I don’t know either I felt less inclined to laugh or there actually wasn’t anything funny but this week I came across only some articles about move favorite perfumes and adopted a couple of small lemmings. If you read anything that you found amusing please share!

Lemmings

This week’s lemmings aren’t perfume-related. Well, not directly perfume-related. I read two reports about their Paris meet-up – by Suzanne (Eiderdown Press): The four of us stayed at the same hotel in the historic Marais neighborhood and spent the next several days sniffing perfumes to our hearts’ delight, eating enough foie gras and drinking enough kir royals to leave us in a state of purring contentment, and conversing on all manner of subject, from the general and specific craziness of family life to the physical requirements of opera singers… and by Ines (All I am – a redhead): Asali called it “nerding” about perfume and I admit, I kept waiting for someone to say, OK, enough of the perfume talk already, but that never happened. I want to visit Paris and I want to meet at least several of the blogo-friends I’ve got to know through our mutual passion. Not necessarily in this order or combination.

Loves

This was the only post last week that was supposed to make my LLL series so I moved it to this week: Christos (Memory of Scent) reviews one of my all-time favorites: Chanel No 19 is the perfect example of what leather is to fragrance. It is the illusion created by the artistry of the perfumer, Henri Robert in this case, using the ingredients to evoke memories of leather. It reminds me of those abstract pictures that are supposed to become three-dimensional images when you squint and look sideways. When you focus on what you look at the illusion is lost.

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Blacknall Allen (aperfumeblog by Blacknall Allen) reviews “the year round floral”: Antonia is called a green floral, but this is only partly true. The top of the fragrance is green but of a very softly engineered sort. It reminds me of the smell of tulips and the pollen that you always smell in them. (and here’s my Shahrazad story about Antonia by Puredistance)

The weather is still cool which I rather enjoy. We had two very windy days. As the house was making creaking and rattling sounds Rusty kept listening worriedly to what was going outside and even almost stopped shedding; though the last part should be probably attributed to the temperature, since cats are known to shed more when they are nervous.

I still hope to get more responses to the idea of multiple mirrors for the Perfume Shopping around the World page. So far Olfactoria’s Travels, All I am – a redhead, the unseen censer and Bonkers about Perfume decided to host a similar page. If anybody needs help with creating that page on either WordPress or Blogger I can guide you step by step.

I read most of the postings from blogs on My Reading List but somehow none of them created any lemmings; which is probably not a bad thing. My wallet is definitely better off with me laughing at my friends’ posts or reading about those perfumes that I already own and love.

Laughs

Ari (Scents of Self) analyzes 2012 Fifi Awards: I would have given this FiFi to Untitled, especially considering that Jasmin Rouge also won the Nouveau Niche Men category! Who do y’all think Tom Ford had to sleep with to pull that off? (Answer: everybody. Tom Ford slept with everybody. And not to win the FiFi. Just because.) There are also many funny comments: “Soon there will be a 7-11 perfume that will win,” “Victoria’s Secret Angel? Really? I couldn’t be more surprised if a Yankee Candle had won.”

Loves

Suzanne (Eiderdown Press) tells a beautiful story that weaves into her review of one of my new favorites: You won’t ever mistake Bombay Bling for an overly sweet cocktail, however—its emphasis is not only on mango, this is a scent with all of the complexity of a true perfume—but because it opens with such an uplifting combination of mango and cardamom, it’s hard not to smile when wearing it.

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Ron (Notable Scents) joins in with his commendations for the same perfume: Fruity floral fragrances are all over the place, but Bombay Bling stands out as one of the best ones that I have ever experienced. Not only is there a clear development, it feels incredibly rich and full without being too strong. He also reviews the other two perfumes of the trio and offers a draw for a sample set. Just in case you want even more, read my story Three Pieces of Neela Vermeire’s India Puzzle

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Michael (From Top to Bottom) praises the perfume that is my absolute favorite on my vSO: What makes Terre so good? I can think of a number of reasons, but one simple reason is that it smells like no other perfume on the market. As simple as that. It doesn’t smell generic, it doesn’t smell like it has been done before. For me, that is enough to state that it is one of the few modern mainstream men’s classics out there.

Image: my own

Last week was busy for me. I’ve got promoted – which is, of course, great but now I feel that I need to concentrate on my work even harder. And I need to figure out if I want to buy a special celebratory bottle of perfume. In general, I always want to buy one perfume or the other but if it’s supposed to be special to commemorate the occasion it has to be special. And I’m not sure if I have that special bottle on my wish list now.

Speaking of a wish list. While answering Birgit’s Monday Question – What Is Your Number One Perfume? I tried to stay within the set criteria and choose just one perfume. Have you noticed how people almost never answer questions the way they were asked or follow the instructions? I’m not immune to that: earlier this week I tried to bake rugelach using my friend’s very clear recipe and I managed to miss an important ingredient (though I still liked the results). Mais revenons à nos moutons. When I chose The One perfume it felt as if I betrayed all my other favorites. The feeling was so intense that it compelled me to finish finally My Perfume Portrait. Immediately I felt better.

And now to the posts that made me laugh, created lemmings or reviewed perfumes that I love.

Lemmings

Only a small and very weak lemming this week from NST – Blackberry & Bay by Jo Malone. Wild Bluebell and Plum Blossom weren’t that interesting but Garden Bloom collection didn’t disappoint. So I’m hopeful about Blackberry & Bay.

Laughs

I don’t know what I would have done without Vanessa (Bonkers about Perfume) since most posts this week were too serious and composed: Orgasm did noticeably brighten up my cheeks whilst managing not to deposit an excess of age-inappropriate glitter, and in a trice Donna had called for the SA to “get me an Orgasm” – as in a pristine product from her drawer, of course.

Loves

Thomas (The Candy Perfume Boy) reviews one of my favorite Epic by Amouage: Epic Woman is no exception, it fits the Amouage feminine bill of being rich, floral, oriental, laden with spices and extraordinarily sensuous. Oh yeah, the Amouage Woman is a complex character.

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Michael (From Top to Bottom): It smells smooth and classy, no surprise coming from Hermes, who do understated luxury very well indeed. I think Rocabar is fantastic, and I’m so glad that I’ve finally tried it. Highly recommended wearing.

Leftovers

A couple of creative ideas for the scented strips and inserts from magazines brought to you by The Scented Hound. Please share your useful tips on the subject.

I was traveling last week so it’ll be a short post – whatever I collected before my trip started. Also, if anybody was wondering, I want to mention that my monthly stats post is still coming. I know it’s a little later than usually but I cannot do it on the road.

Lemmings

Birgit (Olfactoria’s Travels) makes sure my lemmings for the latest release from Amouage keep swarming: Beloved is a big perfume, and despite the previous comments about its grandeur and drama, it is not hard to wear, actually I find Beloved particularly easy to wear, with a lovely, but not intrusive sillage and excellent lasting power (Do you know an Amouage that is gone in two hours? I don’t, and this one is no exception.)

Laughs

Vanessa (Bonkers about Perfume): Even the sales assistant apologised for the extreme woodiness of this scent, saying that it might appeal to men. Or extreme wood-loving women, obviously. An 8 out of 10 on the “trapped in a tea chest” / “planky” scale.

Birgit (Olfactoria’s Travels) about images invoked by L’Heure Convoitée: My doll Sonja: an unfortunate plastic child I practiced plastic surgery on. She never recovered and my dreams of becoming a surgeon where nipped in the bud (at least I married one, talk about projection!).

Loves

Susan (Fragrants) about my favorite Petite Cherie by Annick Goutal: Smelling this perfume makes me want to grab up my daughter and shower her with kisses while she is still small; smelling this perfume makes me want to be the best mother I can be and the best woman I can be. And it makes me acutely aware that the minutes, hours, days, are slipping quickly by. If you’re curious, here’s my take on this perfume.

Sigrun (fragrantfanatic) shares her experience while wearing one of my favorite perfumes from Amouage: Wearing Gold makes me reach for my most elegant skirts and dresses instead of jeans. It makes me take my time putting on make-up in the mornings, going for a full skin routine and red lips instead of the usual transparent gloss. It even affects the way I paint my toe nails. If you didn’t read it before you might find amusing this story about a blind sniffing test.

Summer is here! I’m not excited (I do not like hot weather) – just stating the fact. Suddenly I do not know what to wear, clothes- or perfume-wise. My cat Rusty, on the other hand (paw?), isn’t confused: he knows what NOT to wear – his fur. He’s shedding everywhere!

Lemmings

 I do not have any practical use for that amount of Guerlain’s Muguet but it’s such a beautiful scent and I really like this year’s bottle! Please somebody tell me I shouldn’t be ordering it! Thanks for tempting me go to Robin (Now Smell This).

Laughs

I think everybody has read this already but if somehow you missed it read semi-final of Prix Eau Faux 2012 at Now Smell This. It’s hilarious! My favorite is Rhapsody by United Airlines for the print copy and Fairleigh Fanged by Fairleigh Lowd for the TV commercial (I know it wasn’t a category but I just “saw” it while reading).

Loves

Natalie (Another Perfume Blog) published an extremely captivating fiction story to accompany her review of Chanel‘s Bois des Iles: In my college film class, we studied ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.’ I think this was largely so my professor, a man who styled himself a feminist but managed to conduct the whole lecture without mentioning Anita Loos, could share his theories about Marilyn Monroe. (UPD: APB is closed now)

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Ron (Notable Scents) reviewed my favorite Ineke’s perfume: Field Notes From Paris is an orange blossom fragrance that is full-bodied but not overpowering. This would be a great office scent as it feels like a classic masculine with a modern twist.

Leftovers

Jo Loves – Jo Malone‘s new brand, – finally offers samples from their site. You can order two free samples. It says on the site that they ship perfumes to the U.K. only but my samples order went through, I got a confirmation in e-mail, so you can also try if you’re interested in the line.

It was a good week: there were more reviews for my current favorites than those posts that created lemmings to find new favorites – yay! It was a busy week and I’m still catching up on my reading but it’s time for a round-up so I’ll finish later (and if I missed anything I’ll bring it up next week).

Lemmings

I’m definitely saying “Yes!” to Birgit (Olfactoria’s Travels): Cuir Noir is better than I anticipated, because it doesn’t overwhelm you with leather, it is not harsh or strong. Cuir Noir is soft and elegant, and it surprises with a relatively prominent oud note, I was not expecting at all, but that I like a lot.

Laughs

If you haven’t read Birgit’s Fresh Baked Biker – Review: Armani Privé Cuir Noir on your own or following my lemmings link above, do it now for a good laugh (I don’t want to quote the best part of the joke not to spoil it).

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Vanessa (Bonkers about Perfume) keeps entertaining us with her travel/sniffing stories: Then we had a bit of a snigger about Kokorico, with its strange, un-PC black head bottle in a Le Creuset casserole tin.

Loves

Suzanne (Eiderdown Press): Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant smells like an ancient pine tree—like resinous evergreen sap—and it also smells like the dry, high-country lands of the West. It is quite simply a bone-dry frankincense scent enhanced by enough sage and herbaceous notes that it speaks of the outdoors, yet does so in a way that manages to stay one’s focus. I do not own (yet) Encens Flamboyant but I liked it a lot when tested (thanks to Victoria of EauMG) and want to add at least a decant to my collection soon.

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Christos (Memory of Scent) writes about two of my favorite Jo Malone colognes – Black Vetiver Café and Wild Fig and Cassis: I love BVC because it is dry, herbal and rustic and it becomes one with the skin. Sometimes it smells like I have spilled coffee on me and forgot to wash it off, which I find very charming and daring. Fortunately it has the right amount of vetiver to keep others from detecting it as such. I made an attempt on a review of Wild Fig and Cassis in my In the Search for the Perfect Fig post.

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After the successful move to the new web address Victoria (Bois de Jasmine) reviews one of my favorite Ormonde Jayne’s perfumes: Ormonde Jayne Frangipani Absolute smells like summer to me—peaches eaten on the beach, white stars of night-blooming jasmine tangled in my hair, a breeze leafing through the pages of a book forgotten on the patio.

Leftovers

If, like me, you were busy and distraught past week and missed Another Perfume Blog’s first year anniversary, I’m sure it’s not too late to stop by and wish Natalie all the best.

This week I read almost everything on my reading list. There were many interesting posts and discussions. I feel that I need to introduce a (temporary?) additional category – Leftovers. I plan to use it for some newsworthy links that don’t feet into my regular categories.

Lemmings

Gaia (The Non-Blonde) on April 1^st published an article (I hope, it wasn’t a joke) about the upcoming release of the Amouage Beloved perfume exclusive to Bergdorf Goodman (I wouldn’t mind this part being a joke): Complexity is a key word here. Beloved is a somewhat powdery floral, but also wonderfully abstract. Yes, if we pay close attention, the rose and white flowers can be identified, but there’s a lot more to this Beloved than a vague idea about flowers.

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Tara (Olfactoria’s Travels) sent me browsing eBay listings: Just the other day, when I applied my vintage Vol de Nuit and slung on my Patti Smith-style leather jacket, something just clicked. I felt strong and self-possessed, just like that rock ‘n’ roll poet at her 1970s peak.

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In addition to announcing on their FB page that “700 ASIAN TALES samples have left our offices yesterday!!! We will deliver the most far countries first, then Europe and then France.” (can hardly wait to get it!) Kilian also posted: “My dear friends, I know I have been silent for the past few weeks…I am sorry. But me and my team needed to shut down from the world to finalize the Fall project. We can’t wait to show it to you! We think it is going to be a breakthrough in the world of perfume…we will call this collection: “in the garden of good & evil”…and you are the first one to know that in the world!!! Keep it a secret…. Love, k …”

Laughs

Vanessa (Bonkers about Perfume): Hazel has just baked a batch of hot crossless buns, and we have been speculating as to a suitable alternative name for them: “Hot Contented Buns”? “Hot Atheist Buns”? Though as Hazel pointed out: “They’ll be jolly annoyed when we eat them!”

Loves

Krista (Scent of the Day): Byredo La Tulipe was created to reflect the soul of the tulip, not just it’s smell. It starts green and fresh – not sweet but slightly peppery.. Here is my own story about this perfume (though, probably, it should go into the Laughs category).

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Kathleen (No Disassemble Charlie No. 5): If I was going to put Une Rose Vermeille in a Rose Jam “category”, it would be Rose Jam goes on a date. She’s put on her red lipstick and she’s rocking some Louboutin’s; but that’s just the short “sound-bite” version.

Leftovers

In the last several days there were three unrelated reports on the blogs content poaching. Tarleisio (The Alembicated Genie) described first two in her passionately written post and Vanessa (Bonkers about Perfume) shared the story of her own fight. Regardless of which engine you use for your blog WordPress has a useful resource Prevent Content Theft. In comments to Vanessa’s post I described step-by-step changing RSS settings for Blogger and here you can find how to change settings for WP-based blogs.

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In case you somehow missed it, Surrender to Chance , a new samples/decanting website created after The Perfumed Court split, is having a Grand Opening and offers 15% off every item in the store (code: honeybadgersaysopen expires on April 9, 2012). In addition, until April 14 all orders over $75 will ship free (no code necessary).

While reflecting upon that change and feeling a little sad (I don’t like changes) I suddenly realized that I went through with just a single order from TPC. After that every time I would put something into the cart, think about it and go away without purchasing.

How many times (approximately?) have you placed an order with TPC?