Hey Posse. BLOODY HELL! It’s Thursday and I got nothing. There are two half finished drafts. One for the new Aftelier fragrance and something else. SORRY! So I’ve been wearing a bunch of old favourites lately. My sampling mojo has died a sad and lonely death. I’ll get right back on the horse this week though, hopefully.
Old Favourites
So, what have I been wearing?
The Beat Man by Burberry
Spicy ginger woodsiness. How does this old favourite not get more love.
Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori
Salty tuberose. So bloody more-ish. This is how a 21st century salty aquatic should smell.
Velours by YSL
Amber and stuff. Super old favourite, wear it a lot.
Mitsouko by Guerlain
Mitsouko is the peach chypre. THE perfect peach chypre. Chuck out the rest, Mitsouko is the best.
Oscar Pour Lui
Soapiest soap-fest. I recently rediscovered this OTT beauty and nothing comes close in the soap files.
Niki de Saint Phalle
This old favourite is the ultimate dry, brittle chypre.
Mandragore by Annick Goutal
Mandragore is weird assed green shit, slightly sweet. March is also a hard core fan.
Stash Unspoken by SJP
Stash Unspoken is an easy, breezy fruity amber thing. A little, or maybe quite a bit like Burberry Brit Woman.
These and others but mostly old favourites.
What about you?
Portia xx
I’ve been wearing my beloved Shalimar most of the time, with breaks for Donna Karan Black Cashmere and Rosine Rose d’Homme. All familiar and wonderful which is what I want these days, also in food and movies I’m streaming and clothes I’m wearing. Everything soothing and cozy.
Hey Rosarita!
I love Rosine Rose d’Homme! They even had an extract version. Back in 2014 my travel buddy Michael bought them. SO GOOD! I often wish I’d picked them up too.
Portia xx
I guess I’ve been wearing the tried and trues lately also. I’ve had trouble with being too distracted to even post my SOTD. Yes, I will have some whine with my cheese.
Bois des Iles, Bulgari Black and Figuier Ardent have been in my rotation. I did try Dame Mimosa Mixte, and had to scrub it off. It’s a sweet one!
Thanks for the photo! I love seeing OPB (other people’s bottles).
Hey NancyC,
Yeah, it’s a stressful time of year in a year full of twists and turns. I think we all need a little break.
Bois des Iles and Bulgari Black are so good. MMMMM
Portia xx
Distracted! I can relate, my life is full of partly done stuff right now.
I have been wearing the snot out out of Lyric woman and no 5 edt.
HA! There’s SNOT in Lyric and No 5? OOOOOHHHHH! I love news stories Eldarwen22!
You made me laugh,
Portia xx
I’ve been doing it too. Two old friends, Heeley Hippie Rose and Nobile 1942 Patchouli Nobile. I go through long periods of time without wearing them at all or only doing so sporadically. Now I’ve been wearing them for about two weeks. I still love sampling though! Mojo intact.
YAY for your sample mojo Maya.
The people that bought our beautiful house a few years ago have become friends. They had a baby last week and her name is Maya. She is the purest image of a perfect baby.
Portia xx
I had a fun scent moment last week – I was wearing Lyric Woman and was hiking in an area where there were a few prescribed burns and burn piles, leaving a wonderful spicy woodsmoke scent in the air. I was alternating between ecstatically sniffing my wrist and then taking big deep breaths of the crisp air. Doesn’t get better than that!
Sounds like heaven Calrayo, except for the hiking bit which has long not been my thing.
Portia xx
I love it when people who have a lot of fumes revert to their classics 🙂 Like having lunch with a good friend, who knows all your stories but listens and laughs anyway 🙂 I’ve been wearing Chanel eau de Cologne, and Eau de Hadrien-two old friends for me. There are three SL scents which really make me happy at this time of year- A La Nuit, Daim Blond, and Fille en Augilles . Everybody here smells awesome!
wow! your list reads like the top of my dresser! I spent a week in Daim Blond just a bit ago! and omg Chanel EDC is another MAJOR LOVE! xoxo
🙂
Hey Carols,
You know I’ve never tried CHANEL Eau de Cologne? WOW! Maybe I should get my sniff on it?
Portia xx
P, I don’t know if you would love it but I think you would appreciate it! xoxox
OK, that makes sense. Is it anything like the Guerlain colognes?
Portia xx
Not feeling sampling mojo either. I’m just grabbing random scents and wearing them nowadays. Too stressed to wear anything bombastic so it’s my lighter stuff or gourmands usually.
Hey TaraC,
You doing OK?
I hope your stresses ease pronto,
Hugs,
Portia xx
Chypres rule! Mitsy for President! 😀
I’m on a similar path – can’t stand the uncertainty of new samples in these uncertain times so I’m mostly wearing the good old comforting ones: ELDO’s Like This, SL Jeux de Peau and Bapteme du Feu and Gucci Rush.
HA! Neva, we know Mitsouko would do a good job and keep everything buttoned down.
You smell good.
Portia xx
LOL! it’s that time of year, I guess – I have lost my sampling mojo as well – but it comes and goes in waves. I’ve been wearing Hermes Pamplemousse Rose like it’s the Last Ship Off Earth. Perfect for now, because we’re going into citrus season (when all the citrus fruits are available in the produce aisle! yay!)
xoxoxo
Hey Musette,
Hermes Pamplemousse Rose is gorgeous.
Enjoy citrus season.
Portia xx
Tried and true. Can’t beat that!
Not sure why but old favorite Sotto Voce has been worn for multiple days in a row. Just feels so right. Femme Jolie and the last bit of Amberene (Liz Zorn) have wormed their way in too.
Hey Tiara,
I’m wondering if it’s the time of year, especially in this mad 2020, maybe we all need things that are from times filled with less upheaval and strife.
Portia xx
Squeeeeeee!!!!!! I love this post!!!! Just looking at those bottles clustered together like old friends (pre-COVID) makes me happy. I might copy you on an upcoming post.
Heya March,
I love YOU!
HA! Pre C19 buddies!
Over here we are moving back towards a more normal life. Most of my gigs will be fully functional by Feb and we are getting some keen interest for new events too.
Please, go ahead and do something similar.
Hugs,
Portia xx
This is the most encouraging news I’ve heard in a long time! So happy to hear that you are moving towards a more normal life and are planning gigs for the new year. All the best wishes for that. Agreed with old favorites providing so much comfort now. Shalimar for me!
Hey Kathleen,
Yes, Australia has been incredibly lucky. Sure, there has been tragedy and loss but overall I think the government has done their best on C19.
Thanks for your well wishes, fingers crossed.
SHALIMAR! So glam, you know I love it.
Portia xx
I tried a few samples but when I really needed it I was wearing Jungle l’Elephant, Bulgari Omnia, Sacrebleu Intense. I’m toying with 365 days, 365 different perfumes for 2021 as I realize that there are so many things I haven’t managed to wear this year. But giving up the option for rewearing those “comfort” perfumes multiple days in a row seems a little risky!
Hey MMKinPA,
You could do 25 days a month in different stuff and give yourself a few cheat days. It would still be in the spirit of the idea but has a very small window of defection.
Portia xx
Let’s see…I spent the entire month of November in an old favorite, Cartier Must. This month in a new favorite, Au Couer du Desert….I’m on a monogamous trend. Might spend January in 1957 because I think it will sparkle in the bitter cold.
Hey Brigitte,
I spent much of my life as a serial monogamist in the fragrance sense. It works a treat and allows the fragrance to really show its mettle.
What a trifecta you’ve picked. WOW!
Portia xx
Wonderful choices, Brigitte 🙂 I try to stick to “one perfume a week” but sometimes, when I start off with something that doesn’t feel comfortable, I switch to something else.
Uh, samples actually. Had a set arrive last weekend and believe I’m getting some Le Labo from son for Xmas stocking gift. I wore FM Le Parfum de Therese last week and was reminded of how wonderful it is. Love your descriptions of things. Soap … not one of my fave notes, but nice to see it acknowledged as a note 🙂
Hi there Cinnamon,
SO GLAD someone is feeling the sample vibe right now.
Currently my desk is overflowing with the great unsniffed pile. I need to put serious time aside and give them a good going over.
OOOOH! The Le Labo set will be interesting. Have fun,
Portia xx
Now that I’ve finally fallen for it, Hermes 24 Faubourg.
That and Burberry Classic Women. Oh and Chanel Bois does Iles. Hmm. I seem to be going old school…..
Excellent Kim B,
We are both locked in stasis with out old favourites. It’s a happy place to be.,
Portia xxx
Portia, Can I please ask you-do you still like the Chanel Lion scent? I’m interested in that, maybe in Jan. Is it super similar to either Coromandel, or Shalimar?
Hi Carole,
Oh yes. I love Le Lion. It is a very hefty nod to Shalimar with a heavy labdanum base for me but everyone seems to get a very different ride and their favourite notes within become the focus.
Portia x
Thanks, Portia 🙂