I need a vacation! All my thoughts are about a vacation. So, let’s talk about perfumes on vacations.
Saturday Question #182:
What Perfumes Would You Take To A Tropical Vacation?
Imagine this: tomorrow you’re going for a week-long vacation at some lovely tropical destination. You have checked-in luggage, so you can bring full bottles, travel/mini bottles, decants, or even samples – anything goes (I mean, flies). Which of your perfumes would you bring?
OK, the “vacation” part is theoretical – you might not even like tropical vacations. But the “perfume” part should be real: we’re not thinking about ideal perfumes for that vacation or something that you think would be nice to have and try there. Instead, we are looking at our collections to pick the most appropriate set to bring with us should we get unexpectedly invited on such a vacation tomorrow.
My Answer
As I said, I need a vacation. I need a vacation to wear my perfumes. The combination of different reasons (though nothing too dramatic, in case anyone would be worried) resulted in me skipping wearing perfumes for days. Not because I didn’t want to wear any, but because I didn’t have any energy to spend on figuring out the right scent for the day – and having a “wrong” one felt like an additional insult, so it felt safer not to make any decisions. I still did some testing (with my usual 1 to 10 ratio of “like” to “meh”), but I miss wearing perfumes. And a tropical vacation is a perfect way to address the issue.
It is perfect not only because I enjoy spending time in the tropics (Hawaii, in my case), but also because over the years and trips, I collected a perfect set of perfumes that for me epitomizes Hawaiian vacation.
I know that I mentioned many of these more than once (in each report on my previous vacations and then some). But if even I couldn’t remember all of them without peaking at those posts when, a couple of days ago, I started fantasizing about my tropical perfume wardrobe, I will do it again:
- Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (in the last 15 years, a full bottle accompanied me on each of my visits to Hawaii)
- Ormonde Jayne Tiare and Frangipany
- Yosh Ginger Ciao
- Byredo Pulp and Bal D’Afrique
- Parfums DelRae Bois de Paradise
- L’Artisan Parfumeur Traversee du Bosphore
- Serge Lutens La Dompteuse Encagée
- Moroccanoil Brumes du Maroc
One more perfume that is not Hawaii-specific but the one that always travels with me everywhere is Diptyque Volutes – my vSO’s and mine shared perfume for planes (I decant it in a tiny roller bottle, and we use it sparingly not to disturb fellow passengers).
Now the only question is… Do I need the second checked-in suitcase?
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I hope you get a vacation soon!
I would probably take Le Labo Ylang 49, Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio, Banana Republic Classic, FM French Lover, Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau, and the fleeting Acqua di Parma Fico di Amalfi (which smells like nectarine despite being named fig). Funnily enough I didn’t actually take any of these on my last tropical vacation in Puerto Rico…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always take Bronze Goddess to the beach. Sometimes the only one! I usually try to find tropical samples to take in addition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully soon you will have the space to enjoy perfume every day again. If I would go on a tropical/beachy holiday I would take Goutal’s Songes, Serge Luten’s A la Nuit, Guerlain Allegoria Nerolia Vetiver, Abdes Salaam Tasmeen and Mohur.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I were choosing from my collection rather than buying at the airport I would choose 4711 for post shower, AA Lys Soleia, decanted so there was no risk to my full bottle, Sisley Eau de Campagne & SJP NYC Crush in all it’s coconut sun oil tackiness. I was toying with Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche but went with the SJP as it’s more “fun”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great question! Bronze Goddess for me too; Chanel’s Paris-Deauville and Paris-Riviera; Hermès’ Un Jardin Sur le Nil and Un Jardin Apres La Mousson; Patou’s Chaldee; L’Artisan’s Seville a l’Aube; Rosine’s Clair Matin; bag of samples to play with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I normally take Monyette Paris, Coquette Tropique and Kai on my tropical vacations, because they come in tollerballs.
LikeLike
OHHHH! Tropical vacation?
Hope yours comes ASAP Undina.
Bottles
Annick Goutal Un Matin d’Orage
DIOR Granville
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Mimosa
Guerlain AA Nerolia Vetiver
Hermès Monsieur Li
Jacomo Silences
Neela Vermeire Creations Rahele
ZARA Vetiver Pamplemousse
and some random decants.
Portia x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Portia
I played with GT Mim but opted for AA Lys Sol, it seemed more tropical
LikeLike
Yeah, I love Lys soleia too but Nerolia Vetiver is a new bottle in my collection so it got the gong.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes please to a tropical holiday. Bronze Goddess always accompanies me. AG Songes, OJ Frangipani, Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine, Lancôme O d’Azure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bronze Goddess for me
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m actually packing for a trip to Germany. I’ll be in close quarters with people and dancing with strangers so I’m keeping things light with Fidji and Clouds Illusion. Hopefully it won’t get up anyone’s nose. A bit different from a tropical holiday.
LikeLike
I’d take some tropical fragrances, Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani and OJ’s Champaca, 2 favorites of mine, and Eau d’Italie Acqua Decima, a gorgeous citrus for the tropics or anywhere.
LikeLike
Having recently been somewhere tropical, I know exactly what I’ll bring. While I love tropical settings, I fade fast in any heat so it’s eau de colognes for me: Detaille Cherubin, 4711 Original, L’Artisan Parfumeur Sur l’Herbe and L.T. Piver A la Reine des Fleurs and Hermès Eau de Basilic Pourpre.
Shameless self-promotion coming up, all featured in a recent post of mine: https://fragroom.com/2023/09/09/eau-de-colognes/
Hope you get that vacation soon, dear Undina.
LikeLike
Pingback: Sunkissed Goddess by By Kilian – Undina's Looking Glass