It’s the run-up to Thanksgiving on Thursday here in the US and I am … taking it easy. Glad my days of hosting big family gatherings, with the attendant preparations and drama and exhaustion, are behind me. We’re making Peruvian chicken and a side dish or two, and dessert of course.
We’ve had some rain for a welcome change, and the advent of this cold, wet weather has me reaching for orange fragrances, blossom and/or the fruit itself, which always read more “fall” to me than “spring.” Why? No idea. But it’s been a perfect time for some orange-forward fragrances in rotation.
Fendi Theorema – the original, the OG, the GOAT. Perfumistas of a certain vintage probably have at least one bottle of this stashed away. From 1998, nose is Christine Nagel; notes are nutmeg, cardamom, lemon, pepper, Brazilian rosewood, orange blossom, jasmine, cinnamon, spices, carnation, ylang, osmanthus, rose, amber, benzoin, guaiac wood, sandalwood, patchouli. A warm, spicy mélange of a comfort scent that manages not to overwhelm despite those notes.
I Profumi di Firenze Arancia Dolce — My little orange dabber from iPdF – between usage and evaporation this is almost empty. Sadface. More the juice than the blossom from this one. Bought at the shop near the Uffizi. I will miss this when it’s gone. I’d love to get back there some day.
L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube — launched in 2012, Bertrand Duchaufour; notes are petitgrain, olive blossom, orange blossom, beeswax, lavender, tobacco, jasmine, benzoin, olibanum. A fascinating, more animalic (at least on me), less flowery take on orange blossom, with a sharpish green that never goes away. Unisexy, lasts forever on my skin.
Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger — created by Christopher Sheldrake in 1995 (can that be right?!) with orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, white rose, musk, hibiscus, cumin. An ad blurb says it “surrounds you but is at the same time unobtrusive.” Mmmmmmkayyyy, “unobtrusive” is not how I’d describe it — less “bodyguard” and more a hostage-taking situation. Anyway, this is not for everyone, with that weird, intense cumin-y opening. This is also autumn in a bottle to me. I love finding hints of it on my sweaters that have been packed away.
Any particular fragrance note calling to you these days? Special Thanksgiving plans? Travel plans in general coming up? Sooooooooo glad not to be traveling on Thanksgiving!
images via Pexels
SL OB is the only scent that has ever given me a rash. I now have a travel spray for scarf wear.
I’m always pleased the UK misses out on Thanksgiving & loathe we as a nation have adopted Black Friday. Now it’s Black Friday MONTH!!! Gggrrrr
March you would adore Alvarez Gomez L’Eau d’Orange colonia.
It’s the dirtiest OB I’ve come across, not cuminous sweaty, but it has an animalic growl like the best white florals. It lasts forever & costs pennies. It’s Spanish so you may be able to find it more easily than Tom
I’m with you on equating orange with Autumn
I’m currently awash in vintage Ubar, which is the essence of Autumn to me, perfect for a chilly, VERY windy day!
Oh, Ubar! Between that and the No. 5 you smell GLORIOUS.
Heya Musette,
Hope everyone that celebrates has a safe and surrounded Thanksgiving.
Back in 2014 we did Thanksgiving in NYC, staying at the now closed Roosevelt, with Jin and Kath. It was fun but once was enough.
Traveling the USA in the few weeks before it was excellent though. Hardly any travellers because everyone leaves it for the big Thanksgiving trips.
Portia xx
Nope! Not me – MARCH!
:: I don’t write nearly as eloquently as she does::
Xoxo
::giggles::
One Thanksgiving IS enough. And yes, before Thanksgiving, and after (but before Xmas) is a great time to travel here!
Sorry March,
HA! It was happy bedlam. We did Black Friday there too. That was an eye opener, and no mistake. Feral.
One day we will come back to the USA.
Portia xx
Ye gods, the years the (teenage) girls wanted to go to the mall for black friday! We’d make a plan, I’d drop them off and run home. NO THANK YOU.
I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I have never liked Thanksgiving even as a kid, so I have never done Thanksgiving. And I hate roast turkey. Your Peruvian chicken however sounds great! I do sincerely hope that everyone has a fun and lovely day.
I’m glad you mentioned Fendi Theorema. Quite a while ago I was looking for samples of this everywhere with no luck. I see now that eBay has minis. I may get one and give it to my daughter if it’s not for me, but I think it might be though. She is crazy about orange, citrus, and orange blossom.
Oh, yes, try Theorema! Honestly it’s not challenging and it’s so, so pretty. I bet your daughter will like it and I hope you do as well :D. I’d eat the traditional Turkey Day meal if needed but I am soooo over that kind of cooking. Our meal will be very easy and (I hope) delicious.
Dear March,
I’m glad to have this reminder to pull out Seville au l’Aube — might wear it on Thursday. It’s a great one with so many layers. Like everything but the kitchen sink, which is what Thanksgiving kinda is. I have a mini of Fleur d’Orangers but admit to finding that one a bit challenging. I think I need to wait and be patient for the beautiful drydown you mentioned…wait for the cumin to fade away. Wishing you and all the Posse Peeps a happy holiday season.
Adding, I’m cooking here for our family of six. The week after Thanksgiving, I’m flying to see my bestie for a weekend.
That sounds lovely — and what a great time to travel! Carolyn and I are also doing a little getaway to Phoenix/Scottsdale for a few days in early December.
And to you as well! The sun is shining and all my grocery shopping is done. I think I’ll take a nice, long walk. FdO I reaaallly disliked the first time I tried it, and had that funny experience of “what is that FANTASTIC smell?!?” about an hour later, and realizing it was me 😀 Seville is easy on me and I appreciate its longevity.
Oh, do I know that experience. It happened to me with two perfumes that I thought were just “meh”, then wondering later where that gorgeous and fantastic smell was coming from! The perfumes were vintage Guerlain Mitsouko and much later, Guerlain Metallica!
Oh boy you DID smell fantastic! Mitsouko was one of my gateway drugs to perfume obsession.
Mitsouko is QUING!
I love Theorema! Theorema and Feminite du Bois are the two I choose most often to wear for Thanksgiving. I managed to snag 5 bottles when I could find them reasonably priced on Fragrancenet.com. don’t know why Fendi discontinued this one.
I have no real holiday plans this year. Just having Thanksgiving at home.
Oooooh great work on Theorema! I wore it again yesterday, what an amazing fragrance. And shame on Fendi. And CONGRATS on staying home for Thanksgiving!
No immediate travel plans. Notes of the moment … none in particular but doing Perfumer H Smoke on repeat. Got some hyacinths blooming in the kitchen.
Ooooh! Hyacinths in the kitchen! I approve. I used to do paperwhites every year, not sure how/when/why I got out of the habit. I bet you smell fantastic.
Well… don’t forget: you have some now! Get them in a little vase ( which you said you have ) with a water/vodka solution. They’ll bloom in no time!
You also have some hyacinths!
What a fun post! How will you cook the chicken Peruvian style?
I’ll have to put on some of the Seege Lutens tonight.
I wore Coco Chanel from a 2015 bottle bought in Epcot’s Paris section. It was perfect for the weather and smoothly aged.
So, I miss all the Peruvian chicken takeout joints back east. Our attempt (based on online recipes) will be just regular ol’ roast bird with the seasonings making it Peruvian style, and the green sauce of course. I ADORE Coco! I bet you smelled fantastic! Perfect fall scent.