We are staying in the cottage for the week. A vacation from daily drudgery and routines. No work, no Kindergarten, no important stuff.
No perfume? Ha, inconceivable. No, don’t worry, where I go, there will always be perfume.
I assembled a little bag of decants and samples last week. It was actually the first item I packed, one has to have one’s priorities straight. Nothing totally new to me, but some tried and tested ones along with some more recent discoveries that I’m smitten with.
Let’s have a look inside that baggie, shall we?
Armani Privé La Femme Bleue – ethereal iris-chocolate with an irresistible drydown. Pure beauty for a price I can’t possibly pay, even if I were to find one of the thousand bottles in existence.
Mona di Orio Ambre, Musc and Oud – all three are simply irreplacable in my arsenal.
By Kilian A Taste of Heaven – lavender gourmand, keeps the perfect balance between bracing and cosseting, just what I need when I’m tired or just want to relax. (Review coming shortly).
Ginestet Botrytis – Tara thoroughly captured my interest with her review and provided a sample to boot, and so did Vanessa, in the virtual company of such generous perfumistas, I’ll never be out of lovely things to try. Heavenly honey, boozy and mellow.
Vero Profumo Kiki, Onda, Rubj – it is always a good idea to bring those, a mini-wardrobe all by itself.
Sonoma Scent Studio To Dream – is a must-have in the cottage. Woody rose-violet, dreamy alright.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille – loyal vanilla tobacco, just like the name says, with me for the entire day, tireless companion on cold days. Watch out for the review tomorrow.
Guerlain Angelique Noire – a gift from Lady Jane Grey, fellow Viennese Perfumista and friend, this has me swooning. I went through 10ml in no time (although there is a story for another time in there, best told by the husband). This is on the FB shortlist for sure.
L’Artisan Traversée du Bosphore – I didn’t like this for the longest time, now I love it and M.Duchaufour therefore keeps his flawless record in my book. The nose is a curious organ.
Guerlain Plus Que Jamais – impossible to find these days, compelling and beautiful, Vanessa of Bonkers About Perfume generously gave me a big decant. That is the true spirit of our community, selflessly giving the gift of scent and enjoying the delight in others.
Carner Barcelona Tardes – more enjoyable than any other almond/heliotrope scent I know. A real find.
Roja Dove Unspoken Parfum – amazing jasmine chypre. Wowowowowow! (Striving for a more articulate review eventually.)
Parfums MDCI Enlevement au Serail – like Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, this is the closest to a signature scent, I’ll ever come, a scented trail I’d like to cultivate.
Guerlain Les Elixirs Charnels Oriental Brulant – not exceptionally unique, but a lovely and comfortable amber. But seeing that I have more ambers that I can shake a stick at, I won’t pursue this one.
Dior New Look 1947 – I shall never be without it!
Guerlain Cuir Beluga – softest white suede. I MUST have this eventually and must review it soon too to share the joy! 🙂
Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman – I got around to appreciating hemlock apparently. Deep green reprieve from all that is demanding. Review coming soon.
And finally Frederic Malle Le Parfum de Thérèse – So much me… I always feel at home, when wearing Thérèse, my dear soul sister.
In addition, I tucked my “to review” box into my laptop bag, it holds another five or six perfumes I have already worn more than three times and are waiting to be reviewed. You never know when inspriation strikes or a window of time and opportunity opens.
Shortly before we left for the countryside, I grabbed two full bottles on a whim – Parfumerie Générale Tonkamande and Indochine. Just in the unlikely case of not having enough perfume on hand. But we all know it is not about how many, but about the right one at the right time. Although I never take full bottles with me anywhere usually, apparently I felt the need to bring these two.
So do I need over twenty perfumes for eight days? Maybe not, but I’ll probably wear at least 16 (SotD and SotE), and a girl needs choices after all.
Am I strange? Oh, yes, I am and I’m loving it.
Can you relate?
Olfactoria's Travels 
Of course! (I relate) 😉
Have fun at the cottage!
I know you do! 🙂
Thank you!
Why of course you need that many : – ) – before I got to the bottom of your post I figured you would get through 16 as well, on account of your habit of wearing a SOTE. I typically take over 20 perfumes away on a 10 day trip (based purely on a SOTD), as I like to have all bases covered – weather, mood, outfit etc. It feels comforting to have a bit of choice with me, and like you, the perfume bag is the first thing I pack! Oh, and if you should happen to run out, you can always nip into Sankt Poelten and pick up a bottle of Annick Goutal or St Barth! : – )
PS Love the phrase “deep green reprieve” – I know exactly what you mean. And if you run out of Botrytis, I have a fair bit more to spare!
I knew you’d understand, I saw your little baggie in St.Pölten. 🙂
I actually smelled some Annick Goutals yesterday at the store the two of us went to on your visit, because I needed to stock up on Noel room spray. But I’m much happier with the scents I brought.
what a tasteful list…!
LPdT = is it really “so much you”?? so I adore you more than yesterday, Birgit! 😀
I absolutely love its radiant, shining, dazzling sun…
Ah…all those wonderful things… all those Guerlains… I’d love to sniff any of them, specially Angelique Noire. I’m dying for a pilgrimage to Paris, I’ve been there for twice… but I never had the right time for a ‘Perfume Tour’: and there’s lots of things to smell! I wish can be coming soon, on next Year!
Thank you, GeM! 🙂
Oh, yes, I dream of full bottles of all those Guerlains too…
Hopefully the next year will bring a trip to Paris and the Maison Guerlain.
Birgit, I’m quiet, now, I know I’m not crazy, like you, for a week-end or for vacation, I pack at least 4 or 5 scents……. I’m happy you’ve got Oriental Brûlant even if it’s not your favorite (you’re right, it’s mine 😉 ) your choices seem wonderful and, yes, we both love Guerlain that’s sure (angélique noire, cuir beluga mmmmm). I’m waiting for your review of Tobacco Vanille, it seemed so attractive when I tested it…… Enjoy your week!!!!!!
Yes, well… my packing habits are a bit extensive. 🙂
But I love to have choices, choosing my SotD is a cherished moment every day, where I get the chance to take a few minutes and actually listen to myself and how I feel that day and pick something according to my mood.
You are not alone. Better yet, I am not alone! I have to have options. Can’t imagine being tied to one or two scents for a week…. what if they’re all wrong for the mood/occasion/air/temp/lunar cycle?! 😉
Exactly! 😀
And what about weight and time of day and company and…
Options! The key here is having options, and I completely understand. 🙂
When I traveled last February, I only packed eight or so scents, but that is because I expected to go perfume shopping at my destination (didn’t buy any bottles, but did land a big sample of L’Heure Fougeuse!), which did add to my arsenal. Last year on our anniversary vacation, I think I must have packed thirty or so scents– which seems appropriate for a week away 😉
Thirty seems like a good number! 🙂 So true, options is what it is all about!
Options are always good.
For my most recent “trip away,” which was a three-day convention I attended with my husband, I packed four decants (Mary Greenwell Plum, 31 Rue Cambon, Iris Poudre, and Vanille Tonka) as well as several samples – and then I went shopping and came back to the hotel with a dozen more samples!
Perfect shopping trip! It is such a satisfying feeling to get free samples. 🙂
Your retreat to your cabin sounds so relaxing. I’m actually at that point in the holidays when I’m ready for them to end; they have been nice, but I’m ready for a return to normal food, normal schedule. Right now I’m at my father-in-law’s and eager to return home. Didn’t bring any ‘fumes with me, which was stupid, but am enjoying reading over your list of goodies. 🙂 It’s a beautifully diverse list of scents.
You brought no perfumes??? What were you thinking?
😀
I am ready to go back to normal food too, but before the New Year there is no chance.
I love your list so much! I think only we can relate to the feeling of panic that would ensue on realising you don’t have the EXACT perfume to match your mood. Not worth the risk.
I’m now lemming Cuir Beluga, Indochine, La Femme Bleue, Enlevement au Serail and Unspoken Parfum to name but 5!
Thank you, Tara! I feel so well understood!
Those five you mention are so good! Cuir Beluga will be my next bottle purchase, I think. Unless I run into a bargain for La Femme Bleue first. 🙂
Ok, it is official: I would like to go to the cottage with the Olfactoria family! 🙂 You can fit me in your bag right alongside Cuir Beluga, Ormonde Woman, Traversee de Bosphore. I hope you have a fun vacation!
Okay, deal! I can fit you in, but you’ll have to cook! 🙂
Deal! As long as everyone wants to eat only the 4-5 dishes I can successfully make. 🙂
Great, that is three more than I can make! 😉
Of course I can relate. I laughed out loud when I read that you packed a bag of samples first. I do the same when I travel. And I also take more scents than I can possibly wear, but I am more likely to stay in one scent for a day because I have scent holding skin.
Have a wonderful time at the cottage! Sounds like a great vacation!
We are a special bunch of nerds, aren’t we? 🙂
Thank you, the vacation is very much needed!
Ha, ha, ha…like an emergency kit. I allways take a lot of drugs with us on a vacation even though if we just might need it. This year I took a bunch of so to speak “marine” scents with me to test them in heat and seaside. I felt like I have a mini lab. I also passed some to my mister. Well that is to be expected from perfume freak. ;-))))) And your list upthere is just gorgeous.
Exactly – like an emergency kit! You never know what happens, so best be prepared! 😉
Always nice to have choices, and you made some good ones! I did something out of character for me and the rest of us – spent a week in Paris, and only brought two decants with me – Attrape Coeur and La Petite Robe Noire 2. Why? AC is my HG, and I wanted to wear it in Paris. And…wanted to purchase a bottle of LPRN2 as a memory of the trip. I used this strategy cause when I first visited Paris in the early 90’s, I brought a sample of Angel with me, and wore it while I was there. I then associated Angel with Paris (which is actually kind of ironic cause this was when it first came out – who knew it would become such a hit). Suppose I should have brought Angel with me this time… 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!!!
Did you buy perfume in Paris, Karin? Or got any interesting samples?
It is so nice to have a particular perfume associated with a place.
I limited myself to a bottle of the LPRN2…plus I bought a bottle of Habit Rouge EDP for my DH. Believe it or not, Guerlain was the only perfume shop I entered while there! I was traveling with my DH and some friends, and perfume wasn’t the priority. Though I did salivate when walking by L’Artisan, Nicolai, Reminiscence, etc., etc.!!!! Next time. 🙂
Wow, admirable restraint. But at least you went to Guerlain, it is the mothership after all… 😉
Definitely can relate. And envy that amazing list as well… Must get New Look for my wife!
Your wife is a lucky woman! 🙂
Dearest B., you know you only need to say a half word, and I’m coming (running!) with another 10ml decant of A.N. … 🙂
You are the sweetest!!! xoxo
Enjoy! I’m interested in your upcoming review of A Taste Of Heaven. I fell in love with it after getting a sample. And then I ended up getting the L’Oeuvre Noire sample set so I could have a backup sample 🙂
Good for you! One always needs backups! 🙂
I love this huge list. 🙂 Usually, people would take 1-2 scent, but you (and probably many of your readers haha including myself) will take a bunch. I love it. Good bless samples and decants. 😀
Indeed, samples and decants are a godsend. I’d have to take an extra suitcase otherwise! 😉