Happy Hump Day and welcome to the Year of the Snake! Today's birthdays: Edward Abbey, Anton Chekhov, Oprah Winfrey. What fragrance are you wearing?
Today: (understated) elegance, in Dries Van Noten par Frédéric Malle.
Reminder: on 1/31, we'll honor the Lunar New Year (which starts today) by wearing a fragrance that reflects the qualities of the (Wood) Snake: wisdom, patience, elegance, charm and mystery.*
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: top image is one of the 2025 Lunar New Year stamps from Hongkong Post.
I am very lucky to be starting my day in the extraordinary Bois des Iles Parfum, having been generously gifted a sample from my NST friend, Tulipani. (Many, many thanks.😊)
This is not only my first time wearing it, it’s my first time smelling it. I’ve always enjoyed the EdP, but the Parfum is absolutely transporting – it’s simply on another level/higher plane. Gorgeous stuff, and I can say quite confidently that I’ve not smelled this good in a long, long time.
Smelling great, Daniel, I think I’m catching that amazing BdI waft all the way across town! Beauty, thy name is Box of Eels. And Tulipani, what a marvelous and thoughtful gift. NSTers are the best!
I’m wafting a bit of Pineward Eldritch. The notes are leather, myrrh, patchouli, Fir, oolong tea, Opoponax, smoke, pine needles, & oakmoss.
I think our wood snake would be right at home here, slithering through the dim, damp, mossy undergrowth. Extra points for mystery. I’m rather fascinated by the word eldritch, which evokes an arcane and twilight world of mystery and magic and certain books and fairy tales.
Reviewers call Eldritch a challenging scent, not a safe blind buy, and I agree. But I so appreciate small indie perfumers like Pineward that follow their muses instead of cynically creating for the perceived mass market buyer.
The results, even when I don’t need to buy a full bottle, are always bracing, engaging, novel, & thought-provoking. And that’s also my approximate definition of art.
I’ve not heard of this brand so thanks for the introduction.
Your description of Eldritch sounds so enticing – seems like a great choice for this VERY chilly LA morning. (And that’s a wonderful definition of art.)
It’s a masterpiece…one of the best perfume investments I ever made.
I’m so happy to hear you’re loving the BdI parfum! You are one generous NSTer yourself!
I know how wonderful the Box of Eels EdT was. Very pleased to hear the parfum does not disappoint!
I’m wearing Timbuktu, one of desert island fragrances. I don’t know if it embodies the year of the snake, but it makes me happy.
Well….mystery? I think it’s mysterious anyway.
Yes, I also thought of mystery.
I’ve thought of doing Timbuktu for the CP also! I do think it fits
Almost perfume twins with you today!
Tam Dao EDT today. I think it’s perfect for the Snake’s quality of mystery. Old temples in deep jungles of sandalwood, cedar, cypress and myrtle –mystical. At least that’s my feeling when I wear it.
Oh, I thought wisdom, but mystery is perfect for it too. It’s both wisdom and mystery.
Twinning with you, and I was thinking patience. Possibly Tam Dao covers all of the listed elements?
I think it does. I may wear it on Friday.
Good point– a good wood snake fragrance that works in so many ways!
I always think of Robin when Tam Dao is mentioned.
🙂
I’ve been sick since Sunday and am finally feeling better, and that I can move on from saltines and weak tea to something a bit more substantial. And also like I can wear perfume again, so today it’s Chanel Egoiste, for mystery. The mystery is that it’s called Egoiste but on me, it’s dry and elegant and not a heavy hitter like Antaeus, which is what I expected when I first sampled it.
So sorry you have been sick. Being able to wear perfume again is always a cheering step!
Perfume feels like a return to normal.
I sympathize with you ringthing! I’m not fully recovered yet, but can handle more food finally plus I can smell again. Yesterday’s Moon Glory for the Lunar NY was a bit too much for me to handle so Sotd Valley of Flowers by Oribe sample. Very light and has me dreaming of spring (and more rain here in LA). Keep getting better !
Hope you are feeling better soon, LesLiesse!
Very glad you feel better, on my skin Egoïste is rather sweet for some reason.
I’m glad you are feeling better but sorry you were sick. I still feel a bit off from being sick last week.
I thought of you and your Vernors, lillyjo. I’m sorry you are still a little under the weather
Feel better lillyjo! Whatever is going around, the recuperation period seems prolonged. Take good care of yourself!
Egoiste is too good to stay on the “Guy’s” side of the perfume aisle.
Glad to hear that you are feeling better today.
Today, I’m going with wisdom. Wednesday Wisdom? 😂
It’s one of those days when I just can’t choose between two scents -so I layered them: Aromatics Elixir and SL Chêne.
AE smells very mature and exudes quiet strength – like someone wise through experience. And Chêne? It’s an oak scent, and oak is associated with ancient wisdom. Plus, a woody scent for Wood Snake.
…The irony of not being able to choose wisely between the two on wisdom day is not lost on me!
I will join you halfway today, Glannys.
My bottle of Chene is sooo dark and delicious. A few sprays post shower should do the trick.
Glannys, I looked up your lovely selection Chêne on my French dictionary app. I wanted to share the moving and apt example it gave.
Le vieux chêne résistant est resté debout malgré la tempête féroce.
The hardy old oak tree stood tall despite the fierce storm.
Wisdom in resilient stillness for the Year of the Wood Snake.
An apt example indeed. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, oak is primarily known as a symbol of strength and resilience. But it works for wisdom and mystery too: “The belief in the magical power of the oak and the presence of elves around this tree means that the oak is often seen as a symbol of secrets and hidden wisdom. It represents the unfathomable depths of the forest and the mysteries that lurk in the shadows.”
https://goodrun.at/en/blogs/naturschmuckstuecke/eichenbaum-9-bemerkenswerte-fakten
This was quite intriguing. I didn’t know anything about Celtic Tree Horoscopes (I’m a Rowan and my s/ob a Fir, and wow we fit those descriptions well). The jewelry is delicate and feminine that I saw, perfect for the year of the Wood Snake and your Chêne!
Oh gosh my significant other is a s/o 99% of the time but occasionally he’s a s/ob 😆😆😆. What a typo! Love you Mon Capitaine!
LOL! I wondered about that s/o thing but didn’t want to jump to conclusions…
I went all kinds of literal today with BPAL Snake Oil. Still riding last weeks benzoin bus as well as this weeks snake CP. My dabber vial is just about done and I’ve had it probably since 2011 or so. I only wish I aged as well this perfume oil. Benzoin isn’t listed but then BPAL’s note lists are always quite fanciful and mostly irrelevant. Very dark spicy incense-y vanilla-ish resinous deliciousness! Like a very handsome gothic vampire scent a là Frank Langella from the 70’s. 🧛🏻♂️
Yesterday was gorgeous, sunny and in the 50’s! Had a nice walkabout checking out some petroglyphs on another trail in Petrogylph NM and had a mystical, magical coyote visit. I think he was eyeballing the Baby T-Rex for a snack idea. Anyway, today, it snowing! Go figure…
Also meant to add I came across a snake petroglyph yesterday. Very apple for today! See link:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFas3FAO6lW/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Perfect!
“Baby T-Rex” – love it! 🦖
Looks like I could see a few flakes of your snow tomorrow.
Really cool petroglyph! 🐍
Since most Chanel scents are elegant, I guess I will go with that again today. I am in Coco Noir body cream and perfume. I absolutely love this during the winter months though I must say that being in the 40’s and 50’s this week certainly doesn’t feel like winter.
Kris, I love your “winter layers” of perfume and body cream!
Thanks!
I’m a Chanel fan and agree with you about the elegance of the fragrances. I might wear Chanel for the rest of the week.
Chanel fragrances are always an easy choice if not sure what to wear.
Similar temps here. I agree, it doesn’t feel like Winter.
Still in the polar vortex here, and I’m in L’artisan’s Jour de fete, because it’s so easy to wear, and I love it 🙂
Love is the reason, certainly the only one needed in the perfume world
As a newbie here and to the scent world, that’s a reassuring sentiment AnnieA !
Hello and happy lunar new year to those celebrating!
Sotd is Guerlain Rouge Bonheur.
I will be wearing red to match the new year vibe. No full on red lips though because I could never seem to pull it off.
Despite reading many articles on finding the right red, I’ve packed it it and switched over to red lip gloss or tint.
Same here. The only reddish lippies I have are sheer glosses.
It’s so hard to find the perfect red for lips!
So so hard!!
For once we’re twins! Happy New Year 🧧🐍!
YESS! Hello twin! 😀
Red lipstick IS tough!
Really difficult to find “the one” and reds are way less forgiving than nudes or browns.
Or plums and berries, in my case. Nude lipsticks tend to make me look really unwell…
I’ve given up trying with red. Instead I mostly stick with nudes or a your lips but better. I do have a Lisa Eldridge gloss in Dragon that is my only “red” but I still tone it down.
Same. Most of my lipsticks are nudes, brown or mauve.
It’s the last day of sunshine after a cool and sunny month. Wearing Iris Poudre and making progress on emptying it.
You smell so elegant!
I gave this scent to my friend for a special birthday, and I love it so much. You smell so aldehydic and French 🙂
Aldehydes and French? Now on my Sample This! List. I’d never heard of it before.
I can send you a sample if you would like. Email me at K r is p o n t o (no spaces) at sio dawt Midco dawt net. The dawts are obviously dots.
Kris, you’re making a huge deposit in the Good Karma Bank welcoming me with such kindness! Thank you!!! I sent you the email. Xo
I adore that you’re making progress on emptying it- that’s such a liberating mindset! After resolving to wear fragrance every day (unless a stuffed nose prevents it) I’ve been feeling quite bad as bottles are getting lighter. I’m going to channel your thinking AnnieA!
In my top five! Love it!!!
I wish they can bottle the drydown. I love this fragrance and you smell wonderful!
Iris Poudre is incredibly elegant!
I’m racing by to say that I smell more elegant than I feel in the original Miss Dior.
You do smell elegant. 😊
You definitely smell elegant!
I know that feeling!
Wearing Parfums de Nicolia Number One Intense. Holy crap, is this a beautiful tuberose. It was one of those full bottle blind buys that worked out wonderfully. Will be getting a backup bottle of this. Loving Vienna Blood for my latest binge watch.
What is Vienna Blood about?
It’s a show on PBS but I watch it on Amazon but don’t know if it’s on Netflix. It’s an early 20th century Sherlock Holmes type of thing but in ways better. A detective and psychiatrist figure out homicides in Vienna.
Ooo, that sounds fun. Thanks for the rec!
Intrigued by your brief description of PdN Number One Intense. 🤔
I kind of am too, but I haven’t tried anything from that perfume house that has worked for me.
Plenty of places where I could get a sample. PdN’s manufacturer samples are pretty darn nice.
If you do, tell us how you like it.
Maybe I will give it a shot, I need a new show.
Smoke for the Soul. Mysterious?
Meeting up with a potential new pup today. Little nervous. This transpired in less than a week.
🐶🐶
I was just reading a NYT article on Seuk Kim, the doggie rescue pilot!
Loads of excitement for you today! Hope it goes/went well.
I wore Irisss this morning just because I hadn’t put it on for a few days. I am currently in a tight 6 scent rotation which is serving me well, enough variation, no complications…vintage Dune, Irisss, Les Liturgy des Heures, Mon Precieux Nectar, Seville a l’Aube, Tam Dao….
“Irisss” totally sounds snakey!
i am channeling mystery and elegance with Mitsouko EdT, it siots me better than the EdP. it took a while to „get“ the scent, but now i like it a lot, although the peach is slightly bitter on my skin, but maybe that it what is appealing to me….
Good one!
I plan to wear the EDP version on Friday. Easy choice for mystery, since the name literally means “mystery”.
Mitsouko is definitely not for perfume beginners! But I think it smells amazing.
Wearing CdG Daphne for some mysterious elegance…
Check!
Frozen cherries and yogurt smoothie
Reached for Histoire d’Eau this morning, it’s almost as elegant as Bottega Veneta but not quite. Tonight it’s Berdoues Vanira Moorea, I adore this scent which is underrated, nice longevity too, I also have a little bottle of PdM Oriana in this genre which is sweeter but not in an annoying way I find but possibly not as well balanced. Had a little chip in a tooth repaired at the dentist this afternoon but didn’t need anesthesia for it, so it feels very comfortable to eat tonight.
I’ve always thought that Oriana was a dupe for Kilian Love don’t be shy!
The three of them are in the same ballpark but VM is never talked about usually, also Memo Sintra IIRC.
Good to hear that your chipped tooth was easily dealt with!
Thank you Jalapeno, I was so pleasantly surprised.
I’m back in my new (sample of) Amouage Reasons today, taking “reasons” to be at least closely related to Wisdom. I can’t seem to get enough of this scent, which is strangely calming. It’s got a boatload of notes including several kinds of incense and resins, benzoin and sandalwood, and hazelnut, plus palo Santo–but it’s a very very quiet fragrance. Meditative, even.
In other news, I had my first class of a new short course I’m taking on the art and culture of India–wow–it was excellent but the subject is going to be so complex! All of the stories, religions, gods, and the multiple aspects of the deities, poems, holidays, lore, battles…. I know I will learn a lot but it’s only going to scratch the surface.
You make me want to try Reasons!
Is the class theoretical or do you learn or enhance a skill?
It’s more art historical, not a hands-on class. I have already been inspired to buy some books from Amazon like the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita. I am lamentably ignorant about most aspects of Hindu religion/theology and you just need to know a lot about that to grasp what’s going on in the art and architecture. But it’s so complicated: a god like Vishnu has numerous avatars and looks different in the different ones, and so on. I’d like to visit India sometime but that’s not very likely at my age and stage of poor mobility. The instructor has been there numerous times and seems to have her own photographer who was also in class and the photos are all really beautiful! I posted a few on my Instagram, but those were mainly sort of pop culture illustrations of some of the main stories from one of the big poems, the Mahabharata (young women having visions of divine golden gods, omg, it was so Bollywood looking!).
If you visit an Amouage counter, try all three of the new Essences, because they are all sort of related and some people prefer the other ones, but Reasons is still my favorite.
Keep us posted on what you learn! I enjoyed this description. Love living vicariously through all of you here on NST
SOTD = Guerlain Rouge Bonheur
… in the special for the 2025 Year of the Snek (Snake) bottle, with an elegantly coiled snake around the middle third of the bottle. The juice smells like a more refined version of Ginger Piccante 🫚 at 6.5 times the cost of the original. I admit to buying it for the bottle because RED 🧧and SNAKE 🐍. Does anyone have any questions? 🤣
In other news, in my quest to keep organizing, here’s an article on organizing!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/well/decluttering-small-projects.html?unlocked_article_code=1.s04.3Qan.taDCGSlHKeXw&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
That bottle…stunning! 🤩
I am loving it myself! Part of me wants to display it all.the.time!
Wow! The bottle is fantastic, enjoy!
Thank you! It is quite different from anything I’ve owned previously.
I don’t see a link for a picture of the bottle.
Oy! I will need to rectify. I must have been so excited to post it and forgot to link to it!
Kris, I just went back a couple of days where hajusuuri posted an Insta link and paged thru the images.
Guerlain does red bottles SO well.
Yes, they do. This one was super expensive in my book.
Okay. I will go back a few days. Thanks.
That bottle is stunning!!
And thanks for the article, it’s so approachable. And there are some words of wisdom in the comments too.
Thanks. I’m organization, I really should practice it!
Wow! That bottle is beautiful!
Thank you!
Here’s the link:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFbNgD1xKO0/?igsh=MTBmb21ncmozM2c4cw==
I’m in OJ Woman for mystery today. Yesterday I went with L de Lolita Lempicka for charm (a charming fragrance and bottle AND the bottle has a charm on it), and Monday it was PG Louanges Profanes for patience because I patiently waited years to buy a bottle after I finished a decant
Nice choices! I agree about OJ Woman and mystery. It’s got a unique, sort of lost-in-a-forest mystery to it.
Yeah, I don’t know how they did it, but this perfume is the embodiment of “mysterious forest”.
There’s been a fair amount of love for OJ Woman here lately.
Hello! Hope everyone is well 🌹
I have been wearing quite a bit of Hypnotic Poison this week and will likely grab it again today.
Have a wonderful day!
Perfume monogamy streaks can be a lot of fun. Sounds like you are enjoying yours!
Hi Omega, you are smelling great.
My bedtime scent is Hermès Iris Ukiyoé, and I find it charming and elegant.
Then you get double the points!
I’m in Lush Silky Underwear today. To me it falls under the category of charming, despite the name.
Are you wearing the perfume or the dusting powder?
The perfume today, but I do also have the powder.
Nice!
You smell great! One of my faves 🙂
Gong xi fa cai, NST!
I’ve come up with a list of songs to match some of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. Feel free to add your own!
Union of the Snake — Duran Duran
Horse with No Name — America
Shock the Monkey — Peter Gabriel
Rooster — Alice in Chains
Atomic Dog — George Clinton
Eye of the Tiger — Survivor
SOTD = commando in the perfume department.
But wearing a bit of Satsuma Body Butter from The Body Shop. I have a travel size that I got pre-pandemic. When I was dealing with my Mom going into assisted living (and all the other stuff along with it), I had it in my travel kit. I couldn’t bear to wear it after she passed away. However, in the last couple of months, I was able to use it every so often. It’s very close to getting thunked now.
That is one great song match list jalapeno!
Thanks!
What a fun list! I’m no help though, I could only think of Puff the Magic Dragon for dragons… not cool at all. And for the life of me, I don’t think I can come up with a song for rats. 😆 Is there a song mentioning Pied Piper?!
Hey, I like “Puff the Magic Dragon”! Onto the list it goes.
And it’s not as squeaky clean a song as one would think. I’ve heard rumors that it references a certain “herb”.
The Walkmen The Rat
The Who Ox
Not familiar with either of these songs. Thanks Glannys!
I’m not familiar with that The Who song but The Rat is so good. I was fortunate to see The Walkmen twice in concert right at the time that song was released.
That is an awesome list! Very creative.
Thank you Gail!
Jefferson Airplane White Rabbit!
Oooooooooooooh, good one Robin!
Happy New Year to you, jalapeño!
I’m working late tonight and feeling pretty tired.
I’m wearing Shalimar EDC because it called my name. It smells extra lemony on me today. Maybe because I am being a bit of a sour puss. Lol.
Glad you get the lemon. When I’ve worn it, I get something kinda sharp and medicinal. Right now my bottle is in a purgatory box 😙
We are all allowed to be a sour puss on occasion.
Hope you keep feeling better.
Sometimes all a person can do is “just keep truckin’ on”. Nice to find a perfume that fits the mood, isn’t it?
Hope you had a good night and feel less tired, January is the tired month for sure, Shalimar EDC is lovely.
Mmmm good!
Nikki de Saint Phalle today, for the gorgeous snakes on the cap.
Another long work day. Watched a few more episodes of The Diplomat last night, but otherwise nothing interesting to report.
Oh, Daniel reminded me of my bottle of Bois des Iles parfum. I bought it used 2/3 full but I CANNOT for the life of me get the cap off. Don’t want to damage or break the bottle (such precious juice!) Any tips?
Excellent pick with NdSP!
I think some NSTers have had success in getting parfum bottles unstuck by putting them in the freezer for a bit. I don’t recall the details though.
I’ve been anxious since my medical procedure late last week and in some discomfort recovering from it. I finally received the lab report last night. And with the help of Google (since I had not heard from my doctor), I deciphered it and deduced that I’m ok, phew! I also figured if it was anything serious, my doctor would’ve reached out before I’m left to read the lab report myself, or you would think!
I reached for Sunshine Woman this morning, it works so nicely in the cold for me. And although I only have a decant, the bright yellow of the actual bottle seems auspicious for the lunar new year.
Yeah, usually doctors will get in touch with you if something is Not Good in your lab report.
Hope your healing is uneventful from here on out!
Glad you got your answers and it was good news. There are enough nurses and doctors on here that would have been able to figure out your results, but sounds like you were able to do it on your own.
Jalapeno is right that in most cases if something was abnormal, the physician would have contacted you. Hopefully, your anxiety will go down a bit now.
Glad things are OK. I’m with you, just a quick call to say ‘everything is good’ would help calm down unnecessary added stress. I’m sure most people would appreciate it.
I’m glad you are ok!
So glad your medical results are fine.