidays edition: Christmas Eve is Tuesday, Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah are both on Wednesday.
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, what you’re hoping to see on fragrance counters in 2025, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Silent Night [cropped] by Roy Harryman at flickr; public domain.
Happy weekend and winter solstice!
Today I am +1 years old. I will be having cakes and ice cream for lunch!
Sotd is Youth Dew because it’s my long time favourite.
Aww enjoy your day and your special lunch! You smell great.
Happy Birthday! 🎂
Enjoy it all!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to you!
Enjoy your level up! Happy birthday!
For your birthday you are going to get longer days!!! Hope you got other good things too…cake and ice cream is a great start 🙂
Happy Birthday! Hope you enjoyed that sugary lunch, birthdays are meant to be indulgent.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! You smell fabulous. 🎉
Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎊!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! May the year ahead be filled with good health and much happiness!
Happy Birthday!💐💐
Birthday wishes
Happy (belated) Birthday!🎉
Belated happy birthday wishes…stretch the celebration out as long as possible!
Happy belated birthday! I hope it was a wonderful day.
Happy Belated Birthday! Why not make it a birthday week?
Happy birthday solstice! I hope you have a great year
I arrived at my family home for a long Christmas break today.
Wearing Nishane Nanshe today
https://www.instagram.com/stories/chemistbottle/3528077789399897681?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MW15dGNpbnU3cmNxeQ==
I hope you have a great time with your family.
Enjoy the time with your family!
Merry Christmas Lucasai!
Have a wonderful time!
Merry Christmas lucasai!
I’m happily wafting Ambra Aurea this morning. Mr. G approves. 😆
Oh, that a real beauty! 😍
83F here yesterday! 😅
Thanks to lillyjo for mentioning Devotion recently! I found myself at Ulta yesterday and gave it a whirl as I browsed around. I liked it quite a bit and a travel spray was available so I picked it up. So, that’s my SOTD, layered over BBW Vanilla Bean Noel body cream, which IS sweet. The combo is lovely!
Happy holidays! 🎅
It’s a good combination, isn’t it?
I am going to have to try that eventually 🙂
Smelling great Deva!
I’m wearing SL’s Écrin de Fumée and about to start the first of the tasks I’ve set myself for the holidays – cleaning under the bed. I’ve got a huge number of shoe boxes stored there, it’s getting a bit muddled (and very dusty!) and it’s getting harder to find the shoes I want each morning.
I don’t do much of a spring clean but I do a big pre-holiday clean, so that is exactly the sort of chore I’ve been doing for the past week. Enjoy your new shoe organization Gaynor 🙂
Wearing Aesop’s Marrakech Intense parfum. I enjoy many from Aesop, including Rōzu, Tacit, and Virēre, but this is my favorite from the house.
Add some sugared ginger and I imagine you’d approximate what I expected from the perfectly pleasant (but somewhat disappointing) “Five O’Clock Au Gingembre,” which I wore for the first time yesterday.
That’s a lovely perfume, probably my favourite too although I haven’t kept up with the more recent releases. I find it layers well. Might wear it today.
Wearing Caron Nuit de Noel parfum while wrapping Christmas gifts. Perfect combo! It is sad that they discontinued such a beautiful fragrance.
Wait, what? Discontinued? What a shame.
SOTD=Irisss! Good all year round.
Tidied up the house and took a bunch of recycling to the recycling drop point, so that feels like I accomplished something! Tommorow I am going to call each of my siblings and other extended family I am close to for holiday chat, since they are all far away…
Monday I will bake those mincemeat pies!
Hope you had a lovely time talking to family today meredifay!
Today I wore Meo Fusciuni Luce to clean out the den closet. Why oh why did I keep all that tissue paper and bubble wrap? Once those were cleared, I put all the ornaments that are too large for my (now tiny) Christmas tree into a “donate” box. Then I sorted through all my handbags. I found a quarter, a lipstick, hand sanitizer, and a few pens. I also put six handbags in the donate box. I ordered some hooks so that I can hang the remainder from the rod. I feel like I accomplished something today because the closet looks so organized now.
Yay! I should do this too. I seem to have a lot of “I should do this too” comments!
SOTD = Scents of Wood Plum in Cognac Vintage 24
It is much deeper than the original although one may think that I actually now have 4 of these! Whatever! It is wonderful!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DD2ziDcx0-w/?igsh=MWw0emNmMHRoZWpu
So yesterday’s dinner was great although it was a sh-t show from the get go. There was accumulation and it was lightly snowing when I went to pick up the food. I could.not.find parking and ended up illegally parking by a fire hydrant thinking I won’t be long because pick-up. I got to the maitre d’s desk and there was no order for me, from the gift-giver nor my sister. After a few (OK, a lot of) back and forths, we finally figured out that the order was placed at another location 40 minutes from where I was – no can do. We finally ended up ordering another set and since it was going to take about 20 minutes, I went back to my car to see if I can park at a better spot, which I finally did. Anyway, we had a great time and the dessert I brought (from an Omaha Steaks order) was also fabulous.
Did you have to pay for 2 sets of food orders?
Ugh. I’m glad it was great after all that!
Oy vey! What a pain!
Glad that the dinner turned out OK after that not at all auspicious start!
Happy Solstice, all! I’ll be lighting some candles tonight.
SotD is Miriam Mirani Aqaba. Such a luscious, spicy, rosy amber. Do any of you remember this from old MUA days? ♥️
I’m happy the days will start getting longer now.
Yes! ☀️☀️☀️
Definitely!
Rooted through my samples in the closet, and found a few 4160 Tuesdays items. I chose Creamy Vanilla Crumble; applied about 8 sprays. It’s very nice but fairly short-lived on me. I’ll use up my sample but won’t need a bottle.
Good day to make shortbread; it’s foggy and grey out. Very glad to be home.
Too bad, Creamy Vanilla Crumble sounded promising!
It was a super busy day today with last minute shoppers. Tomorrow we are having a potluck. I am not confident enough to share my cooking with others so I stopped and bought a dessert to bring.
I wanted a heavy hitter today and wore vintage Poison. 4 sprays! I about gassed myself out.
4 sprays! 😄 That ought to clear out those last-minute shoppers.
Brilliant, lillyjo! Smelling amazing, of course.
lol 😂 that is a lot of sprays
Ha! I bet you smelled great.
I’m always leery of potlucks, I think I’ve seen too many memes online of kitties up on counter tops. I’d be happy to have a dessert that was purchased.😊
This is so me! I tried to skip a potluck at the end of the season at the campground I worked at over the summer, but nope! Someone came pounding on my door and insisted I come out and join the party…😬
Something that describes your recent perfume use: https://youtu.be/7nqcL0mjMjw
I am in Typical Me, Kilian
I will be wearing this everyday until the holidays are finished.
Still reading empire of the summer moon. When I am done I will read Cher’s memoir.
Looking forward to my first cup of chai tea soon.
Yay for real chai tea 🙂
10 Corso Como is my Sotweekend.
Today the days start getting longer! Yay! I made it!🌞
Our plan is to get our tree today. Yesterday was the colder day of the weekend, so we decided to stay in and my girls baked two different kinds of Christmas cookies. And did all the clean up!😊
We did do some decorating, and all the presents are wrapped.
We’ve been getting into the spirit by watching Christmas movies. Last night we watched Last Christmas with Emilia Clarke, which was actually cuter than I thought would be. Plus, the soundtrack was all Wham and George Michael, so count me in.
Enjoy your longer days!
I’m back in Coromandel edp from a manufacturers spray. I opened the extrait box but haven’t open the bottle. Yet. I haven’t opened the bottle of BdI extrait either. I don’t know what I’m waiting for. If I kick it according to family custom, I’ve got an about 10 years left. Perfume wise, I have enough to last for several generations. 😂
Happy Holidays to those that celebrate all the things and Happy Festivus to the rest of us!
So are those extraits in those 15 ml bottles?
Yes, 15 ml. They have a little glass stopper and I think this is why I’m hesitating a bit in opening them. I don’t know how secure they fit. If anyone knows, please chime in! Anyway, I’m a bit paranoid that if I stop fast or hit a bump they may tip and spill. I have all my perfumes packed cheek by jowl in a box in the camper, but I’m trying to come up with a better idea for these two glass stopper bottles…
How many did you get?
I’ve had the BdI extrait for about a year now, give it take. Can’t remember exactly. The Coromandel extrait I just bought.
Deva, I have glass stoppers too – Chanel and Lutens.
Google up grip tape. you can put a small piece over the stopper. It works really well.
On that note – no pun intended, I think I will enjoy some Chergui today.
Oh, thank you! I will look it up. I keep the bottles in the box, and Chanel box tucked in the big perfume box, but in worst case scenario, I want to make sure the stopper doesn’t become dislodged. Enjoy Chergui! ❤️
Like Madtowngjrl, we’ve been watching Christmas movies which got me thinking about how few are set in summer. It’s very rare to see a Christmas at the beach, BBQ movie . Yesterday we rewatched The Bishop’s Wife (1947) with Cary Grant as an angel …pre. Wim Wenders but same sort of thing. Next was A Savage Christmas, an actual summer Christmas ( Australian movie, similar vein to Colin from Accounts) which captures a lot of family dynamics without being cheesy or sentimental. Then the recent Holdovers , good. I’ve been wearing a dash of Coco Mademoiselle recently and Tauer Tuberose, both good in the heat. Packing our togs ( swim suits) and heading back to the house by the river today, where it will be around 30C.
Interesting, I don’t think I have seen ANY movie with Christmas in summer. Will have to look for Savage Christmas.
https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/best-australian-christmas-movies
The only one I would actually recommend is A Very Moody Christmas , which is a tv series centred around one family and Christmas. A few laughs and very Australian.
Thank you so much Kanuka!! Just watched a few very funny trailers. Will see if I can find any of these to stream here…
I could watch The Bishop’s Wife every year! It’s the best “sleeper” Christmas movie around. I might watch “Wings of Desire” a few more times, too. Do you remember “The Loretta Young Show?” It’s one of my earliest memories. I was so enamored of her! By the way, make sure to watch “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” with her and Rex Harrison. I finally understood why they used to call him Sexy Rexy, as my mother told me. Definitely not Dr. Doolittle.
Loved Rex Harrison! And James Mason, too! I had a mega crush on him. So sophisticated and urbane! 🎩
Yeah, James Mason, what a voice.
We did t get the Loretta Young show here but yes to Rex Harrison Ghost and Mrs Muir and James Mason. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you, Kanuka!
I’m cleaning out the refrigerator today, the door is done so I am taking a break now with two kitties next to me. I’m wearing Slumberhouse Norne, one of my Christmastime favorites. It smells like an evergreen forest to me.
Norne is a good one. I’ll have to go check if I still have a sample of it.
I’m wearing Lyric today from a lovely NSTer💕
Lyric is incredibly beautiful. It’s one of my most worn perfumes.
I thought of you when I wore it because I know how much you love it😊
Frightfully behind, due to a heinous few weeks at work. I don’t buy much anymore since kids are grown and everyone has enough “stuff” but I have to have a few things so I got myself over to the shopping center early today. I managed to get most of what I needed. Crowds were not bad at first but by the time I left, cars were following me to my car to get my parking spot. That is the definition of when I don’t want to be shopping, when the only way you can shop is if someone else is finishing.
Wearing Gypsy Water. The scent is calming even though I am definitely NOT. I want to get to the relaxing part of holidays, not the cooking/cleaning/anxiety part.
I got a rare compliment last week when I was wearing Guidance 46. I have to space that one out because it is so strong that I smell it for days. I could smell it on my hoodie today, overwhelming the subtle Gypsy Water.
Perfume compliments are the best! I hope your next few days are relaxing and restorative.
Happy Monday and Christmas Eve Eve!
Today, I’m wearing Jul et Mad Callisto, one of the 2024 release samples I recently picked up.
I’m enjoying it a bit more than I did on my first wear. The synthetic woody note (Ambroxan, I believe) still overpowers the other notes for me, but there’s a pleasant warm vanilla in the mix as well. If you’re not sensitive to Ambroxan, it’s worth a try – a lot of people seem to love it.
Happy Monday to you Glannys! (It’s probably Tuesday for you by now.)
Thank you! Yes, small hours of Tuesday. Happy still Monday to you!
Now I can say I am done done for my Christmas shopping. Just ordered another bag of dog treats and more toys for my dogs. They will be getting 5 toys total and 3 bags of treats from me. They didn’t get a Barkbox this month and want to make up for it. This will arrive this afternoon. Today’s projects are vacuuming, and load of laundry and making a last minute shopping list. Will be wearing Shalimar after my shower today. I am going to wear Theorema or Lyric for Christmas day.
You are reminding me to buy some treats or toys for my cats. I usually have a Christmas stocking for them. It’s a cute stocking with little mice on it. 😉
It’s Monday and I’m wafting Bel Respiro, thanks to the recent splitmeet. It’s very fresh and green, yet smooth and soft. Quite lovely.
Oh, I got some in the last split meet too, and I’m afraid this one was a big fail on me! I guess green scents and I just don’t get along. The only one I’ve ever liked was Zoologist Elephant.
Bummer! I love green scents. The ones that fail on me are the BWFs, especially gardenia. Oh well, more for everyone else! 😉
Another Monday!
I’m wearing SL L’orpheline from a big decant that was delivered this morning at 6:39 am. The USPS is hard at work! L’orpheline smells wonderful but it’s softer than many Lutenses and I miss that nuclear staying power. I’m glad I got my hands on some.
I seem to be gravitating toward retro scents this week, which is likely due to the nostalgia Christmas brings, and warm, old-school scents that remind me of my father are high on my list. Not that he wore fragrance often – an occasional splash of English Leather Aftershave, or Tabac. The original Right Guard spray deodorant IS something he wore frequently, and its scent is very much “him” in my memory.
Anyway, today I’m wearing some vintage Drakkar Noir. Definitely brings me back to the eighties – it was everywhere. It wasn’t for me back then – just too big and “masculine,” I guess – but I’m loving it now.
It’s got a reputation of being dated and coarse, but I think it’s much less strident (and more appealing) than a lot of popular male-marketed stuff today.
So here’s to nostalgia its softening effects!
Back in Devotion.
In case you want to up your holiday vocabulary lexicon see link below. Will admit, these are all new to me! I’m a big fan of “confelicity” myself, but have experienced almost all of these at one time or another. Cheers! 🎁🎄🎊🎉🎅
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD63PRZMtOx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Deva I think for the first time ever we are scent twins!
🙌 Woohoo! No one better to twin with. Hope you and the kids have a great holiday.🎄
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/10/think-you-know-the-differences-between-uk-and-us-spelling-take-our-quiz?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Here’s another word game for you…a quiz re. UK and US spelling
Fun Kanuka, thank you, I got 11 out of 14, I’ve lived both in the US and the UK.
13 for me! (I read a lot of British mysteries.)
It’s Christmas Eve and we’re still debating and trying to decide what to eat for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Nothing says fun like supermarket shopping on Christmas Eve ! It’s too warm to spend time standing over an oven and, unfortunately there’s no BBQ here so we can’t cook outside. I like the idea of a picnic by the river….life was easier when my parents were alive and every year we just had turkey but now we seem plagued by indecision. So far it’s nasi goreng vs. wraps. Wearing Elephant
“Christmas wraps” sound seasonally appropriate to me!
😄 I agree.
SOTD = Frederic Malle Carnal Flower
Very nice! It’s a BUB and the bottle feels nice to the touch. TBH, I sometimes buy bottles because I just love the design. This one was from at least 5 or 6 years ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DD7wTPuRwmL/?igsh=MTU1MW5nNnNkMWRjdA==
I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve already tomorrow! Where did the time go?
That bottle came and went pretty fast. It’s cool that you got one!
Wearing Dior Addict today. I’m trying to figure out my Christmas Day fragrance. Possibly Prada Infusion d’Iris or Wrappings. I want to keep it low key but still smell fabulous!
I’m now making banana bread! At least I can freeze it since it’s just the 2 of us. Nothing like doing extra baking this time of year! My hubby put aside a dozen shortbread for his brother (and family) to take over on Christmas Day. I’ll also make a spinach dip tomorrow or Christmas Day morning as a snack for all of us.
You smell great Gail! I think I will wear that tomorrow. I have to work Christmas eve, and need another Big perfume. Lol.
Thank you! It’s such a special fragrance (to me anyways). Sorry you have to work tomorrow; I hope it’s a quiet shift.
I completely agree; big perfumes will be required!