...I have been getting no notifications in my email and subsequently wondering why on earth has everyone stopped posting in this topic. Silly me! Will know to look in instead of waiting for the alerts in the future!Dlane, what an ordeal! Glad your hubby is feeling better. We should all be careful in this weather.Cincy, that sounds terrible. Do get well soon! Sending some violet ice cream your way!

...I like "White Shoulders" by Evyan for Madame.How about the Woman in White by Valerie Hegarty? I hear this artist is muchly criticized for her destructive approach and “épatage” ways, but I find myself virtually unable to pull my eyes off this strange thing.

...Hope this one works. Thanks, Dlane!

...I think the new retro-inspired Neil Morris, "Vision in Black", would fit too.How about this mysterious Maiden of the Lake (by Russian artist Constantine Vasyliev)?

...Apparently the tea tree oil is supposed to keep it fresh for quite some time.I've had mine for three months now and so far no signs of going bad. I do keep it in the fridge though.A little addendum: those with very sensitive skin should tweak the ratio of soda to starch, approx 2/3 starch + 1/3 baking soda.

...Wow some great stuff, FloraM. and Tinctureall! Well, I started making my own deodorant several months ago and wanted to test it in different conditions before sharing. So far it survived both the gym and 100+ (30+ Celsius) degrees heat.Store-bought deo and especially antiperspirant is not a good idea if one has a history of breast problems, and even if one doesn't, why risk?Anyway. What is needed is baking soda, cornstarch, cocoa butter and a terpene-rich essential oil (tea tree, lavender). Mix 1/4 cup soda with 1/4 cup starch. Add several drops of the oil. It's also good to squeeze a couple Vitamin E capsules in. Then add the cocoa butter until the consistency looks like the goo in the picture. You can also add a little oil of your liking to perfume it (NOT clove or cinnamon of course) but I find that the combo of cocoa and lavender smells good on its own.This goo will solidify considerably within 36-48 hours, so it's best to put it in an empty stick deodorant container.

...FloraMilena, those roses are so beautiful! I want to bury my face in that heap and just breathe their aroma!I wonder if our cries are even being heard, you know? For years the perfume community has been suggesting extensive labelling, all to no avail. I wouldn't fall out of love if my favorite perfume had a label slapped on like a pack of cigarettes! In fact, I would welcome that as a means to prevent that 5% of population from getting sick. Of course the chemical lobby profits so much more by just restricting and banning everything beautiful and natural and swapping it out for their chemicals...Apicius, I agree on the need to address the issue of allergens, and like FloraMilena says, people know when they are allergic. Many food labels have warnings about "traces of nuts", milk etc. Nobody just goes and bans peanuts or shellfish because they are allergens to certain people. And I never heard of anyone dying of Oakmoss overdose, whereas peanuts have been fatal on more than one occasion.And synthetic musks found in women's breast milk?! That's just so completely appalling, and yet it's become the norm, since all the seafood we eat swims in rivers and seas filled with the stuff that's used as odorant in our detergents. Those molecules, as everyone knows, are engineered to endure and just don't degrade too easily. There's no conclusive evidence of their effect on health and development of breast-fed children, and we don't see IFRA rushing to present any.

...I read an article today which featured a natural perfumer reduced to having to defend the very artistic value of all-botanical perfume. Art value aside, we are pretty much between a rock and a hard place with even semi-synthetic fragrance. How long do we have left before it's ALL banned but the chemical soup?Hence the question. Is there anything being actually done to protect the right to use naturals? The corporations gain on the botanicals all the time. Starting with fake trendsetters denouncing natural perfumery and all the way to the biggest chemo-lobby scam, the IFRA. “Research” is being constantly done to ban natural raw material as allergens etc.Does anyone know of any well founded, scientifically based counter evidence published as to the far greater harm inflicted by all those endless cheap aromachemicals forced upon us? I would be thrilled to see some.Pictures feature the beautiful Alexandra Balahoutis of Strange Invisible Perfumes and distillation process at SIP, and belong to Ms. Balahoutis.

...Although I'm a firm believer in Quality vs Quantity, seeing virtually hundreds of reviews per fragrance on Frantica - as opposed to one or two, maximum five here - still makes me go there for reviews. Even with half of them being meaningless one-liners, it still leaves a fair amount of different takes on each perfume. So please, let's make an effort. Like finding a way to specifically request reviews from users who have under-reviewed fragrances in their wardrobes. I'm not sure how it would work technically, maybe someone will have a better idea?Or just committing to write one or two for those unreviewed fumes in our own collections? That's what I'm going to do, anyway.And definitely encouraging those silent lurkers who think Parfumo is too snooty to accommodate their reviews!!!I know everyone has a life and blah-blah, but c'mon, the hobby is part of that life, isn't it?

...http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Rochas-Femme-2013-Rochas-Madame-2013-Rochas-Tocade-2013-4482.htmlWondering (not really) if it's for worse. Unlike Patou, they are still in the claws of P&G. And I'm pretty sure, everyone with their nose screwed on the right way gotta be wary of anything involving "updated formula". A complete overhaul with unimaginative uniform flacons for several distinct fragrances also sounds too much like cutting costs in every way possible. Was there anything left to cut in the first place? Please, Procter and Gamble, have some dignity! And doing away with all size options but 2,5 oz? In one word, stock up on what's left of the old stuff before it's too too late! They do emphasize extensive use of essential oils though, if their word is anything to go by.

...Dolby:Crickey Chapeau the Chinese have had the Internet since 1970 (at least)! Mind you, seeing as Thailand is currently going through the year 2556, as opposed to 2013 like the rest of us mere mortals, nothing surprises me. :lol:They have, haven't they! Way to validate their claims to "Ancient Civilization Number One"!

...Looks like I have been missing some serious fun!Happy Birthday Finn!Cincy, you're not gonna believe it, but it's raining here. THANK YOU!!!!! We really really needed it. I do hope it'll rain non-stop for at least a week.

...Oh well, the add photo function took care of itself :)

...I hope the powers that be don't object to me welcoming myself in? I just can't lurk silently anymoar! Speaking of errors... this pop-up message seriously threw me for a loop a couple days ago. Can't attach a picture for some reason, so please to follow the link to my album

...Could you send some of that rain over, Cincy, pleeezeee? The heat is killing me, I haven't been out in the daytime for a month, I think. :evil: Dlane, that cat is hilarious! And they say cats have no facial expressions! How's Finn dealing with firework blues?Oh, I forgot why I came here hehehe: I have beeeeeeen... on a niche sample-buying spree! I have been enjoying "Daim Blond" (and the compliments it elicits) immensely. I have been quite surprised at how well this whole rediscover Lutens thing has turned out for me.

...Dlane1953:Well this sounds interesting indeed. I want to read that blog article about Mona di Orio. As for your dreams about your own shop---sounds fantastic!here's the link to that article clickYes, a shop would be fantastic! Surrounded by perfumes for a living, woooohooo!

...Btw, their blog isn't bad either, eh? I read the interview with Mona di Orio's partner and his words moved me to tears actually.

...Pipette, for me a big part of the appeal is the very fact that they choose what to send. When I order samples I choose something from my watch list, which is usually the stuff I had read and liked reviews of. When somebody else chooses for me, they are bound to include something I would have otherwise overlooked and probably wouldn't have tried at all if it wasn't for the "editor's choice". Besides each of their monthly sets is centered around a note or a theme, which is a good thing for side by side comparison. So I guess, I regard this whole subscription thing as educational. Geez, the more I think about it, the more I wish they shipped worldwide! :lol: Cincy, you are welcome! Dlane, hehehehe a bit of enabling goes a loooong way! I'm getting crazy ideas of starting a similar project. If I ever summon up what it takes to open my own perfume shop, this kind of thing will definitely be part of the program!

...PBullFriend:Wow! What an interesting idea. I'll have to think about it.My batting average with some of the companies listed on their blog is pretty low, though... do I want to gamble? :?: Thanks, ChapeauClack!You're welcome PBF!It seems like a good way to increase one's overall exposure and experience, even if most of the scents end up unliked.

...I got back into testing Lutens, it took me three years to muster up the courage and generosity after the miserable fiasco his spicy orientals turned out to be on my skin. Yesterday I was going out with my family wearing "Daim Blond" from a sample, and as we were going down in the elevator my husband asked if it was something well known. "In certain circles, yes", I answered vaguely. He nodded his head, said it was delectable, feminine and in very good taste, and I thought we dropped the subject. In the middle of the street he suddenly grabbed my hand and demanded to sniff it. People were giving us looks, and he just stood there with my wrist pressed to his nose for several minutes on end. He does compliment my perfume once in a while, but this was very explicit :lol: