Happy New Year to you all. It’s back to reality and that’s not someplace I really want to be. The Hound and husband just got back from a Christmas and New Year’s all-inclusive vacation in Mexico. We’ve never done anything like that and much to my pleasure and surprise it was a rousing success. What’s not to love when you spend your days by the pool being waited on by gracious and generous resort staff. It seems that all we did is eat, drink, swim, read and then repeat. Oh….let me add laugh. Easily the best part of the trip though was meeting some wonderful people from around the world and particularly several couples from NYC and London. I think the universe had some cosmic plan because it all just clicked without effort or strain and we now have some wonderful new friends. We could not have asked for a better way to start off the new year!
To add a perfumed twist to the mix of this first post of the new year; as it was a warm climate, I packed up some samples, decants, etc. that I thought might fit the weather and although perfume was not at the top of my list of priorities (please note that I probably didn’t shower until 5pm every day since I was in the water all day), I did wear perfume to dinner each night. I found myself a bit surprised by what I liked and didn’t like:
- First by Van Cleef and Arpels: Loved it. Quiet and subtle, it’s such a lovely floral with just a hint of spice. Out of all of the items that I wore, I wore this the most. A really pleasant surprise.
- Interlude Woman by Amouage: I really liked this, but no one else seemed to dig it as much as I did. I was a bit worried that anything Amouage would be too overwhelming for the warm weather, but it wasn’t. I’m going to give this more of a whirl.
- Oud Velvet Mood by Maison Francis Kurkdjian: Meh. Enough said.
- Iskander by Parfum d’Empire: I used to love this, but it’s leaving me a bit cold these days.
- Azemour les Orangers by Parfum d’Empire: Iskander may leave me cold, but this one could never! Always a good fragrance to fall back on.
- White Aoud by Montale: I have almost completely drained my decant and I will probably have to get more because I’m such a big fan, and it seemed to be a winner with others too.
- Mefisto by Xerjoff: This seemed to last all but 20 minutes on me. That’s OK, I didn’t love it anyway.
- No. 03 by Fragrance Republic: I brought it for myself, but the hub took possession of it which is fine because he loves it more than I do. It’s clean and fresh and perfect for the beach.
As I have not had to put out much effort on anything for the past couple of weeks, just writing this post has left me spent! So, until I get back to normal, all I can say is that I hope that this coming year will bring you much peace, love, prosperity and of course…perfume!
January 4, 2014 at 7:58 pm
Welcome back, dearest Houndy. You had a great vacation and you smelled fabulicious. I have never been to Mexico but it sounds like I have to add it to my list! Here’s to a rousing beginning to 2014!!!
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January 5, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Haju – Thanks. I hope you had a great time as well. The wonderful thing about Mexico, especially the Mayan Riviera, is that it’s so close from the east coast so it doesn’t take that much time to get there. Nor is it so overly expensive!
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January 4, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Happy 2014! Will you be reviewing Interlude Woman?
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January 5, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Thanks Laurels. I probably will in a bit. It’s easier to review a fragrance that you like than one that you don’t! Do you like Interlude Woman?
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January 5, 2014 at 9:38 pm
Haven’t tried it yet. I’m contemplating getting a sample.
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January 5, 2014 at 4:38 am
Happy New Year!
I’m glad to hear you had such a good time on your Christmas trip to Mexico.
Some nice perfume choices you’ve made – I especially like the Azemour option and White Aoud.
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January 5, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Thanks Lucas – I hope you had a nice holiday. I have the feeling that 2014 is going to be a great year!
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January 5, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Lets hope so
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January 5, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Dearest Hound
Happy New Year.
What a lovely bit of winter warmth that sounds like!
I’m so pleased that First seems to be getting a fairly sizeable dose of love across the blogosphere at the moment and that you found it so to your liking.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
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January 5, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Mr. Dandy – First was a pleasant surprise. I don’t think that I would have given it much thought but it was included in our Sniffapalooza swag bag!
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January 5, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Happy New Year to you too!
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January 5, 2014 at 8:21 pm
I love First. I hope there is a Big Ellena swan song at some stage.
Happy New Year Fragrant Dude. Yee-Ha for for 2014 releases. How is your lasso arm? I am raring to go with 2 from Magnolia Grandiflora and 3 from Fragance du Bois. Still wafting so not rushing to write until the perfume reveals it’s secrets. Summer here and a
summer breeze makes me feel fine
blowing through the jasmine in my mind
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January 7, 2014 at 5:22 am
It sounds like the new years is treating you right. Best wishes for the coming new year…as for me, I can’t keep up with all the new releases!! Craziness.
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January 6, 2014 at 10:33 am
Happy New Year to you and your dearest! I kind of envy you Mexico. Here we had just rain, I worked all hollidays and I’m glad it is over.
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January 7, 2014 at 5:23 am
It sounds like you need a vacation!
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January 7, 2014 at 6:00 am
Definitely! Long ones and somwhere I’ve already been, so I won’t have to sniff around ;-).
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January 7, 2014 at 2:32 am
Sounds like a very nice vacation. Was the water in the ocean warm enough to swim or did you spend time in that pool with a view?
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January 7, 2014 at 5:24 am
Most of the time in the pool…but the ocean water was perfect!!! Now, if I could only make that view a full time event! Happy New Year U!
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January 18, 2014 at 11:49 pm
Hooray for a holiday! And Happy New Year to you, Houndy! I am all for Interlude Woman in the heat. Admittedly, I prefer Interlude Man, but the kooky coffee-dusted kiwi fruit salad of the Woman is so nuts that you have to love it!
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January 19, 2014 at 6:06 am
Happy New Year my dear. And say, congrats on your Osswald win from the other day!
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January 19, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Aw, thank you dearest Houndy! I never win anything so this was quite a treat!
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