Most Worn in May: Infusion d'Iris and Osmanthus Interdite

Osmanthus Interdite is so utterly lovely it is scary and Infusion d'Iris continues its reign in fragrances I have worn.

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image: Deliberate Landscape III by Jennifer Scott McLaughlin 2006

SOTD: Pink Suger

So after weeks of floral loving I am suddenly hit by the need for vanilla scents, yesterday I wore Un Bois Vanille, which was just lovely. Today I was all over the place in what I should wear, until I found one of my samples of Pink Suger, and well no matter how heinous the name is, it is really actually quite good. To kick of the weekend here is one of my favorite songs by one of my all time favorite musicians, David Bowie:

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image: Candy Curls by Will Cotton 2005

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song: Thursday's Child

Music and Scent: Pete Yorn's Turn of The Century and L'Heure Bleue

The story of this connection between scent and music begins with a relationship, one that is now sadly severed. When I was a child I used to go visit an aunt in the summers and winters, and the scent of her home was Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue. She was ironically anti-scent, except for her beloved used of amber oil and crushed amber resin, she burned nag champa incense routinely, and her home was located up in the mountains. I remember the first time I dabbed L'Heure Bleue on, I instantly recognized it as a familiar scent, but I could not place it to my memory. As I sat in my truck later on that day with the air-conditioning blaring (it was summer) the realization suddenly hit me, it was the scent of my aunt's home, I felt an ache as I always do when thinking of my aunt. This reaction to L'Heure Bleue is not unknown, for many the scent is the scent of nostalgia with deep emotion. The truth is I cannot wear L'Heure Bleue, I admire it greatly, and out of three greats of Guerlain* it is the one I can wear that shows its true greatness, but the sheer emotional quality of this scent is not something I can spend a day in, it leaves me feeling emotionally drained and in that mood to look over photo albums and tear up a bit. It is the scent of the past in all of its tender pain.

Listening to Pete Yorn's Turn of the Century is to be wrapped up in the loss of a relationship when catching the random glimpse of lover years later and remembering the loss vividly through the fuzzy haze of twilight. The story behind the song is wonderful for it is not based on a relationship of Yorn's but on a fictional relationship. A few years before Baz Luhrman would bring Moulin Rouge to screen, Yorn met Luhrman at a party, where Luhrman told Yorn about the lovers in Moulin Rouge, Yorn was so taken by the story, he ended up writing a song. It's funny but Yorn in the end, got a greater depth of emotion from Luhrman's story, than Luhrman would with his movie.

As much as L'Heure Bleue is a scent of emotional pain for me, it also instantly reminds me of a woman in fur stole at the turn of century in the evening, the evening light coming through the mist and giving everything that blue haze, tinting the tips of that fur stole. And here is where Turn of the Century and L'Heure Bleue meet, they both evoke this quality.

This is a live version of Turn of the Century, the only one I could find to showcase the song, I highly recommend trying to find a cleaner version to get the full feeling of the song:



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image: Evening by Samuel Palmer 1848
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*Shalimar and Mitsouko rounding out the trio.

Music and Scent: You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse and Fracas

So one of may favorite songs is Amy Winehouse's You Know I'm No Good; the storytelling is great in the song and sound is well unbeatable. Today while thinking about the song it occurred to me the song is a white floral all over and a big one at that. At first when I was thinking of white florals I was thinking of something a bit tragic (I suppose knowing too much about Amy's personel life will do that to you), but upon doing a re-listening it is without doubt, with the use of bombastic horns, that the scent for this song is Fracas. What do you think?

Odd little fact: I was introduced to the song by the pitch perfect use of it in the advertising for Mad Men (one of the most amazing shows visually and incredibly acted). The song is the perfect for the main character. The preview is below:

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second video uploaded by webslinger

SOTD: Baghari

Maybe I jumped the gun when I said summer was here, it felt like it a couple of weeks ago with the tempture going into the 90's and higher, but now it is unseasonably cool. The forecast for the next week is the 60's and I feel rather silly bringing out my summer fragrances, but truthfully neither do I want to wear my cold weather fragrances. So i'm going with the warm peachy fuzzy champagne amber fragrance of Baghari. I really need to get a bottle of this one and test out the new Visa (adding that one to my to smell list).

Song: Burning Down The House by The Talking Heads

Quote of the Day: In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.-- Andy Warhol (scary how true this one seems to be)

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image: Hope by Chunhong Chang

SOTD: Mille et Une Roses

So today is Memoriel Day and I do not have any big plans, but then again I doubt anyone is exactly having the planned Memoriel Day here in the Bay Area. The weather is weirdly cool and overcast. Right now it should be hot and the scent of barbecues in the air, but the weather is simply not letting that happen. I'm celebrating the day by have a friend over for brunch, I'm making coconut pancakes and something else to go with it, I'm also thinking of making a strawberry puree to put in the orange juice, and a nice pot of tea. I think later on I would like to finish a book. To go with this gentle day I am going with the gentle scent of Mille et Une Roses.

Song: Trust In Me by Etta James

Quote of the Day: We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.-- Anais Nin

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image: Jet Blue Collage by Simone Aaberg Kaern 2007

SOTD: Opal by Sonoma Scent Studio

So yesterday was fabulous, my boyfriend took me to this insane castle winery up in Napa. It is amazing the change of scenery as you go up the valley the further up becoming greener and more forested. So lovely. We later on stopped at anothe winery to have lunch and there was the lovely scent of jasmine in the air.
Today I have to work and I suspect it will be crowded in the library, the weather has taken a turn for the cold and rainy, which is shock in May and after the heat of a couple weeks ago. Still I plan on my first visit to the farmer's market today, been waiting for this all winter and most of spring. Today I will be testing out Sonoma Scent Studio's Opal, which is so far a lovely cozy musk, and later on most likely putting on some Euphoria.

Quote of the Day: Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song: A Case of You by Joni Mitchell (0ne of my all time favorite songs)

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image: Pink Cloud by Julie Freund

SOTD: Datura Noir

So last night I feel like I had a celebration of the ending of my first semester of grad school. I had friend over for dinner, which was: moroccan grilled chicken (super tender from yogurt marinade), sauteed spinach (with garlic, lemon, olive oil, and chili flakes), lemon rice, and I made rossinis (strawberry variation of the bellini). She brought over lemon cupcakes with strawberry frosting. It was a wonderful time and great time watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy which was finally good again. Today should be another wonderful day, my boyfriend is taking me to Napa for something special, he really is wonderful. Going with the exotic and lovely Datura Noir.

Quote of the Day: The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues. -- Elizabeth Taylor

Song: Paper Planes by M.I.A.

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image: White n' Blue (BOOK OFF series) by Tiffany Chung 2006

SOTD: Kimono Rose

Another very early day (teamship workshop at work), but later on will be having a friend over for dinner and cocktails, it's the Grey's Anatomy season finale, and well I have been looking forwarding to celebrating something. To help induce a happy attitude I'm going with The Thymes' Kimono Rose, a happy berry scent that has a rather sunny demeanor going on.

Song: The Moss by Daniel Agust Haraldsson

Your true value depends entirely on what you are compared with. -- Bob Wells

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image: Plum Blossoms and Strawberries by Cora Ogden

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

There is something incredibly serene about Prada's Infusion d'Iris, it has a quality that evokes lotuses and Egypt to me; at least my idea of ancient Egypt (as a child I had a love for all things Egyptian). Layering it today with GAP's Spun Orange Blossom and Smooth Sandalwood. Long Day ahead and serenity is needed.

Song: The Perfect Crime #2 by The Decemberists

Quote of The Day: No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up. -- Lily Tomlin

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image: Lotus by Shi Ze

SOTD: Cuir de lancome

So I needed something different after the heavy floral use of the last couple of weeks and the weather is cool enough at the moment to bring out the rather divine Cuir de Lancome. Feeling a bit tired this morning; never a good sign, but hopefully will have a good day. I realized that Cuir reminds me a great deal of Bal a Versailles but Bal a Versailles is heavy on the incense (really do need to get a bottle of this one.). Have a lovely day.

Song: Mango Pickle Down River by M.I.A.

Quote of the Day: If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead.-- Johnny Carson

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Image: sacrifice #2: it has to last (after Yoshitoshi's "Drowsy: the appearance of a harlot of the Meiji Era" by Iona Rozeal Brown 2007

SOTD: Osmanthe Yunnan

Some how osmanthus yunnan is evocative of peachy pink golds, just can't get away from these qualities.

Song: I Was Meant For The Stage by The Decemberists

Quote of the Day: Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.... -- Carl Zwanzig

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image: Nerissa by John William Godward 1906

SOTD: Azuree Soleil

The papers are done and I still can't sleep in. After a couple of weeks of intense brain activity which required early mornings and a damn bird that around 5 o'clock in the morning makes the most obnoxious noise, my body just hasn't taken in the concept of sleeping in. So once again I am early up in the morning. Decided of going with the usual wake-up of highly caffinated darkly brewed assam tea, I am going with the gentle brew of Ti Kwan Yin mixed with osmanthus (my own brew). The weather has cooled down to the lovely 70's and I am enjoying the airing out of my studio much needed. So now I am trying to figure out how spend my day. Long time since I had free time, to induce the idea of summer time relaxation going with Azuree Soleil.

Music: The Crane Wife 3 by The Decemberists

Quote of the Day: Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet.- Mae West

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image: Beautiful Love by TJ Ahearn 2007

SOTD: Narciso Rodriguez EdT

So today my boyfriend and I celebrating our 5 year anniversary. Explains all the romantic imagery and music, but hey it only happens once a year. Technically our anniversary was on Tuesday, but quite simply both of us were overloaded with school this week so we saved Saturday to be the day of celebration. I'm choosing to wear the sensual Narciso Rodriguez today, my boyfriend has always enjoyed it on me, and well I felt Euphoria would be to heavy for the season. This is such a lovely satin skin scent, everything about it seems to be about the glow of skin. Hope everyone has lovely day.

Song: Nothing Can Change This Love by Sam Cooke

Quote of the Day: Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century. -- Dame Edna Everage, In a television interview with Joan Rivers

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image: The Painter's Honeymoon by Frederic Lord Leighton circa 1864

SOTD: Osmanthus Interdite

Another hot day today, but luckly not as hot as yesterday. Osmanthus is one of those scents that just blooms in the heat which is especially true of Osmanthus Interdite, what can I say I must continue the osmanthus loving. I have also switched out my spring scents for my summer scents.

Song: Bachelorette by Bjork

Quote of the Day: It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. -- William G. McAdoo

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image: Flourish Wind by Jiha Moon 2007

SOTD: Osmanthe Yunnan

So I finally got my order decants from Fishbone (by the way she is awesome). I ordered a decant of Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan unsniffed she reduced the price heavily and I could not pass it up (this is also my first Hermes from the special collection). So this is an interesting take on osmanthus, starts off with the smoky tea note that definately has an anamalic musk note going through it. Enter the freesia and orange which when intertwined give this fragrance a hint of pine, and finally the lovely osmanthus in all its leather apricot glory. This is a bit of a smoke and mirrors fragrance with its opening. Interesting I have some Peet's Osmanthus Yunnan tea and well I am going to have to get that out.

Music: Never The Same by Supreme Beings of Leisure (oh how I love pandora)

Quote of the Day: I'm too shy to express my sexual needs except over the phone to people I don't know. -- Garry Shandling

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image: Jeune Fille au Turban Orange by Tamara de Lempicka

SOTD: Bvlgari pour femme

So begins the day of the second paper. This one is a bit easier considering the professor who assigned it has already set up a format as to how he wants it written. Today is supposed to be the first sweltering day in the Bay Area, so approaching this with the cool feminity of Bvlgari pour femme.

Song: Vancouver by Jeff Buckley

Quote of the Day: There must be more to life than having everything.-- Maurice Sendak

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image: The Parasol by Arthur Hacker 1902

SOTD: Pure Grace with GAP Silken Yuzu

Another long day almost done with paper and have one more project due for this class, but I can do it, on my second cup of tea. Will be highly caffinated today. So going with peaceful and energizing scent combo of Philosophy's Pure Grace and GAP Silken Yuzu oil. I will survive and can't wait to be done. Went with cranes today because they symbolize longevity, will later on put on an osmanthus scent also a symbol of longevity.

Song: Open Book by Cake (great lyrics)

Quote of the Day: He's simply got the instinct for being unhappy highly developed. -- Saki

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image: Auspicious Crane by Li Dazhi 2005

SOTD: Infusion d'Iris

So yesterday was not good, I came down with a fever and now have a mild case of the flu, no working on papers for me and now I am working on a deadline. Good goin Jen. The answer to this scent wise, Infusion d'Iris.
Sampled: Immortalle l'Amour by Ayala Moriel, starts off with a gorgeous vanilla extract note (apparently she used 3 vanillas in this) and dries down to the most mapley scent ever, you will want to lick your wrists. This has shockingly good lasting power. The tea made to go with this is also quite lovely.
Gaucho by Ayala Moriel, now this is herbacious! Has the most amazing smokey dry down, one I have never run across in any other fragrance, literally the scent of a match lit when run across stone. Sounds weird, but very addictive to smell. Sadly the lasting power of this scent isn't the greatest.

Quote of the Day: We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us. -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld, Maximes (1678)

Image: Birthday by Marc Chagall

SOTD: Mille et Une Roses

I have a long Sunday ahead of me, to put it quite simply, Mother's Day is a hard day for me, my mother passed away when I was a child, and well having that gap in your life is never lessened as time goes by. I am also working, which will keep my mind off what today is, but also takes time away from working on my papers. So what do you choose to wear on day that you need to feel embraced? I'm choosing Mille et Une Roses, it has a gentleness that speaks of the maternal or maybe it is an angelic compassion. It is not a strident astringent rose like Agent Provocateur or a sexed up rose like Frederic Malle's Lipstick Rose, it is quite simply a beautiful gentle rose, could be the reason why it is loved by so many, it is hard to find a gentle scent.
Testing: Sahleb by Ayala Moriel, what I smell is lovely, rosy, powdery, with a hint of something almost minty, just wish it had more oomph. And now a little incense. By the way if anyone has the notes for this please share.
Quote of the Day: I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.-- Bethania McKenstry

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Sleeping Beauty by Henry Meynell Rheam