It’s almost Christmas – surprises are coming…

Joint blog project December 16, 2010 Comments: 2

I am happy (since I am very much looking forward to it) to announce a joint blogging project  named We Three Kings hosted by Krista from Scent of the Day and Joanne from Redolent of Spices that will take place in the week of 19-25 December.

My fellow bloggers and I will be reviewing scents reminiscent in some way of the gifts of the Magi – gold, frankincense and myrrh, so come back next week to see what are the perfumes being discussed.

Here is the list of participating blogs:

Scent of the Day

Redolent of Spices

My Perfume Life

EauMG

Parfumieren

ChickenFreak’s Obessions

Notes from Josephine

The Perfume Chronicles

Bonkers about Perfume

Three Kings Icon ©2010 Megan Ruisch

Mona di Orio: Lux

World of Perfume December 15, 2010 Comments: 6

I’m not writing down any comments regarding the name of this perfume. 🙂  Or whether the name is appropriate.
It does sound nice though.

What does it smell like?

Many things actually. It starts with a citrus burst, all lemony and sparkly, sometimes I seem to detect a slight waxy twist to it, most of the times I’m just preoccupied with the live lemon feel. Very cologne feeling.
And that’s even before I detect barest whispers of bitter greens – I say barest because they are very light and besides the citrus doesn’t back off that easily, it lasts for quite some time.
Today I got some peppery whiffs through the leaving lemons and dry woods. It’s just, there are so many things happening, if your nose is not glued to your wrist, the chances are, you’re going to miss some. It gets slightly smoky while the citrus is still waving which lead me to believe there was some patchouli in.
So, I wonder, how did I get from what I wrote up there to the beginnings of drydown which smelled lush and tropically warm with what I thought was ylang-ylang mixing in there? Yes, I got some sandalwood and cedar, especially late in the drydown, but ylang-ylang is not listed in the notes.

Notes: Sicilian lemon, Litsea Cubeba (whatever that is, I need to google it), petitgrain Bigarade South Africa, Haitian vetiver, Moroccan cedarwood, Mysore sandalwood, musk, amber, Siamese benzoin, bourbon vanilla, and cistus labdanum.

Basically, I love it. I love how it changes, I love its phases, I love the fact that each time I smell my wrist there is something slightly different happening there (even now, 8 hours after application), I love the fact it still manages to produce softness through all the aspects that might not be prone to that and I love the fact that it’s available in Zagreb (ok, it used to be, I need to check if it still is).
I just don’t love the fact that it’s another Mona di Orio perfume I want and which is, well, not acquirable at the moment as if I decide to buy one, I will have to choose among many of her perfumes for the one I want the best.

Notes and pic by: http://www.luckyscent.com/

When things go awry

I've been thinking December 14, 2010 Comments: 2

And that’s the way they seem to be going the last few days for me.

First, I managed to completely miss the meaning of the name Carnation for Mona di Orio’s perfume. Ok, that one is not that strange when I consider my state of mind (and concentration) these days but still makes me feel stupid. Not to mention all the typos I keep making.

Then, while I was checking some blog stats, at some point I seem to have reloaded the blog template which then promptly turned white. I have no idea why but trying to put it back, the only way I managed to return it to its former black status was by losing all the sidebar information and that wasn’t an option.
Luckily, I didn’t save that option but returned to white and then went on in search of something similar to what it used to look like. That’s why you might have noticed something different in the look of my blog.
Now I just have to learn to live with it. I don’t mind change, but I prefer it happen when I instigate it and not outside forces. I really liked my black look.

Mona di Orio: Carnation

World of Perfume December 13, 2010 Comments: 6

UPDATE: Well, it seems I need to pay more attention to all the texts concerning fragrances I try as I managed to completely miss what the name of this one means. 🙂 As it’s not in English but in French (which also means I’ve been pronouncing it wrong – at least that was only in my mind).
Thanks to Carol for pointing it out, Carnation in French actually means complexion. So, my whole carnation introduction is completely beside the point. 🙂

Carnations are forever in my mind asssociated with having no smell and being THE flower of Communist/socialist regimes. That would probably be because for the first 10 years of my life, I grew in one. Which from my perspective then had absolutely no impact on my life in any matter, except that we all became little pioneers in our first grade and got a red carnation as well. So having held it for several of those type of occasions, I must say I don’t remember it having any smell.
And for some reason I keep thinnking that whenever I see carnation appearing in a name of perfume, it is not going to smell good to me (lately I wonder where do I get these associations?). I wasn’t able to find a reference to its smell, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a carnation out there without one.

Anyway, you can probably tell from the introduction that I didn’t think it wasn’t good upon smelling Mona di Orio’s Carnation. 🙂 And I didn’t. I was actually very much surprised.

It doesn’t come often that if you don’t smell a perfume straight away, you miss the opening. Lucky for me, I tried Carnation several times before this review so I got it from my second try. There is this initial sparkly burst of slightly citrusy aldehydes and if you’re not there the second it happens, a bit later it’s gone. And then the ride starts.
Smelling it without notes I kept thinking (again) how jasmine and orange blossoms were there in the beginning, and I don’t know which part of the whole picture made me think old-fashioned but not in a bad way, but as in, you don’t come across things like this any more. Some greenery peeks in through musky florals and there is a slight soapy-cream quality to it but lucky for me, the soapiness is here and then it’s gone. It smells quite summery actually, I guess it’s all the white flowers, green and citrus. But there also comes a time when a light leathery aspect appears, smelling rooty and chewy (not in a bubble gum way).

I hate the fact that I simply lack words for appropriately describing this.

There is just a vintage feel to the way this smells. And I guess a look at the notes can be revealing: bergamot, clove bark, Bourbon geranium, ylang-ylang, violet, jasmine, woods, msuk, amber, styrax.

It settles down into a lovely soft floral and you wonder if all those intriguing whispers along the way actually happened…?

Pic by: http://www.luckyscent.com/

Mona di Orio: Jabu and Amyitis

World of Perfume December 7, 2010 Comments: 6

I still can’t believe how quickly I dismissed Mona di Orio perfumes when I first tried them some year and a half ago. Although honestly, at that point, I don’t think my nose was able to appreciate them.  I certainly notice changes in what I like in perfume and the fact that I smell more just makes me want to write about it less because it doesn’t feel like I can give them the words they deserve. Which is stupid because writing about them actually helps me form more coherent thoughts on them and remeber them more vividly (those I write about).

Anyway, I’m taking my time this time around and I’m taking a leisurely walk through Mona di Orio samples. There and back again (I sound like I came from the Lord of the Rings). 🙂

First off, I have to say I smelled these without the notes and wrote down my thoughts. Then I went to check the notes and got completely discouraged by the list. 

Jabu

Notes: Brazilian orange flower, South African petitgrain, Manoi oil, Rose damascena, Comores ylang-ylang, Santal amyris, Siamese Benzoin, plum, myrrh

The name is totally apt (basically meaning happy). If there is one thing this perfume manages to convey, it’s definitely happiness.
For me it starts sweet and neroli/jasmine-like smelling. As you can see, I’m close. 🙂 It’s like you took L’Artisan’s Vanilia and put some white flowers over it. Absolutely wonderful and slightly intoxicating in a way that makes you feel happy and smiling. I kept thinking that the sweet vanilla aspects smelled like they were mixed with some coconut, but then I saw manoi oil and benzoin, and there was my answer.
I don’t really think you can describe this in words well enough to transfer the warm scent wafting from my wrist. It’s warm flowers, warmed by the sun, amid coconut trees. God, I really need a bottle of this. It’s instant smile on your face with a bit more serious drydown. It gets you from feeling happy and smiling, into more mature happiness, where you know you are not always going to feel like this but that’s fine, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to appreaciate the real deal when it happened.

Amyitis

Notes:caraway, savory, capsicum, green leaves, iris, violet, gaiac wood, cedar of Virginia, saffron, opoponax, moss, amber

That caraway thing keeps cropping up and I still have no idea what it smells like. Well, actually I think I do now that I smelled it in several places and couldn’t place it.  If it doesn’t work any other way, then the method of elimination is what I’m left with. The thing is it gets translated into Croatian as cumin which isn’t it (and some googling ensured me it doesn’t smell the same either).
Now that I got that cleared in my mind, Amyitis starts for me as smelling like leathery roots. Well, more like suede roots. You know, that iris-earthy combo that spells smelling of roots. And violet sometimes evokes suede for me (probably in combination with something else but I haven’t taken it so far yet).

I read the Luckyscent description and got discouraged again. Cucumber and mint? Can’t say I got that impression. Although I can smell some sweetness I associate with mint notes but very faintly. 

Honestly, I have no idea why I like this one so much. If I were to guess by the notes, I’d be very iffy regarding the possibility of me liking this. It’s a bit strange, hard to pin down and describe, but so very intriguing. It has that green, rooty thing going on that I pretty much always like but it’s not obvious and it’s just one of the things going on, most easy for me to get so that’s why I’m highlighting it.
So, now I have both good and bad news. Good news is that Mona di Orio perfumes are available in Zagreb. The bad news is, they are not very economically approachable – especially if you realize you like more than one. 😉
Notes and pics by: http://www.luckyscent.com/

The smell of snow

Uncategorized December 4, 2010 Comments: 18

You know, the more I smell perfumes, the less I feel  I know. Each time I try and think of a perfume with a particular scent, I come blank. Like snow now.

Living in a city, this is not the best place to announce to everyone you love snow as people tend to get upset since snow makes everything more difficult (and the fact that it needs to be removed from pretty much everywhere in order to get anywhere makes people cranky). I, I adore snow. I adore the way air starts smelling of it even weeks before it falls, I love the quiet it brings when it’s falling and once it’s on the ground, I love walking in it, I love snow-fights and snowmen, there is pretty much nothing about snow that I don’t love.

So, naturally, as we’ve had some for the last 10 days or so (not too much and it melts quickly), I started thinking about scents that manage, even for a few seconds, to conjure that smell of snow in the air.

You know, the one that smells cold and fresh, but almost electrically sweet. Snow for me never smells like it brings cold of both spirit and body, for me the cool smell of snow brings clarity of mind, freeing of the spirit  from all that weighs on it and childlike happiness. So, of course, a perfume that could evoke that would be much welcome.

As I’ve been thinking about this for some days now, I realized I have a wonderful collection of perfumes to wear when it’s cold outside that make me feel warm but none that makes me feel like I’m enjoying a brisk walk in the snow. Or standing outside in the cold night air, breathing fully the snowy freshness and contemplating the stars in the sky…

The closest I got was Sushi Imperiale which for me evokes the happiness of a snowfight but it’s a bit too childlike for me.

So, now I’m asking for some help – what are the perfumes that evoke the smell of snow for you?

Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011.

Uncategorized December 4, 2010 Leave a comment

As I’m almost done with this one for the year 2010. I can say it shouldn’t be a problem finishing it again next year (and the participation in this one also wins you a book).

In order to participate, you need to sign up over at Book Chick City.

The details are as follows:

* Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011

* Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

* You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

* You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

As with all other challenges so far, I cannot list my books in advance so I’ll list them as I read them.

Happy reading!

1. Lee Child: The Killing Floor
2. Sean Slater: The Survivor
3. J.D. Robb: Treachery in Death
4. Lee Child: Die Trying
5. James Rollins: The Devil colony
6. Tess Gerritsen: The Silent Girl
7. James Rollins: The Skeleton Key
8. JD Robb: Indulgence in Death
9. Tom Knox: The Lost Goddess
10. MJ Rose: In Session

Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge 2011.

Reading challenge December 4, 2010 Leave a comment

It seems it’s that time of year again when reading challenges start appearing and I’m ready to sign-up again for some of them.
I still need to write my wrap-up posts regarding this year but there’s time left. 🙂
Ok, so this year Speculative Fiction is hosted by Amanda at Floor to Ceiling Books.

Here are the rules:

* Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011

* Rules: To read 12 Speculative Fiction novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum – you can read more if you wish!)

* You don’t have to choose your books ahead of time, you can add them as you go. If you do list them upfront, you can change them. Books for this challenge can be used to fulfil other challenges.

* You can join anytime between now and the later part of next week.
 
Here is a link to the post where you can sign up.
 
Happy reading!

P.S. I’ll be listing my books as I read them.

1. Steven Brust: Jhereg
2.Steven Brust: Yendi
3. Steven Brust: Teckla
4. Rachel Vincent: Stray
5. Linda Howard: Blood Bound
6. Steven Brust: Taltos
7. Steven Brust: Phoenix
8. Steven Brust: Athyra
9. Steven Brust: Orca
10. Kresley Cole: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
11. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall
12. Kristin Cashore: Graceling
13. Lois McMaster Bujold: Shards of Honour

14. Lois McMaster Bujold: Barrayar
15. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Warrior’s Apprentice
16. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Mountains of Mourning
17. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Vor Game
18. Lois McMaster Bujold: Cetaganda
19. Lois McMaster Bujold: Labyrinth
20. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Borders of Infinity
21. Lois McMaster Bujold: Brothers in Arms
22. Lois McMaster Bujold: Mirror Dance
23. Lois McMaster Bujold: Memory
24. Rachel Hawkins: Demonglass
25. Lois McMaster Bujold: Komarr

James Rollins: Excavation

World of Books December 1, 2010 Leave a comment

It’s fun when you go back to the beginning of a writer you really like and you realize, he also learned to write better with time. 🙂
If this were my first James Rollins novel, I’m not really sure if I would have continued reading him. This way, I got introduced to him through the Sigma series (which I love) so I can look on Excavation as the trial and practice it took for him to get where he is now.

The story is set in the Andes where archeologists are looking for clues as to a previous race inhabiting the same place where Incas lived. Anyway, without getting too much into the story, all kind of discoveries are made and the beginning of incredible stories that will later appear in Rollins’ novels are here but just not as well developed as in Sigma.

It took me a bit longer than  usual to get through it – it’s not bad but it’s just not very believable or very gripping. It’s more like an action movie with bad actors trying to convince us that their cheesy dialogues are serious and the whole plot is terribly tense and serious and all you can think of is that’s it is too funny how they try and fail miserably. It’s still fun but because it’s funny to watch the failure not because it’s supposed to funny. This sounds complicated even to me and I know what I was trying to say. 🙂 Did I lose you with this explanation?

The point is, if you are interested in James Rollins, start with Sigma and once you are done with that, consider if you really love Mr. Rollins enough to brave his earlier work. 🙂

And before you start thinking I think it’s a really bad book, it isn’t. It’s just nowhere near to what he writes now.

Pic by: http://www.jamesrollins.com/

A quick word

I've been thinking November 27, 2010 Comments: 12

Prompted by new Luckyscent sample pack and Mona di Orio scents.

One of the most important things I learned about the world of perfume is that you cannot just jump in. You cannot go around gathering ideas from what bloggers are writing about, what smells good or is new and interesting at the moment, what the classics are, etc.

If you have no knowledge outside your perfume store and absolutely general and often bad releases we see (smell) each day, you cannot just start smelling stuff at random by reading about what people find great.
I mean, you could (as I did) but most of the time, I failed to come to the same conclusion.

Learning about perfumes (and their constituent parts, i.e. notes) is a long and pretty much never-ending process. And I know this for some time now, but it became very clear tonight after trying some Mona di Orio perfumes. I tried some of them a year and half ago and kept wondering what was in there that everyone liked so much?!
Well, now I understand, and I already have my favourite – Jabu.

But the point I’m trying to make is, you need to take baby steps. Learn a general road of notes, start with some easily likeable but different houses (my favourite for that is L’Artisan Parfumeur) and take it slowly then. Trust me when I say, it takes a while for Mona di Orio (and in my case chypres) to register on the right scale.

And the most important thing – the more you smell perfumes, the more you understand them. There is no other way.

Not a quick word after all. 🙂