So Long 2019 … and a Guerlain December

/ Sandra

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Sandra

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Hey there APJ!

Is anyone stressed with the holidays? I am trying to keep the stress at bay but am finding that time is flying by too quickly. This will be the first year where my son will have a three week vacation. Yay!! It will make all the difference to have the week before Christmas off.

So long 2019 … and a Guerlain December

2019 has been a year full of change, discovery, fear and excitement. The move to Switzerland was as smooth as one can expect. Speaking German has been a blessing since we live in a small town outside of Basel. 2019 was also the year of the house guest with us hosting people for three months all together – lovely and exhausting at the same time.

One big change has been the type of exercise I get here. I was biking and walking in Rotterdam, but it was all flat and rather comfortable. Living in the outskirts of Basel where all the hills start has forced me to walk up and downhill a lot. Welcome to my new discovery – hiking. I am hiking further into the hills and woods and discovering the various castles and ruins around us. After huffing it to an old ruin last week, I decided it was high time to invest in a proper pair of hiking boots. Thankfully I have a family who also enjoys the wooded hills and during the week I have a hiking buddy.

Ten and half months in Switzerland and I am finally feeling a bit more at home. As I age the moves bring more challenges. Meeting people can seem daunting, but I am pushing through and forcing myself to attend events. It is a good exercise for this shy soul.

Now that it is December and the holidays are fast approaching I thought I would head to the cellar and rummage through my perfume boxes to see what creature comforts I can wear to ward off the stress. Guerlain has been in constant rotation since before Thanksgiving and here are the heavy hitters.

Cuir Beluga with comforting notes of mandarin, immortelle flower, leather, amber, heliotrope, and vanilla. As soon as it got a bit colder I pulled out my absolute favorite Guerlain. Cuir Beluga is my answer to being chilled to the bone and needing an injection of warmth. Perfection in my books and I never want to be without.

Metallica with fascinating notes of orange, bergamot, grapefruit, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, rose, carnation, iris, spices, vanilla, amber, tonka and musk. Metallica is an oddity. It starts out rather frosty and sharp with the upfront citrus. it moves into a soft floral spice combo and the best part is in the drydown with the warmth of vanilla, amber and tonka which lingers for hours. This is a witch’s brew luring me in with its magical notes. Why oh why did Guerlain discontinue this one?

Shalimar EdP with delicious notes of lemon, bergamot, jasmine, may rose, opoponax, tonka bean, vanilla, iris, peru balsam and gray amber. It took me years to finally understand this complex grown up perfume. Seeing as ai like leather scents so much I should have enjoyed it but it took me a while to accept and learn to love the smokey aspect of Shalimar. This is one of those perfumes that I just do not want to be without anymore. Perfect.

Oriental Brulant with notes of tangerine, almond, tonka bean, styrax and vanilla. Oriental Brulant is an easy go to fragrance in the winter months. It always puts a smile on my face and it is not too sweet. The almond note is the best part of this fragrance. I think it also tempers the sweetness of the tonka and vanilla.

I will continue to wear and enjoy the Guerlains during the month of December. They all add an element of warmth, cosiness, calm and stability when everyone around me starts the chaotic rush to the holidays.

Do you have a particular house or perfume that you turn to in December? What will you be rocking during this month?

Wishing you all a safe, restful and joyful holiday season.

Oodles of fragrant kisses.

Sandra xo

35 thoughts on “So Long 2019 … and a Guerlain December”

  1. We have such similar tastes Sandra,
    Cuir Beluga, Shalimar and Oriental Brulant are faves in the cold weather.
    It’s hot here now though so I am trending lavender. It has so many different personalities depending on its co-ingredients and levels. It can be calming, exciting, cool or crazy. Multifaceted and gorgeous in almost all ways.
    Portia xx

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    • Hey Portia, do you wear Shalimar in the summer months? As we share similarities in perfume tastes I am curious to know which lavenders you enjoy wearing. I love lavender and the one that I really enjoy in Kiki.
      Sandra xo

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      • Oh yes, I LOVE Shalimar in the heat. It blooms even more beautifully and loses a little of its coziness while giving way to more gelato. YUMMY!
        There are a few lavenders around here now. Aside from Kiki, Anat Fritz classical, Caron Pour Une Homme, Hermès Brin de Reglisse, CHANEL Jersey, Le 3′ Homme de Caron, Cologne Nocturne Le Galion and Guerlain Jicky are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. There are more!
        Portia xx

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        • Portia, The way you describe Shalimar in the heat has convinced me to give it a try next summer. Excellent lavender choices. Brin de Reglisse is one of Carl’s summer perfumes,
          Sandra xo

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  2. Guerlain is beautiful year round.
    I am currently enjoying vintage Shalimar EDC.
    During Christmas week I plan on wearing vintage Chanel 22 EDT, vintage Emeraude and more Shalimar.
    Happy holidays , Sandra and my fellow APJers 🌲🌲🌲❄️☃️

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    • Hi Brigitte, You smell amazing with your vintage Shalimar! What a wonderful choice of perfumes from the Christmas break. I love Chanel 22 and can only imagine of how nice the vintage version is. Have a wonderful time. Happy Holidays.
      Sandra xo

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  3. Gosh Sandra, those pics could have been taken just down the road from me. There are ruins of an old abbey and the grey misty skies are just the same. I don’t have any December favourites, I wear whatever takes my fancy on any given day. I’ll have to check out Cuir Beluga, it sounds like something I’d like. Glad you’re settling in well, it’s a tall order to move your life to a whole new place when you’re getting a bit (ahem) older, haha.

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    • Hey Cassieflower, oooh your neighborhood sounds lovely. I would love to hear your thoughts on Cuir Beluga when you try it. Hahaha! So flipping true about aging and change! We are lucky that we like Switzerland this much – makes the transition easier.
      Happy Holidays.
      Sandra xo

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  6. What a beautiful spot you live in Sandra. Hiking up and down hills would be excellent exercise, the view must be terrific. Where I am it’s hot, flat and hot! Too uncomfortable for me to be doing anything strenuous outdoors, but I do enjoy pottering around my plant pots. I don’t have many fragranced, but in the heat I enjoy no 19 and plain old l”air du temps. Think I might revert to my Sunday name, Alexandra, seeing as how you are also a Sandra. Seasons blessings to all and may Father Christmas have something just lovely for you all in his sack. I haven’t done a thing in preparation yet, still a couple of weeks to go 🤗

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    • Hi Alexandra (Sandra). Lovely name by the way. The exercise is really great. Working muscles I did not know I have – haha. Where are you, if you don’t mind me asking? To be perfectly honest, I struggle with my asthma in the cold and much prefer the heat. What sorts of plants do you have? No. 19 and l’Air du Temps are beautiful in the heat. Wishing you a Merry Christmas with your loved ones.
      Sandra xo

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    • I’m in Australia., A lot of fire and smoke around. My thoughts go out to everyone caught up in these dreadful fires., I’ve been having some success with geraniums, Golams and chillies. Managed to sprout a few mango seeds too. The wind and heat proved too much for everything else so will stick to what does grow., The citronella geraniums repel mozzies, added bonus. Need to get my herbs up and running again!

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      • Hi Alexandra. OMG we are watching the news here and praying that the fires can soon be stopped. I am impressed that you are getting things to grow. Geraniums are some of my favorite as they do tolerate my abuse. Good luck with the mango seeds – ai will be curious to hear about that. Be safe.
        Sandra xo

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  7. I tend to wear incense perfumes during the holidays, like Avignon, Kyoto, Copal Azur, Black Cashmere, etc. However, depending on my mood and cravings, I can always reach for something else. Your Guerlain selections are wonderful, Sandra. Wishing you happy, healthy and peaceful holidays!

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    • Hiya Perfumelover, Incense perfumes are wonderful during holidays. I remember enjoying Black Cashmere. For the moment I have Calling All Angels as my incense love. I really do need to explore the various incense perfumes soon.
      Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
      Sandra xo

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  8. Both Cuir Beluga and Shalimar (vintage) are among my very favorites. Cuir Beluga, in particular, gets a lot of wear as we head into the colder months. It is my ultimate comfort perfume. A recent happy discovery was Tonka Imperiale from the PPP. I absolutely love it.
    Your pictures, as always, are a treasure. Being a nature lover, my preferred habitat is outdoors in the countryside so your photos bring me great pleasure.
    Congratulations on your successful transition to living in Basel! That was a daunting move no matter which way you look at it. All the best for 2020!

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    • Thanks Marcella! Your words are too kind. The older I get, the more I adore the outdoors with the peace and quiet. Cuir Beluga is absolutely perfect in the winter. I really need to pick up a back up bottle. Will go and look up Tonka Imperiale now. Counting my blessings that the transition went so well. Thankfully Switzerland is a gorgeous country. Happy Holidays and wishing you also a wonderful 2020.
      Sandra xo

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  9. Gorgeous photos. I am not a Guerlain girl. I like some but that’s about it. Winter perfumes? Vero’s Voiles. Iris Silver Mist. Chanel Misia, BdI, Rue Cambon. My new found love for incense will mean IUNX Ether and the Passage d’Enfer from L’Artisan. I need a bottle of that. 😀 Dries, and a lot of Rose & Cuir. Trimerous from Jorum. That is probably about it. Oh yeah, Galop. Love that in winter.
    Three weeks is great. And hiking is just brilliant. Good for you. Hugest hugs to you and the boys. ❤️

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    • Hi Val! How is your new home? I like your perfume choices. Isn’t it funny that some of those are definite spring and summer perfumes for me? Dries is a winter love as well and will buy a new bottle eventually. So many people hike here and therefore it is easy to find hiking buddies. I need to set some goals for myself for 2020. Love to all of you.
      Merry Christmas.
      Sandra xo

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  10. Great photos, looks lovely! I will be wearing Cuir Beluga too, it’s also a permanent member of my collection. Lately I’ve been wearing L’Heure de Nuit to bed. I also love Mon Précieux Nectar and Angélique Noire. Sadly I only have a 15ml decant of Metallica I’m hoarding. Hopefully someday they’ll bring it back. I keep forgetting to wear my Oriental Brûlant, need to pull that out.

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    • Thank you Tara! I too will always have a bottle of Cuir Beluga – as long as they keep making it. I love your Guerlain choices and wear those year round. Angélique anoir always brings me compliments. Hoarding is a problem of mine when I know that I can’t get anymore. But this year I decided to start enjoying Metallica and wearing it. You never know – maybe it come back.
      Merry Christmas.
      Sandra xo

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  11. I am looking forward to December 18 which is the first day of my holiday break from the preschool – I will be able to wear anything I want in any concentration! Shalimar is definitely on my list. Leathers. Gourmands. I can’t wait to spray with abandon for a couple of weeks!

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    • Hi MMKinPA, OMG – I can imagine that you are looking forward to the first day of vacation. Do you find that the preschoolers are exhausted before the holidays? The kids get so excited. Spritz away and enjoy your leathers and gourmands. I love those two categories. Have a beautiful and restful holiday.
      Sandra xo

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  12. Hi Sandra
    You’ve moved and settled in..that’s such an achievement. The hiking photos the beauty of your area in Basel…so cool Misty and light. Your perfume choices are beautiful too..I love Shalimar too!!
    I recently wore my Iris silver mist that I bought in Paris to my daughter’s wedding! And Chanel D’or body gel…I liked it.
    Have a wonderful Christmas season with hubby and son..hugs to you all ,
    Love Anna

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    • Hey Anna, your words are too kind. I would love to show you around Switzerland one day so that you can see the beauty here. Gorgeous choices for your daughter’s wedding. You all look magnificent. Merry Christmas to you all as well.
      Love,
      Sandra xo

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