Today we're helping Rebecca, who comments here as Lollipop. Rebecca would like to find a sexy summer fragrance. The perfect perfume would be unusual, have a fair amount of sillage, and cost less than $140. She has excellent access to perfume stores, and is also happy to shop online.
Here is what we know about Rebecca:
She's in her early 40s and living in Provence.
She's a mom to 3, and has an eclectic career history (lawyer to air stewardess to factory worker, not necessarily in that order).
She says she is a girly girl, very romantic and positive with an unconventional side.
Interests include ballet, running and gardening. She likes to take time to smell the roses, and to help people out. Her friends are very important to her.
Rebecca likes vetiver, rose, woody notes, linden, iris, hyacinth, tuberose sometimes, gardenia, mimosa, citrus, tea. She also loves the work of perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena (favorite: Vetiver Tonka) and she loves cheap thrills (Stetson). She likes gourmands (Givenchy Organza Indecence, Kenzo Amour Le Parfum). Perfumes she loves include Chanel No 5 Elixir, Givenchy Eaudemoiselle, Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan, Lancome Tresor, Robert Piguet Fracas, Molinard Habanita, Guerlain Apres l'Ondee, Yves Saint Laurent Cinema, Caron Parfum Sacre, Dior Diorissimo, Rochas Tocade.
Rebecca doesn't like cumin (except in Rochas Femme) or heavy skanky notes. Heavy indoles don't always work for her, and she doesn't care for medicinal notes or anything too masculine, but then again, she doesn't like girly-fruity-pink perfumes either.
Perfumes she wore in the past or tried recently include:
Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey: she wore it for years, now it bores her.
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess: she loves it, everyone loves it on her.
Prada Infusion d'Iris: another love.
Stella McCartney Stella Nude: very light and refreshing, works well in the heat.
Serge Lutens Sa Majeste La Rose: turns a bit musty despite the delicious opening.
Chanel Cristalle: "great but not me."
Chanel Coco: one of her "going out" perfumes.
Lancome O de Lancome: fun.
Hermes 24 Faubourg: interesting but gave her a headache.
Bulgari Black: disappointing after all the hype.
Lush Breath of God: a scrubber.
What say you?
Note: image is Southgate Street by Martin Pettitt at flickr; some rights reserved.
I have several rose possibilites: EL Knowing (big rose chypre), Yves Rocher Rose Absolue (rose gourmand), and YSL Rive Gauche (aldehydic rose). I would point you toward Montale Aoud Rose Petals or Aoud Damascus, but you would have to put up with 30-45 minutes of the medicial part of oud wood.
Thank you for your suggestions… so far I tried (in fact retried!) the Yves Rocher… it was too sweet on me, in a fruity way. I want to love it because of the price, but I don’t. I plan to try Rive Gauche next week.
why not give a try to Paris by YSL or Parisienne by YSL (but not extreme version) it’s very feminine, containing kinda like 7 differend types of roses
or maybe Rose the One by D&G
I like Paris! I’m going to keep going back to my sample and I shall test Parisienne when I get a chance, also the D and G. Thanks for the recs.
Balenciaga’s Rumba, was created Jean Claude Ellena and Ron Winnegrad (before Ellena’s current minimalism). It appears to have been liquidated by Balenciaga and is available very cheaply on the internet
It is a is a big sexy summer cocktail with a flower on the umbrella of a scent. Although I normally am not a fan of this genre, I really like this one as a summer day (outside, not in the law office) fun fragrance.
I forgot to mention, it has both tuberose and mimosa.
Oooo, sounds good, where can I look for it online?
Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia may work nicely for you..
Well, in the cheap thrills department, I would echo monkeytoe and Dilana with their suggestions of Yves Rocher Rose Absolue and Balenciaga Rumba, and would add Mauboussin Histoire d’Eau, a lovely mix of spice, honey and leather.
Hermes Kelly Caleche might work and is easily found at discounters in the US (not sure about France).
I need to test Kelly Caleche again… liked it as I recall. Thank you!
How about AG Heure Exquise? Also recommend that you try BK Beyond Love (joyous tuberose) and Back to Black (it’s supposed to be tobacco but to me it’s rich honey). The travel refills are just under $140.
I think there is a tester of Back to Black available on ebay today.
AG Heure Exquise is an excellent suggestion
I could not agree with you more
Heure exquise will get a test next to Songes on the other arm… next time I go shopping. Thanks for the suggestions.
Might want to check out a sample of Thierry Mugler “Angel la Rose.”
Where can I find this?! I looked in a couple of perfumeries last week but so far no luck.
Hermes 24 Faubourg Eau delicate is a lovely light floral – it has a touch of amber to ground it, but it’s so different from the original it’s hard for me to see it as a flanker. Cartier de Lune hasn’t gotten much love on the blogs, but it’s a nice rose with a touch of honeysuckle. Not big sillage though. And seriously – why not just go with the Bronze Goddess or Stella Nude? Either works well for summer, and if you know they work for you…
My son got me a sample of the Cartier and I wasnt keen. You’re right, I’ve been mainly sticking with BG, the Stella and Infusion d’Iris (when I want to smell soapy clean). Still searching and searching though for something special and everyone’s recommendations have really helped.
Frédéric Malle Editions de Parfums:
1. Angéliques Sous La Pluie – very light, very, very sexy but did not have good lasting power on me- but maybe much better on you -worth sampling!
2. Le Parfum de Therese -has good sillage, use lightly in summer
3. L’Eau d’Hiver – not conventionally sexy but it does have sex appeal and it’s lovely in all seasons. Hubby finds it very sexy.
Bvlgari :
1 .Pour Femme- classically pretty and a little bit of sexy
2 . au Thé Vert, all the tea scents are very well done and sexy-intelligent.
Second all of these! As witness my comment below.
I feel a trip to Paris coming on…..
Sexy summer fragrance, what about L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse? It’s definitely unusual, and great in summer!
Also, Rebecca, have you tried YSL’s Rive Gauche? With your love of rose and vetiver, this is must try!
Both of those now on my to try list. Thanks so much
Some more good roses to try: Rose Barbare (on the expensive side though), Agent Provocateur (very affordable and sexy), and Alahine, a citrusy, floral amber — not necessarily a summer-specific perfume but I wear it all year.
Also try Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia.
Was excited to read your post because the EL was already on my to try list, I have a hunch I am going to love that one, from what I’ve read about it. The Agent Provocateur I’m keen to test too.
I hesitate to suggest it, as it is not one of my favorite scents, but I have consistently gotten “Whoa!” reactions from men for Bulgari Omnia. It is somewhat spicy tea (although not quite enough for me) with a good dose of clean musk and something light and floral. It is easily available at a discount.
Love Omnia!
I am going to buy this unsniffed online because it’s a bargain and I have been wanting to try it for so long now. Will report back when I get it.
Annick Goutal Songes might be good, and blooms in the heat. Goutal’s Passion might be worth a try as well.
Another properly tropical and very unusual scent is LesNez Manoumalia, good for summer I would guess.
On the lighter side of the summer spectrum I would recommend Eau d’Eté and L’Eau Mixte by Parfums de Nicolaï.
Mainstream perfumes I like to wear in summer are: Eau Sauvage ( although you might find that one too masculine), Diorella ( both Dior’s) and Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert by Bvlgari ( and one of JCE’s masterpieces in my humble opinion). Talking of him; did you ever try his Eau d’Hiver ( it’s from the Malle line)? Even though it’s name suggests exclusive winter wear it’s lovely all year round.
I hope you find your summer scent!
Big 2nd to Songes and Manoumalia. Both gorgeous, both tropical, both sexy.
This is great!, I was already desperate to test Eau d’hiver… even more so now and when I get to Paris I shall! The Songes is now on my test list (might get a chance this week), the Manoumalia I will buy a sample of, ditto the Nicolai’s. Thanks so much for the recs.
I’ve discovered that Piguet’s Futur is splendid in the heat — the opening is green and jasmine-y but not too indolic, and as the fragrance settles, the vetiver and cedar really come out but aren’t overbearing. It’s a beautiful and unusual scent, and I found a 3.4-ounce bottle online for around $80.
I also liked the reissued Calypso, which has some nice rose in it. It’s lighter and more subtle (on me, at least) than the amber-patchouli-suede base might suggest.
My two suggestions come from Ormonde Jayne, and are Ormonde woman, a green woody fragrance, and Tolu an interesting oriental ambery perfume. Both are impressive and feminine.
Second AG Songes and have you tried the new SL Jeu de Peux?
Havent tried the SL, I looked for it, they dont have it in Sephora! Will look elsewhere. Thank you
Perfume de Nicolai’s Violette in Love: Rose and Violette, bright, cheap thrill (45$ for 30ml at Luckyscent).
Balengiaca’s Paris: It is very light and sheer and has as similiar “feel” to many of your fav fragrances you describe
Serge Lutens Bas de Soie: As it has both Iris and hyachinth, and I find to very sheer yet also works wondefully in the heat.
I will suggest Miller Harris Fleur de Sel. And L’artisan Nuit de Tubereuse. Have fun sniffin!
I will add SL Miel de Bois. just for kicks.
Will give it a go. So far I like Chergui from the SL’s I have tried.
Some recs I have are Marc Jacobs Blush, Gendarme Carriere, or Cerruti 1881 Blanc. Good luck!
Lalique Encre Noir Pour Elle, it’s got bergamot, ambrette seed, freesia, osmanthus, Turkish rose and vetiver, rich but very easy to wear, and lovely in the heat or cold. Paul Smith Rose is a straight-up rose and is bright and fresh for summer, and is also inexpensive.
Liking the sound of all of these but becoming somewhat overwhelmed!
Oh I forgot – the fantastically lush Guerlain Mahora, not for the faint-hearted, it’s like Bronze Goddess on steroids!
Lol, sounds like my cup of tea! I want a sample of this Mahora!!! Tempted to buy it unsniffed but too impoverished. Have spent serious time online looking for a small bottle. I’ll get there…..
Vetiver pour Elle, Guerlain
Fleur de Cassie, Frederick Malle
Feu d’Issey light, I.Miyake
I love Bulgari Omnia but some find it a bit potent for summer, (not me, I like them strong, not eye watering but I to like a fair amount of sillage), I myself love honeyed, spicy scents in the warmth of a summer evening.
Oh! 31 Rue Cambon is a delicious summer scent too. Smaller 2.5 ounce (75 ml) bottles are available now, but the 200 ml is a much better buy and certainly could be split (I would love a 100 ml split!).
Lol “not me I like them strong”! Me too!! I might be up for a split once i have tested 31. there is no Chanel boutique near me unfortunately. The cote d’azur is 2 hours drive – might get there later in the summer. If so I will report back.
I would also recommend Kelly Caleche, perhaps Paris YSL, Kenzo Parfum D’Ete, and I ablsoultely loved the new Ô d’Orangerie de Lancome (it smells fresh and citrusy, but also it has a great jasmin).
Another frangrance that I think Rebecca would have loved was Freur D’Interdit de Givenchy, but it was discontinued. That was my favourite summer scent. It reminds me of holidays in Greece. If you can find it online, even as a sample, buy it, by all means. Good luck, Rebecca!
Sonoma Scent Studio-I recommend them frequently. I’m consistently complimented wearing Incense Pure and Champagne du Bois. The entire line is worth checking out!
Etro Shaal Nur just might be a good fit!
Thank you EVERYONE! I loved reading these… sorry for the late response, I was away on holiday in a place with no internet. Camping in the rain and the mud… we were meant to go for two weeks but came home after one week, too pathetic and too cold to stay longer! The children loved it of course
Since then I have been washing clothes round the clock. Wow what a lot of work from one short holiday. I am really excited and inspired by your suggestions and feel ready to plunge in and buy some samples now. Previously I have done all my testing in shops… anyway thanks again and thanks Robin for your fantastic website. I love it and not a day goes by that I don’t have a look.