Today we're helping Lauren. Lauren is interested in perfume, but says she's not yet a perfumista. She works as a nurse, and she wants to find a versatile signature scent that isn't so strong that it will nauseate her patients. At the same time, she'd like it to be flirty and chic. She hasn't set a budget for her new fragrance. Here is what we know about Lauren:
She's in her early 20s and lives in Chicago.
She says her style is "eclectic, with tendencies towards the natural, hippie-ish side of things".
She says she is patient and knowledgeable, but also very sensual and loves to have fun.
She enjoys trying new things (especially exotic foods), traveling, playing the piano, night life, running, and planning her upcoming wedding.
Lauren likes florientals with fruity top notes, but nothing too over-the-top fruity like the Escadas. Notes she enjoys include orange/orange blossom, lychee, apricot, peach, blackberry, currant, citrus, plum, and other fruits (so long as they're not reminiscent of kool-aid), orchid, mimosa, jasmine, lavender, tuberose, pepper, cloves, almond, creamy/milky fragrances, coconut, vanilla, spices of all sorts, amber, most woods, and green/marine notes. Fragrances she likes include Ralph Lauren Ralph Rocks (light, delicious fruits combined with the delicious, exotic warm drydown), DKNY Red Delicious, and Bath and Body Work's Black Raspberry Vanilla (it reminds her of a really good red wine).
Lauren dislikes most rose scents, ALL cedar, fragrances that make you smell like any sort of baked good, and overtly musky scents.
Lauren has tried Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers G, and found it close to what she's after but "too much like coconut cream pie/suntan lotion". She also tried Ralph Lauren Ralph Hot ("more of a lotion than a perfume") and Dolce and Gabbana L'eau The One (too powdery).
What say you?
Note: image is Postbox [cropped] by rebel rebel at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hi Lauren,
as fruity florals go, I suggest two chanels: Coco mademioiselle and Chance.
Since you like “tuberose, creamy/milky fragrances, coconut, vanilla” I *strongly* suggest you try Montale Intense Tiaré.
For a tropical fix, when you want one 😉
You might also like Tom Ford Black orchid…
Good luck!
Wait, I forgot to mention Amaranthine in the creamy fruity floral cathegory. By Penhaligon’s. It’s love it or hate it (I suppose). But it has a really creamy comforting drydown, a beautifully floral part and a strong, ahem, fruit note* on top!
*Ok, it’s banana, and that might not sound chic. But it is, somehow!
I second the Black Orchid, though it might not be a work scent. TF’s White Patchouli is worth investigating too.
I second Black Orchid, but I’d probably go for the eau de toillette. The eau de parfum might come off a little too strange but the eau de toilette would be perfect; its very floral, with a creamy-fruity vibe.
Halle by Halle Berry came to mind. Fig, mimosa, sandalwood, frankincense. Seems to be in your ball park. It’s pretty and tasteful, and has a nice dry down. Easily available. Let us know what you decide!!
The first thought on my mind when I first started reading the post was Amazing Grace – but as I read further, well, there are no fruity notes on Amazing Grace. So my next thought still on Philosophy (if she likes the creamy, vanilla based fragrances), was Falling in Love. This might be a good option for her.
I’ve also tried a new fragrance Bath and Body Works will be launching soon, “Orange…” something, I can’t remember the name, but I’ve tried it in the store a few days ago and loved it!! It could also be very close to what she’s looking for. On a different spectrum of notes, but still from B&BW, the Passport Tahiti’s Tatau Fragrance Mist – Coconut Vanille (there’s an EDT version as well, although I’m surprised with the staying power of the fragrance mist!) – especially if Lovers GHarajuku Lovers G came really close to what she wants.
She likes lots of different notes, so it’s hard to narrow it down, but here are a few other suggestions on fragrances that are a little bit stronger than the ones above. From Hugo Boss: Deep Red (one of my favorites!), Boss Orange, maybe even Pure Purple.
Britney Spears Fantasy. Missoni. Vera Wang Princess. L de Lolita Lempicka or Lolita Lempicka Fleur de Corail (although they do have musk, but not too much in my opinion).
I’ll try to think of other options, but these are the ones on the top of my mind.
I second Falling in Love. I think that Lauren would really enjoy it- it is the only Philosophy I like. How about Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber? To me it has an almost fruity vibe at the beginning.
Sensuous Amber does have a fruity vibe. Somebody on fragrantica compared it to Back to Black with its tart raspberry note. I use the triple emollient shower cream and there is nothing better for shaving your legs. Twilight Woods is nice, too. I find it more sweet, warm and creamy than woody and it is in a pretty bottle that this bottle ‘ho is happy to have on her dresser.
I second the Missoni – it has a young, flirty feeling and not too pricey! Also, someone recommended Bronze Goddess, which I absolutely love. And I always have to recommend Ed Hardy Love & Luck – please ignore the Jersey Shore-esque connotations and give it a try!
Or rejoice in the Jersey Shore connotations! =)
I actually am not that familiar with Bronze Goddess, but people say it is very similar to Azuree Soleil, which I own and love.
Ha!
Yes, before I got Bronze Goddess, I was looking for the Azuree Soleil but the prices on ebay were ridiculous! I’ve heard the Azuree is better, but for a third or fourth of the price, I’ll deal if it’s close enough!
Odonata, I am happy to swap with you! I may love it, but I don’t wear it enough to justify owning it. Feel free to email me at arielleshoshana@gmail.com if you are interested. I have heard there are virtually no similarities to regular Azuree.
Lauren, for orange blossom I have to recommend Diptyque’s body lotion from the L’art du Soin series, Lait frais. It’s expensive for a body lotion, but it’s an absolutely beautiful orange blossom with a bit of peppery incense, and the scent lingers amazingly through the day, especially if you dress just after putting it on so that it can scent your clothes. I always get compliments when wearing it, so it does project, and a little goes a long way. It’s also a nice and comforting body product. Jessica reviewed it here:
https://nstperfume.com/2009/05/30/diptyque-lart-du-soin-the-art-of-body-care-scented-body-products/
Sooner or later, someone would have mentioned Eau de Lancome as a polite scent for nurses. Soon after, that same poster or another would lament EdL’s longevity (which can be measured in seconds). So let me cut to the chase, and that is that Bourbon French Parfums of New Orleans has a scent called Eleftorea which demonstrates all of EdL’s positive attributes while still having some oomph left after an hour. Bourbon French can also scent some exquisite body powder with their Eleftorea formulation. (No affiliation, just a fan.)
An oldie but a solid goodie in the black currant department is Chopard’s Mira Bai.
Thank you for assuming the meaningful profession of nursing.
For something tropical I would try Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess (it’s still coconut and suntan lotion, but you may find you like it better than Gwen Stefani’s G) and I find it to be fairly light. I also like Monyette Paris, it feels very flirty to me.
Good luck and congrats on your upcoming wedding!
2nd that — if you liked G but wanted something more sophisticated, Bronze Goddess would be perfect. And guessing they’ll introduce it again this spring.
Good call! Bronze Goddess would be just perfect, and the price is very good.
I’m an RN, and find the Bronze Goddess spray oil to be long lasting and close to the skin. Yet my coworkers do compliment me on it. It would layer well with the EDT.
What about Prescriptives Calyx? It’s lusciously fruity, but cut with a gorgeous rushing green note, so it never turns over-ripe or emetic. It’s incredibly cheerful, and makes people around you immediately say “You smell good,” and mean it. It’s just so damn likeable. But it’s also got a quiet sophistication, and it the perfect example of a fruity floral done with sensitivity and class and originality.
It doesn’t have any spicy or oriental notes, Lauren, but it’s absolutely stunning, and I really think you might love it. Chandler Burr calls it “a masterful scent, perfect in every measure”, and as usual, he’s right on the money. Plus, as a nice bonus, it’s incredibly reasonably priced. Getting something so deliriously good for so little money is like hitting the perfume jackpot. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Hi Chanterais….it looks like Perscriptives has taken out their counters at department stores…do you know where I can catch a whiff of Calyx? Do department stores still carry it?
Thanks!
Lauren
It was an Estee Lauder brand, and EL said they would keep on making Calyx. I haven’t checked to see if they have it at their counter now though.
Robin’s right, Estee Lauder crossed their heart and promised that Calyx would not be discontinued despite the rest of the Prescriptives line being sent to the guillotine. I don’t know what their plans are for marketing it, but I do know that it’s widely available on eBay, and even more cheaply on online discounters’ websites if you decide you want a full bottle (it’s available in a huge 3.4 oz bottle, a nice-sized 1.7 oz one, and sweet little .33 oz purse spray).
If you can’t find any to test in local department stores, and you’re interested in trying a few other scents that have been recommended, I can enthusiastically direct you towards The Perfumed Court. It’s a website that offers little samples and bigger decants of just about any scent you can think of, and I can wholeheartedly vouch for their kickass service. Ask them for a tiny vial of Calyx, and you can wear it for a number of days to see if it makes friends with your skin.
I hope this helps a bit, and that when you get your hands on some Calyx, you love it as much as I think you will. And please come back and tell us about your scent adventures!
The problem is that what is ‘flirty and chic’ to some is ‘nauseating’ to others. Some of the scents already suggested make me quite nauseous (Coco Mademoiselle, Chance, Black Orchid and anything coconutty, creamy or fruity, for instance) and, if I was lying in bed in hospital, I would hate for the person bending over me to smell of any of those. The only one I could just about stand would be Eau de Lancôme, I think. It is recommended for patients not to wear perfume when they visit the doctor; I’m afraid I believe it should be the same for members of the medical profession. If I were a nurse, I would wear perfume in my spare time.
I have to agree, to a large extent. I think if you’re going to wear something to work, it should be light, low-sillage, and not the least bit sweet…nor heavy on spice/resins. Given that, I’d tend toward a light orange blossom (Jo Malone, or maybe JV Artisan), or a “clear” fragrance like a cologne. You could get something inexpensive, like 4711, for work, and save the fun/flirty signature scent for after hours. There, for fruity/green, you might try Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil.
I don’t like black orchid or coco mademoiselle myself (but I did like Chance, when it was released :P), but I think those might be som fruity florals that may appeal someone who likes the genre. As much as I love my other recommandations, I would hate to be liying in a hospital with Amaranthine wafting around my bed.
And, come to think of it, I haven’t encoutered a shy fruity-floriental yet!
Hoever I think perfume is always about how much, where and when.
If you wear one dab to work, on you neck, it is going to please yourserlf and yourself only. Unless you went for an oud attar, that is 😉 !!!
I would say something not nice if a nurse who was attending to me came in smelling of Black Orchid or Coco Madamoiselle. Way too strong imo to wear in your line of work.
Maybe something like Aroma M Geisha Blanche or Carrierre. Very clear and to my nose inoffensive.
I am also thinking maybe something from the Acqua di Parma line?
~Dawn
As a perfumista and the daughter of a nurse, I agree with Bela– keep the scents, and ESPECIALLY the fruity or other gourmand styles, for your own time. You’re liable to increase the stress on some patients of illness and a hospital stay. Considering all the other smells of a hospital, you yourself might come to associate any fragrance you chose with something unpleasant anyway.
That said, 4711 might be uplifting rather than offensive.
I agree, bela. The two stays I have had in the hospital were for pneumonia and the nurses who wore detectable scents or had cigarette smoke clinging to their clothing made my lungs ache horribly. I don’t know what kinds of patients Lauren works with, but it’s better to err on the side of caution.
Have to agree with the comments here about perfume and nurses. I would be especially careful to avoid the nearly unavoidable department store clean musk base–much more tenacious and radiant than it seems to be, and it transfers to cloth and skin, so that your patients would end up smelling like you without your realizing it. Ugh.
On the other hand, most of the nurses I know smell like hand sanitizer, bandages and rubbing alcohol, so introducing something very light into that mix might be welcome. One good way to go might be a scented shower gel or hand lotion rather than a perfume. It will stay close to your body, won’t transfer, and will translate as “clean.” The Diptyque line is a great place to look for luxurious versions of these. I think Annick Goutal does some as well.
You might also consider perfume solids, or a water spray, like the ones Pre de Provence offers.
Although I love the smell of Coco Mad, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t like it say, in the recovery room in a hospital. Context is everything.
I like Sweetlife’s idea of using a perfume solid. They generally stay much closer to the body and a nurse would have to get really close to a patient before the patient would smell it.
Alyssa – We had a little contact a while back when I hoped AHTX was Alamo Heights here in SA and that we could go sniffing together. We have another Texas Perfumista in Houston, Cynthia, and we are sort of thinking of a Lone Star State sniffing tour of some kind. Houston is pretty easy for all of us and has a good selection of stores. Our Mecca is Dallas which has a Barney’s, a better Saks and Neiman’s that I have here, and a Le Labo boutique with the Dallas exclusive Aldehydes 44. Send me a note at julia 941 at yahoo and on MUA? Thanks!
Sweetlife, I for one like the scent of bandages and rubbing alcohol!
Hee, hee! I know what you mean, they do have a certain appeal. But I am very doctor-phobic so they make me…anxious.
From Tom Ford I would suggest Black Orchid Voile De Fleur instead of the original Black Orchid. It’s a petty tuberose which might work better than the big chocolatey BO.
YSL Cinema is a quiet, sweet mimosa which is worth trying. As is Cacharel Noa which is a pretty fresh floral, very discreet but distinctive.
Seconding the Voile de Fleur (the edt of Black Orchid) and Noa as pretty and distinctive. Another pleasant, non-ditzy fruity one: Ines de la Fressange – the 1999 version in the octagonal bottle, not the later version in the oak leaf bottle.
Calyx sprang immediately to my mind, too – Chanterais has described it so well above. I would only add that TS gives it 5 stars and calls it “one of those rare fragrances you could wear your whole life.” Nonetheless, as Bela cautions, I restrain myself from wearing perfume when I visit my dentist, doctor or Pilates instructor. Helle’s suggestion of a scented lotion is very wise – and I’m going to look for that one myself. I’d guess that Prescriptives offers a Calyx lotion, too. Thanks for taking on an essential, caring profession!
I consider our tastes fairly similar so I’ll give you some suggestions of other scents I have and enjoy. Maybe SJP’s Covet? or Kate Moss Velvet Hour? For a cleaner scent, Hermes Eau Des Merveilles or a softer milkier scent, Kenzo Amour. If I had the money I would also have a bottle of L’Artisian Parfumeur’s, Bois Farine. Amazing stuff which I think might fit the bill perfectly for you. Have lots of fun sampling all these great suggestions by all.
Second Eau des Merveilles! It is one of my new faves and one of the few citruses I like. Delicious, transparent, salty orange with the “idea” of ambergris. Yum. I also like its heavier cousin Elixir des Merveilles – I get the candied orange peel but not the cocoa. I don’t care for chocolate notes in parfumerie.
I like the Calyx and Philosophy Falling in Love recommendations. Also recommend checking out the Pacifica fragrance line, which includes some very pretty fruits and florals. I’m thinking that the solid perfumes could work well for a nurse, as they have less “throw” — you could keep a couple in your pocket! Best wishes, Lauren!
Hmm. Although I love and wear Black Orchid, it’s not something I’d want to smell while in the hospital. I’d second Calyz or Kenzo Amour. I suggest Benefit Maybe Baby, but not sure if still easily available; it’s just very light and dreamy. Another excellent choice is Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil . Have fun testing and good luck!
I feel like a broken record: Try MDCI Le Rivage des Syrtes for a sweet orange and Laura Mercier is a fav. orange blossom.
On the lines of Coco Madm., what about Miss Dior Cherie or Cartier Delices? And who came out with the Fire and Cream (I haven’t sniffed it yet)?
If you like Jasmine, Bvlgari Jasmine Noir…
I thought of Jasmin Noir too!
(btw, long time lurker, first time poster)
It’s not at all fruity, but what about Etra by Etro? It’s warm, creamy, & slightly spicy. I had a coworker who wore this & it wasn’t at all obtrusive in a work environment.
Hello, Lauren! I have a few suggestions, since you like such a wide range of notes. One orchid fragrance that isn’t overly fruity is Pure by Alfred Sung. Azzaro Twin for women and Toi Mon Demon by Des Filles a la Vanille are two nice pear/green scents, with the former being a sensual, soft pear, and the latter being a spring – like, fresh pear. I hope this helps 🙂
You should go for Glamour By Moschino, CK In2U or CH by Carolina Herrara. I strongly suggest Glamour!
And, you could also try Coco Mademoiselle, Chanel Chance or Miss Dior Cherie.
Also, good luck with your wedding! 🙂
A great amber to try is Pacifica’s Spanish Amber, but definitely not very fruity to me, with notes including geranium, labdanum, bergamot and elemi. Another one you might try is EL pleasures delight. It’s a gourmand and targeted towards those in their 20’s and early 30’s.
I have worked in healthcare, and my organization preferred we didn’t wear fragrance. However, during those years, I wore Clean “Ultimate” and received many compliments from patients. I even gave a small vial of it to a hospice patient at her request. Notes: Italian bergamot, provencal lemon, Llavender, jasmine, white rose (not rose-y though) muguet, neroli, and musk.
She might also consider LoLLia “Believe,” which says “Cabbage Rose & Citrus” on the bottle, but again, doesn’t smell “rose-y”. I don’t like rose fragrances, and many make me sneeze, so I’m sensitive to this. The notes are light rose water, red apple and bergamot, a whisper of jasmine, plum and cedarwood.
Another choice for a fruit lover might be Comptoir Sud Pacific’s Vanille Abricot.
I kept hearing about Vanille Abricot, but I couldn’t really find it at a discount anywhere. I found two other perfumes from the Comptoir Sud Pacifique line, Fleurs de Caraibes and Mora Bella on sale, so I tried them. One reminded me of a cat, and the other was stale – fruity. I still want to try some of the vanilla based sprays in the line, like Vanille Cannelle, since that’s what the brand is known for. Made a mistake trying the fruity ones.
This little store near where Iive does internet business and carries many, many hard-to-find scents, including Comptor Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot. The site is a little hard to navigate, but there’s a treasure trove of scent there. http://www.hamptonct.com
Hi Lauren. There are so many good recommendations here [Calyx and Kenzo Amour being particularly good choices based on your preferences] and I’d just like to add Diptyque Philosykos to the list.
I second Calyx and anything Philosophy (always a good choice for nurses) and would likewise urge caution re the Black Orchid for work. Neroli and orange blossom are very uplifiting though – try Annick Goutal’s Neroli, Le Labo jasmin 17 (more neroli than jasmine), Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Pour le Matin, and Hermes 24 Faubourg Eau Delicate for some nice orange blossom-y scents.
Most hospitals in my area (Boston) ban perfume and scented products so our biggest sellers for this type of work-fragrance were the Bvlgari Au Te (green and white) series and Eau de Cartier.
Once in a while someone would get away with D&G Light Blue, and since you’re looking for fruity notes, it might be your most appropriate bet.
When my Mother had cancer, she couldn’t abide any scents at all (food, perfume, etc) and one of the nurses had to switch duties because her perfume made my mother vomit copiously. She came back the next day without fragrance and apologized. I think she was written up; the nursing manager was very apologetic.
I wanted to comment on the situation with your mother. That was really insensitive of somebody in a caring profession. I was on a medication a while back that had a horrific side effect profile including sensitivity to smell and also taste perversion. Because those two senses are so closely related they did a double whammy on my ability to eat (I could taste the smell of food and it made me sick). In addition to that, it had the effect of weight loss and those three combined to drive my weight down below 100lbs. and I’m 5’7″ and it almost killed me. The only food I could handle was sushi (cold, so no smell) and strangely, very spicy things like Indian and Vietnamese. I did wear Amazing Grace throughout the ordeal and it never bothered me. I’ve gone on elsewhere about the widespread appeal of that fragrance, I guess it is designed to appeal to the max. amount of people and it does. It didn’t nauseate me and even people who claim to be very sensitive to perfume never had a problem with it. Also, I’ve heard from pregnant women with morning sickness that the smell of cut lemons and fresh roses help combat nausea. I’m not sure a rose perfume would have the same effect, but I can imagine a crisp, clean, citrus fragrance is a good choice in a hospital situation . Fresh Sugar’s lemony scent comes to mind.
I just got a sample of LuLu Guiness which was rather nice and sounds a bit like a floral you might enjoy…
Can I add one more vote for Philosophy? Any of the Graces or, for extra berry, Unconditional Love. Any of these in lotion form would be light enough to wear in most healthcare offices or hospitals. Not all that chic but certainly light and inoffensive.
Hi Lauren! I strongly suggest Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Vert and Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil- both would make great, light comfort scents for the medical profession while still being very cool and stylish. I second the suggestion of Annick Goutal Neroli, and if you like pear you may like Annick Goutal Petite Cherie as well- it is light and clean and unobstrusive. Also second Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess- if you liked G this will be perfection! And a couple of scents that may not be perfect for work as a nurse, but I think would fit your personality and make you smile- Hot Couture by Givenchy (smelled great on my friend at work) and Karma by Lush (your hippie side will love it!). Good luck!
Jardin Sur le Nil is a great choice!!
Not sure what your budget is, but you would probably also like Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle. It is expensive but definitely worth every penny!
I was thinking of this with its fruity opening – I LOVE it. However, I would never wear a tuberose scent to work and I don’t work with people who are sick but I do work closely with people. So many people find tuberose too indolic and off-putting, and I find it soooo sexy, that I save it for days off and nights out. My other fave tuberose scents are Fracas, Daphne, and PdN No.One.
I think that you should look into the Jo Malone line…. The scents are nice, and not overpowering…. pomegranate noir is my favorite, and their orange blossom is really lovely as well… and the great thing is you can mix and match what you love, as far as making your own unique scent…. Prescriptives Caylx is wonderful, and both Halle Berry fragrances may just be right up your alley as well!! Good luck!!!
Hi Lauren, good luck with your search. Here are some I think would fit the bill:
1) Prada Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger
2) Marc Jacobs Daisy
3) Annick Goutal Eau de Charlotte
4) Annick Goutal Songes EDT – has a lot of sillage so light application but really worth trying
5) Dolce & Gabbana EDT (original one)
Bobbi Brown Beach: a lovely suntan lotion jasmine that is reasonably priced. Diesel Fuel for Life Her which is a gently offbeat fruity floral.
Hello Lauren,
I have 2 recommendations, since you are a nurse and you can spray lightly. First one is Annick Goutal Quel Amour, red fruits and peonies. Second one is Annick Goutal Eau de Charlotte, has blackcurrant buds, mimosa, coca, lily of the valley and vanilla. I think you will like at least one of them. Let us know what you have tried.
What do you guys think about Guerlain’s Cologne du 68 for Lauren? It is light enough to not offend anyone, and both fresh and a little spicy…very citrusy but tempered with plenty of other notes to make it more interesting…imho, anyway. Btw, this is my first ever post, but I am a long-time fan of the site! Thanks for all the great reading material 🙂
Could I suggest Chanel Coromandel – I am in love with that at the moment. Also love the Carnal Flower suggestion, but for me that a bit too special to be an everyday scent.
Hello from another Chicagoan! I second AG Eau de Charlotte and Quel Amour — both are lovely and are kind of close to the skin fragrances that won’t overwhelm. Another nice fruity floral with minimal sillage is Burberry Summer. It’s quite pretty and people only seem to notice it if I’m really “in their space” — and then they tell me how nice it is!
Oh, and Fresh Strawberry Flowers might be nice too … it’s more citrus than strawberry and a light fragrance.
Definately Kenzo Amour! And I second the Benefit Maybe Baby- it’s apricot, right? Might be able to get it in Sephora…L by Lolita Lempicka is awesome- but sometimes my kids tell me I smell like chocolate chip cookies! I do enjoy Princess by Vera Wang too…
I’m not familiar with the Fresh line, but everytime I’m in Sephora I find I’m trying their Lychee fragrance. It’s also a natural line.
If budget isn’t a huge concern, then maybe one of the non-synthetic lines might be a good choice like Aftelier (Tango) or Strange Invisible Perfumes.
I’ve read over some of the comments from people about wearing something to work v. fruity signature scent. I nice compromise might be an edt from L’Occitane. They wear close to the skin, and smell very natural so they are not likely to irritate anyone. I personally wear the Miel et Citron and I work with children so I have similar concerns. They have a new “Wild Cherry” edt that I am waiting to try next time I’m at the mall. I see a lot of people suggesting Black Orchid. I’m not sure that would be for you. “Truffle” (as in the mushroom not the chocolate) is one of the listed ingredients . . . and yes, it really has a potent earthy mushroom smell, at least on me.
as an RN of 27 yrs(total of 30 yrs in nursing) & spent the last 23 & a bit yrs in recovery room nursing, i can recommend a few scents….le labo fleurs d’oranger is a beautiful scent that i get frequent compliments on; bulgari omnia crystalline which dries down into a woody musky (but not overly so) scent; & definitely try fracas (for the tuberose,definitely a holy grail) not saying that it’s necessarily suitable for work (although maybe u can try very VERY sparingly) but it’s certainly worth a shot. I do stay away from the extreme sillage scents at work but most fumes that i do wear get positive comments from patients AND colleagues
oh yeah i’m in adelaide south australia…we don’t get written up ( i guess that means reported) for wearing fragrance
I’m a surgery tech, and I own alot of perfumes and body creams, body lotions. I love to layer my body creams (mix and match at times) with one tiny spray or dab of fragrance on the hair line back of my neck, to name a few recommendations: Fracas, Chanel Mad. Bvulgari Omnia, and Dior Dune, Eau De Merveilles, Jardin Sur Le Nil, 24 Faubourg, Divine, Kai, Havana Vanille, Diptygue Philosykos, Nina, I try to get the solid perfumes if available as they seem to be easier to control.
I think a lovely work-appropriate scent would be Fresh’s Fig & Apricot. It is a comforting yet light and fresh scent; the fig never gets overly honeyed or sticky, and it is just enough to feel happy and put a spring in your step (it does that for me, in any case!). It has a warmth to it that is never “too much”, and is very easy to wear.
Another light scent you may wish to try has already been suggested several times — Bvlgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert (not the concentrated version). It is perhaps more “aloof” than the Fig & Apricot; I am not sure what sort of feeling you are after.
A line I think you should explore is CB I Hate Perfume, as they have a number of interesting fragrances that could work for you. They are light and not cloying; more like scent-experiences than traditional perfumes.
Some suggestions include:
A room with a View
Walking in the Snow
I am a Dandelion
Memory of Kindness
At the Beach
M. Hulot’s Holiday
Wild Pansy
Gathering Apples
As for the most beautiful scent with a coconut note that I can think of is Manoumalia by Les Nez. It is an unusual and fascinating tiaré scent that while very sensual, remains polite and well-mannered.
Good luck in your search!
Oh, those are some GREAT suggestions. I second every single one.
I’ve seconded a few things and I know I’m a little late, but I have a couple more suggestions. I work with someone who is indifferent to perfume at best. Mostly I think she hates it. Anyway, she LOVES Bvulgari Omnia. The original one with the amber bottle. It is a milky, almond saffron with and ambery drydown that people really like. I don’t love it, but the first time I sprayed it in my room my husband walked in and asked what smelled so good and he does not care about my perfumes. Yesterday I stuck my wrist under his nose and asked what he thought and he said the standard , “Yeah, that’s nice.” I asked if he really like it or was just saying that and he finally admitted he was just saying that. He didn’t dislike it, he just says that so I won’t ask again. The SA at Sak’s told me men love it, and I do receive compliments on it. You can also find it for a very reasonable price at most discounters, though I don’t know that I would call it a cheap thrill.
A real cheap thrill, if you can find it, is the third flanker to the first J-Lo scent called Miami Glow. I know the third flanker of a celeb scent doesn’t sound promising, but it is nice.
I also recommend Balmain Ambre Gris. It has a sort of pina colada vibe with a slightly fruity pineapple coconut opening, and a creamy sandalwood-like drydown. It is not a cheap thrill, but I’m happy to send you samples of all three if you like. Also, consider Sacrebleue by PdN.
Hi all,
How about Eau Turquoise by Parfums d Nicolai? Fruity top notes (Mango, apricot, lime), a little spice in the middle (osmanthus, pepper, jasmine, cardamom), and musk, jasmine absolute in the drydown. I think there is cedar too, but it doesn’t really come forward on my skin.
I’d also suggest Eclipse. I haven’t tried it, but it sounded very nice and pretty.
Hello all,
Lauren here! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS! There are really great ideas here, and I’m thrilled to explore all of your suggestions! As Robin noted…I’m a novice in the perfume world, and it’s hard to know where to start. I’m planning to do a little perfume shopping this weekend, hit up some department stores, it seems like a lot of the suggested fragrances are available at Neiman Marcus so hopefully I’ll be able to test some out there. I’ll be sure to look into all of the suggestions that have been made, and I’ll keep you all posted on what I come up with!
For those of you who are wondering about the idea of wearing perfume as a nurse…
I’m currently an OR (operating room) nurse, so to be blunt my patients are “out of it” most of the time I am with them, and my colleagues are wearing surgical face masks. At work, I don’t care about my fragrance being noticeable…I just want to wear something light and uplifting with low sillage for my own enjoyment. In addition, operating rooms are kept at a very low temperature and the air is well circulated, so fragrances lose a bit of there “oomph.” That being said, I do have to float occasionally to other areas of the hospital, and certainly don’t want my fragrance to cause any stress to patients or coworkers. Everyone who suggested solid fragrances and lotions/shower gels really struck a smart note….I’ve never worn a solid fragrance before, but will definitely look into it.
Also, I’m thinking that separating my work fragrance and “personal fragrance” is a smart possibility….although I love the idea of having a versatile signature go-to fragrance, I’d hate to give up the spicier and potentially “heavier” (again…novice perfumista…my perfume descriptive powers are pathetically limited) notes that I enjoy forever. Probably best to keep a very light scent for work and a slightly more profound one for personal time.
Has anyone ever used a hair perfume before? As I looked up Tom Ford Black Orchid I saw that it is available as a Hair Perfume…interesting….
Thanks again for your thoughtful assistance, everyone!
Have fun, Lauren! You have many wonderful and different suggestions here, and I’m sure you’ll end up with more than one that you enjoy – for work and/or for free time. I’m going to check out a few of these myself 🙂
Hi Lauren,
I’ve used several hair perfumes-they are nice but tend to be a little drying because of the alcohol.
The few I’ve tried I love. Narcisco Rodriguez has a very nice one. I also use it for perfume because it tends to be more sheer.
The other is Angel, which is a powerhouse of a scent but it does last quite a long time.
I also make my own hair perfume by mixing a few spritzes of perfume into an 8 oz water bottle (90% full of water) with some glycerine for moisture (about 5-10% glycerine). If you want light hold/styling properties, you can add a drop or two of liquid hair gel. It makes a moisturizing scented hair gel all in one-and for way less money.
You can email me at SFLizbeth at Makeup Alley if you have questions.
Hair perfume?
I just spritz my hair if I am wearing a light scent — for example, L’Artisan’s La Chasse Aux Papillons or Thé Pour Une Eté, or Goutal’s Petite Chèrie, or something from the Fresh line.
Popping back on because I was going through my notes and came across one you might like: Satellite’s Ipanema. It’s light and a bit short-lived, but it reminded me of a tropical drink at the beach. The coconut is dry, not sweet…and the perfume is turquoise blue! I thought it was a fun scent.