• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

The Monday Mail ~ help Lauren find a new perfume

Posted by Robin on 1 October 2012 31 Comments

PostboxPostbox

This week we're helping Lauren, who wants to find her signature fragrance. She'd like something that smells great, fits her perfectly, and isn't worn by everyone else. She's willing to invest up to $200. Here is what we know about Lauren:

She's in her mid-teens and in the process of creating her own lipstick company.

She's also a photographer.

Her style is a mix of vintage (clothes from the 50's and 60's) and classic (well-fitting jeans, blazers, things that are simple but fit well).

She has pale skin, brown hair, and blue eyes, and she wears natural makeup (besides lipstick.)

Lauren doesn't know what notes she loves or hates, but here are some of the fragrances she has tried:

Frederic Malle Iris Poudre: She loved it, but it disappears within an hour.

Frederic Malle Une Rose: Cloyingly sweet.

Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady: Smelled like cheap incense.

Guerlain Shalimar: She wishes it worked on her, but smelled like strong baby powder.

Chantecaille Kalimantan: She loved it — like a warm, soothing fire — but too strong for her everyday signature fragrance.

Chantecaille Frangipane: Smelled like bathroom cleaner.

Bottega Veneta: She did like it, but it was missing something.

Marc Jacobs Lola: Artificial, gross, and mass market smelling.

Marc Jacobs Daisy: YAWWWWWN.

Flora by Gucci: Cloying amber.

Jimmy Choo: Smelled sugary and awful.

What say you?

Note: top image courtesy of Victoria of Bois de Jasmin.

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: monday mail

Advertisement


31 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Apparently says:
    1 October 2012 at 10:55 am

    Don’t give up on Frederic Malles without trying Lipstick Rose!

    Log in to Reply
  2. Vincent says:
    1 October 2012 at 10:59 am

    Prelude to Love fro By Kilian.

    Log in to Reply
    • anngd says:
      4 October 2012 at 9:45 pm

      Is that the tuberose, almost soliflore?

      Log in to Reply
  3. mals86 says:
    1 October 2012 at 11:12 am

    (Why not just apply a very tiny amount of Kalimantan?)

    Or try the very reasonably-priced Sonoma Scent STudio Incense Pure (samples at Perfumed Court, Posh Peasant, or Surrender to Chance as well as the SSS website). Maybe Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche, or Parfum d’Empire Aziyade.

    Log in to Reply
  4. ladymurasaki says:
    1 October 2012 at 11:21 am

    Lauren; if you like white florals that are not too sweet, try Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle, Tubereuse Couture by Parfumerie Generale and Tubereuse by Mona di Orio. I also suggest Ormonde Jayne Woman, which is a warm woody scent. Another one is Serge Luten’s De Profundis; a gorgeous earthy floral.

    Log in to Reply
  5. longlegs2 says:
    1 October 2012 at 11:24 am

    How about Chanel #19 Poudre, Prada Infusion d’Iris, L’eau de Chloe for somme mainstrean offerings.

    Log in to Reply
  6. NeenaJ says:
    1 October 2012 at 11:37 am

    Chanel No. 19 is a lovely, wearable iris – and perfect for a young entrepreneur. Also, if you’re sampling Chanel, please do sniff Les Exclusifs, Coromandel and 28 La Pausa. (Chanel No. 18 is my favorite of the line but, I’m not especially into iris.)

    Log in to Reply
  7. Dixie says:
    1 October 2012 at 12:03 pm

    Parfumerie General Iris Oriental. The MFK line is worth consideration, particularly Lumiere Noir Pour Femme.

    Log in to Reply
    • mals86 says:
      1 October 2012 at 1:38 pm

      PG Iris Oriental (formerly Iris Taizo, I think?) is quite nice!

      And I love Lumiere NOire pour femme, but it’s pretty similar in structure to Portrait of a Lady, so that I think Lauren might not find it sufficiently different.

      Log in to Reply
      • Dixie says:
        1 October 2012 at 5:01 pm

        Agreed, but I’m hoping LNPF will be sufficiently different to not smell like incense. However I love them both!

        Log in to Reply
  8. Cybele says:
    1 October 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Hi Lauren, I am not familiar with Kalimantan but it seems you like iris and woody notes. If you could name more fragrances you have liked before, that would help.
    I second Prelude to Love by Kilian and recommend Coromandel and Sycomore (both Chanel Exclusifs), and Bulgari Back to Black for a smoky vanilla.

    Log in to Reply
    • Cybele says:
      1 October 2012 at 1:53 pm

      oh sorry, I meant Cruel Intentions By Kilian and not Prelude to Love! I always mix up the names of this line…

      Log in to Reply
      • Cybele says:
        1 October 2012 at 11:12 pm

        here a review of Cruel Intentions
        http://olfactoriastravels.com/2012/01/03/review-by-kilian-cruel-intentions-tempt-me/

        Log in to Reply
  9. AnnieA says:
    1 October 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Maybe Serge Lutens Bas de Soie for an iris perfume. It’s delicate, but holds up pretty well.

    Log in to Reply
  10. Blimunda says:
    1 October 2012 at 1:45 pm

    I recommend checking out the Heeley range. There is something extremely modern about his scents, but with a nod to the classics, that would go very well with your mix of vintage/modern minimalism dress sense. He has something to suit most tastes – Cuir Pleine Fleurs for a lovely soft, suede take on leather. Esprit du Tigre is a twist on tiger balm’s freshness and spiciness. Sel Marin is so cool! There’s a citrus, an amazing iris, a verveine, a girly floral, a rose etc etc. And he does a wonderful extrait called L’Amandiere which is highly unsual.

    I recommend reading NST’s reviews of L’Artisan Parfumeur and Le Labo fragrances – perhaps a few will jump out at you. I’m thinking maybe Patchouli, Santal, Iris from Le Labo. Timbuktu, Dzongkha, Dzing!, Mon Numero 8 from L’Artisan…….

    Keep us posted! And wishing you good luck with your entrepreneurial lipstick venture!

    Log in to Reply
  11. maggiecat says:
    1 October 2012 at 2:04 pm

    I have to admire a teen-age entrepeneur! And I would normally think that Ormonde Jayne Woman would be underappreciated by this age group, but Lauren’s tastes seem sophisticated, so by all means try this amazing scent. Also explore Sonoma Scent Studio’s line, which has a number of things I think you’d like. And Yves Rocher has an iris scent that’s supposed to be quite nice – I’m not partial to iris myself, so I’m gong on reviews, but YR has the additional advantage of being affordable as well.

    Log in to Reply
  12. Emily says:
    1 October 2012 at 2:18 pm

    Agree with everyone who has suggested the SSS line, and I’ll add that Lauren might also like some of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s mostly natural fragrances. The DSH line is pretty vast, which can be both a good thing (variety) and a little intimidating, but there are a lot of great scents in there.

    Log in to Reply
  13. farouche says:
    1 October 2012 at 2:42 pm

    How about Cuir d’Iris by Parfumerie Generale? It has amber, woods, leather, chocolate, Vetiver, and black Iris and is a soft suede fragrance.

    Log in to Reply
  14. Dilana says:
    1 October 2012 at 3:56 pm

    Since Lauren likes 50’s and 60’s vintage and has sophisticated taste, I’d recommend she try some classics. The Guerlains almost always have jasmine and iris in them.

    If she likes Bottega Veneta, she might like Daim Blond. BV always struck me as a lighter, more sparkling version of Daim Blond. THis doesn’t date back to the 50’s and 60’s but feels like vintage glamour.

    Log in to Reply
    • Kady says:
      1 October 2012 at 7:22 pm

      Daim Blond was my first thought – as you say, it’s similar to Bottega Veneta, and Lauren might find it has what the BV was missing for her.

      Another one that I love in the same ‘modern leather chypre’ genre is Cuir de Lancôme. Cuir to me is leather, while Bottega Veneta is suede.

      Log in to Reply
    • Addicted2Pretty says:
      2 October 2012 at 7:22 am

      Absolutely agree with Daim Blond suggestion. It has a classic elegance that I think will fit with Lauren’s style. I’ve told this story before and I’ll tell it again, once when I wore it a younger fellow commented that I smelled like a million bucks.

      Log in to Reply
  15. Dixie says:
    1 October 2012 at 5:00 pm

    If you really want to smell different, check out the Nasomato line-particularly China White, Black Afghano and Narcotic Venus.

    Log in to Reply
  16. Rappleyea says:
    1 October 2012 at 6:15 pm

    The iris scent that just went on my “to buy” list is Parfum d’Empire’s Equistrius. They have a great sample pack of all of their fragrances on their website at a very reasonable price, so that might be an option as well.

    Thirding or fourthing the SSS recommendations, especially Forest Walk and Champagne de Bois.

    Also, I’d recommend checking out indiescents.com as they carry not only the SSS line, but several other very talented indie perfumers. From my reading of your bio, I think some of these might suit you very well.

    Good luck!

    Log in to Reply
  17. Ann-Sofie says:
    1 October 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Try Guerlain Shalimar Initial – supremly updated vintage. It might be exactly what you are looking for.

    Log in to Reply
  18. fountaingirl says:
    1 October 2012 at 6:49 pm

    Oooh! A fellow Kalimantan lover! I have a tip. I adore this stuff and keep a vial in my purse, and I wear it often, several times a week – but *only* using the rollerball, and I touch it to my pulse points usually just once and that’s it. No “rolling” the rollerball. That is a gentle enough application that you will get the scent but much more gently than you can with even one spray, and it lasts and lasts. I had thought that $68 was a lot for the rollerball when ‘santa’ (read: me) put it in my stocking last Christmas, but this thing is going to last me years at this rate even using it regularly.

    Roller ball is still available on the Bloomingdales website.

    Other than that, I would recommend my ultimate favorite ever powder that almost nobody ever wears. It’s spendy, but worth it and within your budget. Tann Rokka Aki. If you go by the notes you wouldn’t think it would be powdery, but it is – it isn’t too sweet but it is sweet enough, lots of powder and a little spice. I adore it, and I am the only person I know who wears it regularly. But since you love the Kalimantan, and also powdery iris, I am betting this is right up your alley. Available at Luckyscent website.

    Log in to Reply
  19. Omega says:
    2 October 2012 at 5:47 am

    Heure Exquise Annick Goutal.

    Log in to Reply
  20. Nile Goddess says:
    2 October 2012 at 8:11 am

    Hmmm … smells great, fits perfectly and not worn by anyone else … looks like a customized fragrance, but for a $200 budget that’s not an option is it …

    You may want to try the following three fragrances. Can’t guarantee no one else wears them but they are not crowd pleasers.

    1. From the mass of mass fragrances – Narciso Rodriguez Essence. It’s soft, non-sweet, and quite interesting. You may even want to check out Essence Eau de Musc.

    2. Yves Saint Laurent Nu. It’s been recently reformulated and presented in what passes for niche packaging at YSL. It’s a clean metallic incense with sensual undertones I feel you might like, and it’s soft enough to wear during the day.

    3. Tom Ford White Suede – it may have the “je ne sais quoi” missing from Bottega Veneta.

    Good luck!

    Log in to Reply
  21. TexasSnow says:
    2 October 2012 at 10:55 am

    Some vintage suggestions-
    Guerlain Jicky, since you almost liked Shalimar.
    Chanel no. 19 (the original) – green and leather. It just struck me after reading your personality description.
    Newer creations-
    L’artisan Passage d’Enfer, incense and lily, but it still feels young.
    Hermes Eau des merveilles, the original-wood, orange and ambergris. Really different, especially in your age group.
    Hermes Kelly Caleche, floral and leather.
    Second (third?) the Daim Blonde suggestion.

    Please try all the suggested scents on your skin and give them a chance to bloom with your chemistry. I would also recommend trying everything more than once.

    Log in to Reply
  22. dolcesarah says:
    2 October 2012 at 4:43 pm

    She’s tried FM, but only wants to spend $200? Hmm
    She could splurge and sample the ? Cassie and Therese and def the MUSC RAVENGER!!!! Beware, it might grab hold of you.

    Log in to Reply
  23. dolcesarah says:
    2 October 2012 at 4:44 pm

    Montale’s
    Wild pears
    Mukhalaat.

    Log in to Reply
  24. anngd says:
    4 October 2012 at 9:44 pm

    Vintage (seriously vintage) Diorella. Amazing stuff.
    Vintage Shalimar – otherwise smells like furniture polish.
    White flowers – Diorissimo, but vintage. Otherwise pass.
    POTL Luctor et Emergo – quirky and lots of incense but the cherry/ marshmallow is memorable. $180 +/-
    Interesting green/chypre: Parfums MDCI Paladin Chypre. Not long lasting on me, but try a sample for $4.
    Second SL Daim Blond. Don’t spray with abandon or others will protest.
    LOVE Amouage Opus 1. Sample for $5 then buy a split.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

Browse by…

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

From NST at Twitter

  • "Cartier Perfumer Mathilde Laurent Shares Her French Beauty Essentials" (vanity fair, hat tip to kevin!) https://t.co/qsMjKpmme3,
  • "What's that smell? New 'Corpse Flower' in full bloom at Nashville Zoo" (fox 17) https://t.co/QlPVyWVOq1,
  • Updated info on Costume National Supergloss https://t.co/fDSO0qQHen,

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

24 April ~ swapmeet

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy

Shop for Perfume Online
Perfume Shopping in New York
Perfume Shopping in London
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books
Fragrance Awards

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2021 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.