Comfort scents for Uncomfortable Times

Joint blog project March 18, 2010 Comments: 10


I am really happy that I got invited into another joint blog project, this time hosted by Ayala Sender of the Ayala Moriel perfumes andthe Smelly Blog.

I almost made a mistake and started reading what other participating blogs wrote but stopped myself just in time. I don’t want my thoughts to be influenced by interesting things I am bound to read there. 🙂

So, on to my ideas for this post. When I got the email, my first thoughts went to my winter scents and which of them I find comforting (since the idea is to welcome spring by saying good-bye to the winter). I’ve been giving this some thought over the last few days and I realized several things.

First, the last 6 months were really difficult all over the world, and for me as well. The other things is that even though we all probably need comfort all through the year, it seems to me it is needed the most during dark winter months when there is no sun to be seen and no warmth to be found outside of our homes (at the moment I am elated to see and smell the spring outside my wide open window). 🙂

And then the last thing I came up with was the fact that I have three categories of comfort scents (I only just now realized that it’s not 2 which I started writing but is actually 3).

The first and easiest category is comfort scents that are no brainers. They aren’t complicated, might not last long but feel more like putting on your favourite cotton underwear.

One of those that always works for me, during the whole year is Jo Malone’s Nutmeg and Ginger. It has spices that make it right. It’s my round the year comfort wear.

The other two categories are much more interesting though.

This winter I went through a phase of discovering DSH line. There is still much left to be discovered but since it was winter, and I was going through a spices phase, I tried several of her creations and fell in love with quite a few. What I loved about Cimabue, Piment and Chocolat, and Gingembre is that when I smell them I am reminded of childhood freedom and smell of warmth and I feel happiness radiating around me.

Then, I discovered Back to Black, By Kilian. Which if you considered the name might not sound like a very comforting scent but to me it feels like I’m cocooned in my favourite blanket reading something and a cup of hot wine on the table beside me (there is no wine in it, it just gets me to this place).

One other comforting winter scent for me is New Harleem by Bond no.9. It is a perfect combination of comforting and energizing and can be used as a really good pick-me-up during the winter. I gave some to my boyfriend and I can tell when he puts it on – not often but also when he is in a need for some happy thoughts.

I could talk more about some of the scents I wore this winter that enveloped me in comfort (like, Santal Blanc which not only gives comfort but strength to face the world as well) but while reading my winter notes, I realized many of the scents I really enjoy during those months are those that have a boozy-warm feeling to them (I don’t want to delve deeper into why a boozy aroma seems to calm me). 😉 But those that fit into that category are Lucifer Sin by Damien Bash, Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire and Spiriteuese Double Vanille (which I only have a sample of but would love more).

In the end, there is my third category and it’s a very special one. Those are scents (for the time being only two) that are not so comforting per se but are actually scents that lift the weight off your shoulders and make you breathe easier (for me, they also help clear my thoughts and ideas). A lot of work for a scent to do. A big thank you for those achievements to Timbuktu and Sandalo Inspiritu by DSH.

That’s all from me, now please visit other participating blogs and enjoy the coming spring. 🙂

Katie Puckrik Smells
http://www.katiepuckriksmells.com/

Roxana Illuminated Perfume
http://journal.illuminatedperfume.com/

Savvy Thinker
http://savvythinker.com/

BitterGrace Notes
http://bittergracenotes.blogspot.com/

Perfume Shrine
http://www.perfumeshrine.com/

Notes from the Ledge
http://scelfleah.blogspot.com/

Scent Hive
http://www.scenthive.com/

The Non-Blonde
http://thenonblonde.blogspot.com/

Perfume in Progress
http://sonomascent.wordpress.com/

A Rose Beyond the Thames
http://arosebeyondthethames.blogspot.com/

I Smell Therefore I am
http://ismellthereforeiam.blogspot.com/

Olfactarama
http://olfactarama.blogspot.com/

The Smelly Blog
http://smellyblog.com/

“This article’s title is an homage to Michelyn Camen’s original article of this same name on Sniffapalooza Magazine in 2008, in which interviewed several perfumers to comment on what botanical elements make their perfumes comforting.

Michelyn Camen is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of www.cafleurebon.com and the Editor-at- Large for www.Fashiontribes.com. She is a formerly an Editor for Fragrantica, the Fragrance Editor for Uptown Social, a Senior Contributor for Sniffapalooza Magazine, the New in Niche Columnist forBasenotes, the Managing Director for BeautynewsNYC and the former publicist for www.luckyscent.com and Scent Bar, Los Angeles. She has been awarded Brandweek Magazine Marketer of the Year, Ad Age Magazine 100 and is a two time recipient of License Magazine’s 40 under 40 and recipient. She slipped off her corporate power suit to pursue her passion for fragrance.”

Picture by Ayala from the Smelly Blog

Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth

World of Books March 17, 2010 Comments: 3

This is the book 4 in the series, there is only one more left which I mistakenly thought that I have bought and was searching frantically at home trying to locate it after finishing this one, only for it to turn out, I didn’t buy it. 🙂 I definitely needed a vacation and everything I did before it is a bit blurred because I was already so tired that my mind kept wandering off and I was forgetting all sorts of things.

All that is no longer important, spring is here, I’m relatively rested and in a good mood and there are all sorts of new spring scents to find and wear. Which has nothing to do with the book. 🙂

So, let me tell you something about the book.

Well, in this one you can tell the whole story is getting to its end and that the bad guy (in this case the Titan Kronos) is on the brink of seizing power. The last book is the one where Percy decided the future of the Olympic gods and I can’t wait to see what happens.
Before this series I thought I had some bacis Greek mythology knowledge but it didn’t take long for me to realize I actually missed quite a lot of minor characters (most of the time monster type). It’s fun to read a book written for fun and then finishing it and realizing you learned something. And in this one you actually get proof that there is something going on between Percy and Annabeth (finally!) but I’m still wondering what will happen in the last sequel with Annabeth and Luke (who turned bad guy in book 1). I definitely didn’t see coming what happened to Luke at the end of this book.
The whole series somehow reminds me of Harry Potter, each book sees the characters slowly grow up and the story gets richer and more complex. I guess that is normal when your characters start young and grow up to deal with more darkness around them. 🙂 Standard hero stuff. 🙂

Quick post-ski thoughts

Perfume thoughts March 15, 2010 Comments: 4

First day after a vacation is always filled with so many different things to do, so I’ll just give you a quick rundown of what I wore while skiing, hot it behaved and some photos of the mountains.

Even though I thought skiing in March will prove to be a sunny, warm activity, I was quite wrong. On those days when it was actually sunny, it was still cold and windy and although not as cold as on non-sunny days, cold enough not to mistake the weather for spring.

Bal d’Afrique is definitely something cold cannot kill. 🙂 And 3 spritzes of it are too much. It got trapped between my layers of clothing and I could smell it all day. A large plus for it. The same goes for Alamut which managed to reveal new facets in the cold (wet and rose-smelling). That one is strange – I’m not sure what I think of it.

I had high hopes for Sushi Imperiale but they were dashed by the coldest day I ever experienced. I don’t think I was ever that cold in my life (it was a windy -15 degrees Celsius). The cold killed the Sushi Imperiale. The same happened to Vetyver Vanilla by Gutsatz house.

On one of the sunny days I wore Keiko Mecheri Iris Pourpre which turned quite sweet in the sunny cold.

In the evening I mostly kept to my new discovery – Nuxe dry oil for body which has a lovely smell that combines great with By Kilian Back to Black (and feels great on skin).

That’s all for today – here are some photos:




The last one is me of course. 🙂

And I’m off

Uncategorized March 5, 2010 Comments: 5

Just a quick word before I leave for a week of sun in the (I hope sun) but on snow definitely.
I hope everyone has a productive week of sniffing and discovering new loves, and hopefully, there won’t be that many posts to read once I’m back but since I will be de-stressed, happy and full of energy, I won’t mind one little bit even if that will be the case.
I will be back on Monday 15, probably with photos and my musings on how the scents I’m taking with me performed in the snow and while skiing. I sincerely hope that it’s not going to be a week where I’m lazy enough not to put anything on and just let my scentful hobby disappear. I really want to see how it’s going to work out.
So, have a great week (I know I will) and read you soon!

New purchase and some detective work

Short perfume review March 2, 2010 Comments: 5

I really, really should learn from experience. Especially when it’s mine. 🙂

All I wanted to do was doi a quick visit to Viktor Koncept store, try Bal d’Afrique and Amaranthine and leave because I was in a hurry to the next appointment I had. Of course, what happened is that I was more than 20 minutes late and with a new perfume purchase I never planned on doing. I blame it on SAs there. They were really helpful and we were discussing different houses they have and what should I try for my ski trip (he, he, I’m mobilising people right and left to help me choose) and at that time, while smelling some very interesting things on strips (like Tilleul, Eau de Gantier, etc.) I realized my right wrist smelled great and mistakenly thought it was Bal d’Afrique which was on my left wrist. Or, I thought right but everything got messed up in my head because I was in a hurry. So, I decided to take Bal d’Afrique home with me because even though the name doesn’t suggest it, it feels right for skiing. 🙂 Unbelievable. I’ll let you know when I come back if I was right.

Notes: lemon, neroli, African marigold, cyclamen, vetiver, jasmine, violet, bucchu, cedar, black amber? and musk.

At this moment, I cannot give you a coherent opinion on what this is because mostly what I’m thinking is what it’s not. 🙂 It reminds me of many different perfumes but it’s not them. Even though I’m not madly in love with it, I am completely fascinated. It feels like it could hypnotise my nose and not let it go.

On the other hand, I could fall in love with Amaranthine if I give it some time. At the moment we are eyeing each other and flirting, considering what might happen in the future. Are we going to go for the real thing or just flirt a bit?

Notes: green tea, white freesia, banana tree leaf, coriander, cardamom, rose, carnation, clove, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, musk, vanilla, sandalwood, condensed milk and tonka bean.

I won’t even try to decipher the notes I smell. Do you see how many are there?! At first, I didn’t think there was going to be anything happening between us. It started like a bitterish green floral (I attribute the bitter part to tea and coriander) and then the bitter edge dissipated and what I was left with was a green floral going for vanilla. I kept thinking why so much vanilla and where is it coming from – making its way through the green floralcy. I guess the condensed milk and tonka bean are helping there.

So, I came home and went in search of notes and found at NST that it was “reminiscent of the scent of the inside of a woman’s thigh” – once I read that and the notes, I could totally see it, the muskiness and dissipating bitterness giving one an idea like that. This is not something to turn you away from this, just try and see if you get it as well. 🙂

Now on to the part where my bad streak of things not happening as they should continues.

We were talking about Viktor Koncept getting some new perfume brands for their store, here you can see what they have so far, and me being in a hurry, I paid, and since I was in a hurry and the bag they packaged for me wasn’t close, I asked if I could get the bag and wave good-bye, and they gave it to me. Unfortunately for me, there were no samples in it which I realized once I got home. And I’m not blaming the SAs, they always put interesting samples when I’m there, but I asked for my bag right after the discussion and I don’t think they even realized there were no samples in it. 😦 I’m so sad I’m not going to try anything new, but hey, these things shouldn’t be done in a hurry.

And, here is where some detective work comes into play. 😉 They plan on adding some new brands to their store but those that are not yet present here. That means brands that aren’t at the Institut Parfumeur Flores either which narrows the field. My first hope was that someone was finally going to have the whole SL line. Which of course, I don’t know beacuse Viktor is keeping it a secret.

The others that might come as per my detective work (and they are going to Paris to talk to them): Boadicea, Caron, Divine, Ego Facto, Fifi Chachnil, Fragonard, Frederic Malle (oh, yes please!), Le Labo, Montale, Nez a Nez, Reminiscence…

I didn’t put here houses that are present here but have exclusive lines (Chanel, Guerlain, Van Cleef and Arpels, etc.). I mean I hope they arrive but sincerely doubt it.

There are also some lines that are not from Paris but which I would LOVE to see here. Tom Ford if anyone who can make a difference is reading. 🙂

Huh, that was a lot to go through.

Big thanks to the NST team which helps with pretty much any investigative work relating perfume (I used their list of houses and notes).

James Rollins: The Doomsday Key

World of Books February 28, 2010 Leave a comment

I just love his books – ok, this is for now only valid for Sigma series, but I don’t think the rest can be bad. If you’re a good writer then whatever you write is just good. 🙂

One way that I know a writer has really climbed on my list is when his/her hardcover comes out and I don’t even bat an eye at the price but can’t wait to go and spend the money because it means I will be having it in my hands soon. Like with Mr. Rollins.

I cannot but help wonder how much research goes into each of his books. Even more so because he takes real things and facts and combines them with his characters to fit the story. The really scary part comes at the end of his books, what was real in the book and what wasn’t – way too many of those things you wanted to be fiction seem to be fact. Very scary. Especially concerning this one when the facts point to the devastation man has done and keeps doing to this planet we live on. And not only that, but how much of that is actually being hidden and kept away from public. James Rollins always says which books helped him get to know some subject better and I always plan on getting them but still haven’t managed to do it (will though eventually).

In Doomsdsay Key we have some GM foods gone real bad, “interesting” views on how to keep the world population in numbers that can actually live off the amount of food the earth can produce, Gray Pierce on a mission with the 2 women who effect his emotional life, Painter also on a mission, some back-stabbing and some not, Celtic history and some even older, Black Madonnas, strange diseases and their cures and a lot of learning to be done. And how would you not love the book?!

It just hit me yesterday that Gray Pierce is a combination of James Bond and Indiana Jones – he can get you out of any life-threatening situation and is really a genius when it comes to deciphering riddles. Plus, he has no lack of women (even though he is not that interested in quantity but quality). 🙂

And to end this with the best little tidbit – there is going to be at least one more SIgma book (since there is a “war” starting between Sigma and the Guild). I hope it takes a while before it’s over. 😉

I need some scentful help

Uncategorized February 27, 2010 Comments: 8

A week from now I’ll be off to France for a week of skiing. I cannot describe how much I am looking forward to a week of some energetic activity, sun, snow and no work. 🙂 I really think I’ve earned my vacation this year.

Anyway, I realized I have a bit of a problem. I have no ide what to take with me (perfume-wise). I know I will take Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger because that is my light scent for pretty much every occasion and I think will work great during my snow activities.
But, it will be March and it won’t be that cold (approximately from -3 to 3 degrees Celsius) so now my winter scents are not going to be appropriate because first, they are not designed for strenuous activity (I don’t see most of them in that light anyway) and secondly, they make me feel warm and cuddly and that is not exactly what I will need them to do. I mean, the sun will be shining and it’s going to be pretty warm (in ski terms) and the cuddly needs no explanation. 🙂

But I don’t think my summer scents are appropriate either. I don’t want citrusy light variants for skiing, they somehow feel like they are going to clash with snow. I would like either something sporty, something cristalline-like or white (ChickenF, are you going to suggest Cristalle? – which btw, I still don’t know what it smells like) or something springlike. I’m thinking of taking Santal Blanc as well (it has the white part, besides it’s not too wintery so it might work).
Any suggestion will be most welcome. 🙂
I also plan to take something to seduce my boyfriend in the evening 😉 but that is a much easier choice (my Amoureuse and Lyric samples are coming with me – probably some others as well, but I haven’t yet decided which).

And while I’m waiting for the week to pass, some pictures from last year (Les 2 Alpes). That’s me in light blue.

All my efforts are just not good enough

Short perfume review February 24, 2010 Comments: 11

Spring is right around the corner and all my efforts regarding scents are not bearing any fruit. It all started with Roxana’s solid chocolate perfume samples. Which are btw really interesting and smell delicious but in my case cannot be put into much words or summed up as what they smell like. I’ll give it a try but you shouldn’t expect much.

Then this morning, I got dressed and was happy that I can wear lighter clothes since it’s getting springish here and the temperatures have risen about 10- 15 degrees Celsius. And I realized I don’t know what perfume to put on. In the end I ended up wearing Daim Blonde just because it didn’t remind me too much of a winter scent. And it is still not time for summer scents so I’m a bit lost now. What are you all wearing these days when it’s too warm for winter scents but it’s not really spring yet?

And now when I was starting to write this, I wanted to download the photos I took with my phone and for some reason, it won’t work. Like I said, nothing seems to be going right.

My Roxana chocolate samples included the following six:

1. Noir – “Like it’s edible counterpart, this chocolate is deep, dark and mysterious with a strong musk note.”

Yeah, there’s no mistaking the musk part and the fact that of all six, this one lasts the longest. It does smell of dark chocolate with slightly bitter feel but the musk unfortunately makes it not for me.

2. Cerise – “Succulent cherry with a base of rich chocolate.”

Now we’re getting somewhere. 🙂 I kept thinking, I know this, I know this, what is that fruit in this? And then I read cherry, and it hits me. There is a Croatian chocolate producer that has this perfect chocolate filled with boozy cheeries and this one smells exactly like that little chocolate morcel. And I get the boozy vibe too (have no idea if it’s only me because of the chocolate association).

3. La Foret – “A dense conifer forest meets an ocean of chocolate.”

This one is my favourite. There is less chocolate vibe in this (even though there’s an ocean in the description), it’s less sweet and more deeper and darker than the rest. I got some earthy-smoky vibe from it and it reminds me of chocolate forest (more foresty than chocolatey).

4. L’Orangerie – “Mouth watering citrus in a base of rich chocolate.”

Roxana also said it is very fleeting although I didn’t see it as more fleeting than the rest (they all had some problems with sticking a while on my skin). But boy, is it mouth-watering! All that juiciness you can practically feel in your mouth. You smell it and it feels like a burst of juiciness exploded in your head. How did she do that? Yeah, and the chocolate is there. 🙂

5. Bois de Chocolat – “Smokey woods and chocolate.”

I got more of the wood in number 3, this reminded me more of wood shavings and chocolate. Not bad but since it was a bit sweeter than 3, 3 is still my most wearable favourite.

6. Epices – “Spice, a hint of vanilla and chocolate.”

I think I smelled some orange peel and clove, it started juicy and spicy. Reminded me of Christmas cakes (the orange/spice combo) and I thought that there might be some cinammon in it but cannot say for sure. It was stronger than number 5, so that is a great plus for it (coming on top those great spices in the beginning).

I think they would all work great as body lotions because putting these solids (and they go on as an oily mousse de chocolat for a lack of a better description) and feel slightly decadent. Rubbing chocolate and spices on your pulse points and warming them up? Mmmm. I think they would work great as mood enhancers. Just rub some chocolate solid that melts into your skin and relax.
I ordered the samples from Roxana’s Etsy shop. There are many more gems hiding there, just waiting for me (or my credit card). 🙂

Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief

World of Books February 21, 2010 Comments: 5

I think I should have joined a YA book challenge considering the books I’m reading lately. 🙂 The shelf with YA series in my bookstore is getting bigger and bigger, so when I read about this series (and the movie that will be here soon) last week, I went to check if they had it, and of course they did. I only took the first book, just to make sure it was going to be something I will like reading and as you can probably guess from the introduction, I will be heading there as soon as possible for all other installments of Percy Jacskon. 🙂 Who would’ve guessed?! 😉

It seems that the Greek gods have entered contemporary fiction big time. My first contact was through Sherrilyn Kenyon and there was someone else in the mean time between Sherrilyn and now Rick Rordan but I can’t remember who at the moment.

And there is that other movie about to hit the cinemas, also having to do with ancient Greek monsters and stuff. 🙂 I found it – Clash of the Titans.

All these certainly make for an easier learning of the Greek mythology, if nothing else.

On to the young Percy, who is 12 in the book, but looks a bit older in the movie trailer. I wonder what changes will there be in the movie (and there will be, no doubt).

So, he learns he is the son of a god (I’m not going to say which) but his mother has never told him that – he’s about to learn it the hard way. He is also dyslexic, which is normal for demi-gods (there is an explanation in the book, quite interesting). In this first book, Percy learns who he is and who his father is, and since his father is in the middle of a dispute that might lead to war, Percy and his 2 friends set out on a quest to settle the matter. The book is fun and easy to read and really full of interesting mythological facts (I mean, it’s mythology and cannot be factual, but you know, facts as they appear in the Greek mythology).

I’m not going to say anything more except if you like to read, try this as light reading, and I am going to see the movie, I believe it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Pic by: /www.rickriordan.com

I have a problem

World of Perfume February 20, 2010 Comments: 14

I realized it only today. I know that the Chicken Freak wrote some posts about de-cluttering and how to get rid of stuff, and now it seems I will have to give this some thought. As in how to apply it in my own life. I’ve been swapping for over a year now and I have so many samples and quite a lot of decants. That wouldn’t be a problem usually, but since I really like most of the decants I have, I tend not to use them. Which kind of makes no sense because what’s the point in liking them and keeping them on the shelf?! The problem is what if I use them up and decide I need a bottle? I can’t buy so many and I like having such a wide choice swapped decants give me. Anyway, today I decided I will no longer keep them so I wore my New Harleem decant 2 days in a row. It is one of my favorite Bond No. 9 scents (along with Chinatown and Lexington avenue).

So I’m going to talk about it today.

Notes: bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli, lavender.

The notes really cannot prepare you for what you smell when you spray New Harleem on. To me, it starts with slightly citrusy burnt coffee caramel feel. I mean that in the best possible way, it does smell like coffee caramel but like the caramel was slightly burnt (I guess that comes from the patchouli). On me this caramel burnt feel is more prominent than on my boyfriend (I told him to try it since it is not listed as a feminine scent).

I’m looking at my notes now and realize that I haven’t mentioned cedarwood in them. Hmm, I was focusing more on the coffee/patchouli/lavender idea, cedarwood just went past me. The thing is, whenever I real lavender as one of the notes, I get scared. Lavender is such a strong and distinct smell that I’m scared will take over everything else. It never happens here, after the initial coffe/caramel feel subsides, it takes a while for lavender to become noticeable and it is never too much. Just right to give this relatively rich and sweet concoction and interesting twist. New Harleem lasts quite long and it took some hours before I finally got vanilla (still slightly tempered by coffee). But don’t let that coffee fool you – it is never too much. Now i think of it, I don’t remember smelling anything similar to this. Does anyone know of anything that comes close to this – I would like to smell some more variants of these notes.