Perfume Chat Room, December 27
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Perfume Chat Room, December 27

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, December 27, and we’ve had a lovely Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day! The kids were all home, even the two whose apartments are less than ten minutes away. We hosted our now annual Boxing Day Party and I think about 50 or more people came. It’s a casual open house buffet, and this year it was sort of a potluck, so I didn’t have to cook for that size crowd.

Christmas tree, 2026

The Christmas Eve church service was beautiful, as always, with magnificent flowers and music. Santa, aka my lovely husband, had a few surprises up his sleeve. He gave me the expected Shalimar l’Essence, but also the exhibition book from the Cartier exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum which I saw in London this past spring. He also got various t-shirts for all of us, which were big hits. The kids really liked all their gifts from us, which is always so satisfying, and they did an excellent job choosing gifts for us. We feel very fortunate.

One funny thing: I couldn’t decide which of them should get which perfume from Seville, so I thought I’d wait until later in the day to bring them out and they could try them and choose for themselves. But after we’d opened all their gifts under the tree, they complimented me on NOT giving them perfume this year! So now I’ll keep the Seville perfumes for myself, lol.

I hope everyone who celebrates holidays at this time of year has enjoyed them immensely. Do you any any special plans for New Year’s Eve, fragrance-related or not?

Perfume Chat Room, December 19
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Perfume Chat Room, December 19

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.

Shalimar l’Essence

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!

Tree with lights but before ornaments!
Perfume Chat Room, December 6
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Perfume Chat Room, December 6

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, December 6, and we are just back from several days in Seville, with one overnight in Madrid. I found a lovely small perfumery in Seville, Luz de Sevilla.

Luz de Sevilla perfumery

I bought a few of their perfumes as gifts for family members, and it was hard to choose! The one that is the most unisex, to my nose, is Soleá. It is described as a tribute to the tomato blossom, which is combined with orange blossom, so prevalent in Seville, mint, verbena, black pepper, and sandalwood. Green, herbal, and spicy, with a touch of white flowers, it is very fresh and different. I don’t think I can name anything that smells just like it, and it smells really good. I even pick up a bit of star anise, though it’s not listed.

Luz de Sevilla has 17 fragrances, each one focusing on different aspects of Andalusia, with various blends of florals, spices, citruses, woods, etc.

The perfumes at Luz de Sevilla

It’s also a very pretty boutique, with some accessories, home fragrances, and soaps. (There is a second location elsewhere in the city). In addition to perfume, though, Seville is an ideal city for another of my loves: gardens. We were able to visit the holiday nighttime illuminations within the gardens of the Real Alcázar, a magical experience.

The Real Alcázar at night
More illuminations (play with sound on)

We had visited Seville briefly several years ago, loved it then, and always said we wanted to return for a longer stay. It did not disappoint! I revisited the grand Cathedral, and the Real Alcázar gardens in daytime, both as spectacular as I had remembered. But to see Seville and its lights, street decorations, and Christmas stalls before Christmas was a truly special experience and one I highly recommend! Combining perfume tourism with holiday and garden tourism was a win-win-win!

Perfume Chat Room, November 28
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Perfume Chat Room, November 28

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, November 28, and we’ve had a lovely Thanksgiving. I can’t believe November is almost over, since Thanksgiving fell so late this year.

Turkey-shaped bottle of cologne by Avon
Avon Wild Turkey cologne, just for fun!

I was so full after yesterday’s feast that I didn’t feel hungry until this afternoon— and we ate yesterday in the mid-afternoon! The house was fragrant with the scents of herbs, chutney, roast turkey, etc. And I did wear my new Shalimar l’Essence. Tomorrow we fly to Seville, Spain — do you have any recommendations for perfumeries? A little perfume tourism is always fun. I’m looking forward also to the Christmas decorations and markets. We’ve visited Seville once before, but just for two nights, so I’m excited to see more of the city (including, of course, the Real Alcazar, which we visited last time).

I have another new fragrance on my hand, but this one isn’t mine — my daughters went out shopping for Black Friday, and my older daughter (the one who loves Ginger Biscuit) bought herself the recent release from Victoria’s Secret: Bombshell Soirée. It’s very pretty, a fruity floral with a warm, woody base. Nothing earth-shattering, but very nicely done. And she’s delighted with it, which is what really matters! It will smell great on her.

Please share any suggestions for Seville, and anything you’d like to share about Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or November.

Perfume Chat Room, November 22
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Perfume Chat Room, November 22

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, November 22, and it is almost Thanksgiving! I really enjoy Thanksgiving, because I like to cook, I love having my family around, and I enjoy setting a formal dinner table since I do that so rarely! I also love the scents that come with Thanksgiving, mostly from the aforementioned cooking. I grow many of the herbs that I will use: actually parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, as the song says. Their fragrance is alluring even before I start cooking.

I already know what my holiday fragrance will be: this year’s Shalimar flanker, issued in honor of the perfume’s 100th anniversary. Shalimar l’Essence is the first Shalimar I’ve really loved, though there are a couple of other “editions” I have liked very much, such as the eau de cologne formulation. My lovely husband brought me a bottle from his recent trip to Las Vegas, where there is a Guerlain boutique. To my nose, it has all the charm of the current eau de parfum minus the burnt rubber smoke that I always get from that. It’s very vanilla-centric without being sweet; it becomes soft and powdery, and it lasts for hours on skin and days on fabric.

I like it so much that I got the bigger bottle for my own Christmas gift from lovely husband! In fact, when I was picking it up at the big department store in our city’s biggest mall, I even persuaded a much younger woman to try it. She was browsing among the Guerlain scents, and I pointed out the tester and suggested she might like it. Then I moved along. She came rushing up to me a few minutes later, holding out her arm for me to sniff and exclaiming how much she loved it. She was browsing with her fiancé so I’m pretty sure they left the mall with a bottle. Do I get my enabler pin?

Do you have any special traditions, recipes, or scents for Thanksgiving, if you celebrate it? Or for other holidays at this time of year?

P.S. As always, I’m very thankful for all of you who read my musings here and especially those of you who share your own thoughts in the comments. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Bottle of fragrance with turkey-shaped top
Golden Turkey Wallflower; Bath & BodyWorks.
Perfume Chat Room, October 31
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Perfume Chat Room, October 31

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, October 31, and it is Halloween! Happy Halloween, fellow fragrance fans!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is a big deal in our neighborhood. They actually block off some streets in the middle of the neighborhood to keep cars out and allow for safer trick-or-treating. And tonight’s weather is perfect, so I’m sure we will see many kids in costume! We’re ready!

On a fragrance topic, I was delighted to get a request this morning from my niece who is getting married next fall, asking if I would do a workshop to make wedding fragrances for her and her fiancé. I’m so tickled! Of course I said yes, and have asked her to send me the names of some scents they enjoy. Luckily, there’s a niche fragrance boutique nearby that holds these workshops, so I’ll ask one of my daughters (who will be a bridesmaid) to go with me.

I’m very curious to find out what scents the happy couple particularly like. It’s always interesting to hear what their generation does and doesn’t like in fragrance. Our son stopped by the other day to pick up some things, and he smelled great — it was the Azzaro Most Wanted Parfum that he asked for and got last Christmas.

Any thoughts on or experiences with wedding fragrances? Do tell!

Perfume Chat Room, October 24
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Perfume Chat Room, October 24

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.

My husband just got back from a work trip to Las Vegas, where he stayed in a hotel with an onsite Santa Maria Novella boutique. He asked which of their fragrances I might like, and since I already have a couple and didn’t know much about the others, I requested their discovery set. Voila!

Discovery set plus extras

The discovery set includes: Aqua Della Regina, Fresia, Rosa Gardenia, Rosa Novella, Angeli di Firenze, Melograno, Tabacco Toscano, Pot Pourri.

I’m trying Aqua Della Regina tonight, and I like it a lot! It’s very bright and aromatic, totally unisex. I look forward to trying the others! Do you have any favorites from Santa Maria Novella? We loved visiting their location in Florence some years ago.

Perfume Chat Room, October 19
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Perfume Chat Room, October 19

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 Sunday, October 19, and I am the lucky and grateful recipient of several new fragrances! Our oldest daughter returned from her trip to Italy with a roller bottle of extract de parfum from Casa Amalfi, called Blue Grotto. It’s a very pleasing, unisex, citrus aromatic, launched in 2025.

My husband just got back from a work trip to Las Vegas, where he stayed in a hotel with an onsite Santa Maria Novella boutique. He asked which of their fragrances I might like, and since I already have a couple and didn’t know much about the others, I requested their discovery set. I also (shame on me) admitted that there is a new fragrance I was eager to try: the 100th anniversary flanker to Shalimar, Shalimar L’Essence.

My lovely gift!

Reader, I love it. I was pretty sure I would, and I knew that at least I would like it, based on the reviews I had read, which prompted the blind buy. It is really gorgeous, and I say that as someone who has had a mixed reaction to Shalimar and flankers. Of the older versions, the one I’ve liked most was the eau de cologne, because it didn’t have a strong tarry note, which is what “leather” notes in fragrance sometimes smell like to me.

Enter the 100th anniversary flanker, in its beautiful bottle!

Shalimar L’Essence

It has lots of vanilla, with just a soupçon of lemon at the start, then just a hint of lavender and leather or tobacco, undergirded by iris and rose. It lasts for several hours on my skin, and a little goes a long way; I’ve been applying light sprays to my wrists and one at the base of my neck, and that’s plenty. I will enjoy getting to know this new addition, created by perfumer Delphine Jelk.

Do you have a favorite version or flanker of Shalimar? Have you tried this new one?

Perfume Chat Room, October 3
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Perfume Chat Room, October 3

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, October 3, and I’ve been reading a lot about a recent report on COVID-related loss of sense of smell (hyposmia): Loss of smell may linger years after COVID-19. Interestingly, the study also showed some loss of smell among people who hadn’t noticed it after an infection.

Did you lose any of your sense of smell after a bout of COVID? Is it back to normal? I’ve read about people retraining their noses, using some of the methods I think perfumers use to improve their sense of smell. I feel thankful that I haven’t experienced hyposmia, which can have quite a negative impact on wellbeing.

On a more cheerful note (pun intended), have you changed your regular scent rotation to welcome fall?

Perfume Chat Room, September 28
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Perfume Chat Room, September 28

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 Sunday, September 28, and we’re having a mix of weather this week before the possible arrival of tropical storms/hurricanes on the East Coast. I live far enough inland that hurricanes usually affect us only insofar as we can get heavy rains and wind from their edges, but as Hurricane Helene reminded us all a year ago, an inland location is no guarantee that one won’t be more seriously impacted. However, Helene was preceded by many days of heavy rains, so the ground was already soaked and couldn’t absorb more. Lately, it has been very dry here, so that’s less of an issue.

This weekend’s SOTD was D.S. & Durga’s White Peacock Lily, from a decant. It is a strong white flower fragrance with some aquatic notes. I’m not a big fan of strong white florals, but this has enough other notes that I’m not overwhelmed as long as I spray it with a light hand. It has a touch of grapefruit in the opening, which cuts through some of the sweetness, and another opening note, oleander, is the first white flower I smell. It moves quite quickly into the middle notes, which are dominated by white lily and jasmine. The jasmine is more green than indolic to my nose, which helps lighten the white lily.

Like many white florals, this one elicits strong reactions. Some people love it, others hate it and scrub it off. I fall in between. I don’t hate it, but I might if I applied it more lavishly. And it does last a long time, so if you don’t like it, you will have to scrub!

I haven’t tried many D.S. & Durga fragrances, have you? Any you particularly like?

White peacock, Lake Maggiore, Italy