Happy Almost-Friday! Also, National Croissant Day, and the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. What fragrance are you wearing?
Today: charm, in Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li.
Reminder: on 1/31, we'll honor the Lunar New Year (which started yesterday) 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 Ahaetulla prasina, Oriental whipsnake - Kaeng Krachan National Park [cropped] by Rushen at flickr; some rights reserved.
My SOTD is Diptyque Eau Lente for Patience – because it means “slow water”. And, you know, there is something unhurried about this perfume – burning resins and spices slowly filling a room with their aroma. Also, while I love the blast of spices in the opening, my favorite part comes after waiting a little for that sweet, resinous drydown.
Excellent call Glannys!
This is one of my favorite Diptyques and a perfect pick for patience.
Same for me. The other favorites are Tam Dao and Eau Duelle. What are yours?
Wearing a more recent version of Obsession today. I have a full bottle of Obsession that is at least 27 years old but wasn’t up for anything vintage today.
The old one must be so different! It has kept well?
Obsession seems to keep well. The newer version seems a little lighter but still smells like Obsession.
I have an old bottle of Obsession Sheer that seems to have kept very well. I suppose there might be tiny differences from when it was brand new, but I’m very happy with it!
Agreeing with Dawn that the current version of Obsession is recognizable.
Going literal again with Taklamakan. In SW China, this desert is known as the Sea of Death, and is home to the Desert Horned Viper. They look like some kind of magical beast out of a fantasy book. The perfume itself is much more approachable! 🙃
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/horned-snake.htm
Very cool looking snake! So long as I don’t meet it in person!
Very clever!
And thanks for the links. All the snakes look very cool, but Matilda’s Horned Viper has amazing green eyes – like precious stones.
Just googled them. The eyes! Very dragonesque looking snake! 🐲
I’m in Dzing! It’s so cold out, and we’ve been working outside most of the morning. How many days till spring????
49 days til the equinox, 30 days til meteorological spring 🙂
30 days-and not all of then with be bitterly cold, with high wind and snow. Altho that’s what we’re in for for the next week 🙂 Thank you for the update, Robin-and I love your SOTD. I’ve only tried the body wash, as a sample, but I love it.
love your choice, this is such a funny scent
I’ve told this story on here before so I won’t again, but I was full-on guffawed at by a Bloomie’s l’AP SA once when I said Dzing! was my favorite. (He was funny, not really mean.) Still cracks me up
But you are super-bad ’cause you tough it out, right? Ha – that’s what I tell myself, but I’m counting the days, too!
Finding patience, elegance, and charm in vintage Nuit de Noel from Caron. Maybe a bit of wisdom, too.
Oh, I would think all of those things!
Today is my oak for wisdom day and following some of you yesterday, I am wearing Chene, with a bit of Poivre Samarcande at my wrists.
Somehow I have managed to get sick again with another respiratory virus after being quite sick over Christmas with almost the same thing. COVID tests have been negative both times. I’m okay, but feeling really exhausted–I don’t think I have ever been sick right away again like this. And this time I wasn’t even with the grandkids beforehand! So, although I am wearing the oak for wisdom, I am also thinking of the patience of the slow growing oak tree as I am trying not to be impatient with myself while recovering.
Oh no, I’m very sorry. I hope you can rest a lot and drink plenty of fluids, and recover fully and soon.
I’m so sorry to hear you’re feeling crummy again. Wishing you lots of rest and a very speedy recovery💐
i hope you get some rest and lots of hot tea!
Get well soon!
Feel better soon!
So sorry for your bad luck with this.
That’s rotten luck. Hope you can snuggle down and recover.
Thanks, everyone. I’m trying to not to complain all day at home so instead I complained to you!
Get well soon! Could it be influenza?
Maaaaybe. But no aches or fever. Just scratchy throat, terrible congestion, cough and tired.
Sorry about feeling crummy cruddy again! It has more to do with acne but I wonder if you can change your pillowcase and blanket (whatever you use to keep you warm) more frequently?
I washed EVERYTHING last time…
Oh what a shame, springpansy, I’m so sorry. Give yourself plenty of time.
O no!
Rest up. I had something like that for about three weeks on December. The congestion and no energy. Nyquil was a bit of a relief at the third week.
💗
Oh yuck! No bueno, getting sick again. There’s a nasty strain of flu going around, plus RSV. Hope it isn’t either one of those.
Are you going back to the Dr? Maybe he can give you antibiotics.
Thanks lillyjo – if I get better in the next few days I don’t think there is anything they can do for me, so not planning to go in. I know you’ve been sick as well — glad you are doing better!
Wishing you a speedy recovery. So many people I know have been sick recently
According to some random online Chinese Astrological site, I am a friendly Water Snake person, which is consistent with my watery European astrological Pisces sign and tracks with the Welsh name my momma gave me which is more or less “beautiful messenger from the western sea” in English. Apropo of nothing, I think of myself as a scientist much more than an intuitive, in spite of all these suggestions to the contrary. SOTD today the lovely churchy incense Les Liturgury des Heures just because it came up in rotation. We have chilly blazing sunny weather here in Michigan today. I sorted out various doctor’s appointments over the next couple months, knitted a few rows on the cozy socks I am working on, ate a couple Triscuits with butter for a snack, and am now going to take a little nap in the sunshine. Then I will cook up a pot of chicken pot pie filling/soup and maybe some spicy mung bean dal. Cold weather makes me hungry! February, Valentine’s Day, and more hours of light are creeping up! What a relief!
Ah, I hear you on the much-welcome longer days. Also having a hearty appetite in the winter…
I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday, to say that I love the scents you have in your rotation. Quite a few gems and a nice variety in the batch!
Also, I did finish knitting my first pair of socks and gifted them to my son for Christmas. He quite likes them and wears them around the house. I think I’ve caught the sock knitting bug but want to try another pattern, the one I used had a couple of either mistakes or very mis-worded lines. Do you have a favorite pattern?
I do dead simple toe up socks. Fish lips heels. Whatever pretty colored yarn, simple stockinette rounds. Anything complicated, I don’t finish them. 🙂
We used to recommend a couple of Ann Norling patterns for sock knitters of various ambition levels. If I remember correctly they may have been written for various weights of yarn as well as various sizes. They’re available on Ravelry (which if you haven’t already been sucked into it, don’t say I didn’t warn you). It’s the most fun rabbit hole to fall down ever, aside from perfume, of course. You do have to join it but it’s free and the only time you ever get an email from them is if a pattern you have purchased and stored in your Ravelry gets a correction or update.
In your Ravelry library, that is
Chicken pot pie is a Winter favorite with me!
It is adorable hubbie’s favorite thing!
This is a nice post. Reminds me to count all the little things that make up a day. And you smell wonderful!
I am making an effort to attend to daily pleasures!
I’ve noticed the longer days, too. Makes me feel better seeing the sun set later!
Yes it does!
The spicy mung beans dal is a big hit! I put in an extra Serrano pepper for zip! And adorable hubby announced, “That started really good.” It’s nice to be appreciated. I think it will be good with wild rice.
Wearing Dia for another dia in the office. Thanks to the nice comments yesterday, I know I can be Elegant tomorrow in Iris Poudre…
You will be!
I love the beautiful green of the snake above, Robin! Much as I don’t particularly love snakes in person, it’s really good photo.
I’m going for patience today in Apartment’s Please Wait Here. Besides the name, I got this in South Africa, which was a trip I had to reschedule twice in two years due to COVID. It was worth the wait.
Hi ockeghem, if you’re still interested in some Lush Ginger, feel free to reach out. No spaces, g a i l s 7 1 8 6 in the land of gee male.
I think you may have missed my previous comment about a week ago?
Thanks, Gail! I think I responded to your comment but very late in the day. I will send an email!
Excellent call for patience, and I love that name!
Going with Shalimar today. I have had an unopened bottle at the back of the perfume cabinet forever, so why not open it today? Have not worn in years and years.
For those who asked, I did finish A Little Life. I don’t think I would recommend it to anyone. Not because of its’ length and triggering content for some, but because the ending was flat and unsatifactory to me. But that’s me.
We have a trip and tickets to Thailand! Yay! Nothing makes me happier than a planned trip…except maybe Botox day.
Thanks for commenting on the book. It will remain on my shelf for a while.
How exciting! That will be fun to dream about 🌹
Trips and Botox day. Lol.
You make me smile. (Not too much-the wrinks)
Congrats on your upcoming trip!
Congrats on your upcoming trip! I would love to make it back there someday.
Sotd: Infiniment Coty’s Encore Une Fois.
Went to their shop to ask for a sample, wore it for a few days, then caved in and bought a full bottle.
Lovely, airy, slightly sweet, rum-inflected vanilla on an ambery base, with ridiculously impressive longevity (all day). Swoon-worthy!
Your sotd sounds lovely.
This does sound lovely!
That’s a beautiful snake photo! New Zealand has no snakes and we’re very careful not to let any in, so I’ve only seen snakes in overseas zoos. They are completely fascinating from a safe distance 🙂 .
I’m following some of yesterday’s commenters down the mystery path with Ormond Jayne Woman.
You smell fabulously mysterious in OJ Woman!
No snakes is one of New Zealand’s many selling points in my book! Can’t wait to visit, hopefully later this year.
Yes, OJ Woman for mystery – why didn’t I think of that?
Wearing Le Labo Patchouli 24 for a patient, contemplative vibe.
Oh, that’s a great choice!
Wow, I find that one a little bit disturbing, with that smoked rubber note–though I do love it. I’d say it goes better in my experience with mystery.
That’s so you.💗
i went for mystery and i think Dryad fits the theme just fine.
Oh, twinning with you today! I was thinking elegance…
I think I can eke out a few points in Cruel Gardenia for elegance. Like many of the later versions of L’Art et La Matière scents, it to me is airy and thin and wears best if worn regularly over several days. But while I get nothing like a fresh gardenia’s scent, CG does evoke the beauty of the velvet petals and dark shiny greenery. I’m behind on comments because I was absorbed this week in getting a mobile phone. After online, telephone, and “chat” research, I finally decided to go to a store in person. Happily, there I met a mellow, no rush CSR who answered all my questions. I had to order to get the phone I wanted so I have pleasant anticipation for a few days.
Yay, glad you found the phone you wanted! I am going to need a new one soon and I am not looking forward to it.
Wearing Azuree today. For me, this fits patience and maybe a bit of mystery.
The OG Azuree is so good!
I’m wearing Egoist, inspired by ringthing, who wore it yesterday. I feel very indecisive lately and must just spritz something on, or else I could go until evening trying to choose a scent!
You smell wonderful, of course.
We don’t have snakes in NZ , though once in a while a sea snake may wash up on the beach or a stowaway snake in a container from somewhere. I can remember being overjoyed as a kid when I saw my first snakes in Canada ( garter snakes probably) and heard rattles near Kamloops . The prettiest snake I ever saw in the wild was an adder in Germany. It was so beautiful. I think there’s only about 7 or 8 places in the world that don’t have snakes ( Hawaii and Alaska included). Wearing remains of Ombré de Merveilles which has a nice tea note for China.
Also, I saw A Complete Unknown. Edward Norton steals the show as Pete Seeger but everyone does a good job, and it’s a nice, straightforward biopic for lovers of brown clothing. Worth seeing.
I’m impressed at how well the actors performed the songs in A Complete Unknown. It is hard enough to do a long-form impression without sounding like a caricature, but getting the singing just right is another level.
Brown is having a moment in fashion these days.
At my age, I welcome it’s return. I had some great brown clothes in the 70s.
I’ve got D’Orsay Tonka Hysteria on one wrist and Rosendo Mateu No 5 on the other and they are quite close TH leans more into the tonka and benzoin, RM5 leans more into the floral notes, but they are 85% similar with their ambery-spicy-vanilla notes. TH feels heavier/thicker. RM5 is far from a watercolor style frag, but it is certainly lighter feeling than the TH.
I have a phobia of snakes, so this is going to be a tough year. I was full on yelling at my Alexa/Echo this morning to turn off a video about snakes that came up after today’s Animal Of The Day video about macaroni penguins. And I guess I wasn’t using the right commands because it just kept turning back on. SkyNet is going to use my fears against me 😂
Tea today is a blend of Fortnum and Mason afternoon tea and irish breakfast.
I have no fear of snakes but I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen it in the wild. In any case, it’s probably because I am sheltered … who knows what I will do if I end up encountering one “in the wild” …
I came across a snake “in the wild” as a kid while hiking once. I screamed “SNAKE” at the top of my lungs and jumped away. The snake slithered away as fast as it could.
I guess we scared each other. Have no idea what kind it was.
I’m going out for lunch yesterday at a favorite Chinese restaurant. I love to see all the colorful holiday decorations.
My SOTD is Amoureuse which is my choice for the trait of elegance. It’s something of a heavy hitter in terms of the honey department (maybe more than it used to be? My bottle is at least 10 years old), but I still feel like a proper lady in it.
I don’t know how I said “yesterday” up there when I meant “today.” My mind is on other things sometimes when I type, I guess.
On the snakes topic, we’ve got them aplenty in Texas and some are poisonous. I remember once walking on a wooden raised path in a swampy ares in a bird refuge in Galveston with my mom and dad and we came around a bend to see a giant coppermouth on the path in front of us. It even opened its mouth to show us the fangs and white interior. It was enormous, the size of a small tree branch. We quickly gave up that plan and retreated. All the parks down there have big signs that say “Keep pets on a leash and watch your children.”
I liked the idea of changing what you did for lunch yesterday!!! If only.
That’s sort of funny, my worst snake encounter was likewise on a wooden raised path in a swampy area, but closer to New Orleans. Did not get all that near the snake but almost died of a heart attack 🙂
Do you usually eat lunch outside of your home? I see IG pics of your scrumptious meals, not that the ones you make aren’t equally good!
It seems I do, though I never made a resolution to do so. I often feel somewhat penned up at home and I want to get out somewhere with a bit of life to it. I have a sort of circle of my regular places and since I generally go at around 2:30, they’re not crowded and I can sit with my laptop and so some work and some reading. I’ve wound up at my neighborhood Vietnamese place today and am very much enjoying a huge bowl of egg noodles topped with jumbo shrimp. You will see it on Instagram soon! I seem less interested cooking than I used to be, though I do still try to make myself a nice meal every once in a while at least!
I am going with Rose of No Man’s Land today. I find it to be charming.
I love it also, Kris.
You don’t hear about it much anymore. I actually received a bottle from a kind NSTer and I really like it.
It was in the Neiman Marcus advent calendar in 2023, so I have a cute small bottle of it. It is a very nice rose, I have to say.
I have a bunch of Byredo samples around here. Saw them recently when I was looking for something else, of course.
Sotd Abel Laundry Day, inspired by throwing open windows on first day of spring and hanging billowing lines of laundry to dry in the sun. Not at all Wood Snakey, but it felt right today. Always feel uplifted by the scent!
I love that feeling, you describe it so well. Where is Abel available?
Thank you ringthing. The website is us.abelfragrance.com.
From their blog on Laundry Day: Laundry Day was dreamed up on a dark Parisian day, when Abel’s founder tasked their master perfumer with bottling the optimism and energy of spring. The brief was to capture that first day of the season when you throw open your windows, inhale the aroma of freshly cut grass, and take joy in the ritual of hanging your sheets on the line, knowing they’ll dry crisp and fresh. Laundry Day is a metaphor for all that is possible in the change of seasons.”
Lovely, thank you.
Just adding that indigoperfumery.com also sells Abel and has Laundry Day. They have excellent customer service.
Thanks springpansy! I signed up for alerts.
Gotta go with the perfume that moves you.
So true! Although that part of me that’s waste not want not thinks I should use up all my samples even if I’m not in love with them. For example, I got sent really nice samples of Oribe Desertland (mehhh) and Valley of Flowers (🌺) in spray dispensers unasked for. I keep think I should rotate it in to not waste it.
SOTD = Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme
One of my first Atelier Cologne purchases and I still love it! 😍
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFdqQLqRv2f/?igsh=MTZpanh4aTVyams0Mg==
Did I mention I bought a set of Lego and it came with a “free” Valentine’s Day item? I may need to start with this as it is smaller and doesn’t look as complex as the main set! The main set is the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana (seriously, not a joke) which is found in Pennsylvania.
Smelling great in my favorite Atelier Cologne perfume! 😉😻
Are you building the Lego set?
Take a pic when it’s finished.
That sounds incredible! I’m with lillyjo – please take a photo of your work!
Frozen raspberries and yogurt smoothie
Today I chose Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 9, a fruity chypre I really like a lot apparently because I have only a quarter left in the bottle, it was discontinued several years ago but I have a bub, so I don’t have to save it, I will finish it this year probably. Tonight it’s Molton Brown Rosa Absolute which I call POAL light. I realize that these two choices were British, well, our ecneeds it.
*economy
POAL light. Lol
That particular MB perfume was gone in a flash.
Yes, a mystery as it seemed so well loved.
I took my mom for a haircut today, she was so happy! I put it off last week bcs of the weather and we were rewarded with sunshine and 44F.
I’m wearing two sprays of Montale Black Aoud, one on each wrist, that I put on when I got home and my husband smelled as soon as he came in the door. My CP tie is wisdom, in that I did not wear it to the salon lol.
Yay! Good to hear you could get your Mom over to the salon today.
Love that you love your mom.
Them Montales, I wore the Patchouli to the nursing home daily. Mom loved it, though.
I’m glad it was a good day for a haircut and outing.
Cool looking snake pic today Robin. Although I would not want to be near ANY snake in that posture. It could strike at any second…
Hoping for more snow sometime in the future. None for me this morning. The drought monitor is looking better in most of Colorado, but there is a persistent nasty area up in the northern part of the state which extends into Wyoming. Every little bit helps!
SOTD = Samsara EdP, in that gorgeous red bottle from circa 2010. I’ll say it matches up with wisdom, since I got it while the getting was good. Also, sandalwood! My only minor gripe would be not getting the 100mL bottle.
Samsara!
You found gold. Love, love love that!
Wish for snow for you! You missed it here. Did you ever catch Haven? I think of you with The Colorado Kid. (No spoilers, please!)
And Britney would don any 🐍. Am I the only one dumb enough to have no fear of snakes?
Never saw Haven, so I can’t spoil it for you, LOL!
This January has been snowier than January 2024 was. Which is a Very Good Thing. Could do without the Polar Vortex paying me a visit, though.
Snakes belong out in the environment. I don’t mind them there. And most of the ones here are harmless. But rattlesnakes do live in Colorado.
Haven is fun! You might want to try it.
Polar Vortex has been a trip. 🥶
I love that red bottle.
I recently tried the newest version on a tester strip. I thought it was definitely recognizable.
Good to hear that the current Samsara is decent.
Was the bottle you tested from the Bee bottle, or the L’HB/Mitsouko type bottle?
This project actually made me remember and miss Samsara. I agree it is primarily wisdom, but also elegance, charm and mystery, in my opinion. Yesterday I ordered a 5 ml decant of vintage EDP. The seller did not list the year, but based on their picture of the bottle (transparent, golden ring, golden-red cap) possibly the 1990s? Looking forward to sniffing it.
The clear “coffin” bottle was the original one for the EdT and EdP back in 1989. I remember when it came out in department stores back then.
Yes, I already read on Raiders of the Lost Scent that it is a “first series” bottle. Pretty cool!
Myrrh 55? I can’t keep track of the numbers. For wisdom.
The woman flaked an hour before the meet up for our dogs (and me). A longer story, but this weekend I waited around for the people to meet anytime, any day.
I backed out, cried a little and am keeping my eyes on the shelters.
Aww AP I’m sorry. I think the shelters are a good idea.
Thanks, lillyjo.
I wasn’t even planning on another.
Well crap. That sucks.
Good luck with the shelter search.
It does suck! I’m just keeping my eyes out for her.
I can’t right now. 😢
It was fake spring here today. I think it got to 45 degrees. To match the weather I went with Dame Passion Fruit, Orange Blossom and Vetiver. It reminds me of early spring before it smells green. When it’s just snow and twigs and dirt but with a whiff of sun and hope.
🤣🤣🤣 at “fake spring”! But I know you were enjoying it. 🌞
I’m here for the Real Winter. 😆
You sound spring-y. And Dame reminds me of PL67. 💗
Pre-spring?
RIP Marianne Faithfull. They were playing her on the radio earlier today and now I know why 🙁
Just saw it, too.
Bois des Iles today, because I ran into a purse spray in a random spot (not my perfume cabinet), and it was mentioned yesterday. I still have to get my parfum bottle open. Will try the freezer trick in a few days.
My thermostat has been set to the usual temp (68F, what I set it to in winter), but it’s felt super cold even so (I know the thermostat is working). Now I’m holed up in my bedroom with space heater running, so I can crank up the heat to super toasty.