What’s your EBP?

EBPI had planned a bright, cheery Lipstick Monday post for you all, but a nasty spring cold has put the kibosh on some of my retail homework for it. And of course, with a stuffed-up nose, no new sniffage either. So this is as good a time as any to pull out “What’s your EBP?”

As you all probably know by now, it’s not some kind of official-speak, as in, “Hey, Joe, what’s your ETA to your next delivery stop?” It’s Emergency Backup Perfume, and it was coined by lovely Posse reader AnnieA on a post several years ago. It’s something a lot of us probably do without even thinking about it. We apply a scent at home, then put the spray or vial or mini bottle into to-go mode and head out the door. And after a busy day or week (or in my case, sometimes months), we forget to take them all back out again.
So now that spring is (hopefully) pretty much in your backyards (autumn for you folks in the Southern Hemisphere), what scents are creeping into your repertoire, and therefore, your purse, briefcase, backpack, etc.

As for my EBP scents, I’m toting around decants/samples of my recent loves, Amouage Ubar and Guerlain Encens Mythique (so good on chilly spring mornings and evenings), but I know they’ll leave the purse soon to be replaced. I’m also test-wearing little decants of Chanel Misia and Amouage Sunshine. Neither was love at first sniff for me: Violet often doesn’t agree with my skin, which made Misia a bit off-putting at first, but I’m still giving her time; Sunshine I found quite interesting because of its unusual form of brightness. Is it just my quirky nose or does it remind any of you a little bit of that B vitamin smell, a.k.a. that orange wonder Le Feu de Issey Miyake from back in the late ‘90s? I know many folks really liked that one and were very unhappy when it was discontinued. Maybe Sunshine will take off for me in very warm weather; until then I’ll keep wearing it, but not sure if it’s one that I’ll need to restock.

So do have a peek at the bottom of your purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc., and share your EBP scents: What vials, decants, bottles, etc., are rolling around in there?

As always, a word of caution: I try to keep my EBPs in a plastic zip-top baggie in a feeble attempt at organization, but also mostly because I’m deathly afraid of leakage. Having once had the lining of a handbag stained this way, I’m not eager for a repeat performance. And it is nice to have your scent choices all together and see them at a glance, instead of spread out loosey-goosey in the bottom of your purse, which is what I used to do, before said accident.

  • stina says:

    I always carry a travel atomizer of Sycomore in my purse; if whatever I apply in the morning doesn’t last, it’s Sycomore to the rescue! It works on me in every type of weather/humidity, and if there’s some skin scent left of the previous frag, it never clashes.

    The only time spillage was ever an issue was once when I unscrewed the top, not realizing that unless the atomizer is completely empty, the contents splash all over everything like Niagara.

    Oh well – extra Sycomore for everyone within twenty feet of me that day!

    • Ann says:

      I love it, Stina — Sycomore for everyone! But it’s so great that you have a go-to scent that you love, that works for you day or night, no matter the season. Perfection!

  • eleebelle says:

    Today’s purse only has a Kiehl’s Musk Oil rollerball, but my bigger purse has a few mLs of Shalimar EDP, a Pacifica Spanish Amber solid, and a sample of Tihota.In the old days (of 2013), I had a mini of Angel and Candy on my desk. Clearly I addressed emergencies with gourmands. Now I just have a bunch of chocolate granola bars in my desk. 🙂

    • Ann says:

      How funny, eleebelle — from gourmands to chocolate granola bars! It’s all good. And now I’ve gotta get my Tihota out and have a vanilla moment 🙂

  • mals86 says:

    I usually have a couple of decants in my purse – Iris Poudre and Mary Greenwell Plum, typically, or occasionally something else. I used to keep my Eau Premiere decant in there too, but that is nearly gone.

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, Mals; glad you stopped by! Some nice scents you’ve got there. You’ve reminded me to get busy and pull out my MG Plum — thanks! BTW, is there a full bottle of EP in your future (or at least another decant)?

      • Mals86 says:

        Ehhhh, I dunno. I mean, EP is always good, but I keep hearing they’ve messed with it recently and I have other things I CAN wear (should wear, should use up, etc.)…

  • Julie L says:

    Oh no! Sorry you got the cooties….:( Well, hmmm. Right now I have quite the melange in my EB selections, lol. Parfum Sacre; l Artisan L eau Ambre; Demeter Flowering Tonka; Rem Patchouli; and some sort of lavender /vanilla that is I “think” a Lollia sample. Since I work as a vet tech, indeed several , um, odor detractors during my 12 hr days, if you get my drift. And you know what, oh by the way, I’m finding that cats in particular seem to enjoy natural oils like Frankincense, patchouli, etc. I swear they seem to run up on me when I have those on. Even the grouchy hissy ones pause, at least a little,before they take a swipe at me.

    • Ann says:

      Too funny, Julie! You have the fine art of fragrance “camouflaging” 🙂 down pat, I see. Very interesting about the cats, too. Hope your scents keep from getting scratched quite so much.

      • Ann says:

        Oops — that should have been “Hope your scents keep you from getting scratched quite so much.”

      • Julie L says:

        Yeah, some days at work are kind of “Secretions Magnifique-esc”?….,lol!! Parfum de Anal Gland would be an appropriate moniker. 🙂

    • odonata9 says:

      Cats do love scents – big and small! Zoos use perfumes to scent items in big cat exhibits for enrichment. I know a Tiger here is San Diego is partial to Obsession! They actually are doing a study to find out which cats prefer which scents – http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/2011/01/06/cologne-perfume-needed-for-cats/

      • Ann says:

        Oh, yes, I remember that now. How cool!

      • Julie L says:

        Annnnd, if, by the way, you have a cat and he’s not in a good frame of mind? Using lavender has been shown to calm cats. And a scent they do NOT like are the citrus ones! Just an FYI for ya. 🙂

  • Diana says:

    I don’t usually have anything in my purse, but i keep a small assortment of travel sprayers in my desk at work that usually include Chanel Coromandel, Alien and some Jo Malone Black Vetiver Cafe. I always have a purse sprayer of AG Eau d’Hadrien in my gym bag!

    • Ann says:

      Yum, Diana, you smell delicious at work and the gym. Those are some of my favorites, especially Coromandel.

  • poodle says:

    What do I have in there? I’m pretty sure I’ve got little atomizers of Field Notes from Paris, Like This Tilda Swinton, and Mitzah. I keep meaning to throw something springy in there but it’s not all that warm out yet.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, lady — nice to see you! I keep forgetting that spring temps aren’t everywhere just yet. Love your choices, especially the wonderful Mitzah. Why, oh, why, did they have to go and discontinue that one?

  • Heya Ann,
    We had a minor spillage from the L’Artisan Rollerball this holiday because I didn’t rescrew the top on properly after use, I think maybe 1ml lost. My wet pack smells gorgeous even now, nearly 2 weeks later. It was an excellent 10ml size in a very sturdy glass bottle and I used it as fragrance and backup through the whole holiday, I think we are 70% gone now.
    La Chasse aux Papillons by L`Artisan Parfumeur will always remind me of 2015 Singapore & South Korea holiday.
    Portia xx

  • LaDona says:

    I have a little decant of Iris Silver Mist in my purse, but honestly, it’s the Tabac Blonde I reached for ICE ( in case of emergency.) I smoke, so as careful as I am, if a client comes in, I haul my carcass to the bathroom, scrub up, brush the teeth, and spritz the TB on, just in case. If I had a decant of Odori, Tabacco Vanilla, I’d probably use that, instead, since I like it a little more….but I haven’t bothered. As soon as the Tabac Blone is out, I’ll probably replace it, but until then…it’s the perfect emergency perfume!

    • Ann says:

      Quick thinking there, LaDona! I haven’t sniffed the TB in ages so need to get on that. Also, that Odori sounds quite nice — must try as well. Thanks!

  • eldarwen22 says:

    Right now, I’m fighting this cold/chest infection thing and none to happy about it. I always carry a vintage decant of Mitsouko and Bal. I try to change that stuff up on a regular basis but I keep forgetting and end up throwing out a couple of evaporated decants. I did throw a decant of Theorema in my bag though.

    • Ann says:

      Oh, no, eldarwen, hope you are feeling better very soon! It’s such a bummer to be sick when spring is calling, isn’t it? Great classics in your rotation and I love that you’ve got Theorema in there, too. Such a beauty!