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 Friday, September 18, and it’s been raining a LOT this week, with Hurricane Sally landing on the Gulf Coast and moving across the Southeast. We’ve only gotten the fringe of the rain and wind, so we’re lucky. In honor of the weather, I am wearing Guerlain’s Apres L’Ondee. My other option could have been Hermes’ Un Jardin Apres La Mousson, a favorite. Other pleasant distractions this week were my husband’s birthday, and the baking and cooking our oldest daughter did in honor of it. She made him Mary Berry’s pineapple/coconut/carrot cake from scratch — yummy! One of his gifts was a new book about Winston Churchill called “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson. It’s the story of Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister, from May 1940 to May 1941, which encompassed Dunkirk, the London Blitz, and the Battle of Britain, as well as his negotiations with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt for Lend-Lease and future cooperation.
What’s your SOTD? Or, have you been reading anything of special interest?
Featured image from http://www.AmericanHistoryinLondon.com
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
I really like Erik Larson’s books. My favorite one so far was The Scholar and the Madman, about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. I love the OED. I could just sit and read about the history of English words all day, it’s so fascinating. I checked out The Genius of Birds” from the library and I look forward to reading it. I enjoy the birds in our garden so much and would love to learn more about their lives.
SOTD is Guerlain’s Nuit d’Amour. I love this fragrance so much and I have wanted it for a long time. I bought a lightly used bottle of Nuit d’Amour on eBay and I am really enjoying it. It’s uplifting, relaxing and simply beautiful. Such a lovely scent with rose, violet and iris, with a musk and sandalwood base. Ahhhh….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, I loved that one too! And I’m also a huge fan of the OED. I was so excited when I was able to have my very own Compact Edition, complete with reading glass! Now, of course, it’s all digital. Your bird book sounds like a great choice, I’ll have to look it up. Nuit d’Amour sounds lovely.
LikeLike
Happy Birthday to your husband! I haven’t had time to read much recently, but have been unwinding when I can by re-watching the British sitcom Yes, Minister. Very witty and spot on making fun of bureaucracy. (Its sequel is Yes, Prime Minister.)
Been wearing my rose perfumes this week, including L’Orchestre Parfum Rose Trombone and Tauer Perfumes Une Rose Chyprée, but have found them too strong, so will probably switch to lighter florals for the next few days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your lighter florals — drop back in and let us know what you’ve chosen! I’m now wearing Merchant of Venice’s Flower Fusion. Very soft and pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey OH,
On the very last book of a 12 book epic that started with the Belgariad. It’s a multi re-read and one of the books has completely fallen apart so I bought its replacement on Kindle. For the first time in about 35-40 years of reading it I will be glad when it’s over. Still love it but want to get onto other things.
Perfume wise Reem Acra has been getting multiple wears but today i went with SJP Stash Unspoken. So easy and comfortable.
Happy birthday to Mr OH.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a couple of books waiting for me, but I wasn’t in the mood to read anything not work-related.
Today wore Boxeuses because I wanted my “fight” perfume for a (Zoom) group meeting with the new Big Boss. It went fine, though it was unexpected that we would need to introduce ourselves since originally it was planned like a bigger town-hall-type meeting – at least that was how my manager presented it to us. The lesson? Always be prepared to talk about how great you are doing… what exactly ARE you doing? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am easing my way into perfume again. A month going without when shut in at a rehabilatation/physiotherapy clinic for 4 weeks (ending in mid-August) got me out of the habit.. The ban on perfume obviously was a minor restriction compared to being told not to visit any crowded places, included the local supermarket.
Now I’m really wanting something new in my collection, but testing is difficult as long as only SAs are allowed to handle testers. I have been looking for a cheap(er) bottle of Houbigant Iris des Champs, but haven’t found any at the online stores I am familiar with and trust to handle international orders in a good way. This is possibly the last warmer weekend this year, so I have been wearing Dior Escale à Pondichéry. I intend to use the last 3 ml before winter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you! Glad you’ve recovered, that sounds like an ordeal. What other iris scents do you like?
LikeLike
I had the one from Le Labo. That one is excellent, but definitely on the expensive side. I keep looking online locally for a used bottle of SL Bas de Soie, so far without success. I also had a sample of Hèrmes Hiris and liked it very much, but haven’t purchased.
I bought 5 ml of N.C.P. Olfactive Facet 501 (Iris & Vanilla) a few weeks ago, but the whole scent is too sweet and artificial, not the dry woody type of vanilla you sometimes find in perfume.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I’ve tried any of those! I like Laboratorio Olfattivo’s Nirmal, which is iris-centric, and Atelier’s Cologne’s Iris Rebelle; also Miller Harris’ Terre d’Iris. I’ve reviewed all three on this blog.
LikeLike
Nirmal is one it looks like I can find locally, will have to make a shopping trip to that independent perfume and skin care shop to try it!
LikeLike
Have you tried Dusita’s Splenderis and Olfactive Studio Iris Shot? Both brands offer samples and travel sprays of these perfumes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I haven’t seen them locally and I don’t dare to make a purchase without testing first. I do admit Dusita sounds like a brand I might like, but generally I cannot tell just by reading the listed notes.
LikeLike