First I have some drawings to take care of – winners of the 2 ml sprays of Mona di Orio Violette Fumee are Christine and Melissa Hathaway. Winners of the Violet sample Set are – Mary K and Mary P. Just click on the Drop Us a Note at the top of the blog or e-mail me at patty at perfumeposse dotcom with your address and a reminder of what you’ve won. I’ll send you back a quick “got it” e-mail so you know you didn’t get caught in my spam filter, ad then I’ll get it mailed out to you.
Now, I do have a question, what note do you want me to do next? I think I’ve got most of the major ones, except lavender, which would be a good place to go. I know I haven’t done some others. Just drop a suggestion on what you’d like to see next in December!
I’m wrapping up a trip to Costa Rica that was part yoga retreat and part dental work. Yeah, I know, these two things do not go together in the same sentence, but the timing worked out. Because I was sweating through two yoga sessions a day or sitting in a dental chair most of the time I was here, I didn’t do much as far as picking out perfumes to bring with me, but I did have two favorites in there – Serge Lutens de Profundis and Le Labo Ylang. The Ylang was really perfect on the one time I wore it – hot, sultry night after torrential rains during the day. de Profundis I slipped into this last weekend while I was burning time waiting to finish up dental work before heading back. There is no time that de Profundis hasn’t been perfect. It soothes and inspires me at the same time. I realize that I have had a small decant of de Profundis tucked in my makeup bag for over a year, maybe two years. That’s how much of a staple it is for me and one I always feel comfortable with wearing while traveling.
Given that I’ve reviewed both of these perfumes and have nothing else on hand to talk about, it got me thinking about perfumes you travel with. What do you take? Do you always mix it up? Do you always take the same one or two scents? Always take one scent and then randomly grab another one or two? Change it up depending on where you are going and why or time of year?
Now I get to annoy you with knitting pictures. Here’s the second alpaca herringbone weave cowl I’ve done. This is a Christmas present for my mom, I think. She doesn’t like a lot of bulk around her neck, so I might have to do another one with less bulk to it. Though it is super-warm and ohsosweetlysoft, she may overlook that bulky thing. If anyone wants to pattern, it is super-easy and a quick knit done in heavy worsted/bulky yarn.
And here is the Rowan Kaffe Fassett pattern shawl I’ve done for my sister’s birthday. I’ve already done one of these right before I started this one. I really am a not-so-closeted masochist, but at least I threw the big alpaca cowl (well, okay, I did two of the cowls, the first one in a yarn I wasn’t as happy with) in for a break between the two shawls.
It is a Big Ass Scarf. I have to do the color repeat like 7 times. I’m just finishing the fourth time through on this one. Ack. It’s a gorgeous shawl, and I’m only three weeks overdue for her birthday present. But she’s happy she’s getting it. And that ends the knitting porn part of today’s blog!
And because it’s getting close to Thanksgiving, we’ll give away three sets of 2 ml sprays of the new Tom Ford Tobacco Oud. Just drop a comment talking about whatever you want to be entered!
the tom ford sounds yummy
I already entered, Patty, but just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking about you. With all the recent disaster you’ve probably been working 24-7. Hope you’re doing well and get some rest in the near future.
I wanna go on a yoga vacation! Mimosa for the next single note project! That’s all! Please enter me in the draw. 🙂
I love the scarves and am very jealous over your talent. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was a teenager, and I made Cloche hats (remember those…think Love Story), scarves and even a navy crocheted purse, which I lined in navy heavy silk. Have not done it since then. I really don’t travel too much, but if I did, I’d bring decants in my purse, and maybe 1 small FB, probably Chanel.
I’d love a post on Sandalwood. Please enter me in draw…Thanks.
Please do gaiac! I just fell hard for gaiac 10 (ack! so pricey!). Distract me with other gaiac scents (Though my favorite vacation perfume is kind of similar and much cheaper: voyage d’hermes.)
p.s. fantastic knitting FOs!
Sandalwood or Mimosa or Heliotrope get my vote. Love the knitting! Thanks for the draw!
The cowl is so pretty! Your mom is sure to love it. My own mother used to knit beautifully, and I’m thinking about taking lessons so the art won’t die out completely with my generation.
I see travel as an opportunity to try out samples that I haven’t got around to yet, so I take a handful along and see what takes my fancy.
I hope the Notes posts continue for a long time! In addition to sandalwood, tobacco and licorice, I’d love to see posts on carnation, salty notes, and herbals…
I tried knitting but I think I’m too lazy and/or impatient for it. I managed to make a hat a couple years ago, but I never did anything else.
As for note posts I’d like to see… Have you done one on Tuberose? I looked in the Best Perfumes (Note) section and didn’t see one there. I’d like to see Tobacco and/or Sandalwood too.
Oh yeah, the travel thing.. forgot about that. I basically just stuff a bunch of samples/small decants in my makeup bag so I have plenty of options.
I like the idea of sandalwood! Also, I am quite jealous of your knitting abilities 🙂 The scarves look lovely.
Sandalwood gets my top vote. Have loved sandalwood ever since I smelled it burning in a friend’s incense burner many years ago. (No cover up, she just liked sandalwood.) I think the only gaiac centered perfume I have is Micallef’s Gaiac so now I’m wondering why I’ve not explored that note more.
Knitting requires 1 too many needles for me. I can crochet a bit but by now everyone pretty much has what they need.
With all of the perfumes you been exposed to over the years, I’d love to get an updated Top 10 (or 20?) all-time favorites. There are always favorite winter, summer, etc. but how about just one list of all-time favorites? Seems like it’s been a while since there was a “desert island” kind of post.
Have you done aldehydes yet? I think something on resins would be useful. I can’t tell my tolu from my peru.
Ps amazing scarf. Your sister is very lucky
when i went to paris last year, i didn’t pack any perfume because i knew i’d be in scent-heaven. of course, the result of that is that the perfume i now associate with paris is the smell of my old spice fiji deodorant!
Nice knitting work!
For travel I do the “bring two or three samples” thing. Once I brought just one big bottle, and when it felt way wrong for the weather, I was out of luck. Sad.
Thanks for the draw, too. =:o)
Lately when I’m traveling I’ve been taking little decants of de Bachmakov (especially during the summer), Bois del Iles, or Vetiver Tonka.
I’d vote for either tobacco or sandalwood for an upcoming post.
Beautiful knitting! I am currently traveling with a FB of Jil Sander Sun–the opaque glass seems sturdier to me than a clear bottle. The scent morphs on me into something that can be either informal or “night”–I prefer to travel with my less expensive FB fragrances when I am not checking a bag, otherwise it’s samples and decants and purse sizes all the way!
Tobacco oud sounds great! Love reading about the perfumes! Thanks for the chance!
Next week, I’ll be in your shoes with dental work, Patty. Most of my trips are car trips, so I don’t have to worry about the stupid 3oz liquid limit. I factor in many thinks when I’m packing for a trip. What is the weather going to be, what time of year is it and so on.There are 2 perfume I usually travel with is Chanel no. 5 and Mitsouko. Chanel no 5 kind of fits with most situations and Mitsouko is not a perfume that I smell too often on others, so I can be the oddball.
Patty, that shawl is GORGEOUS! I knit a little and I can’t even begin to think about how you get that color repeat pattern. Too beautiful for words. For travel, I usually bring a decant of whatever perfume I’m currently obsessing over, right now that is Tableau’s (Tauer) Miriam. So lovely and powdery once you glide past the “oh my god” aldehydes at the beginning. Lately I’ve also been packing a small vial of Montale’s Chocolate Greedy, – cause sometimes a girl just needs to smell like flowery Cocoa Puffs 🙂
The scarves are lovely, unfortunately I’m on the side of the non-fabric arts group. I can slice up some mean stained glass, but get in a snit over sewing on a button. I group my travel decants according to where I am going. Slumberhouse and SLs and Tom Fords to Scandinavia, Inekes and tropicals to Florida and points south. Tobacco and licorice are notes I’d love to hear more about. I’m still madly in love with the first recommended tip you gave me…1000 Flowers Reglisse Noir. Thanks for the draw!
Wow, Patty. That Kaffe Fassett scarf is truly gorgeous. I’ve got a glimmer of understanding about how much skill and focus all those color changes require and am much impressed. As for travel perfumes, I tend to mix it up depending on where I’m going, what I’ll be doing, and what the weather is likely to be. But to smooth all the transitions, I do try to take at least one perfume that’s calming. For me these days that’s usually something with vanilla and incense. For the next in the perfume note series, I’m curious about sandalwood. I would really like to know if those new sources of mysore sandalwood I keep hearing about are the real thing. But I hope the perfume note series will be a long one because I’d like to read about all the other notes above, too.
Please enter me in the Tobacco Oud. The conversation with the fascination with perfume scents inspires me!! I am new to this attentiveness and am learning from everyone.
I always travel with a variety of samples and decants, because I find it hard to predict what I may be in the mood for. However I always include a decant of Shalimar since I can’t bear to be parted with it for even a few days. Please enter me in the drawing!
Love the scarves! I have no talent and the thought of threading a sewing needle or handling yarn makes me feel jumpy and fiddly but my mother and sister are very talented in the fibre arts and I get to be the fortunate recipient of many of their wares. My mother in particular, at 86, has developed stitches and patterns of her own; she did some traveling in Scotland years ago and attended Kaffe Fassett workshops and she’s a bit of a (very reluctant) local celebrity for her skills. Thanks for letting me brag about her a bit 🙂 Scent for travel: a decant of Chanel 19 and whatever else strikes my fancy at the time. For a fabulous vacation, I try to stick to one scent so I can recall the time later on. Thanks for the draw!
My travel scents vary depending on where I’m going and why. Please do enter me. 🙂
These beautiful scarves will be even more cherished because they were made with love. As for note(s) to do next I would love a guide on Guaiac and Sandalwood. Thanks for the draw, Patty. Xox
I love scarfs. Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I cannot knit so I am a little envious. I really like the one on your head. It is beautiful.
I’d like to hear about sandalwood, I know almost nothing except that the Indian kind is endangered and I’d love to know what perfumes are good representations of the scent. As for knitting, I am hopeless and envious of anyone who can knit something wearable.
When I travel, I carry one powerhouse scent and one close to the skin scent–I recently returned from Vietnam and wore Sarrasins for the colder, drier air in Hanoi but Cepes and Tuberose in muggier Saigon. When I travel in the states it’s mostly for business and I have to be careful about sillage, so I am much more restrained with both selection and application.
Hey Patty,
I like to travel with a few decants because I shop heavily while OS.
Have you done Osmanthus, Leather, Mint or Cumin yet? I would LOVE to read about these beauties.
Portia xx
How about Heliotrope? I do love all your notes posts and admire your knitting! For travel i usually take a few tried and true decants like La Tulipe for Spring/Summer and Cuir Beluga for Fall/Winter for comfort and reliability plus a bunch of untried STC decants to amuse me during down times.
I try not to load too many ‘fumes for travel if I think I will find something to buy en route. Usually, I just take whatever is seasonal and already in my purse. Congrats to the winners of those samples! Now you have me thinking about knitting something, although it may be crochet instead. I vote for sandalwood as the next note to explore. But tobacco is interesting too.
Love the knitting porn! I’m working on Christmas presents too. I just hope the people on the receiving end appreciate and use the things I’m making them.
Please tell us more about sandalwood!
I tend not to travel with FBs in case my suitcase does not arrive…I know, paranoid! But it has happened.
So the latest samples always come with me. The downside of this is that I form an impression of them in a different climate/mindspace, so it is not always reliable.
I’d love to read you on lavender, go for it!
My travels are perfumed with the late samples I picked, joining discoveries…And if I find a nice perfume in the free shop, it will be my companion also, it has already happened.
Thank you for the draw.
I’m very fond of my travel perfumes “kit”.
It always contains a mini of bois des iles, a sample of fracas, kai roll on oil and amaranthine (sample). I often add a decant of tubereuse criminelle.
The first two double as night scents, while kai is perfect for feeling clean and “purifying” the atmosphere going out and about in airports, planes, buses and the like (and the unpleasant smells often associated with transport means and hotel rooms).
Amaranthine and tubereuse criminelle are my Jollys.
In short, when I travel I don’t bring with my my favorite Guerlains, but favor “clearer” scents that are more discreet or that feel calming (TC) or clean (Kai) or reassuringly familiar (Fracas and Bois des iles).
Hi, Zazie — so glad to see another kai fan! Yay!
My mum long ago gave up on me as far as the “womanly arts” of knitting, crocheting, sewing, embrodery etc were concerned, so I am hugely admiring of those who have such talent. I love your projects – the cowl especially. For traveling I usually take my favs – Samsara, No 5, Bal a Versailles. I too would love to see a Sandalwood feature as it is my best loved note, altho Tobacco would be interesting as I’m not too familiar with many baccy perfumes. Please enter me for the draw and thanks!
I like to take some Chergui with me, because I know it works. Although I pack a few others too, depending on what’s in front of me.
If your mom doesn’t want the alpaca cowl, you can send it my way! At our farmer’s market that we have over the summer, there is a farm that brings two of their alpacas, so I have spent some good quality time feeding them (approved) leaves and petting their incredibly soft fur/hair. They make hilarious and adorable noises, too.
Im so jealous of your lovely knitting ability! They are beautiful! I actually haven’t traveled since I became a perfumista in the last 5 years, so I haven’t had to deal with this conundrum as of yet. How about a best-of post on “winter” (what smells of winter?) or a perfume advent, like the 4 week advent wreath, doing one each week up to Christmas for scents of the season both secular and holy smelling.
Cool idea!
Howdy, Patty! Love your scarves — you are quite a talent! DNEM, of course, but seconding FeralJasmine, would like to see a “best of” on sandalwood, gaiac, etc. Thanks!
I would love to see a “best of” for sandalwood, or cedar, or Guaiac, or all three. Also, besides individual notes, I’d love to read what you have to say about best Orientals, or even more specific categories like best spice-orientals and best floral-Orientals. Just please find a way to keep doing “best of” posts, because they are invariably wonderful. Oh, and thanks for doing the draw! Please enter me.
De Profundis and Ylang are two of my faves. I studied in Costa Rica in college and I can see those two scents working well with all the richness the country has to offer. Pura vida!
please enter me in the draw, thanks!!
Firstly,I love the scarves/shawls <3 I have become rather obsessed with shawls in the past couple of years and I would love to learn how to knit.When it comes to traveling with my scents I usually just pack a few of my samples/smaller decants that way I have many to choose from depending on the situation,the weather or my mood.Have a wonderful Holiday Season 🙂
I think you can do sandalwood perfumes next?
I dont travel light, never had never will. I usually bring two perfumes if the trip is two weeks plus some samples. Wherever I go no matter the season I take my Frangipani (OJ) and my Feminite du Bois (SL). I always have several samples at hand though and when I travel for more than two weeks I make sure I pack as many as I assume my varying mood may need.
I just keep thinking I”m not good at sandalwood perfumes. It’s not one of my favorite notes, but I think I appreciate it more than I think I do, ifyou know what I mean. Okay, it’s on the list for the next couple of months.
Maybe I need to turn in my perfumista card…I spend more time deciding what clothes, shoes and make-up/skin care products to bring than deciding which perfumes to take along. Travel is complex enough that I have decided to only stick with one scent whenever I travel. It should be good for both day and evening under varying conditions (e.g. a cruise in the summer…hot during the day when out and about and cool in the evenings at the dining room). I usually wear perfumes with relatively low sillage and I apply sparingly anyway so as long as I like it, I’m good. My most recent perfume travel companion was Atelier Cologne Sous le toit de Paris. Others that worked for me in the recent past were: Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue and Chanel No. 5 EDT and my staple L’Occitane The Vert.
As to perfume notes for you next post…how about Tobacco?
Seconding the request for a post on tobacco…I’d prefer without the oud, but that’s just me!
Naw, I don’t think so. I’ve got my make-up/skin care bag always packed with samples and favorites, so it doesn’t require much. Perfume I should spend more time thinking about when traveling, especially when I’m supposed to write a post while I’m gone! but that just didn’t happe this time.
Tobacco, yeah! Sounds like that and sandalwood and gaiac are the faves to go next. 🙂
My travel scents are usually ones that can do double duty (day and evening for that season) and that come in bottles unlikely to break during the trip. They might be miniatures or maybe a decant for a very short trip. I will usually take two perfumes – one in my hand luggage and perhaps one in my checked baggage.
The hand luggage scent will most likely be my favourite at the time, which I will use for top-up sprays during the trip. The checked baggage scent will be something grabbed at the last minute (a maybe?? fragrance).
My current favourite is Lollita Lempicka and I just happen to have a 30 ml cutie bottle perfect for travel. If I were to travel tomorrow I’d take a Montale sample Aoud Blossom for evening, as my “just in case” perfume.
Wow, you are way more organized than I am, great suggestions!