June is almost over! Rabbits coming up on Tuesday, then Donatella will drop by on Thursday.
Meanwhile, we're whiling away the weekend with our standard open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance you've worn the most so far this summer (or winter), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Dance! [cropped] by Joel Olives at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy weekend!
Sptd is Dior Bois Talisman. I cabed after trying it 3 times but I had been “good” and got the 50ml and not the 100ml. It reminds me so much of the beautiful incense they burn in Buddhist temples. Definitely some talismanic quality there.
I don’t think there is a particular scent that I wore the most this Summer.
I need to report on Loewe’s home fragrance and body care collection. Their room sprays smell EXACTLY as the labels so it’sgreat fun to try them out.(Seriously, you neeeed to smell Mushroom because it’s like smelling a basket of fresh white button mushrooms. Marijuana is pretty close to the real stuff, don’t ask me how I know 🤫)
I picked up a Tomato Leaf body lotion. It smells soooo good. They also have it as a hand sanitizer which is perfect for the kitchen.
Oooh, I should go find their home fragrances to sniff. Might take a bit of work in my small city. Tomato leaf sounds wonderful. (I don’t need marijuana, though — just need to walk outside of my courtyard, or down the street. Fortunately our house doesn’t face on the street side of our development, or it’d be a free home fragrance, too.)
Today for no reason except a whim — what better reason? — I’m wearing Liz Claiborne Spark, a spicy amber that’s wildly inappropriate for summer but since it’s overcast here and a temperate 18º, I’m not suffocating anybody. It’s one of those things that showed up in large quantities at all the discounters: they must have made a zillion bottles of all things Claiborne (including over a dozen Curve flankers!) because most of the scents were readily available everywhere and some still are.
Yesterday I was out in the sunny breezy afternoon and suddenly caught a whiff of lilac, which I knew was impossible because the lilacs had bloomed and died a month ago. Then further along I caught it again but stronger, an actual cloud of perfume, and noticed some slender trees covered in creamy-white flowers. I took a photo with Seek, one of those apps that recognizes plants for you: it was Japanese Tree Lilac. Which I had never heard of before! Or noticed! (Maybe they don’t flower every year?) Just imagine my astonishment. They don’t smell exactly like the usual purple and white lilacs: they’re lilac-adjacent, but very beautiful. And that was my little burst of happiness for the day.
Nice! Your nose taught you something!
Just looked up that tree, it is gorgeous…and they do grow near me, and possibly I have seen them and just thought they were extra big lilac bushes 🙂
But looks like if it was growing where I am, it would be done blooming by now.
Little burst of happiness! Thank you for sharing it making all our combined bursts into big ones! I looked it up too and it is lovely!
Yes, I had the same experience recently while out running by my house — on the way out, noticed the scent / tree; on the way back, stopped to snap a photo for my plant ID app and found out it was a Japanese tree lilac. I’d never noticed them before, and now I’m seeing them lots of places.
We have those on my area, too, nw Chicago suburbs. They’re one of our choices the City plants in the parkway, and they are still blooming here now.
Yesterday’s review of Thomas de Monaco’s Sol Salgado reminded me that awhile back I got a big crush on his perfume Raw Gold. I got out a sample this morning and dabbed it on lavishly and I still have a big crush on it. Looking up the notes, I think I can safely say that the main reason I’m so infatuated is the plum note. I just seem to have a thing for plum notes in perfume–you know, like you might have a thing for people with a certain type of curl in their hair or eyelids or hands or something. ;-).
Later this afternoon I’m going to a members’ preview at the Art Museum of a new summer exhibit by Anicka Yi. She’s someone I’ve been interested in for a long time, since she does fascinating biomorphic art (look up her exhibit at the Tate Turbine Hall) and I can’t wait to see this one. Plus, walking around in the museum is a good way to get in a little exercise in the hot weather.
Here’s a video of that show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wyRHfImk3s
What an amazing installation, so mesmerising. And how lucky to be able to see her work in person. As I watched I thought of the post about the recent Zoologist Man O War perfume ( jellyfish inspired). Have a great time. Please report back. Because we’re off the beaten track in NZ we almost never get shows like this
So cool, and for some reason looks so peaceful to me. Do report back, especially on the “scentscapes”!
Have not posted about her in ages but I was paying attention at some point 🙂
https://freebox.it.com/tag/anicka-yi/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
So provocative and mind-expanding especially when she talked about olfaction. Tate Modern was an ideal spot for the exhibit.
I’m rounding out orange blossom week in Papillon Dryad.
A nice end to the week 🙂
It was so cold and wet yesterday that I didn’t leave the house. Just stayed put listening to the rain on the roof and watching the sparrows huddling out of the rain on the frame of our sliding door, under the shelter of the eaves. Poor things; they looked saturated and miserable. Today should be more dry but just as cold. The midwinter carnival with beautiful paper lanterns was washed out and cancelled…so, yeah, winter! Going to wear the summery L’eau Moheli for a bit of ylang ylang brightness.
Oh, so sorry about your midwinter carnival, shame they could not reschedule…things need to happen in winter or it’s too dreary.
Ylang sounds just right. I now keep a little bottle of ylang oil in my bedside collection, with the hinoki & frankincense oils, to sniff before sleep.
Moheli’s a good olfactory antidote to cold and rainy. I think you also have Plum, which is one of my faves when I’m listening to rain hitting the roof 💚
Still traveling so limited to samples but wore Iris Poudre Friday which has an orange note, though not orange blossom. Still beautiful though!
Beautiful and I did not know it had an orange note.
Kris, I didn’t either until I looked it up.
You smelled gorgeous!
Thank you LesLiesse! It is one of those scents that still make my breathe catch at its beauty when I wear it.
Omg, sooo poetic! I think Kris would wholeheartedly approve of that description of it!!!
Yes, I would. And Lesliesse I wanted to make sure you noticed Jalapeno’s note to you on a post on Friday that contained two links by Robin of perfume descriptions. It’s very good and will help you with some of the terms used here.
Gracias, Kris!
SOTD is Bronze Goddess Nuit. I really like this with the floral notes. I get enough coconut using the BBW At the Beach body wash and body cream underneath.
Question-Do you ever get tired of a scent for no reason? I am sick of all the Chanel 5 versions, even the L’Eau. I usually wear that one a lot in the summer but have barely touched it. May be up for grabs.
Which reminds me, Tiffanie please look at your post yesterday from me or your surprise may find another owner😉
I think as far as what I have worn most this summer, it may go have to be Eau des Merveilles though I usually where that in cooler months. Absolutely love this fragrance!
I do get sick of things but I tend to come back to them later, more often than not.
Annoyingly, this has occasionally to me *after* I have used up an entire bottle and bought a backup. It can help to put the bottle(s) for a year or so to see whether you end up missing it.
My L’Eau, was a BUB that I just opened a few months ago. I think I have used it a few times since then. Good idea to keep it for a while and see if I change my mind.
I never get tired of certain scents and definitely enjoy coming back to things I haven’t worn in a while.
😊
Yes, I do get inexplicably tired of some perfumes, I have two currently and they’re both amber fragrances, they are long discontinued so I kept them in case and it made me stop acquiring more amber perfumes, I have about ten ambers in my collection and that’s enough I figure.
That’s funny!
Have you tried L’eau on a crisp winter day? It wears a little different.
This is true. It does.
Once I really tire of a fragrance, I rarely go back to it. Shalimar was the first perfume I bought at 17, wore it through college and into my mid-20’s. I acquired a bottle as an adult about a decade ago, could never wear it. Finally declutted Shalimar this year. I also got tired of Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT which I acquired about 2007. In this case, it seemed the perfume had maybe turned but I think it just seemed too harsh to me, maybe menopause changing my taste. Oddly enough, I still like SJP Lovely, which I got in 2005, which I find a similar musk to Narciso Rodriguez but more floral.
I still like and wear the Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere I got in 2010. I am considering a BUB for that one.
That happened to me with NR For Her and still like Lovely.
Thanks!
I never really tire of a fragrance because I rotate mine a lot (and I have a lot to rotate!) so never really wear a particular scent a lot in succession. One I don’t think I could ever tire of even if I wore it every day is EdM, one of my very favorites!
That is definitely one of my favorites!
Yay for EdM! 🍑🧡✨
Thank you Kris! I entirely missed jalapeno’s link, which I printed out and put into my 2025 notebook for reference. Btw I was looking at Bronze Goddess Aegea, since I can’t wear BGN because of my allergies. Have you looked at it?
No, I have not. I really like florals so that is why I like Nuit. However, I maybe should try this one too as it sounds fruity and sometimes I like fruity too. Thanks.
Yes, I have gotten tired of fragrances before. I have just put them away in a nice dark closet to sit for a while. I’ve rediscovered some very nice things that way!
But my most recent “I have gone off this” was for the orange blossom CP. Going to put away Chaldee for a while and try it in different weather. It doesn’t seem to like Colorado’s summer.
Thank you!
Surprise? I love surprises…going off to look now 😁
Emailed you! 😍
If I’m too late I understand completely, and no hard feelings, of course.
Also want to add I’m so glad you’re loving Eau des Merveilles this summer. Sometimes I feel like I have almost too much affection for that scent, that bottle, and the way the whole thing makes my heart sing. 🧡 🎶
Also, also can share that I love l’Heure Bleue, both the EdT and EdP and wore them quite often this past winter. Then one day I picked up the bottle of EdP and almost felt sick when I took off the cap and got a whiff. 🥴
Both bottles have been in indefinite time out since then! 😅
lol 😝
Not too late!
♥️♥️😍♥️♥️
Shalimar today – are they doing any flankers this year?!
Don’t tell me.
🙉
Finished Frozen River and I absolutely loved it.
Now I am reading a book about good manners lol 😝
Great lesson today 🐴 and will be off next week of the horse and the only one day at the library.
Ok I won’t tell you 🙂
I thought you would like Frozen River.
I believe they have done four Shalimar flankers in the Millesime series; the Vanilla Planifolia, Tonka, Iris and Jasmine. I did not purchase the first two but did the Iris and Jasmine. When the last one came out, I thought it was going to be rose as I had heard that somewhere so maybe that will be the version this year. They have been coming out around the second week of September so look then-even if you don’t want to know😉
BTW another book you have to read is Broken Country. I did not want the book to end. It was that good.
Thanks for the book 📖 recommendation
I heard of Shalimar Essence
I just looked that up. I think it might be for the 100-year anniversary of Shalimar. I am guessing they may have a different one if they keep with the Millesime series.
Perry Ellis 360. Wonder if I’ll wear this seven weeks straight the way I did with Assam of India that one summer.
6 oz might take more than 7 weeks!
Oh wait.. I forgot who I was talking to. 🤣
LOL!
When I turn the bottle upside down I can see that I’ve already used about an inch of the juice. It’s light and fresh and demands lavish application 😝I’m wearing it again today. It’s hot outside.
haha
Bwahahahaha! Let’s see if anything is left in that bottle by the end of summer.
I’m starting basil week early, after checking I have 15 but in perfumes where I don’t necessarily detect basil, Jicky and Obsession for eg, so I chose Eau de Lancaster which turned out very appropriate for 27C weather and this evening I applied the flanker Eau concentrée, they are equally very pleasant with one being aromatic and cologne-like and the other more complex and longer-lasting.
I’ve only ever seen Lancaster Sunwater here. I wore it in the 90’s. I think about getting it again sometimes.
Yes, their sun-related products are what they are most known for in France too, so Sunwater must be among their popular items, the Eau de Lancaster was an eBay find back in 2016, £2.50 for a full 50ml is what I paid, no chance to get it at that price again, IIRC the concentrée was from a discounter but more expensive for sure.
Wow! You have a lot. I only have one with basil, that I know of, so will have to wait until Friday.
Apparently it’s in many kitchen sink perfumes, it’s in Rumba and other big 80’s fragrances I love.
Wow I never would have guessed either of those, Aurora.
The one that screams basil to me (in a good way) is Annick Goutal Eau du Sud. Especially vintage. I will be getting that one out this coming week.
I am not a fan of green or herby notes in perfume, so my participation in this week’s CP will be limited to Friday; I have one scent with basil as far as I know. Today in the PNW it is a glorious summer day, sunny and not too hot or cold. I was out for a walk earlier and it was lovely, but now I’m back inside cooking. I got tired of paying $8 for a little jar of mint jelly so I am making my own with mint leaves, sugar, and pectin. The house smells great!
SOTD is Carner Barcelona D600.
May I inquire what you use mint jelly for?
I goes beautifully with lamb. I love lamb.
That sounds like a plan! I don’t ever cook lamb, though I am sure it’s around in stores here–I never have looked for it.
Envying your mint jelly industriousness! It’s been years since I’ve had mint jelly with lamb, but it was a favorite. Perhaps you found a brand that wasn’t colored electric green? I think I went off the jelly for the color!
LOL, if I’m going to eat some, I want mine to be REALLY green!
The bought stuff was electric green. I left out the food coloring in the recipe and mine is kind of golden. It’s quite attractive.
https://www.chelsea.co.nz/recipes/browse-recipes/mint-sauce
Here, mint sauce is far more traditional and easy to make than mint jelly. Basically, fresh mint, vinegar and a bit of sugar. I use far less sugar than this recipe but it gives you an idea. I would only add sugar to taste. You pour it onto the lamb and peas for a fresh minted taste.
It’s almost like a mint dressing ( rather than a thicker sauce)
That sounds delicious.
I might try mint sauce, too, I have mint left over. Sounds good!
What a great idea foxbins.
Speaking of DYI, I had the most dee-licious homemade ginger ale this past week at a restaurant. I watched the lady muddle loads of fresh ginger. Like way more than you might imagine, about an inch thick at the bottom of a large glass. Then I’m pretty sure she added simple syrup and soda water. Gonna try that at home. So refreshing for summer and really zingy. But then I love the ginger note in perfumes and use it a lot in cooking and smoothies, so it wasn’t a surprise.
Have you ever had Vernor’s Ginger Ale? Very, very gingery.
It’s a little cooler today and I pulled out the original Coco for my SOTD. Emotions are still running high here with trying to plan my grandmother’s funeral. I said that since tomorrow’s Sunday, let’s take a step back and take a break.
Dawn my gosh you and your family are going through a lot. It’s an excellent idea to take a step back and let some hot emotions and thoughts die down a bit. You smell fantastic. Every time I smell this on someone I just want to stay close to them, your sold smells so good. Hope the funeral is dignified and gives you all some closure. Take care.
Bah, Dawn. Tough. Thinking of you 💛
I’m glad you are wearing one of your fave scents as you navigate through this fraught time, Dawn. I hope it brings you joy and peace and I’m so sorry about your grandmother.
I’m sorry about your grandmother, Dawn. I’ll wear Coco this week too.
It’s a gorgeous day today. I spent most of it at work, but it wasn’t too busy.
I’ve been searching e bay for something to use my gift card on. I have seen so many too good to be true listings. (100ml brand new Angelique Noire for 50 dollars. Lol) I’ve found some reputable sellers too, I just can’t decide yet.
My sotd is SD Vahina.
How do you like Vahina? I bought a bottle from a lady in North Carolina that used to work with SD in France. Really interesting story. Anyway, she sells Vahina in her shop. I have bought it from her three times when I have been down there but I don’t care for it so give it to people🤣
OH but not deciding is part of the fun, now I’m excited about that gift card too.
Report back on what you decide to purchase!!!!
I’ve found a few excellent sellers on EvilBuy.
Popping by a bit later in the day to day that I’m continuing the orange blossom theme in Chaldée.
You smell gorgeous. I get more opopanox than orange blossom. I love your SOTD.
Smelling gorgeous, Gaynor!
Being a total homebody this weekend after 3 weeks of work. I get anxiety when I work that much. I need my home time to recharge. I spent the day cooking and cleaning yesterday and it was actually a treat. I do have some office work to complete today (Ugh).
I am wearing a sample of ELDO Clean Suede, which is different from what I usually pick – I don’t have much leather/suede in my collection. When I am working a lot, I tend to stick with my usual favorites. Not sure there is much of trend for my summer wearing. I guess I stay away from the heavier amber scents. I need to wear my Bronze Goddess more. But I can count on summer weather here until October.
I had a similar sort of Saturday, Zephyr2. My laundry is all done, even the special handling items, and that feels great. I used a ton of my beauty products last night, and that felt great. I hope you get rested and recharged v soon:)
Thanks, amazing how much better I feel after some home time and checking so many tasks off my list. Not to mention 8 hours of sleep.
So glad! Sleep and alone time are the best.
It’s another dark grey day here, perfect for running errands. I have housework and the lawn to mow but I’m leaving town for a few hours to go to Chapets and a gelateria ( is that the name for a place with gelato?). It’s a five hour trip for the gelato and yes-it’s worth it 🙂 Lemon is my favourite.
Not sure what my SOTD will be but my house smells marvellous due to the Frederic Malle candles I bought. These were on clearance at a cosmetics company store, otherwise they’d have been priced out of my reach. Saint de Saint is a gorgeous sandlewood-this is probably my favourite. Country Home is also gorgeous-a bit like Feu de Bois but deeper and spicier, and the smoke is less prominent than the woods. Notre Dame reminds me of Bois Care, Or Waxed Wood, from Diptyque-lots of frankincense. And One Gardenia, La Nuit made me recoil at first sing cause it’s soooo indolic and potent. I thought I might not like it at all. The trick is not to smell it up close, and I think It will be fine once I burn it. The vessels are all white with a red interior and they burn perfectly. The wax is white except for the Gardenia scent-it’s a shocking deep green. There’s a scene from a movie I love called In The Mood For Love, where there’s a hallway done in shades of red and green. This candle reminds me of that movie and the association of those two things makes me happy. We have to find glimmers of joy where we can 🙂
Oh, Carole, I’m in full agreement on “In The Mood For Love.” It’s an extraordinary film. (And her outfits! Good lord, one more stunning than the next.)
DITTO!
That’s a great movie…the sense of longing and yearning, and the tension…just brilliant.
Yes, agree. Almost unbearable.
Hurray for finding those verry pricey candles on discount, Carole. Always happy to hear that.
What fun, congrats on your new candles!
Thanks, all of you 🙂
SotD yesterday was Carnal Flower. I didn’t smell the orange blossom in it, but I smelled good anyway. Two sprays: one to the wrists and one to the nape of my neck lasted all day. Curious where all of you apply perfume? I always do my wrists, and I used to spray my neck just behind/below my ears, but I’ve found that many perfumes that close to my nose bother me. I’ll usually do a second spray to my stomach. In the summer, I’ve sprayed the back of my knees with heavy hitters like CF.
Today I felt like something light and refreshing, so my hand went to my mini of Clinique Happy. I haven’t worn this one in forever! It really is a good one. ☀️
I usually apply on wrists and forearms but have stopped applying high up on me. Sometimes I will spray my hair (I know it’s drying so try to be minimal). I’ve recently learned to focus on the lower half too; low back, tummy and legs.
Of course it depends the scent too! Sometimes I go a bit crazy with number of sprays.
I spray 2 on my wrist and dab. I then spray 1 on my chest. If I am wearing something beachy or citrus, I spray all over like a body mist.
I do the exact same thing!
👍
Top of my feet, each side of my feet, behind the knees, abdominal area, crook of the elbows, both sides of each wrist, chest area, behind each ear, a few sprays over my head to shower down onto my hair, eight sprays in front of my whole body and walk through.
You’ve given me a great plan to actually wear more of the perfume I own and often neglect.
P.S. I particularly love the “walk through” sprays😊
👍
Yay!! I’m glad 😻Thus is the way I achieve full bottle thunks. And perfume compliments.
Champ.
Gold-medal worthy.
I wish I were as liberal with my sprays.
Nothing should stop you so give it a try 😂
I mostly do top of my hair … other than that, my skin let’s me know for sure.
It depends on the strength of the scent, but often one spray behind each knee, inside each wrist and the crook of each elbow, inside cleavage and back of neck.
Boy have I been too circumspect in my application! This whole chain has inspired me to truly be basking and basking in my fragrance!
Drenching and drenching!
😆 I’ve been parsing out judiciously my Encens Mythique, Iris Poudre and Prada Mimosa. I’m going to feel like a libertine basking, and if I start drenching, well I’m not sure I can handle that amount of profligate decadence!
I usually apply perfume to my chest so that I smell it the most myself (it wafts up to my nose as I move around), but sometimes my skin in that area gets irritated and then I do my arms instead for a few days.
I should try my hair–my hair is the opposite of dry!
I am similar to socks re: application spots. I used to just spritz my décolletage. However, that got irritated after a while, so then I started to spray a little lower on my abdomen. Then I had to shift to upper arms/biceps. I just noticed some skin irritation there a day or two ago.
So now I am spraying on the top of my shoulders and my collarbone. Looks like I will have to keep shifting spots to keep my suddenly cranky skin happy. Thanks menopause.
Well, this morning I discovered that I have more than just Paris-Deauville with a basil note, so I’m in Bel Ami which, in addition to basil, also has a coconut note. Imagine my surprise!
Huh, I did not remember either in Bel Ami.
Going for an aimless drive today and wearing some vintage Chanel no 19 edp today.
Good, so glad you got a break today Dawn!
Trying out a perfume I haven’t worn for a few years—Jasmin et Cigarette. Relating to Kris’s inquiry above, I went through a period where I sought out frags with that cigarette note, and purchased today’s choice and Arquiste’s Ella. Really, just went off them both a while back. Tentatively retrying them.
In news, I got my three flower tattoos yesterday. My first ever. They are very pretty along my forearm. Lavender (for my younger son), a pale pink rose (for my husband), and a sprig of neroli with fruit (for my older son).
Thanks for your comment.
Love the sound of your tattoos. Are they scratch’n’sniff?
Ha. I’d scratch myself raw.
Hah! Love that. A tempting prank! I looked up frags that had all three notes. Found a flanker to Mon Guerlain (Bloom of Rose) and something from an Etsy purveyor called Hecate Goddess. Don’t much like the first, and the second’s been a no-show. So, maybe I’ll keep the tattoos and skip the triple threat juice.
What a beautiful expression of love💕
Sent a text to my son with a pic. He wrote back, I quote exactly: “That’s awesome Ma. Pretty sick first tat. Guess I’m getting a neroli tattoo.”
Sick? High praise indeed. 😂🤣
Oh yay, so glad you are happy with them! I will be so surprised and impressed if your son really gets one to match, THAT would be sick!
Seconding Robin. A matching tat for a family member would be SO sick! Glad you like yours, and hope the healing is quick.
Had a spot of luck op shopping yesterday. Came across two boxed half-full bottles of Jean Patou 1000 that I think are from the 1980s ( or 1990s). They were $10 each so I thought I’d get both and give one to Gaynor. When I took them up to the counter the assistant opened and looked at them and said, ‘ Ew, they look a bit old, don’t they?’
I went, ‘ Yeah, they do look old, eh? Hmmm.’
After a pause,,she said, ‘How about we make it $10 for the two?’
I wanted to say ‘Okay!’ But it’s a charity shop so…no. BUT on the counter was a bottle of Chanel 5 that had about 1 or 2ml of almost caramelised perfume inside. I sniffed it, and it was insane. The woman saw me, and said, ‘ You can have that. It’s empty.
I also picked up a nice paperback book of Robert Henri’s ( art) writing which made my day, and a vintage biscuit tin. Wearing 1000. Bit off at the first hit, but then lovely.
Amazing finds!!!!!
An experience we all live for! Congrats!
Oh wow! Congrats Kanuka.
I’ve got some of those syrup vintage bottles and I usually put a bit of perfumer’s alcohol in, shake it up, wait. I have been able to sniff a lot of rare things that way, and get at least an approximation of what it must have been like.
Thanks Denise for the tip
You must be so chuffed! Plus Gaynor really loves 1000, so a win win situation all round, congratulations.
Score!!! How lovely.
Great finds!
Kanuka, if you can’t find perfumer’s alcohol, a bit of vodka will work in a pinch to revive syrupy perfumes.
I’m just catching up on comments now – what a great find and thinking of sharing that with me is so generous!
That sounds like an amazing day:)
I’m continuing orange blossom week by wearing Memo Marfa. To be honest the ylang ylang is dominant, but I don’t mind.
I might need to smell that one again.
Sunday and i’m wearing Unspoken Musk by Francesca Bianchi. My friend in L.A. gave me a decant. It’s gorgeous. Loads of resins and spices more than musks to my nose. Reminds me a bit of Guerlinade.
I just finished reading Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin, set partially in the 1930s/40s in Canada. One of the main character is married to a rich but unpleasant industrialist. There are several references to French perfume, which would have been a luxury during the Depression and war years. “My cologne was on the window ledge beside her; she sprayed herself with it, absent-mindedly. It was Liu, by Guerlain, a present from Richard.”
Love it, thanks for telling us! I have not read that one.
What a lovely allusion. (I have an old advertising poster for Liu, but I’ve never smelled the perfume.)
SOTD Sat -YSL Libre L’Absolu Platine
Sun- Moon Glory
Jalapeno, didn’t see you post. I missed your Friday link’s on phraseology, but Kris kindly pointed me towards them. I printed them out! Thank you so much!
Yesterday Mr Engineer and I decided to use tickets we had purchased months ago before my sad odyssey started, thinking that a day disconnecting would soothe my grief. I’m still not sleeping well, hitting a low of 3.5 hrs mid-week. Well it helped! Spent about 9 hrs experiencing an architectural history lecture on Cliff May, the touring 6 of his designs after lunch in the Long Beach area of So Cal. It takes a special person to open their home up to so many strangers, but what nice strangers they ended up being. And in each master bedroom there was a large tray of perfumes. I don’t know enough about bottles to have recognized them all but I felt an immediate kinship and said a quick blessing for each home every time they spritz!
Mr Engineer (who asked Anton of engineering questions fitting to his nickname) was somewhat astonished at how absolutely lovely everyone was. I said these people reminded me of my NST community.
You’re welcome! Learning the lingo was one of the hardest parts of falling down the rabbit hole for me.
Remember: the only “dumb question” is the one you don’t ask.
What a cool experience! Something I definitely would have enjoyed – I love historical house tours. Glad you were able to enjoy such a positive and interesting experience.
The Cliff May Ranchos neighborhood has some very interesting homes. I’m glad you enjoyed your tour.
Hi everyone! Chiming in late on Sunday. I was off work this weekend and piddled away most of my time. It was so nice, but my apartment is still messy. Oh well!
I thunked an old sample of Lollia Wish today. I don’t like it much. It smells like baby powder to me, but maybe it’s the combination of notes giving that effect (vanilla, rice flower, ylang ylang, etc.). I picked up this sample plus a bunch of others by Lollia some years ago, and I remember I really loved one of them but it wasn’t this one. I’ll work through them until I refind it and see if I still feel the same way!
I tried one of the Lollias years ago too. Can’t remember anything about it except that it was kinda meh. The tiny bottle was cute though.
Happy Monday!
Today I’m wearing Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Cipresso di Toscana. It’s supposed to have basil, but I can’t detect even a hint of it.
Still in no 19 but about to take a shower. Since I have a dentist appointment tomorrow, so instead of working tomorrow, I am working today. It’s going to be a Kyoto day today.
A few things are on hold with the funeral stuff right now. We are waiting for the doctor to sign off on my grandmother’s death certificate before we can proceed with the cremation. For the funeral my choices are Infusion d’iris or Kyoto. I can wear my mini of Euphoria because that was my grandmother’s signature perfume but I don’t exactly find it appropriate.
Dawn, we are in the exact same holding pattern for my Aunt. How did you decide which fragrance? Were those favorites of hers on you?
We haven’t set a date for the funeral. Most funerals that I have been to, I want something really light and fades kind of quick on my skin. I have quite a few loud perfumes. Mostly I want something subdued.
Infusion d’Iris is comforting to me, and it feels quiet.
I hope your plans come together soon.
Another Monday, another new week. I only have two perfumes with a basil note. Obsession is one of them but it’s just too hot to wear it, and I’ll save Boucheron for Friday.
Today it’s Malin+Goetz Dark Rum, which is transparent in it’s darkness.
That Dark Rum is so good! I got a sample from Smallflower. Very glad I tried it.
Rabbit rabbit rabbit! July already. July is really the dead of winter here so I’m going to brighten my day by wearing Ostara.
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jun/30/perfume-boom-gen-z-independent-brands?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Another perfume article ( same as most others)
I can’t get used to our season being opposite. It’s been an unseasonably cold and dark spring here-hopefully warmer next few eeks. Off to read the article, and you smell great 🙂
Happy Monday and the last day of June!
After the posts about how breathtaking the beauty of FM Iris Poudre is, it’s my Sotd. Didn’t get to do basking & basking or drenching & drenching today because I’m slathered in spf to get some outdoor exercise. I’m gong for a walk in the park and planning to stop and smell all the flowers so it’s a soul-vascular rather than cardiovascular exercise session for about 20 min.
If you have the energy in the heat, take a notebook and jot down what you smell and the location . It’s fascinating to ‘ map’ scents and see how the map changes in different seasons…same place but different scent zones. Also, when it comes to the rose sections …which ones grab you attention. The tea roses? The bourbon roses? This might help you identify which kind of rose perfume you might be drawn to…whether you like lighter, fresher roses or heavier, opulent roses.
I walked for 30 min, strolled really, in and out of the shade whiling photographing 12 different flowers!
I’m in SL Parole d’Leau-it’s a pine and eucalyptus scent, and I love it. Pine feels fresh and slightly sweet. It can remind me of cleaning products, esp with oil spills, so I am choosy about my pine scents. This is gorgeous, and inexpensive at the discounters:)
I’ve never heard of that fragrance and based on your description, I definitely want to check it out.
Me too! Sounds great. Thanks for the description Carole
I’m having an Ormond Jayne moment – yesterday was Orris Noir, today I’m wearing Ta’if.
My SOTD for the last day of June is the last of my June rose-centric fragrances, C&E Nantucket Briar. Although not listed anywhere in its notes, I definitely get a whiff of salty sea air reminding me of trips to all sorts of wondrous New England sites when my son was in college on the East Coast. And I’m not the only one – my notes reveal that somewhere, someone mentioned Nantucket Briar evokes ‘salt-weathered cottages by the sea’ and someone else said it is a ‘truly salty, spicy seaside treat, for those who like their beach going to have more to do with exploring and adventures in nature, than tanlines and bikinis’ (describes me to a T). It also serves as a nice bridge to my July fragrance theme of sand, sea and sky.
We had a brief but wonderful respite from the hot and humid weather Friday nite and Saturday, which enabled me to breathe again outside and enjoy 2 outside concerts and a wonderful afternoon at the pool. Did me a world of good! 😅. Back to hot and humid again yesterday and today but another brief respite for the next 2 days – here I come, pool !🏊♀️
Wishing everyone a wonderful July ahead! 💥
Your New England memories are lovely to read. ♥️ I enjoyed visiting that part of the US when I lived on the east coast. And I miss wandering into C&E to sniff their potpourri! 🌹🥀 Nantucket Briar is such a pretty scent. You smell wonderful.
sotd = Jour d’Hermes EdP
Robins prompt up top about scent worn most often made me realize JdH has become a go to scent for me. I enjoy it every time I wear it. Light, sunny, transparent, and easy. And think the mini splash bottle I use is so pretty.
I wore it every day for the past couple days, and I’m not sure how much of that is perfume true love or just the taking things as they come vibes I’m feeling in the summer. ☀️
Did you see my note to you? I have a gift for you if you email me.
Lovely but unseasonably cool weather for the last day of June here. It maybe got up to 80 degrees? That sure isn’t going to last!
SOTD = Calvin Klein Contradiction. Been ages since I pulled this one out!