Time for another giveaway this week. I’ll announce the winner on Monday! This week will be Your Choice Giveaway for one winner. You can have either the Guerlain Sous le Vent and Plus que Jamais samples (Derby, Vega, Metalys or Attrape Coeur also available, if you prefer two of those), or two samples from the Frederic Malle line that I have (which is about everything). Just respond with the word “choice” in a comment to be entered in the drawing conducted by Buddy, the Wonder Dog.
I also want to say thanks to all of you who visit here either every day or once in a while. We had 744,000+ hits in May and almost 37,000 visits. We always appreciate you dropping by! I hope we’ll hear from some of the 1,000-2,000 people that drop by daily that don’t comment, even if it’s just to say what you’d like to see in a giveaway that would make you comment.
Such a nice article on how to pick a perfume.
March had posted last week about Hypnotic Poison, and when she starts waxing poetic about the addictive qualities of some perfume, well, I’m either going to hate it with the fiery blazes of a thousand suns or I will agree completely. Darned if it isn’t a nice little smell. I’ll toss in a decant of this or the new Lolita Lempicka L for this week’s winner as well, if they would like to try it. It’s just soft and a little gourmandy. An enchanting little scent. Bitter almond and spice with a little vanilla. I’ve been craving almond scents lately — must be menopause that causes this. Not overly sweet like some almond/cherry scents get. This would be a nice scent on a guy as well. Only thing I’m not liking about it is its lasting power, which seems a little short and also is odd for a perfume with Poison in the name, but the best notes seem to disappear too fast. But, alas, at the discounted rate, I can drench myself in it without breaking the bank. UPDATE: the top and middle notes don’t stick around so much, but the vanilla in the base has a half-life of 30 years. Just so you can’t say you didn’t know. This is available at discounters everywhere, try Perfume.com where they offer a 10% discount with the PERFUMEPOSSE code.
After favorable reviews of the new Tom Ford Azuree from Bois de Jasmin and Legerdenz, I had to buzz down to the local Neiman-Marcus to smell this beachy concoction. I accidentally wound up with both the oil and the bronzing lotion. It really wasn’t an accident. Just asked for the oil, after debating between the two, but somehow both wound up in the bag and on my charge slip. Now, the bronzing lotion does go on nice, but I don’t recommend it so much for the legs. I tried that, and it was drying a little too fast for me to get a great application. I prefer the Nars formulation for that glowy tan thing on the legs. The EL one is great for anywhere else, arms and neck and bustage. Oh, but the smell of the oil! Beach breezes and rum punch in a bottle, and I mean that in a good way. Lord, I yearn for a sickeningly sweet fruit drink topped off with 151 when I spritz this on. And it also is a great glistening oil for those tanned or bottle-tanned limbs to give them a pretty sheen and moisture and then make your nose happy thinking you’ve spent the last two weeks at Grace Bay Club in Providenciales, which, BTW, is just an amazing place to go (see picture over there on the left and a little up). We spent four glorious days there many years ago. The people are wonderful, the water is wonderful, it’s not just a slice, it’s the whole damn loaf. The only place better, I have heard, and which we plan to go to once we completely get rid of the children and our guilt at going on vacation without them, is Cap Juluca in Anguilla, or pretty much anywhere on Anguilla with a room and booze. The new Bond No. 9 Fire Island, due out in early July, is supposed to be very beachy as well. A lemming has popped its little head out. Azuree is available wherever Estee Lauder is sold. If you do not like that beachy smell, Azuree is not going to change your mind a bit.
Lolita Lempicka L perfume — I’m in a mixed bag of a mind on this one. I really like the initial spritz of this. Must be that Immortal note (who writes this stuff?). No, actually, the bitter orange and cinnamon are just gorgeous in this early on, intoxicating and beautifully blended, but as it dries down, it turns into a woody vanillla. A nice one, though I will always prefer
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille for woody vanilla, even though I can only wear that one about one day of the year. This is available at Scentiments, they have a tester with the pretty blue bottle at a great price.
But as I sit here with L in one spot and Hypnotic Poison in another, I’m thinking… they would be good together. Let’s find out! I do
think they are better together than alone. Kind of a weird almondy vanilla spicy thing. I think I smell like carrot cake! And that’s NOT a bad thing, my friends. Who knew there was Immortal and Solar notes in carrot cake. Mmmmmmm, carrrottt caaaake. All in all, it’s not terrible, but pretty much not me. Like the Hypnotic Poison, the great top and middle don’t stick around long enough, and I’m left with a base that, again, has a half-life of 30 years.
That was bright, now I just want some carrot cake. Anyone have a great recipe? I don’t want ordinary, I want the best carrot cake recipe known to womankind.
Ooh, thank you Patty for the recipes, you are very sweet!
Glad I wasn’t committing a perfume faux-pas with the Shalimar comment – I know some adore it!
Yukina, you said it. Vanillaganza, gak! I still liked the beginning of it a lot. L isn’t a bad perfume at all, it just wound up in that musky basin at the end that I’m not terribly fond of. If the top and middle notes had lasted longer, this would have been a huge prize for me.
BBliss, if you are not a vanilla fan, neither L or HP will likely help that. Shalmiar has a scary vanilla for me too.
yes, I’ll put up the banana cake over the weekend and do the carrot cake recipes that have come in next week or weekend.
I smelled Hypnotic Poison for the first time a few days ago, and while it’s cozy…you’re right, it quickly turns into vanillaganza. We have Lolita Lempicka L here in The Bay (Canada), so I’m going to go over there this weekend to take another whiff. There has got to be something to it if Ms.Columbina loves it so! 🙂
I’m just getting into perfume, and trying to make a wise purchase on my first bottle. There are so many choices…and so few available to try IRL 🙁
Patty, not a real fan of vanilla in big dollops, so unsure about that L – thanks for the explanation! I am determined to expand my horizons, and assume Guerlain is the penultimate vanilla, though – some of their easy-to-come by staples have frankly scared me (Shalimar, esp.) What is it – the EDT concentrations?
I might I have lost the thread…but is there going to be another recipe posting? I would *love* the banana cake and the carrot cake recipes put up if you have time…yummy!
While we’re on the subject of vegetables in baking – anyone have a zucchini bread recipe recommendation? Not too sweet, just a hint of spice, no nuts (just the way I like my fragrance!).
Please enter me in the ‘Your Choice Giveaway’.
Thank you.
Hi, Patty
Well, if I had to make a “choice” it would be the Guerlain samples for me! Your post makes me really want to try L too. Musc Ravageur is one of my favorites. I love Maurice Roucel, he is “l’homme” 🙂
Mmmmm… cake… perfume & puppy dogs – my two favorite things!
Just for fun I will throw my entry in and hope that Buddy the wonderdog puts out his paw & picks me! My CHOICE would be “L” and perhaps a smidge of FM’s En Passant if you have it.
Even if I’m not the winner, give Buddy a dog treat and a hug from me. I must get my dog snuggles vicariously since I’m an apartment dweller with a mean non-dog allowing landlord. More Buddy pictures!!! 😡
“The artist is the only one who knows that the world is a subjective creation, that there is a choice to be made, a selection of elements�
~Anais Nin
*unable to think of anything original this late in the working week*
I have that recipe written down somewhere – I’ll hunt for it tonight.
Please email me, babe. Thanks!
Hugs!
Emily, thanks! I’m sure if you like gourmand, you’ll like the L and also the Hypnotic Poison, as long as you aren’t doing anything with that arm on the second day except showering with lots of yummy soaps. for the HP. 🙂
Patchamour, welcome! If you have a banana bread recipe, that would be great, love banana bread, yum!
Yes, I do sell samples and decants too. I have a real job, but my husband’s shock at the perfume bills quickly sent me off to a way to support my “habit.” 🙂 If you click the contact us over there on the left and let me know what you’re looking for, I can do 10% off as well.
R — must have that carrot cake recipe, darling. I’ll put up the banana cake recipe next week, it requires a soft cream cheese frosting as well, so it’s a fair swap. Or I can e-mail it to you.
Robin, I think I was being conservative on that, I had 3,000 years listed first, but didn’t want to overexaggerate. 🙂
I will so instruct Buddy.
I’m glad you have a thief too. Buddy has been to obedience school, and he knows his boundaries, walks great on a leash, just a great dog, except being overexuberant when he meets strangers, but turn your head, he will snag anything and have it in his mouth, then try and fool me that he doesn’t have anything at all in his mouth.
Oh, Justine, enter again! Just because you won one time shouldn’t stop you. It hasn’t happened, but I’d probably not want the same name to come out twice in a row, but I’d hate for anyone not to put their name in just because you already got one.
Twibbet, do you still have that recipe? I’ve got one so far that sounds deeelicious, but I need to find “the one.”
Pam, Buddy says he loves you, and then there was a lot of doggies smiling and drooling and huffing. He’s a freak.
Sariah, no idea what that note is, but the persistence of it is pretty astounding!
Chloe, I love Homer, i would have married him if he weren’t a cartoon character and already married to Marge.
Hi Patty! I’m so curious about Hypnotic Poison after reading all of these interesting reviews of it. . .given that if I were to choose between a gourmand and non-gourmand fragrance, my ‘CHOICE’ is always the gourmand. . .so I’m always curious about pretty much every gourmand fragrance I hear about! 🙂
That’s very cool that you get so many hits to the blog!
Hi Patty (and March!),
Well you’re asking the least creative person on the planet. But the ones that immediately spring to mind are EL Pleasures Exotic, and Marc Jacobs. Maybe some of the other ELs like Beautiful Summer… Haven’t tried any of these, btw. I’m sure you experts can come up with the really good ones!
Hi Patty,
Greetings from a new visitor. Love your reviews and articles; they are “choice.” What a tempting giveaway. I’m a Guerlain fan, craving to try Sous le Vent and Attrape Coeur (in addition to Bandit and Jicky). In this corner of the midwest they are not to be found (although Fracas is around).
I don’t have a good carrot cake recipe, but I do have a banana bread to die for, so let me know if you’d like it. Btw, do you sell samples? Bye, Patchamour
Dang, woman, you are making me hungry! I love cake, especially one topped with soft buttercream or buttercream with cream cheese in it, like carrot cake.
Speaking of which, I have a GREAT carrot cake recipe hiding somewhere in the bowels of my kitchen cabinets. I will try to dig it out for you, okay?
Am I supposed to say “choice”? Well, if I am, then CHOICE!
Bye for now!
Hugs!
Cracking up at “but the vanilla in the base has a half-life of 30 years”…so true, so true!
Darn Patty, you’re supposed to be hypnotized! Arrghh! Ok, let’s try the whole thing again: close your eyes…
Hehe, tell Buddy he’s in for whatever nice doggie treats he digs (not literally) or some L’Eau de Chien I’ll whip up (I know, MEAT top through base notes) if he gets his pawsises on my name 😉 .
Meda used to be just like him when he was a puppy. He’d pick up anything from the street with a flick of his head, especially cigarette butts. Those he loved to chew on. I told him: “Look here man, if you wanna smoke for real, here, take one of my ciggies”, but he turned his head in disgust. Guess the pooch only likes them butts.
I am desperate to enter this weeks give away but I’m not, simply because I hate it when people win and then keep entering anything, I mean give the rest of the crowd a chance!
Keep encouraging all those lurkers out there to enter, next thing ya know, they’ll be doing what I’m going to do soon and that is: click your link and order up a slew of new smells.
Finally, don’t be selfish with that carrot cake recipe….I want it too. Without it I’ll just whip a bowl of cream cheese frosting and sit down with a spoon and a movie.
What a difficult *choice* you have given us in your drawing – how will we decide?
Good luck to all!
Patty, the new NARS body glow is not the tinted kind. It’s just a monoi oil. It can be used as a moisturized or as a bath oil (a fave of my DH’s presently). Here’s a link:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=XNRRGNY5JQFSFLAUCLBBXCQ?id=P146810&categoryId=3976
It smells *divine*. Sort of like Montale Intense Tiare.
The last time I smelled Hypnotic Poison I thought it was exactly like Dr. Pepper, so my CHOICE would probably be L 🙂
I think the most successful carrot cake I’ve made is out of the old New York Times cookbook – my husband is big on carrot cake, although mostly for the cream cheese frosting.
J.
Patty, thanks for giving this week’s winner the CHOICE of his/her prize.
BTW, tell Buddy, the Most Wonderful Wonder Dog in the Universe, that I’ve got a big ol’ juicy steak for him rightcheer if he picks my name and number out of the hat. :d
Tom Ford makes me a leeetle nervous, what with the way he’s going through some of YSL’s classics and having them rejigged. I’m glad to see that Lauder is keeping the original Azuree. I don’t personally care for it, but I know women who do.
Glad March finally found a Caron to love. Whew.
Mmmmmm carrot cake, with cream cheese icing! – my mom makes an awesome one that I always requested for my birthday, I’ll see if she can send the recipe. Re HP: based on the descriptions, this and Addict are both things I would like. But there is a note similar in both that I can’t stand. I think some kind of spice – caraway is listed in the notes for HP but not Addict. Any idea what the heck it is? It was unfortunately tenacious on me. I tried scrubbing it off 2 times when I got home and it still wouldn’t go away. I just won March’s weird giveaway so I’m not entering this one, though those Guerlain’s are very tempting.
PS March – got the package yesterday, it’s great, thanks – wearing the POTL today and diggin it.
Oh Buddy, you Wonder Dog, you,
I hope I’m your CHOICE for the drawing.
Love the Homer reference, btw
Dusan, you’re so funny. 🙂 Buddy wants to know what’s in it for him? :d The dog is a thief, he thieves everywhere on his way by in the house, in the PetsMart, it’s so hard to even go out with him but what he isn’t stealing something just with a flick of his head so I can’t see him.
Beba, you are just wonderful. Hugs!
march, oh, more than coconut oil! There’s some soft Tahitian thing running around in there, too. I think it’s perfect to just keep your head on the beach where it belongs during the summer.
Architectural boat tour? You’re touring buildings from the water, right, not boats?
Hey, Anna, what would you layer it with? I thought about that too, but I’m a very left brained human being and just came up blank.
Greeneyes, agree on the cookie part. If it had stayed with those notes at the very beginning, it would have been perfect, but once vanilla hits my skin, it always morphs into something destined to be edible and scrubbed.
Ina, I agree. It’s lovely and pretty one-dimensional, but I still love it for what it is, and it just smells great spritzed on over a tan when I’m heading out for the day, on my legs.
I had the old Nars formulation, loved it. Did they change it? I need to rebuy it. Is it a lot different and/or better?
Sybil, need that carrot cake recipe, can you just send it to my e-mail? Just hit the contact us button on the left. i really would rather try one that someone else has made and loves than just picking one randomly. Thank you!
Marina — I’m so sorry, and I am hereby repenting, and I will *never* combine the two again. One on my arm by the next day was bad enough. Two of them was just horrific. But they really do smell like carrot cake together.
BBliss, I don’t think it turned so sweet as it did just stayed vanillish. If you aren’t a fan of vanilla’ish perfumes, I don’t think you’ll really love this one, but I didn’t find it to be super-sweet in the drydown, just that bottom note clung to my arm like a 8-month-old baby at a soccer game.
(Buddy, I hope you’re sitting still and reading this!) L would smell great on a men — you said it, Patty. Throw it in with another Guerlain of my choice, say Derby or Sous Le Vent or both, or all of them, I’m not fussy :-)) .
Now, Patty, listen very carefully: close your eyes and think of a happy place (try the set of “Lost”). I’ll start counting backwards from 10 to 1: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Open your eyes. Okay, now DELETE all previous comments and all those after mine. Just you keep deletin’ ’em. Ata girl!
Of course, I am a daily visitor and, as I discovered this Blog not so long ago, sometimes I visit more than once a day because it is my “choice” to know about everything right from the beginning.
OT: Hey, March! The architectural boat tour is awesome! DH and I did it last fall (in super crappy weather), when we first moved here. Can’t wait to meet you! 🙂
I’ve now smelled the Azuree twice … what am I missing? It smells like coconut oil to me, perfectly pleasant, but … I prefer the BB Beach.
I’m getting together with Ina on Sat.
Going out for an architectural boat tour today…
Boy, that Hypnotic stuck around forever on me.
I tried the EL Azuree too and really liked it. I think it would be good for layering, too, as it was very light on me. And the price is right!
Love “L”. It’s not too sweet, not too spicy, just right.
Oh and love this blog, I’m one of your frequent visitors, by *choice*.
😉
Thanks for the link to that article. Patty. I tried the Lolita Lempicka L; I liked it, but Bob said it made me smell like a cookie. I think that’s a compliment, but it could be dangerous when he’s hungry.
Oh, and: choice! 🙂
Patty, I loved the Azuree body oil from the minute I smelled it, too, but then, sadly, it sort of bored me too quick. It’s still a great tropical scent. The bronzer didn’t seem to bronze much, just left my skin with a bunch of glistening stuff. Have you tried the new NARS Monoi Body Glow? It’s to die for. Oh, and I can relate to your feelings about L. Same here. Sorry, I don’t have a carrot cake recipe for ya. :d