Today we're helping Verity — she's getting married in September and wants to find the perfect perfume that will remind always remind her (and her husband-to-be) of the day. She lives near London and has good access to perfume stores; she can spend up to £100. Here is what we know about Verity:
She's in her late 20s. She works at a university and writes in the evenings.
She is shy but creative and loves to try new things.
She loves to get outdoors when the weather is up to it, and loves being in the countryside — there's nothing better than a pub lunch and a pint somewhere pretty.
Her wedding will be in the New Forest (UK), followed by an informal reception at a beautiful old pub by a river, complete with lots of champagne.
Verity likes incense-y perfumes but she thinks she'd like a floral perfume for her wedding. She really loves Ormonde Jayne Frangipani and wears it most days; she also likes most of the other Ormonde Jayne perfumes with the exception of Ta'if (a bit sweet and she can taste it in the back of her throat). She also likes Le Labo Rose 31 but it reminds her of work — a hotel where she stayed on business was perfumed with Rose 31.
Here are some of the perfumes Verity has tried:
Diptyque Philosykos: too sweet, and a bit like damp dog.
Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume: sickly and headache inducing.
Creed Love in White: she tried it because of the name, it didn't make much of an impression.
Amouage (not sure which one): a little 'perfumey' and formal.
Atelier Cologne Ambre Nue: a bit sweet and boring - it also faded quite quickly.
Eau d'Italie Magnolia Romana: she wanted to like it since it was inspired by the magnolias in the gardens where her fiance popped the question, but the magnolia note was a bit too subtle and she didn't notice it much before it faded.
Lalique Encre Noir: she really liked her sample.
What say you?
Note: top image is Postbriefkasten [cropped] by ganesha.isis at flickr; some rights reserved.
If she likes incense and would like to try something flowery, i recommend Seville au l´ Aube by l ´Artisan . Plus in Spain orange-tree blossoms traditionally bring luck to the brides!
That was going to be my top suggestion!
Thanks for the recommendation – this sounds really pretty and I like that it’s lucky for brides! I’m going into London this weekend so I’ll try to get a sniff at their shop
Magnolia Nobile by Acqua di Parma has a great magnolia note and stays quite linear, although maybe is too dressed up and well-behaved for such a young bird.
Yes, seconding this, and would add also “Intelligence and Fantasy” from Beautiful Mind. Contrary to the rather edgy packaging, it’s a really pretty, wearable magnolia–and apparently were created by the perfumer responsible for the OJ line, so could be a good fit here! More details in the comment thread:
https://nstperfume.com/2009/12/30/the-beautiful-mind-intelligence-fantasy-new-fragrance/
I have tried this a couple of times and I really like it, but it doesn’t feel very ‘me’ – a bit too formal. But thanks
Ormonde Jayne Frangipani is, to my mind, the perfect wedding perfume already, but I guess if Verity is wearing it every day already it might not seem special enough. Was wondering if she couldn’t layer it with either an incense scent, or possibly a deeper floral? But offhand not sure what would work.
That was my thought, too – just wear the Frangipani! If I had known of it at the time that I got married, back in the Pleistocene era, I would have worn OJ Frangipani for my wedding. But since Verity has such good taste (ha!), I must suggest some of my other favorites, which are in the lush floral (and/or incense-tinged floral) category: how about Nicolai Odalisque, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile EdP, Vero Profumo Rubj Parfum, or Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia (in parfum, if possible)? If she doesn’t mind BIG, there’s Amouage Ubar, which is special enough for a special wedding, and I second Zazie’s By Kilian Sweet Redemption, if Verity doesn’t mind a bit of resinous, incensy weirdness in there. Also, there’s the new Houbigant Orangers en Fleurs, which is darn pretty and very romantic. But there’s always just Frangipani!
I can’t think of anything more dewy and fresh in this category…
Hmm, forgot about Hermes 24 Fauborg (in parfum, maybe?), Donna Karan Gold (if Verity likes lily) and Annick Goutal Passion. This is a lot of stuff to try, but I assume somebody willing to spend 100 GBP is fine with sampling.
I second a lot of these suggestions. I was thinking of AdP Iris Nobile, it is a great fragrance. I prefer it too Magnolia Nobile, which I find rather boring.
I thought of Donna Karan Gold, it’s a wonderful lily on an ambery incense base. Discontinued but still easily found online.
Eau d’Italie’s Paestum Rose might be an option. It is a rosy fragrance on an incense and myrrh base. I somehow don’t associate it with weddings though.
I would suggest Amouage Gold rather than Ubar, but Gold might be the one you’ve already tried.
Other suggestions would be: Delrae Amoureuse and Début.
Parfums Divine; L’Infante, a wonderful radiant Mimosa. ( Liberty’s carries the line)
Editions de parfums Malle: Carnal Flower
Seconding Houbigant Orangers en Fleurs – it’s beautiful and very very pretty. I think it would be lovely for a wedding. The parfum version, while super pricy, is even more lovelier! I scored a 10ml purse size as a freebie with purchase. You might be able to get a decant or sample to add depth to the EDP.
S
I tend to agree with you both – Erin and Robin. OJ Frangipani is hard to beat. Love it myself.
Anyway , how about Uncle Serge’s Un Lys ?
Hi and congratulations!
I think you should check out “gardez-moi” by Jovoy: it is a very pretty white floral with a incens-y base. If you like OJ’s Frangipani and incense scents this should be right up your alley!
You might also like l’artisan parfumeur’s Seville a L’aube, or By Kilian’s Sweet redemption: both are very nice orange blossom scents with an interesting resinous base – but they are quite sweet, so I’m not endorsing them 100%… ;).
Couple of different ideas–
— I haven’t smelled the Frangipani Absolute but maybe it could serve as a “special” version of something you know you like?
— Marni’s nice as floral + incense (plus, admittedly, some other things), and I find it very joyful; I think it could make a nice wedding scent.
— If you like OJ Frangipani, I bet you’d like some of the Ineke line–maybe Hothouse Flower?
— Likewise maybe a different Diptyque–Do Son, Ofresia, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau (I’m guessing EDT will appeal more than EDP but why not try both, if you have access.)
— Lastly, and feel of course completely free to ignore this, but I think the idea of wearing the thing you already love and feel good about merits consideration! I think it could be very sweet to go to your wedding smelling the way you smelled while you were dating, when you fell in love, and so forth. Totally understand the impulse to wear something different to mark the day as special, but just in case you don’t find something you like as much as Frangipani, I think this is also a good option.
Wait, I may have confused the names–Robin’s 2005 review discusses the Frangipani Absolute from OJ and I had just assumed it was a different perfume, but now I’m wondering if maybe it’s just that the “Absolute” was dropped from the name, but juice is same. I’m not immediately seeing Frangipani Absolute advertised on their website now (although I could be overlooking?)
Sorry to have introduced this confusion!
Yes, I think they just renamed it.
Gardenia Petale by Van Cleef & Arpels would be a perfect fragrance for a bride. It smells like true gardenia and lasts reasonably long.
This is a good idea–also Tiare, from OJ, seems worth trying if Verity hasn’t already, as well as Chanel Gardenia which Jean-Claude Ellena describes as his favorite gardenia because “it smells not of the flower but of happiness” (what could be better, for a wedding!)
Hi CH, I was going to mention OJ’s Tiare too! It has the lovely tiare flower of course, but there is vetivert in the drydown, which might appeal to Verity given her love of Encre Noire.
OJ Tiaré is wonderful and a great green floral. Along the same line she might like Lauder’s Private Collection Jasmine White Moss as well.
Thanks – I love Taire too (I got one of those Ormonde Jayne sample sets before I bought Frangipani) – but I bought it for my Mum last Chistmas so probably not one for the wedding day (although my Mum will be wearing it!).
Commes Des Garcons White is a lovely Lilly of the Valley, with a bit of pepper and incense. The first Lutens L’ Eau has some lovely magnolia, but it is a very subtle perfume and a bride is entitled to sillage.
The entire Lalique line is well made. Perles, I believe is a fine floral.
Pehligans Amarinthe is a very fine, very English perfume.
I think Rojas Blessings, which is a bit woodier is a lovely perfume, less expensive than the rest of the line, and I think the name is wonderful for a wedding. It would also be a nice September perfume.
I don’t know how you do with aldehydes, but Chanel No. 22 is a classic white floral with an aldehydic beginning and an incense end.
I think Frederic Malle’s Lys Mediterranee might be wonderful for a summer wedding.
I wore Andy Tauer’s Carillon Pour un Ange for my wedding day last year.
Caron Parfum Sacre is rose and incense.
I wore Diorissimo to my wedding, so I’m biased – but lily of the valley seems perfect for such an outdoor wedding! Profumi di Firenze (sp?!) Magnolia Dolce is a lovely magnolia, bright, beautiful, and likewise perfect, I think. Best wishes, Verity – and whatever you wear, your day will be speical!
Datura Noir by Serge Lutens is uber feminine and almost hypnotic. The fragrance specialist at Barney’s said they recommend it to brides.
Annick Goutal has a wide range of fragrances most of which could be comfortably worn as bridal: Quel Amour, Eau de Camille,Folavril are all light romantic florals
Grand Amour and Songes have a more dramatic effect
All best wishes for your wedding
Thanks for these suggestions
I used to have a sample of Songes which I really liked to begin with, but then it started to smell really ‘off’ on me – I think I must have weird skin chemistry!
LOVE the description of your wedding, and therefore am suggesting Sonoma Scent Studio Champagne de Bois.
You beat me to it! Seconding Champagne de Bois.
Congrats Verity!
The fragrance that popped up in my mind for a suggestion is:
APOM Pour Femme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
An unique orange blossom scent.
Maybe try After My Own Heart by Ineke.
Or Songes, Annick Goutal.
There are lots of lovely reviews of En Voyage Perfumes’ Zelda, which is being described as a true magnolia. It sounds rather special – just right for a special day – and you can be sure that nobody else will be wearing the same perfume as you!
Some more suggestions that popped up in my head today:
White floral bouquets:
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier Jardin Blanc and Le Jasmin.
Diptyque: Olène
For greens ( since you liked Encre Noir so much):
Chanel: Sycomore and Bel Respiro
Editions de Parfums: En Passant
Nicolaï: Weekend à Deauville, L’Eau Mixte, and L’Eau d’Eté
MPG; Racine.
And adding, since I am just finishing up my review of it — Le Labo Lys 41! Might be perfect.
Verity,
Magazine Street by Strange Invisible perfumes is an magnolia floral inspired by a street in New Orleans. It takes magnolias in a dark direction, and has the tang that makes so many natural fragrances interesting. A full bottle of pure parfum would probably break the budget, but they also offer eau de parfum for 135 US dollars.
For something completely different, Etat Libre d’Orange’s Vraie Blonde is the closest thing I’ve found to dabbing actual champagne on my skin, just like Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember!
Best wishes, it is such fun to choose! Mine was inspired by the gardenias I wore in my hair: Creative Scentualization’s Perfect Gardenia + a little Commes des Garcons Tar to show off the rubbery aspect of gardenia! I smelled so good, I was pestered by an overfriendly fly during my vows