Scent of Abricots

SOTD: Bois des Iles

2009-09-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

What always strikes me about Bois des Iles is how utterly unique it is and yet how it is completely familiar to me, for Chanel it completely blows off of the idea that all Chanels are some strange alien cool creatures that just reek of cool chicness (which is what you want a lot of the times anyways). For me it is what a fairytale would look like in the hands of Coco Chanel. As for the familiarity of the scent, I can't explain it, it smells of home too me, it smells like it should be every where, but it isn't. It is the scent that makes you question why on earth are there not more scents in its category of aldehydic woods. It glows, it evolves, it is woods, perfect glow of an orange in Autumn twilight, gingerbread in shadows waiting to be eaten.

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image: Lot 153: Illustration of a Fox Hunting Party Traveling Through the Woods by Henry James Soulen

Gourmand Equivalents: Cuir Beluga and Brown Butter Blondies

2009-09-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all you want is something sweet and embracing but then you have that one other need that is so opposite of the other two, sophisticated, that you are left with a conundrum of what to do, and to top it all off you want it easy. I had seen the recipe for Brown Butter Blondies a few weeks ago and had been agonizing about wanting to make them but could not with a right mind turn the oven on in 100 degree weather to bake a dessert that screamed Autumn to me, so I waited the weather out.

The idea of brown butter in desserts has always intrigued me, the added nuttiness and depth to already delicious butter made brown butter something to fantasize about, so finally the weather changed, and I tried the recipe. The recipe could not be simpler or easier and the results were phenomenal, while sweet the blondies were not overly sweet, the vanilla melded with the molasses of the dark brown sugar to create a heady fragrance, the pecans added there own sweet nuttiness, while the blondies themselves a beautiful caramel color. While children would eat these with joy, I could not help but realize that these are probably far more delightful for adults. As I sat there eating a blondie I realized that it reminded me of a fragrance, Guerlain's Cuir Beluga, while Guerlain may hype up the scent as the most elegant of things, and it is elegant what they fail to add is that Cuir Beluga is also very much a dessert scent, vanilla and amber with just the tiniest touch of leather to keep it from becoming vanilla pudding. The Leather and Brown Butter act out the very same role in these creations they make them adult desserts.

The recipe for Brown Butter Blondies can be found here:

http://blueridgebaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/brown-butter-blondies.html

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image: The Muse of Autumn by Delphin Enjolras

SOTD: Daim Blond

2009-09-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

So today is finally feeling like Autumn. I've already made Carrot Ginger soup in celebration of it and later on some Brown Butter Blondies. My scent today is Serge Luten's Daim Blond that doesn't seem to get much love yet in this lovely Autumnal weather is perfect. This lightly spiced suede melts into the skin beautifully and brings a chicness that is unexpected.

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image: Golden Cottonwoods by Christopher Burkett 1993

SOTD: Farnesiana

2009-09-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to go girly pretty but why should that disparaged, in age when girly and womanly seem to be oversexed to attract a man's view, it is nice to put on a scent that feels like the purely feminine, celebratory of the feminine aspect at its most girly. In a way it reminds me of the Lolita Gothic trend:

The fragrance while feminine has its own bits of dark angles that makes it such a unique fragrance.

Just wanted to offer two really good articles about the Gothic Lolita trend:

http://jezebel.com/5056920/in-her-own-words

http://jezebel.com/5056235/gothic-lolita-style-rebellious-or-regressive

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image: Gossamer Tide by Amy Sol

image provided by http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/trends-gothic-lolita-2643/

SOTD: Magnifique

2009-09-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

I think I am one of the few that likes this scent/or has positive results from it. For the few first hours it is smoky goodness and then becomes a sweet tart rose. In the other news today is the first day of Autumn and it is supposed to get to 103 here, Magnifique was the only scent that reminded me of of Autumn and I could wear in the heat today. Not much else to say when you are pining away for your Autumn weather.

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image: Still Life with Poppies and Morning Glories by James Aponovich 2007

My new tobacco addiction (don't worry I'm not smoking)

2009-09-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid my Dad smoked cigarettes; to this day the scent of cigarette smoke makes me nauseous. So imagine my surprise when I found out I have a rather growing love for the scent of tobacco. The love for it began with Fifi Chachnil (this still has one of the more delightful unique uses for tobacco out there), I then went on to try and smell it in Chergui (for some reason this smells mainly of sweet honey on me), followed by Fumerie Turque which has a wonderful smokiness going on a hint of tobacco and eventual dry down creamy leather on me. Finally what I consider almost a soliflore for tobacco, Hilde Soliani's Bell'Antonia, tobacco and coffee deliciously blended into something utterly nuzzle worthy. I then received a decant of Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, which starts out with a pungent wet tobacco note laden with cloves and drys down to a delicious honey vanilla cream on me. Yet, it turns out my love for the scent of tobacco really didn't just begin last year, I like to think it might actually be something I have been growing with for a very long time. The beginner scent being Lolita Lempicka, yes thats right there is a tobacco note in there, so lovely and delicate in its use you might pass it by but it is there, then there was the scent that made me cross the gender aisles of perfumery, Guerlain's Vetiver, the tobacco pronounced beautifully in the dry down. Finally about three years ago my love for Must de Cartier which I swear has a tobacco note.

Another realization, I like my tobacco notes combined with sweeter things. My birthday is coming up and I have decided to kill two birds with one stone this year for my birthday fragrance, I want to find a good tobacco scent with vanilla. So I have gathered a list for things I wish to sample:

Back To Black by Killian

Doolciiisssimo by Hilde Soliani

Field Notes From Paris by Ineke

Havana Vanille by L'Artisan

Tobacco by Odori

Tobacco and Tulle by Soivohle

Tobacco Caramel by Fresh

Vanillaville by Soivohle

Vintage Tobacco Vanille by Voluspa

Should you know any other great tobacco vanilla scents please do tell.

image provided by http://www.red.lawrnc.k12.il.us/Schools/RHHS/Classes/Art/Slides/cow's%20skull.htm

image: Cow's Skull with Calico Roses by Georgia O'Keefe

SOTD: Musc Nomade by Annick Goutal

2009-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just forget that Annick Goutal is not all romance and that the house is very much willing to take creative leaps. I always think that a perfume is showing its art when you smell it and image immediately springs to your mind, Musc Nomade did just that. While Musc Nomade's inspiration lies in the Middle East, when I smelled it something very American popped in my head: The South Western Painted Horse. Yet this is not completely anachronistic, in the US the painted horse is a symbol of nomad-ism at its most wild and beautiful. When smelling Musc Nomade, I immediately smelled hay, warm horse breath that had just eaten oats rolled in molasses, the colors of Navajo white and rich chocolate brown.

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image: Horse and Stone Walls by Patricia Turner 2008

SOTD: Ferre by Ferre

2009-09-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

I think I may be going backwards with my fragrance love when I was young I adored Paloma Picasso (I suspect because of my association with my mother), I understood chypres to an extent, but then I moved on to sweet gourmands, after that it was orientals and woods but always with a sweet edge, for the most part this year I have been enamoured with the note of tobacco, and now as Autumn arrives I suddenly have my eyes looking towards florals. It has begun with an awakened love for lily which began with Donna Karan's Gold and now with the blazing Serge Luten's Un Lys, sharped edged in exactness of opulent lily. But to be more truthful this new love towards lady-like florals most likely began with Prada's Infusion d'Iris, which I have worn the last two years with a great deal of love, the bottle more than half way gone, which is almost unheard of for a fragrance lover. But lately that iris just hasn't been up to what I have been wanting on a whim I swapped for Ferre by Ferre, another iris of good repute. This is an iris for Autumn (okay the whole year) where as Infusion d'Iris can feel too cool and delicate in cold weather unless you are need a spring pick me up, this one warm and powdery starting with a lovely bright pineapple note and then heads into lovely iris softness.

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image: Autumn Garden by Ellen Phelan 2008

SOTD: Lolita Lempicka

2009-09-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well it suddenly feels like Autumn has arrived for the last two days we have had thunder and lightening followed by gentle rain, a crispness in the air has suddenly arrived. I admit I am bit shocked considering on Thursday we were in 100s and now this loveliness, although looking at the weather forecast it is supposed to be short lived and by Thursday we will be back in the 90s. Taking advantage of this lovely little bit of weather before Indian summer comes back with Lolita Lempicka today and a pair of boots. There is something so perfect about this scent in Autumnal weather, the sweetness perfectly accented by violets, anise, vetiver, vanilla, and a dash of tobacco. It is a scent meant for playful enchantment.

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image: The Queen of Hearts by Emma Florence Harrison 1910

SOTD: Marc Jacob's Blush

2009-08-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

My relationship with jasmine has always been on the tenous side, some how I bring out the indoles in even the least indolic of jasmine fragrances, but something strange has happened. A few years ago I tried Marc Jacob's Blush and well I detested it, I mean seriously did not LIKE it, it bloomed on my skin in the most perverse way, others spoke of how easy and lovely it was, and me, well Pooptown, USA would have been a good description. And then the other day through a swap I received a sample of it and because I constant curiousity decided for the hell of it to retry Blush. What hit my nose was not indolic at all but rather something very similar to L'Artisan's Le Chasse aux Papillons but hints of wonderful delightful peach. As I said inwardly to myself "Holy Skin Chemistry Change Batman!"

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image: Peach Tulip Trio by Tulla Booth

SOTD: Musk To Musk by Montale

2009-08-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Montale's Musk To Musk is unlike any musk I have ever tried. It is beautifully airy and spiritual, putting is like having mist over a desert effect, strangely dry and yet at the same time moist. It is one of the few scents with aoud I can wear. For a musk it is delightfully aromatic and full of strong imagery. This can be worn by men or women easily; cool, clean, aromatic, woodsy, with a lovely nutmeg and rose note.

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image: Veil (Danae) by Lisa Holden

SOTD: Suaded Musk by Gap

2009-08-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

I'll say it now I don't really like this musk, but I received it as a gift which was a coffret set of Gap oils. I'm not quite sure why I don't like it because the reality is I should like it; it is very much in the family of Sonoma Scent Studio's Opal but that is the thing musk lovers know when a musk is not working for them. I think I find it too powdery and sweet and the slight tang it has just adds to cloyingness of it. I'm going to layer Madini's Azahar over it and see what happens.

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image: Summer Haze by Hyde Solomon

SOTD: Mure et Musc by L'Artisan

2009-08-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

L'Artisan's Mure et Musc is an originator scent, if you love Trish McEvoy's No. 9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk or Philosophy's Falling In Love you better give this fragrance some thanks, well at least the original version. I few years ago I received a decant of Mure et Musc and truthfully I am not all that impressed and from what I understand there is good reason: L'Artisan at some point reformulated it. What I smell now is a somewhat dirty citrus musk, clean and not clean at the same time, the barest hint of blackberry, and overall it has a masculine edge. Another musk to take into consideration from the berry musk category is Montale's Fruits of The Musk, pumped full of berries and roses this musk is absolutely luscious. While I love that L'Artisan helped to create the category of blackberry musks I'm just not in love with this originator.

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image: Nido d'Aprile by Piero Gilardi

SOTD: Vanilla Musk by Kuumba Made

2009-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

I lied. There is another type of musk that can get you instant compliments: the vanilla musk. This scent is ubiquitous but with good reason, it smells just really good, but as musks go there are many varieties of it, the high end expensive kind ex. Lea St. Barth and Sage Machado's Pearl. These two both play on the vanilla musk category in different ways Lea heightens its formulation with a distinct almond note and Pearl goes woody with addition of a prominent sandalwood note. The funny thing about Kuumba Made's Vanilla Musk is that it is dirt cheap and easily holds it own with the above mentioned expensive vanilla musks. In someways it might actually be a better perfume for perfume lovers who want a vanilla musk that is edgier, the beginning of Vanilla Musk is almond, a really good almond I should add, followed by a heart of soft amber (through out the whole thing is vanilla), below that is clean musk that actually has an edge of civety skank. What is interesting about this vanilla musk is it has major sillage. It also in my case has been a man magnate. Wear it when you seem to be forgetting how good simple can be.

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image: Avian Headdress by Francesca Sundsten

SOTD: World's Best Egyptian Musk by Sweetcakes

2009-08-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

A few years ago this scent caused quite the uproar, it proclaimed itself to be the "World's Best" Egyptian musk for the most part it was quite the let down. In the frenzy of the arguments over the scent a very kind POLer sent me a sample. This is not an Egyptian musk scent, but neither is it horrible, it is a rather intriguing use of fruity red currant mixed with a sweet clean musk there is also a definite hint of lemon rind in there and just maybe a dash of Egyptian musk. I could lovers of Montale's Fruits of the Musk or L'Artisan's Mure et Musc finding it enjoyable.

***Update: This is actually a true Egyptian Musk it just takes awhile to get there but once it does oh my is it lovely. Very akin to NR edt in the drydown.

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image: Butterfly Series: Redcurrants with Two Butterflies by Joanna Hill

SOTD: Musc Botanique by Strange Invisible Perfumes

2009-08-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

This is a strange little beauty. I don't have much experience with natural perfumes so excuse if I make a few mistakes. The opening of it is strikingly green for a moment I afraid this scent is going to be just very green, while I admire green scents, they don't usually sit well on my skin. This softens though and sweetens becoming a candied Egyptian Geranium, this musk follows in the steps of Perfect Veil, Sonoma Scent Studio's Opal, and Ava Luxe's Nude Musk. Sweet musks laced with tangy soft notes in Perfect Veil, Opal, and Nude Musk it is citrus, but in Musc Botanique it is geranium, a wonderful come smell me closeness that just makes you want to breath in the scent of necks as you hug. Wear this type of musk if you want compliments, trust me they always work.

Notes: botanical musk, Egyptian Geranium, white amber.

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image: Passion Flower 8/99 by Nall

SOTD: Egyptian Goddess and Musc by Reminiscence

2009-08-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year when I look at my fragrance choices for the season and I sigh. August is that month where I can smell the change of seasons in the air but the heat of summer remains, I want to wear opulent orientals but know it will have disastrous results in being over powering. So its around this time I start reaching for musks. Musks have that beauty of not being too heavy but providing a soothing sensuality that melds with your skin.

To be truly honest with myself musks are also a scent I consistently get compliments on, I also get compliments on rose based scents, and vetiver scents; this makes me wonder if compliments are based also on how people view the person who is wearing the scent and whether they think that scent goes with their character.

Yesterday I put Narciso Rodriguez eau de toilette, sometimes I forget how beautiful the bottom is to the fragrance with the combination of vetiver, egyptian musk, and patchouli. Its honeyed earthiness just makes you want to delight in your own skin.

Today the craving continued at first I spritzed on a sample of Reminiscence's Musc, a powdery mild musk with almond and with a drydown that hints at animalic naughtiness. If you like Madini's White Musk, Musk Pierre, Sage Machado's Pearl, or Lea St. Barth you will enjoy this. I am curious as to why almond is so often paired with musk.

But then I realized I wanted more musk so I dabbed on Auric Blend's Egyptian Goddess, which maybe one the worlds greatest cheap buys ever as far as fragrance is concerned. With the application of heat on the skin this one blooms, and hilariously enough is probably the fragrance that has given me the most compliments in my collection. If you like Narciso Rodriguez eau de toilette try this.

Forever how long it takes the next couple of days will be dedicated to the explorations of musk in my collection.

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image: Idyll by Patrick Cierpka

Its been a long month....

2009-07-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't fall off the face of the earth or go into the jungle and get lost or visit the moon and meet an alien who took me to the center, rather I did what so many do after a break-up and a ton of work, I went into hiding, and had a few meditative thoughts. But after a month of doing that...well...one can only handle so much of it. So I decided to share somethings I enjoyed this month:

I took my Dad to go see the new Harry Potter movie, which I thought was really cute, and it just made me really happy to see my Dad happy.

The Chicken Piccata I made my Dad for his birthday. The excellent recipe was provided by Giada de Laurentiis.

The making of apricot preserves. My favorite recipe can be found here.

Making my favorite homemade lemon liquor, which can be found here.

The perfection that is Blueberry Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes, I've never been fond of regular pancakes, but these are divine, and the recipe is here.

I come from a family that is bacon connoseurs, so I rather love bacon, but quite frankly I suck at cooking it stove top, but then I found out you can do it in the oven, and my bacon world has been saved, also this is perfect if your having a crowd over for breakfast, instructions here.

Watching the Wallender series starring Kenneth Branagh, just wow, the photography in this was exceptional, and I really just loved seeing Sweden as I have never really seen it before.

Which brings me to Emily Barker, the intro to Wallender has one of the most haunting songs I have heard in a long time, and I was utterly taken by it. The voice of Emily Barker is haunting and the song that captured me, Nostalgia:

As for fragrance, I am rather haunted by the beauty of Ormonde Jayne's woman, the scent of sap from childhood.

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image: Red Lanterns July 24 2007 by Donald Sultan

video uploaded by yuambari

SOTD: Nanadeberry Pink

2009-07-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

I think at one point or another we have all met this girl, she is ethereal and delicate, with a little bit of a feyish quality to her, she consistently gets stares. The truth is you should be jealous of her but the thing is she is ridiculously sweet not naive about her effect on others, but she just chooses to ignore it. The one thing though that pains you everytime is she wears a good dousing of perfume and she smells wonderful! It's a cheap little thing from the drugstore and yet some how on her it is a showstopper that consistently elicits comments of admiration. This is Nanadeberry Pink, the cheap scent that some girls transform into utter perfection, the kind that just smolders off the skin into the perfect haze of clean and sensual.

image provided by http://www.ektopia.co.uk/ektopia/archives/2008/02/13/audrey-kawasakis-mayoi-michi-photos

image: Audrey Kawasaki

SOTD: Les Nuits d'Hadrian

2009-06-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Summer heat has arrived and I am reaching for something utterly soothing: Les Nuits d'Hadrian. The scent is cool herbs, citrus rind, and incense; what suprises me the most is that this doesn't get more love, I find it utterly beautiful.

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image: In the Navel of the Moon by Mary Mattingly 2008

SOTD: Jour de Fete

2009-06-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

So I decided to follow my almond craving and had heard some good things about L'Artisan's Jour de Fete and some not so good things, in general the house of L'Artisan and I have had a no go relationship, except for making me love a floral, Le Chasse Aux Papillons. The notes for Jour de Fete are the stuff for making lovely scents: almond, pink laurel, wheat, orris, bourbon vanilla, cedarwood. In truth this is almond water, you can barely smell it, this smells like the memory of a babies head from 10 years ago. I smell this and I wish they had pumped up everything just a bit more.

Image provided by http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/vincent-van-gogh-final-paintings.htm/printable

Almond Blossom by Vincent Van Gogh

Summer Scents

2009-06-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

I sit here eating summer in my palm, a stone fruit, a green plum, achingly sweet at one moment, and wonderfully tart the next moment. Yesterday was the first day of summer, I celebrated it in a soft vanillic musk, making dinner for Father's Day, all the windows open, with a soft breeze going throughout the apartment. Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy summer too often I just remember the blazing heat. I spritzed on Osmanthus Interdite and once again realized the only it really should be worn is in the summer, in other seasons it can rasp and seem high pitched, but in summer it blooms, melds with your skin, and just makes you feel like you glow. As the seasons change I change my fragrance wardrobe, some of them hold over from spring, and some through out the year. So here is what I should be wearing throughout summer.

*4711: The ultimate cooler in summer heat.

*Azuree Soleil: A summer vacation in the tropics but done in the most tasteful way.

*Bois des Iles: What I use when I need woods in the summer.

*Coco Madamoiselle: Jasmine and vetiver with a ton of class.

*Datura Noir: So cool and creamy; adult ice cream.

*Baghari: I lovely this orange creamy soft scent in the summer with the hints of earthy vetiver.

*Bvlgari pour femme: I love the mimosa halo this creates.

*Fleurs d'Osmanthus: Tropical osmanthus with notes of green sap.

*Infusion d'Iris: A soothing tonic in the summer heat.

*Kimono Rose: Citrus and black currents entwined with creamy jasmine.

*Le Chasse aux Papillons: Perfect fresh cool flowers just being put out in the sun.

*Les Nuis d'Hadrien: Earthy, cooling, herbal incense.

*L de Lolita Lempicka: This should be too much in summer heat but in the summer the smokiness in this comes out and it smells divine.

*Mure by Molinard: Sometimes the scent of blackberries is all I want.

*Narciso Rodriguez: It just smells good all year long.

*Osmanthus Interdite: Glistening skin.

*Sicily by Dolce & Gabanna: This is summer sultriness in a bottle.

*Songes by Annick Goutal: This will of course be evening, the creamy blossoms of the scent blooming in the humidity of summer evenings.

*Un Matin d'Orage: Gardenias and green nectarines.

*Vanille Divine des Tropiques: Creamy vanilla, vetiver, and ylang ylang.

*Vanille Fleurie de Tahiti: Joking by the pool and drinking goofy summer drinks, nothing serious, all fun, and sometimes that is just what you want.

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The chataeu of Houdain from the Album de Croy of Charles, 4th Duc d'Arschot

SOTD: Vanille Galante

2009-06-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Once again I am giving my full attention to a sample this week, this time Hermes' s Vanille Galante. What has struck me everytime I have tested it out is the saltiness of the scent. I have this image in my head of lilies by the ocean being misted over with salt water while an vanilla orchid blooms in the background. In my head it is tropical flowers growing on the coastline of Oregon.

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image: Mirage by Iran Issa-Khan 2008

SOTD: Sous Le Vent

2009-06-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

So I can't stop my Guerlain madness at the moment because waftbycarol made remember that I have a sample of Sous le Vent which I will be putting on later after I take my shower. Today is one of those days where I have a ton of housework and errands. What I do remember of Sous Le Vent is the opening with lavender and enjoying it, but I remember not being to happy with the drydown, we'll see if this has changed.

Right now on my hand though I have Rochas Femme from a sample of mine and I forgot how wonderfully spicy and gorgeous this is, it always reminds me of spice dusted skin, I really should get a decant of this. This is also the scent I would scent Nigella Lawson with (I hear though she enjoys Coco by Chanel, which is appropiate!).

On to a little mini-sniffathon I had yesterday at the mall when I went to go get tea:

Tea Bergamot by L'Occitane: The opening of this is amazing, perfect juicy citrus, you just want to bite into, unfortunately the drydown did not live up to the opening. Still I will give L'Occitane this: They know how to do their citrus and tea scents.

Lace Orange Blossom by Victoria's Secret: I mainly tried this to see if the osmanthus showed through (it didn't), but I this really is a nice little orange blossom scent if you are looking for one.

Cashmere Vanilla Jasmine by Victoria's Secret: For lovers of BBW's Breathe Romance Sensous Amber & Myrrh go get Cashmere Vanilla Jasmine, very very similar but a little bit richer with just a hint of Sage Machado's Pearl.

La Lune by Dolce & Gabbana: This was really boring I was initially interested in this because of the use of leather and tuberose together, there is no leather, just a very boring floral in my opinion.

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image: Beauty in the Breeze by Deng Xianxian 2008

SOTD: Chanel N. 22

2009-06-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

The weather is incredibly strange this June right now it is cool and overcast, usually at this point in the year the heat and I are battling it out, but not right now. I was going to wear Nuit de Cellophane today, but couldn't find my sample, so I reached for the ever beautiful Chanel N. 22. So yesterday evening after Apres L'Ondee wore off I put on a couple of dabs of Cuir Beluga and came to two conclusions 1) excellent strength and sillage and 2) It smells very similar to Ambra del Nepal (which does not have a $200+ price tag).

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image: Enticing Innocence by Patrick de Warren 2000

SOTD: Apres L'Ondee

2009-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's official I have found a new favorite photographer: Iris Brosch. So once again I try to delve into Guerlain and I think quite frankly it may be time I gave it up. Last week I ordered three samples: Cuir Beluga, Spiriteuse Double Vanille (may be one of the worst fragrance names ever), and Apres L'Ondee. So far I have tested Apres L'Ondee a few times and it has not meshed, but today I am giving it my full attention. SDV turned into a very regular vanilla on me. While I have enjoyed Cuir Beluga the price tag on it is well not going to make me buy it, I liked it but it was not love. The thing is I really do want a Guerlain to rhapsodize about...but none of the women's fragrances ever really mesh for me and while I love Guerlain's Vetiver it is not a scent that creates a dramatic response in me, it is a great cologne, sigh. Guerlain where did you and I go wrong? Okay we were never right in the first place.

image provided by http://www.vogue.de/articles/who-is-who/designer/fotografie/2008/11/18/12167

image by Iris Brosch

SOTD: Vanille by Calypso St. Celle

2009-06-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been having one of those note obsession moments, the one where you are looking for a new note to fall in love with, or in this case looking for a new variation on a note you love, in this case vanilla. For the heck of it I ordered a sample of Vanille by Calypso St. Celle, intrigued by the use of orange blossom. Well this isn't exactly what I was looking for while many have described this as non-foodie, but to me this smells like dulce de leche with a dash of sea salt and airy notes of orange blossom, pretty but not what I am wanting.

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image: At the Seashore by Richard Blossom Farley 1921

SOTD: Kenzo Eau Fleur de Magnolia

2009-06-02T08:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes a floral surprise comes along that you completely and utterly did not expect to like. I love big blooming magnolias and here in Northern California they are everywhere but too often when fragrances are supposed to be based on magnolia they smell like gardenia. The case of Kenzo's Eau Fleur de Magnolia is a true magnolia scent and one that is interesting entwined in this beauty is smoky lemony pine quality and a creaminess that never veers into sweet. Now I am going into blasphemy with a comparison but this sort've reminds me of Herme's Osmanthe Yunnan. This really is a treat I did not expect.

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image: Magnolia #4 by Jeri Eisenberg

SOTD: Ambre Fetiche

2009-06-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

I had a long weekend on Saturday I met up with my boyfriend's friends and on Sunday I had dinner with my boyfriend's mother and stepfather, and I am having one of those Monday's where I want a weekend for my weekend. So I am going to spend the day in Annick Goutal's somewhat subdued amber, Ambre Fetiche, strangely esoteric and yet also very animalic.

On the bright note I made a delicious raspberry nectarine crisp yesterday for dinner and it went over very well. I used Mark Bittman's crisp recipe and made a few adjustments added more sugar because the nectarines were on th tart side and salt to the crisp topping (why do so many recipes for crisps forget this vital ingredient? Salt is what brings out that delicious golden buttery crispy goodness.).

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image: Luna by Edward Charles Halle

SOTD: Le Chasse aux Papillons

2009-05-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Perfectly beautiful spring day means super pretty fragrance, what do I reach for L'Artisan's Le Chasse aux Papillons, something unusual is happening today with it though, instead of lemon tinted tuberose and jasmine I usually get from it, I am instead getting warm linden blossom. Linden blossom is another scent I associate with my early teen years, along with loving the scent of muguet, I had a big love for linden blossom, and remember my bottle of fragrance spray of linden blossom by Pre de Provence.

On other news: I am really pretty disappointed in Luten's Nuit de Cellophane, just not my cup of tea, but then again money saved.

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image: Girl in a Cornish Garden by Thomas Cooper Gotch 1889

SOTD: Baghari

2009-05-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

So I finally did it, I got a bottle of Baghari, a perfect little 30 ml bottle (why can't more companies make this size?). For years I have desired to have a Robert Piguet fragrance to call my own, but found neither Fracas nor Bandit to my liking, and then Baghari was released. I like to think of Baghari as the perfect aldehyde for beginners there is no sharpness to it, but at the same time there is no mistake that aldehydes are used in it. While I agree with Luca Turin on the wonderfulness of Baghari, especially the description of it being like "panetonne", I have to wonder where on earth he gets the idea that it's a chypre? There is nothing chypre about it. This always dries down on me to a warm ambered vanilla.

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image: Orange by Jeffrey Nemeroff 2006

SOTD: Un Matin d'Orage

2009-05-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

Today is going to be hot, I already have the air conditioning set, on days like this you reach for scents that bloom in the heat yet are not overwhelming, so I chose Un Matin d'Orage. What amazes me about this scent is its starkness, in a way it is almost bone-bare, and what makes that even more amazing is that this is a gardenia scent. Gardenia scents are are often the epitome of voluptious fleshiness but this is the opposite, Annick Goutal seemed to make the point of not adding a single ounce of extra oomph in this, it was only meant to express one moment and nothing else.

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image: Untitled by George Shumacher

SOTD: Fifi Chachnil EdT

2009-05-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am always rather amazed by the vintage flirty quality of Fifi Chachnil, it smells like it is from a bygone era, but it only came out a few years ago. It is playful but full of womenliness the powder, tobacco, and amber are alluring yet the top notes of coriander, rose, and bergamot always keep the wittiness of the fragrance going. I would say it is the fully throaty giggle/laugh of having a glass of champagne and then hearing a really good joke. I'm going with the edt today because the rose and coriander are more pronounced making it far more appropiate for spring and daytime.

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image: La Coquette by Howard Chandler Christy 1920

SOTD: Angelique Encens

2009-05-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

I was tempted to go with Fifi Chachnil today but the truth I am in no mood for the flirtyness of it, what I instead wanted was the perfect contemplative quality of Creed's Angelique Encens. For me this is the perfect embrace of hazy lily tinged vanilla, sweet green angelic, and dry luminous incense. And it is at this point I curse the price point of this fragrance because it is utterly perfect; when looking for solace I reach for Angelique Encens.

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image: Angel Resting by Fabiana Anton

SOTD: Osmanthe Yunnan

2009-05-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks have a gone by in a blur my finals week was spent in the throws of an awful cold and pain of trying to focus on getting my finals done, finally though some calm has come. The weather is perfect, I'm sitting outside right now enjoying the shadows of leaves that sway in the mildest of breezes. I think I may have finally gone past my black plague thumb of gardening, my basil and oregano seem to be thriving and the other plants as well. I can reach down and touch the basil and at the meerest touch my fingers have the scent of it; the scent of fresh basil may be on of the most aphrodesiac scents in the world with its hint of spice.

Put on Osmanthe Yunnan today and think I might go for something creamier in a bit. Just enjoying life for the moment.

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image: Peach Blossom with Books by Zhang Wei

SOTD: Songes

2009-05-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sometime early this morning I woke up to the scent of Songes in my nose, I'm taking this as a sign. I admit this is a sort of emotionally hard weekend for me, Mother's Day always is, my mother has now been gone for over 21 years, for most of my life, add in the fact I am on my menstraul cycle and you have the perfect combo for a little crying. What also makes this stupid is that I wore Agent Provocateur something about that scent always puts me on edge and yesterday once again it worked its magic. So today I will spend the day in the sweet dreamy embrace of Songes.

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image: Untitled by Joe Muir

SOTD: Agent Provocateur

2009-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

I suddenly had a deep dark mossy craving the kind tinged with darkness and cool because it doesn't see the light of day very often, the answer the original Agent Provocateur. I'm not much of a chypre girl, I admire the genre, and I admire those that can pool it off, but in general they are not something that settle well on my skin. Agent Provocateur is a scent I have long admired and because of this I keep around a large sample, some how it is working today, but who knows how that will turn out, we have an uneasy relationship.

image provided artnet.com

image: Untitled; Priscilla in moss by Yigal Ozeri 2007

Your Blog Is Fucking Fabulous Award.

2009-05-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hehe, I got an award from the wonderful Rose at A Rose Beyond The Thames

Here are the following Instructions and Rules:

1. You have to pass it (the award) on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post. (easy Below)
Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then “add image” it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the “picture” widget. Also, don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Giving out awards, love doing this:

1. For lovely reviews on organic or natural perfumes and products I love Scenthive

2. Because the ever lovely Divina always provides thoughtful reviews and a generosity that is a above and beyond and we both share the pain of student deadlines Fragrance Bouquet

3. Because I love the ruminations between nature and fragrance, Notes From the Ledge

4. Because she always offers lovely writing and thoughts, Daily from The Daily Connoisseur

5. And what would this be without mentioning the ultimate perfume knowledge junky out there, Helg from Perfume Shrine

And now for five f&%*ing fabulous addictions:

1. Perfume! Really this deserves no explanation.

2. Tea, yes my cupboards suffer the disease of too much damn tea.

3. Jezebel, because it keeps me sane when the world seems to be determined to be insane.

4. Cookbooks. I often like to spend my nights browsing through them dreaming up delicious things to eat.

5. My cat. I'm pretty positive I am hitting the crazy cat lady stage but she is so damn cute I don't really care. How could you not love a little plump squishy faced cleptomaniac kitty? It's impossible, besides she makes these hilarious bird noises.

SOTD: Chanel No. 5 pure parfum

2009-05-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

So the new Chanel No. 5 advertisement movie with Audrey Tautou has finally premiered and it is lovely. What strikes me the most about is the sense of intimacy you get from it nnlike the Nicole Kidman one (alright I didn't like that one). This advertisement really resonates with the scent because of one of the many stories to go with the legendary scent was that Coco wanted a scent that smelled like a woman, which i have always thought Chanel No. 5 does, it reminds me always of skin freshly powdered right after a bath.

image provided by http://www.celebritywonder.com/picture/Audrey_Tautou/AudreyTautou_Cohen_3846856.html

SOTD: Amour le parfum

2009-05-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's cold and rainy outside to only thing to do, put on Amour le parfum. I love this creamy powdery incensey rice pudding of a scent, not boring but pure comfort.

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image: Child (Harwood) with Doves by Achsah Barlow Brewster

SOTD: Diorissimo

2009-05-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Today is May 1st, so you know what that means, bring out the lily of the valley scents aka muguet. I keep around a sample of Dior's Diorissimo just for this occasion, because as I mentioned it before I not a big lily of the valley wearer because it is a scent of my tween years. On a plus side the boyfriend really liked it; he is a very floral guy.

On to deliciousness, last night we made steak Diane with garlic mash potatoes and a simple green salad, and this is where you will laugh, topped off with the kitschy of desserts, rice crispie treats. But I didn't feel too guilty considering steak Diane was created in the 1950's. It was all delicious. The recipes I used can be found here:

For Steak Diane:

http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/recipe-of-the-day-steak-diane-for-two/

For Garlic Mashed Potatoes

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Garlic-Mashed-Potatoes-103016

These recipes are really easy and really good.

Ended the night by beginning to watch the series Damages, watched the first two episodes, and we are hooked.

New favorite magazine: Mental Floss.

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image: Lily of the Valley by Judith McMillan

SOTD: Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang

2009-04-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been craving vanillas and ambers, but here is the conundrum, I don't want my winter/autumn ambers and vanillas, they are too heavy and spicy. So while looking through my samples yesterday I ended up finding Estee Lauder's Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang, and this really seems to be hitting the spot. It is light, airy, enveloping, and gentle, makes you just want to relax in its glow. Lovely stuff. On other notes, cats can be exceptional wackjobs sometimes, like now.

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image: Morning Divinity by Eleanor Miller

SOTD: Lieu de Reves

2009-04-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

After a complaint of the weather being in the 90's we are suddenly in the 50's talk about a mood swing. Yesterday I spent my day in my sample of Chergui and came to the utter conclusion that it does not do diddly on me, rather it becomes a nice musk, and all those other wonderful notes seem to be sucked out by my skin, I am sad because this one always seems to inspire poetry in others. Still a nice thing for the wallet. I was then tempted to go with Bois des Iles today but I just wasn't feeling the sandalwood and my other spring stuff was feeling to shrieky, until I remembered by hoarded sample of Lieu de Reves, has just the right amount of warmth, tranquilty, and sometimes I get a little tobacco in the drydown (I suspect from the vetiver).

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image: Yellow Green and Violet by Wolf Kahn

SOTD: Matin d'Orage

2009-04-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Can't believe I have not posted about this amazing beauty, Annick Goutal once again makes me love a floral I don't usually love, this time gardenia. I can't too see how this does in balmy humid weather, I have a feeling like Osmanthus Interdite it will bloom.

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image: White Camellia by Stephen Lang

SOTD: Le Chasse aux Papillons

2009-04-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Oh how nicely it has cooled off. It feels like spring again and not summer; which by the way I don't want for awhile. My one complaint is that is overcast. Update on Sienna Musk: that was definately not for me, my skin had a reactioning of just amplifing it way to much, so much so that I got a bit of a headache from it. So I am going with the super pretty and light Le Chasse aux Papillons today.

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image: Morning Glories on Sunflower by Tony Mendoza 2004

SOTD: Sienna Musk

2009-04-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Many have described this as a gourmand, but I fairly positive that I know why Sonoma Scent Studio's Sienna Musk is not gourmand on me, Laurie's sandalwood, which always becomes smoky on me, in a good way, but most definately smoky. The spices leave quickly on me and what is left is a smoky woodsy creamsy musk, I think this would smell exquisite on a man. Doesn't really evoke Sienna to me but rather the southwest with its dryness.

image provided by http://davisdesigncorp.com/wordpress/2007/08/03/art-quote-of-the-day-3/

image: Georgia Ram's Head by Georgia O'Keefe

SOTD: Datura Noir

2009-04-21T08:01:00.001-07:00

We are suddenly having 90 degree weather here (started on Sunday but should be done today) and suddenly most of my spring stuff is seeming to heavy, so reaching for the creamy coolness of Datura Noir. So strange how the weather works.

image provided by http://www.sausalitoartgalleries.com/Brick%20and%20Mortar%20Art%20Galleries/Capture%20Fine%20Art/Capture%20Fine%20Art%20Photography%20Healdsburg%20&%20Sausalito/slides/holm-033SacredDatura.html

image by Joseph Holmes

Something Stinks at Amazon.com

2009-04-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

In protest of Amazon's new weird attitude towards "certain" books, I am linking to this:
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/amazonrank/

Fragrant Thoughts and Fun From This Last Week

2009-04-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

So this week I took a little mini sniffa-thon at the mall and here is what I tried and thought:

-Butterfly Flower by Bath and Body Works
Fragrance Top Notes: Black Tea, Mouthwatering Tangerine, Cyclamen, Banana Leaf
Fragrance Mid Notes: Maxillaria Tenufolia Orchid, Asian Syringa Flower, French Mimosa
Fragrance Base Notes: Creamy Coconut Milk, Musk
This is girlish, very pretty, sweet spring floral. What those notes do not mention: Lilac! This has a lot of lilac and I have to say this is one of the better pure florals I have smelled in awhile.
-Escale a Portifino by Dior
notes: A glorious experience of fresh top notes of bergamot and citron, tempting middle notes of almond and orange blossom, and base notes of cool cypress essence.
Want a perfect cologne tonic for summer, this is it between this and the John Varvatos Artisan, and waiting to sniff Infusion Fleur d'Oranger, I suspect one of these will be my summer fragrance.
-Miss Dior Cherie L'eau by Dior
notes: strawberry leaves, pink jasmine, caramelized popcorn, strawberry sorbet, patchouli .
I got a lot of rhubarb from this on the paper and makes me think I need to test it out because it was pretty but in a very chic way.
-Be Delicious Fresh Blossom by Donna Karan
notes: Grapefruit, Cassis, Apricot, Muguet, Rose, Jasmine, Apple, Blond Woods, Smooth Skin Accord.
I really didn't get much from this on paper, but I feel now looking at the notes I should try because of the apricot.
-Flora by Gucci
Top notes: citrus accords, peony. Heart: rose, osmanthus flower. Base: pink pepper, sandalwood.
So this is supposed to be centered around osmanthus and for a moment it is, but then it is taken over by a super sweet caramel bottom with a dash of pink pepper. Pretty bottle though.
-Lotus Garden by Pacifica
notes: lotus blossom, cassis, green violet leaf, and pink pepper.
Lots of tart mango.
-Malibu Lemon Blossom by Pacifica
notes: Litsea Cubeba, flowering Angel's Trumpet, and fresh herbs
Very herbal reminding me of lemon grass, verbena, and citronella, a nice change from the usual.
-Bali Lime Papaya
notes: slightly musky papaya, bright Kaffir lime, and sweet lime blossom.
In lotion form this mainly smelled like pear, a nice pear, but pear none the less.

And because this so right on the money about the obnoxiousness of Carl's Jr's advertisements

And my new favorite song to rock out too, Franz Ferdinand's "Your What She Came For"

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image: Spring by Juan Erlich 2007
video provided by current.com
video uploaded by CRO875

SOTD: Songes

2009-04-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

The weather has cooled down a little bit but the sun keeps on shining beautifully. I took a sniffage trip to the mall earlier this week and will have a report up tomorrow. Otherwise I have been enjoying the beauty of this perfect gorgeous spring weather, I think spring in California may be the shortest season, summer comes so fast. I right now have a vase of daffodils on my dresser and they really are my favorite spring flower, they are perfect in all of their sunny trumpeting glory. Also I just a read a wonderful book called His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, for lovers of regency fun and dragons, this is wonderful, besides the main character reminds me a bit of Austen's wonderful Colonel Brandon.

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image: Was it a Dream by Amy Guidry 2008

SOTD: Chanel No. 22

2009-03-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

More perfect spring day which only demands the loveliness of Chanel No. 22. This is one of those scents I only wear in spring, I find that it is the only weather that perfectly fits Chanel No. 22. In summer it is too much, in Autumn it does not go with the colors, and in winter its vibrancy is too much.

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image: Agua Viva 1 by Janaina Tschape

SOTD: Silken Yuzu

2009-03-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have a lot cleaning to get done today with a few errands, so going with the vibrancy of Silken Yuzu, and later on in the sensuality of Songes. The weather is hopelessly gorgeous.

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image: Fritallaria by Portia Munson

SOTD: Le Chasse aux Papillons

2009-03-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Let the pretty begin! Everything is blooming beautifully and it makes you want to put on spring dresses, but it is still to chilly to do that, so I will content myself with the loveliness of Le Chasse aux Papillons. This is also the weather where I want to sit outside and enjoy a good book while sipping fresh mint tisane. So damned gorgeous!

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image: Summer by John William Waterhouse

Spring Fragrance Wardrobe

2009-03-21T09:52:00.001-07:00

It is finally spring and I could not be happier, after so much amber and incenses, and heavy gourmands, you find yourself wanting ethereal spring fragrances, and I just wanted to share my spring wardrobe choices for spring:

Bois des Iles- This one never gets old, the sandalwood becoming more dominent, and bringing out a creamy earthiness that just enhances the skin.

Bvlgari pour femme- Jasmine tea and surrounded by blooming mimosa, beautiful but warm, nothing austere about it.

Chanel No. 22- A white floral sparkling with aldehydes and having a wonderful dry back drop of incense and nectorous vanilla, a perfect bouquet.

Datura Noir- In spring the coolness of Tuberose blooms in this, making a wonderfully milky concoction, with hints of almond.

Egyptian Goddess- This just blooms on me, the lightest breath of heat, and you are surrounded by the perfect floral musk.

Gold by Donna Karan edt- I have always wanted a lily fragrance in my collection and this one just blooms beautifully on me, it is sensually intense, but at the same time utterly spring.

Infusion d'Iris- The sheer easy serene elegance of this always stops me, the combination of earthy orris with hints of green and the lightest touch of orange blossom, always makes me think of silver and green.

La Parisienne- Shining silver bells and spring blossoms, I am always happy when I smell this.

Le Chasse aux Papillons- This is a sunny slightly humid spring garden bursting with vitality, it makes me want to be surrounded by daffodils.

L'Heure Attendue- Warm ambered lilacs, old-fashioned in the best of ways, yearning.

Lolita Lempicka- Powdery, sweet, with violets and anise dancing merrily together, this is jubilant and happy.

Mille et Une Roses- The sheer gentle warmth of this utterly romantic rose always stops me in my tracks, it is heavenly with its dewiness.

Osmanthe Yunnan- While I associate Osmanthus Interdite with summer, there is a greeness and smokiness to Osmanthe Yunnan that makes me think spring.

Narciso Rodriguez- This is good with any season, but I find in spring it takes on the character of a fertile spring nymph, a lively sensuality.

Songes- Creamiest of flowers warmed by incense and somehow it reminds me of bees buzzing.

Un Lys- Like falling into a lily.

image provided by artmagick.com

image: The Four Seasons (Spring) by Alejandro de Riquer

SOTD: Gold

2009-03-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Decided I would enjoy the luxury of heady lilies today so Gold is what I reached for.

And because I am completely geeking out over the wonderful interview between Neil Gaiman and Stephen Colbert, this is a form of heaven.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Neil Gaiman

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Mark Sanford
NASA Name Contest

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image: Casa Blanca Lillies by Kimberly Meuse

video uploaded by comedy central

SOTD: Mille et Une Roses

2009-03-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

So I am kind've giving up on that whole waiting for the first day of spring thing to wear spring fragrances, which is sort've obivious after looking at my SOTD's for this month. So it is official I am off the market for looking for others, after basically three weeks of non-stop 2 hour late night conversations and great dates, I figured I should just go with it. So it is Sunday and I have come down with a cold, I'm not to happy about it but at the same time, I have a great Sunday ahead, Ben and I are meeting to go bookstore browse and have Indian for dinner. So what to wear fragrance wise? I decided to go with the romantic, warm, and clean Mille et Une Roses, I am always astounded by the gentleness of it. How is everyone spending their Sunday?

image provided by artmagick.com

image: Pot Pourri by Herbert Draper

SOTD: Lieu de Reves

2009-03-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Helg you were right when you said this was pretty and I am going to add this is just plain pretty. I like to think I go with the edgier fragrances but the truth is I don't, but at the same time nor do I often wear what I consider to be utterly and completely pretty (I sometimes think this is just hard for me to pull off, because off line I am a rather sarcastic person) but Laurie at Sonoma Scent Studio has pulled off pretty at its prettiest. The violet in this feels as though it has been drenched in cool spring rain and then been left on a plate with rosewater madelines and perfect snow white macaroons. This is gourmand in the sense that L'Heure Bleu is gourmand, there are notes of gourmand running through it, but the fragrance is not edible. This is the sort've of fragrance that other women will complement you on. Bizarrely enough all I can think when I smell this is if you enjoy the prettiness of Le Chasse aux Papillons then I highly suggest you take a sniff of this, they do not smell similar at all, but they run in the same family of pretty.

Also having the guy over tonight, I'm making pasta carbonara and roasted asparagus, and I am going to pull out the Fifi Chachnil edp.

image provided by artmagick.com

image: Spring by Frances MacNair

SOTD: Chanel No.5 pure parfum

2009-03-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am waiting for spring with anticipation and I trying to hold off on my spring fragrances until the first day of spring, obviously that has not been going very well, so today I chose to put on Chanel No. 5 pure parfum which I consider more a cold weather scent but with floral overtones, but it is not that today. Rather the balsamic undertones of it have come out to play today, the tobacco tinged vetiver is having its full reign. On the upside: Our cats are so snuggly that it is really hard to get up in the morning, both of them insisting on having their own snuggle time, it is a bit ridiculous.

image provided by http://carminemag.com/2008/04/08/nomi-chi/

image by: Nomi Chi

SOTD: John Varvatos Artisan

2009-03-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

As I blog this morning I can tell it is going to be a gorgeous day and the I see the plum blossoms are already blooming. Spring is almost here; I feel both excited about it and apprehensive, part of me can't wait to enjoy the sunshine but the other part of me wants more rain. Going to enjoy the day in orange blossoms though.

image provided by artmagick.com

image: In the Grove of the Temple of Isis by John William Godward

SOTD: Lolita Lempicka

2009-03-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

So I am kind've of having the really unexpected, I think I have actually met someone who I could be very serious about and who is about me. I admit I expected this year to be full of really bad dates but instead the opposite has happened I have met someone who is genuinely interested in me and we can talk easily to one another, we share the same interests, and attitudes and philosophies. We have talked long on the phone every night since we have met. I am no die-hard romantic and after a 5 year relationship I have a good idea of what is bad and good, this is scary good. So to answer the beauty of spring and what I am positive in a 99.9% sure way is going to be a relationship, I am putting on Lolita Lempicka. So the question is what has everyone's romances been like?

image provided by http://www.pentruochi.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

image by Eveline Tarunadjaja

SOTD: Bois des Iles

2009-03-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

So today is one of those chilly rainy days where I need to get a lot done so naturally I reached for the woody elegant comfort of Bois des Iles. Now on to the bigger news, the date went really well, we have a second date on Saturday and the schedule for that is we first visit a book store, then go watch Watchmen, and after that Ethiopian for dinner.

image provided by http://reset-info.com/2008/04/amy-sol.html

image: image by Amy Sol

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

2009-03-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

So the chosen date scent is: L de Lolita Lempicka pure parfum. For the first part of my day I will be wearing Infusion d'Iris, must have something calming today, I admit I have spoken to this guy for the last two nights late into the night, but I am such a nervous nelly.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Flush by Darren Waterston 2007

SOTD: Parfum Sacre

2009-03-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

The weather is cold, windy, and rainy, so it is the perfect time to take out the creamy spicey rosy goodness that is Parfum Sacre. But now on to the next major question: What should I wear for my date tomorrow Un Bois Vanille or L de Lolita Lempicka pure parfum?

image provided by artmagick.com

image: The King's Daughter by George W. Joy 1902

SOTD: John Varvatos Artisan

2009-03-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

May this be the year I finally get my orange blossom scent? I was for awhile quite enamoured with Les Couvents des Minimes Orange Blossom, but after a time I found myself annoyed with salt note and that it sweetened up after awhile. I loved the opening of Ava Luxe's Orange Blossom but found the bottom too sweet. As much as I adore 4711 it really is more of a neroli scent and has poor lasting power.
A few weeks ago I read Kevin's review over at Now Smell This for John Varvatos' Artisan, and after reading it I knew immediately needed to try it. So far I am rather in love, it is pretty, it is unisex, this could easily be worn by a man or woman. The citrus and orange blossom remain through out although towards the end it takes on an herbal mineral quality that is refreshing and soothing. Still I hold out because Prada is coming out with Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger and considering my love Infusion d'Iris, I just can't wait for this.
Also while writing about orange blossom scents, I find that I associate these scents more with summer than spring; which season do associated orange blossom?

image provided by http://designismine.blogspot.com/2008_04_20_archive.html
image: Water Girls by Catherine Campbell

Most Worn For February: Sensual Amber

2009-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

The strange tiny month of February has ended. It was full of dramatic events and I for one am happy to be done with it. I found it very interesting to realize that my most reached for scent was Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber; the more I wear it the more I realize it has quite a floral creamy middle and that the opening of it reminds me of Burberry Brit Red.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Amber Flight by Bruce Tolman

SOTD: BBW Cherry Blossom lotion

2009-02-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

So the gorgeous spring weather continues as a bit of a treat to myself I am going to the mall to do a bit of sniffing, so I'm only wearing lotion today, and the epitome of spring sometimes is the fragrance/idea of cherry blossoms.

And on to some small joys:
Recently a little frozen yogurt shop opened up and my official favorite topping of it is lychee, there is something very serene and soothing about the combo.

Some music for friday, Air's Cherry Blossom Girl

image provided by artnet.com
image: Geiko=Cherry by Tomiko Kato
video uploaded by pol115

SOTD: Miss Dior Cherie

2009-02-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Some how I am in better spirits and I just don't want my heavy oriental fragrances so I instead I am spritzing on my sample of Miss Dior Cherie. I love that the notes of this look scary on paper but the reality is it is actually very classy, more of a clean musk.

And something to make you wish for summer, John Legend's P.D.A.

image provided by artnet.com
image: Yellow with Green Stars on Pink by Natasha Law
video uploaded by bluekat34

SOTD: Chanel No.5 Sensual Elixir

2009-02-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

So I haven't reached for an aldehydic beauty in awhile and I thought my sensual elixir deserved some attention, the day is cold and clear, and I think aldehydes sometimes do the best in this weather. Coldness keeps them bright and sparkling yet doesn't let them become overbearing. So far I have kept constant this year in being seasonel with my fragrances but I am pretty sure the doldrums are coming out in the fragrance community. So how is everyone doing, broken down yet and brought out the spring fragrances?

image provided by artnet.com

image: Emma Pink & White by Jesse Frohman

SOTD: Angelique Encens

2009-02-17T07:44:00.001-08:00

I need something so ridiculously calming right now it is not even funny, the answer: Angelique Encens. It's rainy and cold outside the way it is supposed to be. Last night I made homemade chicken broth and now I'm thinking I need to make soup. I want something simple and completely comforting.

image provided by http://designdig.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

image: by Ana Laura Perez

SOTD: Lolita Lempicka

2009-02-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

So today is girls night, my roommate broke up with her boyfriend of just over a year this last sunday, and the apartment has been down with good reason. So in a strange turn of events we have a Mary Kay lady coming over well not so strange considering she is my roommate's friend who also happens to the cousin of the now ex-boyfriend (the cousin completely understood why Nee broke up with her cousin). As for tonights menu: artichoke dip, apple cake (made by me), wine, and something else. And more break up news apparently my little brother broke up with his girlfriend 3 weeks ago (what is this the break-up year?).

As for my fragrance choice: Lolita Lempicka, I need something girly and fun, and this fits the bill. As for next Monday's date scent: Magnetism by Escada. Never fails on the compliments and it is just plain sexy.

We need some music I think, Tainted Love done by Soft Cell, featuring the really bad 1980's video:

image provided by http://www.flickr.com/photos/roxy/2158559578/
image by Stella Im Hultberg
video uploaded by curious13april

SOTD: Magnifique

2009-02-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

So I am re-entering the dating world, I figure I need to force myself to do this, considering my character is not to. So the question is what is everyone's date night scent?

image provided by artnet.com

image: Woman in Red by Guy Pene Du Bois 1938

SOTD: Sensual Amber

2009-02-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

Pretty spring makeup find that works for all seasons, so I have a hard time sometimes finding makeup, the combination of pale-skin and dark hair can sometimes be a conundrum. But I must say I am horribly impressed by Laura Mercier's First Blush Face Palette, the colors are really understated and yet instantly awaken the face, it instantly gives you a gorgeous glow and warmth.

image provided by http://imoreta.wordpress.com/2007/06/03/audrey-kawasaki/

imabe by Audrey Kawasaki

SOTD: Philosykos

2009-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

What is the answer to fragance boredom in a recession? Go get your box of samples out! Today I am visiting Diptyque's Philosykos, now I feel rather stupid that in my obsession a few years ago with fig, I didn't bother to try Philosykos; which is kind've blasphemous as far as fig scent lovers go. This september I received a sample of it with my Ambre Russe sample, not being in the mood for a fig scent I didn't bother to try it, but did stick it in a box for future sampling. Well I am kicking myself because is quite frankly this is the perfect black mission fig scent: green, sweet, creamy all at the same time.

And now for some humor that rather ties into the erotic symbol of the fig leaf or as Jemaine likes to call them his "sugarlumps" and no I wouldn't play this at work:

image provided by artnet.com
image: Good Afternoon by Alex Katz 2007
video uploaded by McTezTube

SOTD: Evening Edged In Gold

2009-02-05T08:24:00.001-08:00

So there is nothing like a second go at something, in this case it is Ineke's Evening Edged In Gold. I can smell the osmanthus now, this is as smooth as silk, there are no velvety apricot fuzz qualities to it. While it is a floral this is not a spring or summer scent, there is a rich depth to it that can be overwhelming in the summer heat, it is strangely aquatic, but not in a melon sort of way. What strikes me the most about this scent is just how very Northern California it feels, I can't explain it other than this is the scent of dusk in Northern California in the Bay Area with a definate hint of breeze from the bay. I admit I am so glad I retried this scent.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Transitions XI by Barbara Weldon 2005

SOTD: Paris by YSL

2009-01-29T08:16:00.000-08:00

So for the last few years I have tried to be seasonel in my life, buying produce that grows in the season, wearing clothes that is seasonal (This probably sounds silly to someone living outside of California), and wearing my fragrances to go with the season. Yet, I am right now hitting that moment when I all I desire to do is throw out my sweet heavy orientals, it was about this time last year I was constantly wearing Infusion d'Iris. So now you are probably wondering as to why I am being stringent with myself with this whole fragrance thing? Mainly because I have a lot of perfumes and I would like to think I put them to good use at one point and if I do it seasonaly then I am making a tiny significant dent in that large stash of fragrances I wear. But today I cannot do it, so I am putting on that gorgeous in your face violet rose scent, Paris. This is the eighties fragrance that always stops me because it doesn't smell dated to my nose and because when at the non-niche fragrance counter it always smells unique. It seems no one decided to copy it.

And a favorite song of mine, When The Stars Go Blue by Ryan Adams

image provided by artnet.com
image: The Rose Garden (display: II) (I) by Sarah Jones 2007
video uploaded by Boatv2

Cooking: My First Pie

2009-01-20T17:59:00.001-08:00

So I finally did it, I baked my first pie from scratch, sure the picture isn't perfect, but making a pie from scratch will make you feel a bit like a superhero. As you can not the crust isn't perfect, but I suspect that takes practice. Of course while looking for pie recipes I would choose the more complicated one not really realizing it until I really started sit down and analyze my recipe as I prepared to make it, the pie in question was: Alsatian Apple Pie http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Alsatian-Style-Apple-Pie-105573

It was delicious by the way.

sotd: Fifi Chachnil

2009-01-20T07:55:00.000-08:00

Talk about a big day, I admit I pulling one of those fragrances I save for special occasions, because today is a special occasion. The weather has slightly cooled so it won't be too bad. I have MSNBC blaring in the background and I am jealous of all those people right now in D.C. . I hope everyone has a gorgeous day.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Celebration by Bill Rane

SOTD: Narciso Rodriguez edt

2009-01-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just want the original and in this case I am talking about Narciso Rodriguez eau de toilette. While there are examples of fragrances in the "new" chypre category before NR edt (Cabaret by Gres and Coco Madamoiselle by Chanel) it wasn't until NR edt that the category really launched and became so ubiquitous. I have dabbled in a few of the offspring and enjoyed them (Lovely by SJP). But in truth nothing really compares to the original but then again it is because NR edt gets one thing very right, the woods ,which uses the now ubiquitious clean patchouli/vetiver note perfectly, the woods in it are consistently smooth, there is no irritating buzz. Which now brings me to the irritating buzz of clean patchouli that is overly raspy in many fragrances now that consider themselves to be a part "new" chypre or the fresh orientals, first up Badgley Mischka original, the opening in this is quite nice a fruity liquor with hints of osmanthus (the same osmanthus that can be found in NR edt), but the drydown is in my opinion on the cheap side, flat and at the same time a rasping buzz that can be headache inducing (they should have taken notes from Coco Madamoiselle on how to get it right). Now there is the new David Yurman, which is to me pure buzzing headache inducing clean patchouli with raspy vetiver and citrus. The insipidness of the clean patchouli note leaves you wanting the big camphorous skanky patchouli that can be found in Angel, and that is sad because there are plenty of Angel offspring out there. So fragrance industry why don't we try and do something different?

On to something to look forward to: Narciso Rodriguez is bringing out a new fragrance this spring and I am looking very much forward to it, he helped to create what I consider now a classic, and I am very heartened by his belief in slowly creating something and focusing on the details, we need more of that in the fragrance industry.

image provided by http://blog.libero.it/evalunaracconta/5523164.html
image: Femme a Colombe by Tamara de Lempicka

SOTD: Songes

2009-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

So the gorgeous spring weather continues and as tradition goes I usually try to go with something luxurious or a scent I can't wear to work, so today I am going with magnificent sillage monster: Annick Goutal's Songes. So beautifully loud and yet so utterly langurous; you just want to fall asleep in it and yet it most definately has a presence. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

image provided by http://www.goodart.org/artoftdl.htm

image: Girl Sleeping by Tamara de Lempicka 1935

SOTD: Datura Noir

2009-01-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

All week I have been craving Datura Noir so today I am finallly wearing it. It is such a strange mixture of cool and languid. Bizarrely it reminds me of humidity yet it has a cool juxtaposition of powder. Thoughts on skin chemistry, I have a coworker who loves Lolita Lempicka, and every time I wear it she compliments me on it, yet here is the funny thing she never recognizes the scent on me. As I worked by her side last night I caught a waft of Lolita Lempicka (I think it has one of those really memorable distinct sillages) and I was amazed at how different it smelled on us and was still recognizable to my nose, on her the vanilla is really upped where as me the vetiver and powdery violet are more accentuated.

image provided by http://www.unisi.it/lettura.scrittura/imago/tamara.html

image: Portrait of Romana de la Salle by Tamara de Lempicka 1928

SOTD: Climat

2009-01-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

The crazy whether continues so decided to put on the beautiful green mineraly Climat. As I put it on I was thinking about how this fragrance is supposed to inspire the tropics and how our idea of tropical fragrances is so different now, the thought then continued on to a new release: Manoumalia by LesNez. This next thought is based purely on speculation considering I have never smelled Manoumalia, but every review I have read references that it has a beautiful earthy vetiver note running through it, I wonder if Sandrine Videault might have taken some reference from Climat in this inclusion of earthy vetiver note in her tropical based fragrance? Once again I just want to mention this is pure speculation.
image provided by http://whetyourimagination.blogspot.com/2007/03/tamara-de-lempicka.html
image by Tamara de Lempicka

SOTD: Spun Orange Blossom, Silken Yuzu, Smooth Sandalwood

2009-01-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

This is insane it is going to be 7o something today, so the idea of warm and sweet is out the door. So going with a blend of my GAP oils it should make for a nice refreshing twist. So here are some fragrance musings:
-Fragonard's Grain de Soleil smells very similar to Fifi Chachnil, just wanted to put that out there to all the Fifi fans.
-The Badgely Mishka juice has not been tampered with tried a spray of it at Ulta, but I will point out to be wary of Sephora's lighting, also the stuff has one heck of intense drydown. Just not a fan.
-I want a good citrus and orange blossom.

And now for more The Pierces, "Turn on Billie"

image provided by http://www.topofart.com/artists/Tamara_de_Lempicka/art_reproduction/4528/Kizette_in_Pink.php
image: Kizette in Pink by Tamara de Lempicka 1926
video uploaded by maddiemad4music

SOTD: Dolce & Gabbana Red Cap over Spun Orange Blossom

2009-01-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

So today is Monday and I will be spending it waiting for maitenance repair. As I right I have two cats trying to find their perfect sunspot. Avalou on the table sitting on a cupcake book (she likes to be next to me) and Henri on the living floor by the patio glass door moving his head in fascination at the movement of leaves. Last night I spent the evening over at a friends house for dinner and there in the company of two women, who could wear florals, one wearing the original Vera Wang and the other I fairly positive the original Marc Jacobs, and I was most definately jealous in a way only a fragrance lover can be. I have a hard time wearing florals, to put it this way I can make the most easy going florals highly indolic, example Bvlgari Jasmin Noir, as Grain de Musc points out in her newest article this piece is very light on the jasmine, put it on me though, and you have major indoles baby. I often wish I could pull on the floral category better because it adds such an easy feminine quality. Still in my years of exploring floral fragrances I have learned: rose usually is my best friend and so is osmanthus, tuberose and orange blossom are the white flowers for me (Gardenia is usually not), Jasmine and I are very tricky, my best luck with the note being Bvlgari pour femme and Coco Madamoiselle pure parfum, and finally my major florals are:
Le Chasse Aux Papillons
Bvlgari pour Femme
Mille et Une Roses
Osmanthus Interdite

And now for an awesome little music video, The Pierces "Sticks and Stones," very gothic, and had Buffy the Vampire Slayer was still around this song would so have been used:

Avalou approved scents:
Bal a Versailles
Magnifique
Burt's Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil

Henri approved scents:
Dolce & Gabbana red cap

image provided by http://lacomunidad.elpais.com/la-mujer-poliedrica/2007/12/7/el-color-mis-suenos
image: La Dormeuse by Tamara de Lempicka
video uploaded by thepierces

Pictures: Featuring Avalou and Henri

2009-01-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

First up Henri-cat, he is a big kitty with a very silly disposition, but he looks like quite the prince:

And finally, the princess herself, my Avalou-girl (and yes that is my hand, one of the few ways to make her sit still):

Somehow these two cats ended up with very French names.

SOTD: Vanille Noire du Mexique

2009-01-08T07:26:00.001-08:00

So it has been awhile since I spoke about the kitten because the truth is I did not get her until yesterday. There were a few physical complications she had but now she is all better. The name Avalou has immediately stuck to her, she is already responding to it after one day, but the amazing part is how well she is responding to me, before yesterday I had only met her once, otherwise for the last month I have been rather invested in pictures of her. Her response upon my arrival yesterday to pick her up, was to immediately come up to me and start purring and do her trademark headbutt of my hand, it was strangely as if she knew I was there to take her home and funny part was she was quite delighted. Even my roommate has noticed how quickly she responds to me when I say her name and she immediately comes running, quite simply I am her mother. She was also really dominant of that fact yesterday because when ever I went to pet my roommates cat, Henri, she would immediately start running to me.
Bizarro part somewhere in the middle of the night she got perfume on herself, I don't even know how. She is now trying to play with Henri whom seems to be finally warming up to her although he did spend most of yesterday making angry emo-teenager cat noises while under my bed or in his favorite closet space. It was very Garfield and Nirmal yesterday. As I sit here typing they are finally playing, Henri is about three times the size of Avalou, but my girl is rather adorably gutsy, tiny but most definately fiesty. I will post pictures some time soon unfortunately my world's worst camera luck continued yesterday, which my brand new phone (I bought it on saturday) day randomly shutting off and never coming back on as I was taking pictures of Avalou.

image provided by http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/quickpeeks/default.aspx

image: by Erte

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

2009-01-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

I'm right now having an osmanthus craving to be more truthful actually a floral craving. The idea of wearing my orientals just seems like too much work and as happens arounds this time of year for many of us, our noses just get tired of heavy orientals. I will also say this partially brought on by the news that Serge Luten's is doing an osmanthus scent, Nuit de Celllophane, I have dreamed about this for awhile, but at the same time I am scared. I am scared because he finally did an almond scent, Louve, and I did not like it.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Beauty and the Beast by Erte

SOTD: Badgely Mishka original scent

2009-01-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

Juice tampering; is a dreaded word combo in the fragrance adoration club. For awhile now I have wanted to revisit the scent of Badgely Mishka to see how the osmanthus note held up in it, I had tried it when it first came out, and I remember it having a prominent amber note and fairly sweet opening. So yesterday while shopping I went into a Sephora to get a sample and brought it home and sprayed it on, the first thing that popped to my mind, they used the same osmanthus note as Narciso Rodriguez edt, and this does not smell like the Badgely Mishka scent I remember from only a few years ago. What it really smells like is another NR clone with the amber drydown now smelling distinctly masculine, very masculine, in fact like cheap cologne. Hmmm, I wonder if this is fragrance tampering or if Sephora's lights wrecked the juice? Still this reminds that this last summer that I did a major search for Badgely Mishka's scent on the net and could not find it anywhere only to now find it once again everywhere; do I smell scent conspiracy or has Sephora's intense lighting aged a juice? I must investigate.

image provided by erte.com

image: Cape a la Ruse by Erte

Spending The Last Few Days In A Lovely Period Piece Haze

2009-01-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

First up was the wonderful Cranford; I have been meaning to watch this for ages and it was every bit as wonderful as everyone said it is. Wonderfully gossipy and with dashes of romance and featuring ladies of a certain age in power and loving it. I must say Elizabeth Gaskell was quite ahead of her time.

For a frothy delightful champagne treat go watch Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. I am officially in love with Amy Adams wonderfully animated face and Lee Pace is just gorgeous! Plus gorgeous costuming and set design.

This takes place in the same time period as Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. A little bit bumpy at times, but it is interesting to see where the characters go. I admit I wanted to throttle Polly and now I am determined to read a biography of the Mitford sisters. The really funny part was recognizing the actresses who played younger sisters (not shown above) would go on to play roles in Hex and the new Chronicles of Narnia movies. Great costuming in this!

Most Worn in December and for 2008

2008-12-31T08:16:00.000-08:00

Most Worn for December 2008: KenzoAmour le parfum

Most Worn For the Year 2008: Infusion d'Iris, I think this scent says it all about this year.

images provided by artnet.com

Image One: An Angel by Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Image Two: The Three Graces by Abbott Handerson Thayer

SOTD: Burberry Brit Red

2008-12-31T08:04:00.001-08:00

For the last day of the year I am wearing the ever joyful Burberry Brit Red. As for the menu:

Fake Foie Gras (homemade)
Cheese Fondue
Apple Cake
Some good old Cava
Cranford Marathon
and best of all friends.

image provided by artmagick.com
image: Dame Alice Ellen Terry (Choosing) by George Frederic Watts

2008 Discoveries

2008-12-28T08:30:00.001-08:00

This will start out bitter before it gets better, overall I can say personally for me and I suspect for the rest of world that year of 2008 has been one of the most insane years of my life, in small breathtaking instants wonderfully audacious and full of intense joy, but I am sad to say a great deal of it has been rather bleak, at these moments I recommend you turn off the news and go find something you enjoy, small pleasures are what we have. I am hoping though that all this upheaval has brought the charitable in us all, I have donated food this year and whenever I pass ringing bells of donations I have given, I don't make much money and as a grad student I am at the low end of income as it goes, still at least at the end of the day I know I still have my compassion and sympathy.

Just a reminder, keep up with what is happening at your local library, at times of economic hardship, library use in the community goes up and yet they are often the first things to go with the economic fall. Don't let this happen when the economy is in down this one of the few places that give back to the community in amazing ways: job help, internet access, language learning facilities, activities for children, entertainment.

And now on to my discoveries of 2008:

Animals and People
-Rex, my family's adorable sweet German shepard
-My kitten, who I will be getting on January 5th, my mother's birthday
-My wonderful friends and family who have been there when I needed them.

Books
- a mercy by Toni Morrison
-A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink
-Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
-The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook: 250 No-Fail Recipes for Pilafs, Risottos, Polenta, Chilis, Soups, Porridges, Puddings and More, from Start to Finish in Your Rice Cooker by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufman
-Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson
-Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Food (all homemade)
-Dulce de Leche
-Risotto
-Polenta (I finally got it right through my rice-cooker)
-Kimchi fried rice
-Tapioca pudding

Famous
-Christina Hendricks aka Joan Holloway on Mad Men, because she bucks the trend of the anorexic beauty, and is beautifully not that!

Music
- 19 by Adele
- The Decemberists

Online
-Generous Swappers
-Cuteoverload.com
-Google Reader
-Tastespotting.com
-The generous bloggers who come to my little blog who offer words of encouragement and share their thoughts.

Perfume
-Ambre Russe by Parfum d'Empire
-Amour by Kenzo pure parfum
-Bois des Iles by Chanel
-Infusion d'Iris by Prada
-Osmanthus Interdite by Parfum d'Empire
-Sensual Amber by Bath and Body Works

SOTD: Magnifique

2008-12-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

So after be gone for so long I am back, moving just has a way of taking over your life. I am spending the day in lancome's newest Magnifique, which on me is wonderfully smoky with hints of rose. I promise I will be back with a more up to date post, but I admit I am still reeling from some very busy weeks.

image provided by artmagick.com

image: Leila by Sir Frank Dicksee

SOTD: Five O'Clock au Gingembre

2008-12-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

I promise this is final cat-themed picture, so the weather has most definately become very chilly, the weather forecasters are even saying snow, but as I always say I don't believe it until I actually see it when it comes down to the weather. Going to spend my day in the luxurient embrace of Five O'Clock au Gingembre and the even bigger news: We get the keys today! So very excited!

Tea: Russian caravan.

And something to completely make you laugh (Yes this man really does with he was in the Lord of the Ring movies and the love a good cheesy romance), provided to you by Chris Dane Owens in "Shine On Me":

And yes you will ask yourself: An alligator?!
image provided by artmagick.com
image: A Lady with a Cat by Giovanni Boldini
video uploaded by AngelsWitches

SOTD: L de Lolita Lempicka

2008-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Going to spend the day in the lovely embrace of L de Lolita Lempicka, the weather is cold, and there is nothing like the embrace of vanilla, spices, oranges, and delicious musk to make you feel cozy.

Tried a spritz of Mitsouko on today and well it isn't smelling that bad, in fact it is actually smelling good, I wonder what happened?

Kitten update: The baby I chose is the little golden eyed wild cat looking kitten. It was really hard, they were both adorable, but she just caught my attention with her prideful little attitude, she already considers herself a queen, her exploration was hilarious, tried to eat giant dog biscuit, gave up and tried to eat chocolate, my kind've girl. Realization: I like a little bit of a bratty attitude in a cat, mind you she was still very affectionate and a purrer. I admit I am rather smitten and I can't wait to get her next Thursday. She has a sort of adorableness that is just too cute. If I could have I would have taken the other kitten too, she was such an utter sweetie.

image provided by artnet.com
image: Woman with cat by Geza Farago

SOTD: Songes

2008-12-11T07:06:00.000-08:00

So today is the big day, I get to meet the kittens, and choose. I admit it was hard choosing a scent for this, I had originally wanted to go with Rasa, but the weather has taking a decidedly cold turn which left pondering what to go with. I decided to go with Annick Goutal's Songes because I know it is full of natural oils and there something very feline about it to me (I think it is the natural indolic quality and the musky incense). I won't be able to bring the kitten home until next week, but I have to admit I have not been this excited in a long time. It is so crazy to think I will get pet kittens today.

I've had this song stuck in my head since Tuesday, Panic by The Smiths:

image provided by artnet.com
image: American Dreams, Angel In Central Park (35771) by Bastienne Schmidt 1997
video uploaded by hackum1

SOTD: Burberry Brit Red

2008-12-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

I have a busy day ahead of me so I am reaching for the jolliness of Burberry Brit Red. This is just a wonderful unique scent and really makes me wish rhubarb was used more often as a note in fragrances.

And now onto my kitten update, pictured below are the two kittens I will get to meet tomorrow and have to choose between, as you can it is going to be hard, and their shelter parent tells me they are both little luvbugs:

In my craziness of loving names ( I have one the most used names of the 1980's for girls, so I am always intrigued by a lovely name), I have already begun to come up with ideas, which I might just completely scrap out the window after meeting the kittens, but from their pictures this is one I have come up with:

For the first kitten pictured, she has pretty green eyes, explains Giada:

Giada= "jade"= Italian

Innogen= "beloved child"= Greek

Isobel= "pledged to God"= scottish variation on Elizabeth

Isolde= "fair lady"= Welsh

Liath="grey"= Irish

Luar= "moon"= Portuguese

For the second kitten pictured, she has golden eyes, which you can't tell, which makes more sense with the name Mead:

Mab= "Baby", but was also the name of the Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet = Irish

Mead= "from the meadow" also don't forget the delicious honey drink= English

Mirabeau= "wonderful"= French

Siva= "grey"= Bosnian

For both of the kittens:

Avalou= "apple"= Breton

Gin= "silver"= Japanese
Myrrh, I just think is would be a gorgeous name for a grey cat

The beauty of pet names is you can go with the ones that you love that are too outlandish to name a child, although some of these names aren't, but are on the pure beautiful side. I am totally going to spoil by kitten once I get her.

image provided by artmagick.com

image: Lucretia Borgia Reigns in the Vatican in the Absence of Pope Alexander VI by Frank Cadogan Cowper 1908-14

Kitten images provided by Me, taken by Terry

SOTD: Bois des Iles

2008-12-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

Today I am going with Bois des Iles, it just seems appropiate in this cold weather, I could actually see my breath all day yesterday while I was outside. It has also occurred to me that Bois des Iles would be an appropiate scent for a cats sensibilities. Which leads me to how animals react to perfume: I once wore Ava Luxe's Rasa and a kitten adored me for it, she would not stop sniffing and licking my wrist. Rex on the other hand is hilarious, when I was petsitting him, I ended up getting a sample of Magnifique which he enjoyed so much that he decided he needed to lick my wrist, but if he doesn't like a scent he will sneeze and then look at me with an expression of "Why on earth?!"

Kitten update: Yesterday was quite the roller coaster, I admit the more I looked at the pictures, I fell in love with the black kitten, Celena, unfortunately I got a call from her shelter parent to learn that she had eye herpes, which is contagious, and with my roommate having a cat also, the shelter parent and I both agreed we probably weren't a good match. I hope Celena finds a good home because she sounds like a wonderful little kitten. The shelter parent then gave me another number for a woman whom apparently specializes in kitten adoptions; I was able to get a hold of the shelter parent last night and she sent me images of two adorable grey tabby kittens, that I am hoping to be able to meet on Thursday. Interesting info I learned: you will have no real idea of the character of a kitten until around 4 months, so that is the adoption age I am now looking for, what can I say I want a cuddle bug kitten, and you have no idea if they will be that way until around 4 months.

image provided by artmagick.net

image: At Home: A Portrait by Walter Crane 1872

My present to me this year

2008-12-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

So my christmas present to me this year is I am going to get a kitten. I have been wanting a cat for ages and right now just feels like the right time (plus my apartment allows for kitties). So I have been over at petfinder.com (thank you so much Daily!) and I have found three beauties that I just want to pick up and cuddle and tell them that they are absolutely beautiful (Cats love to be told this):
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11389769
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11852320
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11930186
Sigh, they are all so gorgeous.

image provided by artnet.com
image: Loving my Cat by Joan Gillchrest

SOTD: Ambre Narguile

2008-12-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

Is it so wrong to want to eat your own arm because it smells so delicious? :-)

image provided by artnet.com

image: Golden Harvest by Cora Ogden

SOTD: Omnia

2008-12-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I wore the most soothing scent out there: Omnia. I admit I am rather sad that Bvlgari keeps putting out flankers for this scent, but do not actually put any work into advertising this scent. This little scent is such perfect mix of cream, woods, spices, and clean musks. Although it does have the issue of being anosmic to some people; what ever musk they use in this fragrance it seems to be a real love it, hate it, and I can't smell anything! Luckly for me this works beautifully. One of the few mainstream fragrances that easily could have been niche. Although the bottle still remains a horrible bitch to deal with! The weird part Bvlgari keeps on going with stupid inbred bottle with its flankers and even used at one point for smaller bottles for Bvlgari femme and its flankers and this happens to be one of the number one complaints Omnia has.
image provided by artnet.com
image: A silk tapestry hanging scroll