It was a week. Onward with more house fix things. New bed and mattress for son’s/second bedroom, along with under-bed storage rolling boxes, and a replacement for a very old, dilapidated Ikea bookcase.
The previous bed (a divan – I dislike divans) had to be taken apart and carted downstairs, along with the mattress, drawers, and the deconstructed bookcase. It’s all sitting in the living room awaiting the pickup guys later this morning.
New bed in, new storage in, new bookcase put together and filled (books etc to be divested taken to recycling centre, where they have a resale shop, and a charity shop).
New bagel shop discovered in town at the seaside which makes very good iced lattes that actually taste of coffee.
Dog very displeased with all the comings and goings as no one spoke with him or attested to his incredible beauty, there was too much noise, and the whole process kicked up so much dust he had sneezing jags. Bad for his dignity.
Today is one of the other samples I picked up when I got Neela Vermeire Eshal.
Both were bought based on the name.
I have been on an on again/off again search for a true black tea perfume but have yet to find something fantastic. This thing surely is not it.
Why pick on this name? It sounded sort of British 1960s Carnaby Street Mick Jagger wearing great clothes and drinking a cup of tea in a haute hotel tea salon with all the elderly people looking on askance.
Alas, no.
Fragrantica calls this an aromatic Fougere (wikiparfums says citrus). Released in 2020, Isabelle Doyen was the nose. Vague notes list: Earl Grey tea, Maté, tea (as in black tea), leather, tonka bean.
It opens with what I think is maté – herbaceous, earthy, maybe smoky but a whisper of lemon drop candies.
After a bit it veers into strong lemon oil. Not Pledge or anything like that. Just smells oily. That’s not bad really.
But, the body of this is Lipton’s Lemon Iced Tea on me – probably my least favourite commercially produced iced tea that you can get here. We’re talking very very sweet chemical lemon dominating poor quality black tea.
This has decent longevity, and I would hope it actually smells of Mick Jagger drinking tea on other people ‘cause it’s both a good concept and a great name.
Anyway, I think I’ve asked for black tea perfume recs in the past but I’m doing it again. I’m after something truly black-tea-smelling, dark, smoky, etc. So, if there’s something you love …
Anyone tried Voyages Imaginaires fragrances?
Pics: wikiparfums, pexels
Cinnamon,
Congrats on the household refresh! I love those kind of projects. So very satisfying. I have several areas that need attention, but right now all available funds are being spent on our daughter’s forthcoming wedding which is less than 100 days away. Loved your bit about the pup. How dare they! As for black tea scents, I’ve got Vilhelm Dear Polly which is black tea and a bit of apple. It’s very cozy.
How about Molecule 01 + Black Tea?
I can think of two tea scents but at least one is discontinued: Annick Goutal Eau de Fier (I think I have a bottle wrapped in concrete and lead somewhere unless I used it up) and CB I Hate Perfume Russian Caravan Tea, which is, last time I checked, still available. And wonderful.
How dare they not pay the pup toll! Have they no taste or breeding? If you are in the house as a visitor every time you pass the dog you must exclaimed over his or her being the smartest, handsomest, and generally bestest dog in the known universe until you are dismissed from duty. Same with a cat. But the dog will just be hurt; the cat will take revenge by entwining itself around your ankles while you are halfway down the staircase and carrying a piano.
Hey Cinnamon,
My fave is Masque Russian Tea but there used to be a CB I Hate Perfumes tea that was so unbelievably drop dead gorgeous. Long gone. Soz.
Portia xx
Masque stuff is stupid money but I will have a look for this. Also, it’s hard to get here. Another thing to put on list for Paris …