It's Tuesday and National Pastry Day; also, International Anti-Corruption Day. Birthdays: Joseph Pilates, Redd Foxx, Judi Dench. What fragrance are you wearing?
I have a perfume problem, and I have a tea problem too. The only difference is that I might finish all the tea before I die? Anyway, I'm wearing Marni, with its little hint of cardamom, to match the cardamom I add to the Cascadia Breakfast tea from The Jasmine Pearl Tea Company (that of course I learned about from a reader here).
Reminder: on 12/12, tell us about a personal hobby or interest or any activity you do frequently, other than perfume, and match it to a fragrance. Suggested by Kanuka.
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 Noel Oro teapot ("TAITÙ reinvents Noel with the new collection NOEL ORO. A touch of luxury is given by new elements made from 24 karat gold: the new logo NOEL, of artistic inspiration, the lucky snowflakes and little stars, and the pure gold thread on the edge of each item. For those who love the most enchanting magic of Christmas, NOEL ORO offers a golden Christmas") is €95 at Taitù in Italy.
Today will be my first week back at work after vacation. So it’s back to wearing Cheirosa 62 or Infusion d’iris. It’s Cheirosa 62 today even though it’s really cold out.
Cheirosa is always a good choice!
I hope your first week back goes smoothly and you’re not too shaken out of your vacation vibes!
Hope you are easing back to your working environment.
Recovering after yesterday’s blizzard, and wearing Coromandel EDT. I love how this smells in the cold snowy clean air.
Snow does have a scent, BTW:)
I have a tea addiction too. And since I have too may bottles for my lifetime I’ve been selling a few here and there, mostly backup bottles. Trying to reduce my own clutter.
Coromandel edt is wonderful. All variations are awesome.
You smell wonderful.
Just curious what you are selling and where are you selling it at. I shouldn’t be, but I might be interested.
My backup bottles, so far. It’s on a private facebook site for my country-pretty hard now to send it across the border. Some FM-Musc Rav, Rose Tonnerre, and some Lutens-one bottle of A La Nuit. That was a backup for my backup. I bet I have about 100 bottles, and I only go through about 100 ml per year. So you see my dilemma 🙂
Well, you definitely have some nice ones. Not sure what country you live in, but my guess is that it is not the US.
I’m in Canada, Kris:)
Ok. Thanks😊
Snow very definitely has a scent! As does the air before it starts falling.
Wearing Lune Feline to match one of my favorite winter activities: cuddling with my cat (she’s more like the night than the moon, but her eyes are like two large moons!). In winter, she particularly enjoys lying next to me in bed or napping on the chair behind my back.
How cozy, Glannys!!
Awwwwwwwwwww! 🐈⬛
Hello.
Sotd is Dior Tobacolor. Why did I go looking for trouble and try new scents because I like this a lot. It’s a perfect cold weather perfume. The cat may be safe from this curiosity but my wallet is in serious danger!
Oh, those Diors, so spendy. Years ago I missed my chance at Cuir Cannage for less than a mortgage payment and haven’t stopped kicking myself over it.
House twins – Gris Dior today.
An early good morning! I’m flying to Auckland today for a workshop with my management team. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone, but I’ve had to get up an hour and a half earlier than usual.
I’ll wear Guerlain’s Neroli Outrenoir. I put some in a travel spray, so it’s always a easy grab when I’m flying somewhere and it’s a perfume love.
Have a nice trip today
Hope the workshop went well and you get extra sleep tonight!
I’m in Kerosene Broken Theories this morning, and not finding a way to tie it to any of my non-perfume hobbies (baking, crocheting and gardening). But happy birthday to Joseph Pilates — he and my pilates teacher are the reason I can climb stairs, work in the garden, and get up in the morning without back pain. 💪
Sheri, I love Pilates, too. I’m wearing TF White Suede. It doesn’t go with my hobbies either.
It’s amazing! I call it a stealth workout — even if I don’t get aerobic and sweaty (which you can do with Pilates, but don’t have to at all), the next day always brings little reminders of which muscle groups got the most attention.
Big lover of Pilates here.
Started in my 50s.
It is the only form of exercise that made me feel wonderful in and out when done.
I can’t believe I’ve never done pilates — over the years it seems like I’ve done nearly everything else! I am dating myself but anyone remember Jazzercise?? And did Body Pump for years, and something else franchised that I can’t remember now.
But I am 100% happy with my current exercise routine and have no room for anything more than what I am doing.
I was a jazzercise addict for about 15 years — got dragged into it by a traumatized friend, who lasted about two weeks while I got hooked. I was even a class registrar for about 5 years. Finally had to give it up entirely when my knees couldn’t take it anymore.
Body Pump was even worse for the knees…I am lucky I still have working knees, knock on wood!
Someone in my house was working out their Spotify age ( I don’t use Spotify at all and still play LPs, CDs and tapes -which clearly puts my age at Jurassic) but it made me wonder what my perfume age might be. Would Mitsuoko make me ancient or would Cra-yon Art Life make me young and hip? But that’s as far as I got, idly wondering – as I couldn’t be bothered doing the maths. I was watching the birds at my bird sugar feeder…tuis, bellbirds, silver eyes and bees and so viewing that as a hobby ( watching birds, gazing into space, musing on life’s big questions) I am wearing something sugary sweet: Devotion.
Thank you for the CP theme, Kanuka and for mentioning birds. Mr. allo and I love birding and even watching birds around our house makes us so happy.
Spotify told me I’m 75! 😂
But yeah, by Spotify logic, if you prefer older perfumes you are old!
Kanuka, my car radio is on its last leg. I’ve thought about asking my son to help me with setting up Spotify. Honestly though, I’m just not ready yet!
( I’ve looked into satellite radio, and I am not ready for that either. Plus I think radio should be free)
Lots of local radio stations have apps so you can listen to them on your cell phone if you want to go that route.
Kanuka, still enjoying my Cra-Yon discovery set. Just plinked Vanilla CEO yesterday. Thank you for the enabling!
Another Jurassic era music lover checking in 🙂
For no reason, SOTD is Shalimar MI.
Whatever the reason, you smell lovely!
Thank you😉
Sounds like a good reason to me.
Your Je Ne Sais Quoi smells divine!
“Just because” is the best reason!
As mentioned above, I love birding and am going to match my favorite neighborhood birds with my favorite fragrances this week.
I’m starting with the Steller’s Jay I’ve named “Scrappy” because he’s so loud. Why not start off with a bang in Carnal Flower!
You are bringing out the big guns today Allo. Smelling marvelous!
Haha – I love that connection!
So creative! I love it and bet Scrappy would too!
Smelling great today!
Wore it yesterday! Lovely stuff
National Pastry Day? Good thing I spontaneously decided last night that today’s wear would be SL Jeux de Peau, a bakery in a bottle.
Perfect timing!
DSH Perfumes Ma Folie de Noel, Holiday No. 6. This might be a week of DSH for me. Workout done, oatmeal eaten and off for Christmas shopping with Mr. SP. Have a good day, all.
You’ve already had a productive day SP! Perhaps some indulgence at the mall?
🙂 Yes, if we count ice cream as indulgence. I’m burned out on shopping.
What flavor of ice cream? 😋
Blackberry creme fraiche for one scoop and peppermint cocoa for the other. Delicious!
In Ambre a Levres today for recovery from another round of shoveling & roof raking (have a ranch, so not quite as arduous as it sounds). Tonight we’re anticipating freezing rain followed by more snow!
If you want a fun Prada eyeroll, check out a new accessory they’ll be releasing next year, at the 30:17 timestamp~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UecavXFZhQ
Hope it won’t be too slippery tomorrow.
Whenever I’m tempted to eye roll at fashion I remember our Ziggy Stardust phase and the very questionable choices that made us squee with delight.
The accessory is hilarious. And so is the price. In fact I thought the whole thing was a joke (is it?) at first: tired eyes and messy makeup are the new trend…hmmmm.
But I neglected to mention that you smell wonderful!
Lol! I was thinking the same thing about the makeup.
Roof raking does not sound like fun at all.
I have never even heard of roof raking! And don’t want to know!
Really! I am surprised. It is when the snow/ice gets so heavy and you need to get it off the roof to prevent ice dams. I would think you could get that kind of weather where you live. My husband has done it many times over the years.
PA and NJ don’t get as much snow as the Midwest or Buffalo, NY.
Huh. I have never done it and never seen anybody else do it.
I recently read an article about how “Grandma hobbies” are shown to be beneficial for mental health and are now gaining popularity among the young. The hobbies mentioned are things like knitting, crocheting, gardening, baking, birding…. I realized I’ve been totally into many grandma hobbies since I was a kid! So I’m going to try to do a week of matching grandma scents. Please know I do not mean grandma in a pejorative sense at all, I could never! Only in the most loving and admiring sense.
Starting today with L’Heure Bleue, it smells perfect and reminds me of my grandmother who taught me how to knit.
You would enjoy this article maybe. I read it over the weekend. No affiliation with the journal. https://www.wsj.com/style/design/why-are-so-many-women-dreaming-of-rustic-domesticity-4896e543?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Baking is a “grandma hobby”? News to me!
I learned how to bake as a kid so I could make cookies whenever I wanted. 🤣
Me too.
A hobby I absolutely love is browsing antique shops for old, empty Shalimar bottles—shocking to some of you, I’m sure.
On a recent visit to one of my favorite spots, I found a tiny bottle of Maxim’s de Paris by Maxim’s de Paris, a chypre-floral fragrance I think dates back to the ’80s. That’s my SOTD today.
It feels perfectly on theme, since all the perfumes mentioned in the Jilly Cooper book I’m reading have me craving the beautiful scents of the past.
Tea is Bengal Spice
Ha, that’s a hobby of mine too, LTSG. Do you ever find any bottles that still contain Shalimar extrait?
I used to haunt local antique stores and junk shops, mostly looking at old patterned china, old books and the like. (This time in my life did overlap with perfume but I never really shopped for old bottles.) Luckily I lost my taste for it because now of course I need to be downsizing…
Wearing Serge Lutens Rahat Loukoum from a decant. I smell delish.
I knit (aka shop for yarn and knitting sundries) and I love scouring TJ Maxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods for scented candles. Sand + Fog makes surprisingly good candles, and since I hate paying over $12 for mass market candles it is perfect. I will pay stupid prices for fancy candles. But when i am going to just speed burn something over the course of 2 weeks I am going to spend $12.99 or under!
I also do pilates for exercise, but i’ve been out of that loop for awhile as i recover from an injury. I need to get back into it because the energy boost and the social time are so important for my health, and I definitely notice the difference when i am not actively going to classes.
I can only go to TJ Maxx with a friend. I can’t go at that store alone. lol
You smell delish, twin!👍
You do smell wonderful.
I’ve been wearing Etro Patchouly a lot, and it contains artemesia, and we have artemisia here in the L.A. hills where the dog and I run trails, and sometimes I’ll grab a bit and rub it on my arms, it smells so good. It is also called “cowboy cologne.” There are many different types of artemesia, and I’m not sure what type the Etro uses. So that’s a hobby and fragrance to keep on topic. Right now I’m wearing Chene to try to discern the immortelle note that an NSTer told me is in it, but so far I can’t discern it. I’m not all that great with notes, but it might also be well-blended.
Yum, Chene! I wonder if I can fit that into a hobby this week, hmmm…
I had forgotten to mention it but about ten days ago coming back from grocery shopping I came across a fox sitting on the grass, five minutes from my home. I am a vegetarian so wasn’t carrying anything interesting for a fox at first glance but tore off a big chunk of nut and apricot country bread and offered it and he or she gingerly took it, turned and disappeared in a little path bordered by houses. The fox looked in very good health with magnificent fur and so sleek. I always knew there were foxes in my neighborhood, there is a forest nearby and I sometimes observe a couple at night from my balcony when I can’t sleep but it was only the end of the afternoon. Anyway it made my day.
Vintage Obsession for men today, my brother uses it too when he visits, I’ve always preferred it slightly more than the women version and it lasted so well that I didn’t apply anything else.
Loved your fox story! We occasionally see one in our backyard near our bird feeders and they are beautiful. One time on my way to work early in the morning I saw a fox crossing the street with a squirrel in its mouth, a sight that unfortunately haunted me all day.
Definitely beautiful creatures of the animal world but also cunning hunters alas.
What an interesting encounter! Who would turn down a nice chunk of country bread–smart 🦊.
You’ve mentioned the brand Bienaime; have you ever tried Vermeil?
Sounds like a lipstick scent that’s right up my street, though it contains raspberry, and sometimes the note smells artificial in perfumery.
I felt so lucky. No, I haven’t tried Vermeil, yes, it’s a scent profile I like too, while FM Lipstick Rose didn’t work for me, Carita is also part of the genre, I was so pleased Persolaise mentioned it recently, ten years ago it was also very affordable, nowadays it got discontinued, one of the best Alberto Morillas I ever smelled if you ever come across it.
I thought you were leading up to a Fox in the Flowerbed story!
Me too!
😀
😀💛
I would have taken that bread too! I’ve never tried apricot bread but it sounds delicious. I very rarely see foxes here in the city. I do see a lot of deer though.
https://youtu.be/kRv7EjjwYBI?si=8gyTbZpQZPF4LaZQ
Here’s a song match for you!
Thank you Lillyjo, their hair😀
It’s artisanal and rather expensive but worth it.
Seeing a fox during daylight hours is both magical and a little unsettling.
I don’t know why but it’s become commonplace here. The first time it happened it worried me, but now it’s too frequent to be a sign of something wrong with the fox.
For sure when I moved to PA you never saw a fox except maybe at dusk slinking along the side of the yard. Now sometimes they are lying out in the sun in the middle of the day, seriously.
My one (so far) up close and personal fox sighting was on a golf course in PA. Haven’t seen any in Colorado yet, but my brother assures me they are around. I figure I will probably see a coyote first.
I agree, foxes are mysterious but this one was very gentle.
Twins with nebbe today in SL Rahat Loukoum, a beloved treasure from my one and only trip to France and Paris years ago. Serge Lutens was very popular at that time and Chergui was being talked about a lot. But as someone on whom any fragrance with a tobacco note is overpowering, I didn’t like it at all and opted instead for the Rahat and never regretted it. I don’t wear it as much as I’d like because I don’t want my beloved bell jar to ever empty!❤️
A brief respite today from the bitter cold and snow as temps eked a few degrees above freezing. But rain is on the way tonight which may freeze if the temps drop, and then snow showers tomorrow morning, with bitter cold again by the end of the week with more accumulating snow to follow.🥶. Is it Christmas yet?
Sending ☮️ ✌️ to all!
Glad you got a mini break from the deep freeze. Are 😻😽😺 staying warm?
Yes, kitties are all warm and dry but wishing for more 🌞. We have many windows and the lack of sun makes a noticeable difference. Only 😻😽 like to go out on the screened porch for some bird-watching but only for a few minutes at a time. 😺 says, no, thanks, I’ll just stay inside with Mommy.
Happy Tuesday!
Sotd Zara Cocoa Bliss. The peach and apricot go well with the heat we’re having.
I don’t have Spotify but if Apple Music did it I’d probably be much older because I love jazz from the 50’s and 60’s a great deal. Wes Montgomery was my top artist because I’m always playing his Bumpin’ on Sunset when I drive, especially at night.
I used to listen to mostly jazz, but I don’t now and I don’t know why. Wes Montgomery was amazing but was never really in my collection…I will have to listen to Bumpin on Sunset!
Here’s a YouTube link!
https://youtu.be/dqn3PF_DcSg?si=_ERWuW24qfaM-L_3
Lovely, thanks!
SOTD = Fzotic Ummagumma Extra EDP
Woot! The only regret is “Extra” should have been spelled “Exxxtra” 🤣. I really should wear it once more so without any candles burning so I can smell it without scent interference. It is quite good as it is!
Saturday dinner with friends was excellent! I never really know how many of us will be there and there were 10 of us, one of the largest groups. It was on the expensive side as compared with two years ago but I was not surprised; however, if I wanted to blame it on something, it couldn’t be tariffs, could it? 🤔
Just so I don’t forget, when I found out about the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year – Cloud Dancer, I was quite disappointed (just being honest). There had been quite a few comments such as “Did you forget to read the room?” to “Your choice is about as inspired as mayonnaise” although have you been to the mayonnaise section at the grocery store? I bought 3 types when all I was looking for was kewpie, IYKYK.
People are ridiculous.
I’m glad you had an excellent dinner!
Thank you. Sometimes I just have to shake my head.
My first reaction after seeing the swatch for Cloud Dancer was a profane exclamation of disbelief. I think it’s pretty lame.
Did you ever find the Kewpie?
I agree. It is lame.
I found the kewpie at Wegmans!
As to the Pantone color, the less said the better.
Wild weather here today, in more ways than one. It was around 60 degrees for me. The snow that fell last week is a distant memory. However, I am not giving up my wool socks until April or thereabouts.
Meanwhile, some places in the mountains had hurricane strength winds, power outages, and semi trucks blown over on highways. A couple of highways are closed in northern Colorado due to hazardous travel conditions.
Despite the crazy weather, my replacement package from Sephora arrived this afternoon, which was a day earlier than anticipated. They made it right, and the items that were missing arrived safely. Plus the customer service rep threw in a couple of nice freebies.
SOTD = back in Belle d’Opium today.
Yay for getting your package and freebies!
What did you get?
The goodies? A sample of Ode to Dullness, and a sleeping mask from Laneige.
Sephora once sent me a completely empty box! Fortunately the cust service rep believed me & order was promptly resent, lol.
That’s crazy! Was it during the holidays or a big sale event?
Glad your package finally got replaced! The weather here is kind of crazy too.
Given the volume of packages going to and fro this time of year, I think this was a rather speedy resolution.
You and I are on opposite ends of the crazy weather sine wave. No precip for me in the next 10 days, last I saw.
I’m joining the snow/freezing rain club tonight. My store did so bad for last week’s corporate visit, that they are coming back tomorrow. Lucky me that it’s my day off! Unfortunately, my son will be working.
My sotd was Coco edt. I took my daughter to ulta tonight and sprayed Coco Mademoiselle Intense. I think the Intense smells much more like the original Mademoiselle than the current version.
Your son will be fine tomorrow, I think. He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders.
Thanks for the intel on Coco Mad Intense!
I just looked at the weather forecast and saw the snow you’re getting, be careful out there lillyjo!
I hope the re-inspection went well today!
I am wearing the lovely FM Heaven Can Wait and matching it with my interest in JCE’s creations.
You smell marvellous, I acquired it last quarter.
Flood warnings for the rivers and the streets were flooded this morning, too. I headed for sunshine and now I am warm and dry, wearing Narciso Rouge. I have a lot of hobbies, it will be a job trying to find a scent to match since perfume options are limited here.
Have fun in the sun!
Rouge is on my “to get some day” list.
Glad to hear that you are somewhere warm and dry.