Witches brew root canals and carrots; Lovely, Friendly Perfume Thread - 8

[MrsPestilence]

A continuation of our Long running thread. Think this is just in time.

Lots of lovely things to smell.
Everyone is welcome.

Like Rive Gauche!

After a lovely no-schoolwork day of making 2 different mincemeats, watchimg a selection of Downtons and Christmas specials, and having a L'Occitane lavender bath followed by Avon Moonwind aftercare, I feel seven shades of rotten this morning. Swollen glands in my throat and that day-before-a-cold hits feeling.

And in school from 8-2 and 3-8.

Hurrah!

Oh no Piam hope you manage to get through the day not feeling too rotten

Might have to put a PP order in Pest

SOTD is Merchant of Venice Saffron Byzantium- smells of suede and saffron, very warming and comforting on a cold and drizzly day

Bluebell how Is Tsarina!
I keep on meaning to order some of the new Ormonde Jayne perfumes and that’s one of the new ones.
Commiserations to everyone with colds and fluey virus’s.Dd2 and I are wheezing away together at the moment in sympathy with you all.
Sotd is Clinique Wrappings as it’s coming up to Christmas .Why do my kids always say it smells of the Catholic Church when I wear it.
If there are any Miller Harris or Penhaligon perfume lovers around, there are some on the Tk website for a good price. Likewise I’ve just ordered Van Cleef & Arpels California Reverie from Amazon for a reasonable price as it’s normally really expensive and it really is my olfactory Vitamin C for winter.

for those enduring the lurgies, and hoping you are all on the mend soon without life and work being tough.

Thursday's PP splurge has just landed! Imperial Tea turns out to be much heavier on the tuberose and jasmine than the oil I have; I hope it fades fast, because the drydown is the best bit divine.

Lyrical 1708 is rose but dry with incense; the Le Labo Rose 31 has quite different base/heart notes that give an organic juicy green rose. It will be interesting to see which gets most wear. Who Knew should arrive tomorrow to complete the haul of roses...

Evening! and medicinal for those waylaid by winter bugs. Never nice...

Ooh some good hauls going on over the weekend! I managed to get through Black Friday weekend and am looking forward to getting to work on the Atelier Colognes from Friday. Hooray for Christmas!!

I'm thinking that I might give the perfume society boxes a go in the new year - they get some love here and a more managed sample fix might curb the more random and therefore dangerous spends...

SOTD was light and uncomplicated lovely. A day of driving, bus rides and meetings isn't one for heady strong punchy numbers... (although was in Oxford so kicking myself for missing the rather obvious choice...)

Still ill, as Morrissey once said, and actually still off work - however I put on Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet lipstick and MMM Fireplace after a bath, and have painted my nails with Chanel Rouge Noir. Progress.

Greetings perfumistas, what a lot to catch up on! I have been snowed under with a couple of last minute commissions and haven't dared to open the thread for fear of getting side-tracked.

In fact, I even wore the same perfume for almost two weeks, which is unprecedented since catching the scent habit. But it was 4160 Tuesdays Creamy Vanilla Crumble, which is delicious and wonderfully comforting when you're banging your head against brick walls feeling slightly stressed.

After missing out on a whole host of eBay bargains because I was too busy to remember to bid, I have broken out with a vengeance and now have a bottle of Merchant of Venice Byzantium Saffron en route. I really shouldn't have, but it was reduced online at House of Fraser and I have been coveting it madly ever since coming across it in a Perfume Society box.

I also seem to have nabbed a 4160 Tuesdays Elven Garden. But it's green and mossy and I missed out on the other two mossy special editions in the Hot Pink Friday deal...And, ahem, a couple of room fragrances...Only 9mls, practically samples really...

Whoever was asking about Lizzie Ostrom's A Century of Scents I agree with MrsMac. It's enjoyable, but patchy, and I would pounce on Barbara Herman's Scent and Subversion and Turin and Sanchez' Perfumes: The A to Z Guide first. I'd also rate Fairley and McKay's The Perfume Bible although it's probably rather basic for expert perfumistas - interesting top 100 list though.

Pest you didn't have to get me a Travalo! I hope your DD is ok. Mine has been having a bit of a wobbly patch too. I think she's over it now but it's hard when they're far away and all you can do is make soothing noises over the phone.

Floofy sorry Alien Essence Absolute didn't come up to scratch. But I'm intrigued it smells like Karvol to you!

L'Occitane have 20 per cent off today if you use the code BF20 at checkout, and the offer covers the Classic Advent Calendar. Just in case anyone's interested...

SOTD is Christian Dior Fève Délicieuse and it is really, really beautiful, tonka bean, vanilla, a bitter chocolate note and not too sweet. But, lumme, the price of a full bottle! DS and DH both shrieked in horror when I showed it to them online so I had better eke out this sample carefully.

Oh dear PIAM and judy, the lurgies really are bad this year. So many of my students have been struck down - glandular fever, mysterious stomach bugs, whooping cough. I feel as if I need to start wearing a mask in lectures! I've even had one who's been off for...mouth ulcers

For my part, I've got horrible jaw/earache - apparently it's TMJ? Nothing works except lots and lots of painkillers, and it makes me very grumpy indeed.

SOTD is a rather boring choice - Dark Heart of Old Havana. This is becoming something of a regular. Everyone's new scents sound so interesting, but I am trying to be good even though it's payday

am looking forward to getting to work on the Atelier Colognes from Friday. Hooray for Christmas!!

Me too! Are you doing the discovery set or the advent calendar?

I'm thinking that I might give the perfume society boxes a go in the new year

I'm wondering about Bloom for the same reason.

SotD Tart's Knicker Drawer again. Love the fruity raspberry. Although I'm considering putting on some Anubis for the evening's housework!

kittens I definitely blame students for my lurgy.

Oh, and do you have a night-guard? That helps eith the TMJ, I think?

So one of you has passed the lurgy on to me!

Hope everyone is OK, daughters of Perfumistas included.

Have decided, unless they have a really good excuse, a lot of people will be getting 4160 9mls for Xmas (or Tauer miniatures).

How are the homemade advent calendars coming along? I've managed three. This is the fanciest. Haven't got a picture with the lights switched on. Day 25 is hidden in the centre and features...drum roll please...a 4160 9ml! (I am at least consistent).

So far, we've all swerved the germs, but it can't last!

This morning, I can still catch the remnants of Imperial Tea (PP/By Kilian) which -for £5.75/13ml- is impressive. The opening isn't me, but the drydown is exceptionally lovely... redolent of superb quality tea leaves, perfectly brewed and served in a dainty china cup.

It's possible the postman will bring Who Knew today...

Could I please jump on this thread to ask your advice? My DH will buy me perfume for Christmas, but I want to give him some ideas and I'm stuck.

I like florals, but with some warmth during the winter months. I don't like overly heavy, sweet scents but quite like some 'woodiness' if that makes sense. Any suggestions? I'm in Ireland and we don't have the best selection of shops, but can get to a big Boots or Debenhams.

Recently I've liked JM Pomegranate Noir, and Wood Sage and Sea Salt. Also Narcisso Rodriguo and Aqua di gio.

Any help would be very gratefully received! Until then I'll carry on reading all your amazing reviews of stuff I've never heard of
Thanks all.

Yeay Green you got your hands on some MoV Saffron Byzantium !

Welcome Bluebellation from one Bluebell to another. The poudre version of Narcisco R is fab - lots of fans on here. Other mainstream stuff widely available that might suit: Lovely SJP (floral) or SJP stash (woody). Dior Addict very popular here- it’s a grown up vanilla. But honestly I recommend getting some samples and discovering what you like and asking him to order online. Then I’d recommend Shay and Blue, 4160 Tuesdays

SOTD is me old faithful Baccarat Rouge 540

MrsMcnally oh your advent calendar is beeeeautiful!

Green, Feve Delicieuse is astonishingly beautiful isn't it, gourmand but still elegant and not syrupy sweet. Not to enable at all, ahem, but £200 for 125ml isn't that bad, certainly not compared to the Malles and such like. Wish I were wearing it now!

Went with TF Noir Pour Femme. Cosy vanilla based affair, lightly spiced with a smear of bitter dark chocolate. Very nice and a bit sexy, even if I do say so myself

MrsMcnally , your advent calender is amazing, I'd actually buy one!

Just to echo what others have said, that advent calendar looks beautiful and I’m well jell mrsmacnally

Thanks Bluebellgal I 'd already looked at the Shay and Blue website and thought they sounded lovely but I don't think there's a stockist near me and time's running out to get samples sent and then order something. I'm in town tomorrow so I'll have a sniff of Dior Addict and see what else takes my fancy.

Well I'm not putting up my advent calendars now MrsMac yours look amazing, like something you would look at on Pinterest! You must be so pleased with them? (Actually mine are still hidden somewhere in the wardrobe unfinished as I have forgotten to get tissue paper, it's not like there's a deadline and I'm (literally) just about to have an op or anything I have been carefully avoiding all germs etc, but DS3 did manage to sneeze directly in my face when I kissed him to wake him up this morning

My lovely and much more organised DC have surprised me already with a homemade advent calendar, as they wanted me to have it before the op to cheer me up. I don't think it's all perfume but there are lots of teeny carefully wrapped and numbered things in a big box - I'm very very touched as it's the first year they've been old and thoughtful enough to do anything like this.

I hope all sick and poorly people recover soon, it's a very very poorly perfume thread at moment! Can I recommend Alien Essence Absolue which is definitely Karvol on me, unless I got a bad sample?! I do hope people feel better soon.

Good to see you back green but the same scent for two weeks?! We will have to have your badge revoked and your membership rescinded I'm afraid Maybe a final warning through, considering it was 4160s...

Bluebellation I'm guessing you're not near Brown Thomas? I'm not really expert enough to recommend anything new but if you like Pomegranate Noir, the Perfume Parlour do a cracking dupe and I think they ship to ROI. Not that that is any help to your actual query

Sorry I have missed lots of posts and I've not really mentioned Perfume, SOTD is the original Alien, there was a reason for re-trying this but I've forgotten it. Still not sure. I want something comforting and sweet - yes yes to whoever mentioned Lily Flame Fairy Dust up thread! I seriously have been tempted to spray the room spray on myself in the past if anyone has an equivalent idea?...

Gloves, DH will probably go to Brown Thomas for his Christmas shopping, I just need to point him in the right direction! I'll see if I can try a few things in a local pharmacy tomorrow, or persuade him to ask for help from the sales assistant. I'd hope if I give him a description of the type of smells I like, they should be able to help.

The Advent calendar is wonderful MrsMac. Someone is going to be very lucky indeed.

Floofy ,yes, the same scent for two weeks in a row is shocking. But 4160 Tuesdays Creamy Vanilla Crumble is amazing. Every gourmand lover should have one. My very best wishes for your op and what very lovely DCs you have.

Hello bluebellation. I was going to say samples but our silly posting rules mean the Perfume Society boxes are out of the question, which is a great shame. Have you looked at Fragrantica? If you look up perfumes you like you'll see lists of ones people think similar, which might be helpful.

Bluebell I can't blame you for Byzantium Saffron but you are not entirely guiltless! And I'm still hankering after Fior di Panna too!

So Tauer will post 5ml samples to the UK now... Thank you for the research MrsMac I am going to be so poor.

Fabulous user name Janet. I like your reasoning. I'm not so sure DH would! The trouble is I have so much perfume I doubt I'm ever likely to finish a bottle again, frankly, so I really and truly couldn't justify a full bottle of Fève Délicieuse. Decants, however are another matter...

Anyone like Miller Harris Fleur du Matin? It's £29.99 for 50ml in TK Maxx and it's got galbanum in it. So it sounds very tempting.

SOTD is Lady Vengeance. I may not be a big fan of most of the Juliette Has A Gun range but they do do a really fabulous skanky rose

SOTD is L’Air de Rien. I went to the dentist, which was the first time I’d left the house since Thursday, then came straight home and emailed work to say I am going to be off tomorrow too. I would be fine to work in an office, but I can hardly talk and there’s no way I can stand in front of a class. I did have a nice thing happen today though - one of my oldest friends had seen from my Instagram that I was under the weather, and sent me a card and a lovely parcel in the post.

mrsmac your calendar looks amazing! floofy how are you doing?

Poorly people, get well soon.

Green thanks for the Fragrantica tip. I'll have a look.