Way back at the end of April, I sent off some perfumes to Susie of the podcast Feminine Hijinx:

Susie (the one on the left) contacted me a few weeks ago and said they were hoping to feature more beauty and perfume information, and would I recommend some fragrances for them to try? So, we're going to test my ability to ask a few questions and then pick out some appropriate scents — not something, by the way, that I claim any great competence at.

I sent Susie 5 samples, and hit pay dirt on one of them: Susie has since purchased a bottle of Diptyque Do Son. Now we're moving on to Kim, who is in some ways more of a challenge. Kim worked in a health care environment — no perfume allowed! — for years, and doesn't wear perfume often even now. She does own Kimono Rose and Filigree (neither of which I've smelled) by The Thymes. She used to like fragrances in the musk category, but doesn't remember any brand names. She also likes the scent of lavender, but hasn't found a lavender scent that isn't too strong.

I am seriously at a disadvantage here. Lavender isn't my favorite note, and while I can think of a few possibilities, I don't own them so can't send Kim samples. So, I'm concentrating on the musk angle, plus a few random possibilities. Here is what I sent, listed in order from cheap to expensive:

Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline: This is a clean, crisp musky wood scent that really grew on me over the past month or so. I don't know anything about what kind of musk scents Kim likes so it is still a shot in the dark. At least it is a bargain: you can find a 25 ml bottle for under $25 if you shop around.

Hermès Eau des Merveilles: This one came to mind right away as a scent that is interesting without being overwhelming. It might be a good "re-entry" scent for someone who hasn't been wearing fragrance frequently. As with the Omnia Crystalline, I originally dismissed it as too dull, but later tries impressed me. We'll see what Kim thinks! This one can also be found at discount, in this case, you can find a 50 ml bottle for around $30.

Becker Eshaya Be: This is a soapy-clean floral musk, fairly light, and very California-ish. Not my thing, but we'll see if it is Kim's. 50 ml is $65

L'Artisan Ananas Fizz: I thought I might as well include a fruity floral, and I'll also note that in a recent random test of some 30-40 fragrances, 3 out of 4 of my girlfriends voted this a favorite. We're moving up in price: 50 ml is $75.

Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile Eau de Toilette: I wanted to send a few light, summery florals, and this is one of my favorites. It is something of a love-it-or-hate-it so I'm taking a chance, and I should also note that it really needs to be sprayed to be fully appreciated. If Kim likes it but finds it too light, she might want to find a "real" tester in a department store. A 50 ml bottle is $80.

Parfumerie Generale Maori Musc: This one is a foody musk, and I thought it was a really fun scent. This might be another that needs to be sprayed to be appreciated, but unfortunately, Kim isn't going to find a tester in any brick 'n mortar store in her area. 50 ml is $85.

You can listen to Kim's reactions here, (you can listen from your computer or your phone, or download for your iPOD or other MP3 player). Please note that iTUNES rates Feminine Hijinx as "explicit", and this particular podcast definitely is: don't listen with the kids!

How'd I do? Really lousy! I cracked up at Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline = Charmin.