It's Tuesday and Christian Dior’s birthday, plus International Sweatpants Day. What fragrance are you wearing?
I am taking benzoin points in Hermès Eau des Merveilles layered with Eau Claire des Merveilles.
Reminder: on 1/24, wear a fragrance with benzoin, if you have one.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2025, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: the Saut Hermès porcelain teapot, designed by Jochen Gerner, is $835.
Will be wearing no 5 eau premiere later on today. Will be saving Infusion d’iris for Friday. According fragrancia, Infusion d’iris has benzoin in it.
Yep, I have the Absolue lined up for later in the week. And Prada Candy has lots!
I don’t think I’ve ever picked up the benzoin in Infusion d’iris, despite having worn it for many years. This is motivation to find my bottle and wear it again!
Hello.
Sotd is TF Soleil Neige.
Tomorrow I’d probably wear something Dior to honour CD even if it’s a day late!
Lippie today is YSL Loveshine in I think the shade 204? Lovely brown nude with a high gloss finish.
It is rarely too cold for Diorissimo here, but honestly, right now it is.
I am wearing Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille, one of my favourite vanillas and apparently has benzoin in it. I was surprised to see how many fragrances I have with this note. It’s very cold, trying to stay indoors and drink lots of tea.
COLD here too, and hoping to spend my day the same way. I do have to run to the post office later but otherwise, inside in sweatpants 🙂
YES to sweatpants and joggers!
Like Hera, I was surprised to find how thoroughly well-represented benzoin is in my collection. I could do two weeks without repetitions! Anyway, this morning I’m in Omnia Ambra (even though it does not have benzoin) — it has become an easy no-brainer for me lately.
I think most of us could do 2 weeks!
sotd = Dior Homme
from a decant that’s about 10 years old. It still smells wonderful.
I put my mini bottle of EdM in my work bag for a few dabs later today. I adore the way it layers over and under other scents. Thank you for the inspiration, Robin. 💕
🙂
Does Shalimar have this note?
Either way it’s cold and the Shalimar is keeping me warm.
I have my Onyx Storm book I picked up and I am about to make some vanilla tea.
It’s so cold here this week, I may be in Shalimar all week.
Yes, points for you!
It does, according to Victoria from boisdejasmin, even though neither Fragrantica or Guerlain lists it. I believe Victoria.
Ok great! I get points all week.
Shalimar is probably a good pick for all week.
I’ll be following this week to find out which perfumes I might have contain benzoin, since I probably wouldn’t recognize it if it held up a big sign. In the meantime I’m in Bulgari blue tea.
More than you think, for sure. It is common. And probably in many fragrances where it isn’t even listed.
A cheap way of getting familiar with benzoin is to go the chemist ( drugstore) and get a small bottle ( probably sold as tincture of benzoin) . It’s the yellow staining stuff that is sometimes applied to grazes and small wounds. You’ll know it instantly if you ever had a first aid kit back in your home as a kid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tincture_of_benzoin
Thanks for the suggestions!
I could probably do this CP indefinitely. I love benzoin!!
Today it’s SHL 777 Takalamakan from a bottle that was gifted to me from a very kind and generous NSTer who doesn’t post any more. If you’re still reading, many thanks to you! This is one of my all time favorite perfumes and I’m forever in your debt for such a thoughtful act.
(Here’s a lengthy review from Kafkaesque if you’re interested in learning more about this scent:
https://kafkaesqueblog.com/2016/06/11/shl-777-taklamakan-desert-sands-desert-gold/#more-20241)
6F last night. Not a fan at all. This is the coldest weather I’ve been in since 2019 when I made the stupid mistake of taking a fall contract in North Dakota. Sometimes I wonder about my cognitive function. 🤔 On a positive note, at least the sun is blasting, which does go a long way to ameliorate the temps. Stay warm!
Ha, I got up this morning and went out to salt the walk before my son left for work…it was 6F! We’re now up to a balmy 14, expecting a high of 17. UGH.
Double UGH!
I am totally noseblind to this one, Deva.
Have tried and tried. You enjoy it! stay warm.
Not sure I could pick it out of the heard, but since I naturally gravitate towards ambers, orientals, and incense perfumes, there’s a lot of benzoin in my traveling perfume box. It seems benzoin is part and parcel of almost all of these varieties/categories of perfumes.
same same here!
Herd*
You can thank the blasted Polar Vortex for those temps.
My second benzoin combo of the week. (scaresbears, I’m glad you liked the name “The Roses Cast Long Shadows” 😊)
Name: Café “Gilded Jasmine”
Scents: Les Nereides Opoponax + Givenchy Amarige Mariage + Isabey La Route d’Emeraude
A blend of lush white florals and sweet resins, with a dash of cinnamon. Soft and cosy, yet still giving you that shot of jasmine.
That sounds delicious!
It is! While none of the scents are gourmand, all that blend of cinnamon/amber made me think of a cosy cafe where you can have some coffee or tea and eat a dessert.
ok..I wonder what I could layer Shalimar with for a fun combination like what you have!
I actually thought of Shalimar when building this layering. You basically need white flowers (check!) and sweet warm resins (check!). The main issue is that Shalimar is such a beast, it can beat everything else into submission. However, if you take something white flower-forward and apply it on your neck, while lightly spraying Shalimar on your chest or wrists, it may do the trick.
ok..let me look in my cabinet for some white florals.
I love your layering talent! 🤩
And also your talent at naming the combinations!
Thank you both!
Cafe “Guilded Jasmine” sounds like a fantastic name for a locale in a video game or novel.
Probably a spy game. A place where you meet with your contact to get more information.
POAL for me today; Fragrantica tells me there’s benzoin, though right now it’s in full-blown rose mode. Not a good start to the day — I was supposed to go on a presentation with execs at 9, and they decided to start us at 8:44, when I was upstairs putting on makeup. But at least I smell good!
Oh geez, sorry! That kind of thing always makes me feel rushed and frazzled.
Ha! Ha! You definitely smell good despite the day not starting out so well. I may wear that one again this week.
ooo, I am annoyed on your behalf, ockeghem! Moving up a meeting at the last minute is just plain rude. Maybe if everyone is already in the room/on the call, then OK. But otherwise just take a coffee & bio break and stick to the planned schedule.
You smell marvelous! And, I have no doubt, far better than whoever “ran” your meeting.
Oh no, that’s incredibly rude!
Awhile back you mentioned were looking for Lush Ginger; I can send you a decant if you’re still interested.
Hey, late comment, but yes, I would be interested. I was just in Lush at Pacific Centre today and they…don’t have many perfumes. Definitely not Ginger. And even Paris didn’t have it. So, if you’d be willing to share….
Definitely! Can you share your email info?
Starting that meeting early was worse than rude. I’d call it downright sheisty.
It was! I’m just so glad I was listening in rather than presenting. (But if I’d been presenting I would probably have been online from 8:30 on.)
Back in Vanille Insensee. No points today, but I’ve got some choices for Friday thanks to others mentioning perfumes with benzoin.
My car said -12 this morning.🥶 The number is kind of meaningless. Minus 12 doesn’t feel much colder than 12 above. At a certain point it’s all just cold. At least there’s sun!🌞
Same weather here, but warmer weather is coming back this week. Maybe 30 tomorrow.
You smell very nice!
Yes, warmer here tomorrow too, I think into the 20s. I was glad my grad girl didn’t have classes today, she’s in minnepolis and it’s even colder there!
Thanks!
I first read that in C — but -12C is a lot different that 12 C. 🙂
Sounds like you got the weather I had yesterday.
No benzoin today. I will be wearing Guerlain Encens Mythique has soon as it comes in the mail this morning. Can’t wait!
Ooh, do report back!
Seconding this! I almost did a blind buy of this several months ago…
I don’t have your address Deva, but would be glad to send you a sample as well. See my description below, but I am hoping others chime in.
It is probably not a safe blind buy, but I had received a sample from a kind NSTer and loved it right away. Plus, it is on sale on Jomashop now and they don’t have a lot in stock. I would be glad to send you a sample as I have your address. Let me know.
I am terrible at describing scents, but I get rose, ambergris, maybe some amber and powder the most. I would ask others that have it to describe as well. Maybe LTSG can.
Love love this scent!
If you are good at describing scents, please add your description to help others. I am terrible at it and I always think scent smells so different on each individual.
rich, smoky… centered around incense, blended with warm spices, woods…
Funny how we get two totally different takes on it. Though I would agree with incense and wood.
How do you find it? There is aldehydes…
I did put my description ⬆️
Oh, a new bottle, enjoy.
Thanks!
Enjoy your new purchase! Should be quite lovely in the cold.
Yes, it is very nice though my husband didn’t comment on it. However, I did ask him one day how I smelled and he said I always smelled nice so that’s good enough🤣
You’ve trained him well! 😉
I am curious if you purchased Leather Jardin or Shalimar MJ.
Your new perfume sounds beautiful.
Do you want a decant?
Let me ponder that for a day or so, OK?
Sure. Let me know if you would like a little sample.
I was gazing at a clump of clover yesterday when I noticed a strange disturbance . Two bumble bees were locked together, and it took a moment to realise they were mating. The male had mounted the female and was firmly clinging on to her back. She was a lot bigger than him and so carrying him around as she clambered over the flowers. It went on and on for about twenty exhausting minutes and in the end the Queen simply flew away with the male still clinging on for dear life. It was the first time I’d ever seen it. Wearing Fils de Joie which I love, kind of Bapteme du Feu but with a rose blast.
Busy bee… lol
It’s supposed to go down to -4F tonight but then very gradually return to more normal winter temps; I’m feeling warmed right now by Ambre Narguilé which does, indeed, have benzoin.
I finished Louise Erdrich’s “The Mighty Red” yesterday in one big no-television-today gulp and it gave me an ear-worm via an incidental mention of the Threepenny Opera, so I listened to Nina Simone’s blood-curdling rendition of Pirate Jenny this morning. Does it say something sinister about my character that after I listened to it I felt more powerful, defiant, and even more worrying, cheerful? And yes, I sang along, badly. In real life I believe in peaceful protest and would never seek revenge, but just for a minute….
I wonder what perfume Pirate Jenny would be wearing as she sailed away on her black freighter with a ribbon in her hair, leaving the town-full of men who’d mistreated her in ruins.
Erdrich is one of my all time favorites! Love her!🥰
I have some catching up to do; the last one of hers I read before this was “The Round House” and I need to read the four (I think?) that came out in between. “The Round House” was so, so good. Appalling in parts with some very funny bits for leavening. Just like real life, I guess.
I went straight for Spotify — hadn’t heard her version of Pirate Jenny before (I’ve heard others off the Carnegie Hall album but don’t have the album). I love Nina Simone. She always makes me feel more powerful.
Wearing one spritz of Prada Candy for a Dr appointment this afternoon. I’m going to add quantities of Imperial Opoponax when I get home.
Below zero still. I agree with madtowngirl, it gets where it’s all cold, and the degrees don’t make much difference. We’re fascinated and shocked, watching the Gulf Coast snow storms where we have family. Talk about unprepared, it never snows there! Stay warm and safe NST.
Below zero temps are “new” enough to me than I can feel the difference between those and temps in the teens. Didn’t really encounter subzero temps where I lived in NJ.
Le labo Benjoin 19 for the day.
I too am watching my sisters’ weather in North Florida along with the fires here.
Stay safe all no matter your weather!
I’m your scent twin today wearing the last dribble of this from a sample vial. It’s quite sweet.
We have snow in Houston! Quite a bit came down, but now it’s stopped snowing. Very exciting! I’ve posted some pictures on Instagram.
I see the airports are closed. YIKES
Lived in Dallas for five years and I remember black ice.
I was shocked to hear that New Orleans was due for more snow than Chicago from this storm! Crazy!
I’m wearing Shalimar Millesime Iris this morning.
sort of scent twins
One of my favorites!
We’re finally having proper summer weather and most of my perfumes with a benzoin note are ones I think of as warmer perfumes.
However, I do have Indochine, which is fabulous any time and I’m wearing that today.
Love your scent. I may do that one again this week too.
Gosh, so glad you are finally having a summer! Don’t miss it, get out your best citrus and forget the benzoin!
Robin I always associate that combo of EdM/ECdM with you but I think it’s been a while?
Frozen cherries and yogurt smoothie
For a medical appointment this morning I chose I Profumi Di Firenze Arancio Di Capri but as prefer slightly Aromafit in that genre the twenty per cent left of the Arancio will end up as air freshener, one bottle will thus be decluttered.
Tonight for the CP it’s V&A Ambre Imperial. Benzoin, like many of you noticed does so often feature in rich amber scents.
You and Teflon kitty are both yogurt aficionados! She will pester me constantly if I am having some and tries to steal a bite off the spoon.
Oh, this warms my heart, my Schnooky loved yogurt too.
I think I forget to wear it!
Your smoothie sounds delicious. Speaking of cherries, I recommend the Kroger brand frozen mixed cherries. The bag has bing and sour pie cherries, but I think they throw in other varieties of sweet and tart that may not be the standard commercial ones. There are a lot of complex flavors as I eat them still semi-frozen.
I’m in a sample of r\Regime des Fleur’s Crushed Fruits. I was hoping for something like Byredo’s Pulp, but its not. It opens with ripe, juicy fruits and a shampoo note. Kind of like Strawberry Shampoo, but with raspberries, nectarines, and other stone fruits in addition to the strawberries. Afterward rose petal and powdered iris notes come in. It is like a gonzo take on a fruity floral. I can see someone absolutely loving this, but it’s not for me.
Tea today is F&M Christening Blend, which they describe as a Darjeeling earl gray.
“Strawberry Shampoo” takes me right back to my tween years. Plenty of fruity shampoos back then.
We are Earl Grey tea siblings today! Mine was decaf, since I had it this afternoon.
Joining the CP in Oeillet Bengale. There are truly too many choices for benzoin this week, for me at least. Looking forward to discovering more scents that have the note.
You smell wonderful – OB was my choice for the “back from the ledge” because I’ve still got some of my decant. When that’s gone…hmm…
I’m in Shalimar edc today. There’s lots of notes in this, but I don’t think I’m getting the benzoin.
It’s making the vanilla richer 🙂
SOTD = 4160 Tuesdays Absolute Filth EDP
Oy! This is one of my favorites from this edition of the January Joy Box edition 2025 – absolute tobacco. Those who cannot stand tobacco, stay away.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFGsQA0RCtD/?igsh=a3k0dno1dHBlcWh1
I did something over the weekend end 🤔. I am still on a no.buy streak because I bought samples with free shipping and besides, it is super perfumath free!
And … I just got a call from my Bergdorfs SA and bada-bing my red Guerlain Snek bottle ❤️🐍is “in the house”! It is now all paid for and I am just waiting for it to arrive.
How exciting! I’ll look forward to a picture of it.
I have 8 days to get it and hoping that is plenty of time!
!Snek!
For real. I can’t wait!
Excellent perfume name! ❤️
Is it smoky? 🔥
Very very tobacco smoky so not that bad. There may be some vanilla in there somewhere too.
Exciting!
Joining ringthing in Prada Candy – a recent acquisition. I’ve really enjoyed it. I never would have guessed from the name that it was so resinous – and I get a very nice musky note, too. Robin, I think because you mentioned liking it you win the enabler badge for my $13 blind buy (Ebay – where else?).
Prada Candy is the obvious perfume pick for me on Friday. But I have a few others I will consider.
Excellent buy, good for you! It’s my plan for Friday 🙂
Not sure if the temperature here made it up to the freezing mark today or not. The weather apps I have on my laptop and cell phone were not at all in agreement about that. But I was able to turn off the faucets in the bathroom sinks and the kitchen for a while this afternoon. I figure I will let them drip again tonight, though.
Looking forward to having overnight temps around 20 degrees F! Quite the warmup from what I have been experiencing…
Woke up with a really nasty headache this morning. That’s happened a few times when a large front has moved out of the area. It’s gone now, but I am feeling a little worn out as a result.
For Robin: I finally tried the Josie Maran Bohemian Fig body butter yesterday. It’s nice! A woody scent, but no fig is listed on the notes. Instead it has orange, bergamot, and Sicilian lemon as topnotes, vanilla orchid in the heart, plus tonka beans and vetiver in the base.
SOTD = still in bK Woman in Gold. It was an easy and undemanding spritz for today.
My low is 7F!
The local meteorologists have promised/threatened temps like that for tomorrow night. So I am enjoying my respite! 😉
Hope you don’t have any water mains break…
So to clarify, it smells nice but doesn’t smell particularly like fig??
Actually, it does remind me of some woody fig perfumes I have tried like Philosykos and Premiere Figuier. If I have any of that L’Artisan left, I should do a side by side sniff to check my memory.
Thank you!
Glad for you it’s warming up.
Thank you Aurora! I’m rather pleased about it, too. 😉
So is Teflon kitty. She HATES cold weather.
I was sick all weekend and still behind in reading the lazy weekend poll, but I do smell really great today in DSH Coeur de Vanille. Funny that I don’t think I’ve seen it on her website the whole time I’ve had my bottle from an MUA swap, it’s that old. But this morning when searching for perfumes containing benzoin on her site, there it was. It’s such a good chewy amber vanilla, very low key and easy to wear.
Sorry to hear that you are under the weather. Feel better soon!
Thanks! I’m already feeling loads better than I was on Saturday and Sunday. I was very thankful for the holiday yesterday that allowed me to rest and relax.
Feel better soon!
Thank you!