Sorry this is so late! But in case there's anyone around who hasn't yet left town for the holiday weekend, it's the usual drill: talk about anything you like — what perfume you’re wearing today, what fragrance you're hoping to buy this weekend, whatever. Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer.
Note: image is Sunflower detail by Roger Lynn at flickr; some rights reserved.
Today I am wearing Covet. My mother, bless her heart, gave me a sample box for Christmas which included a coupon for a full bottle of one of the sampler scents. Covet was the only possibility and I grabbed it this morning when I was getting ready for work because sadly, I am around for the holiday weekend. But, as always, a visit to this blog is a mini-holiday for which I am grateful.
Having just finished several months of exploring and experimenting with citrus (enjoyed Jessica’s article published 30 Aug 09) I am moving onto marine / acqua scents. Any recommendations to try or not would be appreciated. Many thanks.
So I wasn’t the first commenter after all.
I have no marine scents to contribute, but what are some citruses that you like?
I started out with the Zesty Citrus Lovers sampler from the Post Peasant which includes:
Diptyque Oyedo
Hermes Eau d’Orange Vert
Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien
Serge Lutens Fleurs de Citronnier
Of those, Hermes Eau d’Orange Vert was my favourite. When Robin reviewed it she noted that it reminded her of O de Lancome which I wore in my youth but have not enjoyed as much since reformulation.
I started wearing Cristalle in the mid 70s and, honestly, I think my experimentation with fragrance in middle age, although fun, is also an attempt to recapture what it felt like to wear that fragrance (and others) at a time of feeling strong and optimistic, not to mention sophisticated.
I have not smelled O de Lancome recently, maybe I won’t bother!
My favorite aquatics: Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aqua Motu, CB I Hate Perfume Mr. Hulot’s Holiday.
and how about Hermes’ Eau des Merveilles — salty/marine AND orange/grapefruit citrus. I love it – different but easy to wear.
E de M is one of my favorites for that exact combination. Perfect for Hawaii’s climate too.
I’m here in sticky Florida! For marine-type scents, I like EL Bronze Goddess and the Different Co Sel de Vetiver. while not stricly ‘marine’ they have a salty, beachy scent I like for these hot days. (It’s always hot here, except when it’s not so hot.)
SOTD: Ormonde Janye Champaca (new sample, which I love.)
Lusting badly for FB of TDC Sublime Balkiss. Am quivering on the buy button…..
Hey Rigana,
two marine/aqua fragrances that I like are…. Missoni Aqua and Emilio Pucci Aqua 330. The EP one is especially fresh and has a slight saltiness to it.
Marine/aqua? Hmmm…oops, sidetracked by another commenter, because I enjoy Sel de Vetiver, too
… okay, I’m submitting one, and not just because of the name. Heeley “Sel Marin.” I like it because it is salty, and refreshing in a bracing way…kind of like sea spray…am still happily working my way through a sample vial.
Seconding this…aquatic scents are not a good match with my skin, but this one is. Really well done.
Hi Rigana! I love aquatic and marine fragrances. Some of my very favorites: Il Profumo Aria di Mare, i Profumi di Firenze Brezza di Mare, Stephanie de Saint-Aignan Embruns d’Ambre, Neil Morris Midnight Sea, Profumum Acqua di Sale, Heeley Sel Marin, Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aqua Motu, and Hermes Eau de Merveilles. These are all more or less pure “ocean-y” (as opposed to “beachy”) fragrances.
I also love Sel de Vetiver, but it doesn’t have an aquatic feel, IMO. It’s a gorgeous seaside scent, for sure.
Don’t forget Miller Harris Fleur de Sel, which is also in that “ocean-y” category. Delicious.
I’ll also add that I still enjoy Acqua di Gió, which is one of the most famous of the “marine” category.
And this is nitpicky, but of course that’s “Fleurs de Sel” (fleur de sel being kept in the kitchen).
Right — Fleurs. I adore Fleurs de Sel, but I don’t consider it aquatic/marine because it doesn’t have the water element. It’s wonderful, fragrant herbs at the seashore.
P.S. I’m probably the only person in the world who hasn’t tried Acqua di Gio. I’m pretty sure I would like it (sheepish grin).
I’ve never found that aquatic vibe in A di G, nor yet the sweet pea; it smells of raspberries on me. Really pretty. In fact, thinking about it makes me want to go + spray some on right now!
Before I do, though – and please bear in mind that I’m replying as I read these comments, top down, so I apologize if someone’s already said this, lower down – I’d suggest that you try Antonia’s Flowers Tiempe Passate.
I wore Covet today, too!!
I don’t really care for the marine notes but try Olivier Durbano Turquoise, Le Labo Neroli 36, Bond #9 Fire Island and Coney Island.
You cannot imagine my joy at being able to discuss the often maligned aquatics. There’s a big difference between beachy scents and true marines. The former are Dune, Bronze Goddess and L by Lolita Lempicka; not my cup of tea at all. Too vanilla or too spicyand heavy. The ocean scents are the ones people have been describing as the salty ones. Those are the ones I love, the best being Aqua by Bulgari, Aqua Motu and many mens’ fragrances that have the words mar, mer, aqua, marine or ocean in their names. Kenzo makes some good ones too. Try L’Eau de Kenzo and Nautica Voyage (both men’s and women’s).
Yankee Candle makes a superb candle called “Summer Vacation” that takes you right to the beach.
Creative Universe’s Mare is pretty nice too.
Boojum, a lot of folks seem to like Mare. I tried it and didn’t like it nearly as well as any of the ones I listed above. Not sure why.
Celestia, so nice to meet you! I love marine fragrances, and though I find some of the “beachy” scents fun, they are an entirely different category.
Pleased to meet you too, Huanani. I’m so glad to find someone who agrees with me! Thanks!
Then there’s always Issey Miyake. Am I the only one who likes this?
Well, I’m not going anywhere so I’ll start. It looks like just the beginning of fall here (lower Great Lakes region of US) – the trees have the bleached look they get before they turn color, and some have already starting changing here and there. I used to wear Parfums de Nicolai Vie de Chateau on pseudo-fall-ish days like this, but it smells harsh and sour to me now. I wore Etro Shaal Nur instead and it is perfect! I haven’t worn it in ages and forgot how much I like it. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
Waving from the Twin Cities… and tested VdC the other day, thinking it fit the weather quite well.
Waving from that big city near the bottom of Lake Michigan…crazy, isn’t it, how it was okay to pull out the fall scents two weeks ago, but now it seems that late summer scents are going to be the thing for the long weekend?
Oh, I should pull out my Shaal Nur — good choice!
For many years, I did not “get” Shaal Nur, but I realized recently that it must be *sprayed*, rather than dripped from a sample vial. I bought a bottle just a week ago, and have had more compliments on it then I would have believed. Of course, I have enjoyed it a great deal as well, and this is most important to me. Great choice for the weather.
Shaal Nur has become one of my very favorite fragrances. I find it to be hard to classify and pretty seasonless, too.
I wish I got from Shaal Nur what others do; it’s Lemon Pledge on me
:0(
That’s so interesting – and a shame. On me it’s much more about spices, a hint of florals, incense, and vetiver. Funny, I don’t really even think of it as a citrus fragrance!
On me, it’s a little rose and a lotta PATCHOULI.
I’m so jealous! I adore fall! But there is no fall in Fort Lauderdale.
I am enjoying the heck out of recent vintage finds – I sprayed on an obscene amount of vintage Jean-Louis Scherrer EDT before bed last night and wondered yet again why I stopped wearing it – it was once my “serial signature” scent when I first discovered grown-up perfumes. I will never be without it again!
Looking forward to a long weekend of rest, writing, home projects, and catching up on my perfume blog visits! I never have enough time during the week anymore, so it is a real treat to have four days off.
Rigana, I am not much for marine scents, but if you have never tried Sel de Vetiver by The Different Company, you must do so – it smells like a REAL salty beach, and there is no better scent for hot weather!
Aw, see…more Sel de Vetiver love.
“An obscene amount of vintage” anything… you must be my kind of girl!
Absolutely!
Ooh – another Jean Louis Scherrer fan! I used to wear that a lot. Actually Timbuktu reminds me of it. I wonder if anyone else has had that impression?
Got a bunch of samples from luckyscent this week and am wearing Royal Palm by Stephanie de Saint-Aignan. I’m quite liking it — it starts off citrusy but quicks transitions to spices. I’ll have to make good use of my sample, though, since a bottle is $170!
Haven’t tried that one, but I really like her Berberiades. It reminds me of several similar scents though, and I can’t decide which I like most…but don’t need more than one.
I haven’t tried Berberiades but the description certainly sounds nice! Especially when it’s so pricey though, it’s hard to justify having something if it smells similar to others you have.
True enough…but I don’t have any of them yet, just samples. I’m beginning to think I don’t need anything but lots of samples, lol!
I was thinking that this week myself!
(Sorry to butt in here) Berberiades reminded me of Ellen Tracy, Royal Doulton, and Mitsouko, but was much better on me than all 3. I have no idea of the notes but it was definitely peachy on my skin – what I had hoped Mitsouko would be but, alas, is not. Weird, huh?
Ooh, I want to try Royal Palm. Thanks for the reminder.
It really is nice. Unfortunately it’s somewhat fleeting on me. Wish it lasted longer.
I’m trying out her Li Altarelli sample – pretty nice. Read about Royal Palm and that’s on my “to buy” sample list. Acqua di Sale sample was awesome…so is the price. Wish it came in smaller – or less expensive – size.
Deepo, I love Li Altarelli (have a bottle). The combo of lemon, herbs, and marine note. I know it was made as a tribute to Corsica, and it smells like I imagine Corsica to smell.
Oh, and I mean to say that if you liked Acqua di Sale, you might try il Profumo’s Aria di Mare, Heeley’s Sel Marine, or Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Aqua Motu. Another favorite of mine in this genre is i Profumi di Firenze’s Brezza di Mare. It has a touch of watermelon, of all things!
Hi! I’ve always read the comments on here and hoped that I would never get to that point of obsession where I spent all my money on perfume. Alas, today I caved and bought a mini-fridge for my room to keep them in. I’ve justified it to myself by saying that I need one because my house in un-air conditioned and it has been 95 degrees all week, but I think I need to resign myself to a poor future.
I also just wasted a large amount of time on eBay, but I’ve come away with full bottles of l’ Heure Bleue and Bvlgari Black. And bunches of samples! I’m excited for the postman!
Ah yes, the mini-fridge! I’m trying how to sneak the one we have sitting in the garage into the house unnoticed. My husband had to bring home it from his office by order of the office unapproved electrical appliance police and really, it would be so much happier storing my perfumes than sitting neglected in the garage.
Like Suzanne, I’m in sticky, hot Florida where (thinking glass half full) I’ve got another 6 weeks to wear summer fumes!
Remember to remove the lightbulbs from your new perfume chilling units. And you may want to test the temperature control as well….set it to a ‘chill only’ type setting like maybe a ‘3’ (if it has a numeric dial) and set some iceberg lettuce toward the back of the shelf to see if it freezes. I know that perfumers alcohol isn’t going to freeze as quickly as lettuce but a cracked bottle would be a bad way to find out it gets too cold in there. Just an idea.
(you lucky ducks!)
Wow! You really think a fridge lightbulb would have a negative impact? You’re hardcore. I want to be able to see whether I’m picking up Ubar or Bilge Water #9.
I dunno, seems pretty bright but I guess for those few moments it might be okay….perhaps a lower wattage bulb would do the job? It would be horrible to accidentally apply Bilge Water of any numeric designation.
(you have #9 AND #14 ? you really need to shop someplace better)
But can you ever *really* be sure the light’s off when the fridge is closed…?
;0P
true true….the only way to be sure is to remove that bulb! not that I’m paranoid or anything…..
How cool to have a fridge just for your perfumes, congrats!
Ditto the congrats! Since developing my perfume habit, I rue the day I gave away my college fridge!
Never too late to buy another! For $100, those things really last. My parents still have mine in the basement for beer/soda, and that thing is almost 2 decades old.
Yes, it would be nice to have something elegant inside instead of beer, stale pizza and mold…the good ol’ days!
SOTD – AT Le Maroc pour Elle. I just love it!
This weekend I’m going to visit the family so I’m trying to decide what interesting and yet family friendly fragrance I should wear. Maybe Chanel no 19 edt?
Here is my question to anyone who can answer it… Any comments about the difference between the original and the “new” version of Hermes Amazone? I recently became very attracted to this one, and am wondering if I should try and get my hands on some vintage or not?
Sorry I cannot help with the Amazone, hope someone else can!
??? on the Amazone, sorry.
No. 19 is really nice. And it’s supposed to be low 80’s here this weekend, which I consider warm weather, so that rules out the Coco. (Snerk. You kill me, wearing Coco in the summer…
) I’d wear something light, not too demanding. Well, you know me: when in doubt, Le Temps d’une Fete!
You might need to secure a back up bottle of that Le Temps d’une Fete! It’s sort of moved to the very front of the pack, hasn’t it?
Hi AnnS,
I have worn Amazone for many years. To my nose, it reminds me of Givenchy III plus Givenchy Le De. It’s mostly a smooth, green mossy floral scent with fruity accords, it dries down to a vetiver/mossy finish. My memories of the vintage stuff has it being more lush.
The new version is a bit flat in the drydown without the real oakmoss. *Sigh*
Right now I’m just looking for a fragrance that I can enjoy in ridiculously hot, humid weather. I’m gonna go back to college in Savannah GA pretty soon and it’s bound to be steaming hot there till the beginning of November at least.
Any recommendations?
(preferably on the cheaper side, see: college student haha).
Hi, Tati: I’m starting to say Lauder Bronze Goddess for everything it seems, but you can’t beat it for sticky days. Also, Eau de Rochas and Kenzo Parfum d’Ete are nice and you can pick them up online for a good price.
For a splurge, Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is a bit more, but lovely. It’s a little dry which is great in the steamy weather.
I was looking around some and I really like the sound of Bronze Goddess, but I can’t find it anywhere online, not even on their website. Has it been discontinued? I’ll probably end up going a store in person instead of online though, but I’m just wondering.
I think (don’t quote me) they only have it available during the summer. Seems to me I’d read it was a summer LE, and they brought it back this summer again…so perhaps next summer as well?
Macy’s should have it in-store at the EL counter. I think technically it’s called Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent; I don’t know if that helps your search at all!
I got it at store in Prime Outlets called Cosmetics Company Store. They have lots of the EL and other scents they make (Donna Karan, Michael Kors etc). This store near me had a pile of Bronze Goddess so I don’t know if that means it’s on the way out. I bet it’s available on Ebay. Stuff in the outlets seems to pop up there. I paid about $30 for the 100 ml bottle.
Mmm, second the vote for Jardin sur le Nil. Dry but beautiful.
I guess I have a thing for Hermes, I realize as I read through this thread.
They don’t come cheaper than 4711!
Sur le Nil can be had at a hefty discount; I think I’ve seen it for around $45. For fun variety, Demeter Gingerale smells fizzy like the real thing, but doesn’t last long.
Emilio Pucci Vivara Acqua 330 is a floral citrus that is very summer to me.
Hi Tati, we have our share of hot humid weather up here in Pennsylvania, and here are my fav’s for combating the heat (and I really tend to like ones that can stick around for a while too, as often heat and humidity seem to kill fragrances quickly):
AG Mandragore, AG eau d’Hadiren, Hermes Jardin sur le Nil (as mentioned above – awesome!), Parfums de Nicolai Rose Pivione, Sonoma Scent Studio Velvet Rose, Chanel no 19 edt, Gianfranco Ferre “Ferre” from 2005, Jo Malone French Lime Blossom, Calypso Christianne Celle Chevrefeuille ( a good price), Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit…. GOOD LUCK with SCHOOL, etc!
How could I forget Mandragore?! Definite second there!
I wear Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint a lot when it’s very humid. Another good one is Yves Rocher Fraicheur Vegetale de Verveine (lemony and cheap!).
The Bvlgari teas are perfect for that weather, and can be had for a pittance at online discounters.
I think any of the Aqua Allegorias would be great. That’s what I wore in the latter days of college. The range includes fruits, florals, and greens, and with any of them you’ll get something well-made, easy to wear, and a bit distinctive. Easy access at Sephora and certainly online.
If you have a bit more money to spend as well as access to a Bloomingdales or a Nordstrom I also second the recommenation for Jo Malone. They’re a bit more interesting but also less bang for your buck… but the variety is totally fun to explore.
Wow that’s so many recommendations, thanks everyone!
I agree on the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria line. To economize in general, I recommend getting samples but then buying on Ebay. The AAs turn up there frequently; my faves are Herba Fresca & Mentafollia. I also agree with the recommendation of 4711 in the heat — so refreshing, especially if the atomizer is kept in the fridge!
Savannah is so beautiful! From one sticky, sweaty Georgian to another, I’m loving Thierry Mugler Cologne and Cartier Eau de Cartier. Both can be found at student-friendly prices, too.
Hi Tati,
How about Roger & Gallet’s Bouquet Imperiale or PdN’s Eau d’ Ete? Both are fabulous in hot humid weather!
I’ve been wearing R&G Shiso during this heat wave (Texas). It’s delightfully crisp and peppery. I layer it with Ava Luxe’s Hong Kong Garden and the effect has gotten me more “you smell GREATs” than I’ve ever had.
Layering has become a big thing with me after reading Chandler Burr’s story about SJP in The Perfect Scent.
I’m envious of people who can effectively layer. I do it, and I clear a room. I guess I can rule out a career as a perfumer.
more fun to just enjoy life as the ‘well perfumed’
Oh my…just received a shipment from Parfum1. Took advantage of their 20% off code and ordered – Loulou, Eau de Rochas, Yvresse, and Mauboussin! FOUR new bottles in one day. Can I stand it??? Ha ha. Any comments on any of these? Haven’t tried any yet. Still basking in 3 Fleurs, which I seem to have been wearing a lot. Decant is almost gone. I feel another bottle buy coming…but geez. I really want one of those Beautyhabit 25% off sales!
Mauboussin is a gorgeous soft fruit-spices-vanilla! I love it as a much more interesting “vanilla” than the norm. It softens up and lasts forever. I hope you enjoy it!
I like Mauboussin, too, for its concentrated dried fruit. Different and special.
Sprayed the Mauboussin on a card – smells like vanilla to me. Anxious to try it on skin…perhaps tomorrow!
Love Yvresse & Eau de Rochas! I think Angela has reviewed both of them.
Wore Yvresse last night and wearing Eau de Rochas today. Not sure on the Yvresse. I’ve been trying to like chypres – without much luck! It has that certain “something” that I just can’t get my nose around. I won’t give up yet, though! Love the Eau de Rochas!!!
Nice haul! Especially at 20% off. And *I* want a beautyhabit sale too… we can dream.
Oops, hit Post too quickly. I really want to sniff 3 Fleurs, and I keep looking for a small sample of Mauboussin. (However, LouLou scared me and Yvresse smelled like cat pee and bad Chablis on my skin, although it was nice in the bottle. Glad they’re good on you.)
You can get a mini at beautyencounter for not too terribly much. Of course, at 4 ml, they *really* mean mini.
Might have to do that… hey, private email comin’ to you, by the way.
Well…I didn’t mention that I bought these…UNSNIFFED, did I??? I know, I know. Should know better! Sometimes that Enter button is just too easy.
Ooh, I do that all the time–I can’t buy just one thing! If it’s discounted, I buy at least four. I think I need some sort of intervention. Anyway, I have both LouLou and Yvesse. LouLou I wore in high school, and honestly, since I bought another bottle of it about a year ago I’ve maybe worn it twice. It’s very loud. You definitely want to go easy on it. Yvresse is beautiful. It really does smell like champagne, at least in the top notes.
BTW, after posting this I couldn’t get Loulou off my mind and felt compelled to wear it today. What I have always loved about it is what Luca Turin described as a “raspy” note. I really can’t think of any other way to describe it, but I want to know how they do it. I’ve never smelled anything like it. But again–really had to go light on the application of it. I’m retroactively embarrassed by the five or six spritzes I would put on when I was in high school. And I think I had a little mini that I carried around so I could put in MORE at lunch. I probably need to go and apologize to anyone I went to school with.
Nah, you may have actually been performing a public service….I’m pretty sure the teenage boys when we were in school probably smelled as ‘funky’ as the boys do now….and since you weren’t allowed to spray them down with deodorant soap and a firehose (as my daughter has theorized may be the only way to effective remove their collective stink) ….a good cover of perfume might have been your only defense!
Love your story about Loulou miss kitty v.! I did the same with Poison in the 80’s (I was in my 20’s). Wonder how many people I sent away running and screaming. Ha ha. Looking forward to trying Loulou! I’ll keep my nose out for that “raspy” note!
Poison scared the pants off me too.
Miss Kitty, you definitely made me laugh. I don’t remember if any girls at school wore LouLou (no idea what they would have worn), but I bought a mini of the extrait a couple months ago and it was (upon my one and only testing) the most noxious STANK I have ever encountered. I really wanted the cute ceramic bottle. I’ll have to re-test at some point, maybe the stuff had ‘turned’, and maybe EdT is easier to take… but I hope I discover what you love about it.
It may have gone bad? Maybe? It is definitely one of those that smells drastically different depending on who wears it. My beloved raspy note smells like plain ol’ plastic on some people. But if you do want to do a comparison I’d be happy to send you a sample of “fresh” LouLou.
I ordered a sample of Piguet’s Visa from lessenteurs a few days ago. The package arrived today and to my delight it also contained Fracas and Brousseau’s Ombre Rose L’Original.
I’m wearing Visa right now which is rather lovely on a cold wet day. I’m going to try Fracas tomorrow. I always thought it sounded like the sort of thing that I’d probably enjoy but never got around to testing it properly and only ever smelled it in passing. I was planning on buying a sample soon anyway so I’m really pleased to have received it for free.
Oh good, hope you love Fracas!
Im hoping to get a shipment of samples from luckyscent. Trying the Parfums de Nicolai line(Vetyver, Pour Homme, Carre D’As, Balle De Match)
Yay, one of my favorite lines! Hope you like some of them.
I am a fan of Nicolai, but haven’t tried a single one of these! Enjoy.
Ah, Nicolai Pour Homme. I first sampled that one from luckyscent, too – it’s one of those ones that I remember when and where I first tried it, so I must love it! You’re in for a treat!
I’m having a fantastic day(SARCASM!!!!) and I’m looking at my perfume samples trying to figure out what will quell my anger! LOL
Right there with you, but I’m afraid to put anything on today at all for fear of ruining it by association. Also for fear of sending my headache over the edge into migraine territory. Gah. Hope I’ll get at least some of the samples I ordered from TPC before the holiday though…I’m taking an extra day on Tues just bc the girls have so many appointments, it didn’t seem worth trying to come into the office.
Hey that gives me an idea – what is a good frag for being pissed off, or on a righteous rampage?
Bandit, all the way! It’s my go-to f-you scent.
Ha! I’ll never look at Bandit the same way again!
Mitsouko! It’s my “I’m a gonna whip somebody’s ass” frag.
Tabac Blond for pissed off but still sexy.
I’m on the hunt for a nice juicy jasmine, if anyone has any suggestions. I’m currently road-testing Annick Goutal’s Le Jasmine, and, while enjoying the initial burst, I’m finding that I end up with a somewhat whiffy BO-y thing going on. Anyone else find this? Other jasmine suggestions would be gratefully received…
Right house, wrong frag, lol. If you want very intense jasmine, try AG Songes, which is just gorgeous and very very rich! Also, Andy Tauer’s Le Maroc pour Elle has a pretty intense jasmine, though it is also a pretty intense spices and patchouli too! I like the Badgley Miscka Fleurs de Nuit for a pretty nice jasmine, though it is not indolic and rich. If you want to go the classic route, you could always try Joy for a very heady jasmine.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, most rich jasmines do have an “indolic” BO/poopy thing going on. Try the Badgley Miscka Fleurs de Nuit for a nice clean but rich jasmine.
I’ve always thought Keiko Mecheri Jasmine was like smelling a single jasmine sambac blossom, rich but delicate, only with some sort of sugary, almond-y aspect to it. Most of the full-on jasmines I’ve tried are heavy on indoles (which I do love) but this is a realistic jasmine that isn’t.
Vickyjane: All year I have really enjoyed Parfumerie Generale Drama Nuui — a very GREEN and bright jasmine. Montale Jasmine Full is also one worth sampling, in my opinion.
Second the Jasmine Full.
I also like Opus Oils Jitterbug for a nice clear floral jasmine.
Does the name “Jitterbug” have anything to do with the Tom Robbins novel “Jitterbug Perfume”? I love that book… It may be at the root of my jasmine craving!
I think the Opus is more retro-inspired but I know there is more than one perfume called Jitterbug.
I’m probably the only one who likes it, but I really like Bulgari Voile de Jasmin. Take that with a grain of salt, though, because I’m the one who also liked Rumeur.
Hey guys, thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! I am now very excited to continue my quest and plan to spend far too much time tomorrow trawling the web for samples of all of the above. This is the first time I’ve asked for recommendations on one of these “Lazy Days” posts (I’m kind of shy!) – I’m so touched you all took the time to write to me – thanks x x x x x
I wore Amoureuse today and I just can’t like it. It’s nice on top, if a bit fragrant-oil-for-heating-and-making-your-house-smell-like-Christmas but it’s dry-down is a scrubber on me. I esteem the DelRae line but I wouldn’t put down any amount of money for them. =P
On the plus side, my mother called me the other day. She found some of her old bottles of Nahema and sent them to me. She was convinced they were no longer good but I wanted to scope them out. Anyway, 430 ml of perfect Nahema goodness, all Parfum de Toilette, circa 1983. Four of them were still sealed. Needless to say, 2 of those bottles are mine but the rest might be up for selling/swapping. There was even a bottle of Samsara EDT in there, also from ’83, but it smells like bread pudding so I’m not sure I need to keep it either.
Also bought a bottle of Aromatics Elixir. It starts off like herbal soap but the heart and dry-down are so warm and friendly. I even got an unsolicited compliment on it the other day, which is rare.
Wow, what a treasure trove your mother provided!
I agree on the AE…if you can make it past the opening, what happens next is oh-so-nice.
AE really brightens up to something like a clearing in a forest, so filled with light. I have to apply it at the right time, though. Otherwise people will give me funny looks. And a wide berth.
Vintage Guerlains, congrats! Bet that Nahema is gorgeous.
It really is. It’s still quite fleeting, though. It’s a wonder on fabric, though. A powdery and beautiful rose. I never thought I’d fall for something like that, but I did.
hi asuperlongusername,
AE is lovely, particularly one hour in. Did you read Chandler Burr’s NYTimes article on it? Lovely article, see below.
SmokeyToes
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/scent-notes-aromatics-elixir-by-clinique/
Oh, and I forgot, maybe try the Velvet sheet in AE? To my nose, it has more warmth (from amber, I think) and less oakmoss which kind of makes it a little gentler to the nose. I think it’s only released around the holidays but you can get it on the ‘bay for a song.
oops, I mean Velvet Sheer….. :O
SOTD: Started out with Bandit, then segued to L’Air du Desert Marocain after a swim and a shower. It’s starting to get chilly at night here (Connecticut), and I’m suddenly itching to dig up my sample of Black Tourmaline.
Two technical questions for fellow sample whores: How the heck do you make your own samples from an atomizer without getting it all over your fingers, your clothes, the floor of Ulta, etc.? An Ulta SA nicely let me make a sample of Aromatics Elixir, but my handbag and I reeked of it for days after. How do the Nordstrom’s SAs do it? I tried to hold the vial against the atomizer hole with my left hand while pumping with my right, but failed miserably.
The other question is: how do you label your sample vials? I cut little strips out of file folder labels and put them on lengthwise, but they keep falling off. Do you make longer labels and put them on crosswise, sticking the ends together to form a tab (I think Luckyscent does it this way)?
First of all, samples from an atomizer. I’ve developed a pretty good hand with that, but yes, certain bottles just seem to not cooperate. Maybe you want to keep some disposable plastic funnels with your vials, ready for the job?
If I am at home, I can put clear tape over the labels and secure them that way. Otherwise, I do just what you said, making the label strips long enough for overlappage (word?), and adhering the label to itself.
Somewhere in my bag of tricks is a label maker I brought home from my last job–it was mine, but I never got around to using it. I notice that some decanters use those; perhaps the labels for that have a more powerful adhesive than your basic label.
Ditto all the above. The only thing I’d add is that with a trickier or less cooperative bottle, I hold the vial with a wadded up paper towel. That way, any wayward sprayage gets on the towel, not my fingers, and I can use it to wipe any off the outside of the vial before putting it away.
I got an inexpensive little label maker that prints clear labels at an office store. Then I stick it on there whichever direction makes it most readable. If you write your labels with pen, make sure it’s water proof (like a ball point or fine sharpie). I have had the text on more than one sample swapped to me dissappear due to exposure to perfume drops.
Started out the day with Natori Edp —lurvely stuff.
But then with our need for new bras and fall tops fulfilled, J and I couldn’t resist a trot thru the Ulta (in the same plaza and coincidentally the only perfume carrying store around ) and we were both monumentally UNIMPRESSED by everything we saw….sooo much completely forgettable stew….I ended up spritzing a bit of Magie Noir on my arm but I think it’s giving me a headache so I’m heading for the sink….
My LLP Crepe de Chine came today—so that’s the next test…can hardly wait!
You know…Ulta is to Sephora what Walmart is to Target. Just can’t get into that place.
That’s about my take on Ulta too. I just don’t like it. And no samples
No samples, very limited selection and to my further disgust the only three new-ish things they had were Givenchy Play, EL White Linen Pink Coral and Jessica Simpson Fancy Love…..none of which were anything other than boooooooring. Although I did try the Magie Noir (ack! my head!) and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle….sigh….how disappointing…..Thank goodness for the internet!
I went to Ulta for the first time recently and was impressed by the number of the Estee Lauders they had. Private Collection, Youth Dew, Knowing…. And they had Samsara, which I’d never tried before. Maybe I’m just still a newb.
A friend of mine gave me a lotion that I thought was Coco and it was Mademoiselle – not so good. I’ll wear it at night or something.
Ulta is the best place for sampling all the Estee Lauders w/out having to ask the assoc to dig Azuree out from the bottom of the case : ) And it’s nail polish mecca!
Ditto on the nail polish! I didn’t even realize they carried perfume – lol!
They have awesome deals on salon hair products. I’m totally spoiled now. I can never go back to Pantene.
And I don’t have access to either Ulta OR Sephora…
So you liked the Natori?? Good, good…
I’ve got a sample for you….in fact I have SEVERAL samples for you….I’m just having trouble getting to the post office lately…. two of my big Koi died today AND I’m still fighting yellow jackets in the basement! I’ve not been having fun recently. (although we got some very nice deals at Kohl’s today. )
You have my sympathy. I HATE YELLOW JACKETS. (Emphatic enough to make my feelings clear???)
Yep, I have a box for you too. Wheee! I don’t have to work on Monday!!
A day off is a wonderful thing! How is the CEO settling back in the Univ.? Eager to get started?
J went her first day of college on thursday—only to find the faculty all on strike. Seems as though the tuition increase they implemented over the summer didn’t find it’s way to the teachers (that’s what I’m guessing anyways)
No classes today either–an inauspicious beginning to college I’d say.
Oh, I am a Wasp Warrior!! I have no issues with bees/wasps/yellow jackets in the wild —I ignore them, they ignore me…..but find a crack in the caulk and build your nest in my basement? That’s a clear Declaration Of War.
So far I’ve killed probably about 300….this weekend I’m tearing down the nest (carefully, in case there are lingerers.)
I’ve wondered where you were. And I was afraid you’d either been attacked by the Yellow Jackets from Hello or fallen into a giant vat of vintage juice! LOL!!
But I’m very sorry about your Koi…
Thanks Rapple— I’m winning against the yellow jackets—I refuse to pay someone to come and get rid of them because in the past I’ve paid for “pest removal” and then still had the pests! This time I think it just calls for diligence.
Ah, my poor Koi!! Lost a big scaleless sky blue one and one of my favorites “Mango” who had so much personality (for a fish). The next time I buy new fish they get quaranteened for a long time before being put in the pond! Two of the babies never became ill and most of my big fish are getting better. I need to get everyone healthy before cold weather gets here! Cross your fingers for a better pond-season next year.
Oh no! RIP, Mango….
thanks Joe. Mango was one of the very first koi I put in my pond. Whenever he saw me, he would motor the entire length of the pond with his entire head out of the water, completely confident that when he got to me—I would drop gobs of fish num-nums right into his wide open mouth. An endearing quality in fish. **sad**
Hey, I like Ulta! The Sephoras I’ve been to lately have been understocked and the SAs bitchy about making samples, while the lone Ulta I’ve been to was super-friendly and gave me the go-ahead to make my own samples. I’ve actually found more to sniff at Ulta, particularly the aforementioned ELs — so nice to finally try Alliage etc.
Yeah, I don’t see Sephora as being any better than Ulta. They both sell mid-market department store frags.
The manager and SAs at your particular Sephora and Ulta make a huge difference, too. The SAs at the closest full Sephora to me suck – pushy, don’t know anything about the product, and constantly shilling whatever is new. There’s only one good one and she and I have whispered conversations about what dreck most of the stuff they’re supposed to pushing is. The only thing worse than that Sephora is the one they opened in the JCPenney near me – allegedly they have 80% of the stock of a regular Sephora, but they must concentrate on the make-up because the frag sections sucks. They don’t even have Bvlgari Black! I spent 15 minutes trying to keep her from spraying the paper strips with Light Blue, Dreaming, and Mariah scents. She finally went away when I told her I was just killing time before my hair appt.
The SAs at my two closest Ultas are fabulous – the one closest to wear I live has more FBs than I do and he used to work for Loreal back in the day. He actually has extraits of stuff that they never released in that form. He did push the latest stuff on me until he found out my FB count and what my tastes were (about 5 mins in) and he’s been great since then. The SA closest to my work correctly identified that I was wearing No. 5 parfum and didn’t even bother trying to push Ed Hardy and the like – he led me straight to EL, Chanel, and Guerlain and showed me some things that I hadn’t tried before. He also suggested that I might want to head down to the Galleria to the Guerlain counter in NM for some of the things they didn’t have.
Yesterday I tried a sample of Safran Troublant. Definitely saffron at first, then the rose, sandalwood, and vanilla came and went. At one point I could smell sandalwood on my left wrist and vanilla on my right.
I wish they sold smaller bottles. This is interesting enough that I’d like to try it repeatedly, but I don’t think I’ll ever use 3.4 ounces at $135.
It is available in 15 ml as part of a set, so it’s worth keeping an eye on ebay to see if you can find the smaller bottle.
I just saw that somebody is offering their L’Epices Trio over on Scent Splits, FYI. On the partial/full bottles page.
If you want to set up a split for the set, a local store still has them. I think it’s $90+ (but not much plus) for three 15ml bottle: ST, Piment Brulant, and Poive Piquant or something like that. I really want the PB but had the same qualm as you; I just don’t need 100ml of anything right now.
Email me if you’re interested: mysuperexclusiveemail@hotmail.com
-Eric
My parents are in New York City for the week for the US Open I wish I was there but its an adults only trip with their friends, Oh well I asked them to bring me back samples of Sege Lutens Filles Un Agilles and L’Artisan Havana Vanilla so I guess thing are good
Good luck — hope they can get you the samples!
I know I’m really late to the oud party but SOTD was something from Arabian Oud I got in a swap. (Not sure which one; we’re still trying to decipher it!) This was my first exposure to oud so I don’t know how it compares to every other oud out there — smelled some rose in it, and it didn’t strike me as “medicinal” but rather woody. Aaaand now I have to try every single Montale aoud I can get my hands on.
Welllll….that’s gonna take a while! Aoud / oud is all over the place these days and Montale seems to love the stuff!
So did you like the one you tried?? Woody is good! I usually get a medicinal note…
I know, it’s going to be an Undertaking for sure! I’m really interested in the rose+oud combos Montale has, but since I don’t really know the field I could be totally wrong.
The one I got didn’t strike me as medicinal but is immediately resinous (almost like incense?) and woody, with the rose — or what I think is rose — arriving a bit later. This is apparently a masculine, but doesn’t strike me as too boyish. A+ whatever it is.
Perhaps you could email your swapper and ask what the label says… Montale is dangerous…money sucking perfume line….the good news is that often you can find Montale decants.
Haha, yeah, we’re talking about it. Her bottle is from Dubai apparently so everything’s in Arabic, hence our mutual confusion! She’s being really sweet and will ask an Arabic-reading friend to help. Yikes I feel kinda bad, but I do want to know what it is I <3 so much.
YES Montale, yikes, have raised their prices since I last paid attention? I thought it was $95 for 50ml? Anyway, any specific recommendations?
I particularly like the rose+oud thing (cliche I know).
Ojeda, I really like and own Montale Red Aoud (good dose of saffron) and Black Aoud (VERY nice). You should try Czech & Speake Dark Rose also. I’ve heard people say good things about Montale Aoud Rose Petals.
yup, what Joe said.
Ojeda, did you try Montale’s Louban? That’s a good rose oudh. (Or oud. Whatever. And while i’m here, how does everyone else pronounce that? I had heard to say it “ooood” but that feels so silly.)
I’ve always seen it written except for when I’ve spoken with Naz at the Perfume Shoppe in Vancouver —and she pronounces it with the ‘oo’ sound like in boot. In my head it wants to be ‘ow’ like in ‘wow!”…..I tend to think she knows WAY more than me about this stuff. So I’d go with the boot pronunciation.
Yeah, in my own head I have been pronouncing it “owwwwwd.” Somewheres I heard that the “sounds like boot” pronunciation was how the French say it. I wasn’t sure if there was any other option. I think I’ll just try to avoid ever having to say it in conversation.
the only safe answer: American Sign Language.
HA!
I’ll have to brush up on my ASL…
well, the French pronounciation would be oooo
Guess I’ve heard too much French growing up , it doesn’t sound silly to me.
And I want some.
Unless I misunderstood what I read, it sounds like Bertrand Duchaufour has an oud coming next from L’AP. Given that HV isn’t in stores yet, I assume it will be awhile still…but I think I’ll wait and use that as my intro to oud, since that line has been so very wearable for me.
I did hear about that! But unfortunately my experience with L’Artisan has been the opposite: I like everything, but don’t like anything enough to buy. But here’s hoping oud + L’Artisan transparency will be awesome.
I found the Montale Aoud Roses Petals way too soapy for me. I know that there are mixed reviews, but I rather like the Le Labo Oud, and I loved the Tom Ford Oud Wood on paper – haven’t tried it on skin yet.
Your friendly neighborhood Vintage Frag Ho drops by to comment, and it’s True Confessions time: I finally got my BEEEG bottle of Jolie Madame edt (not vintage exactly, but not the current iteration either – and JM might still be in production, but it sure has a vintage vibe IMO). Also, recently bought a small bottle of Max Factor Toujours Moi parfum, and one of Balenciaga Michelle parfum. Living dangerously these days; both of these were unsniffed (yet under $20). I’d been watching that Michelle listing for a few days when Helg at Perfumeshrine mentioned its notes: tuberose, rose, moss and vanilla, among others, and that activated my lemming nerve.
Speaking of lemmings, I really want to sniff the new Havane Vanilla (as well as PdE 3 Fleurs).
And as long as I’m doing this all-over-the-place comment, yesterday was crisp and cool, and I wore Cabaret in the morning and Lyric Woman in the evening, and I smelled pretty darn fabulous. Today was much warmer, and seemed to call for L’arte di Gucci; the more I wear that one, the more I just lurve its difficult-but-rewarding nature.
The BIG bottle of JM, eh? I ‘ll be right over….
I too cannot wait to try Havana Vanille!
Just got another find in the mail today – vintage Wind Song, believe it or not, in an adorable glass crown bottle, and I love it! I never wore the modern version, but I always thought it was nice – a dear friend of mine wore nothing but, as her husband would not hear of her wearing any other perfume. Now I know why!
Ah, so *you* ended up with Michelle! I saw that listing, too, but had no clue, so left it alone. Please share what you think of it!
It’s really quite wonderful! I really did not know what to expect, but the bottle was unopened and I thought, what the heck, I had heard how good the vintage was compared to the current one, so I took a shot. I had already put on another scent so I just put it on the back of one arm and left it to see what happened. I liked it immediately, and I recognized it as Wind Song with no trouble, but it was soft and subdued.
By the time I went to bed last night, it had bonded with my skin and was nothing short of radiant, with lovely mandarin and neroli and something else – lilac-that does not seem to be part of the list of notes in the modern version over on Fragrantica. There was some spice to start, but not a lot, so I imagine the top notes have deteriorated somewhat. Even so it was beautiful right out of the bottle. Since it came out in 1952, that means the version I smelled as a child was the original, so this is really bringing back the memories of my beloved old Woolworth’s drugstore! It’s a little soapy, but nothing like the current version. As I write this about 18 hours after I put it on my arm, it’s still there, just a whisper of clean floral that is so charming. I am going to have to brace myself & go to Walgreens or somewhere to try the new stuff, see how it measures up. It’s still popular, so hopefully it has not been completely destroyed.
Haven’t worn the Michelle yet, but I did open the box this morning – it was SEALED! – and spritz a little on a tissue, which is now in my lingerie drawer. It does start off with quite a bit of “bug spray”, which I might have assumed was simply age were it not for Helg’s description, but that does go away and it’s hugely tuberose/spice, really pretty. Reminded me a little of Tatiana, which I used to wear, and of which I recently bought a mini vtg parfum, and which I admit smells wonderful and intoxicating to me. It hadn’t reached the basenotes yet so I can’t report on that.
Is it just me, or does anybody else find it utterly freaky to SPRAY parfum? I really love the smoothness of parfum, but I think it really should be dabbed… although that might have something to do with those ooooold memories of Mom dabbing from her edc bottle of No. 5. There’s something elegant about dabbing, for me at least.
Actually, I like dabbing, too. Something ritualistic about it, I think, in addition to how it wears. (I’m ready for people to tell me I’m nuts on spray vs. dabbing, but it definitely is different for me.)
There *are* a few eau de parfums which I think spray okay, but I know that given a blind choice, I’ll start with a dab. Thanks for the description, btw–vicarious living is a good thing!
I agree about spraying vs dabbing (but I think that some perfumes are better sprayed). Several times, I’ve fallen in love with my dab-on sample, and then bought or swapped for a decant and been disappointed. I later realized that those particular perfumes were ones that I preferred as dabs.
Also, I sometimes really like the dab effect for testing, so that I can wear two or three or four different frags at a time and compare…
I miss Gucci III-lovely chypre–it is no longer made.
Still in a heatwave here, not sure if it’s continuing through the weekend, but it’s sure summery.
Started the day wearing Aqua Motu because it felt like that kind of day. Right now: Fracas on one arm and Bois 1920 Vento di Fiori on the other. Vento is smelling really nice. Really looking forward to the long weekend. Enjoy, everyone.
It is not so summery here, in fact it feels most definitely like fall. You have a great weekend too!
Hey, lean over this way, Joe – I’ll bet you smell fab. I still haven’t smelled Fracas on a man, and my imagination says it would be terrific. (The CEO flatly refuses to oblige me.)
Let’s see – I started off with Jasmine White Moss today. Then I came home and had received my box with my Le Labo split in it, so I’m wearing Rose 31 and loving it. I never would have said “rose” if I didn’t know that Rose was in there – it’s very warm and spicy and no “armpit” odor from the cumin, so that’s good. I think that I’m going to wait until it cools off before I try the Patchouli 24 though – it smells like a sillage-monster in the bottle; I’m afraid to spray it on my skin in this heat and humidity.
I don’t think that I’ll buy anything this weekend, though I may check the discounters for some Caberet and to see what has hit TJMaxx recently. I have a few other things on the way – Natori, Une Rose Chyrpee, and Guerlain Mon Precieux Nectar – so I better cool it with the purchases for awhile. At least that’s the plan (for today).
I like that Le Labo Rose a lot – nice to have a little bit of a more masculine take on Rose without it being too much so.
Love Rose 31…congrats on the split!
Today I wore B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful’s Breath of God. I needed a cheer/pick-me-up as I was feeling exhausted. Unfortunately, I fear it may be a bit too heavy and *I* could smell it on myself all day, which made me wonder if others could smell it and if it was offensive. No one in the car pool said so, but the co-worker next to me at the seminar I went to moved slightly away and said she needed a little more room. Oops.
That’s the engine-grease-and-flowers one, right? I can’t imagine wearing it every day, but it’s fun to pull it out of the garage for a spin every once in a while. And hey, it bought you more elbow room!
SOTD is Divine by Divine which I adore. I’m debating getting a full bottle for my upcoming b-day. I really do love it, but know it wouldn’t be an everyday scent for me and their EDP sample has lasted me more than 6 + wearings with some still remaining. There’s something special about a new, full bottle… but if it’s doubtful I’d get through even the 50ml bottle in my lifetime, am I better with a decant? I’m also a little worried that a full bottle, plus exchange, plus potential duty issues would end up a lot of extra $ for thing besides the scent itself. What to do, what to do.
What do the scent sages have to say?
If it were me, I’d try to get a decant or split a bottle….but maybe it depends on how overcrowded your perfume collection is already?
I haven’t checked prices and exchange rates lately but as long as it’s under $200 you shouldn’t have any duty to pay. That’s what they told me when I was inquiring about buying L’ame Soeur (which I am still lemming over).
oh, hit the button too soon……sounds like even 50ml might be more than a lifetime supply for you….maybe a decant or split might be the right thing for you. You could take a look around scentwiki for a decant, maybe even put up a post concerning it?
Thanks for the input. I think I’m ready to suck it up, bypass the pretty packaging and go for a more reasonably sized decant. And with all the money I save, I could get 2 or 3 other decants or some new samples,or …is this a predictable stage in scent obsession?
If you hosted the split you could keep the pretty bottle.
Just sayin’.
sheeeez, Kitty…..you enabler you! (do you think you’re ME??)
but she is right….if you hosted you could keep the purty bottle…..
I learned from the master.
You guys ARE good
I have never hosted a split before, but I see the attraction…
I did order some decanting supplies recently and my husband quipped that I was evolving beyond simple “use and possession.”
Yuppers. Once you’ve got some decanting supplies you’ve moved beyond “use and possession” into “distribution” as well….which means “enabling” can’t be far behind.
Welcome, we are “Your People”
It’s still hot and humid here in Houston. Today I wore SL Datura Noir. It’s lasted all day, I don’t know why I don’t wear it more often. I’m still having an osmanthus fascination and just got a large size sample of The Different Company’s version. Very nice and airy. I also bought 1000 on the ‘bay and am waiting to try it. I tried it recently at Saks but it had a very nasty note and a friend told me it might have gone bad. A bug spray note. I think some of the CdG scents are also good for hot weather such as 888, Jaisalmer, and (?), the inky one. Can’t remember the name right now. They’re sort of bracing and not overpowering.
No. 2–the CdG inky one–comes in a black bottle (jar?).
The inky one is CdG 2 Woman, and it comes in a silver bottle. It’s fabulous, but I haven’t been yearning for it in the heat — not that it would necessarily be nasty and oppressive; it’s just not what I reach for, but your taste may vary!
Ugh, I’m in Houston too and it’s so disgusting outside! Though honestly, I fight the heat and humidity with Guerlinade. =P
I’ve tried all manner of Joy (even a few vintage) and I just can’t get into it. Hope you have better luck!
Sorry, meant 1000. Dx Jean Patou hasn’t done anything for me yet.
I have tried four different versions of Joy, and I Just Don’t Like It. I’m starting to think it’s really the jasmine/civet nexus, but BOY does Joy smell like dirty panties on me.
There! I said it! Hope nobody decides to yank my perfumista card… I do like quite a number of vintage stuff, but I hereby declare Joy permanently out of bounds. Anybody want my 4ml mini of vtg stuff? PM me at MUA (mals86).
I don’t mind the dirty underwear effect. Joy just smells like a swirl of weird florals. Like a dentist office’s wallpaper, but pink and orange and off-white. =P
A good, sound, healthy bottle of ‘1000’ doesn’t smell off in the least. Congratulations! I’m an osmanthus FREAK and that stuff is The Ultimate Osmanthus.
Don’t be disappointed or discouraged, though, if it doesn’t holler osmanthus at the top of its lungs at first, though. It’s a very well-blended, thoroughly classic scent in the best French sense, so it will reveal the splendidness of that osmanthus note in its own whisper of a way. Just listen carefully for it!
So, I have a bottle of Coco EDP from, honestly, 1986. Obviously, I rarely wear it, but I do love it. In Macy’s today I sprayed some current Coco on at the Chanel display. The juice is a totally different color; the ’86 is (and always was) a rich amber color, the new stuff is pale. My Coco is a super-heavy oriental, rich rich rich. This new one is all pimento and carnation; spicy but lighter. Anyway, if I ever run out of my old delicious bottle of Coco, I doubt I will replace it. I feel sad now.
Yeah, it’s almost better not to try any old scents these days. It’s just depressing.
Or you could haunt the ‘bay for old bottles…. (whistles nonchalantly). Seriously, if you set a search in My Ebay for what you want, it will do the looking for you. I do see lots of little mini bottles of vintage Coco offered.
I didn’t like Coco when it came out – too heavy, too Opium-ish for my taste – but if it’s lightened up these days, I might have to go sniff it. I haven’t smelled it in a store for ages because I “knew” what it smelled like, and I didn’t want to smell it again. I’m sad for you that they’ve done something to a scent you loved, though.
I love the new Coco – probably because it is lighter and very spicy. I sprayed it on myself early in the summer, but didn’t buy because it was 100 degrees out. I did keep sniffing my arm all day though – so that’s probably my first purchase when the weather cools off (sometime in November – grrrrr)
I sniffed Coco myself the other day for the first time since its early heyday, and I concur with you that it’s lighter now. I had the same experience sniffing Magie Noire, although that bore absolutely barely any relation whatsoever to my scent memory. Sad…
Search MUA swaplists for vintage Magie Noire, Natalie. Someone (hint, hint) might have just acquired a lovely bottle and is happy to produce decants. ;-D
Wink! Lucky you! (Or maybe Savvy Hunter-Gatherer you!)
I’m not in for any decants – I’ve got two mini bottles of the vintage edt, and it’ll probably last me the rest of my life. I think it is utterly amazing, but it’s not something I would wear freqently, and (quite literally) ONE drop will scent me for hours and hours.
{swoon} I am a fan of the vintage Magie Noire. Big time. I got started with a small hint of vintage from online auction. Spouse liked it enough that he went right out and bought a new bottle. Suffice to say, I was disappointed when he came back and swore up and down the sales associate said there was NO perfume, just edt. (This was early in my perfume trajectory, so I found it hard to believe.)
Still searching for some vintage…yes, I do troll…
Oh-HO! I’m not sure I’m ready for a whole decant, but I’d love to sniff it again… MN was the first real perfume I owned, thanks to a sample handed to the 9-year-old me by a Saks SA (what the heck was she thinking?!). I do have an account on MUA, but I’ve been far too lazy to do anything with it — time to remedy that omission.
My big news of the day is that I got a job!!!!! And it actually pays decently!! So of course I am already mulling over what will be my celebratory purchase. My list is long, lol. I think I really need to bear down on the samples of the contenders and just make up my mind already. PdN Balkis is a string contender, as is AT’s Reverie au Jardin. Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger is up there, and the big gun is the Guerlain Vetiver pour Elle, which is big bucks and I need to smell again to be sure.
Decisions decisions – yipeee!!!
Congratulations on your new job! I have money set aside for a bottle of Chergui for my new job, whenever it comes to my local SL connection. Though I keep sniffing my sample of Lubin’s Le Vetiver… and it certainly is cheaper…. But Chergui is only available for a limited time! But Le Vetiver is so powder-y smooth! Dx
Sorry, I’m not really being very helpful; looks like I’m in just the kind of pickle you’re in.
Tama, huge congrats, that’s wonderful!
Yay! Congratulations, what a relief that must be.
Congratulations! A nice spot to be in, so enjoy your quandry!
Congratulations!!! that is absolutely wonderful news! I shall do a celebratory Victory Dance in your honor!
will it be on YouTube??
LOL!
NO! and everyone should be exceptionally relieved that I only do victory dances in the privacy of my home sans les cameras!
Uh huh…you and Kevin. Were you top-hatted too?
shhh! secret!
She had bananas.
they nicely complimented my melons….
*SNORT!!!*
Hooray, Tama! I’m so glad to hear your good news. And how lovely to be planning a special purchase.
Congrats on the job! Have fun deciding what to purchase!
Yeah Tama,
Congrats on the new job!
Thanks for the congrats, everybody!!!
Hey, congratulations! Pick something wonderful — I’d go with one you could wear to work (you’d better be able to wear scent to your new job!) — and please send some of that employment mojo my way!
I’ll be working fairly alone but dealing with the public, so I can smell good but not blast the place.
Yay! Congrats – I love the Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger and would probably get that, but I’ve never tried the Vetiver pour Elle – so my opinion doesn’t mean squat as far as that go. And I still have at least two months of summer left here, so plenty of time to wear summery scents. I wear it to work all the time – it definitely works as an office-safe scent.
Congrats on the new job!!
When I got a new job last February I also celebrated by buying new perfume. I just hope you choose more wisely that I did. (We won’t even talk about that…)
sure….that’s guaranteed to NOT make us curious!
Heh heh heh…
I’ve disclosed on here before, actually, so I think once was enough!
Spring has sprung here but the days (and certainly the nights) are still cool. So this evening I had a Youth Dew bath, probably the last for a while. I love the rush of scent as the oil hits the hot water – there is nothing like it for a winter stress buster.
Looking onwards now to the weather for Bel Respiro, Escala a Portofino, and Eau de Givenchy. Yay!
Brings a certain happiness to know that while my Bel Respiro hibernates, somebody else’s will be wafting…
SOTD is Patricia de Nicolai’s fabulous Sacrebleu. I recently ordered a whole bunch of her parfums in the small 30 ml. bottles. They are mostly really good, and such a bargain.
Weather here in Holland is changing from summer to early autumn. The skies are like Ruysdael’s paintings : Lots of wonderfully shaped clouds. Sacrebleu fits that slightly nostalgic aspect that this season holds for me. It is similar to L’Heure Bleue in mood, though less sad, as Angela so rightly described in her review.
I have a sample of that PdN on the way…can’t wait to try it!
It is quite simply lovely. I put it on this morning and I still get little whiffs of it. ( it is now early evening where I am). I hope you will enjoy it !
I LOVE that one!! Just recently tried it for the first time, and have now added it to my Wish List. (Which is new for me, BTW, as before it was a To Buy List. I’m trying to show some restraint. Wish me luck.)
Good luck with your restraint!
Sacrebleu is on my wishlist, too; was on the “buy,” but got replaced by Odalisque in a fit of panic over reformulations.
I am not sure yet what to put on today. Have lots of Jo Malone samples. I’m looking for a belated birthday present to myself. I sampled La Lune by D & G, and liked it, but didn’t love it. I sampled Natori and love it, but for me it is definitely an evening scent. I want something to put on at 6 am and commute to my university teaching job in a good mood. I’m tired of citrus. Any suggestions?
Jill
My no-fail good mood scent is always Parfums de Nicolai’s lovely green floral Le Temps d’une Fete. I find it fresh and warm and elegant in equal quantities. (Notes: galbanum, opoponax, hyacinth, narcissus, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli.) Or you might try Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, if your budget runs to that. If, like my budget, yours won’t stretch to a full bottle, you might be able to find a decant for sale at the scent splits wiki (google it). This is gorgeous stuff, too; it’s famous for being THE modern oakmoss-less chypre, but to me it’s a stupendous iris amber.
Thanks, Mals86. I love Parfum Nicolai frags. Great suggestion. I tried Rue Cambon–didn’t like as much. I think our tastes are similar. Any other favs?
Jill S
What about PdN’s Odalisque? Beautiful floral and very office friendly…it’s on “the list” for me, eventually.
I am a big fan of Le Temps d’une Fete as well. I think of PG Drama Nuui as something from the same zone, but with different stripes…has that Guillame-ade running through the drydown (vaguely sweet/ambery/gently animalic), and the green has a sharper floral aspect. The conversation here definitely brought it to my mind, though.
Hey, I wonder if you could tell me where you found your Jo Malone samples? I’ve been looking around on-line for some, but am having trouble finding any…
You could try The Perfumed Court…I’ve ordered a few from there.
Hey, thanks – good tip!
Late question, but I assume I’m not the only one for whom this weekend is just business as usual. Has anyone noticed heavily air-conditioned air affecting their sense of smell? It seems my nose has been impaired just about all summer long, and I don’t have much in the way of allergies. It was mild enough I didn’t realize I was impaired, until suddenly I’m able to smell more delicate scents in a way I completely missed the last few months. So either I have mild allergies, or AC is doing a number on me. Thoughts?
Hi Boo, I don’t know about the a/c but I can tell you that something is in bloom here in mid-michigan that is driving my sinuses wild! pressure and headachey, alternately stuffed/drippin nose, impaired sniffer, itchy eyes….misery in spades. If the a/c is bothering your nose/sniffing I think it might be the dryness ….at home you could try turning up the humidifier on the A/C ? Or change the filters to cut down on dust? At work—well I don’t know what you can do there other than perhaps a saline mist for your nose….don’t use any medicated nasal sprays if you can avoid it.
Is the CTO (chief technology officer) painting in the girls room?–maybe paint fumes are getting to you.
See, I don’t feel very stuffy, no dripping or sneezing…that’s why I don’t think allergies, although it’s certainly possible they’re mild ones. It’s not the paint, bc my nose has been *better* the last couple of days, which is why I’m suddenly realizing it’s been bad the rest of the summer. And that tells you how mild, bc it took a return of the sense for me to even notice it was blunted. Now I just hope I didn’t make any mistake purchases bc my nose wasn’t working! :O
if it turns out that you really HATE your Lyric woman…you can just send it right to me and I’ll take extra good care of it…..heheheheh
Ohhh I think Lyric is safe…I’d tested that one before the summer.
Guess you never know, though, I’ve had old favorites “turn” on me before. 
I’ve had a similar experience–no stuffy nose, no watery eyes, but postnasal drip that bothered my throat. Our doctor here (Great Lakes) said she’d seen a lot of allergies this summer, even in people who are “not allergic”; she thought it might be mold spores rather than pollen because of the cool, wet weather. Glad it seems better!
Hmm, thanks for that…I did have a lot of trouble w/mold back in college, and all it ever did was give me sinus infections.
’ve noticed that too. It doesn’t get all that hot where I live and we don’t have a/c in our house, but they do have it in the office where I work and they usually keep it extremely cold. (It’s an old building with a patched-together cooling system, so some offices are warmish, some are freezing.) I notice that while I’m at work my sense of smell seems dulled… Some days it’s only when I get out of the deep freeze and get outside—or at least working in a warmer part of the office—that I can really even smell the perfume I’m wearing.
I certainly have noticed that things smell less in cold temperatures, presumably because the scent molecules are not evaporating as fast(?) But I haven’t found a/c to have any lasting impact on my nose itself: I can smell things better as soon as it is warmer.
I do notice that I smell things better when there’s a bit of humidity…often I just go outside when I’m testing something.
I just saw something about Ava Luxe going on hiatus. The owner reports one the website she’s moving & reorganizing, and there are only a few perfume oils available. I wonder if she’ll be back? Anybody heard anything?
I haven’t, but it isn’t her first hiatus.
Well, that’s a relief. Maybe she’ll be back soon when things settle.
She moved across the country this summer. She is selling oils on her etsy site, and I’ve purchased a few. They’re lovely and as well made as ever; I do hope that she returns to EDPs though.
Thanks…I hope so too!
I wrote her a couple weeks ago and, unfortunately, in her reply she told me she’d be back selling only some of her range in oils, but probably not EdPs. She’s had hiatuses and changed her mind before, and I’m hoping that’s the case this time too — I don’t find it the best way to keep a customer base, but I wish her every success even though I might be personally disappointed. I may still enjoy some of the oils as well, but that’s not the best formulation for me.
Makes me very glad I didn’t find a chance to explore that line!
Oh, crap. Dang dang dang! I had been waiting for fall to purchase a bottle of The’ Noir, and now that looks to be out of the picture. Shoulda woulda coulda, I guess…
Tell me about it, Mals… I’ve been putting off buying bottles of a couple things. Ah well… c’est la vie. Maybe someday.
I’ve been obsessing about shower gels for a while. I want one that smells great, but I just can’t afford the Hermes ones or Acqua di Parma.
My question is: what’s your (and the question is to everyone) shower gel of choise? Does Dove or Nivea do the trick, or is it always something as exquisite as your perfume?
Personally, I’m rather cheap there, as the scent (hopefully!) won’t linger much past the shower anyway. When I use one, it tends to be Burt’s Bees, Origins, BBW, the Body Shop (love the Satsuma) or something along those lines.
I’m on the cheap side when it comes to shower gels as well. Yves Rocher has some nice ones; I like their lavender one. Avon’s Planet Spa line does a Mediterranean Olive Oil one I like too. And for fall I love Philosophy’s Spiced Cider 3-in-1 thing (unless they’ve discontinued it). Wonderful scent!
I’m pretty cheap there, too, with Body Shop Satsuma, BBW, and miscellaneous things I have picked up. Yes, Yves Rocher. A little Lush. I occasionally use a Dove or other supermarket-type brand, and they are fine..
Caress “Moroccan” scent body wash is my super-duper cheapo thrill; it has a jasmine-and-spices scent that doesn’t last but is nonetheless wonderful. I haven’t been able to find it in stores lately (I fear they may have discontinued it), but somewhere like drugstore.com should still carry it. When I couldn’t find it, I picked up a bottle of Method olive leaf body wash at Target, and I like that as well; the scent is pleasant although nothing special (kind of leafy), but it moisturizes better than any body wash I’ve tried.
I’m a weirdo. I buy only scentless stuff that won’t compete with my fragrance. Unscented Dove soap and unscented Dove deodorant. When I can’t wear my perfume (which is any day I’m at work), my lame attempt at rebellion is to wear scented deodorant. I know, I’m a wild woman.
No, I buy unscented too. I don’t like clashing scents.
Kitty, maybe you could get by w/a scented body lotion, depending what kind of environment you’re in. (but I’m sure you already thought of that.)
When I was in beside nursing I never wore perfume. People really can’t take it after surgery…
I wonder how many sister nurses we have on here. Love scent, can’t wear it at work.
Now I’m not primarily at the bedside any longer, I am a little–but not much–freer with fragrance. My office mates love it and are always asking me about scent!
I also administer the patient aromatherapy and essential oils sales in our gift shop, so I get to be smelly at work too!
yeah, sensitive skin here so I generally just buy Suave unscented daily clarifying shampoo ($1.97) and use it for body wash and hair wash…no red rashes AND no conflicting scents with perfume.
Oh…I also use the Suave Clarifying on my dog, Roxie, because she has sensitive skin and all those super-pricey dog allergy yada yada shampoos made her poor doggie skin RED. So I said, ‘hey, works good on me…’ and voila clean fresh dog with happy skin!
Got the first batch of samples and am testing Carthusia’s Caprissimo. Not at all what I expected, to the point that I’d wonder if the samples were mixed up, but for one comment under the “new perfume” entry for it on this blog. it has much the same vibe as some of the old Guerlains; I’d call it L’HB’s younger cousin.
You know, it is an old scent…they’ve just re-introduced it. Maybe they’ve kept it close to the original?
I’d guess so. The longer it was on skin, the more the lemon came out. It was an odd/intriguing scent I’ll want to spend some time with…rather like if you had a lucky experiment layering LHB with Eau du Sud. Great lasting power too, I just swabbed some on the back of my hand yesterday afternoon, and I could still smell it faintly this am in spite of many handwashings in between.
And here I thought I’d make it through the long holiday weekend unscathed…that is, without having discovered yet *another* fragrance I’d like to try…
Hey late to this game as always, no big plans for Labor Day this year. I’m just going to a family barbeque tomorrow. I was craving gardenia scents while my 2 trees were blooming, but I spent my perfume budget elsewhere. I just tried Jar Jardenia, SIP Epic Gardena, and Tom Ford Velvet Gardenia. The Jar- holy crap it really does smell like cheese!, the SIP- too laundry detergenty, the Ford is a lovely honeyed indolic jasmine/ gardenia combo but the Jar got me so scared that all earthy gardenias would have a cheese undercurrent so I’m afraid it will show up one day in the Ford. Has anyone tried Ayala Moriel Gigi? I’ve heard it’s supposed to be a middle ground between sweet and earthy gardenias. If anyone is still around do you have any recommendations for earthy/ weird/ not to sweet gardenias?
I have not. I really liked the SIP Lady Day better, and I think you can still buy it over the phone or something. Isabey Gardenia might also be worth a shot, although might be too sweet.
You’re looking at the proud owner of a bottle of Coromandel and Bois des Isles! I went to the Chanel counter at Saks in NYC with the intent to come home with a bottle of Sycomore, but this happened instead! It always seems to happen that way. So much for intentions! Sycomore was too much like the Encre Noir I have already, so ah well. But the whole experience was great!
Whoa! Big spender there, Jared!
TWO bottles of the Les Exclusifs? That’s my kinda perfume shopping…
Chanel is a bargain compared to some designer and niche scents. I’m still choking on the Killian and Hermessence prices.
No doubt. The big Chanels come out to $1 per ml. That’s a deal. The rumor at Nordstrom is that they are going to start getting smaller bottles if it. I’ll be curious to see how they price them (if it’s even true).
BTW, Jared, those are my two favorites of the LE’s,
Yay! I was really floored by both of them and was trying to choose between them forever, and then the SA said, “You know, you can get them both.” And I guess that was all the justification I needed lol But yeah, I suppose the whole $1 per ml is pretty good compared to some of the other things out there (the justification continues!).
Good chioces there! And know the feeling re. getting distracted at the Chanel counter…
Wow, you smell GREAT! Congratulations on your fine purchases….I bet you cackled maniacally all the way home ( I know I would have!)
Hi, I work in perfume retail, I often get asked which perfumes (commercial – think armani, Bvlgari, those celebrities scents) smell similar to:-
1) Paco Robbane Black XS
2) Issey Miyake L’eau Di Issey (Homme and Woman)
Would be grateful if anyone can help me out.
CHeers!
Sephora has a “if you like this … you might like that” function on their website, that might help!
I just ordered decants of Amande Sucree and Coeur de Noisette by Sinfonia di Note, have a split of Une Rose Chypree on the way, and am finally ordering AG’s Songes EDP in that lovely moon bottle next week. I know I’ll be able to happily enjoy three of the four in the months to come, and think the EDP of Songes might even be lush enough to wear when indian summer rolls around rather than being tucked away until next summer.
It’s going to be a beautifully scented September here. 
Congrats, and special congrats on that moon bottle — I’m jealous!
Just sampled Lyric Woman for the first time yesterday. Instant love. Placed an order for a bottle this morning; I just have to have one.
oh good choice! First thing I did this morning was give myself a spritz of Lyric….ahhhhh, good stuff….I hope you took advantage of the $25 off at Beauty encounter?
Get thee behind me, Daisy!!
I just treated myself to a bottle of TDC Sublime Balkiss and don’t need reminders like that!
what? no lemmings for you? …..I might have to buy a FB of lyric next spring, decant getting low….panic is setting in! might be willing to share….
heheheheh …..Balkiss is verra verra nice, you smell lovely!
See, and I’m still so busy testing everything under the sun that I haven’t even touched my Lyric yet (well, maybe once).
wow, such restraint! I started out just a spritz now and then….but have been wearing it pretty steadily for a while….makes the hoarder in me nervous!
Yes, I did precisely that! Not that I needed the extra incentive. Can’t wait for it to arrive.
^^^Lovely scents! I love coromandel, and will soon have a sample of Rose chypree to try. So excited, have just ordered samples of all the Tauer perfumes – can’t wait to get them! The only one I have tried already is l’Air du desert marocain, and I find it beautiful.
You are in for a huge treat with your Tauers, GG. Big, big personalities, sillage and tenacity like crazy, from the heart and soul of a gentle Swiss genius. I have a feeling you will find several great loves among those samples of Andy’s.
I knew this was a mistake to even think about it but…..I tested Amouage Epic…first test–meh. second test–hey this is intereseting. third test–wrist to nose most of the day. Fourth test–drat now I want some!!! with my history with Amouage you’d think I’d know better.
Ha ha! I knew you’d be lemming it…
I can’t remember now why the notes weren’t grabbing me, but there was something in there that made me think, Umm, nope. (No, it wasn’t the cumin!)
I’m realllllly liking this and you know I run screaming from cumin…I didn’t think I’d like it at all. I have Lyric on one wrist, Epic on the other so I just sit here switching which wrist is attached to my nose. sigh…..I need a big juicy half off sale on Amouage….like that would ever happen.
Maybe it would be worth a flight to Oman and smuggling all the bottles we could afford through customs and setting up an Amouage black market out of our living rooms?
Well, probably not, but it’s a fun fantasy.
hmmmm…………
oh wait…you did say “all the bottles we could afford” which would be a grand total of ,like, one.
Unless (since this is a fantasy) we get to win the lottery first. yeah……
Loving the holiday weekend…everyone forgets about ebay! LOL! Just scored a travel spray of FM’s ASLP for $23, shipping included.
waahooo! now there’s some prime hunting/gathering!
SOTD: today started with my 12 year old coming home from school and a trip to the doctor for bruising on his back..after him having a bad knock on his head at go carting yesterday…i didn’t want to mess around….so getting ready while he was on his way from school, i frenetically opened up a new box of 31 rue de cambon that i had bought 10 days ago…and was kind of saving it”s opening for a special moment ( u know savouring the new box and opening the plastic…the first few spritzes when nothing comes out)…whoa…i sure whent through all that appreciation VERY quickly…at least as soon as i walked in to the rooms, the nurse gave me overwhelming praise on how good i smelt and…the little guy has whiplash…thank G-d nothing serious. i haven’t much enjoyed the fragrance today…but i sure did the compliment and the perfume discussion that followed while the poor little guy was anxiously awaiting the doc!!!
heres a question
a little while ago my hubbie went to Brunei and I jokingly asked him if he could find some amouage there. well.. amazing man that i have, he arrives home with a duty free vacumed pack and in it a large bottle with a tiny bit of very dark juice. all these things r flying through my mind like..where has the rest gone, what a different bottle…is this a joke..is this a fake…on the bottle it read amouge eau de TOILETTE pour femme. on opening,the juice smells like a pure perfume(its very oily too) and reminds me of juibilation but withought the spice and cuminy smell….its amazing. the story goes that the sales assistant at the airport said they hadn’t stocked amouge for years, and that it was very expensive(they have heaps of other arabic ones) but she had this very old tester. the bottle is simple, rectangular with a simple gold lid. i have searched online and find nothing resembling it and it is nothing like the older arabic style amouge botlle, almost like before that period. she sold it to him for about US$35 for i would say about 5ml. i feel like i have something really special and am a little unsure of what to do..I haven’t resampled it, except for the very begining when i opened the lid and some of the oil rubbed on my hand…it smelled like the way perfume should smell and probably did in the 1600’s reminds me of the movie Perfume !!!!! Any comments? ps am still testing all these amouges….i think jubilation is the best but i think i would wear lyric more…but jubiation is soooo awesome…as is ubar…so…am STUCK
I would think the Amouage website has an email address on it. Maybe you could send a digital photo to them and they could tell you exactly what you have?
And yes, the Amouage line is amazing. Jubilation XXV is one of my favorite possessions, along with decants of Lyric Woman and Ubar.
joe…thanks for the advice, i wonder which will be my purchase!!!
Wow, if you find out what it is, do report back! I’m intrigued.
Wonderful husband, awesome score!
another question
any opinions on cuir de lancome…it is to be bought so cheaply, i almost want to buy it unsniffed.
ecume de rosine…feels like roses and salt..like roses next to a beach…simply stunning
Angie reviewed it here:
https://nstperfume.com/2008/05/05/lancome-cuir-de-lancome-perfume-review/
Has anyone else sampled Amouage Epic woman yet? Is anyone else lemming a decant?
I haven’t!