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NARCISO RODRIGUEZ FOR HER EDT: post-work drinks in the crisp autumn evening in your sexiest shoes

to test a MUSK scent, part 10/10 of PART 2 of my perfume testing. fragrantica

On spraying: what I associate with a simple “perfumey” smell

10 minutes: I get something floral which I’m assuming is the orange blossoms, but mostly I’m just smelling what I’m learning is musk, it gets better the more the orange blossom fucks off I think, it’s definitey sexier but in a mature and subdued way than a lot of the perfumes I’ve tried so far.

30 minutes: The more I wear it the more I like it. It’s not in your face but it is making me feel good. If mademoiselle is girlish and no. 5 is ladylike, this is something else between them.

1 hour: continued soft muskiness

ROUND 2

On spraying: definite orange blossom, musky perfuminess

10 minutes: oh I smell really yummy, nice rich orange blossom, I can really smell this about me

30 minutes: I can still smell it about me which is nice (2x wrists, 2x ears), it’s deep orange blossom, smells coolgirl to me

4 hours: it’s still noticeable but a lot softer, and the cool girl warm orange blossom is mostly gone - I actually really enjoyed the orange blossom in my chunky leather heels in the crappy rainy weather this morning

#narciso rodriguez #narciso rodriguez for her #part 2 #perfume

JO MALONE PEONY & BLUSH SUEDE: a passing glimpse of a pretty girl in a leather jacket

5 of PART 2 of my testing: Chanel No. 19,for smooth suede in lieu of Bottega Venneta EDP. Fragrantica

On spraying: very very fresh floral, bright florally floral like a ditsy curtain - I don’t get much fruit so much prefer this to English pear so far.. Second time: definitely get the crisp apple through now more than the flowers, it’s a fresh floral crispness

10 minutes: rich suedey elements already, it’s warm leather but super delicate and subtle, I do like it. Definitely strong push of soft leather/suede, it’s really working for me in balancing the femininity of the bright pink florals

30 minutes: I actually really like this - the suede adds a depth that makes it a bit more interesting

1 hour: it’s faded a lot - still a great mix of pink florals (I’m getting a tiny hint of rose now) and warm powdery suede but it definitely already doesn’t feel as strong as it was

4 hours: there's a powdery something left, but not much. I topped up here - sillage felt non-existent at this point which was disappointing

#jo malone peony and blush suede #peony and blush suede #part 2 #perfume

GUERLAIN SHALIMAR:

8 of PART 2 of my testing: Guerlain Mitsouko, the progenitor of the orientals, a balance of smoke (resins), cream (vanilla), flowers (jasmine, iris), animalics (musk, civet), and aromatics (bergamot, herbs). Fragrantica

Insanely cool bottle but when I tried this in the perfume shop I found it vile.

On spraying: I smell mandarin oranges, a little bit of smoke, and something floral. It’s odd, but different in kind of an exciting way

10 minutes: This very clearly is projecting, I only sprayed one spray on each wrist and it’s NOTICEABLE. I don’t know how much of this is due to Shalimar being so weird I can’t go nose-blind, but it speaks well to the scent I think.

30 minutes: Definitely very smoky now, I’m mostly getting smoke and Flowers. It’s definitely not sharp - feels creamy and maybe a bit vanillic in the background

1 hour: Overwhelming scent to me is still smoke. There’s florals that are creamy and maybe the slightest hint of sweet if the smoke didn’t drown it in savoury. It’s rounded like a ball with a big blast of jasmine(???) in the middle. The oriental flowers do give me slightly antique shop old lady perfume though. Upon reflection I’m probably processing some of the musk as smoky too

4 hours: it’s gone kinda musty and mossy

Will come back to review this more

#perfume #part 2 #guerlain shalimar #shalimar

GUERLAIN MITSOUKO: you're laying huge gold vases of exotic flowers around an old manor in the countryside

7 of PART 2 of my testing: Guerlain Mitsouko, to understand a chypre. Fragrantica

On spraying: very classic “perfume”, reminds me a lot of the fizziness of No. 5 which makes me wonder if it’s got aldehydes Smells very very bright and golden floral. Try two: don’t get anything fizzy here, definitely sharing some of the floral notes but it feels warm and golden ambery, maybe even verging on metallic

10 minutes: slightly less fizzy now and more of a flat golden floral. I’m trying to smell the chypre “sweet/bitter” but mostly I smell no. 5 🙁 would be interesting to compare them except this is a bit creamier and smoother. After looking at the notes maybe what I’m finding similar is some of the notes in the abstract florally swirl (bergamot, peach, ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose all feature across both of their top and middle notes). Try 2: now I’m getting fizzy sweets like a fucking fizzy cola bottle or a sherbet lemon

30 minutes: it’s going warm and creamy

1 hour: Still bright gold, abstract floral - I don’t know if I’m going a bit nose blind but it seems massively reduced from the strength it was already, I don’t seem to get much of the mossiness I should be getting, though if I sniff enough I get some level of mustiness like old wooden furniture

4 hours: It smells like walking around an old musty manor house in the countryside decked out in gold antiques with huge bouquets of exotic flowers

10 hours later I still smell this! It’s gone a bit more towards that mossy mustiness people were talking about

#guerlain mitsouko #mitsouko #perfume #part 2

CHANEL NO. 19: titania in a powersuit

6 of PART 2 of my testing: Chanel No. 19, the driest of the green florals. Fragrantica

God this is a beautiful and powerful looking bottle of perfume

On spraying: I understand the “brr it’s cold” - in contrast to the warm salty Hermes on my other wrist, this literally smells cold, green, and papery. I smell green but not grass green - like green flower leaves and the tiniest bit of herby coriander type smell, it heads almost medicinal

10 minutes: oh yeah I see why people use this in business settings. She’s not friendly but she knows who she is. It’s warmed a tiny bit from that first ice blast with some mixed florals and I do think I actually could grow to like this. It’s pure plantier than most things I’ve tried but it’s Good and I definitely get that boss bitch comment

30 minutes: I’m honestly really surprised that I like this as I didn’t think I’d like really planty green things and previously haven’t super loved them. This is drying down a little more powdery now (iris?) which I like. The greenness still smells light and what I think is floral rather than woodsy which is probably what I’m enjoying. I think it would be good to compare to Prada Iris to see what the differences are now it’s drying down because I think this one is less soft and floral (more leafy) but I still do like it

1 hour: Still very noticeable as a scent which I like. This sits well on my skin. I get bright green, almost herby mint (though not quite) in its sharpness, with all the leafy florals of described above

4 hours: It’s gone softer, the green isn’t as bright or sharp, very very slightly mossy or earthy or something

#chanel no. 19 #no. 19 #part 2 #perfume

CHANEL NO. 5: champagne, gold jewellery, marilyn monroe, and french opera

4 of PART 2 of my testing: Chanel No. 5, for aldehydes and abstraction. Fragrantica

On spraying: VERY bright and fizzy and champagney and good lord I can’t place this beyond “no. 5”

10 mins later: much more soapy notes coming out now, it’s somehow bright but also warm and soft

30 mins later: I think I like the aldehydes but it’s not left me absolutely foaming at the mouth. I do like the abstraction though - I smell really obviously fruity stuff and it turns me off. Abstract florals in no. 5 are lovely though

1 hour later: I think I like this more now. It’s still just “no. 5” but I think I see the vision more now, the abstract femininity rather than anything in particular, the “me but brighter and more womanly”.

4 hours later: just like above, though fading. It’s super lovely soft on the skin, though when Will smelled it he still considered it the most out there scent

#part 2 #perfume #chanel no. 5 #no. 5

HERMES EAU DES MERVEILLES: you’re dining beneath the orange trees at sunset on an italian terrace, overlooking the sparkling amalfi ocean

2 of PART 2 of my testing: Hermes Eau de Merveilles, the salt scent test. Fragrantica

The bottle is absolutely nothing special. It does nothing for me the way No. 5, Prada Iris, or anything Diptyque does. That said, someone described it on Fragrantica as like a magical potion bottle and that’s working somewhat for me

On spraying: very orangey, definitely getting the salt instead of the sweetness. This immediately calls to me. It might be a bit orangey? But so far I’m enjoying - let’s see!!!

10 minutes: it’s definitely very orangey, BUT somehow just about holds on to me and maturity by being bizarrely savoury. However it seems to have faded quite a bit. I get lots of warm orange, it smells like a hot sticky summers day feels. However it is kind of great, which is probably why I’m feeling let down I can’t smell more of it

30 minutes: it’s teetering on the line of too fruity to feel mature for me, but it’s the salt that I think is convincing me I love it. It’s dancing this lovely summery warm line between pure salt or orange. The salt makes it drier than a pure orange, and this is what’s giving me long summers sunset. I feel like I should be wearing this in a beautiful slinky summer dress after a sparkling day in italy. It’s very edible

1 hour: I smell warmth and dry woody saltiness and I can’t deny that I love it. The orange has relaxed a bit now so I’m less worried about smelling quite so body shop tangerine lip balm. I don’t think it’s a life changingly unique or interesting scent but it is one that’s making me sing a bit

4 hours: It’s settled into something rich and woody, and I believe amber is what’s still reminding me of oranges. It’s still warmth but very faint

#perfume #part 2 #hermes eau des merveilles #eau des merveilles

THIERRY MUGLER ANGEL: chocolate liquorice and diamonds on a wooden terrace, overlooking the forest thunderstorm

1 of PART 2 of my testing: FM 32 / Mugler Angel, the iconic fruitchouli. Fragrantica

On dabbing it on: it’s really difficult to describe! Something abstract, perfumey - maybe a hint of licquorice ? As in its rich and sweet-ish but not, something slightly off or black in there. I’m struggling with this way more than I did the coco mademoiselle

10 mins: I don’t know if the mild headache I have is unrelated BUT I do have a very mild headache. This perfume has come round very sweet and powerful but I still can’t quite figure it out - it’s certainly more mature than “sweet” would describe. It’s almost like there’s something damp and woody beneath it - I THINK this must be me learning about patchouli

30 mins: Okay, now it’s an oaky, musty, chocolatey sweetness. The headache has gone and sometimes I think I love it and then sometimes I get a whiff of earth or decay and I wonder

1 hour: Now I mostly smell sugar and chocolate, still with that weird damp decay smell beneath it. Along with yesterdays Coco Mademoiselle, which was much less challenging, this is really my first time bothering to pay attention to a perfume, and it’s kind of entrancing.

4 hours: still very noticeable, I smell occasional wafts of it constantly - basically the same as the 1 hour scent now. Do I like the perfume? I definitely respect it, but I think I’ll need a very specific occasion if I want to wear it

#perfume #part 2 #thierry mugler angel #angel #frederico mahora 32

PERFUME COMPARISON: frederico mahora pure 18 / chanel coco mademoiselle

a comparison with my coco mademoiselle review

from FM website: "part of the chypre fragrance family and as such contains warm, dry notes... beautifully fruity head notes of orange and orange blossom as well as seductive heart notes of rose, jasmine and delightful ylang-ylang, the FM 18 Fragrance is finished with vibrant deep base notes of white musk, vetiver, tonka bean and a hint of vanilla." - compared to fragrantica for coco mademoiselle below

A much less pretty colour: none of that girly girly pink from the coco mademoiselle On spraying: much more alcoholic smelling but then immediately shifting into a similar sweet citrus

10 mins: Sharper and less pink than the coco mademoiselle - I clearly get more citrus and more flowers. It actually smells a bit stronger than the CM, but a tiny bit less soft and more “perfumey”

30 mins: it’s not as sweet or solid as the CM, was originally stronger but has actually faded a little. But without a trained nose yet it smells super similar

1 hour: Honestly I can’t smell much difference at all at this point but maybe a slightly less “warm” than the CM, less rich but it’s super marginal

4 hours: Almost exactly the same scent but probably weaker

#perfume #perfume comparison #coco mademoiselle #fm 18 #frederico mahora 18 #part 1

CHANEL COCO MADEMOISELLE: everyone loves me and my perfect hair. lets celebrate by shopping for expensive macarons and wearing tailored pastels

My first ever attempt at describing the notes in a perfume: I decided to start with a perfume I know well and like to wear: Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. Fragrantica

On spraying: I get that very strong sharp citrus to begin but then it settles into something much more soft and smooth, maybe orange blossom-y?

10 mins: It’s soft and pretty but definitely still a sweet brightness from the citrus

30 mins: it feels a bit more focused now! There’s something a bit powdery and floral to add with a very soft underlying sweetness, I’m struggling to describe it yet but it’s very feminine and pretty

1 hour: It smells less bright and floralish now, there’s something warmer, I think it’s a little more mature and maybe “musk”-y? There’s still a little sweetness. This is hard! On another sniff the powdery floralness is absolutely still there

4 hours: It’s a little warm and feminine and I’m back to getting a little of that powderiness, and I feel good. Pretty but put-together. Later: I know it’s still there but I can pretty much only smell it if I put my nose right to my wrist

#perfume #part1 #chanel #coco mademoiselle

finding my perfume: the plan

PART 1: Finding my nose with a perfume I know I already get on with: Coco Mademoiselle Testing guide: https://kafkaesqueblog.com/2013/01/30/a-beginners-guide-to-perfume-how-to-train-your-nose-learn-your-perfume-profile-more/

Use this link to assemble a notes guide in all the following sections PART 2: finding my preferences with the PALETTE TEST Perfume testing to find out what kinds of things I like: https://basenotes.com/features/the-top-ten-female-designer-fragrances-every-beginner-should-sample/ The palette test: 1. FRUITCHOULI: FM 32 (Thierry Mugler Angel) 2. SALT: Hermes Eau Des Merveilles (vs. JM Wood Sage & Sea Salt) 3. IRIS: Prada Infusion d'Iris (vs. Molecule 01 + Iris) 4. ADELHYDES & ABSTRACTION: Chanel No. 5 5. LEATHER: Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede 6. DRY GREEN FLORALS: Chanel No. 19 (vs. Le Labo Iris 39 ) 7. CHYPRE: Guerlain Mitsouko 8. ORIENTALS: Guerlain Shalimar (vs. YSL Opium) 9. MODERN TOP-HEAVY: Guerlain Insolence (vs. FM Royal 809 (Tom Ford Black Orchid) or Flowerbomb) 10. MUSK: Narciso Rodriguez for Her PART 3: Using what I’ve learned to sample some of the FM scents, and see if I agree with common opinion - start to think about families! https://perfumesociety.org/discover-perfume/an-introduction/fragrance-families/ PART 4: Testing the Jo Malone, Maison Margiela, and Tom Ford samples and find my signature scent Tom Ford Lost Cherry TF Tobacco Vanille TF Soleil Blanc TF Oud Wood TF Rose Prick

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia JM Peony & Blush Suede JM Fresh Wood Sage & Sea Salt JM Myrrh & Tonka JM Oud & Bergamot

Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club MM Replica Under the Lemon Trees MM Replica Bubble Bath MM Replica Sailing Day MM Replica Beach Walk MM Replica Lazy Sunday Morning MM Replica By The Fireplace MM Replica Autumn Vibes MM Replica When The Rain Stops MM Replica Springtime in a Park

PART 5: Once I've got together a clear view of what I love, notes I enjoy, as described in PART 1's link, I can maybe try some indie/niche sample packs that suit my tastes too, e.g. https://bloomperfume.co.uk/products/heroes-gods-monsters-pack https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/aerin-best-sellers-discovery-set_R04129938/

https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/product/tiddly-whiffs-000000000065195483

or https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/best-niche-fragrances

or more affordable fragrances e.g. Glossier You, Kiehl's Original Musk, Pink Sugar or FM910 (BR540)

#perfume #finding my perfume #what should i smell like

Day 2 - 15/06/21. Meeting people!

I’m doing pretty badly on the sleep front (it’s currently 23:38), so gonna keep this brief.

I went into the office today! And I met some people from work! Lots of them - I’m making connections! (Also, I asked R if her and C wanna move in with me, which she seemed keen on, and would be really cool/a weight off my shoulders if they are interested!)

I wrote up some words for my novel! We are now on 23.7k (though that includes all the skeleton/outlining in the doc, which is pretty substantial).

I skyped my grandparents! I ate pretty well! I didn’t use YouTube!

I chatted to/introduced myself to some of the local egl group! Am feeling a bit nervous and cringe but hopeful! Hoping to go to a virtual meet this weekend!

I’m meeting boyf’s bro for tea tomorrow!

All round - pretty decent day! Apart from the sleep thing. It’s currently 23:43. I promise I’m turning my laptop off now. Night!

#day 2 #15th june #summer

Day 1 - 14/06/21. Starting again

I want to be gentle with myself, and also, it’s a Monday! The best day to start something. So I’m setting myself some targets for week one, and I’m going to record my (hopeful!) success at sticking to them over the next 7 days:

No YouTube

9 hours sleep

I want to slow my brain down. I want to do the things I want to do. I think these two goals will help me achieve that.

Firstly, with no YouTube, I’ll have to opt for slower things: crocheting, reading, writing, dressing up, tidying my damn room, even. I’m finding that YouTube is once again becoming my biggest time-drain, and usually I’m not getting much out of it. I’m definitely addicted to a few social media platforms, but YouTube has the strongest grip on me and is also easily the thing sucking up any productivity from my evenings. Every time I resist the urge to watch a Youtube video, I find myself choosing to do something more productive. So this week, I’m going to attempt to go cold turkey. There are going to be exceptions e.g. anything I need for work. Also, crochet tutorials. But I have my cardigan tutorial presaved in a tab, and a chrome extension to block recommendations, so I think that’s fairly safe. It’s all a matter of self control.

Secondly, I’m choosing to attempt to get 9 hours sleep for a few reasons. Firstly, I haven’t been sleeping so well lately, so it would probably be really good for my body to try and reset. Secondly, it’s a large enough number that I have to actually plan around how I’m going to achieve it. Thirdly, circadian rhythm - I should be aiming for 7.5 or 9 hours every night, really. So I’m going to try and go to sleep at 10-10:30pm every night this week and wake up 7-7:30am.

There are lots of other things I’d like to do, but they’re desires more than requirements. I’d like to try getting back into meditating, and doing a Headspace meditation every day. I’d like to do really well at work and meet my team. I’d like to go out for drinks with friends new and old! I will try to do all these things! But the two goals above will be what I’m really focussing on this week.

Lastly, because even I’m not reading this waffle this far: I want to celebrate all the things I HAVE achieved since March, even though I haven’t recorded them here.

I feel so much more confident at work.

I love my friends and family and do my best to make that clear (yesterday I crocheted with mum on facetime, and then A ran round the garden with me telling me about ants, and it was so lovely! I have a father’s day card for Tom, and I’m organising a surprise party for H’s birthday!)

I have made new friends! I definitely consider some of my work friends friends now e.g. the strawberry coffee break crew, and I went out with my housemates last week and had a genuinely lovely time, and I’m meeting my boyfriend’s brother and another grad this week for drinks! Also, I should be meeting some uni friends later this week <3

I’ve started taking some photos in EGL, and I honestly like them. I’m also going to a meetup in early July!

I’ve lost weight and am eating healthy and feeling pretty fit! (Also, imo, looking pretty fit ayyyy)

The London life is starting to come along<3 (Also, I’m getting my first vaccine next week!)

So... here goes, I guess. I guess I should have added a third requirement:

3. Update this blog

#day1 #14th june #summer

Days 6&7 - 06/03/21-07/03/21. Gdad’s 80th

Family time at its best. Nothing “productive”, but good and happy and full of fun. I snuck out to buy balloons and drew ink drawings in Gma’s birthday card and made lots of tiny sandwiches for the fam. Gdad seems happy, given the circumstances. I feel happy.

Hoping to get back into writing next week.

#day6 #day7 #6th march #7th march

Day 5 - 05/03/21. Out on the moors!

I felt extremely in need of a big walk today, and a big walk we had! I went out with Gma and we got hopelessly lost and had fun and then I bought us sausage and bacon barms at the pub I used to work at.

I really don’t have much more to update than that - I’ve not done anything “productive” per say but I have had a lovely time with Gma and I’m excited if a bit nervous (to get everything sorted in time, I mean) for Gdad’s birthday on Sunday but! Family time is good! Outdoor time is good! I am happy.

#day5 #5th march

Day 4 - 04/03/21. Not in Full Bloom

Title is referring to something my manager said in our catchup today - she asked if anything was wrong, as I’d seemed to have “lost my sparkle” this past fortnight or so. She said the bloom comment was a phrase in Hindi, and didn’t sound as good in English, but I still understood, and it still kinda freaked me out.

Actually, I lie: it majorly stressed me out. I’ve basically done no work all day, which is a big problem.

In slightly better news, I went for a long walk this evening where I bought Reese’s bites and called Will and chatted nonsense and it was very sweet and fun and happy and has made me feel a little more sane, given this is the first time I’ve left the house since, uh, Monday I think.

As for the writing, we’re on 9.32k, which is a little behind target (I should be on about 10k today), but I also did a lot of restructuring/editing, so it’s still been a very positive day on the writing front - I just need to make sure I hit a minimum of 12.5k tomorrow to keep on track.

#day4 #4th march

Day 3 - 03/03/21. Early starts

The title pretty much sums up today -- I’m feeling a lot calmer. I managed to get on top of some of the work things I was letting slip yesterday, and I think as long as I start relatively early again tomorrow, I should be okay. Just got to keep the foot on the pedal this week. I can do it.

Also, I played Among Us with the product team and feel I was slightly over competitive, so, uh, oops. Bit cringe, but I’d best not overthink it.

I’m going to go for a run with W in the morning, then call him for a minidate in the evening, and H has a move-in date for their flat next week! Now I just need to figure out how I’m going to get some photos printed for Gdad’s birthday in time, and I’ll be doing pretty well in the friends and family arena too.

Novelwise, today I hit 8.05k. We are on a roll! I am already thinking of some fairly major changes I may need to make in edits, but for now the focus is on keeping up with one chapter a day and getting this first draft bashed out. I’ve always been better at editing than drafting anyway.

Overall, I think today’s report has been a pretty dry one, but it’s been that sort of day. I didn’t leave the house again today, which isn’t great. Definitely will be going out tomorrow though. Last day at work before a long weekend - I’m on annual leave on Friday!

Hopefully tomorrow’s update shall be a little more interesting.

#day3 #3rd march

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