We're almost a third of the way through 2009 — is it a good year so far for perfume? Better or worse than 2008?
And what's your favorite release of the year so far, and which upcoming fragrance are you most looking forward to?
Note: image is pink peonies [cropped] by Buttersweet at flickr; some rights reserved.
Oh I don’t know, to me it seems like a fairly “good year” but I’m not that many years into this and a lot of my lemmings have been out for awhile now — a lot of catching up to do. Doesn’t feel much different to me than 2008. I know you keep a list of new perfumes, R, but is there any list you know of that shows launches sort of in chronological order? It’s pretty hard for me to remember what is “new” as of January 1 and what’s been around since fall.
I have several lemmings, but they’re yet to be launched or easily available: Bal d’Afrique, Geranium Pour Monsieur, that Dior Pondicherry thing, and others I’m sure.
And I’m actually really happy with Vanille Galante. I’ll never spring for a large bottle, but it’s really nice. I’d also be happy to get some Varvatos Artisan or B#9 Brooklyn. In other words, there’s enough out there to keep me spending, that’s for sure.
No, sorry, and the new perfumes page really needs to be cleared out badly…all kinds of older stuff on there.
My 15 ml of VG is nearly gone! I need another, and wouldn’t mind having a small bottle of JV Artisan either.
Robin – I’m puzzled about where to BUY Vanille Galante? Please help. . . .
Most larger Hermes boutiques will have it…that’s your only choice.
Sacre Bleu: You should also check ebay of course if you’re willing to buy from there (and I certainly am!).
Can help you with Artisan if you’d like? Just let me know.
Gracious, is there anything you don’t have?!?
If C doesn’t have it, he WILL have it… but then again he might not keep it for long! I love it!
It’s almost astonishingly well done (astonishing in the sense that so few men’s fragrances are at all well done!) … very impressed, & love the basketweave bottle. Hope it sells, it deserves to.
Don’t have? Yes! Aoumage Attar!
Robin,
I have one bottle left from a package of 4 travel-size Vanille Galante that I was splitting. Let me know if you want one. It will take me a while to run through my 15ml one.
Thanks so much Ayala! Will think about it — not sure I’m going to replace it right away, I have so many things on my wishlist!
I found B9 Brooklyn kind of dull. Nothing special.
Gorgeous photo, my love!
I think this is a very good year for perfume, at least so far. I have done more perfume shopping, ahem, than I thought I would. But after a dull year in 2008, it is refreshing to discover unique new releases.
So far, my favorite release has been MDCI’s Vepres Siciliennes. I love it, and bought the first bottle when it became available at Scent Bar/Luckyscent.
I am looking forward to a few upcoming releases, namely Cristalle Eau Verte, Dior Escale a Pondichery and Del Rae’s Mythique.
Hugs!
Isn’t that pretty? Have said it before, but I do love Flickr.
We are looking forward to about the same things, but I’d add the Hermes colognes!
And hugs to you
Oh yes, I forgot those! Definitely want to test them, too!
not as many as least year thank goodness, the smaller indie companies are struggling.. the larger more & flankers and the mid sized boutique and prestige are really geting the squeezed, For me:MCDI Vespres siciliennes, JCE Eau de Gentiane Blanche , Les Sisleys and Calé Fragranze d’Autore – Dolce Riso and mistero really stood out. I just tested Ajne Calypso and that is one to watch for.. is Profumi del Forte – by night – White
I found Nasomatto’s Black Afghano a very interesting scent – but maybe not really wearable: just a great smell of the real thing.
I also liked Nuit de cellophane a lot, but don’t rember if it is 2009.
Big 2009 disappointments: AG un matin d’orage and Manoumalia (is this 2009?). The latter is just not me, while the AG was a real scrubber. Waterish…humid….boring….
Manoumalia is not me either — shame, because it’s impressive!
I lack the overview to say if it has been a good or bad year so far, but my favourite launches have been Vanille Galante, as Joe mentions, also J’Adore L’Eau Cologne Florale. The Eau de Sisleys 1-3 are nice too, especially the 3, though it is the most fleeting, sadly. Matin d’Orage was a disappointment, for similar reasons to Zazie, plus it went indolicly sour on me towards the end. Am still evaluating Cristalle Eau Verte – first impression is that it is nice, but a tad sharp, an issue I had with Escale a Portofino last year.
I like the Sisleys too, hope to review those soon. Have not yet smelled the Cristalle…must get myself to the mall!
Is the Cristalle flanker even in the States yet?
You know, I’m not sure…I keep reading reports, but perhaps they’re all from overseas!
Oh, also love Kenzo Eau de Fleur de Magnolia – how could I forget that? I appear to be chasing magnolia generally this year…
Another pretty one!
This is my first year as a budding perfumista (read: addict) so everything seems ‘new’ to me. I haven’t really been differentiating between 2008 and 2009 releases….mostly gathering samples, sniffing like crazy and chasing lemmings….:-)
Seems I catch a fair number of them too.
So far the one perfume they’d have to pry from my hands with a really big crowbar: Chanel 31 Rue Cambon. I know it’s not a ‘new release’ but it’s new to me.
I hope Chanel will do a new Exclusif this year!
I don’t know if they could come up with something that could knock 31 RC out of top place….but I’m always willing to sniff contenders.
I’m hoping to get my hands on some of that Dior Pondichery.
(lemming)
I would LOVE a new Les Exclusifs also, Robin! There are so many great scents, but always room for one more. ‘-)
I vote for a summer-y jasmine.
R, did you ever get to try Drama Nuui? I don’t have a lot of jasmine experience, but that one, to me, was great.
That would be great, Robin! Hopefully it would be a long lasting, good sillage summer jasmine.
Robin,
Although I have spent more money on perfume during the first 4 months of 2009, mostly everything I’ve bought have been out for a while and are only new to me. I only discovered Ormonde Jayne and Andy Tauer this year and purchased a few , also bought Cuir de Russie, Chanel 22, and TDC Osmanthus. I also got a bottle of Amouage Lyric Woman off E-Bay. So I actually have not purchased a new 2009 release. However, I am also waiting for Delrae’s Mythique to debut and I think a summery Jasmin Chanel Exclusif would be wonderful!
Joe, I did…and it’s waiting for a 2nd try. I’m VERY behind on testing!
I will always vote for a jasmine….
Filomena, you’ve discovered some great lines, and congrats on finding Lyric on eBay!
I am trying more violet & iris scents of late, and LOVE SSS’s Lieu de Reves, it is wonderful. It is so soft and subtle, I didn’t expect it to have the depth or be quite so interesting. I was very happily surprised!
The new releases I’m looking forward to are Fendi for men and PdN’s scents. In general I’ve always liked her fragrances.
I love the peony pics Robin, they are one of my fave flowers. Alas, I think they have a very short growing season…. bummer.
True, they do not last long. I used to grow them, but don’t have any now
My scope is much more limited than most perfume-heads since I’m one of those natural freaks, LOL. But I think it’s been wonderful year in the natural perfume world so far as I adore the newly released SIP’s Epic Gardenia, Honore’s Chaman’s Party (just wrote about it today) and Ayala’s Hanami. And while not 100% all natural but pretty close, Pacifica’s Egyptian Bergamot Rose is really pretty.
I am very anxious to try In Fiore’s soon to be released fragrant body oils and Roxana Villa has some new goodness up her sleeve too!
Yes, it’s an excellent year for naturals!
Haven’t been impressed with any of this year’s new scents that I’ve tried…though I’ve only had the opportunity to sniff the department store stuff, like Flora, Versense, the Kenzos, etc. All are fine, but not blow-me-out-of-the-water-have-to-have-them scents. I ignore all of the flankers – don’t even bother to try those. As for more difficult to find scents, based on reviews, I want to try Vanille Galante.
For upcoming scents, I’m anxious to try Cristalle Eau Verte and the two new Parfums de Nicolai fragrances – Violette in Love and Week-end a Deauville…and the Vanille Intense! I wore Cristalle years ago, so am interested to see what they did with it. And I’ll always love PdN!
Hey, but the CEV is a flanker!
Ha ha ha! You’re really zinging me today, Robin! Guess I should crawl back into my corner now. Ha!
LOL…I didn’t mean to, really! Come back out of the corner. I hate flankers in theory too, but the Cristalle Verte is on my list to smell as well
Love the picture for today Robin! Just gorgeous blossoms.
I wonder where Mals86 has gotten to today….she’s going to LOVE those peonies!
Taking my 2nd kid to doctor (possible strep, waiting on the culture because the quick test said no)… and not feeling so hot myself.
You’re right, I am loving the peonies!!!! (thanks for posting that, Robin – isn’t it great that flickr lets you borrow as long as you attribute?) My own peonies are sending up dark red shoots – can’t wait for them to bloom. They’re Sarah Bernhardts, and they always bloom around my daughter’s birthday in late May.
So sorry…hope you’re both better soon!
Yikes, strep…yuck, and you almost made it through the school year! Of course, some antibiotics will fix it right up quick . Which is better than if it’s sore throats due to allergies, since allergies would be a constant battle.
Hope you all feel better.
Daisy, one of my favorite flowers
Yup, gorgeous flowers. I have several clumps of big ,double magenta peonies….no whites or pinks…I’m thinking that I need some white and pink ones now!
I think it has been a great year so far for new releases! Laurie Erickson’s Lieu de Reves and Tabac Aurea come to my mind also SmokeyToes. Am so looking forward to her Gardenia Musc, which hopefully will be ready for listing before the year is over. Ha!
Un Matin d’Orage, Vanille Galante, Nuit de Cellophane also come to mind. Many that I am forgetting right now, I am sure.
I have a MDCI sample set coming soon, so I will probably their two new scents to my list shortly.
So many soon to be released scent to look forward to sniffing. The new Chanel, the new FM, etc. I am a happy perfumista in 2009!
I’m really looking forward to the SSS Gardenia too!
Hello Everyone!
Well all of my purchases so far have been about me missing out on some twenty years of perfume making. Almost everything I have bought is probably considered “vintage” to most except for 3 released in 2008. My one and only purchase for a brand new 2009 fragrance was AG Matin d’Orage. I bought the roller ball. I really liked it when I first got it but what I don’t like about it is that it doesn’t last very long on me at all. And, right before it disappears on me, it turns very “soapy” on me. CD J’Adore does the same thing to me. I will not be re-purchasing this AG or J’Adore again.
So overall I am probably too new to judge 2008 vs 2009. But I will be brave and venture to say that for me at least, it seems to me there hasn’t been a scent that was a WOW!!!! scent yet this year… for 2008 my WOW!! scent was Insolence EDP. But hey, it’s early right?!
I’m in the same boat, catching up on everything that’s gone on since, well, EVER. I have that Former Drugsto Frag Ho background to overcome. Sometimes I wonder where I even was in the 80’s, that I missed YSL Paris! honestly, had never smelled it until this year.
No 2009 fragrances screaming BUY ME in my ear yet, though.
I never smelled Paris until recently, either! Even though I was fairly on the ball, I thought.
Fuddy Duddy, I wonder if the AG would do better sprayed? It struck me as a very light scent to put in a roller-ball, although I do like that they made a smaller size available.
I’m fairly overwhelmed and very far behind on new releases. With all the negative economic news and now, with Earth Week, the negative enviromental news, I’m finding it hard to find a balance between *deadly depressing* and *new and fun!*
I feel a bit like Eeyore. I think I need a spritz of something happy, just not, you know, Happy.
There are an awful lot of new releases. Betting next year we’ll see fewer…
I think you’re right. Should be interesting to see what happens.
I have so many I’m longing to try from years gone by that I haven’t yet really focused on this year! I, too, am dying to try Vanille Galante, though.
Do, it’s lovely!
This is always a tough question for me at this stage since I always run a few months behind and end up writing about perfumes that came out last winter. It’s certainly been a good year for re-issues, so far: off the top of my head, I’m glad to see C & S Dark Rose and Amouage Ubar back. I’ve tried the Cristalle Eau Verte and I like it quite a bit, though it doesn’t smell anything like Cristalle EdT or EdP to me – sort of minty and with a soft floral heart. More likely to suit me than many other Cristalle fans, I’d wager. The Humiecki & Graef fragrances aren’t really 2009, but they’ll come to these shores then, and they’re really fun. wasn’t wild about the new MDCIs like I was about some of the original launches. Like everyone else, I’m looking forward to Geranium Monsieur and Pondichery…..
Thanks Erin! I forgot Ubar! I went through half my sample a couple of days ago. Beautiful! I never smelled the original, but the re-issue is FBW, albeit and expensive FB.
Yes, excellent that we have Dark Rose & Ubar back!
Beautiful photo! Coincidentally, I had dinner at a french chateau last night and our hostess took us through the gardens. As I took in the beauty of her peonies, she clipped me a beautiful fuchsia bloom to take home. All day I have been enjoying the scent. Ah spring!
Sorry, back to topic: Personally, I can’t wait for Escale a Pondichery and Geranium PM.
I do want that Pondichery! Not sure I’m as excited about the Geranium as everyone else.
So far, the year has been very BLAH….
I have bought many oldies and replenished a few favorite…. and rediscovered the back row of my collection–sometimes with pleasure.
But new releases are not thrilling me so far.
…and niche lines? Don’t get me started on those. The long and short of it is that I have not yet met a niche line that was able to really WOW me enough to justify the price.
Can you tell I am in a mood???
Hope the mood improves!! But seriously, not even one single niche line??
Things that I would like to sniff: Tauer Rose Chypree and Delrae Emotionelle… because I think I might actually like it… please, nobody throw shoes!
no shoes, only melons….
As soon as the un Rose Chypree is available, I’m ordering a bottle so I’m certain a vial will find it’s way into one of our trades.
Hey, I think lots of people loved the DelRae!
The re-release of Jo Malone Kodo Woods collection. It’s new to me. There have been an over abundance of pretty but meh fragrances- I’m am thinking of the Lilly Pulitzer(?) Beachy, Wink, and Eek, I forgot.
HA! “Beachy, Wink, and Eek, I forgot!” Sounds like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… or Larry, Curly, and Moe…
Squeeze!
Another sample I have been ploughing through is Parfums MCDI Peche Cardinal.
The other 2 new MCDI scents that I referred to earlier are Le Rivage des Syrtes and Vêpres Siciliennes. I hear good things about these and can’t wait for my MCDI sample set! I included Peche Cardinal, so more wearing of that one when my 1 ml luckyscent sample runs out, which will be soon.
Yes, a good year so far!
Let me know…have not tried any of the new MDCIs at all! Very behind, will never catch up.
WARNING, OFF TOPIC! But I thought this might be the place to ask.
I recently bought a vintage mini of Nahema parfum and was disappointed to find that on my skin, it smells like… nothing. Soap and then nothing. Having read a bunch o’ Nahema reviews that describe it as “enormous virtual rose,” “cartoon rose,” “a rose to end all roses,” “peach-rose explosion,” among other things — in short, a huge, roses-up-the-nose steamroller — I was all set to assume that my ebay vintage mini was in poor shape. But a few days ago I tested a sample of Nahema in edt (I think), from TPC, and it’s the same thing: a hint of peach, and then… soap. Soapy nothin’. I can tell something is there, but I cannot actually smell it.
So: anybody got any explanation for it, other than the possibility that I am totally anosmic to Nahema?
I’d give Nahema third try with another tester just to make triple sure. If you are anosmic, how sad. Many people around you will know when you are wearing Nahema. I don’t find it shy or retiring at all and the peach rose explosion is a great description
I’ll add my off topic to your off topic (and raise you 50 cents…oh no wait, that’s poker night) I recently got a small bottle of Fracas and prepared myself to get slapped by a great big tuberose….well it was tuberose, but it wasn’t huge and it was a bit soapy smelling as well….what gives? Maybe I’ll trying layering it with something with a few more base notes?
Glad I’m not the only one who thought they’d get smacked by Fracas and didn’t. For some weird reason my brain thinks “cottage” when I smell it.
whew, thought I was the one person in the world that Fracas was just a regular old tuberose scent.
hmmm
I was just decanting a wee bit if my Nahema parfum into a vial and I wiped the little teeny tiny dot of backsplash on the sprayer onto my arm and it’s pretty loud for that small amount even through my allergies! Maybe anosmic to the rose?
Yes, guessing you’re anosmic to something in there. Sometimes, also find that a musk I can’t smell can seem to “block” other things…would love to know if that’s true, sure seems like it is.
Mals, if it’s any consolation, I think I’m partially anosmic to Nahema myself. I can smell a delicate rose-peach accord, and that’s about it, no base notes to speak of, and it seems very transparent and fresh over all, nothing big or explosive. Sad and strange, but what are you going to do. According to LT, the rose in Nahema is completely synthetic, and I’m sure it’s loaded up with synthetic musk as well, maybe we just can’t smell those molecules. Hope we didn’t suffocate any innocent bystanders while testing it! (Careful with that Fracas, Daisy and Bunny!)
haha don’t worry I can smell it and only put a wee bit, Fracas just doesn’t have the massive sillage I was expecting. I was thinking it would be just absolutely wafting off of me… like Youth Dew or something lol
I didn’t notice anyone running away holding their nose (I had only dabbed a little because I was wary)… but when I give it another try I’ll make sure to have others sniff the wrist —poor family, they put up with so much!
Actually, Luca is wrong about Nahema being totally synthetic: I know this directly from top Guerlain people, because they are currently reformulating it on account of the rose essence. They’ve had to source a different rose essence that contains the authorized amount of methyl-eugenol, to comply with the new IFRA restrictions.
They’re pretty happy with the new rose, but if you love your Nahema as I do, I’d say: stock up now on the extrait.
that is so strange, on me nahema is gorgeous dare i say “white floral” heavy on tuberose, may cure me of my white floral issue. mayotte is so similar….a litle more fleeting, wondder if theya re the same/
Does anybody else get this strong metallic edge with Nahema I am sure I have mentioned before – like ground up metal girders?
Good year for the perfume, yes, more releases with personality, or wearable, more naturals, an more inspired names. I love Kelly Caleche EdP and Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare-Mimosa.
Looking forward for Hermes releases if any.
I keep checking my Sephora store for the new Guerlains. It has been a couple of weeks though since I was at the mall. I have never been a mall rat, but since I started my perfume love, I go there much more often…free samples from Sephora and Nordies, you know!
Yes, Hermes has a cologne trio out next month!
oooh boy! just on principle I’ll try anything Hermes!
Robin, are you referring to the 2 new colognes joining Eau d’Orange Verte?
Carmencanada aka Denyse wrote about them on her blog, Grain de Musc…
http://graindemusc.blogspot.com/2009/04/hermes-eaux-de-cologne-ellena-plays-it.html
I am looking forward to testing these also. Technically won’t there be four, considering Concentre D’Orange Verte is also still available? Or is it?
Yes, really only 2 new ones, but I keep thinking of them as a trio since they’re in the matching bottles…and I assume they’ve reformulated the Orange Verte to de-oakmoss it & whatnot.
I’m going to repost my review of the Maoli Coloniali Dulce in case you missed it since I posted it late on the last poll:
“If you have ever been to Hawaii there is a way that your luggage smells when you open it after coming home that can cause an almost overwhelming nostalgia for the place you just left. Your clothes are moist from being in the tropics and are redolent of whatever tropical flower perfume or lotion you bought (and wore) there, your suntan lotion, the wilting lei you smuggled back, the inevitable box of chocolate-covered macadamias and all the finger-wipes on your clothes from the kettle korn. These kids nailed it. I don’t know how they got this scent from the notes they used, but they did. I love it. It is sweet, to be sure, but the floral part also has a nice sharpness to it, like the wilting lei, that keeps it from being pure candy. Perfect for beach days, for sure.” Anyway, I dig it and the kids were thrilled when I emailed them. My two housemates completely agree with my assessment.
I finally got into SSS and love the Tabac Aurea for the new ones – Lieu de Reve I’m still out on – violet and iris have been a little tough for me. Tried some older ones too and am still working through.
Biggest disappointment was the Prada Fleur d’Oranger, but I am definitely going to re-explore the Sisley 1 and 3. I like the new LeLabo Oud, but probably not enough to buy it, and like some of the other Le Labo’s better. JV Artisan is going to get a skin-test soon. I smelled a bunch of stuff lately, but seems like I am always looking for the wrong new release in the wrong store.
Otherwise I am like a lot of people here – just trying to catch up!!
Oh yes! The Le Labo Oud 27! Agree that it may not be FBW for me either, but I will wear the sample happily enough. I never thought I would say this but I like the Le Labo Patchouli better. The patch note is actually growing on me. Still have many LL samples to go through from my luckyscent sample pack.
So many samples, so little skin time.
have you tried the LL Fleur d’Oranger 27 yet?? It is amazing!
Not yet, just the Oud and the Patchouli so far.
I like Histoires du Parfums Marquis de Sade (don’t remember the year – 17-something) better than the LL Patch – they are similar but the Histoire is better on far drydown. However, so far, the only LeLabo that I am not fond of is the Neroli – too much calone or something. Still working through them. Yes on not enough skin – the other day I was wearing 3 new Andy Tauer samples all at once to decide which to wear after my shower – the winner was Reverie au Jardin, his most over-looked and probably most comfortable scent. On the list for FB.
Thanks Tama! Adding Histoires du Parfums Marquis de Sade and Andy Tauer Reverie au Jardin to my must sample list.
1740 is marquis de sade.
Tama, thanks for posting that review again!
You’re welcome. I forgot to mention that samples are FREE right now.
Let me add my thanks for the review. I know and love that just-returned-from-Hawaii-and opened my suitcase smell, so this will be a must-try for me. Such an interesting story behind this fragrance, too!
Was baume du doge launched this year? I think is one of my favorite launches. I’m waiting ansiously to try Amen Pure Malt.
BdD is 2008, but still new-ish! And I’m interested in A*Men Pure Malt too, really liked the Pure Coffee.
I haven’t heard of the Pure Malt – is it scotch, or beer?? or milkshake? lol
Scotch!
Tama, as I mentioned on Kevin’s post yesterday, I thought Pure Malt was a joke. Scotch sounds a little better to me than Ovaltine… but just barely.
The only release this year that I’ve loved was Vanille Galante. Everything else has been a disappointment. Nuit de Cellophane in particular, but I wasn’t enchanted by the two new DelRaes or the Goutal Matin d’Orage. I don’t care for the new le Labo (although I lust after last year’s Poivre 23). I have hopes for the three Guerlain City things, and the colognes., plus the two de Nicolais. The Villoresi in September should be interesting too. But so far it’s been a Meh year.
Have not even had time to read about the Guerlain city things, and probably just as well…get tired of tracking down obscure Guerlain releases! Nuit de Cellophane is sitting in my purgatory basket, stewing
Helg, from Perfume Shrine, had a good article about the Guerlain city things yesterday…
http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2009/04/guerlain-voyage-collection-moscow-tokyo.html
The comments are quite interesting also.
The biggest improvement this year is fewer fruit/candy/composite floral ick!! Catching up is key – AG Orientals – 2 down, 2 to go, and several of Andy Tauer`s to go! Yes, it`s spring, and these are heady, but a fresh bottle of Rose Absolue is here to remind me that it`s NOT winter outside!! LOVE Nahema – you don`t want to know how old the parfum on the dresser is!!
Yes, the fruity floral parades is slowing down, finally! And hey, that Nahema must be gorgeous — I do too want to know how old it is!
the Nahema is from when it launched here – early 80`s, 1/2 oz, the original gem-of a bottle, America was not ready for a fruity/ floral/ORIENTAL !! This and Paure need to be restored to full glory, even if for a ltd. ed.
Annick Goutal Rose Absolue is one of my first perfume loves. Very high quality. It layers great with other AG scents, especially the Orientalistes. My favorite is probably Encens Flamboyant and Rose Absolue, but they all layer well together.
Well, I second Vanille Galante and Dark Rose as being exciting releases. I look forward to trying the Eaux de Sisley, Geranium pour Monsieur, Tabac Aurea, and I’m hoping for a release of Neil Morris Mariner.
I don’t think thus far it has been a great year as such. The only thing which has prompted me to buy a recent release is really a really a re-release of a limited edition, which is Jo Malone’s Dark Amber & Ginger Lily which is a glorious oriental. I urge anyone who loves opulent orientals to go out and try it – it’s addictive.
The releases I am most looking forward to are the Anthology Series which is being release in June by Penhaligon’s. This promises four fragrances released from their archives.
I’ll be getting preview bottles of these so I’ll update you when I get them.
OMG OMG OMG! 4 frags from the archives? lucky you…
Please inform us asap *begs on her knees*
lol – I will don’t worry. I’m a big lover of the Penhaligon’s line, I just think they produce consistently great fragrances of high quality. Their house signature is wonderful – indeed I like them far more than their sister company L’Artisan Parfumeur, of whose line I have none, whereas I have nine Penhaligon’s.
Glad to hear we’ve something new coming from Penhaligon’s!
well, thanks to flittersniffer, I could discover solme oldies but goldies like Arpége or Grey Flannel . The new SLs are nice, but the most expected is disappointing – Nuit de Cellophane.
I bought one FB myself after dealing hard with the rep: off from 51 Euro to 35, RANCÉ Eau de France, my spring and summer fave.
Otherwise I expect the new Hermès which I would buy unsniffed, but they have not arrive in Germany yet, not even in the boutiques. Saw it from outside, I did not dare to go in until now
Then we quite liked the Sisleys too – I now agree with you that No 3 is best, though it disappears worryingly fast for such a big ticket item!
We would have stormed the door of the Hermes boutique together, though, had it been open! : – )
Nuit de Cellophane was something of a disappointment since it was not love at first sniff, but then, sometimes I fall in love w/ something later, so…
That does happen sometimes! Vanille Galante was a disappointment to me at the first testing, but the second time I fell hard for it!
For me the year has been dismal so far, not one quality new fragrance, but then it’s only April.
My favorite year was 1998 with Hypnotic Poison and L’Eau par Kenzo becoming staples ever since.
Unfortunately I can’t bring myself to like any of the Sisleys. Or the summer versions we’ve seen so far. To add insult to injury, the only Shalimar I liked – the tourquoise-colored one Eau Legere or something, has disappeared and I can’t find it anywhere!
Looking forward to Cristalle Verte and the new fragrances from L’Occitane.
Have also discovered an Italian company called Frais Monde, http://www.fraismonde.it, and am exploring their fragrances.
1998! That’s a long wait for another good perfume year
Was out all day yesterday on a sniffathon downtown to catch up….Sorry I missed this poll! I sampled 2 of the Momentos: Sicily and Venice. They are stunning! Lemmings at the moment are Escale a Pondichery and many from the i Profumi di Firenze line which are hard to get, unless I order from TPC. I am also realllllly looking forward to the new l’Artisans! I have no information aside from the names:
Tilleuls au vent (linden in the wind? or windy linden?)
Intérieur Figuier (Interior fig tree?)
Parfum de feuilles (leaves perfume)
Mimosa Marin (marine mimosa)
Mûre sauvage (wild blackberry)
Rose des Indes (Indian rose)
Does anyone know anything about these?
Hmmm…Tilleuls au Vent is available now in a room spray (I have it), and those others are mostly fragrances for the Chez Moi diffuser:
https://nstperfume.com/2007/08/18/lartisan-chez-moi-new-home-perfume-diffuser/
Perhaps they’re bringing out new scents for the Chez Moi?
Maybe! This wasn’t made clear to me, they only stated ‘fragrance’.
Well , after reading today’s NST Online Shopping section, I guess I need to add another Parfums MDCI to my must sample list…Un Coeur en Mai. :~)
Darn, no samples available at Luckyscent for this one…yet. I want to try a 1 ml sample before I commit it to a MDCI sample set from their site. 5 ml sample bottles of any 5 different MDCI scents for 55 Euros, shipping included…sweet! Even I can do the math on this one…$11 for 5 ml. The set is nicely boxed too. Aw heck, maybe I should just go for another sample set and bypass the $4 for 1 ml?
Check out Nathan Branch’s photos from his blog…
http://www.nathanbranch.com/2009/04/parfums-mdci-sampler-box.html
Just call me the perfume blog enabler. ‘~)
The MDCI sample sets are really nicely priced…wonder if they’ll sell multiple sets to the same person? If so, would never buy a bottle at all.
They do indeed sell more than one sample set to one person. M. Marchal wrote me himself stating so.
Nice!
Apparently, even I cannot do the math because I forgot to convert the Euros to USD. Still I think it is a great deal for some lovely perfumes.
So far so good!
Honestly, I have lost count with all this new launches. So I will go with the flow and trust my nose.
There is no particular launch I am looking forward to.
Also I tend to look at the Fifi awards recipients in order to see if some gem went under my radar (or I was too prejudiced to smell on the first place) but come on, The One for men, even though good, is not what I would call an award winner.
I am down to 7 bottles of perfume in my “wardrobe” (I gave away 1 that was a gift, finished 1, and gave away a bottle of Beyond Paradise for men that had only 10 sprays left)
How Exciting! 
So now I have 3 “openings”!!!
The Fifi awards are not given on the “quality” of the scent, in fact, they’ve actually added a new category this year that *will* reward “the juice”, which I think clarifies how the whole system works, LOL…
If you don’t have a theme for tomorrow’s poll, you should have a vintage horror story question. I just got my first and what a story it is. x…x;;
Just realized today is Friday. So, next week. If you don’t have a topic already.
Not sure I understand the topic suggestion…do you mean you buy a vintage fragrance & then you hate it?
Just an all-encompassing vintage-gone-wrong topic. Or maybe even eBay-gone-wrong topic.