In this edition of Things Adina Currently Likes to Obssess About, I am presenting you a grab bag of perfumes I’ve added to my collection in recent months. They do not represent, by any means, the entirety of my new additions. Instead, I chose these as representative of some of the different approaches I’ve taken in pursuing my perfume hobby. Let’s call them Thrift Finds, Cheap Heroes, and Hedged Bets.

The first category is fairly self-explanatory.

I am very happy to buy perfumes secondhand; provided they’re stored properly, away from bright light, perfumes can last a long time (past their expiration date) without completely losing their profile or potency. To ensure that is the case, if buying online, I try to stick to bottles that are still in the sealed original packaging; if I’m buying at the thrift store, a quick spray and sniff usually tells me if the perfume is still good. I would love to thrift more perfumes but, like everything else, they’re becoming increasingly pricey. Anything with a recognizable brand name, even if unboxed and/or partially used, tends to be priced minimum $30, and often upwards of $50. Given the existence of discount online retailers like FragranceNet, such prices are hardly an attractive bargain.

Sometimes, though, a gem manages to fall through the cracks.

I didn’t recognize this bottle immediately, but I picked it up for a sniff because it was the only one priced attractively at $15. The scent intrigued me, so I flipped the bottle and — lo! — I saw that it was Jo Malone. I know enough about the brand to realize that this was a bargain. And I had a coupon, making it a whopping $10. A real “start the car!” moment. As I was checking out, a sales associate spotted the bottle, recognized it, and came over to chat. When she heard what it had been priced at, she remarked it was “practically highway robbery” or something to that effect, and I had a moment of panic when I wondered if she would try to change the price on me. Thankfully, she did not — although it’s something I’ve heard happens with some regularity at thrift stores these days. She did have a point — this was a HUGE steal — but at the same time, it bears remembering that Value Village got this bottle for free, so they’re making a profit regardless. If you’re wondering how much of a steal it was, well, the original retail price was somewhere north of $350CAD; it’s a limited edition perfume, 175 ml (most of it still in the bottle). It was part of a 2016 collection based on tea — this one is called Darjeeling Tea.

The first blast of scent is one of refreshing tea — not citrussy (like many other tea-forward perfumes) but herbal and slightly soapy. The tea note does not last, to my nose, very long at all, though. It quickly becomes a fresh, white floral scent with a strong, herbal kind of soapiness to it. Other reviews mention the jasmine note coming through most strongly, but to me, it’s the herbal, green, slightly bitter soapy note. I think this is the artemisia, a note I had not encountered in perfumes before. I am going by the information on Fragrantica on this, which describes artemisia as a “bitterish, herbal and strong-smelling plant note known as wormwood which aromatizes absinth and vermouth.” It is a very unique scent, in any event. I wouldn’t say that Darjeeling Tea is one of my favourite perfumes in my collection, but I appreciate its uniqueness and enjoy wearing it when I want a fresh, zingy, not-too-floral, not-too-sweet scent.

At the other end of the scale from bougie Jo Malone, is one of my fave Cheap Heroes — a perfume I got for $22 at Shoppers Drugmart: Guess Seductive Noir.

I’ve mentioned before that I love discovering inexpensive perfumes that punch above their price point, and this is one of them. I didn’t buy this completely blindly, having spent a fair bit of time reading reviews of it online beforehand, but I did buy it without actually smelling it. Top notes are sage, bergamot, and peony. Middle notes are iris, jasmine sambac, and lily-of-the-valley; base notes are vanilla, vetiver, and velvet. Somehow, the scent transcends (or defies) my expectations based on those notes. The name, Seductive Noir, is somewhat misleading, imo, as well. It’s not what I would classify as a “sultry” scent, though it possesses a subdued elegant allure. I have seen it compared to Mon Guerlain by Guerlain, and having tested the latter, I can attest to the similarities.

First impressions: slightly smoky, lavender-infused amber. (The fact there is no lavender listed in the notes blows my mind a little bit). It develops into a beautiful, rich blend of aromatic, floral notes, and vanilla. Once or twice, I could have sworn I picked up a whiff of the lily-of-the-valley, but usually the florals are too well-blended to stand out individually. The combination really does have the soothing qualities reminiscent of lavender; I often spritz a little on my wrist before I go to bed, because it’s such a calming scent to me.

Lastly, in the Hedged Bet category, may I present:

The OG Lolita Lempicka was another Cheapie Hero I got at Shoppers months ago, and it quickly became one of my favourite perfumes. The brand has a good rep in the frag communities I frequent — lovely fragrances, reasonable prices — so I started to do some more research on it, and came across another one of its offerings that struck me as having potential to appeal to my nose. This one, to be precise: Lolitaland. (Sidebar: the only thing I hate about this brand is the names. I’m pretty sure that having “Lolita perfume” in my Google search history has placed me on some kind of FBI watch list.) I am not much of a gourmand girlie — and Lolitaland is all gourmand — but I was intrigued by the chaotic note menu (which includes, but is not limited to, Bellini, orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, pepper, white peach, plum, black currant, two kinds of jasmine, magnolia, rose, vanilla, licorice, musk, and sandalwood) and the descriptions of the perfume in online reviews. Did I mention that it was created by Francis Kurkdjian, he of Baccarat Rouge 540 fame? I am not about to pay hundreds of dollars for a FragTok “it” perfume, but given the opportunity to sample an artist’s work at an attractive price, I will always take it. I got my 75 ml bottle of Lolitaland on FragranceNet for about $50, and it was definitely worth it.

First impressions: orange crème brûlée. To my nose, the orange and the peach compete for attention, with the peach pulling ahead as time goes on. There are definitely dessert vibes involved here, but it’s a very smooth blend — fruity, but not too fruity; sweet but not cloying. There is a slight smokiness to the vanilla but I would not put this perfume in the same category as, say, Replica By The Fireplace.

Alright, that’s enough perfume talk from me for now. If you’re down, share your recent buys and new (or old) faves in the comments, and stay tuned for another collection update coming soon!

Details: Gap dress, Only & Sons jacket, Aldo shoes, Rebecca Minkoff bag (all secondhand)

Thoughts: This outfit formula — boho dress, oversized denim jacket, chunky white loafers — feels trend-aware but true to myself. And that’s the sweet spot, isn’t it? It’s not about ignoring fashion, it’s about making it your own. And look, I know this isn’t the cutting edge of fashion by a country mile; the cognoscenti have already probably moved on from chunky shoes, and denim jackets. But these pieces allow me to update this dress in a way that, to me, feels fresh but also comfortable. And by that, I mean comfortable in my own skin, which is always my first and most important priority.

Details: LoveShackFancy top, Max & Co skirt, Donna Karan belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: It’s been a hot minute since I found a designer label at the thrifts, so I had to pick up this LoveShackFancy blouse for its novelty, if nothing else. Well, that wasn’t the only reason, of course. I love the cotton candy colours; they’re sort of intense pastels, which I think are more flattering on me than traditional, soft pastels. I have to say, I am not especially impressed with the quality of this piece considering its retail price point (north of $350CAD) which is disappointing even if I only paid $7 for it. What the heck is happening with the fashion industry if this is what’s being sold as “designer” these days? Sigh. At least I have my vintage … including this skirt (old) and this belt (new). Can you believe I found this genuine snakeskin belt for less than $3? It’s probably from the 80s, and it’s superb quality that has held up beautifully over the years. I’m not sure anyone will be saying that about the blouse in 2050. (And no, don’t tell me my math is off. I refuse to hear it.)

Details: Suttles & Seawinds dress, Le Chateau belt (both Poshmark), tulle skirt (thrifted)

Thoughts: I love this dress a lot but wish it was slightly longer. Got my tulle skirt out. Problem solved 😉

Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, BR tie, Tahari jacket, CoH jeans, Brave belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I am still exploring the possibilities of this vintage Tahari jacket — the cut is so unusual and so good. I wanted to juxtapose the femme vibes of that cut with more masc styling. The glasses were an afterthought (I often forget I’m wearing my reading glasses, a sign of my age in more ways than one) but they certainly helped the overall Jenna Lyons-ness of the outfit. I wasn’t mad about it one bit.

Details: Vince top, Icone blazer, UO pants, Donna Karan belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: This blazer is new-masquerading-as-vintage but I am a sucker for Grandma’s couch florals, so I got it. For this outfit, I leaned into the colour scheme, pairing the blazer with my olive-and-black striped knit top for a relatively subdued pattern mix moment. I decided to pick a light belt as a way to introduce some contrast and stop the black from taking over too much.

Details: Anthro jacket, Old Navy tee & sandals, vintage skirt, Coach bag (all secondhand)

Thoughts: I call this summer boho casual. Cotton layers, a floaty skirt (plus bike shorts), sandals. Easy and literally breezy. This particular skirt is a no-brainer choice when I’m stuck for ideas, because the pattern affords so many pairing options. For this outing, I decided to pick the maroon as a focal colour, and the outfit basically assembled itself from there.

Details: unbranded shirt (swap),Zara top, LL Bean belt, CoH jeans, Fluevog shoes, Rebecca Minkoff bag (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I got this plaid shirt at my last swap because I love its colours, but it feels a little bit disingenuous. I can’t say I have ever been a huge Guns ‘n Roses fan per se. Does this mean I’m flying false colours here? LOL! Anywhoo. The shirt is very oversized, so I choose a crop top to balance things out. I debated a bit over the choice of denim, but this ankle crop ultimately felt like the best option. Of all things, I think it’s the hat that ties it all together. This damn hat will end up being the MVP of my summer, just watch.

It is no secret that, as with my personal style, I consider my home an outlet for creative self-expression. I’ve written about it more than once, and it only becomes more true with time. I thought about this a lot in writing my book, and while I have no desire to rehash my thoughts here, suffice to say that I believe you can understand a lot about a person from the objects they choose for their living spaces and the way in which those objects are displayed and used. I think objects tell stories, and I love listening to people talk about the stories behind the objects they collect. That is what inspired this post.

My house is full of objects, so choosing only ten to highlight here was a bit like throwing darts in the dark and then looking to see where they land. Mainly, I tried to go with variety. You may notice that most of these items are vintage and/or secondhand, and that isn’t an accident. I love old things. I think it’s because, as an immigrant, I have very few family heirlooms; the vast majority of things my parents and grandparents owned when I was growing up had to be left behind, and there were no opportunities later to retrieve them. The things I collect now can’t replace the history I lost, but they provide a way to recreate the atmosphere of my memories, and also to create my own history. For that reason, they are very sentimental to me.

A tour of my house in 10 objects, let’s go!

Vintage Quilt

Everyone knows I love all things patchwork, and this quilt is a beautiful example of the craft. It was the first quilt I found at the thrift store once I started looking for them, and I fell in love with its design and colours on the spot. I mean, I do love a nice star motif. I believe the pattern is called Seven Sisters. According to the International Quilt Museum, the pattern predates the American Civil War and the 7 stars supposedly represented the first seven states to secede from the United States before the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. Personally, I prefer to think of them as the Pleiades, the seven sisters of Greek mythology, daughters of Atlas. These days, handmade quilts are getting harder and harder to find at the thrifts, and I can only hope it’s because people are rediscovering their beauty and holding on to them, rather than donating them. One day, after I retire, I hope to start learning how to quilt myself. Machine sewing has always been intimidating to me, but I’ve got a few years to psych myself up for it. In the meantime, I might take a few baby steps, and explore ideas for incorporating textiles into my embroidery.

Russian Lacquer Box

One of the few family heirlooms I still have, this was a box that used to belong to my maternal grandmother, who passed it down to her daughter, who passed it down to me. My grandmother used to keep her jewelry in it, and I have vivid memories from my childhood of opening it to peer at the ‘treasures’ inside. I’ve always been a magpie, ok? This style of lacquerware is a traditional Russian craft, with the designs reflecting folk fairy tales. It developed from the art of icon painting, which came to an end after the collapse of Imperial Russia and advent of Communism. Instead of icons, the artists began decorating papier-mache decorative objects, like boxes and plates, which were lacquered. The work is beautiful and so meticulous – the artists would often use single-hair brushes to paint some of the tiny details. This box is probably over 50 years old, and sadly its hinges are now broken (and I’m too scared of damaging it further to try to fix them), but it’s still beautiful and, to me, priceless. I hope to pass it down to my own daughter some day.

Vintage Chair

My husband found this single chair on the side of the road in downtown Vancouver. At the time, he was a broke grad student, so he ‘rescued’ it and took it back to his bachelor pad which suffered from a shortage of furniture. A few years later, it travelled thousands of kilometers when he moved back to Edmonton and we started living together. This chair has been around the block and then some! For many years, it lived in our (unfinished) basement because we didn’t have a proper space for it. Still, neither of us ever considered letting it go, because we both love its faded elegance and neoclassical design. It’s something we have always agreed on, style-wise. I’m glad we didn’t let go of the chair because now it does have a space, finally – in our recently updated family room / library. This corner had spent most of the last decade as a storage space for random toy paraphernalia, so this is a big upgrade.

1980s Abstract Painting

This was one of the first original art pieces I thrifted, and it remains one of our favourite artworks in the house. It’s signed “J. Tanner” and dated 1987. I’ve never been able to find out anything about the artist, but that’s ok – a little mystery doesn’t take away its charm. You don’t always need to know everything about a piece of art for it to be meaningful. Art connects at an emotional level anyway. This piece is the centerpiece of our stairway art gallery; its style and colour palette tie everything else together, and it brings me joy every time I walk by it.

West Germany Decorative Plate

West German pottery is one of my obsessions, and this plate epitomizes what I love about it – the uniqueness of the designs and the bold use of colour. It’s another one of my thrift finds; in fact, as with so many other things I’ve come to love, thrifting is responsible for introducing me to West German pottery in the first place, which was one of my entry-points to mid-century modern design. (My husband was ahead of me in this regard. But he trained as an architect and I feel like it’s mandatory to love MCM if you work in that field. Ahem.) Sadly, these pottery pieces are getting harder to find these days, and more expensive; I suppose that’s true for all vintage, and all the more reason to treasure the ones I’ve been lucky enough to add to my collection.

La Mendola Scarf

Among my many fabulous thrift finds over the years, this La Mendola scarf is high on the list of truly special things. What drew me to it in the first place was the gorgeous print – I love botanical designs, and I love cacti in particular. The material is luscious silk, with hand-rolled edges. I knew right away that I would end up framing this, rather than wearing it, because it’s truly a work of art. I did some research and discovered that La Mendola was an Italian fashion label (founded by 2 Americans) in the 1960s in Rome. With prints that rivaled those of Pucci, its clothes were worn by many celebrities of the 60s and 70s, including Elizabeth Taylor. I feel very fortunate to have a little piece of fashion history on my wall.

MCM Candleholder

This is an example of patience paying off – I had coveted one of these articulated MCM candleholders for years before I finally found this one at Goodwill. Ever since, it has held pride of place on my mantlepiece. I love its shape, and it’s a great way to display candles — and I love decorating with candles. Do I use them for lighting? No. Do they look pretty, unlit but colourful? Yes. In the last few years, my appreciation for MCM design has grown by leaps and bounds; I think my husband’s aesthetic sensibilities are rubbing off on me. I also happen to think that this style works well with the neoclassical eclectic vibe we also love, which creates a nice synergy. We hope to add more MCM flavour to our home, especially through furniture, which tends to have the perfect proportions for a smaller house like ours.

Roseville Vase

I first saw Roseville pieces on a vintage reseller’s Instagram account and was instantly drawn to the distinctive floral designs. Florals are my jam, as you all know. Roseville pieces are quite pricey these days, so imagine my delight when (after years of looking) I found this vase for $3.99. It’s my favourite colour palette, and decorated with one of my (and my mom’s) favourite flowers: freesia. I think this vase is something my mom would have loved, so it always makes me think of her.

Pendleton Blanket

One of my interior design inspirations is English country, and what I love about it is the exuberant use of textiles – lots of colours and prints. One of my current goals is to upgrade the textiles in our home – everything from rugs to pillows to blankets, and so on.  This is something we’ve never really prioritized in the past, and I want to change that. We’ve been slowly sourcing some nicer area rugs for different parts of the house, and I’ve also been focusing on upping our blanket game. Pendleton is about as fabulous as it gets, in my book, so it’s been on my list for a while. I adore their patterns, and the quality is excellent. I was thrilled to find this Chief Joseph throw blanket at the thrift store in like-new condition; it was not cheap, but totally worth it. A great way to start what I hope, someday, will be an heirloom-worthy collection. And it makes snuggling up on the couch in front of the TV in our (almost finished now, hallelujah) basement extra cozy!

Picasso Poster

In the scheme of things, a poster might not seem like an especially “wow” thrift score … but this one is special. I was thrilled to find it. I’ve seen similar pieces featured on vintage resellers accounts and get snapped up immediately, so I knew I was lucky to find it for a relative bargain. Not only is it one of my favourite Picasso paintings, it looks extra striking at the scale of this massive, mounted museum poster, making it a fantastic focal point. There are several spots in the house where I considered hanging it (and may still do, in the future) but it fits perfectly in this corner of the basement, creating a little tableau that makes me happy every time I walk by it. I love the juxtaposition of the modernist and classical aesthetics here.

Well, that’s it for the tour … if you enjoyed it, drop me a comment and let me know if you would like to see more.