It's Tuesday and National Drink Wine Day. Birthdays: John Travolta, Yoko Ono, Paco Rabanne, Toni Morrison, Louis Comfort Tiffany.
I'm in Arielle Shoshana Friday, and drinking a cup of Harney Kukicha.
Reminder: 2/21 will be Bucket List Friday...think of a place you'd like to go or a thing you'd like to do or something you'd like to accomplish, and wear the right fragrance for the experience.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2025, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: the Upplaga teapot from Ikea ("The soft ruffled edge makes this series stand out. It is made of porcelain and has a rural, rustic design. Go wholeheartedly all-in for the tradition – or mix and match UPPLAGA with other porcelain) is $25.
Parfum de Therese, Malle
I have tried almost alle Malle fragrances, but not that one. I may go to my favorite perfume store and give it a sniff these days.
Drink Wine Day you say? Hmmmmm. 😉
SOTM is Ambre Russe. Yesterday morning I encountered something new and unpleasant with some current-version Bel Ami — a true bug-spray note. Never had that happen before with that scent, and I’m hoping it was my nose and temporary. Yech.
And for the tea aficionados out there, do you ever get oily bubbles on the surface of a freshly brewed cup of darjeeling? I used loose-leaf tea from a previously unopened (but somewhat old) bag, the water here is about as far from hard as one can get, and I’ve used this brand of tea (Murchie’s Margaret’s Hope) for decades and never noticed the oil phenomenon before. The tea tasted normal, but I’m curious to know why, what, how, etc.
I say spray more. I know people look at me like I have 5 heads but this was my experience with Chergui and I ended up loving it (with more sprays).
I think the number of sprays does impact the overall scent. My experience with this phenomena was Shalimar MT. I really enjoy one or two sprays so one day I did 6. It was a mistake, because it definitely went to the masculine side of the olfactory experience. Nothing wrong with that if that’s what you’re looking for but it was NOT what I was after.
For me this goes for aldehydes. I love Chanel n.5 when sprayed sparingly, but if I do more than 2-3 sprays it becomes too much.
https://teaepicure.com/oil-on-surface-of-tea/
I think oil on tea is pretty common
Ah, I see — looks like the method used for drying/curing the tea leaves prior to bagging and sale has something to do with it. I wonder if the Margaret’s Hope farm has changed their process. Or maybe I just never paid attention before. Thanks for the link!
I will have to pay attention the next time I brew loose tea and see if anything I have produces a slick.
One bucket list thing for me is an Alaskan cruise. The perfume that would be good with it would be Zoologist Penguin, but I recently got a sample and I don’t like it. I was looking forward to the Arctic air accord but all I smell is very loud ozone that seemed to get louder until I had to scrub it.
So no CP for me today, wearing Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights again for the cold weather. At least the sun is shining but I am in full hibernation mode.
Never tried Penguin so the ozone in this one is unfamiliar to me but I bet it’s the dreaded calone 😠. Anyway, I took an Alaskan cruise about 8 or so years ago and spent time in Vancouver before embarkation. I met up with AnnieA and two others who used to post here. I brought with me and wore Eau des Merveilles Bleue and No.5 L’Eau; both were excellent.
Calone, yes. Just too much.
Your cruise sounds like it was fun!
Hope you can go while the glaciers are still there!
Ha – I also want to do a type of Alaskan “cruise”, but a bit different than yours!
Yes and I like the sound of yours! My parents used to go to Alaska every summer and stay in Haines. My mother would fly and meet my father, who would drive all that way, at the ferry. I always wanted to go but it never worked out.
I went on a cruise along the inside passage departing from Vancouver back in the 80’s with my mom and a group she was hosting. 2 weeks long and the sights were amazing! Cruising is not really for me but I loved the scenery and wild life I saw. Also, saw very disturbing things such as the cruise line was throwing overboard bags and bags of garbage. The next spring the Exxon Valdez happened and I cried like a baby at the destruction it caused.
Hello.
Sotd is Lipstick Rose.
Saw this article about Egyptian mummies’ smell. Pretty interesting. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr0ypp84x9o
Interesting article.
Cool article, thanks
Neat article!
Oh, I’m just reading yesterday’s comments now but we were twins in Lipstick Rose. 😀
Wore Casablanca to get my eyes checked. Gotta get new glasses before The Trip (TM)! LOL!
I’ve got my eye check on Thurs. I am trying a new optometrist. I really want to get daily contacts, but gave up after trying for months last year–none of them fit right and I’m wondering if it was actually the prescription and not the contacts!
I was wearing contacts one day in a biochem lab when I got acetic acids fumes- it cooked the contacts to my corneas! They fell off after a couple days, but no more contacts for this science nerd! I have bad astigmatisms and wearing the contacts helped that. I around for the best doctor in your area and then get several different brands of contacts made with your prescription -it can make a big difference. Also the washing solutions sometimes make a difference – I remember there was one that was much more comfortable than the rest for me! Good luck!
Yes, tried several brands last year. I will try one more time! Thx.
I switched from monthly to daily contacts because I thought they were healthier for my eyes. I tried different brand but couldn’t find any that would be comfortable for wearing the whole day. Then I went back to monthly ones. They just work much better for me (I change them after 25 days approx.)
Interesting, thanks. I stayed with my monthly contacts last year but change them every two weeks. Maybe I will just stick with that if my new trials don’t work out.
I used to wear contacts in college. An outbreak of pinkeye in the dorm put an end to that. Plus lots of chemistry courses.
Chem labs result in all sorts of little behavioral modifications! 🙂
Oh yeah. Like avoiding synthetic fibers for safety’s sake… 😬
Yes, exactly, fire retardant fake flannel-I get hives just thinking about it. 🙂 or slimey feeling imitation silk that causes my skin to start oozing a protective layer of oil as soon as it touches my back! Ugh!
Sotd- Simone Andreoli Malibu Party in the Bay for Zoom w CPA.
Ironic, I know #FireBrain lingers.
Background music: In honor of KT’s birthday, Staying Alive.
Good soundtrack for the day!
That teapot is lovely in its simplicity and its price point!
Wearing Ummagumma today to run some errands as it’s cool and cloudy. When I spray, I’m belting out (in my head) Whitney Houston’s “I will always love youuuuu!” 😜
Slept my Monday away and now feeling human again. Just like a 10 year old kid, I had a dream about my new bike last night, which absolutely delighted me (the dream and the bike). Ordered a book on entitled, “I have Never Minded the Lonliness: Hermits and their Stories.” It’s a compilation of 20 or so stories about these folks and I’m wondering if any of them were women? Anyway, looking forward to reading about my spirit sisters and brothers. ☺️
That sounds like an interesting read.
I don’t know if you saw my comment on the weekend poll but I got a sample of UmmaGumma during the Luckyscent sale because of your love for it. Now I see what you mean, it is gorgeous.
Yay! I’m always happy to enable! Ummagumma is fantastic from beginning to end. I’m so happy you’re enjoying it. ☺️ The book was a rec from another “hermit” type so I know little about it other than most of the bios are set here in the US. Very much looking forward to reading it.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/may/15/buddhist-retreat-religion-first-person?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I remember reading about this nun who left a monastery to live in a cave for 12 years
Thought of this song after reading your post: https://youtu.be/OQik6WpwRug
Lovestosmellgood, I got Onyx Storm from the library and I remembered you had some reservations about it. Is it worth my time to read?
I am wearing Zoologist Civet today after a dental appointment. The splint is off my teeth and the x-rays show ligaments in position.
Civet is a great scent!
Sound like the dental appointment was a success!
Yay for excellent toothy news! 😁
Ouch! Glad the ligaments are in position and I hope you feel more comfortable now.
I’m glad you received good dental news. Step by step!
Hurray for good news at the dentist!
I’m heading off to the airport shortly to go and visit my mother. I’d hoped to have a chance to see Kanuka, but she has friends visiting – next time!
I’m taking a few travel sprays and some new samples, so I’ll have plenty to sniff. I’m wearing Scherrer 2 today, just a light spray for the flight, it’s a powerful perfume.
I hope you have a great trip and don’t get off-loaded ( as has happened with two flights this week, due to heavy planes)
Another cold, cold day but the sun is out🌞
SOTD is Indochine after showering with Lush Sticky Dates and slathering myself in Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream.
Kris, I lost track of posts over the weekend due to my post shift hibernation, but I sure hope everything went well for hubby and he’s home safe and sound now. 🤕
Thanks Deva. I brought him home today. He had a laminectomy and it is quite painful but he also is a bit of a wimp when it comes to pain. I shouldn’t say that. More appropriate is he has a low pain tolerance 😊
Even the name sounds painful, wishing him a speedy recovery.
Back surgery so it is kind of major.
Based on work experience, most men are pretty wimpy. Unless they’re farmers. Farmers are built different. They’re just about dead before they let their wives or family convince them to go to the ER. Full on sepsis, broken bones, chest pain, missing digits…
”On a scale of 1-10, what is your pain level right now?”
“Aw, not too bad.” 😂
Hope for his sake (and yours) his recovery is swift!
🤣🤣🤣 Not a farmer.
Car mechanics are also cut from a similar cloth as farmers.
Had to look that one up. Ouchhhh! Glad he has such a spectacularly layered wife to give him some TLC, Kris!
🤣
Ain’t no sunshine here today! But there were some pretty flurries of snow for quite a while.
https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/features/home/grace-coddington-astier-interview.html
I thought the tea and cat lovers might like this collaboration between astier de villate and former Vogue fashion director Grace Coddington. I actually like the mouse plates best but there’s some cool teapots.
I started a basic introduction to digital photography last night and my homework is to take photos of water using different shutter speeds so I’m planning on walking the dog to a little waterfall not far from home. I’m one of those people who took and enjoyed taking photos using film ( and developing ) but lost interest with the fiddliness and complications of digital as so many images feel “ manufactured” now on a screen rather than the result of “ observation”…if you know what I mean. Like everything, it seems more commodified and Somehow bland. It’s just me, really, the fact that I hate technical , computer-related technology. Wearing Amouage Bracken.
https://www.johnderian.com/collections/grace-coddington-for-astier-de-villatte
Love the mouse plates.
Also loved using film. Maybe I’ll get back to that someday.
Huh. Those are all charming but not tugging at my heartstrings…just as well, can’t afford even a mug 😉
I cannot believe Yoko Ono is 92.
Thought that also when watching SNL 50. Goes so fast.
A weekend of laundry, volunteering and reading and watching Matlock – of all things!
Kind of love Kathy Bates in her role.
Post shower will be Prada. I seem to have a bottle from 2004. It and I are not getting any younger.
I watched the SNL 50 too. I haven’t been a regular viewer in forever but seeing all the former cast members was great. Adam Sandlers song made me tear up and took me down a 90’s cast youtube rabbit hole. I remember the original cast but the late 80s to mid 90’s are my favorite.
Yoko is 92! That made me sit up. Bi really enjoyed the special for SNL even though some of the skits were a bit of a miss for me. Especially loved opening and closing musical acts. Sabrina Carpenter singing Homeward Bound with an aged Paul Simon, after quipping that neither she nor her parents were born when PS sang that song with George Harrison. Then Sir Paul closing with one of my favorite Beatles songs Carry that weight/ Golden Slumbers/ The End. And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make. Amen!
I cannot believe Yoko Ono is 92.
Thought that also when watching SNL 50. Goes so fast.
A weekend of laundry, volunteering and reading and watching Matlock – of all things!
Kind of love Kathy Bates in her role.
Post shower will be Prada. I seem to have a bottle from 2004. It and I are not getting any younger.
I finally caught Kathy Bates in the pilot. Loved the twist. She’s always superb imho.
Hi, all. I missed all last week. We had guests and went on a ski trip to Whistler with them. It was very cold, but beautiful and I managed to conquer my fears and skied acceptably. (Downhill skiing is not my thing, but I like to be part of the group.)
I brought cozy fragrances like Chergui and Indochine and Tea for Two. Today I’m wearing Dzing!
After watching Part I of Persolaise’s recent top 25 perfumes of 2025 on youtube, I’m longing to try Dior Eau Noire. I’m sure I’ll have a longer list by the time I finish all five parts.
A bucket list item: I want to take the ferry that goes from Bellingham WA up through the inland passage and makes stops in Ketchikan, Haines, Juneau, Sitka among others. You camp out on the ferry and meet lots of interesting people. I am working on talking Mr. SP into it. I’d take something like Eau d’Hadrien and Ouarzazate or Zagorsk. Maybe Essential Faith for a soft clean musk.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/28/passage-to-juneau-by-jonathan-raban-lifes-choppier-waters?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Have you ever read Passage to Juneau, by Jonathan Raban? It’s a terrific book, sailing from Seattle to Juneau , with references to Vancouver’s voyages and indigenous navigation but also a fair bit of introspection and family health issues.
Second that, Kanuka.
I have not read that–thank you for the rec!
Gosh, Whistler is my very favorite resort. Great variety of runs for all levels, lovely lovey Canadians, delicious restaurants and night life! I bet you skied way more than acceptable and your friends loved having you on the slopes with them!
We really enjoyed it. And had blue skies on top of all that.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your ski trip!
Great news about your visit with friends and trip together!
Wearing Infusion d’iris today. It’s an easy to wear perfume for work as not to offend anyone.
Me too! (the absolue version anyway)
Frozen cherries and yogurt smoothie
Not much light, typical February in the UK (sigh). So to cheer myself up I took the bottle of Infusion de Mandarine this morning, it’s so juicy and natural with a hint of sweetness in the drydown, I like it even better than Infusion d’iris absolue, somehow the other infusions while some were pretty seemed unimpressive. Tonight it’s Chantal Thomass Osez-moi, a lipstiky kind of scent which reminds me a little of Carita EDP but kind of a younger, less brooding and powdery sister, it’s pretty if not very original. Chantal Thomass scents are still very affordable, the original or ‘black’ is another really good one but the bottles are all similar so it can be difficult to identify, I had ended with a pear scented one by mistake but used it as a room spray.
Infusion de Manderine must be great if it’s better than the Absolute.
It’s perfection, I can’t recommend it enough but if you have some Atelier Colognes they would equally fit the bill.
More snow here this year, so more grey days, too. I hear you.
At least the days are longer.
SOTD = ELDO Fat Electrician
One of the best vetivers, IMHO.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGOkkUeR0KW/?igsh=d2JwdGhvNXhxa2N0
There’s a new offer from Panera Bread re: “unlimited” sips – $99 for 12 months. This comes out to $8.25 + tax per month. I had been averaging 3-4x a week so even if I go once per week, I am still ahead of the game. Now to decide on when to trigger it because my current offer has 9 days left before I get charged $14.95 or somewhere thereabouts.
In other news, I have never paid attention to this but there is a very reasonable membership offer for a gym nearby for age and / or employment status. It is a Senior Community Center but most of the people I see going in are young ones as there are a good number of activities catering to school-aged kids. Anyway, I will take a closer look and decide. Also need to find out how they can verify retirement, esp. for people who are not of age.
I have a Medicare Supplement plan that includes Silver Sneakers. Silver Sneakers gives me a free membership to participating fitness centers. You have to be 65 to qualify.
Good for you! Is there one within a reasonable distance from where you live? Is it portable? I still have a ways to go before hitting the age but it is good to know these programs exist.
I had three different gyms to choose from, all within a 3 mile radius. I don’t know if membership is portable; I have to renew every year and I think I could change gyms at that time if I wanted, but I like where I am.
Looks like a new bottle of Fat Electrician. I often think about buying a bottle and never do. Not sure how much I would wear it.
It only looks new because I hardly ever wear it.
I love vetiver, so I must give Fat Electrician a sniff!
It is very nice!
Fat Electrician was the first vetiver I found full bottle worthy. You’re smelling great!
Thank you!
I’m in Le Labo Iris 39.
I was in Eau de Charlotte today. It’s finally really nice sunny winter weather, cold but at least there’s some light.
On my bucket list: going to some Michelin starred restaurant. I would wear something elegant that wouldn’t interfere with food scents, like FM Une Rose. So that’s my SOTD 🙂
It was a stressful day at work, but group therapy and an evening run helped. Now I am off to bed hoping to get some good sleep!
You smell wonderful. Sleep well!
Had an earlier than usual wake up time this morning due to semi-annual apartment inspection in my building. I was one of the first units this time; things were done before 9:30. Plumbing check, change of batteries in the smoke detectors, and a new filter for the HVAC. Teflon kitty spent most of said inspection hiding behind the couch.
Had blueberry pancakes afterwards. Kodiak makes some pretty good mixes that only require water. Deva has mentioned their stuff before.
SOTD = commando. Just wasn’t feeling perfume today. But I have scented lotion in the usual spots.
We are pancake siblings. I just had buttermilk with extra butter.
Huzzah! 🥞 I had two different kinds of real maple syrup with mine. Might have to get more of the Bourbon Barrel Aged. Not sure I like the Elderberry Infused one.
I need to try that brand of pancakes. I like making a “breakfast type” supper about once a month and it usually involves pancakes or French toast.
Definitely recommend Kodiak. My brother gets the gigantic Costco box. I just get the one for regular mortals.
I have not tried Kodiak…may need to get a mere mortal sized one.
I usually see either the Buttermilk Power Cakes mix or the Blueberry Power Cakes mix where I am at. Haven’t paid attention to other flavors (yet).
I woke up to minus windchill numbers today but the sun was shining. My sotd is Angels Share.
Smelling good Lillyjo!
Courage! This deep freeze can’t last forever. It only feels like it.
You know I just saw an IG ad for Angel’s Share and I don’t recall it being a deeper brown than my bottle. You smell great, of course. I may be inspired to wear this tomorrow!
I’m having a busy week here as I finish my packing and my sight-seeing wish list for my trip to London and Malta, just two weeks away! Although the weather looks tolerable, we planned a museum-heavy trip. We are staying near Victoria Station, so there is a lot to see close by. I am excited to hear Big Ben strike the hours! SotD is Armaf Tag-Her Prestige. I would not wear this on my trip, so no CP points. I am intrigued by the “aromas for Moderns” ring to it: oud-ish, BR540-ish, with fruits (berry and pineapple) and spices veering close to functional fragrance. I’ll allow that it works well on my skin, but it makes me think about other bold favorites I *could* have worn, like Insolence or Angel. I’ll try to catch up on comments tomorrow. I know a bunch of us are in the US COLD zone this week. Brrr – 4 degrees here overnight.