Let’s hear it! Where do you apply perfume…

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume March 12, 2013 Comments: 32

apply shalimIt only dawned on me yesterday that I am the most conservative type of person when it comes to perfume application. That was a bit of a shock! 🙂

As that is the label I would never apply to myself.

Anyway, my perfume applicating ways haven’t changed much in the recent days but I did evolve from applying it on the sides of my neck and sometimes doing a sweep and applying some on my decollete as well, to taking advantage of the fact that I have short hair and applying some on the back of my neck, thinking it would make for a nice sillage circle. 🙂

So that’s what I’m doing these days.

Which is what got me thinking – what are the places where you apply perfume? Do you have some more innovative ones? Do some work better than others?

The only time I have perfume somewhere else on my body is when I’m testing it. And that only applied to arms.

I really am a conservative perfume wearer it seems…

Steven Brust: Dragon & Issola

Book review, World of Books March 5, 2013 1 Comment

I realize I’m only writing about books lately but I promise I do have some perfume reviews coming up in the near future. 🙂

 

Now, I wonder why it took me so long to find my way back to the world of Vlad Taltos. Well, it’s not his world but as the story is told from his perspective, I’m calling it his.

The funny thing about this series is, you read one book but since they aren’t coming out chronologically brust dragontalking about Vlad’s life (we move back and forth some), you read one of the novels as a self-standing book wondering why? what was the point of this story? only to learn that two books down the road.

That was my experience so far. With these two, you do not get to learn what they mean in the grand scheme of things but you do get to ask the questions. 🙂 And they just pile up one on top of each other.

I shouldn’t admit to this, but it only got clear to me with Dragon that as each book represents one line of the Dragearan society, the story of that book depicts the characteristics of that line.  I’m pretty sure every reader of Vlad T. books had realized that long before now.

So, in Dragon we get a very convincing description of what war feels like in one’s mind. We also get to read about daily activities, but I found the stream of thought in fighting more interesting.

As for Issola, that line of Drageareans is known for their courtliness and surprise and we get to see Vlad actually displaying some of both. 🙂 We (the readers) get surprised as well I should add.

 

I’m already looking forward to reading on (I just have this little problem of not being able to find the next book – I know I have it, I just don’t know where it is).

It actually reminds me a bit of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards series. Or as I read the Taltos books first, it’s vice versa. Only without the swearing. 😉

Julie Kagawa: The Eternity Cure

Book review, World of Books February 28, 2013 1 Comment

This is the second book in the Blood of Eden series, I’m not sure how many will there be in the end, one more for sure. I was lucky to receive my copy through NetGalley as it’s not yet out.

So, where to start?
I was everything while reading this book – annoyed with Allie (and Ms Kagawa consequently), thrilled, upset, at the edge of my seat, crying, my heart broke for the characters, basically everything. 🙂

Which makes me think the book is rather great even though I had my doubts in the beginning when Allie rather openly displayed what I consider to be a completely wrong view people have of teenagers. But that’s just my opinion.

Here is the blurb:

“How do you face the end of eternity?  

In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood  

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated eternity curefrom the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie’s birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence. 

There’s a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time. 

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make. “

Even if you read the first book, this doesn’t tell you that much. After my initial displeasure of Allie’s behaviour, I got immersed in the story and wanted to see what will happen. There were some unexpected turns which I didn’t see coming. (yaay, finally! I love that!)

And then we approached the end and I thought I knew what was going to happen, then I read on and thought, “Oh Ms Kagawa was brave with this ending”, only to have my initial opinion confirmed.
Besides, it’s the one I prefered to the brave one. But I can already see so the problems arising in the next book because of it.
And not to confuse you, I enjoyed the book a lot but it’s dark, gruesome and reminds me a bit of the Passage (you know, post-apocalyptic dark world inhabited by monsters with very little people left and declining).

Melissa Marr: Carnival of Souls

Book review, World of Books February 28, 2013 1 Comment

This was a recommendation on Feminine things blog one day when a discussion on YA books was on. I’m glad I read that post as I saw other books I should add to my ever-growing list of books TBR.

I somehow missed the fact that even though this is the first book in the series, no other books are out yet. I’m a bit unhappy because of that.

The book is a mix of YA, paranormal and romance all in one, so I was bound to love it.

“In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it’s only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.”

As with all briefs, this one leaves many things unsaid. Like, the fact that women are treated as breeding partners in daimon marriages (not that that makes them partners actually), everyone has a secret to keep and pretty much power is dealt through these secrets, everyone is lying except Mallory it seems, carnivaland I sincerely hope as soon as she comes into knowledge (and her own powers), she’ll bring everyone down a peg or two (or a lot).

The problem is, the story is interesting and we are pulled in, only to have it end. Just as the story is heating up, there is the end and now you have to wait for book two.

Which I wouldn’t mind but by the time any book in a series comes out, I forget at least half of what went on in the previous book and I really don’t have either the time or the wish to re-read every series each time a book comes out.

OK, rant over. 🙂

I don’t blame Ms Marr for this  particular problem – all I can is, urge the writers I find interesting and want to read more from, to please write faster. 🙂

 

Vagabond Prince: Enchanted Forest (or going back to childhood)

World of Perfume February 19, 2013 Comments: 13

I wonder if my idea about this perfume will have any connection to the actual idea behind this perfume.

But it can’t be helped, ideas and associations coming through smell are not conscious.

The thing is, I actually enjoyed smelling this perfume. That said, I don’t think I will ever wear it. And that said, I wonder if it actually might get popular with the younger crowd.

You see, it smells to me the same way as the blackcurrants taste. That is, the taste of the fruit is

bajkaexperienced through the nose in this perfume. The juicy sweetness and the bitter tartness all there, practically exploding in the air around you. Even the menthol-like hints of what a blackcurrant candy would taste like is there (I’d say the combination of rosemary and aldehydes might be responsible for that).

I didn’t even try to smell the notes when the general idea was so clear. Eventually you lose the juiciness but the candy feel remains. And that is basically why I wouldn’t wear it even though I find it novel enough to like it a lot. That is also the reason why I think it might go well with the younger crowd.

It is also the reason why I wondered about the idea behind the name – no forest really smells like this except possibly the ones from fairy tales. I’m pretty sure many kids would sooner imagine this as the smell of forest than what the forest really smells like. After all, if it’s enchanted, of course it doesn’t smell like the usual kind. 😉

TOP notes: pink pepper, aldehydes, sweet orange (traces), flower cassis, blackcurrant leaf, hawthorn, effects of rum and wine, rosemary, davana.

HEART: blackcurrant buds absolute (by LMR from Grasse), CO2 blackcurrant (by Floral Concept from Grasse), Russian coriander seed, honeysuckle, rose, carnation, vetiver.

BASE: opoponax resinoid, Siam benzoin, amber, oakmoss, fir balsam absolute, Patchouli Purecoeur®, castoreum absolute, cedar notes, vanilla, musk.

 

Notes and my sample by: http://www.fragrantica.com

A Dozen Roses

Joint blog project, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume February 11, 2013 Comments: 27

Participating in joint blog projects is always fun. 🙂 A big thank you to Ayala for inviting me to think about roses and name a dozen in any way I find them interesting.

I realized, roses feature as people, places and ideas in my mind – so here, in short order are those that managed that:

The Poison Rose – Paestum Rose by Eau d’Italie

I realized not everyone agrees with me on this one, but I still think of it as featuring thorns while you wear it.

The Seductive one – Lyric by AmouageDozenRosesX12

Sweet and seductive. If you are not careful, you might not even realize it’s a rose. Or that you are seduced.

Spending a day at the SPA? – Eau Egyptienne by Cinq Mondes

Easy to like and enjoy during the day where enjoyment and relaxation are the order of the day.

The sexy-contemplative rose – Costes by Costes

I’d say it’s sexy if worn by a contemplative man, I don’t think many would agree women are sexy when being contemplative. 😉 Or am I wrong? A great review by Suzanne.

Is that a siren coming out of the sea?! – Rosam by Histoires de Parfum

The strangeness that is this perfume can shortly be summed up by what a strange sight it would be seeing a siren.

The Prim British Rose –  Mohur by Neela Vermeire

Rose-cheeked Miss drinking tea.

Can it be called a rose? – Jabu by Mona di Orio

Possibly not, but there is some rose in there and it deserves a mention for being a perfume evoking happiness.

Dark viney rose – Baie Rose by Le Labo

Hmm, a rose perfume for Batman perhaps?

Dangerously sexy and seductive – Worth Courtesan

I talked about it yesterday – if you want to get noticed, you need not look further. 🙂

Rose for dessert – Rose flavoured rahat loukhum

The most decadent non-chocolate sweet ever. Leaving a dusting of sugar on your fingers so you have to lick them as well.

It’s been a pleasure and now for some more, please visit other participating blogs:

Girls Just Want To Have Fun! (part 2)

Joint blog project, World of Perfume February 10, 2013 Comments: 27

Up until the time I sat down and started writing this post, I had a completely different idea in my mind of what it will look like. But after Asali’s post yesterday and turning on radio this morning to the sound of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (talk about synchronicity), I decided to go with the flow.

It’s my birthday after all. 🙂

I have to filch parts of Asali’s post though. 😉 After last year, which has been a successful one if one is to look at what I managed to accomplish during it, it was also extremely difficult, tiring and stressful for me so I decided to take this day as the beginning of a new year that is bound to be more happy and less stressful. By the Aquarius3light covering of snow to which I woke today, I’m taking it is a sign from providence that my life might be on a much easier route now.

Enough of that, I’m sure you want to know more about my perfume choices for having fun. 🙂

I started my day with Chanel 18. 🙂 I want to feel as sparkly and happy as that perfume smells. I might privately think of it as the diamond-type of perfume (due to its sparkly feeling) and even though I won’t be wearing anything sparkly today, it’s the way I want to feel today.

Plus, being a rather low projecting perfume, it is fitting for small gatherings where you don’t want your perfume to take over space but just enhance it.

But, if I were to have fun with girls and decide to take over some space – I would go with Guerlain’s original La Petite Robe Noire. I always smile when I think about that perfume as in my mind it fits perfectly for a girls’ night out (which I will probably have soon). It’s flirty, fun, and makes you noticed. I’d say the right combo for a girls’ night out, wouldn’t you?

And last, but not least, the perfume I remembered just this morning as the perfume for calling out your inner sultry seductress which both takes over space and everybody in it – Worth’s Courtesan.

I still live in the belief that there is an inner sultry seductress I could call forth (but, honestly, I’m not sure I’m that kind of woman) but even if there isn’t, that is the perfume that can make everyone believe it.

The strange thing about Courtesan is that it’s actually a lovely (albeit strong) flower perfume. Which can make you overlook the hidden “dirtiness” inside it. And the fact that if you wear it, no one is going to overlook that fact as that one will definitely take over any free space around you (in the radius of at least 5m). You are warned. 😉

Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday like the one I have planned for myself (and there’s going to be some champagne in mine). 😉

See you in two days at Undina’s!

 

P.S. A big thank you again to Valerie Rodriguez for creating the pictures for our little blog bash – this one is practically the color of my hair at the moment. 🙂

 

 

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Joint blog project, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume February 9, 2013 Comments: 17

By Asali

It is my pleasure to invite you to a 4 day birthday-perfume-blogger-bash.

I hadn’t known Ines for long, before I realised that our birthdays were only one day apart, and when Undina wrote her story about finding a Guerlain in Las Vegas , I realised that her birthday had to be close to mine and Ines’. I thought that this would be an ideal opportunity for a 4 day long birthday-celebration. And luckily both Ines and Undina agreed.

As a child I loved the excitement of birthdays, the presents, the cake, the guests and all the surprisesAquarius4 the day consisted of. I am aware that I probably kept this excitement a great deal longer than most of my friends. One thing about becoming an adult was realising that if one wanted a birthday party, one would have to make the party and arrange the surprises if there were to be any. Celebrating one self, seemed such a hard thing to do, and has made me hesitant of any bigger celebrations over the last many years. However Feb 9th 2013 is the date where finally I will have finished a lot of things which have burdened me over the last year; I’ve sold my old flat, moved out, I managed to find a new flat (although it won’t be mine till later in the year), I will have finished an exam, for which I definitely did not have enough time or energy to study, and I will finally be able to find more time for the things that matter and things that make me happy. So this year, on my birthday, I will not be shy of celebrating, I’m determined to have as much fun as possible. So why not also celebrate with you here?

Of course this should be about perfume too, so here come the scents of my birthday 2013.

It will most definitely start with the smell of freshly ground coffee, shortly followed by a cup of the hot drink itself, and a croissant. Hopefully I’ll wake up and smell the coffee…

I was planning to wear something light during the day, so that I can wear something different for the evening. Light in all ways; light-hearted, easy-going and a bit fleeting. I am thinking the new L’Heure de Nuit; because it’s L’Heure Bleue without the melancholia, and for this occasion that’s just perfect. It’s elegant and a bit cheeky, but only slightly so. Despite the name, I think of this for daytime wear and when it will have evaporated I’ll wear my evening perfume.

I plan for there to be enough champagne for the evening – I haven’t thought of much else, just as long as there is enough champagne; and to match that, I’ll wear some happy-bubbly, sparkly, head-high- stilettos on – Arpège. My bottles are well packed away (and alas the purple peep-toe stilettos too), but I do have a sample of the Eau de Arpège, and I plan to spend it all.

No birthday is complete without gifts and wishes, so here they are:

My perfumed gift that I’ll grant myself (sooner or later, it’s been on the list for long enough) MDCI Promesse de L’Aube.

My birthday perfume-wishes include (I’m being adult and restraining myself here, pretending to be a person of measure): Vintage L’Heure Bleue parfum and Puredistance Opardu.

Please spend my birthday with great enjoyment. See you tomorrow.

 

A big thank you to Valerie Rodriguez for creating the wonderful pics for us to have for this perfume bash. 🙂

Shannon Delaney: Weather Witch

Book review, World of Books February 7, 2013 1 Comment

weather witchTurns out I didn’t have to wait long for another YA adult series to come along and get me hooked (reading one more book at the moment that is like that too).

I do wish though that the story progressed a bit further, as it is, it feels more like a novella than a novel.

But as it’s my new favourite genre, steampunk, also featuring witches, I’ll let it go.

I also decided it might be more informative if I were to post the descriptions with the books I read:

“In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing  is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.”

So, now that you know what the story is about, what is missing from this description is the terrible injustice slowly unfolding as you learn more about the society’s ranks and the way the witches are “made” and “employed”.

Living where I do, the fact that the politicians are just plain evil frustrates me to no end. You might call it self-centred, ruthless, egotistical, hypocritical, power-hungry, etc. but basically, they are evil. And most of the characters in the story go with the society that seems not to have any moral and ethical standards. Pretending slavery doesn’t exist? Although this time it’s the witches.

The thing I liked a lot is the fact that Rowen seems to go after Jordan as a friend. If there is a love story happening here, it’s going slowly and the basis for it is their friendship. But, being brave for the sake of friendship is in my mind the strongest kind of bravery.

Speaking of frustration, there are some very Kafkaesque elements to the story. As Kafka is forever labeled as the “frustrating” writer in my mind. His stories are the Twilight zone of literature for me.

There are many parts of the story that remind me of the world we live in. Not wanting to change the energy sources to the new, cheaper and less sordid kind? Familiar?

Basically, I enjoyed the story a lot and I’m looking forward to the next book, I only wish the story was a bit longer and not that we just got the glimpse of what to expect in the books to come.

Intoxication and seduction by Arquiste – Anima Dulcis

World of Perfume February 4, 2013 Comments: 14

I believe I am finally getting the whole enthusiasm behind the Arquiste line. So far I only tried Anima Dulcis and I’m already thinking the rest are probably as great as this one.

I see it’s one of those brands that hide the notes and all I could find was this:

Notes include: cocoa absolute, Mexican vanilla, cinnamon, chilli infusion

The notes might make you think it’s a sweet perfume but that wouldn’t be true. There is some sweetness to it but it’s in the background. Although now I said that, I wouldn’t say anything is up front.anima d

On me it starts with a light boozy feeling accompanied by hints of anis and cuminy warmth – very seductive. Of course, I could be just imagining these things, but there is a warm “musky” feel to the start of this perfume and that is why I’m guessing some cumin but who knows, the cocoa absolute could hint at that as well.

It stays close to skin and slowly radiates its seduction off of you. Soon what radiates gives off spiciness, I thought the cinnamon possibly bolstered by some clove too. I can’t say I smell chilli but as the spiciness is unmistakable, I’m sure chilli is doing its thing.

The more you smell it, the more intoxicating it gets. I didn’t get the feeling it changed much after getting into the perfect spicy warmth skin.

I must say I haven’t smelled such a seductive conjurer of a perfume in quite some time. I am very much in love. Or possibly just very infatuated as the seduction certainly worked on me.

 

I have to add that the description on Arquiste site is very interesting as it mentions nuns  making cocoa infused with chilli and “making a rich experience for the senses” and all I can think is – those are some very naughty nuns there. 🙂

 

Pic and notes by: www.arquiste.com