If you’re trying to limit your peat use in the garden like me, you might be interested in these spruce fiber pots. They’re from France by way of Canada, so that’s not ideal sustainability-wise, either, but I’m still excited to try them out. www.etsy.com/shop/Daniels... #gardening #zone6b

One Bells of Ireland seed germinated so far. It has a really long (~1.5 inch) tap root, too. Leaving the rest under grow light to see if they pop, but hoping this one makes it to planting in the yard. #gardening #zone6b #bellsofireland

I tried Guerlain Shalimar EDT (subtler, since I was already apprehensive) recently. My husband described it as smelling like “dead flowers and baby powder.” And then, later, “just baby powder.” So, that’s that, basically. The whole opening makes no sense. I liked the dry down ok. #perfumesky #sotd

Almost succeeded at no-buy January (bought one thing on the 29th b/c a discount was expiring 😔), but now that it’s a new month I’ve already bought my first Kayali, Phlur, and Maison Asrar fragrances. Yes I’ve had them on the wish list for a while. But still, yikes! #perfumesky #mystrangeaddiction

Starting several onion varieties and a few delphinium today. It’s nice to fire up the basement grow zone again for the season. #gardening #zone6b #seedstarting

I worry that I haven’t shown you my garden caboodle. Tidied and semi-organized it today. It makes my millennial girl heart so happy. #gardening #caboodle

Bells of Ireland stage 2, in a South-facing window to encourage sprouting 🤞. #gardening #zone6b

I cut her back significantly before Christmas, and now she’s blooming again. Thankful for my pretty home-office begonia. The lone survivor from the seeds I started last spring. #zone6b #begonia #gardening

Happy Friday to everyone out there striking, not spending, boycotting, protesting, helping neighbors, educating others, resisting, or showing kindness today. #iceout #strike

Incredible! I have a lifetime soft spot for Springsteen, and this is some real Woody Guthrie folk anthem shit right here. Feels like everyone’s gonna know this story and who the bad guys were in it. ❤️❤️❤️

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Tom Chitty. #NewYorkerCartoons

After the Boston Massacre, the soldiers responsible were arrested and received fair trials. King George recalled the regiment to England, and then American leaders were like “good, that was enough, we’ll remain your loyal subjects forever…” wait, that’s not right…

Fugazzi Angel Dust edp is great. It’s very subtle but lasts all day on skin. Woody skin scent with cashmeran, not the headache-inducing ambroxan that many of the types of scents have. Will probably layer well, and is a good option for the office, too. #perfumesky #sotd

Using up the last of my Tom Ford Lost Cherry decant today. My husband made Black Forest chocolate cake for later, so I’m getting into the cherry spirit. #sotd #perfumesky

I’ve tried several musks lately, and I think The Musc by Essential Parfums might be the one for me. Ginger, beeswax, lavender, sandalwood, and musks. Not sweet, not too herbal, and fresh, but no tart/bitter/lemon-cleaner vibe like some others. I really like it on me. #sotd #perfumesky

I’ve been wearing Silky Woods by Goldfield & Banks a lot lately. I find I reach for it on ordinary days when I want something comforting, natural, and gentile. It’s not a whole olfactory journey or anything, but several times a day I’ll think “what’s that nice smell? Oh, it’s me!” #sotd #perfumesky

Caswell-Massey Almond is so lovely. After a couple tries, I think it might be full bottle worthy; I’m putting it on the list. If you like Aveda cherry almond or the old school Jergens lotion, I think you’ll dig it. #sotd #perfumesky

What a Friday treat! Farm-fresh eggs from a coworker who has 28 hens. Aren’t they beautiful?! Really lucked out coming to the office today.

#SOTD is Printemps Blanc from Maison Mataha. Not sure it’s “me,” but I love the bright citrus opening for a morning burst of energy. Hours later it has dried down and sweetened up; mildly orangey, floral, and vanilla. Light, close. I’ve also tried and liked Cafe des Dulces from MM. #perfumesky

Some fragrance samples I ordered at the end of last year arrived. These’ll be my last ones for a bit with “dry January” no-buy, so the stakes are pretty high. Trying Bianco Latte today. Too sweet for me. I smell like a candle or something. There are many better vanillas. #perfumesky #sotd

Cold stratification begins for Delphinium, Lavender, and Bells of Ireland. What seeds do you cold stratify for best success? #gardening #zone6b

It’s raining in the atrium. #condensation #RTO

My version of “dry January” is to not buy any perfume. I’ve been going a little berserk lately, so it’s time to chill and use up what I have. #perfumesky

Organized the fragrance drawer again. There are so many more samples — many still disorganized in that front compartment of “haven’t tried yet”— so I think I’m going to need to expand to a second drawer at some point. But I love a tidy space and system for now. Happy new year, all! #perfumesky

This year for family Christmas dinner, we served Cranberry & Bingo beans w/ herbs all grown in the garden. Soaked the dried beans overnight, simmered in veggie stock with herbs, onion, garlic & a bit of tomato paste. Big hit for the crew. Yum! #gardening #zone6b #christmasbeans

After discovering Olibanum at my local health & beauty store and buying Osmanthus and Opoponax scents, I got their discovery set and have already tried Iris, Pachouli, Santal, and Sacra (olibanum/frankincense). Love every one. Really enjoy their model of few, quality notes. #perfumesky #sotd

I’ve been trying a lot of winter spice / boozy gourmands and sweet-leaning designer fragrances lately. Today I went for Kodama from @fumfragrances.com. It’s wintry, natural, and bright. Nice to smell like trees and plants for a change but still feel cozy in the snowy Midwest. #sotd #perfumesky

Processed the final batch of beans drying in the basement. Pretty happy with my harvest this year, especially compared to my one sad jar from 2024. But I’ll never beat 79¢ cans at the grocery. Learned a lot. Next year I’ll focus on larger quantity of fewer varieties. #gardening #zone6b #beans

Today I wore Side Effect. The second Initio I’ve tried. Is this a case of something being so expensive that people have to convince themselves to love it or feel foolish for buying it? It’s fine, but nothing special. Starts bitter on me, gets better after eight hours. #sotd #perfumesky

#sotd was Osmanthus from Olibanum, courtesy of the health & beauty store in my town. A delightfully light, fresh, apricot-y scent. A bit of rose in the opening is kind of elegant grandmotherly, but it goes away and leaves a light, tart, clean airiness. I’m so happy I found this! #perfumesky

Today is Small Business Saturday, and the shops in my town go all out with a bingo game. I already completed a row! Some gifts for others, and some early birthday goodies for myself, too, including these two fragrances from the town health & beauty apothecary, Ullman’s. #shopsmall #perfumesky

Mary Poppins is on TV and oh my gosh the boy Michael Banks (played by Matthew Garber) looks just like @kenjennings.bsky.social.

I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.

Finally trying Fugazzi Vanilla Haze. I like the spicy, nutty intro, but I think the resulting vanilla, tonka, musk is too sweet and strong. I still have a couple other popular vanillas to try, but I think Althair, Deixis, and Piano Santal will get me through this fall & winter. #SOTD #perfumesky

Friday sweet treat #SOTD is Amore Caffe by Mancera. Coffee, amaretto, vanilla, ice cream, brown sugar. There is ambergris in the base which is sort of yucky but I can see how it balances things out in salted caramel kind of way. #perfumesky

Soil test results are in! All online, and they have a cool tool where you can toggle what you want to grow for different recommendations (ex. change veggie garden to shrubs or fruit trees). Super neat! Things are looking good. Somewhat unremarkable, but that’s fine. #gardening #zone6b #soiltest

House of Bō offered samples, and I’d never heard of them, so I picked Bombón, Espíritu, and Infinitoud. Now trying Espíritu — very fancy “woody musk” with sage, osmanthus, tobacco, iris, oak, leather, labdanum. Kinda regret not getting Casa Blanca. Any others I should try? #perfumesky #sotd

Calle Ocho to the office today, along with fuzzy lined Dr Martens and a herringbone tweed blazer. It’s getting cold outside! #sotd #perfumesky

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Brendan Loper. #NewYorkerCartoons Sign up for our humor newsletter to get the Daily Cartoon right in your inbox: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/Ear3xH

I liked You years ago, despite my ambrox aversion, so I’ve wanted to try the new Glossier scents. Finally they make a discovery set, and four for $15 is a no brainer. Loving the creamy, woody Doux today. Violet, Palo Santo, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Right up my alley. #sotd #perfumesky

Ok, I got four teeny tiny butternuts from the unexpected new growth last month. They’re not ready to eat but they also could t stay on the vine with the frost, so now they’re inside being tiny and cute. #gardening #zone6b #squash

Bundled up to cut the Ayocote Morados down so they could finish drying on the clothesline in the basement. Quite a few big, fuzzy pods so we’ll get some big, purple beans in several weeks. #gardening #zone6b #polebeans

First snow in metro Detroit this morning. Seems like an Althair day. #sotd #perfumesky

Frost is coming, so I picked the remaining tomatoes. Hoping they’ll ripen indoors. I’m trying the banana paper bag trick. #gardening #zone6b

Trying another Bianchi: Sticky Fingers. It’s not sweet at all because I’m not in the mood for that on this cold, rainy day. Similar woody notes to Tyger Tyger, plus some spices like The Dark Side, and its own musk, tobacco, tonka. These are strong sister scents, all very good. #sotd #perfumesky

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Dang, garlic I planted 24 days ago, you must chill! You’ve gotta stay there through the whole winter 🤞. (This is normal and totally fine and exciting! 🧄) #gardening #zone6b #garlic

#SOTD is a very autumnal sample of L'Eau d'Ambre Extrême from L'Artisan Parfumeur. A non-headache-inducing amber (hooray!) with good longevity. It has a vanilla note but it is not very sweet, which is a plus. There’s also spices and patchouli. Not a full bottle contender, but lovely. #perfumesky

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