The Maison Lancome travel set. They have another one with the ouds.
For someone who can barely smell her perfume, I seem to have bought a lot of perfume recently.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m filling in the few gaps in my Annick Goutal collection. I’ve bought Camille (love), Charlotte (jury’s out), Mandragore Pourpre… that’s the stronger one. Y’all know how much I love Mandragore, right? It’s probably the closest thing I have to a signature; my third bottle is almost empty. And guess what! I can’t smell it. So, I figured I’d try Pourpre. It doesn’t smell the same, but at least I can smell it, and it’s nice. Apologies to all of you who’ve blind-bought Mandragore after I raved about it and wound up hating it. At perfume meet-ups, folks chuck them at me occasionally, saying, here, since you like this so much! Because they don’t like it, not one bit.
I also finally bought Annick Goutal Mon Parfum Cherie, Par Camille, which I think I am going to adore, and good thing, because it was a blind buy and not cheap. I’m going to test-drive it in cooler weather, and I will report back. Rounding out my AG purchases was a bottle of L’Ile au Thé, which is summery and which I like well enough, but it lasts about ten minutes on me (bummer), so I’ve been layering it over Duel.
I also bought this set pictured above. The Maison Lancomes aren’t getting the love they deserve IMO, probably because Lancome is kind of been-there, done-that as a brand, and also some people (like me) don’t really love any of their stable of department store fragrances. But these. Goodness, they are lovely, the first set they released (the Roses, the Ouds, the Jasmine, Iris, Tubereuse, even the lavender one!), with various gourmand aspects without being too foofy. The newer spring/summer bottles they just released are very light and thus for me a big ol’ disappointment, and I don’t think I’m alone, based on online reviews. Have I mentioned how beautiful the Maison bottles are? I won’t be wearing any of mine until it’s cooler out, except maybe the lavender, which startled me with its milky-sugar vibe; I am not a fan of lavender but this I loved, like a lavender shortbread. Also I hope they decide to release some more of the scents in 1 oz. bottles (or a coffret!) because I still “need” the sandalwood and that rose parfait one, which is jammy deliciousness.
Whenever I feel like a spendthrift I remind myself what I didn’t buy (not yet, anyway!) – the Cuir Intense in Guerlain Les Absolus, which smells fantastic, and I’m not generally wild for leathers…. and the Guerlain Joyeuse Tubéreuse, which is green and lovely, but I’m sticking with the Maison one. Look, I just saved myself $500!
What have you bought (or not bought) recently?
*Also on the Maison Lancomes — Lancome is having a big bonus deal on Macy’s right now, you get a ton of makeup/skincare freebies with your Maison Lancome purchase, if you’re into that sort of thing…
I love Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille, and the Jasmins Marzipane — haven’t tried the others! It’s my birthday month, and I’m currently waffling between a bottle of Chanel Cuir de Russie parfum and a bottle of Cuir Beluga, because I can’t find decants of the latter on STC anymore and it makes me antsy. I did find a small half-full bottle of Arpège and a mostly full bottle of Safari at an antique store for a total of $55, so I’m pretty pleased with myself. The Safari is as big a smell as I remember!
My big purchase this year was a bottle of Idole, from the old Lubin-Olivia Giacobetti days. I have loved it forever, and it became hard enough to find while idly browsing that I broke my rule about buying only 50ml or less. So happy with that!
And, March, your writing delights me, and I’m sure I’d like you in person, but…thanks to you, I blind-swapped for a nearly-full bottle of Alahine. Compared to that, Mandragore is an easy-wearing pleasure!
You don’t like Alahine? Have you tried it in cold weather? It’s a bit of an acquired taste — always makes me think of old & rare books…
Yes, and I never hated it. I just…never wanted to wear it. So, I swapped it back out to what I hope is a loving home.
That’s the coolest thing about perfume. Alahine wasn’t your thing….but to someone else ; it really is. I love to pass something along to someone else and have it turn out to be their new favorite!
This, so much. There’s a generosity of spirit and a camaraderie that I really love in the community, particularly when we get together. I have gotten and given bottles that are much happier for it.
Ooooh, I have Idole in one of those fabulous old bottles. Also giggling about the Alahine — if it makes you feel any better I’ve bought plenty of stuff that didn’t quiiiite work out. I actually have a backup of the Alahine BECAUSE someone who bought and loathed it after my recommendation sold it to me, lol. So, win/win sorta?
A friend of mine tried the Lancome Jasmins Marzipane and said I would probably like it…It sounds really pretty. I hope to try it soon.
Over the weekend I ordered something from Jeffrey Dame!
The JD Mimosa Mixte Eau de Parfum Spray, what a coincidence I noticed someone else mentioned JD Duality ?
I have Mate, Heliotrope & Patchouli from Dame Perfumery and love it.
His New Musk (the oil) is also very nice.
I found some vintage scents at an antique mall last Friday: Guerlain Parure, Guerlain L’Instant, Gerlain Samsara (for a relative whose signature scent it is), and Laura Ashley No. 1. Grand total: less than $ 50. Bottles were open and partially used, but for those prices I didn’t mind. March I also love that AG tea scent, but it doesn’t last on me either.
Whoa SCORE on the antique mall finds!!1 You know what keeps me up at night? The suspicion that some antique bottle dealers dump the contents out so they can make the bottle all clean and shiny….. the horror! And that AG, lol. If it were less of a hassle I’d think about returning it.
I love the Lancome Jasmins Marzipane, and really liked the fig when sniffing it at Tysons. After putting my nose on that sample of Bengal Rouge I went in on a partial bottle. Oh and finally, finally got myself a long coveted bottle of Vetiver Tonka (oh my the price…but it was a very good deal!) I hope your sense of smell comes back more and more, March. I also LOVE Mandragore.
Hey you! That was such a blast; we need to do it again. Ooooh, Vetiver Tonka! We could do a whole post on things we’ve waited for and anticipated…. more rewarding in their way than the head-over-heels impulse splurge.
I broke down a week ago and had to buy Keihl’s Original Musk Blend from Ulta. With a coupon, gift card and free shipping, I only paid about $20 for it. Now I have to gear up and save some pennies and replace my empty bottle of Chanel no 5 extrait. My mom decided to be cute and spill the bottle of extrait while I was at work and not tell me. She did this when she decided to rearrange my clothes.
Oh noooo! RIP No. 5 extrait! That’s painful. I love the Keihl’s Original Musk, too.
Auuuugh! I am SO sorry. I literally gasped when I read this.
O.M.G. OMG! Oh. My. GAWD!
oh, 6lb, 7oz SWEET BABY JESUS!
You are a good daughter. I dunno WHAT I would’ve done. But a hatchet is figuring in my realm of possibilities!
You are a GOOD daughter!
xoxoxo
Oh goddess, I cannot imagine….I hope it was not full…or a smallish bottle at least. Still a perfume tragedy! A hope a replacement finds its way to you soon.
I’ve recently purchased Vanille Farfelue and Black Flower Mexican Vanilla from JD and Dame (perfumer Jeffrey Dame). And today I ordered Duality from JD!
Oooooh, sounds like you’re on a bit of a bender as well! I bet you smell fabulous.
Moi? I bought a backup bottle of AdP Iris Nobile – for TWENTY SIX DOLLARS! Nearly plotzed. I also bought a bottle of Beloved…because it is my beloved.
You? You are a nut !!!!(said in my best Barney FIfe voice). But that Lancôme set looks deeeevine!
xoxoxo
I lOVE Beloved! Wore it today!
OMG! It IS you! Hi, honeypie!!! I wore it yesterday whilst covered in tile grout and other assorted handyperson ‘ick’ – what a weird juxtaposition!
xoxoxo
Of course! I would expect nothing less of you than smelling like royalty whilst doing the work of three men…and likely better than three men could do. 🙂
This just seems so perfect!
Caved, bought the Lancôme Fig. Sounds super pretty! If you get it on Macy’s website, they throw in a TON of freebies!
The fig IS nice! And I know — I think I got five (six??!) plus I bought one of their $10 add-ons with some stuff I’d like to try.
I love the Lancome Maison line, have lots of the first and second series (but not the oud ones). Desperate to try the sandalwood and patchouli ones. Need to smell that Cuir Intense. I got a bottle of Nasomatto Pardon at the Salvation Army for $15, how crazy is that?
Wowzers!! Fantastic deal!!!
I love those. It’s nice to remember those when you get hosed for something online…. win some, lose some!
That’s amazing. I also worry that’s going to be what happens to my perfume — vintage Mitsouko at the Salvation Army for $3….
I fully support getting Mandragore Pourpre….my favorite Goutal… well, I also love Rose Splendide and Neroli….anyhow: MP is excellent. As for Lancome….the Maison EdP line is very nice. I’ve just realized there are new ones I need to try! So when I spend a pile of $$ ….I’m going to blame you. (just a heads up).
Oh! I forgot to confess my sins! I preordered Papillon Bengal Rouge as soon as it was possible to do so…..I’m fairly frothing at the mouth waiting for it to arrive…
Somebody brought a weeeee sample of that to our most recent sniffage at Tysons Galleria. From what I could smell it was lovely, but my nose that day was barely functioning D:
I know, Blame it on March. That Pourpre is really tiding me over until I can (I hope) smell the original again….
Now I’m lemming the Maison Lancôme set. I’m a sucker for smaller bottles…. part of me feels like it’s my birthday month so it’s ok- except I already used that justification.
LOL I can come up with plenty of justifications!