Hi, Posse! I just got back from the Windy City and boy, how I miss it. You know what I miss most? Everything. The traffic, the scads of people (yeah, we’re not NY but still…PEOPLE). Lots of different ‘looks’ (though I can go the rest of my life not seeing another ‘man-bun’ and that would be a-okay. Ymmv).
I miss luxury. Sumptuary Laws being broken all over Boul Mich. I got a nice taste of it, though. Walk with me through Cartier…
…so…I don’t even know why I was in Cartier, except that I have always loved that shop. It’s got a cozy elegance that makes me feel happy and comfy whenever I walk through the doors. I came in to see what was new, perfume-wise but before I get to that, I want to tell you about another customer therein, an older gentleman, clad in ‘that’ raincoat that just shrieks ‘Very Successful Businessman’……he was going through a long list of handwritten names, ticking off boxes….at first I thought he might’ve been, I dunno, some high-level Corporate guy, checking inventory…..then my SA came up to him, saying ‘okay! I have 30 of this style pen in the US and 22 of this other style’. I nearly plotzed. The average price of a Roadster pen is $675. Thirty of those would put a new roof and back porch on this little shack, bless its hort!
Alas, I am not on his list. Sigh.
I moved on to fragrance – and …guess what? Mathilde Laurent has done THREE OUDS! Am I the last dog over the hill? Did y’all know about these? I’ve been amongst the cows for far too long, I guess. Les Heures Voyageuses: Oud & Rose, Oud & Musc, Oud & Oud. I spritzed Oud & Rose because Rose and it is lovely but I thought ‘oh, okay. It’s pretty….” I then perfunctorily spritzed Oud & Musc and was both over and underwhelmed since I am not overfond of oud or musk and this thing goes on a bit harsh and heavy-handed. ‘oh,well…it’s another ‘oud-y’ thing, Cartier is later to the party than I would’ve thought’…and I walked away, looking at pearl earrings…….’whoa! What the hell am I smelling? What is that gorgeous….? wth? are you kidding me?‘. Yeppers – it was that Oud & Musc. It’s in a spray bottle and the initial blast is a little fiery. About 3 minutes in, it starts to settle down, stretch itself out….and…it. is. GORGEOUS. Luxe and smooth like a cashmere/silk blend, with none of the cold slickery of satin….just warm and soft & very, very luxe. It’s that perfect blend of elegance and simplicity – I think I’ve talked about the Perfect White Blouse before – you know those silk/cotton blend blouses with perfect covered buttons and tailoring to make your heart sing (isn’t it funny how the perfect cuff length can make you feel like a Queen?)….this is That Oud. It costs a Queenly sum but it’s gorgeous and comes in a gorgeous gold bottle (shades of Amouage!) $375 for 2.5oz 
Feeling Princess. There are days when ruling is heavy work, indeed, and you long for some time-OUT in an Auburn 851 Speedster, silk charmeuse headscarf and Pucci sunglasses at the ready. You don’t need no steenking Black Card. You are a Royal Princess, zipping through Monte Carlo in a 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster and your world is your oyster.
stolen from filmcars.com – the image, not the car
And it’s a luxe world, indeed. You are wearing Creed’s Royal Princess Oud. A sparkling, rosy oud, heavy on the ‘sparkling’. This is such a pretty scent. I’m wearing it as I type this and it just makes me smile. The base of Benjoin Siam, Regal Indian Oud and Styrax (as well as Mysore Sandalwood) grounds the pretty top notes of Bitter Sicilian bergamot which is sweetened by rose & violet (which sings throughout this composition, thankyouverymuch!) – all sorts of other pretties are in there as well (jasmine, vanilla, patchouli and iris) but the violet is the kicker for this Princess. This whole thing is just lovely, as befits a much-loved Princess with an open account at every boutique, that Speedster….and not a care in the world ! 30ml $260, 75ml for $385. 
My beloved Andy at Neiman-Marcus gave me a carded sample, which I am going to pass on to a lucky Posseite! What’s making you feel Princess-y (or Princely) these days. These are dark days in our world – I’d love to hear some sparkly stories!
Did you say musk and oud? I love musk and oud. Did you say drawing? Me, me, please let it be me!
Currently when I want to feel really special in the fall/winter I use Parfum Sacre. It was one at first I dismissed too early because of the initial spray, but then the next few days kept thinking about, went back tried again…and again…and fell in love. We are now in a serious relationship 😉 Would love to try the sample.
Luxury makes me think of cashmere, pearls and champagne…..I’m not sure if other would agree, but lately Puredistance White makes me feel sparkly and pretty! I would love to try the Cartier Oud & Musc. Does anyone know where I could find a sample?!!!
Guerlain’s Encens Mythique makes me feel like a Rich Lady, if not quite royalty. Cashmere sweaters and crystal wineglasses are luxuries I make sure not to save just for special occasions.
Yay, AnnieA! I am seconding you on that wonderful Guerlain — so rich, plush and elegant!!
Mohur makes me feel like I´m Aishwarya Rai, not just any princess. Today is my birthday and I followed your lead, heading to the posh side of town. Had a nice lunch with beer and got myself the last huge Rose Jam bottle, which felt great, since I´d be coveting it since last year. I have to mention that we just had the biggest environmental disaster of our history. Just google Rio Doce. Totally dead, one of the world´s largest rivers…
Birthday twins! and Rose Jam shower gel twin, too. I also bought the big size just recently in my neck of the woods — last one — and like you, I have been coveting it since last year! Woohoo to both of us! We’ll be smelling like roses for a good long while. 🙂 Best wishes to you, and so very very sorry to hear about the environmental disaster.
Wishing you loads of happiness, fellow scorpion! And yes, we’ll be smelling of roses for a while…
Happy, happy birthday to you, dear Solanace! Enjoy your special day!
Thank you, Ann!
Hello to a fellow Chicago lover–I’m from the Chicago suburbs. I live in California now and every time I come back into the city it is a joy. Driving along LSD at night still blows me away no matter how many times I’ve experienced it. I adore the city in all seasons, but I have lovely memories of going to see the windows at Christmas, the Frango mints at Marshall Field’s…sigh.
I’ve been trying out Rose of No Man’s Land by Byredo and it’s made me feel elegant–and princessy.
I’m not sure I’m feeling very princessy these days, but sparkly nailpolish helps!
Testing some samples I ordered from Luckyscent today, but TF Noir Pour Femme is what is making me feel royal lately. Luckily got 2 samples and of it and a decant in recent swaps, so those should last until I am really ready to splurge (Christmas shopping taking precedence at the moment). Thanks for the drawing!
I’ve been wearing Salome, very sexy!
I always love reading your stories, Musette! To feel princess-y, that would be vintage Amouage Dia EDT. :o) I smells rich. And a close runner-up would be Amouage Interlude for women. It has a smooth richness that just speaks of wealth.
Lovely to see you, Ms A, and that you got to the beloved Michigan Boulevard – your posts like this always remind me of the Green Acres theme song – “the chores! the stores!” I collect old jewelry especially vintage silver and turquoise and found my HG sterling coral and turquoise ring at an estate sale in September. Rings in general are my favorites because I can look and enjoy them but this one is a man’s ring that I was able to get sized down and it fits perfectly, soft and silky from long wear and I’ve been pairing it with all manner of silver bracelets. It elevates my jeans and orthopedic shoes 🙂 So does perfume of course, these dark days have me reaching for lots of incense. Your oud experiences sound fun, and those pens are the kind of thing that you don’t realize are what’s missing from your life till you see one, sigh.
I’m a knitter, which means I’m usually knitting for other people. But I knit some cashmere socks, tailor-made for MY OWN FEET. Even knitting them felt decadent. Wearing them is putting me in a luxe coma.
Those sound FABULOUS!
Howdy, darling! Loved sharing your visit down Boul Mich — wish I had been there with you; one day, one day. 🙂 An SA friend of mine told me about those Cartiers but you know how I am about oud. Still, if anyone can make it lovely, it’s Mathilde. And the same with the Creed — since their other oud worked for me, I’m not quite so skeered of trying the Princess one. PG Indochine and Aomassai (from a dear friend) and MFK’s Ciel de Gum are making me feel, if not sparkly, at least very, very happy (hard to feel too sparkly after Paris). Also, my DH’s job is safe, so that’s also on my list of blessings to be thankful for.
Wearing Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Reinette today. While lying in bed this morning, listening to the radio, I wondered why I chose to crown myself Queen (okay, of Cupcakes). Dunno, but Reinette is certainly making us feel royal.
We still don’t really get oud. But if you, dear Musette are flipping out over this one, well, We had better look into it.
Well, if you’re the last dog over the hill, then I’m the dog that didn’t realize there was a hill to go over! 😉 I’m glad to read about these new ouds, as well as the Creed one. The oud bandwagon left the station without me, and I’m still figuring it out.
Maybe Mr. Richie Rich was buying corporate holiday gifts? Wow! Would have loved to be on his shopping list, too. Loved the photo of the vintage auto; I’ve always loved those. It’s one of the little pleasures of watching shows like Downton Abbey or Poirot. 🙂 Today I’ll wear No. 19 edp, my HG, since it’s my bday (11/17) and enjoy cake tonight. That’s as close to Princess as it gets in my world.
Wishing a very happy birthday to a lovely lady!! Enjoy your day, Dina! Birthday hugs to you …
Hi Musette, well I finally got around to wearing a couple of samples you gifted me. The Clive Christian “V” I wore yesterday.I tested at home before I left for work…it’s a beautiful chypre, you can tell it has high quality ingredients, sort of old-fashioned, but that made me feel like a princess…very classy, loved it, although I had to reapply after lunch..for those prices it should last longer. I definately could see wearing “V” in that beautiful roadster.
I don’t usually test things in work, but just before lunch I thought, wth, and I just opened and dropped an tiny drop of a Slumberhouse Zahd sample you sent me on my wrist…OMG, are you trying to kill me? It’s a horrible, oily, cherry, cranberry, spicy, bitter, futuristic pipe tobacco bomb…yuk…could not scrub fast enough and I still smell it…it’s smoky in a bad way. …DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL. I can’t remember when I have disliked anything as much. Made me laugh , sure hope you do not take offense, but no way jose, not me, I want pretty and to feel like a princess!
Sorry , Dina, this went in the wrong place. Hope Musette reads this.
Happy Happy Birthday!!! I’m with you on the Chanel #19 & the #19 Poudre…my favorites!
Ooh love a beautiful oud this time of year. Makes me feel luxurious and regal. Winter is a cool, crisp time but full of beauty. Gorgeous sunsets and sunrises too!! Love dressing in warm cozy clothes. Glitz and glam of holidays make you feel all sparkly.
SSS Jour Ensolielle, and trying two tiny samples: Puredistance Antonia (and I didn’t think I liked green), and Van Cleef & Arpel’s California Reverie (barefoot California princess). Also Neela Vermiere Mohur (definitely princess material), Equistrius, and Lumiere Blanche. The latter two not exactly princess, but gorgeous. But why is it so many of my favorites disappear (into my skin) after application?
What’s making me feel gorgeous is vintage Vivian Westwood’s Boudoir. I really love that fragrance. Sexy and sultry, but wearing pink, not black.
I am stalking eBay for that one! I found a mini of the vintage body powder at an estate sale for pennies and it smells so good. You’ve described it perfectly.
How can you tell which is a vintage version?
The older juice is pinker, newer is more orange.
31 Rue Cambon