...There is a duh factor here. (Never come between a cat and a sunny window, duh.)

...Cryptic:How often do you come across art humor? :Dhttp://the-toast.net/2014/11/06/women-rejecting-marriage-proposals-western-art-history/Those are great! "Can you F'ing believe this guy?" What a great facial expression.Many of these do illustrate, however, the sad, unromantic way women acquired husbands for much of human history, except for about the last 150 years or so.

...Jeans.Led Zepplin or Rolling Stones?

...cryptic, this beautiful melody is right up your alley, I think. (Just don't pay too close attention to the lyrics. Volkswagon didn't.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXnfhnCoOyo

..."Angel from Montgomery" Bonnie Raitt and friends.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z5R_9TTv0c

...I love a beautifully set table, don't you? I suppose it might relieve the guilt to first snap a photo before you ruin it, ey?

...If you're in need of a good ol' cathartic cry, this should help things along.Joe Cocker's "I Shall Be Released" at Woodstock. Absolutely stunning.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpyhl85MYmU

...Pipette:So, I had my family over in this small apartment. We are not fancy and I suppose my relatives with large houses are used to that. Food was good, atmosphere was friendly, congenial and we filled our bellies. My son had a roll of paper towels on a pole nearby (I suppose for clean-up) and ripped off a towel, folded it into a napkin and used it like that. The guests followed his example until I emerged from a busy kitchen with "Oh my god, we HAVE plenty of dinner napkins" which were however still hiding out in the cabinet. I pulled out a whole white pile and everybody had the proper thing. I was touched however that nobody blinked an eye and had simply not said a word and used the roll of paper towel.Compare that with a long fancy table with cloth napkins in napkin rings.Aww, that is sweet. I prefer paper anyway, Pipette. I feel somehow guilty when I get lipstick on someone's nice cloth napkins. Now, a restaurant's napkins, that's another story.

...Cryptic:Over the holidays our dog chewed open a garbage bag and trash picked the turkey carcass. What a fartfest we had to suffer through that night. Come to think of it, that wasn't funny at all except maybe for the dog.LOL! Oh, you know that dog was snickering under his breath everytime he let one go.*** Speaking of fartfests, I guess the funniest thing was my cousin passing gas because she recently had a gastro surgery, and of course we all had to laugh. Come to think of it, that was only funny until it wafted its way to my side of the room. ;-)

...Epimedes:In IFRA we trust (don't we?)http://www.ifrana.org/issues-policy/safety/phthalatesFor all we know, the very point for IFRA to exist is to protect big companies from being sued by consumers. If there was any evidence from scientific studies that the fixative in question (DEP) posed any risks to human health, they would have restricted it.There is a much higher chance to get exposed to phthalates known to be harmful from cosmetics such as hair sprays or gels, nail polish, and even some skin lotions. Not to mention chemicals leaching from plastic packaging, doesn't matter if the stuff inside is natural and organic. It all comes down to personal choice, I guess. One more reason for me not to use any make-up :lol:If only I had faith in that assumption. Like the FDA* (which supposedly exists to protect consumers, not companies), I'm sure IFRA's main concern is "will this kill anyone or make them seriously ill immediately?" Unfortunately, it's the long-term and cumulative effects of things that we should be most concerned with.*which, of course, has a very spotty track record of predicting the long-term effect of approved substances.

...Sleuth, thank you, I appreciate the info!My understanding is that phthalates are protected by the proprietary 'fragrance' designation within a list of ingredients, and so I suspect that if the extra effort has been taken to exclude them, it will be made known to consumers. I often feel so overwhelmed by all the potential dangers, to humans and other animals, inherent in modern perfumery, that I'm right on the verge of putting all my perfume energy into acquiring natural oils and chucking the rest (or perhaps let them collect dust in a dark cupboard). ;)

...I've googled a little, but can't find a comprehensive list anywhere. Particularly wondering if any mainstream brands are phthalate-free.Looking for more info.Here are a few brands I've never heard of:https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/7-amazing-all-natural-phthalate-free-perfumes-92849210984.html

...Apicius' "cold ashtray" comment reminded me of my review of "Les Nombres D'Or - Vanille" which contains no tobacco note, but smells smokey to me nonetheless, especially in the early stages. Being richly woody and vanillic, I bet it would blend well with the cigarette aroma.And of course "Tobacco Vanille" is another rich and sweet one that would blend well. (I personally don't find cig smoke is easily covered, so scents that complement it make more sense to me.)

...Leon Russell "A Song for You"Many a beautiful songbird have covered, but none have surpassed the composer's original vocal, IMO.http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ZvazuyF6eXw

...Cindyrella:Only one!?! :( Well, that would be Shalimar. Can I have all concentrations and vintages then??? 8)That would seem only fair. :DIf pressed, though, do you have a favorite concentration and vintage?

...Anytime prior to 2011, I would've said:Chanel No 19Currently:"Samsara" the original edp in the clear bottle

...From Omni's boudoir:Fave: "Le Parfum" by LaliqueLeast: "In Black" by Jesus del Pozo

...Omni:From Dulcemio's collectionBest Chanel 19Least Fancy Nights, but I spray my car with it, shut the doors and walk away. It lasts for months!LOL!I was kind of in love with FN at first, but now that I have Reminiscence Elixir, I can't get my patchouli fix anywhere else. And thanks for the idea. I'm going to spray my car (and maybe the loo) with it now too!

...Standing next to a gal in the elevator for about 30 seconds this morning, she wearing something with a synthetic citrus-musk-sharp floral-overly fresh with a cleaning product vibe, and me, in my warm, sweet, earthy, patchouli elixir. The combo was sickening, just sickening.

...Our beloved Bonnie . . .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vb0z7mYFor no other reason than the first line of the song.