SOTD: Nanette Lepore

Quote of the Day: When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.-- Gracie Allen
I wish our skies were blue like that right now, but with the many fires in California at the moment, our area has been covered with smoke the last few weeks. Trying to induce the sense of summer gaiety I am wearing Nanette Lepore which is a peachy jasmine concoction layered over Sephora Necterine Blossom.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Summer 66 by Takashi Murakami 2006

SOTD: Bois des Iles

Quote of the Day: Nothing is as simple as we hope it will be. -- Jim Horning
In the middle of summer I am utterly in love with the autumnal delight of Bois des Iles. As much as everyone describes it as an autumn fragrance, I think this works perfectly year round, there is a transparency to this scent that pushes it to be a year round fragrance, and the sandalwood is so perfectly cool that well here I am wearing it in the middle of the summer. I think tomorrow I am pulling at Ava Luxe's Royal Parvati to go with this sandalwood jonesing and I admit I have also been smelling my bottle of Burberry Brit Gold which is a sumptious sandalwood which is most definately meant for the colder months.

image provided by www.nocloo.com

Image: Songs and Sonnets by Charles Robinson

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

Quote of the Day: You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.-- Ray Bradbury, advice to writers
The weather is once again in the 70's just where I like it. This summer I have gone on a binge to appreciate art, so it is my delight to share a website that has to do with one of my all time favorite moments in art, The Golden Age of Illustration, the site is http://www.nocloo.com/home/ , the best part was and I kid you not, finding out that one of my favorite illustrators, George Barbier actually illustrated a book called The Romance of Perfume, and well I had share the beauty of this on one of my favorite subjects: http://www.nocloo.com/gallery2/v/george-barbier-romance-perfume/
I am especially taken with one featuring a woman with a white doe.

image provided by www.june-leeloo.com
image: Hatsuharu by June Leeloo 2008

SOTD: Coco Madamoiselle pure parfum

Quote of the day: If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner.-- Tallulah Bankhead
If there is a note Chanel should be known for I think it is there jasmine. I have never been a jasmine lover, but yesterday after I put on Coco Madamoiselle I was entranced by the jasmine note that Chanel uses. I have smelled it in Chance, Allure, Allure Sensualle, and Chanel 5 and it remains one of the most gloriously creamy jasmines out there. But how can I forget the aldehydes which I think Chanel uses geniusely, examples: Bois des Iles (a mix of woods and aldehydes that I have yet to smell any where else), Chanel 22 (aldehydes and incense, I still haven't smelled this combo any where else), and grandmother of it all Chanel 5. But then again I think the house of Chanel has rather been genius with the use of vetiver and patchouli; in fact I think Coco Madamoiselle is first fragrance to really use the cleaned-up patchouli note that has taken over the world of perfume the last couple of years. I never thought the day would happen that I would owe most of my allegience in fragrance love to the house of Chanel; I thought I would be a Guerlain girl, but I had the sad realization that guerlinade and I do not get along together. Chanel is so modern and I look rather in proportions and looks like something from the 19th century, but I do also love the irony in fashion.

image proved by artnet.com

image: Tete de Femme by Francois Louis Schmied 1930

SOTD: Climat

Quote of the Day: Life is a long lesson in humility.-- James M. Barrie
So the blistering heat of last week has melted away into a refreshing coolness (actually cool enough that I don't have my bedroom window open). Today I am going with the cool earthy aldehydic scent of Lancome's Climat, it has a peppery vetiver drydown that you would never expect from the cool water aldehyde opening.
Some scent observations:
-Must de Cartier in pure parfum, I forget that it really does have a nice note of leather in the dry down.
-Thoroughly enjoying the scent of Johnsen's Lavender Chamomile baby powder, really theraputic.
-Neutrogen's new UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock has the most incredible scent not beachy at all, but rather cool and refreshing, crushed green leaves and waterlily, I was really impressed putting it on this morning.

Continuing the water theme here is Bjork's Oceania (she is so wonderful!):

image provided by artmagick.com

image: The Water Nixie by Herbert Draper 1898

video uploaded by dancedanceToki

The Birth of Cool and AMC's Mad Men

I admit I am not usually obsessessed with the style of films or television shows, every once awhile my attention is truly grabbed by the style I am seeing on screen. The first show that has captured my fancy in long time with its sheer visual appeal is AMC's Mad Men it is so authentically 1950's that I often sat watching it completely loving just the visual of it (not to mention the awesome acting and incredible writing.). I have come to appreciate the art of the show even more after going to an exhibit yesterday called The Birth of Cool which directly dealt with the style of the 1950's and all I could say is the set designers of Mad Men are truly worthy of admiration. I juxtaposed a few images to show how Mad Men capturing the style of the times.

enjoy. By the way I have for awhile tried to fragrance Joan (the voluptous gorgeous red head in the green dress in the top photo) for quite a while after a scene between her and one of the male leads, after he says she smells incredible, and it finally occurred I would put her in Youth Dew, it fits to a T.

image provided by http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/06/madmen200806 for Mad Men cast visual

image provided by http://grainedit.com/2008/05/07/mid-century-modern-design-exhibition-oakland-museum/ for Birth of Cool people
image provided by http://electricityandlust.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/series-review-mad-men/ for Mad Men official poster

images provided by http://www.cartoonbrew.com/books/birth-of-the-cool for The Birth of Cool

Van Cleef and Arpels is trying to kill me: A Midsummer Night's Dream jewelry collection

I don't usually espouse that a jewelry company is trying to kill me with beauty and theme, but Van Cleef and Arpels has A Midsummers Night's Dream jewelry collection and some of the pieces are way to damn gorgeous:

http://www.vancleef-arpels.com/en/van-cleef.html#/midsummer/

The one that truly gets me is the Pivoine necklace on scene IV, just utterly gorgeous.

image provided by http://www.midsummernightsdream.cjb.net/

SOTD: Light Blue

Quote of the Day: Lord, what fools these mortals be! --Puck, Act III, scene ii from A Midsummer Nights Dream

Today is the first day of summer, but truthfully summer started earlier than this day here in the Bay Area. Still I rather love the idea of there being an official beginning of the season and well the beginning of summer is always in my mind been associated with fairies. After all these years I still adore the idea of the changing of the season having a mystic and enchanted meaning. So to celebrate and do something I have been meaning to do for a long time I am visiting a museum. To help imbibe the beauty of summer I am putting on Dolce & Gabbana's ode to summer, Light Blue, and yes I have brought melon with me to eat on the museum greens. Lately I have felt the need to appreciate the beauty of the world.

Fragrant Thoughts: Basmati rice and butter go together so perfectly, the nuttiness is delightful.



image provided by artnet.com
image: Museum by David LaChapelle 2007

video uploaded by classical78rpm

SOTD: Parfum Sacre and Osmanthe Yunnan

And no that is not some sort of crazy layering you are reading up above; I started the day in Parfum Sacre and now in the heat of the late evening I am reaching for Osmanthe Yunnan. But the best part of this heat is that I am enjoying cold slices of sweet honeyed melon, this is one of the true pleasures of summer, nothing more refreshing that cold melon in the heat. Sometimes I forget though that melon is one of my favorite fruits until the hit heats and all I want is melon. You get caught in the stone fruit frenzy of the summer, but in the end I always come back to melon, maybe because on a hot summer day it can be such restorative medicine.

SOTD: Chergui by Serge Lutens

Quote of the Day: I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time. -- Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown in "Peanuts"

So today is my first day of truly testing out the much loved Chergui by Serge Lutens, so far what has struck me with my sampling of it is the beautiful honeyed floralcy I get from it. It also has reminds me of the style the Madini Perfume oils (hint hint Madini is from Moracco and Serge lives in Moracco and has many times announced he takes inspiration from Moracco). So Chergui lovers I highly recommend you go sniff some Madini oils.

image provided by http://www.kimjoon.co.kr/joon/bbs/board.php?bo_table=j_2006

Duet-Tiger by Kim Joon 2006

SOTD: Bois des Iles by Chanel

Quote of the Day: And remember, no matter where you go, there you are. -- Earl Mac Rauch, from "Buckaroo Bansai"

To say I had a long weekend is an understatement. I attended two graduations (the big one being my boyfriend's), a graduation party, and took my father out to lunch. And to top it off last night I ended up getting awful stomach cramps. I'm feeling much better now, but that was not fun.

So I am finally trying out the legendary Chanel Bois des Iles, so utterly lovely and soothing, the first time I have ever wanted to call a fragrance aromatherapy aldehyde. This has one of the most beautiful notes of sandalwood I have ever smelled. It is also the first time I have ever wanted to associate a Chanel fragrance with fairytales, Chanel for me has always been thoroughly modern with clean precise edges, but Bois des Iles is Chanel's take fairytales, crystal clear but wonderfully soft, like sunlight through crystal.

And because I finally like Coldplay again (I really hated their last album) and I heard it all over the radio stations, and because I think it is the perfect song for George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series, Viva La Vida:



image provided by http://www.animationarchive.org/2005/12/media-kay-nielsen-twelve-dancing.html
Image by Kay Nielsen from Twelve Dancing Princesses
video uploaded by daniloprudente

SOTD: Pure Grace

Quote of the Day: Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.-- Franklin P. Adams, Nods and Becks, 1944

I admit I wish I could wear a richer scent today, but I have a job interview and the best I can do is wear Philosophy's Pure Grace (which I hope will some how give me some grace) and to help induce more grace I am imbibing jasmine green tea, and to try and bring about a little serenity the last of japanese incense sampler, this last stick having a definate note of hinoki. Most likely after the interview I will spritz on something richer and comforting. So wish me luck and grace.

And for some nice ironic goodness, Fire It Up by Modest Mouse:


Has one of me favorite lyrics of late:

Oh we ate all of the oranges
Off the navels of our lovers

image provided by artnet.com
image: Grace in Window Tanyth Berkeley 2006
video uploaded by mattyjtheoriginal via youtube.com
lyrics provided by azlyrics.com

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

Quote of the Day: The murals in restaurants are on par with the food in museums. -- Peter De Vries

image provided by artnet.com

image: Bronzino's Blue Bird by Claire Pestaille 2007

Fragrant Thoughts- Incense

It's getting hot outside and I find one of the most wonderful ways to create a cooling effect is burning incense. I don't want the scent of flowers or fruits both imbued with the heat of the summer sun, but I want the cool effect of incense, the herbal woody smoke creating the effect of a densely crowded forest where even the summer sun has a hard time touching the floor. A dark cloaked serenity.
Something to watch while enjoying the coolness of incense, Neil Gaiman (one of the most handsome authors!) reading his poem Instructions, a beautiful look at fairytales:


image provided by artnet.com
image: Mantelpiece and Incense by Robbie Wraith
video uploaded by webelfneil

SOTD: Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus

Quote of the Day: I've done the calculation and your chances of winning the lottery are identical whether you play or not. -- Fran Lebowitz

I am a morning person which seems to be a rarity in my generation; I have inherited this tendency from my grandparents who passed it onto my father who has passed it on to me, where as my brother can sleep in until three and stay up until 5 in the morning. I love the quiet of the mornings, but I honestly wish I had friends I could meet in the morning at cafes. This segways into Sunday in that I firmly believe Sundays should be spent in lazy relaxation, in my case getting up early enough to enjoy the cool breeze of morning but getting a nice nap later on. This once again will be not happening because I am working. The temperture is supposed to go up today and I plan to wear Ormonde Jayne's Osmanthus, which so far I have only really gotten grapefruit from, but supposedly blooms in heat. In the evening I plan on enjoying the sultriness of Dolce & Gabbana's Sicily which is gorgeous in the summer.

Fragrant observations:
-La Maison de La Vanille's Divine Vanille des Tropiques is really made for hot weather, just surrounds you in gorgeousness.
-Azuree Soleil has a gorgeous musky drydown; I often forget the many beautiful stages this fragrance goes through.

The ultimate music of summer is Jack Johnson and here is If I Had Eyes by Jack Johnson:

image provided by artnet.com

image: The Lemon Song by TJ Ahearn 2007

video uploaded by Oniracom

SOTD: Azuree Soleil

Quote of the Day: Invention is the mother of necessity.-- Thorstein Veblen

So working on the weekend continues and get through this I am going with vacation in a bottle: Azuree Soleil. Can't get more relaxed than this scent, although hopefully the library will be calm with the weather being gorgeous outside. Later on I am seeing friends for dinner and a movie. Going to new tapas bar and seeing Sex and The City (I haven't done anything this girly in ages).

To get the mood relaxed and chill, Playground Love by Air:

image provided by artnet.com

image: Beach Activities by Claudia Williams 2007

video uploaded by iheartsofia

A rubied salad and dragon's breath

Last night for the second time this week, I made the Georgian salad, Lobio; to quite frankly put it I adore this salad. The irony is I have never been a big fan of kidney beans but this salad is something I can eat all by myself. It is a beautiful salad, looking rather jeweled with the red kidney beans, minced red onion, and the vibrant green of cilantro and jalepeno. I am a dragon with this salad I will eat it and keep it all to myself and because I do this I get some serious dragon's breath from the raw onion and garlic. But I must share this recipe I adore:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7870158

SOTD: Vanille Fleurie de Tahiti

Quote of the Day: If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.-- Ludwig Wittgenstein

Today I'm wearing something I haven't worn in ages La Maison de la Vanille's Vanille Fleurie de Tahiti. I suppose this one has been overshadowed in the years since the great vanilla awakening and well this scent has a great deal of memories attached to it; I wore this the first summer my boyfriend and I were together. It is a rich little vanilla with a boozy opening with a lovely ylang-ylang note woven through it and a rich sugery amber cream dry-down. It is a high calorie scent that I would suggest to those that love Annick Goutal's Songes, they don't smell alike but they are most definately in the same family of high calorie tropical vanilla orientals. By the way use this one lightly.

One of my favorite songs being covered by Arcade Fire, Naive Melodly by The Talking Heads:


image provided by artnet.com
image: Tropical Paradiza by Vladimir Manic
video uploaded by jfar23

SOTD: Clementine by Melissa Flagg and Fragrant Thoughts

Quote of the Day: Reality is nothing but a collective hunch.-- Jane Wagner, Lily Tomlin in "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe"

Today I testing out Melissa Flagg's Clementine, which last year gained some notice when it was being hyped that many starlets were wearing this orange blossom scent. I suspect this was being touted as the next Child, Kai, and Monyette Paris; the famous white floral oils of Southern California. Clementine is a cute very simple orange blossom scent and if you have floral issues like I do, it is quite indolic on my skin. The thing was I had great hopes for it because I am a big lover of orange blossom out of the white florals in the world this is the one that attracts me, but I have yet to find my perfect orange blossom scent. So the search continues...

A Few Fragrant Thoughts:
-I love carnation but carnation does not love me, I remember as a child wandering my grandmother's garden and loving to lean over and smell her carnations, but I have come to the realization that when used in fragrance it is basically a death wish for me except for Commes des Garcon's Carnation. Two greats of perfume feature carnation Opium and Coco and both are heinous on me because of the carnation.
- Gorgeous smell of the day: homemade tapioca pudding. delish.

And for some humor after watching both Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and I'm Not There in the last few weeks, I must include the hilarious mock-up of Bob Dylan style songs from Walk Hard, and here it is Royal Jelly as done by Dewey Cox:



image provided by artnet.com
image: Orange Shades-Alliterative
video uploaded by WalkHardMovie

SOTD: Climat by Lancome

Yesterday I had the sort of perfume find that well happens about once a year if you are lucky: I found the discontinued set of Lancome's La Collection of Magie, Sikkim, Climat, and Sagamore at Perfumania for $69.99! I almost made a whoop in the store. With this buy I have unintentionally ended up becoming a collector of the La Collection series, I now have all of them except the new Peat-Etre. Today I will be trying out Climat the most famous scent of the series. I find it interesting that this scent is inspired by the tropics, it really is a history in how scent of a place changes through time, these days it is coconut, gardenia, and tiare that reminds us of the tropics. Climat though is not centered around any of these notes, but instead reminds me of tropical rain. The scent is based around cool flowers enhanced by aldehydes and earthy vetiver.

Quote of the Day: Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. -- Mark Twain

I Feel It All by Feist

image provided by artnet.com

Green Banana Leaf by Nguyen Dieu Thuy

video uploaded by artscrafts

SOTD: Paris by Yves Saint Laurent

So the news is going through the blogsphere and the rest of the world that the designer Yves Saint Laurent has passed away, in honor of him today I am wearing Paris. The man helped to contribute to perfume history immensely with the creation of Opium and Paris.

Quote: Fashion isn't just to decorate women, but to reassure them, give them confidence- Yves Saint Laurent

an advertisement for YSL's Paris:

image provided by artnet.com

image: In the Pink by Claude Ronald Bentley 1986

quote provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Saint-Laurent_%28designer%29#Quotes

video uploaded by tylw

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

Working on a sunday is never fun, but I have too, and next sunday. So rather going with my usual relaxing scents (really sundays should be spent relaxing around the kitchen table), I have instead opted for the more up-beat Osmanthus Interdite. I imagine this leathery tart floral would go wonderfully with Japanese Kitsune aka the fox woman; a mythological figure I have always been fascinated by.

Quote of the Day: The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.-- George F. Will


And now for a magical video, A&E by Goldfrapp:


Image provided by http://www.treadwaygallery.com/ONLINECATALOGS/March2004/0051-0100.html

Image: The Fox Woman by Bertha Lum

video uploaded by MuteChannel