Spring! Finally. It isn't summer, but it's almost summer, and if, like me, you detest the cold, that's very nearly the best thing about it. The absolute best thing, of course, is the flowers. My list is heavily weighted towards the "pretty floral" fragrance category, and it's also heavily weighted towards niche, and expensive. Sorry, it just worked out that way. Hopefully, my fellow bloggers did a better job on the diversity front: see Bois de Jasmin, Grain de Musc, Perfume Posse and Perfume Smellin’ Things for more top 10 lists. Meantime, here's mine:
CB I Hate Perfume Black March: the smell of spring, and the perfect thing to wear on a warm, rainy April day, although there's something about it that can tend towards the melancholy. If you can't afford it, you can make do with Demeter Dirt — someone called Black March the high def version of Dirt, and that's apt. For an entirely different take on springtime melancholy, there's always Guerlain Après L’Ondée.
Christian Dior Diorissimo: what is spring without lily of the valley? And what's the point of wearing a lily of the valley other than Diorissimo? Even if you disagree with me (and I'm sure many of you do) don't forget that tomorrow is May Day. Wear your muguet of choice. I listed a few other options in Tuesday's review of Longwood Gardens Always in Bloom.
Etro Shaal Nur: an old favorite that I tend to forget about — when you have too much perfume, sometimes the old favorites sit unloved in the back of the cabinet. Shaal Nur is worth remembering — you can wear it any time, but the combination of bright and warm notes make it an ideal incense for spring. If you don't like Shaal Nur but want something else spring-like that fits the same bright + warm slot, try Guerlain Shalimar Light. If those are both too feminine for you (although really, I think a man could wear either) you need some Crown Eau de Russe or Institut Très Bien Cologne à la Russe, but both of them are sadly discontinued — can anyone think of an equivalent that's still on the market?
L'Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse Aux Papillons: when I reviewed La Chasse, I called it "the classic, ethereal spring-time white floral, very fresh and girly — a white floral even a white floral hater could love". But on days when you're not feeling so fresh and girly, reach for the opposite-end-of-the-spectrum Timbuktu, instead — it wears beautifully in spring weather too.
Diptyque Olène: nobody talks about Olène these days, does anyone still wear it? Like La Chasse, Olène is all about white flowers, but it's not what I'd call ethereal, fresh or girly — it's a big statement white floral, and I wear it in spring because that's about the only time of year I find it really wearable.
Frederic Malle En Passant: lilacs by Olivia Giacobetti. Enough said. If you hate it, you could try the fresher After My Own Heart by Ineke. If you hate that too, tell us what lilac you do like. If you don't like lilac at all, I can't help you.
LesNez The Unicorn Spell: You need a perfect spring violet too, right? The Unicorn Spell is just what the doctor ordered — a little chilly, a little green, an excellent violet for in-between weather. Angie included Comme des Garçons + Stephen Jones in her Top 10 last year, and it's another wonderful option for violet. If you need a more reasonably priced (and easier to come by) violet, try the new Balenciaga Paris.
Annick Goutal Folavril: I suppose Petite Cherie is the quintessential spring fragrance from Annick Goutal, but I like the quirky Folavril (mango, tomato leaf, jasmine) better.
Guerlain Cologne du 68: I complained after I bought it that it was charming but not necessary, and that it cost too much for what it was. I still say it's charming but not necessary and it costs too much, but it sure is handy — it works in virtually any situation, and has enough depth to function in spring the same way that Eau de Guerlain does in summer: what to wear when you don't want to think about what to wear.
Le Labo Gaiac 10: sadly, spring in my neck of the woods is not all sunshine and tulips. Much of this month was rainy and cold, and if the winter things hadn't already been packed away I'd probably have stayed in turtlenecks. Still, it didn't really feel like winter, and heavy winter fragrances don't appeal in April. Gaiac 10 is the (admittedly expensive and hard-to-find) antidote — dry woods, citrus, a bit of green, nothing more or less than what is needed.
As always, feel free to include your top 10 fragrances for spring in the comments!
Note: image is 6171-2 by sakura_chihaya+ at flickr; some rights reserved.
Great list!
Thanks!
Great list, and as usual no matter how much stuff I sample, I never seem to have sampled anything on anybody’s lists, lol. Diorissimo almost doesn’t count, since I haven’t really smelled it since I was a teenager.
I take that back – I do have a spray sample of Olene and like how loud and rubbery it opens up. It reminds me of some of the big tropical perfumes you can get in Hawaii, and smells quite a bit like a flower called puakenekene. I am very happy that I can wear the white florals (with the possible exception of Fracas).
Pacifica has a new Lilac out – I tried it today and it is quite good – lots of lilac, with a tinge of green and a hint of sweetness. A good $25 spring scent, and I think I will pick some up.
At some point, I think tuberose no longer qualifies as a white floral. I’m thinking right at Fracas. ;3
Oh yay, you mean besides the French Lilac? What is it called? (and too bad I hadn’t tried it….my list badly needs something cheap)
It is the French Lilac – I just saw that it was a new item at the store. However, I was a little dismayed to see that they had removed the Neroli Orange Blossom, which was what I had gone in there to spritz.
Oh, thanks!
Warm weather has finally returned to us and I busted out my cheapie bottle of Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia. It is remarkably good for a very inexpensive fragrance – nice greens and white flowers on that soft generic vanilla musky base. I can’t wait to try that lilac!
I love the lists and all the comparing and commenting. I like many of yours, R., and haven’t tried a couple of them (curious about Olène now). I truly LOVE the green zing of The Unicorn Spell. En Passant is, sadly, not me (a bit cloying), but I’m looking forward to trying Soivohle Lilacs & Heliotrope.
As for me, I listed three at PP, one of which I’ll repeat here. A recent discovery: AG Grand Amour. It reminds me of Chamade in spirit, but Chamade can be too much of a lady for *me*… Grand Amour is a delicious, fresh spring bouquet. (I so wanted to love your AG pick, Folavril, because tomato leaf is a favorite accord, but Folavril is sharp and soapy to me).
But speaking of soapy… I’m also improbably smitten with SMN Melograno this spring. It made me love it… I didn’t wanna do it. And I’m not sure why I do. But on a sunny, breezy spring day… ahhh.
And finally, the musky, slightly nutty, iris-rose whisper (barely there) of Chanel N° 18 has been speaking to me lately. It’s one of the most soft and comforting floral scents I can think of and rivals N° 19 for the top spot as my favorite Chanel.
Joe, Chanel N°18 temporarily made it into my list, but as haven’t actually been wearing it much (the old “so many scents, so little skin” quandary) it got dropped. I’m happy we share a love for Grand Amour, which I very recently rediscovered but plan to spend a lot of time with…
Joe – did you try Black March yet? I’m really curious as to what you think of it. Maybe I’m just not hip enough for it, but i swear it turned to scallions on my skin. Seriously, made me think of when I’m weeding the flower beds & I pull those wild onions out of the ground. That’s what it did with my chemistry – weird. Now I loves some onions in cooking, but not as a fragrance! LOL
I think I sampled it. Now I’m getting it confused in my head with Wild Hunt (which does NOT work for me). I’ll have to hunt around and make sure I actually have a sample (did you send me one? sorry for not remembering!).
Yep – I sent you that one – you should have it somewhere. But man, samples can get misplaced easily. This morning, I was looking for my Heeley Iris and my Debut samples and I can’t find them! I’m going to have to empty out the sample drawer and baskets to find the darn things.
did you ever go FB on the Heeley Figuier? I just got a split of it and I can easily see the day when I’m going to need more…as in split a bottle with someone (***insert outrageous hinting here**)
Daisy – were you asking me? I gave my Heeley Fig sample to Mz. Kitty – i liked it but it’s not my favorite fig and she hadn’t tried it yet. But I really love the Heeley iris. Must find it!
You know, I freak out looking for samples (that I KNOW I have!) all the time (except for the ones I’ve filed in alphabetical snack-sized ziplocs). With my current sample bins, I often dump them all out on the bed and rifle through. Very elegant system.
Rustic–yes, that question was directed at you….ah , so it was the Iris that that you liked so well. I like their iris too…..lol that’s bad , right?
Well, if a split of the iris should materialize… Is that bad?
No, not bad, since that is likely my most favorite iris of all (granted, there are some still waiting to be tried, like the ISM sample just wasting away…haven’t had a chance!).
Oh, just terrific… another iris I haven’t tried, and apparently a nice one. Thanks a lot.
hahahaa sorry Jersey! But you know before too long we’re going to be divvying up a bottle of Heeley Iris de Nuit…mayhap by June? or July? you know I luvs me sum Iris
It was the Miller Harris fig she was after…
Oh, too bad… I love Wild Hunt (albeit more as an experience than a wearable perfume).
Yeah, I could see it working as “an experience” — like many of the CBIHPs. Sometimes that “wet earth/mud/vegetation” thing is a little too lifelike, you know. Maybe if I lived in the concrete jungle and hadn’t planted anything with my own two hands in decades, you know…?
Joe, I can see your association between Grand Amour and Chamade. Ironically, I go the other way…I find Grand Amour to be more of a lady on ME, so I have to make sure I am ready for that more than with Chamade.
Happy to have both in the world, but of course.
Sometimes Folavril is too soapy for me too…it has to be just the right day! Grand Amour is *not* me, but No 18 is a great scent and I should get around to reviewing it one of these days.
“It made me love it… I didn’t wanna do it.” Thanks for the earworm…
I thought of that too Mals!
Yeah, it’s stuck in my head now, too. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s a lovely little ditty.
So so envious- its the top 10 Winter Fragrance guide for this side of the equator!
Aw! But now you can read our Top 10 of Winter & it will make sense
So, I’ve tried nothing on your main list and only CdG + SJ and Apres L’Ondee (AL being perfect for what I imagine spring would be like). Maybe it’s just me down here in Texas, but I don’t get much spring. I’m already hitting my summer scents. I’m wearing ISM to a beach party later in May (which sounds blasphemous until you try it) and I’m almost out of my Shalimar again.
Basically, I really need to sample more.
LOL…that *does* sound blasphemous! I will take your word for it though.
Thanks for including one of my spring favorites – Black March. It’s so often looked over, but I find it’s just gorgeous, and really captures the spirit of spring in an amazing but also unusual way.
It’s a really wonderful scent…
I have the water formualtion of Black March, does it smell very different in the absolute formuation?
I don’t think so…I find them very similar (well, in other scents — have not tried both versions of Black March in particular)
I keep forgetting to try my Black March sample. Now hoping for another rainy day soon! I love and own Neil Morris Dark Earth, and I’m eager to compare.
Beautiful list, Robin…but for me, Black March smelled like an open grave. Not an original observation but an accurate one. It was first fragrance I really had an emotional reaction too so it stands out in that sense…wow, and not in a good way!
I’m on the west coast of Florida and spring is so short here! I’m into the summer scents already so snapped up a mini of Eau de Guerlain after reading this piece! But on May 1, the Diorissimo comes out! Happy Spring, all!
No, that is not a good emotional reaction!
I havent ever tried Diorissimo and I actually just received my sample in the mail two days ago. I’m going to wear it on May 1 (which I didnt know I needed to be doing) and I hope its as lovely as everyone says. I’ll definitely share my thoughts. I’m in Phoenix, AZ for the time being. Not really able to experience the change in seasons. ;-(
I find Black March striking but when I gave it to smell to my students, the Chinese and South-East Asians among them said it smelled like kale, and it’s never had quite that “black earth and vegetation” feel again for me…
En Passant was one that kind of flitted through my collection and left for a better home: that cucumber note…
I find quite a lot of the Goutals perfect for springtime — Néroli, Chèvrefeuille, L’Heure Exquise, Eau du Ciel… the list goes on and on. There’s just something so tender and graceful about them!
Now I definitely need to pull out my sample of The Unicorn Spell. Thanks for reminding me!
Kale, LOL! Well, luckily for me I’ll forget that by the end of the day
See, now that is going to affect how I think about kale the next time I smell it!
What an interesting tidbit.
Strangely I find Unicorn Spell to be a winter perfume, but not because it’s heavy fragrance. Instead its chilly, crisp aura reminds me of a clear, sunny winter day, when everything is covered in ice&snow and there’s a special clean feeling in the air.
I’m really happy you chose Black March, so many people simply say it stinks and no way will they wear it. I like such weird fragrances though:)
Nowadays I’m alternating between Miracle (so pink&full of optimism) and YSL Paris Jardins Romantiques (smells exactly as the name suggests).
I love YSL’s Paris in the take-no-prisoners eau de parfum form, but lately I’ve been really interested tot try some of the lighter eau de toilette flankers. Would you recommend Jardins Romantiques as a good one to start with? Have you tried some of the others? Any I should steer clear of? I’ve read that Roses des Bois is a little too jammy and sweet–has that been anyone else’s impression?
I have Paris Pont des Amours (hint of carnation and green notes) and like it very much for summer.
Jardins Romantiques is from 2007 and despite sampling the offerings each previous year, Jardins was the only one I felt compelled to buy. Besides the florals, there’s a very fresh, green note in it, which made it stand out from amongs its siblings. Basenotes lists a Freshly Mown Grass accord and that’s pretty accurate imo. I certainly recommend it, it is also the better of the bunch in terms of longevity.
I actually really like the YSL Paris Roses des Bois. The jamminess and the rosiness are nicely balanced, to my nose. I also get just a hint of soapiness. Nice.
Yes, I can see wearing it in winter too..in fact, it’s probably seasonless. But I think of it in spring
I have problems with Olene. I’m keen on almost everything I’ve tried from Diptyque, and love white florals, but Olene could turn me off trumpety, borderline-pornographic narcissus for good. My garden here in London is full of dainty, nodding little paperwhites right now, and I love the smell, but I think it’s so enticing because you only get shy wisps of it in the air, and then it’s gone. In Olene, it’s like being buried in a hundred thousand narcissus blossoms, smothered so thickly that you can’t even call to the dog to come and rescue you. “Lassie! Nghhhhhpth! Ungf!”
Nah. Can’t do it.
One scent that I do love in springtime, however, is the often-overlooked Eau de Givenchy. It’s green and sparkling and possesses something of Diorissimo’s elegant, lady-like muguet manners. But it also has a soft, woody dry-down that makes it feel smoothly modern–and in the best possible sense. Every time I bring it out in the warmer months, I remember again how shimmeringly lovely it is. Spring, bottled.
I’m sorry to say that Lassie will be of little help unless you and that pile of narcissus blossoms are at the bottom of a well…..shows bad planning on your part….next time you get buried underneath a truckload of narcissus—please have the good sense to be close enough to the old well to climb in at the last second. Lassie will be right there….
Olene is loud! And not only on the narcissus. But that is its glory, too…I find that I only want to wear it a few times a year, but on those days it works so well.
yep, there are days when Eau de Givenchy is just right in Spring/Summer
ohhh, another beautiful picture Robin, thanks
and i love ‘Spring Fragrances’ so similar to ‘San Francisco’ hehe
my favourites this spring, actually first spring of my perfume life: )
Bel Respiro
28 La Pausa
Byredo -Tulip
Diorissimo
Diorella
Le temps d’une fete
Iris Silver Mist
i Profumi di Firenze Incanto
Verte Violette
Isn’t that a great picture?
So glad you’ve got Bel Respiro…it is also perfect for this time of year.
Love your list! oh how could I forget 28 La Pausa—beautiful breezes across new spring grass kind of Iris…..and Byredo Tulippe : I just got a split of that and it is a good new spring scent. They certainly used a lighter hand than they did with Pulp!
La Tulipe really is nice, isn’t it?
oooo- did you get some too? yummy, I really like it!
I did get some… from a different “pusher.” I have to not overthink it, or it is reminiscent of a high-quality floral air freshener. Otherwise, lovely, light, and springlike!
love Bel Respiro…if only it lasted a bit long! Great list!
Pretty impressive for your first spring!
only because I have pretty impressive professors here to learn from : D
thank you all of you guys, really
I shall be bringing out my bottle of Diorissimo tomorrow but I love Hermes Hiris for spring. There’s something about its cool, slightly melancholy feel that makes it a perfect fit for the spring months.
Love Hiris. Interesting how many people are mentioning iris scents (28 La Pausa, 2 mentions of Iris Silver Mist) — I don’t think I associate them with any season. But Hiris does work in this weather!
LOL! It seems we are not going to be caught wearing the same scents, at least for spring!
These days I seem to have my fingers glued on the Ninfeo Mio atomizer (we had a rocky beginning, but now we love each other oh so much!).
And every other day, here I am sporting Carnal Flower around.
Surprisingly, I love it even more now than in winter: I would have thought it overwhelming in warmer weather, but in fact it just bloooooms!
I also quite enjoyed Tiaré and even more the creamy-happy Jabu, I found both perfect for spring!
BTW, you make me really want to try that Gaiac 10…
I am wearing the NM too…but think of it as a summer scent, don’t know why!
Cuz it’s so beautifully green and cool, I betcha.
Zazie, I almost put Ninfeo Mio on my list last night and thus, I’m wearing it today. Very nice.
Zazie: I am so glad you like it! I have a feeling I am going to blow through my 10 mls of NM pretty fast and then be forced to buy a FB!
Love Unicorn Spell–so glad to see it on your list Robin! I really like Folavril too. I had a bottle ages ago back when my perfume “collection” was something like 5 bottles! My spring Goutal is Camille but I now want to retry Folavril and Grand Amour.
Will also be reaching for a couple of Patous–Vacances and Moment Supreme–as well as Crown Bouquet, Le Dix, Amaranthine, Chamade, OJ Frangipani and Iris Silver Mist this spring. And Azzaro Couture, which I have recently fallen hard for…
Chamade is such a great spring scent. I need to get some!
Dont you just love Azzaro? I have recently taken the time to smell the Pure Lavender and I love it. Plus, I only paid $12.99 at Tjmaxx for a 1.7oz.
Great list! Love Unicorn Spell, and this is exactly the weather in which I fell for it–that super-green, last cool days before summer stretch of spring (just about over down here in Texas). For me the quintessential spring Goutal is Eau de Ciel, with all that linden. I wear it once or twice a year, and now’s the time. But, like Denyse, I also love Chevrefuille and Neroli–Chevrefuille especially. I’ve been wearing my tiny sample of La Chasse Extreme of late and wishing for more. (I like the original too, but sometimes all that orange blossom wears on me–probably your favorite part, R.
)
Debut will be my muguet of choice tomorrow, though since we’re celebrating May Day with a crawfish boil by the late afternoon my real scent of the day will be cayenne pepper, lemons, and eau de mudbug with a top note of spilled beer.
Adore Chevrefeuille — in my mind, that is summer! But in all truth I mostly wear things no matter what the season.
La Chasse Extreme is another one I tend to forget I own…should pull that out.
I like Eau de Ciel a lot – but it smells like summer, and sheets dried in the sunshine, to me.
Likewise (at least, I think…this one I always mix up with a certain LAP frag, though they don’t smell alike).
La Chasse? I did NOT do well with La Chasse. I don’t know why Eau du Ciel works and LCaP doesn’t.
No, La Chasse never sounded like my kind of thing, so I haven’t sampled it. I’ll have to look when I get home.
…and it WAS the LAP. L’ete en Douce, is the one that smells like it should be sprayed on sheets. I’ll have to retest Ciel and see if I can make it stick in my mind better.
I like Eau de Ciel too – after the linden dries off, I find it smells like a damp meadow in the morning, but it does have that fresh laundry smell of which you speak, Mals. I think that is the summery fresh air thing.
Yep, fresh air and clean laundry. In a GOOD way.
My spring favorite: Flora Bella de Lalique. Think April flowers blanketed with a layer of late, unexpected snow.
That sounds lovely! So long as the snow is not real
It’s such an odd combination. The flowers have a sunny feel, and at the same time, there’s this quiet chilliness….
Thanks for the reminder about Flora Bella, an interesting Duchaufour fragrance. I have it and forget to wear it.
Let us know what you think!
I have a sample of that and tried it last week. P:TG says something like “silver and chilled cream,” and the Lalique blurb says, “sunny floral.” On me, it went like this: patchouli-vanilla and something metallic and… wait… where’d it go? I suspect I’m anosmic to yet another scent.
Interestingly, when I asked my boys to smell my wrist, three spritzes from the sample, half an hour after application – they both said, “Well, it’s vanilla and – wait, I can’t smell it now.” (Genetics?)
It IS a rather strange fragrance. I’m going to give it a few wears this spring and try to figure it out!
It DOES have an elusive nature– sometimes when wearing it I will be very aware of it so long as I don’t actually sniff my own wrist– when I do it seems it’s gone, but twenty minutes later when I’m not actively thinking about it, it’s back again. I sprayed it 12 hours ago and at this moment, it’s still hovering just out of my peripheral awareness…. like an aura, not a perfume.
Agree on Diorissimo and Olene – the latter I could not find, otherwise I would have bought it as I am a big fan of white florals.
La Chasse aus Papillons EdT is summery for me.
My list contains Chanel Cristalle in the EdP version, as I did not get the EdT to sniff it. It wears very good on me as my skin tends to turn every lemon/chypre/oakmoss stuff into toilet cleaner.
I would say Rose Ikebana is also very spring-y.
Mimosa pour moi (L’Artisan Parfumeur) as a “nice” and “kind” white floral.
Nice picks!
I just tried my sample of Diorissimo and about died – it is spring in a bottle – beautiful! Now I have to determine what my sample actually is – EDT, EDP, vintage?? It’s not marked. I also love Iris Nobile EDT for spring, and Champs Elysees – so cheerful!
So glad it found another fan!
I fear I am the only person in the entire civilized world (and many uncivilized parts) that cannot abide the Unicorn Spell ….sigh….hanging head in shame…..
I hadn’t thought in terms of my top 10 fragrances but I can list a few that I’ve been hitting pretty hard these last few cold, windy, cloudy, rainy –did I mention cold and windy?–weeks….
Chamade –in all her glorious forms….beautiful.
Chanel Bel Respiro –light, green, a little zing…great when a bit of sun breaks thru and teases you with the promise of warmth!
iPdF Lilla — my favorite Lilac …She’s a little put out that Robin didn’t mention her, but she’s willing to concede that En Passant is…..acceptable……but now I’m wondering about the new Pacifica that Tama mentioned…
Chanel no19 vintage—-ahhhhhh….nothing else need be said
Hermes Hiris–the chilliest Iris, perfect for spring
VC& A Muguet Blanc –#1 LotV….Delrae Debut #2 LotV–I know this is heresy but after admitting I don’t like Unicorn Spell , I might as well go for broke and say that most of the time—Diorissimo can get a heaviness to it, a grim undertone of decay….
VC&A Lys Carmin –makes me want to get out to do some gardening….unfortunately the cold and wind chase me right back inside…did I mention I hate the wind and cold?
Daisy, since you didn’t care for Unicorn Spell this quote from someone on Luckyscent should bring you a smile or a laugh:
My favorite review of this started, “A green bean walks into a bar. . .”
Does it end with the green bean and the violet getting married?
at my house it ends with Tide.
lol here—maybe it would have ended with Tide marrying green bean.
then the Green Bean starts causing trouble and the Tide tells the Green Bean to pack its bags and get the heck out…..
“Well, I never liked your stupid clean-freak friends, either – and DON’T throw my clothes out the window! You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!”
ooooo- does throwing your smelly green bean clothes out the window make you “steamed”? Does it fry your last nerve in butter? And at least my friends are Mountain Meadow clean and April Fresh!
Ha! it does smell like green beans!
It really does! For me, in a good way.
Grim undertone of decay! !! !
I know! WHAT is WRONG with me???
I think once you get the ‘green bean’ idea in your head, Unicorn Spell might not work! I love it though…and Chamade! and Chanel 19…
I need to try Hiris! I love cold scents!
Oh, it smells like green beans to me. I like it. I just wish there were – ahem! – More Green Beans in there with the violet.
Daisy: you might want to sample Elizabeth W Lilac for the heck of it too… seeing as you’re on a quest. I’m trying to “help.”
I’m always on a quest…..I’m writing that one down, o helpful one.
I’ve been on an orange blossom and citrus quest this Spring. Yesterday I wore the Guerlain AA Mandarine & Basilic – that did the trick!
I guess I prefer my OB on the delicate [some would say wimpy] side, cause I prefer the Joe Malone version to Serge’s. This surprises me too as I usually gravitate toward powerful scents. Another new favorite for me this Sring is Soivohle Lilacs & Heliotrope. Anyone else try this yet?
Hiya Rustic! I just tried Lilacs & Heliotrope –sent to me by a purty-perfume-angel **wink wink** —I love lilacs! first sniff and I thought “oooooh, I gotta get me some of this!” about 10 minutes later I put my credit card back in the purse….something in the Soivohle line, possible a base?, turns oily & heavy on me, and it showed up here too….sigh….so I shall pass the sample on to someone else. I am glad to have tried it—and it saved me from an unsniffed purchase. PS–I sent you a goody package.
Aww – that’s too bad Daisy. I think I know what you mean – compared to the other Lilacs I’ve tried [En Passant, Lilas, etc] there is something that is more, IDK, in your face maybe, about L&H – but I really like it. In fact I like it better on me as it develops – sounds like the opposite of your experience. I can’t say we’re ‘evil scent twins’ though cause we love a lot of the same things.
I sure don’t want to sound ungrateful–to the contrary: I’m very grateful because I’m so excited about anything Lilac…and well, anything Heliotrope too….that I very nearly, feverishly, bought a bottle unsniffed…but held out because I knew you were sending the sample…so you saved me! I should know better, really I should: every Soivohle I’ve tried (this makes about 10 ) opens very prettily and then turns bad. It’s just skin chemistry—it likes yours and hates mine!
See? We’re not ESTs! I have the exact same issue w/the Soivohle line, and it’s such a shame. I love the opening of about a half-dozen I’ve tried, but in the end, they just don’t work for me at all.
most of the “natural” type lines don’t work for me. Which is sad because so many have such a nice opening and then the dreaded oily note emerges and it’s ruined! arg!
Oh & Squeee re the goody package! Sniffapalooza Atlanta coming up!
yuppers–I stuffed that bubble mailer full ! Hopefully there’ll be some things new to your mom (and you)
I’ll go email you the DC# .
Is there really going to be a Sniffapalooza Atlanta? When?
hehe M – it’s just a private family affair that we’re calling ‘sniffapalooza’!!
It’s my mom – a perfumista from way back, my uncle – not a full blown perfumista, but an enthusiast, and I. I’m going for a visit and we’re setting aside a day to sample all sorts of things. Good times. 
so M—are you mapquesting the driving route to Rustic’s mom’s house yet? family thing you say? ummm, yeah, a cousin…..from Aunt Betty’s side of the family…..
OH & I forgot to mention – we’ll be doing this while sipping pink champagne, then in the evening I’ll make my ‘famous’ margaritas. Yep – we have fun together.
M and I will be right over—save some Margaritas for us!
Don’t forget meeeeeee! I’d even have a place to stay, since a good friend lives in Atlanta.
Ooh – this is turning into a full blown smellathon party! The more the merrier [since Daisy loaded me up w/sniffies – there’s plenty for everyone].
oh don’t worry about that Boo! We’re all staying at Rustic’s mom’s house! umm, Rustic? you did tell your mom that 25 of your best buds are coming too, yes? …we’re all bringing macaroni salad….lol
ROTFL!!
Oh hahahaha! I don’t know how I missed all these replies. Well, heck yes, let’s do it! Actually….drumroll…. I’m moving to the ATL area in June…..soooo we really could do an impromptu NST sniffa there.
I’m inviting myself to this sniffa (thanks Dove!) and to MJR… welcome to the SEC!!!
LOL–it all comes down to Basketball!
Oh good M – the next time I travel down to the ATL will be in September – you’ll be all settled in by then. [BTW, I’m jealous, I love Atlanta and miss living there.]
I’m jealous too! I would love to live in Atlanta…..unfortunately that makes a really unpleasant morning commute for the CEO (to Detroit)
It’s always about the basketball…GA Tech is ACC, but I think I’m just gonna stick with my team anyway! wink wink
The move to Atlanta will be a very big change (and moving is such a pain) but there’s all kinds of wonderful things waiting for me there, not the least of which is more access to perfume LOL
Rustic – yes, I’ll make a mental note about September! And Daisy, Rapple, & Boo – you need to make it happen!
M—sticking with your team! Like living dangerously do ya? I think you gotz more haters that even Michigan State! And we gotz plenty o haters!
D – Well, if these go according to the pre-season talk I’ve been hearing (which is unlikely, but possible), my team & Michigan State will be the ones to beat next year!
I know exactly what y’all are talking about. It’s her labdanum/cistus base. I think if it works for you it must be gorgeous (and then you love the rest of them) but on me it came roaring out and smothered everything else in the perfume–and then everything else in the room. Yikes! Scrubber! The incense was marginally better, but nowhere near that clean, forest feeling the Robin was talking about in her review the other day.
That was the Sonoma Scent Studio. Soivohle is different.
Whoops! I ALWAYS mix up those two ladies. Absolutely right, Joe.
My comments are about my SSS scents…
Rustic – did you try the SL Citronnier? I liked it better than the d’Oranger.
I agree Karin – I liked that one better too!
I bought that little 5ml bottle of L&H and like it very much, but I do find myself wishing I had 5mls of En Passant (or, impossible dream – Vacances!) instead. The lilac is very heady and the heliotrope is sweet, and I find myself wishing for a little green to lighten it. That said, I think it might be just perfect for a dreary winter day, when I’ve got my nose pressed up against the window and staring at the gray sky, longing for blossoms.
I did NOT care for the Lilacs & Roses sample.
I think, too, that I’m wishing I had bought a small bottle of Daybreak Violin instead of the L&H. My fault. I was craving lilacs and couldn’t imagine anything better at the time.
Yes, Daybreak Violin is very pretty – I like that one too.
LOL –Daybreak Violin —the other one I almost bought at first sniff and then, well, you know….I could have predicted it would smell great on you!
Oh, I should pull out my Mandarine Basilic. Great scent.
It really hit my citrus craving spot yesterday!
I’ve been thinking about that Mandarine Basilic since I tried it a few weeks ago. So fresh and juicy! A bottle may be in my future…….
Robin, you cracked me up with your 180 from La Chasse to Timbuktu. If you’d like to run in the other direction, indeed! Probably particularly resonated with me because I often find that the butterflies come after *me*…and I get oh-so-beautifully-smothered…so, yeah, I often find myself looking at that decant and thinking “erm, other?”
Here’s my confession of Spring Mean: I love LOTV. In the garden. In the far corner. They ring their note LOUD, man. And it is straight on through ’til morning. While putting it on skin gives it a little more dimension, still… Before you tar and feather me, I *do* get how it is beautiful. Just not…all day. Or all hour. (Shrinks back into her place….)
Shoot! That’s what Gaiac is? I think I’m going to have to plug my ears and look the other way. “I don’t hear you….”
I thought my LOTV would not bloom in time, but they did!! Have huge clumps of them
My LOTV are poised…any day…it’s like they’re doing a big crowd “wave” across the continent…
Have a great weekend–may you have a chance to enjoy all the garden (and beyond) offers up.
Thanks! You have a great weekend too
It’s not all sunshine and tulips here this spring either, and so to me Black March and Gaiac seem very appropriate as well. Well, and Apres L’Ondee is spring in a bottle, forever and always.
Luckily we’re having a beautiful day today…but some of the past few weeks have been grim.
It sounds like your April has been what ours normally is. Happily, this year it’s been nearly all sunshine and 60s to 70s…an April for the history books. Today, though, it’s cool and gloomy, with rain in the forecast…much more typical for us.
I love these lists. Always so inspirational. Byredo Tulipe and DK Iris are two scents that I haven’t had the pleasure of trying yet, but they sound like they’d be awesome Spring fragrances too.
Here’s my list:
AG Le Muguet – like the real lilly of the valley, I love it for a few weeks in the Spring, then we’re done for another year
AG Chevrefeuille
Shaal Nur
DK Gold
DK Chaos
AdP Iris Nobile
Creed Acqua di Fiorentina
DC Bois d’Iris
OJ Frangipani
Bois des Iles (an all year favorite)
Yay for Frangipani! And agree on BdI, there is no time you can’t wear it.
Great list Robin — I don’t have a top ten for spring, but I find myself wearing Tauer’s Reverie au Jardin lots this time of year. And for May day, I will wear Ellie from Ellie D….love the lily of the valley in there and Ellie is my nickname!!
Ellie is so pretty! I wish she’d come out with it in EdP.
Great list, Robin. I’ve been playing with my OJ samples, liking Frangipani more than I thought I would.
VC&A Bois d’Iris
Chanel Gardenia (it really doesn’t smell like gardenia which is probably *why* I like it so much.
CB Violet Empire–truly spring – earthy ozone after rain and sharp violets to my nose, and alas, no staying power. This makes me think I would love Black March.
CB Cradle of Light which hasn’t been available since last year.
Chanel Coromandel-perfect anytime of year for me.
CB Violet Empire is really nice. I get a lot of mint from it. Do you?
Yes, I do! Actually, it smells very leafy minty, like when you crush it in your fingers. I grow mint-it goes wild everywhere, but it’s so refreshing to smell.
That’s exactly what I smell too, fresh crushed mint from my backyard..which is kind of a cool smell in a fragrance.
Nice list!
Yes, they should call it Chanel Jasmine…I’d like it better if it did. It’s so pretty but I’m always disappointed not to find gardenia…
Good grief. I’ve had my eye on sampling Violet Empire for years now and still haven’t. You’ve made it sounds so good. I should also mention that CBIHP Wild Pansy is one of my favorite spring/summer type scents.
I’m surprised that MMM Untitled gets no mention as a beautiful and bracing spring scent. To me, it belongs in a set with Ninfeo Mio, but does better on the hotter days, when NM’s sweet smokiness can get a little close. I can’t live without both of them. These two perfumes share the distinction of having made me exclaim on first sniff, “I am done – I don’t need any more perfume after this.” You can imagine how long that proclamation lasted…
What is MMM?
Sorry – Maison Martin Margiela. I guess it’s maybe not out in the US just yet. I wore out my little sample in a hurry, but have a third of a bottle coming soon – yay!
And here I thought I was the only one not to know MMM. I tried to figure it out so thanx for the clarification:)
Ah, gotcha. Yeah, that is not out here yet. Assuming it ever will be.
R, they’ll be selling it at the boo-tique — actually they might have the bottles in NYC now. I smelled it in Paris, and a sample before. It smells a bit like marijuana buds to me. Allegedly.
It’s nice.
Thanks…although for all the good it does me, it might as well not be here…I am not planning to troop up to NYC to try it!
Have heard wildly diverging things about it meanwhile. Marijuana buds = better than some reports!
Sherobin: interesting reading your love of MMM. On me, there is way too much of something that reminds me of dirty ashtray; I can’t explain it better. I swapped my decant away and kept only a small sample. Noses are so funny.
Robin, What a gorgeous picture! Two of my favorite things, the color blue and tulips.
Your list is great. Your violet picks are perfect. The Unicorn Spell is the first (and maybe only) perfume I have spelled that is truly magical. There is just something about it that is so different from all other violets. Maybe its the chilly, but not cold (if you know what I mean..chilly in a good way), violet mixed with the green. I can actually see, feel and smell the unicorn in the glistening enchanted forest. As for CdG Stephen Jones that is like a sizzling moon rock with bright violets growing on top. All I can say is WOW.
I recently received a sample of Black March and am really enjoying that this time of year too.
Thanks again for a thought provoking list.
Happy Spring (Finally!..It was 30 degrees here last night, but supposed to be 75 today and 80 tomorrrow!)
Yes, same here…finally warming up! Perfect description of the Stephen Jones.
Tara: I love the way you describe Unicorn and the CdG+SJ. Unicorn really is like being in a cartoon forest or something. You might also try another violet scent, Guerlain Meteorites, which I recently sampled and like a lot.
Thanks Joe, I’ve heard of Guerlain Meteorites and have always wondered what it smelled like..I guess I need to get over to the Perfumed Court for a sample. Thanks for the recommendation.
Have a good weekend.
Or, find me on MUA under the same name and send me an email. I have a bottle and do not love it…only too happy to pass a sample along!
What a nice spring list! It’s been fairly cool here (Colorado) so I’m still mixing in winter scents, but if spring truly arrives, my list will look roughly like this:
– Ellie: for the LOTV (and fig in the drydown).
– DSH Celadon: for its green, smooth character with a unique slightly gourmand touch
– Osmanthus Interdite: delicate, fresh osmanthus and tea
– Bois 1920 Classic 1920: for the bright and warm note combination you mentioned in regard to Shaal Nur
– PdN Le Temps de Une Fete: not really me, but I’m fascinated by it. Others seem to love the topnotes, while I love the drydown.
– Bois de Paradis: for cool spring days – love the juicy berries and fig/sandalwood drydown.
– Creative Universe Element of Surprise: for warm spring days, an attractive combo of citrus, jasmine and tea
– Chanel No. 19 Parfum: what I wish I could wear – only have a sample, and not likely to be in Paris very soon to get more (not to mention budget concerns, oh well!). Unfortunately, I don’t like the EdT much.
Happy spring, everyone!
So glad to see the Osmanthus Interdite get a mention — so pretty. Wish they’d sell it in a smaller size so I could buy it.
Pretty sure No 19 parfum is available from the Chanel counter at Saks flagship in NYC. They pride themselves on having the full range, so if you call and they don’t have it, they’ll find it for you and have it shipped — or so I hear. Worth a try. Good luck!
Thank you so much – I’ll give it a try!
What a difference climate makes– Bois de Paradis is a winter-only scent for me in northern California, much though I love it.
The Unicorn Spell is one of my all-time favorites – it’s light and springy without being too girly. That said, I’m wearing Diorissimo today, which is pretty darn girly…. (And whenever I wear it, my son says “Something smells like Mexico!” because two years ago I bought it at the duty-free on the way there and wore it every day of our vacation – it’s funny to know I’ve cause an inextricable scent memory for him.)
That is a really wonderful memory you made for him!
Unicorn Spell was so strange! Had a sample that I ditched before I gave it enough of a try. Total green bean opening! Really fun, but not on me.
Ditto…except I think I still have mine somewhere.
Oh, what fun…and glad you explained, because never would have thought Mexico smelled like Diorissimo.
My thought too!
Love your list, Robin!!! I’ve been looking at the other top 10 sites, too – love these top 10 thingies. Great recommendations to add to my must try list.
Spring scents for me have been:
No 5 Eau Premiere (wearing it today!)
Chamade EDP
Parfums d’Empire 3 Fleurs
Juicy Couture (I wear this year round, so doesn’t really count!)
Kelly Caleche EDP
Parisienne
PdN Td’UF
Rive Gauche
and another scent that I’m really intrigued by and loving – Sinfonia di Note’s Saveur d’Artichaut!
That SDNSDA is sure a mouthful! I wonder if the correct pronunciation of that is @ Bela’s site? I should request it.
I almost had Kelly Caleche on my list too! Have been wearing that lately quite a bit.
Love KC!!!!
Karin: Glad to see you included 3 Fleurs and reminded me of it. I think I liked it a lot better than many did… it’s really a beautiful, lush scent.
Agreed! Don’t hear much about it. I really like it…
Well, Robin – You’ve just about sent me over the edge with Cologne du 68. I’ve been waiting to hit that “buy” button and guess now it’s a must-do. Spritzed a tiny bit on last Saturday while getting a makeover at Bergdorf’s, and it haunted me all day, just lovely!
Wearing Apres L’Ondee today (w/o the Joy…). Will be progressing to Attrape Coeur or L’Heure Bleu this evening for the opera…
Forgot to mention other scents in my spring rotation:
Carla Fracci – Carla
Miller Harris – Jasmin Vert
L’Occitane – Jasmin (with a remarkable resemblance to OJ’s Frangipani w/o the lime peel)
Decleor – Aromantic
Christianne Celle – Chevrefeuille
AG – Gardenia Passion (year-round)
That Jasmin Vert is *so* pretty (thanks for sample!).
And oddly, I’ve only worn Apres l’Ondee once this spring. It was not the right choice for a sunny day – I don’t think we’ve really had the kind of soft, cool rainy day that Al’O seems made for.
You’re very welcome! And I really liked the L’Arte di Gucci. Also tried the Emeraude this week – I find it closer to MH Fleure Orientale than Shalimar. Will have to retry.
BTW, Mals, have you notice a mossy-quality in the JV drydown? I’m trying to figure out if it’s oakmoss or hay. Neither is mentioned in the notes.
Yay, you liked L’Arte!
I *think* that possibly what you’re reading as “hay” is the narcissus. I actually missed the narcissus the first time I tested it, but it’s there – it just shows up later than I expected it would.
the 68 — I wear it all the time. So many of my perfumes are weird or loud, LOL…good to have something in the arsenal that you can be pretty sure won’t offend anybody in public.
I’m thinking of alternating it with my Jicky edt, partly to help stretch out my supply of Jicky. I did get to sniff the Jicky perfume on paper last week – smells pretty much like the edt, but more intense.
Spring, ahhhh, spring.
What I’m wearing (you might notice my list is heavily weighted toward the green side, which might be why I love spring):
1) Every violet sample I own, including Unicorn Spell (which to my nose is a lot more violet and less green than I’d expected).
2) Crown Bouquet: lots of crushed green stems and marigold, followed by very gentle white flowers. I love it. No, I adore it.
3) Lilac samples, lots of them. My favorite is DSH White Lilac, since I can’t finance Vacances without hocking a kidney on the black market, and En Passant lasts about half an hour at most.
4) Diorissimo. Of course.
5) DK Gold.
6) Chanel No. 19. (Vintage edt, please.)
7) Silences, which was all wrong in the fall but is perfect, crisp galbanum-rose-iris-moss now. Beautifully named – it’s almost yoga in a bottle.
8) Chamade. Of course.
9) Le Temps d’une Fete. Of course.
10) I’ve been sleeping in lightweight oriental-base things like Aimez-Moi, Shalimar Light, and TF Voile de Fleur.
Oooh -my next DSH order must include White Lilac!!
I HATE the search function on Dawn’s site….it’s sooo frustrating! Then I tried scanning through every catagory! Can’t find the white lilac!!! I ended up emailing her. sheesh! After all this spring fragrance talk I am so chomping at the bit for more Lilac fragrances…..oops there goes my no split/no buy , cold turkey on spending resolution….but you know….J likes lilacs too…maybe I could get some FOR HER. yeah, that’ll work…..
I’m still waiting for that small bottle of Tocadilly to come my way. I hope it’s not a total disaster.
Toccadilly? Did you buy something unsniffed?? that is not like you at all….it’s completely like me, but not you! Hope it works out ok.
Dawn is such a dear!! She emailed me right back and put some White Lilac up on her site! I’m sure that J will love it….and I will too! HA! (where there’s a lemming there’s a way…)
I wuz baadd. Ordered Tocadilly and Lilacs&Hel and HM Haute Couture, all unsniffed. My only excuses are that a) they were all inexpensive, b) I heard good things about them, c) no samples were available for the T’y and the HC, and d) it’s my anniversary/ Mother’s Day coming up.
SAMPLE that White Lilac, wouldja? Lilacs are so iffy. Just because I like it doesn’t mean you would (or J!) – I think you liked the Ineke a lot better than I did.
party pooper!
I know the DSH website isn’t the *most* well organized, but not sure why search is a problem? Type “white lilac” in the product search here and it comes right up, no?
https://www.dshperfumes.com/search.asp
I usually just figure I have all day so I scroll leisurely through the whole site, oohing and aahing at everything….
Oh… now I understand. She only posted White Lilac after you emailed. I hadn’t noticed her water-based body sprays before. That might be nice in some of her scents.
yup….yeah, it wasn’t “there” anymore so the search would come back with (I’m certain of this) —attitude….like ” yeah, white lilac, who wants ta’ know? ” probably comes up like a dream now! It just happens that when I’m lemming something, then it’s for sure out of the current rotation….it’s like as soon as I want something: it’s been reformulated or discontinued! It’s a CURSE! But I’m all happy now—Dawn put it up for me! Talk about some snappy customer service!
She does have really excellent customer service, which makes up for the bewilderingly complex website.
True —she always bends over backwards to make sure you get what you want—-and anytime I’ve emailed or called and left a message, she’s gotten back to me within the hour—can’t beat that kind customer service!
I must start testing lilac scents. My in-law has a row of bushes planted along the side of the property. They were gangly and overgrown for a long time and the CEO just thinned them out a few weeks ago. Really looking forward to the blossoms.
Aimez Moi! Another favorite I never hear about anymore.
Great list Robin! It was love at first sniff with “The Unicorn Spell”, though I usually wear it in winter only … it reminds me of walking through the snow in the woods with a full moon. I’ll have to try it in the unusually warm weather we’ve been having in Boston. And “Black March” smells exactly like the flower beds right before the plants begin to shoot up.
My spring faves:
Diorissimo
Chamade – like flower pollen made liquid (and no sneezies)
Hiris
Givenchy III (SOTD)
Eau de Givenchy
Le Parfum de Therese
I just bought a bottle of Cabaret, based on Kevin’s review – it is HUGE (about the size of a maraca), but it was way cheap and it smells beautiful, so I think it will be getting heavy play over the next few weeks as it’s a perfect, light spring woods and rose with just that touch of incense to keep things interesting.
Tomorrow I will wear Diorissimo, and give my bed of LOTV a severe talking-to, since it’s been slow to bloom this year.
Ok…i’m finally convinced to try Cabaret!!
Dzingnut – I love Cabaret, too, but agree it’s a whole lotta fragrance. And especially when you first spritz the topnotes have a tendency to flood my nostrils and creep down my throat. My advice: try dabbing it on. It really makes a difference, and doesn’t affect its longevity.
LOTV are weird…some years, they spread like mad, other years, they barely seem to come up at all.
I have almost purchased Cabaret twice in the last 2 days – once online and I found it today in Marshall’s. It’s been getting so much love so maybe I should just get it. I hate buying unsniffed, but with things this cheap, there’s no sense tracking down a sample!
Well, there might be sense in it. $15 is still $15. If you want to track me down via Daisy, I’ll be happy to send you the dregs of my Cabaret mini. I’m trying to offload!
Right you are Joe! I may just track you down for that – thanks for the kind offer!
More and more to try! I’m still in that phase where I want to smell EVERYTHING. But the weather where I live (Berkeley, CA) is very different. Spring is cold and rainy or dry, mild, and sunny. Summer is cold and foggy, or dry, mild and sunny. Hot? What’s that? So I seem to be craving sheer spicy scents to perk me up a bit. I’m waiting for a decant of Malmaison that I’m hoping will do the trick. This morning I’m wearing a sample of Eau L’ente–that seems to be working, too. Do any of you have reccomendations along that line?
I don’t know L’Eau L’Ente…who makes that?
Diptyque Eau Lente, I believe — the opoponax one (I only know because I own some).
Yeah, what Joe said. No apostrophe. (It’s hard enough remembering what all these things smell like, much less remembering how to spell all the names!)
Duh…sorry, brain dead. Nobody brought me a latte today.
My newbie list for spring:
Diorissiomo
Chamade
Carthusia Fiori
Montale Sunset Flowers
Guerlain Petit (for children!)
FERRE
Balmaine Ivoire
31 Rue
After My Own Heart
And I think I’m the ONLY one for whom La Chase Papillions was a scrubber! I could barely stand it for 10 minutes! (can’t remember why…but just didn’t work on me!)
And the WORST feeling is a lovely spring day, a bottle of Amaranthine on the way…and a horrible head cold.
You’re not the only person for whom La Chasse didn’t work. I thought it was gorgeous for fifteen minutes and Ajax toilet cleaner for the next forty minutes, and then I couldn’t stand it, I had to scrub. Tried it twice just to be sure: ugh both times.
Hope your head is better soon. (Amaranthine will wait for you…)
Oh, I can relate on that last! Except mine was just a sample.
That does not look like a newbie list! And don’t worry, I think La Chasse has plenty of haters.
My even newbier (is that a word?) list is pretty small. I generally lean towards heavier scents so I’m still searching out spring scents that work for me.
Coty Muguet des Bois
Eau de Shalimar – not the Light but still very nice on me
Honeysuckle Bird
Moroccan Orange – for the cooler spring days
After My Own Heart
Wearing a sample of the Ineke today and have received a bunch of compliments on it. It works better on me than Lilac&Heliotrope did. Very soft and light but still long lasting.
Also tried the Prada L’Eau Ambree and think it might make a nice way to satisfy my amber cravings even when it’s 80 degrees plus outside.
Ineke After My Own Heart is a beautiful lilac! and the Prada L’Eau Ambree is truly great stuff—nice on its own, and nice layered with most everything! Make sure you check ebay for deals.
Coty Muget was my fav. as a teen! I could bathe in it!
I’m pretty sure my mom used to have it when I was a kid… I loved it too, and keep thinking I should snag a bottle just for memory’s sake.
Agree on the Prada…that almost made my list. Ran out of room.
Ahhh, Miguet Des Bois…it was the first fragrance that I found to be absolutely glorious as a child. It brings back such wonderful memories for me. I really thought it had been discontinued and nearly cried tears of happiness when I read Robin’s article the other day stating it can be found at Target.
I love Prada L’Eau Ambree, too! Thought I loved L’Artisan L’Eau d’Ambre (gosh that’s a lot of apostrophes) until I tried the Prada. Longevity is better with Prada and the drydown is just gorgeous.
It’s the first two Jardins from Hermes for me.
That keeps it simple!
Thanks for this list! I really do want to try Black March — it sounds right up my alley. En Passant seems to be such a favorite but it just doesn’t do anything for me. I liked After My Own Heart a little better (I need to revisit those Ineke samples).
Lilac is hard to wear, I find — can smell too old fashioned.
Oh, you have just reminded me how much I miss the Instituts Tres Bien colognes! All I have is a little sample of the Italienne one. I remember seeing them marked down on Beautyhabit and thinking “eh, I have too many bottles already.”
Carpe Diem, people!
My top five (can’t come up with ten right now) of Spring are:
1. Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli: I am addicted to this stuff. The amber and vanilla in the base keep it from being just another fleeting citrus cologne.
2. Caron Acaciosa: If this has been “ruined” through reformulation, then I am Princess Victoria of Sweden. Still smells like a great fruity, tart, golden jasmine to me. Not a hint of soap to be found.
3. Tokyomilk Waltz 14: One of the things I got with my Prix Eaux Faux winnings. Lovely fresh linden!
4. Parfums de Nicolai Un Coeur en Mai: Nostalgic rose-muguet.
5. Guerlain Apres L’Ondee: For any season, really!
I really must try Un Coeur en Mai…
It’s verrrrry nice. I’d consider swapping you for your Lilac & Heliotrope for a sample of Coeur en Mai and the remainder of my 5ml En Passant (I need to check level on that). Let’s email.
OOOO! Exciting.
Not so fast, there… you can’t just slip that in there and not tell us the *rest* of what you got with your winnings!
The rest was non-perfume stuff. I thought I should try some fancy skin- and haircare items that I would not otherwise buy with my own money. So I got the Dr. Hauschka Rose Cream and Cleansing Cream, and their Lemon Natsturtium shampoo. All smell wonderful! And also the soap to go with the Waltz perfume and some Philip B leave-in conditioner.
Wowzers–you’re going to be conditioned and pampered like crazy! (and good smelling of course!)
They’re scented…they still count.
I’ve been eyeing the Borghese Fango mud over at BE ever since it came up on a thread the other day. With the free shipping, it might have to be mine.
Oh, go for it Boo! You’ve gots to have it!
What a great list! Wish I had a bottle of the MDCI.
I really appreciate your comment on the Gaiac — we had similar weather, as you know, and while it didn’t really feel like spring, I am over the winter scents!
Funny, I just ran across a sample of Shaal Nur a couple days ago, which IIRC I got from you eons ago. And you’re right. It is lovely.
People keep telling me the body milk (for Shaal Nur) is great stuff. Keep meaning to buy some. At least I can afford it, unlike the Gaiac!
Sadly, I have not tried any of your spring picks (except Ineke AMOH, which I thought was a bit too soapy). The Unicorn Spell sounds fascinating, especially after reading all the comments. Reading everyone’s lists has given me way too many ideas of things I need! This site is so dangerous!
My favorites for spring:
Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan
Kelly Caleche
MAC Naked Honey (wearing it today – a little too sweet for me
during the summer, but perfect today!)
Cristalle Eau Verte – just got in a split and am enjoying that quite a bit.
Awaiting a split of Privet Bloom , so hoping that will end up on the list too! For May Day (which I did not realize involved LotV beofre reading about it here), I will wear the only LotV I have, which is a sample of VCA Muguet Blanc, which I got as a freebie in a swap. It is nice, but that’s about it.
Privet Bloom just arrived!!!! I’m gathering bottles as we speak! It’s finally “sort of” warm here today…sunny….windy (because it’s Michigan) and I had “first spritz”—so green a little floral and if it weren’t for the fact that I have decants to make—I’d have to rush outside and …..weed….I have lots of weeding to do…..now back to bottles…… ***excited!!!***
Yay! I wasn’t sure what the time frame was on that – looking forward to trying it!
the email confirmation I got said next Tuesday!!! so I was very surprised to see the fedex guy sprinting up my walk! I was all “hmmmm, what could this possibly be? ” Surprise! early! I’m still packing up the last Tonka Imperiales and Bond En Rose—hopefully all 3 will be able to go out Monday! (good thing I have several tote bags! There’s nothing remotely suspicious about shipping 40 bubble mailers at a time, is there?
You are a splitting machine, Daisy!
Wish I’d snagged some of the Naked Honey before it disappeared.
When I don’t know what to wear right now I reach for Calandre. We’re having a real spring this year, i.e. a transition from winter to summer! Normally it goes from cool to hot. I’ve been kind of perplexed about what to wear. You all have made me get out my sample of The Unicorn Spell. Thanks for the lists.
What a good idea! I discovered Calandre recently. I will have to wear it one day again soon.
It seems to work perfectly on in-between days–not hot, not cold. Try spraying some on your clothes too, Haunani.
Glad you found something that works, and a classic no less!
I love Apres L’Ondee and recently fell in love with Houbigant Quelques fleurs – it’s just perfect for spring!
Two oldies but goodies
I have 3 bottles of Muguet des Bois (Coty) to remind me of my first fragrance love. It’s what I wear to garden … until the mosquitos come out. They love fragrance of any kind. Odd to think of them as tiny winged perfumistas!
Oh, I love Muguet de Bois! I’ve been thinking I need to track some down. I wore that for a while when I was in high school.
3 bottles! Are you hoarding? I thought it was still pretty easy to find.
is hoarding bad???
Not at all — just usually done w/ things that are about to disappear. But what do I know…maybe everybody buys backups of things that are still in production.
Not if you’re buying backups of discontinued. That’s, um, curating. Yeah, curating.
OOOOO—yeah….I ‘m a CURATOR!
You know, I’m thinking I might need to retry my sample of Shaal Nur. IIRC, it had way too much patchouli for me, but I might be inured to it now. That’s another one that I remember thinking would be great on a man.
In my mind, I have it classed with Cabaret – a soft woody rose with incense. But SN had patch and Cab had musk… should try those two wrist-to-wrist.
That’s interesting. Patch doesn’t bother me now, but even back when it did, I loved Shaal Nur. Give it another shot…
Oooof-la! Timbuktu. I got very excited at the very mention of it. I doused myself in it at Liberty’s last week on a warmish, sunny day – and it worked perfectly. A very good, and surprising, Spring recommendation!
I think it wears best in spring, and it really is a good break from the more obvious spring florals.
Today I pulled out my decant of CdG + Artek Standard – it is GREAT for spring – resinous and fresh without being marine or soapy. Good stuff.
Can you believe I drained my supply while doling out decants because of the damn opaque bottle? I have just a smidge left… but I have a big decant of Heely Cardinal, which is Artek’s fraternal twin.
Ack! Poor you! Glad you have found something similar.
Wish I had a bottle of that. And a million other things…
This spring is for me Chanel no. 5 EdT. It is soo appropriate for the spring warm/cold wind with whiffs of green buds – due to its jasmine and aldehides.
Also Profumum Vanitas and Histoires des parfums 1969, for evenings and nights.
Nice!
We’re still getting occasional wet snow. I like Jolie Madame with a leather jacket. The rest of the list:
Diorissimo (new, a bit like plastic at first, but very realistic LOTV after an hour)
Apres L’Ondee (wore it to the Easter Vigil for the second year in a row, so I think this is going to be a tradition).
Cristalle
Mandragore (which is going to be great throught the summer)
I’m wearing Mandragore today; a poor fit for the cool rainy weather we have. But it was the most accessible bottle as I was getting dressed this morning and running ridiculously late, as usual…so on it went.
For all the summery bergamot, it has an evanescent quality that is very like spring.
Sorry you’re still getting snow!
I love reading the Top Ten articles – Robin, your list sounds fantastic! And yet, it also makes me sad: after all the sniffing have been doing (and thinking I’m on my way to being a pro-amateur-perfumista), I’ve still only tried 5 on your list: (Apres L’Ondee, Stephen Jones, Balenciaga Paris, Timbuktu, and After My Own Heart)…humpf! Guess I’ve got many “mls” (of sampling) to go before I sleep, and “mls” to go before I sleep.
Between Robin’s list and everyone else’s it’s back to the drawing (sniffing?) board, as they say!
This year, Spring has been a strange animal in my part of the world. In March & early April, we had 90+ degree weather for a couple of weeks. One day I was wearing turtle necks and socks; the next day, I was foraging around in my “transitional” clothing to see if I had anything to wear that would not completely suffocate me. (My summer clothing is currently being stored in another state!) At least I had a pair of flipflops, shades, and a great sunhat to keep me from overheating. Those couple of weeks were terrific after the truly oppressive winter, but it got my perfume calendar all screwed up. I started craving my summer fragrances and started wearing them like crazy: Hermès Jardins (Sur le Nil, especially) & Voyage & Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Atelier Trefle Pur, EL Bronze Goddess. Then I tested and ordered a bottle of Ananas Fizz (for a split) and received split of Atelier Orange Sanguine courtesy of a truly amazing perfume-fairy I happen to know. I was like hooray hot summer-like weather before the Southern humidity kicks in.
Then came the slow decline back into Spring (and winter, it was 36 degrees last night) temperatures. Oh no, do I really have to put that turtle neck on? Do I really need a coat again? GASP!
And so back into Spring fragrances…here’s what I’ve been wearing since:
Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere (OMG perfect for Spring with its sunny appearance and comforting warm hug at the end the day!)
Chanel No. 19 vintage EDT (easily my most prized fragrance, for the moment anyway)
Cabaret (gotta love that musky, woody rose!)
Atelier Oolang Infini (love the milky tea aspect…the best Atelier for Spring, imo -though i need to try Grand Neroli too)
BK A Taste of Heaven (it sounds like a burger, but really it’s a stunning green lavender over a vanilla base that is literally “heavenly” and I’m not usually a vanilla fan)
Chanel Sycomore (this is amazing at any time of year, each season brings out something unique and exciting in this one)
Kelly Caleche EDP (superb spring fragrance!)
Bois 1920 Sutra Ylang (on colder days)
Terre d’Hermes (A no brainer!)
I know I’m missing a few here, but oh well. Now a question: Anyone know of a good layering combo with a LOTV soliflore? I’ve got a small roller ball of C&E LOTV I’d like to wear tomorrow, but it’s bit too linear for me.
Sorry this was so long. Thanks for reading!
I accidentally layered some Kenzo Parfum d’Ete (the new one in the side-lying clear glass leaf bottle) with Diorissimo once and it was lurvely. Something else green with LotV would probably work.
Oh, thanks Mals – that’s a splendid idea!
Green, or maybe a light incense.
What about trying it with the Sycomore? LOTV and vetiver was Jean Paul Guerlain’s idea with Vetiver Pour Elle.
Yes, anything very green! I like to use CdG Calamus or Gobin Daude Sous Le Buis, but those are obscure — anything green will do!
ROTFL with “BK Taste of Heaven sounds like a burger” – also thoroughly enjoying a mental imagine of the handsome young Killian exclaiming “sacre bleue!” to that idea!
mrj, I’m glad you addressed crazy weather-induced scent confusion, which was very evident in the DC area, too. I plan to track down mls of several of your suggestions that I haven’t sampled yet.
Haha, yeah when I typed out the title beginning with BK all I could think was oh yeah this could be the name of new menu-item!
Have fun sniffing, noznoz!
Ok, Mals, Rapple, Robin & Boo – I’m going all out today experimenting with your suggestions. I’ll report back later. Woohoo, May Day!
Beautiful list. I’m afraid I’ve been off perfume for a couple of months now due to intolerance from pregnancy! However, my memory still works well
Your choices are wonderful.
Another lilac I loved pre-pregnancy is Highland Lilac of Rochester, made yearly from harvested blossoms. It’s a true, clean lilac.
I’d like to add Patou’s Vacances to the list, please!
Vacances is just gorgeous. Wisht I had me some. (I only have a sample!)
Oh, will have to look for that lilac, sounds wonderful!
(and surprised you can even stand to read here…when I was pregnant, sometimes just thinking about smells was enough to make me ill)
Pregnancies are so different that way. With my first, I couldn’t even make a grocery list because the thought of the sight and smell of food was enough. With my second, I wasn’t the slightest bit queasy, but was oversensitive to perfume-type smells (and for several years after).
I love the list Robin, I plan on wearing Diorissimo tomorrow for sure!
Another one of my Spring favorites is AG’s eau de Camille-I love the honeysuckle and seringa/ivy notes. Very refreshing and green….
I hope to be digging around in the garden tomorrow, lots of my roses are in bloom so I’m a very happy girl.
You know, I sort of forgot about Camille! It rivals the Folavril for sure.
Funny, I just realized the other day that I don’t have enough spring scents. I was lucky enough to finally see real live bottles of Diorissimo (which I instantly fell in love with) and Guerlain 68 last week. Can’t wait to hunt down the other eight on your list.
SOTD is Crazylibellule and the Poppies Lilas Spiritual. I haven’t been feeling very well and I’ve found that this line is great for sick days because they have no sillage. Tomorrow will be Aux Anges, a.k.a. poor man’s Diorissimo.
Oh, hope you’re better soon! And agree on Aux Anges as a poor man’s Diorissimo.
Very interesting list Robin, wish I could try them all right now for a ‘show and smell’. Will definitely hunt them down.
Lovethescents, regarding pregnancy and smell, I had the same sort of intolerance. Strangely enough, the only things I could tolerate on myself and others were fragrances from Penhaligons. Don’t know if they are made with more pure natural substances than others, but they, and pure essentiall oils diluted in carrier oil were the only smells I could take. After 3 children my sense of smell is still much more heightened than before – this can either be a good or a bad thing – it depends!
Robin, yes, spring is here. I am longing for something rose based but with a citrussy follow up, in other words as close to a natural rose smell as possible, but with some magic worked in. Do you or anyone else have any suggestions?
Best wishes to all.
Have you tried PdR’s Un Zest de Rose?
I second the Un Zest de Rose —sounds perfect.
Zest de Rose is nice. Pamplemousse Rose? Rose Ikebana? Clarins Par Amour Toujours?
I love rose scents, but I do better with fruity roses like Paris and PdRosine Rose d’Ete. Another rose-with-zing I like is DSH Perfumes Rose Vert – it has citrus and green notes with the rose. It’s an all-natural, I think, so it’s a little more expensive than some of her other fragrances, but it really is beautiful and lasts fairly well on me (4 hours for a dab from the sampler vial).
Agree with Zest de Rose. There’s also 06130 Yuzu Rouge, but that one’s heavier on the citrus, the PdR is heavier on the rose.
My favorite spring fragrances are No. 22, No. 18, Le Dix, H.S. Duo Tulipano and A.G. Heure Exquise. However, today I am layering K.M. Peau de Peche over Bois des Iles – not very springlike but really lovely. I guess I need to sample Byredo Tulippe since it has gotten such rave reviews here. I don’t really care for their Pulp. I should track down some Muguet de Bois too. It was my first perfume, a gift from my father when I was a girl. I’ve been a little afraid to smell it again in case it doesn’t live up to my memories!
Oh, then don’t smell it! That’s a wonderful scent memory.
I’m still new to the niche perfume world and hadn’t tried any of these when I read your list, but today after work I stopped by to smell La Chasse aux Papillons and I’m so glad I did. What a beautiful scent! I’m going to try to sniff my way though as much of this list as I can before spring is through. Thanks for a great list, Robin!
Glad you liked it, and have fun trying the rest!
Every time I read about Patou’s “Vacances” I develop an almost $500 lemming!!
Notes appear to revolve around ‘green lilac’…is there anything that remotely resembles it?
Same here, Winifrieda. It sounds wonderful!
Edit: I didn’t really say this. Did I?
Huh?
I didn’t hear anything.
I see a strong resemblance between Vacances and Crown Bouquet. Crown Bouquet has more heliotrope but once the heliotrope calms down, they become really similar. Wish someone else with a better nose for notes would compare these two…maybe I’m crazy…?! Anyhow I love them both…
You’re not crazy. I tried Vacances first from a sample and thought it was gorgeous, but that I really, really didn’t need a $300 bottle of anything. Then I bought Crown Bouquet (unsniffed) and sprayed some on – and the first thing I thought to compare it to was Vacances. You’re right, they don’t really *smell* alike – CB has a lot of soft white florals – but I think they share the same tender feeling.
I get a lot of marigold and greeeeeeen greens, plus a little bit of galbanum, in the opening of CB, while Vacances is really mostly green leafy stuff that flows into lilac and some other gentle florals (hyacinth, I think, and something that smells a lot like honeysuckle to me but is probably linden and mimosa). CB’s heart is hyacinth, gardenia, and orange blossom, with a teeny-tiny bit of gentle tuberose. Both of them taper off into a very quiet musk-sandalwood-vetiver base that’s barely there.
Forgot to say, I don’t smell any heliotrope in Crown Bouquet. It may be there and I’m too distracted by the white flowers to notice it. (I like white flowers.)
Marigold? I LOVE marigold! But heliotrope’s not my fave. Thanks for this recommendation. Gotta try it!
Thanks for the great ideas, Robin and everyone! Spring has been so unsettled here, weather-wise, that I’ve been depending on fragrances that can be worn in any season. For me, that includes Shaal Nur, Gres Cabaret, Timbuktu, YSL Y, CdG Kyoto, Fleurs de Sel, Neil Morris Hologram, and Embruns d’Ambre.
However, on the rainy & cool early spring days, I enjoyed Neil Morris Dark Earth very much. As it gets warmer, the florals – especially the green and sunny-yellow ones like Chamade, Le Temps d’Une Fete, Sabi, TDC Osmanthus, and all manner of things with narcissus or neroli – are calling to me. Today I’m testing Profumum Neroli, and finding it gorgeous!
I’m studiously ignoring all references to Vacances. That one sounds fantastic, and I don’t need that lemming. Do I?
*I* don’t need that lemming either. Help me drown it…
I didn’t love Vacances. But since everyone else does that probably doesn’t help
Every little bit helps!
I have Paris Jardins De Romantics. It’s smells so light, with wet fresh mowed grass.
The perfect spring scent has to be Envy by Gucci. To me, it smells exactly like fresh cut daffodils, glads, and irises, sitting in a bucket of water. Luca and Turner said it smelled like a florist…it really does.
My other spring fragrance is Penhaligon’s Lilly And Spice. It smells like fresh Lilly,,,,amazing.
Love your list Robin. I’ll have to get samples. Spring is a good description for the fresh florals I love.
All great choices!
Autumn is almost like Spring Downunder, all of a sudden the Vanille Banane and Fleur Nocturne need to shuffle back in the cabinet, but strangely I’m having a sort of pseudo-spring, but its green, biting bitter galbanum sort of green, even older Vent Vert is a bit too floral.
Vintage Ma Griffe even seems a little soft, yet my beloved green bean Unicorn is too real spring. I’m finding it hard to commit to a scent of the day, and am drowning in a renewed bout of sampling…
I’ll be glad when our Indian Summer arrives in about a month, it will be a relief to get out the dry amber,incense and spices. Also anything spicey-rosey seems to be more autumn than spring down here…
My definite springies are old Paris and Diorissimo, even Mitsouko had to sulk for a while in spring for me! (But boy Mits is THE autumn scent, and strangely the new EDP seems perfect…I read about the new real oakmoss that they took the ‘allergen’ out of…I wonder if the few bottles with the faux-moss base will become a sort of collectors’ item?
For a biting galbanum green that works well for fall, I’d recommend Miller Harris’s Fleurs de Bois. It’s available at several discounters, so if you’ve found any that ship to you there, it’s worth a look! And of course…Bandit.
I love vintage Ma Griffe…such a great scent.
Love these seasonal top tens with Robin’s and everyone else’s great ideas – thank you! I’ve been enjoying:
BK Beyond Love
L’AP Fleur d’Oranger 2007
TDC Osmanthus (I wear that ALL year, actually)
FM Geranium pour Monsieur
L’AP Dzing
Tocade EdT
Caron Royal Bain de Champagne
And, Robin, YES! I wear Olene (in rotation with L’Ombre dans L’Eau, Virgilio, and Guerlain Vetiver), but in the summer, when I must have cool scents with real spine in order to survive the DC summer’s deadly combination of high heat, super-saturated humidity and freezing AC.
Yes — I know that DC combo well!
I feel ashamed, but the only one I know is Diorissimo, which I like. It is not easy here to get the beautiful scents you describe.
No need to be ashamed, I’m sure you have your own wonderful spring scents!