Same old open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last great perfume you smelled on someone else, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is La Ventana [cropped] by Christian González Verón at flickr; some rights reserved.
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This week, I have been getting a lot of wear out of my most recent purchase, a bottle of DSH Pandora. I just love this perfume, and it is *perfume*, not just scent. For those who were wondering–yes, the bottle is just as beautiful in person as in the photos, maybe even more so. It completely fits with the beautiful contents. Testing a couple of DSH scents this morning–Inner Sanctum and Dirty Rose. So far, I am liking Inner Sanctum a lot. It reminds me of C&S Dark Rose.
Oh, then I need to try Inner Sanctum!
I managed to eke out another drop or so from my vial of Dark Rose, just to make sure. IS and DR are both “dark” smelling rose/oud type of scents. After a couple of hours, though, I found the rose in IS seems to fade away, leaving mostly the dark base, whereas the rose in DR seems to stay around for the drydown, and it never approaches the depths of IS. I guess I would say that DR is a rose with a dark base and IS is a dark base with some rose, if that makes sense. I really do like IS, though. I know there have been an awful lot of ouds lately, but it predates the recent glut of them, and it is smoother smelling than many others. Many ouds seem too harsh, whereas IS seems to have had the rough edges smoothed out.
Thanks for this review, L. IS has been on my “to sample” list for a while so I appreciate a rose expert’s take!
I had an amazing week! I spent the whole week with my samples from Histoires de Parfums, each day writing a review of the scent I was wearing then. I didn’t expect it but many people joined the discussion on my reviews, they really liked them and I met some very interesting people there and I became net-friends with some of them. They were very supportive to me.
And I finally started my cycling season after a winter hiatus. I really missed my bike.
SOTD is Police Pure DNA.
What fun — which ones were your favorites?
I’m very much into 1725 (what a wonderful aromatic-fougere), 1969 (great peach with chocolate) and 1889 (joy and fun closed in the bottle). But they all are great!
A great way to spend the week, Lucas! I also love 1969, and I’m making a note to try 1725 and 1889 again.
Try and then tell me how did you like them.
Happy weekend, all! I haven’t settled on my scent today. I have a date (#3!) with a very nice fella this afternoon, and I haven’t decided what to wear, yet. Date #1 was Lipstick Rose and date #2 was Ormonde Woman. (He sent me an email about 4 days later saying that my scent was on his sweatshirt from our parting hug–and that it brought a smile to his face! *grin*)
Today we will go out for lunch and then, hopefully, take a walk at the Rhododendron Gardens (weather permitting). Since he liked OJ Woman, I’m tempted to wear another OJ scent, Orris Noir. I only have samples, but I like it very much and it has a common thread with OJ Woman.
I guess I hafta wait and see what inspires me!
I love both of those OJs! In fact, they are both on my list for a fb purchase. I’m sure your date will appreciate whatever you wear. Have a fun evening!
Sounds like so far, so good And he clearly has good taste in frag… Lots of luck, ‘n holding thumbs for you!
How sweet! Have a wonderful date.
Ahh, how wonderful. Love OJ Woman. Have fun!
How exciting! Hope you have a lovely time. Please report back on your fragrance choice, and as much of the date as you’d like to share! Any of the OJs are lovely, and as you’d guess from my moniker,OJ Woman is a favorite
Be well, no, be amazing.
“be well, no, be amazing”
*LOVE* that! Thanks for the well-wishes! He seems to be a pretty great guy, so here’s fingers crossed!
Have fun! Let us know what you decide to wear. Nice guys are hard to find.
I sent you some samples. Did they ever get there?
Excellent choices! Please let us know what you chose & what happened afterwards…
Ok all you nosie nellies! : D
The date was wonderful! I wore Orris Noir, and he said I smelled amazing! I *really* like this guy, so I don’t think I’ll jinx it by discussing details over the internet, but imagine me with my big, cheesy grin!
Yippee!
Yay!!! A gentleman with clearly excellent taste in fragrance and companion. Hope you continue to have great fun. Orris Noir is lovely, and I may have to bust some out as SOTE in solidarity. Thanks for sharing your smiles with us. . . know I wish you the best, always.
Thank you so much for your support! It is so much fun to be excited about a fella again! It’s been a while! (And it really is fun that he enjoys my scents! Although he’s made it pretty clear that he has no interest in wearing them himself.
)
Yummy! I predict a lot more Ormonde Jayne in your future!
How does one determine that one is a ______ amplifier? I’m beginning to suspect that I’m a cinnamon amplifier, mainly because both Musc Ravageur and Chaos seem to be all cinnamon on me, and especially because Chaos didn’t seem particularly cinnamon heavy on paper. Of course, I was also compulsively smelling my arm when I wore each of those and put them on the full-bottle wishlist…….
I think you have hit on it right there. If a particular note seems much more intense on your skin than on paper, that suggests that you are amplifying that note. (If, OTOH, the note was really intense, on both paper and skin, to your nose, but not to others, it would instead suggest that you are hyperosmic to that note.) Did this happen just once, or on several occasions? If it happened only once, it is possible that the perfume was interacting with something else on your skin rather than the skin itself. It could have been your soap, lotion, or even something you had eaten recently that affected your skin chemistry that day. If it happens repeatedly, then you are probably amping that note.
Ah, this is a good distinction! What you amplify versus what you are very sensitive to! I think I am very sensitive to cedar, which I cannot seem to not notice if it is a note. I always feel like it dominates the scent and smells like B.O. Sad, because so many well-regarded scents use cedar!
MJ – often the note listed as “cedar” is iso e super, which will dominate a scent for some people (me!). Real cedar (Va. or Tx. and technically a Juniper) or Atlas Cedar are all fairly moderate, Atlas being the mildest.
Oh, good information! I had noticed that scents that feel fuller/more natural seem to be “safer” than the more commercial scents. Maybe this is the reason?
I’m pretty sure that you’re right. Iso e is the “note du jour” that is not actually listed. It’s in a lot of scents and often in heavy amounts. Too much of it and I’m anosmic to it, although I avoid actually wearing scents with it as it makes me queasy.
They were each tested once, months apart. Am thinking of testing them on the same day, on separate arms to see if I still perceive them both as just cinnamon
(If I am reading your comment right) you are lucky you are a magnifier of something you LIKE! I magnify amber. I do not like amber.
I never thought of it that way!I guess it’s good that I like cinnamon. Howmany perfumes did you try before you figured out that you magnify amber?
I kind of figured it out when I tried Cuir Mauresque b/c it smelled all kinds of sweet and cheap, unlike the way it smells on just about everyone else. Before that I had several (amber) fails but did not know the source of the fail. I can wear some ambers but as a rule the note is amplified, and with some brands the entire composition of the frag is altered: as a rule I can’t wear Lutens with amber listed as a note.
I have the same problem with patchouli. And I hate patchouli…..
I have been on a hunt for a scent to join me on my vacation in June. I think Phaedon Coton Egytien has made the cut with Molecule One riding shotgun. CE is wonderful and the excuse I was looking for to pop for one of those handsome amber bottles. That Molecule is an enigma. I don’t think I smell it, but the arm I apply it to smells different from my bare arm. Hmm? I finally got to sample Deneuve this week. Wow, do I love it! I am learning so much from all of you.
Happy Cinco my scent peeps!
The Molecule scents are fun — I don’t always smell them either. Sometimes I do better on a humid day, outside, then inside in cooler drier air.
I was hoping some humidity would up Molecule One’s game! Will trot it out at the beach, as opposed to the dry desert.
I am looking for a good desert sent. The Hermes Mousson is too damp and fruity. I just sampled the Tauer, and it is nice, but a tad theatrical. I hope to find an AZ desert scent with a big creosote/chaparral note.
Looking for suggestions.
I just tried Arizona by Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes a couple of days ago. Though it wasn’t really for me, it definitely reminded me quite a bit of being out hiking in Arizona! Here’s the description: “Experience a walk through the pine forests and clearings of the Arizona high country on a sun-warmed summer day. Notes of ponderosa pine, juniper, sagebrush and chaparral with just the slightest hint of high desert wildflowers. All natural.” Samples are very inexpensive at their site: http://www.orchidscents.com. I adore their Midsummer Day’s Dream fig scent!
Thank you for the tip! I want to order her sample pack. I would have never found this on my own!
Deneuve is gorgeous.
The sun has finally put in appearance, and warmer temperatures have made me feel that the SOTD is Pacifica Mediterranean Fig. Hopefully there’s a bit of humidity outside, because I find it makes PMF bloom beautifully. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Hope you had a great day!
I ordered a sample from Providence Perfumes Co and got a free sample of their spring release Lorelei. I’m liking the free sample a lot better than the one I ordered! It’s a lovely fresh spring floral scent. My SOTD is JARdenia, as I’m taking it for a test drive. I smell like a gardenia past its prime and had gone into blue cheese territory. I just don’t see what the fuss is all about. I shall have to spritz myself with something that is not going to make me smell rank later.
CORRECTION. EnVoyage Perfumes! Not Providence Perfume.
Thank you — was about to go look for Lorelei at PPC!
Happy weekend everyone! My SOTD is Annick Goutal Le Chevrefeuille – it’s hot enough that I needed a spritz of summer refreshment!
Another scent I’ve been enjoying recently is Kelly Caleche. I have a wee bottle of the EDP. Never tried the EDT. Can anyone speak to the differences between the two formulations?
I can’t tell you the difference between the EDP and EDT since I only have the EDP. But I love AG Le Chevrefeuille. I got a sample the other day and have purchased a full bottle yesterday. It instantly transports me to summer and I love the lemon-tea-like note.
I love Chevrefeuille too! That, and L’Artisan’s La Haie Fleurie are the only ones that that really do smell like the growing flowers to me, and I have often received compliments when wearing the Goutal. I would love to hear of any recommendations for other perfumes that are so realistic.
I really enjoy Annick Goutal perfumes in general for that natural feeling! I enjoy abstract compositions too, but there’s something lovely about the realism of AG’s floral accords. I always get effusive compliments on Le Chevrefeuille and Songes… worlds apart, but love the first for lemon-tea greenery and honeysuckle, and the latter for the opulence of tropical blooms.
I don’t know of any other honeysuckle fragrances are realistic as Le Chevrefeuille, but then again, I haven’t bothered to look!
Thanks, Magpie. I guess that’s the way I feel. And maybe if one has found a pretty perfect representation, there really isn’t any need to look for more! Trouble is, I think some perfumistas (well, me) have a bit of a “grass is always greener” philosophy and think that there has to be an even better perfume just around the corner.
I only own the EDT but sampled the EDP quite a while ago. It seemed heavier on the floral aspect. I remember liking the EDP better, but I want to finish my bottle of EDT first. I put a link to Bois de Jasmin’s excellent review of KC. She comments on the differences between the 3 concentrations.
http://boisdejasmin.com/2009/07/hermes-kelly-caleche-perfume-review.html
I’ll take a stab at the difference. They are clearly the same scent (with different takes):
** KC edt – more vegetal
** KC edp – more rose and leather to my nose; deeper, richer and slightly more ambery woody
Thanks for the input! Just what I needed to hear. I love the vegetal quality of Kelly Caleche, but I don’t want to lose out on the rosy facets!
I tried Jo Loves… Green Orange and Coriander last night and was quite thrilled with it. It’s a perfect summer scent. Very, very pleasantly surprised.
I got Gardenia and Orange Tulle and was also pleasantly surprised. I think they are so very different from the Jo Malone lines.
Gardenia was the other one I ordered, but I haven’t tried it yet.
I was worried that Green Orange and Coriander would be A) overly sweet or B) lacking enough coriander, but it was a really sharp fresh green citrus with tons of coriander. The staying power was good. Very well-done. Wish they were shipping to the US…
A big shout-out to Tama for last month’s excellent SF Sniffathon. Another success (and in spectacular summery weather, too)! Also, a brand-new big SF perfume event is coming up July 7-8, so get in touch with her for details.
Sniffathon – I love the word!
I’m on the other coast and haven’t been to these SF dealios, but I just wanted to say: Tama rocks.
The sun came out today and the garden I’d glittering with droplets. SOTD is AG Un Matin d’Orage. Ah, just right.
I wore my sample of OJ Woman a couple of times this past week, and both times I thought I was smelling it on someone else, as if it were performing some kind of ventriloquist act. I don’t suppose anyone has experienced this phenomenon?
Tom Ford Santal Blush has a wood effect close to the skin but IMO radiates an “aura” of warmth and amazingness that seems removed from the skin, not so much as if it’s coming from someone else but still as if it is coming from a distance.
During a game of “what is your superpower,” my husband claimed that his was to make other people nicer. It was a didactic moment intended for his young daughter’s benefit. But hey, if I wear this magic juice, I could claim the superpower “making others smell wonderful”!
LOL+agree, your power to make others smell like OJ Woman definitely qualifies as a superpower!
Un Matin…..my favorite!
Ormonde Jayne Champaca has had that effect on me!
During the Sniffathon I mention above I bought Serge Lutens Bas de Soie, which had been on my list for some time. I love it and am glad I bought it, but the purchase led to an unexpected question.
It’s edp in a 50ml splash bottle (tall, flat rectangle, not the bell-jar style) and was packed in the box with something I at first thought was a spray atomizer but turned out to be a sort of dipstick with a screw cap. What exactly is this? – or rather what’s the point of it, I might ask? I’d prefer spraying this scent to dabbing it on, but if I have to dab it I might as well do so straight from the bottle. That skinny stick doesn’t apply enough, and since it touches the skin it doesn’t really prevent contaminating the juice either. Will I have to decant my SL in order to get it in a spray bottle?
Are you sure? it should be a spray atomiser with a pull off cap. You screw it into place then take off the cap which should reveal the spray mechanism. Once done, it will, however, be just a smidgen taller than the box which is a bug bear of mine.
Abyss, I can screw the dipstick-contraption onto the bottle, but can’t remove its cap. And the “stick” itself is much narrower than the pipette of any spray-bottle fragrance I own, so it doesn’t seem well-suited to the purpose. If it weren’t such a long trip, I’d take it back to Barney’s and ask them if they could figure it out. So strange!
Okay, I just did a quick image search – does it look like this (cap on)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313b1HJqqlL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
And here it is with cap off
http://lenoma.ru/upload/iblock/160/serge_lutens_rousse.jpg
If that’s what you have then it does sound like the cap is just a bit tight. I’ve noticed it before on some SL testers which seem to have caps that are tighter than others.
Good luck!
The “before” picture looks exactly like what I have now, but I can’t get the cap off the spray-nozzle – while trying to do so I pulled the pipe off but managed to get it back into place. I’ve just put the whole would-be atomizer into the freezer for a while to see if contraction will help free the cap. If not, I may have to make a special trip to Barney’s for a replacement bottle.
Thanks for taking the time and trouble to help me out, Abyss. We’ll see what happens!
Update: after a half-hour in the freezer and a firm twist by a strong-armed friend, the cap finally let go of the atomizer. I’m going to store the bottle with the plain cap on it, keep the uncapped atomizer loose on my perfume shelf, and put the atomizer in the bottle only when I want to apply the fragrance!
There should be an atomiser top in the box.
There’s a top, but it won’t atomize – see my reply to Abyss.
How odd. I’m looking at my SL atomiser bottles and the straw is very thin but it works fine. It sounds as if your cap is just stuck.
Hi peoples. I’m still new here, I’ve posted a couple of comments in response to other peoples’ comments but this is my first self serving question! Does anyone know how Corolian compares to its rerelease as L’Ame d’Un Heros? I like the latter which is really pretty (!) except for its steep price. I’ve heard original Derby is more manly than new Derby. Is Corolian likewise more manly / less subtle than its Parisienne counterpart?
First of all – welcome! I can’t answer your question from personal experience, but Monsieur Guerlain has a wonderful description and from his writing, it doesn’t sound like they reformulated when they re-released it.
http://monsieurguerlain2.blogspot.com/2008/06/coriolan.html
And you’ve earned your first stone for your enabler’s pin as I really want some of this!
Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out. And the pin. I will wear it with pride and hope to acquire more.
I can’t help you with your question but just wanted to say hello and welcome
Yup! Welcome, Lys! You can’t find a more generous, informative, entertaining bunch! (And they’re very helpful/enabling, too!)
Thanks for the welcomes! Glad to be here!
Adding to the welcomes!
I was up at Yosemite Valley a week ago, and found that my interest in bottled fragrances translated well to the outdoors! I spent a lot of time sniffing trees, barks, wildflowers, forest debris, riverbank rocks, just about everything had really interesting odors that somehow I never have examined before!
One fragrance really struck me — the one hot day, when it hit 82 F in the camp, I noticed where the sun hit the red brown Ponderosa Pine Needles and Pine cones that had fallen down on the ground over the last season, the most amazing warm pine fragrance was released. It wasn’t sharp and green like pine sol, but a pine that was warm, soft and comforting like I had never expected. An ‘aged in the wood’ scent, very rich. There was also a nice background odor from the huge incense cedar trees in the area that I quite enjoyed.
I must look like a ‘nut’ going around and obviously sniffing things, but it’s becoming a wonderful hobby.
Any suggestions on how to go about ‘smelling’ things without being obvious? I don’t feel odd about it while I’m in the great outdoors, or in a flower garden (Roses are in bloom at the Race Street San Jose Rose Gardens) but in town I’d like to be less apparent.
I adore the scent of warm pine needles. It’s all I can do not to creep along the ground sniffing like a hound. Lacks dignity.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences in Yellowstone. So evocative. I wouldn’t worry at all about how you appear when you’re sniffing things. I’m always stopping to take deep inhales when a scent hits my nose and my friends are used to my, ehem, eccentricities. Strangers, well, I guess you could say I just don’t care!
Amen! Enjoy, and don’t worry about what other people think.
Your description has transported me back to Yosemite. I was there a couple of years ago in winter and the damp scent of pine and cedar was just as wonderful.
The bark of Ponderosa pines smells good, too. I think it is a resin secreted by the tree that collects on the bark. I am sure I made a fool of myself when we were walking around Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, as I kept stopping and smelling the trees. It was something like vanilla with a touch of cinnamon or caramel.
Most people will probably think, “There goes someone who really knows how to ‘stop and smell the roses’ – I should do that more often, too!”
What Noz said!
Yes, that is what I *hope* people are thinking! I have a habit of tearing a little bit of something off of plants and sniffing them as I walk in natural places. (I’ve been known to slowly defoliate and remove the bark from young stems as I wander, sniffing the whole time.) But I admit, even stopping to smell a flower (lilacs this time of year!) makes me a touch self-conscious!
Hello,
Have you tried SL’s piney Fille en Aiguilles? I womder if it smells like the real thing!
No, I haven’t, but I will look for it. If it is as warm and deep as the pine from the winter’s needles, I would love it.
The only needly tree scents I can think of in fragrances that I like are the Clinique Wrappings (their christmas seasonal) and I think that is more a sharp fir.
Breathe deeply, sniff as you like. If someone gives you a strange look, say “Nature is so beautiful to all the senses, come smell this soft, warm pine.”
Was so excited about my sample review week that I almost forgot to ask: How are my friends doing?
Hi Lucas and happy Cinco de Mayo AND happy Derby Day! A very warm and wet weekend here, but fun – the entire state is drinking and partying!
How about you? Great reviews btw. Thank you!
We had a summer-like week, so I finally jumped on my bike after a winter hiatus. And at this very moment a giant thunderstorm is happening above my city.
Are you talking about my comparison review of Eau Sauvage & Eau Sauvage Extreme I posted last week OR did you happen to follow my HdP reviews at Basenotes?
Basenotes.
So you’re there too? Did you join the discussion or just read them? Could it be that we’ve been talking there and I didn’t know it was you because of a different username?
I can join in the discussions (am a member), but I pretty much limit my discussion to a couple of blogs, and just lurk on the rest as the mood strikes.
Otherwise, I feel guilty if I have to abandon someone due to getting too busy.
So you’ve found that thread I started and joined as a quiet observator, right? I don’t mind at all, I’m happy you liked them.
Hi Lucas! I’m just going to jump right in and assume I’m on the friends list.
Your reviews have got me thinking I need to try Eau Savage, among other things. I’m feeling tired and lazy today. Too many gray days in a row I think. I tried to take a nap but my little poodle decided she wanted to start barking in the kitchen to try and get an early supper and my big poodle thought that would be the perfect time to get on the couch with mommy and chew on his squeaky toy right in my ear. Nope, no nap today.
So your poodles are some nasty nap-takers
I’m glad you liked that review, Eau Sauvage is really worth trying, it’s extreme version too. And there will be also Eau Sauvage Parfum which is about to launch in mid-may. I wonder how it is… Might be either great either terrible, it’s created only on 3 notes: bergamot, myrrh and vetiver.
Good that you jumped in – of course you’re on a friends list
Hi, Lucas! I had dental surgery this week – a bit scary, but all’s well, and it’s given me time off from work that I needed to dive into Denyse Beaulieu’s wonderful book The Perfume Lover. What will people think if they ask how the surgery went and I say, “Wonderful!”?
My mum had a dental surgery few years ago, her cheeks were swollen for a week and she could barely speak that time. At least you got some free time. I had an entire free week now because we celebrated Polish Constitution anniversary. That gave us few free days, but schools and universities had a week off.
I always wanted to read some of those books about perfume but first of all they’re not being translated here (but that’s a smaller problem as I understand English) but the bigger problem is that they’re barely available or, if they’re available, the price is extremely high – almost the cost of a good bottle of perfume! Insane!
Wow – as much as a bottle of perfume is too much! Have e-readers like Kindle arrived in Poland yet? Although I don’t think the book I’m reading is available on Kindle yet.
FYI, Lucas, I heard recently that some of the most elite US universities (like Harvard, I think) are putting their courses online for free. One can’t get the degree that way, but there must be some interesting and useful offerings.
No doubt it’s too much. No, Kindle is not here yet. If I happen to visit London in early September (I’m planning to do so, but don’t know if this plan will work) maybe I’ll grab one of those books along with a bottle of some nice perfume (of course that would be perfume from the “unavailable in Poland” section)
Thanks for the information. At the moment I have a lot to do at my university, I’ll be getting my 1st degree in two months time, but I’ll be sure do drop by their sites later and check if they offer something of my interests.
It should come with a sprayer. I’m looking at my Lutens now, and you can’t see the sprayer until you remove the cap, there is no seam between the two — are you sure it’s not a capped sprayer?
(obviously a misplaced reply, to ggperfume – sorry! also I see Abyss has posted the same suggestion.)
It may be, but I can’t get the cap off at all! I’m afraid of breaking the mechanism or spilling half the bottle’s contents if I wrestle with it any harder.
I forgot to put this in my original comment but congratulations on your purchase – BdS is so pretty!
Really weird question: anyone have input on Mrs. Meyers cleaning products in terms of fragrance? I like the scouring powder and dish soap, even the all purpose cleanser, but struggle with fragrance. I tried the geranium, and it’s okay, the lavender, also okay. Hated the basil. Visited a friend who had the parsley, and I loved it, but now it is only out in the hand wash. Has anyone smelled the rosemary, rhubarb, honeysuckle or bluebell? Just wondering.
If you have another line and particularly like the scent, let me know. I’m in the market for new dish soap and cleaner, and nice smelling products encourage me to clean
Lol about your last sentence! I need as much motivation to clean as I can get! I’m not sure how much help I’ll be since my favorite is the Basil and I hate lavender scents (usually allergic). I do really like Geranium. Honeysuckle is just too pale and not at all like the blooms, imo. I like the Rosemary but it does linger on my skin and then I get hungry for a lemon-rosemary rubbed pork loin, lol! I haven’t smelled Rhubarb and had no idea about Bluebell, so I’m going to have to make a stop at the organic grocery store today and check them out!
You are not alone – that basil is vile! I bought the dish soap and had to give it away. I bought the rhubarb hand soap, but haven’t opened it up yet. I sniffed it in store and it was very realistic to my nose. The method hand soaps are nice and have large refills, to save on $$ and packaging, but they do discontinue scents as Robin noted. I loved lemon mint and that was a limited edition.
Oh gosh! My favorite is the basil, but if you don’t like it, then I’d guess I’m not the right person to make a suggestion! Hopefully someone else can be more helpful. Good luck (with scent and cleaning)!
So far, have not liked any M. Meyers scents. Was really fond of a few from Seventh Generation, then they discontinued all my favorites. So I’m in the same boat — need some new nice smelling cleaners!
A line that I really like is Fruits & Passion Cucina Coriander and Olive Tree. I don’t know if they are available in the US, but they can be purchased online, and they have a number of other scents. The website is fruits-passion.com for the US.
Someone tried the rhubarb and mentioned it in Kevin’s review the other day and I think they liked it. Of course I did not go back and look but I think that’s where I saw it because rhubarb was being discussed.
My favorite is the lemon verbena. Have you tried that one? It’s not as strong as the other ones. I liked the geranium at first, but it is strong strong it smells up the whole house. Lemon verbena is more subtle and less perfumey.
Hi there. Check out the Method range- they are more natural, effective and smell great. The Clemetine dish soap is gorgeous and the Eucalyptus Mint Bathroom Cleaner leaves a lovely scent behind. Their all-purpose spray in Lavender or Pink Grapefruit is lovely as well.
I’m in the UK and just looked at the US website and you have much more of the range than we do… Jealous!
I like the rosemary laundry soap for sheets and towels.
Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into the Method products and Fruits-Passion products. (Coriander and Olive tree sounds wonderful!!) I went by one of the high end markets here that carries things like this, and they had the Caldrea line, but it was far too dear for my pocketbook. I’ll pay $2-3 extra for my dish soap, but not four times the normal price. . .but the Neroli sea salt and the Ginger Pomelo were enticing! There was another brand with frankincense and myrrh laundry wash that called to me strongly, even though its price was high and I don’t need laundry soap.
I think going back and reading Victoria’s award winning article on functional perfumery over at Bois de Jasmin reinvigorated my search. Even when I was a student in a ratty apartment, with no budget for perfume, I’d spend lots of time choosing a bar of soap for my bath, or dish soap, or fabric softener. I’m the person unscrewing caps, sniffing the products in the store! Unfortunately, I tend to be the kiss of death for products; things I love don’t seem to market well.
And to all the Mrs. Meyer’s Basil fans, I’m sorry! I initially loved it, bought it in *all* the different products of the line, which was likely just overkill. I burnt out on it! Now I focus on one or two products; dish soap, scrub and or the general cleaner. I’ll keep looking. . .and that’s part of the fun, right?
Thanks again for your help.
Hi hemlock! I know it’s spendy but I have found the Caldrea dish soaps to be worth every scent. I went from never touching a dirty plate to literally looking forward to doing dishes because of how much I love sea salt neroli and basil blue sage. Have tried some others over the years but not remembering the names. The Caldrea scents are so good (practically fine fragrance as opposed to functional) that mrs Meyers feels crude in comparison. The method packaging I find a bit ugly so I don’t go there. Ps. I promise I don’t work for Caldrea! I prefer I scented cleaners for most of the house but those dish soaps are divine. Good luck with your search!
Oh! Meant to say i prefer UNscented cleaners for the rest of the house.
BASIL BLUE SAGE! I bought some of this for my brother and we both have the same reaction. “Can’t stop cleaning! Love this smell!” (Got the spray cleaner.)
SOTD is Laurie’s forest scent that she’s blogged about. It is getting very close to being released so stay tuned peeps – it’s gorgeous and very different from most SSS scents.
Happy Derby Day and happy Cinco de Mayo!
Oh good, I’m up for a forest scent!
Me, too. Looking forward to it!
Oh, I am so curious about this one! The perfume that reminds me of a forest is OJ Woman. Can you tell me if the SSS smells anything like it?
Roses – Laurie’s Forest Walk is what I wanted OJ Woman to be! All I got in Woman was violet amped by iso e. Laurie’s forest scent is mostly hemlock with added green notes, just the faintest whiff of some light floral, and deep earthy notes. She’ll be ready to send out samples soon, or I’ll be happy to send you a sample when I buy my bottle.
Ormonde Woman was alll amber on me after a brief, brief greeny bit. Laurie keeps getting more interesting all the time, doesn’t she?
Yes, she does! She’s also working on a take-off of Champagne de Bois which might work for the folks who didn’t get along with the original CdB. The new version has osmanthus.
I’m pricking up my ears: the predominance of iso e super in OJ Woman has kept me from loving it, and the hemlock notes that I do love don’t last. Time to visit SSS and catch up on this line!
If you go to Nathan Branch’s blog, Laurie and Mandy did a series of letters about their respective new scents. Also, Laurie has talked about Forest Walk on her blog. I think you’ll enjoy this.
Rappleyea, you intrigue me with your talk of Forest Walk. Popping over to Laurie’s blog now!
I’ve been looking forward to sampling this ever since she started blogging about it. I really admire her work – even in the ones that are absolutely not me are so well thought out and executed – so well done.
I agree! Her floral/musk ones aren’t me, but I can appreciate how well done they are, and also the quality of her materials. When you try this one, let us know what you think of it.
This is exciting news! I love the name “Forest Walk!”
Me too. And my OJ Woman bottle is almost empty.
SOTD is Amouage Dia since I managed to find a bottle at a really great price. The plan was to get Sycomore and buy Dia at some point in the future but I just couldn’t pass on such a great deal. Oh, well, I’ll just have to get Sycomore for my birthday in June
Also I’ve been practicing making macaroons this week. They have a reputation for being notoriously difficult but I did a bit of swotting up and my first attempt wasn’t all that bad so I’m feeling pretty encouraged.
Enjoy your Dia and hope you get Sycamore for your birthday! I’ll be trying Beloved as soon as I can get my hands on a sample. Funny you mention macaroons. They are tricky to get them right, but had fun making some last week. Yum!
Thank you! Dia has probably been on my wish list longer than any other perfume so it’s nice to be able to finally cross it off. I’m really looking forward to trying Beloved; Amouage is one of my favourite houses and Jessica’s review really piqued my interest.
I had fun making macaroons too! I’m not a natural baker but I like a challenge
Plus, nobody really sells them here so I either have to wait for visitors from London to come bearing Ladurée boxes or learn to make my own.
I ordered a sample set of Vero Kern, and got a mail today to tell me that they are on their way. I think I am getting both EDP and extrait samples, I am very much looking forward to trying them.
Fragrance of the day is Shalimar, in extrait. It is such a dreary day today, gray cold and rainy, so it was the right choice. It has cheered me up a lot!
Fun, hope you’ll like them!
Well I think I will be intrigued at the very least. It was so nice to get that email from the perfumer herself. It makes the whole experience more interesting somehow.
Do you like any of the three?
I have a longtime love/hate relationship with both Onda and Rubj. They’re both very well done but don’t totally work on me, but I’m always wanting to try them again. I am interested in her work & wish she’d do a new fragrance!
New Vero Profumo coming out soon, according to Birgit at Olfactoria. I can’t wait.
Damp day today, cooler in the AM and warming up. SOTD (but soon to be washed off) is Voyage D’Hermes Parfum from a sample. While I liked the scent, it crossed the line to masculine for me eventhough it is supposed to be unisex, kind of like what I imagine a metrosexual smells (and I am so not a metrosexual).
When the EDT first came out 2 years ago, it was FB-worthy (loved the bottle design!); I liked it a lot and wore it often. Comparing the Parfum to the EDT, the EDT had a brighter note and did not feel as heavy as the Parfum.
Oh well…money saved for not coveting a FB
I have a dinner engagement and will be picking a SOTE.
And…I just ordered a sample bag from Aedes de Venustas and can’t wait to receive them. I really ought to visit the store but that part of NYC confuses me!
The store is charming–perfumes everywhere, including on top of various pieces of furniture but it’s definitely harder to find than Bergdorf’s
Scent of the day was a combination of two Jo Malone’s. I bought the Pomagranate Noir fragrance chronicles set which had that fragrance and 3 smaller sprays of other scents that you can wear alone or in combinations of your choice. The others were Raspberry, Guiacwood, and Casablanca Lily. So today layered the lily with the wood one and it was really quite nice. Not too flowery. And shockingly for a cologne it didn’t disappear in 30 minutes which you know is always a problem with me. Not sure what I’ll be wearing tonight.
On a side note, does anyone know what fragrance would smell like 10 Corso Como but more intense? I like the scent but on me I think it needs to be a bit less soft. I’ve only been able to dab so maybe spraying would help intensify it but if someone can think of what they would consider 10 Corso Como on steroids that would be great.
I’ve always been curious about the Jo Malone line. Few of them really sound great to me.
I recommend 2 of my favorites: Vanila and Anise as well as Blue Agava and Cacao. Both different in character but both very sophisticated, especially the latter one, IMHO.
On your ? re 10CC, maybe Tom Ford Oud Wood? Both strike me as agarwoods that don’t try to prove their oud cred, focusing more on the accords *around* the oud. Probably Oud Wood is more “spicy,” but both are woody. But I’d have to do a comparison to have more confidence in this suggestion. Also Oud Wood strikes me as more traditionally masculine than 10 Corso Como, altho when I wear TFOW it seems pretty unisex.
ALSO you could try vintage 10 Corso Como which would have higher-quality ingredients and should be more intense. The current one is reportedly much thinner.
I’ll look into the Oud Wood and the vintage I guess. Thanks!
Today I’m testing puredistance Antonia. It’s too warm and substantial for DC spring – would be better for autumn, here, I think. It’s a real perfume that smells every bit as expensive as it is and makes me feel I should be wearing tailored designer clothing or at least a cashmere sweater. A touch would be perfect for important meetings.
I don’t smell a lot of perfume on other people around here and it’s usually nothing I can identify. A few months ago, I was surprised to smell Dzongka one afternoon on the Metro orange line. I wondered if it was one of us.
You’ve also reminded me of the mystery perfume that encountered in the wake of an elderly woman at the Phillips Collection, America’s first museum of modern art, which opened in 1921 at the Dupont Circle home of Duncan Phillips. I wish I’d had the nerve to follow her and find an opportunity to ask what it was. A vintage treasure, no doubt.
It’s the secret handshake! Scent on the Metro…
That’s the perfect way to put it, Mals! It wasn’t until she got up to disembark that I was fairly sure who was wearing it, so no chance to strike up a conversation. Which I probably wouldn’t do over most perfumes, but Dzongka is so unusual – the wearer must have more than a casual interest in perfume.
I have a friend who is getting married in a couple of weeks. She is still trying to find a wedding fragrance. We think Stella McCartney’s L.I.L.Y. would be perfect, both for the notes and the romantic story behind it. (And she’s a HUGE Beatles fan.). Unfortunately, it’s not available in the U.S. yet…does anyone know how I might be able to procure a sample or decant? Thanks in advance for your help.
Escentual.com ships to the US and they have it in stock, but the Perfumed Court and Surrender to Chance both have samples/decants of it.
Thank you a million times over. Will order it tonight.
SOTD: Nothing. I simply forgot! (What kind of perfumista AM I?!) I’ll just have to make it a SOTE or SOTN. I made a few vintage scores last weekend, so I’m wavering between vintage Crepe de Chine parfum (which I just “rescued” from a recalcitrant bottle) or Germaine Monteil Royal Secret (galbanum and powdery balsams).
LOL! That’s happened to me too.
Now I don’t feel so alone!
I ended up trying out a whole array of vintage scents, each on a different part of my arm. I can only imagine what I smelled like afterward. 
The best was Houbigant Raffinee, given to me by a friend who discovered an original carded sample from 1982 buried amidst her personal belongings. She described it as a “leather handbag” scent– true, if your handbag is where you keep your carnations.
Olenska, I love the idea of keeping one’s carnations in a handbag and what that would smell like – another vintage lemming is born!
Gosh, I remember when that was sold at the drugstore! So many of those scents would be expensive niche fragrances now!
Ditto. And it’s not one of my newly acquired lot of vintage fragrances, though those 36 bottles will keep me busy for a long time. I have fallen into the vintage rabbit-hole. Eep.
Whats a good candle for springtime? I’d like something with some fougere type aspects to it.
I love Penhaligon’s English Fern candles. Definitely fougere, with a hint maybe of grass and lavender. Reminds me of spring and fields of greenery. And Penhaligon’s candles are usually pretty good for throw. I have had a burnt out English Fern candle sitting on the table beside me for the past couple of weeks and can’t dispose of it because it still perfumes the room!
Today I’m wearing vintage L’Origan, which just arrived in the mail. It is absolutely yummy…but I’ll have to wait to see how long it lasts and what the drydown is like. I’m a newbie to this group but have been enjoying reading the thoughtful comments by all you knowledgeable posters.
Mmmm… I’ll bet that L’Origan is delicious!
I have some vintage l’Origan parfum and think it is gorgeous. Should wear it more often.
Today I reached waaaaay back in the perfume drawer and found an old bottle of Fresh Fig Apricot which is what I’m wearing today. Ripe fig and apricot. Very ripe. Possibly over-ripe.
On deck for tomorrow – Jardin des Kerylos. I’m on a fig kick.
Oh, I love PG’s Jardin de Kerylos. It’s a fig that I’ve gone through several samples, and meets my rules for FB purchase. It’s really my favorite fig perfume. Green, floral, herbaceous–I love it. I own Philosykos, and love that one, as well, but met JdK later and secretly, guiltily like it better.
I bet you smell wonderful. I haven’t tried Fresh Fig Apricot, but I would probably like it. I tend to layer Philosykos with honey scents to ripen it up. This is the perfect season for fig, and thanks for the reminder to bring those into rotation. Be well.
SOTD: Jo Malone Amber and Lavender. Its a lingering hug from a strong man wearing a cashmere sweater. Sexy and reassuring, a great combo.
Happy Cinco de Mayo all!
I would love to try Amber & Lavender from Jo Malone
Anyone know if Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely is still the same formulation as a few years back? I used to wear this before I really became an enthusiast, and though I love my niche frags and feel sort of weird still liking it, I think I’d like to get a back up bottle.
Oh, don’t know but wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t quite the same. Good question, hope someone else knows.
I don’t know if it’s been reformulated, but I see it regularly at TJ Maxx. I would guess that their bottles are old(er).
This week I have been rocking allure homme Blanche ! Sweet juicy orange almost makes my mouth water! I can also detect a little lavender that remindes me of imperial lather soap my nan had in her draws ! It’s a wonderful fragrance ,
Cashmere bouquet !! Not imperial lather, sorry nan !
I remember Cashmere Bouquet! I wonder if they still make it?
I love Allure Homme Blanche, nice choice!
I had a perfume disaster this week. Moving countries, I carefully packed about seven perfume bottles with other goods to airfreight (after checking with the freight company that it was OK). My goods arrived minus the perfume bottles and I have now been told they were removed as “dangerous goods”. Not sure there is much I can do about it and some had been well used, but its got me thinking about which ones I like enough to replace. Aside from the three bottles I carried with me, its pretty much wiped out my small collection. I guess on the positive side I get to start again!
Oh no!
I would be VERY upset. Was it insured? Will they pay for replacement?
Oh, so very sorry!! That’s terrible.
How awful! You should make them reimburse you since you confirmed they were OK to ship, full bottles or not!
I’ve been pulling out my little sample of Philosykos quite a bit this week. Another that will need to have a full bottle purchase quite soon.
On a side note, this upcoming week I will be going on a Birthright tirp to Israel. Has anyone ever visited and/or lived there? Any perfumes I should look to try or any other foods/items I should keep a look out for?
Hope everyone had a safe and fun Cinco de Mayo!
Don’t know, sorry, but always happy when people fall in love with Philosykos!
I plan on taking the rest of my sample on my trip. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it behaves in the heat!
I lived in Israel a year but it was loooooong before I became interested in scent. It seems (from the net – not from memory!) that its likely to be hot and dry. Philosykos will then be nice as it is refreshing and juicy. Perhaps it may be a bit sweet depending maybe on humidity (I think the North is more humid than the South?)
Because of the heat the Hermes Eau de Jardin series may be useful – they work a bit like mobile air conditioners!
But then its also worth considering that you are in the middle east so perhaps certain orientals may be appropriate too.
I don’t know what the scene is like in terms of niche frags, but you may find some interesting oils at the Arab market (or souk as it is called). Maybe you can do some research that will allow you to tell the difference between a high grade perfume oil and the cheap one dimensional stuff that one often finds at flea markets. (I need to find this out too!)
I’ll definitely look into that. Thanks!
I’ve been on a “no buy” for a while and am now focused on what I really need to buy to complete my collection. There are a few older (1990s or older) Chanels that I want to buy.
Anyone know when they stopped making the plastic refillable containers for the fumes? And the metal ones? And did they immediately stop selling the refill bottles or are the refill bottles potentially younger?
Elena over at Perfume Shrine (perfumeshrine.blogspot.com) has had some good articles on how to date Chanel bottles. You might check there.
Good idea! I didn’t find a link on her site that helped me, but I emailed her.
Has anybody had experience buying from strawberrynet? How is their product (are they genuine) and the service?
I haven’t used it myself, but you can find user reviews the net. Apparently, the company is based in Hong Kong, so you might end up paying duty.
My verdict on JARdenia: not for me. I just can’t get over the fact that it smells of blue cheese even hours after application. I have other gardenia themed fragrances to choose from, which do not make me smell of cheese. Perhaps it just smells that way on me! I’m very pleased with my latest purchases; AG Le Chevrefeuille (SOTD) and Rubj.
I’ve heard that about the JAR in several other reviews so it isn’t just you! I can’t imagine who would like that, but some must!
I recently purchased a bottle of vintage Halston. I used this in the 80′s but couldn’t remember what it smelled like. Heaven. That’s what it smells like to me. I’m on the search for similar scents, so if anyone has suggestions, I’m eager to hear them!
I feel the same way, it’s totally yummy! You might want to give vintage Pheremone by Marilyn Miglin a sniff as well, it’s another big green chypre from the 70′s. Be forewarned though, it seems to be a love or hate fragrance, and as much as I love it there are others who would vehemently disagree, lol!
and vintage K de Krizia is worth a try too! I haven’t smelled the current formulations of either, but the vintage versions are lovely.
Yes, I wore this one, too. In fact, I still have my old bottle of K de Krizia, but the top notes are off. I picked up a small vintage bottle last year that is in great shape…lovely stuff!
I used to wear that one, too! Is this still in production? And if so, do you know if it smells the same? I’m going to keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Wow, sounds like we wore a lot of the same stuff! What else did you wear?
As far as I know both Pheremone and K de Krizia are still in production and available online at the discounters. Unfortunately, the current version of Pheremone has been gutted from what I’ve read – Thanks again, IFRA!
My signature scent was Youth Dew if you can believe it! I also wore Polo (for men), Lauren, Tuxedo (Ralph Lauren, and this stuff is fantastic if you can find it – long discontinued). I had Obsession, like everyone else, Bijan – the things that were popular. I have a vague memory of Charles of the Ritz, Tatiana and Babe were a little earlier for me…K de Krizia was a few years after all of this and I it was my signature for a few years and then, one day just like “that,” I was no longer interested. Moved on to Calandre…and you??
I went to Sniffapooloza, a perfume buying convention yesterday. I got to meet Alyssa Harad, who used to be a reviewer and now has a forthcoming book about becoming a perfumer.
I hope she will not take offense if I report that she is even more of a delight in person than as blog reviewer. Her reading from her book was a highlight of the day.
I behaved shamefully. In addition to some blush, which I “needed”, I bought Pour Cheri Par Camille and some Jo Malone body wash, which I eventually will “need” to protect against the drying shower gel at the gym. I got sprayed with By Killian’s Bamboo Harmony, which I somehow convinced myself to defer purchasing.
At Bendel’s (which has the “indie” fragrances for the day’s event), I sniffed both of the new Etat Libre D’Orange (because we all know that Seville Oranges are the beings who are in most need of freedom and their own nation). However, I ended up with Like This.
Then, seduced by a discount for participants, I got a small bottle of Bond’s “signature” NY oud based scent.
Forget about a shameful quarter. That is a shameful year.
Dilana, you know that whatever you buy at Sniffapalooza doesn’t count, right?
Besides, I’m not seeing any JAR, Xerjoff or By Kilian purchases on your list, so I think you showed amazing restraint!
Oh, in my mind I have already bought the By Kilian, Bamboo Harmony.
The Goutal definately had not been on my list of potential spending, but it was irresistable (and the last bottle) when I sniffed it.
I knew that the Bond purchase at the end of the day was likely to end up as that oud, so I tried to “be reasonable” before then. I just can’t resist Gift with Purchases (which unfortunately Killian doesn’t seem to offer).
The big hit for many people was the Illuminium Gardenia, which Sales Associates kept saying (well, actually yelling at everyone who walked into the store) was Kate Middleton’s wedding scent.
I would have a hard time showing restraint at a Sniffapalooza. Like This is a great choice. I want a bottle of that one too I think.
Congratulations! Wonderful purchases and sounds like you had a great time.
SOTD is OJ Woman EDP. Wow! It came on VA-VOOM, so much so that some family members were taken aback. I left to go to the mall and over time, the dry down became this soft, perfectly-balanced floral-woodsy-lightlysweetfruity goodness. This is definitely FB-worthy.
It is not a shy scent…glad it worked after a time!
Went to see my daughter inducted into the high school’s National Honor Society this afternoon, and had a lovely scented time! She was wearing Infusion d’Iris, I had on Amoureuse, and my husband wore Gres Cabaret. And then there was a woman sitting in our row who was wearing, I think, Pleasures. Yum.
A big congratulations to both you and your daughter! I know you must be proud… and you all smell good too!
Yay, how wonderful!
SOTD……am in a conundrum! I have a sample of OJ’s Tiare, and since it is so grey and cold here in London, a fresh green burst of citrus gardenia sounds delightful! But then again, something warm and comforting like Mona’s Musc would be very suited too!
I’m going for a short run later too, does anyone have scents that they like to wear during exercise? Any suggestions? Tiare and Musc somehow don’t seem to ‘mix’ with sweaty workouts!
try Eau Dynamisante from Clarins or any other of this line
Since I work out at the gym, I rarely scent myself ahead of time, and definately go light so I only I will get the fumes.
FDM, Gernanium Pour Monsieur which is very minty can be very refreshing. I also like Serge Lutens Eau. (Yes, I know everyone else finds it bland, but I find it very beautiful when I want something quiet and peaceful.)
I totally forgot about Cinco De Mayo this year..explains all the traffic on Friday! Lol, probably forgot cause I don’t drink, lol.