It was a very sunny and warm week. It was almost wrong to feel that good about the weather when Nature was that cruel on the other side of the country. I really hope that lives of my family, friends and everybody else get back to normal as soon as possible.
Somehow not a single lemming showed up as I was reading this week’s posts. Probably they got scared by weather and Halloween. But there was a chuckle or two and a lot of love (I kept singing “All you need is love, love, love…” as I was collecting posts for this round-up).
Laughs
Sigrun (Riktig Parfym) offers an unexpected take on 1740 Marquis de Sade by Histoires de Parfums. I do not want to spoil a joke so I won’t quote anything here but I strongly recommend to go and read it.
*
Blacknall Allen (aperfumeblog by Blacknall Allen): Well, same thing here. I do not want a brainy perfume. I want a beautiful one that is charming, and can make me smile. So I wear the sole de Nicolai that does that, and ignore the rest. They can go to my book club meeting for me. No doubt they’ve already read and discussed the book.
Loves
Portia (AustralianPerfumeJunkies) reviews one of my absolute loves – Chanel No 19: It is green, crisp and powdery to open and though it has a lovely bouquet of flowers that used in most fragrances would be flirty, lively and bold here they are pretty and fresh but they are restrained because of choice.
*
Steve (The Scented Hound), while reviewing one of my favorite perfumes Ambre Fetiche by Annick Goutal, has created a new mythical creature – a bearlamb: It’s amber wrapped up in air that was let out of an old tire. It’s strong and very heavy and plastic and more plastic on top of a spiced and smoked amber. I can’t say the opening is pleasurable because a little goes a long way. Just a couple of spritzes managed to clog my throat as it coated and choked me a bit. It’s not until the drydown takes place that this really becomes special. In the end you’re left with a warm blanket of amber tinged with what to me is almost like hints of brown sugar topped with a light vanilla incense.
*
Liam (Personal Odour) describes my favorite Vetiver Tonka by Hermes really close to how I feel about this perfume: What sets Vetiver Tonka apart from Ellena’s other creations is its almost sickly nature. Where the vetiver comes through as typically green (it’s not a smokey take on the Indian grass roots), it’s counterbalanced by the edible lusciousness of tonka, those seeds that are intensely sweet like vanilla, cinnamon and sugar.
*
Suzanna (Bois de Jasmin) reviews Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations: From the notes, Mohur sounded monumental, a veritable Taj Majal of showpiece ingredients, so its lived-in texture and subtle nuances surprised me. I have tried attars that were unreachable in their fungal qualities, so strange to my Western nose but so common in the Arabian market. It has taken me a few years to appreciate oud and how wonderfully well the note can be used to anchor a composition. I linked to my own story about all three perfumes from the line so many times that I think everybody has read it (but if no, it isn’t hard to find – so no link).
Leftovers
Thierry Mugler celebrates the 20th anniversary of Angel: I shared my Angel memory (Angel of Jealousy) to win a trip (not that it ever happens but I have at least to buy a lottery ticket, right?) Vote for me!
Undina's Looking Glass 
I voted for you! I did love your Angel memory.
I haven’t had much time to read blogs this week, so having your guide will be very helpful. :)
LikeLike
Thank you, susan! It’s a tough crowd: I can’t persuade even my blog’s readers to click two extra times – once on the link and once on the voting heart.
LikeLike
Thanks for the mention, just what I needed after a loooong day taking care of sick kids while assembling ikea-furniture! And I voted for your Angel memory as well, and I know I’ve seen you coming up as a winning on various perfume draws, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you in this one as well :)
LikeLike
Thank you, Sigrun!
Sick kids is hard on its own without braving a battle with friendly Ikea’s DIY furniture – my sympathy and respect.
LikeLike
really lovely set for laughs, lemmings, loves :)
LikeLike
Thank you, Lucas!
LikeLike
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
U – I voted for you. Best wishes on the trip to Paris…can I come?? :) And thanks for introducing me to Ambre Fetiche! I am also enjoying Mohur on my left hand at present… simply lovely.
LikeLike
Thank you, Steve!
LikeLike
Was interested to read Liam’s review of Vetiver Tonka. I just gave my old English teacher from school a bunch of samples to try and her four faves (all FBW) included this one. She had never really smelt vetiver before and it was a bit of an epiphany!
LikeLike
When I tested Vetiver Tonka for the first time a year ago I also realized that I hadn’t smelled vetiver before. Since then I found several more lovely vetivers.
LikeLike
Hey beautiful Undina.
I am wearing Chanel 19 today in your honour,
Portia xx
LikeLike
Thank you, Portia! :)
LikeLike
You are the candidate of my choice…I voted for you! Wonderful post indeed. Wish I had some No. 19 to wear in you honor. No.5 Premiere will have to stand in…..now where did i put that little sample from Chanel?
LikeLike
Thank you, Lanier! (I hope you found the sample… or a good substitution for it)
LikeLike
I found it!
LikeLike
I voted! That is one of my all time favourite reviews so I hope Mugler appreciates it.
BTW can you please share what your favourite vetiver fragrance is (if you have one)? I want to find one to love.
LikeLike
Thank you, Tara!
I have just several favorite vetiver perfumes but they all are exceptional, in my opinion: Serge Lutens Vétiver Oriental and Dior Vétiver (though I think that it’s very similar to Hermes Vetiver Tonka and since they are at the same price level it’s just a personal preference – I’m not sure which one I’ll get once my VT travel spray is empty). There are also Diptyque Vetyverio and Atelier Cologne Vétiver Fatal but I haven’t tested them enough to figure out if I want to get more than just my samples. And the last one I want to mention is Jo Malone Black Vetyver Café. It’s not that much about vetiver but a really nice perfume.
LikeLike
Thanks! I keep checking Hermes to see it they samples of Vetiver Tonka back in stock but I hadn’t thought of Dior’s Vetiver or the Jo Malone which I like the sound of. I will check those out.
LikeLike
I voted for you, Undina. In fact, I even considered commenting on your post as I could really relate to the story and also the comments, but I’ll sum up here instead. As I’ve mentioned in a couple of places in the bloggosphere, I’m more than happy to share anything in my collection with friends and family, except for one: Ormonde Woman.
I was hoping you’d mention both of those laughs this week, as I thoroughly enjoyed both posts, and added Scent Hound to my Reader. How could I not when I love Ambre Fétiche as well?
LikeLike
Thank you for voting, Dionne!
I remember reading about how you feel about OJ Woman and thought that I understood how you felt :)
LikeLike
Nice to see my silly comment on the PdN’s here, and I have my fingers crossed for you to win a trip to Paris! I should get over there and vote for you which I’ll do.
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ll win but, as I said, at least I have to try since it was a genuine story, not written for the contest.
Thank you for voting for me anyway.
LikeLike