Our sixth annual holiday gift poll (see 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Here are the three questions:
What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
My answers:
A bottle of Lush Rose Jam shower gel would make me happy.
This was a really hard pick this year — there's nothing at the moment that I haven't smelled but am really excited about. I might go for Costume National Cyber Garden just because I like the brand and I like the perfumer, plus it sounds a little offbeat.
Yes, but I can't post about it because it's a secret!
Note: top image is Christmas Cactus [cropped & colors altered] by Mustang Joe at flickr; some rights reserved.
1. Probably a Lush gift card. I am really well stocked up on Lush shower gels, shampoos, etc. right now, so a gift card would let me get fresh stuff when my supply starts to dwindle. I am rather hooked on their fresh face masks as well, and those have to be bought every couple of weeks as they do not keep very long.
2. I have not had good luck with unsniffed acquisitions, but maybe Mona di Orio Violet Fumee. I love violet scents, and I have heard so many good things about this one.
3. Yes, my husband is getting some new fragrance for Christmas, as usual. No fear about spoiling the surprise, even if he knew my screen name and checked out this blog–he always gets fragrance from me, but different scents each time. I am also giving some of the Lush gift sets to some of my nieces (and yes, Rose Jam is among them).
Ok, what are the wonderful face masks from Lush?
They have fresh face masks that they keep on ice / in a fridge in the store. I second the recommendation — I love them.
Their fresh face masks can only be bought in the Lush stores, not online, as they contain perishable ingredients such as eggs, fruit, and fresh herbs, and have to be kept refrigerated. You are supposed to use the mask up within three weeks of the date of manufacture. If you shop on the weekend, that translates into about two weeks from the date of purchase, as they are made on Monday and are delivered to the stores on Thursday. The masks are $6.95 each and and I have found that each one provides enough for five or six applications.
I have tried three of them so far–Cupcake, Cosmetic Warrior, and Brazened Honey. So far, the Brazened Honey is my favorite. I have rather contradictory mature/acne prone skin. I still break out regularly even though I am in my late 40s. Really strong acne medicines can dry out my skin too much, but milder treatments don’t work. I find that Brazened Honey works really well to help clear the acne flareups while leaving my skin soft and moisturized, not dry and flaky. Cosmetic Warrior worked almost as well, but smells terrible. Cupcake worked pretty well and smells wonderful (chocolate mint!). They have others aimed at dry skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, and so on. It is worth trying one or two to see what you think.
Thanks! Will see if I can get a sample.
$6.95! Damn! Here in Aus they’re $16.95! But the Lush SA’s here say they’re good for up to 4 weeks.
My current one is Love Lettuce which has ground almond and almond shell so it’s a mask/scrub. My fave though is Oatifix
$16.95? That is certainly a big price jump from what we pay in the U.S. Does Lush have a manufacturing facility in Australia or do they ship everything in from overseas? I think all the stuff sold here in the U.S. is made in Canada, so it is an international shipment but by ground. If they have to ship in fresh masks from Canad or the U.K., then the price premium makes some sense.
I should add–if they are shipping everything in from overseas, it is too bad that they don’t have a facility to make their products in Australia. I know you do pay a big premium for a lot of things down under.
I believe they’re made in Melbourne, as the eastern states can order fresh items online and it’s a quick delivery time..
The $US vs $A prices of most cosmetic/fashion (or maybe everything) is quite a dramatic difference. The govt is planning to ‘remedy’ the tax free online shopping loophole, but until then it’s no surprise everyone shops online from o/seas. When our dollar was parity with yours was rather nice too 😉
Lush left Brazil a few years ago. They were badly managed here, selling lots of rancid stuff. Still, I must admit I totally panicked and started making my own facial treatments -which I still do. It’s really hard to find nice cosmetics here (forget about a decent price). And of course, we never had their fresh stuff anyway.
1. I’d love to get a gift set of Hermes Eau des Merveilles: edt, shower gel, lotion.
2. Would blind buy Puredistance Black just because of the raves I keep reading about it, and the whole aura of mystery it has.
3. Yes, I will probably give my mother something from EL that she likes, and I always give nice soaps to some of my male friends. Probably they will get Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet and Quercus.
Oh, I’d like your #1 too. Love Hermes body lotions.
I’ve just ordered one of my presents from my husband: a full bottle of Ambre Sultan. My birthday is the day after Christmas so I’ll probably ask for something else – perhaps lovely, warm Vanille Insensée by Atélier.
Unsniffed, I really fancy Timbuktu or Incense Pure by SSS.
I’m giving my husband Eau Sauvage EDP, as a change from his beloved Terre D’Hermès, and for my daughter, against my better judgement, Giorgio Armani’s Si.
And now I’m going to fill the house with delicious smells – I’m going to make a traditional English Christmas cake with lots of brandy and dried fruit. It’s my first attempt, so I hope it doesn’t end in tears.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Oh, do hope your cake turns out perfectly! And an early Happy Birthday to you.
Thanks, I’ll let you know. But rest assured that, however it turns out, it will definitely get eaten!
How’d the Christmas cake-making go? I have fruit cake on my baking list–might get to it today. It is similarly full of real (not candied) dried fruits, nuts, and pear brandy–delicious stuff, and if I call it something other than the dreaded “fruit cake,” nearly everyone likes it!
Well, it looks fine and smells delicious, but haven’t tasted it yet. First it has to be left to mature until Christmas, during which time I have to inject it periodically with sherry, brandy, whisky or rum…or maybe all of those! Hope yours turns out well!
1 – This year’s Diptyque Christmas candles. I have a feeling my cats might be taking advantage of the sales and ordering one this weekend 😉
2 – Hmmm…. I would ask the generous hypothetical gifter to surprise with their choice out of Marni Rose, Hermessence Epice Marine, Dries Van Noten par Frederic Malle or PHI Une Rose de Kandahar.
3 – not sure yet. My mother has become a fan on AdP Profumo and she’s mentioned that she’s running low on the matching cream so I’m thinking of getting her some of that.
I would take that Diptyque Pine Bark candle too!
Oh, I’ve got a jar of that cream and it is Di-VINE. She will love you for that!
I would love to receive a bottle (or large decant!) of SL Chergui or L’Artisan Safran Troublant. The Safran Troublant may count as an unsniffed fragrance, because I only dabbed a bit on my wrist once…and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since.
As for truly unsniffed fragrances, I would go with either SSS Citrus Vetiver, 1000 Flowers Reglisse Noire, or Hermessence Epice Marine.
I just bought a decant of Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge for my good friend, yay! It is really just as much fun as buying perfume for myself (well, almost). I hope everyone has their fragrant wishes come true!
Reglisse Noir has been on my buy list for a few years now–but I never quite put it as a priority! Maybe that means what I really should buy is a decant. Hmm. Too bad my cats aren’t as generous as Abyss’. . . 🙂
I was just looking at the website, and I saw that the 15mL bottles of Reglisse Noire are on sale for $20. That sounds like quite a good deal to me, though I don’t know how much shipping is to the states…if only I had not already completely destroyed my perfume budget for the year!
Oh shoot. You working on getting a new gem in your enabler’s pin?! Now I have to go peek. . . Which website is that, again?
http://www.1000flowers.ca/boutique#!__boutique
I think all of the 15 mL bottles are on sale, actually! I would also love to try Ode for Him…
Seems that I don’t have access here in the States. Bummer. I totally would’a purchased a 15 mL bottle. . . Hope you get some and enjoy it for me! 🙂
Yukiej the enabler! I’ve just bought a little bottle of the Reglisse Noir…
I’d love to receive Amouage Fate Woman or Greenwitch or Bois des Iles extrait if someone else is shelling out the money
Unsniffed, I would take Ormonde Jayne Qi since I’m an acupuncture student. I’d also be willing to chance vintage Murasaki or Opium Fleur de Shanghai to stay approximately on theme
I still have not tried the newer Ormonde Jayne’s … I’d take those unsniffed too.
I got a small sample vial of Fate and can’t stop wearing it. Tonight I went to dinner with some friends and after hugging me my friend said “You smell wonderful. What IS that?” so I got to go into the whole story. I’m really tempted…. Or maybe just a biggish decant.
In my la-la-land dreams, my ultimate fragrance gift would be a bottle–heck, even a partial bottle–of Attrape Coeur. I recently reread Angela’s review, and I’d forgotten how recently that was in circulation, and it’s surprising to me how impossible it is to find! I just ordered 20mL from Surrender to Chance and drained their supply, I fear. Sorry if someone was holding out for it! Of course, wouldn’t say no to a bottle of Une Rose de Kandahar, either!
For unsniffed, which mostly makes me uncomfortable, how about something I love but in pure parfum? Bois des Iles perhaps? Or vintage Shalimar, if there is one. Oooh. How about OJ Ta’if! I bet that’s lovely in pure parfum!
I would love to buy a bottle of something for my new fella, so that he has more options than Spicebomb or Bleu de Chanel. But I’m not comfortable buying without his input, so I don’t know if it would happen. Might be able to drag him to Nordies to sniff a few things, but if not, I might wait for another occasion.
Bois des Iles in extrait is lovely 🙂
Yes, so I’ve heard. *sigh*
Maybe a nice basket of samples as a gift instead?
Of course, *I* would love a basket of nice samples, but for him, unfortunately it probably wouldn’t be a good fit. I think he wouldn’t be interested in playing the sample-everything game on his own. He’d be a good sport if I dragged him into a shop and sniffed it on him, but I can’t really imagine him giving it that much attention on his own.
New fella! Congrats! I must have missed some posts.
The scent related gift I’d most love to receive this year is a Personal Secretary to whom I could hand this list I’ve made with instructions that she have a sample of each juice, from the cheapest source, here in a week. Oh, and if she looked fabulous in jeans, riding boots and a nice cashmere turtle-neck sweater too, that wouldn’t be all bad.
Unsniffed, since you’ve given me only one choice, it would have to be the scent smelled by Jean-Baptiste Grenouille just prior to his demise. I, however, would have walked longer amoung the people; teasing them with the slightest hints of the glory that was about to overwhelm them. C’est magnifique; c’est de la folie.
To give a scented gift? None really; I’ve no one of that status about these days… Unless you’d count the steak I’ll cook for Zena and Ozzie for their dinner on Christmas Eve.
LOVE the idea of a Personal Perfume Secretary! I bet there’s more than one lady here who’d enjoy such a position if it included bonus fragrance as pay. . . can’t speak to how cute they look in riding leathers, though! 😉
A perfume personal shopper! But not the cheapest way to get samples, probably.
I’ve seen a lady on ebay who offers that service. She sells SL bell jars, but her site mentions that she’d be happy to mule (my word, not hers!) other exclusive scents for folks in the States. Hard to imagine it’s cost-effective, but I suppose compared to a trip to Europe. . .
If we’re talking about the same person, I’ve bought from her before — she’s great.
Good to know! If there’s something I can’t get shipped that I’m dying to have, I will keep it in mind.
My co-worker and his wife have Christmas dinner with their two dogs on a tablecloth spread on the floor of their kitchen. I’ve seen photos — very sweet.
Hah…. Tell your co-worker they aren’t alone.
I always understood that you were supposed to spend these times of the year with the Beings in the world who care most for you…
But I can’t tell you how difficult it is to convince some people that it *really is* where you want to be and what you want to be doing.
A fragrant good morning to all…
I would love a great big bottle of Ineke’s Field Notes from Paris–I wore it last week (from my dwindling sample) and two people commented on it before I even made it into my office!
I would love it if Santa gifted me with some PHI Rose de Kandahar–even unsniffed I am always ready to take a chance on Andy Tauer!
I am picking up a Fresh gift set (or making my own) of Hesperides for a good friend who just loves that scent.
Happy Happy and Merry Merry to all!
Hey, I would love a bottle of Field Notes too. Great scent.
I think we might be scent twins Robin–good thing that I read all of your reviews very carefully!!
It’s good to have a scent twin 🙂
1. Astier de Villatte Delhi candle..I absolutely love this- I got it at a great price at a ‘home store’ and it is almost gone.
2. Vintage Shalimar parfum
3. I am giving my sister a tocca mini set with colette and cleopatra..mostly because i think she will love the cute bottles. I almost got her prada candy.
Oh I missed the ‘ unsniffed’ part.. In that case I’d like to receive..hmm.. I can’t think of anything really. Oh maybe Memo Shams.
Hey, why don’t I ever run into discount Astier de Villatte??
haha- but they no longer have Delhi anymore.. 🙁 Even their Cire trudon price was better than lucky scent and Barneys..but that difference was lesser, like 5-10$
My husband is going to Paris in December so I am “wishing” for Lutens’ El Attarine and Bois et Musc.
I would like to get Cosmic Wonder from Six Scents, Series One unsniffed. If anybody knows where to find it, please do let me know.
I am also excited to make some decants for my sister. She was so sweet to ask for them.
Good luck, I would bet that Cosmic Wonder is sold out.
Probably that’s why I am brave to declare that I would like to get it unsniffed as I know that it is rather unlikely that I’ll find it … but hope that you’ll receive Cyber Garden as it would be great to read your review of it!
Good evening Now Smell This!
1. What is the fragrance-related gift you’d most like to receive this year?
If that would be possible I would love a bottle of Puredistance BLACK, but I know that it’s not going to happen! 🙁
2. Let’s say you were going to ask for just one unsniffed fragrance this year, what would it be?
I’ve been dying to try Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Velours for a couple of months. I haven’t tried it yet but I will soon, a friend from London got me a very tiny (0,25ml) sample of it. So yes, I woudl ask for VC&A Rose Velours.
3. Are you giving any fragrance items for gifts this year, and if so, what?
Nah, not this year. For the last couple of years dad was getting an aftershave splash from me but this year I got him a bag, Mum wants to get him some perfume (with my guide assistance)
My SotD is Incense Rose by Andy Tauer.
Also, I’ve been to a cinema this afternoon to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and I loved it! The film was great, lots of action and I had a few moments of having tears in my eyes. Looking forward to seing the continuation of the story.
Oh good, looking forward to seeing Catching Fire…glad to hear it’s great.
It’s definitely worth going to the cinema
Hello Lucas, My sister and nieces went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Frozen (Disney animated movie) and they loved both. I haven’t been to a movie theater in 2 years…the last time I went was to see the Adventures of Tintin.
Puredistance Black would set you back a pretty penny but one never knows. Does Quality Missala carry the line? I hope to get my sample from LuckyScent next week!
Glad they liked Catching Fire. And Frozen sounds like a funny Christmas themed animated movie.
Answering your question – yes, Quality Missala carries Puredistance and Black has just appeared here this week
Lucas, I was just catching up on your blog and especially enjoyed your description of the Quality Missala seminar on perfume magic. What a charming and enlightening event!
Hi Nozknoz! Thank you! You should de-lurk and leave a comment sometimes 😉
I’m glad you liked my report from the perfume workshop about magic in perfume. I had an excellent afternoon there.
1) I *really* have been wanting Ineke Evening Edged In Gold forever now.
2) That Rose Jam sounds like it’s had such good reviews, I’ll take some unsniffed:).
3) Going to *try* to get husband Bottega Veneta Pour Homme, we will see.
I really hope they are not out of that Rose Jam when I finally get back to Lush.
If you find you still need some Rose Jam and can’t find any, Robin, I’d sell you mine. I bought it unsniffed and it has a candy, powdery underbelly that doesn’t really suit me. More LUSH than Gorilla.
Hey, thanks! Let me see if I can find it and save the shipping, but if not I’ll get back to you. (Kevin didn’t like it either, by the way.)
Dear Santa,
I had been rather indulgent this year so why stop now? For Christmas, you know, the BIG Occasion (and I was a good girl — I did not go to any brick and mortar stores for the purpose of buying presents for myself or others on Thanksgiving Day nor on Black Friday), I would really love to be gifted Chanel Bois des Iles Parfum Extrait. It had been on my list since July, when I experienced it via a tiny tiny .25ml (now that is really tiny) sample; I have the EDT but it is just not the same.
Since we’re allowed once per year to ask for / buy unsniffed without being judged, how about some Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Bois du Chocolat (No. 13)? With the economy the way it is, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the 20% off sale going on right now but hurry, it ends on 12/15! Or…the reissued L’AP Jour de Fete sounds good too but perhaps, you can get it for my birthday in March since it is not due out until March.
Finally, I am gifting some friends scented candles from Barnes & Noble – they were on sale and I love a good bargain for good stuff.
That’s all for now.
Nice of you to find Santa the sale price 🙂
Well in this economic climate, even Santa could do with a break;)
By the way, I know what you mean about loving GOOD stuff on sale – because so often its the less desirable stock on the sale shelf.
And suddenly “Santa Baby” is running through my head. . .
1. Shalimar EDP
2. Puredistance Black or Profumum Fiori d’Ambra
3. I’m giving my mom a 30ml bottle of Love, Chloe. SIL and MIL are getting a couple of decants each.
Hope your mom loves the Chloe!
Oh, she will! She already drained 3 5ml decants from my bottle so I figured it was time for her own.
Any bottle? El Attarine, probably, but I think I’m getting Borneo 1836, with which I think I can make due. 😉
Of course, then there’s the Hermessence discovery set I’m craving. Might just have to get one for myself….
As for unsniffed, probably Sugi. I love the smell of my adopted (Japanese) grandmother’s closets. I find the Monocle scents beautiful and austere, but maybe not very conversational, if that makes sense.
I’m planning on getting a bottle of L’Eau Froide for my boyfriend. I would LOVE to get Him a bottle of Geranium Pour Monsieur but I don’t think I’ll be able to afford it any time soon. 🙁 We both really like L’eau Froide but not as much as the Malle.
An aside: while I was at my Hermes boutique, I got to try the new Jour parfum. Very pretty and elegant, still recognizably Jour but more lush, less green. It also has the same raspberry note as Tauer’s Une Rose Vermeille (too lazy to check that spelling on my phone). Jour eventually won me over pretty well and the parfum might be calling me too….
Good to know, I haven’t tried the extrait yet.
Ooh, yeah, lusher and less green sounds like just the tweaks I might enjoy from Jour! Thanks for the head’s up.
1. I just tried Tom Ford Santal Blush and really liked it. It’s one of those perfumes that I would obsess about before committing to purchasing, but wouldn’t think twice about wearing if it was gifted to me. 🙂
2. Unsniffed – Donna Karan Signature…or Chaos, or both!
3. I spent Thanksgiving with a some male relatives in their early 20’s. I was surprised after asking them about their fragrance choices that they have not expanded past Old Spice deodorant…and one of their friend’s was wearing Axe! I haven’t bought these boys gifts since they were in their teens, but might need to surprise them this year!
Oh, I want a bottle of Chaos too!
And Axe, really…they must move on now.
Robin, I hope you get a bottle of Chaos!…you so deserve it! 🙂
Oh, I think it would be fun to pick out a new scent for a 20-something fella! And you can hardly go wrong–nearly anything would be an improvement over Axe or simple deodorant.
Dear Santa, I wish you bring me 2-3 ml spray samples of …20 exclusive fragrances I haven’t smelled yet. Don’t forget to include Neela Vermeire, Profumum, Lorenzo Villoresi, Arquiste, and Roja Dove.
And then, a bottle of Peloponnesian of Strange Invisible Perfumes, which I trust unsniffed.
I don’t offer perfumes, people around me prefer other gifts.
1. I’d like to receive Chanel No 5 EDT this year, specifically in the flacon bottle. I prefer the way it looks (as the EDT doesn’t come in the beautiful EDP bottle).
2. Unsniffed, I would go for Ormonde Jayne Tolu. I’m almost positive I’d love it as I adore tolu balsam. Though if Dita von Teese did a coffret of small sizes of all her fragrances I’d want that.
3. Yes, Kenzo Flower for my Mum along with minis of EL White Linen & Beautiful.
Santa, I would love a full bottle of Trayee, Jour Ensolleille, Incense Rose, Ore, Onda, or Puredistance M. Oh, almost forgot that Double Vanilla by Guerlain too. Any of those would be just fine.
Unsniffed? Haha, I buy a lot unsniffed so I’d love to get Kiki, Mito, Ashoka, or just surprise me with something with incense, tobacco, woody notes, or a big white floral.
Gifts? I’ll probably get hubby one of those fresh clean scents he likes. 🙁 I’ll most likely get myself something as well although I just bought a few things recently so I really don’t need any.
Dear Poodle, it looks like you are getting Santa’s entire sack! Good for you! Hope all is well (or at least getting better).
I probably won’t end up with any. I just like to give Santa plenty of options.
I hope things are going well for you too.
Very thoughtful to give him choices!
Hope you’re recovering ok from Thanksgiving, too. 🙂
How are the dogs – I would imagine you will be getting some very nice gifts from their direction;)
The boys are okay. The little one is going to be the death of me. We had to stop her cushings meds because she got sick again and we weren’t sure if she was having an addisonian crisis or something else. She had another UTI too. Her good days are really good but her bad days are really bad.
Sorry to hear she still has bad days:(
But I’m sure she gets spoiled silly, and that is some consolation!
I’ve just bought myself enough scented gifts for my whole yearly budget! But just split with my BF so it’s part consolation, part spending his share of Xmas gifts 🙂
These were: the Malle coffret I’ve wanted since last xmas, some more Tauer samples so I know what to get in my Explorer set (Rose de Kandahar is lovely!), By Night White and a couple other things from Luckyscent, oh, and um, Teatro alla scala and Moods by Krizia pretty cheap.
(well here’s my damage poll entry :-/)
Unsniffed, Puredistance Black does sound fantastic. I haven’t tried the Neela Vermeires yet so them too 🙂
On would think I’ve no money left to spend on anyone else, but I haven’t many people to buy for. Just gave my sister a huge selection of samples for her b’day in Sept, so no fragrant gifts this year. Was planning on getting bf something (Reve un Cuir maybe), but no longer!
Congrats on that Malle coffret: it is a real treasure!
I’ve managed to mostly talk myself out of it, darn it! Of course, if Santa wanted to give me one, I wouldn’t say no!
I find that if I wait long enough most of my lemmings fade!
I agree that if Santa threw this at me I would be delirious with joy!
Still, I think both of us prefer to spend $ on things we use and this is probably more of a collector’s item?
1. My choice would be Comme de Garcons Black: of all smokey scents I think this one is my favorite! And, a decant of Lipstick Rose…
2. It may be a tie between Montale’s Black Oud and Une Rose Kandahar.
3. B.F only wears fragrance for me and has emphatically stated that he is more or less indifferent to it. But, I am considering a Crabtree& Evelyn shaving cream for him. Only, I just gave my dad a sandalwood one for his birthday so maybe not…
I would love to try the Diptyque candles, and since they’re both unsniffed and way too expensive, I think that counts as both 1 and 2… I haven’t sniffed Ashoka yet (though a sample in underway), so perhaps that one as well.
I’ll be giving soap and samples out as gifts, as usual, especially to my sister. Maybe something sandalwood for DH…
Also want to try Ashoka – it sounds like one of the more intriguing 2013 releases!
I tried Ashoka on paper at MinNY a few weeks ago. I wasn’t bowled over and I forgot to ask for a sample to try on skin…will remedy that the next time I visit.
I believe there will be several Aftelier minis under my tree, including some unsniffed ones.
A friend of mine is getting married in December. To help her find a wedding perfume, I loaned her 8 or 9 of my perfumes to try out, ranging from Kai to Seville a l’Aube (she likes romantic florals). Her top choices were BK Liaisons Dangereuses and Parfum Sacré. I’m giving her the BK travel atomizer set of LD and my back-up bottle of Parfum Sacré (the vintage that she tested).
I see your cats had been very very busy.
And best wishes to your friend who is getting married! What a nice friend you are! Is she doing a winter wonderland-type of wedding? I had been watching way too many of episodes of Say Yes to the Dress (the NY and Atlanta editions). A co-worker is getting married in February in upstate NY…I should ask her about her wedding scent!
It’s a busy season for perfumista cats! 😉
I think a winter wedding scent is a bit challenging. I know I spent some time searching my collection for floral scents that would hold up to the cold weather and dry air, while avoiding anything too heavy or old ladylike (i.e., most of what I usually wear in the winter myself).
I think Parfum Sacré is a great idea for a winter wedding scent. Or maybe a wedding scent in general, especially if it’s in a church.
It’s such a classic!
1. I would love for Santa to bring me one or all of the following fragrances:
-Maison Francis Kurkdjian “APOM” and/or “Amyris Femme”
-Tom Ford “Santal Blush”
-Elie Saab “Intense”
-Robert Piguet “Mademoiselle Piguet”
2. I would love to try Aerin Lauder’s new line of fragrances. I have not had a chance to smell any of these. I have heard mixed reviews about these, but I would like to test them out for myself. For some strange reason, I am intrigued by them. If she is anything like her grandmother Estee, I know they are amazing!
3. Every year I give my mom, dad, and brother a fragrance for Christmas. My mom really likes “Modern Muse”. She loves Estee Lauder anything, so hers will be easy. Last year my brother and dad got Tom Ford fragrances. I am not sure yet what I will get them this year. So, I guess I will be watching what all the fabulous followers of NSTP suggests.
-ScentFromAbove
I forgot to add for “unsniffed” fragrances:
-any of the “Jo Loves” fragrances from Jo Malone (everyone knows that I love Jo Malone)
They aren’t anywhere in the US, so I have no idea where to get them. If anyone knows, please share!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
-ScentFromAbove
I hope to finally commit to Bois des Isles extrait. It is the one that won’t let go of me.
I have been lured in by the hype of Puredistance Black and the new Tauer. I don’t think I can ignore either one.
I may introduce a few friends to my recent Rose Jam obsession. I have only one friend who is passionate about scent and I don’t handle the blank stares well from the others.
I think a few of the Mariage Freres flavors on Lucky Scent are calling my name. Do these count?
Ah, Rose Jam sounds like a great way to wake up your friends’ noses!
I have to confess that I ordered it unsniffed after reading the raves from you and others. I’m really feeling a need for roses to defend myself from impending winter.
If I had to buy unsniffed, it might be a Tauer (le Maroc pour elle? one of the several roses?), but I am very happy to make Andy’s sample set one of my main Christmas requests instead! (Or maybe I will get very lucky in the draw?!)
As for fragrant gifts for others, I’d love to but I’m running out of loved ones who want new fragrances. All these people who are happy to wear just one scent, it’s terrible for my perfume gift-giving!
I’m about to replace the flooring in my house with hardwoods, so the smell of freshly printed new money would be nice. 🙂 Maybe I’ll go stand outside the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and hope to catch a whiff…
Hmm, just ONE unsniffed fragrance? That’s too hard! But since I generally like Puredistance, I think I’d go for Black.
My sister recently said she wanted a gardenia perfume, so I suggested she try Estee Lauder’s Tuberose Gardenia. If she like it, I’ll get her a bottle. I’m planning to give my nieces sample sets from Ineke, along with notes on my scent memories of their grandparents and other relatives. I hope it’ll be a way of connecting the girls a little bit to some wonderful people that they never had the opportunity to know in real life.
That’s a wonderful idea and a gift they may come to appreciate more as they get older. I’d love to be able to do that myself, and add photos and everything. I hope they realize what a true gift that is!
Would love to get a bottle of TF Tobacco Oud or Shanghai Lily.
Unsniffed, Neela Vermeire discovery set or Puredistance Black.
Probably not giving any fragrant gifts unless it winds up being something from BBW to a coworker or my mother-in-law.
Have a scented candle or two to give as Christmas presents. On my wish list is Guerlain’s Ensens Mythique, which I might end up ordering from the Toronto boutique. Off to trim the Christmas tree now…
1. I have an Amazon wish list devoted to perfume and perfume-related stuff, so anything off that list would be good. Though I have had a particular hankering for Bas de Soie… and Amazon has a pretty good price for a bottle of it, so I figure it’s more likely I’d get that than, say, a bottle of Lubin Idole edp.
2. Unsniffed.. maybe the new Tauer, Une Rose de Kandahar, or Tableau de Parfums Ingrid.
3. Yep! My SIL has been wanting my brother to find a new scent, so she’s asked me to call upon my perfumista-ing skills to help her out. I ordered him small decants of HdP 1828 Jules Verne, 1899 Ernest Hemingway and Erik Kormann Steampunk. I decided to let my SIL have a piece of the action too, so I got her small decants of SL Fleurs de Citronnier, FM L’Eau d’Hiver and L’Heure Bleue.
I’d love to receive a purse spray bottle of Bottega Veneta, even though I’m a man 😉
I wish I could try Eau de Iceberg Oud. Unfortunately it hasn’t been launched on my market.
I will probably be giving my GF a small bottle of Dolce Vita or YSL’s Manifesto L’Elixir.
After working my way through a large selection from Surrender to Chance I am all sniffed out. What I would love to receive though is Iunx’s L’Arbre. In fact 2-3 bottles in case it stops production.
Unsniffed? Perhaps Monocle Sugi.
If only they were easier to get I’d give all my friends a Mad et Len candle. The Reglisse Noir and Humus are divine as are the glass jars they come in.
1. bottle of Portrait of a Lady, but I’m guessing I’ll be purchasing this for myself (no one has the nerve to buy me perfume)
2. Ombre Mercure
3. I’ve been checking the “Giving Tree” display at my local Walgreen’s, and buying fragrance/body products for any of the seniors who list that as something they want. In case the Walgreen’s employees hadn’t figured out I’m a perfume nerd yet…
You number 3 is such a great way for a perfumista to give back! Good work, CobraRose!
1. Spicebomb By Viktor & Rolf.
2. Reve By Van Cleef & Arpels.
3. L’Acquarossa By Fendi or Dahlia Noir By Givenchy (Even though if i followed popular opinion I’d avoid them both… I find them both Gorgeous!)
1. I have sent an email and printed request lists to my husband (note the use of the plural) for Neela Vermeire’s Discovery Set, including instructions about ordering by Dec. 6th, the last day to order before the holidays… so…
2. Any frangrance by Comme des Garcons… I have not tried any of them but I am very very intrigued…
3. I recently ordered TWO flasks of Encre Noir Pour Homme by Lalique from Amazon (100 ml for $31!). One for my brother in law, and maybe the other for me! I love vetiver and Victoria at Bois de Jasmin gave it a wonderful review–but I have ordered these unsniffed…and I will get some fancy (but MACHO, ahem!, of couse!) triple-milled blah blah blah soaps for my husband who hates my Pacifica glycerin soaps 🙂
Oooh, I have a soap fetish…I LOVE triple-milled soaps!
I have a wishlist that’s too extravagant for me to even share with anyone who will be buying a gift for me this year so, from my reasonable wishlist, I’d love to see a small bottle of Dior Addict, Royal Apothic Noble Carnation, Balenciaga Paris, or another Cashmere Mist deodorant. Though my fantasy is to be taken to the nearest large city for a day of sniffing that would end with the purchase of a full bottle of whichever I liked best.
There are SO many unsniffed perfumes on my wishlist. I’m going to cheat and say that set of four small Hermessence bottles. It would need to include Ambre Narguile and Vetiver Tonka. Maybe Osmanthe Yunnan, too.
My mom asked for Cashmere Mist deodorant after hearing me go on and on about it for so long. I will probably get my dad a bottle of Grey Flannel. He’s always wanting a fragrance that smells like soap and GF smells exactly like expensive soap to me.