Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring (53 days until the equinox, 35 days until meteorological spring, as of Saturday) but meanwhile, here we are with our usual lazy weekend open thread. (Next Saturday, by the way, will be the winter reading poll.)
Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite scented body product for dry skin, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is a puffed up robin [cropped] by marneejill at flickr; some rights reserved.
Encens Mythique today
Almost tried layering this with Shalimar this week.
Reading Onyx Storm 🐉
Sipping cappuccino
Hosting a sleepover tonight and I hope these little boys behave. Enjoying quiet moments before the storm 😝
I remember those days! Behaving is a relative term when it comes to little boys…. But they are lots of fun! Mother of adult sons here.
Lol, it is fun!!! 🤩
Scent twins. I use BBW Into the Night shower gel and lotion with it. I think it blends quite well with Encens Mythique.
I know you have read A Little Life. What did you think of it? I have had it on my shelf for years.
It was a hard read honestly, I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t want it to end. If you are sensitive to abuse, make a hard pass.
On disc 20 today. Driving back and forth to Pasadena to volunteer, I should finish this week.
The only book I can remember in recent years that made me sadder was Khalid Hosseinis’ A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Another great read! Kite Runner too
I would also say that I thought about this books for weeks after reading it. It’s a big investment, very long!
That’s another reason I haven’t felt like reading it.
Sending you lots of energy for tonight!
The only thing I’ve tried layering with Encens Mythique is Neroli Outrenoir, and I really liked that combo, although the EM is much stronger of the two.
Fingers crossed for your sleepover. Mini She-ra has had a few sleepovers in the last couple months and they do not behave. ehaeheh 🤣 But these are stressful times for adults and kids…I try to keep that in mind.
I know you’re a voracious reader but just in case you haven’t read it yet…I loved the The Ministry of Time…interesting plot, romance and clever banter.
I’m in Aedes Pelargonium today.
Waves to lucasai! Hope it was a good weekend.
Been offline for forever. NST always inspires me to enjoy my collection more, which I want to do. I’ve been in a rut of rolling out of bed and immediately hitting the computer for work, unintentionally going commando.
Last night I enjoyed Zoologist Harvest Mouse before bed. Have a massage this morning, so will go commando until after.
I started watching “The Pitt” on Max this week: Noah Wylie as a doctor again, this time in a Pittsburgh ER. Good show, but VERY medically graphic. I had to cover my eyes a few times.
MissGoldsmith, your comment reminds me of another medical drama, a historic one, that I really enjoyed a few years back, The Knick with Clive Owen, who plays a troubled doctor in an early 1900s NYC hospital. Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Ooh, “The Knick” was grisly. But really good.
Thanks for the reminder. I never got around to watching this and it fell off my radar. I’ve always adored Clive Owen, too
Adding The Knick to my hibernation TV list!
Thanks for the reco.
@MissGoldsmith, I can totally relate to rolling out of bed and logging on – it’s not how I want to work but it’s all I can muster these days. Please spring, come soon.
Bing watched American Primeval this weekend – very well done, even if cold, hard and terribly mean. I’m so grateful I live today and not 150ish years ago.
Have been spritzing all my good stuff lately.
Today is Falling Trees by Régime des Fleurs.
Yesterdays was Poets of Berlin.
I don’t know which I love more!
Happy to see your post! I work from home and sometimes put off perfume myself b/c I get preoccupied and then realize it’s 3 pm. Choosing a perfume is also a decision I sometimes don’t want to make or conversely want to spend an hour thinking about instead of work. ehaeheh 😅
Tonight I did “grab something from the perfume cabinet without looking”, so that’s an option for decision paralysis!
Good to see you post, MissGoldsmith!
Today is my birthday and I’m wearing the fragrance I gifted myself for the occasion, Ormonde Jayne Woman. Had a fun dinner last night with oldest son and his SO, Mr. Bears and I go to my sisters house tonight for dinner, and the sun is shining so a good birthday all around. Youngest son lives a couple of states away and just got engaged to a young woman we adore, so we are basking in their reflected glow.
Sounds like a perfect day, scaresbears
Thank you, it was a quietly delightful day.
Happy birthday, and you smell amazing! 🎂
Thank you! I am so glad I finally sampled and then bought it.
Happy birthday and excellent fragrance choice!
Thank you; I think it is a good choice for someone who firmly believes in the wisdom of the forest, as I do. Come to think of it, “The Wisdom of the Forest” would be a good fragrance name!
Happy birthday!!!
Thank you!
Happy birthday, and you gave yourself a great present!
Thanks, I agree!
Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday, scaresbears!💐💐💐
So glad you are celebrating and being celebrated!
Thank you, I feel very fortunate.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks!
Happy birthday and cheers to all good news!!
Thank you!
Happy birthday! You are wearing my favourite Ormonde Jayne.
Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time!
Thank you, it was a quietly wonderful day.
Happy birthday, sounds like you really celebrated in style, two din ers in a row.
Indeed! Although I like cooking, it is a treat to have someone else cook for me.
*dinners
Happy birthday! Enjoy your dinner and new fragrance!
Thank you!
🥳
Thanks!
Happy birthday! 🎂
Thank you!
Happy birthday! 🎉
Thanks!
Happy Birthday, scaresbears! 🥳
Thank you!
Happy birthday, scaresbears! Perfume really is the best gift. ♥️
Thank you! Yes, it is the very definition of the gift that keeps on giving.
Happy birthday! Glad to hear it’s been a good day!
It really was a quietly lovely day, thank you!
Happy Birthday ! What a lovely lovely celebration ! And congratulations on your son’s engagement ! 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you, we’re so excited about the engagement!
Are you going to gift your future daughter-in-law with a special fragrance to celebrate their engagement?
I have given that some thought but not been able to decide on anything. She and my son are both physicians so don’t wear fragrance on a daily basis, and I haven’t been able to form any idea of what she might like aside from knowing what her favorite candle is. She has some allergies as well. It would be fun to shop for it with her; they live in NYC so have great access to perfume.
Happy Birthday!🎂
Thank you! If we were to have a cake with enough candles to represent my years, two things would happen : 1) it would be a very big cake and 2) the fire department would show up for the conflagration.
Happy Scented Birthday, scaresbears!
Thanks so much, and a belated happy birthday to you!!
Appreciate the B-day wishes!
Happy Birthday! 🎉🎁🎊
Thank you!
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a good time with your family!
Thank you, we had a great time. My sister is a fabulous vegan cook and also a lot of fun!
Sounds like you’ve had a wonderful start to your birthday and my wish for you is that all things wonderful continue thruout the coming year! Celebrate yourself 🥳!
Thank you!
Happy belated birthday, and so glad you had fun with your sister!
Thank you!
LilyJo, I’m glad your’e feeling better. Happy belated birthday Jalapeno! I’m swathed in Laura Biagiotti Venezia this cool L.A. morning. Any other fans out there? There are so many extravagant vintage Italian perfumes that I love. This one is an opulent brocaded scent, one that the Doge’s daughters might wear as they watched a procession of festive gondolas from their palazzo balcony. So much rich woods, plums and berries, a few florals and resins. And did I say sandalwood? I just looked up the notes and yup, sandalwood is listed as a top, mid, and base note, and that’s about right. No wonder it was d/c., probably cost more to make than they could retail it for. If you ever want to try this, look for the original version with the pointy hat, not the rounded hat. Long Lost Perfumes also did a later version, which is pretty good, but a little heavier on the berries and fruit IMHO and more brassy overall. That is d/c too. Have a great day everyone.
Yes, I have a 50ml pointy hat bottle but forget to wear it, great description.
I think the only Laura Biagiotti I’ve smelled is Roma, and that was so long ago I don’t remember how it was. Venezia sounds lovely.
Thank you, DeniseH!
Continuing with my foray into old-school “masculines.” In the past few days I’ve worn a couple…
Stetson, by Stetson. Wow. I must credit NST’s Angela for alerting me to this classic – I would likely never have tried it if not for her review. I’ve been wearing the “vintage” stuff – you know, when the ingredients list was comprised of alcohol, water, and fragrance, (with an occasional dye thrown in.) As Angela rightly points out, this one shouldn’t be exclusively for men. It’s fab – spicy, citrusy, floral, warm. Even the current version holds up – to my nose it has more vanilla than the older version – and it’s cheap.
Perry Ellis For Men (1985.) Another leathery aromatic staple from the eighties, it’s a close cousin to Antaeus, Azzaro Pour Homme, Aramis, and Balenciaga Pour Homme. Not sure if it’s still in production; if so, I bet it pales next to the old stuff, which I’m very fortunate to have.
Today, I’m in Jade East, from Swank, (1964,) a classic fougere that predates Brut by a few years. Citrusy, floral, and soapy, which I associate with the barbershops of my youth. It’s actually quite lovely, with none of the harsh assertiveness of so many of today’s offerings marketed to men.
Happy Weekend, everyone.🙂
There were so many incredible men’s scents in the seventies and eighties. Even the ones that became cultural jokes, like Old Spice, Jade East, Hai Karate, and Brut, were excellent in their day, they really were. I particularly miss Oscar De La Renta Pour Lui: in a fit of misplaced nostalgia I bought a bottle maybe twenty years ago and it wasn’t worth having, just not the same as the 1980 original, which I wore the hell out of back in the day. You really can’t go home again.
I have a huge bottle of Perry Ellis for Men: I’m quite certain it was reformulated before I got my bottle some time in the nineties, but even that is quite good. I also have a massive bottle of the original Perry Ellis (I’d ordered a little one-ounce spray from a place that stocks a lot of vintage and I guess they were out of it so they sent me the 4-ounce instead at no extra charge) and it is incredible. They used to do great scents before they started churning them out assembly-line style like everyone else these days.
And as for vintage Stetson, well, it’s absolutely unisex and completely amazing. I wore it (mine is from 1989 or so, definitely pre-reformulation) just the other day: it’s perfect for this cold weather we’ve been having, like a warm hug.
Pyramus, you’re so right – those were some beautiful fragrances, with well-balanced musks, florals, and citruses. (I know it’s 2025 and not 1970, but to my nose many of them are absolutely unisex.) I suspect their reputations were done in by the ridiculous ad campaigns that kicked the machismo factor into overdrive. (Heaven forbid a man wear perfume for any reason other than attracting hoards of women!)
Always nice to find another Perry Ellis fan.😊 The original stuff is out of this world; a mostly forgotten gem.
I like that original Perry Ellis For Men too! It’s so very 80s, when everything for both men and women was over the top.
Canoe by Dana is another great vintage that is unisex, and The Baron by Evyan too. Not sure what modern Canoe smells like and The Baron is long gone IIRC.
I’ve got an ancient spray bottle of Canoe Eau de Cologne, and it’s wonderful. Of course, I don’t what sort of shape it’s in, never having smelled it in its prime, but I get light citrus, lavender, heliotrope, carnation, and some sort of mossy, clove-like spice – all notes that are supposed to be there. Definitely unisex.
Can’t always trust the internet, but I was just reading that when it was released in 1936 it was marketed to women, then in the 1960s the company changed course and marketed it to men, in the U.S., anyway. (Barbara Herman doesn’t mention the marketing shift in her splendid book, so the story is likely apocryphal.)
My oldest brother used to wear Canoe. That’s definitely one that could be worn very well by a woman. It came in a nice, classic bottle, too.
Excellent insight! Ive been out ill and am catching up- the Hai Karate you wore recently was a terrific scent that deserved a better ad campaign.
I remember Angela posting about her love for Stetson. Ah, your “old-school” frags always take me on a trip down memory lane. Some day, I will have to sniff that one.
Ann, let me know if you ever want to try the “vintage” version – I’ve got plenty to share, and I’m happy to send you some.😊
Daniel, how nice of you to offer! I would love to try it. Shall I contact you via your website address?
Yes!
My contact info is at the bottom of every page on my site, (which you can access by clicking my name.)😊
Mr. SP and I are going to a play this afternoon so I’m wearing only the faintest whiff of Songes from early this morning. I was planning on Alahine after all the chat this last week but forgot so that will be tomorrow.
Did my weights workout (does anyone else do Caroline Girvan on youtube? She’s incredible. I do a much lighter version of what she does!) And heading out for a walk soon.
Songes is very beautiful!
I love both Songes and Alahine
Looking up your workout
Yet another cold day (I mean, winter in Atlantic Canada, duh), so I cozied up in CSP Vanille Café before I headed out for errands and groceries. It’s not at all complex and it doesn’t last as long as most of the other CSP vanillas, but it sure is nice.
I really should have a bottle.
I almost spritzed on more Alahine this morning, but in the end the hand wanted Papillon’s Spell 125 instead. I’m working my way through a dabber sample of that and trying to convince myself that I Don’t Need A Full Bottle. Really, I don’t. Right?
You’re a week late for being talked out of not buying. That said, Spell 125 is beautiful.
Yeah … was there any talking OUT of that weekend? 🤣
Happy weekend!
Sotd is LVEB L’Elixir.
My favourite scented product for dry skin is body oil. If they have shimmer, the better! In my current rotation: MFK BR540 shimmer, MFK Ous Sarin Mood shimmer, No.5 shimmer, TF Soleil Blanc shimmer, Nuxe OG, Nuxe Neroli.
That’s a decent rotation of body oils!! I have not a single one other than the Aftelier Ancient Resins.
I’m trying out one of the three Amouage Essences samples I got, Lustre. It’s got some rose, iris, cardamom, patchouli, myrrh, other resins, and Cypriol. It smelled divine at first and occasionally I get a divine waft but I’m also picking up a “dirty” note. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe just iris, which I never like, or the Cypriol, or called Amrbrorum? Not Ambroxan bit another chemical. One of those isn’t sitting well on my skin. Oh, it’s also got a boatload of sandalwood. So far I still prefer Reasons to this one.
It’s an either dirty or metallic smell. It might be from two separate things.
Ambrarome is the name of that ingredient.
Interesting and I don’t think of any of those notes as dirty…wonder what it is.
I feel like we maybe turned a corner on the fires as of last night.
Just a feeling although Bob would say you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
Post shower – BdK Tabac Rose.
Mani pedi later.
Like some others here, am wrapped up in The Pitt. And, it made me start watching ER again back to season 1.
I loved St. Elsewhere, too with a very young Denzel Washington.
I so hope the corner has been turned!!
Such good news! And you smell simply divine in Tabac Rose. Another great fragrance from Julien Rasquinet😊
I’ve just finished cleaning the bathroom while wafting last night’s Absolu pour le Soir – it’s got almost infinite staying power on clothes!
I tried a couple of new things yesterday, Trudon’s Absolu and Le Geste d’Edmond from Eight and Bob. The Absolu is orange blossom, it’s nice but doesn’t stand out for me as particularly different from others I’ve tried. La Geste d’Edmond is very nice, but is similar to Tobacco Vanille, which I already have.
Today is forecast to be warm and wet, and Annick Goutal’s Un Matin d’Orage has sprung to mind.
Good, because I’ve been lusting after the Trudon…
I’m wearing Indult Tihota this sunny, cold morning.
You are brave, but that is one perfume that will definitely penetrate the cold for you! So potent!
On me, it’s only a huge perfume for about the first hour, and dwindles quickly after that. But the first hour is great.
Hi NST 🌹
Still in benzoin in Prada Candy. I’m going to a girl’s get together this afternoon/evening, with a mix of all ages, should be fun. Candy is the perfect scent. Enjoy the day, everyone.
Hope it was great fun ringthing!
Sitting down to catch up on work I didn’t get to this week, with a big latte, a jam biscuit coated in sugar, and a spritz of YSL Babycat on my wrist.
It is nice, but sort of wishing I went for Mugler’s Angel or Lolita Lempicka. Something more playful to get me through a few hours’ slog of stuff I pushed to the back burner lol.
Okay, now Babycat has warmed up a bit and it is lovely. Still not playful, but cozy and a bit like a blend of a modern Shalimar and Diptyque EdP Eau Duelle.
You smell great…I love Babycat. I only sampled recently b/c the hype was off putting and then I was scared it would be too much leather which is the not the case for me. I mostly get resin, incense and vanilla…not really leather per se.
Yeah, agreed, a little leather but not Leather Leather.
Wearing Angel today form a sample spray. So nostalgic. Getting lots of chocolate this time. Had a friend who doused herself in this in 2000. Good memories!
SOTD = Molinard Habanita
The 100th year Anniversary Bottle! I am beginning my series of red bottle perfume wearing. The Pièce de résistance is coming on Wednesday 🐍.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFQyOTHRi9l/?igsh=cW4wZjgxMWx5dWJt
For what it’s worth, even though I have more than enough SOAP, I still bought from Fzotic because the soaps are just that good. Also, if you have seen the LOVE LEGO Set (from IG), I got that too. I’m still on the fence about deciding how much to include in my budget for non-grocery items, some of which are pretty set.
You must be excited for that snake bottle!
I sure am … I just need to break open the shrink wrap. I will do test sniff before Wednesday!
Chanel n.5 l’Eau before bed. 🤍
Hope you slept like a baby!
Going on night 3 of 4, wishing I’d gotten more sleep. Working on my second cup of joe in hopes it jump starts me. The helicopter was very busy (I’m in the flight path so lots of noise) as is the entire hospital with single rooms all being converted to doubles which means you’re always shifting and tripping over equipment, only one call light, one TV, so having to mediate disputes between patients who never get sleep due to constant monitor, bed, IV, BiPap alarms and staff traffic in/out of rooms, not to mention they’re varying degrees of sick and really, just sick and tired. Saw a patient go into a complete heart block for only the second time in my life. Not my patient, so not stressful for me and it was just amazing (but also horrible, of course. I’m speaking of seeing it from an analytical POV in case people misunderstand) to see the body morphing right in front of your eyes.
Twinning with pyramus in CSP Vanille Café for the benzoin and the coffee notes. So wonderfully uncomplicated, easy, and smooth. Holding my bottle up to the light I was surprised to see it’s 50% empty, or 50% full, whichever way you decide to look at it. 50% loved is how I look at it. ❤️
It’s always a nice surprise to leave in the morning and walk to my camper and see the sun rising and hot air balloons going up. There were a lot of them this morning, I counted 10 in various stages of inflation, take off, and flight. It’s very uplifting. Literally. 😉
Wow, I’m sorry for all those patients crowded in together. What is it, mainly flu or RSV or Covid and stuff like that? I’m also sad for the patient with heart block. I don’t think I’ve got the qualifications to deal with life and death like a nurse has to. I’m glad it was all counterbalanced by the sight of the pretty balloons.
No, we don’t take any infectious patients on the unit I’m currently working on, although this is probably an issue on other units. It’s mostly incredible growth without the healthcare infrastructure keeping up. Also, many people don’t have access to care in the community due to lack of providers, lack of insurance or ability to pay, etc… many, especially those with unmanaged chronic disease processes end up in the ER and getting admitted because they’ve have declined due to lack of preemptive care. Lack of education is a huge problem, and there is always a certain small percentage who feel they bear no responsibility for their own health. As for access, I have insurance, and the earliest appointment I was offered was September. This was with a group of 15-20 MD’s who have five offices in the immediate area. For established patients, the wait wouldn’t be as long, but still, long enough that they may end up seeking treatment in the ER because of escalating symptoms.
I love the balloons!🎈
I hope you get more sleep soon.
Hope you get some good rest soon for mind, body, and soul.
Keeping warm today in Montale Patchouli Leaves, thanks to a very kind NSTer. More single-digit weather ahead for us next week, with wind-chill bringing it down to the negative zone. Hope all of you are staying safe, no matter what crazy weather you might be having. 💗
Glad your scent is keeping you warm, I think it’s one of the few Montale I like along with Full Incense.
It’s one of a few I like, too. They have released so many that I stopped paying attention. Full Jasmin is pretty if you’re a jasmine lover.
Smelling fine in Both Sides of Clouds today. Work has been very busy the past few weeks so I haven’t posted much. 🙁 January is typically busy b/c of the timeframe of some audits we do each year and this year I have taken over some other projects which is further contributing to the frenzy. 😅 I have been working a bit on the weekends but decided to take a break today.
I am a Star Wars fan and finally watching Andor…it’s excellent so far. Kind of like Star Wars meets Homeland. 😉 Ehaeheh I loved Homeland.
Mr. Ockeghem really liked Andor. I’ve been informed there’s a new season of it coming out and we need to subscribe to Disney+ again. So many subscriptions — it drives me nuts!
Felanilla for me today, because it’s in my travel bag and it’s always a good one in the winter.
Haven’t been posting much as I’ve had lots going on with Ockeghem Teen taking school at home, Mr. Ockeghem away last week and then trying to catch up this week, and hearing from one of my oldest friends that he’s been going through a series of serious ups and downs with his relationships.
But, we got away for the weekend to an island and it’s nice to be away and to be able to burn a real fire and just putter around, play some board games, walk the beach, etc. The weather has been surprisingly clear for the last couple of weeks, if chilly (for us).
I’ve been tempted by the Fzotic wabi-sabi sale, but then realized that he doesn’t ship to Canada and things are so much in flux right now that I’m not sure I want to attempt the border just for soap. Sigh. I do like his soap.
I haven’t heard anyone mention Felanilla in a while. I had a decant which I loved but it’s long gone. You’re smelling divine today! I don’t know how you ladies do it- working, kids, house, spouse…hats off to you!
Mine is in a box immediately underneath my Indochine!
I bought a FB early in my perfume journey — one of the few times I’ve been to a perfume store with an owner who makes a business of trying to recommend things to you based on scant knowledge and it worked out (Perfume Shoppe, I’m looking at you — Naz is lovely — but the analogue in Seattle was just horrible and I’m careful now…should head down to the Perfume Shoppe again, tho).
I would never have sniffed Felanilla on my own. But she had me sample it and it was love, and though it was a bit beyond my pocketbook at the time I brought it home. I’ve never regretted it.
I’m glad you had a restorative getaway. We’re worrying about the border too; we live in the US but our cabin (unsuitable for anything but summer) is in Canada. I am hovering on the brink of buying a “Canada Is Not For Sale” ball cap but since I almost never wear that sort of hat I probably won’t. But I bet there are toques with that message too and that would more useful perhaps. Sigh.
I am very very sorry because I understand the stress, but no politics guys.
Sorry Robin!
Yeah, I was trying very very hard to avoid politics by just stating that “things are in flux”, which I think is objectively true no matter what your politics. 🙂
But, Scaresbears, I hope things settle by the summer and you’re able to get back to the cabin.
I will be very, very depressed if I can’t get there. That place is my heart and soul.
Thanks for understanding! Things are in flux!
Been sick for several days with a sinus infection. I can finally smell again today so one day late I’m wearing Sun Force by The Harmonist for my bezoin scent. I can’t actually smell it yet, but it felt restorative to put scent on. The humidity has gratefully soared here in SoCal. Prayers for those at risk for landslides in our burn areas, but we need some rain.
So glad you can smell again🌸 Hoping for rain without landslides.
Thank you allô!!! It’s uplifting to be able to smell again. I had a fresh tangerine at breakfast and spent so long luxuriating in its citrus aroma I almost forgot to eat it!
Désolée que tu aies souffert d’une sinusite. Bien contente que tu ailles mieux. Don’t forget to use saline solution to boost your recovery. Tangerines are so delicious at this time of year.
Le Subjonctif!
🎉🎉🎉
Merci bien mon amie ! Vive Le Subjonctif !
Yes to rain! Really hope landslides don’t accompany it though.
Where I was, it was gentle. And the humidity shift really affected my sinuses positively. Just barely smelling now.
Sotd Abel Nurture.
Bleurgh. Sinus infections are miserable. Hope that you are on the mend and it goes away!
Very pleased to hear that California is finally getting some much needed rain.
Thank you jalapeño! I forgot how soothing the sound of rain is and then I opened a window- that flood of negative ions replenished me in a way I didn’t know I was lacking until I had it again.
I smelled a Mimosa bush in my neighborhood today and it’s the most beautiful indolic Mimosa. Does anyone know of a good indolic Mimosa fragrance?
I wore Le Lion today for a shopping trip with my little (33) sister. I’m so grateful that my father decided to have another set of children. And she likes fragrance!💕💐
I got a Magnetic Wood sample from The Harmonist and its mimosa is quite pronounced. As I’m a NST newbie, I’m not sure it’s indolic.
Thank you, LesLiesse! I’ll check it out. I also believe we have the same name but I spell mine without an “e” at the end. And I love studying French too🇫🇷❤️🇫🇷
Enchantée Lesli ! Yes it’s a play on Leslie S that I got from my Duolingo partner after learning the marvelous word liesse and then there was a fragrance with that word. I blind bought an entire bottle. So thrilled and relieved I quite like the scent!
I also love mimosa scent. The best perfume that has mimosa that I’ve tried is FM Une Fleur de Cassie, but I wouldn’t say it’s indolic.
I love Une Fleur de Cassie!
I have Jo Malone mimosa and cardamom
Thank you for the suggestion. I don’t know her line that well and need to get to Nordstroms to smell that one.
This one is worth sniffing out. Some of her others a meh 😑
That is the line that sent me down the rabbit hole. It is a great line for newer perfumers as Jo Malone’s earlier scents were quite light. Also, they have great ways to combine them so I many times bought their body creams and tried their recommended combinations with their colognes. I think you have Zara Leather Jardin and that was done by Jo Malone. I have two others by Zara that were done by her as well.
I still have a bottle of Lime Basil and Mandarin Orange before the reformulation. It’s divine.
AA Ginger Piccante for a crisp morning run. Today we ran in support of students’ protests against growing corruption and violence in our country. We were met by a lot of enthusiasm from students and people on the streets. It felt nice 🤍
That sounds nice!
I’m so glad you were met with support!
Bravo!!! Well done you!!!
I’m in Coromandel – inspired by seeing it a lot in your comments this week.
Anyone up for Snake Week? To honor the Lunar New Year and the (Wood) Snake, Robin gave us five qualities to explore: wisdom, patience, elegance, charm and mystery. I’m planning to focus on one quality per day (Monday: wisdom, Tuesday: patience, and so on, though not necessarily in this order). It would be cool to see what associations different people come up with. I’m starting tomorrow, Monday!
I like this interpretation of the CP. As it happens, since I’m already wearing the new Amouage Reasons, I am doing wisdom, and can do it again tomorrow! Patience sounds more challenging…. Hmmm
One possible interpretation – a scent that unfolds slowly, making you wait for that gorgeous drydown. 😊
Good idea, and I know just the one!
What a great idea! I can’t wait to see what fragrances you choose to embody each of those qualities!
I love this idea Glannys, as I need to work on all of these qualities.
Daily. It’s a lifelong journey.
Today, Sunday I will work on patience as I drive through rain to Pasadena to shelter work.
A good day for gratefulness, too.
I am going commando to not have anyone – volunteers and clients be put off.
Tomorrow, I will see what my hand lands on.
If only we could improve ourselves by wearing the appropriate perfume, right?
Patience might be a good starting point for the CP – like in patiently waiting for the weekend! But I will probably go by my mood when choosing the quality tomorrow, although I’ve already made perfume lists for all.
Today I choose gratefulness.
I was grateful to come home to my home last night after delivering meals to people.
SOTD is from a vintage bottle of L’artisan, L’eau D’ Ambre.
Beautiful still after how many years?
Love this. I’ll try to join in.
What a great way to do the project! You are really the project queen.
She is the Queen! 👑
Maybe we could do a Glannys Community Project since her ideas are so inspiring..?! Finding a way to spin our own Glannys and/or the Ukraine..? Flag colors that maybe inspire a scent? Or even a scent with a Kora Kitty spin..? We could have the first ever CP named for, and after a regular commenter who faithfully shares her daily scents, through thick and thin, through war and peace, and through sickness and health. Just a thought.. ☺️
Love it!
What do you say Glannys?
I’m very flattered, but why limit a CP to me? Let’s make it “wear a perfume inspired by someone at NST” instead. We’ve had Dealer’s Choice and “wear a scent you saw in the comments” CPs before. This would be a bit different—if something you read on NST (not a direct mention of the scent) sparked a perfume idea, wear it!
But I also like Ukraine-themed idea.
Ok!
Love this idea! Alas, I’m lacking all those attributes you mention even though I am a wood snake. I missed the boat, apparently. But, I will give this snake theme serious thought and see what I can come up with. Your suggestions are always spot on. 😊
I think we humans tend to be too critical of ourselves, always moving the goalposts instead of appreciating the positive things within us.
And this whole zodiac thing is just a fun game, not a life manual (at least for me).
Great idea! I am doing my own spin on the project by wearing my red bottles. I have a 🐍🐍🐍 special one 🐍🐍🐍 for this Wednesday!
This sounds fascinating and a good creative exercise because I’m terrified if Snakes! Also Glannybthank you for inspiring me to try AI with some prompts. I had a creative logjam (maybe it was a sinus logjam instead as I’ve been ill) and working with Copilot helped me come up with a better idea of my own.
Yes, AI helps a lot if you are stuck creatively! I use it this way too.
SOTD is Shalimar Millesime Jasmine.
Jalapeno-I am wearing it with Sol de Janiero Delicia Drench Body Butter and it is perfect!
Shalimar 👸 is the best
Cool! Glad that you made a perfect perfume & lotion/body butter match. It’s so fun when that happens!
Gabrielle Essence
Lite some candles at church
Reading and tea for the rest of the day
Great scent! Have you tried Gabrielle Body Cream? Very nice.
I think you might enjoy the book I am reading now. What Happened with the McCray’s by Tracey Lange. It is about family ties and community relations.
I am wearing Bvlgari The vert, since some of Bvlgari scents were 50% off at the pharmacy, i couldn’t resist to get the vert, contemplating also one of the Goldea Rose ones..
I find that the weekends pass very quickly!!
Oh nice! If I saw the blue at 50% off I would probably have to buy it.
Wearing Alahine today, but as beautiful as it is, I am not really feeling it. It will be Dzing! tonight.
I sprayed Chanel Gardenia this morning, scrubbed it and now I am in NO19. Sometimes perfumes aren’t your cup of tea. I go through that too…
Oh the joy of Dzing!!
Love that Dzing!
I have never tried that one, but it always sounds kind of strange to me. Many people seem to have it so it must not be. I can’t imagine smelling like a barn or circus or whatever Fragrantica says.
Wearing a couple of spritzes of the well loved Indochine today. So delicious..!
Woke like a ravening beast today but all I have the energy for is some Spicy Chicken Gumbo straight out of the can. I dressed it up with some cheesy garlic croutons and calling it dinner.
Between the perfume and the soup, I’m quite spicy today!
You smell great and your dinner sounds pretty scrumptious to me!
Yeah, sometimes those dinners where you don’t have the energy to get fancy are…just right.
Happy Monday! I spent the weekend working and finally delivered my work this morning, so I can actually relax now.
Starting my Snake Week with elegance. Many perfumes can be considered elegant, but for me, the scent that embodies this quality is Chanel Cuir de Russie. Plus, it’s leathery, which seems fitting for a snake.
I find most Chanel perfumes elegant. Glad you can relax today!
Agreed.
Yes, Chanel does elegance very well. Generally, there are so many perfumes you can classify as elegant.
Leather is an excellent idea for the CP!
Happy Monday- for the year of the snake I am in No 19, this scent is both elegant and mysterious.
2 cappuccinos this morning
Listening to NPR, thumbing through the paper
Library later on today
How did the boys’ sleepover at your house go?
They were actually really good. They did twister, connect four, monopoly, kids against maturity card game..
I ended up forgetting to put on No 19 on my way to the library..stopped off in Sephora and they didn’t have a tester out. I sprayed Pure Poison instead. I think this fits the bill for snake week!
What fun!!
Commando at the moment as I sit in the Quest waiting room to complete my UDS for my summer job. It can’t come fast enough!
I’m torn as to continuing benzoin week or trying to get on the snake bandwagon. While I love snakes, and was known as somewhat of a snake whisperer when I was younger, I can’t really connect a scent to them as they are mostly odorless. My dogs never even knew when we came close unless the snake was actually moving, so was spotted visually and not olfactorily. Scent never seemed to play into it for them. I’ve had many over the years that were rescued and rehabbed, then let go in an appropriately wild place, but I just can’t seem to associate any kind of smell with them. I may focus more on movement and/or color.
Here are a couple of species I helped over the years:
Red Mangrove:
https://www.kingsnake.com/blog/archives/2706-The-magnificent-red-snakes-of-the-mangroves.html
Florida King Snake:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/florida-kingsnake/
Indigo:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/eastern-indigo-snake/
Southern Black Racer:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/north-american-racer/
And last but not least, the one T-Rex stepped on in Coastal North Carolina and luckily, somehow magically, avoided being bit by it. I didn’t get any where near this one once I reeled doggo back in!
Copperhead:
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/eastern-copperhead/
What an impressive and unexpected field of expertise you have there!
One may like or dislike snakes, but I think everyone will agree they look incredible. Especially mangrove and copperhead, in my opinion. But damn – I’d be terrified to step on them.
Copperhead snake = NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE! 😱
I was that weird little girl who brought home garter snakes and tried to make pets of them. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful.
Glossier You for back to work Monday.
It was a busy weekend here. Yesterday we drove madtownteen back to college. She’d been home since December 13. At the time I knew 6 weeks sounded long but that it would go fast, and it did. This morning when I got out of the shower and walked past her empty room it made me sad.☹️ This too shall pass. She was starting to get excited about heading back. She’s got some fun things lined up already. Santa got her downhill skis for Christmas. She also has an interview next week to be an RA next year. Fingers crossed, I hope she gets it! The hardest adjustment for her was sharing a room, but luckily for her one of her roommates transferred schools already so it will just be her and one other roommate instead of two. I think that will make a huge difference. I hope so anyway.
I also got a call Friday to interview for a job I applied to a couple of months ago. I’m very excited but taking some deep breaths because I don’t want to count my chickens before they’re hatched.
I was thinking of Glossier You the other day. I recently purchased the body cream too and it is very nice.
Best of luck on the job interview!
Good luck with the job interview!
Hugs for the empty nest, and best of luck on the interview!
Oh very good luck…fingers crossed for you!
I don’t know that I will do the year of the snake all week, but thought I would start out with an elegant perfume today. It is FM Iris Poudre. I think there are a few of his that I would put in the category of elegant.
That’s exactly what I was planning for elegance – except likely later in the week!
I may wear it again😉
Is there such a thing as an iris perfume that isn’t elegant? 🤔
I don’t think Glossier You really is, but that’s just my opinion.
Monday’s scent is Parfum Sacre, which is one of the most elegant fragrances I own, a timeless classic, IMHO, that never fails to please. I’m not doing anything elegant, btw, just running errands, but I shall leave an elegant wake. Parfum Sacre also contains cedarwood and rosewood. Not sure if the wood snake likes those kinds of woods, and they’re not the most prominent notes by far, but they do fit the CP bill.
I am sure your errands were done elegantly 🙂
I’m going elegant today in Sortilège from Le Galion.
It is elegant day here!
Had a fall yesterday. I broke my right arm, the dominant one, and damaged my front teeth and mouth. Surgery is planned after the swelling goes down. I had a much more pleasant spring in mind instead of dealing with medical stuff. Still, it could have been my hip, so I am grateful for small mercies. I yhink I will wear Desarmant when I have the energy to get up.
Oh no, Foxbins!!
I am so so sorry to read this.
So sorry to hear this. Take care!
Oh no! I’m sorry, foxbins.
That’s dreadful! May your surgery be quick and effective and your recovery rapid. Your sense of humor would appear to be unharmed if your choice of fragrance is anything to go by….most “disarming?”
That’s funny, and I didn’t even think about it that way!
I’m so sorry to hear about your injury! I hope you have a nearby family or trusted neighbor to help you out. I also hope there is no underlying pathology that caused the fall.
Speedwalking + uneven pavement = faceplant & arm injury. I have offers of help if I need it, thank goodness.
😧 Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear about this. Everything is very definitely *not* going to plan. I hope your friends will jump in to help you with the hardest things. ❤️
So sorry to hear this. I hope everything heals quickly.
Oh no! I hope the surgery goes well and you heal quickly!
Ouch! So sorry to hear this. I hope the swelling gets down quickly so you can have the surgery and be on your way to recovery.
Oh no! I’m terribly sorry. As someone who has experienced quite a few falls in recent years, along with some face damage and broken bones, I definitely empathize. It’s a very scary experience to fall as an adult. I hope that gradually the damaged parts can be repaired so that they’ll heal nicely and you can get back to normal. Please give us updates, we care and really do want to know. (And by the way, I personally would really hate for a fall to damage my teeth, so I’mm particularly sympathetic about that. Ouch!)
I’m so sorry this happened and that you have to deal with ongoing medical treatment. Sending you fast healing well wishes!
Oh I’m so sorry foxbins. And your dominant arm too, drat it. I hope you heal quickly, and may the rest of 2025 treat you much better.
YIKES!! Very sorry to hear this, foxbins. And needing surgery to repair your arm, no less. Argh!
Oh gosh foxbins, adding more sympathy. I am so sorry, and like you I am glad it wasn’t any worse. But gosh.
Oh no! What a terrible luck! Wishing you a very speedy recovery.
Oh gosh! Here’s hoping your loved ones lavish TLC on you while you recuperate !
I’m in Molyneux Quartz. It’s got a citrus opening along with a dry, woody base. My version is the original scent profile with the wavy blue cap. I find it to be a quiet scent, perfect on any day.
I think of Aurora whenever I see Quartz mentioned.
It’s a great scent. When I was working retail (long ago) I’d stop in at the drugstore to spray myself before work!
So glad to have this one in my collection now. I think it’s pretty rare, but if you know, you know!
I picked up a newer bottle a while back. I’m waiting for summer to wear it. Perfumes need to have some OOMPH in a Colorado winter…
I”m starting Snake Week with Ithe quality of charm today. Burberry Goddess charmed me when I tried it in the fall of 2024, and I often wear it – both to start and end the day.
Don’t really hear much about Burberry now.
SOTD = Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale
So green and lemony. Does not last long but sometimes that is what one is looking for. Love 💛❤️!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFV7jLFRJF4/?igsh=MXh6Mmt3d28xbG56ag==
I will be wearing fragrance from my red bottles this week!
Lovely bottle ♥️
Wow, that bottle is stunning!
A work of art! I confess: bottle design is a significant part of my enjoyment. And your bottle is a jaw dropper and oh so perfect with February around the corner.
I’m doing “Mystery” for the CP with another try of the new Amouage Lustre in the Essences range. It’s got the most gorgeous cardamom opening that is quite eye-opening, but I’m still not loving that one mystery note (the orris?). The woody and resin-y notes are beautiful. I bought the collection to see if I really loved Reasons enough to buy it (at quite a cost!) and I’ll be trying them all again this week to decide.
Today I am proud to say that I tackled a room that had become a quite hideous and disgusting mess, my upstairs study. It was so full of cat hair and piles of papers and unorganized books and parts of computers and iPads going years back… It was and still is a giant project. I’ve become so buried under paperwork in the last six years due to the reams of things I get for my mom and me from our respective insurance companies and Medicare, and hospital reports and directories. It’s something I’ve never been good at coping with. But I would enjoy having my study back and the process of getting it sorted, cleaned, and back in shape makes me happy. I won’t have to keep trying to do my writing at the dining table. (Patting myself on the back.)
GO you for braving the study!!
Oh yay, good for you! It is always nice to reclaim space.
We’re patting you on the back as well! Well done! What a great project to have accomplished before the end of January!
That’s an interesting take on mystery – a perfume with a mystery note!
You definitely deserve a pat on the back. Ugh, paperwork and cleaning – I’d do something nice for myself if I were you.
Oops. Meant to be a reply to Calypso.
I’m pairing widsom with The Holy Mountain today. I don’t necessarily feel any wiser but I guess I was wise to choose this beautiful fragrance🤔
I wish I had spelled wisdom “widsom” on purpose but sadly, I didn’t.
🤣🤣🤣
Ha!
Posting a little late on a Monday afternoon/evening. Today was Laundry Day for me, plus I unpacked a couple boxes of books this afternoon. We shall see if my back thinks that was a good idea or not; it’s been touchy lately and I am not sure why.
Currently looking for a powerhouse unscented lotion or balm to deal with winter chapped hands. My brother suggested I get some Bag Balm. I might be desperate enough to try it.
OTOH, I am very happily using Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench on my shins lately. I have a few other things I rotate thru depending on mood and weather. Hoping to thunk some lotions and/or body butters in the near future.
SOTD = still hanging out in Prada Candy. I will do some pondering on the CP; nothing sprang to mind immediately. But I am not stumped either.
Bag Balm is pretty good. A little bit goes a long way. I got mine at Home Goods in a set of three 1 oz. tins on sale in December.
There are plenty of brick & mortar places that sell bag balm here. I just need to investigate…
I’ve never tried bag balm; I’m sure its something I probably need in my life. Currently for dry, chapped hands I have a container of Burt’s Bees Baby. It’s an ointment type so it’s not as convenient as a lotion or creme in a tube. I’ve also seen Dr. Dray recommend good old Vaseline; used that in a pinch at bedtime, just spread it very thinly.
I’m currently using Aquaphor Healing Ointment. It’s the beefiest thing I currently have. It’s 41% petrolatum. Takes forever to absorb into my hands, but works decently enough once it does.
I order the French version of Cerave SA Smoothing Cream, 10% urea. If your skin can tolerate urea it is a miracle on hands in the winter and I use it on my heels all year.
My brother uses the American version of the CeraVe Cream for chapped areas.
Right now I think the weather here is too cold and dry for me to use anything with urea in it. It would have been fine in November, though. Appreciate the input, Robin!
Aquaphor Healing Ointment!
Very late post! I just spritzed Kyoto, in honor of the “wisdom” interpretation of the CP.
Starting to watch “The Diplomat” after a long work day. Will simultaneously catch up on comments I’ve missed!
Newbie question here: where can I find the CP listing?