This is an open thread for participants in the Monday Mail articles to share their experiences, and hopefully let us know if they found what they were looking for (or went bankrupt trying). I'm sending out emails today requesting feedback from everyone who took part between September and December of last year, so check back over the next few days to see what we can find out.
Here are links to the articles for each participant:
Denise, Ammy, Philippe, Sara, Zaheer, Susan, Gillian, Elsa, Lindsay, Satya, Kevin, Jules, Lauren, Peggy
By the way, the waiting list for the Monday Mail is short at the moment — only 3 weeks — so if you've been thinking of applying, now is a good time!
Note: image "Letter box in a house-wall of San Giorgio in the community Resia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy" by Johann Jaritz, via Wikimedia.
Hi! It’s Peggy.
I’ve learned so much about perfume these past weeks! I devoured Chandler Burr’s Emperor of Scent, have been rifling through Turin’s Perfumes A-Z guide, and have two more perfume books on the way.
I’ve tried so many perfumes! And bought a few too many as well. The stars of the show for me have been:
Chergui (So mysterious! I love the hay note! I did buy a bottle.)
Tabac Blond (But let’s be serious, I can’t financially venture beyond the 5ml sample The Perfumed Court sold me)
I think I like Jasmin et Cigarette, but I’m not sure about Dzongkha!. I’m wearing Timbuktu right now and it’s lovely, but I find the EdTs don’t linger as long as I like.
The Guerlains! I have a small selection of samples now and especially love:
L’Heure Bleue
Mitsouko / Jicky
Attrape Coeur
Shalimar – I very happily bought a bottle
I like the Shalimar EDT as well. I find it has a warm buttery note in it that makes me happy.
I have a small sample of the new Guerlain Tonka Imperiale coming. It turns out I love hay notes, and this apparently has one. I’m also expecting small samples of Gris Clair, Le Labo Patchouli 24, and the original not-butchered Organza Indécence, which also had a hay note.
But I think I’m done with the purchasing. If the house was burning down and I could only save one perfume, at this point it’d definitely be Chergui. And though I’m “technically” done my search, if there’s anything else out there with strong hay notes, men’s or women’s, I’d love to know.
Thank you Robin!
Hi Peggy! Funny you should mention the Guerlains. Jicky is a new love for me – in fact, I recently treated myself to a fb and I’m wearing it today. It’s wonderful. Odd that I’ve found myself loving Jicky, as it’s the polar opposite of a light citrusy thing I’d worn for 15 years – but it was damaged beyond recognition during a reformulation. Ugh!
On another note: Since you’re a fan of hay, here are two other recommendations for you: Santa Maria Novella’s ‘Fieno’ (which I believe translates to ‘hay’) and Erbe’s ‘Fieno’. Erbe is a small Italian cosmetics line with a shop in NYC’ Soho district and they produce a handful of well-crafted scents. I think a 3.4 is under $50.00
Is erbe avail online? I just looked and can’t find it!
Yeah, I tried to find Erbe too — I asked their website. I need to know! 😀
I don’t think Erbe is online 🙁 However, if you Google “Erbe Prince Street” the store information will come up.
Another hay note recommendation: Parfumerie Generale Bois Blond.
Always happy to give a second when Bois Blond comes up. ♥♥
And I will add a hearty third!
Thanks — I’m going to check this one out this weekend. 😀
Hermes Brin de Reglisse, Parfumerie Generale Felanilla, Parfums de Nicolai Vie de Chateau
There’s way more hay out there than I’d thought!
Thanks, I tried Felanilla, but I can’t smell it after 20 minutes or so on my skin. Sad! I’ve heard good things about the Hermes; I’ll probably check it out this weekend.
It’s way over budget, but L’Artisan’s Fleur de Narcisse has a hay note.
Not exactly hay, but dried grasses and dusty earth: CBIHP A Room With a View. It smells just like a golden, midwestern Indian summer afternoon to me.
Mmmm, nice description Boo. I’ll have to try that one.
Ah, I did try this one, and it was nice, for the whole half hour it lingered on me anyway.
Eau de Polder. Another happy hay for me.
Tilleul by D’Orsay had a dry-down that was all hay and beeswax on me (a pity I don’t like smelling like beeswax!)
Oh dear, I think I’ll have to have this one too — I do love beeswax. Thanks!
I wonder if there are any Toronto leads on this one… seems a UK company.
Hey, you all, it’s Susan here. Thanks to Robin for reminding me to let you know how I’ve done with my fragrance search. Been meaning to get around this, but I was hoping to have tried more before I reported back with the results. However, now that I’ve been reminded, here’s what I’ve been up to.
Having falled in love with The Perfumed Court I guickly made a wish list that went over $100, so I had to develop some sort of strategy. I sniffed or sampled everything I could locally, then ordered from TPC a couple of carnations and an orange blossom sampler.
Here’s where I am so far…..
First, the local sniffing outing results let me rule out Prada Infusion Iris, Lolita Lempicka (original), Shalimar, and a few others. Nothing wrong with any of them, but none (except maybe Shalimar) are any that I’d love to be caught wearing. None of the Chanel I had access to appealed to me, either.
The carnation scents I’ve tried are:
DSH “Oillets Rouge” – Really love this! Smells good from first to last and it’s very close to the tiny carnations I grew years ago.
Guerlain “Terracotta Voile d’Ete” – Also love this and wear it often. I was a little put off at first sniff, but it quickly won me over. It seems to smell better and better as the days wears on, which is not typical behavior for fragrance on me.
The orange blossom sampler included: Tom Ford “Neroli Portofino”; Annick Goutal “Neroli”; Prada “Infusion d’Oranger”; Jo Malone “Orange Blossom”; Laura Mercier “Neroli”. Quickly decided that I might not be as big a fan of orange blossom as I thought. The Tom Ford smells, well, soapy, to me. The Annick Goutal smelled terrible on me, and the Prada and JM were just so-so.
The Laura Mercier is nice, but has the same effect on my as the DG The One. After a short time all I want to do it wash it off! Maybe one of you could tell me what that’s all about?? Anyway, I’ve decided that orange blossom is better wafting through the air from the trees!
I rediscovered a bottle of L’Origan hidden in a drawer, and I’ve been wearing that some. Also came upon a small, mark-down bottle of Sung at a Marshall’s, and I decided to take a chance. I do really like it, and found it lasts longer than I first thought and smells great all day.
My next adventure (after the tax return arrives) is going to be Heure Exquise, Theorema and some of the recommendations from CdG.
I’ve had a great time searching and sniffing, and I’ve browsed the site often for reviews and other great info. In an effort to at least get close to the pronunciation, I also discovered a French/English translation website, which is a lot of fun. Who knew fragrance could be so enlightening??
Before I sat down to write this, I tried a few of the samples again so they’d be fresh in my “mind”. Excuse me, now, while I run and wash off this Laura Mercier!!! Promise I’ll keep you posted on the rest!
Susan, thanks so much for the update! So glad you at least found two great carnations, and that you’re still having fun trying things.
Haha! I had to laugh because this is also how I started! The Orange Blossom sampler (and a Violet sampler). I ended up liking other scents that had OB somewhere within them (Bois de Iles – Chanel or Kilian’s Prelude to Love) or with Violet, I went with Unicorn Spell (lez nez) or Aimez Moi (caron) and away from the sweet sweet violet like Violetta di Parma (Borsari). Wait until you try some of the smoky (SL Chergui) or Hay (OJ Woman) scents! ooo! So much fun!
Hmmm…I’ll probably also find that OB is something I like better when it’s not the main attraction. I’m casting about for a friend who would like the sampler I got right now. While I might not have liked the fragrances, I enjoyed the little candy treats the girls at TPC enclosed with my orders.
The other fragrances you mentioned sound terrific, and I will add them to my growing list of must-try’s. Hay notes sound very unusual. I feel the tax refund shrinking even as I write!!
I don’t like the soapy smell that many orange blossom scents exude either – but one of my favorite scents of all time is Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger 27. You might have better luck with it than some of the others since Le Labo’s treatments of their scents is a bit unconventional – although this is one that actually smells like what it’s named for, unlike some of the others.
Another great carnation is CdG’s Carnation from the Red Series.
LeLabo is on my list for the next round of samples, which is going to happen soon since the tax return has arrived. Also plan to try out some of the CdG. Thanks for your suggestions! Let you know what the next round brings.
Susan — before you completely give up on orange blossom, give Ineke’s Field Nots from Paris a whirl. I tried it, and thought it was… okay. But then I couldn’t stop sniffing it, and became addicted! Not soapy, not sweet, just perfect. One of my favourites now.
I love Theorema, but to me it is a Christmassy scent, and I can’t wear it after the snow melts.
Ooo — and a great carnation scent I have discovered lately: Mona di Orio “Carnation”. Here’s a great review:
http://thenonblonde.blogspot.com/2009/10/mona-di-orio-carnation.html
Your recommendations sound wonderful! I definitely will give the orange blossom another try and can’t wait to try another carnation fragrance. I’m hoping to find an OB with a slight sweetness to it, since I’m generally a fan of sweet or spicy scents. Right now I have masses of wisteria in bloom and have been swept off my feet by their scent. When I recover I’m back on the quest! Thanks again!
Hi Guys, I ended up with Mr Ford on my skin.. LOL , Tom Ford Black Orchid. I LOVE IT, and although it doesn’t go well for some people as a day fragrance, i use it all the time. Even if i’m sitting outside in the patio. THANKS FOR THE HELP 🙂
Nice choice, thanks for chiming in!
Hey!
Hmmm…. let’s see.
First, I went to Ogilvy and smelled Eau Sauvage by Dior. But… I didn’t feel quite my age. Then Lalique Encre Noire. It was a “coup-de-foudre” although I didn’t buy it. Then, my mom and I went to Holt Renfrew. I took a sniff of Little Italy, and it pleased me but the price was WAY too high. And, when in New York, I thought of someone who to told me to smell Bigarade Concentrée. And while there, why not smell En Passant, by Ms. Giacobetti? That perfume was a true revelation. On my skin, it was light, sligthly aquatic, but not oyster-y, there was a smattering of lilac, but with the aquatic edge, didn’t feel pretty or feminine. That’s how I found the perfume I will probably be wearing this summer. Plus Havana Vanille. And maybe Eau d’Orange Verte. That’s about it. 😀
Oh, but you found some wonderful things! En Passant is one of my favorites.
Thanks to everyone who reported back! I really love hearing about your smelling adventures. Keep ’em coming!
Hello all!
It’s Lindsay. I went to London for Christmas and wanted to pick something up while I was there.
It came down to three choices while I was there: Grossmith “Shem-el-Nessum” from Roja Dove at Harrods; Scents of Time “Maya,” from the British Museum gift shop, or Miller Harris “Rose en Noir” from Liberty.
I eventually chose Rose en Noir, and it was a wonderful choice! I’ve been wearing it more than any of my other scents all winter long. It’s a bit much, though, now that the weather has turned hot here in Turkmenistan, so I’ve had to get out some of my summer scents this week!
So glad you found something perfect — those Miller Harris bottles are gorgeous, too.
Hi,
I was in the october monday mail and I got so many wonderful recommendations. I havent had time to sample all of them yet but this far I have discovered a couple that I really like and two I have to buy.
I also had to change my mind about a certain perfume house that wasnt really working out for me (or so I thought) It turned out that I loved a few perfumes from that house so I ended up sampling the entire line. Thank you everyone who recommended me Parfumerie Generale. I’m so glad I didnt give up on that house.
Aomassai was one of the perfumes I had to change my mind about. Suddenly it just worked and I’m now the proud owner of a bottle. I have worn it almost the entire winter. I also really liked Cadjmere, Bois Blond, Cuir d Iris and L ombre fauve.
My other big love that I found thanks to one of you were Bois d Armenie. Next time I’m in Paris I’m bringing home a bottle.
Other nice recs I got were Ambre Narguile, Musc Ravageur (I cant for the life of me smell the musk in this one but it’s a beauty anyway), Coromandel, pc02, cuir ottoman and ormonde woman. Theese fitted me very well but it wasnt love with them as with Aomassai and Bois D Armenie.
I also noticed that Bond fragrances turns extremely masculine on me!
I would like to thank everyone who recommended me perfumes. It has been so much fun to sample them and as I said, I’m not done sampling yet. It has been a wonderful learning experience to find out how different notes act on my skin and what notes and manufacturers I should avoid…(Bond, I’m looking at you) and take a wider approach to (Parfumerie Generale, Chanel)
Thank you again, and good job everyone who recommended samples for me. You are so spot on!
Sincerely
Sara
Hi Sara, thanks so much for the detailed feedback, and really glad you found two already. Hope you will enjoy the rest of the search!
Hi there,
This is Kevin. My choices have been pretty ironic actually. I had asked for a scent that was green and lively and purchased BC I Hate Perfume – To See A Flower after trying after trying Black March and not being too impressed with it on my skin. I ended up returning it because some of the ingredients irritated my lungs.
I’ve gone in the opposite direction (and towards what I love most – a lot of vanilla and creamy scents. I’ve been on a spree of smelling perfumes targeted at women and I’ve fallen in love with the Guerlains, especially Shalimar. It’s funny because the girls working at the Guerlain counter usually assume that I’m shopping for an older asian lady.
Gave CdG a few sniffs. The odeurs were very interesting, but if I owned them I probably wouldn’t wear it outside of my house. 2 man was a bit sweet, the original 2 wore well but not well enough to buy and Hinoki was beautiful but overpowering. I considered buying White, but I’ll hold off until I smell the Incenses.
Still, in between classes, exams and papers, I still get a hankering for Shalimar and I’m surprised I haven’t picked up a bottle yet. I guess that’s how you know you’ve found something good. Thanks so much for the help!
Interesting outcome, thanks so much for weighing in!
Hi Robin! Sorry to be late to the party. I was one of the Monday Mail honerees, so I feel I must weigh in.
…whoops, I accidentally hit send. To continue. I had mentioned that a liked a bit of green in my fragrance and most people started offering me very green fragrances…wrong. I also said I like woody musky florals, so I got more than a few “earthy” smell recommendations – still on wrong track.
Be very careful what you ask for and be as concise as possible.
I did receive a number of great suggestions but I didn’t fall in love with any. Now that I know more about fragrance, I know better the specifics. I feel bad I was so frustrating (and frustrated) .
I hope I can redo the Monday Mail????? I think I can narrow it down better and give others a clearer picture. 😉
It is fun to live vicariously through similar Monday Mail posts.
Sure, you can do it again — send another application.