Today we're helping Ines, who is getting married in London at the end of May. She'd love to find a new perfume that would "make her day eternal" and that she could happily go on wearing after the wedding. She's willing to pay premium if she can find the right scent — and the right scent should be subtle and elegant, but still make a statement. Here is what we know about Ines:
She's in her late 20s, and her area of expertise is business development, marketing and sales.
She loves to write and she keeps several blogs. She's also a big fitness fan, and she likes to try new things.
She recently moved from Madrid to London. She loves languages and speaks five at the moment.
She says she is a reasonable and considerate person, but also makes swift decisions, and isn't always good at establishing interpersonal limits.
She loves meeting new people and is sociable most of the time, but she also likes to be on her own.
Ines' first perfume was Anaïs Anaïs at age 6. Her first full-time job happened to be in the fragrance field: devising and executing the launch of a men's fragrance for the mass market in Turkey, but since then she has had trouble finding fragrances she is happy with. Some of her older favorites include Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, D&G Feminine, Calvin Klein Eternity, D&G Light Blue and Cacharel Noa. She also used to like Estee Lauder Pleasures, but now she finds it too artificial-smelling.
Ines likes white flowers (jasmine and gardenia especially, also tuberose) but not when they're overpowering. She also likes patchouli.
Ines does not like sweet fragrances or orientals, and sometimes they give her a headache. She also doesn't like overly fruity scents. She can't wear Dior Addict, Miss Cherie Dior, Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne, or any Tom Ford fragrances.
What say you?
Note: image is Letter Box, Luxembourg by sludgegulper at flickr; some rights reserved.
I think Ines should should try Jo Malone for easy-to-wear florals. I think Vintage Gardenia, Orange Blossom, White Jasmine & Mint and French Lime Blossom are all very pretty and they could also be layered. Good luck and congratulations on your big day Ines!
I second Jo Malone. The Tuberose fragrance is very linear. I feel like this scent is really close to the tuberose of Fracas. I hope that wasnt blasphemy.
The good thing about Jo Malone is the ability of their scents to mingle really well together. Fragrance combining is Jo Malone’s specialty. Its a good way to make the fragrance you want with linear scents.
Hi Ines!
I wish you all the best for your weeding and your new married life ahead!
here are my suggestions:
-JABU by MONA DI ORIO : the white flowers here are mostly Ylang-Ylang and Orange Blossom, the overall effect is creamy and cozy, not overpowering and not too floral. Give it 10 minutes on skin to bloom. The name means Joy and part of the proceedings go to a charitable organization.
-Frangipani by Ormonde Jayne (I wore it to my own weeding): I can barely detect the white flowers here (for me this is a minus), but it is very cheerful and bright with a refreshing lime peel note. If you donì’t like citrus, though, it is not for you.
-Songes by Annick Goutal: it opens with the most beautiful Jasmine and frangipani notes, evolving into a woody, powdery and very vanillic drydown. Great if you like vanilla.
– My favorites: Beyond Love and Carnal Flower. The most beautiful tuberose scents I’ve ever tried. Both very sexy. And metholated and strange in the beginning.
-Del Rae Amoureuse. Green mandarin, white flowers and a sweet, honeyed, narcotic base. The name is so apt for a marriage, isn’t it?
I’m a fan of beyond love too, but I wouldn’t define it as subtle though
Today I’m wearing Lumière noire (Francis Kurkdjian), which could be worth a test spray or two, it seems to fit the requirements (but may be too subtle)
Another vote for Francis Kurkdjian, which is my new perfume hero. Together with the wonderful Mumiere Noire, I would suggest APOM for woman, which I think might be a good wedding fragrance. Terrific longevity, you can smell it the day after when you put away your dress… :o)
… Lumiere Noire… terrible typo!
Wearing APOM pour femme today. Baffled by the longevity. Beats everything else in my collection in that respect including Chanel’s Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie in pure parfum:)
I’ll second the Amoreuse!
Seconding Annick Goutal, also try Passion and Gardenia Passion, white flowers that are far from overpowering to my nose and quite “natural” smelling.
I second Jabu and Amoureuse. Both gorgeous florals, and both appropriate in concept for a wedding!
Seconding Beyond Love!
Will put in another plug for Ormonde Jayne…you could go to the boutique:
https://nstperfume.com/2008/05/06/ormonde-jayne-shopping-for-perfume-in-london/
or to their counter at Harrods and try the whole line…very much worth a shot, they’ve got several florals that would work perfectly for a wedding.
Defnitely second the OJ! Her most recent release, Tiare, was a nice chypre, which you might find appropriate.
I also wondered if you’d like La Femme by Sahlini (Indian/French company), or Chanel’s Bois des Iles.
I THIRD Ormonde Jayne! Her boutique off Bond Street is worth a visit – the sales assistants are very nice and Linda Pilkington herself is often there. Also, if you do decide to buy one of her scents, you can also purchase lovely creams and bath oils in the same fragrance, so your wedding could incorporate a truly luxurious scent-preparation in itself!
Also, Frederic Malle’s En Passant is a gorgeous lilac scent, and a friend of mine wore it recently to her wedding. She tried a lot of scents, and this won out!
For a milky, dreamy white floral, that’s got medium-light sillage, try Paul & Joe Blanc. It’s the sort of scent that is easy to wear, and might easily be an every-day scent after it makes your wedding-day memory.
Yup, OJ Frangipani was one of the first things that popped into my head.
Aqua di Parma Iris Nobile EDT (not EDP) could also fit the bill. Despite the name I find more of a white flowers than an iris scent. Definitely light and elegant.
These might be a little too much but Frederic Malle Carnal Flower and Le Parfum de Thérèse are well worth trying.
Big 2nd for the AdP Iris Nobile in the EdT form. The EdP would be a bit too heavy but the EdT is perfect for this request.
~D
I’d suggest Beige or Gardenia from the Chanel Les Exclusifs line.
oh yes!
I second both!
I second Beige as a must-try.
I’m late to the show!
My ideas immediately were:
OJ Woman because it is interesting and
Chanel Gardenia
but I’ll also throw in:
DelRae Debut for a big flowery scent!
Amouage Lyric Woman – another interesting one you may fall in love with!
and
Diorrissimo for a lovely, springy floral…
or Bvlgari Jasmine Nuit and TDC and Floris also do some nice Jasmines…
I second Diorissimo (my own wedding scent) and Debut – both are lovely florals, special but not so special they can’t be worn afterwards!
Congrats on your wedding!
I am going horribly mainstream here :), but I’d also give Guerlain Idylle a try. It is easy to find and, in fact, it did make me think about weddings when I got a sample a couple of weeks ago.
It is not so much about roses to me. I feel lily of the valley strongly here and other white flowers. It also has patchouli, which I see Ines likes, although the patchouli is not a major presence here.
Congratulations!
Creed Love in White for a nice take on a white floral.
Parfumerie Generale Tuberose Couture for a nice tuberose without being over the top. This one has a very nice drydown.
Ormond Jayne line-do check it out-they are amazing!
Le Labo Iris 39-just a gorgeous iris fragrance.
Congrats!
You already have many great suggestions here.
I am just going to add….
Daphne EdP by Comme des Garcons x Daphne Guinness
&
Creed Jasmal
&
Donna Karan Essence Jasmine
~Dawn
Oooh, I’ll suggest! I love florals as well, but not ones that knock you unconscious with Flower Power.
I’m a fan of Guerlain’s Champs-Elysees, and I think it might suit Ines’s needs. It almost smells like their Angelique-Lilas Aqua Allegoria, but has a slightly more light, ‘professional’ edge IMHO.
Another nice floral that doesn’t go over the top (I actually wore it for my wedding) is Rosine’s Rose D’Ete. Not cloying in the least, with a slight bright note going into light rose and lightly powdery base. Yum, and very springlike!
Also, Keiko Mecheri’s White Petals has also been a longtime favorite that anyone can wear and encompasses her favorite notes, and Bruno Acampora’s Seplasia works as a beautiful, lightly powdery floral on me so it might work on her as well (but there’s no tuberose or gardenia in it).
Hi everybody!
Thank you all for your advices, I am certainly heading to Harrods tomorrow with the list in my hand.
Songes and Creed in Love were already on my short list. And I must say I also like Guerlain’s Champs-Elysees. The other day I re-discovered Jardins de Bagatelle of Guerlain and it is also short-listed. I always thought that it would not suit me yet it seemed to prove me wrong.
Thank you all for you wishes as well, I am getting quite excited as there are 2 weeks to go!
Ines
Hi Ines! Congrats on your upcoming nuptials. I too am a white flower lover, and I think Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale (from their Collection Extraordinaire) would be the perfect wedding scent for you. It is simply beautiful and a great special occasion scent, but you’ll definitely enjoy wearing it after the wedding too. Runner up picks: Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia and Annick Goutal Songes. Happy hunting!
D’oh! Forgot you said that EL Tuberose Gardenia is a no go for you. Sorry! Do definitely try Gardenia Petale though- it is so light and sparkling and lovely.
I think Fracas. Classic, bold, tuberose, and great for a day when you are the center of attention. It’s not my cup of tea, but it’s bombshell and super high quality
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, Ines. So many excellent recommendations for you already.
Just one more to add: one of Montale’s newest, Pure Gold. Gold is exactly right: that’s the colour of the flowers – rich, smooth, luxurious. There’s lots of citrus, too, and it’s a very creamy kind. This is the breed of elegant floral that still manages to have a great deal of freshness to it, and it could be worn from morning straight through to late in the evening — ideal for a wedding day. The patchouli really helps ground it and give it an almost-chypre character and the staying power is very good. I would love a bottle myself.
Notes: Neroli, jasmine, mandarin and apricot and base notes of white musk, vanilla and patchouli
Mmm, Pure gold sounds lovely.
Subtle and elegant, but still make a statement…
Well, the white-flower perfume that is subtle and elegant but still makes a statement (and is quite unusual and distinctive) is Manoumalia. (also maybe Une Fleur de Cassie by Malle)
Subtle and elegant otherwise… I would say Andy Tauer’s Une Rose Chyprée.
And although you didn’t mention roses at all, and nobody ever suggests it on any forum I have been on, I quite love Sa Majesté La Rose by Lutens. Very elegant and beautiful…
On the subject of roses, one of the most romantic scents I know is SSS’s Cameo. I just discovered it and am crazy for it! I think it would be a gorgeous wedding scent as it is beautiful but subtle.
Ines – while at Harrod’s, go to Roja Dove’s perfumerie. I would highly recommend his Unspoken.
Best wishes to you.
Congratulations, Ines!
Two perfumes that came to mind were L’Artisan’s La Haie Fleurie, which is a fresh jasmine with orange blossom, narcissus, and honeysuckle, and Parfum MDCI’s Enlevement au Serail, which includes jasmine and patchouli and a really lovely rendition of tuberose. I’m not sure I’d call the latter subtle, but I don’t find it overpowering and think it might be worth a sniff. [Parfum MDCI calls it a floral oriental, but it feels more like a chypre to me.]
Hmmm. “Overpowering” is such a subjective term, lol. If no one had told me Frederic Malle’s Carnal Flower was supposed to be overpowering I don’t think I would have found it so, especially after the first five minutes or so–it’s just a gorgeous, chilled, flower-shop kind of tuberose, very true to the cut flower (if not to the living one). I think it would be a superb wedding scent — blogger Victoria Frolova of Bois de Jasmin just wore it to her own wedding.
Another gorgeous soliflore that goes on strong but quiets quickly is Serge Lutens wonderful A La Nuit — jasmine, beautiful jasmine, as one smells it in the garden on a slightly humid summer night, so there is a touch of greenery and earth in the flowers. I find it a very joyful and elegant scent.
Second the Ormonde Jaynes, they’re worth trying in any case. Lots of other good suggestions already. Have fun!
Thank you! A new adventure awaits!
A la Nuit is a great idea, though I find the scent a bit… dirty, or rather said – very sexy.
But I would wear it on a wedding, definitely. If you use just a tiny bit the scent is very subtle. And elegnat, I agree!
Subtle and elegant but still makes a statement, for a wedding day but wearable for years afterward, loves jasmine? This screams Joy by Jean Patou to me. (parfum, not edt, there is a notable difference.) The fragrance is one of those marvels of craftsmanship and has a heart of young roses and smooth cool jasmine. Deeply lovely, and both Continental and classy to my nose.
Ines, I am also a jasmine lover. I have found that a lot of the perfumes that I like blend very well with a few drops of Jasmine essential oil, it’s not that expensive depending on what brand, and can really liven up a fragrance. I like Bvlgari Jasmin Noir, and I sometimes put a few drops of jasmine oil on first, it’s so lovely. I believe the brand I used is Aura Cacia, and if you like aromatherapy- it is relaxing.
blending with the jasmin oil? Sounds good- I have always thought of this but didnt know where to start. Certainly will give it ia try, thank you!
My suggestion would be Rose Ikebana or Vanille Galante. Both subtle and special scents.
And because I love white florals also I would suggest also to give L’Artisan Perfumeur Chasse aux Papillons Eau Extreme (EdP) a try.
If fits perfect for a wedding… very romantic.