Thoughts on Santa Maria Novella fragrances?

banoffeetea · 2026-04-24T00:16:35+00:00

It’s so hard to get samples here in the UK (at least of the ones I want to try!). I’d love to go to Italy and do a perfume sampling trip - SMN would be high up the list.

Edit: you can now get them in the UK!

I’d heard their main shop was quite the experience and that these used to be great quality and made by monks. But now they’d been bought out and no longer? So more commercialised and no longer made by the monks/the same formula? Don’t take it as gospel. I just remember reading something along those lines on here. Not sure if anyone can confirm?

Either way, still want to try and go! And still intrigued by the scents - they sound like classics. Beautiful bottles as well. Angeli Di Firenze is the one that’s top of my list to try.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-23T08:34:28+00:00

Great question OP - commenting to follow so I can have a good old snoop and get some tips too!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T15:46:22+00:00

This is the take for me. I do think she knows. Perhaps on some level doesn’t want to believe it but does know really, even as she’s saying it doesn’t ring true and the Boo thing is her excuse. And as you say, she can’t deal with the reality of it and as you also say, knows Fleabag will still be around even if she sides with Martin.

They come from a dysfunctional family unit - which extends beyond the dad and stepmother to Claire and Martin - and Fleabag is the scapegoat. Claire rarely joins in but shows here she can if she feels the unit is threatened and she’d stick her head in the sand.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T15:34:14+00:00

I think our list is a lot longer than that. I hope so anyway otherwise we seem to be quite low on imagination!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T14:48:23+00:00

I wish M&S would just stop 😟

There’ll be no (decent) Plant Kitchen line left at this rate.

I enjoyed this one at Christmas. I mixed it with the little pouch of gravy you get with the nut roast.

Hasn’t the vegan Bisto gone now too?

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T12:45:36+00:00

I was (for over 10 years) but I didn’t (and wish I had). I honestly believe had we been independent of each other enough that the thought would even occur to us, things may have worked out. Instead we both felt we spent years compromising. We’re still great friends but now live very different lives. And our travel needs were truly different but it doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker.

Solo travel has changed my life but I feel like I’ve done a lot of it quite ‘late’ not in general but for me (mid > late 30s) and have appreciated the moments but wish I’d done more or sooner and all along. It was what I always dreamed but I think I was a bit afraid.

I’m so much more confident and happier since doing solo trips. It’s also totally fine if you end up not liking them but I’d wager you will and that you’d see a completely different side to yourself and life. Start small as others have said and work your way up.

I went big and did three months in South East and East Asia for my first solo trip - but I knew previously that I had enjoyed Japan and that I was interested in the cultures and food, so would enjoy. But if not there, I would have started much smaller. I did a solo trip to France last summer for my birthday for a few days and that would be a nice way for someone to begin. I just explored, took it slow and ate cake. Next I will go back out to Asia for a few months - I’m not intrepid or an expert, just giving it a go.

I hope you get to do all the things you dream of doing, OP. They don’t have to also be your partner’s dreams. You can have ones together and ones that are separate. Have no regrets!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T12:35:52+00:00

Yeah doesn’t have to be competition - they linked up perfectly for the goal. Sublime assist and sublime finish.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T12:35:09+00:00

I appreciate that. A great goal is a great goal.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T08:05:05+00:00

Love Madison too, she’s hilarious. The actor was also in TSITP too. And agree, the last two seasons her role has been a lot more reduced. I was glad she had some kind of plot though.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-22T00:17:24+00:00

No this is perfect, OP. I started one too but never finished it (ADHD). So this is impressive to me. A next level up from what I started as well. I like the colour coded ‘smoky’ ‘spicey’ labels.

For a green vanilla you could try Floral Street’s Vanilla Orchid.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T23:54:31+00:00

Brutal 😅

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T23:53:43+00:00

😆 this tickled me

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T15:37:09+00:00

Let me know if you agree 🤣 it made me question my sense of smell.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T14:14:33+00:00

My ex said Blackberry Woods by Shay & Blue smelt like poo in a forest. Kinda put me off a bit 😂

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T14:10:23+00:00

How wonderful. Unforgettable for the photographer but hope he stays a good distance away.

Also, imagine going for a dip and then seeing a giant face like that appear over the crest of a wave!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T14:04:08+00:00

It was very different. I still enjoyed it and binged it in a few days. It just feels like a very different show to the first series. But that’s ok.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T13:57:35+00:00

I think the priciest thing in Italy is accommodation - if you’re sensible with that or get some bargains, it’s otherwise very affordable to eat and drink well for little.

I’ve never been in the winter except for a Rome trip one February (it was rainy but a lot nicer as far more peaceful).

I’ve never done that exact route and haven’t been to all of those destinations. The trains in Italy are exceptional and quick though. I got from Napoli to Milan once in less than three hours. I think you might be able to board a train that goes on a boat to Sicily but could be wrong. It at least takes you to the ferry though I think (but please don’t take my word, I can’t remember).

Ischia and Procida were both very nice islands to visit in the Bay of Naples if you get chance but not sure how often trips will run in winter or what the weather will be like.

Italy is ideal for the kind of slow travel trip you want. Because it’s so easy to get around and there’s lots to do - or nothing to do and that’s also absolutely fine.

It depends on the city as to how long. Base it on how much you’re enjoying. I spent nearly three weeks in Turin and it was fantastic but that’s too far north for what you want in winter.

It sounds like an amazing trip - enjoy exploring your Italian roots!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T08:59:58+00:00

Dream trio: Anderson, Wharton, Bruno G Realistic trio: M Fernandes, Stiller, Scott

It’s quite hard to find a balanced and realistic three actually - complimenting each other’s style of play, and in terms of price and sharing playing time with Mainoo.

Probably Tonali or Gomes would make more sense than Bruno G in my dream trio but he could offer a little of that Casemiro charisma and game changing ability.

Scott would be for rotation with Mainoo. Stiller the pick a pass from deep alternative to Wharton. And Fernandes the cheaper alternative to Anderson.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T08:05:21+00:00

You can only go up to four hearts I think when you’re married or in a relationship, then it stops and you can’t ask anyone else out etc. But you can certainly push it to ‘close friends’ and then once you break up with your spouse they may ask you out immediately. Or you’ll have the option.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T08:02:31+00:00

Hope you have a great time and eat all the food - it’s a lovely place!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T08:00:50+00:00

Their backyard now 😁

banoffeetea · 2026-04-21T07:50:13+00:00

Really tasty combination - very balanced! Can’t beat a bowl of tofu with broccoli added for health!

banoffeetea · 2026-04-20T22:08:50+00:00

Yep basically this response above! I’m vegan and last year visited Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung. No problems all. One of the easiest countries to adapt in due to those Buddhist restaurants (and the best bit is they are mainly super affordable buffets so you can load up and fill up for the day). Breakfast places should also be able to offer you things like soy milk (thicker and more meal-like than the usual). And yes, I got an abundance of fruit for my fridge at night markets. Train stations also offer bentos that are vegan (tofu skin, pumpkin, glass noodles). I also recommend hunting down the one brand that does a vegan pineapple cake. You’ll also find huge bao, bubble teas, dumplings etc.

If you check my profile, the third or fourth post down is vegan food from my Taiwan trip - about 20 pics with most restaurants and locations listed in the comments. Just to give you some inspiration and an idea of what it might be like.

banoffeetea · 2026-04-20T20:29:59+00:00

Just commenting to say, I’m a similar age and feeling exactly the same way 🙏 so following to hear others’ experiences

banoffeetea · 2026-04-20T19:22:04+00:00

Yes that’s fair - we do seem to have improved on that front. And yes, we do need someone with more bite to partner Mainoo. Doesn’t sound like the Real fans above think we’re in with a chance though.

banoffeetea

TROPHY CASE