It's our first lazy weekend open thread of the new year...talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the last fragrance you tried and put aside for different weather, the first 2026 fragrance you plan to try (or have already tried), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is 'A winters day!' [cropped] by caroline legg at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy weekend!
The last perfume I tried is also my sotd, Kilian Love Don’t Be Shy. It’s so good I can’t stop sniffing myself. I have tried so many from this house but I don’t know why I always pass on this. It has just the right amount of sweetness that hints at gourmand without being foody. It also smells a little like a packet of skittles which makes it all the more fun to wear.
What I really want to try are the new trio of Essences by Amouage. I am expecting good things.
Robin, that bird is so chubby and cute!
Sotd Guerlain Encense Mythique D’Orient.
Dark, rainy day in the mid 40s. There is a kids party later this afternoon for my twin nieces’ birthday and then a small family gathering tonight. I am working today, so I will join them this evening for dinner. Anything Barbie is all they want for presents, so I am sure they will have lots of fun playing with the new toys.
On my second cup of coffee and a couple of Christmas Peeps that I got on sale yesterday.
Happy weekend! 🌻
The only Peeps I saw on sale were Peeps on a stick. Like a kabob. Lol. They were bigger than regular Peeps.
Happy Birthday to your nieces!
For some reason that sounds rather sinister
Thank you, Lillyjo!
As much as I love Peeps, I have never bought the Kabob ones. They look too intimidating for me! 😂
Smelling fabulous. I almost wore that today. Maybe tomorrow. Have a nice dinner tonight!
Thank you, Kris!
I’m currently in a layering of LVNEA Ghost Pine oil over Fischersund 101. It’s an okay combo, but it reminds me of something that I can’t quite pull to front of mind, and that’s distracting. Meanwhile, my impulse blind buy of Courreges Blanc is allegedly out for delivery today. If/when it gets here, I’ll be removing the GP/101 combo and trying Blanc with medium-high hopes. I am becoming more and more fond of Courreges Seconde Peau, but it is definitely not the perfumath-free score that Blanc was.
Can hardly wait to hear what you think of Blanc.
It’s here, and sprayed on wrists, and so far I like it very much. It seems to be one that smells different up close than it does in the cloud of surrounding scent. It’s still in the early stages, but right now I’m getting a lot more fruitiness up close, while the cloud is more powdery and iris-y. Looking forward to getting to know it better!
That’s a great description of it.
I’m working today and watching it snow like crazy.
I have been re-watching Mad Men. I just started season 2. There’s so much I had forgotten about. Other than 70’s sitcoms and M.A.S.H, this is my favorite show. ( honorable mention to Boston Legal)
I’m wearing Poison Tendre and thinking of Spring. Robin, is it time to start counting down the days yet? 🌼
LOL. I think we have a little while until Spring. Wishful thinking?
Absolutely wishful thinking! Lol.
SOTD is Indochine. Bum Bum cream too.
You smell divine.
Thanks Sheri!
SOTD is Eau Duelle.
There are several fragrances I want to try in spring/summer, since I suspect they need higher temperatures to develop on the skin properly. The latest one is Joyeux Osmanthe.
No scent yet, but thinking about Alahine. We are going to a dinner party tonight – a rare occasion – with a couple of my husband’s college roommates/wives. As essentially empty nesters (son goes back to school for his final semester tomorrow) I feel like we should be having more dinner parties but it doesn’t seem to happen. Enjoy the weekend, everyone!
Love Alahine
I got an envelope full of samples from the Warsaw perfume shop I visited in October. The SA picked them and I am always intrigued by what I get when an SA picks because they are never what I would choose for myself. SOTD is Santa Maria Novella Alba di Seoul. It’s very pretty, green and citrussy, and quite subtle. I like it.
I’m thinking about Chinatown today. A few people mentioned it last week, and that reminded me that I haven’t worn it for a while.
I’m planning to buy a few samples from Luckyscent, but every time I make a list, I read about something new and decide to wait a bit longer to see if Luckyscent gets it in.
Chinatown – my gateway drug.
Chinatown – my gateway drug.
Chinatown – my gateway drug.
Finally seasonably cool here and I can pull out my cool weather favorites.
Lately I have been trying out some samples and circling back to perfumes I have and don’t wear much. I wore Guerlain Insolence EDP and found it too sweet and cloying for me. I think I bought because it was unlike anything I had – maybe there’s a reason for that. I got a sample set from Perfumehead and tried La La Love. I liked it ok, will try it again. Somehow reminded me of Heretic Scandalwood, which I already have in a tiny 30 ml bottle. I don’t know if notes are similar or just the vibe. Today, I am trying out Perfumehead Somewhere which I found ok, not in the running for full bottle. I will probably do Cosmic Cowboy next. I love having samples to try.
My adult son just visited and partially cleaned out his room, which has stayed much as it was when he moved out for college. Most of the left-behind clothes no longer fit him. He was not as ruthless as I had hoped for in the cleanout, probably just culled about 50 percent. I have the unenviable task of trying to get all the cast away clothes to Goodwill. I feel guilty bringing stuff there, seems wasteful, but not sure what I can do with a bunch of men’s clothes that don’t fit me (too big) or my husband (way too small). I pulled out a pair of socks and a small waffle-knit shirt for myself. When my son was a teenager, I would take some of his shirts for myself when they no longer fit him.
I am always scoping out perfume buys for 2026. It is always a struggle between staying with what I wear most of the time (musks, vanillas, incense) versus branching out into perfumes with other notes.
I have an international trip planned for April (Italy). Besides looking at the local perfume offerings, I am planning to check out the duty free shop, also wondering if the tariffs would make that an even better value. Prior stops at duty free have NOT been fruitful. The prices did not seem better and there was not anything I wanted.
I’ve never found anything at duty free. I think my tastes are maybe too niche-y / the mainstream brand fragrances I like are discontinued. But the prices never seem great, either — I was checking German duty frees for Jil Sander No. 4 and the prices were better at drug / beauty stores, actually.
Ok, that is exactly my view. As expensive as perfumes are, I would rather pay more for something I love.
Frapin 1270 for the day. So beautiful and cozy, that dried fruit stew.
Chilly in house. Little space heater on upstairs by my desk.
Been keeping up with office declutter at home and making good progress. Pictures are their own journey that I am not ready for yet.
Was able to fill car the other day and do a drop off at savers of all sorts of things.
First class at library yesterday. We discussed politics. Sigh.
Watched first episode of The Pitt. Watched Death by Lighting and Sherpa Queen. Watched way too much of the news.
Read The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny – a bit too meandering for me.
Read When the Going was Good by Graydon Carter; Gone Before Goodbye; Rabbit Moon; The Art Thief; The Persian.
Best read thus far- There is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone.
Just downloaded last night – Firestorm by Jacob Soboroff about the LA fires.
Lunch tomorrow over by Hermosa Beach with friends, weather should be perfection.
One friend heading to Japan in a few weeks, need to decide what fragrance from duty free will be needed. I have a short list that keeps rotating.
Have a good and safe Saturday, fragrant friends.
We are watching death by lightning.
I like it even if the dialogue seems a bit stiff at times. I have learned a lot!
I like it even if the dialogue seems a bit stiff at times. I have learned a lot!
SOTD = Ponte Etereo for Fumerie Parfumerie EDP
First wearing of the last perfume purchase of 2025 although I really could not swear to it. I love it, just like I love Zoologist T-Rex! Less similar in notes, but has the same overall vibe. If your skin amps up cedar, you may want to stay away.
In other news, here’s a gift article from The New York Times on how to maintain your new year’s FINANCIAL resolutions. I’ll do the summary later because I now need a nap …
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/your-money/new-years-financial-resolutions.html?unlocked_article_code=1.DVA.n2Mu.qM0o2u5Jxa6E&smid=nytcore-ios-share
For the farmers market this morning I dabbed Chanel No 5 from a small perfume mini from
The 90’s. I can only dab No5.
I forget how glorious this smells. Then I sprayed some No5 Leau. After my shower , I haven’t put anything else perfume wise.
Thinning thorough the Sunday paper, and back in my PJ’s for this grey day. Plan on reading more Jilly Cooper while I wait do my hockey romance books. Took down the tree put all the decor away. Plan on church tomorrow to light a candle for a family member that passed. I will wear one of the Chanel numbers for that.. lol.
I meant to say Thumbing, not thinning. Though the paper is a anything but thin this morning..
I’m in Dior Addict today. I’ve had a busy, eventful last few weeks but I’m very happy to get home.
My flight was canceled on Dec 18th; I noticed it when I checked the airport departures in the morning. I waited for an email regarding rescheduling (for about an hour), but I never got anything. So I had to call. I waited on the phone for an hour, but ended up with a fantastic rep who got me on a plane that afternoon. We had to scramble to get to another airport in the area (an hour away), plus I had to finish packing. In the end I was only about 3 hours late from my original flight.
I wore Wrappings on Christmas Eve (our celebration day) due to my nieces and nephew having other commitments on Christmas Day. Otherwise I was mostly fragrance free the last few weeks. I ended up getting sick with a cold 2 weeks ago. I’m mostly better now, just a bit of a cough left.
All in all I had a lot of fun. I made 4 batches of shortbread for Christmas (which one of my nieces rated a “14/10”.
Welcome home Gail!
I’m glad you were able to get another flight and have a wonderful visit.
Smelling awesome as usual!
Sounds like a good visit despite the cold you ended up with on your trip. That shortbread sounds delicious!
A dark and dreary morning with rain changing to snow flurries had my hand reach for a winter dark fragrance rather than a winter white one, YR Rose Oud. A deep damask rose scent created by Annick Menardo and Olivier Crisp, two of my favorite perfumers. The 🌞came out for a bit this afternoon but more snow predicted for tonight.
Had a nice Zoom visit with some old friends today, and even though we’re not football 🏈 fans we’ll probably watch the Bears/Packers playoff game tonight which, if you live anywhere within the Chicago area, is all that’s been talked about for days on end here.
Happy Saturday night! ❄️
I am watching it right now! I am a Vikings fan, since I am originally from Minnesota, but want the Bears to win.
Well, you got your wish! They won in spectacular fashion. Even though I’m not a football fan, it was exciting to watch their comeback. And I do like Caleb Williams a lot, talented, classy and professional.
sotd = Infusion d’Iris edt
There was a mention of this one on NST yesterday, and I’m glad to give it some wear time today. I love it right after a shower, it feels perfect. 😍
Rain, rain, and more rain here. It wasn’t a good day for the farmer’s market, but being out of fish I really had to go. It was a good day to see “Blue Moon” in a matinee at the local theatre that Cineplex recently abandoned but which was picked up by a local art house.
I’m trying Mendittorosa scents today, again, but I’ll move back to Wild Coast tomorrow. I’m realizing I didn’t get the set I’d ordered from them, but I’m enjoying the scents nonetheless. They’re all very well made (today I tried Lacura and Alfa), though none has really captured me yet.
Sunday, and it’s −12 °C (10 °F) here. I am wearing EL Knowing (old version). Old-school chypres are wonderful in cold weather.
I’ve also made the main page of my perfume tracker a bit prettier, adding a cover and icons:
https://mangrove-mammal-cf0.notion.site/Perfume-Tracker-2deeef83fa8f80c59fa2cab95da10459
Still a work in progress, both in terms of data and layout.
Wow, that’s really detailed!
I like it!