Hi Posse! I’m currently about to be with you all in the Northern Hemisphere on Jin & my annual migration. Winter frags are a hard thing to choose while sweltering in 40C (104F) what you would like to spritz with at 0C or below. I really need your help please.
Winter Frags: What Are You Spritzing?
Driving to the ski fields of Poland 2013
So I have a bunch of winter frags, obviously, but I’d really like to know what you’ve been spritzing this year. Is it ambers, or musks, vanilla or incense? Have you been going against the grain and wearing aquatics and iris or citrus and gardenia?
I’m only taking two fragrances with me, 5ml decants, because I know we will be meeting up with perfumistas, perfumers, creative directors etc and shopping for fragrances in almost every stop. O M G so exciting.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
Rosa sur Reuse by SOIVOHLE: I love the clear rose and the dank murkiness that create a fragrant contrapuntal. Also, there is a depth, vibrancy and shine that is impossible to keep when working to the mass market, an innocent joie de vivre that warms my heart. It’s also completely different to what I smell on people on the streets of Europe.
Coco parfum by CHANEL: I found a 35ml spritz bottle somewhere years ago, it’s an excellent travel companion because it’s onboard size and one spritz and I am gorgeously fragrant for the day. The bottle seems to have lasted forever too. There’s only about 5ml left but Coco is a beautiful holiday accompaniment, especially for the winter months.
L’Heure Convoiteé II by Cartier: Jin & I bought this in 2013 in Prague Cartier. I love the crisp, cool zing of L’Heure Convoiteé II in winter and it dries down to cuddly powdery musks. You’d think that it wouldn’t work in the cold but it does.
Oriental Brulant by Guerlain: Is there anything more perfectly suited to traipsing around winter Europe than Oriental Brulant? It’s warm resinous vanilla with a curious waft of almond and sherbet. Deliciously, edibly, glamorously and effortlessly posh.
You can buy samples of most of these at Surrender To Chance
What have been your most spritzed 2015/6 winter frags?
Portia xx
My usual fall/winter scents that get heavy use are TF Tobacco Vanille, Hermessence Ambre Narguile, SL Feminite de Bois, Hypnotic Poison and Dior Addict. I’ve also added the cosy sweater scent, Calvin Klein Reveal, to my regular rotation. Sweet milk scents like Malizia Bon Bons and Fresh Cream have also been used a lot on stressful days when I want something simple, sweet and comforting. This winter I’ve just started a new relationship and I find myself wearing a lot of my romantic orange blossom perfumes that fit the mood but not really the weather (Elie Saab Le Parfum and L’Eau Couture, SL Fleurs D’Orangers). Reading this post has made me realize that I’ve been neglecting my ambers. I have so many great amber samples, I really need to start wearing them!
This january I have used up my bottle of Escada Collection and Kenzo Jungle Elephant seem to be next, just a tiny amount of liquid left. Between them I have used Scherrer. I adore all three.
The heavier ambers and orientals do behave well in cold weather. Not a fan of Coco nyself, I would suggest taking the Guerlain at least. We have minus 13 now for some days, but today I used En passant (FM), which I received for Christmas. Other than that, a week with a lot of meetings didn’t leave much room for Casmir, liberal spraying of 5 o’clock au Gingembre or other winter favourites.
Casmir! I love it Ingeborg. Mine has been put to the back of the shelf because it has a dicky spritzer. I should decant it out and use it but keep forgetting. Thanks for the reminder.
Portia xxx
I discovered CARUS by Roux St. James. Leather, wood, smoked tea and tonka. It is wonderful.
WOW! That reads knockout PJ. Great for winter cuddling.
Portia xx
Never tried the Guerlain but now I will. Been wearing Vero’s extraits, Bois de Iles extrait and edt, Cuir de Russie extrait, Cuir de Lancôme, Geisha Noire oil, and Onda Voile. Discovered Bandit but think it would work better in warmer weather. See you soon, London and Vienna. ??
YAY!!! Val I’ll see you in both cities. We need to get BJTG too. I miss him.
BANDIT! I love it in the cold and warm.
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! All your choices sound great, but I’m thinking I’d take the Rosa to smell unique, and then the Coco or the Guerlain for a comforting, warming hug of familiarity when you go out into the chill. I know you’re hitting the UK, but any other stops else in the N.H.? Hope you all have a wonderful time!!
P.S. If you happen to see Roja Dove, ask him to please make his wonderful Roja available more often, won’t you? And the gold flakes really aren’t necessary. I have a teensy 1 ml vial and I’m hoarding it like a madwoman. 🙂 Thanks!
Hey Ann,
Yes, it’s another epic adventure. Stops included are: Paris, London, Barcelona, 2 x Slovakia, Vienna, Istria in Croatia, Venice, Florence, Rome, Dubai. We are meeting friends and family in every stop and it should be super fun.
If I happen across Roja I will definitely pass on your message. That you are talking about him on the Posse will make his day.
Portia xxx
I have been all about roses this winter. My most worn include Lyric Woman, PHI Une Rose de Kandahar and my newest love, Rose Boheme by Providence Perfume Company. Although, I do agree with the majority that you should take the Guerlain. Have a great trip!
Hey Petunia!
I have tried the Rose Boheme I think but now I am unsure. Love the PPCo. Do you ever use their bath & body oils?
Portia xx
Coco was the perfume that made me fall in love with scent! I still adore it. I haven’t tried the Guerlain, but with everyone raving about it, I think I’ll have to! I’ve been in deep freeze up here in North Dakota, so I’ve been breaking out the big guns — Cuir de Russie, Vol de Nuit, Ambre Narguile, Fumerie Turque. Have a marvelous time and BUY ALL THE THINGS.
Heidic.
We will do our bit for the European Union’s economy, don’t worry about that.
Gawd! What a fab list of winter frags. Gorgeous powerhouses all.
Portia xxx
Hating Winter as I do, I’m always, always stunned that you guys leave to DELIBERATELY go to some of the colder places in the world – but that’s just me. Me, who would be in Costa Careyes this very moment, were it not for the fact that I cannot afford it (renovations coming) and I have that stompin’ great big dog we’re fostering.
I would take the Lizzie one – that’s the one you will probably not see anywhere else. Were it me, I would take one of my vintage No5s because I cannot exist without it.
And snow and cold notwithstanding, I do so wish I could join you in London!
xoxoxoA
Musette, We love to travel in winter because we miss the tourist rush which means shorter queues, lower hotel and often exhibition prices, the terracotta sewage systems that tend to make summer fragrant as well as uncomfortably warm and we feel like we get to see everything at a more leisurely pace. Also, in the winter months the galleries will often bring out really special stuff because they need to attract their hometown gang who sat the Mona Lisa, Monet and Seurat when they were in school.
MMMM I love that you’ve voted for Rosa sur reuse, it is knockout.
Yes, London would have been excellent fun with you there.
Portia xx
Mmm, Coco parfum! Cherish that one. I have an old bottle of the EdT, which is so much better than my modern bottle of the EdP. I have to admit I’ve never sniffed the others on your list. Guess I need to make an order at StC. Because of El Nino our weather has been very strange and not very cold, at least for someone who grew up in really snowy, winter weather. We did have one week where it got down to 0C overnight, but popped back up to 10C during the day. For the most part we have overnight lows of 6C and daytime highs around 14C. I have skin that amplifies certain scents but not all. Since I read Olfactoria’s review, I’ve been wearing Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles in the winter and that’s about as sweet as I can go. Otherwise, I’m all over the place. Parfum d’Empire Equistrius one day, Amouage Lyric (dabbed, not sprayed) or Jubilation 25 another. Other winter favs are FM Portrait of A Lady, PG Isparta, Gucci L’Arte di Gucci, TF Noir de Noir and Tobacco Vanille. Haven’t bothered to check out anything recent or new since I already own an avalanche of scents.
I hope you and Jin have a wonderful trip.
Hey Tatiana,
I freaking love your list. It’s like a perfumistas dream list. Parfum d’Empire are so underrated.
Portia xx
I admit to having been in Amber land just about exclusively since November. I actually went so far as to pull all my ambers out and put them together into a box. I am slightly obsessed. The top ones of the bunch that keep landing on my skin are as follows : Aroma M Geisha Noire (seriously amazing juice which I could not now do without, and anything that goes over the top of it will be well anchored as a bonus) Kuumba Made Amber Paste, Laura Mercier Ambre Passion. There are more of course, but these are the cream of my particular crop. I will add that Shalimar is never wrong!
AMBER! Danielle, I too love amber. When I fall in love with a new one I have to be VERY sure its not a nearby cousin of one already in the wardrobe. Never tried the Laura Mercier, how is it?
Portia xx
It is worth a try Portia, it must have ambergris, it’s smooth and a bit salty. It is soft, and yet it has bite. I have more Amber than I ought to but it is unique among them. It’s got a tiny touch of smoke and something dry but it purrs, nothing herbal or vegetal like alot has and I would not call it dirty. Gosh, it is amazing! And only available online at Belk and Saks if you want it. Weird, the first time I put it on I could not smell it at all, but now it is unmistakable. Oh, and it layers beautifully, if you enjoy that.
Thanks Danielle, You write it gorgeously.
Portia xxx
Lately, I’ve taken to wearing Shalimar or SDV. But Havana Vanille could be a go in cold weather. I’ve just tried Un Bois Vanille and that is a winter frag. Vanilla dominant perfumes seem to do best in winter. But I would say is go for Coco since I haven’t smelled the others that you are thinking of taking.
Hey Hey Eldarwen22! Nice to see you. MMMMMMMMMMM I had Shalimar on the list but took it off, I wear it so much around the house and my environs that I thought it might be fun to chuck in some stuff that gets less regular outings. Now you’ve made me thing, how can a sneaky vintage parfum spritz overload me?
Portia xx
Rosa Sur Reuse is one of my all time favorites in any weather. My most recent cold weather loves are DSH Perfumes Fumee D’Or and Envoyage Indigo Vanilla
Hey thegoddessrena,
Yes, I’m leaning towards it as #2 but maybe Coco. GAK! Maybe BOTH!!
Yet to try Indigo Vanilla, is it glorious?
Portia xx
Coco parfum I’m so jealous! Coco was my signature years ago and I still love it. What a fabulous trip you have planned!
I am all over the place with perfume this winter because El Nino has made our weather all over the place – below zero and snow yesterday, highs near 40 degrees today, back to sub zero by Sunday, oy. En Voyage Go Ask Alice is getting lots of wear, I went through a decant last summer and it smells divine in the cold, too. Nicolai Vanille Tonka, Barbara Bui, DSH Inner Sanctum and Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax are winter staples that I’m loving and of course Shalimar, always. Have a great time, looking forward to reading about your travels!
Hey rosarita313,
What a fabulous frag lineup. Being all over the shop pays off.
Portia xx
Could you describe what the Go Ask Alice smells like? I’ve been eyeing it but patchouli is a tricky note on me so I’m reluctant to take the plunge.
You MUST have the Oriental Brulant, it is just so ridiculously good, it smells like comfort and nurture and rapture all at once!
Today I’m in Agent Provocateur (original) each time I am pleasantly overwhelmed by how much I like this one.
OK! You got me. It will be a Guerlain pack.
Yes, that original AP was yummy. I have a bottle here that has been ignored, on my retuirn I will resurrect it.
Portia XXX
Oh, this sounds like it will be an awesome trip for you, Portia! I also vote for the Oriental Brulant. It’s very comforting, which is always nice when you’re away from home. You will get to smell lots of wonderful, exciting new things!
I have been on a vanilla and almond binge, wearing La Maison de Vanilla Vanilla Givree, Vanilla Noire du Mexique, the new Les Indes Gallants, Cara, Lira, Roja Dove Enslaved (not really in the vanilla/almond category but our weather finally got cold enough for me to enjoy it), I Profumi Firenze Vanilla Madagascar, Amande Sucree, Ambra di Nepal and more…have to take advantage of the little bit of cold weather we get in Tennessee and wear them all! 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful, safe trip and great fun and memories!
Hey SherriM
Gosh! You’re all loving the Oriental Brulant! I think it must be the one.
Ambra di Nepal is one of my faves too, love it in crisp weather.
How is a Maison de Vanilla Vanilla Givree? I often see the brand but have never read any reviews?
Portia xx
Portia, Vanille Givree is vanilla over a patchouli base. It smells something like Flower Bomb with extra vanilla, very easy to wear and a crowd pleaser, too. It is only $50 for a set of five 10 ml (I think) sprays at Luckyscent, so it’s a great price…just sayin’…have a wonderful trip! 🙂
Aha! That is a great price, and you rate them too. Thinking, thinking.
Portia xx
Welcome to Europe Portia and Jin! Enjoy your trip. It’s rather cold around here and it’s going to be worse in the next 2 weeks so get prepared.
I try to stick to one perfume, at least for 2 weeks before I move on to something else (testing samples excluded, of course). This winter I rotate among Amouage Epic (much longer than just 2 weeks), Gucci Rush (which works perfectly for me in cold weather, many compliments + great longevity) and Dzing (so comforting and cozy).
Hey Neva,
We will be in Istria Croatia during our journey! Is that anywhere neay you? Can we meet up?
Portia xx
Sounds great! It’s approximately a 3 hours drive, but everything is possible 🙂 Here’s my email so maybe you could send me the schedule of your trip: modesty blaise 65 (without spacing) in yahoolandia. I’ll see what I can do.
Email sent
How super sensible of you to only take two decants, Portia. I like the sound of Coco parfum and Oriental Brulant for your European Grant Tour.
I’ve been wearing Onda Voile d’Extrait, Bois des Iles and Coromandel a lot but when I feel the January Blues coming on, I go to Vol de Nuit parfum and Passage d’Enfer. I also need to dig out my bottle of Cuir de Lancome.
2 weeks to go!!!
Thanks Tara,
That’s 2 for the Guerlain.
We have some similar tastes Tara. I have your CHANELs and VdN parfum. YUMMY stuff.
Yes, we leave in 7 days! Unbelievable.
The trivia is almost completely done, Perfume Posse set and now finishing the APJ stuff too.
Woo Hoo! HOLIDAYS!
Portia xx
If I were you I’d take the Guerlain with me. With all the sniffing and sharing and shopping you’re going to do I’m sure you’ll have plenty of other perfumes to pick from once you’re there.
This winter I’ve been reaching for Ambre Sultan, Cape Heartache, and Chanel No.5 if I reach for a full bottle. I’m trying to use up samples and decants though so my perfume choices haven’t been as consistent as usual. I noticed some samples had been evaporating so I’m in use it or lose it mode. It’s sad to empty a vial or decant sometimes but it much more upsetting to hang onto them only to find they’ve dried up and I never had a chance to really enjoy them.
Hey Poodle,
I totally get it. A few years ago I splurged on a set of 2ml Caron Vintage Parfum Decants. Spritzed them when I got them, came back less than a year later to the dried remains. Now all the 2ml+ decants are upright.
Portia xx