This week we're helping Sofina, who loves perfume and wants to find a new signature scent, preferably one that everyone else isn't already wearing. She loves to shop online, and she'd love to keep the cost under $200. Here is what we know about Sofina:
She's almost 30 but people usually think she's 25 or younger. Some people say she looks like a young Isabella Rossellini but her style icons are Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall.
She's a perfectionist to a fault, and a "glass half full" kind of person.
Her everyday wear is casual (jeans) but she likes to dress up for formal affairs with dramatic jewel tone colours, red lips and high heels.
Sofina loves fresh cut grass, citrus, bergamot, peppers, honeysuckle and black currant. Perfumes she likes include Calvin Klein Contradiction, Dior Escale a Portofino, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, Hugo Boss Woman and A Scent By Issey Miyake. She used to wear Chanel Cristalle but it no longer works for her. For evening she likes the 90s version of Versace Versus, Gucci Rush and the classic Dolce & Gabbana for woman (in the red cap).
Sofina doesn't like strong sweet vanilla, watery perfumes or overpowering musk. Perfumes that don't work for her include Thierry Mugler Angel, Calvin Klein Obsession and Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey.
What say you?
Note: image is Post Box by at Living in Monrovia at flickr; some rights reserved.
Two suggestions from The Different Company:
Bergamote for citrus and bergamot plus a spicy sparkle (ginger is a little peppery)
Sublime Balkiss for that black currant/berry twist, along with the citrus
Balmain Vent Vert is grassy, Mure et Musc is a blackcurrant fix.
Love that gravatar, SuddenlyInexplicably. Did you create it yourself?
I second Sublime Balkiss
I 3rd the Sublime Balkiss. It’s an amazing fragrance.
Hmmm…I’m thinking Bond #9 High Line (for the grass note), Heeley Ophelia (for the flowers/youthful vibe), and L’Artisan Haie Fleurie. happy sampling!
I was going to mention L’Artisan Haie Fleurie, but you beat me too it. 🙂
Hmm, greens. I’d try Profumum Victrix, Miller et Bertaux No. 3 Green…, PG Papyrus de Ciane, and in case she wants something softer, maybe AG Le Chevrefeuille. Oh, and black currant… Creed Silver Mountain Water, or Diptyque L’Ombre Dans L’Eau.
L’Ombre Dans L’Eau was my first thought 🙂
Mmm… I’d like to suggest CD Diorella. It has a burst of citrus and bergamot in the opening, but dries down to a warm skinscent with decent sillage. Definitely a classic!
Second the Diorella. Gorgeous and quite green.
Another one that might be worth a try is Parfums de Nicolaï, Balle de Match. A lovely citrus that lasts. There is a good review of it on this site.
Or maybe Goutal, Eau du Sud, although some might find it a bit too masculine.
And completely forgot to mention Prescriptives Calyx. Citrus, flowers and moss. Very wearable and quite addictive.
OJ Woman!
I second Diorella also.
Parfums de Nicolai Vie de Chateau
Soivohle Oakmoss
L’Air du Desert Moroccan (Tauer)
Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio might be worth a try, and possibly Ormonde Woman (for the grassy opening). Seconding Miller et Bertaux Green, green, green, and green, and thirding La Haie Fleurie.
Chamade was the first thing that sprung to mind – a green, grassy narcissus with a juicy blackcurrant opening.
Piguet Futur might also appeal – it’s a fresh, green jasmine. Very modern (but in a good way!) and suitable for daily wear as a signature scent.
Bel Respiro is another one along the similar lines.
Oh, oh and Miller Harris Fleurs de Bois too!
oh, Chamade! That’s a good one too!
Second OJ Woman and Piguet Futur.
Yes, Futur is wonderfully green and crisp.
Greens are so awesome! Chanel No 19 in any form you would like, Guerlain Chamade edt, Parfums de Nicolai Temps d’Une Fete, Givenchy III etc, Miller Harris Fleurs de Matin, Parfums DelRae Amoureuse, Smell Bent Never Never Land, Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil, Lancome La Collection Climat, Frederic Malle Parfums de Therese. As noted above Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio, and also I’d rec AG Heure Equise which does have a serious galbanum rose opening.
Definitely try Chamade!
I second, third, fourth Ormonde Woman from Ormonde Jayne. I think you should also try Orris Noir while you’re at it – something to do with your description of jewel coloured clothing. It’s a super sophisticated, rich and spicy scent.
As for citrus – again, a super sophisticated, juicy, yet rich and warm one is LUX by Mona di Orio. It does have a sweet/woodsy dry-down which you might not warm too, but try it on your skin as on me it stays quite lemony but on others that disappears.
For a peppery feel – how about Caron’s Parfum Sacre?
Byredo – Bal d’Afrique
Hmmm, for some reason I can’t see my previous reply. Anyway, my first recommendation was for Chamade which is a green, grassy narcissus with a juicy blackcurrant opening.
I would also recommend Futur (green, modern jasmine), Bel Respiro and Miller Harris Fleurs de Bois.
Good choices all (well, except Chamade doesn’t work for me in the least, but I can see how it would be fantastic w/the right chemistry).
Chamade doesn’t quite work on me either, I like the top notes but on my skin it goes downhill from there. Same with Cristalle so I figure that if Sofina wore that then Chamade might work too.
I’m thinking SL Bas de Soie might also appeal.
All of these sound lovely…Jo Malone’s Honeysuckle and Jasmine has a fresh green note and dries down to a lovely scent. It’s discontinued by still readliy available. Chanel’s Cristalle Eau Vert is a kinder, gentler version of Cristalle which also might work.
for grass, Issey Miyake a scent instantly springs to mind. there’s also the pink one with roses in.
MAC do two honey scents but Idk if they’re limited edition.
:O and I thought of them before I read what perfumes Sofina already likes, I just read the notes that she likes. but look at that, a scent, I must be getting good at perfume.
there was a new release with peppers in but I cant remember.
it’s not Marc Jacobs Bang but you could try that, it’s just peppers all the way through. oh I can’t think of it but if I remember I’ll add it to the comment.
Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte. Effervescent and fresher than the original Cristalle.
Carthusia Via Camerelle: very pretty bright citrus and subtley green, with a soft musk dry-down. Smells good on boys and girls 🙂
Notes: bergamot, Sicilian lemon, bitter orange, marjoram, water lily, jasmine, musk, amber and marine accords (thanks indie perfumes!)
I don’t notice marine accords (thank god!).
Sofina might want to have a sniff at Estee Lauder’s Private Collection Jasmine White Moss, for what to do now that Cristalle is so wan.
Anniea the jasmine from lauder is a great suggestion imho. Plus not many wear it 😉
she might not like watery scents, but when i first smelled L’Eau par Kenzo (i think i was 8?) it smelled JUST LIKE freshly cut grass to me…
Since Sofina likes citrus, green and peppery notes, I’d suggest Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil. It’s a gorgeous green/citrus fragrance with a bit of warmth lent by the incense note.
I also really like YSL Baby Doll and Chanel Chance Eau Tendre . And we have very similar tastes-Citrus openings and soft flowers. You might like Dior’s Pure Poison-a bergamot mandarin top with soft white florals and cashmere woods, amber,musk, no overpowering white florals, very soft but very, very lasting.
I like YSL Paris Jardins de Romantique-it has the top note of fresh cut grass..seriously smells like it was just mowed with violets and rose.
Annick Goutal’s Chevrefuille, pretty, green with citrusy honeysuckle.
Jo molones honeysuckle and jasmine.
Versace Versace Signature-Pretty Black Current and soft flowers
Chantecaille Wisteria
Guelain’s L’Instant or Cruel Gardenia, the later is soft and smells like your skin but heavenly like a flower that should exist but doesn’t-it’s also expensive, but you can buy the decants from The perfume court.
Penhaligon’s Lilly and Spice, smells like a real lily..amazing, and also for the ultimate fresh green note with fresh daffodils and iris get Envy by Gucci.
Love In White by Creed has a citrus top, soft flowers and not overpowering amber musk. Michelle Obama wears it 😉
Good luck on you search, it’s not always easy
Moschino Funny: red currants, bright citrus and a tea base, sparkling for the glass half full persona – available for <$40
Guerlain Imperiale: Refreshing citron & rosemary – perfect citrus cologne for the perfectionist – available for $100
For the green grass, I recommend Black March.
If you liked the classic D&G, then you should check out Opium.
For citrus/green notes Un Jardin Sur le Nil by Hermes.
For pepper, Frederick Malle Noir Espices.
Burberry London for men for green grass.
DSH Celadon for the grassy notes would be my suggestion.
For perfumes with that light and springy feel, I would suggest La Chasse Aux Papillons (try the extrème version for a peppery note), as well as Bond No. 9 Eau de Noho.
Try Ineke’s Evening Edged in Gold; it may appeal to you.
In fact, try exploring niche lines, because the scents you list are all pretty much available in department stores. Explore Etat Libre d’Orange, L’Artisan Parfumeur, DSH, Ineke, LesNez, Annick Goutal (there are some things that will appeal to you in that line, for sure), and of course, Tauer. The evening jewel tones and bright red lipstick to me cry out for heavier perfumes — chypres, like Andy’s Une Rose Chyprée. I think that once you smell them, you will love them too.
Have fun exploring!
Another suggestion — Different Company’s De Bachmakov. It has pepper, bergamot, and green shoots, as well as some aldehydes which you seem to like. Give it a whirl…
To me Chanel is the perfectionist’s lines – I’d suggest exploring some of the classics, the Exclusifs and Eau Premiere. Enjoy the hunt!
Thank you for all the lovely suggestions! I’m hunting some samples as we speak. =)