Nick participated in the Monday Mail last year, and later that year, he commented on a feedback post to tell us how he did. Now he wants our help again, but this time for his mom, Julie — he'd like to find a distinctive everyday perfume that he can give her for Christmas. He can spend up to $200, and would welcome niche suggestions so long as they can be purchased online (Nick lives in Australia and doesn't have great access to niche stores). Here is what we know about Julie:
She just turned 65 this year, but Nick says she is very young at heart and has the energy of a much younger woman.
She works in womens fashion, and is never without perfume.
Nick doesn't know what notes she likes or dislikes, but doesn't think she has ever worn a citrus or aquatic fragrance.
Julie's favorite perfume is Thierry Mugler Angel, and she has also tried and loved Thierry Mugler Alien. Other favorites include Bvlgari Rose Essentialle and Tom Ford Black Orchid.
What say you?
Note: image is Richmond Green by Mike_fleming at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hi Nick, first thing that came to my mind was Bond No. 9’s “Chinatown”. Some find it “too much” but for a woman who loves “Angel” it should be just perfect. It has notes of peach blossom, gardenia, tuberose, orange blossom, patchouli, cardamom, vanilla and different woods and although it is very feminine it has a certain “niche” quality. Plus: The bottle is gorgeous, very nice for a Christmas gift!
I’ll second Chinatown – good choice!
I’ll third Chinatown — that was going to be my suggestion as well!
I second Chinatown, but also wonder whether she might like Bond No 9 New Haarlem? The coffee note is distinctive, and it’s rich and exotic overall. The review here by Marlen compared it to Angel for Men, though sweeter and fuller. It’s on my next-to-buy list!
Hi Nick! That is really sweet that you want to buy your mom a great fragrance. It seems she likes some really rich fragrances. My suggestions are Chanel Coromandel, Andy Tauer Une Rose Chypree, the original Badgley Mischka which you can still find online, and Somona Scent Studio Tabac Aurea. They are all rich orientals or chypre-ish fragrances that have deep notes with oakmoss, patchouli, etc. Good luck!!
Nice choices, Anns. Couldn’t go wrong with these.
Since Julie’s clearly not afraid of a bold perfume, I’ll throw Parfum d’Empire’s Ambre Russe into the mix.
I agree – great choices Ann. Since I was going to say Coromandel, I’ll add another SSS scsent – Champagne de Bois. I’m wearing it today, and it is gorgeous. Actually, Laurie also has several beautiful rose scents so they may work as well.
Thinking about it some more, I’d also recommend most of the classic Guerlains as well as the newer Idylle (sp?).
Serge Lutens Datura Noir or Fleur d Oranger .
Perhaps Carnal Flower in the travel sprays- I looked at Mecca Cosmetica- an australian beauty/fragrance website. It’s about AUS 205 for 3 X 10 ml sprays.
I just bought my mom Ineke’s Evening Edged in Gold. They packaged it special for her. It was for mom’s birthday and she LOVES it!
It sounds as though she enjoys quite lush fragrances, and so here are a few of my suggestions, Parfumerie Generale Louanges, creamy, rich and wonderful; Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Intense which you should be able to pick up in any good department store; Estee Laude PC Tuberose Gardenia, rich but very pretty and won’t stifle her in the Australian heat; Annick Goutal Songes, just lush with a capital L! I’ll second the Serge Lutens Carnal Flower as well.
Seconding Estee Lauder’s Tuberose Gardenia! Both lush and cool, classic and youthful.
I third Tuberose Gardenia, I gave it to my mom as a present last year and she adores it. Says that she gets compliments and questions whenever she wears it.
Plus here in Argentina it is only available in the ultra expensive bottle, so almost no one has it! (I got the 50ml bottle in the states hehehehe)
I gave my mother Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani, she loves it! My suggestion would be to order the OJ sample set immediately and let her chose!
Nice idea!
Hi Nick,
you and you mom must be really special.
if i were you i would buy samples only and pack it very nicely together with a perfume vaucher in which i would ask her to choose whichever she liked best.
my suggestions are Chanels:
31 Rue Cambone
28 La Pausa
Bois des Iles
Cuir de Russie
Beige
and would add Andy Tauer Une Rose Chypree
I second any of these, except that the Chanel Les Exclusifs are $350 in Aus, a huge mark up given the exchange rate. I have bought a couple through fleabay from the US and saved about $100 on each. I spoke to the SA at the Chanel boutique & she said the smaller bottles should be coming out around Christmas.
Yes, in Australia the markup over US perfume and cosmetic prices can often be dire. Those smaller LE bottles can’t come soon enough. I have at last picked up a bottle of Chanel No 5 Eau Permiere now that it comes in a 40 ml bottle. Much more reasonable than the 75 and 150 ml bottles.
Following up on ami’s suggestion — I often give “sample sets” to friends looking for a perfume accompanied by short descriptions of all the samples included. It makes it a lot more fun, I think, to sort of tempt them into trying new things, than to just set them free to sample blindly…
That said, love all the suggestions so far. What about that Angel Liquer de Parfum thing they did awhile ago? Got a lot of love in the blogosphere. I would add Serge Lutens Bois de Vanille to the sample list, and maybe Feminite du Bois, though she might find that a bit drier (and second Datura Noir).
Also thinking about some of the Ormonde Jaynes — Tolo, Ormonde Woman, and if she likes rose, maybe Ta’if.
Hermessence Ambre Narguile might suit as well.
Fun!
I second the Ambre Narguile, excellent choice!
Seconding the Ormonde Woman — it’s unique yet not out-there weird, and definitely a crowd-pleaser (an important consideration if you’re not 100% sure of her tastes). Your mom’s a lucky lady!
I’m thirding (is that a word?) the Ormonde Woman. It is distinctive, but not “weird” and is available online from the Ormonde Jayne website. Their customer service is wonderful as well.
What a great idea, Nick!
Le Labo Rose
MFK Lumiere Noir Pour Femme-an awesome dark rose
Paestum Rose by Eau d’Italie
M.Micallef Mon Parfum (might be over budget)
M.Micallef Note Vanillae
Aramathine by Penhaligon
Lolita Lempika L
I don’t know how hard it would be for you to find (I got mine at an online discounter), but since she seems to like Mugler, what about A Travers le Miroir?
Nick, my Mom is about to turn 64 and last year I gave her a sampler set of a lot of patchouli-based fragrance decants, along with a bit of Serge Noire by Serge Lutens. Included were samples of Angel Liqueur, and she ended up buying herself a small bottle of Angel. So I feel we’re on some common ground here!
I hope to buy my mom one of the new 75ml size bottles of Chanel Coromandel (~$110), which she said she loved. I couldn’t imagine buying her a full 200ml. I’m not sure if or when you’ll have access to these in Australia, but you might want to check into it.
Note that another favorite of my mom’s is Ava Luxe Sweet Patchouli, which is available as 15ml edp for $30. I really enjoy some of her creations. You’d have to check if she ships to Australia:
http://www.ava-luxe.com/2008/scentindex/scentindex.html
Hi,
Great recs thus far.
I’ll add to your growing list here…
The Different Company Sublime Balkiss
Juliet Has a Gun Calamity J.
`Dawn
1.Givenchy Very Irresistible Sensual – Sweet, complex, non-synthetic rose.
2.Guerlain Champs Elysees- Bright, but not juvenile
3. Ralph Lauren Notorious – Well rounded fruity floral with hints of pepper for depth.
Hi Nick,
I love rich, lush perfumes, as it seems that your mom does also and three of my absolute favorites have already been mentioned and so I will just second the motion – Chanel Coromandel, Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, and Annick Goutal Songes – all very rich, beautiful classics. Lucky mom to have a son who wants to gift his mother with perfume and who also knows where to go to get lovely advice.
I like the idea of the OJ set…it is very cute!
How about Juliet by Juliet Stewart? I find it sweet, yet I keep coming back to it…
I’d love for her to sample Etat’s Like This and see what she thinks, too!
I have come to truly love Juliet by Juliet Stewart and I do not see much talk about it. At first, somehow it seemed not very special, but like you, I have found myself coming back to it again and again. There is something lovely about it as well as it having very good longevity. It is gentle, soft, sweet and yet somehow unique.
I think it is very special Nick that you would do this for her!
It’s gorgeous.
I would feel mighty proud that you searched the net for answers
She likes them bold and lush , how about Miller Harris Noix de Tubereuse? I’ve been loving that one lately.
Put on yer BIG GIRL PANTIES for that one.
Or I would even suggest Estee Lauder’s Pleasures Delight, that’s very pretty and sweet. Have fun shopping for her, you dear boy.
ps. Sorry for the image of mama in underwear-however brief a flash! ha.
Based on the other fragrances she likes, I have a strong feeling she would like L’Instant de Guerlain. Notes are citrus honey, magnolia and amber. It’s a soft, easy fragrance that reels in the compliments. Available from many online discounters, too.
Good luck, Nick!
A few people have mentioned Bond No 9 Chinatown, but you could also try Nuit de Noho. It has a similar list of notes to Angel, but I find it a little greener. Also, the Prada Eau de Parfum or Intense could work. Si Lolita by Lempicka could also be worth trying.
Hi Nick–
I don’t know where in Australia you are, but if you can get to Melbourne or Sydney, you can try out a lot of the fragrances mentioned here, and a lot that haven’t been mentioned.
David Jones carries the Bonds (although I’ve heard they may be dropping them), Juliet Has a Gun, Costume National, and I forget what else. Mecca Cosmetica (located both in Myers and as standalone boutiques) has Frederic Malle, Etat de libre (sp?), Serge Lutens, some Rosines (although I don’t think Rosines sound like your mom’s taste), and Floret. Oh, and Maison Francis Kurk%$*&jian (sorry – too tired to even *try* to spell his name!)
Even in smaller cities like Canberra, DJs carries the Bonds, and Mecca Cosmetica carries Serge Lutens.
Good luck!
Although, looking back, I see your mom likes Bvlgari Rose Essentialle – maybe she would like the Rosines…
Yes, DJs in Canberra turns over a huge amount of counter space to the Bonds. I wonder if they sell enough to justify? DJs Canberra for some time now has carried some Goutals, although NOT the lovely Heure Equise, sadly. Sorry, slightly off-topic discussion.
Heure Exquise I meant. Fingers need more coffee.
I second L’instant de Guerlain, it’s very sexy in a discreet, womanly way. Grown up but not old, sweet but not cloying.
I also think she might like Cuir de Lancome. If she likes Black orchid, I think she’d love this.
Hi Nick. I would recommend
1) Givenchy’s Ysatis. It’s well within the price range and widely available. It’s a beautiful floral-oriental with a good amount of sillage and very classy.
2) Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist – classic and easy to wear
3) the new Gucci Guilty may be something she would like also to try – I think it would appeal to an Angel lover.
4) Laura Mercier Ambre Passion Velvet Edp that Angela recently reviewed sounds like it could be perfect as well.
Happy Sniffing!
Well, I will give you my mum’s scent: Tuscany per Donna (Estee Lauder). She’s in Montreal so the two of them wouldn’t bump into each other…
She may already have tried it, as it’s widely available, but it sounds like Prada, the original for women, might be to her taste. Has similarities to Angel, but it’s a little less gourmand and a little more restrained and elegant, while still very much a distinctive fragrance of it’s own – lots of personality. It’s lovely.
Mecca Cosmetica seems to have the niche market cornered at the moment and as they have just launched the Maison Francis Kurkdjian line here, I would start with Lumiere Noire a wonderful rose and patchouli combo. Then I would suggest Etat Libre’s Rossy de Palma, Frederic Malle’s Lipstick Rose and Une Rose as well. Mecca stocks all of these, so just go in there and given them and others a try!