Aqaba Midnight Sun

Notes: gardenia, freesia, rose damask, orange flower, rose, Indian sandalwood, white musk, tuberose

This is one of those fragrances with which I have a love/hate relationship.  The opening of honey sweet gardenia is overpowering and cloying.  It's obnoxiously "perfumey" and at the same time smells like Pez on steroids mixed with head-shop candles.  Then the gardenia fades as the sandalwood takes over; I still don't love it, but am growing much more fond of this scent.  It's still sweet, but less cloying.  The other floral notes are blending together rather nicely, with tuberose making the most impression on me.  It's a subtle soapy kind of tuberose, just the way I like it.  I take another sniff and - bleargh!  It's sweet again, the soapiness of the tuberose making me feel like I just snorted a nostrilful of laundry detergent.

Much later on in the drydown, it's all sweet white musk with floral overtones.  Much nicer and more wearable for me, but it takes between one and two good hours before it gets to that point.  And then I absolutely love it.  But Mr. Minx says it reminds him of something one of his aunts used to wear, so of course that completely ruins it for me.

But I suppose, in the long run, I should be thankful that he's saving me some money, as this is one less fragrance to add to my "must buy" list.

Notes: gardenia, freesia, rose damask, orange flower, rose, Indian sandalwood, white musk, tuberose

This is one of those fragrances with which I have a love/hate relationship.  The opening of honey sweet gardenia is overpowering and cloying.  It's obnoxiously "perfumey" and at the same time smells like Pez on steroids mixed with head-shop candles.  Then the gardenia fades as the sandalwood takes over; I still don't love it, but am growing much more fond of this scent.  It's still sweet, but less cloying.  The other floral notes are blending together rather nicely, with tuberose making the most impression on me.  It's a subtle soapy kind of tuberose, just the way I like it.  I take another sniff and - bleargh!  It's sweet again, the soapiness of the tuberose making me feel like I just snorted a nostrilful of laundry detergent.

Much later on in the drydown, it's all sweet white musk with floral overtones.  Much nicer and more wearable for me, but it takes between one and two good hours before it gets to that point.  And then I absolutely love it.  But Mr. Minx says it reminds him of something one of his aunts used to wear, so of course that completely ruins it for me.

But I suppose, in the long run, I should be thankful that he's saving me some money, as this is one less fragrance to add to my "must buy" list.

Showing Off

Just so you know I wasn't kidding when I said that Carolyn Tyler and I share an aesthetic...here's a piece I designed back in my retail days. The top part is high-karat gold with granulation and a simulated emerald cabochon. It was once a ring from which I had the shank removed. I don't know what it was before it became a ring, but as the shank was 14K gold, I have a feeling the two components were not born at the same time. The boulder opal is set in a 14K yellow gold bezel and is ornamented with prong-set green sapphires, diamonds, and one tiny tanzanite. The freshwater pearl dangle is primarily brown but it has a gorgeous gold and green flash.

The goldsmiths responsible for this piece were known as Roxx Limited. They had a jewelry store on Charles Street, on what was "jewelers' row" once upon a time. They closed up shop but still worked as goldsmiths; the store I toiled for used them for difficult or complicated repairs plus all custom work. I wonder what has become of them? They were/are truly talented guys. If anyone has information, I'd love to know.

Yes, Another Blog

Hello, and welcome to my latest blog!

I am an art jeweler and have been working with beads since I was a child. In the past, when working for a retail jeweler, I also designed fine jewelry, both for customers and for myself. It's something in which I am still very interested. People who work with precious metals and gems have skills to be admired, and I would like to share some of my favorite designers with you here, as well as commentary on what's hip and hot in the jewelry world these days.

In addition, I plan to opine on another form of wearable art, fashion...in the form of designer clothing, handbags, and (since I am a woman) shoes. And I'll offer my snark on fashion-related TV shows, Project Runway in particular.

I hope you enjoy my brand of fashion sense and humor. Please don't forget to leave comments, ask questions, what have you, when you are inspired to do so. I love to know what my readers are feeling and thinking.