It's Almost-Friday and National Tequila Day. Birthdays: Amelia Earhart, Zelda Fitzgerald, Jennifer Lopez. What fragrance are you wearing?
Ages ago Angie recommended that I try the Commissaire Adamsberg series by French writer Fred Vargas, and I adored all nine of the books that have been translated into English so far. I am not scenting Adamsberg or any of his team, instead, I'm wearing Parfum d'Empire Corsica Furiosa in honor of the author's focus on the regional food and culture of France.
Reminder: 7/25 will be Mystery & Crime Friday...for Josephine Tey's birthday, interpret the theme any way you like...you can scent your favorite fictional detective (or villain); you can wear something that brings to mind a favorite mystery novel, film or genre; or maybe your perfume name contains a reference to a crime, a criminal, or a crime fighter. Suggested by Glannys.
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 Poison Hemlock [cropped] by Dona Hilkey at flickr; public domain.
I’m wearing Hervé Gambs Pink Evidence for April May – the pink-haired, pink-clad minor villain from the Ace Attorney games.
Phoenix Wright:
Exactly what about this suspicious woman in pink’s claim was “hard evidence”!?
Detective Gumshoe:
Wh-what!? Miss May isn’t suspicious, and she sure isn’t pink, pal! W-well, I guess she is pink…
She is indeed pink! Glad to see games represented 🙂
I could easily do a week – maybe even several – scenting Ace Attorney characters.
And it just occurred to me that Pink Evidence also works for Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.
Well, she’s a lawyer, not a detective – but she does uncover a murderer.
After being reminded yesterday that Armand Gamache smells of sandalwood, this morning I’m in Tam Dao edt, the best representation of that scent I’ve ever encountered. Also, many thanks (and enabler pins of a sort) to Robin and Angie for pointing me to a new detective series — I’ve needed one for ages, and Commissaire Adamsberg looks to be exactly the thing!
Perfect and it suits him.
Hope you will love Adamsberg. She had a new book out in 2023 and I am hoping someone is translating it right now 🙂
Angie also liked her 3 Evangelists series and I liked them ok but not nearly as much as the Adamsberg books.
Wearing IA O! Unknown because mystery = unknown and there’s a mystery to iris that fits the fragrance and the theme.
Excellent thinking allo!
Good one!
Hello.
I am doing easy-read mysteries this week and my series today is Stephanie Plum. I think in one book she mentioned buying perfumes but I forgot which one so I went with what perfume was available in the year of book 1, which is 1994. Since she has a huge sweet tooth (girl after my own heart!) I think she’ll be perfect wearing Angel.
Yes, that series is good. I love the grandma.
I am wearing FM Eau de Magnolia. I am sure dames in noir mysteries wore magnolia perfumes, or magnolias.
That is a great scent. I wore FM POAL last night and got a really nice compliment
Can you smell it yet🤣
I agree! Magnolias bring on the drama.
I’m wearing Bucoliques de Provence for Brother Cadfael. Somewhere along his travels he must have smelled lavender and rejoiced. (I couldn’t find my Caldey Island lavender, as that was my first choice, it being Welsh and made by monks).
Love Brother Cadfael!
A major perfume creator has died, Jen Kerlo of Jean Patou: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/jean-kerléo-former-jean-patou-perfumer-and-osmothèque-cofounder-dies-at-93/ar-AA1Jaj0Y?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawLvUDBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuXp72wh5fhgVegc5yPWyzXkhGwKTAGDN2MhszRDWaUh1qJCAVsjonk_lizG_aem_1uR-eOSWXE7vYETbgLyrTg
He (Kerleo) created 1000 and Sublime, along with Yohji for Yohji Yamamoto. I’ve never smelled the latter but would like to!
Yohji was very popular when I lived in Germany ( along with Helmut Lang). I used to wear it. Earthy green scent, unisex. It was good. Kernel must have had a remarkable range to have created those scents.
And he helped found the Osmotheque!
I’m working on my SOTD now, by reviewing some Wallander books. My favorite of his is The Dogs of Riga. It opens with a striking scene of some sort of smuggler/criminal on a ship, and mentions him having a coffee, lighting a cigarette, and smelling the diesel oil. Mankell is a very sensory writer. But I can’t think of, and probably wouldn’t enjoy, a perfume with those three notes in combination! (Can you think of one?). So I’m going to keep browsing for an idea.
By the way, I also love Fred Vargas’s books!
The Comme des Garçons Synthetic series had one called Tar, and another called Garage. And I think they may also have done a gasoline scent. Closest I can think of. I thought Kenneth Branagh was good as Wallander , though I prefer the books. The Dogs of Riga is also my favourite.
Dior Fahrenheit has what I consider a gasoline and/or tar note in it. Some versions of Mitsouko do, too.
Wallander is hard to scent in general…I gave up.
Still sampling today and thinking about what to wear tomorrow. SOTD is Sammarco Bond-T. I remember people talking about it years ago. It’s chocolate and tobacco on me, not a summer scent at all, so I will enjoy using the rest of it when it’s colder.
You have a better memory than I do, but that sounds good! Too hot here too though.
When I went to Ngai Marsh’s house I saw several perfumes on her dressing table ( Chanel 5, Christian Dior etc) and she wrote False Scent , a murder of an actress who sprays herself with perfume from her bottle but which turns out to be toxic ‘Slaypest’. I think Slaypest would make a good name for many of today’s perfumes: the overly sweet powerful ones. But I’m going with Black Opium Neon, in the greenish bottle ( though Mugler Aura would also do if I had it).
It’s been wintery here. Morning frosts of around —5 followed by clear blue skies and no wind. Every time I go to the graveyard the rabbits are gathered together in one of the sunny spots thawing out. The grass there really crunches and remains white most of the day. Signs of spring though: the grey warblers have started singing.
It’s not Neon, it’s the other one..green. Sampled yesterday at off-site storage
Illicit Green.
Yay for Spring bird songs!
Still giggling at Slaypest. Great name.
The last year or so I’ve found myself getting really into a perfume and wearing it for days in a row. I used to switch it up so much more often, so this is kinda fun.
This week’s best friend is Profumum Roma Confetto. It’s just almond, musk, with a touch of anise to me. Like a not very sweet almond cookie. Just bought a 5ml decant, am going through my 2ml quickly.
I’ve always been curious about Confetto. It had a bit of hype when it came out.
Perfume monogamy streaks are fun!
I’m not sure I hit the CP mark with today’s SotD Givenchy Pi, but here’s the idea. I was intrigued by the 1998 move “Pi,” which was like a mystery to me. Also, I loved the black and white film used which, given the plot, puts it in the film noir baliwick. I love Pi and have not worn it in ages – I’d love to smell it on anyone. BTW, it is my second lovely Serge Mansau-designed bottle this week. Having a hot and humid day here, but will be enjoying Tequila Day as this is Thursday and that mean walking to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner and a Margarita. We will be rather melted upon arrival, but most of the way there is through nicely shaded suburban streets.
I think that hits the CP idea just fine! Have a lovely dinner out. I’ll be going for ice cream, but no tequila.
Do you have a favorite flavor, or do you try new ones? I never miss a chance to have spumoni.
I love pistachio —and spumoni — but often try new ones.
It’s incredibly humid here. I went out early to run errands but came home with a terrible headache. I’m going to try and take a little nap.
My sotd is Tree Hut Coco Colada body butter.
I think I finally came up for something for the cp tomorrow.
I hope your headache disappeared! Did you get your car back?
Thanks hajusuuri. It’s about gone now.
I did get my car back yesterday.
It doesn’t sound like the best of days, hope the headache and hence the day will improve soon.
Thanks Aurora. It’s been a pretty yucky day but at least I had the day off.
Glad you’re feeling better, but boo for a headache on your day off. Very humid here, and I too had a bit of a headache which went away after dinner.
Hope you feel better soon and the humidity eases up!
Thank you. They say next Wednesday will be back to normal.
Feel better lillyjo !
Thanks LesLiesse. I couldn’t get my nap in but a cool cloth and ibuprofen are helping.
Trying to send some cooler, drier weather your way. Sounds like you need it.
It’s funny we are actually in almost drought territory. The humidity is just hanging in the air not doing anything productive. Lol.
I’m continuing with my Agatha Christie focus, and I’m wearing Habanita, which came out in 1921.
That sounds just perfect for the time period of her novels!
2nd, great call Gaynor!
Wearing my sample of Ex Idolo Love & Crime for a very obvious interpretation of the CP.
Cleaning house for the next set of guests. I’m tired.
Thanks for the book suggestions! I just found a Vera (Ann Cleeves) that I haven’t yet read. And it looks like Ann Cleeves has written a couple more with Jimmy Perez post-Shetland. I miss the Ruth Galloway series (Elly Griffith). I need to give Louise Penny’s books a try as well as the Commissaire Adamsberg series.
I read all of the Jimmy Perez but had a hard time reading Vera after the series started, don’t know why.
This is a fun CP! I love mysteries, both in book and movie/series form.
For today I chose to pair Andrea Maack Coven with Tana French’s In the Woods. This perfume has dirt and green notes but also equally smells like whiskey. Perfect for a creepy woods in Ireland where the detectives do a lot of drinking. 😉
Yesterday I tried a couple from Clue Perfumery, Morel Map and Warm Bulb. I enjoyed both but MM went a little boring in the dry down. I do find their brand concept and design pretty cool, and I’d like to try all of their scents.
I also found that Bois de Jasmin did a short article on scenting Poirot many years ago: https://boisdejasmin.com/2011/07/perfume-for-hercule-poirot-on-fictional-characters-and-fragrance.html
How fun! Thank you!
SOTD = Bortnikoff Tabac Doré
Nice tobacco! It’s from a decant which is still quite full. Best of all, tobacco IS mysterious so I am considering this as complying with the CP although I don’t have scent pair to go along with it!
https://youtu.be/62vWbkYhP8A?feature=shared
You could match your perfume with this character from The X-Files.
2 yellow nectarines.
I retrieved a perfume this morning from the cabinet I didn’t know I had, Corday Voulez-vous, perhaps it’s because I always confuse two houses, Corday and D’Orsay, it’s not on Fragrantica but I could smell a lot of lovely sandalwood in the drydown and green at the top, tonight for the CP it’s Giorgio Red for film noir heroines like Lauren Bacall in To have and have not.
That’s a great match for Giorgio Red.
🙏Red is so diffusive.
More hot. Wearing Goutal Mandragore, mostly because I noticed the bottle which had hidden out behind a few others and hasn’t been worn in a while.
Lucky you, having a bottle of Mandragore. It’s been discontinued.
I could not figure out how to scent Wallander (yet), but will continue to ponder this for tomorrow. In the end I had to rush to go to a routine doctor’s appointment, so I sprayed on Devil Tender by Ex Nihilo. I am just using it as a generic femme fatale stand-in. If I were trying for an actual femme fatale (i.e., a particular femme fatale who occupies an actual fictional tale), I’d probably choose Faye Dunaway in one of my favorite films. I’ll add that it also stars Jack Nicholson, so you are sure to know both who she is and what the scent is!
Great movie 🙂
I was considering a Wallander theme. I was going to cheat and choose Byredo due to the Swedish connection.
I went to Malmo years ago as a side trip from Denmark, taking the Oresund bridge over and then the train. At the train station, I was very excited to see one of the trains was named “Wallander”.
The Steig Larsson series could also be used. Always interesting to me that there are so many good Scandinavian crime writers.
RIP Chuck Mangione. 🎼🎶
Teflon kitty had her annual exam this afternoon and got a rabies vax as well. The vet was happy to see her for a wellness visit for a change. Can’t say that Tef was happy to go to the vet, though. 🙀
Still commando. Those irritated spots are healing slower than I would like. But wearing Josie Maran Topless Tangerine (that name!) body butter on my shins. 🍊🍊
Well done, Miss Teflon!
Getting ready to feed Tef her dinner now. That’s one of her favorite things.
I didn’t here about Chuck Mangione. So many in a weeks time. ( Hulk Hogan too)
We are body butter twins. Your’s always cracks me up with the name. ( because I’m 12.. lol)
Grim Reaper has been busy… ☠️
Might be time for me to change body butters. TT is just way too much in temps above 90F. Heat’s back on tomorrow!
I second RIP Chuck Mangione. 😢
I assume Teflon Kitty was rewarded with some special treats after what Mom made her go through today? 😻😻😻 all send their love – and sympathy – to Miss Teflon!
Tef eventually got one of her favorite treats, but it was delayed a little. She barfed on the way home from the vet. Very thankful the mess was contained in her cat carrier, and it didn’t get on my car’s upholstery!
She has gotten carsick in years past, alas.
Aw, poor kitty. From the stress, no doubt. Hopefully she won’t have to go back for another year.🤞
Part of it was a hairball (yuck). But yeah, could very well have been stress.
I really like the Josie Maran argan oil body butter in topless tangerine!
Josie Maran has done a very nice job with all of the body butters I have tried. The unscented one is a favorite for my hands.
Maybe a soothing anti-allergic cream would help. Glad Teflon got an uneventful check-up.
Things are looking much better today on my arms today, thanks. They just need a little more TLC.
The second day of our excessive heat warning has been cooled somewhat by some afternoon rain but the humidity still hangs in there. I stayed inside all day gratefully, happy to do mundane chores and prepare for tomorrow’s grocery shopping.
A light application of Coty’s L’Aimant kept me company all day; I always find it a bright and cheerful scent which complemented my mood today.
Get ready, East coast – my heat is coming your way tomorrow. Stay cool! 😎
Maybe the cool-ish weather is moving towards Chi-town? No more temps in the 80’s for me after today.
We’ll be in the 80’s for a few days but the humidity will linger, as well as the possibility of thunderstorms ‘here and there,’ whatever the heck that means.
Late to post here but am I the only one imagining Amelia Earhart, Zelda Fitzgerald and JLo doing tequila shots at a girls spa weekend coinciding with National Tequila Day?
Anyway Sotd Clinique Happy Heart, not quite what I’m feeling but I felt drawn to its scent this morning.
LOL at Zelda Fitzgerald doing tequila shots!
I love the imagery of this!😂