That's right, pretty...not necessarily interesting, or genius, or iconic (although some of them may fit into those categories too). Just pretty. If spring is taking a long time to arrive in your neck of the woods, any of these five will serve to keep your spirits up while you wait, and I would be surprised if most of my picks haven't appeared on one or another of our Top 10 of Spring lists (the 2015 installment, by the way, is coming up in a couple weeks). As always, do add your own picks in the comments.
Frédéric Malle En Passant: We really don't get enough lilac fragrances, and when we do get a new one, my tendency is to compare the newcomer to En Passant and find it wanting. If you like "fresh and clean" more than I do, the more reasonably priced (but still not cheap) alternative is Aerin Lilac Path.
Parfums MDCI Un Coeur en Mai: We don't get enough hyacinth fragrances either, and I am still selfishly (and stupidly: eventually, it will go bad) hoarding what's left of my bottle of L'Artisan's discontinued Jacinthe des Bois. Un Coeur en Mai is less of a soliflore – the hyacinth is mingling with a gorgeous lily of the valley accord, all beautifully done by Patricia de Nicolaï. The more reasonably priced alternative here is surely Parfums de Nicolaï Le Temps d'Une Fête. If you don't mind paying big bucks but want something more modern and abstract, try Thierry Mugler Supra Floral.
Cartier Baiser Volé: Lily is generally too heavy to qualify as a spring flower, perfume-wise (we're ignoring bloom times here), but when done with a light enough hand, it's perfect for this time of year. Baiser Volé is more lily-esque than lily, anyway, and the cosmetic powder softens the blow a step further. Angie prefers the Eau de Toilette and Extrait versions. A more expensive alternative would be Hermès Vanille Galante, and I'm blanking on a cheaper alternative — do comment if you can think of one.
Carven Le Parfum: A bouquet of spring flowers (sweet pea, plus more hyacinth) from perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, this lovely blend does not seem to have taken perfumanity by storm — I never hear about it on the scent of the day polls, or anywhere else. The summer version is the lighter, more citrus-y Carven L'Eau de Toilette; the more expensive entry would be Maison Francis Kurkdjian Pluriel.
Hermès Jour d'Hermès: Another mixed bouquet, and more sweet peas, although personally I don't recognize the individual flowers in perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena composition, which I called "a leafy mixed spring bouquet, light and fresh and buoyant and young." I liked Jour D'Hermès Absolu a bit better, but the original is probably better suited to our purposes here.
Your picks?
Note: top image is Spring Again [cropped] by Graham at flickr; some rights reserved.
I really should finally get that 10ml bottle of En Passant!
L’eau d’Hiver is my perfect early spring floral and Diorissimo is my perfect late spring floral. So much so that I rarely wear these two out of season, especially Diorissimo. I always associate the sheer lily of Vanille Galante with Easter so it would be my other pick.
My bottles of Séville à l’Aube, Marni Rose and AdP Magnolia Nobile have been in heavy rotation since I got them although I’m not sure if I’d count them as overtly spring-y. Definitely pretty florals!
Ha…I left Diorissimo off just because it seemed like too obvious a pick for me. Ditto with La Chasse. Maybe I should have done 10
I pretty much wear my whole collection all year, but the things that make me think of spring are Lys Mediterranee, Infusion d’Iris and YSL In Love Again.
I am not strict with seasons either! And of course Infusion d’Iris ALWAYS works.
Infusion d’iris is a total spring thing for me, too. I started wearing it last spring and it just fit so nicely.
I am enjoying Ineke’s Angels Trumpet and 1000 Fleur no 1 as my weekend spring scents. During the week I am trying to keep up with you guys in sampling all of my other goodies in a thematic sort of way
!!
That was supposed to be 1000 flowers…ugh…I have a nasty head cold and having “senior” moments all day long with regard to my typing!!!!
That’s ok, and hope your cold gets better!
The sotd polls do encourage thematic testing, but it’s not something I used to do, or even always do now.
Robin, I recently smelled MFK A la Rose. It’s a fresh rose, like sticking your nose in a flower. I guess roses aren’t harbingers of spring but this perfume transported me there. If it only came in a smaller bottle I’d have bought it already.
How lovely! I have not tried it yet but really liked Pluriel so will give it a shot when I see it.
Ditto on the Infusion d’Iris (absolue ). I also enjoy LeLabo Fleur d’Oranger which is uplifting, yet boring. I lurvs Caron Aimez Moi which is a nice quirky floral of sorts with more heft. Last spring I wore Panier des Sans Sea Fennel which is a cheap aquatic floral. Don’t usually like aquatics but this one is soft and pretty (have a sample of Amouage Reflection which is uber aquatic and makes me sea sick if anyone is interested in it). I’m also liking my sample of Diptyque Eau Rose lately which is soft and spring-y. I also enjoy streaking my hair lightly with Lush Lust which is a jasmine bomb and is the only way I can wear it.
Interesting idea for Lust, which I likewise find hard to wear. I should dig out my Silky Underwear (the Lush one!) though, it’s much gentler and given how popular cosmetic powder fragrances are now, Lush should re-release it.
And always thrilled to see a mention of Aimez-Moi!
Lush Lust on me was so skanky it was embarrassing! I threw it out, and that was a first.
Aimez-Moi is so nice.
My favorite spring floral is Afghanistan Orange Blossom. It’s very simple but oh so beautiful and easy to love.
That one really is pretty.
Ooh I love lists and I’m enjoying learning about spring scents. So far my favs are: l’Eau d’Hiver, En Passant and Passage d’Enfer.
And that’s a great list in itself!
I love En Passant and Le Temps d’Une Fête! Other pretty ones I’ve been wearing are Apres l’Ondee (although this one is of course iconic, not just pretty), D’Orsey Tilleul and Arquiste Flor y Canto. Speaking about hyacinth fragrances – I seem to be one of the few people to actually like Tom Ford’s Ombre de Hyacinth. Not quite enough to buy it, though.
Apres L’Ondee is the perfect spring scent, isn’t it? Hard to beat. I keep meaning to try some “new” Tilleul to see if it is the same, but used to love it.
Very hard to beat. My other early spring stand-by is Iris Silver Mist, but ‘pretty’ is not the right category for it.
Agree!
I really like Ombré d’Hyacinth too, but it’s too pricey for me. I vaguely recall reading that it’s now been discontinued.
Same here, the price is quite aspirational. Although I did pay the same amount for Fleur de Chine…
I blind-bought a decant of it and don’t like it at all… too metallic and barely floral, on me at least.
These are great. My favorite spring perfumes are:
FM Lys Méditeranne
Guerlain Lilia Bella
SL Encens et Lavande
SMN Mughetto
A nice mix. I need to try Mughetto again, have not smelled it in years.
I like Carven! I get lots of compliments when I where it
Oh good, glad to hear it!
I do too! I have used up two samples so far and it’s one that my husband likes a lot. I mean, a LOT. So I may have to at least spring for a mini.
Does it come in a mini? I might get one too.
I just bought a mini from ebay, less than nine dollars and free shipping.
My spring florals are After My Own Heart, Lilas et Narcissus and looking forward to wearing Desarmant. Just tried Memo’s Siwa yesterday which had a ton of narcissus. Green is probably my favorite spring scent but not sure that qualifies as a spring floral
Ah, then I will put Siwa on my list for tomorrow’s testing, just got a bunch of Memo samples.
I am curious to see what you think. I have a bunch of memo samples put nothing really grabs me yet
I will try to review a few of them…
It’s Autumn where I live so I am at the other end of the curve. Today I’m wearing Pleasures. I wear it in early Spring and in Autumn. It’s too dense and strong for hot days, and too cool and green for winter.
People don’t talk much about Pleasures these days, at least not in forums like this. I’m sure it gets lots of love from people who are not perfume obsessed but who know a good thing when they smell one. If it works for you, it can be magnificent.
I used to love Pleasures. I should pick up a mini, if for nothing else but the nostalgia factor of when I used to wear it.
I just survive from mini to mini. If one runs out I pick up another on ebay. They are so easy to find. Same with all the classic Lauders. I picked up Lauder mini set at a garage sale once. It was missing Knowing though, and that was vexing.
It’s such an incredibly well-done scent. I wish they’d do better flankers for it.
Or better still, no flankers at all. Just leave well alone …
I love Pleasures, it’s great. I love several from EL actually. I did like Pleasures Delight. Other than that..not sure if I was a fan of any of the flankers.
Possibly. But they do make them, nearly every year, so as long as they’re going to I wish they’d do a better one. Pleasures Delight was the only one I liked.
My fav “pretty” frags for spring are Oscar de la Renta Esprit d’Oscar (bubbly fuzzy sweater tuberose), Laura Mercier Neroli (again, very fluffy OB); L’AP Mimosa Pour Moi (again, puffy lovely); Shelley Kyle Da Ma Mere (linden, beeswax, powders, amber); Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit (sweet soft jasmine); Trish McEvoy Citrus Petals #3 (fresh linden); and Guerlain Chamade edt (I know it’s a little more than pretty, but it is just so *spring*!).
I really need to try that Shelley Kyle one of these days.
It’s a little cool and bleak yet for pretty spring florals, but rather a good time for green chypres, aldehydic perfumes and the lighter leathers and ambers.
A few years ago, I systematically hunted discounted and partial bottles of the three L’AP special harvest perfumes, Iris Pallida, Fleur de Narcisse and Fleurs d’Oranger. They are amazing, and spring is the ideal time to wear them. TDC Osmanthus and De Bachmakov are also good. In late spring, i.e., early June, I love Ys Uzac Pohadka, which has narcissus, tobacco and mint.
Same here…not at all the right weather yet.
Surprised L’Artisan gave up on the Harvest idea, although I completely objected to the prices and perhaps they did not sell as well as they’d hoped.
I’ll go with Parfums DelRae Wit. Tauer Reverie au Jardin, Tauer Zeta and Puredistance Opardu (Antonia, too).
Wit. Yes. Probably my quintessential pretty floral. I also really like Opardu, just not the price.
Me three on the Wit.
I still need to try Wit! Delrae scents are always so well done, and the description of this one is so tempting.
I second Zeta, also Pretty Machine for lindens
Pretty Machine, yes! Zeta just didn’t quite work for me.
great in spring are both Vetiver pour Elle Guerlain and Stephen Jones CDG
Nice picks, and totally agree w/ both.
Have you tried Penhaligon’s Ostara? The hyacinth and narcissus heart notes are absolutely lovely, and it dries down to a beeswax and woody base. Really great spring bouquet perfume.
I have not yet! But I will, eventually.
This sounds really gorgeous.
Some ‘spring’ ones I like are:
+1 Pleasures
Bvlgari Omnia Coral
Love and Tears
Flora Nymphea
Beige
Bel Respiro
Some of the Dior Escale scents are ok..maybe best for summer.
VC&A California Reverie
Cherry blossom scents in general are always a good-go to for spring.
Same with peach scents, Peau de Peche, Flower of Immortality
Same with orange blossom-still wanting to try the L’artisan one that got disco’d.
Tea scents, Au The Rouge, various Kilian tea ones.
Chanel 5 Eau Premiere
Ralph Lauren Romance
Original RL
Hermes Jardin series
And of course, several from AG are good for spring. Folivril and several others.
Pure Poison
I liked Miami Glow for a while, I need to try that one again, more for summer I suppose.
Caligna
Osmanthe Yunnan
Frangipani OJ
Editing, not sure if I liked Folavril but there are many other AG’s I do kind of like for the spring category, lol.
Thanks for the extensive list!
When I saw the post’s title, I immediately thought to myself, I bet Baiser Vole, Infusion d’Iris, and Temps d’une Fete make the list.
And now I’m craving some Baiser Vole for Easter next weekend – the ladylike lily note seems perfect for Easter services. I’d add Bel Respiro to the list, but I think it transcends pretty and goes into interesting and elegant territory. Surely La Chasse Aux Papillons and every Annick Goutal fragrance should get at least an honorable mention in any pretty contest.
Great additions to the list, thanks!
You asked for a less expensive version of Vanille Galante – I use Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia as a substitute. And something that reminds me of Baiser Vole is Aqua Allegoria Ylang et Vanille, which is discontinued.
Spring?!? What’s that?? 19 degrees here right now. But since I did just reorganize my perfumes, moving the warm weather scents forward, I can tell you that I really don’t have anything that would fit this list! Maybe Montaigne (hat tip and thank you to Ann S.). Other than that my go-to Spring-Is-Here Scent is Jicky and nobody ever accused Jicky of being pretty!
Boy, I know the feeling.
I will do a followup list on the “spring is not always pretty” theme…
I adore all of these – what a great list! I would also add the wonderful (but sadly, discontinued) Nuda, Bottega Veneta, and Marni.
I’ve been wearing Bottega Veneta all winter. I need to move on, especially because the local climate seems to be heading directly into summer – no rain, no gentle spring.
Is Nuda discontinued? I’m surprised.
Early-early spring, like now, is when I yank all my greeneries out and rejoice in them (Chamade, No. 19, Crown Bouquet, and of course Le Temps d’une Fete).
I love Penhaligon’s Violetta in spring. Del Rae Wit, of which I still only have a decant, is beyond perfect. And I really dig that Carven Le Parfum, too.
Crown Bouquet — there’s a blast from the past!
And totally agree about Wit, it’s gorgeous.
Houbigant Orangers en Fleurs is very, very pretty–wish I could afford a bottle. I just tried La Chasse au Papillons for the first time yesterday, thanks to a generous swapper, and it is indeed delightful for spring.
I think the Carven must not have grabby top notes. I remember making a point of sniffing it on paper at Sephora, probably after your review, and thinking “meh.” After reading the comments here, I guess I need to get a sample and actually wear it.