Today we are helping Micha, who lives in Egypt and is looking for a new everyday casual fragrance. She'd like to pay no more than $100-120 for a 100 ml bottle. She has access to mainstream prestige fragrances but not niche lines, and she can't shop online. She does travel a couple times a year, so might be able to look for other brands then. Here is what we know about Micha:
She's in her early 40s and has olive skin and long curly brown hair.
She's married and has a young son. She says she exercises regularly, has a slim athletic build and loves being active, healthy and busy.
Her wardrobe leans towards smart casual and simple, but she's recently started to buy some items "with a twist", and she says she is an early adopter of fashion trends. She loves leather, cotton and linen, dislikes silk and lace; favorite brands include Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein.
Micha likes green, fruity and fresh perfumes. Past loves include Gres Cabotine, Prescriptives Calyx, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Dior Fahrenheit and Trussardi Action.
She used to like florals (Yves Saint Laurent Paris, Christian Dior J'adore) but now she finds them dull and sometimes suffocating in the heat. She generally dislikes sweet and gourmand notes, but she received a bottle of Juicy Couture as a gift and finds it doesn't smell too bad on her.
Micha currently wears Terre d'Hermès, which her husband received as a gift and which she finds complex and elegant, and Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, which she later purchased herself and loves. She also wears Guerlain Samsara in the winter, when it smells clean on her skin. She tried Hermès Eau Des Merveilles but felt it had less character than Terre d'Hermès or Un Jardin Sur Le Nil.
What say you?
Note: image is post_te by fedewild at flickr; some rights reserved.
I don’t have any suggestions, but I have some questions for Micha. Which fragrances are popular in Egypt right now? What style of fragrances (floral, oriental etc) are most commonly worn?
Dior’s j’Adore & Pure Poison, Chanel’s Allure and most recently Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million.
for a green floral, Gucci Envy
for a green chypre SIsley Eau de Soir
for a classic, Chanel No 19
Tried Chanel 19 at some point but will definitely go back and give it another try but am very interested in Gucci’s Envy… Thank you :))
Seconding Gucci Envy! And if you like Eau Sauvage, try Diorella.
Thanks for seconding Gucci’s Envy and the tip about Diorella…
living in a hot climate myself and loving green fragrances I have lots of recommendations: Gucci Envy the original, green one. its beeing discontinued but maybe you can still find it. If you have access to a Hermes Boutique try their exclusive line Hermessence especially Osmanthe Yunnan, Brin de Reglisse, Vanille Galante.
Try the new Bottega Veneta, A Scent by Issey Miyake, Martin Margiela Untitled, Bulgari Infusion Te vert and Blanc. As classics: Chanel Cristalle EDT, Dior Diorella, Chanel 19, Clinique Aromatics Elixir (various concentrations).
Thank you Cybele for some very interesting recommendations… I already love JC Elena’s work and love the two fragrances I managed to get my hands on: Terre and Jardin sur le Nile, I’ve read the reviews about Osmanthe Yunnan and Vanille Galante and they both sound like immediate winners… I can also find Bulgari The Vert which I am sure I will love but am a bit worried about lasting power… I will try to find Bottega Venetta but not sure I will… But thank you once again…
Osmanthe Yunnan is not very strong either, but beautiful, I personally don’t mind reapplying but the Bulgaris might be too light, though nice to wear casually. Envy has good lasting power and I think it is very special. Have you tried Dior Homme? A lot of women wear it, I imagine this one could interest you.
Ah Ha!! I love wearing men’s fragrances… So will certainly give Dior Homme a try… This is mind blowing… Such interesting ideas and an unconventional approach… Cybele, u rock!!
Hi Micha~
I adore wearing mens’ fragrances too! I wear both Hermes fragrances you like, along with Pamplemousse Rose. I’ve been wearing Prada Amber Pour Homme all summer. It’s fresh, aromatic, and still clean. Also the Prada Infusion D’Homme is beautiful. They both work very well in heat, and I’d recommend both of those for you. : )
Hah, funny. I thought about Dior Homme either but didin’t indicated to you because its base notes are so sweet. Try Dior Homme Intense: althougt its name, it is less sweet.
Micha,
If you find you like Bulgari The Vert the body lotion is very nice and may increase its longevity.
Thanks for the tip chaise 🙂
For fresh and works well in the heat, I thought Cartier Baiser Vole. It is somewhat flowery, but feels more fresh and clean to my nose. Also, CK Euphoria in the edt is very nice in the summer and not as heavy as the edp. For more fruity gems, I do love Hanae Mori Collection No. 1 since it isn’t too horribly sweet. For a touch of sweet, Trish McEvoy Blackberry Vanilla No. 9 is really lovely. Agreed on Chanel No. 19 for green, and I also like 22. If patchouli isn’t a problem, I also love Gres Cabaret and Chanel Coromandel, both of which wear rather lightly on my skin and don’t overwhelm the way patches can. Courtesan by Worth also wears as a fresh and almost light musky perfume on my skin and might still be somewhat easy to find. Good luck and happy sniffing! 🙂
Thank you Absolute Scentualist… I am afraid Patchouli is a problem but will definitely try Worth’s Courtesan as I like your description of it being fresh and just a bit musky at the same time 🙂
I wonder if she’s tried any JM. Lime-Basil, Pear-Freesia might work for her. And I second the Gucci Envy idea. I went through extended Lauren and Calyx periods, followed by a year of Envy.
Great Martitia… Looks like I’ll follow your footsteps 🙂
How about Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, Chanel Cristalle or Cristalle Eau Verte, Dior Eau Sauvage or Diorella.
I love Dior’s Eau Sauvage – again borrowed from my husband… Didn’t think Cristalle was unusual enough but will try Eau Verte. And as for Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, thanks for the tip.. Guerlain make fantastic perfumes s I will surely give it a try 🙂
Oh, another green that’s almost mossy is Estee Lauder’s original Private Collection. It is beautiful and if applied lightly, doesn’t overwhelm. And it probably isn’t too difficult to find. The Jasmine-White Moss version is pretty light on florals when I wear it, being more citrus up top and more the signature moss base with just a trace of jasmine in the middle and drydown. Also, Narciso Rodriguez’s Essence is another fresh musky perfume, though I did find it a bit sharp so ymmv. 🙂
Absolutely second the original Private Collection. I think I’m anosmic to something in the Jasmine White Moss version, but by most accounts it’s lovely, too.
Hi Micha,
I recommend giving Chanel No 19 Poudre a try. It has the green characteristics of the Original No 19 but a more powdery drydown that I prefer. There is also David Yurman Fresh Essence. It is a fresh fruity scent. It isnt complex, but fits the bill of a pleasant everyday casual scent. From Guerlain, I will add Guerlain Homme L’Eau. It has notes of bergamot, grapefruit and mint. It is extremely refreshing and well done.
Hope this helps!
Certainly does… I like wearing men’s fragrances. So Guerlain Homme L’eau is a must try… Thank you Addicted 2 Pretty:)
An inexpensive choice (no idea whether it’s obtainable in M’s neck of the woods) is Demeter’s Tomato. It should be called “Tomato leaf”, as it is exceedingly green.
Sorry Annie… This is one part of the planet that only the likes of Dior, Chanel and Guerlain have reached. How I wish we had a wider choice of the more niche houses… I’ve taken note though and love very green frangrances so will try Demeter’s Tomato when I travel next…
Since you have access to Guerlain, I’d recommend their green fragrance – the beautiful Chamade. Happy sniffing!
Thanks Rappleyea… Have access to Chamade so will certainly give it a sniff..
Thanks Rappleyea… Have access to Chamade so will certainly give it a sniff..
Happily it’s one that hasn’t suffered badly from reformulation (IMHO) – my recent bottle is very similar to my vintage bottle.
I second this recommendation. It’s gorgeous!
We sound pretty similar in tastes, I’d say Le Labo’s Bergamotte 22 (dry green citrus with a touch of spice in the drydown) or Iris 39 (outdoors woods and iris).
Estee Lauder’s Azuree or Aliage may also work beautifully too. If she likes Terre d Hermes, try Antonia’s Flowers Tiempe Passate, easy to wear in the heat although the price point is a tad big high. It’s a beauty though.
Hello Smokeytoes… I love your description of Le Labo’s Bergamotte 22 but sadly can’t try it until I travel next but will when I do. Azuree and Aliage I will find and try but not Antonia’s Flowers which again I have to wait to try… Strangely enough my mom wore Aliage and Amazone for years when I was a child… It is very possible that our olfactory memory lasts longer than we think… And we are nostalgic for the scents we experienced as children… So thank you for pointing me in this direction… And with the fascination I have for Hermes these days Vintage Amazone is a real possibility 🙂
Hi Micha,
My dad’s mom wore Aliage, it’s one of my favorite of the EL scents, it brings back memories of childhood summers in NY.
I have a vintage bottle of Amazone that I adore, it has a wonderful vetiver with oakmoss drydown.
I second the recommendation of Azuree and Aliage.
I’d also recommend Eau de Patou, since she likes Eau Sauvage. That one is a bit hard to find since it’s been discontinued but there’s plenty on ebay. Also vintage Amazone, beautiful vetiver with oakmoss. Don’t bother with the new version.
Micha, how about Thierry Mugler Womanity? It’s green, fruity (figgy) and fresh, with a masculine drydown.
Katie… First reactions are always best… I love how you instantly reacted with Womanity and will try it tomorrow 🙂
I’m a Samsara fan as well. What about Champs Elysees? It is lighter but still has that Guerlain drydown and is a bit fruity on top. I’m wearing Boyfriend today and you might like that as well…
Thanks Elise 🙂 Will try both champs élysées and Boyfriend…
The first thing that came to mind as I read about you was another Hermes: Kelly Caleche! Have you tried this one yet?
I have dee… But wasn’t as impressed with Kelly Caleche as I was with the original Caleche many years ago… Not sure why… But after wearing Terre and Jardin sur le Nil, Kelly Caleche somehow didn’t live up to my expectations…
Ah, too bad!
I hope that you’ll report back when you do find just the right fragrance 🙂
Micha, have you tried the new Hermes, Jardin Sur Le Toit? It’s fruity and green, and I like it a lot!
I also want to put Eau de Cartier into the mix. It’s a sparkling, green, refreshing fragrance with a woody base. I just love it!
And if you’re lucky enough to have a department store that stocks L’Artisan fragrances, I highly recommend Fleur de Liane, a dreamy damp jungle-y concoction!
Hi Haunani… Tried un Jardin sur le toit, wasn’t at all impressed… Don’t ask me why but again compared with what I consider original in Jardin sur le Nil is not there in Jardin sur le toit… Eau de Cartier on the other hand is interesting, I just tried it today and your description of L’artisan’s Fleur de Liane sounds magical, for the wild spirit inside me 🙂
Eau de Cartier and Fleur de Liane are two of my top favorites!
My first thought – before I read all of the post – was Hermes Jardin sur le Nil! Chanel’s Cristalle Eau Verte is a lovely, green but not harsh scent. And i second Jo Malone Lime, Basil and mandarin or English Pear and Freesia. Both are great in warm weather. Good luck!
Hi Maggiecat… Am in love with Jardin sur le Nil… And wrote to the monday mail before i had discovered it but still welcome a repertoire so Christalle Eau Verte is a definite yes… Alas, Jo Malone will have to wait until I travel next… But thanks for the tip 🙂
Hello, Micha!
This is a bit off base, but I like Y by Yves St Laurent in the heat of the summer. It’s very dry and green.
Hello Pretty Flowers… Something happened between me and YSL after I stopped wearing Paris, which I wore for years… champagne came out and most YSL fragrances got too sweet and heavy for my liking… But will give it a sniff, who knows, perhaps it’s time for a reconciliation after all these years…
Micha, I think you should try Robert Piguet’s Futur if you can find it. It’s a lovely damp-green jasmine that isn’t terribly sweet, and the cedar-vetiver base positively shimmers in the heat (if that makes sense — those notes seem to bloom in warmer weather without becoming at all heavy). I make a point of wearing Futur during our rare Bay Area heat waves, and have taken it to places like Houston as well.
Emily… You just hit the nail on the head… It is cedar that I love (and that I detect in many JC Elena’s Hermes perfumes?….) and rightly so, cedar doesn’t suffocate in the heat. You used such a brilliant term: shimmers!! That is just about as much as anyone can tolerate in our hot summer months… Can you imagine the headache of gourmand, sweet or heavy oriental notes… Thank you thank you….
You’re welcome! I really, really hope you can locate a sample and/or a bottle. It’s such a wonderful scent.
Yes, I third Chamade, the EDT is lovely. Do give Cristalle EDP a second chance, it is my favourite green and I am a green gal.
Aqua Allegoria Mandarin Basilic is a lovely green citrus to my nose.
If you are travelling to London at all call into Ormonde Jayne and try them all!
Thanks for thirding Chamade Sunsetsong… I tried Chamade today and loved it… I can also wear it in winter here I think but it is such a well made perfume…. Yummmmm… And will give Christalle EDP a second try…. Sadly no Aqua Allegoria, which will have to wait till I travel next…
Huuum,hard! Here we go: Kelly Calèche, Bvlgari Man, Eau Parfumée Au the Blanc, Bvlgari Extrême, Voyage D’Hermès, Ninfeo Mio, Prada Infusion and Infusion D’Homme, Gucci By Gucci Sport, Moschino Cheap and Chic, 212, Délices Eau Fruitée, Dior Addict Fraîche 2, Fuel For Life Him…
Hi Moore, Eau parfumee au the blanc and Gucci by Gucci Sport are two possibilities. Voyage d’Hermes not interesting enough. Kelly Caleche not as impressive a original Caleche, and nowhere nearly as interesting as the original Amazone. Dior addict Fraiche 2 I will give a sniff… Thank you… 🙂
Voyage lacks so much longevity and sillage!!! Didn’t you find Kelly Calèche too similar to Terre D’Hermès? Dior Addict 2 has an interesting guava smell and as you like the mango of Sur Le Nil maybe you’ll like it. Délices Eau Fruitée has a great and someway fresh cherry smell. I haven’t tried Amazone and Calèche yet but I’m so curious about them. Amazone is very hard to find (such as Bel Ami, Rocabar, Equipage, Hiris…
Have you tried any of the Infusions by Prada? I find them very good for warm weather (I wear them whenever I go back to India, which is where I’m originally from). I have a feeling you’ll like Infusion d’Homme or d’Iris.
(This is my first ever post on NST, btw. I have been following it for years, though! Hi all!)
Hi Arjun… Welcome on board… And thanks for the tip… If there is such as thing as too green , although I am a very green girl, I think infusion d’iris is it… But then, for fairness sake, I tried it in NY this summer and it didn’t quite fit with what I consider spring weather by comparison to the hot summers of Egypt… So perhaps I need to go back and try it here…
Micha, have you ever tried Sisley’s Eau de Campagne?
Will do.. I am interested in Sisley designs in general so Eau de Campagne may be equally interesting… Thanks for the tip Moore:)
Forgot to comment: Egypt is my child-dream-travel. Nothing impress me more than Egyptian culture!
I’ve been living here for the past 15 years and still find it fascinating 🙂 It’s lovely to seek inspiration whether it’s travel, food or a new scent… Keep enjoying 🙂
I need to recommend my favorite, Hermes Un jardin sur le mediterranee. I got it by accident when ordering UJSN but instantly loved it. It is fresh, crisp and very figgy. Also Jacomo Silences a lovely green floral that wears very well in the heat.
Hi Rosiegreen, tried it… Too sweet for me, possibly needs a cooler climate in my opinion. Un Jardin sur le Nil on the other hand, in spite of the initial blast of mango at the beginning smells very fruity green so is striking and appropriate at the same time…
Because you like both leather and men’s fragrances, I’d like to suggest Knize and Knize Sec. I think it’s pretty easy to find in Europe and is not very expensive.
Thanks KRL… A must try next time I travel 🙂
Hi Micha,
I am late to the party here but I wanted to suggest Annick Goutal’s Mandragore Pourpre. This one is not to be confused with her other one name Mandragore. I can’t wear Mandragore but….. Mandragore Pourpre is brilliant! I think you would love it.
The fragrance incorporates bergamot, mint, star anis, aromatic herbs and spices, along with amber, rosemary, geranium and black pepper. A base adds heliotrope, incense, patchouli and myrtle.
I cannot do patchouli either but you would never know it was in this scent even though it is listed in the notes.
~Dawn
Hi Dawn, thanks for the tip… Don’t have access to Annick Goutal perfumes here but will put it on my list for when I travel next 🙂
If you ever want a sample of it, let me know and I would love to send you a few drops / spritzes. 🙂
You can contact me at dawnkana @ yahoo dot com
Just put Mandragore Pourpre in the subject line.
Enjoy your week.
~Dawn
p.s. Do you travel frequently? Business or Pleasure?
My husband and I just returned from a fantastic vacation where we visited the Greek Isles, Istanbul,Turkey and La Bisbal and Barcelona, Spain. I loved the food in all the places. The beaches in Mykonos, etc.
~D
Hi Dawn, sorry it took me a while o get back to you and thanks for the offer to send me a sample of Mandragore Pourpre… I travel twice a year over Christmas and during the summer for pleasure when my son has his vacations… I will keep trying Mandragore for when I travel so I can get a full size bottle if I like it… And I am glad you enjoyed your mediterranean tour… Such wonderful climate, culture and food…
Hello Micha,
I hope I’m not too late, I haven;t been on this blog for a while, but have you tried Eau des Merveilles d’Hermes? This and also, if you can find it, Ysatis de Givenchy. I have a cousin who had olive skin and that smelled great on her. You could also try the new Shalimar Parfum Initial. Good luck!
Hello All above to whom I owe falling in love with a fragrance for the second time round after Hermes’ un Jardin sur le nil.
I am finally in Paris France for our summer vacation and I bought a bottle of Aqua Allegoria Mandarin Basilic without trying on board our Air France flight selling for the equivalent of USD 60 for 75ml. I am in awe… My husband thinks I am losing my mind… There is something so fresh and bitter (in a good elegant way) about this fragrance. JC Elena has been officially promoted in my mind to perfume god.
I love it, love it love it… And regarding Jardin sur le Nil, although it will always be a big favorite of mine, I needed the break, my nose had become numb to it whereas with this new affair I am having with Mandarin Basilic I feel fragrance alive all over again… Can’t find enough words to thank you all….
I thought this was another of JC Ellena’s creations. Now that I checked on NST, it is not but it doesn’t make me love it any less… I only thought this much perfume genius may have come from a nose like him :)))