weekend discoveries: 5 posts

Black locust blossoms that smell of jasmine, Indian incense and coconut water

What fragrances do you consider the staples in your perfume wardrobe? What do you put on when you can’t quite decide what to wear? 

Over the past week, my staples have been Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne, Chanel No 19 Poudré, and for the evening, by Kilian Sweet Redemption. No 19 is a perfume I wear often, and if I can’t decide what to wear, I reach for it, knowing that it will be perfect no matter what the occasion. I was surprised to discover how much I fell for No 19 Poudré after all. It’s sheer and crisp at first, but the drydown is tender and soft–the layers of musk, powdery iris and sheer jasmine. Sometimes just pretty is more than enough for me.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Photo by Bois de Jasmin

Classical NYC subway shot

I usually keep several notebooks in my bag to jot down any thoughts or observations.  Smelling blooming black locust treea–its flowers smell like jasmine, Indian incense and coconut water–next to a bakery makes me wonder if a toasted hazelnut note would work with a creamy jasmine note and which perfume on the market has done it already. So, into my notebook it goes. I taste a tart juice made from beets, pineapple and lime and think that it would make a refreshing sorbet. I write it down. Lately, I’ve added my camera to the things I carry around with me–my arms are going to be nice and toned by the end of the year! Using a camera to see the world around reveals a whole new dimension, and I find it fun to capture the moment. So, I’ve decided to supplement my usual weekend scented observations and discoveries with my photographs.

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Did you make any interesting discoveries over the past week–perfume, food, movies, books, etc?

In my futile attempts to keep up with the fast pace of the fragrance market, I often don’t have a chance to revisit older launches. So, over the past year I’ve decided to make more time for things that aren’t exactly brand new. In this spirit, I’ve rediscovered L’Artisan L’Eau de L’Artisan (1993), which is a zingy blend of verbena, lemon and grassy notes. It smells exactly the way your fingers do after you crush a basil leaf. It’s a cologne, so it lasts for only a couple of hours, but while it lingers, it has such an appealing verdant brightness that I don’t mind reapplying. It was  created by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti, and it bears her delicate fingerprint.

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Watching the dance of snowflakes outside my window, I wrap myself in Vero Profumo Rubj. I did not know that this heady blend of orange blossom, tuberose, moss and passion fruit would conjure hot tropical nights and salty kisses, but it is a perfect escapist fantasy on this cold day.

Cold evenings make me crave ambery perfumes and rich flavors. Tonight I made Shirin Plov, a Persian style sweet and savory pilaf with apricots, rosewater and saffron, which goes perfectly with grilled meat or chicken. Today, I felt that it needed no accompaniment, other than salad and soup.

While browsing online, I found a few articles that I would like to share with you.

Frankincense Fit for a King (One, Anyway): how to grow frankincense at home, something that I would like to do.

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