Sniffa in London

Greetings from London, y’all!

We all arrived on Sunday, which dictated that we fly on the 4th.  Yeah, like that.  Pile little kids on airplanes on top of just the normal European flights, and it was really sleepy by the time my plane got into London at 8:30 in the morning.  After a long wait for the bus to the hotel, we all got here, reinvigorated with coffee.

But we are talking about perfume/shopping ladies, so that would be a lazy day if we stopped there.  After a quick lunch of fish and chips, we had to investigate Harrod’s, which is in the middle of their summer sale.  I have never in my life seen perfumes and cosmetics on sale at 40 and 50% off. Not all of them, but a goodly amount.  The place was packed, and the bargains were amazing.  Some, but not all, Amouages at 50% off.  Diptyques at 50% off. Some Piguets at 50% off.  But!  It was wall to wall people. You could not even move half the time.  Okay, I’m going back later this week to try it with fewer people.

Then it was off to meet Sylvia and Nicola at Wolesley’s (sp) for afternoon tea.  It’s next to the Ritz on Picadilly, and is the most charming place.  I knew Sylvia and Nicola would be lovely since I’ve chatted them both up via comments and mail, but they are both truly delightful companions.  We chatted about everything, compared perfumes, Nicola pulled out some vintage Magie Noire Sylvia had given her.  Of course there was spritzing!\

Update for Monday: This is going to be short.   Long day, lots of perfumes, mostly centered around Boadicea (sp) the Victorious, which they have at Selfridges and Harrod’s (Selfridge’s was putting on the presentation). This is the line that Michelle Obama bought three of when she was on London for the G20.  Okay, there are 28 perfumes in a line that is 7 months old.  Color me overwhelemed. I’m still sorting them out in my head and will be talking more about them on Thursday or later, as I get time to spend with them.  It’s an interesting line, but I haven’t made up my mind on them yet.  28?!?!?

So far, this has been a great trip.  Wonderful people, perfectly organized by the Karens, and just a blast.  If my internet would behave in my room, I’d write more, but since I’m in the basement of this lovely hotel typing on an inadequate keyboard AND I’ve had three glasses of wine, this is as far as I get for the night. More later, mwah, xoxo!

  • donanicola says:

    It was so lovely to meet you properly Patty! I’m so glad you’re having a great time and that you love Liberty. It is my favourite shop and could only be improved by a little food hall out back. Then I’d just move in.

  • Tania says:

    Damn, now I have to go to Harrods! How long is that sale on again? No, wait, I already spent too much on ‘fumes at the Liberty sale… But, Amouages half-price? Damn.

    I wish I could have joined the Sniffa, but it was on a work day. By the time I found out when it was, it was too short notice to get the day off. Ah well. There’s still the Basenotes perfume thing on 28th August….

  • Klara says:

    Oh, I’m so jealous of you right now! If you’ll get back to Harrods, check out the fifth floor – there is this makeup store right before the entrance to Haute Parfumerie and they had a lot of scents by The Different Company and some other perfumes 50% off!
    Enjoy your trip!

  • mharvey816 says:

    I must know…was there Piguet Baghari extrait on sale? *drools*

    My wallet and my husband are glad that I am not there!

  • carter says:

    Three glasses of wine and who knows how many bangers?

  • Hilary says:

    Oh lord. Perfumes on sale at Harrods?! Do you remember which Amouages and Diptyques are on sale? Ack!

    Sounds like you’re having a wonderful trip…

  • Elle says:

    Sounds like such a great time! And that Harrod’s sale – chartreuse w/ envy! I’m very ambivalent about the Boadiceas. Thought I’d adore many of them from the notes (which vary considerably depending on which website you’re looking at), but, for me at least, the reality was less than amazing. They’re good, but none of the ones I’ve sampled left me thinking I needed a bottle (although I do love the bottles themselves). I’ve sampled quite a few, but not all twenty eight – maybe the one I will completely fall for is still out there. However, I’m wearing E. Roudnitska’s Diorama today and thinking about how he and other perfumers of his era were able to take years to create one scent. Years. One scent. Seven months. Twenty eight.

  • annie says:

    OH,Lordy…what fun….I’m totally enjoying through you!!….uuummm..perhaps you know what Michelle Obama wears/bought?…jus’askin’,you know…(swoon)

  • Shelley says:

    Vintage Magie Noir? (…and I mean that both ways…)

    Glad y’all are filling up the days…continue to have the fun…catch you on the States side! (Virtually speaking, of course.)

    • Shelley says:

      Ack! that was supposed to say:

      Vintage Magie Noir? **sniff** (and I mean that both ways…)

      Used blasted HTML code recognized symbols the first time. Hmmph.

  • Musette says:

    Wow – you’ve done more in 2 days than most people do in a week!

    28 ‘fumes in a brand-new line? Sounds ambitious (and I say that in a very qualifying way:-).

    Continue to have a GREAT time! Love to the Karens. Man, that Harrods sale sounds like it’s worth flying over for (except for the whole ‘amortizing the airfare into the savings’ thing – sucks to be responsible!)

    xoxoxo>-)

  • kathleen says:

    Sounds totally, enjoyable. Dead jealous. Hope to find lovely, new, surprises on TPC, once you’re back.