Apologies for the late start (I have just returned to civilization, or at least, to wifi) but here is our usual open thread poll: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you wish we (or someone) would review, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Poppies,flowers in Montana de Oro State Park [cropped] by mikebaird at flickr; some rights reserved.
182 Comments
Read more about commenting at Now Smell This.
I’d like to give my mom a linden-scented product (ideally fragrance, but could be a body cream or a candle) for her birthday next month. Or a bunch of linden-focused samples. She just *loves* the smell. I found a few blog posts that refer to some products, but since there wasn’t much and maybe new ones appeared since they were written I’d like to know if anybody has any suggestions or comments on the ones I found yet. I’d like something that smells as close to a linden soliflore as possible… so I’m kind of ruling out L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons and Delrae Début, but maybe I shouldn’t…
So far I want to investigate:
- Roger & Gallet Linden Blossom Moisturizing Shower Cream
- L’Artisan Parfumeur Tilleuls au Vent (scented candle and room spray)
- D’Orsay Tilleul
- Demeter Linden
- Jo Malone French Lime Blossom
- Bond No. 9 Eau de Noho
Thanks for your help!
I loved both Tilleuls au Vent & the D’Orsay, but haven’t smelled the latest of either in so long that I don’t know if they’ve been reformulated.
I do own a bottle of the TaV, and you can wear it as a personal fragrance although it’s a little “flat”.
I haven’t smelled these myself, but you might want to check out Mandy Aftel’s site. Search for Linden and you’ll find she has a Linden Blossom CO2 and, in sample size only apparently, a Linden Blossom Tea. The Linden Blossom CO2 was featured as one of the top notes in her Honey Blossom Perfume.
Alnysie, I would also add Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin and Limone di Sicilia by I Profumi di Firenze.
You should also try the gorgeous Zeta, from Tauer Perfumes. Good luck!
Seconding Zeta.
Annick Goutal’s Eau de Camille seems to me to have a pronounced linden note, but it is not listed officially. It must be the honeysuckle that I’m getting.
Linden blossom is one of my favourite smells in nature, I have a large linden tree just outside my living room window which is in bloom right now and smells gorgeous.
The most realistic rendition I’ve come across so far is Jo Malone French Lime Blossom candle. The perfume, bath oil and body lotion are not quite as good, imo. Same with AG Eau du Ciel.
OJ Frangipani has a fantastic linden note but I find that sometimes it comes through very clearly and sometimes it gets over-powered by other things.
I was disappointed with Zeta, to me it smells nothing like linden.
I am thirding Zeta – it is simply gorgeous and will very likely be my one (!) Andy Tauer FB.
Alnysie,
Humiecki and Graef Clemency has a beautiful, gentle linden note. I believe the perfumer wanted to evoke the smell of a mother. For me, it evokes the blissful feeling of holding a newborn baby. It’s very tender and subtle.
Don’t know what price range you are thinking. It’s very expensive, over $200, but Lucky Scent has it on sale for $120, I think, right now.
Thanks, everyone! I’ll explore your suggestions!
I love the smell of Linden trees in bloom too! These suggestions have been very helpful to me as I have also been meaning to find something. The first time I smelled the Linden trees early one still morning at the beginning of summer, I couldn’t believe it – it was like the whole neigbourhood had been spritzed with perfume! The city had never smelled so good
It’s been in the upper 90s lower 100s for the last two weeks, and the humidity seems to have been hoovering around 75% at it’s lowest.
There is not a question there. I just wanted to complain.
We drove through Arizona & Nevada today. I believe the technical term for the weather here is “stinking hot”. No humidity, but just the glare from the sun makes me tired.
So joining in your complaint!
Robin’s adventures!
Oh honey! That sounds like a bloody nightmare. It’s those kind of times when you want to chuck all eco ethics in a bin and throw your arms round the air conditioner unit, crooning “I’ll never leave you. Never ever. I love you, little air conditioner. You’re my best friend. Who’s the best air conditioner in the world? You are! Yes you are. Yes you are. Who wants a tummy rub?”
Or possibly that’s just me.
If it makes you feel any better (it won’t) it’s horrible here in England, too, though for opposite reasons. In March, we were in a major drought, having had a couple of very, very dry years, but somebody must have flicked a switch because ever since then, we’ve had nothing but heaving, monsoonal downpours. And it looks like it’s going to continue right through the Olympics.
It’s so horribly embarrassing that every awful cliché about our weather is going to be on display to the whole world. I swear to god, people, it’s not always like this. *Shamefacedly hides in poncho, turtle-like.*
Chanterais, you made me gigle – I so want one of those dear little pet airconditioners. Not that we need one at the moment, because we are in the UK and, as you say, the rain just has not stopped for months. Personally, I think it’s because the government declared a drought situation early in the year, and it is a fact that once that happens, the heavens open! Better than any rain dance.
I don’t have air, but even if I did, I’m not all that sure it would help, the power company’s been cycling people on and off because of the extended heat. It’s just on a volunteer basis right now, but if the building I’m in voulunteers? Blegh.
As for rain, we’d gladly take some off your hands! High humidity and water company requests to “alternate watering your garden with your neighbors” should not go hand in hand!
It did cool down to nearly 86 last night though. That was nice. Not as nice as 60, but…
Chanterais, I chant a poem of praise not unlike yours every time I walk past our air conditioner.
It’s usually around 90 degrees this month with lots of humidity (just ask my hair!), and it will be like that for 3 more months, so let me just say – loudly, in case it’s listening – I WUV my air conditioner!
Heee! I think positive encouragement, even of inanimate objects, is SO important, don’t you? The car gets a dashboard pat for bravely revving up a steep hill, the air conditioner gets a cuddle on steamy days, and the vacuum cleaner doesn’t get kicked up the bum if it decides to cooperate and actually DO ITS JOB FOR CHRIST’S SAKE IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK YOU JACKHOLE PIECE OF SHHHHHH.
welcome to my world.
i have a question that i’m not sure is appropriate, but i’ve always been curious. approximately how much does a big name perfumer (say, bertrand duchafour or olivia giacobetti) charge a company (say, aedes de venustas or byredo) to create a fragrance for them? (i’m assuming the rates a perfumer charges for niche lines are very different than the ones they charge for coty or a big corporation, but maybe i’m wrong.)
hope this is not too off topic of a question!
Oooh, I’d be interested in knowing that, too! I’m sure it’s probably kept tightly under wraps (and differs from job to job), but even a ballpark figure would be interesting to hear.
A fascinating question. I wish Blogs provided some coverage of the industry; if for no other reason, than it impacts what scents are available to us.
I suspect that the fees (and perhaps participatory percentanges) are in a state of flux, since some noses are themselves becoming a marketing point, particuarily for niche brands. In contrast, for the really big perfume companies, they traditionally kept quiet about the fact that they subcontracted out the development of the juice to specialized fragrance firms.
The vast majority of perfumers are salaried employees of one of the 5 big flavor & fragrance companies. No idea how the few independents like Olivia Giacobetti make their arrangements, but in most of those cases as well, the actual juice is being produced by one of the big 5 flavor & fragrance companies.
Oh, and adding, I think there’s a basic misunderstanding here. A f&f company would not “charge” a niche line more…more that the brand decides how much they are willing to pay for the materials. Generally, niche lines spend more on materials than mainstream, but that’s not always the case. There are some great books that explain how the industry operates, you might try Chandler Burr’s Perfect Scent or Cathy Newman’s Perfume.
I was thinking the perfumer would get paid less by a niche line since niche lines presumably have a lot less money and offer more creative control (again, both are presumptions) than big companies.
in any case, i just ordered both books! thanks
however, i think i now understand what you were explaining, robin. the big companies like coty and the niche lines like l’artisan all go to the same big 5 flavor/fragrance companies with their briefs for new scents, and then the perfumers who are salaried employees of those big 5 create the juice using materials from the company they work for…?
Comme des Garcons 2. It smells like bug spray, doesn’t it? Like the most delicious inky, aldehydic bug spray in the world. It gives me a kind of mischievous glee to wear it in summer, knowing that everyone who smells it probably just thinks: “Huh, Repel.” SURPRISE! IT’S ACTUALLY AN INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE PERFUME! ISN’T THAT HILARIOUS?
Oh, perfume comedy. But seriously: really, really wonderful bug spray. You’d like it.
YES! So glad I am not alone in this impression.
Having seen it reiterated everywhere that CdG2 approximates candle smoke, this was one I had high hopes for. Nope.
To be fair, I’ve only dabbed this one, not sprayed and sometimes a misting opens up a fragrance. But so far my impression is not favorable!
I used to wear essential oils instead of perfume, years ago. There was one that when mixed with a little BO from working hard or whatever, one of my coworkers used to assume I was wearing Bengay! She’d ask me which muscles were hurting me today! How to say, “actually, I just choose to smell like this!”?
I wonder if one of the ladies in my choir is wearing bengay or something .I don’t know what bengay or other creams like that smel like (haven’t had the need for them) but it sort of smells a bit like the Clarins Eau Dynasminte thing -cannot spell it- but not quite that ,a bit sweeter/ less citrus? maybe less patchouli?
Whatever it is it smells good and I wish I could find some too..
i absolutely love the smell of ben-gay! creamy, milky, but fresh and cold! yum
Snort!
Chanterais, I like the recent CdG EdP that smells among other like packing tape and other industrial things, but also somehow good. Your description of No. 2 captures the joy of something so weird. I’d buy a decant but I also love the weird, misshapen bottle. If only they did minis!
Wearing Eau de Cartier and rediscovering bunches of music in a selection I made to a friend. I’d like to read an Oud Spahan review.
Thanks! And what fun, I love doing that.
No question or even a SOTD since I didn’t wear any (blasphemy, I know!). Just popping in to say I love the poppies! California poppies are my favorite.
Many, many years ago, my mum used to wear a perfume called Californian Poppy!
Does anyone know of Californian Poppy? Assume it was discontinued a long time ago, and I am sad to say that I don’t remember what it smelt like at all. I must have preferred my mother’s other perfumes like Phulnana and Goya’s Black Rose, which I can still smell in my mind’s nose.
I am intrigued, especially since they don’t really smell! I found an ad –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmainezoe/5188420568/
and looks like they have some for sale here!
http://www.feathergills.co.uk/products/old-fashioned-perfumes/californian-poppy-50ml/
Dear Odonata – thank you so much! I am going to order some of the perfume. Sadly, my mother is no longer here, but it will be lovely to recapture the scent.
I love them too
I’m on an Annick Goutal spree this weekend – yesterday I wore Sables and today I’m in Nuit Etoilee.
I’m placing an order for few new perfume samples, including Amouage Interlude. Will be reviewing it on my blog once it arrives. Still having some difficulties chosing other samples for the package.
I could use a review of Parfum d’Empire Equistrius and Eau de Gloire.
Thanks!
i’m wearing sables today, love it in all weather
I mentioned AH’s Eau de Camille up there. I’m fairly new to it, and I like it, but find it very short-lived, not much more than an hour. What have other people found with this one?
Hi from Tokyo. It’s so hot and humid, I can’t wait to go back to London! I’m wilting…
Since arriving, I’ve been obsessed with iced Korean yuzu tea. I love its flavour and aroma and wonder if there is a perfume out there that provides the same lush yuzu citrus yumminess?
I’ll take my leave today, as free wifi connection is poor today. SOTD is OJ Frangipani.
I love yuzu either! Not sure if they’ll fit the bill, but give them a try: Eau de Cartier has a great yuzu note on its top as Emporio Armani He. For a more lasting yuzu: Clinique Happy Men.
Haven’t tried it myself but PG Yuzu Ab Irato is supposed to be very good.
How about Yuzu Fou by Parfum d’Empire?
Dawn Spencer Hurwitz has a nice one: http://tinyurl.com/cya7ag9
I gave some to my niece and she loved it.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Look forward to trying them when I return to London on Wednesday.
Does anyone else ever feel an ethical dilemna when perfume shopping? My actual quandary is do I pay full price and support a local independent business where I can actually sniff stuff like Ivoire and Jolie Madame in person or go online and find it discounted? I can afford full price (under $75) but there’s a part of me that will feel bad either way (I didn’t get a bargain when I could vs preserving local character)……As a sign at a different Harvard Sq business says”Find it here. Buy it here. Keep us here”
I don’t think twice before buying where the price is lower. I can assure you I already pay enough taxes to the government and I can’t see my these taxes’ return.
Unfortunately, my taxes pay for things like schools, firefighters, police and trash removal rather than keeping around businesses that I like because there would obviously be a lot more bookstores around (instead of American Apparel and Kinkos) and Herrell’s ice cream would still be around so I could get chocolate whipped cream on my sundaes….
LoL. At least the taxes you pay have a better use.
I do both. It depends how much the item is and how much they have it priced at. Some of these places have their things priced higher than average retail price and that is a deal breaker for me. I like to support the locals but I like a good deal too.
I think it depends upon the store–how often you stop in, how accommodating the merchants are in allowing you to sniff, prepare samples, etc.
If a fragrance I like is available at Nordstrom, I buy it there because their SA’s bend over backwards to give me samples, notify me of promos, etc. That and I’m sure I am a real pain in the butt with my weekly sniffing excursions, so I feel like I owe them at least that much.
The smaller fragrance discounters at the malls: well, it depends. A lot of ours are run by foreigners who love to haggle, and will give you a great deal. It matters how helpful the people of the shop has been as to whether I feel justified in purchasing online
I have the same great experience and wonderful SA at my Nordstroms and will buy from her frequently.
A few years ago, I was on a thankfully short-lived mini perfume bottle obsession. One of the small perfume stores in the mall had a decent selection of supposedly new mini’s in boxes. I asked to see one and when I opened the box in the store, the bottle was empty! That was the first and last time I entered that and other no-name cart or counter-only perfume seller.
I do have an amazing SA at Saks, so even whenI move out of state, I’ll be coming back when I purchase either something from By Kilian or Bond No 9 (she reps Kilian but is pretty knowledgeable about the Bonds too), so I will be rewarding great service
If you are going in regularly to take up the sale’ s staff time and sample their products, I think you should make some of your purchases there. I think this is particularly true for a small independent store which is unlikely to get the same corporate support system of a large multi-city department store. (Indeed,many department stores are actually just divisions of mega-multi-brand retailers, which is why you seem to find the same dammed stuff in all of them). In addition, one reason that your local boutique can’t offer the same price cuts as an internet retailer is that the she pays rent and carries stock so you can drop in and sample.
You may find that after a number of purchases, the local retailer will herself begin to give you some form of discount as a regular customer, if not an actual cash discount, some generous samples.
I’m not saying that you should feel obligated to purchase each time you go in, and there may be some good deals on the internet for a particular fragrance which are too good to pass up. HOwever, for other items, the prices are pretty standard so maybe that it is where you support her.
This sounds like a very logical approach. I don’t get to worry about this subject much, since I live in a small city that just has a Dillards, JcPenneys, Belks and Sephora. And our Sephora is sort of sad compared to those in the bigger cities.
Hmm. Some fancy department store’s have sales associates who work with out of town customers. who might be willing to send out samples if you occasionally buy from them.
I think this is how I’m leaning–that it is time to make a gratitude purchase to support an independent place
Yep I agree with this. I would feel guilty if I was taking up too much of a shops resources and not buying anything. I usually buy from the internet myself, but I “give back” to stores by referring people in and generally increasing awareness in the community about fragrance stores.
Yeah, I can relate to your quandary. I prefer to shop locally, but the price differences can be really big! So, I try to buy things that are similar in price, if a bit more, from the local place and if I can get a huge discount online, then that’s where I go.
I was asked to leave a store in Minnesota last spring for taking notes as I sniffed perfumes. They assumed I was shopping around to buy online–which wasn’t actually true. I was enjoying the research aspect, but I was also hoping to find something as a vacation memento. It did make me think about the tenuous balance shops must have to strike between customer service and protecting their business. (It also made me cranky!)
Hi Marjorie Rose, And midwesterners are supposed to be friendly! I was in Minneapolis last weekend and went to NM to buy a bottle of Infusion d’Iris Absolue and both salespeople (the first to sample and the second to buy) were very helpful. I’m sorry you had that experience and am not surprised that it made you feel cranky!
I lived in the Twin Cities for nearly a decade, so no worries! I don’t hold one bad experience against the whole region! But it did make me consider how I shop and how it might be interpreted. I try to make it clear that I’m shopping and not taking advantage of their generosity.
I’ve heard of stores which don’t like customers taking pictures of clothing, but I’ve never heard of anyone objecting to notes. I guess they don’t want customers comparing prices, but really in this day when someone can surf the web on their phone (or call up a price comparison app for some goods), that is ridiculous.
What? Can they do this? I can’t believe they can! I’m shocked!
Yeah, it was undeniably poor customer service. And it wasn’t like the store was overrun with customers while I was there. With a little patience and tact they would have likely made a sale, so their loss!
When the customer service is poor I also spend my money elsewhere, even if the same product is more expensive elsewhere.
Many times good customer services made me buy something I was just a little curious about.
Most times SAs don’t think that with a bad service they can make that sell but lose the client forever.
I was curious to know if ask you to leave the store isn’t against laws…
I feel even ashamed about they have done to you! When a SA is rough to me I search for the manager and tell all. For sure there’ll be 10 or more waiting for and worthing better that job. Education is the basis on society.
Actually, it was one of the owners of the shop who told me they didn’t like people to take notes! So, no one higher up to complain to. I do think they have the right to refuse service–even if it’s clearly based on a mistaken judgement. Certainly you see signs in other kinds of businesses that say “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” Regardless, best response is, as you say, to take your money elsewhere. Also, at the time it happened, I made some comments here on NST (it was so baffling!) and got lots of perfumista crankiness aimed their direction. A good example of how the internet can be a tool to impact businesses both to encourage and discourage sales, I suppose!
Ops! lol!
In my country they can’t refuse, a store is considered a public space and only a superior force (police, judge, etc) can order you to get out of a public space. When inside a store you can’t only enter places reserved to employees, such as stocks. Interesting to know that!
Yes, that’s quite a difference in perception, isn’t it? It must have far-reaching implications. Our businesses in the states are considered private property. I’m sure it has other legal ramifications as well.
One exemple (in practice it doesn’t work exactaly this way) is that if a beggar enter and sit on a chair of a fine restaurant, people can’t order he or she to go out.
But the rights over anything material is guaranted as in anywhere else. Thanks for the explanations!
I don’t have any local independent stores nearby, but there is one e-tailer that has an amazing range of scents from whom I often order samples. I appreciate this so much that I do often order from them even if I can find a somewhat discounted bottle elsewhere online. On the other hand, I also prowl ebay for bargains on testers, partial bottles, etc. I guess I try to strike a happy balance between the two forms of guilt!
So, we had an okay time in Maine. Actually my husband had a great time and was completely relaxed and I was the exact opposite. I’m happy to be home. I hate living out of a suitcase and ziploc bags. I wonder where people in Maine buy perfume because it was slim pickings where we were. I finally found a little shop with a few fragrances and bought 2 souvenirs. One is Epi de Provence Violet Moss which was on sale for 50% off and the other is Tokyo Milk Dark Arsenic. I’m thinking I may want to buy Crushed next. I was somewhat indifferent to it at first but it lasted longer than I expected it to and I should have just gotten it because they not that expensive.
Today is my birthday so I’m considering either a trip to the mall or to one of my favorite websites to treat myself to another bottle of something. Or bottles, if I can find a sampler set I like or a coffret. Although my frugal side may win out since we just got back from vacation. We’ll see, if my family totally forgets my birthday like they did last year I may need a pick me up.
Congrats! Wish you bottles and bottles to come!
Actually I would say Haapy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Poodle! I hope you find something good to treat yourself (and you’re excused from having to use your kitty
).
Happy birthday Poodle! All the best to you! What perfume treat are you going to buy? Have something in your mind?
Happy Birthday Poodle! Hope you find something beautiful and have your best year so far!
Woo hoo! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Poodle! You should definitely buy yourself something you’ve been wanting for awhile
Oh, have fun treating yourself, Poodle!
Happy birthday!!
Happy birthday, Poodle, and congratulations on your vacation purchases. (BTW, I tried Arsenic yesterday during the *fabulous* SF Sniff, and it’s quite the odd little perfume. Definitely compelling, though I haven’t yet decided if I would enjoy wearing it.)
Let us know if you decide to acquire any birthday goodies.
It is odd but I like the licorice in it and the vanilla never gets too sweet. I had my husband sniff a few and he liked it too so I got it. I have quite a few fragrances that he really doesn’t like. I was surprised he liked this one.
I loved the anise and didn’t mind the vanilla, but there was a strange salty-metallic note that I thought was both fascinating and a bit unsettling. Probably I could go through the better part of a bottle before I made up my mind about it.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Poodle! If they do, make sure you add the servesyourightforforgetting tax to the total youll be spending!
Well I did get some phone calls today so either they remembered or mom reminded them. Either way I’m still treating myself.
That’s great, please let us know what you end up buying!
LOL does Dark Arsenic smell like apple seeds?
Happy, happy birthday, Poodle!
Shockingly, no. I believe some of the main notes are absinthe, vanilla, fennel.
That actually sounds really good, but it must be if you bought it.
Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! That’s very sweet of you all. So far I have not purchased anything but I am the queen of indecision. I will get something I just need to narrow down my choices first. So many perfumes, so hard to decide…
Happy birthday!
Are you an E- or INFP by any chance (we can be indecisive!)?
Just had to look those up to know what you were talking about. At first glance I’d say I’m an INFP. I’m going to look into that further because it seems pretty interesting.
Happy birthday poodle !!! Wishing u all the best for your special day !!
Happy Birthday! What are you getting yourself and what’s your dog getting you as a present?
Weather here in Sweden is actually quite pleasant at the moment, sunny but not too warm, so I’m just enjoying it, munching fresh homegrown strawberries..
SOTD is a recent discovery, PdN Odalisque, very lovely!
Odalisque has been on my “to buy” list for quite awhile.
Speaking of weather, it is just too hot here in Missouri! And dry and dusty- we need rain!
In other news, I just got an unexpected but very welcome bonus at work and my anniversary is coming up in a few days’ time!
I’m really tempted to ask for some nice perfume now that we have a bit of extra money floating around, but I’m not sure what.
I’ve loved the sound of Ambre Russe for ages, but still haven’t managed to track down a sample to test it. Tea for Two is great, but my husband doesn’t like it as much as some other perfumes. My current favorite is Iris Ukiyoe- I absolutely adore it, but it’s *way* too expensive! All in all I think I might want to give Ambre Russe a try, though I’m wary about buying blind. :/
Any advice?
I never buy unsniffed so, if it were me, I’d get a PdE sample set directly from their site. It’s well-priced and they ship worldwide.
Second this idea! 22€ for the set of thirteen 2ml samples is a great value, and you get to know the entire PdE family!
Ambre Russe is quite interesting, really! It’s rather warm and dry, with the noticeable note of vodka and incense. To me it smells like like a little ambery, warm, spiced leather. It’s great, though it’s not up my alley. My favourite from the house is Iskander, then Equistrius. Coming week I’ll be ordering samples of Azemour and Eau de Gloire, both should work great on me I think.
Pinkster, where do you live? If you live within Europe I could send you my sample of Ambre Rosse. We could arrange a little sample swap
Thank you so much for the offer! Unfortunately, I live in the US, so shipping might be a bit difficult.
Thanks anyway!
Agree wholeheartedly with the advice to purchase a sample set directly from PdE. I came late to trying this line, but have found them very well made. I also love that the samples are in tiny spray vials, much more true to the experience of a FB purchase. I’m wearing Cuir Ottoman today, and it is an amazing floral leather. Stunning. Haven’t tried my Ambre sample yet, as the incredible heat here may not play well with a big amber. I will, though
Hope you find a wonderful perfume treat for yourself!
Yes, it really is a fun sample set! I haven’t bought any FB from them, but I enjoyed exploring the range quite a lot.
I love Cuir Ottoman, and might have to pick up a FB for fall. It’s also nice that the line isn’t outrageously expensive.
I’m another one to heartily recommend sampling first. I bought the sampler pack back in January, and now own a bottle of Cuir Ottoman (one of the few leathers I can wear) , a decant of Equistrius and I want some Wazamba, but strangely enough, Ambre Russe did NOT work for me at all.
I loved Ambre Russe when I bought it, but now I am not sure anymore about it. the vodka/alc note really gets to me sometimes, and I need to be in the mood for it. Or maybe I’m just way too much in my super-sweet phase at the moment to appreciate it. It is very recognisable though, and the entire house makes beautiful scents. Aziyade fan here.
Talk to me about post-pregnancy perfume-preference changes… I’m due in 2 months, and someone mentioned this on MUA, and I’d love to hear others’ experiences.
Did your taste completely change after having a baby? Did you find the hobby frivolous? Did you regret your previous purchases? Did you dislike things you had loved before? Did it go back to normal after you stopped breastfeeding?
I’m not pregnant, but the depo shot has messed my hormones up like crazy. I’ve had a period for 2 months!! I have noticed that I absolutely hate scents I loved before, and I’m worried now that I will hate the scents I buy now after my weird period is over!
An SA once told me to never buy perfumes when you’re pregnant or on your period, because not only does your tatse change, but the chemistry changes too! Oh well, too bad no one listens to her advice.
back to normal for me, at least after one pregnancy/breastfeeding experience. Honestly I never noticed much change in my fragrance preferences, except during the first trimester, when the smell of food – any food – made me run for the restroom.
Smelling Coromandel again made me think about fragrances composed as unisex Generally, I agree that everybody should wear what they enjoy and that gender labels may be narrowing creativity in perfume design. However, I find myself often unsatisfied with unisex fragrances when the so called masculine and feminin notes are toned down to meet somewhere in the middle. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace that the art of perfumery has embarked from mere gender cliches but I dislike if the unisex idea translates into inoffensiveness and compositions begin to resemble room fragrances in the worst case. A good example for that would be 10 Corso Como. Even a fragrance I admire as the perfume version of Voyage Hermes is too indifferent for me to wear. Now Coromandel, indifferent not in the least, it is still about refinement of a tonality that rather sits in the middle. What makes it great for me are the smooth edges that project from this middle. I think it is perfect, although, I would be curious to smell it with slightly enhanced flowers or sweetness without losing it’s character and turning into a Coco Mms, Angel or Narcisso Rodriguez (which I find screetchy and brutal in comparison). Original Coco meets Coromandel in it’s smoothness but it’s too opulent. Thinking about it that closely probably means falling for Coromandel afterall.
I’ve already found several fragrances labelled as feminine with a strong male vibe (or what it’s supposed to be), the contrary and unisex fragrances that tends to male/female side. I read somewhere unisex fragrances usually don’t get the rate of sells a male/female one scores.
Cybele,
It’s an interesting question you raise: what do we potentially lose by creating scents that are designed to appeal to a wider audience? After all, that is essentially what a scent marketed as unisex is attempting to do. Clearly there is the risk of playing it too safe, which may lead to the “flatness” you refer to. The unisex scents that I prefer (whether they are marketed that way or not) tend to take more risks.
I think of Calvin Klein’s old Obsession commercials when I think of a mainstream “unisex” scent, (as opposed to me just wearing whatever I like). They had a minimalist vibe and promoted a sort of bland androgyny.
Obsession Women is an unissex or male fragrance to me.
Marjorie Rose, you’ve just expressed my view so much better than I was about to!
Mine too. She often seems to do that, I’ve noticed. MarjorieRose, you have a good way with words!
That’s kind to say! Thank you!
Have been out kayaking with husband and 5-year old son today. We have had a rather cool and rainy summer in Norway so far. A little bit envious of the heat some of you are complaining about
But today was perfect. SOTD: Panache from Perfumes DelRae Roth. Husband smells of Byredo Oud Immortel. The 5-year old: Sunscreen and a dash of bugspray. True bliss 
Wow! Cool weekend!
Don’t be envious, it is 111F here today.
Ok, I will be grateful for the 63 F and rain that we have today. Please stay hydrated over there!
So no kayaking during the weekend?
Sounds great! Please enjoy your cool weather – some of us are bunkered down with AC for weeks at a time – I’ve heard even the pools are hot!
That does sound exhausting. I`ll put my rubber boots on, grab the umbrella, and go for a walk in the forest, sending you some cool wibes
Thank you!
Yay, Lazy Weekend!
SOTD is De Profundis.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY POODLE!!! I hope you get something really nice for your birthday.
Thanks! I’m waiting to open my gifts from my hubby but I think I’ll open them shortly.
I’m so pathetic because I’m thrilled that it’s a Harry Potter weekend on ABC family channel. Yes, I own all the movies but I still watch. It’s a great way to spend my birthday. How old am I?
Ha! We’ve been watching them all weekend, and the CEO and I are older than dirt.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.
Does anyone know of a US stockist for Annick Goutal candles? I’m on the hunt for the candle counterpart to Ninfeo Mio (called Sous le Figuier). It did not play well on my skin, but I think it would be neat as a home fragrance. The only place I see it is through AG directly. I looked at several of the big online companies, and no one had them. Any ideas? Thanks!
Pretty sure I’ve seen them at dept stores (Saks, I think?), but maybe only around the holidays.
There are some AG candles on the Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus websites, and the biggest selection is on Amazon, but I’m not seeing but not the one you are looking for.
I wearing Bois des Iles this morning. I sprayed it on last night, too, and I’m finding its airiness lovely in this warm weather. I really like BdI, but I often wish that it lasted longer. But sprayed on my teeshirt, along with the usual pressure points, I’m not minding its more well-behaved nature.
Oh, and I gave in and ordered a small bottle of Nostalgie yesterday, and made sure to request Forest Walk for the sample. Very excited for those to arrive!
I want to try Forest Walk. Let us know what you think of it when you get it.
Happy to!
Love BdI! Are you using the EdT? I find the Parfum lasts, but it’s very close to the skin.
Yes, it’s the edt. I bought a decant this spring feeling like it was too fleeting to warrant a FB. I *do* love it with the exception that it fades to very close to the skin pretty fast on me. Doesn’t seem to be as big an issue in this hot weather, though.
I feel the same way about BdÎ – I love it but the lasting power is so abysmal that I don’t think I could justify a bottle. The extrait is marginally better but still not fabulous.
If it’s possible to OD on perfume, I think I accomplished that yesterday during the SF Sniff (which was *so* much fun — Tama put together a terrific outing). And if that weren’t enough, I’m trying to clear my head and wake up enough to head into the city again for the Artisan Fragrance Salon.
For me, the highlight of yesterday was Alyssa’s presentation and reading — it didn’t hurt that she brought samples of all my very favorite vintage perfumes to pass around. I’m so looking forward to reading her book.
I didn’t buy anything yesterday, but may have to head back to Barneys for the Carnal Flower hair perfume if I get enough birthday cash later this month.
Carnal Flower is on my “buy” list, too (Next Barney’s GWP, if I have the cash then). Is there any reason you are considering the hair instead of the regular perfume?
Well, it’s a lot cheaper — $160 for 100 mL. And though it’s recognizably Carnal Flower, it’s more subtle, so I could conceivably wear it in situations where I’d be hesitant to use the real stuff (work, theatre, and whatnot). And since it’s a hair product, I wouldn’t have to count it in the next damage poll, right?
All kidding aside, I would love to have the actual perfume. It’s just that I know I’d never use up even 50 mL of the stuff, and in light of that, it’s hard to justify the expense. Though I suppose the travel sprays could be a possibility.
To me the EDP smells like I bent over to smell a tuberose plant and smelled the garden dirt as well. It is the hint of dirt which makes me want this, over all the other tuberoses out there? Does that exist in the hair perfume/
And does the hair perfume dry the hair?
I didn’t notice dirt in the hair mist, but then I don’t think I’ve particularly noticed that note in the regular CF perfume. I should sniff both again with that in mind. And the hair mist wasn’t drying at all; on the contrary, it seemed to make my hair softer and smoother.
I know just what you mean about the garden dirt note in CF. I think it’s the natural tuberose absolute they use, which has the exact same smell. I have the hair version and the perfume and find them pretty similar.
Gvillecreative- I found that during pregnancy I had a hard time tolerating certain scents – perfume or otherwise (the smell of pork cooking made me run away!!). After I gave birth, I was conscious of my baby’s sense of smell and how babies identify you by scent and the sound of your voice, so I wore the same light fragrance or none at all. After the six months of mommyhood, I couldn’t wait to order samples online or go to Nordstrom for a sniff-fest since I needed the opportunity to be the “old perfume-obsessed” me again! I remember one of of my friends bought me Bulgari Maman et Bebe along with a gift for my baby. That was such a considerate gift. It’s so easy to lose sight of who you are when you are busy taking care of a sweet little one. Make sure you find time for yourself post-baby!
SOTD is Hermès Eau Claire des Merveilles – it is perfect today (as it was yesterday). Staying power is really anemic as reported but it is lovely. It will take me a while to run through 100mLs, though, so not worried.
i scored samples of the new Kiehl’s Aromatic Blends – Fig Leaf & Sage, Vanilla & Cedarwood and Orange Flower & Lychee. The countertop display actually had a 4th compartment for Pink Grapefruit but no testers were available (also was not listed on the website). The Fig Leaf & Sage did not smell good on paper so I will need to properly test it when I am not wearing any other fragrance. The Vanilla & Cedarwood was nice as was the Orange Flower & Lychee. I can’t tell lasting power until I try them on me.
Oh…and the The Body Shop has 50% off on many fragrances. I was tempted to get the Moroccan Rose EDT for a cheap thrill ($12.50 for 50mLs) but got too cheap since I wanted it free (my sister has a gift card she’s trying to use up but she was not there!)…if it is still on sale next week, I will buy it.
Hajusuuri, I tried the Fig Leaf and Sage and the Lychee Orange Blossom. On my skin, the nice-on-paper Lychee devolved into a cloying sweetness that was pretty unpleasant. I have a very low tolerance for sweet, though. The Fig was much better. I could barely smell the Sandalwood out of the tester, so skipped it. The SA said they would be out on the 10th, but I have to say I’m not terribly interested. The other scent I tried on my skin was Chanel 19 EdP, so maybe that was why they seemed so blah in comparison. I actually felt sad in the shower when the 19 was getting washed away, and tried to keep my arm out of the water as much as possible!
Thank you both for the reports!
I also tried these today; they had them out at Bloomingdales but still behind the counter at the Kiehl’s boutique. The rep at Kiel’s said the Grapefruit one will be out next month, along with a a package of 10ml small bottles of all four scents.
I really liked both the Vanilla Cedarwood and the Orange Leaf & Lychee. I like sweet, but not super-sweets perfumes. The lasting power was disappointing but would give me an excuse to buy the matching lotions. I do love Kiehl’s lotions!
Last week, I read somewhere or other that Guerlain is planning to celebrate an anniversary of L’Heure Bleu with a special bottle of its original (which I assume means its current) formulation and a limited version interpreting the notes?
Has anyone else heard about this?
Unfortunately the LE anniversary coffret:
three versions of Thierry Wasser’s revisitation of L’Heure Bleue, named for three times of day – EDT for morning, EDP for afternoon, and parfum for evening, join and the original (current) parfum
is priced for collectors only, think Xerjoff on steroids.
HOWEVER I believe the EDP from the set is slated to joint Les Parisiennes next year – and if we are to properly celebrate the LHB anniversary I’d hope they roll it out around Holiday 2012. This release makes me happy and also makes me happier about not getting Mon Semi-Precieux Nectar.
Thanks for the clarification. The stuff I had read about this was a bit ambiguous.
I suppose the coffret will look stunning (well it has to, if it is to appeal to collectors and justify the price), but the ‘dawn – midday – evening’ concept reminds me that Sarah Jessica Parker did the same thing with Lovely.
I’m sure that L’Heure Bleue has been tinkered with countless times over its 100 years, but still, the idea of explicitly messing with it or “reinterpreting” it and then charging the earth for the results makes me a bit crabby. Thierry Wasser, get off my lawn
LOL at that last part!
Words fail me in expressing my disdain for Shalimar Initial as a “new interpretation.” But for all the bad things Wasser made early on, he seems to be making up for it lately. I’m hoping the canonical status of LHB + the fact that this reissue isn’t aimed at teens (can you imagine Mon Premiere L’Heure Bleue? L’Heure Baby Blue?) will yield something I can like. Like a Vetiver Pour Elle to go with your original Vetiver. Or like Shalimar Ode a la Vanille.
Spewing coffee out my nose over “L’Heure Baby Blue.” Hilarious!
(I should add that I get particularly neurotic about LHB because it was my first real perfumista perfume, and therefore occupies a special place in my affections. I like to think that I could be much more objective about nearly any other fragrance.)
I thought LHB was named for that point in the evening when the sky becomes this deep mysterious blue. This is my favorite point of the day, and one reason I love the fragrance is how beautifully it evokes this strange evening sky.
So the idea of a LHB for the morning or afternoon makes me nervous. If Guerlain doesn’t remember (or care) about the name and inspiration of the fragrance, then how can they make credible “inspirations” of it?
Exactly. I couldn’t agree more.
There is a picture of the stunning, jeweled blue bottle on Perfume Shrine – definitely Xerfjoff territory!
I hope you and your family are having a fantastic vacation, Robin!
I’m a big ole perfume bore when the temps hit the high 90s with equal humidity – I have huge bottles of Sisley’s Eau de Campagne, Cristalle edt and O de Lancome, and standard operating procedure is 1) Apply til wet. 2) Repeat as often as needed. 3) Call our central air ‘my preciousss’ every time I come back indoors.
Happy weekend everyone!
Wearing Ninfeo Mio today after being inspired by Robin’s summer scents article, and it’s perfect! Also have been wearing a lot of Navegar lately — I was dismayed to find it’s been discontinued! It’s been a great one for our 100+ degree weather lately.
i wore it last night, also inspired by the post and Robin’s comment that it can be worn in winter and reminds of summer (its winter here). I’d never felt that way about it before, but the power of suggestion worked and I enjoyed it a lot!
Has anyone tried the Ahava Hand Cream in Water? I’d like to find a perfume with a similar scent. The handcream has a bit of tuberose in it and is just lovely- not sure what other notes it might have. The scent doesn’t linger long. Since I am challenged by tuberose scents, liking this is a suprise to me. Oh, and if you have ultra dry hands like me, this hand cream, in addition to smelling great, works really well.
Has anyone tried the Ahava Hand Cream in Water? I’d like to find a perfume with a similar scent. The handcream has a bit of tuberose in it and is just lovely- not sure what other notes it might have. The scent doesn’t linger long. Since I am challenged by tuberose scents, liking this is a suprise to me. Oh, and if you have ultra dry hands like me, this hand cream, in addition to smelling great, works really well.
I just found two awesome indie niche perfume houses: Olympic Orchids and Pixxxie Pie and Posie (on Etsy) and I AM IN LOVE.
Going to Disneyland tomorrow; surprising the bf. He has no idea! He thinks we’re going on a daytrip drive in Holland, but I’ve secretly taken his passport, packed his clothes, etc. YAY! So we’ll be heading to France in the morning. I hope he sleeps in the car; it’ll make the surprise even more awesome!
Was thinking of taking some testers, but am afraid of any of them being a scrubber. Bye bye Disney memories.
Today I wore the deliciousness called Golden Cattleya (Olympic Orchids), and now just before bed I’m going to wear Sirius Black or Barbaroi by Pixxxie Pie & Posie. So in love with her (natural) scents!
Hope you are all well. I’m in the middle of writing a blogpost about how this perfumista community has made me feel like I belong somewhere for the very first time in my life. I feel a sibling-like love for all of you.
*hugs*
That’s a great surprise! Hope you have a good time.
Wonderful treat – definitely take a perfume you love!
What a great idea for a surprise, Zubi! I hope you have a terrific trip.
BTW, I smelled some of Olympic Orchids’ stuff at the Artisan Perfume Salon in SF yesterday. My nose was pretty exhausted by that point, but I did think Golden Cattleya was lovely.
Happy Birthday, Poodle! Robin, hope you are surviving the fun. I agree with you about the brightness, it is a killer. I live(?)…..reside in AZ, and it has been brutal, even for us.
I just finished shower 2 of 3 and 4711 and a light gown are getting me through.
I have a brand new bottle of Ormonde Jayne, I worried they would t have it back. I DO NOT LIKE JAYNE, but I love “WOMEN,”. If anyone wants to trade I love the MONTALE s, Ouds, deep dark, gothis scents. I guess you call it that. But I laytt4-5 sprites of Oud with Amber or Lily or magnolia. Please let me know if you want to trade.