Our usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the next perfume you plan to buy, any fun holiday plans you have for this weekend (or the rest of the summer), whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is FLIPR [cropped] by Neal Fowler at flickr; some rights reserved.
Good morning and happy weekend! Just wanted to share a wonderful perfume story. We took the day off yesterday and drove up to Maine. It was raining lightly and the lilacs were everywhere in full bloom. We were poking around in a multi vendor antique shop that has about a billion items all piled on top of eachother and I spotted a velvet lilac colored box up on a shelf. Took it down and inside was a bottle of vintage Shalimar perfume. Old, beautiful Baccarat bottle about a quarter full of dark brown perfume. And the smell! I’m sure this is what heaven smells like. Of course I bought this treasure right away, a big ticket item costing me a whole eight dollars. When I researched it online I found that this one is the Avion Presentation that was offered on Air France flights in the early 60’s. The bottle was still sealed with a cork (probably never opened) and the stopper, which comes in its own little box, was missing. So I’m currently searching for an Avion presentation stopper to go with it. Not sure whether I should open the bottle or not. I’m not very schooled in how to take care of old perfumes. My instinct is to not open the bottle. Just handling it transfers the scent to my hands. Any suggestions appreciated!!
I think I would be awfully tempted to open it and wear it from time to time! Someone did an article here at NST on wearing those beloved, hoarded samples and last drops of perfection–was it Angela or Robin?–and I am on the side of wearing them rather than keeping them for a never-named just-right occasion. But I *do* appreciate the challenge of being the first to open it up! Like playing with those collectors toys rather than keeping them in mint condition in the box. But then again, I *never* kept my toys in the box! 😀
heehee that’s great. I love your comparison to playing with collectibles instead of keeping them sealed in their packages. I think I’m more in that camp than the hoarder camp, but I’m still a bit nervous about opening the bottle. It’s been lovingly preserved for such a long time. This old Shalimar is just so gorgeous smelling I am very tempted to experience wearing it. I think I will open the bottle when I’ve found the right stopper for it.
I think that was Angie? Wish I could remember a title and I’d give you the link.
I know I’ve read that article.. I did a little sleuthing and I wonder if this might be the one?
https://nstperfume.com/2009/01/19/perfume-and-the-lavish-hand/
That’s great. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
What a thrilling story. Will you be able to close the bottle again once you open it? If so, I think you should wear the juice. Enjoy it. This is a tresure life reserved for you. Vintage Shalimar parfum from the sixties. It makes me swoon just to type it! 🙂
Yes, opening that purple box and seeing the Shalimar was thrilling to say the least and the smell is totally swoonworthy. My plan is to find a replacement stopper before I open it.
Dear Sajini,
My Guerlain 1828 Bottle book shows the box with the tinier box which contained the lid. The sign above it which came with the set says, in French, to cut the thread that attaches the button lid before opening the bottle. From the picture, it looks like you could just remove the baudruche and leave the silk cord intact for aesthetic purposes. I think you’re right in attempting to get a lid before opening it but I think you should then wear the juice if it is still good. Perhaps you can find a lid on eBay for the same oz. size bottle. Your find was certainly a huge bargain!
Good luck!
Good morning, NST! I have a L’Heure Bleue question. I could buy a spray tester of the parfum for $219, or the beautiful parfum stopper bottle for $289. I love the classic Guerlain bottle, but I also prefer spraying over dabbing. What would you do?
I would go for a sprayer bottle I think, more practical.
I have a bottle that is half full my daughter loves it but we could trade if you like Lucas???
You could get the stopper bottle and then decant the perfume into a spray vial.
Agree.
Me three.
Agreed. This is a special graduation scent, right? Buy the special bottle and decant into a travel spray 🙂 Oh, and Congratulations!
If you buy the “beautiful parfum stopper bottle” you can decant some of the perfume into a spray bottle. That way you get the bpsb and the spritzing power you like.
One often sees the empty bottles on ebay, so the other alternative would be to buy the spray bottle to wear and an empty bottle for display.
Good afternoon from cold, clowdy and windy Greater Poland region!
Today I’m trying Diptyque Volutes in EdT for the first time, I got a decant in a swap and it arrived yesterday. Smells great!
I was planning to finally buy Iskander this months and I wanted to split around half a bottle to lower my costs but there’s not much interest for the 50 mls I wanted to give away. Now I struggle – should I buy it and keep more juice with me, or should I give up and find some other perfume. Iskander was supposed to be my citrus choice for spring and summer, if I decide not to buy it I will be looking for some other brilliant citrus.
Poland celebrates Mother’s Day tomorrow. I bought Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil as a present for my Mommy. I hope she’ll like it
If you really had your heart set on Iskander, I would say buy it, if you can manage the cost. I find that settling for something you love less is usually dissatisfying. If you merely liked it a lot, but could like something else just as much, then maybe keep looking.
Thanks for your opinion 50_roses! I will have to think about it and try to realize how I really feel about Iskander 😉
Might be wrong but it sounds like you are considering a 100 ml, but there’s the 50 ml Iskander too – then you wouldn’t need to split.
If I were in your situation I would consider where the scent falls on my wish list – if it’s “love, love, love” AND you’ve been wanting it for a while, then get it 🙂
If you decide postpone, the good news is that you can have fun hunting down something else that fills the summer citrus category.
I know, Parfum d’Empire has 50 mls bottles as well but they don’t looks as good as 100 mls onces, my other Parfum d’Empire fumes are big bottles, so I want a another to match + bigger bottles are better (I mean cheaper) when it comes to splits.
I’ve got two promising samples that may be perfect spring/summer citrus on their way to me. When they arrive I will give ’em a try and then decide if I buy Iskander or something else (maybe one of the two that are coming?)
LOL completely understand about wanting the right looking bottle.
So what two fragrances are you waiting for?
I was unable to get these two in swaps the following months so I decided to buy those samples (I don’t buy samples often, I mostly swap)
I’m waiting for a sample of Eau d’Italie Acqua Decima and Diptyque L’Eau du 34. Acqua Decima sounds like something I might immediately fall in love with basing on the notes and Cafleurebon review.
I haven’t tried the Eau d’Italie line yet but it sounds fantastic. I’d be interested in knowing if you like Aqua Decima, if you report back.
Lys, I will report! Or write a review at Chemist in the Bottle.
Its funny because I have a large of Ambre Russe (which the shop only sold in large) and a 50ml of Osmanthus Interdite and I actually prefer the little bottle. But then I tend to find the smaller bottles of most things a lot nicer.
Osmanthus Interdite is great, right? I think it should land somewhere on my wishlist. I see myself wearing it in Autumn.
There are some perfumes that I like smaller bottles more but I like the way 100 mls Parfum d’Empire bottles look like
I guess the ‘Parfum d’Empire’ concept lends itself better to those towering bottles! Osmanthus Interdite is my favourite tea scent and my favourite osmanthus scent and also it is one of the few fragrances that I like which is just downright pretty as well:)
It’s good to have a perfume you love 🙂
I have a half bottle I do not like. I will trade with u. I’m looking for a nice niche scent something on the heavy side. I would love Odelisque or Mitto or ONDA. Do you have any scents you want to part with? Best,
SB
Talking about the ISFARKAND.
Unfortunately nothing heavier in my collection. I’m not a fan of strong and dense fragrances, I prefer my perfume more brisk, and I love fougere and chypre so I’m afraid I have nothing interesting to offer.
I love Chypre. Do you have any suggestions. My only round with Chypre is Miss Dior, I know, quite the novice, but I adore that smell and have sought other ones like it to no luck. Think on it, my email is
Dolcemama@live.com. If you can think of anything it’s yours.
Will think about it but will probably find a way to get my bottle locally. And shipping restrictions are quite harsh.
BTW, you meant Isfarkand or Iskander?
Wearing my new Kilian Musk Oud today….it is lovely, not too skanky or overbearing… Very easy to wear. I am so happy to complete my Kilian Arabian nights collection! I love them all and they look so nice lined up together on my display case!
Good to know, thanks! And that was fast.
I am looking forward to visiting a Lush outlet in Austin next week. I’m really looking forward to trying some Gorilla fragrances in person instead of ordering samples.
Fun — hope you like some of them!
I liked the peanut-ty ash scent of hell-stone and found Sikkhim Girls quite sexy and pretty. I really don’t like barbecue smoky notes so Voice of Reason was a no go. Devil’s Nightcap was, for some reason, very faint on me. Bug didn’t leave a definite impression – I probably should have tried it on its own!
At the end I settled for 1000 Kisses Deep from the older range. I had already had the solid for a year or two and do like it very much. Also the price per ml seemed very reasonable compared to the prices of the Sun range and although the bottle is not as cute it is much more functional being a spray.
Actually, in person those black spray bottles look a lot better than on the computer screen – more solid and less plastic.
I used to have a little rollerball of 1000 Kisses — nice scent.
I tried them yesterday at my local store (they were only showcasing but not selling them). In the store they all had something interesting, but I was most intrigued by The Bug and Hellstone. Once home, I was ready to order them, but then realized that they started to annoy me. This morning, I checked them on paper, and am quite sure that I will not be buying them. Maybe The Bug, but probably not … Any similar experiences?
Lush stores make me sneeze! I dared go into one recently to sniff the perfumes, but nothing I couldn’t live without.
I just tried the new testers at my local Lush today. I like The Bug, and Sikkim Girls is pretty.. I like that the “weird” aspects of tuberose create a balance and keep it from being too sweet.
I tried Hellstone but didn’t love it, and I can’t quite get past the barbecue sauce aspect of The Voice of Reason. Not to say that it’s not interesting.. but I’m hungry. It’s been over 2 hours and while the barbecue thing has softened a bit, it’s still very much there. It married well with the smell of fried chicken outside Kroger. 😛
Ha…I can imagine. Luckily the BBQ sauce faded faster on me.
Tried them today at my local Lush and found them all to harsh. I don’t get them at all.
I am bothered by all the Lush scents. Can’t stand to have any of them on for more than 40 minutes. It is beyond me what people see in them.
I found out from a friend that a store here in Riyadh is selling niche perfumes one of which is Histories De Parfum. I have no idea about the line but has started my own research. I would like to know from those who already tried, if you can give me some suggestions, that will at least make my sniffing more focused when I visit the shop. I already have on my list Ambre 114 since I am into amber. Anything from the line which is leaning towards the feminine category but not too “strong” and has a good sillage? Thanks to all and have a great day ahead.
Oh, and just to share, I wore Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Toit earlier. It never fails to boost my mood and prepared me for my usually hectic day!
Pinoi, Parfum d’Empire is one of my favourite perfume brands. You already have Ambre 114, very potent and forever-lasting amber on your list. My other suggestions would be 1969 Parfum de Revolte (peach & chocolate), 1725 Casanova (to me it’s unisex) and 1828 Jules Verne. Mata Hari (1876 is also great)
And there’s also 1889 Moulin Rouge, a fun in a bottle. If that shop also has an Edition Rare collection from HdP, definitely try Rosam and Veni
Hi Lucasai. If their peach and chocolate perfume is not overly sweet, then it’s something I might consider. I will also try the others you suggested. I read about Casanova from other sites and that too is a potential. Thanks for sharing your experience on this brand, Lucasai!
Histoires de Parfums is in my opinion a great line of perfume, well made and plenty to discover and enjoy. 1876, Mata Hari, is my favorite. It opens with lychee and bergamot, but is mostly about the rose (and iris and jasmine) spiced with cinnamon and sandalwood and som musk and powder, particularly as it dries down. Feminine, and with good sillage and tenacity, but not overwhelming. I can also recommend 1826, also a spicy floral, but in combination with patchouli and some amber. It is not very dark, but a lovely, interesting combination. Vert Pivoine is very feminine, centrered around a very true to life peony with some green accents. A very soft scent that wears close to the body. If you like patchouli, as I do, try Patchouli Noir – it is rather dark, but a lovely deep, earthy patchouly note. Then there are Tuberose 1, tuberose, mixed with leather and iris, a feminine, powdery scent. Tuberose 2 is again tuberose and other florals mixed with pathchouly and some other woods; feminine, but more oriental. I hope you enjoy, this line has been one of my first lines to explore and with so many great scent experiences.
Hello Merete. You and Lucasai above suggested Mata Hari which in your description, smells lovely indeed! Although I am not really into rose scents, if the treatment of rose here is a little light, then I can tolerate that. If your impression that it has good sillage and it has tenacity, then I will include it in my test list. Vert Pivoine is another I MUST try based on your description alone. Will take note of your other suggestions. Thanks, Merete!
Here is Angie’s review of Ambrarem in case you want to give that a shot too, although it doesn’t sound feminine:
https://nstperfume.com/2012/09/10/histoires-de-parfums-edition-rare-ambrarem-fragrance-review/
My favorite is the 1873 Colette, but don’t think it has decent sillage.
Ambrarem. I dunno I have the patience to experience what Angie described in various words not appealing in any way to my nose (saffrom+oyster+ocean+jicky) (JICKY which I personally dislike, sorry!) before it ends into Amber.
I will try Collete though. Thanks, Robin!
I’v never tried this brand, but the Marquis de Sade gets mentioned quite often. I got the impression that people liked the frag but found the name offensive. So if, like me, you have little interest in the name it may be worth a try!
I love Marquis de Sade and bought a full bottle recently. I noticed the Non-Blonde had a review of it recently too (she also loves it): http://www.thenonblonde.com/2013/05/histoires-de-parfums-1740-marquis-de.html#.UaFnlaK86So.
But it’s definitely in the “strong” category, I’d say. I’d recommend the one already mentioned, Mata Hari, and also if they’re there, try the different tuberose ones. I got some free samples of them and they’re not as potent or scary as some other tuberose scents, just very nice.
Hello Calypso. I read some books by Marquis de Sade when I was in college and although I personally will not mind his name on my perfume, still, I am sure I will try to see the connect between the perfume and his name. 😉 Although you said it is in the strong category, I will still try Marquis De Sade (perfume) just to satisfy the curiosity in me and to check if the impression of others are similar with mine. If their tuberose scents are available here in Riyadh, will check those too. Mata Hari received many recommendations above so that is on top of my list. Thanks Calypso!
The Tuberose 1 and 2,3 are good. The Ambers are good. The ones marked with numbers I don’t know but I had violet and have it up during the swap.
Happy long weekend, everyone!
Actually, yesterday was a fulough day for my school district, so I get a 4-day weekend. I spent the day split between lounging about lazily and cleaning/tidying up. I have my housewarming party in a week, and it’s time to get the house ready!
Today I have yet another first date, with a fella who has a lot in common with me on paper, but I’ve been less than thrilled with our email chatter. He’s taken a month to ask me out AND he never asks me questions. It’s this latter detail which has me most wary. But whatever, give it a shot. (Honestly, I’ve been finding myself thinking about a fella I met a few weeks ago, and I’d rather be meeting up with him today, but it is not an option this weekend.) In any case, I’ve been wearing Nostalgie a lot in these crazy sunshine-then-rain spring Oregon days, so that will likely be my choice for lunch.
Wonderful you are putting yourself out there to find a man. I think you should go with your instincts on this new one. Sounds like you had a lot of chemistry with the other one so hopefully things will work out. Just an aside, I met my husband through eHarmony. He had been doing the on line thing for quite awhile before we met and he said he got a ton of requests for contact and it was almost a full time job trying to respond to all of them. At least here on the East coast there seem to be more women than men doing online dating. That may be why today’s lunchguy took so long to make a move. Then again, he might be kinda passive. Anyway, trust your gut and have fun today!!
Oh, that’s interesting about the men:women ratio! My sense from chatting with guys out here (west coast) is that it’s the other way around. Men complain about women never responding to their emails. As long as a guy seems sincere, I try to respond, even if just to say, “thanks but no thanks,” but I guess that’s uncommon.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Thanks, Robin!
I’m back already–feeling confident that my initial concerns were accurate. Now if only that other fella would give me a call . . . 🙂
One of those cases where he is so obsessed with himself he has no interest in you and just wants you there to listen to him talk about himself? Had an awful ‘relationship’ with someone like that once…
When we weren’t talking about him, there were LOOOooooong silences. I mean, several minutes of silently chewing my lunch, looking out the window. Yeah.
Sorry you had to learn that one the really hard way! Although, I recognize some fellas seem less self-involved on the outset and only show their true colors down the road. . .
Oh well, better to find out he’s a dud now and not later. Was the food good at least?
To give him the benefit of the doubt, it’s possible that he’s just really introverted. Or maybe just in awe of my fabulousness? 😉
The food was fine but unremarkable. I *do* genuinely appreciate that, in general, men do still pay for the meal. Makes it less of a risk for me to go out, but I try not to go out with guys that I don’t think there’s at least a chance–try not to take advantage of the situation.
Definitely in awe of how fabulous you smelled, for sure! I love Nostalgie. (And Jour Ensoleille and To Dream and the list of SSS scents goes on….)
Gatorgirl, right there with you! I own Nostalgie, Champagne de Bois, and Lieu de Reves! I know that there are others that I could own easily and a few new SSS creations I need to sample.
Ok then…keeping my fingers crossed for THAT.
I could probably benefit from your fingers *and* toes! Seems like such a monumental task to find someone truly compatible! Thank you for your support, in any case! 🙂 (And for letting me time and again move the conversation away from perfume! Although I *will* say I think Nostagie was a perfectly acceptable first-date scent.)
Hang in there and keep going. It’s far better to be selective and find the right one than to settle and wind up with the wrong one. Kind of like with perfumes…
Wanted to follow up on a question I asked here a few weeks ago and got some advice on – I finally “figured out” Mon Precieux Nectar. It seems to “work” if you touch apply rather than spraying, seems to warm and diffuse better. When applied sparingly, it doesn’t have that flatness I described; instead the individual notes are more readable. Also I got the “incense” notes that way, a spiciness in the opening that was not apparent when sprayed more liberally. Not sure if I’ll be getting it (yet) but I find the scent of MPN compelling and, on fabric, the lingering scent is fabulous.
Anyone here have that type of experience with a fragrance that worked much better – even had a different scent profile – when applied sparingly?
Lys, I bought a bottle of Ubar this year, which I had only the opportunity to dab before purchasing it. I find that when I dab Ubar, it has a warmer floral profile than when I spray. I notice different nuances when I spray–it seems to have a citrus note that I didn’t notice before. And the “sparkle” I get from dabbing becomes bigger–and fades more quickly–when sprayed. I like it both ways, but I was surprised at how much different the experience was between the two application methods.
As usual, I’m super impressed by the levels of subtle perception that you are both expressing so beautifully. Scent may be changed on a molecular level from being shot through the air before it reaches its destination. It may react with the quality/temperature, etc of the environment during its short journey. It seems that daubing directly would bring a different quality. Maybe the heat of the skin would burn off the alcohol in a different way. I’m speculating here..
I have wondered about this, too, Sajini. I suspect that different “particle” size makes a differences in how it diffuses, and thus, how we perceive the notes. The top notes will burn off faster, the heart notes become more prominent, or whatever.
And speaking strictly for me, I can only be so descriptive when I’ve become very familiar with a scent–many wearings under many circumstances. Don’t expect such articulation after an initial sampling!
Oh you are way too modest.
Your post reminds me of something I’m just starting to know and appreciate about perfume. That it’s something that grows and changes over time, like a relationship. I have a little perfume farm of about 8 bottles and several decants/samples. Just a starter set. At first I felt weird about even having one full bottle of perfume. I mean how could I ever use all of that up? And why was I spending so much money on something that sprays into the air and disappears? I put some of them away and added others. Then I re-sprayed ones that I hadn’t sniffed in awhile and to my surprise they smelled completely different. Or maybe my smelling apparatus is getting more educated. In any case it was a bit of a revelation that appreciation for a perfume can deepen and change. This is getting curiouser and curiouser…
I absolutely think that part of it is changing awareness that comes with growing familiarity with notes and fragrances. I’ve only been doing this a few years, but already I’ve noticed that my scents from the first few months of craziness are vastly different in my experiences then versus now. Some I still love, but notice different aspects. Some I no longer love, but have a nostalgic place in my heart.
This may sound kind of trippy, but your post makes me wonder if the perfume itself can change our perceptions of it. Ok I think it’s getting pretty late here and that wasn’t very coherent. Nighty nite.
This particular discussion is one of the things I love about NST! I’m learning more here all the time.
Hi Sajini – good points about the effect of spraying on the diffusion/development of the scent.
My experience has more often been that a scent when it’s touch-applied doesn’t reveal as much of itself as when it is sprayed. Before I knew much about perfume, I was underwhelmed by a host of Luckyscent vial samples, until I figured out to transfer them into 2 ml atomizers for testing. MPN has been the other way round, I transferred my decant into a travel sprayer and now am settling on using it straight from a decant vial instead. I should have expected this from an “extrait.”
Yes! Thank you Lys! As a newbie to this, I was wondering why many of the LS and other samples from vials seem so wimpy. I must confess I’ve sold a lot of them on ebay because I thought they sucked. Didn’t even make the connection with the application method factor. I will try putting the samples I have left into sprayers and trying them that way. I’m just guessing here but in the case of your MPN, it may have something to do with the composition of the perfume itself. There may be a component in there that helps it “take” better when applied directly. I have a rollerball decant of Amouage Interlude Man that is plenty strong on my with direct application. I think a spray of it would probably blow my hair back.
I’m always worried buying samples from luckyscent when I know the bottle itself has an atomizer. One reason I love Serge Lutens’s export line, with it’s removable spray! Can’t think of any times I’ve truly been burned by the spray/dab discrepancy though.
I sampled Fragonard Santal EDT in a shop yesterday and loved it. Such a pretty lemony sandalwood. Going on the wishlist for sure.
Oh, that sounds nice!
It was a magic perfume day for sure. First I found the old Shalimar, then we walked into the most amazing old timey candy store that had every form of fancy chocolate you can imagine, there was a step down, through an open arch into the most wonderful perfume/body product place. That’s where I found the Fragonard Santal and the Rose Papier d’armenie and a half price monster bar of Porto Sandalwood soap. Four of us women, all strangers, were sprawled on the floor, picking through baskets of half priced goodies. I was able to fairly successfully resist the chocolate place, but the perfume store just about did me in. The shop is H&M Crumpets in Ogunquit, Maine if you’re ever up that way.
I was at that store last summer and loved it. It was a pleasant surprise and I found some interesting things in there to sniff. I did buy a bottle of perfume called Violet Moss at half off and one of the Tokyo Milk scents. The chocolate store that was either next door or a few doors down had the best malted milk balls I’ve ever had and the rest of the chocolate was pretty tasty too.
That is too funny!! I was in Ogunquit last summer, bought fab fudge in that candy shop and sniffed my way through everything in the perfume store. I also visited the art museum there with the most amazing views and sculpture gardens. LOVED all of it.
That is really funny we all wound up in the same shop. The chocolate store and perfume/body store is like a venus flytrap for chicks. Resistance is futile. Also Ogunquit is really beautiful this time of year, a little bit cool and exploding with lilacs.
Wow, what fun! I will have to remember the name next time I’m in Maine.
SOTD is L’eau d”Hiver. I’m feeling very content with what I have at the moment so no plans to buy anything. I’m sure it’ll pass soon enough so I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
I did order some more Papier d’Armenie ( a couple each of rose and kurkdjian ones). I discovered that they also make really great bookmarks especially for any slightly musty, whiffy second hand books.
Yes. And lovely to put them in your wallet and all your money smells delicious. You would think it would help you to hang on to your money but so far not working that way for me.
Oh that does sound like a nice money-saving tactic, if only it would work! 🙂
I am repeating myself now from another poll, but it also makes peppermint gum taste fabulous — really a marvelous combination.
BTW, probably doesn’t matter but I mean the Kurkdjian ones. The rose + peppermint I have not tested 🙂
I haven’t tried them in my walled because I rarely carry cash so they’d be mostly wasted on scenting random receipts.
lol same for me.. but maybe they’d make my debit card smell good 🙂
I usually don’t like rose, but just got a booklet of the Rose papers in a shop yesterday. The guy sold me a little clay hockey puck thing with carved paisleys on it to burn the stuff on. But I do like the idea of using them as bookmarks! They have so much fragrance for little paper strips.
I don’t usually like rose either so I wasn’t expecting to like these as much as I did but rose variety turned out to be my favourite for burning and the year of Armenia ones for tucking into drawers & books.
I just love my papiers! Especially the rose; I would love to own a perfume that smelt like that.
These amazing little papers scent everything so beautifully, and I am tucking them into all my drawers and cupboards. As Robin says, putting them into my wallet is a good way to use them, and makes my credit card smell good, but doesn’t stop me getting it out …..
And I do burn them from time to time, in the way intended.
Thanks NST for introducing them to me.
I agree, this was a fab little discovery – great-smelling and affordable.
SOTD is from my new bottle of Mitsouko EDP (current formulation). I like it a lot better than the EDT I tried at the beginning of my perfume journey (maybe my nose is slightly more sophisticated!), but I still don’t know… I loved the spicy strange rush of it out of the sprayer, but the dry-down (while interminable) reminded me a lot of Aromatics Elixir (which I can’t stand), and just seemed a bit sour. I am debating whether it will change on me once the cold weather gets around? Maybe it was just too warm for Mitsouko yesterday? How do people feel about Mitsouko and temperature, or Mitsouko in general?
Maybe it’s just too different than the Fleur d’Oranger I’ve been wearing every day for the last week…
I don’t know about Mitsouko, but I do wear Aromatics Elixir, and I have noticed that its character changes radically with temperature and humidity and the dryness of my skin. I can’t stand it when my skin is dry, but if I spray it on when my skin is damp after a shower, or if I have it on when my skin is very moist from exertion, it is really wonderful. On very cold, dry days, or hot days of very low humidity I can hardly stand it.
oh my gosh, Aromatics Elixir….there was a woman at a place I worked who must have used this one as a signature scent for a long time (and became inured to its power) because she DOUSED herself in it. I’m no fan of “clean” perfumes, but AE made her smell as though she’d been rolling in dirt.
I can’t get myself to be a Mitsouko fan either (its drydown is too musty)…disappointing, because I do love chypres. For me, not weather-dependent, though I’ve heard others say it works better in the fall.
Oh, yes!! It seems to me that AE is about ten times the strength of ‘regular’ fragrances, so a little dab will be enough to last 24 hours. It is way too easy to use too much of that one.
I have to jump in here to comment on Mitsouko and temperature. I’ve worn Mitsouko since high school (a loooooong time ago!) and it’s one fragrance that drives me crazy when it comes to which is the best to wear it in. All of that lovely bergamot in the top notes mixed with the cool oak moss makes me want to wear it in Spring/Summer. But then the tonka bean/vanilla drydown is too much in the heat and I think it would be better in Fall/Winter. You’d die laughing if you knew how many years this debate has gone on with me! 😀
Rappleyea, do you purchase the current version, or vintage only?
I’ve tried current in parfum, and vintage edt. The new parfum was heavier on the apricot to my nose.
I’ve tried both, but mainly wear the vintage edt (which I love) and some vintage parfum. Mitsouko is the only Guerlain where I actually prefer the edt to the parfum (although that’s great too). And I like the new version, but I just prefer the oak moss laden older versions.
Thanks for these thoughts. I am wearing it again today (a colder day) and I like it more. I think it is a perfume that will grow on me with time (and perhaps different atmospheric conditions)… I have heard the vintage edp is great (and the EDC is, too?), but I am afraid for my wallet to start looking at vintage and have instituted a no-vintage rule for myself!
If you’re going for the classic stopper bottles of parfum in vintage, then yes – yikes! But you can find vintage (at least pre-reform) in the shiny gold box with black at the top edt for very reasonable prices. Surprisingly, Amazon ends up being a good source as they have so many sellers. You might do a search and see what comes up.
That’s so interesting, Rapple. Masterwork perfumes like Mitsouko can’t be taken lightly, can they? I also remember Denyse noting on Grain de Musc that she doesn’t often wear her vintage perfumes often because they require too much attention. More complex perfumes abounded in simpler times….
I remember reading that post, and she’s right. I hadn’t really thought about it like that. To some extent, that’s what happened yesterday with my vintage Chamade – since it was parfum, it wore close to the body so it wasn’t a matter of sillage, but it still felt like such a PRESENCE.
For how rarely I seem to use my Mitsouko EDP (maybe a 2011 batch), I’m more than halfway through it. Since I greatly prefer the mossy dry down to the top notes, I do tend to wear it in the summer, to get there faster.
It’s raining for the second straight day. I don’t mind, but the kind of fragrance I reach for changes to match the misty, moisty morning with its inevitable tinge of sadness. Today I’m wearing an old friend, TDC Bois D’Iris. When I really love a perfume I try not to wear it often – does that make sense? This one I treasure. It makes me think of hidden lakes, fog and water dripping from leaves and branches, lightly punctuating silence. In fact it makes me insufferably poetical.
Dear Insufferable,
Please poeticize away. Your post has enriched and infused my mood with wistful melancholy. It’s raining here too and I usually don’t like roses, but put on Amma’s perfume, a sweet Indian rose attar with sandalwood. And I’m burning Indian rose incense. It’s a little bit funerial, like the smell of Varanasi when it rains.
😀
I agree, sometimes I’m afraid that wearing a perfume to often will rub away some of the magic. I don’t know if this makes sense but I feel that way, too. It’s probably better to wear and enjoy it, but perhaps the key is to match each perfume with it’s appropriate time, weather, mood, occasion, etc., as you have described so aptly.
SOTD = Bvlgari Black
I got some in a swap (thanks swap buddy – you know who you are!) and after a recent perfumeblog article, I ended up trying it and loving it immediately AND the price was RIGHT ($26 for 40 mLs).
I am going to a housewarming party and this scent does not have a lot of sillage and what wafts out is nice soft powdery smoked tea (ha…that is a mouthful).
I know exactly whose article do you mean (our perfume triplet).
Have fun at the housewarming party. Take care and I’ll see you (online) later 🙂
I love Black on other people, but I can hardly wear it myself. Over half of the time, instead of smokey, spiced tea, I get straight-up rubber eraser. And I find it distracting and unpleasant (or maybe just too much like going to work in my classroom?). But it *can* be had for a steal these days–saw it on sale at the Rack just last weekend.
LOL one day I’m gonna buy it at The Rack. One day!
Love Black – picked up a backup bottle at The Rack about a year ago. I heard it was being discontinued so thought I should stock up.
The other day I tried the new CdG Black (not the Play Black) and it was everything I have always wanted Bulgari Black to be on me! Delicious smokey rubber and chewy salty liquorice. I fell in love!
Sounds fabulous! And you’ve created a lemming! 🙂
lem, lem
I’ve noticed how radically fragrances change on my skin, depending on the weather, temperature, heat, humidity, air turbulence, amount of direct sunlight, condition of my skin, and so forth. Some really lovely fragrances turn into scrubbers, and vice versa, and I try to be aware of the weather forecast when I apply them.
I’ve found another source of difference — altitude! I go back and forth from sea level to 6500 feet on a pretty regular basis (my daughter lives in the mountains) and I’ve noticed real differences in fragrance. Heavier fragrances become lighter at altitude! Light florals almost ‘disappear’ the higher you go. I’m not the only one that notices this.
While visiting my daughter, I saw an article in the local paper about cooking and baking differences at altitude, a local baker had to change recipes because of the differences in air pressure. At altitude, the weight of the atmosphere above you is much less than at sea level, so the molecules of gases are under less pressure, and they become more spaced out. Evaporation of liquids into gasses increases, because of the reduction of pressure on the surface, and the molecules disperse more easily into the air. Like champagne in a bottle, you take off the cork, and the gases start to bubble out into the air.
In addition to increasing density/moisture of doughs to reduce overrising, he had to change/modify flavorings like vanilla and almond (usually to increase) as their fragrances would rise out and dissipate into the air more quickly, and baked goods would dry out and become stale much more quickly.
I’m sure that the same applies to perfume fragrance! More so, I think, because of the nature of the more extreme temperatures at altitude.
How interesting! I do find humidity to be especially important, and sometimes in the summer air conditioning makes fragrances seem to disappear.
I’ve lived at high altitudes (nearly 8,000 feet) and agree it definitely affects smells. I also found the air to be exceptionally dry, and, as Robin notes, humidity has a huge impact on how things smell. I hadn’t thought about the direct impact of lower atmospheric pressure on evaporation, but that makes a lot of sense now that you mention it. Interesting to hear about the impact on baking, too – thanks for sharing your observations!
Bonjour everyone! I have been lurking on NST for ages, taking so much advice and getting wonderful information about the world of perfume. I am wrapping up a year in France (6 more weeks) and have been so spoiled with the extensive selection of fragrances here. My SOTD: Shalimar EdP, from a sample. I am contemplating the purchase. My other recent fragrance love, Soir de Lune by Sisley. This will probably be my next purchase. I have varied fragrance tastes and don’t really have a signature scent. My daily perfume depends on my mood. My most recent favorite: Hermes “L’Ambre des Merveilles.” I may have lost this one to my husband, though, who spritzed some on the other day and never looked back (after NEVER wearing fragrance before). Perhaps we can share.
Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the information, advice, and dialogue on this website. Thank you everyone!
Hello and welcome! How lovely that your husband has adopted L’Ambre — that means you both have good taste.
Welcome, and lucky you to have the resources of France at your scented fingertips! Take advantage of it while you can! (Make me jealous!) 🙂
Welcome! I hope you become a regular commenter now that you’ve jumped in.
Hi there! I love when people finally stop lurking and join in. The more the merrier. I’m jealous of your access to all those perfumes in France too.
I often wonder how many people are out there, just watching and reading. . .
Wonder if we could put out a *delurk now* call-out? Wonder how many folks might respond?
HellOOooooo. . . we know you’re out there! We’re not *that* scary! 🙂
Ok, ok, I went and logged in so I can de-lurk. I have been lurking for so many years, six or seven maybe? It’s not that I find it scary to join the conversation, I’m just lazy. Thank you for the prod.
Hahaha! Welcome! Although now I feel sort of like a bully. . . 🙂
Hi Gina67!
Always nice to have a new voice:)
I’m sure we would all love to hear from you on occasion – even though speaking up is not compulsory, lol.
Hello there! Happy to have you join the party!
Great idea: a delurk call out!
If you find yourself near a Nicolai boutique, we’d love to hear your impression of the new eau de soleil…
I inaugurated my Roja Dove Unspoken today! I sometimes hold off on these BIG moments, until the time is right to uncork a perfume (right for what I don’t quite know!). Unspoken is certainly a chypre, it is very much elegant. It does not strike me as being the HAVE to HAVE IT! I remember from that spending spree at Harrods. But it is a GOOD perfume. Interesting thing is: from where I am sitting on a cafe verandah sipping espressos, everyone seems to be smelling wonderful today – unlike those days when there’s no smell but slightly sweaty skin and drugstore. What an experience! Well, at least I’ in the mix of greatness, with my Roja Dove!
You smell gorgeous! I love Unspoken and was lucky enough to buy a partial bottle of the extrait on the old Wiki split site. As you said, a beautiful and well made perfume.
Has anyone bought perfume from an online company called “Lily Direct”? I noticed that their price on L’air de Rien and everything else is really really low and I’m just wondering if they are for real.
I bought an Amouage based on those prices a couple weeks ago, and everything worked out fine, and the shipping was super fast on top of everything. I’d definitely say they’re legit.
Good to know. Thank you!
Did anyone go to Sniffapalooza a few weeks back? I’m totally curious about how it was.
My SOTD is Amma’s perfume oil.
I’m wondering the same thing about Sniffapalooza. Perhaps there’s a no blogging rule or we’re all supposed to go read about it in the sniffapalooza magazine?
The Unseen Censer wrote about her experience! I didn’t go this time, but wish I could have.
Thanks, Ari!
Lovely to read everyone’s fragrance anecdotes and musings on here. Mine is mundane but made me happy today. I visited Cardiff Bay and it was wonderfully sunny. I wore A Scent by Issey Miyake. When I came home the fizzy wine I drank at lunch made me feel weird so I am just wearing plain 4711 now. It’s such a cleansing, pure sort of smell!
Have a wonderful and fragrant weekend everyone!
I like fizzy wine. It’s seems so cheery and celebratory.
Quick question — what’s a good perfume to wear to a curry house?
I would wear a perfume that smells like chai. My fave is Jacomo 8 but I know there are lots of good tea frags out there.
Seconding the Jacomo 08!!
I like the tea idea, but what about going with a cumin frag? I’d think you could do Rochas Femme, for example, and not be overwhelming in such a scented environment.
How about Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant, for the cardamom?
I second KJL’E. All that cardamom!
funny question- personally, I would not want to smell like curry or spice too much myself- something citrusy or rosy, thinking Lime Basil Mandarin, Concentree d’Orange Verte or Safran Troublant…
That would be my choice…something citrusy, maybe particularly something with lots of lime as a complement.
Can’t say why, but to my nose, Bulgari Black might also offset the curry – in a kind of “curry, you’r so spicy – me, I’m so rubbery”, hovering above the curry kind of way.
Thanks for all the interesting suggestions — Ida, I almost wore Bulgari Black! Must have been people talking about it this thread. Anyway, I decided on PC01 by Biehl Parfumkunstwerke as it was warming up in the afternoon, and it seemed to work pretty well against the palak paneer, etc….
Annie,
I’m giggling at the idea of matching one’s scent to the bread at dinner! I *do* believe that is the sign of being a true perfumista! 😀
Like, one of those “You might be a redneck” jokes.
You might be a perfumista if . . .
Oh, now I want everyone to finish that sentence as a poll. . .
Oh yes! That would be a classic poll MR! Great idea.
ROBIN: SEE MARJORIE ROSE’S IDEA FOR A POLL ABOVE.
Thanks for the shouting, I might have missed it otherwise! Added to list.
With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy. . .
Annie, I have samples of those Biehl Parfumkunstwerke perfumes but find it difficult to focus on them because of the lack of names. What are your thoughts on the one(s) you’ve tried?
I agree that their names are really confusing — strange, though, that No. 5, 19, 22, etc. is not confusing. I was luckily at the Perfume Shoppe which was more guided — I think it was the “green, summer fragrance” afternoon and it was the only Biehl of the group. Have tried a couple of of Biehls later on; PC01 was the only memorable one for me and I’ve heard it might be discontinued now…
Diptyque L’Autre, as it smells of curry, kind of.
A friend is going to Paris next month and I found a shop there that has the 50ml sizes of Parfum d’Empire. I know the 50mls are easily available in America but elsewhere they are quite hard to get.
Actually Azemour Les Orangers is not available at all in South Africa.
I had a small dabber of Azemour and was considering buying it if I ever had the opportunity. The dabber is now gone and I’m feeling a little unsure. On me it seemed to open with the richest most wonderful orang-ey type notes. Within half an hour, however, there was primarily a kind of briney tang to it – nice and refreshing but a disappointment after the opening!
Does anyone find this perfume dramatically different when sprayed?
I was considering going for a small Fougere Bengale instead. Its powerful and lasts and lasts and is definitely intriguing. I can buy it here but only in a large bottle and though it fascinates me I’m not 100% sure its love. I’m concerned I will start finding the curry aspect of the immortelle in it a bit too much to wear it often; but on the other hand I like the bright dryness it has…
Well, you already know that I will say go with the Azemour. I can’t believe I still don’t own it.
um, I thought you might.;)
Do you think this frag is quite different when sprayed?
Honestly don’t know, although I have in fact tried it both ways. I just can’t remember.
No prob. Every time I sniff my empty dabber I’m sold, so…
Just came in from my nephew’s high school graduation – my youngest brother’s youngest! Time flies. SOTD is vintage Chamade parfum. I was hard pressed not to keep my wrists pressed to my nose! 😉
I know those wrist pressed to the nose moments. Can make everything else seem bearable!
I frequently get allergic skin reactions when testing perfume- weirdly not from the fragrances I own and usually wear. I find that surprising with all of the new regulations to prevent allergies, to me, it seems perfumes today are rather more irritating. I observed this mainly in the mainstream category. Anybody similar experiences?
Wouldn’t it be interesting with all the restrictions they are putting on the natural ingredients if people actually started having more reactions to the chemicals they are replacing them with?
Hah! Now that would be really ironic!
Good evening everyone. I’m having an unusual problem: perfume malaise, or maybe perfume ennui. Help! This hasn’t happened to me before. I get myself around, showered, and look at all of my many (too many) options and don’t want to put on a thing! I have all of my favorites ready to hand and nothing inspires or appeals. It may be because the weather in Houston is horrible now, already smacking of high summer with temps in the 90s and high humidity. I can’t face anything very heavy, no chypres, no patchoulis or ambers, nothing sweet and cloying, but I don’t find anything light very appealing either. So far I’ve been getting by with Jour d’Hermes which I bought last weekend at the duty free while traveling home from Norway via Amsterdam airport. It’s pleasant but very very light and fades away fast. What should I try in the lighter, refreshing, but not vacuous or disappearing vein?
On the other hand maybe I’m just having a bit of boredom in general, which I am thinking of attacking via–guess what–a new kitten! Met one today at a shelter group at local Petsmart, a beautiful all-gray sweetheart. 🙂 Might go back.
I think it’s normal to suffer burn-out with any passionately pursued hobby. Give yourself permission to take some time off and enjoy other things (like a new kitten!). One day you’ll wake up and be dying to spray on some perfume. I know because it happened to me too.
Aw, do go back for the kitten. You’ll enjoy his/her smell, and you’ll soon spray and enjoy again too = and of course some will have rubbed off onto kitty – heaven!
I often have days like that, and I can’t really explain why it happens, but I feel better quite quickly and my perfume fervour returns. As for the kitten – aaah. I hate to say this, but kittens are better than any perfume!
I’m supporting the GO GET THE KITTY CHORUS!
On the fume front, your nose may need some time off.
In the hottest most humid weather I have experienced I found Christale Eau Verte the only thing I could wear.
Kittens are wonderful–they smell good and they purr and they’ll love you. Perfume only does the first one 🙁
perhaps you are using the wrong perfume!
As much as I love perfume, I find it gets difficult when the weather gets into the 90s. That’s partly because I have to wear a lot of sunscreen, my skin gets sensitive and the contrast between outdoor and indoor air is difficult to match, but I’m also a bit bored with most summer scents. It doesn’t hurt to take some time off from perfume every now and then, anyway, to reset the nose.
Let us know if you get the kitty!
My closest perfumista friend has an on/off relation with her perfumes and pursuing new scents. Usually she is more active in wintertime and forgets about it during summer. That way she never gets bored with her cabinet of scents!
Here’s another vote for the kitten 🙂
Ok. So first of all, may I note that this is *clearly* a very supportive. . . ahem . . . enabling . . . crowd! Folks are clearly just as happy to encourage new kitties as new bottles of perfume!
Second thought–I read an article ages ago that suggests that there’s a sort of perfect number of choices that leads to contented decision-making for folks. Too few, and people feel like they might be missing out, etc., too many, and they get overwhelmed and can’t be content with anything. I wonder if having too many bottles of perfume might lead to a similar feeling of discontent? (Although there are clearly those amongst our number who would pooh pooh such a suggestion!)
Third thought–I’d say go with your gut. If your scents are not inspiring you, go do something else for a while. They’ll wait for you patiently until you’re ready again to give them some love. (Sort of like a kitty.) 😀
Go back! Go back! (I can’t believe you managed to leave at all). I’m all for kitten enabling.
Yes there is a lot of kitten enabling going on here! I forgot (neglected) to mention the salient fact that I already have 11 cats… Yes I am a full-fledged crazy cat lady, and also volunteer at a cat shelter. It’s just that gray cats have always been my favorites, I lost one last year and don’t have one now, and met two very sweet and cuddly gray kittens on Saturday. Very tempted but haven’t taken action yet. I’ve gotten by the last two days wearing (Sunday) OJ Champaca and (today) Parfums Delrae Panache. These are some I found when searching through the not-worn-often bottles. In my opinion one can never have too many perfumes, nor too many cats. 😉
Just stopping by to say hello!
On the perfume front, I am thinking of buying a vintage Chipre or Fougere… Will update on some next weekend poll.
And happy Memorial Day to my U.S. friends! 🙂
Thanks, Kaos! It’s fun to realize that for us, Memorial Day is the beginning of summer, which means that you must be at the beginning of winter in Argentina. A vintage chypre or fougere will be perfect!
Think I’m in trouble–Bergdorf’s now carries Roja Dove. So far I want Enslaved and the. Gardenia Extrait. Sigh. If I can save $20/wk then I can have one of them by New Years……. SOTD is Sacrebleu since it was cool, windy and damp here today but not so dreary that I needed Kalimantan
I was wondering about that new Gardenia. Is it really like gardenia, or simply wonderful in its own right?
It opens fairly realistically (including some gardenia funk) and then hums along beautifully once the funk dies down. The funk is not as intense as Jardenia (from what I remember since I didn’t have skin space to test both) and the Roja Dove Gardenia is prettier than Kai
Wow, I really like Kai and can imagine a more excellent version. This sounds like a must sniff!
BG huh? Oh dear…. then I’m in trouble right along with you! I’ve been a huge fan of RD, but it’s almost impossible to get here in the U. S. as he/Harrod’s won’t ship here. I’ve been dying to try his newest one. Thanks for the info.
This is definitely trouble!
Have you ever tried his Unspoken? If not, would you like to? If so, email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com.
SOTD: Patou Pour Homme. Yesterday it was Patou Pour Homme Prive, and then later in the day I applied PPH. Delicious.
I have a couple of decants of PPH and PPHP, plus about 40% of a bottle of PPH.
I wish Procter & Gamble would bring this stuff back, although it would likely be ruined by reformulation.
Likely that’s the case…sometimes better to give it up then smell what they’ve done to it.
Lucas, I have an almost full bottle of Isfakander (spell) but I can’t find it. I’d love to swap with you. I like niche scents. What do you say?
I got up early to go to Mass in peace only to find my new Jackson Pollack inspired shirt that’s gauzy and beautiful still had the anthropologie sticker hanging on it then I ripped my skirt so I left. But I smell good mixing grand neroli and sacreblue.
Drat, sorry!
Good afternoon, my lovely scented friends. I recently discovered another shop in the Netherlands that carries many niche lines and they also sell online. So when I’m feeling up to it and a friend can chauffeur me, I’ll visit there. In the meantime, I’m planning to order some samples. This is where I’ll be ordering the Neela Vermeire samples I want to try.
They also carry Maion Dorin. Has anyone here tried anything from this line? I’ve read some positive and intriguing reviews online and thought I’d order samples. I love Middle Eastern fragrances and have a couple of Amouages and Montales (Montale Black Aoud is my favorite fragrance).
The ones I’m considering trying are: Un Air d’Arabie Oud, Un Air d’Arabie Rose of Taif, Un Air d’Arabie Amber and maybe Un Air de Damas Fullah, and Un Air de Damas Rose.
Typo: that was meant to be Maison Dorin.
I am so out of it — have not even heard of the line.
You are the last perfumista on the planet whom I’d call “out of it!”
I’m ordering and then testing and will report back. 🙂
Oh, but really, there are so many new lines I don’t even know about…I do think there are many readers here who are better informed than I am at this point 🙂
I have had an exciting weekend so far! Like Marjorie Rose, I also had a first date with a fella I met online. I met him on Friday night and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but sparks flew!
Marjorie Rose, I know what you mean about feeling like the guy talked the whole time. That has happened to me on so many dates and it’s such a turn off. The author of “Men are From Mars…” wrote a book specifically on dating, and he says men treat dates like job interviews (he also likens them to bulls in china shops) — they want to impress us so they talk about themselves much of the time and don’t understand that we women feel supported when they ask about us and listen to us with interest. The author advises just to jump in and tell him about yourself instead of waiting for the guy to ask you questions.
I love it when a guy asks me questions and listens with interest, but I am realizing that many guys just don’t do that. The guy the other night was a lot like that, so I just started telling him about myself. I do want to feel like he is interested in me, and he must be; he called me the next day and made plans with me for tonight!
Marjorie, I agree that you should trust your instincts with that guy. If you see any potential with him, and he asks you out again, give it another shot. And if not, well, the right one is out there somewhere, and it’s only a matter of time before you find each other!
Hey Erin! Congratulations on your successful date! How exciting!
(Do you give your first-date perfume much thought? What scent did you wear?)
I understand what you are saying about men going on and on–I’ve been on those dates. This guy, though, it was odd–he didn’t go on and on, but he didn’t say much of anything unless it was about himself! I’d ask a question, he’d respond with a few sentences about himself, and then. . . nothing. Long, dead space. Then I’d make a comment, and then. . . nothing.
I’ve been part of those “conversations” that feel like the guy is monologging, and not been turned away if it seems like he’s compensating for being nervous or whatever. But this–I’m just not sure he’s got the social skills. Or maybe he just really likes silence. He asked me out for a second date a few hours after I got home, so clearly he thought the afternoon was a success.
An ROTC instructor, a Marine, and a middle aged woman go into a perfume shop…wait, it is not a set up to a joke, it happened to me yesterday. I, of course, played the role of the woman.
I thought they would be in and out in five mins., but NO! They were both so knowledgeable and passionate. We sat at the perfume bar, like it was a real bar, for over two hours. These boys knew their stuff! Both had wives who had no interest in fragrance, so this was a chance to discuss our passion for perfume. We tried on way too many Montales. I ended up taking the Steam Aoud, as did one of the guys. It was such fun to see how the scents changed with our different chemistrys. I have compared with my girlfriends a zillion times, but never with men. What a hoot! I brought home samples of Amouage Gold and Ubar and some Bandit. A great day!
I had never smelled Opus 6 before, and it was gorgeous. Now, to find a willing suitor/boyfriend/victim as a carrier!
Oh what fun! I went out sniffing with two fellas and a lady a few weekends ago, and I completely agree–it’s really nice to have a guy’s take on scents! Sounds like they were lucky to have you to chat with, too.
Thanks, MR! Did you visit Our Lady? It was wonderful, and one of them was choosing samples to mail a friend. When the perfume light goes on, it shines bright! The Steam Aoud smelled of fresh linen on the boys and started there but turned to a Damask Rose on me. I think the SA had as much fun as we did. I have to get to Sniffapalooza! It is too much fun and I love being w/ my peeps.
Yes, we made a pilgrimage to Our Lady! I *do* appreciate having a chance to discuss such things with actual, live people. It’s funny, the first time I met up with fellow fumies, I was surprised to realize how much vocabulary I’d never actually used aloud! When else do I discuss heart notes or sillage? I do feel that I’m getting better with practice. 🙂
What a great story and it sounds like you had a really fun time. Sharing a hobby really multiplies its enjoyment. Hmm… I guess that’s why we love to chat here. 😉
I got my bottle of Manoumalia today! And 4 samples of Turtle Back. Both are great, I’m very pleased!
Congrats!
Hello, first post here but so enjoy reading this site and have learned so much, so thank you for being here!
Question: I recently bought a FM fragrance and can’t wear it after all as it makes me a little sick feeling. What to do? I’d there a place folks go to sell used scents?
Thanks!
Yes Floragal – its called ebay!
Hey Floragal!
Welcome! There are some sites that do regular swaps and such, but I’m not the right resource to help with that–I know there’s a facebook group, amongst others. Which scent is it? Are you hoping to just sell or would you be open to a swap? You might find someone here who’s interested. Robin’s hosted two swaps, and I suspect they will become a semi-regular event. Good luck!