It's Almost-Friday and the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm in (OG) Bvlgari Omnia for (Pantone) Hot Chocolate.
Reminder: on 9/12, wear a fragrance that evokes one of Pantone's picks for the Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 NYFW Color Palette. (If you like, click through to the article and pick your fragrance based on the color name or description rather than the color itself, as in "Damson is an intense purple whose contemporary glamour conjures a dramatically vintage feel" or "Cozy and comforting, Hot Chocolate summons thoughts of decadent indulgence and deliciousness", etc.)
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 Box of Chocolate [cropped] by Susanne Nilsson at flickr; some rights reserved.
Good Morning-
Has anyone smelled Hermes Paddock? I get the shopfrance newsletter and I saw they re-issued this one over the summer but I don’t want to blind buy on that price point, but if someone has sniffed it on this blog I might consider.
For Chili Oil color-Ambre Narguile from a sample
Lippy is Rum Raisin by Revlon…
Nice perfume pick. A lipstick question: is “Wine with Everything Pearl” a different animal to “Wine with Everything”?
Yes, one is frosted
In case it helps…
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/straw-stables-and-a-bit-of-s-t-the-fragrant-story-behind-one-of-hermes-most-exclusive-perfumes
Hmm… I am not sure I want to shell out 400 bucks for hay and manure.
Hello.
Sotd is Prada Paradoxe Radical Essence for Winterberry because the bottle is exactly that colour. The pistachio note at the beginning is well done and not plasticky synthetic like some can get (I am looking at you Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato).
I finally lit my Dior 30 Montaigne mini candle after keeping it for so long because it’s too precious. Then I found out the scent had pretty much dissipated during storage. Now I’m kinda bummed. 🙁
House cousin in the Iris absolue.
Aw, so sorry about your candle!
SOTD is The Merchant of Venice Arabesque for Damson. It has a plum note, and the juice is exactly that color.
SOTE is Heeley Iris de Nuit for Lyons Blue. A less straightforward match, but it’s definitely blue and quietly sophisticated.
Oh, and I love today’s picture, Robin.
I might have used this one before…it’s a great chocolate picture!
I’m still wearing incense, with today being Gris Clair from a decant. I am amazed at how many fragrances have incense as a middle or base note that I have never noticed.
You smell great! I have devoted hours to testing and collecting incense fragrances.
i miss Gris Clair! it used to be so easy to get but now it seems to be an exclusive bell jar.
Kinda wish you had posted something other than chocolate lol-now I want a piece.
SOTD is Kelly Caleche-it’s just pretty and easy to wear, and I absolutely loved the ads when they came out.
It is such an easy to wear but gorgeous perfume. Lovely.
Thank you, Kanuka 🙂
House twins
I still want to buy Galop
I still love Galop, and wish I could send you some. Sorry your horse riding came to an earlier end-is your favourite beast feeling better?
I was asking about Paddock-and Robin posted an article above and now I want to try Oud Alezan after reading
While I was in the UK I rode a beautiful horse-
I am sure the horse I had been riding here in the states is enjoying his time upstate…
House Twins (temporarily)
lol temp twin is better than none 🙂
I still have Kelly Caleche on my full bottle wishlist.
I hope the perfume gods find a bottle for you, Jalapeno:)
Well, clearly I need to at least sample Bvlgari Omnia — it sounds wonderful. This morning I’m in Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile edt, and will color-match it with Brandied Melon. After some research into notes, I realized that citron comes through in its top notes most strongly. I get the same initial citron blast in Le Galion Iris, another favorite citrusy iris.
Interesting, can’t decide what color I think IN is to me…
I’m in AG Mandragore from the beautiful Damson color bottle.
I kept the empty bottle of this, due to the gorgeous colour…
The Mandragore bottle was beautiful.
It was a big time debate this morning for either vintage Mitsouko or Coromandel. In the end, Coromandel won out.
Once in a while, I do check the Chanel website to see if they brought back the extrait version of no 5. Nope, it is completely off their website. They have the “grand extrait” bottle but I know of nobody that has $3,500 to get a 7 and a half ounce bottle of it..
I did not realize that Chanel is no longer making No. 5 in extrait except in some ridiculous quantity and price. How can this be? Those little bottles of extrait are classic!!!
I don’t know if there is a supply issue or what but not everyone can sink money into something like that. The smaller bottles of extrait was a once a year treat.
Sotd Hermes Citron Noir again because of the bottle like Lyons Blue for CP.
House twins
HT, you can’t go wrong very often with Hermes!
Update: for me, my body chemistry, and my lingering January fires trauma, Citron Noir has turned into a scrubber. I will replace it with the new Zara Gourmand Coffee I snagged this morning. I got the last bottle. I think the Z Cocoa & Latte would have suited the CP a tad better, but I went to for the tiramisu, I mean the coffee fragrance!
Think I’m going to have add Cocoa Bliss to the collection. It’s passion fruit and peach are irresistible to me!
I don’t have fire trauma, but there’s a woody note in that scent that doesn’t suit me at all. I remember reading it was one of Sali Hughes’ favourites, and I was impressed. Some scents just suit some people. This one wasn’t for me.
Citron Noir was an EPIC fail for me the one and only time I tried it.
Going to go with Indochine today, as it feels like the world is on fire and my desert island fragrance is comforting.
🤗
Love Indochine!
Going to go with Indochine today, as it feels like the world is on fire and my desert island fragrance is comforting.
Agreed.
Sotd is Montale Full Incense for 9/11 Remembrance day.
Burning a BBW candle called Iris & Cedarwood. Beautiful with a prominent orris note. I love that it is a soft and relaxing scent. I also bought the hand soap which smells equally great.
A question for cat owners here, how often do you clean or brush their teeth? It is going to be a challenge to do it on kitty Kito without help. I am sure he will react negatively.
Wishing all a healthy and peaceful Thursday! 🌻
I’ve never brushed any cats teeth, PL67. I do buy those vet treats that are supposed to clean things up but that’s as far as I go with that project. Am I supposed to be doing this?
Thanks for your answer, Carole. The vet told me to start brushing his teeth instead of the treats because the the brush cleaning would be much deeper. But I don’t think I can do it effectively.
I’ve only had this cat for a year, and let’s just say she’s very spirited lol. Think I’d get bitten if I tried. If you find a way let me know. Cats are so idiosyncratic: I had an older cat who needed a syringe of stuff twice a day to keep him healthy-he let me. Never bit or hissed or scratched. He even needed enemas from time to time, and he let me do that too. He was very old and sick when I got him and I think he knew he needed help. Good luck with project teeth.
Your cat had great behavior! You were lucky! My cat is almost 4 month old and also very spirited. He will not allowed me to touch his teeth without giving a good fighting. I am sure I will get hurt. I will try the treats for sure.
Is BBW Iris and Cedarwood an old scent? I don’t see it at our stores here.
I bought the candle two weeks ago. I don’t know if it was released before, but it was the first time I saw it.
I got it directly from the store near me, not online.
Kris, it showed up in my store last week. It was not featured though. They were on the backend of a hand soap display and they were about 4oz in size.
I’m reading bottom up so I am talking about body sprays for the iris. Not candles.
I didn’t know they also have body sprays on Iris Cedarwood. I will have to check then.
I will have to go to our store and see what they have I guess.
We are incense twins today, for the same reason.
Also, I have never been able to brush any of my cats’ teeth. I have been using dental treats for Teflon kitty, but as she gets older, she is less able to chew them.
I’ve heard that some people who DO brush their cat’s teeth use a washcloth instead of a toothbrush.
I am glad to hear that brushing is not a common practice on cats. I used to brush Yei’s teeth without any issues, but looks like doing that on cats is a huge task. Do you have any treats recommendations?
I use the “Greenies” brand of treats. You can find them at quite a few places. They also come in several flavors, so if your kitten doesn’t like one, try another.
Thank you, Jalapeno! I will try the Greenies. The treats is the best option for him and me!
I have never brushed my cat’s teeth. She would likely try to murder me if I tried it. When we first got her from the shelter, the vet displayed her gums, which had some red tracing at the top, and told us we needed to pay to have her teeth brushed or figure it out ourselves. Instead, she has been on Hill’s Science Diet oral care food and dental treats for the last 9 years. I don’t take her to the vet much because she is very healthy, but when I did last year to get her rabies shots to take her into the U.S., they said not one word about her teeth. My take: Somehow cats survive in the wild without a toothbrush. (Yeah, I also know they don’t live as long in the wild, on average, but she’s doing fine with the precautions.)
I am definitely quitting the idea of brushing his teeth. Do you have any specific treat brand to recommend? I like the idea of the oral care food. I will talk to the vet about it.
I’ve been continuing to layer my SL perfumes over Shalimar. Yesterday was Fleur de Citronnier which brought out the citrus aspect, making it a bit more lemony-fresh. Today is Gris Clair for lavender emphasis. So far I’ve liked the vanilla ( Bois de Vanille) and Sandalwood ( Santal Majuscule) the best.
Those are awesome combinations, Kanuka. I might try this too. Love FdC.
I love the Shalimar layering idea too. Thank you, Kanuka!
Shalimar Millesime Jasmin, i suppose in the same shade as Brandied Melon. No melon or brandy in this one, but I’ve really been enjoying the jasmine opening in this bad boy. Shalimar gives me shades of brown like cognac, because of the color of the juice.
I wore this the other day. It is nice.
I was inspired by you! My favorite of the Millesime series alongside the Vanilla.
My favorite I think is still the Iris.
I’m wearing Arquiste Indigo Smoke, and matching it, somewhat surprisingly, with Brandied Melon. Today I am most noticing the fruity aspects of this scent, which generally strikes me more as having an incense-tea smell. It does have mandarin orange, apricot, and bergamot, and before deciding on a match, I was imagining it as an orange color. Although it’s not quite spiced, as is Brandied Melon (in the description), Indigo Smoke has aspects that seem kind of spicy to me, maybe due to the carrot seeds.
Today is my mother’s 94th birthday. I visited her for lunch and took a card and small bouquet. Everyone sang happy birthday to her, but she doesn’t really understand what’s going on much any more. Each year is somewhat reduced. I also took some trays of small cupcakes for everyone, and they’ll have those for their afternoon break later on today.
Happy 94th to her.
One of our library volunteers turned 103
Wow – 103! 🎉
Happy birthday to your mother and to you both for spending precious time together.
Happy Birthday 🎂 to your mom!
Monserrat by Fzotic today. I’m going with Pantone Lemon Grass. The grapefruit note = Lemon Grass, although I really see Monserrat as a whole as more of an apricot color.
It’s still important to celebrate her and your celebration sounds lovely.
Argh – I really messed my post up didn’t I?! I thought I had already posted my SOTD… sorry, Calypso. The second paragraph was for you.
Thank you, and no worries!
Happy birthday to you mother! 🌻
Happy 94th birthday to your mother! 🎉🎉🎉. May all those cupcakes be devoured with great joy and abandon!
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Happy birthday to your mother and how nice that despite her limited understanding you and others participated in a celebration of her life.
Happy birthday to your Mom. 🎂💐
SOTD = MAC Velvet Teddy
I matched this with Brandied Melon even though it’s neither brandied nor has any whiff of melon. The cap of the bottle itself is what made the match. It is a lovely fragrance and another one where despite my howmanysprays8 never goes down in volume. I am not complaining though because one of these days I will see a marked volume dent!
Is that the one that is similar to Tobacco Vanille?
Now that I think about it, yes!
I’m wearing L’Été Narguilé from Divine. It’s a soft spicy tobacco and matches the soft orange of Brandied Melon.
Yay for Divine. i’m really interested to sample more of their perfumes now that I’ve tried Spirituelle.
I did an Alzheimer’s presentation for some retirees today so wore No 5 L’Eau. It’s light, but professional.
Perfect then! Hope the presentation went well.
Thank you. I think it went quite well.
SOTD is Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange, the berry notes blending nicely with the orange, one of my many Pacifica favorites. I have Mediterranean Fig, French Lilac, Malibu Lemon Blossom, Mexican Cocoa, Persian Rose, and Tibetan Mountain Temple, and really enjoy all of them, wish they were still around!
Today’s fragrance is absolutely perfect for what the weather people are calling our ‘second summer,’ a long string of 70’s/ 80 degree temps, lots of 🌞 and low humidity. So much for fall fragrances but no complaints here!
A leisurely day at home making a grocery list and, more importantly, a pet food list 😻😽😸.
Enjoy your evening!
I still have Pacifica’s Persian Rose and Spanish Amber perfumes. So good and what a price point!
Yep! And nice size bottles, too!👍
My sotd is BBW Blueberry Bundt cake. I had a dentist appointment and figured it wouldn’t be offensive.
I am remembering the victims and the heroes of 9/11 today.
I feel like my generation (X) didn’t do a good enough job of passing along today’s significance to the younger generations. Like my parents and grandparents did for me about important events before I was born.
Hugs lillyjo.
Remembering here, too. We were on the road coming home after a trip to Kentucky and amidst all the horror of the day it was almost impossible to get any gas at a gas station – we thought we were going to run out and be stranded, but luckily we made it.
Song of the Day:
https://youtu.be/pGhwBFYtn1s?list=RDpGhwBFYtn1s
It’s that time again.
Almost 90 here this afternoon before the thundershowers and rain rolled thru. Still unsettled as I type.
SOTD = Smell Bent TEN. Peppery incense for the day. No color match for this one.
A sad song but it’s so good.
Gosh, it is that time again!
I’m in Hiram Green Shangri-La today. I don’t think there’s a good colour in the palette above for it. (Richer honeyed yellow, maybe?) I’m getting hit from all directions at work and home, and needed something rich but centred. Single parenting is, for sure, easier with a teen, and I’m only doing it for six weeks (hats off to those doing it full-time). But it’s still a lot of work to balance.
Shangri-la smells wonderful.
Shangri-la is such a special one. Rich honey yellow sounds about right…with a light green tinge maybe?
Scents of Wood Plum in Cognac for the damson color. Took awhile to decide until I remembered I had this. Working from home, so don’t have to worry about bowling anyone over. Tomorrow is a work day, so will go with something light and balletic to go with Primrose Pink.
I am thinking of Primrose Pink tomorrow too 🙂