This week's subject is Rachel, who is in her early 20s and HAS NEVER WORN PERFUME. She needs our help. She'd like to find 2 perfumes, one for day and one for evening, and she'd be extra-happy if we'd recommend fragrances that are $150 or less.
Here is what we know about Rachel:
She is fair-skinned, athletic and a dancer.
Her favorite food is salad.
She works at a law firm and has a bad habit of correcting other people's grammar.
Rachel would like her day fragrance to be "delicate and feminine" and her evening fragrance to be "foxy but not skanky". In either case, she wants "something that smells GOOD, not so odd or 'artsy' that it will make a college-age guy recoil". She started her perfume search in June, and has tried an amazing number of fragrances since then (see below for a partial list, but she says she's also tried most of what Sephora & Nordstrom have on offer). Rachel does not like vetiver, licorice, chocolate, incense, violets, heavy woods, powder, rosemary or tea. She does like rum, jasmine, rose, lily, lime, saffron, coconut, citrus.
The "NO" list:
Sarah Jessica Parker: Lovely ("exact skin-scent of an ex-boyfriend") and Covet ("murky, chocolate notes do not appeal").
Donna Karan Gold: ("too spicy").
L'Artisan: La Chasse aux Papillons ("nice but chalky, too much like hay"), Thé Pour Un Eté ("too cedary"), Mimosa Pour Moi ("I don't like mimosa"), Premier Figuier ("powdery, dim").
Serge Lutens: Rachel tried Un Lys: ("I have reservations about going around smelling exactly like a certain flower"), Un Bois Vanilla ("gourmands sometimes make me nauseated"), Borneo 1834 ("smelled like dirt and animal hide") and Fleurs d'Oranger ("sultry, almost rotting").
Robert Piguet Fracas: ("too heavy"), and she had the same reaction to Marc Jacobs and Chantecaille Frangipane.
Prada Infusion d'Iris: ("too powdery and dark").
Annick Goutal Hadrien: ("shrill").
Bvlgari Thé Vert: ("alright once the initial blast of cat litter has gone away, but I get tired of waiting").
Other "no" scents include Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Bahiana, any of the aldehydic Chanels, Guerlain Iris Ganache, Divine L'Enfant, Parfums de Nicolai Eau Exotique & Balkis, Miller Harris Geranium Bourbon, Annick Goutal Songes.
The "I'd buy it if I found money in the street" and/or "I don't like it enough to get a full bottle but I can't bear to give away the sample" list includes Lostmarc'h Aod, Creed Virgin Island Water, Creed Spring Flower, Chopard Mira Bai, L'Artisan Safran Troublant, Parfums de Rosine Un Zeste (she did not like anything else in the Rosine line), Serge Lutens Un Lys (see above), Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic.
What say you? I'll admit I'm stumped. For day, Annick Goutal's Petite Cherie or Eau de Camille are possibilities, but I suspect she's tried them already. Givenchy's Eau de Givenchy is another delicate mixed floral that might work, and if Rachel has not tried Chanel Cristalle, she might give that a shot although I suspect it will fall into the "shrill" category. If Rachel had not said she disliked tea, I might have suggested Parfums 06130 Yuzu Rouge since she liked Rosine's Un Zeste.
On the evening front, I'm really stumped. Lubin Idole might work; it does have notes she doesn't like but it's so sheer that it might not matter, and it has both rum and saffron. But for some reason I don't think Rachel is going to love it. Other shots in the dark: Ormonde Jayne Ta'if, Sonoma Scent Studio Vintage Rose. I hope ya'll are going to have better ideas.
Note: image is Postbox (cropped) by Mark Turner at flickr; some rights reserved.
Rachel, have you already tried Delicious Night? I think it fits on what you are searching for a night scent.
I'd also recommend Addict Fraiche, Black Orchid Voile de Fleur, Versace Man (although marketed for men, it suits pretty well a womans scent and it's foxy but not to skanky).
It's such a challenge, and I don't know if you've liked them or have already tried them.
She might like Ghost Summer Dream for day. She might like Odori Iris for evening.
She could perhaps try the Jo Malone Kohdo Woods Collection for Day and Night respectively. For day I would also recommend Givenchy's Le De, which even LT says is hard not to like, and he is not a white floral man, AG's Chevrefeuille is lovely, feminine and lemony if she could just wait while the initial tomato stem blast subsides, Burberry's The Beat might be pleasant to the college boy nose, while J-Lo's Deseo has coconut, though it is not exactly my thing. A foxy rose scent might be L'Arte di Gucci, or FM's Une Rose. MCDI Promesse de L'Aube (pricey but decant-worthy) could go day or night, ditto Guerlain Plus que Jamais. These are a few of my favourite things!
For day, try Jo Malone Orange Blossom or Pomegranate Noir, or Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil. For evening, Laura Mercier L'Heure Magique or Serge Lutens Daim Blonde. Her taste sounds similar to mine and these are all in my collection. Another suggestion for a fragrance newbie is to dab it on with a cotton square rather than spraying the fragrance, especially if the nose is easily overwhelmed.
How about the Bulgari Rose and the new Jasmine they just came out with? The Rose frag is quite nice–understated and great for many occasions. The Jasmine was reviewed here recently.
For niche, what comes to mind is the Costume National line. The ones I have tried are clean, yet interesting. No one note dominates in these.
A fragrance I love which smells tropical (not sure if it is coconut) is Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess.
For citrus, she may want to try a unisex or male scent: Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta, Hermes Eau d'Orange Vert, or Miller Harris Tangerine Vert. One of the best colognes, but exceeds the budget, is Chanel Eau de Cologne.
Maybe she can try the new No. 5 Eau Premiere when it is released this fall. It is a more modern take on the light floral theme, and does not have heavy aldehydes.
If she hasn't already sampled Yuzu Rouge, I think she should. The tea may be blended with so many of the scents she likes not to ruin it for her. For evening, I think she should try another Annick Goutal, there are many in between Hadrien and Songes. Gardenia Passion? Ce Soir ou Jamais?
Maybe she should break the bank on some Joy for evening?
I also agree that Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil is worth a try…though she did say she tried everything that Sephora had to offer. I layer a drop of my turkish or white rose essential oil (diluted with jojoba oil) to my Un Jardin sur le Nil sometimes and to my nose it is heaven. It leaves a wonderful lingering scent on my clothes.
BTW, Robin, I found a set of le Nil with the body lotion at Sephora, and was tempted. Would rather find it at a discount site, but I haven't found it yet. If it is still there it just may become my 24th anniversary present to myself. '~)
Ok Rachel
lets start with day bois de fruits, bel respiro or eux d'hiver for day
for evening douce amere or magnolia roma
Rachel, you probably know, but Delicious Night is Donna Karan, and the Black Orchid is Tom Ford.
Rachel, the Odori is at Luckyscent.
Rachel, LT=Luca Turin. And JLo Deseo is a great call!
FM=Frederic Malle.
Nice idea on the cotton square!
Costume National is a nice choice — Rachel, those are at Barneys or Luckyscent. The others I think you'll know where to find.
99perfume.com!
Rachel,
Bel Respiro is by Chanel. Hiver is by Frederic Malle, Douce Amere is by Serge Lutens (and so is the Bois de Fruits). Magnolia Romana is by Eau d'Italie.
She has probably already tried these, if she has tried almost everything Nordstrom and Sephora has to offer, but she must have been looking for a long time to have tried almost everything. I know this from personal experience! I think I have only sampled about 15% of these stores and I have tried on or brought home numerous samples this summer….Heehee.
Oh Thanks Robin!!! I do NOT have that one bookmarked yet…must go investigate. :~)
Rachel, sorry to refer to you only in the third person. Have you tried Eau des Merveilles? Might be a good day scent?
That is a Hermes perfume, btw. Really do try some of the Hermes, please.
I have just applied Jean-Charles Brousseau Jasmine-Lilas – that's two bases covered for day? It is like Givenchy Le De, maybe a tad stronger, What about Hermes Jardin apres la Mousson or Osmanthe Yunnan? For citrus, the new Dior Escale a Portofino is stunning, and hopefully sufficiently off shrill!
Thanks venessa! Adding Dior Escale a Portofino to my must try list. MMMmmm, love a good citrus scent!
Hello, everyone! Rachel here. Well, I have tried Yuzu Rouge and like it because it was fresh and smelled unusual, but there was a something there that put me off, and now I think it WAS the tea. In terms of Joy, I got some for my mother recently (she has never worn perfume either, and has been enjoying a vicarious exploration of perfume through what I tell her. And yes, I find myself constantly saying “Now smell this,”) so now I associate it with her. Also, I heard that Joy has been reformulated but am not sure which I got her. Well, it was from Nordstrom, so it was probably the new stuff…In general I find the Hermes fragrances too sharp, but layered with rose oil sounds lovely.
It's the only one besides Beautyencounter that has the set, but it's cheaper at 99. And, they have the full size lotion — that would be my choice over the set since it's such a great lotion!
And should have said Happy Anniversary!
Eau des Merveilles is a great rec — unusual but not unapproachable.
Hi! Rachel speaking: I have been trying to get my hands on a Chevrefeuille for awhile, and have just recently swapped for it, so it should be on its way! Thanks, now I'll be prepared for the tomato stem blast. 😉 I found The Beat nice but without much to say for itself (I suspect I will just have to go for what I like in the end, and hope my friends will grin and bear it). I'll definitely check out the foxy roses!
P.S. It isn't really that I didn't like anything else in the Rosine line…I just haven't smelled any except Un Zeste, Folie and d'Ete. I like how Ecume and Diabolo have been described but have had trouble getting them into my hands.
I really have tried a great deal of what is available at these two–I am sort of the horror of sales associates.
Bel Respiro is a great suggestion for the law office. Green (but not necessarily green tea) scents might be one avenue to explore: Nanadebary Green, Molinard de Molinard. For a delicate floral, one of the Rosines perhaps?
I will try Eau de Merveilles as soon as possible. I went through a scandalous amount of Hermes scents in one sitting and I suspect some greats may have been lost in the shuffle. Shuffle? Stampede, really, if I remember that afternoon clearly.
I have yet to meet a Guerlain Aqua Allegoria I do not like, but then I haven't tried to much unloved Pamplelune yet. My sample is waiting for a risk free time…in case, I dislike it too.
I just sprayed on my sample of Tutti Kiwi and find it very refreshing. I see the Mandarine Basilic is on your No list, Rachel, but have you tired the others…Figue-Iris perhaps?
I enjoy their light quality for daytime.
Hi Rachel,
here are a few thoughts that sprung to mind (a few of these were already mentioned)
day: Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan, Lacoste pour femme, Chanel Bois de Isles, various Jo Malones (several star the notes you like)
night: Caron Parfum Sacre, Bvlgari Jasmine Noir, Yves St. Laurent Yvresse, L'artisan Saffron Troublant
Yes, I have been CRAVING a smell of Escale a Portofino, but so far am unsure how to get it. Available at Luckyscent, etc? And a lemming was just born for that Jasmine-Lilas!
Rachel, you might enjoy: Helmut Lang is wonderful for day or night, Annick Goutal Vanille Exquise is a light vanilla,Balmain Amber Gris is sweet and works on me for night,Stephanie de Saint-Aignan L'eau Nirique is coconut with jasmine and tuberose.
Good luck and happy sampling!
Thanks for the cotton square tip! I have the bad habit of recklessly spraying something on in the mornings: I've done it with Fracas and Tabac Blond (and I was fully aware of their reputations!) and then realized they really live up to their press. I waited in terror the entire day that someone would smell it. Not that I consider them revolting on their own merits, but I was so sure that someone was going to size up the combination of me/Fracas/the office and just say “What are you DOING?”
Hi Rachel! How about KenzoAmour for day – very soft and feminine. (Or is this too powdery?) Or for the rum, lime, coconut angle, maybe some of the scents in the Demeter Kahala collection? For night, what about Hypnotic Poison or Dolce & Gabbana The One?
Hmmm, I'd never considered the Lacoste before, I'll have to check that out. I liked the Safran (but probably for winter) and the Yvresse has long been on my wishlist. Carons terrify me a little bit: I have tried Aimez Moi and Tabac Blond and found them quite intense. I have never tried Parfum Sacre, though.
Sorry about that on the Rosine — my mistake!
I'll check out the Demeter Kahala line, I can probably get away with smelling like a fruity drink for a while longer down in Texas. 😉 I thought The One was nice, but two of my three roomates are already wearing it!
Lacoste might be the perfect “law office” scent- fresh citrus-y and pleasant (even a bit cerebral) (p.s.- I am a lawyer)
and DO TRY the parfum sacre, it is beautiful and sexy (maybe a decant you can dab on, to control the overzealous spray!)
Rachel,
Ananas Fizz by L'Artisan Parfumeur would be great for day time (especially during the summer) – sparkling, not-too-sweet grapefruit and pineapple with some beautiful white woods.
For night time – CDG Series 2: Red Rose (juicy rose!) or Paestum Rose by Eau d'Italie (urban rose!). In my opinion, they are two very intriguing, “not-your-grandmother's rose” scents.
Enjoy, and good luck!
Jasmine-Lilas was recommended by the perfumer Roja Dove in a “find the perfect perfume for so-and-so” exercise published in a British newspaper recently, and if you have any trouble getting hold of it I will gladly post you my spare carded sample! Another pretty lily is Annick Goutal's Le Muguet – don't know if you tried that one yet? And for daytime I absolutely love Jasper Conran Woman, which is not well known – it has woods in the base, but nothing obvious and has a lovely citrus opening with petitgrain and ginger. I am bidding on some carded samples on Ebay at the moment as my neighbour loved it on me, so you could have one of those if I win them – JC is a British designer who may not be readily available in the US. Still on citrus, you cannot go far wrong with Guerlain Eau de Guerlain and Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat, which are some of the more affordable in the line, certainly the former is.
Well if you like coconut and rum and citrus how about Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess? Sephora has it but maybe you've overlooked it. At any rate it was not on the NO list.
Also La Prairie Cellular Treatment Fragrance may be good. It is gorgeous.
Perhaps Emporio Armani Remix may work for the night? Or Calvin Klein Truth.
I have tried Bronze Godess and found it…thick. I think I'm more of a “breezy” person, and have trouble with the dense, sweet skin scents, which is what Bronze Goddess was on me. I liked Creed's Virgin Island Water because the lime in it kept the composition from going deep. I'll definitely try La Prairie, Armani and Calvin Klein.
Thank you…24 years is a long time for sure. I couldn't get 99percent up earlier, will try again though. Will add Beautyencounter to my bookmarks also.
For day, Roger & Gallet Shiso, Puro Lino, Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint, or Orange Blossom.
For night, Bond No 9 Chelsea Flowers, with White Peony, White Hyacinth, & white musk drydown.
…giggles…
You surely are not alone. :~)
I am a total rose freak, so basically anything layered with rose sounds lovely to me. Have you tried the Annick Goutal Rose Absolute? A small bottle of that might be worth the investment for layering purposes.
Maybe I should stop reading this thread, my wish list is growing leaps and bounds. So many lovely scents suggested.
Rachel, you might consider Hermes' Eau D'Orange Verte for daytime. It's a dry citrus cologne with some floral/mossy notes, and if you found Mandarine Basilic not quite right, you might like this better. To me it smells orangey, but also very warm and inviting. You might not have tried it at Sephora, since they keep it on the men's side, but it doesn't seem strongly “masculine” or “feminine” to me.
Maybe Jo Malone Jasmine mint for day and
Pilar & Lucy Exact friction of stars for night.
(Luckyscent)
Wait, who came out with the Bulgari Rose and Jasmine? Are we still talking about Jo Malone?
Oops, nevermind. 🙂
That was Asha a few comments above and they are both by Bulgari – Rose Essentielle and Voile de Jasmin.
Sorry – my mistake – the new jasmine one is Jasmin Noir. But Voile de Jasmin is pretty too.
I'll just kick in 2 cents and concur with those saying that Rachel should sample several of the Jo Malone line — I think she might find something that suits her for daytime. Also, I like Eau d'Orange Verte but I'm feeling it might not be up her alley; not sure why.
How about sampling the new Lancome Magnifique for evening?
By the way, welcome back from vacation, Robin. Hope you're all bronzed and relaxed. Ha!
What about Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan? You can get small bottles of it on ebay for a very reasonable price. It's quite lovely.
Haha, If your wish list is groing, think what it's doing to mine! 😀
Chevrefeuille should hopefully tick the citrus and feminine floral boxes for you – it really is a very cheerful perfume, so do persevere with the tomatoes – you shouldn't have to wait more than a moment or two till the main scent breaks through!
Joe, thanks — it was a great vacation! I don't really “bronze” (I'm too pale) but I'm sorta tan, and very relaxed 🙂
I'm embarrassed to say I've never braved the men's side of Sephora…something I intend to rectify as soon as possible! A warm, inviting orange? I'm there!
Wow! Thank you so much for your offer of the samples. Are you on MUA? I might have something you'd like. I have not tried Le Muguet yet…this thread has opened my eyes to the wide world of AGs that are not available or that I did not notice at Nordstrom's! I appreciate the affordable recs too. 🙂
I recommend from my personal collection:
For day: Eau Fraîche Verveine Agrumes by L'Occitane en Provence. Citrus easy and classy. For me it is so soft that I usually layer it on top of some lightly sprayed heavy vetyver or a lightly lightly sprayed heavy musk.
For night: Comme des Garcons 888, Saffron and sex appeal, but skank-free.
Ah! to be in your early 20's…what a joy in itself…NOT!
I am on MUA, but have not yet figured out the swapping side of things. I would be glad to send you this Brousseau anyway as I suspect it is tough to find on the decant sites – I drew a blank there, certainly, which is why I went trawling Ebay UK. I'll hold off till I see if I can bag these Jasper Conran ones as well, and get back to you.
Do you personally like Magnifique? In the review on this site it was characterized as smelling like dirt (although not in a negative way). Even so, I can't imagine something like that would work for me. I would apprecaite a second opinion, though!
Also–and this is a bit horrid–I just can't quite get behind something fronted by Anne Hathaway. Petty? Yep.
“Easy and classy”? I'll definitely investigate. I also like the sound of the 888, especially since I like saffron (and sex appeal). But hey! I'm rather enjoying my early 20's! Although it's good to hear there are bigger and better things further down the line. 😉
Hi Joy! Yeah, I should have checked out Nanadebary Green a long time ago. I remember thinking your bottle was cuuuuuute!
Sounds good.
I did not mean to be dismissive, it is just that MY early twenties were a time of yes, fun and learning, but also self discovery and the first bumps of grownup unrequited love.
Enjoy and learn, have fun, be wild… But also always be careful!
Regards
P.
OJ Frangipani? Perhaps POTL A.Maze, but that might be too “strong”. Those two just randomly came to mind. Think the Bulgari Rose Essentielle might be too sweet, but worth a shot.
I still like Euphoria on women, one of the few commercial releases I liked and still like after my perfume “epiphany.” I'm not too sure about a day scent, though… Sur la Nil? It's citrusy and I've never gotten the incense. Maybe it's a little too unisex, but it's worth a shot. (A little side story: after searching to get my mom a new perfume, I got her a bottle of SlN for her birthday and she loved it!)
Now, Robin, I've been thinking about it and I'd really love to apply as a Monday Mail subject. I'm not super desperate to find something, but I'd love to get recommendations from people more experienced. I'll bet there's a long list and I'd be happy to wait if you think it's worth it's while. =3
And Rachel, I used to do the same thing with poor grammar speakers. I still do it, just not aloud, which is what counts. I do hope that's a habit you can break; it caused me a lot of trouble.
Eric, the “line” is not too long at the moment. I am trying to avoid subjects who are already so knowledgeable that there isn't much left to recommend, but shoot me an email (nowsmellthis at comcast dot net).
By all means, those are sufficient enough reasons to nix it if you want to — I just thought it might be something easy enough to try in a mainstream dept store and it seems to have some notes that you like. (But come on, Anne H isn't THAT bad… haha.)
I know, isn't a terrible? Nowadays I can restrict myself to very close friends (not that that's any better) who usually just roll their eyes. Or plot to catch me in a mistake myself and enjoy my embarrassment.
Just wanted to add that I think it smells like vetiver, which to me smells mostly like dirt — not sure that's exactly how someone else would say it 🙂
You're right, its availability is a defiite plus, and all the magazines are buzzing about it. And you're right as well that Hathaway isn't THAT bad. I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw her in Brokeback, but I think her character was supposed to be awful! Actually, the more I think about it the more I want to try Magnifique…and who cares if Hathaway's ex is a major con-man? 😉
Daytime: Philosykos (Diptyque) has a nice clean smell that doesn't really smell like perfume (less than Premier Figuier).
Evening: En Passant (Frederic Malle) is nice quiet floral.
Both by Olivia Giacobetti, by the way, who also did Safran Troublant.
If you like Aqua Allergoria scents, try the new Laurier Reglisse – a fresh, happy citrus. Ava Luxe has a great line of scents and you might like Love's True Bluish Light. It has some vanilla but is not – to my nose – heavily gourmand. And the No. 5 Eau premiere is definitely worth a try – the aldehydes are virtually non-existant and the dry down is exquisite. Macy's has it now, so it would be easy to sample.
Wow, this is an interesting case! My suggestion is not a perfume as much as an idea. In the intense first few months of my perfume quests, I found that my tastes have changed drastically, just like my thoughts on the kind of things I would wear. I can't count how many great perfumes that I initially disliked eventually became among my favorites (Bulgary Black, Kouros, Guerlain Vetiver, just to name a few.) My thoughts on perfume's notes, accords, moods, loudness, masculinity/femininity are miles away from where they were 7 months ago (that is, when i began my perfume quest). Accordingly, my suggestion to you would be to rub yourself against the grain, and to try (on skin – ideally more than once) things you wouldn't have thought of wearing. For instance, you don't like vetiver? Why not treat yourself with guerlain's for an afternoon? Powdery is not your thing? Check out Dior Homme (don't worry about its target audience: it's as unisex as it gets)! You don't like incense? Indulge yourself with one of Comme des Garçon's. Not a fan of heavy woods? Try Duchaufour's über-woody and yet divinely ethereal Timbuktu. Not sure you like it odd? Try Dzing! or Black. Have FUN! 🙂
I agree with this idea 100%. My fragrance moods change daily, and my tastes have evolved so much over the past two years! I don't think I can say that I like or dislike any particular note all of the time.
The only problem with your suggestion is that it might make a perfume addict out of poor Rachel!
Ok, how about the new JPG Ma Dame that is reveiwed today here? It seems quite up Rachel's alley by the desription . I would be interested to know if that works for her.
Another one to consider may be Tocca ” Cleopatra,” its a very refreshing citrus/floral with a soft wood base.
For an averyday office scent that wont break the bank or anyone's nose sensibililites, how about “MIracle” by Lancome? Easily purchased at a discount and has peppery note amidst the fresh florals. Now that I am mentioning Lancome, “Oui” could be another daytime -office opton.
How about Montale's Soleil de Capri for day. Lightly citrus morphing into a softly floral musk. Very light and classy but good lasting power. For evening, Amouage Gold (expensive try a decant from the Perfumed Court) or Montale's Aoud Lime, really nice, not skanky but noto shy either. I'm such a one-trick pony loving the Montale's as I do. . ..
I am also a grammatical stickler, but am close to accepting defeat in my campaign to keep the possessive form of “its” apostrophe-free. I know I should accept that language evolves, for if it hadn't already we'd all be speaking like Chaucer, but for some reason I find it hard to go with the flow… Is there rehab for pedants, I wonder, as I could definitely do with it! : – (
Intrigued by the law office aspect, not that I am one, but just to see what that might smell like, I have just bought a mini of the Lacoste unsniffed on Ebay. Thanks for the tip off!
A lawyer, that is, not an office!
Do you think that it would sound better if we started calling it “soil” or “loam” instead iof “dirt”?
Have you tried L'Air du Temp? A classic–feminine for sure–totally pretty. It could be day or night.
Try Bath and Body Coconut Lime Verbena just for kicks–very cheap.
Have you tried Coney Island–it has that beach feel, but it is lighter/clearer than BG–more citrus and less creamy and stops short of shrill imo. And everyone wants to own one of those bottles. . . . .
I'm still thinking . . .
OK, so maybe the Coney Island is supposed to have chocolate in there–I don't smell it–but since you don't like it, maybe you will. Try it–the citrus is the strongest note for me–some say it smells like a Margarita.
Have you tried Beautiful? Lots of women love it. It is a big floral. I used to love the dusting powder.
She can get Costume National products at fragrancenet.com for less. The CN intense is really nice.
Well, I've narrowed my grammar correction down to one poor soul. My husband, a prosecutor, needs polishing now and then. Vanessa, please don't give up the its/it's battle. It will be worth the fight if you save just one soul! 🙂
I agree with Rick. These two came to my mind as I read through this thread. These two fragrances are true works of art, IMO, and sound worth trying for you.
The rose slant intrigues me, too, Rachel. If you haven't tried Ecume de Rose, please do. It is very special, and for me a perfect “any time” fragrance. Not too sweet, light, and feminine. For an alluring evening scent, maybe Une Rose. It's a stunningly luscious rose with a sexy, earthy underpinning. Swoonful. And Robin's suggestion of Ta'if is a good one, I think. It has saffron and lots of other good things. I like it for its beauty and its originality. Read Ta'if's list of notes and drool: Pink Pepper, Saffron, Dates, White Peach, Ta’if Roses, Orange Blossom, Broom, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine. Amber, Tonka Bean, Musk, Vanilla Absolute.
Best of luck with your quest!
Making perfume addicts: I think that's what this amazing blog is for.. 😉
BCBGirls sexy. its a little like safran troublant with clove instead of what strikes me as cumin in the opening. d/ced but easy to find online. (or i could provide a sample)
guess by marciano: fun, young, but sexy. not overly sweet. i'd also put betsey johnson in this general category but its sweeter. oh, and flowerbomb too.
bvlgari rose essentielle is a delicate rose for daytime.
hermes un jardin en mediterranee is a lush sunny fig. not sure it fits in with the criteria at all, but i like it.
lastly, try bath and body works coconut lime verbena for a cheapie alternative to virgin island water
Rachel, my sense of things makes me think you might want to explore the Jo Malones, since they are so fresh and easy to wear and there are so many to choose from.
Also, have you tried Burberry The Beat? It might be just the light, casual, contemporary thing that'd do the trick for day. For evening, Miss Boucheron is sophisticated but still young and pretty. Happy hunting!
I second H's rec of Ecume and Une Rose and Ta'if. Given that you found Donna Karan Gold “spicy”, Ta'if's opening might be a little sharp, but stick with it until the warm sweet scent of sand dunes kicks in. Oh, and I timed the tomato stem blast of Chevrefeuille last night and it was more like 5 mins, but then, wow!
Hi, I say, try Kenzo Amour. It definitely has a coconut vibe. I also like Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder.
Rum, lime.. Nina by Nina Ricci of course.
Something hard to define what it is and yet young, bubbly cheerfully fresh and good…Daisy by Marc Jacobs.
Daisy for daytime and Nina for nighttime.
I haven't checked out the decant sites re samples of Dior Escale a Portofino, but it has now reached the Dior counter in the very small department store in my small town, so I reckon any department store where you are might also have it?
LOL — I suppose, but I think dirt is more accurate! And I distinctly remember smelling fragrances early on and thinking “who would want to smell like dirt?”, then you know, 6 months later, I could answer “I do”!
hope it's a hit!
It should arrive tomorrow, so will let you know… I have a good feeling about it, going off the notes and your description, yet interestingly I have completely overlooked the whole Lacoste line till now. The recent pink one didn't help, but I had just lumped them in with certain Ralph Laurens, Cool Water This and Thats etc in my mind as “bland American sporty”. I feel sure now that was unfair.
Hum. I have never tried any of the Montales…I suppose I was scared by my mental conception of aouds as some sort of freakish wood. What ARE they? Well, whatever they are, Montale seems to have made a career out of them and it's high time I took knowledgeable peoples' advice and gave them a go. Soleil de Capri sounds like a good choice for a newby just dipping a toe in. But aoud and lime? I can't picture it. Is it sweet at all? Not that that's necessarily a positive, just I always thought of lime as clean in a sort of breezy way, but that would seem less appropriate for evening…
All my bad habits are coming to light in the course of this thread! One of them is that I'm a bit of a fragrance coward. 😛 This stems from a difficulty really with smells in general: I don't think my nose is sharper than anyone elses, but for some reason I have struggled for YEARS with various bad smells (in a recurring place like a classroom) that made my friends wrinkle their noses but forced me to rush back out the door and retch. On the other hand, I'll be shredding herbs and squeezing a lime over my salad and think “If they bottled the scent I smell at this exact moment I'd buy it until I die.” So I'll admit I have been cautious to try things after being burned by their dominant note in another fragrance. But I've definitely come a long way in the three months since I wandered onto Robin's blog!
Yep, I tried BBW Coconut Lime Verbena with high hopes–dashed! It wouldn't work with me at all, was flat and stale. Although I did have that new Tom Ford on my other wrist at the time (White Patchouli) and perhaps the Lime Verbena suffered by comparison? Anyway, I have heard that it's a dead wringer for VIW, but am jealous of people for whom that's actually the case.
Funnily enough, Montale Aoud Lime has been sitting waiting for me to try it again for the past week, following a rec from my bro, who gets the Turkish delight note detected by reviewers, and claims there is in fact no lime in it. On the first go I got no Turkish delight, and an indeterminate citrus that may or may not have been lime, and the strongest woods smell you could imagine. Think naked planks and packing crates. I am going to take the plunge and try it again, as Aoud is an acquired taste apparently that may need several attempts.
Beautiful? Who makes it?
Estee Lauder.
Hmmmm, herbs and sharp citrus? New suggestions:
Jicky by Guerlain or Roger & Gallet's Citron (citrus over green/herbal notes) or R & G's Jean Marie Farina (citrus over white floral notes)?
Do let us know what you think. I think LPF is pleasant and a bit quirky (kind of bookish, if that qualifies as a description). And it is much more interesting than the usual sporty fresh fare, but still a low-key “day” sort of scent.
Well, before I spent all this time lurking on blog sites, I was very bookish. I only read in the bath now and on holiday!
Had another discreet daytime idea – indeed when I retested my sample before giving it away to a friend, I liked it so much I ordered the smallest possible bottle (25ml) – it's Bvlgari Omnia Cristalline. Has Asian pear and bamboo and subtle woods and is aquatic and zen-like in a good way.
Oops! Duh.
I really dislike when my friends do that. They just don't understand how hard it is not to succumb to bad grammar!
I'd argue that vocabulary evolves, not grammar.
And, again, I'd argue very strongly that there isn't anything wrong with us pedants. Others can wallow in their incorrect grammar hole. Besides, it gives us an advantage. ;3
Several hours in and I do believe I am getting a hint of Turkish delight this time, and the planks have quietened to a woody whisper. !
Hi again Rachel,
Re: Montale and Aouds
Some people find aouds objectionable. When first sprayed on the aoud is rather strong, some say medicinal, I don't. It's very hard to describe. I will say that after about 10 minutes the aoud settles down and seems to react with the other fragrance notes and anchors the scent in the most unbelievable way. Their lasting powers are absolutely phenomenal. Aoud Lime actually has no lime in it. Go figure. But the other notes combine in such a way as to create a lime essence. It is not a predominantly citrus scent, but is rather soft and sexy. I think Montales are absolute marvels and am currently rotating between four of them. Since I have tried them, I have a hard time wearing anything else, but will (of course) continue to sample endlessly. You might also like Aoud Queen Roses for your evening scent. It has been described as 'sex on a fur coat'. For the record, real fur is mean (shame on you Gwyneth) I prefer to imagine it as sex on really, really thick cashmere!! Have fun sampling (perfume I mean)!!
Wow, you've just convinced me to seriously attempt to get my hands on some Aoud Lime! Do you know anything about Montale's Sunset Flowers?
Damn! I was going to suggest Creed Virgin Island Water, or perhaps Spring Flowers. Keep trying those… you might end up really loving them later. But otherwise, I would suggest Nirmala by Molinard for day. It's a little gourmand, but not obnoxiously or nauseatingly so. The only thing is that I have no idea where it's available.
For night, maybe Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Figue Iris?
Hi Rachel,
If I'm not mistaken, I have a sample of Sunset Flowers and didn't like it. I think I detected a hint of gardenia, tuberose – real deal breaker for me. I will revisit it tomorrow and if I'm mistaken, I'll update. I'm currently waiting for a bottle of Oriental Flowers by Montale after having gotten several samples of it and deciding I can't live (a meaningful existence) without it. Luckyscent has a great selection and I strongly recommend ordering samples. I have read so many reviews that convinced me a scent was “the one” only to detest it upon trying it. If you like rose, you might consider a sample of Creed's Fleur de The Rose Bulgare. One of the most authentic roses imaginable mixed with light citrus and honey. Absolutely delicious, but only for true rose lovers. Oh, and I too second Lacoste Pour Femme, very original, feminine and sexy, not too “in your face” at the office.
You know, fragrance should be a fun experience from beginning to end. This also often means going at your own pace, and in the directions you feel like taking.. At any rate, be sure that yours will be a fun ride, since being curious, as you obviously are, is where the fun starts! Best luck…
I wear Coney Island and don't get any chocolate at all.
Hi Rachel,
Being a young lawyer myself, and in many respects rather similar to your description, I couldn't resist giving my thoughts on some, in my opinioin, very nice perfumes.
My current favourite day wear perfumes are:
Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue”
Esteee Lauder “Pleasures – Gwyneth Paltrow edition”
For evening wear I alternate between:
Chanel “Christalle eau de toilette” (Which I find “heavy” enough for me)
Dolce & Gabbana “The one”
Chanel “Chance”
Good luck with your search!
Hi Rachel,
Being a young lawyer myself, and in many respects rather similar to your description, I couldn't resist giving my thoughts on some, in my opinioin, very nice perfumes.
My current favourite day wear perfumes are:
Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue”
Esteee Lauder “Pleasures – Gwyneth Paltrow Edition”
For evening wear I alternate between:
Chanel “Cristalle eau de toilette” ( Now correctly spelled also ;-))
Dolce & Gabbana “The One”
Chanel “Chance”
Good luck with your search!
It is! It smells exactly as I imagined and hoped it would! Smooth, subtle, understated…mmm!
Since you asked what Aoud is, I have read that it is the resin secreted by a tree (forget which one) when the tree is infected by a particular fungus/mold (again, I forget which one). This resin is highly fragrant and difficult to collect therefore the high pricetag attached to most aouds. Sounds nauseating I know, but smells heavenly.
Wow, I'll trot over to the nearest mall immediately and give it a go! I can't believe it's finally here, I;ve been lemming it since Bois de Jasmin write a glowing review of it ages ago. 😀
Yes, I was impressed with the Aqua Allegorias…The Mandarine is not so much on my “No” list as it's one of those “I would wear it with pleasure if someone gave it to me” scents. The Tuttie Kiwi is lovely but the Figue-Iris is the one I think I liked the least: neither fig not iris work for me. Fig goes dim and powdery (at least, Premier Figuer did and I haven't tried Diptyque, etc) and iris is torture because it should work and doesn't. Iris Ganache was a delectable pastry made of something inedible.
There is a widely available and beautiful aoud perfume: YSL m7. It's likely not to be the sort of take on aoud that you would wear – many seem to think it's close to being a masculine archetype, insanely woody, and contains loads of vetiver. (Ok, trying out m7 might be a bad tip, since it might lead one to condemn aoud. But if you're careful not to condemn aoud based on it alone it would give you a rough idea.) The montales are quite different in character from M7, usually counterbalancing the aoud with rose and sandalwood instead of vetiver, but the aoud note is to my nose somewhat similar (though quieter in M7). Based on what I remember of it, you might especially like aoud roses petals: airy and light, and yet sultry and deep. (Read robin's great review of it!)
Yay! I'm so glad!
Dear Rachel, You are not alone. I am a light floral girl too. I have several suggestions(pardon my grammar, it's bad), mainstream and niche:
Versace signature, it's a new very light floral
Fleur d'Interdit by Givenchy- not talked about much anymore, it's dreamy and the bottle is a work of art. Must try.
Serge Lutens Clair de Musc -very light musk w/orange blossom, iris
Ellie and Ellie Nuit-springlike and the Nuit is not heavy for evening.
Liz by Liz Claiborne-pretty light and slightly green
Prince Jardinier Bouton de Rose-beauty of an English garden
La Base For Her-$130.00 at Lucky scent -alpine spring flowers
Estee Lauder's Pleasures EXOTIC-different than Pleasures, light and can't stop smelling myself
Monyette Paris- the signature and the new one, Coquette Tropic at Lucky scent. Those are just fun and only need a light touch.
Lastly, Fifi Chachnil , sexy with saffron but not highly spiced. And the bottle is La femme!
Good luck to you,
You can also get decants from The Perfume Court and save some bucks.
Thanks, alotofscents, a lot of these appeal to me too as a lurker on the site and I will follow them up for myself. A case of “collateral sillage” on your part? : – )
Thanks! Some of these are on my wishlist, particularly the Clair de Musc and Monyette Paris! The Prince Jardinier Bouton de Rose also catches my eye…but I think I'm just a sucker for a brand with the word “prince” in it. 😛
Am thinking of renaming it: “Lacoste Touch of Class”! : )
I hope I helped y'all. I can't find a scent that's my signature either, and I'm getting on in years! Saying ” I wear Prince Jardinier Bouton de Rose”, sounds like a classy sophisticate doesn't it? I'm scared of some of the overly creative scents too. I want to smell delicious, not strange. It's hard to do. No offence to the rugged individualist out there. ; )
Joy,
Becca
Daytime: Jil Sander Sensations EDP.
Night: Herrera 212 sexy.
But I need some additional information… is she in love? In a relationship? Longing for someone she cannot have? Desiring to seduce the guy? To tease and deny?… This has a great impact (even unconsciously) on your choice of perfume. You would never wear Opium with a boyfriend or husband… but you would with the guy you don t want as a relationship but who keeps your ego and femininity awake by being mad about you for years… hopelessly, of course… 🙂 I suggest letting such a guy take you out one night, escaping to the ladies', taking off those Agent Provocateur French knickers, spraying Opium (OK, Strip by AP too, if you're into it) generously on them, and slipping them into his pocket saying it's just too hot for you to keep wearing them… and make sure you leave in no more than half an hour…. Guaranteed to make you feel gorgeous for at least a month 😛