by

Perfume Chat Room, March 20

Welcome to the weekly Perfume Chat Room, perfumistas! I envision this chat room as a weekly drop-in spot online, where readers may ask questions, suggest fragrances, tell others their SOTD, comment on new releases or old favorites, and respond to each other. The perennial theme is fragrance, but we can interpret that broadly. This is meant to be a kind space, so please try not to give or take offense, and let’s all agree to disagree when opinions differ. In fragrance as in life, your mileage may vary! YMMV.

Today is March 20, and it’s been a week, as they say. My academic workplace is now empty of all students and almost all faculty. We started out the week with most staff still onsite; by Wednesday, that number had gone down too. I continue to go into the office but I’ve encouraged my small team to work remotely. I feel pretty safe going in myself as our cleaning crews wipe down and disinfect the building every night, it’s easy to keep “social distance” when there are so few people around, and I have disinfectant spray and wipes in my own office (plus the essential oil diffuser I described last week!).

We will launch a fully remote learning environment on Monday when classes resume. It’s truly amazing what our technology tools make possible! We expect challenges like overloaded internet access, but we’re optimistic. I do find I need periodic pick-me-ups to remain cheerful — this week, my fragrance pick-me-up has been Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’ Smudge Nebula. It comes in a room spray and a roll-on oil, and it’s currently on sale on her website, so check it out! Here’s what she says about it: use it “for clearing rooms, blessing spaces, gems, and people with one journey through the mist. An ‘Eau de Protection’ to carry with you for those moments you need a little something extra…” Some of its notes are: Bulgarian Rose Absolute, Conifer, Frankincense, French Lavender, Green Rose Leaves, Hiba Cedarwood, Hinoki, Lemon, Rosewater, Spruce, Texas Cedarwood, White Sagebrush. It is a skin scent, very light and refreshing. It doesn’t last long, but it lasts longer if you spray it on fabric like a scarf or sweater. I find it quite uplifting!

How was your week? Have you turned to any comfort scents? Are you managing okay during this pandemic? I raise a virtual glass to you all!

Featured image: the Hubble telescope’s image of the Lagoon Nebula, from http://www.spacetelescope.org.

49 thoughts on “Perfume Chat Room, March 20”

  1. Hey there OH,
    Just had a DSH Perfume arrive in the post today.
    Highland Fling. I think it’s a floral green with warm resins and white florals. Haven’t checked the notes but that’s what my nose is telling me. It’s freaking fabulous.
    I’m still working, Jin is too. Noticing the streets are empty and the bars are almost that way too.
    We have enough food to last a few weeks if we go into full lockdown.

    THANK GOODNESS I have so much perfume, shower gel and soap.

    I have rediscovered the Milky Slippery Nipple. Old fashioned glass, couple ice cubes, shot of clear Sambuca, shot of Baileys, milk to taste. So bloody delicious I went out and bought the ingredients. So the bar is stocked.
    Portia xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. For some strange reason WP decided to deliver this post to my inbox just today. I was wondering yesterday if you were alright when I didn’t see a notification. But I was too busy (work, grocery shopping, work) to just come and randomly look for a post. I’m glad it was just a glitch.
    I need to do some cleaning today since we’re in self-isolation, and I didn’t allow our cleaning lady to come this week. And I’ll have to work for a while this weekend because I have a meeting on Monday (remotely) where I’ll have to do a presentation.
    A lot of perfume testing these days. Hope to sort out samples I do not need.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I started drafting it yesterday but didn’t post until early this morning because yesterday got too crazy at work! When I got home, I was just too pooped to finish it up and post. Had a glass of wine (or two!) instead! I hope you’re doing okay. I’ll be doing some work this weekend too, and I also had my cleaning lady stay home (and just mailed her regular check to her). Keep calm and wash your hands, as I keep telling my students!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. I have been wearing my big “not suitable for work” perfumes – really enjoyed Jungle l’Elephant earlier this week! Husband is working from home; teenage son has one more week off before he starts online “flexible instruction days”. Not sure how long that will work, but our school district has issued Chromebooks to students without access and they are making arrangements for internet access for same. I’m doing projects as my preschool is closed indefinitely. I might finally get the basement cleaned and organized! Stay well, everyone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • My teenager started online school this past week and it’s going pretty well! I think his teachers have done a remarkable job to make this shift. They’re using a flipped classroom approach so the kids aren’t staring at a screen from 8-3. Shorter days in online learning, more independent work offline. The class discussions I’ve heard as I walk by seem very lively and engaged. Kudos to teachers!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. I wore all my Chypres this week, because they ground me. Germany is facing a lockdown soon, I think. We did some spring cleaning today and installed some picture rails finally. I hope you all stay at home and be safe

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Both of my college kids are home. My third and eldest is a newbie nurse in a very small hospital in a low socioeconomic town. They had their first covid death on Saturday and are not at all equipped for what is to come.
    Working from home has been a challenge as I am asked to complete tasks that I have never done before with little guidance. As I ask for help everyone passes the buck LOL 🤣.
    Perfume wise I have tested many decants sent to me by the ever generous Kathleen. I have also worn some essential oils. And my middle one brought back all her full bottles so I have been dabbling in those. Today I am wearing Cassis en Feuille which has an amazing tomato leaf note. A full bottle gift from my APJ bestie Marcella (who I hope comes out of hiding one of these days!).

    Hope everyone has a same week.
    Be safe and stay healthy 💪🙏
    Practice lots of self care.

    Like

    Reply

    • Yeah, we have to try to stay sane. I think that all those working in healthcare now are going to need lots of propping up somewhere down the road. I’ve been going ballistic with my new Orange Sanguine for a few days. Wohoo, don’t have to ration it anymore. What could we do to entice Marcella out of the woodwork . . . ?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • I’m sorry to hear about your eldest’s hospital. There are some community groups that are trying to help care providers by sewing fabric masks that can be washed and reused, is that a need there? Some patterns also provide a pocket to hold filter materials when available. I can’t believe it has come to this, btw.

      Like

      Reply

      • It’s unthinkable in a so-called first world country. And a wealthy one at that. They’re out there in the front line of battle and yet left short of basic resources to win the fight. Things don’t add up at all.

        Like

        Reply

  7. I copied and pasted what I’ve just written on Undina as my comment here yesterday was eaten up by WordPress goblins.
    We’re not in lockdown here, though I suspect it might have to happen soon. Cases are escalating and our health service is already overstretched during normal times.The government has contacted all recently retired medical staff and it had an overwhelmingly positive response, so there are a lot of people on standby for when the inevitable happens. Hospitals have been getting unused wards and unused outbuildings ready for occupation for several weeks now. Our schools, colleges and childcare facilities closed over a week ago, followed by pubs, theatres, gyms, all entertainment venues. I’ve been off work since last Monday, and don’t know when I’ll be back. Thousands have been thrown into instant unemployment. I live in the country so isolation is nothing new to me, but I’m normally a very social animal. For now we’re entertaining ourselves at home. I can get out and walk for miles, luckily, to burn off some steam. I’m also tackling some little jobs around the house that tend to get overlooked. Spending a lot of time on the phone to friends and family, we have to keep each other buoyed up. The hysteria of last week has abated and the supermarkets are now back to pretty normal business as usual, though with lines marked out at the tills to keep people apart. And there’s lots of toilet rolls on the shelves! (What is it with the toilet roll?) A lot of shops have decided to close, apart from chemists, builders merchants, take out food outlets, and of course the supermarkets. Towns are eerily quiet. People for the most part are being responsible about distancing themselves, thankfully. My perfume habits have changed not one jot. I still wear what I like, when I like. And that won’t ever change. I hope we can all stay healthy and well until this filthy contagion passes. And sooner rather than later. We should all try to remember when we’re on the verge of losing our shit that our ancestors came through wars, pestilence and in our case, famine, to go on and live life to its fullest. Things will undoubtedly get much worse before we see the tide turning. We’re being asked to stay at home. I think we can handle this.

    Like

    Reply

  8. This just in: “On Friday, British ear, nose and throat doctors, citing reports from colleagues around the world, called on adults who lose their senses of smell to isolate themselves for seven days, even if they have no other symptoms, to slow the disease’s spread. The published data is limited, but doctors are concerned enough to raise warnings.” Watch your sense of smell, perfumistas! https://nyti.ms/2WB21rx

    Like

    Reply

  9. I hope you are all staying healthy and safe! SOTD is Ostara again.

    Work is fine, those with kids obviously have a harder time concentrating when working from home. While smalltalk is harder during video meetings than face to face, many of us are making rapid progress in our ability to use different digital platforms, so perhaps when all this is over we will have fewer of those one-day trips to attend a two hours meeting in other parts of the country.

    Feeling lucky to have a secure job in the public sector, so will try to buy from some of the small businesses which still stay open, several offer home delivery now when there’s no Farmer’s Market.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You’re wearing Ostara, one of my faves! I’ve posted a photo of some of the daffodils now in bloom in my garden, in your honor! I also feel lucky to have what seems to be secure employment, although it’s anyone’s guess what this tipsy turvy economy will bring.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.