1st Decant Supplies.

     My little batch of decanting supplies arrived today. Now I can really make a mess! chuckle I didn't really know what I needed, so I guessed at it!  This will be enough for me to get the "feel" of it at least.  
     Certainly seems like it will be easy enough. As usual, just apply common sense. And, as I've learned from experience, don't try to rush through any procedure!!!    I use to mix up my own oils and such, but it never involved any sort of spray apparatus. Will have to get the hang of that maneuver.
     That's where those cute little metal funnels come in. I could not resist! If they turn out to be totally useless, then I can make them into earrings or something of the sort. Jingles for a medicine bag.... the possibilities go on and on. Have some different sized plastic funnels as well. I'll just have to see what works the best.
     Oh no, I just realized that now I have to come up with some way to keep these things relatively organized.    Come to think of it... that's easy! A nice big tackle box should be a great start.  So on my next trip to the store, its off to the camping/fishing department.
     I'll also need a fairly deep box and, in this early stage, a piece of "foam" for the bottom. You know, that crunchy sounding stuff that everyone always used to make Christmas decorations with. I figure if I cut out a piece to fit the box I'm using.... then make impressions, aka holes, that the vials and sprayers can fit down into.  Would like to eventually make that base piece of wood.  Hey! Its a concept. I'm trying to conquer my seeming inability to organize. My brain just isn't wired well for that application. hahahaha
     All in all, this should be lots of fun! Wish me luck!!!!!

Darn These Dust Allergies!!

    About a week ago I made the major decision to start cleaning out both workshops AND both storage areas, one of which is being used as a chicken shed.  Time to get rid of things that no longer serve any real purpose in my life. I need to "lighten the load" so to speak. Get organized and create a wonderful space in which I can make the things that I've been guided to do.   
   And that seemed like a fantastic idea when I decided to do it. But it also seems I forgot all about my dust allergies!  So here I am with my sinuses threatening to commit mutiny. My eyes and skin are itching like crazy .... sheesh!!!! Did I forget to mention that I'm awaiting the arrival of a couple of bottles of perfume? And I can hardly SMELL ANYTHING!  Aarrgh! 
   Oh well, my cleaning project will be ongoing for a few months.  (How did I collect THAT MUCH STUFF?!) And there is repair work to do.   Guess the perfumes can be tucked safely away. Of course, I'll wear my regular "protection" ones and I'll be burning smudge herbs and incense while I'm actually cleaning out those rooms. I doubt very sincerely if I'll be able to detect any of the individual notes of any perfume for some time. But when I get my smudge bowl filled with sage or start burning breuzinho.... the neighbors will be smelling it for a good two or three blocks in every direction!!! hahaha   
    Just hope no one calls the fire department.  Again.... Don't you hate it when you hear the neighbors trying to explain to the firemen.... "But you should have seen the smoke rolling out of those windows! I thought the whole place was on fire!" Oh my, all the attention can be a little embarrassing.   "But sir, I was just purifying my home of negative energies. I don't understand what all the fuss is about!" Yeah, you guessed it. I'm the only one around these parts that does stuff like that. hahaha  And my little corner of the Universe is that much more peaceful because of my actions.  
   Maybe I'll have to make myself a t-shirt that says "Smudge On!" hee hee hee 
   
    

Oh my.....

Vintage Cartier Panthere  Eau de Toilette

   Oh my...... I don't even know what to say. Its so lovely.  And this isn't even the bottle I was talking about. That one still hasn't arrived! (Yes, I'm getting concerned.)     This one has blue panthers.... my favorite color. And I just got  in a vintage insert that contains more perfume that will fit this.

Temporary posting for drummagick..... Histoire d'Amour

First and foremost, let me apologize for my photos! And the lighting is definitely poor. This is a post to supply someone with quick visual reference. My photography skills are severely lacking on the best of days.... this is not one of them. hahaha   Hope they help anyway!

 

   Just a few quick photos that I hope will help in your search. (My parfum stash is tucked away so deep I'm afraid I won't be getting to it any time soon. The parfum bottle rendition I have is a small black glass bottle with frosted clear stopper. Lovely!)
   Above from left to right: older Edt, with small cap. That is the one that has the box with no ingredients listed. The middle is the pre-reformulation bottle that was easy to get until last year. The juice is still beautiful! On the right is a bottle of the Edp. All glass. The stopper is so lovely! Especially compared to the plastic ones! The older the edt bottle, the better quality the plastic top.

    A little closer look. Some of the glass is matte, some not.

    This is the packaging of the latest "good" version. Back and front. Sorry about the lack of flash. In some shots it kept "wiping out" all the print.

   Older version on left. "Daniel Aubusson, Paris".

   Once again, older version on left. Absolutely no ingredients.  The "still good" version has a relatively short list.
   The nasty reformulation is marked made in USA. Long list of ingredients. I have a very low opinion of it!

Sekhmet, Synchronicity and a Vintage Perfume.

 
    I just love it when synchronicity comes dancing through my day!
   So here is what happened.... the other evening I was perusing Ebay ( no surprise there. ) and came across an "affordable" bottle of vintage Panthere. I say "affordable" with a high pitched squeak to my voice. The old version of this fragrance commands prices that just aren't within my range. At least not at this time of my life. (I'm on a positive attitude kick! Can you tell?)  AND I really need to stick to my budget.   But vintage Panthere is one of the few perfumes that I truly crave to have in my possession!!!  Now I love the present incarnation of the fragrance. It is BEAUTIFUL. But I've always heard how the old version is spicier and richer......  Sound familiar?  So I find myself consumed with curiousity about this perfume. And, of course, THAT BOTTLE is fantastic!!! Who wouldn't love that pair of panthers scaling up the sides! Oh! And there it was. Staring at my from the computer screen. Arrgh!!!
   After oohing and aahing a bit more, I headed off to bed. Throughout the night I had snippets and bits of dreams..... interiors of temples, swishing skirts and the soft sounds of bare feet on the stone floors. Woke up intrigued by these nocturnal images and sensations, but it was off to work I go! Yet even at work I could feel a presence nearby. In one quick moment a tall figure swept by me.... skirt swirling against my leg and then a strong growling purr followed by a soft laugh. And the scent of Panthere perfume.
    Well, you can bet that as soon as I got home I got out the computer, popped over to Ebay, looked up that listing..... and it was still there!  So, I put my faith  firmly in the hands of the Ancient Mothers and clicked on Buy Now.
    I've had enough interactions with Mother Sekhmet to recognize Her energy! Then..... and I love this part. It just sealed the deal..... I checked my Facebook page and found a posting from Mermade Arts of a letter written about a talk given at the Getty Museum in Malibu, CA. by a Prof. Maria Rosaria Belgiorno. The focus of the talk was an ancient perfume and cosmetics factory that they had unearthed on Pyrgos, Cyprus. Mentioning several Goddesses, she also spoke of Bast, Sekhmet and Nefertem (son of Sekhmet by some accounts). Then it goes on to mention how felines are usually associated with perfumes. Well, of course they are!!!!   The picture with the post shows a painting of a woman in a temple surrounded by cats.  As I said.... I just love synchronicity.
    So here I am, anxiously awaiting news that my bottle of vintage Panthere has been shipped. And I'm even more excited to see what beautiful Sekhmet has in store for me. This should be very interesting!

This is the recent version of Cartier's Panthere.

Donna Karan Gold

 
    Have been absolutely craving lily! Don't know why ~ just have. I know the fragrance is supposed to be protective. Helping to keep evil away! (Hmm, I'll have to plant some more lilies in the yard. chuckle)
   Realized that I don't have much in the way of fragrances that showcase this note, much less any soliflores. Hadn't really ever given it any thought. Rose perfumes, yes. Those I've gone out of my way to look for. But never lily.... that will have to change!
   The only one in my possession that glides up to the front of my mind and whispers to me in a low, soft husky voice is my bottle of Donna Karan Gold. " I shall place small mountains of Casablanca lilies at your feet. Baskets full of heady jasmine. I will bring you precious resins and spices. Wrap you in a cloak of rich floral velvet."    After that, how could I resist?
    Now I'm asking myself why I don't use this more often. And WHY don't I have some back up bottles? Besides being beautiful, I find it very comforting and supportive.
  

   What a fragrance! Its a bouquet of big, lush lilies. Dripping with nectar. With those velvety soft, thick fleshy petals and stems. Pollen dusting my nose ever so slightly. I'd swear there is a hint of myrrh in there. (But can't find it on any list of notes.) Jasmine slowly creeps in.... the sweetest note in the composition.... but at times just a bit indolic. There is a soft amber throughout. Not overly sweet, but with a nice earthy scent to it. This fragrance is almost tactile on my skin. I feel as if I could reach out and actually touch it. And it feels like lily petals. Yes, my brain works that way!
   I find it exceptionally well blended. It creamy and luscious. I'll actually use the word Opulent. Sophisticated, yet sensuous.
    A very strong feminine energy. She is a matron with voluptuous curves, showing off ample cleavage. Long, thick mane of hair and heavy lidded eyes. Eyes that never miss any detail and have the tiniest glint of steel in them. A woman that strikes a bit of fear into men's hearts. A woman that gently tends to and protects the young and those that are in need. A woman that reaches out her strong arms and embraces Life. An Earth goddess with fire hidden deep within her very core.
    All that said, I recommend you sample this if possible. I've read a lot of individual reviews and there seems to be quite a few folks who either find it boring or they just plain don't like it. Once again that could be because of skin chemistry or it could just be one of those polarizing fragrances. Either you hate it or you love it! Obviously, I ADORE it!
    I was also surprised to find so many people making reference to a banana or weird fruit smell.   Uhmm... NO. My best guess is perhaps they mistook that heavy, fleshy smell that the base of a large lily blossom will sometimes take on. That "almost over ripe" scent. At least that's the best way I can describe it. Its just part of the way a heavy lily smells.
    Another thing to mention is that quite a few folks commented that the edt smells more of just lily. My bottle is edp, so I don't know first hand. Of course, this gives me an excuse to find some edt and buy it!! All in the name of good research! hahaha      Also, the edt bottles are clear. They don't have the metal  on the sides.      And by the way, its a nice, heavy bottle. Very attractive!
   

DONNA KARAN GOLD   by Donna Karan

Yann Vasnier, Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Calice Becker    Oriental Floral   2006

Notes (This wasn't easy. I found different versions, but they all have several notes in common.  I'll list two. So I guess only the perfumers know for certain.)
    Version#1: Casablanca Lily, Amber, Acacia, White cloves, Gold balm, Golden pollen, Patchouli.
     Version#2: Casablanca Lily, Amber, Black locust, Jasmine, Cloves, Violet leaf, Patchouli.
  

Priorities!

April 20th. The morning drive to watch my grandchildren hunt eggs!

   Up early and on the road! My grandchildren hunt eggs first thing in the morning! Can't be late!    I'm happy to report that an awesome time was had by all. They'll be living up in Virginia soon, so I don't want to miss ANYTHING.  The youngest will be four years of age next month, so I also used this opportunity to see what would be a good birthday present. He LOVES dinosaurs... and bones... and fossils... and he has the beginnings of a tooth collection. Hmmmm.....
   So when I came home I immediately hit the internet. To my own surprise, I totally ignored two auctions on vintage Magie Noir! (They both went for a song. OUCH! That hurt.)     So what was I doing on my computer? Well, I was searching, pricing and comparing dinosaur teeth and coprolite specimens.
    For the uninitiated, coprolite is fossilized dung. That's right, I was looking for the perfect piece of petrified poop!   Found some really nice ones too!  I'm also in a state of shock at how expensive some of that sh#t is.  hahaha  (No. Seriously. Its outrageous!)   The varieties of teeth and bone is absolutely amazing.  While I was there I even purchased some small pieces to make into jewelry.
   Anyway, my point is about priorities. The perfume can wait. My grandson and granddaughter won't stay this age. All children grow up faster than you can imagine.... better enjoy them while you can!  Put having fun with them first in your life. THAT should be your greatest passion/obsession.   
   Of course, sharing my love of fragrance with them is a lot of fun too! chuckle