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, May 14, and my “May Melange Marathon” continues! I’m very excited to have received this week several samples from two kind readers (thank you!) and will write about a couple of the scents this month. This weekend is a big occasion for my family — one of my daughters “graduated” from college in May 2020, meaning she got her degree but there was no ceremony, and the only festivities were what we could do for her at home with just her parents and siblings. Luckily, her university is holding a special graduation tomorrow for the May 2020 graduates, so she’ll get to walk with quite a few of her friends, and we’ll be able to celebrate her properly. I’m so happy — she worked really hard all four years of college and graduated summa cum laude, but she missed out on all the pomp and circumstance to go with that. She was a really good sport about it, but it was yet another sadness in a sad year. So this weekend will be a special “What Went Well” weekend, for which I’m very grateful.
So that’s most of what I’ll be doing this weekend! You?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
So happy for your daughter, and all the family. Have a wonderful celebration. Last year, ugh, just unmentionable on so many fronts. The young and the old bore the brunt of it. Fingers crossed for continued improvement. I’m meeting friends and going to climb a hill on Saturday. Then I’m doing dinner for us on Sunday. There will be wine and laughter. I’m getting my vaccine next week, hubby is getting his today. Beauty salon on Tuesday, wohoo, I’m in dire need of beautifying. SOTD California Reverie, and thunk. Lovely but low on staying power.
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Your weekend sounds fabulous, and similar to mine! I’m getting my hair done today, dinner out with friends today and tomorrow, and walks with my dog and friends all weekend!
Enjoy all of your activities! SOTD Hemes 24, Faubourg from a dear friend.
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Isn’t it great that we’re finally inching towards some normality😃 Hope your hair looks utterly fabulous for your busy weekend. Have a great one. Every time I see someone mention 24 Faubourg I’m reminded of an old colleague. She was a hoot.
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Good for you! I had my first haircut in a year yesterday, it feels great. The academic unit where I work had its graduation today, and it was wonderful to see students and their families in person. I’m so happy that my daughter will get her big day tomorrow.
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Love California Reverie!
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It’s gorgeous but poof, does a disappearing act😄
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Congratulations on your daughter’s college graduation last year, and the opportunity to properly celebrate this weekend! Which perfume will you wear to celebrate?
I feel there are happier days ahead; more get togethers with family and friends, outings, our first vacation next week after a year and a half, more people getting vaccinated that want to, mask mandate lifted in our county this week (of course prudent to wear masks in some situations likely always for me).
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Thank you! I haven’t decided which perfume, maybe Chanel No.22. Definitely not Mitsouko — when I got a vintage bottle of it some years ago and spritzed it, this particular daughter came into my room a few minutes later, wrinkled her nose, and said, very seriously, “Promise me you will NEVER wear that again, Mom.”
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No 22 one of my long time faves! You will smell beautiful. I can understand a young person drinking up their nose smelling Mitsouko. Challenging perfume for many!
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No. 22 it is!
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Congratulations on your daughter’s graduation! So glad they had an in person ceremony for the 2020 grads. College graduation was a long time ago for me but an exciting time. Thanks for the tips about bluebells! I will have to check that out.
I’m recovering from my parathyroid surgery on May 3. I have a 3 inch incision across my throat and the only things authorized for pain were Advil and Tylenol. Torture, I say! I’m improving and I’m feeling much better generally with 3 of those wild out of control parathyroid glands removed. I’ve been burning CDG incense candles and wearing perfume samples I brought with me. Loving Kilian’s Angel’s Share! And listening to lots of classical music. Mozart and Beethoven are great for making one forget about pain. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
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Oh my, I hope the recovery goes well. Did your doctor at least give you a prescription for the high-dose ibuprofen? I’m glad the surgery seems to have been successful, though. Thank you for the lovely samples! I got them this week, can’t wait to try them. I agree with you about classical music. Feel better soon!
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So glad the samples finally arrived. I hope you enjoy them. I got no special ibuprofen, darn those doctors…But it’s getting better day by day. 🙂
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Hope your recovery goes well. You’re doing all the right things to aid that. Lazing and listening to music with a good book in hand is the best.
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I hope you’re getting better but I totally can’t understand your doctors’ position. Was there any medical explanation for why you couldn’t get any stronger painkillers?
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I’m so glad for your daughter! I know that it wasn’t the end of the world, and that there were other much more serious consequences from the pandemic, but I felt sorry for young people who didn’t get something that cannot be replaced – proper graduations, prom night, etc. Not the worst that could happen, but at younger age they are not equipped yet with the wisdom to accept those disappointments.
My vSO is getting his second shot today, so most likely we’ll do a takeout dinner with our friend tonight, and see if he gets a reaction by tomorrow. If yes, I’ll be helping him through that and doing laundry and ironing. If no, we’ll figure out something.
I got a bunch of samples recently, so I’m going through them slowly. But today probably I want to wear something… Not sure what yet.
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Thanks! And I’m happy to hear about the second shot for your vSO, such a relief!
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WOW! Summa Cum Laude! That’s amazing.Congratulations to her and to you for inspiring that kind of work ethic.
Our weekend was fairly low key. Saw some friends but mainly Jin and I hung out together, enjoying being home after our trip.
Both of us had work as well.
Fragrantly I wore the new Byzance 2019 by Rochas (nutty floral vanilla), Opium Fleur Imperiale by YSL (summer weight flanker), Not A Blue Bottle 1.4 (happily weird citrus and stewed fruit over a Tabu style base) and a few others.
Portia xx
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Ooh, what do you think about Byzance 2019? I’ve never tried the original, so I am totally open to favorable impressions.
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The new Byzance is a thoroughly modern creation, not resembling the original at all. I really like the way they’ve given it a toasted nuts effect with the florals and vanilla. It reminds me a little of the latest Caron mens release: Aimez Moi Comme Je Suis Caron. They are different but both have a similarity of heft and savour faire, plus the nuttiness. Both very nice.
Portia xx
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