…you just gotta say WHATEVER. Come what may. And just make some beads, or some pies, or some sandwiches, even when all seems to be lost. And be open, even when you have doubts…
Like this.

the NEW azuree
On multiple occasions, I have expressed my disdain for fragrance companies who disrespect the original formulas of historically significant fragrances. I mean, if anyone likes them, and they’ve been produced for years and years, they’re significant, right? They tweak the vanilla, they delete the moss and aldehydes, seemingly to satisfy those who likely couldn’t be satisfied anyway. They water it down and jack up the prices. Dior does it. Chanel does it. And I had mistakenly come to believe that they ALL did this. Estee Lauder, it turns out, has treated most of their old formulas with respect, save for the rare misstep, which they usually promptly correct after being roundly trounced by their loyal customers (eg Estee, circa 2008 – 2010… may they eventually come to their senses regarding Cinnabar). I was afraid Azuree was doomed to suffer endlessly, considering what it smelled like when I tested a new bottle in 2014, and also considering what ignorant accountants have perpetrated on Aramis and Cabochard.
So I decided last week to find Azuree in its new bottle to find out for sure. I’m so, so glad I gave it a chance. It’s strong, long lasting, and the evolution is adventurous… leather, spice, marijuana, bread, incense, ashtray… artful. Just like the old Azuree, and better than what it was a few years prior. Better yet, oakmoss is on the list of ingredients. I could barely believe what I was smelling. I went back the next day and bought a bottle of it, and informed the sales associate that Azuree is too good to be hidden behind the counter as if they’re ashamed of it. I suspect the biggest difference in old vs new is simply age, and perhaps the new will age just as gracefully. So, the moral of this story is, if I have piqued your interest in Azuree with my incessant yammering about it, you can be assured that you needn’t scour ebay for the oldest and priciest; eek, the prices of vintage Azuree these days. At this moment, a 1.7oz bottle (whose shape and design is rather lacking in character, in my opinion) shown above, can be had just about anywhere there’s an Estee Lauder counter, and for the astonishingly low price of $52. And it will go far… I wasn’t kidding about its strength. I can still smell the shirt I wore with it across the room, and that was from well over 24 hours ago. Two sprays, people. Hell to the Yes.
Why yes, I AM listing some beads on Etsy this evening! Here’s what’s around the bend:

z-beads, week of 12/12/16
Looks like I’ve been making hearts these days. I got an order for them, and since they’re not my forte, I felt the need to practice a bit. I will be focusing a bit more on Etsy through the end of the year, so keep your eyes peeled.
I’ll be working on these listings for the next few hours… I know it’s a bit late in some spots, but I got a late start today, and it was grey and cold and I didn’t have the best lighting conditions for photos… but I muddled through.
I’ll be back in a bit! Thanks for reading.
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