Welcome to the Friday 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, March 31 — is your March “going out like a lion”? I think our weather lion has already left the building, though I risk jinxing us by saying so. We had low temps of 40 degrees F earlier this week, and tomorrow it’s supposed to approach 80 degrees. My plants are so confused. I still have daffodils coming up, but my lilies of the valley and roses are also now starting to bloom. One David Austin rose in particular is so fragrant as well as beautiful! It’s called “Fighting Temeraire”, after a famous painting, and it has a strong fruity rose fragrance that carries. This is one of the reasons I love David Austin’s English Rose hybrids — not only are they beautiful, in many colors, but they were bred and selected to be highly fragrant.
Yes, this rose’s blossoms really are that big! Speaking of fragrance and spring, Portia and I will resume our collaboration on Monday, now that we’ve both returned home from travels, with “Notes On Notes” (first Monday of each month) and “Counterpoint” (third Monday of each month). I’ll give you a hint: the note we’ve chosen for April appears in many green fragrances. Please join us!
I just got in the mail a sample of Parfums Dusita’s new fragrance; she’s running another contest to name it, on the Eau My Soul Facebook page. Are any of you taking part? I haven’t even sniffed it yet, but I’m looking forward to it.
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
What a gorgeous rose! I’m sure it smells wonderful, too. I haven’t entered the contest. I smelled the Dusita scent before this one, Rhapsodie Noire, and didn’t care for it. I’ll check out her website.
My March is going out like a T. Rex. In the last 7 days I’ve had a wreck that totaled my car and received a breast cancer diagnosis. Arrgghh! It has not been a good March at my house. I was not injured in the accident and it was a 6 year old car. It’s just annoying to have to buy a new car when you aren’t expecting to have to do that. The cancer diagnosis wasn’t totally unexpected. When they told me my last mammogram showed something growing in my breast and the doctor immediately scheduled a biopsy I knew that wasn’t good. The better news is that it sees to be the slow growing kind, ductal carcinoma, DCIS they call it, that is very treatable with surgery and radiation. And I have cancer insurance through AFLAC, a supplemental health insurance provider in the US, so at least I won’t take a financial hit because of the treatment or hospitalization. I’m drowning myself in iris perfumes and trying to stay positive. 🙂
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So sorry you’re going through this rough time. Hoping for the best outcomes with treatment and that things will get better.
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Thank you!🙂
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I’m so sorry about your horror of a week. My thoughts are with you.
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Thank you so much. I’m adjusting to this new normal as the days go by. I’ve had cancer 3 times already and I thought I was done with it, but I guess cancer wasn’t done with me. I’m just so happy it’s not more orthopedic surgery. Lots of perfume with will be sprayed in the coming months!! :-))
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Fingers crossed for an uncomplicated treatment period and that you find a replacement car asap
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Thanks! We’ve gotten the payment from the insurance company and we’ve located an almost identical car, just a newer model. I wanted another hybrid car, they are fabulous, over 40 miles to the gallon mileage (not sure how that translates to liters per kilometer) but it’s good. I’m hoping we can get the new car before we have to start traveling for my treatments. Wearing my Heeley Iris de Nuit today. It always cheers me up!
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another cancer? thankfully DCIS really has excellent prognosis, so this will be a not to hard treatment. if its on the left side you should ask for a breath hold radiation technique, so its better for your heart…. best wishes to you
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Thank you so much, Tanja. I have done my research and yes, DCIS does have about a 98% cure rate, according to a recent study I saw. Thanks for the tip on the radiation. Mine is on the right side (at least as far as I know now). I would think that same tip would apply to protecting the lungs also. Thanks again!
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I didn’t that I wrote that much, but it was put into spam, I think.
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Found it!
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I also received the Dusita sample. Could not come up with the primary note I smelled on top (one of those familiar, but can’t name things). I have hyacinth and daffodils right now and my neighbor’s forsythia is almost done. Today I’m wearing Yves Rocher Accord Chic. Pink pepper, elemi, benzoin, and apparently Iris, not really prominent to my nose. Like all Yves Rocher, wish I lasted longer!
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I have hyacinths outside and in pots indoors (the latter purchased, not potted by me). I just love their scent! And daffodils too, of course. I’ve liked many of the Yves Rocher fragrances I’ve tried but I only own Comme Une Evidence. I think I gave a couple to my daughters a few years ago, but I don’t remember which.
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Ugh, I’m so sorry about the crash and the diagnosis! If it’s any comfort, I had DCIS 18 years ago. Had the lumpectomy, did radiation, took tamoxifen, and have been clear ever since. Your skin will get very sensitive during the radiation; microfiber camisoles or loose bras are helpful. And the nurses are THE BEST sources of intel about non-metallic deodorant you can use, and creams to soothe and protect your skin. Sending you many positive thoughts!
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Thank you so much!! That’s very helpful and makes me feel a lot better 🥰 I I have a good surgeon and I know I will have good care at University of Florida hospitals.
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Correction: the Dusita contest is to name its notes!
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It’s been a curates egg of a week here. Blues skies & fluffy clouds on Monday have given way to cold, grey drizzle. Everywhere is muddy. The neighbour’s unscented magnolia is blooming, the apple & cherry trees are in bud, the rhubarb is ready to pick, the muscari & bluebells have joined the daffodils & the peony has broken through from its winter slumbers. The earth is still too cold to plant the potatoes in though.
After the week of musks I’ve been wearing classics. No5, Arpege, Femme & Joop Le Bain with 3 fragrance free days
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Ooh, you smell wonderful!
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