Heya Posse! Less than one month till Christmas. For those of you who don’t celebrate, or celebrate other religious milestones at this point, fair play to you. Thing is, across the western world it’s almost impossible to ignore the marketing, festivities and events surrounding the retail industries annual bonanza. So even if you are a different culture, atheist, bah humbug or anything other than TEAM XMAS then you’re probably going to be having a Christmas party at work or with some of your friends. So as perfumistas I feel like it might be extra fun if we arrive smelling like the season, no matter our affiliations. What better way than with Christmas on the balcony, or Noel au Balcon?
Even if you are solo for Christmas, by choice or not, then as you’re here I’m thinking you have definite perfume leanings. So leaning into the season scent wise might be a fun way to do it, just for you.
Noel au Balcon by Etat Libre d’Orange 2007
ELdO gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot essence Orpur®,Cinnamon, Peppercorn
Heart: Rose essence Orpur®, Lilly of the Valley, Honey
Base: Cedarwood, Vanilla, Musk
Noel au Balcon is a happy and delightful surprise. Ostensibly a white floral, a super clean, jasmine-ish LotV plumped out heavily by honey, orange peel, cinnamon, pepper and vanilla. Yeah, I know you can read the note list but what the list fails to tell you is that this smells like a Christmas party, a gingerbread cookie, mulled wine and some very glamorous white floral wearing party people.
Is it groundbreaking? More like envelope pushing, a meld of the fancy white floral and a spice laden vanilla bomb. As with many of the ELdO oeuvre there are two main protagonists battling it out. What they also seem to do flawlessly is keep them so beautifully aligned that is never a clear winner.
If you’re going to have to do the Xmas things then you should be thinking about smelling like Noel au Balcon.
In 2024 I will be. Oh and I’ll also be smelling like Arabie (beautiful post here), Nuit de Noel and Sancti too.
Is Xmas a time you scent for?
Portia xx
Late to the Christmas party (sorry!) – I don’t wear any specific scents for any occasion, mostly because I can never remember to do so – but I’ll probably marinate in the vintage No5 that soothes my very soul. Or.. maybe Jub25, which sits close on my skin, which is great in large gatherings. I do have one big, weird party, which I love (a fun present swap where you get to swap/steal, according to whatever number you pull out of the bucket – I thought I would HATE that sort of game but 5 years on and I now look forward to it. I’ll probably wear No5 for that one)
I don’t really do a specific Xmas scent, and I want to write that I’ve tried thus but now I don’t remember. Off to StC..
HA!
Love a drop in at STC Tom. I can’t even count the joys they’ve sent me.
Portia xx
Inorite? Stuff I didn’t even know existed, exists there!
That sounds like a great holiday scent, Portia. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. I’m thankful for Posse and Cinnamon, March, Musette, Tom, and Portia’s posts. I learn and lemm so much from you all!
Happy thanksgiving to you also DinaC.
I’m thankful to often see you pop up in comments.
HUG
Portia xx
I was eating lunch when I read this so originally noted it as Noel au Bacon. It sounds season appropriate and fun as well. I do not yet know what I’ll be wearing over the hols. I do know we might be eating Dishoom’s bacon naan rolls at some point though.
I would guess Spice Flows to be one of your Xmas scents. Lots of ELDOs very heavily discounted, Noel Au Bacon (snort) & Spice Flows amongst them
I think my next purchase might be that pricey one and I could layer it gently with Perfumer H Smoke to get that cathedral vibe or Arabie maybe. Heartily recommend Dishoom’s bacon naan rolls if you haven’t tried.
Sound delicious. No Dishoom nearby but will check on their site
HA! I called it that for a long while Cinnamon. We are definitely tribe. FragranceNet has Spice Must Flow for pennies right now.
Portia xx
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving per se, neither of us like traditional Thanksgiving food. Today is the last day before we get really cold weather, so we are replacing a kitchen window today.
I have already discussed our Bloody Mary Xmas and for that I will wear Coco perfume.
YAY for Coco parfum and Bloody Marys Rosarita.
Perfect choices.
Portia xx
My Xmas scent is vintage Opium or Lush Karma. Both heavy on the orange. A single spritz lasts all day & night.
How lucky you are Alityke that scent last so well on you. Gorgeous choices.
Portia xx
Not all but these are high volume bangers & easily scare the horses!