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, June 11, and we are still processing a very enjoyable wedding weekend just past! It was the wedding of our nephew (also our godson), in Baltimore, and we had such a wonderful time! I was able to see my two sisters for the first time in a year and a half (last visit was October 2019), as well as some cousins. My kids spent the whole weekend with all their first cousins on my side of the family, and it was a joy to see how much fun they have together. We spent part of Saturday poking around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, which has grown so much in the thirty years since my husband and I were last there, and we ate wonderful crabcakes. The wedding itself was beautiful, as were the bride and groom.
I wore Sonoma Scent Studio‘s Champagne de Bois, from a travel spray that was a kind gift from Undina, and it was just right — thank you, Undina! I am so glad that Sonoma Scent Studio has been revived by a new owner with the original fragrance lines. Support the independent artisan perfumers! They’ve had a tough year. Last weekend was a tonic for the spirit. I’m an introvert and quite a homebody, so I haven’t minded most of the past year in terms of working from home, not going out, etc., but it was lovely to be able to gather, and socialize, and even dance.
Have you been on an airplane recently, or a large gathering?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
So glad you had a wonderful time here in Baltimore.Yes,The crab cakes are so amazingly delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We really did! Last time we were there was for the All-Star game at Camden Yards in 1992!
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed the wedding and what a fabulous perfume! We are on our way home after 5 college visits in 5 days. Haven’t chosen a perfume yet as we have a grad party to attend tonight. It shouldn’t be overly hot – will have to decide if it’s time for my Chanel Eaux!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What did you choose? How was the party? College visits can be very tiring, you’re a trouper.
LikeLike
No large gatherings for me. First one will be the baby shower for my daughter in law in July. It’s going to be a big deal with a Hindu priest blessing, etc. I expect about 150 people will be there. All the family I know have been vaccinated so it should be fine. I’ll probably wear a mask just in case since it will be indoors. Outside in July in Alabama would be pretty brutal I think, even through Birmingham is in the northern part of the state and has a reasonably high elevation.
My perfume of the day is Heeley’s Amandiere. I think you would love it, Green, fresh, almond blossoms, similar to some muguet scents I have smelled. I love it. I have a 10 ml bottle I got from Heeley’s website for a reasonable price and I may spring for a full bottle in the fall when the weather cools down. I wouldn’t want this delicate fragrance to get ruined in the summer heat it would encounter in its travels to the US in summer.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It sounds beautiful, Heeley is a house I haven’t explored yet.
LikeLike
I love James Heeley’s perfumes. His Iris de Nuit is my signature fragrance. I have many loves, but that is the one I love the most and Amandiere is right up there as another love. Surprisingly, Amandiere projects well on my skin and lasts a long time. I’m thrilled about that!
I also really like Heeley’s incense fragrance, Cardinal. It’s a Catholic church type of incense. I discovered Heeley early in my perfume journey and I’ve been ordering most of the perfumes and samples directly from his shop in Paris. They are very liberal with samples. I also like Cocobello. I’m not a coconut perfume person generally, but Cocobello is very delightful, light, clean and fun, not cloying at all like so many others of that ilk. Sel Marin is another good Heeley as is the Yuzu scent.
LikeLike
You’ve created some lemmings! I’m not sure if I have even any samples from this line. Barney’s used to carry the brand, but now I’ll probably look for them online.
LikeLike
Love Amandiere, it’s a delicate little thing but lovely.
LikeLike
Wonderful to have a big family catch-up. Glad everything went well. Plus you smelled fabulous. C de B is one of my favourites from SSS. I’m guarding my tiny little stash and wishing I had a US mule so that I could get some more. Flying anywhere is not really on the cards for me this year but I don’t even care as long as I can travel within the country to see family and friends. We actually had a nice gathering last weekend, had my hubby’s parents and one of his sisters and her family to stay. Plus two of our friends. Very buzzy house and I loved every moment. Unfortunately no staff here to do the big cleanup afterwards 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
C de B my favorite as well. One day you will come to the States. We will meet up in Manhattan. I will have a bottle waiting for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We will have a total spree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too feel the lack of household staff, lol!
LikeLike
SOTE is PG Louanges Profane. Can’t remember what I sprayed on this morning. It has left the building.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haven’t been on a plane since 1997. Have always avoided large gatherings. Can’t remember the last wedding I attended. I prefer very small get togethers.
I’ve been living in O de Lancolm for two weeks. A dear friend sent me her neglected bottle. This one is going to be another THUNK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, tell us what you like about it! I’ve never tried that one.
LikeLike
It’s a blast from my VERY DISTANT past. I wore both O and O Intense as a teenager/young adult. Granted what I am wearing now is current formulation but it has enough of the DNA to take me on a memory trip. It’s both green/citrus and powder on my skin. I am going to wear it for two more weeks and then whatever is left (maybe 1/4-1/8 of the bottle) pass on to a dear friend because I really want her to try it, as it’s discontinued now. So out of the house is considered a thunk for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember this from the early 80s. Very green citrus. I didn’t realise it has been discontinued. I have O d’Azure and love it. Have you tried that one?
LikeLike
Love that you had a fabulous time OH. A family wedding and your godson! Very special re-entry to social adventure.
18 months since you’ve seen family, and you’re in the same country, must have been hard. Jin is aching to see his parents but Australia will probably not get back to international flights till mid 2022.
Jin and I have finally got our dates for the Pfizer vaccinations next month. That will be a good feeling.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hurray! I’m so glad you’re getting your shots. I got the Pfizer one too. I had no issues at all with the first dose, slept all day the day after the second, then felt fine. Such a relief!
LikeLike
That’s so good to know.
One of the people I know peripherally died of Astra Zenaca clots last week. Around my age, early 50s, gone. The community is in shock.
Portia x
LikeLike
I’m glad you had a wonderful time with your family. And you smelled great!
I like Baltimore but haven’t been there in the last 10 years, I think.
We had a couple of parties with 8-10 people. If I can find the right place, later this month we might have a bigger party for my vSO’s birthday. As to flying, we have plans for this Fall, but we’ll see: last year we also had those plans 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Undina, you have my email. Please send me your address again and I’ll send you some samples.
LikeLike