Winners of the Creed samples and ouch (Patty)

Honestly, I swear, I was going to write a post today, but I sliced my finger on my mandolin making raw pizza (so yum, seriously, the crust was nuts and spices and sun-dried tomatoes), and it bled like a stuck pig for an hour – soaked through two bandages and one paper towel. It’s all bandaged up now, but I had to do a spreadsheet for work that was on a deadline, and this poor little finger is over there screaming at me for pounding it against the keyboard.

I can’t make it suffer more, so I’m going to just give you the winners of the Creed samples from last week and then let you discuss amongst yourselves what you’re most excited about – the new Creeds, the new Serge, the new Tauer Pentachords, the new Kilian, and whatever else new that is coming out or even something that you find yourself wearing nonstop right now, old or new.  I’m drooling after that Kilian after reading Tom and Grain de Musc’s review. You?

Winners of the Creed Royal-Oud sample:  snowcrocus and Joanna. Just click on Contact Us on the left, send me your address and remind me what it is I’m sending you. You’ll get a quick “got it” response from me, then you’ll know you didn’t land in my spam filter, which happens more than I’d like.  Thanks for playing!!!

  • Becky says:

    :( Just read this post. I feel for you. Did the same thing aboutr a month ago. Amazing how much blood there is, and it just gets everywhere. Hurts like crazy too. I’m afraid to use the dang thing now.

  • Ann says:

    Oh, poor baby, Patty. Sorry to hear this — hope it heals very quickly.
    Being the orange blossom lover that I am, a week or two ago I tried the new Kilian, as the notes sounded divine — OB, plus vanilla, benzoin, incense — count me in! Alas, it was not to be. It went very dull and flat on me, nearly one-dimensional. I was so disappointed, as I usually have good luck with that line. Looking forward to trying the new Lutens and Monas though.

  • Meg says:

    I am most intrigued about the Etat Libre Phillippine Houseboy… it just sounds so interesting… cilantro? steamed rice? hmmm…

  • grizzlesnort says:

    spices, nuts, dried tomatoes, blood. Sell it to Etat Libre.

  • Rappleyea says:

    Patty – I’m adding my best wishes for your speedy healing! I too am skeered of mandolines and use my food processor for really fine slicing/chopping that’s too tedious for a knife.

    And I would LOVE the raw pizza recipe when you’re back up to typing speed. Please…. I don’t eat grain and pizza is the only thing I miss.

  • Sherri M. says:

    I’m so sorry about your finger! The raw pizza sounds great though; hope you finish making it after your ordeal!

    Looking forward to the By Kilian most in the new releases, hands down!

  • Debbie R. says:

    I’m wondering if you need a stitch or two.

  • Darryl says:

    Ugh, mandolines are creations of pure evil, and I find their widespread use in home kitchens baffling. (I blame Martha Stewart, for the record – she seemed to bust out the mandoline on every second episode of her show.) I will look for any excuse NOT to use one, and I cook for a living. A sharp chef’s knife or santoku and a bit of patience will do anything a mandoline can, and with less chance of blood-stained countertops. Hope your finger heals in a timely fashion.

    I haven’t bought anything new in some time, but lately I’ve been wearing the hell out of my Cartier Déclaration (I’m compelled to type the ´ every time out of sheer respect). Angel has been getting some frequent play, too, and I’ve finally put my finger on why my new bottle smells different from the late-’90s/early-’00s sample I had last year: less dirt in the patchouli, and less candy. The new one smells very much like caramelized sugar, cream, and cooked fruit on my skin, whereas the older stuff was almost Starburst-like in its juicy, neon rendition of fruity candy and startlingly peppery patchouli. I’ve been toying with buying a few more samples from the eBay seller who first supplied me with the older juice, just so I can do a side-by-side and verify my suspicions. I mean, it’s still recognizably Angel, and still a bomb of scent, just a bit less…vivid. (Lush? Blinding?) Or maybe I’ve finally lost my mind.

    • Musette says:

      I’m with you, though if used carefully (with the little knob-thingy) you can usually avoid tearing yourself apart. Usually. Which is why I prefer a good knife, too. Globals are my loves. Great fit and heft. It was the knife of choice when I chased my first husband out of the house! 8-x

      xo >-)

  • bloody frida says:

    ouch!! heal quickly!

  • Joanna says:

    Sorry about your finger Patty and I hope it heals soon. I’m really happy about getting the Creed sample and about the prospect of some new scents that might be worth trying coming out soon.
    I was sort of in a perfume slump this week so the timing of winning the sample is perfect. I had read a few promising blog posts about a line of organic perfumes, (Rich Hippie if you must know) and wanted to try some but their samples are like $15. I ended up getting a full bottle on Ebay for about the same price as a sample would be and was so excited about my “GREAT DEAL!” The scent I got, Rockstar, retails for over $200 on their webpage. Well it finally arrived this week and it smells like herbal urine. Really…I bought a bottle of hippie pee. It didn’t cost me that much but still I’ve been bummed out about it. So thanks for the good perfume karma. I needed it.

    • Lisa D says:

      Hi Joanna:

      I’ve got some Rich Hippie, and some of it does have an odd, um, herbal-tinged odor. I don’t get the urine vibe, thankfully, but a couple of them are definitely reminiscent of old grass. However, one – Maharishi – is worth a sniff. If you’d like to try and redeem the whole Rich Hippie foray, post your email address and we can arrange for me to send you a sample (yes, aren’t their scents and samples ridiculously priced?).

      • Joanna says:

        Lisa, wow that’s so nice of you! I shouldn’t have blasted the whole brand just because that one scent went a little pee-pee on me. I’d love to try Maharishi, I can send you a few samples too.
        [email protected]

  • ggs says:

    Ouch :( HATE cutting fingers while cooking….

    On the top of my list to try: By Kilian Sweet Redemption and Cartier Baiser Volé (Stolen Kiss).

    Of course, I will sniff the new SL’s when TPC has samples (De Profundis & the Vitriol d’Oeillet) but I’m not sure either will be up my alley.

    Remember when we met perfumer Karine Vinchon in Grasse? I liked her Coeur de Vétiver Sacré, and Denyse said in her post on Fall launches (Grain de July 8) that Karine is also one of the perfumers credited with the upcoming L’Artisan Batucada.

  • Francesca says:

    Yow, sorry about the finger! I have a mandoline and it pretty much scares me to death (though I love the results).

  • pyramus says:

    Must try the new Serge Lutens export! I bought Jeux de Peau recently and am desperate to sample Vitriol d’Oeillet, which I have no doubt I’m going to love (carnations are pretty much my favourite thing).

  • Musette says:

    OW!! :((

    xo >-)

  • nozknoz says:

    Sorry about the finger – would love to hear more about the fresh pizza when you are back on the keyboard.

    Definitely excited about the new Calice Becker Kilian. Beyond Love, Back to Black, Liaisons Dangereuses and the first two ouds are among my top ten contemporary scents. (Hmmm….that’s five already – I guess in my top ten my favs from a given brand only count as one, LOL!)

    Also really excited about sniffing the new SLs, although I’m more likely to want to wear the BKs. Also looking forward to trying the lighter version of Frapin 1697, too. I liked the original but it seemed just a tad flat; Denyse reported that the new one unfolds better.

  • Joanna says:

    Thank you!

  • snowcrocus says:

    At least the mandolin will do a clean slice! That’s cold comfort I’m sure. Just wanted to thank you again for the chance to try the Creed. As for new releases, I am loving all the reviews for Sweet Redemption.

  • HemlockSillage says:

    Ouch! So sorry to hear about your injury. Mandolins are mean. No cannibalistic pizza for me–I get in trouble with the ol’ box grater. Hope it heals, quickly.

    As for what I’m looking forward to try? The pentacords sound interesting, but I have so many perfumes, I’m trying to wear my old loves. I fear several have turned. It makes me leery of any new acquisitions over 5mL. I’ll still look forward to hearing everyone’s new scent finds. It is the conversation here that brings me back, day after day. I love the laughs. . .and to learn from you all. Be well.

  • Todd T says:

    I have to point out that you just made my wallet faint! I forgot about my excitement about Pentachords. It bad enough, I am waiting on Mono di Orio Oud, 2 new Serge, and by Kilian that I absolutely love! I know I forgot a few more!!! I actually be happy that would be all for this year, but i know it won’t be!

    Cheers!