This is an open thread for participants in the Monday Mail articles to share their experiences, and hopefully let us know if they found what they were looking for (or went bankrupt trying). I’ve sent out emails requesting feedback from everyone who took part between May and August of 2012, so check back over the next few days to see what we can find out (or, check out this post about the subjects from January through April). We’ll check on the rest of the 2012 participants in a few months.

Here are links to the articles for each participant:

Aliza, Kelly, Zee, Poppie, Tiana, Patricia, Lisa…

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The Monday Mail is back from the holiday break, and we’re kicking things off with Lori, who wants to find a versatile fragrance she can wear everyday, but that is sexy enough for a night out. Her ideal scent would be something that could be worn lightly or with a heavier hand, depending on her mood and the setting. She has been wearing Thierry Mugler Angel for years, but would love to find something less widely worn, or something she could layer with Angel to make it less recognizable. Lori can spend up to $200 and is happy to shop online; she also has good access to brick ‘n mortar stores.

Here is what we know about Lori:

She’s in her early 40s and is married, no children.

She lived outside San Francisco for 10 years, and is currently living near Baltimore.

Lori likes travel, yoga, running, reading, musical theater, knitting.

Her style is eclectic and ranges from 80’s, to vintage, to modern and simple. She likes unique, one of a kind things, mixed with classics — think Desigual meets the GAP, meets IKEA, meets thrift shop. All worn with black leggings.

Lori likes gourmands, fruits, spices, chocolate…

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Today we’re helping Pamela, and after that, the Monday Mail goes on its holiday vacation — it will return in January. If you’d like to get on the waiting list, see here.

Pamela wants to find a new signature fragrance that’s more interesting than the generic fruity florals at Macy’s and Sephora. Her perfect scent will be unique, warm, feminine and a little mysterious, but still accessible enough for everyday wear and versatile enough to take her into the evening. She can spend up to $150, and is happy to shop online. Here is what we know about Pamela:

She’s a 20-something PhD student in English.

She lives in a small midwestern town, but travels quite a bit (and shops for perfume when she does).

Her personal style is a combination of classic, simple shapes and some more masculine cuts (button-down shirts, for instance but always in a feminine color), and she loves jewel tones.

She has brown hair with bangs, and brown eyes.

Pamela likes amber, sandalwood, musk, jasmine, tobacco, leather, spices, tuberose (more green, though), mimosa, violet and soap. Some of the scents she enjoys at the moment include Frederic Malle Dans Tes Bras, L’Artisan Parfumeur Mimosa pour Moi, Kiehl’s Original Musk and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle…

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Today we’re helping Liz, who is looking to replace her longtime fall/winter fragrance, Abercrombie 8, now discontinued. She says that although she has grown up since she started wearing it, she still loves it. She is happy to shop online and will pay up to $200 for something perfect. She’s also happy to buy decants of spendier fragrances. Here is what we know about Liz:

She’s in her late 20s, and is a social media director and improv actress in Chicago.

She says her personal style is a deliberate blend of polished and undone: think Jackie O with a hint of Bardot.

She enjoys comedy, long-distance running and politics.

Liz likes notes of coconut, vanilla, cinnamon and similar spices, most woods, white flowers that aren’t “too church-y”, grapefruit, lavender…

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Again this week we’re doubling up on the Monday Mail articles so that we can clear out the waiting list before the holidays. Right now, there are 3 people on the list for January, so it’s still a good time to sign up if you’re interested (instructions can be found here).

So today we’re helping Melissa, who wants to find a daytime fragrance for autumn and winter (she has plenty of summer fragrances already). She used to wear Ralph Lauren Blue, and still loves it but doesn’t feel like it fits her anymore — she’d like something with more depth. She can pay up to $200 but would rather keep the cost at $125-$150; she is fine with shopping online.

Here is what we know about Melissa:

She’s in her mid-30s, and lives in Dallas but considers San Francisco her home. She works in a prison as a forensic psychologist.

Melissa says she is reserved, especially with people she doesn’t know. She dresses quietly and doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She appreciates subtlety and dark humor in life and in perfume.

Melissa is a fan of modern art and fashion, and is an avid reader.

She loves autumn, and hates summer (and notes that Texas has approximately 10 months of summer). In cooler weather, she likes to wear jackets, layer clothes, drink hot chocolate, sleep with the windows open, and curl up under a blanket; she also loves how the the smell of harvest, pumpkins, earth, maple syrup and football mix together.

Her favorite smell, ever, is a candle from Yankee Candle called Harvest.

Melissa likes leather, amber, bergamot, sandalwood, pepper, grapefruit and orange. Some of her perfume favorites include 10 Corso Como, Bottega Veneta, Byredo Gyspy Water…

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