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 6, and my roses continue to flourish and bloom! I’ve added more photos to my Instagram account, if you’d like to see some of them up close. Most are “English Roses” by the late David Austin, an amazing hybridizer of roses who brought back the old-fashioned shapes and strong fragrance of older roses, but combined those with the range of colors and repeat-blooming habit of modern ones. One of the fascinating aspects of his roses is that many of them smell slightly different. All their scents are clearly “rose”, but some are more spicy, or fruity, or lemony. As you can tell, I love them.
If you haven’t yet read this month’s “Scent Semantics” posts by the six participating bloggers, the word for May (chosen by Portia) is “brilliance.” You’ll find all the links here: Scent Semantics.
May is full of various celebrations: May Day, Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day. I’ve just learned that in the Netherlands, May 5 is celebrated as Liberation Day, marking the end of Nazi occupation. May is the month of the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which I’ve been able to visit twice and hope to visit again, maybe next year.
This year, Eid al Fitr (the end of Ramadan) was celebrated in the US in May; the dates change every year. Do you celebrate anything in particular in May?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
May is the month we just try to get through – so many activities for school. My son graduates from high school on June 1 (so almost-May…)
It’s raining, again… wreaking havoc on the sports/photography schedules. Todays baseball game/senior recognition has already been rescheduled once and looks like it will be pushed back again. OTOH, the landscaping looks great! My backyard is a work in process – long beds along each side of our fence to which I add a few perennials each year. Last year’s additions were some shrubs and dwarf trees, this year will be flowers. I figure it will be just about perfect when we decide to sell and downsize! I think today I’ll wear Apres l’Ondee – even though it won’t be “after” the rain until tomorrow.
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Ooh, post photos of your landscaping when you get a chance! And congratulations on the upcoming graduation, lots to celebrate for that. Love Apres l’Ondee, what a beautiful choice.
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My son’s birthday is toward the end of May so that’s always extra special for us.
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No, we dont have celebrations in may, we just muddle through. Your roses are lovely
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Thanks!
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Love your roses photos!
For the first several decades of my life, May was a good month: May 1-2 were holidays (Labor Day), which sometimes involved participating in the mandatory parades but still it was nice because it was the beginning of real Spring. And May 9th was The Victory Day (the end of the war with Germany). This year… (sigh) This holiday that was kind of sacred to me is tainted by the war that the maniac in the country that at some point was a part of my native country has started against another part of the same country where I used to live and where people I care about live.
But we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend with our friend’s parents. And I look forward to the Memorial Day.
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Thanks! Yes, I can see how this May feels very fraught for you. What an ordeal you had in your own family!
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Late as ever, sorry OH.
Went and visited Mum’s grave for mother’s day. This year I also had two of her best friends (my courtesy Aunts) with me and it was a lovely morning. We got coffees and saw the various crew they all studied nursing with who are in the same cemetery. One of the nicest mother’s days I can remember since Mum died.
May for us is autumn so I’m breaking out the amber and woods. Love this time of year.
Portia xx
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I’m glad you had such a nice day!
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