No5 she’s alive!

Posted on 26/03/2026 by alityke
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Courtesy of Pexels

As I’m sure you already know Chanel No5 EdT has had a relaunch. New face, new bottle & new formulation.

Margot Robbie is the new face. An excellent & a more laid back choice than usual.

The new bottle is in line with the new Cristalle bottle. Very simple, quite chunky.

Now it’s crunch time, the new formulation. My No5 has always been the EdT & Parfum. These have been tweaked constantly since Ernest Beaux authored it but, according to Fragrantica, it was reformulated in 2024. I can’t say I ever tried this particular version so will skip any review.

Last week the 2026 version of No5 EdT was launched & I popped into the nearby shopping centre to get a sniff.

Fragrantica says the notes are:- Top – aldehydes. Mid – Ylang Ylang, jasmine, rose Base – sandalwood, vetiver

These are much simplified from the 2024 version but, according to Fragrantica the same as the original 1924 Beaux version.

So how does today’s version smell? The biggest difference to me is in the opening. The aldehydes are a touch sweeter & less fizzy than I’m used to from my bottles. If you find the opening sour & bracing champagne like aldehydes of older No5 EdT too much, you may find the 2026 version more to your taste.

20 minutes in & the florals dance round in that abstract way I’m familiar with, having worn No5 EdT for many, many years. Is it a tiny touch more modern? A single sugar grain sweeter? A little more legible even? In my opinion, maybe to all.

In the base I can’t find no change. Still that smooth No5 base that has stood the test of time. 8 hours in & the base is still noticeable when I sniff my wrist. That brings be to sillage. This updated No5 EdT doesn’t have the presence of the No5 EdT I’m familiar with. It lays closer to the skin than I’m used to.

In brief, No5 EdT 2026 is recognisably Chanel No5. Imagine parallel lines a millimetre apart until they merge in the base. Do I like it? Yes. Will I buy this rather than search the preloved markets for vintage & vintish bottles of No5? Again yes. I would rather buy Chanel from an authorised stockist than risk a fake.

Disclaimer I am in no way linked to Chanel. The views here are my own. I was able to sample from an official tester at an authorised stockist.

Posted in No5 EdT, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

A LOT!

Posted on 18/03/2026 by alityke
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Life has been A LOT lately & I have been MIA. Apologies. I won’t bore you with the deets again.

What smellies have I been enjoying? Rendezvous-Vous! From photographer Sonia Sieff, authored by Antoine Lie. This is one of the strangest fragrances in my collection. Imagine eating sharp rhubarb whilst fireworks go off all around & you’re holding a sparkler. Very metallic, weirdass, oddly moreish. Then it’s very much Lie’s signature iris, this time rendered granular but not powdery or lipsticky. Sort of the texture of gunpowder if you will. The base is smoky, resinous amber. I’ve seen it called sticky but I don’t find it overly sweet. It lasts forever. Rendezvous-Vouz! Has been the perfect scent for the cold, wet & miserable months. So much so I bought a full bottle!

Now the afternoons are getting longer, there is some blue above & a strange yellow disk is hanging about sometimes. It isn’t warm yet, despite the cold Rendezvous-Vouz! is no longer what I crave.

Right now I am longing for tropical, beachy hedonism. Not my usual preference, hence I’m somewhat lost with where to start. My usual spring & summer scents are astringent, citric & spiky green. They just aren’t hitting the spot. I want mango, peaches, passion fruit. Sweet, sour, fleshy & heady.

I need suggestions please. Cheap & cheerful preferred, this phase won’t last long I’m sure

Posted in Antoine Lie, Rendezvous-Vous!, Sonia Seiff, Tropical scents | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Happy Birthday Mr Jarvis Cockapoo

Posted on 05/02/2026 by alityke
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9 years young

I’m writing this curled up in bed with Mr Jarvis Cockapoo. Today is his 9th birthday. The last month hasn’t been great for him, trying to come off Apoquel medication in early January, failing & getting sore paws with a fungal infection. Then 15 dental extractions in mid January, please don’t judge, I feel bad enough. Then last weekend he woke with conjunctivitis in one eye. We are getting to know the vets far too well!

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Eyes all better

The paws & eyes are from the dank, wet weather & the ground being saturated, leading to lots of moulds & spores. He’s allergic to them & they attract bacteria. PLEASE LET IT STOP RAINING!!!

DH is at the Cancer Centre, having his second cycle of treatment.

My back is much improved, had physio & got two more appointments booked. If all goes well I’ll be back at the gym this time next week.

So what if any smellies have I been craving? Bath goo! SpaceNK had a sale & I had loyalty points nearing expiry. I snagged Nordic Wilds & Parisian Gardens bubble bath.

Nordic Wilds is a walk in a pine forest, cool, woody, earthy & grounding. Spa like & so, so relaxing. Not strong but present enough in the steam.

Parisian Gardens is spring in a bubble. Meadow flowers, rose & jasmine. Floral but not “perfumey “. It smells verdant & grassy as well as floral to me. Again not strong but present in the steam. Both make me feel relaxed & pampered. Parisian Gardens is more a morning bath time, Nordic Wilds a pre bedtime soak. £18 each from SpaceNK.

I have also stocked up on Madonna Truth or Dare Shower Gel whilst it’s still available. Not that I shower, but this is a great floral bubble bath. Bubblegum tuberose that takes no prisoners, needed when I want a Big Girl bath that leaves me ready for anything! It scents the whole house for hours.

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Prisoner Cell Block Bed

Posted on 29/01/2026 by alityke

Hope you got through “Blue Monday Week” without to much misery. Blue Monday Week always hosts my surviving another circuit of the Sun. Ironic cos I’ve only seen said home planet when I’ve travelled a few 1000 miles south. Celebrating in Barcelona & Benidorm.

I could use some rays from our home planet right now. I’ve been held in Prisoner Cell Block Bed by my lumbar spine. All from squatting to get a bag of sofrito out of the bottom drawer of the freezer!

I’m guessing either another disc has popped trapping my sciatic nerve or said nerve got caught on a bone spur. Whatever, the fecker has laid me up & I’m writing this under the influence of prescription Cocodamol & Deep Heat pads. Anti-inflammatory drugs being off limits to me.

I’m craving medicinal smelling perfumes, mostly Tubereuse Criminelle for that wintergreen, locker room rub aroma. I no longer own TubiCrim & in my brain fogged prison bed I cannot see anything in my wardrobe that might have the same effect.

Help! Help! Any suggestions?

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Courtesy of Pexels
Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

2026

Posted on 31/12/2025 by alityke

Wishing a Happy & Healthy 2026 to all.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

DH Update

Posted on 30/12/2025 by alityke

I am posting this now as I do not want to open 2026 on this.

Unfortunately DH got bad news yesterday. Two areas of disease have increased by 50%, meaning it’s back to chemo. The rest are stable & overall there is still less disease than this time last year. It’s the same chemo that worked a miracle last time but at a more tailored dose.

In July 2022 average overall survival for people in DH’s position was 2 years. In December 2024 we were told average overall survival for people who had done well after initial chemo & surgery was 2 years. Yesterday average survival for those in DH’s rather specific situation is again 2 years.

All I wish for in 2026 is that DH will keep kicking that overall survival into the long grass & defying the odds.

So there we have it. 2025 ends as 2024 did. Staring into the abyss of the unknown (Kuhn)

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The Scream by Edvard Munch
Posted in DH update, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Ready for the Big Day?

Posted on 24/12/2025 by alityke

If, like me, you never quite feel ready for any of the enforced celebrations we are supposed to enjoy, read on, I have cheats!

Ok, not really, but I do have one really good recommendation. Betty’s of Harrogate https://www.bettys.co.uk/

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Part of our Xmas feast. From top anticlockwise. Spiced Xmas shortbread, biscuit selection, candied fruit topped rich fruit cake, a fat rascal, an advent cake & a rich fruitcake in a tin.

If ever you’re in Yorkshire visiting any of the Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate, York, Ilkley or Northallerton is a must. The same company that produces Yorkshire Tea also owns the best purveyors of Afternoon Tea.

My tip though is to buy their baked goods next Xmas. They deliver to

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Qatar
  • Singapore
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States

An explanation of Fat Rascals & Advent cakes. They are a cross between a scone & a rock bun. Fat Rascals are decorated with glacé cherries & almonds, Advent cakes with sliced almonds & icing sugar. They are more almondy & moister than the Fat Rascals. Perfect for a not too sweet or rich late Xmas breakfast.

I paid for my goodies & have no connection to Betty’s or Yorkshire Tea. I simply love them both.

Wishing a Merry Christmas & a Happy & Healthy 2026 to anyone who reads this.

My SotD is JML Ginger Biscuit to keep on theme & as this is really a blog about fragrance

Posted in Christmas baked goods, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Guerlain Eau de Lingerie.

Posted on 18/12/2025 by alityke

Today I’m wearing the oily dregs from a decant of the original release of Guerlain Eau de Lingerie. Oh the beauty!

Notes include musk, iris, rose, ambrette, vanilla & sandalwood.

Everything but the fragrance oils having evaporated has improved the experience of this soft, powdery musk no end. She is now at her most intimate. There is no dirtiness in her musk, yet she is distinctly human. No harsh laundry remnants here. This lady wears only silk next to her delicate intimate skin.

On skin the classical rose & iris combination whisper sweet nothings to each other. The musk mallow amplifies the powderiness of this subtle combination just enough to give some lift.

These oily remains of Eau de Lingerie have lasted for a good eight hours. After around two hours the powder puffiness begins to settle & the creamy sandalwood base peaks out & stays until the final whisper. As I said, what beauty!

Eau de Lingerie is “old fashioned”. In the way gossamer fine shell pink cami knickers are old fashioned. I prefer to think of it as timeless.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

A Week of Fragrances

Posted on 11/12/2025 by alityke
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Courtesy of Pixabay

After last week’s post about being in a perfume slump, I took myself in hand, had a chat with myself & decided to fake it til I make it scent wise.

Here are the fragrances I have worn in the past week.

Friday – I started with the Go Big or Go Home of Lyric Woman. More complex than I recalled, she is the blousiest, feminine rose in the old school of perfumery. She could have been created anytime from the 1930’s onwards. Lyric Woman will not be culled.

Saturday – Odette Madeleine from a sample. Pretty & does just what it says on the bottle. Light & doesn’t overstay its welcome. I prefer Pas de Chat

Sunday – SL Louve from my precious decant. Surely the best almond around. Not overly sweet, a little rosy musk & a resinous finish. Nothing cakey or patisserie, no overt sugar. If released now by one of the nouveau niche brands it would be a phenomenal hit

Monday – Molecule 01+ Ginger. A fresh ginger hit up front, it sparkles like ginger beer. Then it plays peekaboo as Iso-E-Super does with the wearer, with the added bonus of the fresh ginger juice keeping popping out & waving. Much better worn in warmer weather when the effervescent quality shines. My travel spray will stay & maybe a 30ml bottle when it’s finished

Tuesday – Lauder Pleasures from a rollerball travel size. This must be 20+ years old & is either a little tired or the rollerball kills the opening sparkle. To be thunked or decanted into a spray.

Wednesday – L’Occitane Rose Citron Meyer. My new happiness in a bottle.

Thursday – I crave comfort today and reached for SL Ambre Sultan. This is a now vintish bottle. It has deepened, even from its already dark beginnings.

I am so pleased I did this. None of my choices were planned in advance. I chose each depending on spec, depending how I felt on the day.

Thank you all for your support after last week’s post. It made me consider how to proceed with my selling. I will still be selling, donating & gifting from my collection.

*I paid for all the above

Posted in Fragrance, Fragrances, Perfume, Perfumery, Perfumes, Scent, Scents | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Where Has My Mojo Gone?

Posted on 04/12/2025 by alityke

My perfume mojo has moved. She has left the building, flown the nest, gone up in a puff of unscented smoke. Whatever you call it, I am in an utter perfume slump.

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Is this where my Mojo is hiding?courtesy of sleurink via Pexels

Of course, this is the perfect time to list much of my collection & keep only what I truly adore. I can be more objective when deciding what to list & when, what to gift & what to donate, if the charity shop will accept anything. I plan to donate a couple of bottles as tombola or raffle prizes to the Care Home that looked after mum at the end of her life.

My quandary is around the fragrances that I adore but no longer really fit into my life as it is now. Those that I feel “wear me“. Most of my life is now spent at home with DH, dog walking or at the gym. Not exactly fitting for Lyric Woman, vintage Poison, Theo Fennell Scent EdP & vintage Opium.

Things that now feel a better fit are Cristalle EdT obvs, Eau de Colognes, Jo Malone London fragrances, basically things that are unobtrusive, personal & sit well with lounge & gym wear.

The question is, can I bear to part with these heavy hitters? What about my Serges? Guerlains? Papillons? Could it be that I would have sellers remorse, as I have in the past?

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Image Maz Fisch via Pexels

Have any of you culled your collections? How did you decide what to keep?

Posted in Fragrance, Fragrances, Perfume, Perfume slump, Perfumery, Perfumes, Scent, Scents, Selling up | 21 Comments