Quick PSA: the damage poll is coming up on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, are you making any perfume-related resolutions for the New Year? Fragrances you'd like to buy, fragrances you'd like to not buy, perfume projects you'd like to complete, anything? Tell us!
Or feel free to share anything you’d like to accomplish this year.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Amaryllis [cropped] by judy dean at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wearing CdG Avignon today. Got an email from Amouage today. Apparently they are coming out with a new Exceptional Extrait. If it is Lyric Woman, I am screwed since I love Lyric.
You smell great!
Dawn, have you tried Guidance or any of the other new ones?
I tried the Dia, Epic and Honour in the Exceptional Extrait form. But after Beloved, I did lose some interest in Amouage. Perfume is an expensive hobby and Amouage is big bucks, even at discounters. I loved Epic 56 though.
Yay finally good sleep after three bad nights.
St. Rose Gypsy Soul, am really wanting to use so much of what I have and I keep finding little gems in the back of the perfume closet.
Rather than keep looking for the perfect rose, I need to wear all my roses.
Robin, do you remember sometimes nst people would show how they store or display their fragrances?
Tik Tok has kind of ruined that, but there have been many times when I have remembered the reader who covered her bottles with I think…stuffed bunny rabbits? It always brings a smile to my face.
I think the two/three I am interested in is the Vanilla Planifolia Extrait – Duty free or split only and maybe Heely Cardinal. I have a 10ml. I would also like to try Rose Trafalgar – again, duty free or split only. Have not found a sample yet on the sites.
Okay, off to Orange County to donate clothes and shoes. That should give me a few more CDs of Little Life to get through.
Watching Missing on Netflix.
I have to keep reminding myself that I have many wonderful rose perfumes to wear. I need to put the perfect search on hold and enjoy what I have.
We have to keep reminding each other!
I do not remember the bunny rabbits at all!!
Angie used to do a feature on people’s collections, is that what you mean?
https://freebox.it.com/tag/inside-the-perfume-cabinet/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Yes! I loved this. Look at some of those beautiful bottles.
Thank to apsara and Robin for asking about and for posting this! A wonderful rabbit trail through the archives.
Adding another thank you for mentioning this, apsara and for posting the link, Robin!
It was Marie – in 2017 she covered them with teddy bears!
Thank you!
I’m looking forward to Paris in April as I am planning on perfume shopping and museum-going as the sole goals of my time there. As far as other resolutions, I spent 2020-2024 getting really cardiovascularly fit, but upper body strength and flexibility suffered. So 2025 will be about maintaining fitness but addressing strength and flexibility. SOTD is Zoologist Camel for the date note I wanted.
Wow, I’m envious of your planned trip and even more of your fitness levels and dedication! I also wore Camel recently–I think it was during the ginger CP although it turned out not to have any. Somehow I thought it would. It was wonderful.
The fitness was accidental. During COVID I was going batty cooped up in the house so I started walking, and then running. I can’t run anymore, my knees started hurting, but I walk most days.
Zoologist scents really work for me. You, too, I think.
Yes they do, but when they don’t, they’re AWFUL. For example, I loathed Seahorse and Squid, and found the seemingly inoffensive Cow just unbearable.
That will be a wonderful trip!
Oh, you will have a great time in Paris. I have not been there for years and when I did go there I was not interested in perfumes. Now, I would love to go for that reason alone. The museums are something I went for when I was there 40 years ago.
Paris was wonderful when I was just there. So nice to have so many perfume stores in close proximity, no matter where you are. (I mean, there was randomly a Diptyque across the street a block from my Left Bank hotel.) We walked a bit to get PdN + ELdO + the scarf store I wanted in close proximity, but it was still only 20-30 min., and they were close to the Pompidou. We also ate very well. Enjoy your trip! 🙂
So curious about a your scarce hunting! I’m making good use of mine up here in the chilly weather. Did you find any you liked? Is it possible to become a scarf addict..?😉
I bought silk scarves from a brand called Neymo. I had such a long list of places I wanted to go to look, but we only had the weekend and between scarves and perfume I was already monopolizing too much of the time that kid and spouse wanted to use to do other things. I loved the quality of the Neymo scarves — very good silk — and the designs (and they also allow you to customize your own designs if you have the time). It also helped that Neymo was very close to both a PdN and ELdO store and the Pompidou Centre. I haven’t been wearing them much because it’s winter, so no photos yet. 🙂 But I will be wearing them more!
Good to know! Thank you for sharing! I will check them out. I’m kind of conflicted about silk though. I bought one very essspensive silk scarf and I’m afraid to wear it. It’s seems so delicate and fragile!
I’m wearing my new scent from ELDO, Story of Your Life, which I have an instant and ongoing passion for. I wonder how it will play in the summer heat.
No I don’t have any perfume resolutions but I have made two resolutions. One is to be more physically active, and the other is to get out and do interesting things more. To the latter end, I’ve signed up to take two classes at a local institute that organizes such things (where I studied watercolor painting for awhile): One is on Bach, and the other is on the art and culture of India. I need to organize things like this so I don’t just sit at home all the time watching K-dramas. It would be nice to meet new people, too. These are just six-week, two hour classes that meet once a week.
Your classes sound great, how nice to live where those things are available. I need to check out your sotd, we have similar taste.
“Instant and ongoing passion”
Words to live by, Calypso:)
Or in my case, words that get me in trouble. Lol.
🙂
I am not familiar with that scent so I need to look it up. I am house twins with you today though.
Your classes sound marvelous! You’ve inspired me to play Bach on this cold winter morning, then Indian tonight.
I listened to Bach for Breakfast then Ravi Shankar Essentials on Apple Music. I sent you an intention from both that your classes would enrich your life Calypso.
I probably need to make a resolution about not procrastinating so much, but I’m procrastinating about that too 🙂 .
I am trying (and have been doing quite well over the last few months) not to buy so much perfume, but that’s only about timing, not really about buying less overall. I’m going on a trip in April that includes Rome and Florence, and I’m busily writing my list of things that I know I want to buy and other things to try.
Ha, I need to do the same! But I do get things done. Just not the day I say I will 🙂
Maybe you will be able to stick to the low buy. I went to SMN twice, looking to buy perfume, when I was in Florence, and walked away emptyhanded. (But if you’re visiting other houses it could be different.) Part of it was knowing that I could order it at home, and we had carry-ons, of course.
i need to visit my gym more often and do more cycling in the warmer months.
no resolutions perfumewise, i try to use and love the perfumes i have. Luckily most of the newer ones are not to my taste and the old classic chypres are often really cheap,
We all need to go to the gym more! But I have to say the most crowded time at my gym is the first 2 weeks of the year — I forgot and tried to go exercise on 1/1, no way, too crowded.
tannina, I couldn’t agree more about the Chypres. I just bought a bottle of vintage Knowing for perfumemathfree and it’s heavenly!
All the drains are blocked at my “ residency” house so I’ve thrown in the towel and come home. It’s weird but when I left I felt so sorry for the house, almost as if it was an incredibly lonely person that I was abandoning. It really pulled at my heart and I felt dreadful. It’s a beautiful place but has also been a bit beset with problems. Anyway, usual summer weather here (11C) and I’m wearing Santal Majuscule.
I feel bad for the house now too, but I feel glad you are home.
I’m sorry to hear about more problems with the house, spending time in Central sounded so lovely.
I’m so sorry the house didn’t work out, but the cemetery at home will welcome you back I’m sure.
Gosh. What an eventful “residency”.
Worth every minute though!
I’m so glad.
Oh dear! I think poor old residency house needs an infusion of NZD! Our old house certainly perked up after our last infusion of USD. 🙂
This made me laugh.
You had quite the adventure with your residency!
Finally caught up with my forwarded mail so I’m wearing the chocolate dipped waffle cone perfume from the split meet a while back. Imaginary Authors, IIRC. I can’t remember the whole name and the label has faded so all I could make out was “chocolate” which is good enough for me. Delicious! My immediate thought was “I need a bottle right NOW!” 😀
Not a resolution, but I’m trying to do a No Buy until at least April, so there’s that… I’m going to have to do a side by side of this one and CSP Amour de Cacao because on first wearing the dipped waffle cone seems quite close to AdC.
It was a gorgeous night! Didn’t even need to run the furnace! We overnighted in a small canyon on BLM land, the only ones there, and the quiet was deafening! Now, I’ve moved back to “The Land of Many, Many People and a Lot of Noise.” Sad but true…To compensate, I’m planning a lovely salmon fillet with rice and a big side salad for an early dinner. 😋
Have a great weekend!
https://youtube.com/shorts/nrX1lZvmf_4?feature=shared
Enjoy your dinner!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEazANcS6CH/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Did you get a good view of Venus ( next to the moon at the moment)?
Yes, I did! They were dressed up with a wispy cloud here and there, but they (and many other stars) shone line diamonds! 🤩
I just want to say that I always love the books you find on your travels, quiet or not. 🙂
That book I picked up yesterday is going to be a doozy! I read the first few pages and had to put it down it was so good! The better the book, the longer I like to stretch out the reading of it for some reason.
The last place I was at for “deafening quiet” was by Mount Saint Helens in early April one year. I could feel the solitude.
Beautiful area!
SOTD is ELdO Eau de Protection. I don’t wear this very often, but I do like it.
I am hoping to use the perfumes I have and not add much to my collection this year. However, from the comments I have become interested in Encens Mythique. I feel so fortunate that an NSTer is sending me a sample before I decided to blind buy. Whether I like it or not, I know this one would not be a safe blind buy.
I finally have decant supplies coming so I can start sharing samples. Everyone has been so good sharing with me.
I have become accustomed to using my collection more than adding to it, but I do feel like my resolution this year should be to try some new fragrances. I have gotten out of the habit!
hiya-I tried emailing you a few times but the emails came back. Did you sort out your sample of EM?
Yes, Tulipani is sending to me. You must have missed something with my email because Tulipani got it fine.
I blind bought Encens Mythique years ago the day it became available in the US. I still have about 1/3 left.
One of the best blind buys ever.
Good to know. I have it in my cart, but haven’t blind bought it yet since someone is sending me a sample.
For my last day off and of doing nothing I am comparing 2 perfumes. I am doing a side by side of Mariah Carey M and YSL Belle D’Opium. They are very similar. I think it’s the incense.
My resolution is to quit hoarding perfumes. I want to use more of what I love. I also want to not hold on to what I don’t want to wear. I started this last month by giving away 5 bottles. I’m now going through some more. I can’t bring myself to wear anything that gives me a sad/ bad association but it’s not the perfumes fault. They still deserve to be worn and loved as much as the one’s that bring me joy.
I am giving away a few more bottles too. I am going to try to stick with the ones I really like and let someone else enjoy the ones I am so so on.
Well done Lillyjo, I have prepared a bag for my local charity shop.
I wouldn’t mind smelling more incense in Belle d’Opium. Patchouli is one of the dominant notes in that for me.
Hello!
Wearing Amouage Memoir and deciding which delicious treat(s) to enjoy for my birthday. I usually go for Black Forest Cake or banana cheesecake. Right now, I am eyeing an ube flan cake, decisions, decisions:).
Resolutions? Those can wait until a bit later:).
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend! 🌹
Happy Birthday.
Thank you! I went with the flan, very good:)
Happy birthday! I had to google ube flan cake – it looks fabulous!
Happy birthday, Omega. A wealth of choices for your birthday cake!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! 🎂
I’m eating cake in you honor, happy birthday! 😁
Happy Birthday Omega.
Happy Scented Birthday Omega! 🎉🎁🎂
Yay, flan! Happy birthday Omega.
Happy Birthday! 💐Enjoy your delicious treats!
Belated Happy Birthday! My very good friend shares your birthday.
I bet your cake choice was delicious!
Happy one day late birthday, Omega!
Eat all the cakes!
I hope it was a wonderful birthday! All of your dessert options sounded great. I’ve never heard of banana cheesecake, but now I want to try it.
Happy Birthday! Black Forest cake perhaps in honor of the COTY Mocha Mousse?
Happy belated birthday!
Ooh, you smell great! Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!
SOTD Tam Dao. This continues to be a go to. Nice sandalwood, nothing irritating, lasts a nice long while. Cold here and getting colder.
mmmmm, Tam Dao is perfect. You smell great.
It’s just wonderful when a perfume is smooth sailing all the way. 💕
Resolution perfume-wise is to carry on with limited buying even though I fell off the wagon this last quarter and to wear my Caron perfumes more. Jovan musk today and tonight Vanilla Diorama.
I’m almost positive that I passed by someone wearing Jovan Musk the other day at work.
It is lovely, I’m eying a vintage😀
My only perfume resolution is to wear the ones I absolutely love more often instead of saving them for the perfect occasion. As a case in point I’m wearing Ambre Russe just because it’s cold today and I love it in cold weather. Made some cranberry shortbread cookies this morning to take to a small family brunch and had an excellent visit.
yummy! I adore shortbread. 😍
I had cranberry shortbread cookies from Trader Joe’s in November. They were delicious. I’m sure homemade is the best!
This is a great attitude. I resolved to wear fragrance every day but I’m cleaning up Christmas decorations today and hesitated this morning. Well, full fragrance cloud-stream ahead.
sotd = au coeur du desert
from a Tauer spray sample. They are made well and seem to last a log while, but my continuing resolution is to use! up! samples! and decants, too. Those evaporate quicker. 😆
I have a question about samples. Do you ( or others reading) use up your samples even if you initially don’t like them? I tend to sample twice and decide to keep or pass along. I do have a sample limbo box for when I can’t decide though.
Some samples I know I won’t want to wear again get kept as reference perfumes, but most are handed off if I don’t enjoy them enough to use them up. I leave samples in the restroom at my workplace with a Take Me! note, and they always disappear.
I do the same as tiffanie. Although now that I’m retired, I need to find a new place to leave unwanted samples.
I do the same thing Lillyjo.
I seem to have lots of partially used samples. I don’t really have anyone to pass them on to.
Same here. Harder in Canada.
I have rehomed perfume samples I didn’t care for in the past. The move kind of put that on pause.
That’s such a lovely scent. I have the little 5ml cobalt bottle, which is adorable. You smell great!
thank you, Deva! au coeur du desert always makes my nose happy and makes me smile.
I love the 5 ml blue Tauer bottles, so pretty. 💙
I keep an assortment of samples on my bathroom counter that I am in the process of vetting. Some can stay there for months, since I tend to test on weekends and typically more than 2-3 times for serious contenders.
The samples I really dislike get tossed but amazingly few fall into this category. Samples I like a lot and of which I eventually get full bottles sometimes get stashed into my travel bag for trips. The ones that are just ok or “in limbo” get placed in a divided wooden box. Some discovery sets get stored together. Occasionally I pass samples on to my daughter but she is more of a perfume monogamist than I am, wears Glossier You.
I am wearing Nike de Saint Phalle. Somewhere I saw Luca Turin praising this vintage perfume while also noting that it smells a bit poisonous, which is true. 👹
I store decants and smaller unboxed bottles in long narrow drawers that were designed for CDs in two chest of drawers. I really should dig into those perfume drawers more often.
I have a most likely two-year project of learning kwan dao, a particularly beautiful old Chinese weapon. I have to learn spear first, for the basic techniques, while working on upper body strength.
Wow, that looks so cool! Will you take classes or lessons or teach yourself?
Definitely lessons — I have a teacher I’ve been studying with since 2011.
The weapons are so cool, even with a total lack of skill, as in my case.
It snowed last night, and I decided to go to the supermarket today, which was excellent because it was practically deserted and so quiet.
Before I left the house, I noticed a lump in one of my boots, which I first assumed to be a sock bunching up. On checking, I found a sample vial of Lab on Fire California Snow — now my SOTD. It’s a soft, powdered musk scent, very nice.
Notes according to Beverly Hills Perfumery:
Top Notes: California Sage, Sweetgrass, Wild Mountain Tea, Chamomile
Heart Notes: Luminous Jonquille, Rosebuds, Golden Hay, Marijuana
Base Notes: Diaphanous Musks, Wet Earth, Vetiver, Cedar Forests a la Big Sur.
It honestly doesn’t smell like all that and I’m guessing that it’s just one big plush captive molecule from a major fragrance company. 🙂
In your boot!! That is very funny.
Happy New Year’s Resolutions to all! I’m new here.
Resolution One: Join NST after years of just reading it.
Two: Wear fragrance every day, even cleaning day.
Happy New Year. Welcome to the club.
Thank you Aurora!
Absolutely agree with #2!
Five days in, so far so good!
Welcome! You will love it here!
Thank you Kris! You’re absolutely right- I already do!
At my age I’m wearing perfume every day I wake up and can still operate the sprayer!
I feel that way this morning after a late night! SOTD Courreges L’Eau de Liesse, which inspired my name.
Hi, welcome! Cleaning day is a great day for perfume 🌹
Hi ringthing! I agree as I’ve changed my thinking on just wearing it to go out in the evening. I’m going to wear it just for me even on cleaning day!
Welcome! You should absolutely wear perfume every day!
Happy New Year Gaynor! That first spritz in the morning is joyful for me.
Goal accomplished! I lurked for quite a while before I realized what I was missing. ✔😺
I actually have other goals too, but they’re candidly not all anywhere near as delightful and joyful as deciding which of my modest scent collection I will wear today.
Welcome! Every day deserves a little scent, if possible.
Thank you! I’m a true believer in this now!
I lurked for several years before I started commenting here, too.
Thanks for sharing that! It makes me feel better.
Wearing Heraud from the split meet today. Did several sprays today since yesterday’s teeny spritz on my hand amounted to nothing. Four solid sprays. It was delightful when being sprayed but I can barely smell it 10 minutes later. Has anyone else had this experience? Tauer perfumes usually are one spray for me and last forever, so this is an outlier.
Lovely sunny brisk day! 🌞🕶️
Usually Tauer perfumes last around 24 hours on me, Heraud included. So I’d guess that you are anosmic to something in it.
That’s what I was assuming, but boy, am I surprised about that. Do you like it?
I do like it, quite a bit actually. But I am not sure I can justify the price tag for it. Plus there are other Tauer perfumes I have been wanting to get for several years now. So I have been testing samples to see if my feelings have changed on those other ones.
Happy weekend! I’m wafting Mojave Ghost this morning and it’s surprisingly good in the January chill. Wore Amber Russe most of yesterday while doing laundry and helping Mr. G put a new faux-Eames chair together. I have one perpetual, every-single-day resolution, which is to Drink More Water, and one that’s perfume-related and new-ish, which is to try not to be seduced by one or two wearings of a sample. My current collection is really quite sufficient (I tell myself often). We’ll see how that goes.
Yes, my supply is quite sufficient too, but it always seems like something comes up that I have to try😊
Amen to the more than one or two tries rule! It usually takes several tries to identify a keeper.
I’ve done pretty well in drinking enough water. My brother gave me a 64 ounce bottle with a sipper lid when I moved out to Colorado, since he had a few of them. I drink that, plus a couple large mugs of tea daily.
Forgive me Donnatella for I have sinned. Just purchased Number One Intense from Parfums de Nicolia. Currently in Lyric body stuff today.
All sins allowed in January, Dawn.
Just made that rule up.
Love it!
Great rule!
Yesterday I wore 4160 Tuesdays New York ’55. Today’s scent is my carrot seed oil mixed with lotion.
I’m hoping to continue a low-buy/no-buy this year. I also did lots of talking myself out of buying things last year, because I have cupboards full of fragrance. Instead, I can just go sniff what I already have.
It is great to be able to sniff at leisure without having to leave the house. 😌
Back in the States and I am missing Canada, I am really missing chai. Today is my FIL’s birthday and we celebrated up north before coming home. Was very nervous about the drive down as the snow was really coming in…
I am in Encens Mythique today- salty ambergris is hitting the spot
Glad to hear that you got back home safe & sound.
Thank you.
Got my snow fix in Canada for sure, just don’t enjoy driving in it
BTW, one of the big stories in my news feed this morning was that Canadian PM Trudeau was resigning. I thought of you.
This news is huge! No more hair flip 😛
I hope all the NST folk under storm warnings the US are OK, the forecasts look dire.
Meanwhile, we are suffering from dull and cold weather. Over the last couple of days, there have been more and more media articles asking where summer has gone.
I’m comforting myself with the lovely Rubj EdP from Vero Profumo.
We got nothing yesterday and maybe 3 inches today, so we were lucky! But it is going to be cold here for the foreseeable future.
What a shame to have dull cold weather in your summer though! Too soon!
Late to the weekend party! I enjoyed Nobile 1942 Patchouli Nobile for the CP. I’ve also started the New Year with Mugler: been wearing Angel Innocent off and on. SotD is Angel Muse edp. It is so fabulous and really suits my skin chemistry or at least my olfactory receptors, because I have a scent bubble all day. The bottle is so pretty, too. To me, Muse edt and edt have a distinct difference, but the same magic. BTW, I like the work perfumer Quentin Bish is doing within the limits of the materials he can use in Corporate Perfume World. I’ll try to catch up on comments – hope everyone is well. We have about 3 inches of snow so far which is nothing. Our city was hit so hard by a June storm that I suspect most problem trees and branches were pruned then, courtesy of Mother Nature and Duke Energy. Our veterinarian rescheduled a Monday morning appt., but my eye doctor has not! Ha! Guess Mr. Mossy and I will be shoveling a path down our very short driveway!
You and I are house twins today!
Jardins de Misfah today for cleaning, shredding, vacuuming, blah blah blah.
Ugh, I need to do something about the mountain of shredding…
My perfume related project for the year is to wear a different fragrance from my collection each day. I gave up on doing it in alphabetic order, knowing that as long as I’m still working, I will never be that organized in the morning. And of course I’ll be wearing these fragrances in addition to whatever the CP inspires.
The first 5 days of the year have included:
1. Ambre Sultan
2. Amoureuse
3. Knowing
4. 1932
5. Mxxx.
I’d also like to keep swapping out fragrances I don’t wear. It’s more fun that selling bottles.
My biggest goal of the year is to build on my physical base. I took some time off from running when I had knee and back pain but I’m getting back into running, walking hills and biking. I have a job that requires a lot of sitting so moving, even using my standing desk more, is essential.
Excellent projects for 2025!
😊
mmmmm, Amoureuse! Stunningly beautiful. ❤️
I have a hard time with long periods of sitting. My low back and hips get very annoyed. 😆
I have to move, else I suffer the painful consequences, so for me yoga, walking, biking, and hiking are the movement antidotes. 😌
My resolution is to cut back on sugar. Not easy since my husband has a big sweet tooth and also I couldn’t resist buying some of the Marks & Spencer shortbread at Target. Will have to ration it. No SOTD yet. Planning to buy the new LVEB l’Elixir and either Devotion or Devotion Intense. Still have to compare the Devotions. I may give away some unused scents, but really need to look at selling some of the pricier ones I don’t use. Any recommendations on the best website for selling?
Hi Sapphire. You should sign up for emails from the Lancome website. They run quite a few specials on perfume throughout the year. Also if you are in the U.S I can send you a travel spray of Devotion. ( I love it, and was generously gifted a bottle)
I am at yahoo gm raz oo g ( no spaces)
Hello, all. I’m wearing my new bottle of PG Indochine 25 (I bought it with a Black Friday code back in early December and made myself wait until the new year to wear it). What a wonderful fragrance!
Resolutions:
1) Get stronger – bones and muscles. I want to see a measurable difference at the end of the year.
2) Organize/edit/curate/etc. my perfume collection. Like Sapphire above, I have a few I want to sell, others I can swap or give away. I hate to have fragrance I don’t wear just sitting here while someone somewhere would enjoy it.
3) Find a church. I’d like to find a place that feels comfortable for both me and Mr. SP — and where I can participate/volunteer/make additional friends.
4) Build patience. That one’s tough to measure, but I really want to be more patient with the entire world and not so quick to be stressed when someone doesn’t hurry or so quick to interrupt.
Isn’t Indochine great? I love it!
I don’t make resolutions as a rule, but am trying to do all four of the ones you have listed. That seems pretty ironic we are trying to accomplish the same thing.
Loving all the love Indochine is getting! 💕
It’s one of just a few bottles where I thought “Maybe I should have gone for the biggest bottle…” immediately after purchasing.
My 50ml has about 2ml left. Just sayin’! ☺️
You know, when I listed these out for myself, I called them “goals,” instead. Cool that we have similar goals!
Springpansy, I do Iyengar yoga. We were discussing the benefits of a home practice. One woman told us her bone density went up at the age of about 75. I found this so hopeful-I thought we could only lay down bone density up to the age of 35 or so, and after that we’d be depleting our density stores. FWIW I found it made me calmer, and a bit less reactionary. Love your goals 🙂
Thanks, Carole. I’m not familiar with Iyengar yoga. I already include vinyasa, hatha or ashtanga yoga several times a week. I will check this out, too!
My only fragrance-related resolutions are to keep limiting my purchases (which were mostly discovery sets in 2024), organize my collection better, and enjoy what I already have. In other activities, my resolutions are to master the TWO new sewing machines in my life (one was a gift for Christmas 2023, one was a prize I won this fall!). The first one also does embroidery; the second, which was an unexpected windfall, is a very advanced pure sewing machine. Heaven! I also have some hand needlework I want to learn.
I am excited to see that you like to sew! I feel like it is becoming a lost art. I have a few very small sewing projects going—mostly mending.
Congratulations on your win, how exciting! Hope you have a wonderful time with the sewing machines.
Since my resolutions for Perfume No Buys/Low Buys have gone up in smoke the past few years, I am not going to put that pressure on myself this year.
Instead, I am going to see if I can up my physical activity this year. I gained back all the weight I had lost from the stress of selling the house and moving in 2023 (boo!). I was much more active when I was packing boxes and moving them into a temporary storage unit during all the home improvement projects of 2023.
Hopefully I will also socialize more in 2025.
SOTD = Alien Le Gout du Parfum The Taste of Fragrance EdP. Lillyjo inspired me to unearth my bottle of it. Yeah, it’s sweet, but less than the Black Opium Neon I wore on Friday.
Have you been able to make new friends since moving to your current place, or do you have friends there already? I know you’re close to you brother, but was wondering about other connections and/or friends? I’ve found it very difficult to make friends as I’ve gotten older, and of course, also because I’m moving around so much. Plus, I used to be the person doing all the work to maintain friendships/relationships and eventually realized this wasn’t really my job, and requires effort in both sides. And the cherry on top is that I’ve developed a highly sensitive BS meter, and tolerated less and less as the years go by…🙃
No, I haven’t made any new friends yet in Colorado. When I moved to NJ it took around 5 years to find friends there. I correspond with a couple people I went to college with as well as some folks in NJ.
I am in touch with 3 of my cousins on a fairly regular basis, too.
You smell great Jalapeno!
Thanks lillyjo! I should wear more of the Alien perfumes I have now that it is well and truly Winter out. They smell better the colder it gets (to me). YMMV.
I wore Kyoto today, a palate cleanser for me.
I wish I could say there is nothing I want to buy but that isn’t true. I plan to get Perris Monte Carlo Nosy Be Ylang Ylang but I am making myself wait until later on in the year. I am really into incense lately and liked my sample of Encens Suave but may check out some similar scents before I buy anything. And I think I need a backup bottle of No.5 Eau Premiere, since I keep worrying that could be dropped from the line now that they have L Eau
I haven’t been very good at limiting my purchases to 2-3 full bottles but I have to say I really have enjoyed the perfumes I bought in the last 4-5 years a lot, maybe my tastes have changed compared to the years before. I may cull through some perfumes I never wear.
I am not going to be hard on myself for going over my low buy. The perfume diversion gives me a lot of joy. I am thinking when I retire, I will likely buy less, not just due to economic constraints but I am hoping to feel less stressed.
No specific resolutions. I do plan to have a serious discussion with my husband about major work we need to get done in the house and yard. He tends to want to put projects off and I think we should do them now, so we can enjoy them. This will probably involve hiring contractors and that is the part that he cannot stomach.
The Perris Monte Carlo line has also piqued my interest. I have Rose de Mai and Jasmin de Pays; both are exquisite/well made. The Ylang Ylang sounds beautiful as do the Osthmanthus and Patchouli.
I hope that your husband warms to the idea of hiring help for the house projects. It’s possible that he’ll change his mind as he starts to enjoy the fruits of the work being done (and the time he saves not doing it).
sotd = Parfum d’Hermes from a sample
I smell like 1984 in the best possible way. 😍 Powdery hyacinth and ylang-ylang and a whole kitchen sink of a bouquet fill out this complex scent.
Parfum d’Hermes makes me very happy. It reminds me of 24 Faubourg, which I LOVE but can’t wear, as it gives me a headache.
So far no head ouch with Parfum d’Hermes, so I’ll try a bigger dose one day soon.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. 🌞
I certainly wouldn’t mind if those big-shouldered 80s scents made a comeback.
As long as the actual shoulder pads don’t come along for the ride, Desirae!
😂 agree!
Big perfumes for big clothes, it all made sense back then. 😁
Wearing the chocolate dipped waffle cone one by IA for first day. Yummy! I don’t see it on their site though..? Was it LE?
Dreading putting on my scrubs this morning because it’s been MONTHS and was afraid of my Fluff Factor making the fit too tight. Imagine my surprise when they were LOOSE! 😀
Anyway, T-Rex did NOT appreciate the early morning but I was able to get her up, fed, dressed, and her business completed before she promptly went back under the covers and I had to leave without a “Goodbye.” Just like a bipedal kiddo 😂
Monday On, people!
Lol at Fluff factor!
I hope you have a good day!
Thanks, lillyjo! I hope yours went well, too. I think you are back to work today, so maybe not..?!
I worked yesterday so I could have today off. My daughter went back to school today and I knew she would be too nervous to sleep last night.
Hope your day at work goes smoothly and rewardingly!!
It went well, but of course, even though I had done some on-line work on their intra-net prior to starting, they couldn’t find me in the system. 🤪
I hope your day goes well!
It did, thank you!
Congrats — you must have gotten more exercise during your time off and firmed up instead of fluffing out.
I had a large cookie to celebrate! 😉
Yay for loose scrubs! Beats the alternative, doesn’t it?
Oh, and yes, the Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cone perfume was limited edition. Forgot to mention that.
As I’ve given it more thought, I think I have that niche in my collection covered with Amour de Cacao and Ummagumma, so I don’t need it. But it was an instantaneous attraction, and I’m glad I have a decant. Epona is still on my list to try and I’m giving myself permission to get a full bottle if I fall for it, but I’m going to wait for this first quarter to pass, and then we’ll see.
I’m wearing Paloma Picasso today, which always makes me feel very sophisticated – a scent for grown-ups only.
Definitely a grown up scent, but so gorgeous!
I don’t remember what that smells like, but I remember the original print ads for this fragrance, Paloma herself with the reddest lip ever. I wonder what that lipstick was?
I switched shifts with my coworker. Instead of working tomorrow, I work today. Wearing no 19 edt today for a change of pace.
Smelling fabulous, Dawn!
SOTD: Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil
Resolutions:
Perfume – no resolutions. I’ve been buying 1 or 2 bottles per year. This doesn’t mean I don’t overthink multiple bottles every year, but I hardly ever pull the trigger. I buy a few decants, make a few smallish sample orders. If anything, I could loosen up, but space is tight.
Other: gotta incorporate joy and color into my wardrobe and the house.
Reading: commit to actually reading a few books on subjects I’ve been forever meaning to delve into. Just read All the Beauty in the World, and it was fantastic.
Fitness: ugh, it’s the getting started. It appears that winter won’t be playing around this year, so maybe a gym…
Your SOTD is one of my all-time favorites! Great choice!
I decided to follow springpansy today and wear Indochine.
Happy Monday everyone!
😀
You smell fantastic!
I’m wearing Bvlgari Black today, for a day of puttering around tidying up the kitchen and dining room and putting away the tree ornaments. I’d leave it up longer—I love having a tree in the house—but tomorrow is the last day it will go to be composted rather than going to the landfill. I hope to squeeze in some time for reading; I just started Louise Erdrich’s The Mighty Red. I also hope to spend some time on a knitting project that requires some concentration, a lace shawl with a relatively taxing stitch pattern out of a fingering-weight hand-dyed sock yarn. And it’s snowing, which makes me happy because in Michigan it should snow in January and I’m always happier when the weather does what it’s supposed to for the area. Though I feel badly for those getting clobbered to our south and east with a blizzard to which they’re not accustomed!
You smell wonderful!
I’m in 4160 Tuesdays Hush Hush today. I have the edp on my shirt and the edt on my wrists.
Last night I wore the Oil Perfumery version of Opium; I found it a bit brighter than the original but I could still smell it this morning. Maybe it isn’t as resiny or spicy as the original but it’s still quite good. I only had minis of the original; such a gorgeous scent.
I have a oil version of the original Opium too. I can’t remember the brand but it is really similar to the original. I’m going by memory. I have an oldish bottle and a decant of the current version. I think the oil dupe is probably closest.
Oh how fun! The OP versions are typically pretty good. I forget that I have them because they’re small (10 ml). I should use them more often. Do you have lots of oils?
Lucky you to have some YSL!
I have a few Dame Perfumery oils. I should wear them more too.
That’s fantastic! I remember there was a chocolate one.
The OG Opium is wonderfully warming in cold weather!
Yes! It sure is.
I have a goal this year to finish off a couple bottles that are getting low and also have minor evaporation problems. Of course both of them were discontinued so it’s a use it or lose it situation. Today I’m wearing one of them, Paul & Joe Blanc. I’m glad I have a partial back up bottle because I love it. I’ll have to keep an eye on that BUB to make sure it’s not succumbing to some evaporation too.
Evaporating bottles that are discontinued? Sheesh. What a bummer!
Sotd = Oribe Desertland for its juniper & Eucalyptus notes.
This is a sample I received. I think I prefer DS& Durga Big Sur Eucalyptus.
I love the smell of eucalyptus but do not have a eucalyptus perfume, I should get one.
After 18 months I finally got my hair cut today! Had at least 4 inches taken off. I asked one of my cousins who lives near me for a salon recommendation months ago. Talk about procrastination…
Waiting for the (supposed) snow to fall later on tonight. We shall see If I get anything or not.
SOTD = Wrappings! Needed a palate cleanser after a couple days of the caramel Alien. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it. But wanted something else for today.
Haircut twins, one week apart! I couldn’t stand it anymore and this was only after 2.5 months!
Ha! Great minds! I know better than to DIY my own haircuts. I had a disastrous bang trim in junior high… 😭
My hair was almost down to the small of my back!
Yay for the haircut! I really need to get one. My end’s are fried.
I was seeing a lot of split ends too. Plus my hair was tangling up pretty bad.
It looks much healthier now, but all the highlights I had are now gone.
Yay for a haircut! And perfect explanation for Wrappings as a palate cleanser.
sotd = lavender essential oil
I needed comfort today, sometimes Mondays can really feel heavy. 😆 See y’all on Tuesday. 🌞
Hope the lavender oil lightened the load tiffanie!