...Please link the Japanese Gatsby website, currently is the Indonesian one:https://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/Gatsbyhttps://www.gatsby.jp

...Nice association, Cryptic :o I actually prefer that blushing skull with the fancy scrunchie, no matter if I'll out myself as being tasteless.I seldom find a bottle 'ugly', even if it's not my cup of tea, but feel averse to those low-budget dupe bottles which look like they have been made by someone who hates their work, or end up as a caricature of the original.This one has a piece of thin polyester just pulled over the sprayer top, the hems not worked on, not even made into a ribbon as one might expect from the picture.

..."Still"

...Thank you very much for the description and the link, Cincy! Gives me a nice idea about the atmosphere of the story. I will look at Women of the Silk as well :)

...Haha, 'mash-up' is especially true in this case, Kapustin obviously hitting a few more/other keys in some parts :) Perhaps not polished and differentiated enough as the performances by other people, but I prefer listening to the interpretation by the original composer. For Bruckner and that piece in particular, it's fun imagining how it must have sounded to the people back then.For an easier listening, the earlier pure instrumental pieces by Lúnasa, Solas and FlookLúnasa - Morning Nightcaphttps://youtu.be/PnYG5bBeq7ESolas - Coconut dog/morning dewhttps://youtu.be/xD_3CnaeCoM?list=RDxD_3CnaeCoMFlook - Road to Errogiehttps://youtu.be/GKkfENutMQg

...Cincy: I really didn't want the story to end. :)I'm afraid I have not heard about the author, but her books must be really good if they can make you feel like that :)Reading nothing related to perfumes either, and no complete books atm, only picking up few passages from Maugham's short stories.

...I need this from time to time:Kapustin - 8 Concert Etudes, Op.40 (1984)https://youtu.be/fKFxyy_Zwe0 Edit: Video not availablehttps://youtu.be/116QHk9jNGI24 Preludes in Jazz Style, Op. 53https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7lWwXk6TV8Nikolai Kapustin performing Impromptu, op. 66, no. 2https://youtu.be/Yn9fTO7zp5Q

...For https://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/LonkoomI get the message it might be hacked if I try to access via the current link :shock: Instead, http://www.lonkoomperfume.com/ seems to work, and they have some of the fragrances in the DB listed.For https://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/True_Nature_BotanicalsWebsite: https://truebotanicals.com/

...Summer's here, Mia ;) spring was skipped as always. Before it gets midsummer, though, mine would be floral-centric ones like "Cabotine (Eau de Toilette)" (actually wearable all year round), "Cabotine Rose", "Diorissimo (Eau de Toilette)", "Eau de Cobson Muguet_Melon Eau Fraîche" (has an edge which bothers in heat) or the Magnolia-tobacco-leather combination "Petale Noir" where I find the flowers develop better in warmer weather.

...Cincy, I do think it was covertly meant to target the group that would apparently see some kind of sense in it, but it was presented as 'naive art'.And since it's got a rather modest headpiece, one of my 'favourites' might do instead.Cryptic, why, the name's already given, as the male counterpart, "Body Kounyros" or something like...Then, we might all look like that.

...Overnight-remnants of "Maîtresse", "Petale Noir", "Agent Provocateur", "Arpège (1993) (Eau de Parfum)" still on both arms, "Just Precious" already vanished on neck*, one spray of "Five-Stars d'Oscar" on cleavage, on a - finally! - fresh day.Sidenote: Due to re-testing.ETA: It wasn't about longevity but still, "Agent Provocateur" clearly is the finalist, half a spray = 18h still going. Saffron certainly is persistent.

...I was rather reminded of a mix of the souvenir miniatures and the "Âme Toscane" (btw, they recently changed the bottle). Someone seems to have had a...let's call it a 'Milo' complex (especially mentioning some pedestals and museums) and aimed at a similar effect. Must say, they left off not only the arms, but also the head for some reason (and maybe for good).Who's going to have a bottle like the 3rd picture next? Banderas? Beckham? Trump? (At any rate, headless - goes without saying)eta: I found another idea for the next male celebrity bottle design in the same vein (4th pic).

...I share Quercus' view on this matter and also his observation on this topic. Seems to be controversial like any other subject which deals with one's belief in some way, strongly depending on the person's background (cultural, generational etc.), and as such, one of those issues where some people indeed tend to become rather emotional (for the reason above, and I assume also because for these people, it's tied to the question of their own identity/the feeling of security based on their view of 'balance' in the world).But this would be better suited to the other thread dealing with this in specific.As to your second question, Ashrita: As you can see on Cincy's linked page, not all of them are. If the gender assignment isn't clear enough in the description, you can quickly check on Parfumo ;)

...Thank you for the info, Cincy, didn't know that, I usually thought it was the other way round, but that shows his true love to fragrances indeed :)I have then been imagining... how it would've been if they were named Alien, Cabochard, Ysatis or Youth-Dew... if it were sons: Roja, Jovan, Jicky, Kouros, APOM

..."Sultane Noir Velours" before sunrise

...I didn't know Nietzsche was a concealed feminist, Cincy, I interpret it as a high opinion about women :lol: ;)Yes Mia, about the opening of the Tale of Heike, I love the atmosphere instantly conjured with the few (admittedly very famous) lines, without ever having been there, and the melancholic yet calm tone about impermanence.Something spring related... "Spring nights get late while my thoughts are dwelling on the cherry blossoms"(a very rough translation of a haiku by Bashō)

...Body Shop Gardenia for a quiet and calm, not rainy morning before the busy week starts again

...Cincy, Thank you for sharing the vivid puzzle picture, nicely coloured as well! :)It must've been quite patience-challenging with all these similarly shaded parts. Regarding coffee, my body obviously developed immunity at some time, I rather drink it like a cuppa for the Brits - to get some 'relaxing' moment. Green tea, however, always wakes me up. Mia, I also had to smile imagining the two boys zealously trying to 'outdo' their auntie and filling up their baskets, you made it into a nice treasure hunt :)I haven't been doing much now, enjoying a quiet morning (with, of course, coffee)

...Cryptic:I take it you're not a Jeremy fan, Anessa? ;)Elle ne porte rien D’autre qu’un peu D’essence de Guerlain Dans les cheveux...Serge GainsbourgYou know, I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Gainsbourg either, but at least, he has a different way to promote Guerlain than the other one who solely became famous with weather forecasts if (and with how much frequency) panties will be falling or not."To drop, or not to drop - that is the question"

...Seems Friday's a Good chap! :) (albeit his strange habit of talking to himself)