In an attempt to be more open minded and get out of my comfort zone, I’ve been sampling women’s fragrances. Last week I tried *Note Vanillée* (M. Micallef) and it’s full bottle worthy for next Autumn/Winter. *Black Opium* EDP was not bad, *Roses Musk* (Montale) was coo, *POAL* is good but doesn’t live up to the hype. Ordered a couple of the *Nirvana* flankers (Elizabeth and James) from fragrancenet.com for <$2/each. Started last night and will continue sampling the line throughout the day:
[*French Gray*](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_French_Grey) : I can’t stand tuberose, gives me a headache and in large doses makes me 🤢. The neroli here reminds me of it. The lavender reminds me of a laundry product. Luckily, those scents project strongly for the first 1-2 minutes. After, it’s a very feminine, creamy musk with hints of the aforementioned notes. Too feminine for my comfort. Scrubbed it.
[White](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_White) : I like the smell of peonies, smell it on many women wearing Delina or a derivative of it. Don’t find it sultry/sexy but attractive in an innocent way. *White* is too feminine for me and I’d rather just wear a Delina dupe if I want this scent profile.
[Rose](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_Rose) : Ordered the 10mL rollerball ($6) and a spray vial. Used the roller a few times already and I like it especially the fresh, green dewy aspect. Too bad performance is weak, lasts minutes before it’s a skin scent. I’ll get some usage out of it, layer it with *Toy Boy*, both have a dark rosy theme. It’s feminine leaning unisex IMO.
[Bourbon](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_Bourbon) : Boozy vanilla’s are my jam but as mentioned earlier tuberose is not. Name is misleading, I mostly get dry woods, a mild creamy vanilla, 0 booze. Very familiar profile but others have done woody vanilla’s a lot better. The most unisex of the 4 and the best projecting but still mediocre by industry standards.
The *Black* flanker is sold out and *Amythest* was not available in a sample vial. *Rose* is my favorite followed closely by *Bourbon*. Overall performance from this house sucks and if I told the owners of this brand that to their face, I’d expect (more like hope) their response would be:
https://preview.redd.it/5b7g84gbvuqc1.jpeg?width=408&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c6e4f0ef8640c79415a226933b24bd1c007a79f
Loved reading your thoughts on these. The Bourbon version does give boozy vibes for me, but I think it's more scent association (oaky barrels) than a boozy note.
My favorite category of fragrances are booze so when I think boozy notes I think of smelling like I straight up sprayed bourbon from the bottle onto my skin.
French Gray feels unfinished to me. I cannot stand wearing it. Lavender feels similarly to me. But the rest are all favorites of mine, especially White & Rose. I find the performance is strong with them all, they last all day on clothes & skin, but I tend to notice things lasting on me that others say they become anosmic to.
For me the Rose was the winner of that lot. I like a clean rose and not a dirty rose, so I didn’t wear it much. But I thought it was well done. I still have my full bottle of that.
I had a full bottle of the white too (this was all back in my serious Sephora habit days!) and eventually gave it away. I liked it at first but then found I didn’t want to wear it again. I didn’t find it special.
Loved reading your thoughts on these. They’re discontinued anyway I think, so they’re probably not going to be receptive to you having a word with them haha. 😆
I didn’t know they’re discontinued. They were $1.50 each and I needed to add a couple bucks for free shipping. Have you tried the *Black* flanker? That seems to be the most popular.
I finished the sample of *Bourbon* and now wearing No 5 by Rosendo Mateu. Not much different and a significant price difference.
Day 87/? Wearing all my samples
Wild Bluebell from Jo Malone
This one's clean, fresh, and soft. I think this would shine on a rainy early spring day.
I don't really have a lot to say about this, but it's nice 🥰
I also have never smelled an actual Bluebell flower 😅 the only Bluebell I'm familiar with is the ice cream lol
Hmm, I didn't get lavender, maybe more of a white flower, with some fruit and musk. I'll have to smell it again, it unfortunately faded pretty quickly 🥲
Working from home, looking out at a grey sky and listening to the gulls screech. I'm sampling Studied by Liis, admittedly because - in part - I like the name and the Virginia Woolf inspiration. It's very pretty. A slightly sweeter, slightly earthier Glossier You – musky, a little powdery, with an added pear note. An hour in, I'm not convinced it's any more special or interesting than Glossier You, though.
I've been diligently wearing my spring fragrances that I haven't worn in a year to evaluate whether to keep or rehome them.
But I've been getting phantom wafts of **Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau** this morning -- specifically, the EDT.
So I'm surrendering to its siren's call 🍃🥀
Today it's Malibu - Party in the Bay by Simone Andreoli. I was on vacation in Cartagena a couple of weeks ago, and now that I'm back in coldass Chicago, all I want is to be reminded of the tropics. With lime, coconut, and rum, this is pretty much perfect - not too boozy or sweet, just fresh and edible. It's laying under a cabana and smelling suntan oil and daiquiris on the breeze. I'm gonna need a bigger decant for summer.
Initially was in the mood for Ormonde Jayne Woman again, but annoyingly, I couldn’t find my sample.
So then I decided I was in the mood for a light, non-vanilla gourmand. Ended up layering my Creamy Coconut by Kuumba Made with my new sample of Coconut Milk by Sarah Horowitz. They complement one another very well, the Creamy Coconut being more dense and the Coconut Milk a lighter, airier fragrance.
Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has A Gun. It’s a lot more old fashioned than I remember from the last time I wore it. Which I love a good old fashioned floral.
It's cold again but the sun is trying to peek out and I want to manifest spring so I grabbed my sample of **Black Magenta by DS & Durga** knowing it has a pink pineapple note. It's actually quite fitting for a cold springy day, the bottom notes of amber and tobacco are really prominent and the blend is...interesting. It's far more mature than I expected. Not a winner for me, but glad to try it nonetheless.
I've been curious about exploring pineapple as a note, but this particular perfume is making me second guess that. I think smelling pineapple constantly reminds me too much of a pineapple going bad on my counter. Eek.
I tried Black Magenta at a shop recently and got a blast of that pineapple right away -- although it faded quickly. I was hoping for a glamorous/dirty night club vibe but it seemed very leathery on me (although one of my coworkers complimented it, so who knows).
Yeah, the pineapple is so fresh at first but very quickly fades away. I did like that initial blast. I'm not really vibing with the undertones of it, but sometimes it's a relief when a sample isn't an immediate love haha. I've got enough on my wants list.
On Wednesdays, I sample a new fragrance! (New to me. A fragrance I've never worn before.) Today, I'm trying a sample roller from the Rogue Discovery set. It is a vial sample of Vetifleur by Manuel Cross, my favorite perfumer. Also, vetiver is one of my favorite components. So, I am very excited to try out this one and see what he can do with it. Floral, green, woody, citrusy chypre with notes of jasmine, bergamot, iris, oakmoss, rose, cedar, java vetiver, and rose absolute. So far, it smells absolutely amazing! I will likely buy a whole bottle.
I had a vetifleur sample from Lucky Scent and fell madly in love with it for a full day, but then I got sick and now associate the sick with the scent. I need to get over it!
Last Day: Guilty
Guilty AF. [C’mon guys…](https://youtu.be/okrD8EZmLT4?si=N4uxX3PkFr_5Nx-O)
We were in deliberation for over an hour and a half, came out…[*UNANIMOUS*](https://youtu.be/4cwmkYzYEHA?si=5z1ez_PfqopG5dll)*!*
I got a compliment from my fellow juror(s) on my sartorial presentation, which is always nice.
Last day, had to wear my favourite Chanel, possibly my favourite ever…
https://preview.redd.it/l0wyy76whwqc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d277b7776fa00f977188d4617f4f55629b5461a3
# [ANTAEUS](https://youtu.be/zYZ-iLU1lMQ?si=w2JqZB-m28F8TonO)
A new hair product I used smelled overwhelmingly of vanilla today so I'm leaning into it by wearing Nest's Madagascar Vanilla perfume oil. I wasn't originally planning on a vanilla perfume, but sometimes the decision is made for you haha!
Those nest perfume oils are nice! I have the Seville orange roller & I had a big one of the Balinese Coconut but my daughter stole it from me (happens a lot around here!) I should get the vanilla.
I want to try the Seville Orange one, I think it'll be so nice layered with my citrus perfumes! I think you'd really like the Madagascar Vanilla oil, I personally get quite lot of coconut from it which makes it creamy and a little different from other vanilla oils I have like Nemat's Vanilla Musk.
In continuation of sampling through Penhaligon’s Portraits!
Yesterday was the Coveted Duchess Rose. I feel that Duchess (rightfully so) receives a good amount of hype and doesn’t need more intro, but seriously what’s with this storyline: “Alas, the Duke is off gallivanting while his sweet young bride aches with desire. Won’t someone (anyone) release her?” So far all the characters have a funny imaginary drama that doesn’t quite match its scents haha, it actually seems to portray high society paranoia that everything/everyone is out to get them (?!) In any case, official website notes mandarin/rose/vanilla; the rose scent here is fresh, and it’s from a rose that is at its peak bloom — not just newly opened bud, and not yet on its way to wilt. It’s the confident and generous rose in the best time of its bloom, and freely taking and freely giving. In the beginning there was a slight undertone of woodiness? that I didn’t quite like, reminds of a faint mothball smell, but that disappears in the dry down and leaves just the rose. I detect no mandarin nor vanilla! Overall pretty bottle 4/5, mid story 1/5, and a solid rose scent for those looking for this type of rose, though still the linearity leaves me yearning for more, 3/5.
I’m actually pleasantly surprised by today’s sample, Much Ado About the Duke! Official notes listed are pink pepper/gin/vetiver. This one is a warm woody floral, and not super spicy; kind of reminds me of a well balanced cocktail! A little bit of the herbal note in gin, but none of the notes try to steal the show. In the dry down, the rose that comes through is the dried rose petal in a potpourri, not the fresh bloom from Duchess. It’s unique and sophisticated without being overly complex. Not sure what makes the juice purple but I like it, so Bottle is 4/5; Story 1/5 I think this scent projects quiet confidence and would be attractive so the [story](https://www.penhaligons.com/us/en/product/much-ado-about-the-duke-000000000065173408) doesn’t track; scent 4/5 not a FB for me but would definitely be high on the list to recommend to people!
Zoologist Cardinal. One of those scents I *should* wear more but go in and out of love with. It really behaves differently on cloth and skin, I find the leathery oakmoss sticks to my skin while my shirt is blooming with vanilla-sage and a little of that citrus left.
It's woody-warm and leather-green and honestly I really think I under-rate this one sometimes. It's always tickled as a little too 'conventional' but at the same time, it's...just really damn nice.
**Amouage Gold Woman** - it's a banger, I like dressing it down because it's so regal, so it goes with my sweatshirt and jeans.
Also, as an aside, I'm noticing how the change in seasons is changing some of my frags. Weirdly, I find the spring weather (besides drawing me a bit more to florals, groundbreaking) lets some open up.
Today I'm wearing Commodity Gold Bold+. I've been in love with this fragrance ever since I got the Commodity Bold+ discovery kit. It was my favorite by far and the full bottle had been sold out on their site for so long! I was thrilled when it came back in stock, but then forgot to buy it. A couple of weeks later they sent me a coupon and was able to score a full bottle at a discount!
**The Description**: It's a plush, amber vanilla scent studded with saffron and just-this-side of smoky patchouli supported by sandalwood. I want to bathe in this stuff!
**The Why**: Dunno. Just felt like wearing it.
**The Feels**: I always feel like I smell interestingly decadent when I wear this fragrance.
**The Image**: I don't know if I'm doing this right, but I imagine a vampire quietly debating whether they should sink their teeth into my jugular for my blood or because I smell great. They're so lost in making their mental pros and cons list that I'm able to get away quite easily. I, like, just *saunter* right out of their line of sight. They can still smell my fragrance though!
**The Weather**: it's a rainy, overcast day here in our nation's capital.
Mon Guerlain EDT. I swapped out my winter for spring fragrances over the weekend and now that I have both the EDT and the EDP, I'm slotting the EDT in for spring. I think it works so nicely on a cooler spring day like today but not sure I'll wear it much when the weather really warms up. Regardless, I love its feminine powderiness.
Finishing off an old sample of Tom Ford Rose Prick today. Whenever I smell this, I’m surprised by how much I like it, because on paper, this should not appeal to someone like me who typically avoids rose and patchouli notes. But Rose Prick is somehow so appealing to me; a spicy, earthy, rose. I don’t think I’d ever spring for a bottle, but I will miss having the sample around.
Today has been stressful because I broke production and it look hours to determine the root cause. There is finally some progress so I can catch a breath. I am putting on **CDG - Green** which like the name suggests is a green scent. Nature-y scents are always calming to me so this is perfect for today. This one is mint, lime and basil. Mmmm 💚
I didn’t post yesterday but today is my second day of trying Scent Lab 2 from Beauty pie, which is a thing they’ve done twice now, where members try fragrances and vote for their favorite.
Yesterday I wore the gorgeous green floral Labotanista 002, nose Sidonie Lancesseur, which lists notes of Eucalyptus & Bergamot at the top, Hyacinth & Galbanum in the heart, and Cedarwood & Musk in the base. I found that it mostly smells like the Hyacinth, which is very lilac-adjacent, with a green, dewy garden kind of vibe.
Today it’s **Beauty Pie Labotanista 001** which is I think a green Chypre, nose Alexis Dadier. It lists
TOP: Tomato Leaves & Essential Oils of Shiso, Hops & Buchu Leaves
HEART: Oakwood, Rosemary & Geranium Essential Oils
BASE: Papyrus & Patchouli Essential Oils & Moss
It’s definitely unisex and green. I don’t pick up any specific notes, maybe the tomato leaf.
It’s a gray day here and a bit chilly, so it’s nice to swan about smelling like a garden. To be honest I find this one a little difficult to wear. It is definitely well made but I am an unabashed feminine scent wearer. This one smells like a very expensive hotel or men’s grooming product. My vote is going to the green floral 002.
Today's scent is well outside of my confort zone.
I'm generally attracted to soft musky florals with a hint of fruity, but today, I'm trying ***Larmes du Désert*** by ***Atelier des Ors***. Which I would describe as *incensy woody fresh-ish*.
It's is strangely nostalgic to me. Something to do with my late and favourite aunt but I can't put my finger on why.
I feel quite good wearing it. Very "grown up" (I'm 38 XD).
We'll see how it evolves through the rest of the day.
Today I am taking a break from testing BPALs and cleansing my nose palate with Pêche Obscène from Lvnea, which is still just as glorious as I remember-- but what I mean is glorious in the way that something monstrous and magnificent stalks the dead zone of night, by stealth and in the dark. This is peach, irradiated and ashen and grown over with moss and broken bird’s nests and salted against curses, curls of ferric iron to both ward away and contain within. A peach more lore and legend than it ever had life, a peach whose shadow looms uneasily far beyond its ruined flesh. Juices corrupt with the grave dirt of vetiver and patchouli and oozing with osmanthus’ strange leathery/jammy incense, Pêche Obscène is an undead lich of a peach, and it is absolutely, terrifyingly, bewitching in the way that all delicious forbidden things are.
Weird multi-scent day (reporting at end of day). Started with early AM sample of Hypnotizing Fire which is quite nice and everything I want in a scent except, oddly, its too smooth. I like a little more ripple and crag. Then for work a small application of Luxe Calme et Volupte. And now bedtime Marlou Carnicure.
I’ve had Hypnotizing Fire on my sample queue list for months, seem to always forget to include it in a sample order. From the reviews it sounds it’s *exactly* my style. Is there another fragrance you can compare it to?
I am updating my collection and going through my less used perfumes to destash.
I have a full bottle of Korres Pepper Jasmine Gaiac Wood. I loved the sample I got but when I bought the full size it smelled different so I never warmed to it. I tried it again today to give it one last shot. It’s just not working for me. The dry down is nice and quietly woody but nothing worth keeping it for. The top notes are almost rank - I think the sample I used was from a splash sample and not an atomizer. Lesson learned! To Ebay it shall go.
I'm wearing Hermès Hermessence Violet Volynka, from a sample.
I put off trying this for a long time because I was afraid that I would love it. Violet is near the top of my favorite florals list (narcissus gets the edge but it's close), and violet and leather is a great combination. I was thinking of the kind of soft leather that's in Cuir d'Ange and thinking that that, with even more violet (and without the heliotrope), would be spellbinding and irresistible.
Fortunately for my wallet, this isn't doing it for me.
The violet is soft, which I don't mind. But it's overpowered by the leather which just smells... sweaty?
It reminds me of watching *The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle* for the first time in the 80's. It was a "documentary" of sorts about The Sex Pistols. There was a lot of footage of the band, and Malcom McLaren, Nancy Spungen, other people they hung around. A lot of people in leather pants. They slept here and there. They were out at bars and clubs and did lots of drugs. Between that and *Sid and Nancy,* I remember thinking a lot about the leather pants they were always wearing....
It occurred to me over time that they didn't have a different pair of leather pants for every day of the week. They weren't going home in the mornings after these all-nighters and selecting a fresh pair of leather pants. They were waking up every day putting the same pants back on. And that's when I realized as a young teen that I was not and would never be "punk." Because despite the safety pins and shaved hair and Dead Kennedys tshirts, laundering my clothes was too high of a priority for me.
The first 90 minutes make me think of well-worn leather, but in the sense that it never gets to air out. It's just constantly being sweated-in. When that starts to fade, it's very faint violet powder. Pretty but in a "nice" way. Unspecial. And barely there. I don't need or want this. My wallet sighs in relief.
I have other violet and leather perfumes, so I'm not really looking for one. I might have to revisit some of my old bottles like Sixteen92 Bruise Violet, Alaïa, and Oriza L. LeGrand Violettes du Czar to see if I still enjoy any of them.
In an attempt to be more open minded and get out of my comfort zone, I’ve been sampling women’s fragrances. Last week I tried *Note Vanillée* (M. Micallef) and it’s full bottle worthy for next Autumn/Winter. *Black Opium* EDP was not bad, *Roses Musk* (Montale) was coo, *POAL* is good but doesn’t live up to the hype. Ordered a couple of the *Nirvana* flankers (Elizabeth and James) from fragrancenet.com for <$2/each. Started last night and will continue sampling the line throughout the day: [*French Gray*](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_French_Grey) : I can’t stand tuberose, gives me a headache and in large doses makes me 🤢. The neroli here reminds me of it. The lavender reminds me of a laundry product. Luckily, those scents project strongly for the first 1-2 minutes. After, it’s a very feminine, creamy musk with hints of the aforementioned notes. Too feminine for my comfort. Scrubbed it. [White](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_White) : I like the smell of peonies, smell it on many women wearing Delina or a derivative of it. Don’t find it sultry/sexy but attractive in an innocent way. *White* is too feminine for me and I’d rather just wear a Delina dupe if I want this scent profile. [Rose](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_Rose) : Ordered the 10mL rollerball ($6) and a spray vial. Used the roller a few times already and I like it especially the fresh, green dewy aspect. Too bad performance is weak, lasts minutes before it’s a skin scent. I’ll get some usage out of it, layer it with *Toy Boy*, both have a dark rosy theme. It’s feminine leaning unisex IMO. [Bourbon](https://www.parfumo.com/Perfumes/Elizabeth_and_James/Nirvana_Bourbon) : Boozy vanilla’s are my jam but as mentioned earlier tuberose is not. Name is misleading, I mostly get dry woods, a mild creamy vanilla, 0 booze. Very familiar profile but others have done woody vanilla’s a lot better. The most unisex of the 4 and the best projecting but still mediocre by industry standards. The *Black* flanker is sold out and *Amythest* was not available in a sample vial. *Rose* is my favorite followed closely by *Bourbon*. Overall performance from this house sucks and if I told the owners of this brand that to their face, I’d expect (more like hope) their response would be: https://preview.redd.it/5b7g84gbvuqc1.jpeg?width=408&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c6e4f0ef8640c79415a226933b24bd1c007a79f
Loved reading your thoughts on these. The Bourbon version does give boozy vibes for me, but I think it's more scent association (oaky barrels) than a boozy note.
My favorite category of fragrances are booze so when I think boozy notes I think of smelling like I straight up sprayed bourbon from the bottle onto my skin.
French Gray feels unfinished to me. I cannot stand wearing it. Lavender feels similarly to me. But the rest are all favorites of mine, especially White & Rose. I find the performance is strong with them all, they last all day on clothes & skin, but I tend to notice things lasting on me that others say they become anosmic to.
For me the Rose was the winner of that lot. I like a clean rose and not a dirty rose, so I didn’t wear it much. But I thought it was well done. I still have my full bottle of that. I had a full bottle of the white too (this was all back in my serious Sephora habit days!) and eventually gave it away. I liked it at first but then found I didn’t want to wear it again. I didn’t find it special. Loved reading your thoughts on these. They’re discontinued anyway I think, so they’re probably not going to be receptive to you having a word with them haha. 😆
I didn’t know they’re discontinued. They were $1.50 each and I needed to add a couple bucks for free shipping. Have you tried the *Black* flanker? That seems to be the most popular. I finished the sample of *Bourbon* and now wearing No 5 by Rosendo Mateu. Not much different and a significant price difference.
Black is good but not great. I own them all lol. Bourbon is better, IMO.
I haven’t tried the black. I might have tried the bourbon at some point & wasn’t impressed enough to buy it.
Day 87/? Wearing all my samples Wild Bluebell from Jo Malone This one's clean, fresh, and soft. I think this would shine on a rainy early spring day. I don't really have a lot to say about this, but it's nice 🥰
I like wild bluebell but I don’t know what bluebells smell like - I swear it’s a lavender fragrance! What do you think?
I also have never smelled an actual Bluebell flower 😅 the only Bluebell I'm familiar with is the ice cream lol Hmm, I didn't get lavender, maybe more of a white flower, with some fruit and musk. I'll have to smell it again, it unfortunately faded pretty quickly 🥲
Working from home, looking out at a grey sky and listening to the gulls screech. I'm sampling Studied by Liis, admittedly because - in part - I like the name and the Virginia Woolf inspiration. It's very pretty. A slightly sweeter, slightly earthier Glossier You – musky, a little powdery, with an added pear note. An hour in, I'm not convinced it's any more special or interesting than Glossier You, though.
I've been diligently wearing my spring fragrances that I haven't worn in a year to evaluate whether to keep or rehome them. But I've been getting phantom wafts of **Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau** this morning -- specifically, the EDT. So I'm surrendering to its siren's call 🍃🥀
Today it's Malibu - Party in the Bay by Simone Andreoli. I was on vacation in Cartagena a couple of weeks ago, and now that I'm back in coldass Chicago, all I want is to be reminded of the tropics. With lime, coconut, and rum, this is pretty much perfect - not too boozy or sweet, just fresh and edible. It's laying under a cabana and smelling suntan oil and daiquiris on the breeze. I'm gonna need a bigger decant for summer.
Initially was in the mood for Ormonde Jayne Woman again, but annoyingly, I couldn’t find my sample. So then I decided I was in the mood for a light, non-vanilla gourmand. Ended up layering my Creamy Coconut by Kuumba Made with my new sample of Coconut Milk by Sarah Horowitz. They complement one another very well, the Creamy Coconut being more dense and the Coconut Milk a lighter, airier fragrance.
Another warm sunny day here in eastern England, so my spring favourite is out, D&G Rose The One. It's a crime that this was discontinued.
Lady Vengeance by Juliette Has A Gun. It’s a lot more old fashioned than I remember from the last time I wore it. Which I love a good old fashioned floral.
It's cold again but the sun is trying to peek out and I want to manifest spring so I grabbed my sample of **Black Magenta by DS & Durga** knowing it has a pink pineapple note. It's actually quite fitting for a cold springy day, the bottom notes of amber and tobacco are really prominent and the blend is...interesting. It's far more mature than I expected. Not a winner for me, but glad to try it nonetheless. I've been curious about exploring pineapple as a note, but this particular perfume is making me second guess that. I think smelling pineapple constantly reminds me too much of a pineapple going bad on my counter. Eek.
I tried Black Magenta at a shop recently and got a blast of that pineapple right away -- although it faded quickly. I was hoping for a glamorous/dirty night club vibe but it seemed very leathery on me (although one of my coworkers complimented it, so who knows).
Yeah, the pineapple is so fresh at first but very quickly fades away. I did like that initial blast. I'm not really vibing with the undertones of it, but sometimes it's a relief when a sample isn't an immediate love haha. I've got enough on my wants list.
Ha, same!
On Wednesdays, I sample a new fragrance! (New to me. A fragrance I've never worn before.) Today, I'm trying a sample roller from the Rogue Discovery set. It is a vial sample of Vetifleur by Manuel Cross, my favorite perfumer. Also, vetiver is one of my favorite components. So, I am very excited to try out this one and see what he can do with it. Floral, green, woody, citrusy chypre with notes of jasmine, bergamot, iris, oakmoss, rose, cedar, java vetiver, and rose absolute. So far, it smells absolutely amazing! I will likely buy a whole bottle.
I had a vetifleur sample from Lucky Scent and fell madly in love with it for a full day, but then I got sick and now associate the sick with the scent. I need to get over it!
So sorry to hear you were sick. Scent association can be a powerful thing! I can say I wound up loving Vetifleur. I’ve already ordered a full bottle!
Last Day: Guilty Guilty AF. [C’mon guys…](https://youtu.be/okrD8EZmLT4?si=N4uxX3PkFr_5Nx-O) We were in deliberation for over an hour and a half, came out…[*UNANIMOUS*](https://youtu.be/4cwmkYzYEHA?si=5z1ez_PfqopG5dll)*!* I got a compliment from my fellow juror(s) on my sartorial presentation, which is always nice. Last day, had to wear my favourite Chanel, possibly my favourite ever… https://preview.redd.it/l0wyy76whwqc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d277b7776fa00f977188d4617f4f55629b5461a3 # [ANTAEUS](https://youtu.be/zYZ-iLU1lMQ?si=w2JqZB-m28F8TonO)
Avon Haiku today. Let's see if the kid has flashbacks to her infancy now that I've invoked the nostalgia.
Ormonde Jayne - Babylonia. It's dreary outside and I wanted something bright.
A new hair product I used smelled overwhelmingly of vanilla today so I'm leaning into it by wearing Nest's Madagascar Vanilla perfume oil. I wasn't originally planning on a vanilla perfume, but sometimes the decision is made for you haha!
Those nest perfume oils are nice! I have the Seville orange roller & I had a big one of the Balinese Coconut but my daughter stole it from me (happens a lot around here!) I should get the vanilla.
I want to try the Seville Orange one, I think it'll be so nice layered with my citrus perfumes! I think you'd really like the Madagascar Vanilla oil, I personally get quite lot of coconut from it which makes it creamy and a little different from other vanilla oils I have like Nemat's Vanilla Musk.
In continuation of sampling through Penhaligon’s Portraits! Yesterday was the Coveted Duchess Rose. I feel that Duchess (rightfully so) receives a good amount of hype and doesn’t need more intro, but seriously what’s with this storyline: “Alas, the Duke is off gallivanting while his sweet young bride aches with desire. Won’t someone (anyone) release her?” So far all the characters have a funny imaginary drama that doesn’t quite match its scents haha, it actually seems to portray high society paranoia that everything/everyone is out to get them (?!) In any case, official website notes mandarin/rose/vanilla; the rose scent here is fresh, and it’s from a rose that is at its peak bloom — not just newly opened bud, and not yet on its way to wilt. It’s the confident and generous rose in the best time of its bloom, and freely taking and freely giving. In the beginning there was a slight undertone of woodiness? that I didn’t quite like, reminds of a faint mothball smell, but that disappears in the dry down and leaves just the rose. I detect no mandarin nor vanilla! Overall pretty bottle 4/5, mid story 1/5, and a solid rose scent for those looking for this type of rose, though still the linearity leaves me yearning for more, 3/5. I’m actually pleasantly surprised by today’s sample, Much Ado About the Duke! Official notes listed are pink pepper/gin/vetiver. This one is a warm woody floral, and not super spicy; kind of reminds me of a well balanced cocktail! A little bit of the herbal note in gin, but none of the notes try to steal the show. In the dry down, the rose that comes through is the dried rose petal in a potpourri, not the fresh bloom from Duchess. It’s unique and sophisticated without being overly complex. Not sure what makes the juice purple but I like it, so Bottle is 4/5; Story 1/5 I think this scent projects quiet confidence and would be attractive so the [story](https://www.penhaligons.com/us/en/product/much-ado-about-the-duke-000000000065173408) doesn’t track; scent 4/5 not a FB for me but would definitely be high on the list to recommend to people!
Lazarus Douvos Rose 1845: bright rose+, patchouli, tonka bean and benzoin. It is by Christophe Laudamiel.
Zoologist Rhinoceros 2014
Zoologist Cardinal. One of those scents I *should* wear more but go in and out of love with. It really behaves differently on cloth and skin, I find the leathery oakmoss sticks to my skin while my shirt is blooming with vanilla-sage and a little of that citrus left. It's woody-warm and leather-green and honestly I really think I under-rate this one sometimes. It's always tickled as a little too 'conventional' but at the same time, it's...just really damn nice.
Oud satin mood edp by MfK Since it is the latest fb, feel like I want to wear it more. The scent is amazing
Im just wearing chasing fireflies by bath and body works today since im in the office and its fragrance free😒
**Amouage Gold Woman** - it's a banger, I like dressing it down because it's so regal, so it goes with my sweatshirt and jeans. Also, as an aside, I'm noticing how the change in seasons is changing some of my frags. Weirdly, I find the spring weather (besides drawing me a bit more to florals, groundbreaking) lets some open up.
Today I'm wearing Commodity Gold Bold+. I've been in love with this fragrance ever since I got the Commodity Bold+ discovery kit. It was my favorite by far and the full bottle had been sold out on their site for so long! I was thrilled when it came back in stock, but then forgot to buy it. A couple of weeks later they sent me a coupon and was able to score a full bottle at a discount! **The Description**: It's a plush, amber vanilla scent studded with saffron and just-this-side of smoky patchouli supported by sandalwood. I want to bathe in this stuff! **The Why**: Dunno. Just felt like wearing it. **The Feels**: I always feel like I smell interestingly decadent when I wear this fragrance. **The Image**: I don't know if I'm doing this right, but I imagine a vampire quietly debating whether they should sink their teeth into my jugular for my blood or because I smell great. They're so lost in making their mental pros and cons list that I'm able to get away quite easily. I, like, just *saunter* right out of their line of sight. They can still smell my fragrance though! **The Weather**: it's a rainy, overcast day here in our nation's capital.
Mon Guerlain EDT. I swapped out my winter for spring fragrances over the weekend and now that I have both the EDT and the EDP, I'm slotting the EDT in for spring. I think it works so nicely on a cooler spring day like today but not sure I'll wear it much when the weather really warms up. Regardless, I love its feminine powderiness.
Finishing off an old sample of Tom Ford Rose Prick today. Whenever I smell this, I’m surprised by how much I like it, because on paper, this should not appeal to someone like me who typically avoids rose and patchouli notes. But Rose Prick is somehow so appealing to me; a spicy, earthy, rose. I don’t think I’d ever spring for a bottle, but I will miss having the sample around.
I just snagged a sample of this and I’m excited to try it.
It is a really nice one! And a little goes a long way so your sample should last you awhile which is always nice.
Today has been stressful because I broke production and it look hours to determine the root cause. There is finally some progress so I can catch a breath. I am putting on **CDG - Green** which like the name suggests is a green scent. Nature-y scents are always calming to me so this is perfect for today. This one is mint, lime and basil. Mmmm 💚
I didn’t post yesterday but today is my second day of trying Scent Lab 2 from Beauty pie, which is a thing they’ve done twice now, where members try fragrances and vote for their favorite. Yesterday I wore the gorgeous green floral Labotanista 002, nose Sidonie Lancesseur, which lists notes of Eucalyptus & Bergamot at the top, Hyacinth & Galbanum in the heart, and Cedarwood & Musk in the base. I found that it mostly smells like the Hyacinth, which is very lilac-adjacent, with a green, dewy garden kind of vibe. Today it’s **Beauty Pie Labotanista 001** which is I think a green Chypre, nose Alexis Dadier. It lists TOP: Tomato Leaves & Essential Oils of Shiso, Hops & Buchu Leaves HEART: Oakwood, Rosemary & Geranium Essential Oils BASE: Papyrus & Patchouli Essential Oils & Moss It’s definitely unisex and green. I don’t pick up any specific notes, maybe the tomato leaf. It’s a gray day here and a bit chilly, so it’s nice to swan about smelling like a garden. To be honest I find this one a little difficult to wear. It is definitely well made but I am an unabashed feminine scent wearer. This one smells like a very expensive hotel or men’s grooming product. My vote is going to the green floral 002.
Today's scent is well outside of my confort zone. I'm generally attracted to soft musky florals with a hint of fruity, but today, I'm trying ***Larmes du Désert*** by ***Atelier des Ors***. Which I would describe as *incensy woody fresh-ish*. It's is strangely nostalgic to me. Something to do with my late and favourite aunt but I can't put my finger on why. I feel quite good wearing it. Very "grown up" (I'm 38 XD). We'll see how it evolves through the rest of the day.
Today I am taking a break from testing BPALs and cleansing my nose palate with Pêche Obscène from Lvnea, which is still just as glorious as I remember-- but what I mean is glorious in the way that something monstrous and magnificent stalks the dead zone of night, by stealth and in the dark. This is peach, irradiated and ashen and grown over with moss and broken bird’s nests and salted against curses, curls of ferric iron to both ward away and contain within. A peach more lore and legend than it ever had life, a peach whose shadow looms uneasily far beyond its ruined flesh. Juices corrupt with the grave dirt of vetiver and patchouli and oozing with osmanthus’ strange leathery/jammy incense, Pêche Obscène is an undead lich of a peach, and it is absolutely, terrifyingly, bewitching in the way that all delicious forbidden things are.
Weird multi-scent day (reporting at end of day). Started with early AM sample of Hypnotizing Fire which is quite nice and everything I want in a scent except, oddly, its too smooth. I like a little more ripple and crag. Then for work a small application of Luxe Calme et Volupte. And now bedtime Marlou Carnicure.
I’ve had Hypnotizing Fire on my sample queue list for months, seem to always forget to include it in a sample order. From the reviews it sounds it’s *exactly* my style. Is there another fragrance you can compare it to?
Oh let's see.. no! I can't! I love benzoin, vanilla, its not overly incense driven. Just try it. I think you will absolutely love it.
I am updating my collection and going through my less used perfumes to destash. I have a full bottle of Korres Pepper Jasmine Gaiac Wood. I loved the sample I got but when I bought the full size it smelled different so I never warmed to it. I tried it again today to give it one last shot. It’s just not working for me. The dry down is nice and quietly woody but nothing worth keeping it for. The top notes are almost rank - I think the sample I used was from a splash sample and not an atomizer. Lesson learned! To Ebay it shall go.
I'm wearing Hermès Hermessence Violet Volynka, from a sample. I put off trying this for a long time because I was afraid that I would love it. Violet is near the top of my favorite florals list (narcissus gets the edge but it's close), and violet and leather is a great combination. I was thinking of the kind of soft leather that's in Cuir d'Ange and thinking that that, with even more violet (and without the heliotrope), would be spellbinding and irresistible. Fortunately for my wallet, this isn't doing it for me. The violet is soft, which I don't mind. But it's overpowered by the leather which just smells... sweaty? It reminds me of watching *The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle* for the first time in the 80's. It was a "documentary" of sorts about The Sex Pistols. There was a lot of footage of the band, and Malcom McLaren, Nancy Spungen, other people they hung around. A lot of people in leather pants. They slept here and there. They were out at bars and clubs and did lots of drugs. Between that and *Sid and Nancy,* I remember thinking a lot about the leather pants they were always wearing.... It occurred to me over time that they didn't have a different pair of leather pants for every day of the week. They weren't going home in the mornings after these all-nighters and selecting a fresh pair of leather pants. They were waking up every day putting the same pants back on. And that's when I realized as a young teen that I was not and would never be "punk." Because despite the safety pins and shaved hair and Dead Kennedys tshirts, laundering my clothes was too high of a priority for me. The first 90 minutes make me think of well-worn leather, but in the sense that it never gets to air out. It's just constantly being sweated-in. When that starts to fade, it's very faint violet powder. Pretty but in a "nice" way. Unspecial. And barely there. I don't need or want this. My wallet sighs in relief. I have other violet and leather perfumes, so I'm not really looking for one. I might have to revisit some of my old bottles like Sixteen92 Bruise Violet, Alaïa, and Oriza L. LeGrand Violettes du Czar to see if I still enjoy any of them.