Tops of Winter 2012

Before we begin:  HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!   May it be a fragrant,floral,foody,flirty,FUN day for everyone!!                            

I, Musette the Ingrate, was going to start this post with my regular diatribe against Winter, then I realized  it would be churlish and possibly irritate the Nature Gods who would then send down 423 feet of snow and ice and minus-F temps in the double digits with a 54mph wind.  You know…regular Midwest winter!  Instead we’re experiencing Venice’s  winter and they,our normal Illinois nightmare (the poor things).  Perhaps the poles shifted and nobody told us?   Whatever.  I’m not complaining – yeah, it’s not Santa Barbara but it could be a whole lot worse.  That could be my vaporetto, getting busted up in the frozen canal!  Because the weather has been in the 30F-50F (yes!) range, my ‘winter’ perfume choices have been all over the place.

So…this is the 2012 Best of Winter -and because I have a rackety mind we’re opening it up to all sorts of ‘best of’.  From a perfume standpoint, the bulk of my New Best Loves are all body products.  Maybe it’s this lingering sinus infection but I find I’m able appreciate the nuances of a lot of scents via the body cremes.  To wit:

1. Iris Poudre.  I thought this was an absurd scent when I first smelled it out of the bottle.  No amount of spin worked for me (“it smells like a French perfume” huh?  What have I been wearing all these years?  Nebraska perfume?)…anyhoo, I thought it was silly.  Then Marie and Lydia made me try the body cream.  Ho, yus.  The whole ‘point’ of the perfume became obvious to me.  Now I can’t wait for the occasion to slather myself with the cream and add just a tiny spritz of the perfume.  Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise.

2. Rose du Rosine body creme.  I doubt I would ever wear this particular Rosine in the perfume form because…well, I dunno..it’s not interesting or dirty enough (there will be a review of one of their dirtier roses next week)…but lemme tell you – this CREME!!  I roll around in this one like a dog in dognip!  It’s the perfect complement to vintage Ubar, amping up the rose just a bit and balancing out the lovely sandalwood.  What it does to Tribute is nothing short of erotic.  I’mo go fan myself now.

3. Fleur de Cassie body creme.  Yah.  I know.  Discontinued.  But I have a little scrab left and ….well!  The leather is so unbelievably sexy.  Glide this on right after a hot shower.  What you do after that is up to you.

The Big Bang Theory.  Nerdy Science made Sexy.   I don’t watch muchTV so it was just blind luck that I stumbled upon this little gem which, apparently, has been on for 3 or 4 years??    I’m having a blast, watching the reruns (1 a night no matter how many they run back to back.  Mustn’t gorge).  Chuck Lorre is genius! I would …well, you know…except..what if he’s not really that fabulous in person.  Better to just dream (and he’s kinda cute, too, in that ‘interesting’ way)…  and in the meantime let my brain slide out of my ear for 30 minutes!  Great writing, great ensemble.  All-around fun.  Sheldon and Leonard are the Lucy and Ethel for the Apocalyptic Age.

Tom sez:

Since this is so close to the dreaded V-Day, I’m going to talk about gifts.  I’m specifically talking to the (2?) heterosexual male readers out there who might be wondering what to give, especially since if you’re reading this and wondering you’re almost too late already.  Yes, you can call this “Ask Gay Best Friend”.  The best thing you can do?  Make her breakfast.  If you can’t make breakfast without requiring a visit from the Fire Dept (or health dept..) then steal out and buy it.  An omelette from the local diner (kept warm in the oven set at its lowest setting), coffee and a croissant from starbucks, OJ and a flower or two from the market when presented on a tray for her morning breakfast will make her happy.  Run a tub while she’s enjoying her meal in bed with the morning paper, and leave her alone to soak while you make the bed and tidy the kitchen.  If you plan on doing this on the weekend since Tuesday might be a workday then add in a split of champagne or prosecco.  Then make (or order) a romantic dinner.  Send the kids to their rooms after they’ve helped to set the table.  Candles would be good- votives in glasses are fine. A present is a nice touch, but you don’t have to go crazy.  Diamonds might be a girls best friend, but if it means the car gets repossessed it’s not so nice.  Her favorite perfume, perfumed sachets, or a gift certificate for a massage at a local spa will make her happy.   Heck it would me.  You may just get a little present in return that evening..

(ps.  from Musette:  If only I could get El O to read Tom’s post!!)

from the lovely Ann:
Byredo’s Seven Veils is a recent release that Musette quite liked, so that prompted me to get a sniff. It’s a warm, creamy, golden veil of a scent, as its name implies, and one that has charmed me completely this winter.

 A favorite from 2011, Parfumerie Generale’s Indochine is still going strong as one of my comfort “blankies” this winter. 

 My third pick is not a new scent, but an older one that was well-loved by many, but then discontinued, and unfortunately, fell completely off my radar. But when a very sweet and generous Posse-ite recently surprised me with a bottle of YSL’s Nu edp, in all its lovely, spicy-dark incense glory, my love for it was rekindled. And that sleek, round, flip-open bottle delights me no end.

from the Black-Hearted Patty:

I’m waiting… waiting for something special to arrive that I can talk about hopefully soon.  That’s my winter/Valentine’s love,the thin I don’t have yet, but I know what it is, I’ve smelled it, and it will be mine soon – at least a small sample of it.  In the meantime, I’m blinging out a jean jacket, making caftans and feeling pretty crafty on the whole, which is, um, odd. I’m not a crafty person at all, but I seem to be turning into one.  Can a leopard change its spots this far into life?

And Valentine’s Day – I used to be very anti-Cupid. No gifts, no flowers, no chocolates, no dinners.  Damaged girl from an asshole first husband who would do the most awful things and then bring me home a big bouquet of daisies to make it all better. I love daisies, they are my favorite flower, but gifts as an apology or that were “expected” on a certain day were met with lots of expletives and foot stomping.

Not anymore!  Bring on the romance. Life is too short to no appreciate the days we are given to stop for a second, remember who we love, tell them we love them. Send a Valentine to your mom, to your dad, brother, sister, to your children. Tell them how much they have enriched your life just by being in it and letting you love them and share  their life.  So here’s my Valentine to all of you – Love you !!!!!
What’s charming you this winter?  ..and for more Best of Winter check out Perfume Smellin’ Things, Bois de Jasmin, Grain de musc and Now Smell This

Rott photo: flickrhivemind.net – the smoochiest face EVAH!

other image:  I have no idea.  but isn’t it pretty?