Hey Posse! Yes, it’s time for the Hallmark/Rose Society/Chocolatiers/Restaurant bonanza day of spending to reassure our loved ones that we still care. Or at least care about how things look. St Valentines Day is a big deal the world over. Here is your reminder to go grab a card and some kind of token. Every year we say we won’t celebrate and then somehow we get caught up in the magic being sold to us from every media and broadcasting point. Suddenly I’ve bought Jin some sweet munchies and a card and we are out to diner a deux. Then, two guys who always have something to chatter, natter and bicker about, are suddenly caught with zero conversation. Every other night of the year we happily go out for dinner and spend about 70% of the time talking and 30% laughing. On St Valentines Day the well runs dry.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for a day where lovers, spouses and romancers get to strut their stuff. Especially good for those who are rarely demonstrative, unable to communicate their feelings or generally shit partners. St Valentines Day is one day to atone for all this and make the long suffering other half feel liked, loved, thanked and desired. A vibrant drop in an ocean of 365 days hum drum or being taken for granted.
Yes, I’m aware that Jin and I have only been together for 9 years and are still honeymooners. Fully aware it’s the first flush of love, we are still extremely mindful of making sure we both feel necessary to each others continuing satisfactory existence. Also, we feel so lucky to have found each other with such opposite backgrounds, countries and personalities. Dumb luck. Glorious luck.
St Valentines Day
OK, so whether you are out with your significant other or doing St Valentines Day solo, what fragrance are you thinking to wear?
I have a couple of choices and I’m not sure which one will get the gong. Maybe I’ll wear a couple through the day?
It seems Iris and Leather are my 2021 St Valentines Day defining notes.
Cuir Amethyst by Armani Privé
My favourite of the fruity lipstick iris/leathers. The same family as Daim Blond by Serge Lutens and Bottega Veneta EdP. It’s Cuir Amethyst that I always come back to. It’s so smooth and elegant, never outspoken but always softly and insistently noticeable. While not being a screaming sex kitten it does purr romance.
Misia EdT by CHANEL Les Exclusifs
make Up in perfume is not a new idea and definitely was already an old trope by 2015 when it first graced the CHANEL counters. Infinitely bolder than Cuir Amethyst, Misia is a powdery violet iris with bells and whistles. It goes on strong and maintains energy for hours and hours. I have to be careful to spritz an hour or more before leaving otherwise my senses can be totally overwhelmed by the beauty. Worn with a heavy hand Misia is strong enough to change the taste of food.
Gentry Jockey Club by Oriza Legrand
I’m seriously surprised when I see that there’s no iris in the note list for Gentry Jockey Club. This is the darkest of the three choices I have. Tobacco, leather and vetiver are the leading players on my skin, rich, smoky, smooth and still quite refined. Also low key enough to wear on a romantic movie date but hefty enough to last till the after dinner high jinks, should you be lucky enough to hit jackpot.
If you are feeling down, alone, sad or left out because of the incessant St Valentines Day propaganda. Please seek help from friends or the many phone and internet services provided to help with depression. ( Here is a Global Mental Health Lifeline Website CheckPointOrg that has so many countries listed) Also, make a plan. Have some ideas, treats, a meet up with a buddy or even a Skype/Zoom with friends and family could turn your grey sky to blue. Take care of you. Sometimes the smallest thing is enough to derail the downward spiral, a walk, shower with gorgeous shower gel, coffee or tea in or to go, spritz one of your fragrant favourites triple the amount you normally would then lie down and enjoy the larger than life ride. I did a St Valentines Day Survival Guide a few years back.
Any of these tickle your fancy? What will you be wearing?
Portia xx
Hey, Portia! I’ve come to believe that some people aren’t meant to be a part of a couple, and it’s okay. That said, knowing that wonderful love stories such as yours exist make my heart a little warmer.
I like your perfume choices, all of them so glamourous!. You actually made me blind-buy Cuir Amethyste a couple years ago (no regrets!) 🙂
I’ll probably wear a Dusita, – now that is a love story of mine that’s gonna last!
Hey Diana, I 100% hear you. Being single is my natural state. Sharing, respect and compromise are very hard for me. At age 43 I was very happy to see a future with just me, friends and some dogs. Then Jin came along, a one night stand that went horribly wrong. Sometimes the universe has other plans. I’m so glad and grateful but if it was anybody else I’d still be a perfectly happy single.
YAY! I get the enabler pin! So glad you love Cuir Amethyste.
I’m 100% for a Dusita love story. YAY!
Portia xx
Portia, you get me. I’ll raise a glass of riesling to you tomorrow 🙂
XX
It’s the big day here now and I am raising my morning cup of coffee to you and thinking about all the wonderful perfume peeps around the world with love.
Have a safe and healthy VALENTINE’S DAY
Portia xx
Not the biggest fan of V Day – i think we should tell those who are important to us how much we love them any day. Although, back in my high school days i had the biggest crush on a boy so sending anonymous cards was perfect for my shyness.
I have picked Etruscan Water, by Francesca Bianchi as we are out to long lunch with some dear friends we’ve not seen for a year due to travel restrictions etc.
Woo Hoo Melanie!
Friends, food and fabulous fragrance!
Enjoy the day.
Portia xx
I love Valentine’s, even though it actually makes my life harder: my birthday is a couple of days earlier, and whenever we plan a trip or want to go out for it, we have to deal with limited availability of different resources (plane tickets, hotels, spas, etc.) and/or higher prices for all above mentioned. But still, we do celebrate both occasions. Separately – I make sure not to lump them into one event 🙂
I like Valentine’s Day and usually wear something red and stockings with pink and red hearts and Rose d’Amour by de Rosine. We never go out for that day, but cook something special, open good wine and treat Rusty to something extra.
Lovely choices of perfumes you came up with. Whatever you wear, I hope Jin and you will find topics and laughs: you “owe” it to all people who would like to have someone as special as you two are for each other to celebrate this (or any other day) with.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Undina.
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR Undina.
HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY Undina.
You know how much you mean to me.
Rose d’Amour! Such an excellent choice.
Of course you are right. I will bring conversation cue cards. He He he.
Hope yours is as good and wonderful as you are.
Portia xx
Love you, dear Portia <3
Thank you for all three congratulations 🙂
Happy Birthday, Undina! xoxoxo
Thank you, Musette!
Misia and Bottega Veneta are both great suggestions for me, Portia. In fact, my husband gifted me my bottle of BV for Valentine’s Day a few years back, so it definitely has romantic associations. ??
PERFECT DinaC! I bought BV for Jin and he smells absolutely fabulous in it.
Actually, that bitch stole my scent! He He he.
Portia xx
Not having a romantic partner sometimes actually helps on Valentine’s day 😀 I can buy a gift for myself and it will be perfume, of course…oh wait, I’ve already bought it! LOL! I’ll be wearing my latest acquisition – Masque Milano’s L’Attesa.
I have plenty of solo friends and we always have a get-together on Valentine’s day. This year it won’t be any different. No time for tears and sorrow, we’ve learned to seize the day 🙂
Happy Valentine’s day to all of you!
LOVELY choice for your new perfume! I like that Maque Milano brand a lot too.
Whatever you do Neva I hope it’s fun.
Portia xx
Hello Neva, i’ve just received some samples of Masque Milano Mandala, Love Kills and Tango.
Mandala is my favorite so far.
Have a great day with your friends x
Good to see you here, Melanie! There was a 70% discount on Masque Milano so not many perfumes were left for sale. I’m glad you like the house.
Francesca Bianchi has amazing perfumes and Etruscan Water is in my top 3. Enjoy your day with friends as well 🙂
I love Cuir Amethyst & Misia too, but this year I’m obsessed with the new Kilian Love Don’t Be Shy Extreme, orange blossom marshmallows with roses! I got my own perfume & chocolate, told the husband he can get me a card and I’m good. It’s our 20th anniversary next month so we don’t stand on ceremony. 🙂 I told him we should get a new pickup truck as our anniversary gift to each other. Our old truck is on its last legs and I want to go on a lot more camping trips. 🙂
Hey TaraC,
It seems Kilian remembered how to make perfume! YAY! Love Don’t Be Shy Extreme is getting some rave reviews.
WOO HOO! 20 years is special.
Portia xx
I have never liked this holiday, much as I really don’t like Christmas – because of the whole You Must Feel/Do/Be push, and that has been when I’ve been married or single. Just don’t like the pressure.
Howevah! I DO love AP Cuir Amethyste! Gawwwwlyyyy! but that thing is gorgeous.
You and Jin. Sigh. I’ve been with you and have seen, firsthand, what Glorious Luck looks like. It makes me happy!
xoxoox
AAAH! Musette! You have. We have had some wonderful times together.
I’m grateful for every day, and almost every moment, with Jin. He’s a good guy.
Cuir Amethyst is special. i love it…
We wish you a safe and peaceful Valentine’s. Know you are loved.
Portia xx
Happy Valentine’s Day Portia and Jin. So miss your Sunday diaries! Must check out Cuir Amethyst.
Marion – do come back and let us know how it works for you. It is one of my faves! xoxoxo
Hey Marion.
Thank you. I miss them too but not the eternal creation of them. It ended up being a burden.
Happy Valentine’s to you also.
Portia xx
Anyone wishing to capture my heart would give me chocolate on the 15th and be my thrifty valentine. If I remember I will put on Meteorites, my pinkest and fluffiest perfume.
HA! Stellar! Love this.
A thrifty Valentine is OK by me too.
Portia x
That last paragraph made me cry, actually. It’s February and I feel … deeply done. Tapped out. Unable to see the end of the tunnel and a brighter future from where I sit, right at this moment. February is never a great month in these parts, so dreary, and I’d like to never again do a lockdown. However. I’m still putting one foot in front of the other, and I will keep going. Valentine’s Day was mostly a disappointment in the latter years with the ex husband, so I always treated myself to a facial or massage, etc. I dunno. Maybe some fancy chocolates this year.
VD can be horrid for both the encoupled and unencoupled alike. A gentle treat to yourself sounds like a plan.
“Also, we feel so lucky to have found each other with such opposite backgrounds, countries and personalities. Dumb luck. Glorious luck.” – this is the one that got me all up in the feels – but in a good way. Don’t cry (or cry – but don’t cry a lot, okay?). Life is good, you are very much loved. Go take a walk, then come back and make hot chocolate and think of Tim Cahill and the desert 😉 xoxoxo
Go out, go for a walk. Nature works miraculous on the mood. Put some uplifting music on, dance through the house, have a good meal and some wine, watch a funny movie…chin up, girl! Big hug!
March,
It’s been a bloody hard year.
Wish we could all be there to hug you, sit around with hot cups and booze, chocolates and perfume.
The world is better with you in it. I see you, beautiful.
Portia xx
Misia is a beautiful choice Portia and I will do likewise, loving this fragrance that doesn’t get enough wear. We don’t go out for Valentine’s Day; however, I find it a nice occasion to tell friends and family that I am thinking of them and love them.
YAY Kathleen! Yeah, Misia is gorgeous.
I’ll be thinking of YOU on Valentine’s Day with love.
Portia xx
I might pick Misia from your selection. For me it’s Sample Sunday in my project, so who knows? Probably something rosey if I have, I’m trying to wear my roses in cold weather as I find them more challenging to wear in warm. Married for 24 years, we don’t bother with Valentines Day much although we may manage cards and a couple of mini chocolates. When our son was younger it was an excuse to plan a date night but it rarely fell on the actual day.
WOW! 24 years is quite the marathon MMKinPA. Congratulations.
Next year is your SILVER ANNIVERSARY! Are you thinking to do something special for that?
Any date night is fun, plan it on Valentine’s Day and do it when everything is a little less frantic.
Portia xx
Valentine’s Day… I don’t have a partner and when I did I found this holiday … difficult. Too much hype though we always did mark it. I get my son stuff but restaurants are closed here so I wonder what people will do this year. A lot of fancy restaurant delivery services have popped up in the past few months. In any case we’re getting pizza from the van parked in the garden centre (great pizza) which will include a dessert pizza with Nutella and choc sweets (I will taste — I can’t eat much chocolate). I vote for the Armani and hope you and Jin have a lovely evening during which you find yourselves talking lots. I am playing around with something perfume which I’m probably going to write about so won’t say what it is.
OOOHHHH! Pizza for EVERY occasion! We had our wedding party in a local Italian and PIZZA was the main course. So obviously I fully approve your choice.
Can’t wait to read about what you’re playing with,
Portia x
Pizza for the WIN! (though no dessert pizza). xoxoxo
Love your fragrance choices for Valentine’s. Misia is lovely and I’m intrigued by Gentry Jockey Club (must get a sample :), but all are suitable wears that I’m sure you will enjoy. We gave up on going out for Valentine’s Day long ago – the hype and hyper prices really became a pet peeve. I much prefer staying in and enjoying a glass of something luscious and whatever food to suit. No fuss. A bunch or two of flowers a few days before the sky high $$$ and I’m set. Chanel No. 5 parfum is my choice this year. Happy Valentine’s everyone!
Excellent choice Erica!
CHANEL No. 5 parfum makes every event special and glamorous.
Enjoy your St Valentine’s.
Portia xx