Olfactory Snapshots: Caron Bellodgia, Fragonard Billet Doux, Serge Lutens Vitriol d’Oeillet

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amalfi lemon, Bergamot, carnation, cedar, Clove, Ernest Daltroff, Favorite Flowers, Flower of the Month, frangipani, Jane Austen, January, Jasmine, lily, lily of the valley, mandarin orange, Musk, Niche, Noses, Nutmeg, olfactory snapshots, paprika, peony, Pepper, Perfume Review, pink pepper, Serge Lutens, Series, Vanilla, Vanille, Wallflower, Ylang Ylang

This is part 2 of Flower of the Month Series.  To recap, if you haven’t read part 1, carnations are the birth flower of January. You can read all about the history of carnations and their significance here. 

There are so many carnation fragrances out there, it was hard for me to pick three samples.  I wish I can try them all because I’m curious to smell different variations of this commonplace flower. I’m determined to find one that really speaks to me as my signature carnation. The following are carnation perfumes I have tested so far.  These are just off-the-cuff first impressions or olfactory snapshots so my opinion may change as I spend more time to get to know the juice better. You can expect thorough reviews later down the road.

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Medicine for Melancholy: Donna Karan Black Cashmere

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bois de miel, broom flower, Cashmere, Chanel Jersey, Clove, Coco Chanel, Donna Karan, Full Bottle Wishlist, incense, Katie Puckrik, Labdanum, masala spices, Men's Fragrance Friday, Men's Fragrances, Noses, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Penhaligon, pimento berries, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Rose, Saffron, Sartorial, Series, Unisex, wengue wood, white pepper, Wishlist

The weather has been chilly according to San Francisco standards.  The sky is dark and grey, even a bit of drizzle.  Midwinter is here.  Days like these, I find it hard to get out of bed. I want to take refuge under my down comforter and sleep, sleep, sleep. I could sleep until Spring if I could get away with it. I don’t know what it is about mid-January.  I get melancholy and want to hide from the world.  I become stuck in a rut, uninspired and unmotivated (hence, my lack of posts — oops!).   Lately, I’ve been leaning on Donna Karan Black Cashmere to pull myself out of my winter doldrums which has proven to be my medicine for melancholy.

A Redwood Forest Fire: Odin 07 Tanoke By Odin New York

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bitter orange, Black Musk, Black Pepper, Corrinne Cachen, Gaiacwood, Men's Fragrance Friday, Niche, Northern California, Noses, Nutmeg, Oriental Fougere, Pacific Ocean, Patchouli, Redwood, Redwoods, Season, Series, Smoky Icense, Spice Ginger, Unisex, Winter

The landscape of Northern California is diverse as its people which serves as a constant reminder of how lucky I am to be born and raised here. Every time I drive along the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), the scenery never ceases to take my breath away. As you go further up north, you see the gleaming blue Pacific Ocean on your right and the majestic redwood forest to your left.