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, August 23, and the weather is finally cooling off a bit. My poor roses, which have been gasping for breath and water for weeks now, seem to be sighing in relief and gearing up for a fall flush of blossoms. I planted several new-to-me varieties in large pots this spring, and it has been interesting to learn their growth habits and needs. The one characteristic all my roses have in common is that they must be fragrant. I just don’t see the point in growing roses that aren’t fragrant; I know many people do, because they are more focused on color and shape, but I’ve found I can have all three: lovely color, shape, AND fragrance.
I’m still wearing light, summery fragrances, as it still gets pretty hot during the day though we get some relief overnight. A recent favorite has been Patricia de Nicloai’s Rose Pivoine, which one of my lovely regular readers here sent me. You know who you are — thank you so much! I’ve been loving it! Top notes are ambrette, raspberry, red currant, and bergamot. The heart is rose oil and absolute, mixed with violet, iris, peony, and pepper; the base is sandalwood and musk. It is meant to evoke a bouquet of fresh roses and peonies, with green leaves as companions. It is lovely. I think I still prefer Nicolai’s Rose Royale, but Rose Pivoine is excellent, especially in hot, humid weather.
Parfums de Nicolai is launching a new set of gourmand fragrances next month, “Les Gourmandises.” I don’t often gravitate to courmand fragrances, but these do sound intriguing. I’ll be in London after their launch date, so maybe I’ll see if I can sample them at one of my favorite London fragrance boutiques.
Have you started switching over to autumn fragrances, or spring fragrances if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere (looking at you, Portia!)?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
Heya OH! Today is the first day of really springlike weather. We have had some sunny days but they were cool and still long sleeve wear. Today at 28C/82f it is absolutely glorious. My first real spring grab is Iris Rebelle by Atelier Cologne. Light and lovely.
Sadly, living in an apartment my roses have been culled down to just one. It was a gift and very sentimental. Flowers start red and work through electric orange of a fleshy yellow. Lightly fragrant, a bit lemony. It’s getting ready for action right now.
Tonight, after the world is asleep I’m going to spring up my grab tray.
Portia xx
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Love Iris Rebelle! And I need to arrange an actual grab tray. I have a grab area on my dresser but it tends to hold whatever is the latest addition, in no particular order.
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Aha! Well, the new stuff tends to be all over my desk and the sewing machine platform. The grab tray is old favorites and some seasonal additions.
I was going to do it tonight but I’m bushed, so tomorrow will do.
Portia xx
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I think my comment went to spam OH
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I am so sorry this keeps happening, mostly to rickyrebarco! I’ve checked my settings over and over, and as “known users”, your comments should post automatically. My apologies, and thanks for your patience!
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Don’t sweat it OH. WP glitches all over the place. We know it’s not you.
If that’s the worst thing that happens in my day I’m considering it a gold standard win.
Portia xx
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No worries! It’s made me keep my comments shorter….lol
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I’m still wearing more summery scents & colognes. Other than special occasions I’ve been rotating my 3 Alvarez Gomez Agua de Colonias, Clarins Eau Dynamisante, O de Lancôme & 4711. All big bottles & not too expensive, enabling me to respray with abandon.
The UK ha had its first storm of the season so I guess it’s autumn.
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It’s still very hot here in Florida, so summery florals and citrus scents will reign until at least October when I will likely add in some spicy scents like Ginger Biscuit, Chergui, and some heavier vanillas. It’s the middle of hurricane season, too, which always adds to the fun…
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Yay Ginger Biscuit! I hope the hurricane season this year isn’t too awful.
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So far only one tropical storm. Fingers crossed any further storms are not near us.
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I’ve switched over to warmer fragrances, not really on purpose but because I’ve been trying out samples – the smoky, leathery Liberty by The Merchant of Venice goes a long way, for example.
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