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!
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
WOW! That tree is the real deal OH! Beautiful.
Jin was pressed for anything to give me so I gave him a bottle of Shalimar l’Essence to wrap. I’m super excited to get mine too.
Hope you have a Merry Everything with family and friends. Can’t wait to see pictures of your celebrations.
HUG
Portia xx
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Great tree! Ours is tall but skinny, we don’t have a lot of open space. I don’t expect any scent this year other than the travel size Scent Trunk Black Hemlock that just arrived from Black Friday sales, to replace the one I gave my hairstylist. She’s about the only person in my life who is interested in perfume!
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What a beautiful tree! We don’t have a tree as it’s just me and my husband and we’re not big holiday people. And I have a breast biopsy on Dec. 23rd for my remaining breast. Groan! Oh well, whatever the result I’ll deal with it. I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
I’m enjoying Shalimar Essence and Matiere Premiere French Flower, my Christmas and birthday presents to myself this year.
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BEST of luck with the biopsy! Such an unpleasant but necessary process. My fingers and toes will be crossed for you.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate the kind words.
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Sorry to read you have yet more medical interventions to face. You have such stoicism & resilience in the face of everything your body throws at you. I admire that immensely
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Not expecting any smellies as I’m planning to divest myself of much of my collection.
Maybe the scent I rediscovered yesterday will be my Xmas fragrance. Chloe Nomade Nuit d’Egypte. I liked it very much when I first tried it, got a 30ml at a huge discount, but when I tried it on arrival, I was not impressed. It sat in my wardrobe for over a year. I forgot all about it. I found & wore it yesterday & now it’s a love! White flowers over warming spices & into a golden unsweetened amber vanilla. Perfect for the solstice with the promise of sunlight to come
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Ooh, that sounds lovely!
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That’s a great tree! I’ve been wearing the Claus Porto cologne samples from the discovery set I bought recently, although they aren’t the most suitable for winter. They are quite fresh and refreshing, though! Happy holidays!
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