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, October 21, and the gathering at our house last night, for which we have been scrubbing, tidying, and cleaning all month, was a big success! It was the first large group of people we’ve had over since December 2019, though we’ve had a friend or two over for drinks or dinner periodically. Now that the house is in good order (at least the main floor and front porch, lol!), and the holiday season is upon us, maybe we’ll do some entertaining. We don’t often do that, but last night was really fun.
In other news, a new precioussss has joined my collection. I rarely do this any more, focusing more on discovery sets and samples, and enjoying the bottles I already have, but I succumbed instantly to the charm of Hiram Green’s Arbolé, upon trying a sample from his discovery set; and having found a bottle online for a very good price, I ordered it. I did wait to experience the whole progression of my fragrance test, to make sure I wasn’t just falling for a great opening! Not to worry — I do love its opening but the whole sequence was delightful.
The official list of notes on the brand’s website is very short: patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean. This is deceptively simple; there is much more going on here, to my nose. I suspect it is because Hiram Green uses only non-synthetic materials, and natural materials are very complex in themselves and can shape-shift. In addition to the listed notes, I smell anise and heliotrope, for example.
My experience with Arbolé illustrates the value of discovery sets. Its notes list is not one that would have caught my attention in itself. I don’t dislike any of those notes, but the list doesn’t include any florals, for instance, or the strongly green notes that usually lure me in. I had previously tried Slowdive from Hiram Green and while I appreciated its quality and excellence, it didn’t transport me. But I was intrigued enough by the brand to get its discovery set, and voilà! I’m now the happy owner of Arbolé. I think part of the allure is exactly that it doesn’t fit within my usual categories, so it was more surprising to my nose, if that makes sense. Also, anise and heliotrope are notes I like a lot, so the fact that I picked them up in spite of their absences from the notes list was also appealing.
Have you tried anything lately that surprised you, or spoke to you?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
I am glad you bought some Arbole! I too enjoyed that despite thinking it would not be a favorite when I had a discovery set a number of years ago. I ended up with a travel spray of the late Shangri La (sad that he’s not doing travel sprays anymore, although I understand the economics of them are challenging for small producers). If not for that purchase I might have grabbed some Arbole, which struck me as more versatile than Moon Bloom or Slowdive. I’ve not had the change to try his newest offerings, sadly. Today I’m wearing an old favorite, SJP Covet, instead of my usual Friday Stash. It looked lonely on the tray.
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Covet is great too! BTW, Hiram Green’s website says Shangri La is coming back!
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I received the Shalimar Millesime Tonka yesterday, but was already wearing lashings of
4160 Tuesdays Says Alice, now known as Babylon Sunset. Such a stunning tropical fruit chypre that has the half life of Plutonium. Such a happy perfume. I chose not to overspray with the SMT.
Today I picked up DH after the insertion of a Hickman line & 4 days of chemo. As expected he’s nauseous & full of fluid. Knowing that strong smells can be repulsive post chemo I’ve gone “naked”. When I can give the SMT a good wearing it will be a very special occasion as it will signify DH is feeling better from the chemo
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Many hugs to you and your DH. I’m sorry you and he are going through this ordeal.
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Hope the day for a good wearing of SMT comes soon.
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so sad to hear of your husband. i hope the chemo works for him
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I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s chemo. I’ve had a Hickman line myself and endured a year of chemo so I know what it’s like. I’m sending big hugs and good wishes to you both. I hope the treatments are successful and I hope your hubby will be feeling a bit better soon so you can wear that lovely perfume!
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Thank you.
There are many hurdles for him to go through, 3 more chemos, another op which may be “heroic”, then more chemo. If all goes to plan it’s his best chance of a complete remission & may be prolonged survival.
It’s helpful knowing that the outcomes can be successful. I’m grateful for your sharing
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Glad to hear your event was a success! That’s a beautiful flower arrangement.
“I think part of the allure is exactly that it doesn’t fit within my usual categories, so it was more surprising to my nose, if that makes sense.” – It makes sense to me, and I think I felt that way about some of the gourmands in my Hermetica discovery set. I particularly liked the spicy opening of the vanilla-amber Vaninight, while I normally wouldn’t go for vanilla or amber. However, none of them have made me get a full bottle so far.
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Gourmands are another category that doesn’t immediately appeal to me, but I do like vanilla notes.
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I like Arbole very much! It is one of a very few all-natural perfumes that I want to wear.
I also prefer discovery sets these days. Not sure though that it changes the testing outcome: I don’t like most of what I try 🙂
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Beautiful flowers 💐 I’ve recently been surprised by an Indult discovery set. My favorite scent from this set is Reve en Cuir. It’s very unusual for me to like any leather fragrance, so this one being the favorite is pretty mind blowing for me. I may even buy a bottle! It’s a soft well blended leather with lots of spices, amber and a drop of honey 🍯 😋
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It sounds really beautiful! I’m not generally a big leather fan either but I like some. For example, Cabochard, especially the 2019 reissue, Iris Prima, and Cuir de Lancôme. For me to like a leathery fragrance, it usually has to have floral or green notes to balance the leather.
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How do you feel about Bottega Veneta, Knize 10 & Daim Blond?
I do like a whip crack leather but these softer floral or fruity leathers & suedes are my preference
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I love Daim Blond! It was my first leather note perfume and it’s a beauty. I also like Bottega Venetta, but not enough to buy a bottle, it’s a little bit too ‘leathery’ for me., which is crazy because I love the smell of leather saddles and livery. Maybe I only like those leathers because they have lots of ‘horse scents’ added in!
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I love Iris Prima and I need to try the Cuir de Lancome.
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i never smelled Arbole, but i would like to. i love green scents, but dont get on with sandalwood
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Just to say thank you for the supportive messages about DH.
The written perfume community is a wonderful place to belong. Thoughtful, kind & considered.
Love to you all
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Arbolé sounds very nice indeed. The only HG I’ve tried is Moon Bloom and I was very impressed with it over all. Shame that the mini bottles are no longer available. Glad that you enjoyed your party, it’s nice to push the boat out occasionally and just do it. Makes you feel more ‘alive’ if that makes sense😉 Had a little perfume sample surprise this week, picked one that’s been here for a couple of months but I wasn’t that excited to try. Maison Margiela Replica Matcha Meditation,
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What did you think?
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Dangit, hit the send again. Anyway, this wasn’t at all like I would have imagined, thought it might be quite linear and quiet but it’s much more interesting. And I have discovered that it comes in a 10ml spray. Oh dear.
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WOO HOO on your Arbolé purchase OH. Beautiful stuff. I have the travel spray of it.
Having people in the house is the best reason for deep cleaning. It really gets our juices flowing on the whole thing. I mean the VISITORS clean, not the weekly dust, vacuum, scrub.
Glad the party was a good one too. I love to entertain at home, it’s so satisfying when it goes right.
Portia xx
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