What do you wish for this year?
What is on your list of things you are coveting?
Do you think Santa or his earthly helpers will grant your wishes?
My Answer:
I wish for a ton of inspiration and an even bigger load of motivation and self-discipline. All three have been sorely lacking for me these past months. I can only hope the new year will bring a new rush of energy and a renewed joy for writing and smelling perfume. Thank you all for sticking it out with me, even though post have been thin on the ground. Thanks to my fabulous guest writers who keep the boat afloat.
On the more substantial material side, is there anything I would like? You bet! 😉
I would be happy about bottles of L’Artisan’s soon to be discontinued beauties Traversée du Bosphore and Bois Farine.
I would love something (anything really, since they do not make one bad thing) from Hermès… but I’m fine without too, since I treasure the things I have and I truly am blessed, so it is only the more frivolous side in me that longs for new things, most of me is happy as is.
And since this is my post and I can dream as big as I want to: I would like three months off to travel to Canada and Alaska with my husband. Best attempted in summertime though, so Santa still has six months to make that happen. 🙂
How about you? What is on your list? Realistic or not.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I’m wishing for good health for my family and friends. It seems as if too many people I know have been suffering lately. Or maybe my friends and I are just getting to be “that” age. Sigh. I wish for a good job for my daughter and maybe a cute, really sweet, really nice young man to take an interest in her. And a little success for the DH in his new career. Not asking for much am I?
Perhaps my perfume wishes would be easier to fulfill… a bottle of Hermes 24 Faubourg.
Wishing you and your family and all your readers, peace, happiness, comfort and good health for the holidays and the coming new year.
I wore 24 Faubourg today and a complete stranger complimented me on it. I was so surprised and flattered that I hope I was gracious in my thanks. I did NOT say: ‘Oh it’s a Hermes – 24 Faubourg – do you know it?’. That would have sounded horridly pretentious, especially if she was assuming that it was something from the local chemist. .
All good things to you Tatania. 🙂
I hope all that you wish for comes true next year, Tatiana!
All the best for you and yours too, and a bottle of 24 Faubourg! xoxo
How about a lottery win, so I never had to work again? 😉 But failing that, regular work would be nice (I’m freelance), so that I could at least budget and plan. Continued good health for my husband, and new hips for my sister and my friend M would also be on the list. It would be great if my elderly dog (heart failure) and cat (19 and a half…) would pass (as they surely must this year) without suffering. Heavens, it makes you realise that perfume wishes are easier – mine is for Imiza EDP by niche Corsican firm Imiza, based on helichrysum and with notes of lavender and orange. The body products are wonderful too, especially the dry oil. Or Entre Naranjos by Ramon Monegal, or Palio by Lorenzo Siena.
A happy and peaceful 2014 to all.
Perfume wishes are a lot easier indeed. I hope it all turns out well for you in the new year, Trish!
Lol, I am definitely on the new paying job team! Barring that, I’d really love to smell some or all of the Chanel Exclusifs (apart from Coromandel which I have and love). 🙂
Have fun smelling the Exclusifs, there are some gems among them!
Well, egoistic as I am, I’m dreaming about a month (or two…) off, waking up for days with no schedule and deadlines, just floating freely…
But I have more realistic wishes too: a bottle of Nabucco Amytis – and reliable Santa already promised to take care of that one.
Well, Amytis out of the way, you can fully concentrate on making the first wish happen. 😉
That’s my wish too! A whole month of holidays would be heaven. Feels like work is just neverending at the moment…Hmm, from Santa: books – I have a long wishlist, but no room to store them, so shelving would also come in handy!
Shelving – or a Kindle. Saves room like nothing else… 🙂
Any book recommendtions, Figuier ? I have a Kindle, so shelving is no problem here… 🙂
If I may answer: Ines recommended The Passage by James Cronin. I have not read it yet but it sounds so good I immediately downloaded it on my Kindle. Can’t wait to start as soon as I’m done with the Hunger Games trilogy, also very good to read for relaxation when you don’t feel up for grand literature. 🙂
I love recommending books – all depends what you’re into though! For ‘historical’ novels – Lawrence Norfolk, “Saturnall’s Feast” is great fun, especially if you’re into food; Ian McEwan’s “Sweet Tooth” (though not about sweets…) was a real return to form, a little retro but with a wonderful twist at the end, and really clever about how women and men often like to read different sorts of things. Penelope Fitzgerald’s been getting lots of press recently, “Blue Flower “is the only one I’ve read, but I did like it a lot, you get a really vivid sense of Romantic-era Germany, and there’s lots beautiful detail about domestic life at the time, as well as some great characters. For less retro novels I’m always recommending Deirdre Madden “Molly Fox’s Birthday” and “Authenticity” to people, deceptively transparent, almost naive prose, that hides amazing narrative technique & emotional resonance. Funny novels – John Lanchester’s “The Debt to Pleasure” is a perennial favourite, & it’s also a cookbook – of sorts…hilarious in a fairly dark way.
I’m in denial about the inevitable appearance – sooner or later – of a Kindle into my life 😉 At the moment I’m sticking with paper books. A major benefit being that their batteries never die…
We’ve installed a cable so we can recharge our Kindles while reading in bed. 🙂 Kindles don’t replace paper books but are a great adjunct – last night, I climbed into bed, finished one book and just bought another by the same author, which was delivered in seconds. Very handy when, as I do, you live in a foreign country and are several hundred miles from the nearest English-language bookshop.
I agree! The immediacy of the Kindle when it comes to buying is fabulous. And no more running out of reading material while travelling…
I want to worry less. But I don’t think you can expect life to hand you fewer worries. I think you have to learn how to deal with them, or to not put yourself in the way of them in the first place, if possible. You have to make your own happiness. Perhaps, as you say Birgit, you do that by by slowing down to appreciate the things you already have.
Perfume-wise, there is not much I’m wishing for. A 30 ml bottle of Sensuous maybe, as I’m going through my minis surprisingly quickly.
That is a wish I can very much relate to. I hope it works for you. As you say, the occasions to worry won’t get less, but our reaction to it can change. Hugs, Annemarie!
You too Birgit. 🙂
No. 1 in my Christmas list – the complete resolution of a certain matter that has plagued my family for some years. Also, I would like to continue with my job and on certain personal goals but with more energy and inspiration, and a renewed sense of purpose. Finally, I do hope Santa will send a gift-wrapped Hugh Jackman or Christian Bale or Benedict Cumberbatch under my tree – and I get to do the unwrapping privately … 😉
Ha, I hope your last wish comes true! 😉
Also many good wishes to you and your family, I hope things will be as you want them to be in 2014. Thank you for reading and commenting all year, Haefenasiel!
For me, a pair of black trousers (chinos or jeans) and a warm and cuddly woolen jumper in some nice color.
I won’t get any perfume, but Penhaligon’s Iris Prima, Puredistance Black or Histoires de Parfums 1899 would be on the list.
Lovely list, Lukas. I hope you get surprised too! 🙂
thank you :*
Dear Birgit, I wish for more energy and self-motivation as well. I feel like after a couple of years of doing many things, now I can only rest and I wonder what happened. I guess it will get better eventually, New Year always feels like a beginning.
What I wish for in material terms? A larger paycheck. 😉
The golden Cire Trudon candle – Melchior (I wouldn’t mind the silver one either)…
Basically, I don’t feel I lack for anything in material terms.
I just wish I had more time and energy to pursue my ideas.
Time and energy – I’m so with you, Ines! xoxo
I’d like a new job for me and maybe a new one for my hubby too. I’m hoping that 2014 is a little kinder to my family than this year has been. I’d like a good dose of self confidence to step out of my comfort zone and do some projects that I’ve been wanting to do for a while.
Perfume wishes? I want to find at least one new scent that makes me swoon. I’ve asked Santa for a bottle of Jour Ensolleille or Double Vanilla.
I hope Santa brings one of those perfumes and fulfills your other wishes as well!
I could do with some inspiration and self discipline too, but of course I know that it’s not going to be brought by Santa, I will have to find it in myself. Apart from that, health and happiness for the loved ones and a year without catastrophic events would be great. Perfume wise I will continue with my little blog and buy too many samples, but if Santa/the husband/Basil the cat buys me a bottle of Hasu no Hana I would be over the moon.
You are so right (unfortunately). We can only do the hard stuff ourselves… 😦
On the material side, hubby and I will gift us with a new camera lense and a few new British TV series on DVD for long winter evenings. Since we decided upon that yet, I wonder, if a tiny bottle of Jour d’Hermes in perfume strength would be another thing I could wish for ;o). On the non-material I wish for more love, more peace, more health, more food, more happiness, more education, more equality, more diversity, more democracy, more justice, more tolerance, less poverty, less fear, less corruption, less violence, less isolation for millions of people in many places in the world.
Oh, may all your wishes come true, the world would be a wonderful place.
All the regular stuff for me Birgit but I do hope to hang with you (and the husband), Sandra and Val while Michael and I are in Austria in January. I owe you and the husband dinner.
On the frag list? Mon Precious Nectar, L’Accord Code 119, Ashoka and Myrrhiad. Waiting till January to splurge.
Merry Christmas to you and the crew..
Portia xx
I know just the place for that dinner!
M and I can’t wait to see you again! 🙂
Mutual!! and Hungry!! Always.
You, the husband (M) and Michael are going to get on like a Maison en flambe. He is VERY clever with frag notes and can lead my duffer of a nose to the smart answers. It will be his first European vacation.
Portia xx
I look forward to meeting him! (Let me know the date when you can!)
Wishing for health and happiness for 2014. I thought I would never want more, but I do – Stilettos on Lex and Tihota. Merry Christmas.
Good wishes. I hope they all will be fulfilled. xx
I wish for new glasses that look nice on me and don’t cost a fortune. Do they exist? Many wishes for the physical and mental health of family and friends, especially my beautiful daughter. And most of all, selfishly, I wish my new knee would decide to get along with the rest of my legs and my life could achieve some normalcy! It’s coming, but so slowly…. Perfume wise, I’m in a good place right now. No burning desires. Best wishes, all 🙂
I can relate so much to your knee issue, good luck for that! As for glasses, don’t know where you live, but you could check out Carolin Abram glasses. She makes gorgeous glasses, which are not expensive compared to other designer glasses.
Cheers
Safran
Thanks for tha glasses tip, Safran!
Thank you, I will check out the glasses. And I hope your knee is doing well!
I wish you that the knee will get lots better soon. ❤
I read this blog a lot but don’t think I’ve commented before, so hello!
I’m going to save self discipline for spring, the gloomy UK skies of January are no time to be kicking myself! I’m good for work-related discipline, and I’m not a comfort eater, but I still have the odd cigarette and I’ve been a stranger to vigorous exercise for the past month.
The only thing I’m resolved on is to be a good friend to everyone. and to always try to see the other person’s point of view. I’ve been so inspired by the tributes to Mandela. Apart from that I want to earn more money to feed my perfume habit! Seriously though, perfume is a source of great pleasure, and life’s too short to ignore that!
Happy Christmas to everyone when it comes
Hello Rose,
glad you commented!
I love you you are realistic about not starting a complete overhaul on January 1. These attempts are often doomed from the start. 🙂
Hopefully all your wishes come true!
Like Annemarie, peace of mind would be my ultimate wish but I agree that it is really down to me.
Perfume is a lot easier! I’d also love a bottle of Traversee du Bosphore because I only have the decant that Thomas gave me in a swap. I really need to get a bottle now it’s on its way out. Think I will be gifting that to myself though in the New Year.
I hope your wishes for 2014 come true, dear B.
I will gift Traversée to myself as well. We’ll smell great in tandem. 🙂
I wish for safety for my kids as they move more and more into the adult world. I wish to double my cookie output. I hope I can get Bois de Iles Extrait on Thursday, but am not holding my breath! xxxx
I don’t think you will be finding the extrait in Vienna… 😦
Doubling your output? Oh my! You definitely need a second oven! 🙂
It must be scary letting the kids go…
They had it in the Douglas that sells the Exclusifs wgen yi was there in February. They had all the Extraits. I just didn’t buy it then. Hidden high up in a cupboard above the Exclusifs stand! We’ll go look shall we? 😉 xxx
when I * Welsh …. haha
😀
We shall!!!
Mission accomplished. 😉
Oh it is nice to be thinking perfumed Christmas thoughts! I have dropped a few perfume scented hints to my nearest and dearest (a Profumo sample box, or if I am really really lucky Mona do Orio’s Oud travel set), but most of all I am hoping for a calm and happy Christmas surrounded by my family (and maybe a new feather duvet).
Profumo samplebox? That sounds good! Must investigate…
I hope you get all that and more, Alex! xo
Lutens Santal Blanc is at the top of my list then Coromandel and I’d also like a bottle of VC&A’s Orchidee Vanille. I’ve started to develop a perfume sweet tooth. Maybe I’m hoping if I wear the sugar I won’t eat as much!
Gah, that doesn’t work for me unfortunately. Whether I smell like chocolate or not, I carve and eat just as much as ever. 🙂
I’m joining the queue for ‘energy and self-motivation’ – lots of that would be good for the holidays and after (I met a big work deadline earlier this year and have been a bit lazy after the pressure was off!). No perfume for Christmas, i’m trying to prune my collection, but may allow in a single, special bottle next year, probably an Arquiste. Hope you get your l’Artisan or Hermes treat!
Many of us need a big push apparently. 🙂
Which Arquiste are you contemplating?
I haven’t tried them all, but so far really loved Alexandr (although am a bit concerned that its often billed as ‘male’ and I’ve made mistakes before by thinking I can wear a more ‘masculine’ perfume, and then finding in reality I can’t). I also liked fleur de louise. But they all seem so well balanced and a non-fussuy style I really appreciate, that the decision will be very hard – a project for 2014. Do you particularly like any?
I like Anima Dulcis and Flor y Canto, but I haven’t tried all of them.
I am trying to stick to my wishlist this year and be disciplined about it.The list for 2012 includes Lyric parfum, Opus III, Innuendo, Absolue pour le Soir, maybe some Nahema parfum if a bottle crosses my path and Mohur Intense when it becomes available. And Une Rose Vermeille. And, perhaps, Classic Patchouli Is the list too long?
For the holidays, I’ve treated myself to some Kiki parfum and Rouge Assassin.
As for non material things, I wish for peace and respect towards other beings.
Cheers,
Caro
Hi Caro,
glad you made it! I hope WordPress won’t play up anymore.
That is a fantastic list. But then again I know how great your taste is…
My perfume wish (which has already been ordered, thanks to my generous parents), is for a bottle of Aftelier Ancient Resins, as well as several samples. I’ve never had a chance to try any Aftelier fragrances, so I’m very very excited to receive them! My non-material wish is for the energy, discipline and strength to get through the next five months while I prepare for a solo exhibition of my paintings (which is only about 1/4 finished so far) and for my wedding, which are scheduled for within two weeks of each other. I’m really not sure if I can pull it off, at least not without having a nervous breakdown in the process, but fingers crossed!
All the best to you, cj. The coming year does indeed sound a bit stressful, but you are going to excel, I’m sure! Congratulations on both the exhibition and the wedding!
I would love a bottle of Ramon di Monegal Ambra di Luna, one of Diptyques Volutes edt and one of Meharees by L’Erbolario, but if I had them I might just worry about my growing stash again, so purchases of any full bottles at this point are a double edged sword.
Otherwise, I wish for a couple of quality merino wool blankets in soft shades of cream and taupe, and a lot more sleep in 2014. I need to spend less time diddling about on Facebook and the computer generally. Plan in some more walks, because I have been enjoying these lately, even if they were mostly to the shops and back!
I’m so with you, V. I have been trying to sit in front of the computer less and espcially keep away from social media and it is great. I feel so much freer and I enjoy the non-technological pursuits like reading an actual book with paper pages (no Kindle even) very much.
The blankets you have in mind sound beautiful, I hope you get them. I think sleep might follow automatically… 🙂
Energy and self-discipline sound good, and I’d like a decent night’s sleep now and then as well.
Perfumewise, I have some out-of-reach-for-now wishes: Estée Lauder PC Amber and Ylang Ylang and Amouage Lyric Woman. And more realistically: L de Lolita Lempicka and a backup bottle of Roberto Cavalli Oro.
I hope you get all of this, Laurels!
We have to have our old cat put to sleep this week and the holiday period is also looking fraught with stress!!! But I am wishing for grace to emerge at the other end, with sense of humour intact.
Tiny bottle of Clive Christian X from my lovely husband will be a happy note.
Best fragrant wishes to all!
Oh no, I’m very sorry Jackie! My thoughts are with you.
Thank you, at least we can do the best for our animals.
I’m so sorry about your kitty. I have a friend that is having to put down her 16 yr. old cat today. I put down mine a few years ago and cried so hard while they were doing it I think the vet thought she might need to give me shot! There is comfort in knowing that we gave them a good life and a gentle passing, though. I hope your holiday is full of happy (stress relieving) memories. You’ll definitely smell wonderful. I completely fell for C for Women and had to have it. I recently got a whiff of X on a lady at Whole Foods and now I’m anxious to revisit it. I love how unexpected perfume encounters can change ones perspective.
New Year, New Energy coming to you Olfactoria.
I hope so. 🙂
I will propose a deal: if either of us get self discipline or Traversee du Bosphore for Christmas, we’ll share with the other? 🙂
Done! 🙂
I wish airfare was less expensive, so I could spend more time with my granddaughter.
On my perfume “wish list” is Phaedon Rouge Avignon!
Happy New Year to all!!!
I wish that too!
All the best for you and a big bottle of Rouge Avignon!
My parents are getting me Vero Profumo’s Onda in extrait. I know that, beacuse I made the order myself. Such generous people, my parents….<3..other than that, I wouldn't mind Amour de Palazzo from Jul et Mad,but that's not gonna happen this year. Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing Christmas, filled with lovely moments, and a happy New Year! Thanks for hosting such a nice blog! Hugs! And Merry Christmas&Happy New Year to all of you- stay scented! 😀
Lovely parents indeed! Thank you for reading hildegunn, all the best for you!
No perfumed wishes from me at this point (I know that I’m getting one perfume already 🙂 ). As to the “big thing” – I want the new year to be at least not worse than this one.
Which one, which one???
That is a classic “Undina big thing”. 😀
Jasmin Impératrice Eugénie by Creed. It’s not popular among perfumistas but for whatever reason it spoke to me (and it was a very good deal at Beauty Encounter).
I’ve never smelled it, but now I certainly will!