My picture came out blurry, but I’m wearing Datura Noir by Serge Lutens. More of a gourmand tuberose thanks to the bitter almond, tonka, coconut, but it’s still not too sweet… kind of reminds me of sunscreen and summer, and yes, it’s perfect for a crisp spring day. Makes you hopeful…
Did you wear perfume today?
A light medley of honeyed florals, Chanel Beige is feminine, sweet, and innocuous. The freesia in this stands out immediately and reminds me of Hawaii, or of Bath and Body Works plumeria lotion – anyone remember that one? This is a little soapy and clean, and I can imagine it as a body wash. It’s easy to wear if florals are your thing. So pretty and unassuming.
Is this the colour beige? Beige implies something boring that fades into the background, and this doesn’t seem beige to me. It wears more pastel yellow.
Part of the Les Exclusifs line, this is available online or at Chanel boutiques.
I hear so much from people who say that perfume doesn’t work for them. They’re not against it, but there’s nothing that speaks to them at their regular shopping outlets – either it all smells the same (the truth is a lot of it does), or it gives them a headache (my mom complains of this too!). Sometimes it’s arranged in such a gendered, binary way that even shopping for a perfume is a turn off. Sometimes, it’s that the sales associates just point you towards the best-sellers no matter what you’re looking for.
If that sounds like something you’ve encountered, this year (and always), try turning to something different. These are three “artisinal” perfumes in my collection – artisinal just means that they’re made by hand, usually by the perfumer who conceived them.
There are tons of options out there, but I’ve got Buen Camino by Chronotope Perfume, Gardener’s Glove from St. Clair Scents, and Colorado by DSH Perfumes.
I’m not going to lie, these options are pricy, especially ordering to Canada because you get charged duty on top of the exchange rate, but these are so unique and interesting scents that there’s no replacement for them. If nothing else, spring for a sample set so you can see what’s out there, what beautiful art is being made.
Do you have a favourite perfume nobody’s heard of?
Things I finished this week. 
Little mini Fable and Mane hair mask. This is a nice moisturizing hair mask that doesn’t feel like it’s full of silicone, but the scent of it is disgusting, like warm vanilla baby food 🤢.
Tarte Cosmetics loose setting powder. Loved this and I can’t even remember the last time I finished a powder. I have to say that it doesn’t really keep shine at bay for a very long time. I’ve started using another powder instead.
Vichy LiftActiv SPF30. Loved this sunscreen. And it smells so good that it reminds me of the summer.
Bumble and Bumble BbGlow Bond-Building Styler. I loved this! I would use it again. It’s a thick shimmery styling cream that works for blow-drying or air drying your hair. I also use it to take frizz when my hair is already dry. I love this whole collection.
Aveeno Ultra Calming cleanser. This foams but it’s so gentle. I have a lot of cleansers to use right now so I won’t be getting this again.
Two Frederic Malle numbers I’ve been wearing this year. I bought Portrait of a Lady because it’s a rose/patchouli number with a bit of spice and I’ve always loved a good rose-patch combo.
Carnal Flower is a calming white floral number that I wouldn’t have tried myself. I really thought I’d wear Portrait of a Lady everyday, but it is so intense and one spray lasts for so long (it’s on my sweaters and clothes for days), that I didn’t reach for it as often as I thought I would. I do think that it’s a forever scent for me – I’ve never smelled anything that even comes close to it, and the spiciness is intoxicating.
Carnal Flower on the other hand is super chill and always settles me down. It’s like walking into a cool damp garden before nightfall, and enjoying the air by yourself. Again, a forever smell for me – the more white florals I smell, the more I appreciate the subtlety of Carnal Flower. It’s impossible to find a coconut note in scents that’s not too fake or too sweet, and this savoury take on it is refreshing. This is a green damp Tuberose garden.
Found a little used vintage of Chanel Cuir de Russie a little while ago and it was worth taking a chance on. I bought it to use and now it’s almost done.
This was one of the early Tom Ford fragrances so it’s a little different from everything else that’s out there now. It’s a bright floral soapy juice.
It smells like a tropical vacation at an isolated resort. It’s clean and sandy. A place where every fruit tastes sweeter.If you visit a Tom Ford counter and ask to smell Champaca Absolute you’ll hear that story about Tom Ford never wanting to run out of champaca flowers for this perfume and so he’s planted them behind his house in his garden.Stories like this one are why I prefer to shop alone. Anyway, the news is that they are discontinuing this so maybe there’s no more garden? I saw it at a local Tom Ford counter earlier this year so it’s still available.
The jury is still out whether this smells like real Champaca or not – some people say that it does and others say that it really doesn’t. I think it does. But it also reminds me of juice.
This was the most-liked post of mine from 2021, a little pan showing from my Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder. I’ve used a lot of Nars Laguna bronzers and I’m sure that they change the formula for each package that they make.
The formula in this little mini was definitely more powder and easier to blend than any other Laguna bronzer I’ve had and that’s why I reach for it more than any other bronzer. It’s on the neutral side (at least more neutral than other bronzers k own) instead of being too warm and I use it to contour or with sunscreen that’s too pale. Hot pan because it’s so soft and powdery but also because I like using it.
I’ve been dipping into my sister’s Dolce and Gabbana The One EDP the past week, and it’s super pretty! I’ve seen this perfume everywhere but never bothered to try it on. It’s a warm vanilla synthetic musk number. I found myself going back to sniff my wrist now and again. I didn’t get much in the way of projection or longevity but I’m using a rollerball which isn’t my preferred method of application. If you see this in the store, give it a try and tell me what you think.
People have said that the original version was stronger and longer-lasting.
My dad’s review: (thumbs down) smells like an Indian lady.
Me: you’re married to an Indian lady. Dad: it smells like an OLD Indian lady.
My mom: wow it smells wonderful!
Bought this about a year ago, worn here and there. Let’s see what the next year brings.
