Author: Undina

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Masculine Perfume?

Just to avoid going through the argument that any perfume is for anyone, and there are no rules about who can wear what, I’ll do this disclaimer: I’m talking about the style of perfume that traditionally is considered masculine where you live.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #123:

What Is Your Favorite Masculine Perfume?

Do you like wearing it or smelling it on someone else?

Bonus: even though usually I’m trying to limit your answers with the requested one, three, five or ten (based on the topic), and usually you “go overboard” with your choices, today I give you a carte blanche to name any number of “runner ups” in addition to the top one.

My Answer

I thought of this question while reading several people’s comments to the last week’s question about the best-known perfumes for the brands that I suggested. I was surprised by the fact that I wasn’t even thinking about masculine perfumes while coming up with my answers. And after they brought it up, I agreed that this perfume was, in my opinion, even better-known than the one I thought of. But the main reason why it surprised me that much was that it was actually one of if not just the most favorite masculine perfumes for me.

Hermes Terre d’Hermes. I love this perfume on my vSO. Had I known years ago that brands reformulate their perfumes without changing names or packaging, I would have bought several bottles of the original one. But even the latest one that I tried was still quite nice. I don’t wear it myself: I always thought about it as his perfume.

Other masculine perfumes that I like a lot but do not wear are Tom Ford Moss Breches and Gucci Rush Men – both sadly discontinued.

The picture of Rusty has nothing to do with masculine perfumes, but I decided that it was a while since I posted any of his photos on my blog (and not all of my readers follow me on Instagram… where I do not post that often either).

Rusty July 2022

How about you?

 

What Is Your Favorite Masculine Perfume?

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Saturday Question: What Is the Best-Known Perfume for Each of These Brands?

I know it’s almost Sunday Question, but let’s do it anyway. There are several brands with which the answer to this question would probably come out immediately. Chanel? Of course, No 5. Guerlain? Definitely Shalimar! Creed? Well, you know, right? But let’s try to extend the game to five more popular brands.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #122:

What Is the Best-Known Perfume for Each of These Brands?

Name one the best-known/first coming to mind perfume for each of the following brands: Hermes, Amouage, Ormonde Jayne, Dior and Histoires de Parfums. It’s not a question of which perfume from these brands you like the most, but rather which perfume you think is the most known (among perfumistas or in general – however you prefer to read this question).

A twist on the SQ: name one more brand for which you’d like to ask the same question – and see what others come up with.

My Answer

You should think about your answer before reading either my or anyone else’s choices. I didn’t think of the answers until now (I just improvised on the set of brands for this question) – so, I’ll be in the same position you are now. So, let me try…

Hermes Kelly Caleche. Don’t know why – not only it’s not my favorite perfume, I don’t even like it. But this is what came to mind.

Amouage Gold (woman). Love this one, though it’s not my most favorite Amouage.

Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman. I have at least 5 other perfumes from this brand that I like more than this one, but still it seems like the best-known perfume created by the brand.

Dior Miss Dior. I’m sure that if it hadn’t been for the controversy of Dior’s taking the name of my favorite classic perfume and lending it to the modern imposter, I would have named another perfume (I won’t – not to interfere with your choices). But because I can’t forgive Dior this betrayal, this is the first name on my mind whenever I hear “Dior.”

Histoires de Parfums 1740. I tried this perfume, and I do not like it. But I find it hilarious that now so many people know the year when Marquis de Sade was born. Do you know the year of birth for Winston Churchill? How about Shakespeare or Mother Theresa? I didn’t. I wasn’t even sure about the decade for each of them. But Marquis de Sade…

 

Now it’s your turn.

 

What Is the Best-Known Perfume for Each of These Brands?

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Saturday Question: Have You Adopted Any Makeup or Skincare Advice From Your Mother?

My loyal readers have probably got used by now to my not that straightforward chain of associations when it comes to Saturday Question topics. But today’s one is especially “twice removed.” I’ll explain in My Answer. Though, each of you should feel free to respond directly to the question without going into the intricacies of my train of thought.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #121:

Have You Adopted Any Makeup or Skincare Advice From Your Mother?

When we’re young, we often pick up something from our older relatives, siblings or friends. Years later, we either stick to those advices, just forget them or realize that those were not really the gospel they seemed back then.

Do you remember any of those? Do you still follow any? Or, the opposite, have you got disillusioned in some of them?

My Answer

I promised, it wasn’t that straightforward.

Yesterday I watched one of the most hilarious videos from Lisa Eldridge. I’m sure that most of you knows who she is, but unless you follow her closely or visit your YouTube subscriptions regularly, you could have missed this – and you shouldn’t! It is an extremely funny GRWM-type of video, but instead of chatting with the viewers herself, Lisa was following audio instructions from a legendary Hollywood makeup artist from 50s-60s of the previous century. I hope you’ll watch and enjoy it as much as I did.

Since I’m neither an MUA nor mekup history buff, I was, let’s put it this way, slightly less impressed by the guy himself then commenters on the video page and thought that he was a pompous dick (pardon my French), despite Lisa’s attempt at the preemptive PC spiel. And still, thanks to Lisa’s talent, the video is worth watching. A week ago I would have said that, not the least to appreciate how far we came from the time when old and [self-]important men were telling us what we should or should not do with our lipsticks and eye shadows. Today the freedom to match my lipstick to my nail polish somehow suddenly feels less significant. But I digress.

As I watched that video, I was surprised by how many of the beauty advices got through the continents and, what is even more impressive, the “iron curtain” and were passed onto me by my mother.

I won’t list all of them not to spoil your viewing, but I’ll mention one that I tend to follow decades later: Do not apply mascara to your lower eyelashes.

The reasoning for this advise was that it would make my eyes look smaller. I do not know if that is even true. But even if it is, those who know me or saw my mom’s pictures would probably agree that this should be the last of the beauty-related worries for either of us. And I think that later in her life my mother had changed her opinion and was applying mascara to her lower lashes. And yet… Not that I wear mascara too often in general. But when I do, by my estimate, my lower eyelashes stay bare 9 out of 10 times.

 

How about you?

 

Have You Adopted Any Makeup or Skincare Advice From Your Mother?

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Saturday Question: What Was The Last New L’Artisan Perfume You’ve Tried?

I’m sure that there isn’t a single participant of these Saturday posts who is not familiar with L’Artisan Parfumeur. Moreover, I have no doubts that most of us have at least one (or ten?) perfumes from this brand in our collection. But when was the last time you tried anything new from them?

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #120:

What Was The Last New L’Artisan Perfume You’ve Tried?

And a bonus question: is there any perfume from the brand that you would like to try?

 

My Answer

Yesterday, while scrolling through Instagram posts, I came across a sponsored ad for L’Artisan’s Sale: “Make the most of unmissable offers and treat yourself to a new summer scent”

I do not need a new summer scent, but I got curious and tapped on the link. While 20-25% off isn’t a bad discount, by now I have most of L’Artisan Perfumes that I tried and liked, so none of the perfumes that I’m familiar with tempted me. But going through the Sale selection, I realized that I didn’t know half or more of the offered perfumes. And that brought up this question.

The last perfume from L’Artisan Parfumeur that I’ve tried was Noir Exquis launched in … 2015 (!). What I find strange: I liked it. Not to buy a bottle (at least not until I finish my small decant), but I liked it. And yet, in the last 6+ years I haven’t tried a single new perfume from the brand. I think I lost my interest since Puig had acquired the brand.

Am I interested in their new perfumes? I won’t refuse testing everything I missed somewhere at a store. But I don’t think I will be paying for their samples any time soon. The only perfume that stood out for me when I read about it was something with “banana” in the name. So, that would be the first one I reach for in that hypothetical store.

How about you?

 

What Was The Last New L’Artisan Perfume You’ve Tried?

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Linden Perfume?

I realize that all of my loyal readers have their lives and do not hold their breath waiting for the next post from this blog. But still I feel like apologizing for being absent. The irony is that I have at least a dozen posts planned (in terms that I know what I want to write about) or even started, but between my job and family issues with my vSO’s mother, I have no energy left to think those posts through, write and published them. But I will be posting whenever I can. Meanwhile, let’s keep the Saturday Question tradition running.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #119:

What Is Your Favorite Linden Perfume?

Regardless of whether you know how the real blossom smells, do you have a favorite linden perfume?

My Answer

Linden is one of my most favorite blossoms in real life, so I’m on a constant search for a perfect linden blossom perfume. I still haven’t found any perfume that would come close to the heady aroma of a blooming large linden tree in the warmth of the late summer night. But if I were to take a single floret (?), as I did recently when I visited my friend’s garden, and compare it to my favorite linden perfume – Jo Malone French Lime Blossom, which I did, they smell very close. And I love it!

Jo Malone French Lime Blossom

What Is Your Favorite Linden Perfume?

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Saturday Question: What Was Your Most Picturesque Vacation Destination?

I’ve been back from my recent trip for a while, but it’s summer, and vacations are all around me (in the form of out-of-office replies), so I decided to prolong it by talking about it.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #118:

What Was Your Most Picturesque Vacation Destination?

A vacation is a vacation is a vacation. But some of the places we visit stay with us longer than others. Which one were yours?

If you have any pictures online you’re willing to share, please publish a link/links.

My Answer

Hawaii are probably still my most favorite vacation destination, and variety of nature scenes these islands offer is very hard to beat. I also love city vacations, and Vienna shares my heart with London (and Barcelona might claim its place there the next time I get to spend time in that beautiful city while not suffering from different health issues, like it happened when I went there for the first time).

But the recent trip to Sedona left a very strong impression: the views were breathtaking. When you see those formations and colors, it is hard to believe that those were created by nature (vs. some ancient gods or aliens turning medieval castles and fortresses into stone), and you’re not looking at the result of some artistic filters applied to a photo. An unfortunately those photos do not fully convey the grandeur of what you can see with your eyes.

Sedona

This was the view from the window of the house we were staying in. And views from numerous vista points were even more spectacular.

SedonaSedona

Amouage attars that I brought with me wore wonderfully in the dry heat of Sedona: they were as beautiful as those mountains. But as much as I liked all six of them and plan to use up my discovery set, I don’t think I loved any one of them enough to want to buy a bottle… Maybe if I were on a vacation in Oman…

Amouage Attars

Your turn.

What Was Your Most Picturesque Vacation Destination?

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Saturday Question: What Recent Release Are You Itching To Try?

I know that none of us needs any more perfumes. But it doesn’t stop us from trying new ones, right?

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #117:

What Recent Release Are You Itching To Try?

Are there any recently released perfumes that have caught your interest, and you either plan to get to it at a store or maybe even buy a sample to try?

You may include any perfumes released in 2021-2022 that were on your “to try” list if you’ve recently scratched that itch.

My Answer

I keep missing the announcements of new releases (for better or worse), but two new releases got on my radar: one from a tiny niche house, Hera by Papillon Artisan Perfumes, and another one from the most well-known brand, Paris – Paris by Chanel (though, I still can’t believe they could not come with a more original name). I plan to get a sample of Hera from Luckyscent (how could I not after reading Tara’s (A bottled Rose) review and Vanessa’s (Bonkers About Perfume) review and then her response to my comment?!). And Chanel… I like that Les Eaux series, so I’m curious to try the newest addition. I went to a couple of stores already but none of them carries it yet. I’ll keep trying.

How about you?

What Recent Release Are You Itching To Try?

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Saturday Question: What Perfumes Would You Take To A Desert Vacation?

Even those who do not subscribe to the notion of perfume seasonality know that perfumes behave differently in different climate environments. So, planning a trip to a place that promises to be especially cold, hot, humid or dry, we often think of the appropriate selection of perfumes to take with us.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #116:

What Perfumes Would You Take To A Desert Vacation?

Which of your favorites you know work the best in the hot dry climate? Or which ones you’d like to test in that environment?

My Answer

As I was preparing to our short vacation to Sedona, Arizona, I wasn’t sure what to bring. Somehow my usual set of perfumes that travel with me to Hawaii – also quite hot but humid place – didn’t feel right. And then I thought it would be interesting to bring with me the discovery set of new attars from Amouage: after all, Oman has one of the hottest climates in the world.

I’m in the middle of my trip (and testing of these perfumes). I’ll try to post my impressions from both the vacation and attars next week once I’m back.

Amouage Attars

How about you?

What Perfumes Would You Take To A Desert Vacation?

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Pickles et al and the house of Jo Malone

This time for the guest post Pickles came with a company. (Undina)

* * *

Hello, my human and fur friends! My cousins, Wedge Licorice and Squirrel Jolie, came for a visit, and I decided to introduce them both to the house of Jo Malone.

My nana tells me it is probably the most popular fragrance house in our humble abode. Each of her human children was gifted a full bottle when they turned eighteen (Peony & Blush Suede for the eldest, Ginger Biscuit for the middle one and Wood Sage & Sea Salt for the youngest). My great-grandma and great-grandpa love all the Jo Malone offerings as well. And I know for a fact that Undina does too.

Over the years the entire family has drained three 100 ml bottles, ten 30 ml bottles and probably forty or more of those 9 ml travel sprays. As you can see from the photos we still have plenty in all sizes in the house.

Do you have a favorite Jo Malone? If not, what is your favorite perfume house?

Until next time, furry kisses and hugs,

Pickles Bella
Wedge Licorice
Squirrel Jolie

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Saturday Question: How Many Perfumes Should A New Brand Release?

From the last week’s post:

TaraC: I am suspicious of lines like Derek Lam that launch a dozen scents at once with each one a different rainbow color. Definitely smacks of style over substance.

Undina: I’m suspicious of brands that launch a dozen of scents at once, whatever colors those are :)

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #115:

How Many Perfumes Should A New Brand Release?

Leaving aside that the market is still oversaturated with new brands and perfumes (no pun intended) , if a new brand were to appear, in your opinion, how many perfumes should they come out with and why?

One eponymous of the brand? Two, one feminine one masculine? Three? Five?

My Answer

I am a “serial” tester: if I am interested in a brand, I feel an urge to test all perfumes. So, often I feel overwhelmed by the number of perfumes by a brand (not necessarily a new one), so I skip it altogether. As an example of such brands: Montale and Mancera. I approached the former but gave up after 5 or 6 samples (I found a couple I didn’t mind wearing from a decant). And I decided that I wouldn’t know where to start with the latter, so other than a cursory sniffing at a store, I’m completely ignorant of their offerings.

Mancera Perfumes

That brings me to the answer to my own question: I would say 3 if I can try them at a store (without getting a sample, it’ll be hard to properly test more) or 4-5 if I need to order samples online (it feels wasteful to pay for shipping of just 2-3 samples). After that, if I didn’t like those that I tried, I might never go back to the brand.

How about you?

How Many Perfumes Should A New Brand Release?