Happy Birthday to Lilybelle!!! I hope you have a great smelling day and somewhere a new acquisition appears for you.
The beginning of a fall chill is starting to creep around the edges here at Stately Somerville Manor. This is going to be a busy weekend because the art exhibit my wife is co-curator of, and exhibitor at, has its opening on Sunday.
The exhibit is called The Art of Mosaic 2009 and the link for those interested is here:
http://www.mosaicsnewengland.com/09Awards.aspx
If you're local to Somerville stop by on Sunday I'll be the devastatingly great smelling bartender for the afternoon.
Today I'm wearing something that Chaya turned me on to.
Parfums de Nicolai Vanille Tonka
Vanilla is one of those love/hate notes. There are many, me amongst them, that love the comforting feel of vanilla. There are others who feel it is a sickly sweet intruder on their scents and would wish for all perfumers to lock up their vanilla. Vanilla is certainly a popular note in perfumery. Most times I know what to expect when I wear a scent which has vanilla or vanille in the name. Therefore it is a pleasure when a perfumer can surprise me with a new take on vanilla. Patricia de Nicolai does just that with here 1997 release, Vanille Tonka. When you look at the name you think, Vanille and Tonka, this is like double vanilla. The reality is far different, as by bracketing the titular notes with citrus up front and incense in the rear Mme. de Nicolai creates something entirely unexpected. The top is a mix of tangerine and lime according to the note list but it really is mostly lime there is some aspect of something less tart than the lime but the edge of the lime is what carries you into the heart. The heart is vanilla but this is the vanilla of the bean less sugary sweet and more subtly rich. The pairing with tonka bean is great because the sharp lime works to bring out the spiciness inherent in tonka. Particularly the cinnamon character. So often when tonka bean is used I get teasing hints of the cinnamon and clove character that is inherent to tonka. By using the acidity of the lime at the top it seems to make my nose more receptive to the cinnamon and clove, and in turn it keeps what could be a sticky sweet mess of a vanillla heart under control and really miles away from being sweet at all. The base is a magnificent contrast as Mme. de Nicolai gives this a blast of frankincense. This accord feels like as dry of an incense accord as I've encountered and that arid quality realy turns this scent on its ear and turns it into a sweeter than normal incense scent, on me. Vanille Tonka has average longevity on me and modest sillage. Vanilla scents usually tend towards the gourmand side of the street but Patricia de Nicolai has somehow made a genre-bending version of vanilla that is far from gourmand but very close to being unforgettable.
Have a Fashionable Friday everyone.
Happy Birthday Sweet Lilybelle
Huge fight with bf....Ironically sotd is Trouble...
) Deep breath in through the nose...slowly exhale through the mouth...that's how I enjoy my SOTD! 
I'd rather take a bath! Royal Bain de Caron for me today. One of the easiest Carons for me to wear and enjoy.
