Thank you

I want to say, “Thank you”

Before we finish the year, I wanted to give a big “Thanks” to all the lovely people who visit _she loves perfume_.

Scent of the Day

Today, I’m running errands which means I can wear something a little out there because I will not be at work and have to play it safe. I did a full three sprays of Poivre 23 by Le Labo. It is not a challenging scent but the white pepper makes it a little different. The dry down is a lovely soft non-gourmand vanilla with a hint of pepper. I would like it if it had better longevity, by the fourth hour it is very soft.

Poivre 23 is a City Exclusive scent available only in Le Labo’s London boutique except for once a year when they make all their scents available worldwide for a month. The month prior to that, they make the City Exclusive scents available as samples. This year it was August for samples and September for orders. The upside to this is, after purchasing a 50mL or larger bottle, that scent is “unlocked” meaning the bottle can be taken to any Le Labo boutique and refilled.

The three scents I wanted were Poivre 23 (London), Benjoin 19 (Moscow), and Vanille 44 (Paris). That wasn’t going to happen because 50mL of City Exclusive costs almost twice as much as what they call their Classic Collection. This year, I bought Poivre 23 in 50mL and Benjoin 19 in 15 mL. The dry down of Vanille 44 and Poivre 23 were too similar to me.

Next year, if there is another City Exclusives release, I may get a 50mL bottle of Benjoin 19.

Resolutions

Make up:

• Except for possibly the spring 2015 Guerlain meteorites, the Tom Ford eye palette in Cocoa Mirage and replenishing skin care products, no new make up purchases. I would classify my make up collection as more than most — I have over 60 lipsticks — but not as large as others (I don’t have a room dedicated to make up). At any rate, I am sure I have enough make up.
• Set up a vanity by a window. After sitting at my mom’s vanity I appreciate that natural light is the best for applying make up.
• Be adventurous with make up. Weekends are for doing new things.
• Get the bathroom drawers organized. I have a trip to The Container Store planned for this.

Fragrance:

• The 12 fragrances for 2015 list I made is all I plan on purchasing in 2015. Twelve is the key. No more than twelve perfumes this year.
• Along with limiting what I’m getting I will also be giving away perfume. Twelve in and twelve out

Happy new year everyone.

12 for 2015 samples first impressions

The samples for the fragrances I have not tested yet arrived today. I could not wait to sample them.  No, I did not spray all of them on my skin but one had to go on immediately.

Chergui by Serge Lutens: I could not wait and had to spray it immediately. It contains tobacco, a note which comes off as sweet but not syrupy. I understand all the good things written about it. It is similar to Ambre Sultan which has a slightly herbal scent to it. They are close enough that I cannot see having them both. I may remove Ambre Sultan from my list.

Divine by Divine: I tested this on a scent strip. This is a grown up floral scent. On Fragrantica, this is classified as floral woody musk. I am surprised it has oak moss but it is not classified as Chypre. I am going to compare it to Lady by Carthusia; when I smelled it on the strip that is what I thought about.

Timbuktu by L’Artisan Parfumeur: On the strip, I love it. I am eager to try this on skin.

Dzongkha by L’Artisan Parfumeur: I love this scent but I get the feeling I will be the only one who likes it. It has iris, which I am finding is turning out to be one of my favorite notes. It’s a scent that a fraghead loves but everyone else will probably hate. Even Michael, who is usually forgiving of the stranger things I wear would probably make a comment about this.

28 La Pausa by Chanel: Surprise switch. I went to the Chanel store Wednesday to sample No 18 and found I liked it but did not love it. I did love 28 La Pausa on the sample card. And, guess which note it has? Yup! Iris.

Blinc tubing mascara

Sunday Scent of the Day

Today’s scent is the sample from Sephora of Blanche Immortel by Atelier Cologne. It has been twelve hours and I still have scent. And, the smell is divine. I am trying to work a full bottle of this into my plan. The samples I ordered from Surrender to Chance should arrive tomorrow, if one of them does not work I will replace one of my 12 for 2015 entries with this.

blinc mascara

Eye makeup has never been simple for me. Until I discovered eye primer, I resigned myself to eye shadow disappearing by mid day. A swipe of eyeliner with a quick coat of mascara usually runs into my eyes by the end of the day. It is either all or nothing with eye makeup. If I do not want mascara in my eye, I have to apply primer. If I apply primer, I have to apply eye shadow to cover the white cast it leaves.

blinc mascara has resolved that for me. I put it on, waited 90 seconds for it to dry, and there it remained until I removed it 12 hours later. The mascara and Magic Marc’er eyeliner lasted through the day and late evening which included dinner and a play looking as fresh as when I applied it in the morning.

I was a little messy applying the mascara. After it dried, it cleaned easily. Like other bloggers have said, for the original formula, this is a one application mascara, once it dries there is no building. There is an amplified formula which may work better if you want to build. Like the others, I also recommend doing top lashes and waiting for it to dry before doing the bottom lashes.

Scent of the Day and Shopping

Scent of the Day

Today’s scent is Infusion d’Iris by Prada in the EDP. For some reason, when I looked at it I thought, “Yes, this one.” One of the favorites in my collection that I always wonder why I do not wear it more often. I love it each time I wear it. Back in my “one bottle at a time” days, I finished a 30 ml bottle of this in 3 months, I wore it every day I had it and never got tired of it.

Shopping

When we got home last night I realized I left my espresso pods at my parents. Which means a trip to the mall to get more. If I order them online, they will not arrive until Tuesday afternoon at the earliest.

The mall was more crowded than I thought it would be. I went to Sephora to pick up a tubing mascara by blinc. I have heard tubing mascara mentioned a couple of times on Sali Hughes’ YouTube channel and they sound interesting. They coat the lashes in a tube, do not smudge even if I rub my eyes and come off easily with a warm cloth and water. I cannot count how many times I have perfectly applied mascara then sneezed. I am expecting amazing results from this coupled with Marc Jacobs Magic Marc’er eyeliner. I have been using Magic Marc’er for the past week it stays put and it gives the most precise blackest line ever. Period.

While at Sephora, I got a couple perfume samples (of, course). This particular Sephora is the only one I know that carries Atelier Cologne; I now have Silver Iris and Blanche Immortel to sample. When I first saw Atelier Cologne, I completely ignored it because I thought it was fragrance in the cologne concentration of 5%. Atelier Cologne’s fragrance concentration is 18% to 22%; I think of it as perfume that is cologne influenced. I did a couple of sprays of Blanche Immortel when I got home. It has been roughly 7 hours and not only is the longevity fantastic, it has developed and changed over the past few hours, it stays interesting.

The next stop was Nordstrom’s. I have already mentioned that even though there is a Nordies close to my home it does not have nearly the selection as this one. In this case, it is a NARS counter. I tried the Audacious lipstick in Bette which is described on the NARS site as bordeaux. Gorgeous color and coverage. That and a blush in Seduction.
Plus a little something from the Diptyque counter left with me today. Confession time, I bought the Philosykos perfume oil. It is still on my 12 for 2015 list, there may still be a full bottle next year.

Visiting the parents

Michael and I spent Christmas with my parents. I was a kid, again. Including waking up Christmas morning to open presents. The difference being is presents after the cappuccino.
I gave my mom a Sephora perfume sampler set which is 14 perfume samples and a voucher for a full size bottle for the one she liked the most. I think its going to be Narciso Rodgriguez for Her.
I had fun going through my mom’s perfume collection. She had some things I haven’t seen since the 90s like Bijan and Chloe Narcisse.
Today, I sat at her vanity. I think it is a vintage vanity from either the 1940s or 1950s; it is so completely glam. I had fun going through her make-up. I was surprised that completely independently she and I have the same blusher: NARS seduction. She has hit pan on hers.

My morning routine

I have combination/oily skin. Fortunately, even as a teenager I never had problems with pimples. And, as I approach (I can’t say it), oily skin slows down the appearance of wrinkles. Everyone who meets me knows I am not 25 but they also don’t know I’m, lets just say “older”.
I have been fighting this oily T-zone for as long as I can remember. I used to consider it a success when my make up would stay put and this oil slick I call a forehead would be held at bay for two hours. It was not until this July I figured out what I was doing wrong. That was stripping my skin of oil. Like many combo-oilies (I just made that up), I would use soapy sudsy astringent cleansers that would strip all oil from my skin, follow that up with toner and forgo moisturizer. And, sure enough, 2 hours later if I was wearing foundation I was orange and oily. Not my prettiest look.
I tried every solution out there to absorb and/or delay the oil. The best was Urban Decay De-slick, it got me two more hours, M.A.C. Fix+ did nothing, applying powder got me another hour or two but I looked like I was wearing a mask, and blotting papers which were best when I was not wearing foundation required blotting every hour and a half or so. Who has time for that? I have a job and it is not oil maintenance.
Here is my routine, I still get sheen but I no longer blind people with the reflection coming off of my nose.
Cleanse: I hot cloth cleanse with either a cleansing balm or cream cleanser. The key here is using a product labeled either “all skin types” or “normal skin”. I avoid anything labeled “oily skin” which strips my skin and makes it feel uncomfortably tight. I like to either cleanse using my Clarisonic or do a quick facial massage then use a hand hot face cloth to steam then wipe off the cleanser.
Serum: Serum is new to me. My mother-in-law told me about it. I gave it a try and found I like it. For some reason it makes my skin feel better.
Eye Cream: Sleep in a jar. Enough said?
Moisturizer: Again, I use moisturizer that is not labeled “oily and without sunscreen because I use the same moisturizer morning and night. I place it just on my cheeks.
Sunscreen: I use an SPF 30 sunscreen, every day on my face, neck, any exposed decollete, hands and parts of my arms not covered by my sleeves. No, exceptions.

12 perfumes for 2015

I have been thinking how I want to add to my fragrance collection for 2015. I am going to limit myself to one bottle a month. What I want is a combination of still wanting a fragrance that features fig, scents that I want but have been waiting for a special occasion to buy and scents with 4 or 5 star ratings in the book I recently read, _Perfumes: The A-Z Guide_ by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez.
My list in no particular order…

Amber Aoud by Roja Parfums: I have a 2 mL sample that I love and want this for my birthday.

Iris Poudre by Frederic Malle: This was a surprise. The aldehydes almost overwhelmed me but once they subsided it was just glorious.

Number One Intense by Parfums de Nicolai: Won me over with its amber and creamy sandalwood dry down.

Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens: Resins, amber, and myrrh and the Guide calls it a “Best oriental”.

Chamade by Guerlain: Listed as a “Best floral” in the Guide. I would also personally give it the sub-heading “classic”. She is an elegant lady. I am going to have to perfect a French roll and cat eye to pull off this one. It should be fun.

Chergui by Serge Lutens: Tobacco, my new love

No. 18 by Chanel: Combines rose and iris, my two favorite notes

Timbuktu by L’Artisan Parfumeur: Listed under “Best Masculines for Women” in the Guide

Either Philosykos by Diptyque or Premier Figuier by L’Artisan Parfumeur: I think the best place to start with fig is with the fragrances/perfumer — Olivia Giacobetti created both — to which all others are compared.

Dzongkha by L’Artisan Parfumeur: A well regarded woody iris receiving 4 stars in the Guide

Divine by Divine: The Guide categorizes it a buttery floral, that sounds interesting

Flowerhead by Byredo: They are not kidding about the florals. It is gorgeous but, care needs to be taken when sprayed.”
My first step is to go to Surrender to Chance and order samples for which I don’t have a sample.

Weekend wrap for 21-DEC-2014 and the week ahead

Scent of the Day: No. 2 Oeillet by Prada
In August, I wanted a carnation. I tried a few including Enslaved by Roja Parfums. I know I speak perfume blasphemy when I say, "I didn’t love it." Not that it is bad by any stretch it was just too much for my preferences. If Roja Dove said, "Here have this bottle of my perfume." I wouldn’t say, "No."
I then tried Prada No. 2. It was the perfect blend of carnation and clove without catching in my throat or surrounding me in a toxic cloud.
There were a couple of obstacles to getting my hands on a bottle. The Prada exclusive line is only available in a Prada boutique. Lucky me, they opened a boutique at the upscale mall in July of this year. However, not every boutique carries the exclusive line and if you ask for it the sales rep will look at you like you sprouted another head. Except for Jonathan who got in touch with the New York store and had a bottle sent to his store and called me every step of the way to keep me up to date. Thank you Jonathan. Now, that exquisite Lalique bottle has a place on my dresser.
Weekend Wrap-Up
This weekend was about getting the last of the gifts for the family. All that is left is to get them wrapped. The hardest gift to get was for Michael. But, I think I did good on this one. We shall see.
Saturday, I finished my sample of Serge Lutens Chergui. I'm thinking that is going to be a full bottle sometime in the New Year.
Sunday I tried Chanel No 19. I definitely appreciate this scent. I am crazy enough to want to get this in the EDP as well. This may be one of my weekend scents. As much as I appreciate it, I get the feeling my co-workers will not.
The Week Ahead
I was going to do a "She’s living with…" series this week until I realized I will be spending a lot of time traveling and with family.
Don’t we all have the same story? The day before a trip and we still have not packed. I have not made a decision about which fragrance I’m taking with me on this trip. Something warm like Plum Japonais by Tom Ford or floral like Keiko Mecheri Mogador? How about Bruno Acampora Musc? I’m almost on edge because I’m going to be separated from my collection and I don’t plan ahead, I make the decision as I am standing in front of my pretty smellies. Clothes are easy but the wrong scent choice and I’ll be grumpy for the rest of the week. I’m kidding. I won’t be grumpy it’s perfume I do have perspective. My fellow frag heads know what I mean.
I am excited to bring with me a Leica T camera and 23 mm lens I rented from Lens Rentals. It was my Christmas present to myself. Yes, it is not lost on me that I have a blog without photos but photography is one of my hobbies. I will answer that question (just in case you were wondering), perfume is about smell and I do not know how to convey that in photographs. I could take a photo of the bottle of perfume but that is readily available elsewhere. Back to the camera. I had a chance to test the camera for a couple of hours at the local Leica store. The store set up the test as a walking tour of the city. Without a doubt, the most beautiful black and white photos I have taken in years. The profile of the camera with the normal lens is unobtrusive. It is just the right size for a great every day and vacation camera. The touch screen is intuitive and responsive; after — at most — a 10 minute demonstration of the camera and touch screen I was ready to go. I loved the layout of the camera. The dials for aperture and shutter priority made taking photos a breeze. And, images can be taken in both RAW and JPEG formats. I was soured on Leica after I tried the X Vario, it was nice but not what one would expect from Leica; the T brought me back. I would like to one day own a Leica T but at just shy of 4,000 USD, I am going to save and wait for it. That’s why services like Lens Rentals are cool. With the 25% off coupon I am able to have fun with this camera for 150 USD, still a nice sum — that’s a bottle of Serge Lutens Chergui in perfume dollars — but it is a present to myself.
I will be trying some dishes from Plated this week. I recently started using it because I was getting into a cooking rut. Plated uses local and in season ingredients for the recipes. Except for having to occasionally chop vegetables everything else is measured and prepped. I have found the food tasty enough for a first try with the thought if I like the recipe, I can always make it myself with a couple of modifications. Tonight’s dinner is going to be Sesame Ginger Wild Salmon.

Keeping make up fun

I like make up, a lot. I anticipate the cosmetic companies’ seasonal releases like most children waiting for Hannukah or Christmas. I peruse style.com runways for photos of make-up as well as clothing.
The Internet is my make-up candy store and I’m the proverbial kid.
When I need to know how an eye shadow or lipstick is going to look on my winter skin, a quick Google search finds me all the photos I want.
I cannot count the number of YouTube videos I watched when I wanted to learn how to do a cut crease, put on false eyelashes, and get the perfect cat eye. I anticipate the latest videos for Sali Hughes and Lisa Eldridge. Anticipate? More like squeal with delight.
Then there’s Pinterest. I have thousands of pins of make-up looks, a perfume wishlist, and yummy recipes I am never going to make. Don’t we all?
I do have quibbles. Ten shades of eye shadow for a natural eye? Really? Another contouring video? Exactly how sculpted does a brow need to be? Usually, I tell myself to calm down, we’re all out here trying to have fun and do our own thing. Who am I to criticize?
In the end. As much time as I spend looking at and researching make-up, my over riding philosophy is make up should be fun. I keep it fun two ways, I do not wear it everyday and I do not obsess over my imperfections.
First, I do not wear make up everyday. On the days I do wear it, I am probably not wearing foundation and concealer. I’ve done a contour five times. Eye shadow is either my go to Dior Cuir Cannage palette or Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick, a quick swipe of liner and mascara, some blush, and a lippie and I’m ready to go. The only thing I will probably put on is lipstick. I admit, it is my weakness, plus it’s easy and portable. Everything else requires a commitment in front of a well lit mirror. Lipstick is forgiving, eyeliner is not.
I don’t obsess about my imperfections. I list them under things I can’t do anything about so I better accept it and move on. I admit it, I have fine lines. Oh, well. Bonus, it saves me money, I don’t buy those crazy creams that don’t work.

Classic perfumes

There is a bit of a catch 22 with classic perfumes. They are, typically, the most interesting as they develop from initial spray to dry down but they also have notes in them I do not like. Civet and some treatments of oak moss come to mind. Whereas, newer designer perfumes have amazing initial sprays but after 30 minutes they all smell the same. That is due to the high turnaround and make a quick dollar off of the latest popular scent mentality of many designer perfume houses.
What I am thinking about at this moment is Chanel No 19 (1970) and Chanel No 19 Poudre (2011). Chanel No 19 is the classic scent. The Cliff Notes version is this was Coco’s personal scent that she kept to herself except for what she shared for a few of her closest friends. The house perfumer did not release it to the general public until after her death. No 19 Poudre was created to make No 19 more palatable to contemporary tastes.
No 19 is a green floral; if green floral is your thing, this scent needs to be in your collection. This scent is as green as it gets. Looking at the notes I knew it would be the perfume for me: iris, orris root and lilac.
No 19 Poudre is floral woody musk and with notes of iris and galbanum also a winner.
I went to Nordstrom’s to get a sample of No 19, brought it home, sprayed it on and fell in love. I went back to Nordies 3 days later to make the purchase. I was about to pick it off the shelf when I noticed something, the bottle. Great bottle but not the same one from which I made my sample. Oh, no! I used the No 19 Poudre bottle. Not a problem, I’ll get the Poudre. I left, happy with my purchase.
Since I needed to go to the larger mall later in the week to get espresso pods, I decided pick up a bottle and get a sample of No 19 to try. If I like it then I have a travel size on No 19, if I do not like it I can return the package unopened. As an aside, I hate returning things because it ends up going against the sales associates commission.
Here’s the short story. I sprayed on No 19 and appreciated how it developed over time but found the oak moss too strong. No 19 Poudre starts out amazing but peters out into run of the mill scent in under an hour. I hear that No 19 EDP might be a good choice but its only available on the Chanel website. What is a perfume lover supposed to do?