It’s Summertime! SummaSummaSumma!
But what does that mean, persackly? Everybody’s notion of Summer is different – folks are always stunned to find out my ( Musette’s) Summer delights are so……pedestrian! Oh, yes…I ‘say’ I long for Portofino – and in many ways, I do. But what I truly long for, no matter where I am, is a quiet spot in a walled garden. I fell in love with a stone villa on Lido precisely because it’s set back behind a 10′ stone wall (you get off the vaporetto and it’s the first stone villa you come to, on the right)..I love messing around with seedlings, weeding veg and flower beds (yes! weeding is very cathartic. If you give each weed the name of some problem or drama and then you rrrrrrrrip! it out of the ground….well..it’s a beautiful thing)…
So my pedestrian Summer Fantasy calls for some pretty easygoing scents. I wrote a post about the casual delight of Jean Nate body splash in the heat of a summer Saturday. Avon Skin So Soft lotion follows (for the mosquitoes, don’tchaknow)…that combo is the epitome of a peaceful, protected Summer day, behind the garden walls. But if I had to do a non-garden fantasy…..well, I can’t go too far afield because I can’t imagine Summer without a garden – so I would juxtapose the garden with one of the densest urban sites on this planet – Manhattan. My fantasy summer would be spent in that elegant actor, Joel Grey’s, penthouse 
Showcased in Metropolitan Home a decade ago, it’s still one of the most gorgeously urbane of urban retreats. This Rooftop Glorious calls for Amouage Beloved.
It’s mid-July and triple-digit temps are gripping the deep South, but I’m deliciously chilly as I wander through a slightly foggy morning in San Francisco. Fragrant stops today will include Barney’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Chanel, Hermes and Nordstrom, plus a swing by the Le Labo boutique to try their new SF city exclusive scent. And later, I’ll pop over to the Embarcadero for some dim sum and then on to the Ferry Building for sables at Miette and chocolates at Michael Recchiuti (waves to Musette as I pack up goodie boxes for her, Patty, Tom, Portia, March and all of our Posse folks. In my fantasy I have enough moolah to send treats to everyone). After a full day of sniffing and tasting, I’ll ride the cable car back to my lovely suite at the Campton Place Hotel on Union Square. And drift off to sleep dreaming of their fabulous breakfast offerings, including their to-die-for malted waffle topped with butter roasted pears, walnuts and whipped vanilla cream. Ahhh … Now the only thing that could make this fantasy any better is if I had some of you wonderful Posse readers to share it with me. My fragrance to sum up this perfect day? The scent of ultimate happiness and sunshine (for me): Le Labo Tubereuse 40. I realize that this is the city exclusive scent for New York, but hey, it’s my fantasy and I’m going to wear it in my beloved City by the Bay. 🙂 — Hugs from Ann
I live at the beach, so my fantasy summer is fairly typical I guess, I would spend long days on the beach sunbathing, reading and taking long walks. I would wear a bikini and look hot in it. I wouldn’t get a sunburn. I would snack on watermelon and drink daiquiris brought to me by a speedy little man who knows when I need a refill. I’d fill my lungs with the ocean air, and I would wear CB I Hate Perfume 1966 At the Beach in the morning, and Carnal Flower at night.
Now there’s a sweet fantasy, Mary! And I’m seconding you in a big way on the bikini part of it and never getting sunburns. That would make the beach just about perfect for me. BTW, you’re smelling pretty fantastic, too!
My dream vacation would be a trip to Europe. Trying the local food, seeing a bunch of stuff, getting perfume that I can’t get here in the US. I would probably be wearing En Passant.
Wouldn’t that be a wonderful trip? I would love to do that as well. And En Passant sounds just perfect for seeing the Continent.
Oooh, I’m on a European tour. It’s, um, a food tour. Pastry. Yes, it’s a pastry tour! It starts in Salzburg. It’s sunny, but just cool enough to wear a sweater (it’s cashmere, and it feels fabulous). I’m wearing just a little bit of Ciel d’Opale (so as not to interfere with the aromas of the various small and jewel-like pastries on the platter before me). A charming waiter is plying me with small cups of espresso. It’s midmorning, my best buddy Christine is sitting across from me (she’s got her own platter, though), and we don’t have anywhere else to be for hours and hours.
Oooh, nice fantasy, Lisa! Be sure to have some delicious Linzer torte for me while you’re there. 🙂 That Ciel d’Opale is really lovely, isn’t it?
I’ll be sure to sample multiple pastries in your honor, Ann!
Yes, I really liked the Ciel d’Opale (it came in my LA Scentsation swag bag!) – a bit surprising, since from the notes I was sure I’d prefer the other two. But, it turns out that sometimes I really prefer pretty over interesting.:-)
I’ll gladly join you on safari! I spent two weeks in South Africa a few years ago (Sir Richard also has a safari lodge near Kruger National Park – too rich for my blood, though; I stayed nearby) and had a wonderful, wonderful time. I’d go again in a heartbeat.
I go through PdN Eaux like no one’s business during the summer, but I fell in love last summer with PdE Wazamba. It’s surprising how well incense does in the summer.
That trip sounds wonderful — how cool that you got to spend two weeks there! I’m glad you mentioned the PdN and the PdE as I’ve heard good things about both and been meaning to try them. Gotta get my summer incense groove on!
You all have wonderful summer fantasies and I’d be happy with all of them; my own is more pedestrian by far. I’d start with a fabulous weekend in Chicago, eating and shopping, then I’d like to take a ferry across Lake Michigan to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My husband and I checked out a great house rental up there, astronomically priced (but of course in any fantasy money is no object) – it was made of stone, not too big, very private with a perfect combination of woods, dunes and private beach. Lots of solitude and heartbreakingly gorgeous, not to mention cool. Nicolai L’Eau Chic would be a laid back daytime choice, or Slumberhouse Pear & Olive.
that doesn’t sound pedestrian AT ALL! Whatchutalkin’boutWillis? The idea of a ferry across the lake to the Yupe sounds delightful. Of course, I hope that house has a screened-in porch, the UP is noted for its blackflies and deer flies, both of which pack a mighty pinch!
xoxoA
Oh, ladies — that sounds like heaven to me! Love Chi-town and that house on the lake would be DIVINE!!
First, I love all of your fantasies. I’ll take any of them and would be wonderfully happy. But, I’ve got a long planned vacation coming up that’s similar to Anne’s (minus a lot of the moolah, I’m afraid). I’m heading out to San Francisco for a few days and since that’s where I first fell in love with Bois des Iles by Chanel, I’ll have to give her an outing, at least one day. I’m going with non-perfume lovers, so it may be tough to do quality sniffing, but I hope to do a littlle sampling along the way (my small town is lacking in opportunities)
Then it’s out of the city and into nature with several days in Seqoia and Yosemite National Parks. I don’t know what to wear there. Something light enough not to interfere with the smells of being out in the parks. I rather suspect the prevailing smell will be sunscreen and mosquito repellant, but I’d love to hear any suggestions. Enjoy your summers!
Lucky you! How wonderful that you get to go to SF — it’s my favorite U.S. city.
Perhaps you could suggest to your non-perfume pals that everyone gets a “free” afternoon and they can do what they want and you can take off for a solo sniffing spree. And the national parks sound great, too. It sounds like an amazing trip and I hope you have a wonderful time!
CB I Hate Perfume has a perfume/bug repellant called Outside. I haven’t tried it, so can’t vouch for its efficacy.
Too funny, Laurel! But definitely worth a try I think …
If it smells better than deep woods off, I’m sold 🙂