Same old open thread: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you wish you could afford to buy this week, the perfume you wish you'd never bought at all, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is flowers by a wall by Per Ola Wiberg ~ Powi at flickr; some rights reserved.
Ha, I just logged on looking for this!
Time for the Semi-Annual San Francisco Sniff!!! October 15th is the day, and if you are interested and not already on my list, just click on my name and shoot me an email. I am working on a couple of meet-and-greets, and it should be a fun day.
Perfume-wise, I have been going crazy! Just in the past two weeks I have gotten Balenciaga, Esprit d’Oscar, SL Chene, and 2 bottles of Roger & Gallet (Wearing Vetyver today, also got Bouquet Imperial). And, I am in negotiations to get a pretty nice deal on an almost-full bottle of Vero Kern Onda extrait (quivering with excitement). I need to knock it off so I have money to spend at Sniff!
This would be such a fantastic excuse to visit Sanfran. Maybe the next one! In spring, I’m guessing?
Yes – email me to add you to the list after this one is over so you don’t get a bunch of email. It’s in April or May.
Wish I could come!
Me too!!!!!
I have a wedding today, a couple of friends of mine (both male) are tying the knot after 13 years toghether.
This is a very special day for me as one of them is kind of a big brother to me 🙂 The thing is I still don´t know what perfume I am gonna wear… It will probably be something light as I will be dancing quite a bit and I don´t want a sillage monster to “bloom” on the dancefloor. Brin de Reglisse is on the top of my list for this very special day 🙂
Have fun! Let us know what you pick!
Aw, getting married after 13 years together! I’d be crying for sure during the ceremony!
And you made me look into Brin de Réglisse, sounds nice!
Have a great time!
Best wishes to all, kaos.geo!
All my best to the happy couple!
Hope it was a beautiful wedding — what did you pick?
Congrats to your friends! Let us know what you picked.
Hi y’all! It was a beautiful wedding celebration . I picked Ferragamo pour homme and I must say without modesty than I smell divine! Hehehe. Of course its discontinued… But I got it earlier this year along a vintage unopened eau parfumee au the verte extreme by bulgari.
Two frags I procrastinated too much in buying.
Have a nice weekend!
I just tried the original Au The Vert this summer, and love it. Made me sad for all the years I didn’t bother to sniff it!
I got a sample of the Elie Saab and love the top notes. I so wanted this one to work. After about 20 minutes it turns into this dreadful thing on me. It basically smells like rubbing alcohol with a tiny floral note to it and it lingers like that for a while and then disappears.
I like the Carier Baiser Vole’ but it totally makes me think of Avon’s (now discontinued) classic pink bubble bath. It doesn’t have a lot of lasting power on my skin but I still think I may save my pennies for a bottle when my self-imposed spending freeze is over. It’s not really what I would call a fall/winter scent but it makes me feel warm and cozy probably because I think of the bubble bath.
Today’s scent is eau de Windex because I’m doing some much needed cleaning of my windows.
When I was working in the perfume dept., I’d clean the glass counters with Windex, and I used to think I was so witty asking my co-workers if they’d like to try “Eau de Windex”!
eau de Windex – LOL, you are so funny : )
Elie Saab does something bad on me, too – it gets very cloying in the same way Fracas does.
I don’t like Elie Saab and it turns into scrubber on me.
That was my experience with Elie Saab, rubbing alcohol. I ha ve had that same experience with other perfumes, even some very expensive ones like French Lover.
As you can see- you are not alone! ES didn’t work for me either- I appreciate its composition, but there was some note that stuck out and irritated me.
Exactly! Sometimes this single, stubborn note is enough to reach for alcohol or liquid Tide.
Glad to know it’s not just me. I was even hoping it would improve so I resisted scrubbing but it was not meant to be. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because I have plenty I do want to buy.
Cartier Baiser Vole struck me as very nice too – fortunately I found a small rollerball of it, I think online.
Unfortunately Elie Saab is very nice on me – unfortunately because that also had to be acquired. :-/
I also sampled elie saab and the Cartier basier on the same visit to Nordstrom a couple weeks ago. The elie saab is on my want list. The Cartier reminded me of something I couldn’t put my finger on, which I commented on at the end of robin’s review. It must be the Avon bubble bath of my childhood I’m thinking of…thank you!
Wearing Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin – it feels so right for this warm fall day and not too fussy.
I wish for one of the Tauer perfumes but I am waffling so much as to which one it is probably just as well the funds aren’t available.
Wish I had never bought such a large bottle of Miss Balmain – I admire it and it was a great deal but it WEARS me.
Love Au Masculine. I get lots of complements when I wear that one. It’s funny to see the reactions people give me when they find I’m wearing a men’s fragrance. Weird how women won’t cross the aisle and sniff the men’s fragrances for themselves (and vice versa). If it smells good, it smells good and I don’t care who it’s marketed to.
Totally agree about “crossing the aisle!” When I first dove into perfumistahood, one of my first loves was MJ Bang. It encouraged me to branch out to male frags pretty early in my explorations. I now find that I generally prefer unisex fragrances over those that seem to scream MALE!! or FEMALE!!! I have some girly ones, but mostly not.
Same here with choosing what I wear based on smelling good rather than what gender is written on the label. And speaking of which – I would love to track down a very old mens cologne that I used to wear decades ago. The friend from whom I begged my first splashes called it Bill Blass 10 Strength. In my current searching, I find nothing called 10 Strength under Bill Blass. Can anyone help?
Sadie
I believe that what you’re looking for is the original 1970 Bill Blass for Men, which said something about the strength on the front of the bottle. Pretty sure it’s discontinued though.
I wear Bulgari Black, YSL M7, Egoiste and Bel Ami. I always check the other side of the aisle!
LOL, I have all of those – we have similar taste!
Habit Rouge, Eau Sauvage and, maybe, Bel Ami have female followings. I love them all.
Eau de Sauvage is very men classic-cologne-like after some time. Try Fleur du Male, Joop! Homme, Au Masculin, Le Male, 212 Sexy, Arpège Pour Homme and you’ll change your mind. 😉
I wear Habit Rouge and Eau Sauvage, as well as Derby, Bulgari Black, and, of course, the original transgender frag, Guerlain Vetiver.
I haven’t tried Derby, but do wear the rest of these, as well as Egoiste, yummiest of them all.
Habit Rouge, Eau Sauvage and, maybe, Bel Ami have female followings. I love them all.
Sorry, I have no idea why that posted twice!
I’d been wearing Ambre Precieux and PdN New York for quite some time before I realized they were “men’s.” So I decided to pay no attention to marketing and wear what I liked.
Yeah, Au Masculin can really pass itself off as feminine perfume. The only really male note in it is some pale smoky smell. I also don’t care about the gender for hom the perfume is marketed to, although I take some care about where I use some female ones.
True, true… and yet LLaM goes pretty shaving-cream smell on me. Which is a huuuuuuge NO in terms of what I want to smell like. (A very personal thing.)
(I do love Egoiste and Bulgari Black. Have been known to wear EAu Sauvage from time to time… but not LLaM!)
What is wrong with me? I have tried Prada Candy several time now and it smells awful on me. It is receiving good reviews and many perfumistas and perfumistos that like the same perfumes I do love it. I give up…
On the other hand, I received my Sweet Redemption yesterday and it makes me very happy.
Today I am wearing one of my favorites, the very fist perfume that I chose and my parents bought when I was 16: Eau de Patou. I love it!
Nothing wrong with you! There are as many people who are not able to wear Sweet Redemption as are able to wear Candy. You never know what’s going to work.
I’m testing Prada Candy for the first time today. Thus far not a stunner nor a scrubber on me. I had high hopes for it based on the favorable reviews, but it’s “okay”. WIll see how it continues to wear on me, and may have to test again.
I am sampling EL’s Vrarie Blond on one wrist and Encens et Bubblegum on the other. Not sure what to make of VB, it seems so “thick” and has this weird savory note that reminds me of salted meat, not in a terrible way, but yeah, weird. On the other hand, EeB seems very bright and fun, I could envision a small decant in my collection.
I wish I could afford to buy A Taste of Heaven this week. I initially thought the menthal greenn lavenderness of it made it a spring/ summer scent, but as I go sniffing after my pretty-much-empty samlple I think the vanilla would make it great in fall as well, or all year round.
I agree, even if I can’t stand incense, E&B is fun!
Aw, I hope you soon get at least decants of Like This and A Taste of Heaven! You obviously really like them!
I know, I do seem kind of obsessed with them, don’t I? Soon… they will be mine! I’m having trouble picking up incense at all in E&B, it just seems like straight-up super pink bubblegum joy.
Meg,
Have you tried the new Chanel Jersey? It is a very lovely Lavender/Vanilla perfume.
No, I haven’t! I haven’t even heard of it. It sounds like a must-try! Would it be available with the usual Chanel fare at the perfume counter or is it one of those more exclusive hard to find things?
It seems hard to find. I just found some sample vials on ebay and eagerly am awaitng their arrival. Jersey sounds lovely and I expect Canel to know how to handle lavender!
This is on my list too. Lavender, vanilla, Chanel. Sounds like a promising combination.
I ventured to the Chanel boutique this week. The SA there was great and very generous. I walked away with samples of: Jersey, Gardenia, No 18 and No 22. I adore Jersey and it is on my list of one of the scents I wish I could buy this week. It is just like the material, classic casual elgance that is beautiful and easy to wear. It is definitely FBW in my book and I will own this eventially.
Oops, meant “eventually”
What’d you think of Jersey?? There are so few reviews out there. Fill us in! Describe it!
Back in my younger days I had a bottle of No.22. For some reason I think it was easier to find then. I loved it. I may have still been in high school at the time and asked for it for Christmas. My friends used to laugh at me and say I was an old lady at heart because I used to say that every woman at some point in her life needs something Chanel. Ah, the wisdom of a 17 year old.
It did used to be much easier to find. When I was a teen I used to see no. 22 at the all the time at the “regular” Chanel counters–the ones in stores like Dillard’s and Macy’s, not NM or Saks or the Chanel boutiques–alongside no. 5 and no. 19. It came in normal size bottles too–50 ml or thereabouts, not the 200 ml vats of the Les Exclusives collection.
Yes, I agree with 50 Roses. Chanel No. 22 was my grandmother’s favorite scent and I would go to “normal” stores to buy something for her. Back then I think I couldn’t afford any perfume but I remember buying her soap and lotion in it. In fact I still have one bar of soap still in its box which she had never opened before she died, and it must now be at least 10 years old. I still sniff it some times as it brings back good memories.
OMG – lemming, lemming – dying to try Chanel Jersey now…wow!
A Taste of Heaven is really great. I had samples and bought a decant.
I have some of it and love it, but the last time I used it, I had severe sneezing for quite some time and now I’m afraid to try it again. What if I’m allergic to it? 🙁
Vraie Blonde smelled like buttermilk to me.
I thought it smelled like cookies! Maybe milk and cookies?? 🙂
Meg, I’m pretty obsessed with A Taste of Heaven these days. What a delicious fragrance!
Good, we can be fanatics together!
Also: Did you spring for the bottle? Is it much different sprayed than dabbed? I find it beautiful dabbed (but I haven’t smelled it sprayed… worried I may be missing out) and was just going to get the travel refill and decant into this beautiful glass bottle I have with a glass applicator.
Meg, I actually prefer dabbing most things, when I have the option. However, I sprung for the travel set with the beautiful atomizer case. I love the case (I have a weakness for pretty travel cases) and the fragrance is great sprayed.
I have a ton of new samples to try! Yay! I only had the time to smell I Love les Carottes from the vial but it’s *so* realistic, I’m surprised! All I smell is grated carrots! I’m glad to finally wear my fall scents during the day. Looking forward to adding Jacomo #08 (thanks Lisa!) and Traversée du Bosphore (recently ordered a decant) to my rotation!
I love fall!
Talking about fall and realistic carrot smells, does anyone know of a perfume with squash notes?? It’d probably be weird, but I think I might like that…
Not squash, but Like This does have the closely related pumpkin, if you haven’t tried it.
You’re right, I didn’t even think of it! And I love Like This. Pumpkins and squashes should be in more fragrances!
And menus. 🙂 We’ve had very fall-like weather almost all week, so my mind is definitely headed toward comfort foods and scents.
Haven’t forgotten about Fille en Aiguilles for you…
🙂
Give Les Carrottes some time. It is not simply the smell of carrots, eventually it becomes a mixture of carrots and Iris. It’s one of my favorite weekend scents.
You’re right! I tried it on this weekend and it’s more than just carrots. But then I tried about eight fragrances on my arms at the same time, so I know I missed most of it! Sometimes I just can’t wait!
And now another edition of “You might be a perfumista if. . .!!!”
. . .you find yourself sniffing the seat-belt!
Yup! I know, sign me up for a padded room, but I must have been wearing a lot of OJ Woman on my decolletage, because DAMN my seat-belt smells good! Ha! It’s been maybe 3 weeks, and my seat-belt still smells lovely, especially when the sun is shining in through the window and heats it up. 🙂
Cars definitely seem to be easily permeated by scent! Mine also, when it heats up, smells faintly of Back to Black from the many times I’ve worn it in there. It’s lovely, way better then a little pinetree air freshener!
How is the school year kicking off?
We’re off to a pretty good start–thank you for asking! I’ve had a ridiculous amount of meetings the first two weeks (about 10?), and I have probably as many more yet to do. The goal is to meet with families early to set a positive start, but it is hard to lose the prep time. I’ll be glad when it all feels routine again, too!
employ your most meditative scents until it calms down!
LOL! I just commented on the seatbelt in another forum, where we were talking about the mixed scents that accumulate on things like sweaters and robes and watch bands. Too funny.
Could you tell where they are discussing this topic? I am really interested.
Can I add my own here?
You might be a perfumista if…
…when you see a picture of a vintage printing press, your first thought is “what a beautiful machine” instantly followed by “I wonder what it smells like”
😀
LOL!!!
I was visiting family in Montana this summer, and we went to a historic military base, and I was totally admiring the woodstove and trying to figure out how to give it a sniff without my cousins seeing me! That wonderful mix of ash, warm coals and cast iron!
Printing ink is one of my favorite smells. I used to work for a printing company and just loved the smell of the press room.
Oh yes… I used to work for a newspaper and would walk through the presses just to smell the damp newsprint and ink.
I love that smell, too – the ink and the hot metal…
Having never encountered the real thing, in my imagination it smelled of ink, hot metal, some sort of mechanical oil and that sweet, vanillic smell of old paper/cardboard. Which, come to think of it, sound exactly like the sort of thing CdG would make. Eau de Press 😀
Yes!
OJ Woman-scented seat belt? I’ll take one, please.
It’s quite nice at the end of the day during rush hour traffic!
Although I do wonder if people can see me leaning down to sniff it. . .do I look crazy? 😛
LOL– just this week I was trying to identify the “eau de seat belt” !! I think is was Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, but then with a slight overlay of Tauer’s Incense Extreme….all very lush and lovely. I only hope to smell as good as my seat belt !
My first car was my grandmother’s old 78 BMW and every time I would put down the visor I could smell a swirl of her perfumes I couldn’t quite identify. Such a good memory!
Love this! 🙂
I’ve sniffed my seat belt before…I think it smells sort of weird from having so many different scents rubbed off on it. Speaking of weird, it’s also amusing to sniff my work badge lanyard it has the collective smell of various flowers, patchouli, vanilla, citrus, marine….just strange when combined together.
Oh, I can see how a lanyard could do the same! My badge is a clip, but maybe I should switch? 🙂
Oh, it’s never about one perfume that I can’t afford to buy. There are always 10 to 50 perfumes that I want, and, of course, I’m always hearing about another promising new scent, such as the upcoming PG Myrrhiad that Denyse just wrote about.
So there’s a constant calculus: if I buy one Amouage, that equals three to six of the others; or the reverse, if I buy a cheap thrill, sooner or later a few of those add up to one Amouage…. Right now I’m just avoiding ebay and Luckyscent. 🙂
A great perfume friend (thank you!) just sent me some samples and I’m wearing Lumiere Noir pour Femme, which is just right for a cool, damp, verge of fall day.
Ooooh, glad you got them! Hope you enjoy!!
Your calculus comment sums up my dilemma perfectly, especially since I am such a bottle hag.
I look at all the bottles I got SO inexpensively and feel smug, but now I am and looking at all those “cute” bottles I got and thinking, hmmmm, I could be looking at Jubilation 25 instead. Or Chanel No. 19… I have fallen hard for both of late!
Thank you so much, JF! There are many that I have not tried, so this is a real treat.
I also tried No. 19 recently for the first time and was surprised by how much I liked it, since it did not sound like my kind of thing.
I love LN pf. Gorgeous stuff.
I love Lumiere Noire Pour Femme! I bet you smell amazing!
Testing the latest group of samples this weekend: Jeux de Peau, Vitriol d’Oeillets, no. 5 Eau Premiere, Shamilar Pafrum Initial, and Chinatown.
I was really looking forward to that last one, as I have read so many wonderful reviews of it. I have to say that I was disappointed. Mind you, I don’t dislike it, it just doesn’t really do anything for me. I thought it was sweet, sort of floral, and pretty nice, but nothing earthshaking.
Jeux de Peau was, at least, a very interesting fragrance. It starts out as the promised buttered toast, then morphs into caramel sticky buns with a hint of maple syrup. After a while, it becomes more “normal” and conventional, a sort of warm, slightly sweet, ambery woody scent. Not bad at all, and certainly not boring, but I don’t need a bottle.
Vitriol d’Oeillets strikes me as sour, sharp, and unpleasant. I’ll give it another chance or two, but I don’t think I will change my mind. For carnation, I will stick with my vintage Bellodgia or with DSH Oeillets Rouge.
Eau Premiere is very nice, and I can see it appealing to someone who has an aldehyde phobia. It does smell like a lighter, friendlier version of no. 5. Unfortunately, it has poor lasting power on my skin. Since, however, I love aldehydes and have a bottle of vintage no. 5 extrait, I can do without this.
Parfum Initial just OK. I love the original Shalimar (although I can only wear it in cold weather), and SPI strikes me as being only distantly related. I will say, however, that if it does make any inroads into the “youthful” market, it will be a good thing, as it is still orders of magnitude better than the oceans of fruity floral dreck that most youthful perfume buyers seem to go for.
Chinatown has been followed by so many fruitcholi things, I wonder if it simply doesn’t seem as appealing or unusual now? I haven’t smelled it in a few years.
I tested Chinatown again today, and liked it even less than the previous time. I kept thinking it reminded me of something, and I realized it was Play-Doh! I got out my sample of Luctor et Emergo for comparison, and there is definitely a resemblance, although the Play-Doh accord is much more prominent in LeE. Oh well, one more I don’t have to pine for!
VdO is a sweet little handful of flowers (not a carnation in the bunch, though) on me. I keep looking for the vitriol; I’d like something a little sharper and more forceful. Looks like it all went into your bottle! 😉
It does start out sweet on me, but not in a pleasant way. It is more like a really sweet floral air freshener you use (in vain) to try to cover up an unpleasant smell. Then the sweet flowers fade away leaving a strong sharp smell that I do not care for at all. There seems to be the requisite dose of clove, but something else as well. “Vitriol” is also one of the names for sulfuric acid, and it actually does remind me of the sharp, pungent vapors from concentrated acid.
It was a good thing the SA at Holts was holding up the bottle of Shalimar Parfum Initial, because there was no other indication it was any relation to the original. I didn’t dislike it, but it did seem pointless. For some reason I think the pink is really really pretty, and I am not even a pink-loving person.
I had the same experience with Chinatown. It also changes on me for the worse. On my friend it smells great, though.
After an ok first quarter and a well-behaved 2nd, I’m being bad… very bad… third quarter. And not just perfume, but shoes, clothing, books… very bad. I do want to get Like This yet, though… will have to do penance somehow to get it. Ramen, anyone? :/
Hey, ramen can be very versatile! You’ve got ramen spaghetti, ramen lo mein, ramen soup, of course! 🙂
I believe that every diet is meant to be broken. I’m impressed you lasted 2 quarters with restraint!
Off topic, but do college students still eat ramen? I lived off it for quite some time.
Yes, ramen noodles–the offficial breakfast, lunch, and dinner of starving college students!
Oh yes, college students (and those not far out of college) do definitely still live on ramen.
Been testing the CdG Incense Series this week. So far, Avignon is the winner, but I’ve enjoyed them all. As soon as my head is cleared of morning allergy-related gunk, I’m concluding the testing phase with Zagorsk.
I’ve also tried Jacomo #08 and SSS Tabac Aurea — liked the Jacomo, but I was surprised by how sweet Tabac Aurea is. I think I may have overapplied, but it felt really cloying by the end of the day — not really what I was expecting. Oh well.
Glad you liked Jacomo #08!
Glad to hear Jacomo #8 has another fan. Tabac Aurea is one of my favorites, but it is strrrrrrong and one spritz is enough for me.
Jacomo #8 is great stuff!.
It sure is. Given how my SSS experimentation is going (see below for the full tale of woe), #08 is looking good for a FB.
I’d love to hear the final results of your testing, Emily! Avignon is the only one I’ve tried and I, too, think it’s lovely. Smells way better on my mother, though (darn skin chemistry!).
Sorry for the late update — the rest of my weekend was absorbed by opera-going and -reviewing (yeah, yeah, weep for me). I think Zagorsk and Avignon are my favorites, but I can only justify buying one, and when the time comes I think it’ll be Avignon. I feel like I still haven’t gotten a handle on Ouarzazate — need to get to know it a little better before deciding. Kyoto and Jaisalmer were fine but didn’t really grab me (the latter smelled exactly like a cedar chest on me; not unpleasant, but I’m not sure I want to pay $$ to smell like that).
I like Avignon, but Zagorsk was my favorite; I still haven’t tried Jaisalmar, though. I couldn’t do Tabac Aurea either, for the same reason as you.
I tried Incense Pure this weekend, too, and I’m afraid that SSS and I are just not meant to be. I got almost no incense but loads of the same heavy-sweet musky thing that was so off-putting in Tabac Aurea — in fact, they smelled almost identical. I learned from my past mistake and applied very, very, very lightly, but the scent grew so overwhelming that I had to scrub after half an hour (and I also had to quarantine the towel and washcloth that I used).
I still have Champagne de Bois and Ambre Noire in the testing queue, but I’m not optimistic. This makes me so sad because the SSS scents sound perfect for me on paper.
I tried all five of the incense series, and it came down to a tossup between Avignon and Zagorsk. I finally chose Avignon because I really liked the hint of candle wax that I get out of it. I actually thought Ouarzazate was the prettiest, and most feminine, of them all, but it lasted all of about 30 minutes on me. Kyoto I thought was too masculine for my taste, although I might get it for my husband. Jaisalmer I could not take. Something about it reminded me vividly of the dentist’s office–not a pleasant association.
I really wanted to love Ouarzazate (the name!), but it was sour on me. 🙁
I like Avignon but *love* Kyoto. If I learned anything from last weekend’s wildly popular Lazy Poll, it’s that perfumistas’ noses are as varied and unique as fragrances themselves!
It is extremely easy to overapply anything from SSS, especially if you’re not aware that all those fragrances are parfum strength. I absolutely adore Tabac Aurea, and one fall day I put on three spritzes… I nearly DIED. I stick to one spray now. (Wore it today. Yum.)
Sadly, I had another bad SSS experience this weekend (see my reply to Boojum) — and I swear I barely squirted out a drop. It’s really bizarre; I got exactly the same effect (at least, as I experienced it) from one dribble of Incense Pure as from two squirts of Tabac Aurea, and all I could smell was the same sweet musky base. I’m so envious that TA works for you.
I have also overdosed on Tabac Aurea the first time I tried it. I forgot it was an extrait, and gave myself a good couple of sprays. This one should come as a dabber, to indicate that this is strong stuff!
Hope you like Zagorsk, the combination of incense and birch tree worked great on me.
I was very pleased with Zagorsk — it had a lot of the qualities I liked in Avignon, but seemed softer and more subtle. Unfortunately I didn’t smell much of the birch, but I did get the iris/violet note, which was really nice.
SOTD Eau de Rochas.
Thinking I want some Aromatics Elixir and Dior Patchouli Imperiale – I know I can find AE at fine stores everywhere bu does anyone know where I can find Dior PI in Chicago?
I also want to try Bottega Veneta – NM should have it.
Oh, and I want to try several Etro scents – who carries those in Chicago?
I sniffed Eau de Rochas Pour Homme a long time ago and remember it being one of the best citrus I know. Now it seems that they have discontinued that and are selling Reflect D’Eau de Rochas instead of it. The old one is really hard to find.Such a pitty. AE is a good choice. Wait till 2-3 hours after applied and you’ll have a nice surprise. Another one at the same line wich is more tame: Eau du Soir.
Have not sniffed EdRph but Luca likes it so it must be pretty good. Maybe you can find it online? The EdR flankers don’t sound all that appealing to me…
Applied EdR about 8 hours ago so I can barely smell it now…time to reapply?
Oh, I wore AE 25 years ago and loved it. Hoping I am not having one of those middle-aged moments of wanting my 20-something scent so I can regain my youth…
That’s an excellent idea!! After all one of the objectives of perfumes (at least for me) is to evocate good memories. And we should agree that it’s a cheap, comfortable and inteligent way to do that! 😉
Hear, hear.
Those Diors are tending to be found only in Dior boutiques. My Neimans is supposedly adding more of them in someday….
Oh, and the Bottega Veneta is really really good. I need to give it a good wearing.
SOTD is Y (YSL), which I love, but it’s isn’t working for me, for some reason.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I think it’s because I don’t feel like it matches my clothes.
I am wearing a charcoal grey T shirt, and jeans with grey socks. I have gotten to where I like to swan around in very lush perfume when I’m dressed way down, and I’m wishing I had put on some Jubilation 25, or even my Bvlgari Rose. Y is pretty big on me, but it’s dry, whereas I am wanting rich.
I love to do this too – Chanel or something equally elegant with jeans and a tee – Body Shop spray with a suit. Mixing it up is fun!
Today: heavy application of Paestum Rose. I love the juice but find it’s a bit odd and has a sourness to it that, although I love, I tend to wear when I’m alone as I don’t know if it would smell “good” to others.
Echoing nancyg above – really want to try the Bottega Veneta.
Bottle I’m tempted to buy: Dior New Look 1947. Can’t stop thinking about it since I tried it. However, the lack of Dior boutiques in my area means I’m unlikely to buy it since it’s an ordeal to find it otherwise.
You can get it online right from Dior.
I feel that way even more strongly about L’Artisan Timbuktu, which I see as very related to Paestum Rose.
I think Paestum Rose is sour too!
I often get that sourness, too; same from Dzongka. I find it intriguing but decided a decant would be plenty.
Wearing Fan di Fendi today. It’s got a fruity-floral top ( which on me is a little shrill), a great chypre heart and a respectable dry-down. The alleged leather is not really shining for me. Like Bandit & Habanita better. Tried Bottega Veneta earlier this week. Very pretty, but may use up my sample & call it good. Also wore Candy this week. Love it! Have a FB and the lotion. It’s been a Baaaad quarter! LOL
I went to my local Nordstrom yesterday and smelled Fan di Fendi for the first time. Of everything I tried, that was the one I liked the best. I was disappointed they did not have the new Balenciaga, but I tried Burberry Body, the new Diane Von Fustenberg, the new Max Azria, the Jimmy Choo perfume (I can’t remember the name). I was also looking for the newest Annick Goutal, but they did not have it.
I sampled and bought a FB of Fan di Fendi back in July when Saks first got it in. I hadnt worn it yet, but after testing Bottega Venetta at Neimans on Monday (to which I had very high jopes and it actually started out great but then turned screechingly shrill on me as it drydowned), the very next day, I spritzed my Fan di Fendi to make sure I hadnt bought too fast. To my relief I realized I still like it a lot and happy I purchased it. So happy I dont have a scrubber on my hands. Cant wait to wear it regularly!
Hi Kitty. Does layering Candy with the lotion help with sillage/longevity? I really, really love Candy but it is so fleeting and faint on me that I’m on the fence about buying a bottle in the future. 🙁
Sampled with new Diane Von Furstenburg scent at Nordstrom’s today. Very pretty, ladylike, adult. Classy. Not sure of the otes but I’m thinking iris. Hoping my samples of Chanel’s Jersey arrive soon but not sure what I’ll do if I love it seeing as how my budget is on the tight side right now. Sigh.
Hi Maggiecat,
This may help you but not your budget ( 🙂 ) I sampled Jersey this week and loved it. It is a easy elegant fragrance. I plan to purchase a bottle.
Here’s a Q for you all. If you’re ready to apply frag and can still smell the remnants of the last frag you applied, does that impact your choice or your actions? Do you try to scrub off the old frag before the applying the new? Do you choose a frag that you think will “coordinate” with the old one? Do you completely ignore the old one? Inquiring Faylenes want to know.
If I can still smell the remnants, I won’t apply anything else than the last frag… If even I can smell it, after my nose has been used to it for hours, I’m scared others smell it even stronger than me, and another scent will just clash with it! (But maybe once I get more experienced I’ll learn to coordinate/layer frags and I’ll act differently… I feel too much of a beginner to do so right now!)
I’m in that predicament right now. I have the remnants of Elie Saab on me, which disappears pretty quickly, and tonight, for an outdoor singing gig, I think I’m just going to put some Traversee du Bosphoro on top. It’s an overcast, fall-like day and the cedary drydown of the Elie Saab I THINK won’t fly in the face of the Bosphoro. Will report if I get tomatoes thrown at me for smelling bad.
I wouldn’t ever try to scrub off the old – if it’s something with a drydown that tends to linger, then yes, if I’m going to put something else on, it needs to “coordinate” – in my mind at least they should smell good together.
I tend to wear lighter things in the morning, when I’m around more people and just trying to keep moving, and heavier things in the afternoon as a pick-me-up (hey, some people drink coffee *shrug*) so whatever I’m putting on later in the day tends to completely overshadow the morning perfume. But they do sort of have to go. I couldn’t put a warm oriental on over some chilly fig.
Wearing the “vintage” M7 today.
After a long time I took courage to buy Fleur du Male, this strange but so good male (?) perfume.
Oooh, great choice!
Thanks!
I love Fleur de Male, wish I had a bottle.
Hah, funny!! I bought it just cause of your indication sometime ago. You filled up my ichoate desire.
Sorry: ichoate= inchoate…
I’m wearing Manoumalia today. The weather is still positively tropical, so I decided to go with it. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it scent and I’m firmly in the “love it” camp.
LUCKY! Urgh I wanted to love Manoumalia SO BADLY! But on my skin it was terrible. Smelled positively fantastic on my sister though, so jealous.
I really thought Manoumalia would be my perfect tropical scent, but since it failed, I’m still searching. Any suggestions? I’m not a tuberose fan (though I love LAP’s Nuit de Tubereuse), but I like gardenia, pikake and jasmine a lot, as well as musk and sandalwood. But alas, nothing has worked so far. Kai is just worn by everyone, nice, but it drives me crazy to smell it on everyone I meet, Monyette just smells like vanilla sugar to me, but I have yet to try to Child.
Thoughts on Child? I heard Jennifer Aniston EDT was similar, I actually tried that and liked it, but it smelled a tad cheap. I think the Saffron James line is nice but lacking a certain oomph. Any suggestions for holy grail tropical scents?
To me, Child was very similar to Kai, but I liked Kai better. Have you tried Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur?
No, I have not. Child is only sold at Fred Segal right? Because I am not about to buy it unsniffed! Made that stupid decision right when I became interested in perfume a few years ago–bought Marc Jacobs Lola AND Burberry Brit Sheer–woops.
I hadn’t known there was a flanker to Black Orchid, or that it was remotely tropical, but thanks for the suggestion! I’ll make sure to try it ASAP!
One of the online sellers carries it too… I want to say Beautyhabit? So you could get a sample that way first.
“this smells like British Airways soap” – my ex’s thoughts on Child.
Tom Ford BOVdF is really lovely (and can be had for a song from online discounters). There’s tuberose in it but it’s not a huge one like Fracas or Carnal Flower so worth trying.
Otherwise, how about SL La Nuit (big ole jasmine) or Datura Noir. Both are pretty sultry and tropical.
thanks for the suggestions, sadly sam+tuberose = disaster. sam’s sister+tuberose = glorious. slightly jealous. i want tuberose to work for me, but it doesn’t. it’s just not me.
But i will try to sample voile de fleur ASAP. i really REALLY love pikake but am not sure about Child, and Pikake by Pacifica is far too sweet. Any pikake suggestions? 🙂
I had no idea what pikake was so I had look it up and wikipedia says it’s Jasmine sambac. If so then Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita would seem an obvious suggestion although I’m not sure how close it smells to the real thing.
It didn’t work on me for the longest time… and then I found some tuberoses that did. IOW… don’t automatically rule something out just bc it’s listed as a note. BOVdF has gardenia, jasmine and ylang-ylang, along with a ton of other notes. Def worth a shot.
I have some BO VdF I can send you – it’s a bit much for me (I am scared of white flowers!). You can email me at jasouza9 AT hotmail dot com if you are interested.
Have you tried Songes? The edt is not as sweet as the edp – both are heady, tropical, white florals (frangipani, ylang, tiare, and jasmine if I’m remembering correctly).
I really like Manoumalia and went through a serious tropical phase this summer. Two that are easy to find are EL’s Tuberose & Gardenia (or is it the other way around?) and EL’s Bronze Goddess. I also loved Amaranthine, and L’A’s NdT (as you do). I also mixed and matched VCA’s Gardenia Petale with Killian’s Beyond Love. A really inexpensive take might be Coty’s Sand & Sable at your local CVS, and an expensive take would be Malle’s Carnal Flower. Give Saffron James’ Nani a second try – it’s really delish!
I like Badgley Mischka Fleurs du Nuit and L’Artisan Haie Fleurie for jasmin. The Badgley could also be said to smell a bit ‘cheap’, but is very affordable online and nice for what it is. I didn’t like child or Kai, but Monyette has great top half on me, like the initial blast of mixed scents when you first enter a candle store.
Another tropical you might want to try if you come across it: Manuel Canovas L’Anse Turquoise. It’s beachy without coconut and the white flowers are indistinct. If a typical white floral is Hawaii, L’Anse Turquoise is French Polynesia. I’ve always thought it could be a great wedding scent.
I give my highest recommendation to EnVoyage Perfumes Nectars des Iles. It’s a beautiful tropical floral blend with oomph to spare! You can read more on the Envoyage website.
I love Manoumalia (sad that you can’t wear that one, but it is a bit challenging!), and really enjoy a couple of the Saffron James fragrances (Le’a and Ipo). Oh – another you might try is Michael Storer Stephanie, a very realistic-smelling gardenia, to my nose.
EL Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia – makes me feel like I’m on a Hawaiian vacation back in the days when you took a ship, not a jet, to get there.
Hey! Haven’t forgotten you. Should get a package to you this week!
No worries! 🙂
So I did a lot of sampling this week. Already mentioned in other posts my feedback on Jersey (LOVE). I have also added Elie Saab Le Parfum to my to buy list. I had not been impressed by it at all on paper blotter, but on my skin I smelled the greeness & sweetness of jasmine touched by honey. On the drydown the rose was more prominent. Good light fall/winter scent – when you want a break from your heavier scents. Now trying to decide if I should buy now, or wait a couple of weeks when holiday gift sets will arrive. Would be great if I can get the lotion with it.
Chanel Les Exclusifs Gardenia was a winner for me too, but lasted what felt about 30 mins. Despite the name it isnt a big overwhelming white floral. I may revisit next summer.
So many scents I want, no matter how much I edit, the list seems to grow and grow. Fortunately it was a no go for me with Chanel No 18. Oddly, on me it smelled like a sweet/sour “pickle”. LOL. I cant believe I typed that, but it did.
That’s pretty common w/18, actually. Glad I don’t get pickle!
I get the pickle in No. 18. I like pickles, but not that one!
One question for ho knows or who wears Thierry Mugler’s A* Men: I want to know if its note that remembers old mouldy wood is styrax (it’s in the heart and base notes). If it were the patchouli I should feel the same smell in Angel and I do not feel it. The smell I told before can be perceived specially during the heart notes and gives the fragrance some wood notes. It also balance the sweetness of it, making it worse for me. Is it really patchouli or a mix of patchouli, vetiver and styrax (benzoin)??? Thanks all.
Prada Infusion d’Homme. I love it sooooo much! Although all the reviews I’ve read have been so polarised…
I also love it. Good choice. Sorry, but I didn’t understand what you mean about the reviews.
Love it or hate it. On the opposite poles of the earth.
Thanks. Maybe that’s cause its soapiness and dryness.
Im wearing Kiehls No1 Musk. I read the article Kevin wrote a few months ago and ordered a bottle of the net (not available here). Perfect, quiet, musk scent for my lazy weekend.
Kiehl’s Original Musk is great stuff. I often wear it to bed. Or whenever I want to feel good about myself.
I have to admit that I have been wearing it a lot lately and I have half a spray on the back of my wrist to smell in bed. A comfort perfume-possibly?
It feels like ages since I’ve posted on here — stupid life, always getting in the way of perfume! Lovely to see everyone again…
And I already have a question for those of you who are more adept with scented candles than I: After a few uses, the wicks of my candles tend to drown in the wax — so much so that sometimes I can’t get the darn thing lit again. Am I supposed to pour off some melted wax? Swirl it around so it spreads up the sides of the holder? All I know is that I’m supposed to snip off the tip of the wick before re-lighting, but if there’s anything else I’m missing in the maintenance department, please let me know!
Good old eHow has wick-fixing:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5027156_fix-candle-wick.html
Make sure that when you burn it for the first time, you let it go for several hours: wax has a “memory,” and if the whole top layer doesn’t melt the first time, you’ll get pools and wasted candles!
*hope that helps* 🙂
Do you guys have “pillow scents”? I have gotten into the luxurious habit of spraying the pillow before bedtime. I’ve found that some frags smell fantastic: incense, woods, masculines. Some things smell terrible on fabric and lose their depth. My favorites thus far are IUNX Eau Sento, 5 O’Clock au Gingembre and Tabac Blond.
Any recs for a good pillow scent?
I just use lavender oil and water in a spray bottle — don’t know whether that counts as perfume.
I’ve been using the L’Occitane Lavande Home perfume, which they told me was safe to spray on sheets.
sounds wonderful!
Hanae Mori Butterfly–It’s kind of boring to wear as a perfume but wonderfully pretty for bedtime.
I also use incense scents to spray my sheets–Tam Dao and Jaisalmer are my faves. They’re somewhat more brisk than the Butterfly, but still calming.
Good luck with that!
That’s funny – – I keep thinking that Jaisalmer would be good. I think it’s time to get a decant!
In warmer months, L’Ete en Douce is perfect. I think AG Eau du Ciel would be good, too. And someone recommended Kenzo Air, which I like much better that way than on myself.
I like the idea of KenzoAir for summer sheet spritzing!
I like Gris Clair, but I bet 5 o’clock au Gingimbre is beautiful!
Costes 2 is great; soft, lightly powdered rose. I find the original Balenciaga Paris soothing at bedtime. I used up my samples of Caleche Soie de Parfum the same way. Also, a dab of Estee’s Youth Dew bath oil reminds me of a dusting powder my mom wore to bed when I was young.
aww. That’s a sweet way to go to bed, thinking of bedtime as a child.
Tried that Lancome perfume Emma Watson is fronting. So sweet I almost passed out. Yuck.
Hi everyone! A few weeks ago, I asked for toronto perfume tips. And I really want to say thank you to those who sent me towards the wonderful noor boutique, and to keisha at hermes. Thanks to her, thi week I am sampling ALL the hermessences. And they are lovely!
Glad you had such a great time – let us know which Hermessence is your favorite.
Every time I wear Bill Blass Nude, I regret it. yet I keep coming back to it. I wore it yesterday, and swore that I would never wear it again. I tried to think of anyone I could give it to who might like it. And yet, here I am today, wearing it. There’s something about it that I keep wanting to come back to. I just cannot make up my mind about it.
Anyone else have a perfume like this?
Yes! For me it’s Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant – I grab it when I want something dramatic with spice and then… well, I must not be dramatic enough, because it just never works on me! I think I just really want to like it and am too stubborn to give up on it…
I tried Nude once, and hated it at the time, but I have never forgotten it. I’ve been searching online for an economical one to purchase, just so I can smell it again. Probably I’ll have the same reaction you do! Also wish I had not abandoned my Missoni – I hated it and loved it at the same time. Back then, I felt I couldn’t justify keeping a scent around if I weren’t going to wear it to the office.
The only scent I currently have that falls into that category is Guerlain’s Champs Elysees, extrait version. I like the drydown, but the top is so shrill – like a cheap fruity floral that’s gone off. Strangely, I sniff my wrist more when the top is in full effect – it’s the memorable, intriguing part.
YES! Someonely sent me some CE, and it leaked slightly in transit… smelled very much like bugspray. But then it softens up and makes you wonder what you were thinking. I still need to give it some skin time, though. I’ve been so busy, I’m sticking w/old familiars so I don’t have to think about what I’m wearing.
You know who that “someonely” (lol!) is. 😀
At the moment I am wreathed in Eau de Tiger Balm. Not the Heeley reinterpretation but the actual liniment, because of some sore muscles. I have learned the hard way not to attempt “layering” fragrance over Tiger Balm — the tiger always wins — but to relax and enjoy its pungent muscle-unknotting magic.
I also admit to liking the smell of Mentholatum. Loathe Vicks VapoRub and BenGay, though. Isn’t that odd? Anyone else share my weird fondness?
Haha, right now I am swathed in Eau de Mentholatum. I like Tiger Balm too. My mom used to put some under my nose when I got car sick. It’s good for mosquito bites too.
I’m more a VapoRub ho, myself. Love that stuff, plus it really works!
Give me VapoRub, too. Yummers!
Hello friends- I am happy to report RAIN IN SOUTH TEXAS! We are giddy after one of the worst droughts in recorded history. And perfume-wise- today I am wearing Miller Harris Noix de Tubereuse. Very lovely- for those of you interested in a dark(ish) dusky tuberose. I get a bunch of mimosa(?) and some figgy stuff too.
oooh – I hope for your sake it rains for days and days!
Congrats on the rain! I prayed that Lee would go your way, but it came to us instead (central Ky.)!
It started pouring right on my head!
It sure made Texas feel more homey though (just moved to Austin from rainy Oregon!).
Texas has been burning with wild fires; made me think about all my perfumes, Thank God we were ok and the fires was contained. near my place
Still no rain in Cental Texas but it’s cooling down to the 90s.
SOTD Guilty
I’ve been wearing Pacifica’s Mexican Cocoa spray perfume for a few days. I don’t like the initial blast of almond extract, but after 10 or 15 minutes the almond wears off, and the spicy goodness takes over. It is intensely spicy for quite a while; then a tiny bit of milk chocolate comes and goes; then it becomes a spicy vanilla. Very good and not too sweet.
Trying to create something reminiscent (no pun intended :-)) of carnation, I sprayed some Mexican Cocoa on my arm, let the almond dissipate, and then sprayed some Noble Rose of Afghanistan (http://www.the7virtues.com/noble_rose.html) next to it. It worked out nicely.
Oh, that sounds so nice, I’ll have to try that one again.
Wearing Champagne, I don’t know why, the day doesn’t call for it – I think I just felt like it had been lonely long enough.
And wishing I hadn’t bought a whole bottle of Krigler Oud for Highness – it’s a gorgeous rose oud, the one I was looking for, but as one of my friends says it’s for “a lifestyle I don’t have”. I never seem to be able to find an occasion to wear it. I don’t know why I feel like I can wear all sorts of Amouages to work but not this scent.
Perhaps you can find someone via the Internet who would like to split it with you? It sounds like you really like it, so perhaps you could keep a little bit. The “occasion” could be as simple as curling up with a great book.
You are wise – that is of course the best answer. I did that with a Creed I really wasn’t wearing; don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to do that with this.
Maybe I’m still enamored of owning The Bottle. I’m sure once I get over that splitting it is the way to go!
As for what I’m wishing to buy – too much, really, but I need to get a sample of Black Jade to try!
Anyone have a suggestion for something that smells similar to Kenzo Air?
I don’t know Air but heard about similarities between t and Encre Noire (Lalique) and Paul Smith Story. Hope I helped you.
Thanks! I’ll check those out.
I was wondering how all of you came to be perfumistas? I was originally an antique commercial bottle collector. The first bottle I ever bought was a sealed Baccarat bottle of L’ Heure Bleue for $25. That was in Houston, Texas when I was 14. It didn’t occur to me to SMELL the perfume. My father used to travel to Europe for work and bring back my mom perfume. I used to secretly spray her Diorissimo on me when they would go out for the night. Now many decades later I set aside a Xmas budget every year for a new bottle of perfume. Ironically this year I am contemplating finally buying a bottle of L’Heure Bleue (or Chanel Beige, or Guerlian Shalimar), to use as perfume. On a side note is anyone else as upset as me as to the crappy state of perfume bottles? Why pay so much money for the juice if the bottle makes you want to puke?
I have loved perfume for as long as I can remember. My mother had quite an nice collection, around 20 bottles or so, and I used to love to sniff them every chance I got, and even dab a little on. Thanks to the variety on her dressing table, I got an early education in some of the different types of fragrances, although of course I didn’t know about fragrance classifications or notes at that time. I didn’t realize until much later that my mother was rather unusual for her generation in having so many perfumes. That was back in the 60’s and early 70’s, when the idea of a “signature” scent was still quite common, and a “fragrance wardrobe” likely consisted of perhaps 3 to 5 perfumes, not 20.
With regard to the bottles, I don’t find that they generally are ugly, just often rather plain compared to some of the elaborate bottles or earlier times. Many niche firms (the Serge Lutens export bottles, for example) tend to use very plain bottles, and Chanel has always used very simple-looking bottles. I think they are trying to convey the idea that the money is going for the contents, not the packaging. I do like beautiful bottles too, and sometimes I wish there were more beautiful bottles out there, but I would rather have a beautiful perfume in a plain bottle than a beautiful bottle with a crappy perfume. Do you still have that l’Heure Bleue bottle? It must have been gorgeous! Did you really never open it and smell the perfume?
I have a similar history with mum and perfume (and time frame) Mum always had bottles of perfume and I would sneak a few dabs. I could never understand how she knew I had it on-I was very young! All the females in our family, 80 down to 8 love and wear perfume.
My mom hardly wore the stuff. What few samples she had I used to sneak in an try. I think it was my aunt and my godmother who got me hooked. I always thought my godmother was a fascinating woman because she travelled all over the world and I always smelled perfume on her and she spoiled me and let me play with her perfumes when I was over her house. I blame her for my condition. My aunt only wore Oscar de la Renta but constantly bought other things thinking she’d change. She usually gave me the stuff she didn’t wear. God I wish she still did that…….
When it comes to collecting antique perfume bottles the ones which are still sealed are worth the most. Once they are opened the value drops to 1/2-1/4 of the price. I still have the L’Heure Bleue unopened, from about the 1930’s, with the original box. I also have an Apres l’Ondee, Shalimar, Tabac Blond, Fleurs de Rocaille, and a Shocking unopened from the 1940’s-1950’s.
I’m very similar to 50 Roses and have loved perfume since young age. My grandparents (of both sexes) always had a selection of eau de colognes in their houses and my mother had a number of perfumes when I was growing up. I distinctly recall that black nose & lips-shaped bottle of Salvador Dali, Opium, Miss Dior and No 5 among others.
The Dali was a splash bottle and I once tried to sneak a sniff while my mother was out. I was still quite little and, naturally, I spilled the at least half of the contents on the carpet. The only reason I didn’t get into trouble was because my mother found it hilarious that I tried to hide the fact that it happened which was completely impossible since it was potent stuff and she could smell it even before she entered the flat! 😀
As for packaging, I think that while most perfumistas appreciate a pretty bottle and see it as a nice bonus, they mostly really care about the juice.
There’s a whole world-wide community of bottle collectors that are obsessed with the artistic and historic value of perfume botlles. Some get a bottle and discard the juice (!). Others (perfumistas) are only interested in the juice. For me, it’s both, as well as the myriad aspects discussed here daily. I really like Hugo Boss Hugo Woman but wouldn’t buy it because the bottle is so boring. If I’m going to invest, I want a scent I love and a bottle that can go in my collection for display.
I am no bottle connoisseur but I can agree that many, many bottles have left me cold or downright turned off recently. Notable exceptions: espirit d’oscar, cartier baiser vole and Elie Saab. I must admit I am only going off photos tho.
I got hooked when my uncle sent me a bottle of Je Reviens parfum – I was only 12, but thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever smelled. My mother was a signature scent woman – Roger & Gallet Blue Carnation, but I always kept and wore several perfumes. Upon discovering the on-line perfume community it’s only gone from an interest to a full blown obsession!
I was flipping through a magazine between classes a few years ago. Halle Berry was on the cover, and they had a page dedicated to her “likes”- perfume, makeup, etc. The perfume pictured was L’Artisan’s Mimosa Pour Moi and, having never seen such a beautiful bottle or experienced anything French, I just knew the scent would be fab. (It has to be, right?) That sent me to LAP’s website, where I thankfully was able to purchase a sample, rather than the intended full bottle. The Mimosa was NOT fab at all on me, but I adored one of the others I purchased: L’ete en Douce. Subsequent ‘google-ing’ of my first FB led me to sample Olivia Giacobetti’s other creations, which opened several other bottles- I mean doors. 😉
Although I was exposed to lovely scents as a child (mostly through my dad–an old hippy who loves Old Spice and essential oils), my story is a little different.
Last year, nearly exactly a year ago now I think about it, I became a single person for the first time in over a decade. In my efforts to reclaim my life and to treat myself led to perfume shopping near Christmas. Perfume seemed just so extravagant and completely for my own enjoyment–really important after putting so much energy into someone else’s happiness.
Within a few months, I’d found this forum and learned about the joys of samples, and I haven’t looked back! I now experience perfume as such a joy and source of beauty while it also feeds my natural curiosity and inquisitiveness. A perfect match for a nerdy art lover!
Oh, and as for bottles, I can’t say the juice ONLY matters, since I do find I want it in a real bottle with the cap (although I really want to like testers–such a good deal!). However, I don’t display them, so as long as they are ok, I don’t really mind if they aren’t the most beautiful piece of glass I’ve seen.
Oh, I do prefer to get my perfume in the original bottle as well, with the cap, which I one reason I haven’t bought more decants. I would much rather get a bottle with 10 ml left in it than 10 ml decanted into another container. I just don’t mind too much if the bottle is rather plain (such as Lutens or Chanel). A beautiful bottle is definitely a plus, but it is not essential.
Wow, what a poignant beginning to perfumista-hood. I hope it helped you back to investment in yourself and self-indulgence!
I really do credit perfume as a HUGE help in transitioning this last year! I can honestly say that I am SOOOoooo much happier than I was, and little indulgences like perfume are big part of that.
I think that I, like so many women before me, had been trained to think that these things don’t really matter, that I should spend my money on “more important’ things, like my fella. Now I know what a difference a little bit (or a lot!) of self care makes in my contentedness, I really can’t imagine turning away from my own needs in such a complete way again.
Well said, Marjorie Rose! I know perfume has added a new dimension to my life – it’s heartening to hear how instrumental it has been in yours. The nose really DOES know! 🙂
How wonderful you have started to explore various aspects of yourself. Perfume is a perfect way to express yourself. I have a close friend in the same situation as you describe and I have been trying to get her to wear perfume. But I don’t think she is ready yet. She even refused free decants. Good luck on your new journey!
Thanks for your support!
Be patient with your friend. For me, part of the power of perfume and other self-care was that I chose it for myself, because I wanted it for me and no one else. It may be a good fit in time, but she may need to do her own explorations.
I came to perfume veeeery late. I started to realise I had no appreciation of my sense of smell and started, deliberately, to sniff perfumes and try ‘understand’ them. The ‘Guide’ is what pushed it all into the realms of obsession!
My take on bottles is a bit different. I think many of the ‘plain’ ones are quite beautiful. I like the simplicity of the Luten’s bottles, the muted colour of the caps, the heavy feel of the glass etc. What I don’t like are bottles that are trying to be ‘fancy’. The ones made out of plastic-glass in the shape of trendy dolls, or with metallic finishes that peel, or generally any cheap shiny stuff. Of course none can compete with the old baccarat crystal, or lalique crystal falcons, but those would put scent totally out of my reach in terms of price…
Agreed! Bottles that look like plastic dolls or kitschy things really can ruin the entire experience.
I love an elegant, plain bottle.
Like Rapple and Merlin – I was always interested in perfume, but The Guide and the internet transformed interest into a quest to appreciate the 8th art.
I do enjoy a good-looking bottle, and an unattractive one can keep me from buying something that I otherwise might. For example, I put off buying an Eau d’Italie scents forever and ended up with just decants.
Hi everyone…. scent today is Alexander McQueen Kingdom.. fabulous …spicy, heady, permeating sticky stuff…. I love it!! Still trying to locate Agonist Liquid Crystal refill if anyone has any tips??
Spring day here in Adelaide Australia… Kingdom is growing in the heat!
I was given a bottle of this before I was a real perfumista and I didn’t know what to make of it, I eventually threw (!) it out. I wish I kept it because I want to reacess it with my more developed nose… or atleast to swap it!
A customer the other day asked me for a fragrance that was “rock and roll”. It’s not really an adjective I’ve ever used to describe a fragrance before. Any ideas for a (relatively mainstream, given that it’s regional Australia and our access is a bit limited) “rock and roll” lady?
Azzaro Decibel is very rock and roll. If only there was a version for women.
Anna Sui has a perfume called Rock Me. I don’t care for the scents but the bottles are cool. If they are artsy edgy than they could try any of the Gucci perfumes like Gucci Envy. Commes des Garcons or Issey Miyake may appeal to a minimalist. Then there is always Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb.
Kelly Calèche have some leather. There’s also Rock”N’Rose (rocky just in the name). Maybe Cartier’s Must and Parfum D’Peau.
Can you find Kat Von D Sinner? It’s sweet, dark fruit and patchouli combo is rock ‘n’ roll to me – one of the better fruit-choulis in my opinion. If I were wearing ripped jeans, a black tee, and leather bracelets, I’d reach for Bond No 9’s Bryant Park.
There’s Tommy Hilfiger Loud – haven’t tried it personally, but the reviews I’ve seen peg it as an average not-so-loud floral.
Tommy Hilfiger has a perfume called LOUD which was specifically intended to capture the Rock and Roll sensibility.
It was designed to provide today’s youth with a scent representing their own generation (which TH apparently thinks is represented by a bottle in the image of a vinyl record and by rock and roll; While I am not an expert on today’s youth, I would imagine some representation of file swapping, downloading, and hip hop might be more representative of today’s youth).
The scent itself is a spicy rose.
Ha, Loud was what I thought of, too. No idea what it’s actually like.
Another to consider: Paco Rabanne’s Black XS.
Yeah, there’s a XS Black special edition from Rock’N’ Rio and I think the smell is the same as the first version. Loud (masculine), for me has a 80’s vibe, such as Azzaro Pour Homme, Kouros…
I was excited to find Harajuku Lovers Super G in my local dept store. Very tempting, she is the cutest of them all!
Isn’t that the cutest? I was tempted by it too, recently.
I really want that one!
Have been quite bad lately, in my own small-budget way. Just got a bottle of Monsieur Balmain in the mail yesterday, and it is truly lovely. It will probably be in heavy rotation for the rest of our hot weather. I’m also wearing Barbara Bui a lot, which smells to me like older paperback books, not entirely a bad thing for a librarian.
I do miss Barbara Bui, wish somebody would start making it again.
My 100ml bargain of fendi theorema has finally arrived but I’m afraid of opening it! I know this sounds odd but I still have 5 of the 5ml decants and think I will use these first.
The perfect scent for todays rainy and grey weather ist Bois d’Iris by VC&A, anyway 🙂
Congrats on your Theorema!
I’m wearing Ricci Ricci for the past few days. I discovered it in a perfume shop in the Montreal airport several weeks ago (the bottle is adorable). It was one of those things where I really liked it in the shop, then at home didn’t care for it that much — and now it’s growing on me again. Nice in the newly fall-like weather we’re having, and it’s similar in feel to EL Pleasures Delight, which I also like.
SOTD is Tiare, and thank you for all those who helped with advice on perfume shopping in London. The “Haute Perfumery” in Harrods was filled with items I wished I could afford.
However, for me the highlight of the trip was spending days in museums where my eyes were fresh because I had never seen any of the works before. While I was a little frantic with the need to see everything, since I am unlikely to return, a week of viewing high art has given me a renewed appreciation of the importance of beauty and art of all kinds as an essential element of the human spirit.
I find it noteworthy that in so many cases the American pioneers going westward brought along cuttings and seeds of ornamental plants in addition to the edible crops, textile crops, livestock, and tools. It wasn’t enough for them to have food, clothing, and shelter provided for, they needed some beauty as well. Texas has a rich history of antique roses, and it is still possible to find specimens over 100 years old, still growing on old homesites, often long after the house itself has fallen to ruin. The human spirit has an innate need for beauty and art of some kind. It is the food of the soul.
Beautifully said!
Amen to that!!
It rained again today in south Texas–that makes two days in a row, and more is in the forecast! In keeping with this event, SOTD is Apres l’Ondee.
Yay!!!
I do think Texas have a unique relationship with flowers. I hope the drought doesn’t effect next years azaleas too much. Although I am more of a camellia and hydrangea fan. I will be back in Houston on October 6 and I miss the wet lushness. I think it’s funny how location and weather change how we perceive scents. When in lush places I prefer dirty floras, when in dry dusty places I prefer milky spices.
I have not had much luck with azaleas, but there was one in back of my house that was there when I bought the house 11 years ago. Every year that scraggly, sickly-looking bush would burst into an incredible display of bloom. I use the past tense because I think it is probably dead. The leaves are all crispy and brown. I have tried to water things, but it is hard to keep up when there is no rain at all and 100+ temps every day for weeks. My roses are doing OK, though. They really are tough as nails, at least if you choose the right varieties.
Tumulte by Christian Lacroix today. It was perfect for a bright early autumn day. Later on it started raining though and it got really chilly, a perfect time to think whether I still want Hypnotic Poison to be my HG. Every year it seems weaker and weaker, the so-called elixir has the strengths the EdT had when it came out, and it got a bit foody. Or has my perception changed? A light replacement may be Orchidee Vanille of Van Cleef & Arpels, although that’s perhaps a contender for last year’s HP flanker Eau Sensuelle.
Or I might blow a fuse and get Coco Chanel. Whenever I smell that one on myself a picture comes to memory – my grandmother and her three sisters playing bridge. Oh well …
Robin, how about threads of smell-alikes for the great fragrance stars, both niche and mainstream-from-when-mainstream-was-pretty-niche? Can’t remember whether we had that.
Oops, forgot this isn’t moderated so maybe Robin won’t read the question. 🙁
Robin will probably see it, but just in case, keep a note somewhere of your idea. From time to time, she asks for suggestions for Lazy Polls.
I’d love to see peoples ideas for smell-alikes for really expensive or hard-to-find frags. Something along the lines of “If you have been lemming after (name of ultraniche perfume) but don’t live in Paris, London, or New York or don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage on your house to pay for it, Perfume X smells a lot like it and it much cheaper and easier to find”
The funny thing is that when I first smelled Coco as an adult, it brought no memories, feelings or associations with it. It smelled like something entirely new, and I still like it!
Great idea. Let’s start campaigning for it!
I finally bought A*men with chili-special edition.
I love it. Will get used more often than the original!
Are you talking about Pure Havane? Does it have any similarities to the original? And how about the differences?
No, not Pure Havane, but the newest one part of the “Taste of Fragrance collection”. (Angel ‘magnified’ with bitter cocoa powder, Amen with hot chili pepper paste, Alien with salted butter caramel and Womanity with fig chutney)
It’s been out here in Toronto since late August.I heard that it’s coming out in London in mid October, but I don’t know about release dates elsewhere.
Honestly, if I had not known that it was a A*men flanker, I would not even had made the connection.
Pure Havane did not impress me, but I like this one. Earthy, deeper, calmer than A*men with a sweet wood finish. To me it is the A*men that can easily be worn to the office.
I already commented, but I would just like to announce that I just won a vintage, 3/4-full bottle of Chanel No. 5 parfum extrait TPM on ebay, for $23.50! Now I just hope it’s legit… but it SEEMS legit!
I’m so excited… I know No. 5 might be a bit “mature” for me, but I’ve loved it for so long. I think wearing it might contrast nicely with my unlikely personality…..haha!
Congratulations! I wouldn’t worry about it being too mature – if you love it, it’s right for you!
I’ll second that!
A great win. I hope it’s legit and in good condition!
Im wearing D&G Light Blue I got last Christmas and I wish I could afford these three:
Rance Le Vainqueur
L’Artisan Traversee du Bosphore
Diptyque Philosykos
All very different. All very lovely. All very pricey. Sigh.