I’m trying to remember why I planned to get on a plane for Paris on 1/11/11. I’m not normally superstitious, but traveling on a day that is the same number seems, well, not smart?
The good news is I’ll be posting from Paris this week and Florence next week. I have no idea if I’ll be talking about perfume, but bouncing around Europe in January has become one of my most treasured things I try to do every year. Nobody is there, it is quiet, the Fashion Tribes have not descended, no lines for gelato, museums. There’s a peace in the more empty cafes, being bundled up against the cold. I’m always surprised at how warm the department stores are there. You have to shed your coat within 5 minutes or you will melt.
I’m quite a lot behind on sniffing last fall’s new releases. Parfums DelRae normally gets moved up in line – sometimes to my great dismay (Emotionelle’s melon, bleah!!) and sometimes to my great delight, like Mythique (a heavenly iris) – because they are interesting and trend off just a smidge the beaten path.
Panache has notes of Vetyver, ambrette seed, baies roses, magnolia flower, bergamot, rum extract, jasmine Sambac absolute, ylang ylang orpur, cardamom, oakwood, olibanum Somalia orpur, musks, amber, white honey. Why vetiver is listed first is a mystery. Not a vetiver perfume. It opens a little boozy and then quickly settles down to be a nice, warm floral honeyed hug. Not heavy on the honey, just enough to give it a smoothness that sits close to you and curls in delicately with the musk. Entirely warm silk. Not getting the vetiver at all or minimally, but I don’t care either. It’s beautifully made and lovely to wear.
Okay, I’m gone for a couple of weeks, so I won’t have the winners of this drawing until the end of January, but I will give away 3 samples of this to three commenters. Are you superstitious about this 1/11/11 thing? Do you do anything when you are superstitious? I’m not even sure what to be worried about except that sense of weirdness and my tendency to just stay home on days with numerical oddness.
Hmm, and I’d thought that November 11, 2011, would be the Big Deal Day this year…
Thanks for the drawing! And no, not superstitious at all. Bet you’ll have a wonderful time.
I’m definitely not superstitious about dates. Please enter me in the draw as well.
I’m not superstitious. I had not even noticed that it was 1/11/11. LOL!
I admit that I’m intrigued by all the 2012 buzz and it’s quite fun to read the theories about it. That’s all :)
I would love to try Panache. Thanks!
I think you should wait until November to freak out (if at all) and have a fabulous trip!
Would love to try Panache – please enter me in the draw, and thanks for organizing!
Please enter me in the draw, and thanks for hosting! I would love to try, it’s been on my test list.
I am not superstitious, but I chose to stay home today because I could and for the joys of staying home. I did my work, ate lunch in peace and reorganized the library. yay!
I like symmetry, so this date is just nice to look at! Also today is my best friend’s birthday and my brother-in-law’s so I’m glad they got a cool looking date today.
You’re already lucky: you get to go!
Bon voyage! I think 11 is a lucky number. I know I would feel lucky if I were going to Paris and Florence!
Please enter me in the draw, thank you!
I’m not superstitious, so I’m sure you’ll be safe. Have a wonderful trip. I remember the first time I went to Paris was in January, and it was totally delightful, no crowds in the touristy places at all.
Wow, envy over here, have fun!
I have no superstitions to speak of except when I really need to get somewhere on public transit by a certain time – it is virtually inevitable that something bad will happen like the bus or train will break down there will be forty third graders on a field trip that need to be counted or whatever. So I always leave at least two scheduled times before I have to, because if I wait until the one that will get me there on time, it will not show up. (This has happened often enough that it should not even be classified as a superstition.)
Please enter me in the draw, it sounds fabulous! :-)
I don’t know if this constitutes superstition, but I get rid of those perfumes that I’m wearing when I have bad or uncomfortable experiences. For example, I was wearing Ombre Rose l’Originale the other week when this psycho b—h who moved into our building verbally attacked me in the laundry room for the imaginary crime of moving her laundry. I promptly gave away the fume.
Anybody else do that?
Please enter me in the draw. Bon voyage!
I would enjoy getting a chance to sample Panache. I love Amoureuse (though I did learn one day when I was gardening that my neighborhood wasps also love it). As for superstitions, don’t really think about them but did start the New Year with good food, company, art and music in hopes that the rest of the year would be filled with the same.
Someone once told me not to be superstitious because it was bad luck….Besides it is written that worrying will not add one cubit to one’s stature (worrying will not change things but instead trap the goodness to be had fully). Have a safe journey :-)
TBS? This will be this book whore’s new motto:)
Patty, it is a very fortuitous sign — I agree numbers are sacred and I am one of those weird people who love seeing certain sequences when they happen, even on my odometer. 1 is definitely about oneness to me.
Wish I was in your suitcase.
Not superstituos! However I must admit that if I have a hunch, you know, before doing something/going somewhere, then I trust my guts and worry. I am wrong, most times at least, but I can’t help to listen to my own stupid premonitions! 1/11/11 seems a great date to me! I wish you a great trip e ti auguro di divertirti un mondo in Italia!
Nope, not superstitious at all (although I got a kick out of the digital clock turning 11:11 when I was a kid).
And the DelRae line just moved further up my “Must Sample” list. Heavenly Iris, you say? I’m there.
Oh, and a thought: for people who are part of the book review blogging community (which is now influential enough it’s changing the publishing industry), there is a well-known acronym TBR for “To Be Read”, which refers to the mental list that bookworms have of books they want to read.
Is there anything similar for perfumistas? Do we have a TBS?
I’m all about mojo. And, okay, maybe a little superstitious, in a “for good measure” way.
But “1” or “11”? They’re prime, baby. It’s a prime time for travel. Besides, like Erin T up there said…you’re going to Paris. AND Italy. It’s all good.
Have a great time. No need to include me in the draw, btw, but thank you. :)
I’d love to win a sample of Panache!
In some Asian cultures, 69 is the number to avoid. Many people believed that you shouldn’t travel during the year you’re 69yrs old or you might not make it to 70.
11 should be a good number. An old, old, old Sesame Street episode illustrated the versatility of the number 11 by turning the camera upside down and the muppet said how it still looked like the number 11 – “even upside-down!”
An old college roommate always looked forward to the 11:11 time of day, and we even went out for a late night snack once to celebrate the day 11/11.
I don’t know that I have actual superstitions about dates or numbers, though I have “favorite” numbers, and I notice that I’m more comfortable with even numbers – I used to secretly pray for an even locker number at school, and I was happy to learn that the house we built on the farm would have an even number. Strange… especially when it didn’t bother me to have odd numbers in the locker combination, or in the phone number.
Safe journey. Eat some macarons for me, and enjoy the trip!
I don’t know why, but the notes for Panache are not grabbing me; it’s probably the vetiver, since I’m not a vetiver fan. But you say it’s *not* very vetiverish? Hm. I am iffy with the DelRaes I’ve tried – love Amoureuse, found Coup de Foudre and Mythique lovely but too faint, but Bois de Paradis is just beyond awful on me, all turpentine and maple syrup. Emotionelle was rotting cantaloupe.
Funny — I’ve always preferred odds! I especially dislike multi-digit numbers with only even-numbered digits. E.g., an address like 646 — blech! :)
“Numerical oddness” always seems like GOOD luck to me – unless it involves the numbers I dislike (3, 6, 8 – yucky). Certainly I hope that 1-11-11 will be lucky for me and win me a sample!
I ENJOY interestingly-numbered days (says the woman whose parents deliberately married on a Friday the 13th!) Safe and happy travels to you Patty (and thanks a lot for giving me a new lemming!)
I have no number superstitions (not even the number 13)! I hope you have a wonderful trip! I’m jealous though… ;) Have fun and please enter me in the drawing!! Thanks!
I’ll make a wish today! I think it’s a lucky number/date, the perfect day to “take off” so to speak. Enjoy!
I’m not superstitious with this date for some reason and neither should you – enjoy your trip, it sounds AMAZING!! Eat a crepe au chocolat for me please!!
Would love to be entered in the draw too…thanks!
There’s a 11111 thing?
Patty – of course you’d know that I’ve studied numerology, and 11 is a sacred number. So, have a great trip!
Geez, thanks Patty. I hate flying as it is, then you have to mention 11111. I am off to Vegas tonight. You just made my flight that much more uncomfortable!!lol :d No just kidding have a great time in Europe. Please enter me in drawing, I think my wife might like this one.
:d
I think today will be lucky- in addition to all the 11’s if you add up 11/1/2011 you get lucky number 7! Enjoy your trip to my side if the pond and please enter me into the draw!
It never would have grossed my mind that the alignment of numbers was a bad luck thing. So if it is please don’t let on to me! But I like that the day calls attention to itself with the alignment of numbers…saying..pay attention, I’m special…. have a great adventure!
I actually meant CROSSED….morning here….
Haha! I am too busy to be superstitious today! With one kid home sick and trying to figure out how to pick the others up, get to afterschool stuff…geesh! It could be Friday the 13th with Jason at my door and I’d ask him, “Um, can you watch the baby for a few minutes? I’ll pick the other two up from school and be right back!”…and I’m sure the 4 yo would have HIM running in fright in five minutes!
Would love to sample these! ENJOY your trip!
Too, too funny, Elise!! You have me rolling on the floor. I know exactly what you mean. Anyway, thanks, I needed that!
The only 11 that bothers me is the one between my eyebrows – and even then, not much.
Have a wonderful time, Patty, as I know you will; and yes, please, I’d love to try that Panache.
LOL!
I am not particularly superstitious about numbers but it is interesting to see what other people make of them. My husband claims that the number 54 is stalking him and he wishes that he knew what it means (if it does mean anything). Have a wonderful trip. I look forward to reading about it! Please enter me in the draw for Panache–I’m dying to try it.
Not superstitious at all.
I *do* like honeyed hugs, though. :)
Please enter me in the drawing, and thank you. Can’t think of any superstitions. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
Don’t think I”m superstitious about numbers, but I’ll play — if I can get through the Wall of Ice between the driveway and the road, I’ll even pick up a lottery ticket. I like Debut and may dig out my sample, it should be good on a cold day. Amoureuse can scorch my eyeballs at 30 feet; one bottle should last about 300 years. My favorite perfumes should have that kind of longevity. It’s good, though, just not something that should be worn in my neighborhood. Panache, Mythique and Coup de Foudre are moving to my “must try” list. Enjoy your trip.
Obviously no draw for moi, of course but I have relatively easy access to the Delraes (and LOVE Mythique – I had a Mythique/ Bas de Soie smackdown in the late autumn and Mythique’s coolness won out). Will revisit Panache and PAY ATTENTION this time, I promise.
Unlike a lot of lines, Delrae’s stuff really takes me a couple of quiet, reflective encounters to make an impression (I spritzed Mythique about 10 times (10 DIFFERENT TIMES – not 10 sprays /:) before my rackety mind could focus on it. Once it got its hooks in me, though….^:)^
xoxo >-)
Hi Patty! Wow – so jealous! Paris and Florence? You truly are the world traveler. Have a fantastic time. Looking forward to hearing about your exploits. :-) And don’t worry about the 1s. Superstition is all in the head. Just kick back and enjoy your trip.
I hadn’t tried any DelRaes, then I “won” a bottle of Coup de Foudre on CaFleureBon – along with a hand-written card by Yann Vasnier (he signed the bottle, too)! Gorgeous rose. I have a sample of Panache, so no need to include me in the draw. Need to get my hands on some Mythique, though. Sounds like a beautiful scent.
11 is my lucky number so it’s all good as far as I’m concerned. On that basis, I am sure to win the drawing! I hope so anyway because Delrae is one of my favourite perfume houses – Emotionelle aside…
If 1/11/11 freaks you out, how will you feel about 11/11/11?!
Numbers don’t bother me, but rocking an empty rocking chair does only because I can hear my mother yelling, “Don’t DO that, it means someone will die!”
Looking forward to your posts from Paris–always a treat!
It was my grandmother who was the superstitious one, T!
Never leave the house you are visiting by a different door than the one you entered, to avoid portents of your own death. (apparently okay in your own home, though)
Never open an umbrella in the house, it’s bad luck.
Never accept a knife as a gift, lest it “cut your love in two.”
Yeah, the umbrella thing for us, too now that you mentioned that. We could open one in the house, we just couldn’t put it over head!
Paris & Florence in January, how wonderful! Enjoy the quieter streets and cafes. Bon voyage and safe travels, Patty!
I think 1/11/11 sounds like a lucky number to start that fantastic trip. I am not overly superstitious, but do have “lucky numbers” that I use. And I consider ice storms bad luck for driving (that doesn’t count, does it). Which is why I’ve been stuck at home and going nuts. Please enter me in the draw. And have a wonderful time in Europe!
Pam, I second that — we’re stuck at home in the messy weather, too! Yuck! Hang in there.
Anyway, Patty, pay the numbers no mind and have a wonderful, wonderful trip!! And enjoy a lovely cup of Mariage Freres butterscotch tea for me …
And please enter me in the draw, too, if you don’t mind. Have been wanting to try Panache. Thanks!
I haven’t given 1/11/11 a second thought! Bon voyage. Pea green with envy over here. Really.
I’m not superstitious, but mystical interpretations of numbers are interesting and seem to cross so many cultures. And of course as a kid I had a lucky number. I’m still a bit fond of it.
As for Panache, I tried a sample of it and I might have written it off too quickly as “not me”. It wasn’t a fair wearing. So, I wouldn’t mind giving it another whirl.
Have a lovely trip Patty. I agree with others that “ones” seem like good luck numbers.
no superstitions here. sounds like a fantastic trip. enter me in the draw
Have a wonderful trip to Paris! I love most of the Parfums DelRae line so I am looking forward to trying Panache. I appreciate your sharing of your plan to meditate daily – it is my resolution as well this year.
I’m not superstitious about days/numbers much, so I’d just get myself on that plane and go! My superstitions are more domestic, salt over the left shoulder if it spills is a HUGE one for me. And ladders, tho’ that’s more about the safety thing. Enjoy yourself!
Number 11 gives me the creeps. I have started avoiding everything thas has this number in it, if it’s possible.I wasn’t superstitious, but as i grow older, slowly i see myself becoming one. If there is for real an esoteric meaning in numbers, i don’t find so stupid just to consider even that part of life.
Have a fantastic trip to my side of the Pond! Paris and Florence – heaven. I wouldn’t give another thought to the day of travel, either. Hope you make lots of wonderful discoveries xxx
i love freaking out people…makes me feel not alone!!! I too have a thing with numbers..however, i think all ones would be good…shows the oneness of our creator! U r one lucky lady,,,enjoy ur trip in glorious Paris and Florence, with all the cold and freedom from the crowds…I hope you have a really good time! bon voyage
I’m superstitious, but only about 8’s and they’re always fortuitous. 1/11/2011 seems fat with luck, so fly off little bird, have yourself a merry, lovely holiday and maybe buy a Lotto ticket in Paris. Oh, and I would like to be entered in the drawing.
Thank you for the wonderful drawing–would love to win a bit of a honeyed hug!!
I was planning on buying the winning Lotto ticket tomorrow, but traveling to Europe would be great, too. Once the winning happens, the trip will follow! Have a great time.
If I was going to Paris and Florence, I would not be freaked out by the date. I could travel there on Friday the 13th in a plane painted #666, after entering from the tarmac, under a ladder, due to docking malfunction, with my black cat as carry-on and I would still be going to Paris and Florence. But I’m not superstitious. As you may have guessed. Have fun, dear heart, and eat a gelato for me!
I second this. :d
Funny Erin! Let’s toss in breaking a mirror before walking out the door to catch a cab to the airport and stepping on a sidewalk crack? Nope, I’d still go.
Wat. They. Said.
Have a good time. You will be better than fine.
And 11 is a Very Lucky Number. You got lots of them today.
Enjoy!
Have a Pierre Herme chocolate sable for me, por favor.
xo >-)
I love Panache! In fact, I am wearing it today, so no need to enter me in the drawing, babe.
I do smell the vetiver, but for me, the resins, the honeyed boozy quality and the magnolia, yes the magnolia, are the winners. Do you know how long I have been trying to find a fragrance where I can actually smell the magnolia? Well, we have a winner, because I can finally smell it, and it is heavenly.
Did I say I love Panache?? Ha, ha, I love almost all of DelRae’s fragrances, including Amoureuse, Mythique, and Debut EdT, but Panache just might be my favorite.
Have a safe trip. I look forward to reading your posts!
No, I don’t feel particularly superstitious about traveling on 1.11.11. Then again, 13 is one of my favorite numbers!
Hugs!
It sounds like a perfect day to travel! I wish I was going. :)
Please enter me in the draw. Panache is quite wonderful!
Have a great trip.
Please enter me in the drawing….and I thought 11 was supposed to be good luck – so you can think of it from that perspective!