It’s Hump Day. RIP Graham Greene. What fragrance are you wearing?
There have been stretches of my life where hearing just the opening of Bohemian Rhapsody (written by Freddie Mercury and released on A Night at the Opera, 1975) made me leave the room, and also stretches where I'd play it loud, usually in my car, not quite at Wayne's World levels of participation, but still. Anyway, WBUR says it is "probably one of the most recognizable recordings ever made"* and that has to be true. We're having lovely weather here today, but even with a high of 77 I am not willing to put on the sort of over-the-top fragrance that would properly honor the song. So instead I'm in a dab of vintage Old Spice, because it reminds me of the 70s, and the irony of a carnation fragrance becoming the quintessential aftershave of the era — how did I never notice this as the time? — makes it an extra good fit with Mercury.
Reminder: 9/5 is Freddie Mercury’s birthday. Scent a Queen song, or honor Freddie Mercury with your fragrance in any other way you see fit.
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.
Bonus listen: the isolated vocals of Bohemian Rhapsody. And more: the official video for the song, and the recently viral recording by the Ndlovu Youth Choir in isiZulu.
* See Why 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Is One Of The Most Masterful Recordings Of Our Time.
My SOTD is Estée Lauder Private Collection for “Who Wants to Live Forever”, especially this part:
Who dares to love forever
When love must die?
But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
Freddie’s delivery is so emotional… I think Private Collection embodies this passionate, romantic sadness beautifully. The review from blacknarcissus.com describes it best:
“Green, lush, austere but yearningly romantic, melancholic yet somehow perennially optimistic, this powdery, vetiver-based, ravishingly and sharply green floral is a perfume that pierces the senses and remains lodged in the memory forever.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jtpf8N5IDE
Excellent! I am sure you are going to win the week Glannys.
Thank you for sharing Glannys! You’ve always done such a creative and soulful approach to the CP. it’s a delight to read and savor.
I remember that song from the “Highlander” movie soundtrack!
Yes! That’s how I heard it first. And, according to Wikipedia, Brian May wrote the song in the backseat of his car after seeing the film.
Wearing Atelier Cologne Iris Rebelle.
Happy Wednesday!🌻
Happy Wednesday back at you!
Thank you, Robin!
I wish they still sold Atelier in Sephora!
Unfortunately, Atelier Cologne withdrew from the US and Canada a couple of years ago. I read somewhere that L’Oreal is ready to relaunch the brand in China with a new image and reworked fragrances.
You smell great pl67!
Thank you, Lillyjo!🌻
Friday isn’t far off now!
Counting the hours for Friday to come and go! 😫
Hello.
Sotd is Oud Ispahan Esprit de Parfum. It’s still boiling hot out but breezy enough so I took the opportunity to wear something heavier.
Every now and then I’d crave some nostalgic food items from my childhood. Today it’s Marie biscuits so I went to the supermarket early to grab some to go with my morning coffee. If you are unfamiliar, they are round thin wheat biscuits with a mild vanilla flavour, nothing special but I loved them as a child. Spanish people put them on natillas (custards) and that’s delicious also.
Sorry it is boiling! We are having the weirdest and longest stretch of lovely weather for this time of year…sunny, 70s.
Until this morning we’d been having that same long stretch like you – 70’s and 🌞 – I don’t ever remember anything like this at this time of year.
Me neither. It’s just weird.
🎉 for childhood favorites!
After some very brief online research, it seems I don’t have any fragrances that Freddie wore, his favorites reportedly being Aramis, Lagerfeld and Clarins Eau Dynamisante. Also L’Interdit, which surprised everyone, apparently. I’m not sure I’ve even sniffed any of those. But I do have a few spicy leathers in my collection, and I’ll choose one of those for Friday. This morning I’m in Hermes Bel Ami, which doesn’t quite have the, er, presence that Freddie would usually have required, but to my nose it’s spicy and woody and maybe would have pleased him in his quieter moments (if he had any).
I don’t have any of those either. I think Bel Ami is a great pick.
My father loved Aramis, but I just can’t see him wearing the same fragrance as Freddie! 😆
Thanks for the perfume research! It gives me a few more options for Friday.
I reached for another FM classic this morning, Le Parfum de Thérèse. I’m imagining the moment when Monsieur Roudnitska offered this beautiful fragrance to Madame Roudnitska💕
Ah, you smell fantastic today allo!
🥰
Some men really make the most out of their love language being gift-giving! What a paen to his love! *swoons*
I am wearing Chanel No. 18 and drinking a cup of Darjeeling tea.
I just polished off a cup of Cascadia breakfast, maybe I’ll join you in a Darjeeling next.
Had a dentist appointment today. It was supposed to be impressions for my partials but because my insurance wouldn’t cover a crown for an anchor tooth, the dentist is going to root canal that tooth so my insurance will pay for a crown. Insurance said it wasn’t medically necessary for a crown.
Wearing Narciso Rodriguez today.
Your dentist is great imo! Sorry about the root canal though.
Sotd- IA Every Storm a Serenade for the CP and to buy some $1.3 billion PowerBall tickets as myFragrance Buy List is only getting longer by the day 😆😆😆
Yesterday’s parfum v EdP scent off quite surprised me. I thought the EdP would win because of the iris notes, but to my nose the pink pepper overwhelmed the iris and I couldn’t detect it at all. I quite preferred the Parfum.
Imaginary Authors has some really amazing packaging for their travel sprays. Color me impressed!
I’ll say! The box and writing is quite lovey for How to Say Bicycle in French- I leave it upright in its box on my fragrance tray..
“l’Amour est de tous les temps! Every day while we enjoyed our kir royales in the sunshine a well-dressed Frenchman on a squeaky bicycle would ride by with bundles of fresh herbs bursting from his basket.” Frankie von Hove
Did you go Shalimar shopping today? You mentioned you were going on Wednesday.
I was supposed to but I got mired in paperwork which was only supposed to consume the morning. Looks like Saturday now because I’m booked all day tomorrow and Friday.
Following Robin’s lead, I’m scenting Bohemian Rhapsody today and chose Zelda by En Voyage Perfumes. This one is so strong and bombastic that as soon as my eyes fell on my sample bottle, I knew it was the right match. I love this perfume but originally wore it at a difficult time in my life so I think I need to make some new memories with it.
I’m a pretty big Queen fan so I’ll have to make a good showing the rest of the week to make up for those who aren’t really into them. 😉 All their hits were already out by the time I was a kid in the 80s, and I couldn’t get enough of Bohemian Rhapsody whenever it came on the radio. It was also for many years the only song I’d ever done karaoke to with a couple of friends up there with me. That changed last year when I participated in another karaoke group number, but the song is escaping me right now
Ted Lasso s3e11 “Mom City” made me a fan of Fat-bottomed Girls as they used it magnificently for a crescendo!
Nice!
Good luck in rewiring your perfume association for En Voyage Zelda!
Queen was part of the background music for my junior high years, along with Van Halen, Styx, Kansas, etc.
I think I did better with Zelda today, so I think the association is dimming finally.
You did better than I did then, sorry tho about the bad associations.
Thanks, I think it’s getting better at least. Zelda is so beautiful it’s worth trying to get rid of the old associations.
Still hot here in Los Angeles, cooldown tomorrow, fingers crossed.
A few sprays of Rose Magnetic for some errands and trip to gym.
Have good Wednesday, all!
Love this scent! So glad I purchased it.
It is!
I hope Los Angeles does get that cooler weather!
Ok- who has tried the new Shalimar ?
It’s lovely if you love Shalimar and vanilla. Can’t wait to wear this in the fall.
I already have worn it a few times. I think it is finally the vanilla I have been looking for. It is a very toned-down version of the OG Shalimar and seems to lean towards the younger crowd. I may be older (66) but really like it.
Me! It is very vanilla-forward and I love it!
Still haven’t made it to the other department stores, but I haven’t given up!
I have and resold it after one wear. Very powdery for me.
Damn, I missed the first vanilla planifolia train and regret it still.
Oh, this is interesting…
It sold fast I am sure
I feel that perhaps Queen is a bit like Prince in that they were generational performers for a group around 15 or so years younger than I. Nothing against them, and I did hear occasional of their songs here and there as I went about my life (how could you NOT?), but they were not as definitive for us children of the 60’s (for whom it was, well, the Stones, Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, and so on). And I never saw the movie of Freddie’s life which did look good. My point is that I don’t have any sort of notion of what they guy was like as a person or what scents would seem to characterize him–other than somewhat rich, ornate, and over the top.
Anyway today I am wearing Thomas de Monaco’s Raw Gold, from a sample I revisit every so often to try to decide whether I want to spend $375 for a 50 ml bottle. And every time, I decide no. (I would rather spend less to buy the still-outrageous bottle of Le Labo–just the little bottle–in the City Exclusives collection that I have had my eye on for a few years now. More on that soon!). Since Raw Gold is boozy and fruity with a yummy plum note, and more, maybe it fits the bill for the CP.
Have a good day everyone! I seem to be super busy lately, though I am not quite sure why (except that I’m spending around 2 full days/week doing my Korean homework–it’s so hard!).
PowerBall drawing tonight for a $1.3 billion jacket or a cash prize of approximately $500 million, which would buy 1,333,333 bottles of your Thomas de Monaco’s Raw Gold!
I can identify with the first paragraph of your post. I found a lot of good info on both Wikipedia and YouTube about Freddie and Queen that gave me a better sense than the little I knew before.
But at the end you will know Korean! That’s lovely.
Many scents of the day.
Shower gel is ShiKai Yuzu mixed with Lush Sticky Dates (Robin’s suggestion). I have been using it the last year. Yuzu also goes good with the Rose Jam Shower Gel. (Robin’s suggestion too)
Lotion is Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream.
Fragrance is PG Indochine.
It is a good combination!
Lol at many scents of the day!
I’m sure you smell great!
And you smell marvelous !
Kris, you’re like the United Nations of Fragrance!
🤣👍
Never thought of it that way.
Ha, true!
Sometimes a quilt of fragrance works wonderfully!
We are having much needed rain today.
My coworker was shopping with her 2 year old granddaughter today and I made her cry! All I did was say hello and she started bawling like a baby. ( lol)
I felt bad.
Gucci by Gucci called my name today. I’m enjoying it.
Not the same as a baby but I was (picture) shopping at Home Goods today and saw a woman with a chihuahua. Upon looking further, there were actually two of them!
At first I thought it was your coworker you made cry, had to read your post a second time! 😂
I initially was confused about who was crying, too. But 2-year-olds are easily startled by unfamiliar people. (My parents had loads of stories about me freaking out at that age.)
I’m continuing my theme of the opulence of the Flash Gordon soundtrack, and wearing Amouage Beloved.
Excellent Gaynor!
SOTD = Le Labo Tabac 25
Nice! It was just sitting on an extra bed and I thought why not?
In other news, here’s an article on assessing one’s brain 🧠 for possible likelihood (or not) of having issues as one gets older. As with anything, it’s no guarantee for or otherwise:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/09/03/well/mind/brain-health-quiz-dementia-depression-stroke.html?unlocked_article_code=1.i08.y9-L.iDCcrWVED-qR&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
No guarantee. Zero.
I have a bottle of Tabac 25 and I adore it. You smell fabulous.
We’re in the middle of a heatwave – not our worst, certainly, but not pleasant. (95°, feels like 102°, according to my weather app.)
I’m scenting myself with Eau De Magnolia Body Lotion from Frederic Malle.
Any chance of getting a cool down from a tropical storm or Pacific hurricane?
Should be in the upper eighties over the weekend, so…maybe?
And this morning I ran into a neighbor outside and he said we were having California weather lately…and it’s true, it’s like we have stolen your weather and left you with ours.
I’m doing Friday’s cp today because we’re on the road to Kentucky and I’m only bringing fragrance samples and mini’s with me, and I have none of these that fit the cp. So before I left this morning, I sprayed my SOTD and I can still smell it hours later.
Freddie Mercury and Queen did so many songs about love, hearts, forever, etc. so I chose Queen Latifah’s Queen of Hearts to honor both the band’s name and the theme of many of their songs. This could be an over-the-top fragrance, but it was cool and rainy when we left, and the warm amber and patchouli mixed with the floral notes was perfect. Stopping for the night midway, it’s warm and sunny here, and the soft drydown of what’s left of the scent is just enough.
Happy early birthday, Freddie! 👑❤️♥️💕🎶
Have a safe trip!
Enjoy your Kentucky road trip!
Perfect match, and do enjoy the trip!
Have fun!
Almost got up to 90 here! I guess that summer isn’t done just yet. ☀️☀️☀️
Had to take Teflon kitty to the vet today. She had a scrape show up on one of her shoulders over the holiday weekend that I was observing. On Sunday, I noticed that the scab had been partially torn off, probably from Tef grooming herself. Since the vet was closed on Labor Day, I called yesterday to get in as soon as I could.
The good news: that sore spot doesn’t appear to be infected, and the dreaded cone of shame is not part of the equation. Tef got an antibiotic shot as a preventative measure. But. Teflon has yet another ear infection. There’s a chance that the recurring ear infections could be allergy-linked. That would require some kind of medication. Exactly what is up in the air.
So, Tef has to have the dreaded ear drops for a week, then go back to the vet.
SOTD = commando, but wearing Korres Mint Tea/Mastic body butter in the usual spots.
Has the ear infection just been happening in Colorado? Did they say what could be the allergy culprit?
Teflon did have ear infections in NJ, but back there I usually had the vet give her a shot. She was a difficult patient to medicate back then. I still can’t give her any pills.
The allergy diagnosis was also back in NJ, 2023. The vet couldn’t say what caused it, but did mention she had seen a lot of animals coming in with allergies that Spring.
Getting definite answers would mean expensive tests.
Sending get well soon wishes to Teflon Kitty from 😻😽😸. At least the good news is no cone of shame.🤞
Thank you Laila, and thanks to your kitteh crew! All good vibes are appreciated.
The vet said to keep an eye on that shoulder area, and to let her know if anything weird happens.
Oh my goodness, again?? So sorry.
Yeah, it sucks. Poor Teflon. And another medicine is on the way. It had to be ordered, since the vet didn’t have it.
Aw, sorry about Tef’s vet visit. And if it’s any consolation, we’re not done with summer either.
This is just a brief burst of summer-ish weather. It’s supposed to cool off on Friday. Nothing like what the West Coast is experiencing.
I’m inland from the west coast, about 4 hours. It’s been super hot and dry here.
I hope Teflon kitty feels better soon! 🐈
Thanks PL67! I would love to kick these recurring ear infections to the curb once and for all!
Wearing my tried and true Bronze Goddess tonight.
Matched up your perfume with your weather, I see!
I did; it seems to carry nicely in the heat we’ve been having. It’s supposed to cool down to seasonal temperatures next week, fingers crossed! I’m ready and waiting to pull out some fall fragrances.