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 Saturday, February 14 — Happy Valentine’s Day! Did you do anything special, or do you have special plans? Did anyone get a fragrant gift?

My dear husband and I spent much of the day gardening, including moving some of my beloved roses into the new rose bed he commissioned for me.

Better than a bouquet any day! Then we got cleaned up, he made us Hugo spritzes and I made us “charcuterie nachos”, which were delicious even if I do say so myself. We were so full that we skipped the real dinner I had planned and went straight to dessert: chocolate lava cakes. what’s the use of being our age if we can’t make our own rules occasionally?

Post gardening, my SOTD was the Shalimar l’Essence he gave me for Christmas. I just love it! Such a perfect cold weather scent (though it wasn’t very cold today),

How has your Valentine’s Day weekend been?