After several weeks of no rain here in my neck of the woods, we are now getting drenched, and pretty much every day at some time. Very happy to see the much-needed rainy days, but it would be nice if they could alternate with a few sunny ones, just for variety’s sake. Take note, dear Mother Nature, won’t you please? And it looks to be a “Rainy Days and Mondays” kind of week as well, if the weather forecasters are correct. Sigh.
Therefore, none of my traditional, almost-summer scents are working out, so I’m having to poke around and come up with a few that fit into the “What to wear on a rainy day?” category. I’ve never had such a category, so had to really plow through a lot of contenders to find some viable candidates. Our days and days of showers have not dropped the temperatures drastically, so fragrances that skew too warm and cozy aren’t appropriate, but neither are the cooling, chill-out scents that you might reach for on a hot and sunny 80-degree plus day.
I ended up with Si de Lolita de Lempicka, Zoologist Camel, Jo Malone’s Ginger Biscuit and Guerlain Idylle Duet Jasmin-Lilas. They seemed to hit the middle of the road pretty well, scratching the rainy day itch admirably. And none of these are perfumes that I normally would be wearing in May, and haven’t worn in a while, so there’s a bit of novelty in that. Kind of nice once in a while to wear some things unexpectedly, you know? I started to choose the lovely Hermes Iris Ukiyoe (thank you, Surrender to Chance for carrying it again!), but it’s already a pretty watery-type scent and wet on top of wet was just too much.
What about you? What scent do you pull out when the skies open up and you have rainy days galore?
It usually only rains in the winter time here, so I usually just wear all my classic winter scents. Mitsouko, Bottega Veneta, 31 rue Cambon, Iris Silver Mist and if it’s particularly chilly Portrait of A Lady.
Liz Zorn’s Violets and Rainwater, perfect for a rainy day! Trust me! xoxo
Voleur de Roses
Seconding the Goutals and the des Merveilles, in my case L’Heure Exquise and the Elixer.
Another vote for Apres L’Ondee. Also have worn Eau de Merveilles lately. Today it’s the Cologne of the Missions vanilla, which is not my usual green jam, but I felt the need for sweetness. Did some vintage No 5 parfum yesterday, which was also comforting.
Jour d’Hermes would be a good choice, I think. We too have this crazy April weather a month later.
Yeah, mostly fruity/floral stuff that doesn’t get a lot of love otherwise. L’Artisan mure et musc YSL Paris is perfect in the rain. Some of the Annick Goutals.
Apres l’Ondee for me, too. I also like your choice of Si Lolita. Just spicy enough for the damp but not a winter heavy scent. SSS Wood Violet.
Hey Ann. Don’t really have one as we get a lot of rain. But cold and rainy would include La Myrrhe and Tolu, warm and rainy Coromandel and Cuir d’Ange. Hugs CQ.
Another +1 for Apres L’Ondee!
I love Vol de Nuit on a rainy day.
The sparkle of Eau des Merveilles is particularly nice then too.
Sydney has had a very dry couple of years Ann. We really need some wet weeks with a slow drenching rainfall.
I like Parfum d’Empire Equistrius and Parfumerie Generale Indian Wood for our thunderstorms that come, soak and leave in an evening.
Portia xx
Creed Bois de Portugal today, Tom Ford Patchouli Absolute tomorrow.
Rainy season in Washington, DC!
The sun came out finally yesterday along with the gnats and humidity!
Serge Lutens Gris Clair is my all time favorite rainy day scent.
Mitsouko. It *is* humidity in a bottle.
NO BAD TIME FOR MITSOUKO. OK maybe there is one somewhere but I can’t think of it. I used to think I had to put Mitsy away in the heat, but even that’s not true!
Mitsy is forEVAH – and is perfect, always!
Agree with Christine in Apres l’Ondee. I also struggle to mix it up, going for this, or Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman, and then wind up with En Avion or 24 Faubourg just to bring some sun back in.
Guerlain, Apres L’ondee, Just right.