SOTD: Angelique Encens

I really did not think I would like Creed's Angelique Encens that much considering the first fragrance I ever tried of theirs was rather hellacious on me (Fleurs de Bulgare), but last night I received my swap sample of it and I was blown away. This is what I wanted Frederic Malle's L'eau d'Hiver to be, this is strangely beautiful comforting cool incense, it is white marble with blue veins come to life, in a way it reminds me of L'Heure Bleue, but this actually works on me. Really if I were to describe it, it is a combination of L'eau d'Hiver and L'Heure Bleue, but ironically timeline wise, L'Heure Bleue is the grandmother-Angelique Encens the mother-L'eau d'Hiver the grandchild, what is strange though is this scent seems to straddle luminously feminine and yet I can't help but want to say it is androgynous. What I adore is it keeps the beautiful delicate green note of angelica through out, surrounding it with wonderfullying dry incense and cashmere like heliotrope tinged vanilla. I suppose I expected the cold Commes des Garcon's Avignon, instead this is somehow this is unearthly and comforting. Thank you Marlene Dietrich.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Illusion by Louis Icart

SOTD: Ambre et Vanille

Today I am wearing E. Coudray's Ambre et Vanille, the weather has cooled, and well after this week I am treating myself to an autumnal delight. It reminds me of Noire Vanille du Mexique by La Maison de la Vanille, but what really intrigues is the Ambre et Vanille's heart of ylang ylang, it seems so rare to encounter ylang ylang as a prominent note, but here it shows it's lovely beauty.

On to a different subject now:

I suspect I have always been fascinated by Italy, about 4 years ago I took a trip there and remember it fondly, and I would say my cooking repetoire features the most influence from Italian cuisine. Lately I have found myself reading about Italy in the most varied ways. Years before this I had read Susan Vreeland's The Passion of Artemisia and in my youth had an utter obsession with the Roman Empire. It began last year with A Venetian Affair by Andrea di Robilant, preceeded by Sarah Dunant's In the Company of the Courtesan (taking place in Venice also), followed up by Sarah Dunant's The Birth of Venus (taking place in Florence), a brief break and then I was back to Venice with John Berendt's The City of Falling Angels, and then last night in one sitting I read Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi's The Monster of Florence and well to put it this I don't know what frightened me more after reading this the Kafkaesque Italian legal system or the serial killer known as The Monster of Florence, I will say this now that true crime stories art not my usual forte but this was riveting. I suspected I read it because of the comparison to The City of Falling Angels. The irony is I was ready to fall in love with Florence when I went to Italy only to find myself kind've annoyed with it, instead I ironically ended up loving its renaissance rival Sienna.

image provided by artnet.com
image: Il Doni della Terra by Luciano Ventrone 2008

SOTD: Be Delicious

Today the crappyness of yesterday continues to alleviate this I am going with a fragrance that reminds me of my boyfriend (the first one he ever bought me). I already want this day to be over and it is 8 in the morning. Glargh.
image provided by artnet.com
image: A Green Apple by Byung Rock Yoon

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

To say has been frustrating is an understatement! I will start though with that at least I had something nice to smell in the form of Osmanthus Interdite, but now on to the frustration.

A few weeks ago I took my truck in to have the breaks serviced quite a few things needed to be done, I knew that, so I was prepared for the large bill, overall it was the usual things that need to be done over time, that just hadn't been done because my truck just kept chugging along. But this week things started to go badly wrong the ABS light started appearing, then yesterday the brake signal appeared, which should not be appearing three weeks after getting the brakes serviced!!! Took it too a different mechanic (hoping it was something small, but of course it wasn't), so lo and behold all the things that were supposed to be fixed were falling apart. So in the next week I need to go argue a re-imbursement and well I am completely and utterly angry!

image provided by artnet.com

image: Shadows and Light by Yingzhao Liu 2008

SOTD: Azuree Soleil

So the heat has returned and I am really wanting the cooler weather, I long to bring out my cool weather scents rich and heady ambers, vanilla, woods, and incenses. So what is an oriental lover to do? In my case I'm going with the soothingly cool Azuree Soleil, the beauty of this is the use of woods at the heart of creamy coconut and gardenia. Still I want my amber....

image provided by http://www.madkatstudios.com/watercolor-Stilllife.htm

SOTD: Soleil de Capri by Montale

In a sort've completely natural way this weeks theme in images is still life, I can't even explain why I am fascinated with still lifes, when all I think is I should really be bored by this type of style of art, but I'm not. Today I am wearing the only Montale that has ever worked on me and it is completely for derivative reasons, Soleil de Capri, with is a niched up version of Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. I have so far tried amongst Montale's offerings Mukhalet (kill me with plastic strawberries), White Aoud (I suspect aoud and I just don't get along), Fruits of Musk (Okay, this one worked, but really it is a blackberry musk fragrance), and Amandes Orientales (urinous almonds). Which leads me to worst of offender of copying scents: Ramon Molvizar, Luna=Omnia by Bvlgari and Smart Goldskin (also craptastic name)=a softened variation and I kid you not of BBW's Blackberry Amber, all of this can be had for withe wonderful price of $198.00, blech on you Ramon Molvizar.

And on to a completely random note:
I fully suggest you take advantage of cantaloupe season and go get yourself some prosciutto and enjoy one of life's perfect combinations: the eating of cantaloupe and prosciutto together, salty sweet goodness. If possible get your hands on the tuscan variety of cantaloupe, which is often called the muskmelon, you are in for one of most incredibley fragrant fruits, I literally had a few slices in my bedroom, and my room smelled of the most potently incredible melon scent.

image provided by artnet.com
image: Autumn crocuses in a wine bottle with a lemon by Mary Fedden 1990

SOTD: Five O'Clock Au Gingembre

Today is the first day of school, I was tempted to go with my now usual serene scents: Bois des Iles or Infusino d'Iris, but my yearning for Autumn and knowing the tempeture would be warm, I have instead chosen, the smoky gingery beauty of Serge Luten's Five O'Clock Au Gingembre, which is wonderful addition to the family of gourmands. I will say this now but I think this scent would be incredible as a candle. As for the actually scent, I am utterly intrigued by his use of smoky tea, I first I would say it was the Chinese Lapsang Souchong, but the smoke has a hint of electric quality to it that reminds me of the smoky blend Russian Caravan, mixed with the stem ginger opening, it provides a complete picture of a moment. I want to try this scent later on in the year with a plate of homemade pain d'epice, stem ginger preserves, possibly a chunk of good local dark chocolate, and a cup of smoky creamy Russian Caravan tea. All I need is for the weather to change and steal my dad's spice grinder.

image provided by artnet.com

image: The English tea pot by Johan de Fre

SOTD: Le Chasse Aux Papillions

I adore Sundays, I adore them for neither sleeping in nor going out early to Church, but rather I love them because when I get up early for a Sunday, the quiet of the morning keeps on going into the afternoon. There is a relaxed quality to chores, I drink my cup of tea relaxed with no worry of the rest of the day's chores needing to be done soon. I can putter around thinking of what delicious meal I want to make myself.

Today I am probably wearing the girliest floral I have ever liked: L'Artisan's Le Chasse Aux Papillions, I admit I feel dorky liking this one considering for many it is the easiest to like floral out there, but then again being not the greatest floral lover in the world, this is probably perfect for me.

Yesterday, was one of those days that make you grateful to live in the Bay Area, Francisco and I went to Lake Temescal in Oakland, the temperture was perfect a cool breeze coming off the lake, and lots of sunshine to make all the greenery sparkle. Below are few images I found, behind the Beach House is a gorgeous fountain area and garden. The second area shows where we picniced which was at the other end of the lake.

image provided by artnet.com

image: Sunday Still Life by Boyd Gavin 2007

image provided by http://www.theoakbook.com/MoreDetail.aspx?Aid=1688&CatId=15

image provided by http://flickr.com/photos/lalalalinda/149124411/

Scenting th Women of Mad Men: Rachel Menken

We end Friday with my favorite woman to appear on Mad Men, sadly we have not seen her on the second season of Mad Men, the astute Rachel Menken. Rachel is the woman Don Draper at one point said he was ready to leave his family for, but unlike other women Rachel is sharp enough to see reality of Don Draper, and know better than to go down that path. Rachel is probably the one woman Don truly respects, because she will call him out on all of reprehensible things he has said and done and she is also the one who understands him the most. Scenting Rachel was the hardest choice, at first I thought of Chanel's Bois des Iles, but the reality is that scent is too soft for her. But then I smelled Lancome's Magie a beautiful strange mixes of melancholy violets, potent jasmine, and gorgeous amber, and I thought that is Rachel. It is beautiful and wistful but utterly full of vitality, I thought it fit this unique and independent woman.

image provided by http://tv.yahoo.com/mad-men/show/39828/photos/3

Scenting The Women of Mad Men: Peggy Olson

Peggy Olson was probably the hardest character to scent, I knew immediately her scent was going to be a drug store variety, so of course the first thing to come to mind was 4711, but well the reality is that just does not fit. Peggy may be one of the most fascinating characters, in ways she seems way to innocent in the world of Advertising Agency but at the same time we know that she is very driven and is smart and capable. I finally decided on the ubiqutous Jean Nate, although this scent is described as clean and refreshing, for me this one has one the dirty musk dry-downs ever. I think this really shows off the duality of Peggy's character.

image provided by http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/mad_men/index.html

Scenting the Women of Mad Men: Betty Draper

How do you scent the woman who is the epitome of beauty for the 1950's? Who has the sort've Grace Kelley good looks that should make her husband utterly adoring of her, instead Betty is faced with a husband who continously has affairs with woman that quite frankly the opposite of her character and looks, ex. Midge, and is chomping at the bit of the role of mother and wife. She is living the 1950's dream life for a woman, but as you watch her realize how much that role did not give fruit to happiness or fulfillment. Watching Betty is watching a woman realize that all those expectations she has of herself and from everybody else does not fit. She is sexually unhappy in her marriage, not exactly the greatest mother, and is beginning to realize the only time she enjoyed herself to degree was working, as a model, but still work. At first I wanted to scent Betty in Chanel N. 5, but realized that scent is just way too soft for her, instead I looked towards another highly aldehydic scent but one that has an edge, Lanvin's Arpege, I think I rather enjoyed the irony of scent that is based on the love between a mother and a daughter. A role that Betty has great deal of problems being the daughter of a woman who only commented on Betty's looks and now the mother of a daughter, whom she is repeating the same behaviour with. But then again Arpege is not a very maternal scent, it is womanly with just a hint of sadness from the use of violets, and stronger than expected with the use of woods.

image provided by http://www.squarelens.net/

Scenting the Women of Mad Men: Midge

Although, she hasn't been featured in the second season of Mad Men, Midge most definately deserves a spot in this series. As usual, maybe my mind runs on repetitive, I thought of Shalimar when first scenting Midge, but then quickly realized that just really didn't fit this bohemian and independent woman that Don Draper was very much tantalized by but couldn't get around his head for quite awhile that she was miles away from him in culture. But then again it occured to me that Midge is Balmain's Jolie Madame beautiful, sexual, but very much at the same time earthy with is tobacco chypre notes and aloof with with it cool violets and gardenia.

By the way I just wanted to add I am only using scents that are available at this time period.

image provided by http://tv.yahoo.com/mad-men/show/39828/photos/2

SOTD: Zagara by Santa Maria Novella

As I randomly grabbed fragrances on Sunday for my dogsitting days, I chose my decant of SMN's Zagara, and what a perfect choice after been woken up last night by one enthusiastically happy German Shepard, Rex, who decided at that moment he really needed to go chase the squirrels outside. The bright green clarity of it should hopefully keep me going until I can get my nap. For some reason I have this song stuck in my head, Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall

image provided by artnet.com

image: Lemon Souffle by Peter Hutchinson

video uploaded by ginnymede

Scenting the Women of Mad Men: Joan Holloway

I first began to think about this project during the first season of Mad Men when Roger Sterling comments to the epitome of curvacious, voluptous, and buxom Joan Holloway that she "...smells amazing." At first I thought Shalimar might be the scent to fit Joan, but I realized it didn't seem like the right fit, it then occured to me I wanted a scent that Joan could get for herself and that was new, it then occurred to me that the perfect fit was the spicy wonder of Estee Lauder's Youth Dew; striking, spicy, scintillating, and very womanly.

image provided by http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/04/16/tv_s_best_dressed_characters

Joan Holloway played by Christina Hendricks

SOTD: Magnifique by Lancome

Yesterday I obtained a sample of Lancome's new Magnifique after I had spritzed it on. After smelling it from both dabbing and spritzing all I can say is get the spritzer and Lancome really does have a way with the rose. Also love the smoky vetiver and nagarmotha used in this; I know everyone is loving Sensous, but for me it has a hint of rotten citrus that just does not jive, where as Magnifique is well quite nice. Coming up after this post: I am scenting the women of Mad Men!

image provided by artnet.com

image: Ada In Hat by Alex Katz 1990

SOTD: Apothia. If

Long day today work, dogsitting, and somehow getting time in with my boyfriend. So I am beginning the day in something simple and well easy, Apothia's If. Will probably end the day in something more sultry and relaxing. This is the final image of my week of Leo and Diane Dillon. Hope you have enjoyed.

image provided by http://parsonsillustration.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/leo-and-melinda-dillon-visit-the-illustration-department/

image by Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Chanel N.5 pure parfum

It's hot and all I want is luxurious warm amber orientals, I can't have the warm amber, but I can have the luxurious Chanel N.5 pure parfum. I think the image goes perfectly if you know the history of Chanel N.5 which was inspired by the artic in spring. Plus I have always thought that there is something playful in Chanel N.5.

image provided by http://library.pittstate.edu/friends/bookfest/BF2006.html

image: Northern Lullaby by Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Narciso Rodriguez body creme

I admit I usually only wear Narciso Rodriguez on nights out, but I wanted something luxurious today, and the body creme seemed like the perfect option. Today going with another striking Leo and Diane Dillon cover, this one always stops me during shelving and requires examination of just how lovely it is.

I seem to be having a Madonna moment, well from the last record of her's I really enjoyed and had some relavancy to me, and features hot cowboys:


image provided by http://toasted-scimitar.blogspot.com/
image: Enchantress From The Stars by Leo and Diane Dillon
video uploaded by power1093

SOTD: Kinmokusei

This is probably the most famous of Leo and Diane Dillon's covers at the moment and as usual it is gorgeous and draws a wonderful strong portrait of women. Today I am going with the wonderfully smoky piney Kinmokusi by Ayala Moriel, this is actually in my opinion a perfect osmanthus for a man to wear, if you like the smoky opening of Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan you need to smell this.

Caught part of Wanda Sykes show last and well had to post one of my favorite acts of hers (NSFW) Detachable Vagina aka Sick and Tired:

Alright another perfect comment on being a woman, Madonna's What It Feels Like To Be A Girl:

image provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=2194940
image: Sabriel by Leo and Diane Dillon
Wanda Sykes video uploaded by elhossari
Madonna video uploaded by anayufan

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

This is the first image I ever really fell in love with of Leo and Diane Dillon's and belongs to one of my favorite books when I was younger (okay still a favorite), sadly I wasn't able to find the greatest image to illustrate the awesomeness of this cover. And if there was a scent to go with the character of Juniper well most definately her day scent is Infusion d'Iris (her night scent is most definately something incensey).

image provided by http://www.amazon.ca/Juniper-Monica-Furlong/dp/0679833692

image: Juniper by Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Bvlgari pour femme

Today I am visiting my grandmother. For this I am choosing the ever lovely Bvlgari pour femme, this is a scent that always reminds me of yellow mimosas and sunlight, utterly feminine and completely in good taste. Which is one of the great attributes of Leo and Diane Dillon's illustrations, there women are strong and resourceful, and never in bad taste. Which reminds me of my grandmother.

image provided by http://www.kenspublishing.com/show.php?authorID=137

image: Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Azuree Soleil

This week I am going to focus on one my favorite illustrators the husband and wife team: Leo and Diane Dillon. There art is evocative and you have most likely seen it illustrating a book cover.

Today I am going with Azuree Soleil, it is beginning to be that time of the year where this one will go back on the shelf to await summer. It has such an intriguing coolness.

image provided by http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/joegrey/children.htm

image: Wind Child by Leo and Diane Dillon

SOTD: Tea Olive by Hove

Today I am finally trying a truly American fragrance and rendition of osmanthus or as it is known in the Southern United States, Tea Olive. The scent opens very white floral but as it calms down the scent begins to gain the lovely aspects of apricot/peachy and the white floral becomes creamy, the scent induces the idea of summer and cute white summer dresses.

I also on my wrist have the very intriguing Serge Luten's 5 O'Clock au Gingembre, which is amazing me with its smoky russian caravan tea base with a hint of gunpowder, while still keeping the stem ginger note, I don't think it's me, but damn if I don't enjoy smelling it. It really is the slice of a moment, it occurs to me that this would make an awesome candle scent.

Currently I am now obsessed with the new Coldplay album, I hated their last album, but the boys have created something awesome with this album, and a great deal of this thanks go to Brian Eno. Yes by Coldplay:

image provided by artnet.com
image: Blue Sky by Henrik Simonsen 2008
video uploaded by Hunter 45367

SOTD: Un Jardin Apres La Mousson

Today I am wearing the much disputed Hermes Un Jardin Apres La Mousson, technically I should hate this, I mean is smells of melon, but here is the thing I don't. Chandler Burr hates but he may have answered why I do like it, it does not actually use the infamous calone for its melon note. This is a lovely watermelon with a hint of tartness and the earthy binding of vetiver. I could see this being a summer fragrance next year.

And thank you Mary for introducing me to this lovely song (It's been awhile since someone did a really good break-up song and sounded so lovely singing it) Warwick Avenue by Duffy:

video uploaded by ChrisZuid

SOTD: Fifi Chachnil edt

Today I leave with what I think is the most provocative image by Flor Garduno, anyone who has had a passing interest in Greek mythology, should easily recognize that this image is firmly grounded in the Zeus and Leda myth. A myth that has always kind've freaked me out. Still what of love about Flor Garduno's interpretation is that in this image Leda is no victim, but rather she is the one in control. So ends my week of Flor Garduno.

image provided by http://arati2006.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E0153200E249ECA4!588.entry

image: Leda and Swan by Flor Garduno

Quiz fun

Take the Quiz here!

SOTD: Burt's Bees Baby Apricot Body Oil

Today I am going with simple and nurturing, the lovely Burt's Bees Baby Apricot body oil, the best apricot scent out there. Yesterday was well harsh, my truck I knew had some issues, what I didn't know was it had some issues totalling to around 1300 dollars. The good news was this was basically stuff that was long overdue. But, the truth is I am lucky to be able to pay for this and not to be stranded out in the middle of nowhere at night because of the issues.

image provided by http://marinaw.com.br/2004/04/

image by Flor Garduno

Most Worn In July: Bois des Iles

Broke the osmanthus spell with what is becoming my favorite sandalwood, Bois des Iles.

image provided by http://borradores.blogia.com/2007/marzo.php

image by Flor Garduno

SOTD: With Love

After weeks of green and fresh; I feel the need for something comforting, sweet, and ambered. I admit I would love to reach for Un Bois Vanille or L de Lolita Lempicka, but those are just too rich, so I am going with the whipped amber confection of With Love. I will admit I am still embarrassed for liking this one, but it is perfect for days when you yearn for an oriental but don't what the intensity of an oriental fragrance.

image provided by http://my.opera.com/odradek/blog/show.dml/255952

image by Flor Garduno

SOTD: Figue Amere

Today I am trying on something that I didn't really consider much of because I tried it on in the middle of Winter, Miller Harris's Figue Amere. Right now I am quite enjoying it, this may be the greenest fig scent I have ever smelled, I am picking up hints of angelica. When I tried it on in Winter all I got was an incredibly dry scent full of cedar, but now it is wonderfully green with sap. And I was right there is angelica in this beauty. I am going to have to give this one more testing. Bizarrely lush in a very dry way.

image provided by http://www.filmkultura.hu/2005/articles/reviews/index.hu.html

image: Kardhal, Mexico (1998) by Flor Garduno

SOTD: D&G red cap

If there is a scent that Juno would wear with her peacocks in tow, I imagine D&G's red cap would be the one. Loud, brash, and utterly feminine in the most rightious sort of way. It has a really rare combination (at least to my nose) of using basil with peachy aldehydes creating a really amazing entrance for a big soapy womanly lily supported by sandalwood. Very va va voom without going into the territory of amber, high indoles, or super musk. I'm having such a weird white floral craving right now.

image provided by http://www.photos-site.com/a.html

image: Mujer con plumas by Flor Garduno 2000

SOTD: Kai

So I am back from a wonderful mini-vacation. Yosemite remains as beautiful as ever and I am sore from an incredible hike up the Mist Trail. The air was filled with the scent of cedar and Light Blue turned out to be the perfect choice because of this; Light Blue's cedar note sang out well coupled with my deoderent Gillette's Storm Force (another lightly scented cedar product). I didn't get a single horrific sunburn and only 2 bugbites. We saw some wonderful animals, the most amazing being while hiking back from the Mist Trail, a mother bear and her two cubs. The most idiotic being a father a encouraging his young son to get closer to a rattle snake because and I quote "You don't get to see these everyday."

I really enjoyed doing a single artist for the week and I think I am going to continue with the theme. This week I am going with the highly sensual photograpy of Flor Garduno, I used one of her pieces for Carolina Herrera. Today I am putting on Kai, from a lifetime sample of the oil, seriously this stuff has lasted over 5 years now. I am suddenly having another yearning for a white floral and thought this would fit the bill for the day.

Interesting video I found for Flor Garduno's work:

image provided by artnet.com

image: Hoja elegante by Flor Garduno

video uploaded by cdancalisboa

SOTD: Light Blue

So I am off for the weekend to Yosemite. My boyfriend and I have been planning this getaway weekend for awhile and well for us it really is a special spot, it's the first place the two of us ever took a vacation together. For the weekend I am going with the simple happy scent of Light Blue.

image provided by http://www.tendreams.org/boulet.htm

image: Journey Home (Psyche) by Susan Seddon Boulet

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

It is supposed to get hot today and I absolutely adore scents that bloom in the heat so I am going with Osmanthus Interdite. I know when will I get over this scent, hopefully not for awhile considering how much the baby cost. I just love the way the leather in this comes out on me.

image provided by http://f-art.diary.ru/?tag=20645&from=40

image: Psyche by Susan Seddon Boulet

SOTD: Mille et Une Roses

Going with Mille et Une Roses today; some times I have a hard time believing what a soft enveloping gentle fragrance this is. Truly it reminds me of the most maternal gentle aspects.

image provided by http://www.mattersofspirit.com/fr/burial.html

image: Isis and Osiris by Susan Seddon Boulet

SOTD: Climat

It is supposed to get warm today, but I suspect I believe it when I feel it considering it is still cool and cloudy where I am at and it usually takes awhile for this quality to burn off. To got with with the coming "warmth" I am going for the minerally green Climat. This was a hard scent to put together with Boulet painting, but I think this one works.

image provided by http://www.tendreams.org/boulet.htm

image by Susan Seddon Boulet

SOTD: Datura Noir

I thought it might be fun to have a theme week for my images and I decided to go with Susan Seddon Boulet. I love the dreaminess of this image.
Today the weather is shockingly cool for a day in July, I have all the windows closed, and I am tempted to put a sweatshirt on. I have spent most of day doing household chores, the things you put off until the pile is something you have to walk around. Plus, cool weather is conducive to this effect.

image provided by http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/pollydan/post72607299/

image by Susan Seddon Boulet

SOTD: Omnia

Funny how things come full cirle, when I was in my teens I was in love with Susan Seddon Boulet's art, and some how over the years I have forgotten about her. That is until I was re-watching season three of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and there was a poster of Susan Seddon Boulet's work in Buffy's room. This re-occurence was driven even more when I went to Santa Cruz yesterday and walked into a wonderful stationary store and Boulet's artwork was everywhere.

And now for some 90's fun and something rather ironic too, The Beginning is the End is the Beginning by The Smashing Pumpkins, this song was originally created for the Batman & Robin movie which was one of the worst of the Batman franchise of the 90's. This weekend opened the second of Christopher Nolan's intelligent and dark take on Batman. I was introduced to this song this weekend via the new trailer for The Watchmen based on a graphic novel aka comic, and behold the song I'm blathering about:

image provided by http://www.imeem.com/people/Nmsbm_S/
image: Athena by Susan Seddon Boulet
video uploaded by imindaband

SOTD: Bois des Iles

I woke up today and all I want is comfort. Somedays the wrong mood is what happens, still the weather is perfect today.
provided by me

image: Princesses by Kay Nielsen

SOTD: Black Cashmere

Quote of the day: Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore? -- Henry Ward Beecher

Today is my father's birthday, to celebrate it I am taking him out for barbecue and giving him a bag of delectable goodies (my father comes from a line of people with sweet tooths and has passed it on to me) he also has something arriving in the mail. My Dad has given me many of his attributes over the years starting with my birth, I inherited his rich warm red brown hair (he is really prideful of this), his bibliophile tendencies (well my mother also contributed to this), the obsession with smoked foods, an appreciation of the natural world and history, (that I can honestly say most of my peers do not have), the knowledge of how to make a good fire on winter days, and he also has contributed to my understanding of how artistic vision works, he is also a wood carver, this is some of my father's work:

For my father's birthday I am wearing Black Cashmere because it is essentially the scent of woodshop to me, which reminds me of my father. As for my father's fragrance tendencies he claims to hate strong fragrances, but the fragrances he enjoyed smelling on my mother were: Paloma Picasso, Tabu, and Opium. I think he just doesn't like florals. Happy Birthday Dad.

image provide by artnet.com
image: River Celebration (lunar eclipse) by Kevin Paulsen 2007

Dad's work image provided by http://www.diablowoodworkers.com/don-koth.html

My Current Top 25 Fragrances that are currently in production/available

So I was inspired from yesterday's top 25 of fragrances in Production/available. Also I have taken the day off after the last two days worth of headaches/favor/belly flipping.

*Bois des Iles
I know many describe this as elegant and for only special nights out, but honestly this is pure comfort of the perfect autumn day to me, it is also my favorite fragrance for a gorgeous sandlewood note. Many have described this as reminding them of gingerbread, but for me this is spiced cider.
*Osmanthus Interdite
It is no surprise that this one is here, I adore osmanthus, and this is the gold standard for me. What makes this scent breathtaking and alluring though is heat, it will be firmly put in the cupboard come cool weather.
*Must de Cartier
An amber I adore, imagine smoke, tobacco, gingerbread, amber, vanilla, and narcissus all wrapped up in perfection.
*Narciso Rodriguez edt
Transparent and yet utterly sensual, the perfect scent for the colors of pink and black, always reminds me of glowing skin.
*L de Lolita Lempicka
Strangely smoky salty caramel vanilla scent, that always reminds me of cold winter seashores on a perfect sunny day.
*Chanel 22
A bright flirty aldehydic white floral with a perfect dry incense running through it, it always makes me think of green and white.
*Un Bois Vanille
My idea of Mexican black vanilla, having such a wonderful nectar quality, yet lovely dry woods.
*4711
This is my summer pick-me-up, homey yet utterly refreshing.
*Egyptian Goddess
One the best egyptian musks out there, surrounds you in a perfect haze.
*Organza Indecence
A most wonderfully dry vanilla, amber, spice combo. Reminds me of rice pudding and incense.
*Bvlgari pour femme
When I want to give the quality of a spring goddess. Clarity and jubilance.
*Parfum Sacre
My incense rose scent, just melds with you, and makes you think of faraway lands.
*Mille et Une Roses
Think of the most dewy luscious rose.
* Fifi Chachnil
Makes me want to wear pencil skirts and heavy eyeliner and flirt.
*Datura Noir
A cool exotic goddess of scent. The tropics in antartica
*Chanel 5
The classic scent of powdered skin after luxurious bathing.
*Magnetism
Could be called utterly trashy, except for its use of smoky dry vanilla, that you don't expect.
*Songes
Heaven in the sultriest way.
*Infusion d'Iris
Like the first bud of spring, green and silver, utterly elegant, but never pretentious.
*Light Blue
I want to hate it because it is so ubiquitous, but quite frankly it smells so damn good. The best time to wear this, believe it or not, Autumn, brings out the creamy apple lemon note, and reminds me of a Macintosh apple; creamy and crisp.
*Lolita Lempicka
A gourmand that does not smell like Angel and is an original.
*Ambre Narguile
A gourmand that wraps you in the scent of spiced baking treats in the oven. Rum, raisins, apples, and lovely delicate cinnamon.
*Vetiver by Guerlain
The true antidote to summer heat, earthy cool green.
* Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil
The truest scent of apricot out there.
*Omnia
cream, spices, and sandalwood. Comfort in a bottle.

SOTD: Vanille Divine des Tropiques, Spun Orange Blossom, Silk Yuzu

I want to feel like a fluffy cloud of summer sunshine considering I am once again working a Sunday. So I have come with the concoction of Vanille Divine des Tropiques, Spun Orange Blossom, and Silk Yuzu, so far very pretty with a nice little zing. To go with this sunshine feeling, Summersong by The Decemberists, featuring the city I live by, San Francisco:

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image: Sunshine Peace Pink by Peter Max 1971
video uploaded by sidyadav

SOTD: Evening Edged In Gold by Ineke

Well This is definately a different take on datura aka Angel's Trumpet. So far Evening Edged In Gold is musky creamy and bizarrely almost aquatic but in a non-nauseous way. Definately intriguing. Good news the temperture here is wonderfully down.
And now for some old nineties fun and the lady that rather ruled my high school music taste, Datura by Tori Amos:


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video uploaded by Datura90

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

So I want something sweet and incensey but with the heat of the last couple of days that is just really not going to happen, so I am instead opting for something that blooms in the heat so spectacularly that well it will be immediately being go back to the cupboard once Autumn and Winter approach (it just isn't going to be right in the cold weather.).

image provided by http://www.flickr.com/photos/caricature-by-radimus/459883744/in/set-72157600078931438/

SOTD: Abricot by L'Aromarine

Today I am taking my first outing with L'Aromarine's Abricot parfum extract, so far very floral and citrusy, and more of a necterine scent to me, personally I would recommend this to fans Jo Malone's Necterine Blossom and Honey and it is a complete steal at $7 a bottle.

Some how in the last month's I have been rather caught up in bird fairytale's, it began with Alice Hoffman's The Third Angel which is woven with the fairytale of The Heron Wife (which I am pretty positive she made up), about a week ago I read Midori Snyder's article on swan wives which can be found here http://www.endicott-studio.com/rdrm/rrSwan.html, and now I have come to be rather entranced by The Decemberist's seriese of songs called The Crane Wife, this is Part 3:

Fun little food for thought: both osmanthus and cranes are associated with longevity.
Last night this was all juxtaposed with a Nova special on a four winged dinosaur.
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image: Japanese Crane by Carol Grigg
video uploaded by GeekyGirl123

SOTD: Chanel 22

Quote of the Day: A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores. -- Terry Pratchett, The Fifth Elephant
I wish I could say my day is going to be spent relaxing and evading the oncoming heat, but hah! I'm working. Considering there will be no relaxing I decided to go instead with sheer beauty, Chanel 22. A continuation of my white floral need, Chanel 22 just makes me realize how much I wish there were more scents out there that combine white florals with aldehydes, I just love the mix.
The theme from Ang Lee's Lust, Caution:

Well I finally saw it, Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, artistically it is gorgeous and incredibly raw emotionally. The last movie I can remember leaving me feeling that emotionally raw and like I had seen something far too intimate and painful, was Closer.
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image: The Chinese Pavillion in Green Park by Karen Kilimnik 2007

Most Worn In June: Osmanthus Interdite

Osmanthus is keeping her reign.

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Image: Cotton wool and butterfly by Taeko Maezawa 2008

SOTD: Carolina Herrera

I'm not sure what has come over me but today I am craving a big white floral. I admit I am in a dramatic mood and as much as I love orientals and florientals the idea of wearing something spiced, just didn't fit the bill. Part of wearing Carolina Herrera which is also inspired by Chandler Burr's review of it last week, the first time I smelled it, I hated it, but then again I stuck my nose right in it, but today with two dabs it is rather lovely. The tuberose is bright and crystilline and sings sweetly and I am rather enjoying the green powdery narcissus. What really kills me though, is Carolina really did get right when she wanted to evoke her Latin American heritage, because this scent really does evoke to me the large dancing skirts of Latin America.

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image: Canasta de luz (Basket of Light), Sumpango, Guatemala by Flor Garduno 1989