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, December 19, and Hanukkah is in full swing, while Christmas arrives next week! We have our Christmas tree up and decorated, and many presents have already appeared at its base. I must confess, my Christmas mojo is not what it used to be. It was so much fun, though exhausting, to orchestrate Christmas for our three children when they were younger. Now we all enjoy Christmas still, but it feels more like work than it used to. Our young adult children are taking on more responsibility for logistics, especially the Boxing Day party we often host, but they still need direction since it happens in their parents’ house!

I’m excited to give them the fragrances I got for them in Seville, and I’m excited to receive more Shalimar l’Essence, which I now firmly love. I’ve been wearing some from my initial bottle over the holidays, and it just keeps growing on me.

Our weather has been erratic: a week ago, nighttime temps dropped to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and we had freezing temps in the daytime, but then it warmed up to the 60s. It’s chilly again tonight but will climb into the 70s over Christmas! One nice aspect of Shalimar l’Essence is that it’s lovely in cold weather but also soft enough for weather that is cool but not cold.

So for the question I ask you all most years: are there any particular scents you expect to give or receive? Please share thoughts in the comments! And happy holidays, everyone!