There are few things more enjoyable than meeting up with perfume friends. As soon as you get past the introductions and hugs so you have the face behind the name firmly in front of you, it is an unfinished conversation that picks up where it left off last, though no one ever quite knows where that was.
My mom, my sister and I met Chaya, Lilybp and Neil Morris at a local seafood restaurant in Boston last Thursday. They gave us a great little private room to drink and eat in and a cute waiter named Michael. Chaya was there first (I’m using screen names and not live names except for Neil, who everyone knows), and we all just hit it off immediately, yakking about kids and family and perfume. Lilybp showed up shortly, there was much hugging, and the conversation resumed. So much laughing and talking, it was really wonderful. If you’re on the shy side and worry about meeting perfume people, just steel yourself and do it – they are some of the most welcoming and warm people I have ever run across. It’s because we smell good, you know. Both of these women, of course, exude charm, brilliance and are beautiful and great companions.
Neil was running late, but joined us about midway through our four or five-hour lunch… and he brought surprises!!! He is just a big old huggy bear, perfectly irresistible, it would be hard for anyone not to love him immediately. The surprises were little perfume bottles full of new creations. We passed them around, and as we sniffed and swooned, the bottles found new owners. I’m going to never remember the names of the perfumes, but I came home with Izmir, which he wound up creating for the city in Turkey by the same name. Coffee as a top note, Turkish rose, and I’ll never remember the other notes, but I adore it. It starts off with the best, most pungent coffee smell, and then softens over a long, long period of time until the rose comes in softly at the edges. It is strong, so if you like your perfumes to be shrinking violets, tread lightly here.
There was another called Midnight something? Seriously hot. Lilybp wound up with it on the back of her neck, and it was stunning. My memory should be better, there were others that were just wonderful. We all found something to love, including my mom, who doesn’t like perfume very much because it usually goes bad on her skin, but she loved the Rainflower, and it smelled beautiful on her.
I Hope Lilybp and Chaya chime in with the names and notes of the other perfumes. I knew I should have written them down. Most of them are new and not even ready to purchase yet, but should be soon.
So many hours later, smelling just gorgeous, we left the restaurant, Neil headed home, we walked Chaya to her stop, then we went on over to Chanel and Hermes for a little shopping. What? You really didn’t think we’d be good, did you?
Are there pictures? Well, no, der. I’m a goof, I forgot to take my camera, and it never occurred to me to use my cell phone camera.
Now, I also know that y’all were pulling for K.U. Saturday night.. what a game! Of course, sitting in a bar with some great friends who are as loud and obnoxious as I can be when watching my team play is great fun to begin with, but seeing them pulverize-crush-destroy er, win would have been a treat anywhere.
I’m writing this before the Jayhawks play tonight, but I do expect y’all to do the same as last week and root them on to victory. If victory comes, I’ll do a drawing for some of my six favorite perfumes from last Friday. No victory… hairshirts for everyone!
Added: What a great game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drop a comment if you want in the drawing!!!
i’d love to be entered in the drawing.
sounds like a great lunch! it seems as if everyone has met neil morris. i haven’t. what’s the deal? maybe i have to call him up for some samples and chat. it seems like everyone’s doing that too…
Greetings fragrance family! You can’t possibly imagine how much fun we all had in Boston last Thursday! 5 lovely ladies…and me! I can’t wait to see/meet many of you at Sniffa this weekend. We’re working feverishly to get the Vault scents up this month. Izmir and Midnight Moon will be included. Also, 2 more new ones: DRIFTING and CATHEDRAL.
Notes for Drifting: Mandarin, Azalea, Fig, Waterlily, Auric Musk, Maltol, Light Amber, Myrtle, Ocean Musk, Myrrh.
Cathedral Notes: Black Pepper, Green Tea, Ylang Ylang, Amyris Wood, Cedar, Oak, Narcissus, Chai, Frankincense, Labdanum, Wood Smoke.
Fragrant Dreams!!
Neil
Neil,
I do so wish I could meet you at Sniffa. Maybe next year! Your new scents sound DELICIOUS!!
Best wishes for a wonderful turn -out at Sniffa, with load of fun and fragrance!
Musette
Thank you, Musette! Maybe you could come to the October Sniffa? I’m glad you like the sound of the notes to Cathedral and Drifting.
Neil
Please enter me if not too late.
Who is Neil – ? How can I buy some of the wonderful scents tried on at the seafood restaurant?
BTW, I live in Waltham which is very close to Boston.
Smiles,
Devon
Neil’s web site:
http://www.neilmorrisfragrances.com/
Ooh, hope it’s not too late to enter the drawing! As a newbie, I’d love to try your 6 favorites!
Patty,
Sounds like you are having an excellent time–perhaps the excellent adventures of Patty and the Posse? Please enter me in the drawing.
CindyN
It’s like we live in parallel universes *sigh* I wonder if I’ll ever get to meet you lovely perfume people *sigh*
But hey, KU won, hoorah! (let’s pretend I follow sports, shall we) 🙂
🙂 I know you all had a wonderful time. Neil is such a sweetheart, isn’t he?
Can’t wait to see all of you Saturday!
Hugs,
Christine
I had Memphis winning it all, but I was impressed with Kansas’ play late in the game. Plus it was just an all-around great game to watch!
I’m late but I would love to be in the drawing.
You know, they never panicked, which is the only way to do that and win.
Oh..thats soo great that all of you could meet!
Please enter me in the draw!! Thanks
It was a great time, and will do!
Hmm, coffee and rose, there is a BPAL with that combo, Mata Hari. As I recall it, the coffee note in that one was a bit too much like cold, stale coffee, but I suppose it might work if the coffee is more like freshly ground beans and the rose absolutely not potpourri-like or soapy… More coffee scents, please!
This was much more fresh and pungent, not that stale coffee note that I can’t bear
Hi Patty! Hey, next time you meet up in Boston, let me know, and I’ll join y’all! I’m up in Maine and have yet to find any fellow perfumistas up here. Please add me to the drawing as well. Thanks!
Absolutely! It will probably be a while, I don’t get that way too often, but you never know!
Please enter me in the drawing! It was great to hear about your meet-up…I’ve just got to try some of Neil’s scents — Gotham and Rose of Kali sounds particularly gothy and intriguing! I’d love to try your favorites — the ones I’ve tried I absolutely love…
Those are pretty intriguing. Love Rose of Kali. Gotham is a little more, um, randy. 🙂
Awesome post. Please enter me in the drawing.
Will do!
Congratulations on the win, though some of the snide comments about the Tar Heels aren’t appreciated by this former Tar Heel … x(
Neil’s website says the Vault fragrances are available for ordering and will be shipped within a week; see
http://www.neilmorrisfragrances.com/news.html
Oh yeah, and put me in for the drawing … ~:>
Oh, sorry! It’s all in good fun.
Neil intends to have the listing of the fragrances so people can order up on his site in April.
The four hour lunch with other perfumistas—priceless!! :d
Love how the first two paragraphs of your article link to the huge Jayhawk!! (KU alumnus here)
Never posted on your blog before, even though I read it daily, but was very amused with the link to the Jayhawk. Coffee and roses? Okay with the coffee, but must shy from the roses. Love the NM’s I *have* sampled though. Your samples? Well, put me in the hat, if you will. 🙂
So glad you commented, you goof!
The roses is very background. I barely get them after 30 minutes, and just around the edges. There’s some green in it, too, as Judith noted and I had forgotten.
Congratulations on your team’s win! All the guys at my job were talking about the game today and sneaking off to watch highlights in the lunchroom. It was too funny.
Can I be in the drawing, too?
Ah, thanks! It was a great win!
hey, don’t be shy about your favourite team! just like general grievous used to say in star wars: ‘crush them and make them suffer’
yeah, i hope it’ not tooo mean (the plush hawk is wonderful)
please include me in the drawing, thanks
A great quote!
My mom went to KU, so yay! Please enter me in the drawing, would you?
And she has a great alma mater.
Sounds like it was a fabulous time! Please enter me in the drawing! Thanks!
Absolutely, Claudia!
You beauties must have had yourselves a time. I am enchanted by the sound of these fragrances and most certainly would love to be entered into the drawing! I miss Boston, too. When I was in law school I used to love exploring both sides of the river and popping to New York on the weekends. Lovely compact geography over on that coast. I have a feeling a meeting with the perfumes of Neil Morris is in my not so distant destiny.
So glad to see you around, we’ve missed you!!!!
You’d love Neil in person, and I think you’ll find his scents interesting.
Oh, I know all about the game. My husband was really pulling for KU, too. And, because of them, he won his bracket. So, yes, their victory was a victory for us all.
I’ll take part in that drawing!
Hey, nothing says “I love KU” than having them in your bracket and them winning. 🙂 I missed brackets this year, and people have to die if that happens again. Grrrr.
Do include me in your drawing, please. And – how cool to meet fellow perfume lovers. Sounds like a blast!!!!
It was fun, and I will !
Hi Patty:
I knew I loved you – a perfumista AND a basketball fan. I bleed U. K. (Ky.) blue, but rooted like crazy for Kansas. I was so glad that neither UNC (catching up to us in wins) or UCLA (more championships than us) were in the final! Great game and you all deserved the win. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!! I’m in total withdrawal now that the season is over 🙁
Please enter me in the drawing.
I love your reasoning on why you rooted for KU. I’d use the same one, except.. it’s been 20 YEARS since we won. It seems just like yesterday, though.
I do root for Kentucky when they’re not playing us. 🙂
The game last night was immaculate. I had given up hope for Kansas, but never say never (esp in college basketball)!
I’d like to be in the drawing, esp because it has to do with basketball.
Yeah, I had my little depressed face on the last few minute, I just didn’t think we would win with the number of fouls we were going to have to hand out and send them to the line. That they whiffed on every.one.of.them still stuns me. And that 3-point shot just sent chills through me, it was perfect.
I don’t know what I am more jealous over- the meet-up or the ‘fumes!
Yes, I do. I’m jealous of the meet-up! :((:”>:d
You West Coasters need to plan something, and we’ll be there with bells on.
The perfume sniffing was lovely, but the great company was priceless.
If you go to the West Coast you know you’ll have to come to the Chicago Thingy! No favorites [-x
Congrats on your win. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no college basketball but those who do are very loyal fans, indeed!
May I please be in the drawing? Pleeeze?
Sounds like a wonderful time, and how about some love for the Stanford women playing tonight? Please enter me in the drawing!
Absolutely. Go STanford!!!
Aaaahhh…it’s always so wonderful to meet perfume friends! It sounds like you all had a simply wonderful time!
Hugs!
We did! I can’t wait to do one on the West Coast — y’all need to plan something. 🙂
Go Jayhawks! Haha, glad your team won
I’m not sure about coffee in perfume. spicy, maybe a little earthy with some rose or vanilla… mmmm..it always sounds great.
please enter me in the drawing
I was surprised it worked, and especially with the coffee as a top note.
Coffee and rose? It seems such an unlikely combination, but I’m a hardcore coffee addict. I like my coffees bold, dark, spicy and earthy…how would this compare to the scent? I’m a bit afraid of trying a perfume with coffee for fear it would ruin my adoration…so, perhaps a better question would be, how does the perfume compare to the aroma of freshly roasted, ground and brewed coffee? and is it more like black coffee or turkish coffee? Enter me, please! (Finally got around to obtaining a sample of Bvlgari Black-absolute love. Was bowled over by the soft, supple leather in Kelly Caleche-need a large sample.)
I”m really picky about my coffee scents, and most of them just don’t pull it off well at all. This is pungent and rich, roasted. Not sure the difference between Turkish and regular, but I believe he was aiming at Turkish.
Oh, yes, please put me in the drawing. ^_^
How much fun!! It would be so nice if I could locate more perfumistas out here in Iowa…
I can relate,but there’s probably more than you know. The tricky part is finding them!
Adding – would love to be in on the drawing!
Rock Chalk – so excited!! Wish I could meet everyone at sniffa – but can’t go. Have a great time!
I think it is so cool you are a KU fan! We have to stick together.
Wish you could be there too. Wish everyone could be there, what a party that would be!
What a lovely time…I’d be jealous, ‘cept I’ll be able to meet you all so soon. I’m starting to count out underwear :”> and balancing, er trying to balance, my checkbook! Whoopee!
I know! So much excitement and meeting perfume friends in just two weeks is exhausting… but fun!
*sigh*
We missed you!!!! I think we all lusted after you when your name came up,too.
We had a 4 HOUR LUNCH….
Such fun !
Patty’s mama and sister are terrific, and Patty is a gooooood hugger.
Judith looked fantastic, and is energetic and fun to be with.
Too bad we all had stuff to do-
Next time they come to town, I’ll feed them, all.
Only a few days until we get physical, LOL.
[The frag was Midnight Moon ]
Happy triple Chai-ya!@};-
The idea, alone, of a fragrance called Midnight Moon is enticing. Have loved all that I have so far sniffed and will have an enviable Neil Morris collection by year’s end.
You know you inspired me with your story. I need to ask you about how I go about volunteering at a hospice or similar place in NYC. Remind me or I’ll forget. 🙂
Hi Patty!
I am absolutely rooting for KU–I live just an hour away from KU campus on the Missouri side in KC. And let me tell you, Kansas City is on fire right now rooting for KU!
I definitely want to get in on the drawing, please. Thanks!
Go KU!
Molly
Yeah! Can you believe we won? I’m still so jacked about it. When they won last time, my oldest son was 21, and I was dancing around and yelling and screaming while he was trying to sleep. He’s still traumatized. I had to IM him during the game last night and remind him what he was doing exactly 20 years ago. 🙂
Your trip to Boston sounds terrific! Meeting up with perfume people is always a blast. And yes, this humbled, chagrined and still shocked Tarheel would love to enter the drawing. Let’s face it, after the shellacking KU handed UNC, I could use a boost!:d
Hey, I thought UNC did an amazing job of coming back from a rough start, and for a while there, I thought we weren’t going to be able to hang. It was a good game,just an off night. But that’s always the way it is in basketball.
My credit card is all aquiver in its anticipation of Neil’s Vault scents coming up on his site. I imagine(and hope)that they will be up in time for the weekend’s Sniffa. If not the man will be on the phone a lot! My favorites so far are Skinsence & Midnight Tryst. But I’m sure there are more favorites in my future. We are a hockey household and this is a big time of year for us as well, but I will happily hoot & holler for your Jayhawks if you will include me in the drawing!
I didn’t even think to ask him how much time he was spending on the phone, but he’s very much a people person, so I expect he loves talking to customers very much.
What a lovely lunch description. Neil love is all over the blogosphere; when my inevitable May overtime hours kick in, a bag of samples will be mine! Meanwhile, please enter me in the draw. 🙂
Neil is just a great human being to spend time with. Whether his scents wind up working for you or not, it’s always a treat to spend time with someone who so clearly loves what he does.
Patty,
I am quite happy for you and your beloved Jayhawks. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with a few minutes left in the game, but they managed that gorgeous last-second 3 and then that was all she wrote. Congrats! Great Season!
I have been reading the posts now for about a month and have enjoyed them oh-so much. I love perfume, own tons of bottles, but feel clueless on some of these scents that you are introducing me to. Your posts have been wonderful and informative, and you have a way for making me want to go buy a bottle!!! Thank you for introducing me to this world and have a great time this weekend at Sniffa.
Please include me in the drawing *blush*
Aw, thanks, Shelley! I’d love to put you in the drawing!
Sounds like such a fun time! Please enter me in the drawing.
It was simply the best time, as only those long, “we don’t have anywhere to go” lunches can be with good company.
That get-together sounds fantastic! I could really go for some seafood too. DH and I think we should head to Baltimore to check out sites from Homicide (the series, not the actuality); anyone know good seafood sites there?
As someone else said above, I’m anxious for Neil to get his vaults up on his site. Izmir was created for drvogue on MUA, no kidding. It was a grand gesture of kind perfumery on Neil’s part.
Please enter me in the drawing. :o) I don’t trust those emoticons any longer.
Living inland with no fresh seafood and neanderthals who refuse to ever eat sushi with me, I’m in heaven when I visit either coast. 🙂
Go Jayhawks! Lawrence got a little noisy last night. :d/
Please enter me in the drawing.
Yeah, I bet it did! 🙂 Were you there?
Yes, I live there. I didn’t make it downtown, but there was plenty of noise out in my neighborhood.
Hey Patty,
It was so much fun meeting you and your WONDERFUL family!:x I am terrible on notes, but the perfume on the back of my neck has two tentative names: Midnight Moon or Moon Majick. There are, um, flowers (white), skank, and something (yes) oceanic/marine–but it’s good! Neil said it was supposed to conjure up a walk on the beach at midnight, with the moon overhead–and it does (I would only add that the water is somewhat dirty). I also ended up with the yummy incense perfume, Skincense, which smelled good on me, but better on sister Shirl! And Shirley had a vanilla/woods one that suited her perfectly. I don’t remember exactly what else was in your Ismir (besides coffee and rose) but there definitely was a strong green note in the top; it was interesting how it developed differently on us. I really liked that one, too. Now I am torn, because I am not supposed to spend money, I am still lemming Gotham, and after reading your opinion on the OJWoman parfum I coincidently came across a partial bottle of it–so OF COURSE I had to snag it (I have so far only tried the EdP). I am also thinking of buying (and I hope splitting) Sycomore at the sniffa (hey, it will be $25 off at BG). DH says we are supposed to be SAVING money. Can’t wait for the weekend!
I’m just so tickled you’ll be at Sniffa too! Thanks for filling in the gaps on the scents. I thought the moonlight one and the skincense was awesome on you.
Lunch, good company and perfume trials? My idea of heaven. And congratulations on the win. Please enter me in the draw!
Yeah, I know! I kept thinking… this has to be my best idea of a great dream.
Darn – sure wish I was a sports fan when I hear things like this – and poor hubby who worked into the wee hours of the night I’m sure is so so bummed to have missed it. Congrats to you and please throw my name in the hat!
Don’t tell anyone, but I”m not that much of a sports fan. I love KU basketball, but I’m terrible about watching it until we get to March Madness. As soon as they go out… I’m done. 🙂
Well, of course I’m jealous I wasn’t there to horn in, but this is mitigated by the fact I get to see you, Chaya and lilybp this weekend, yay!!!
Is it time to go yet???!?!?!
What a wonderful, incredibly fun lunch! And I can’t wait to hear more about Neil’s new scents. Izmir sounds FBW for me – I think he can work magic w/ coffee and rose. Hope they will be on his website soon. Any news on when the vault scents will be on his site?
DH shares your happiness over KU’s win. He spent the entire game laughing and making loud noises of pure joy….as I said before, just a bit awkward considering he got both his graduate degrees at UNC and taught there. 🙂 And we live w/in minutes of Chapel Hill and I still do most of my work w/ UNC professors. But his loyalty is firmly w/ his undergrad school and they are sworn enemies of UNC.
DH is a wise man and a loyal fan, as he should be. You chose well. 🙂
Neil said they are working on getting them up on the site and said “soon.” What that means??? Hopefully soon! I know they’re in NYC this week, so I wouldn’t expect until after that at some point.
Someday I will join one of these infamous perfume trysts. Until then, more perfumes from Neil? Can’t wait to try. Happy that y’all got to fragrance a corner of the world in style and together! Throw my name into Scarlett’s hat please!
You had better join one!!!
I think neil has like five or six new ones. Judith set out most of them.
Hooray for KU. HOOray for Patty! Damn Tarheels…grumble…grumble…grumble. I owe you some samples. And a day of degradation in Vera Wang Princess. Yikes.
Glad you had fun in Boston. Chaya seems like pure love.
Hah! I’d forgotten about Princess!!!! It’s so insipid, with any luck it’ll basically disappear on you like the smell of clean laundry. You could tell folks you switched dryer sheet brands 😉
Damn Tarheels indeed. I wore Arabie on Sunday as penance. Sigh. Next year!
Hee hee!!!:x
You can put it on near the end of the day. Let me know if you get any weird reactions. 🙂
KU won!!!!!!!
Please enter me into the drawing, I never win but who knows:d
You never know!
I’m now anxiously awaiting a package from Neil which should include a few of those new ones! Hoping you’ll review the ones you received with the eloquence with which you’ve spoiled your readers! Smoochapalooza, here I come! (please include me in the drawing)
i think you’ll find at least one or two new ones to love in your package. They won’t suit everyone, but they sure are diverse.
Were you at Legal Seafood in Boston? They make a wicked good Red Tide–a pumped up Bloody Mary with horseradish and a shrimp garnish. Delish! I miss Boston every now and then. And even way out on the desert floor, I’m still an ambassador for Red Socks Nation.
Sounds like you had a rousing good time. Back of the neck perfume, huh? Yeah, that WAS a good time!
Jayhawks have been on a roll, no reason to stop till they sweep up.
Oh, and please enter me in the drawing.
no. We went to McCormick and Schmick, which was wonderful. I wish they did buckets of Mussels, which turns out to be one of my favorite meals ever. 🙂
Perfume lovers are the nicest, most enjoyable group of people one can kick back with. Patty your good time was guaranteed. Then you’ll get to add to the people celebration at the Sniffa. Wahoo!
Go Jayhawks,whatever sport they may play. Basketball?
You are so cute. Yes, basketball. 🙂
:deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek…a drawing….please enter me!………thanks,and, keep us up to date on your sniffing………carry on my divas.:)>-
Absolutely!
Congratulations KU! I couldn’t believe the grace of pressure those boys showed! I was of course rooting for them for you (my mother as well). And, well, why not beg to be added to the drawing… if they can make the 3 pt w 2 seconds maybe I’ll win, too! A girl can hope, right? Thanks for the entry and amazing game still can’t believe it…so amazing.
They did look awesome and so poised out there, even when it looked like it was over. I give a ton of credit to Coach Self, who is really a wonderful human being.
I would be glad to be included in the drawing, thank you indeed.
Absolutely, Alica!
okay, maybe you’ll never talk to me again, but just what game are they playing? (ducking now and will you still enter me in the draw?)
Haha! A good question. College basketball, the only sport I care about in March. 🙂
Lucky to have met Chaya and Neil! We really need to get a Southern/Texas sniff going. Put me in for the drawing please!
You should! Lots of great sniffing in Texas.
Congratulations on KU’s win!! I’d love to be in the drawing.
We may have to have this win hold us for the next 20 years. 🙂
Thanks!