Woo Hoo! Let’s see how my month went for October New Idea 2023. One thing I’m really happy about is the few 10ml decants that have finally thunked. Though all of them have been gorgeous, wearing the same thing regularly is not how my brain works anymore. Three quarters of the way through New Idea 2023 now and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
September New Idea $50 Surrender To Chance Voucher Winner = DinaC
Email me: portia (underscore) turbo (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au
I’ll send your voucher out ASAP
October New Idea 2023
A little recap for those who have forgotten.
This year I’m aiming to thunk five samples/decants a week. More if possible, there is a tonne of them here to be dealt with. Every thunk is called a WIN, because let’s face it who doesn’t need a few extra wins? These are easy wins but hopefully will give us all a sense of accomplishment that will carry over into daily life.
How It Works
- No matter what size the sample or decant it only counts as ONE win.
- To count as a win the decant MUST be thunked. Yeah, I know but this is how I’m playing it. You can have your own rules if you like.
- Multiples in a day are acceptable. So, if you empty something in the morning, another after work and another before bed that counts as THREE wins.
- Manufacturer Travel Size is not a sample or decant.
- At the end of each successfully completed month I am allowed to reward myself with a splurge from ONE perfume store. Yeah that’s right. Sure you can buy 20 things if it makes you happy but it has to be ONE etailer or retailer in ONE TRANSACTION.
I’m going to celebrate by giving away a US$50 Gift Voucher to Surrender To Chance for every successful month to one lucky random commenter. Cool eh?
So let’s see how October New Idea 2023 went…..
FiF: First in Fragrance, LiP: Libertine Parfumerie, LKNU: Aussie Retailer, LS: LuckyScent, MPS: My Perfume Samples, MS: Manufacturers Sample, P1: Perfume 1, PG: Perfumista Gift, PP: Posh Peasant, RK: Ruth K, SF: Splash Fragrances, SG: Split Group, STC: Surrender To Chance, TPC: The Perfumed Court
- Day: Mona di Orio Oud: SG 10ml: This is the original release and has taken a few wears to finish it off. What a fragrance! Jin has a bottle. L O V E
- Morning: Ainslie Walker Somewhere Between Mass & Kyoto: MS 3ml: Resinous, smoky incense. A hark back to my RC school days. Full and rich and lovely. LOVE
Evening: Penhaligon’s Halfeti Cedar: PG 2ml: Yeah, I can see how the cedar adds its own thing to Halfeti. Very nice, so wearable. Can see it being a perfect suit fit. Like
Bed: Obvious Perfumes Une Vanille: STC 3ml: Dry, lightly spiced, woody vanilla. A cuddle that will lull me off to dreamland. Why isn’t this company getting more traction? They do excellent work for a fraction of the price of some much lees interesting or beautiful niche. LOVE - Nope
- Anatole Lebreton Perfumista: STC 2ml: This is bloody brilliant. Old school chypre done modern. The opening fruit makes a return in the base, so good. On To Buy List. LOVE
- Nope
- Finished a L’Occitane Arlisienne Shower Gel
- Nope
- Finished Perry Ellis 360 Green After Shave Balm
- Day: DSH Perfumes Downtown Moonshine VdP: MS: Boozy amber with a plum pudding side order. So much want to smell this in the EdP. I bet it lifts and surrounds. Love
Bed: Nishane Afrika Olifant: SF 2ml: Resinous amber with animalic, leathery underpinnings. If this had come to me 10 years ago I’d be going crazy for it. Like - Day: Imaginary Authors Fox In The Flower Bed: STC 2ml: Spring in a bottle with a bullishly feral aspect. LOVE
- Nope
- Morning: Keiko Mecheri Cuir Fauve: STC 2ml: Dark, patchouli/birch leather that heads towards vanilla done in the airy Mecheri style. Very fragrant but with space between the notes that makes it seem light as a feather. If I thought there was a leather hole in the collection then this would be on the list. Love
Evening: Pierre Guillaume Felanilla: SG 10ml: Warm, furry, cardboard vanilla. Very cool and not very sweet. Love - Nope
- Nope
- Day: BeauFort London Rake & Ruin: FiF 2ml: Smoky woods with a side order of peppery blue cheese. So outrageous and good in the Sydney heat. Love but EW but Love
Bed: Sebastiane Espresso Royale: PG 2ml: If you can imagine the taste of coffee ice cream in a fragrance then you get this. Very delicious. Like - Morning: Atelier des Ors Riviera Lazuli: MS 10ml: Tart citrus that really pops in the warm weather with a thick, treacle like woody and everlasting daisy base. Love
- Morning: Guerlain Songe d’un Bois d’Ete: STC 2ml: Whatever was left from my initial trialing had become an oily sludge. Top going off but heart as lovely as ever. Love
Bed: Christiane Celle Calypso Vanille: STC 2ml: Pretty vanilla, amber and a little doughy. Like - Nope
- Nope
- Nope
- Nope
- Morning: Le Labo Vetiver 46: MS: This is nice. Oily greenery and some other stuff. It goes quiet so quickly. Like
Evening: Keiko Mecheri Bal de Roses: STC 2ml: This might have turned because yes roses to start but also a little while in this strange waxy weirdness a bit like nut oils that have oxygenated on the verge of going off. Not nice and I couldn’t wash it off till much later.
Bed: Annick Goutal Sables: 10ml Unknown: I have loved wearing this everlasting daisy and everything resinous perfume. What a freaking BANGER! There are two bottles here too. L O V E - Day: Mancera Soleil d’Italie: PG 10ml: Citrus, greenery, salty water and sunshine. Stays that way till it becomes a lightly woody skin scent that still smells amazing. I’ve been wearing it quite often to finish it and now have fallen madly in love. I’m really happy to be getting some 10ml done in October New Idea. To Buy List. LOVE
- Finished a L’Occitane Rose Hand Cream
Bed: Balmain Vent Vert vintage: STC 2ml: The original. So green and cool and divine. Why a fragrance. L O V E - Nope
- Nope
- Nope
- Nope
- Day: Slumberhouse Mond: STC 2ml: Enjoyed this immensely. So glad I got to wear this super funky honeyed tobacco with ALL the trimmings. Gorgeous. Love
Bed: Maison Violet Tanagra: LKNU: Lightly fruity cardboard iris/amber. Interesting, pretty and perfect for warm weather. I’m loving this so much and wish it was still available in Oz to buy. On the To Buy List. LOVE - Morning: Dusita Fleur de Lalita: STC 1ml: A little while back saw this discounted beyond belief. DAMNIT! Should have jumped, it’s bloody gorgeous. Floral, bulby, and green to open a little warm and sweetly cozy through the base. GAH! So good. Love
Evening: Guerlain Néroli Outrenoir: SG 10ml: Sadly this does not live on me at all, gone in minutes leaving only a whisper of (hardly even a whisper of) tea. Bummed - Day: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca: STC 1ml: Citrus and mint! What’s not to love? The dry tea heart note is gorgeous. DCd of course. Love
Bed: Coqui Coqui Maderas: LKNU: Woods and woods and powder and spicy woods. Like
Splurge? Yes, I did. Have been wearing an as-yet-unfinished Amouage Bracken woman decant and it seems to be getting harder to get, definitely DCd in Oz. So I panic bought a bottle and a backup of Cacharel Amor Amor from FragranceX. 15% off and FREE shipping! Nope, not affiliated.
Well, SUCCESS! So please leave a comment with something you thunked in October for October New Idea 2023. I’ll pick a winner randomly. Then announce in the next New Idea 2023 post,
Portia xx
You can read the whole story so far if you hit the links below.
New Idea, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September
Another good month for you! Now I’m curious about Anatole Lebreton, whom I’d never heard about befor, and tempted by the sample set.
Whoops forgot to mention that I finished the decant of JM Ginger Biscuit, and samples of Irish Leather and Slow dive. FB, too pricey, and have travel size respectively…
I love Mona’s Oudh and treasure my travel spray.
I thunked 5 samples and give away 12. My favourite thunk was Guerlain Lui. Loved the soft spices and would buy a bottle if I didn’t already have quite a few carnation fragrances.
I added some new samples from St Clair Scents and Angelos Créations Olfactives. I’m very excited about these. They will last me a while since they only require a small spray.
LOVE Lui Sylvia. Such a lovely perfume.
I have tried a couple of the early St Clair Scents. YUM! Such good stuff. You will be smelling awesome.
Portia xx
Fun read Portia! I’ve made a small dent in my samples so far this year, enjoying the samples and missing full bottles as well. My favorite thunk this month was a manufacture’s sample of Cartier Baiser Vole. I recall not caring for it years ago when released. Now it’s a love!
AHHHH! Kathleen, Cartier Baiser Vole is a summer love of mine too. So fresh but layered. YUM!
Portia xx
I love DSH Uptown Moonshine. I have a body lotion of this scent that I got as a bonus one year at Christmas. I can’t say I’m familiar with most of the rest of your thunks. I have been really terrible with wearing perfume this month so certainly not thunking. I’m pondering starting a new 365 project on IG for 2024. It would force me to wear things, and also to make some decisions on getting a few perfumes out the door, feeling a little overwhelmed with my collection again.
PLEASE do your 365 project again. I loved following it on Insta MMKinPA. It might have been the catalyst that pushed me to do New Idea 2023.
Portia xx
The only thing I have managed to finish this year is a bottle of Chanel no 5 edt. I have so much of it, it’s not even funny.
THUNKING A BOTTLE! Amazing Eldarwen22,
Portia xx
These are great- at the end of the year are you going to do a recap? A “Best of?” “The 2023 Thunkies?”
HA! That’s an excellent idea but I’m too lazy Tom.
Maybe….
Portia xx
Can I just say how much I enjoy reading this every month? All your little moments and things you love (and things you don’t!) I”m not living the sample life these days and this gives me a delightful rush of remembrance.
Thanks March,
Glad to hit your remember button too.
Portia xx
Well thunked! I just love both Fox In The Flowerbed and Felanilla!
I had surprisingly many this month (13!!) nearly all were manufacturer’s samples.
Parfums Dusita le Pavillon d’Or: this is so beautiful and elegant galbanum, herbs & thin floral veil with a classic twist. I am not elegant enough to ever finish a bottle of this but very much enjoyed my sample.
Sammarco Naias: very lovely soft Lipstick Rose-type scent. I still very much prefer Splendiris& Vivacious
Perris Monte Carlo Cacao Azteque (extrait): I prefer this to edp as this is much softer and not floral. A good reminder that cacao had medicinal use in the olden times before it was garnished with whipped cream and marshmallows.
Byredo Eyes Closed: gorgeous diffusive clove-cardamom-cinnabon spice melange opening, meh drydown.
Technique Indiscrete Épices: really lovely spicy scent with lots of clove. Reminded me about the Casablanca Lily candle by Malle. I want this but it is not on the website 🙁
Eau d’Anvers: furniture polish with honey. Strong like.
Apoteker Tepe The Peradam: wonderdul earthy warm lily sandalwood
Teo Cabanel Ca Boum & Encore (samples with bottle purchases): still love them!
Maya Njie Tropical: pleasant pina colada fruity.
Eris Delta of Venus: smells like paradise, fruity but not trashy as there is some greenness. Probably the best new release of this year. Bought a bottle.
Stora Skuggan Thumbsucker: nice, veering towards lovely. Slightly urinous gourmand.
Maya Njie Tobak: lovely leathery tobacco leaves.
Please leave me out from the draw this month:)
WOW! Excellent thunking Finanna.
Delta of Venus! I’m so excited to get my sniff on it. You buying a bottle straight away makes me think I will love it too.
Had my eye on le Pavillon d’Or in a recent sale but just couldn’t pull the shekels together to buy it. Next time.
Portia x
You are very likely to love it, it’s wonderful! But maybe get a sample first (it is an easy thunk, I emptied mine in one day…)
Thanks so much for drawing my name as last month’s winner Portia! Woo hoo! Loved reading what you’ve been wearing lately. Now that we are truly into Autumn, with a couple of random hot days to throw everybody off, my scents have changed. I’ve thunked mostly skincare this month: vitamin c serum, hyaluronic acid serum, a moisturizer. I need to pull out some “fall-ish” scent samples and use them up.
CONGRATULATIONS DinaC,
I’ll get that Gift Certificate out to you today.
Check your spam just in case, eh?
Portia xx
Oops forgot to add my thunks in October.
Memo Luxor Oud. Smells of medicinal Oud & deep red velvet roses. Love, love, love. Can’t justify cost even as use of all money gifts. Have 2 more samples to use though.
Roger Vivier Iris. Was colourless sludge as very old. Smells like earth, very dense no lift left.
Chanel Coromandel. Was a smudge of pure oil. What is wrong with me? I hate it! No idea why but I get a jolt of nausea when I sniff it. Not sniffed for a decade but still did the same thing.
BUMMER about Coromandel Alityke,
Oh yes! Luxor Oud. I think I sniffed that and eyebrows were raised.
Portia x
I’m really not big on oud but the medicinal oud & chewy rose hit the spot
Does seeing “the light at the end of the tunnel” mean you’re almost at the end of the year or that you’ve made a big dent in your samples? Either or both are great. I always enjoy reading the New Idea 2023 posts. I would hate to see them end.
Likewise, I hope this continues (in some form) in 2024. Keeping track of thunks is so nice (makes me feel as if I am decluttering too, although I probably end up sampling more)
YES! That’s exactly;y how it feels. Like I’m doing a decluttering.
Portia xx
Hey Maya and Finanna,
I might take 2024 off and then get back to it in 2025.
Or maybe I’lll just continue.
Yes, I’ve made a dent but nowhere near what I thought would happen.
Portia xx
Refillable Herba Fresca & the refills are still in the Guerlain website in the UK. It’s just the older none refillable that are d/ced. It might just be Oz where for some idiotic reason it’s no longer around.
Check out airports when you’re travelling x
Ahhhhhh! Interesting Alityke,
Thanks,
Portia xx
Somewhere Between Mass & Kyoto is such a great name. I want to try it just for that. How much of a dent have you made in things? It would be fun if you continued this next year but I can see it being a bit of a chore.
Hey Cinnamon,
Yeah, agreed on Somewhere Between Mass & Kyoto. It was excellent.
There are still an overwhelming number of perfumed samples/decants in this room. I’m down two shoeboxes and some smaller ones.
Honestly, I’m not sure I can ignore my full bottles so assiduously for another whole year. That has been the real kicker.
Let’s see.
Portia xx
I agree on the pain of neglecting the bottles. I just cannot do it.
How about dunk-a-ten? In that way you end up dunking a nice number over the year but the bottles get some skin time too:)