It's Friday, plus World Red Cross Day and Iris Day. Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Frederick Attenborough! (And happy birthday to my little sister, who is not quite that old.) Our community project for today: honor David Attenborough however you like: scent your favorite animal? Wear a fragrance that honors plants or water or anything natural? Wear a fragrance that makes you think of one of your favorite Attenborough television series?
What fragrance did you pick? As always, do chime in with your scent of the day even if you’re not participating in the community project.
To link to water (for David Attenborough's 2015 series The Great Barrier Reef) and to irises (for Iris Day), I'm in Guerlain Après L’Ondée.
Reminder: on 5/15 we're doing the Picture challenge, edition 11. The subject is the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, and I will post extra readings over the weekend for anyone who wants them, but as usual, you are free to be as farfetched as you like in your fragrance choice...or go literal: her dress is green, they are both wearing animal fur, there are oranges on the chest and windowsill, and cherries on the tree outside the window, etc etc. Thank you to Calypso for the suggestion! (In the fall, we'll do a more modern piece by Sonia Delaunay, suggested by Kanuka.)
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2026, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Hello and tgif!
Sotd is D&G Light Blue for The Blue Planet and Blue Planet II series.
Tomorrow my mum and I will be flying to Toronto and we will spend 20 days there. I might rent a car and drive us around but that’s still to be decided. Perfume-wise I am still deciding but it will mainly be samples from Dior, Guerlain, Amouage and LV.
I wanted to do the very same thing on my last trip — portable fragrance, not renting a car — so in preparation I ordered a bunch of decanting supplies and brought vials of 22 different scents with me. Or so I thought! I accidentally doubled up on two of them, which is what happens when you’re not paying attention, but still, with 20 different things to choose from (I like a lot of choice), I managed to wear a different, appropriate thing every day.
In a pinch, they also make excellent bathroom deodorizers if you know what I mean. Spritz/pour some onto a tissue, waft it around, leave it lying there to do its magic.
I am planning to bring around 30 samples so I can “shop my stash”.
I know exactly what you mean! In fact I am so ridiculous I have a special fan for just the job. It lives in my toiletries bag and I would spray perfumes on it and fan around the bathroom like some toilet fairy. 😅😂
Have a happy trip!
Thank you 😀
Have a great time in Toronto with your mom!
Safe travels to you and your Mom!
I have been in a lot of environments but a jungle is not one of them, so for Sir David’s birthday I thought I’d wear the greenest, jungliest thing I know of, Mugler Aura EDT. As usual, I can’t believe they discontinued it: it’s just spectacular.
That is such a good choice! I originally planned for a jungle scent too with Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant but I couldn’t find my mini bottle.
Excellent match.
Hermès Hiris from my cobalt bottle so I can gather a big bouquet of CP points. 😎
I’m going to buy a bottle of this soon, with my Shoppers Points-I love your SOTD:)
Wait wait — Shoppers carries Hermès? Wha? (It’s true I’ve never bothered to look at fragrance at Shoppers because what little I see as I go in for other things is all the celeb stuff and meh.)
Yes! Shoppers does carry some higher end items. Not in store-at least not where I live, but look online. They also carry electronics sometimes-I bought some Bose earphones from them.
Trying to compete with London Drugs! Tho I’d never go to London Drugs for perfume, just electronics.
Damn, I thought I had a lot of Shoppers points but not even close. I’d think about Hiris if I could get more than $10 off.
That’s fantastic! Shoppers is the best. I found my bottle of Chanel No. 19 Poudre there; I also used my points!
Scent twins!
In honor of SA, the great outdoors and all of his work to protect it, I’m in Iris Silver Mist. I will likely also wear Iris Torréfié and L’Iris de Fath at some point today, two of my other favorite irises. Oh, and Iris Poudre! I’m getting ahead of myself and will probably spread these over the next few days. Because…Iris Day!!!
I’ve loved seeing all your iris choices this week!
I’m so glad. Iris lovers unite!
allo, did you ever try the FM iris hand cream? It’s a fantastic product and it smells very similar to your SOTD. Just in case you ever run out of your uber elegant SOTD 🙂
I have the cream and it’s exactly as you say, close to ISM and created by none other than the great Olivia Giacobetti!
Iris can be so different as a note. Definitely not for beginners, though!
I somehow took to it like a duck to water/crazy perfumista🦆😬
That’s a great scent lineup!
And yet I’ve missed so many! Hiris, No. 19, Iris de Gris…
Bois d’Iris!
Scent later today will be VCA Bois d’Iris on one wrist and Dior Bois d’Argent on the other. But first: workout!
Love Bois d’Iris. Smelling fabulous.
Are those the two irises that smell quite close to each other? I feel that I stopped buying pricey decants of Bois d’Argent after someone here said Bois d’Iris was a near dupe and I had a whole bottle of it.
I believe so.
For Iris Day, I’m wearing Chanel 1957. Iris can sometimes lean rooty or carroty in perfume, but 1957 transforms it into something soft and luminous. I love it on skin, but even more sprayed onto clothes.
I’m spending the day resting, watching the new Wuthering Heights with Margot Robbie.
Between now and the end of the school year, life feels nonstop, so today is officially a me day.
I also picked up Chanel Les Beiges foundation and am really enjoying it, but the real standout has been the limited-edition Guerlain Terracotta. I’ve even been using it on my eyes — stunning.
Which specific Terracotta is it please? I think you said you got the bronzer…is it matte or shimmer? I have been eyeing the Terracotta blushes longingly too…
The one in the colored case- like Moroccan tiles- and there is a bit of shimmer
Thank you!…the packaging is so beautiful on those…I like a bit of shimmer too.
I’m also feeling the rush to the end of school year frenzy, such a good idea to take a me day when you get a chance!
💯
I should try your SOTD because those other aspects are what make me dislike Iris.
I have been admiring your perfume shopping on IG!
Do you want me to send you a sample of 1957?
Oh, gosh, that would be fantastic! How kind of you! I’ll contact you on Instagram to give you my address.
OK!
I just got Les Beiges foundation too and am liking it. I was wearing Chanel foundation from the Boy line until they discontinued it. Beiges seems pretty similar.
I really like Les Beiges. You can build up the coverage or just have a light veil.
How was Wuthering Heights? Saw a lot of very mixed opinions on it, so wasn’t sure whether I should see it.
I don’t recall the book being so sexually charged, but (it’s been ages since I read it), the movie is.
Hope you enjoyed your me day!
House twins with you today!
👯
How was Wuthering Heights LTSG?
Chanel 1957! Lovely.
I don’t recall the book being so sexually charged, but (it’s been ages since I read it), the movie is.
I chose Au Delà Narcisse, partly to have a big bouquet of narcissus CP points à la Deva, and partly just because I love it. Happy birthday, Sir David!
Nice 🙂
Drop dead gorgeous SOTD!
I wearing Iris de Gris today, that’s the L’Artisan one with the pea accord. It’s a very lovely green scent.
You smell wonderful and reminded me to add it to my Iris week😊
Orchidivy from a sample that is now officially thunked! 🌿 PG website describes this one as…green vanilla hybridized with ivy, tomato leaves and gardenia.
The new Shalimar body cream looks divine! I have never tried Shalimar lotion and curious on thoughts of those who have it please.
And this is an interesting read on the Jo Malone lawsuit…no affiliation and not advocating the writer’s stance but made me think.
https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/jo-malone-is-suing-jo-malone-because-distinctiveness-and-differentiation-both-really-matter
Thank you for posting that link. I read the article, but honestly, had a hard time understanding some of it. I got a bit lost in how the marketing mattered for the two issues the guy was describing, difference and distinctiveness. It reminded me of the (sort of) parallel with Jones Road and Bobbi Brown: she had sold her brand to Estée Lauder too, but then started a new one, allegedly as a no-makeup makeup. It all sounds quite fishy to me; I don’t see how she is getting away with it, while Jo Malone (the person) is not.
Agreed that — even as a businessperson — the distinctiveness vs difference take is pretty well meaningless in real life, especially in this context. But…people trying to look like marketing execs gotta market themselves by looking profound. 🙂 (It’s Friday. I’m jaded.)
I’m not convinced by the article. Maybe this is my limited exposure to Jo Malone the brand, but what I have smelled has been pretty, polite, and feminine. So I haven’t really smelled more. The Zara Leather Jardin I bought is…a well crafted, excellent, if not revolutionary scent, but not in the “pretty, polite, and feminine” mold. It also doesn’t have a “signature balance of florals and fruits”.
In addition, it’s not like the Zara scents she did were branded “Jo Malone”. They are branded Zara. As I recall, Jo was just mentioned on the card I got with Leather Jardin as the nose. (She’s…allowed to have a name?) Speaking from a business standpoint, most Zara customers probably don’t care about the nose. They just know they got a very solid perfume at a good price. Those of us who do care know that we’re getting quality at a very affordable price, but also don’t think it’s associated in the least with Estée Lauder’s “Jo Malone” line.
Also, TBF, as much as I love Leather Jardin, some of that is due to the price point. If it’d cost $200+ as Jo Malone perfumes do, I’d have likely said it was too predictable for the price. Or…is that the core of the “Jo Malone” brand? Something predictable at a high-ish price?
My personal take, not that anyone cares, is that buying someone’s name and trying to prevent them from using it is a bad idea. They have to use it! If only on their driver’s license!
I have Shalimar shower oil and cream and love both
Thanks!…I see many fans of the oil too.
I have had the Shalimar lotion in the bee bottle for a few years and just about to thunk it. It is fantastic, smells exactly like the perfume and the scent lasts all day and night
Also rubs in easily and isn’t sticky
Thanks, Kanuka! Debating which formula will serve me best. 😉
I’m in Hermes Jardin a Cynthere, and I love it. It’s the dry body oil format.
And I thought I wrote a post and posted it but I don’t see it on this thread, so if I double posted I apologize in advance 🙂
Beautiful SOTD
I love it too, one of my favourites from the jardin series
Hermes Jardin a Cynthere is so good Carole. I never understood the mixed reviews. It has such a wonderful progression.
Going with the iris theme in Hiris. Twins with Deva.
Another wonderful iris!
Also went with an iris, namely PN Iris Medicis.
Note twin with you today!
I thought of big cats when I contemplated environmental protection and there are a lot of perfume candidates with names like jaguar, tiger, lion, etc. or ones that use them in advertising (leopards, cheetahs). I went with Memo Tiger’s Nest. My sample has almost evaporated and crystallized so it’s mostly amber now with a bit of rose.
Excellent thinking Calypso! But sorry your sample evaporated.
I wanted to take a sample bottle because I was going to PT, but then could apply scent afterwards. That was when I realized how far gone it was. Otherwise I might have tried a different “Big Cat” scent, like Chanel Le Lion. (Which I also only have a sample of.)
Btw, I have no recollection of suggesting the van Eyck painting, but when I read about it in your paragraph, I thought, “Oh that’s a fun idea!”. Ha ha. I love the painting especially for the mirror and the cute little dog, and the gorgeous colors.
I was worried I’d made a mistake so I checked, it was you!
There are so many great suggestions in that thread that we could do one every month, but I know a lot of people don’t love the image challenge.
Did Tiger’s Nest originally smell different to you when you got the sample?
Annick Goutal Songes.
It’s tropical islands and far away places to me. All those islands with miniatures and giants of what happens everywhere else. Those are the kinds of adventures Davis Attenborough would have that I loved to watch.
That’s a favourite of mine, too, Portia. Did you choose the EDT or EDP?
Hey there Carole,
I had to go look. it’s the EdT.
Songes is beautiful
Agreed. I don’t give it enough wears, so I’m grateful to the Community Project today.
Songes is amazing. BWFs done right.
Yeah, Jalapeno. It’s such a lovely fragrance. It was very nice to be cocooned in it.
SOTD = Guerlain Habit Rouge Dress Code
This is one of my most masculine fragrances and I love it so!
In other news, how about a customer service rep who does not believe you are Pope Leo?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/us/pope-leo-xiv-bank-customer-service.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gVA.53JO.doL1gHTFUQOf&smid=nytcore-ios-share
OMG, I absolutely burst out laughing at this. “Then she hung up.” I’m still chuckling! Thanks for sharing it.
You’re welcome!
I loved this story too. Popes… they’re just like us!
Indeed!
I heard that story on my local news late this afternoon!!
This is why I think customer service reps deserve combat pay!
Hello! I’m back home from my trip and I have a lot of NST to read. I thought I’d have long evenings to fill in staying at a hotel by myself and so plenty of opportunity to keep up with you all , but no! I kept myself very busy. I had a fabulous time and spent far too much money, so I will need a lengthy period of restraint on all expenditure.
My favourite David Attenborough series was The Private Life of Plants, so I’m covering plants and Iris Day with my new purchase of Cherigan Iris, Coffee.
Welcome home!! Glad you had a fabulous time.
Fabulous time and spending far too much money = a fantastic trip!
Can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
Welcome back!
That is wonderful! So glad you were having too good a time to check in 🙂
I was going to get something earthy from my big collection of all natural perfumes but in the end I sprayed on Feu Follet by LVNEA, aka “global warming” scent, as described by my kid. One, Sir David is very serious on the subject, and this perfume has that urgent, burning forest vibe to it, two, it also has a very meditative, snuffed out candles and burning incense aspect that fits my mood while I am trying to process grief of losing a very close friend, who died suddenly and at very young age, few weeks ago. I am a very lapsed Catholic but I find the incense rituals in any religious or non religious settings very comforting. Sometimes the smoke in this perfume is too harsh, and the general Goth / graveyard vibes of LVNEA were too much at first, so much that I actually ended up wearing a different incense perfume to the funeral, but today I really felt like Feu Follet was what I needed.
I’m sorry about your friend’s death, sending you a hug.
Thank you ❤️
I was just in the process of turning him into a perfume lover. When I was helping to clean out his office, I saw that he kept some of the Hiram Green samples I gave him there, and his family told me about all the samples and some full bottles he had in his house. I think about him every day and often wonder what he would make out of certain scents…
I’m so sorry to read this.
Growing up in a family funeral home I can 100% assure you to wear whatever is comforting to you.
Wow, that must have been quite an experience.
My condolences on the loss of your close friend. And how touching that you shared your love of fragrance with him!
So sorry to hear about your friend, but I am glad to hear that you shared a love of perfume with him!
I’m very sorry about your losing that friend suddenly. That’s very tough, and sad given that you had a special bond with him.
Sending another hug your way. I hope the funeral will bring some tiny bit of closure to such a sudden loss.
My sympathies about your friend. Losing someone that way is really painful. So many “what ifs” for the people left behind. Hugs.
So sorry about the death of your friend. Hugs to you.
I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. Sending you an extra hug.
I am very sorry for your loss.
More condolences akimon, that’s so hard.
Thinking of you and the loss of your dear friend💕
So sorry to hear this.
I’m wearing Comme des Garçons ERL Sunscreen as I think SPF would have played a big part in the life of David Attenborough . It’s a good scent for a potentially sunny day. I’m taking my son and his girlfriend on an outing to the coast to watch fur seals and albatrosses and maybe penguins so it’s quite fitting with the CP.
How cool, you can really see albatrosses there too? Enjoy!
I wish I could smell the entire CdG line-I’m going to google your SOTD. Your outing sound fantastic. I’d love to see penguins in real life. Do you get puffins, too, Kanuka?
Great scent match, I love it! Hope all the animals were out and about at the coast.
I’m sitting getting my oil changed and reading all my email since there’s no internet for the second time in my neighborhood today.
Wearing Memo African Leather today since Africa is all things big and small on the planet.
Happy birthday to your sister, Robin!
So not perfume related but good for you for taking care of your engine. If you use the correct lubricant you can save up to ten percent on your fuel. And that leaves more $$ for fragrances:)
Geez, what’s going on with your lack of Internets lately?
I thank you on her behalf 🙂
Had a delicious pear instead of a smoothie. This morning, Molton Brown Rosa Absolute EDT, no longer made and a POAL dupe but easier to wear and tonight I chose the scent I think our national treasure centenarian might wear, Floris Special No 89 famously worn by Ian Fleming thus closest to what James Bond might wear. My bottle is an accidental vintage, I think from the eighties, perfectly pristine.
I’d give anything to find a delicious pear right now. In my mind, the pear is a seriously underrated fruit. But that may be because it’s so hard to find a good ripe one. In the stores they’re mostly hard as rocks. The most delicious desserts I ever have had involved pears. And the same applies to fancy salads. Yum! I’m drooling now. 😉
So true what you say about pears, there is a French film titled Mortelle Randonnée IIRC in which the heroin is obsessed with pears.
What variety of pears are in your area, Aurora?
There are Conference and Williams mostly and one I don’t remember.
Wow, I’ve never even heard of those! Usually what I see here in the States are D’Anjou and Bosc pears. And many times, they arrive in the stores green, to survive shipping.
Happy Birthday, Sir David and to Robin’s sister!🎂
To me, Sir David’s name is synonymous with all of ‘nature,’ be it plants, animals, water. My choice for today’s cp and my SOTD is one of YR’s oldies but goodies, Naturelle, which is composed of 90% natural ingredients. Citrussy and green, it has a dewy, grassy scent that epitomizes the scent of Spring. I like it layered over BBW’s Country Chic body products, which have that same warm yet fresh green vibe.
We’re headed out to a very appropriate activity for this special nature-oriented day, our local Go Green Native Plant sale to add more plants to our ever-growing garden.
Happy weekend ahead to all!🌱🪴🐿️🐝🌊🐳
Thanks for mentioning the Attenborough PBS documentary the other day, I’ve recorded it and looking forward to watching it this weekend!
Hope you enjoy it; I thought it was excellent.
That sounds perfect!
Hope you found great new plants today.
I’m wearing Chanel Le Lion, for Elsa the Lioness!
Enjoy the weekend, all.
Lovely!
Ah, that was the one I wanted to wear today, but I couldn’t find my sample bottle!
🦁🦁🦁
Grenadille d’Afrique (“A tribute to ancient African Blackwood – and the land that shaped it.”) for Africa (2013) series narrated by Attenborough.
Nice to see you posting today Glannys!
Grim news from Kyiv lately.
Thank you!
Excellent as always Glannys!
I’m popping in while I have the chance.
My sotd is Chloe Love Story eau sensual. I’ve been on a light floral kick.
Happy weekend everyone and Happy Birthday to Robin’s sister!
If your weather has warmed up like mine has, light florals are so, so pretty right now.
Thank you!
I have yet to smell this!
I’m going the opposite direction today, honouring Sir David in the scent that works best in the wild: commando.
I was going to choose something else, but then it was going to take consideration. And I had precisely one minute to choose something, and it just wasn’t coming to mind. Synthetic Jungle sounded too…synthetic?
I’ll find something for a SOTE.
Creativity bonus points for you! 🤣🤣
I like it. And I know he has said he avoids scent, for obvious reasons.
I’m joining the Iris Brigade today. Perfect weather for quite a few iris perfumes here today: sunny, blue skies with puffy little white clouds, a light breeze, and temps in the low 70’s.
After I posted last night about wanting some of Laila’s rain, I had a brief shower pop up in my area. Definitely a nice surprise. Especially since I wasn’t out in it. 😄
SOTD = Chanel No. 19 Poudre. Thanks to LTSG for the inspiration! So glad I have a bottle of this.
I thought about No. 19 and Box of Eels in my 1 minute of thinking about perfume today, but then I wanted the Attenborough thing…still working out my SotE.
No SOTE for me. I will probably still be getting gentle whiffs of No. 19 Poudre by bedtime tonight…
The Queen of Irises! 👑
I wonder if I have missed out on getting the parent scent while the getting was good. There’s been rumblings about a No. 19 reformulation here at NST lately.
I haven’t heard anything but that doesn’t surprise me. I hope you’re able to find (if you’re looking) a pre-reformulation bottle.
I waffled back and forth trying to decide between No.19 and Poudre. I finally decided on the original, but I think I would have worn Poudre more often.
Both great choices, IMO!
I love your SOTD:)
Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the brief shower I sent you after I read your post.😄
Any bit of rain is greatly appreciated here!
Does that smell like the Chanel No 19? Someone sent me a sample of it and it was way to green on me.
No. 19 Poudre is more floral and less assertive than its parent. I might be able to wear it even during the height of summer, but I haven’t tested that theory. I think there is still a family resemblance, but other people don’t agree with that assessment. YMMV
Smelling great, Jalapeno!
Thank you Gail!
You smell lovely !!
Thanks! You were some great-smelling inspiration for me today. 😻
You smell wonderful!
Thank you! I wore it again on Saturday.
Chanel No. 19 Poudre! So pretty.
Yes it is!
I wore Love les carottes.
I always wanted to try Les Carottes
Yum!
A mega-iris!
I thought Apres L’Ondee had Violet in it and not iris. Does the formulation that You are wearing, Robin, have iris in it?
I have been wearing the original, 20 something year old so “vintage” Chanel original Chance. Day and night. Non stop. Cannot stay away. I’m absolutely smitten. Everywhere I go this intriguing and beautiful veil of a fragrance follows me and my every movement. I could bathe in it.
Does anyone here know where I can find the original Chance that is at least 20 years old so I can purchase more of it in case I run out?
It has violet and iris.