By request. Simple as pie: put your untried perfume samples in a basket or bag, pull one out at random, then tell us what you think of it. If you really haven't got any untried samples (oh my!) feel free to just tell us what you think of the last perfume you tested.
Note: image is basket-weaving [cropped] by jenny downing at flickr; some rights reserved.
Haha. This is fun!! I have like 50+ samples and I grabbed Voyage D’Hermes! My 1st time grab baggin! Im very happy w/ my selection. Hermes can do no wrong for me. Next time I’m gonna feel around for one of my Hermessence! LOL! I guess that would qualify as cheating though right?! LOL! What a fun idea! Thanks! : )
I think Dollydagger made the suggestion, so thanks Dollydagger!
Your welcome!! I’m just thrilled everyone thought this was a good idea.
Unfortunately no grab bag for me today. I just got some Cristalle in the mail and am enjoying the heck out of it. I did do grab bag yesterday and got Vie de Chateau. Which I love love love and am going to get a full bottle very soon. I can’t get enough of that sweet barnyard smell.
Dolly – is that Cristalle edt or edp? I’ve tested the edt, which I can never decide if I like, and often wonder about the edp. Any comments?
I’m not Dolly, but I thought I would just chime in to give my two cents. Ann: I love both – but they are different. EdP is much sweeter, a bit fruity, and definitely heavier in contrast to the sparkling bite of the EdT. Everyone always complains about the EdP, but I think it’s lovely. But I’m afraid Chanel may have discontinued EdP (which is truly a shame!) because it’s been missing from their website ever since they revamped it a couple months ago. And I have not seen EdP in any of the department stores either, though I do think it is still readily available at discounters and evil bay. I’ll send you a sample, if you want.
Hi Ann
I love the EDP-it has love of lovely jasmine in the middle notes, and the citrus topnotes are a little different…. very rich green-floral but I don’t get much aldehydes….
It’s the edt. It’s very green with a soft floral heart. The edp sounds lovely. Accenuating the floral heart would definitely be an improvement.
Lone vie de chat!!! FBW to me…I love the hat scents…
I’ve been sampling that, too. I smells great and could be a good one for summer, my latest excellence criteria add-on. (“Oh, and this would be great for summer!”). Many scents are described as “unisex” but aren’t, IMO. I find VDH to be truly balanced between masculine and feminine.
Hi jonr951,
I too, was happy to pull an Hermes out of my grab bag – Hiris. A perfect spring day for it.
No untried samples for me. The last perfume I tested is Lacost Pour Femme and I’ve been wearing it for 2 weeks in a row now.
But, I just learned that LuckyScent ships overseas! Yipee! So, I ordered my 1st Batch of samples and is just soooo excited to receive them. I ordered:
By Kilian – Rose Oud & A taste of Heaven
L’Artisan Parfumeur – Havana Vanille
Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche & Vetiver
Diptyque – Philosykos
Penhaligons – Amaranthine
*Excited*
*Lacoste
I love Lacoste Pour Femme. I have gone through 2 bottles of this and currently purchased a third to keep in my collection. 🙂
I get constant compliments on this one when I wear it.
Hope you obtain a bottle soon.
~Dawn
Oh yeah, I bought a FB without sniffingand boy, i’m glad I got it!
Oh good! I’m sorry I didn’t realize you had already bought a bottle. I need some coffee. lol
Enjoy and have a good weekend.
~D
I felt that it smells best on me post my banana bread baking sessions. House filled with the aroma wafting from the oven, I get soaked with the smell the entire day before finally getting up for work (I bake before sleeping Lol), spritz on some of this on my way out, and boy, do I smell lovely. =)
It leaves me that soft velvety feeling, like the kick that you get when touching something plush.
and now I want to try so badly I’m fairly salivating!!!
that’s “try it” …. too excited to type apparently!
You have my email? Just drop me a line and I’ll send you a sample. 🙂
~D
Oh, you’re going to enjoy those – happy sniffing!
Yeah, I hope so too! Any other places where I can get a good set of samples who also ships overseas?
Shelley:
I’m pretty sure The Perfumed Court (theperfumedcourt.com) ships overseas, and they have literally everything! Good luck.
I will check it out! I’ll prolly wait for those items from LuckyScent first. =) Thank you!
Just checked it out, they do not ship here. =(
🙁
Great choices – love those Killians and AG Vetiver – planning to try Amaranthine – enjoy!
Oh! I fell in luv with amaranthine after one sniff!!! That is my next purchase!
Well, I’m testing Ineke Evening Edged in Gold. So far I’ve not been wowed by any of the Ineke’s except for Field Notes, which has a fascinating structure but unfortunately makes me feel a bit nauseated at some points. Still, I have a lot of respect for that one.
So far the others have been, “meh” and also sort of nauseating (Balmy Days). I feel like there is something in all of her fragrances that makes me sort of ill. Anyone else have a weird reaction to the Inekes? Interestingly, while Derring-Do is waaaayyyyy tooooo *aquatic-sport* for me in the opening and middle, I like the late drydown a lot. I’ll report back on Evenings Edged in Gold in a few hours…
The Ineke line does not work on me either. I think it was Balmy Days that just suffocated me with a laundry detergent note. UGH!
I have not tried the newest one…. Field Note from Paris. I don’t think I will because I haven’t had any luck so far with the line.
I’ll be very curious to read what you think of ‘Evenings’ – the Ineke line is my next venture.
I like all of the Ineke line but Field Notes from Paris is my favorite.
With the exception of Field Notes, which I adore, most of the line is very clean — more like what I think of as mainstream than as niche.
Oh – I’m surprised to hear that Robin. The two I’m most curious about are Field Notes & Evenings, but I will order the sample kit anyway – what the heck.
Well Rustic, I’m afraid that Evenings is definitely a no-go for me. Honestly, it made me sick after an hour and I just scrubbed it off. I really don’t like this line at all, even though certain ones have their redeeming qualities. It’s really a shame, too, because the sample pack is so fun and beautifully presented that I really wanted to love something from this company. 🙁 Oh well…
The good news is I get to try something else from my grab bag…
I got a weird chemical opening from that one… my notes say “paint thinner, followed by brief spices, then floral”. I passed it on to someone else. Field Notes didn’t quite work for me, so I passed that on as well…and then got another sample, which I’ll probably try again at some point. Daisy sent me the A one…haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but it’s in my big bag ‘o samples that I lug around everywhere. Maybe it will be the one today.
Thanks for that. I had the same kind of reaction just sniffing the vials. I have a bottle of Field Notes and a coffret of the other scents and I haven’t been moved to wear one yet. I really need to give them a fair chance.
The only two I like are Field Notes (orange blossom and I’ve a weakness for that–and J lurves it) and After My Own Heart (a decent take on Lilacs) —the others don’t do anything for me and I recall that one gave me a headache….I’m thinking it was Evening as well.
I have the full sample set of ineke and After MOH was nice but nothing blew me away…like robin, I didn’t get a ‘niche’ feel from them!
Well, you know — don’t get me wrong. They’re really well done, it’s just that they’re really well done in a style that doesn’t appeal to me.
Coincidentally, I had recently ordered Ineke’s sample set… which arrived today! I have tested A – E. I am really not nuts about the top notes of any of them… which luckily seem to disappear. The best so far seems to be Evening Edged in Gold for me… I get saffron more than anything else. I am really into saffron lately. I agree the other four seem to be a tad generic… or mainstream, if you will. But I’ll give them more complete wearings.
Field Notes smelled really masculine on me. That’s not something that normally puts me off, but it doesn’t quite work on me.
I remember feeling like one of the few not swooning over my sample of Field Notes. I’m still looking forward to a sample of Evening Edged in Gold, which is supposed to be on its way to me.
Hey, I’m right there with you. Field Notes feels like trying to inhale needles to me. Really masculine needles.
I thought the tobacco was too sharp in Field Notes. I like a smooth, mellow tobacco. The blend just didnt seem to harmonize on my skin.
All I get from Field Notes is BIG HUGE Welch’s grape soda NOTE in the opening, which then leads to the nausea I spoke of. The late drydown (5 hours or so) is lovely though. And I do think it’s a truly fascinating fragrance as far as the structure goes.
I really wanted to love the Ineke line, but the only one that works for me is After My Own Heart, and that one is simply pleasant, not something I’d immediately buy a FB of. I thought for sure that Field Notes would be perfect for me, but it had a “barber shop” note – perhaps that was the same masculine quality that Miss Kitty found in it.
I did the grab bag this morning out of the Lucky Scent sampler I ordered last month. I tried Calypso Bellini and I’m sorry to say it was instant dryer sheet. I kept sniffing it: “hmmm … dryer sheet. Still dryer sheet. Now unrelenting dryer sheet.”
sooo, um….how is your static cling level?? 😉
Sadly, it doesn’t have the actual properties of a dryer sheet. 🙁
I have the Ineke sample set and I liked Evening at first, then it turned on me and seemed too heavy or something. I’ll have to revisit those Inekes — I don’t seem to love any of them but maybe I didn’t give them a good try.
I had the same reaction to Evening – it smelled nice, but then not. I do like Field Notes from Paris and Balmy Days & Sundays.
Where I had the opposite…bad, then nice. But even the nice part wasn’t me, so off it went.
I bought Field Notes on a whim from Takashimaya. I know what you mean: there is something in it that both attracts and repells. I enjoy wearing it at home and it’s one I enjoy sleeping in, but I’ve been wary of wearing it around town until fall.
Last perfume I sampled was actually a blind buy – partial bottle because I had heard some rave rewiews on it. The perfume is Cologne Pour le Soir from Maison Francis Kurdkjian.
It started out fabulous and then in the drydown I caught a whiff of that dreaded urine note and that was that for me. The urinous note was because of the honey note. It reacted the same way on me as the Serge Lutens Miel de Bois. Yuck. There is a certain honey note used in these perfumes that goes south on me.
Gratefully I was able to re-sell the bottle to someone who was familiar with this perfume and able to wear it beautifully.
~D
One of the Kirkdjians went urinous (more like dog pee than human) on me in the middle, then got better. I am sort of scared to try it again, though. I don’t remember which one it was!! I do well with honey, generally, so I’m not sure it was that.
Dawn: I actually love Miel de Bois (total comfort scent, makes me swoon), but Cologne pour le Soir was *very* urinous on me, and sort of sour. Interesting.
Hi Joe,
I so wanted Miel de Bois to smell good on me. You are so lucky to be able to wear it.
The Cologne pour le Soir showed promise in the opening but man, did that urine note show up strongly in the drydown.
I also had that urinous note happen to me with SL Sarrasins! I ended up selling my bottle.
~Dawn
I have samples of the four new perfumes from Laboratorio Olfattivo and today I’m wearing Daimiris (Pierre Guillaume is the perfumer). It’s really interesting—very chemically at first, like whatever it is they use to cure leather—not the expensive smell of nice suede, but very harsh. I think this might be the cardamom? Later it calms down to a dry gasoline-like scent—if you’ve ever gotten a bit on your fingers pumping gas at a gas station, it’s that sort of scent, but with a really nice iris. The opening reminds me a little of Dzongkha although they don’t really smell alike. I have not smelled PG’s Cuir d’Iris but now I’m curious to compare them. This is very unusual and probably my second-favorite of the bunch.
Cool — I want to try those!
Shem-el-Nessem. (Thank you, Joe)
Wow, really reminds me of something – one of those transporting kinds of scents but I’m not sure where it is taking me. Flowery, spicy, powdery, exotic and a bit retro feeling.
Very interesting.
I am wearing two drops and am in a cloud of scent!
Yesterday I tried the new Prada Vetiver – it hung on to me for quite a while and seemed like a good vetiver for someone a little afraid of that note. I didn’t dislike it but certainly don’t need it.
On my other arm I tried Cristalle Eau Vert – definitely worth another try, but I think I like No. 5 Eau Premiere better.
I did buy myself a bottle of Origins Lavender Vanilla bath and body oil and wore it to bed last night. Yummy, so soft and comforting.
Oooh, Origins Lavender & Vanilla oil is an old favourite of mine, it’s wonderful stuff. Funnily enough, I fell in love with Jicky because it instantly reminded me of the Oigins oil when I first tried it.
Tama, I just tried Cristalle Eau Verte today for the first time. It smelled great but unfortunately I had already sprayed on something else (at Macy’s) and so I couldn’t judge it fairly. I’ve put a dent in my huge bottle of Eau Premiere. They poured all that Chanel DNA into it, so maybe it will save on the purchase of Eau Verte!
Tama: Shem el Nessim smells like a smooth combo of L’Heure Bleue and PdN’s Sacrebleue! … I love it too!!
I think I need to try Sacrebleu – I hear a lot about it and the notes look great.
I tried two scents last thursday, sprayed on paper…
I was walking by a Estee Lauder counter and I saw that they had Bronze Goddess and Estee… I alway wanted to try both, even though I rarely try women’s scents.
The Bronze Goddess I liked, though it had less “oomph” than what I expected from many reviews online. It was tame.
The Estee, on the other hand…. Well it IS very dated, but there is something there, something that smells of money…. It reminds me of posh old ladies in the 70’s.
But there is more in there… Usually I do not (pardon my blasphemy) WISH for fragrances to be reinterpreted.
I guess Estee could be “brought to the 21st century”… and in my ideal world they would keep the old version available too!
Dreaming costs nothing…
I tried Bronze Goddess yesterday, and it didn’t quite work for me. It developed this dill pickle smell after a while, which is also my problem with Tom Ford Black Orchid. I eventually dried down very nice, but you’re right, there isn’t much there.
I love Estee, and a lot of the older Lauders: Private Collection, Youth Dew, White Linen. I feel like somewhere along the line everything got cheaper. But maybe that’s just me.
Cheaper smelling, I mean.
Have you tried the Youth Dew lotion? I have a very old bottle of Youth Dew and it is a little too much for me and someone suggested wearing the lotion rather than the fragrance. I don’t have a bottle of the original bath oil form, but I’ve heard that is the superiour concentration.
Julia: I’m not sure Youth Dew is “me”, but the lotion is wonderful. I gave my grandmother a bottle for Christmas and almost wanted one for myself to wear to bed because it’s very cozy. I have a vial of vintage edt or edp and that’s sort of rough going, but yes, the lotion…
OMG!!! Dill pickle only goes in sandwiches! 🙂
The worst smell fueled by skin chemistry that I experienced was when Ralph Lauren’s Safari turned into sour cheese upon contact with my skin… Incredible but true!
I was in a duty free shop aboard a ferry crossing from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay and testing several perfumes at that.. so I am sure that my skin was as usual (other perfumes reacted fine)
I tried it once more a couple of months later somewhere else… SOur cheese time!
Kitty, I don’t get pickle from BG (nor Black Orchid, which I love), but I really don’t like BG much. I tested it again that day you were looking for a Hawaii scent, and it got much nicer in the far drydown, but no, it’s not for me. Neither is Sensuous. But I think Aliage and Azuree are terrific, also the Private Collection florals.
I agree, there is something to Estee that makes it smell “rich”. What is that note?
I just went through the notes and I guess it is the Ylang Ylang primarily that does it for me… but it does smell GREEN too.
Well, who knows… Revlon released a smell-alike in the 70’s…I cannot swear on it but looking on basenotes the only frag listed for that timeframe is Ciara, with orris and YlanYlang as middle notes.
For me that one was much sweeter and less “Green”
Oh, I love BG! Last year I bought the Eau Fraiche and practically bathed in it and so this year I bought the body oil too and plan on layering them when summer comes! (Ooops, just remembered that I left BG body oil off my quarterly inventory list yesterday…does body oil really count?) 🙂
Body oil doesn’t count! 🙂
I like BG a lot too. It was the very first decant I purchased from another hobbyist, and I just feel happy when I wear it (though I seem to forget about wearing it too often). And I like wearing it at completely incongruous times… like… if I know that I am going to have a very stressful day at work.
I happen to be wearing it today, because I sprayed myself while shopping at the mall. I wanted to compare the oil (which I don’t have) with the eau fraiche. And you know… I just can’t smell the oil.
Can anyone comment on the degree of coconut in Bronze Goddess? I don’t want to smell like suntan oil, but I am hoping the coconut is there.
There’s coconut. I also get some banana. I would try it first (it has a very odd green note for a while that doesn’t work on my skin, but thankfully, that stage is short lived). So give it a full wear. It’s a really fun frag. 🙂
My latest one was a successful blind buy: Le Vetiver (Lubin). I like it a lot. A neat blend of vetiver and incense. At this point, it’s my wife’s favorite among my vetivers.
She, on the other hand, is testing Phylosykos today. It’s good, but very soft-spoken and close to the skin. We’re a high-noise couple, I guess: we want something a bit louder.
Love the phrase “high-noise couple.” Thanks for that.
2nd. 🙂
3rd. 😀
4th ! that’s a great one! 🙂
Great term! Perhaps we have become one too, as my husband and I love Coromandel on him as much as we love it on me. I have had a FB for about a month now, and it is down almost half and inch, which doesn’t include the 20ml. decant I started out with.
Well that’s more or less how I selected SOTD this morning so that’s lucky.
I picked Spiritueuse Double Vanille which I’ve worn it before but only briefly. It’s pleasant enough, I like the boozyness of it and it’s easy to wear but it doesn’t really excite me. I think I prefer Tom Ford’s Tobacoo Vanille although I’m still waiting to try Havana Vanille.
I like Tobacco Vanille a lot, but SDV had that pickled note on me, and HV was lightly boozy and then gone.
Now, *I* liked TV but found it a little linear – all gingerbread, all the time – and prefer the development of HV…
Thanks, ladies! I assumed that being a L’AP scent HV would be fairly light but I was hoping for something more complex than SDV.
SDV is nice but, ultimately, it’s just vanilla and for just vanilla I like SL Un Bois Vanille better.
Darn – I already applied fragrance so I’m too late to play. But I’m happy with what I’m wearing today – Soivohle Violets & Rainwater. It’s lovely. I was a little concerned because of the name that there may be an aquatic note, but not to me. Rainwater is right – it’s creamy violets in the moist garden after a light rain. My husband asked me – ‘what is that you’re wearing?’, and then said ‘come here, let me smell you’, and then he said ‘that’s really nice – I like that’! 🙂 Nice.
Aww. That is nice. And sweet!
I know, right? Whenever my husband notices and likes a scent I’m wearing, I tell him that I appreciate that he notices.
it’s Kelly Caleche for me today and i am loving it!!! FB worthy for me for sure, i love me some Hermes any day!!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
~Alexandra~
Alexandra, a friend sent me a sample of KC a few days ago: love at first sniff. I was surprised to like a fruity floral but there’s something in it (the leather?) that stopped me in my tracks.
I love this one, too. In fact, it was one of my first semi-strange loves. I think my skin amps up the leather note, and I am always worried about wearing this one (and so many others that I love) to work…
You might want to try the KC edp then, G, if you haven’t already; it’s much rosier and less leathery than the edt. Quite a big difference between the two formulations.
Hey Robin R., I didn’t know there was a difference. I just went to check–mine is the edp. Thanks for bringing this up.
Another Kelly lover! At first sniff!
I love Kelly Caleche, too and am also planning on buying a full bottle at some point. The leather is prominent for me, but not overwhelming. Others have said the leather is almost undetectable to them.
Kelly Caleche is a real winner. It can be worn day or night and is the scent I reach for when I am undecided what to wear that day.
Gres Cabaret…It’s rank and now in the bin.
Oh wow, rank is a strong word. (Cabaret is one my new faves…)
I love it too. It may be the cheapest of cheap thrills, well, along with Tocade. Bought a backup bottle of Cabaret so I wouldn’t kick myself when it becomes scarce and starts selling for insane prices like Chaos and Organza Indecence…
But Cabaret is not discontinued, no?
Assumed so because it’s at all the discounters and is so inexpensive. But you’re right, it’s probably not discontinued. Even so, the discounters’ inventories ebb and flow. And once I pay $25 darn it I don’t want to later have to pay $100! When I started getting into this, they all seemed to have Shalimar Light at good prices. Those days are gone! And someone mentioned there’s no more cheap Ambre Gris (not that that breaks my heart…)
I thought so too – I like Cabaret.
Haha. Wow. I wouldn’t call it rank, but Cabaret is merely “meh” on me. I’m truly happy that others like it and that it’s such a cheap thrill. We love cheap thrills.
Oh good. At this point I’m on an optimistic fragrance high because I’ve had Avignon sprayed on my inner right wrist all day and it’s faded beautifully into chamomilly-vanilla with a few sharper incense edges, just like it’s supposed to. Obviously nothing can go wrong. I’ll try more perfume.
I’ve got a little decanter of Explorer by Boadicea the Victorious, it promises to “plunge [me] into virgin timber, rain forests, untamed jungle with this explosion of citrus, woody and resinous notes. Heady and dangerous.” That sounds good, I’m that sort of girl. Heady and dangerous. Let’s do it.
At first brush it’s very perfume-y. Kind of like an explosion of Sephora? When I was little that quintessential perfume smell meant adulthood. Now it makes me nervous. I’m applying a bit to my wrist. Oh God, it’s very masculine. I can usually pull off masculine, but this isn’t going to work. It’s powdery and unpleasant, and high on the tobacco? It doesn’t list tobacco. I hate tobacco. My wrist is going to smell like man drenched in cigarette for hours. This was a terrible idea. Oh, and now it’s drying down and it’s even worse! It smells like… this is a very peculiar sense memory. When it was very small we had this gray car seat, and it was sort of plushy, like the carpets on the floors of cars. And it smelled like this. Like car sickness and torture, and James Taylor on repeat for eight hours while we wound our way down the sinuous, abrupt cliff-face bordering roads of the Auvergnat mountains in southern France. When you’re three eight hours could be the same as several thousand weeks. This scent is sending me straight back to that. To an unpleasantly warm, acrid car and those uneasy first twinges of nausea.
I am never trying strange male fragrances on again. I want Avignon back.
I feel so bad because I had to laugh, and you’re in misery, and I feel like it’s not very nice of me to laugh, but I can’t help it.
Well, if you laughed it wasn’t in vain.
I’m so glad that I didn’t read this until so late Saturday night (it’s after 11) because I couldn’t help but laugh…your description is so vivid! But I’m hoping by now the scent has faded and you’ve sufficiently recovered from your ordeal. So…laughing now when the crisis is past is alright, yes?
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve got one of those skins, that just absorbs scent and keeps it there, so it didn’t actively start fading until this afternoon (Sunday). I think the universe was trying to teach me a lesson about looking before leaping.
I dont’ do well with masculine scents. I always regret it when I try them, they can be hard to remove, even after showering!
Ugh, I know. I’m going to use this as a cautionary tale from now on.
I really am LOL at your running commentary on the development of this scent! Great descriptions, but sorry it was so awful for you. 🙁
I should start by explaining that I did this wrong not once, but twice. First I had it in mind that the open poll was going to be yesterday and snuck a small amount of scent onto myself at work. (Shh! Don’t tell!) Then I didn’t read the instructions this morning, and realized I had thought that we were picking something from the purgatory basket, rather than an untried sample. So I’m all sorts of confused. I’ll recount each thing I tried, though, so that none of that sampling was for nothing. YESTERDAY: CdG Soda from the purgatory basket–each time I try this I think I like it enough to buy it, then it goes to a lemon Pledge/Windex accord. I like that well enough, so that’s ok. Then it turns all floralated, and that’s where it loses me. So no dice with the Soda. TODAY, BUT WRONG IDEA: Laura Mercier Enchantee Minuit. I’d like this on someone else, but too sweet and too spice-shop for me. TODAY, RIGHT IDEA: Hermes Pamplemousse Rose–I love this. This would be great for summer. Rose? Grapefruit? What’s not to love? It doesn’t seem to last long on me, though, so I’ll have to try it again to decide if I really need it.
I’d be glad to swap that LM ME with you Miss K – I love that stuff.
*LM EM*
I have two or three sample vials of it. Happy to pass them on to you. I have really liked it on other people, but it just isn’t me.
A: I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong way to do this exercise — my unsniffed samples and my “purgatory” items are sort of all mixed together in a Heap O’ Vials. I just pick from that. Sometimes I just sniff one drop of something as soon as I receive it then promptly forget for awhile.
Too bad Minuit Enchantee doesn’t work for you; I’m with Rustic and think that’s a great one.
Agree, who cares? Do it however you want to!
I actually bought Pamplemousse Rose yesterday on a whim at Neiman’s — contrary to their usual policy they accepted my Visa Debit, so I really couldn’t resist. It, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to last that much. I sprayed it on after I showered at the gym yesterday evening and it was gone within a few hours.
Luckily, it came with a purse spray so I am carrying that with me today. Sprayed it on about two hours ago and it’s still lingering close to the skin, but it had very limited sillage which is a bit of a disappointment.
It is a gorgeous summer scent, though. I was craving something citrus-y and fizzy and PR is just that. I just wish it lasted longer. Especially for the $125 price-tag for a cologne.
I realized upon returning home that I could have bought it for half price at Beauty Encounter and it killed my desire to buy that Carthusia scent I’d been wanting. I need to stop buying perfumes on a whim and paying twice as much for them. But there’s something about having the fragrance there in front of you. It’s a good thing my local retailers don’t carry stuff like SMN because I wouldn’t be able to resist. The fact that there’s that barrier of waiting on shipping and what not actually prevents me from buying a lot of perfumes that I want.
I really want to try Fracas… but I have nothing at home that I haven’t tried yet
Do get some Fracas!
Someone sent me a sample of Samurai by Profumo.IT in a swap and I’m smitten. It’s a sultry green fragrance, tart, with oak moss. I just love it!
Has anyone else tried anything from this line?
I’ve tried their Mecca Balsam, which I LOVE! I’d like to try more from this line. Good to know about Samurai – thanks, Dixie!
Thanks nozknoz!
Mmm. Did someone say oakmoss? Making a mental note… but those Profumos aren’t easy to come by…
Well, DANG. I’m unscented a-purpose this morning (housecleaning now, doing stuff to my hair later on, what’s the point until after the shower?), and the last sample I tried was Bel Respiro. Which I was planning to write a real review of this week…
But okay, brief thoughts: it’s one of the prettiest, clean-air-green-leaves openings ever, followed by –
Um, where’d it go?
Oh, that’s a shame!
It does dry down to a very very pale green scent, which I can only make out by gluing my nose to my wrist. But the open is SO perfect (and hey, it comes in a vat!), that I probably need some anyway.
I like the Haiku version of your planned review, mals! 🙂
It’s fitting…BR is sort of a Haiku scent, to me. 😀
‘Fume review haiku! What a great idea for another poll!
hmmm Bel Respiro lasts for several hours on me….of course my application process most closely resembles a shower…..but quite fortuitously; it comes in the Gigantor size bottle…. good stuff
Hmm. I *did* put on about half the 1ml sample vial, which is a large application for me. Wonder if there’s something in the base I can’t smell?
No untested samples however I had Tom Ford’s White Patchouli thrown at me an hour ago while in Bloomingdale’s looking for a bottle of AdP Colonia which they didn’t carry. While the initial opening wasn’t bad — worth another sniff at least — the spray card the SA left with me now smells like Midnight Poison with an overload of very spicy patchouli. In fact, really all I smell now is the patchouli.
Not much of a fan, really. And with my love-hate relationship with Midnight Poison, I really don’t need anything that reminds me too much of it added to my collection.
I liked WP! But then, I also like MP. And what’s weird is that I’m NOT a patch fan.
I might like it better if I had actually worn it, but on the card it smelled like straight up patchouli.
I like MP, but not all the time. I used to wear it a lot as an evening fragrance, especially for some black tie affair, but over time the scent has become a bit overwhelming and it permeates every article of clothing it touches for days.
That’s not to say that I don’t crave it sometimes.
Last thing I tried: Montale Sandflowers. It’s definitely a beachy scent, along the lines of Aqua Motu or M. Hulot’s Holiday, but with an odd minty note thrown in, I’d guess from the juniper berries. To me, that note smells more like toothpaste or chewing gum. It’s an odd combination, but the juniper weaves in and out for awhile, then vanishes. The frag lasts FOREVER. I think I put it on at 8 pm, and could still smell it at 10 the next morning, after a shower and everything. Very, VERY tenacious.
A lot of the Montales are TENACIOUS in my experience. Like… it’s almost scary testing for the 1st time, because if you don’t like it, you’re in for a rough day!
(the best trick for this is to test it on my SO)
Great if your SO is accommodating and doesn’t complain! Mine wouldn’t let me put anything on him that he didn’t already like…
I’m tricky (and he’s pretty easy going) so normally, he let’s me give it a try.
However, he’s been much more weary ever since I tried out Eau d’Hermes for the first time on his skin right before we went out for a day of shopping. People kept giving him 2nd glances, and he felt a bit uncomfortable. So now, I only test it on him in a store or when we are staying home.
Boojum, that Montale sounds interesting to me: Aqua Motu + Juniper. And I confess that I don’t think anything has ever lasted through a shower on me. Isn’t skin (or noses) odd?
It smells just like sand with flowers. An amazing scent! You know, that slight ocean-y smell sand gets from the sea…
Love your description, Winifrieda! It makes me want to try this one…:)
wait, i’m confused. which one are you describing? sandflowers or aqua motu? thanks!
I was pretty sure she meant Sandflowers.
That’s rare even for me, especially when it’s already been on-skin for 8 hours by shower-time. TPC had some 5 ml Montales for half off, so I grabbed that one out of curiosity. Remind me when we’re exchanging things again, and I’ll send a bit.
I have tried yesterday a lot of frags in the boutique and I liked many, so the lady gave me for home, to try again and wear, By Kilian Back to Black and Love samples. Today, in peace and fresh air I tried them properly. I did’t know what to do to get rid of them! Makeup remover, shower and the ultimate solution, vinegar. Ufff!
Deodorant, followed by liquid Tide.
I wish that worked for me…alas, no such luck. I have notoriously tenacious skin. The best luck I’ve had is with the cleansing cloth version of poison ivy soap (the Burt’s Bees poison ivy soap bombed, but my 5 yr old loves it, so not a total loss).
Really? You’re using deodorant, right, not anti-perspirant?
Yep. My skin holds on to scent as if its life depended on it, I guess. Or, perhaps I have an oversensitive nose. Or both.
I was in Takashimaya earlier, basically trying everything they have that I hadn’t tested…My cunning plan: when the next group of scents goes to 60% off I wanted to be ready! After spraying my way through the Mona de Orios, the Inekes, the Santa Maria Novellas, the Neil Morrises and more, I was sort of relieved that there was nothing I felt I had to have except maybe a SMN, a HdP and a Keiko Mecheri already on my radar. And, I smell… um…confused…!
So sad about Tak! If the Ineke Field Notes gets to 60% off, geez — pick me up a bottle 😉
I’ll keep you posted!
Rummaging through my recent random 25 from TPC (which I haven’t had time to go through yet, so this post is perfect timing!), what’s first ? Teo Cabanel Oha. Hm, rose, not so sure about roses…
Patchouli? Sweet Jasmine…Sparkly little thing, no screaming headache yet.
Ooh, this is quite gentle. I should do this more often!
That’s a pretty one!
I was just reading about the new (?) Teo Cabanel – the amber one. I haven’t tried it and only now learned of the brand. It is on my “to sample” list.
I like Oha. In fact, I even like the other two light fruity ones – they’re just exactly what a light fruity thing should be, lighthearted and fun, not a bath in canned fruit. And I loooove Alahine, which surprised me because I didn’t think I would.
Oha is still in my untested pile… but agree, Meloe was fun for a light, fruity thing.
My grab bag perfume is SSS Voile de Violette. It has a nice, sweet, powdery violet with some green. My wedding cake had edible flowers on it and this reminds me of those flowers. It is also like delicious violet pastilles, and vaguely reminiscent of the lavender flavoured ones from Aix-en-Provence. As it dries I am getting more vegetal green, less sharp green and something fresh and citrusy with tiny purple flowers.
The last two perfumes I really tested, wrote extensive notes about, and wore two or three times were Montale Black Aud and Parfums d’Italy Paestum Rose. If forced to choose right now I would probably choose Paestum Rose. It was sort of sticky (like honey) sweet and very dry at the same time with a bright, pretty rose. Black Aoud was a giant, medicinal band-aid smell, astringent and woody, with some rose that I think I can smell only because I know it is supposed to be in there.
I almost tested that one Julia. Maybe next week….
ahhggg! the dreaded band-aid note!!!! I know it well….and hate it.
Bulgari Jasmin Noir smacked me with the biggest wallop of band-aid I’ve ever experienced. It stuck like a band-aid, too.
… I… kind of like that band-aid smell.
You know, I did this yesterday before leaving for work, not knowing if you’d do this on Friday or Saturday.
Confession: my first pick was Le Dix, and even though I find that interesting to sniff, no way was I wearing it all day. LOL. Floral aldehydes and me don’t belong in the office together.
So my second pick was vintage Guerlain Chant d’Arômes, and darn was it LOVELY! Floral chypre, but to me, so very much all about the oakmoss. The florals were subdued, and I don’t know that I’d pick out honeysuckle & gardenia if I hadn’t read about the notes later. It had a definite similarity to me with vintage Balmain Vent Vert. Loved it. Loved it. I think I may need to buy a vintage bottle.
Today, by the way, wearing my new decant of Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger. Incredible fragrance.
I cheated a little too… doing taxes, so had to be careful not to put on anything TOO awful. Can’t afford any extra headache. Blah.
Ooooooo I love Chant d’Aromes!
Hi Joe,
How does the FdO wear?? I am a fan of Le Labo and was thinking about this one….. I love Bergamotte 22-great green floral with incredible staying power.
E: try to sample it. It’s a great orange blossom… almost “photoreal” but with some complexity in the base to keep it interesting and not feeling like a one-note fling. Really, if you’re a fan of orange blossom, this is fantastic.
my favorite orange blossom ever!
Thanks! I’ll give this one a try….
Oh that FdO might have to be my next Le Labo. It is a stunner.
Also, thanks to whomever sent me the vial of Chant d’Arômes… I don’t remember who it was!
I used to wear Chant d’Aromes years ago – I had no idea that I should have stockpiled it in advance of so many Guerlain reformulations! It was one of the few Guerlains I really loved.
“Floral aldehyde” should have been me, but I thought Le Dix was dull. So you get along well with Vent Vert? Did you buy more?
I just have one vintage bottle (.5oz) of what I think is parfum. It was half full in an antique mall and I got it for next to nothing last fall or summer.
Do you know how the reformulated Chant d’Arômes is? I’m not sure I’ll have access to the vintage, but would love to smell this.
Gosh, well, after a quick rummage-through, I realized I have no untried samples! However, this did cause me to rediscover my sample of Costes 2, which I am absolutely loving! It was “like” the first time around, and now it’s love. Maybe it’s our warm weather today that is bringing out the beauty of this scent on me this time. Just wish it lasted longer.
Wow, not a one! I’m impressed.
Managed to get a sample of Liz Earle Botanical Essence the other day in John Lewis (the SA was Spanish and therefore very helpful and generous).
Really very pleasant: fresh, not too flowery or strident at first sniff. However, the top notes were replaced by something rather sweet, which I haven’t yet identified and which started to bother after a while. I thought it could replace the wonderful (and now sadly discontinued) M&S Body Mist I sometimes use in the summer, but it won’t. Shame.
Oh, too bad! That one sounded nice.
Do try it if you get a chance. It’s just one note that I dislike, but others might very well not be sensitive to.
I have the FB of this one, and like the transition from fresh to sweet, although in general I think it doesn’t have enough lasting power for an EDP. Am too doused in my own grab bag pick to spray it just now to try and name the sweet element.
Just applied Bois 1920 Vento di Fiori to my wrist. Not bad at all; a deliciously salty galbanum is wafting up to my nose…
“Delicious salty galbanum” sounds wonderful.
Agreed!
I just love this stuff. I spent a year trying to decide which FB to buy, this or Come la Luna, and just bought the latter yesterday. Mmmm! I still love the VdF too, though.
Okay…I havent’ read everybody’s picks yet…but I’m skipping ahead to list my “Dollydagger Grab Bag Pick” —disclaimer: I cheated just a bit in that I’ve recently received several sample swap packs so my grab bag consisted of those items only (about 30 items) —-
Getting down to business: PG Cuir Venenum I pulled it out of the butter tub and waved it victoriously in the air! I was just talking about this with Joe the other day and he, coincidentally, sent me a sample! Thanks Joe; this one had caught my roving perfume eye bigtime!
The verdict: it’s only been an hour but I’d have to say– Money Saved. Please remember that this is only what my crazy nose is getting: imagine if you put on a brand new pair of leather cowboy boots….and wrapped your knee in a new ace bandage….and then spilled Welch’s purple grape juice over the whole business = Cuir Venenum. No, really….I’m serious! the grape juice note is nearly overwhelming and now my boots smell like thick wet leather…and this ace bandage will be purple forever…..
This is a huge lemming averted…I’m practically giddy with relief!
More for me! It’s not an everyday scent… and I get sweet fruit, but thankfully not grape! I just get a kick out of what a FRUITY leather it is. It makes me laugh.
And you and your darned ‘ace bandage accord’! Grr! 😉
I know! what is it with my nose and bandages?? I’d be happy to avoid the bandagey notes but they find me…..
That’s the sort of smell I like, but only when I’m in the mood for it. 😀 Have to try CV again, but don’t think I cared for it.
LOL–this is like guided visualization gone wrong: putting on new leather cowboy boots… mmm… wonderful…. have been wanting new boots… knee wrapped in ace bandage… umm… ?!? jolted out of my reverie, but willing to stick with it… maybe I injured my knee doing something fun… ok… spilling grape juice on myself… ah! no! don’t ruin the cowboy boots! now they’re all stained in blotches of purple!… and the smell of leather mixing with grapejuice has made my lovely new boots smell like fruity beef jerky… bad bad!… Why is it that I can’t go ten minutes without ruining something new and nice??… end visualization.
sorry….but remember those were MY new boots that were ruined…..yours are still pristine waiting for you at the Arizona Saddlery….. 😉
FRUITY BEEF JERKY! lol.
Awwww! I love Cuir Venenum! Sorry it didn’t work for you!
whew….then your new cowboy boots are safe! lol I NEVER get what other people do from fragrances! Luckily I was able to console myself with a dab of Guerlain Tonka Imperiale….
Guerlain TI is next on my sample list. Totally into Tonka so am looking forward to my sample from TPC……
Daisy – that sounded perfectly, graphically AWFUL! I really could smell it – eeewwwww!
my work here is done?
Gawd I hope so!
Ace bandages and grape juice – I love it! I can smell it perfectly!!
Ann, we’re now calling it “Mélange de Bandage & Jus de Raisin.” Maybe Ruth will gift you her sample… or I could make another one. 😀
perfect idea Joe—I have a package going out to Ann on Monday — the “Mélange de Bandage & Jus de Raisin” shall be on its way to a new home.
Well then, I am honored, lol!! Perhaps I can used said “jus” to scare wild animals away from my tender garden!
Hilarious- I thought exactly the same thing when I sampled. Grape slushie spilled all over your leather car seat.
Ok…grab bag: Amande Honorable, which I believe Daisy described as plastic almond. She was dead on.
It was a little plastic-almondy for me too. That one was a bit of a disappointment. Plus it lasts for like 10 seconds!
I tried Beyonce’s Heat. I hated it. It was so sweet I felt I would get a cavity. For those that like Pink Sugar you would probably like this one.
I thought it smelled rather similar to Queen Latifahs fragrance. It felt very gourmand to me.
I smelled that one a couple of weeks ago, and *yes*, it’s way too sweet. So was Queen, but I have to say that I liked Queen a lot more than I did Heat.
I have not had the opportunity to try Queen yet. I haven’t found it in my neck of the woods yet.
I’m still out of town on vacation, but I did bring a small decant of Theorema Esprit d’Ete. Tried it for the first time the other day. I like it! It seems like a lighter version of the original, more or less. It is perhaps a little less woody and more citrussy, and a bit creamier (?)
Hm, I might like it better…
Boo—I haz a boddle…wud u liek som? I was already sticking some Manoumalia in an envelope for ya.
I agree—more citrus, less baking spices —but I love the baking spices so the original Theorema stills owns her space in my heart.
would love to try a little, thanks!
Oops, my screen must have jumped there before I clicked reply…that was a response to your comment just above.
I agree. I think both can have a place in my heart, too!
Any cocoa in there? That just killed me in the original – you know, it was GREAT until the cocoa showed up in the drydown, and after a few wearings I found myself unable to face the cocoa ever again, and gave away my mini.
Arabie by serge lutens, it smells alarmingly like the inside of a Yankee candle shop. Its quite beautiful but I can’t shake that image from mind!
Those kinds of mental associations have been known to ruin an otherwise good scent for me!
I spent the morning in the air room of my independent radio station working the pledge drive. Considering the cramped quarters, I decided to go scent-free. On the way home I stopped at Macy’s and sprayed both arms with Narciso Rodriquez edt, something I’d smelled in small doses previously. It falls under my new category: if someone gave this to me as a gift, I’d wear it (but I’m not buying it myself). Before leaving Macy’s I sprayed my hand with Cristalle Eau Verte. Someone (Daisy?) mentioned it a few days ago. I wish I’d sprayed both arms with *that*. I’m definitely revisiting that one. (Thanks Daisy, or whomever.)
I wish I’d remembered to do the grab bag today, but I think the trip to Macy’s kind of counts, especially considering I’d never smelled the Chanel before. This was a fun idea!
That was almost my category for NR, but instead it fell under the “since I found it at discount for cheap, and it’s an easy, everyday office-friendly scent, I’ll buy it” category. 😀
Boojum, I’m going to add that category to my (growing list of) categories!
Possibly me….I do love it….it’s a crisp, happy scent…very invigorating to me. 🙂
Im trying Acqua Di Portofino today. This is the great summer citrus that ive been looking for. Its bursting with juicy tangerine. I got this sample and a great many others from a shop that i thought went out of business, but it turns out it was just temporarily closed while the owner was fighting cancer. Anyway, I spoke with him while i was there yesterday, and the cancer is in complete remission, and obviously the shop is back opened. If your are in the Maryland/ DC area, i suggest going to check out this place. It’s called Rochellis La Boutique. Its in the Kentlands area, and it has a large selection of niche fragrance(Ulrich Lang, Susanne Lang, Maitre Parfumeur, Lorenzo Villoresi, Rance, D’Orsay, Floris, Miller Et Bertaux, Ineke, among others). The owner Alexander is very friendly, knowledgable, and will hook you up with virtually any sample you want.
On a side note, i saw Davidoff Hot Water in Kohls, and am trying that out today as well.
Wow, nice selection. Remind me — Kentlands is in MD near Rockville/Gaithersburg??
That is correct
Thanks, will have to see if I can get over there next I’m in DC
Oh – good to know Rictor! I’ll have to check it out sometime.
Am now wearing The Different Company’s Bergamote….It’s wonderfull stuff.
I love that one, too, CHAPTER10!
I also like Rose Poivree…Both bottle’s thanks to TK Max…Would have cost me a fortune otherwise.
Good for you on finding a deal! My only full bottle is Bergamote, but I have travel sizes of Rose Poivree, Sel de Vetiver, Osmanthus, and Bois d’Iris (actually multiple travel bottles of BdI – that one is one of my staples, and I should have a full bottle!). All great stuff!
I cheated a bit and narrowed the experiment down to a random pick from the four-scent Lancome La Collection set, which turned out to be Sagamore. It’s not very strong or definite, but I’m finding it pleasant and mainly sort of balsamic. I was surfing the Easy Fashion in Paris site this afternoon, and it was a good backdrop for that. Not a scent to rave about, but unisex and very wearable.
Oh I like the Cuir a lot although I’m not a big Sikkim fan.
I like wearing Cuir! Looking forward to trying the rest…
HUGE Sikkim fan here, and I’ve tried a few of La Collection, but not Sagamore, about which I’m curious. I also have a sample of Cuir waiting on my desk to be tested.
Cuir de Lancome is a gorgeous leather. I think it is elegant.
Love Cuir! Also Climat.
What fun! i wanted to cheat because i have some funky samples that were extras with swaps or from long ago but I did not, and alas I chose Christina Aguilera Inspire (which was an extra with a swap)! It isn’t terrible, but it certainly isn’t me. More floral to me (gardenia-ish) than fruity. At least now I can move it to the swap/extra basket!
Yeah — you know, you could do way worse! But not a great scent.
I just got Un The du Sahara by Stephanie de St. Aignans in a swap and I’m loving it. I wish I was better at articulating what this scent does to me……. This closest approximates a signature scent, if I could ever narrow down to one (much less 10) fragrance. *sigh*
Dixie, I love that one! It’s subtle and beautiful.
Dixie – sounds like you might be the winner so far in the sample grab bag sweepstakes! Isn’t it great to discover one you love?!?
I still need to try that one. I’ve tried 3 from the line so far: one I really liked, one that was ok, and one that was vaguely nauseating (no surprise, since I seem to get that from tobacco scents…which is odd, bc I love the smell of pipe tobacco and I was a cigarette smoker for some 15 years).
Oh lordy,I have no un-tested samples. The idea amazes. But the last thing I tested was Balenciaga Paris, of which I had high hopes, but it failed to impress. Pleasant to start with, mediocre after that.
It’s fun to play this game with books though – go along your shelves/piles with your eyes shut (do try not to trip) and put your hand on something. Have you read it? No? Well read it now, instead of buying anew book. I did that the other day and came across Tolstoy’s _Childhood, Boyhood and Youth_ (when did I buy that?) which I’m now loving. I buy most of my books 2/hand, but that makes it easy to pick up too many.
Book Depository in the UK is another awful temptation. Its prices are much lower than in Australia, and there is no shipping cost. I feel a bit guilty buying from them, when I think of the local book sellers …
Hey! I do the same for my books! The last time I did this, I got Crime & Punishment (A re-read, 1st time was during pregnancy) & Love Story (The poor thing was lodged in it!) And I also buy 2nd hand books, except for the ones by our local authors, as buying brand new helps the industry. 😛
Yes indeed, hence my guilt about Book Depository. If I bought all my books locally it helps the local sellers and through them the authors and publishers of Australian books. But the prices …
I really liked the Balenciaga Paris- it developed into a gorgeous scent on me and I would consider purchasing it sometime in the future. I guess if every scent was the same on everyone it would be a boring old world!
Yes indeed, and I will try it again, because it might have caught me on a bad day. I am still attracted to the packaging and marketing of Paris – really understated and elegant.
Ok, I’m back with another fragrance from my grab bag. Now that I managed to remove all traces of Evenings Edged in Gold, I am testing l’Artisan Ananas Fizz and HOLY SWOON! A fruity-floral-woodsy that I adore!
Perfect citrusy-pineapple opening with a bite followed by a more subdued fruit swathed in soft flowers followed by woods. THIS STUFF ROCKS! But it’s very very very light. I had to put on half the sample vial in order to smell this for more than 30 minutes.
Must. Have. More. I think I feel my next split coming on… 🙂
If I had not noted your comment above that Evenings Edged with Gold comes from Ineke, I would have assumed La Prairie. Or, at the other end of the continuum, Prince Matchabelli (‘those Evenings stay on my mind …’).
I saw some of the Prairie bottles in the local dept store yesterday, including one called ‘Midnight Rain’ or some such, covered in sparkles. Dear me.
Sparkles? Oh dear.
MJR – have you tried Patou’s Colony? It is a very dry pineapple chypre. I love it!
Oooooo, no I have not tried Colony. But you’ve got me very interested! 🙂
Ohmigosh—-Rapple is absolutely right! you must try Colony—since I’m sending you package on monday—how about I toss in some Colony as well? Unless you and Rapple already worked something out. ? LMK
Oh wow, Daisy that would be amazing. Do you think Colony precludes the need for Ananas Fizz (either because it’s close to AF or a perfect version of a pineapple frag)? 🙂
Daisy – no we haven’t, and if you’ve already got a package going, I will let you have that stone for your enabler’s pin. 😉
I greatly prefer Patou’s Colony. It’s a fuller, slightly sweeter pineapple…to me AF is quite bitter with crushed green leaves mixed in.
Rapple, have you tried Ananas Fizz? How does it compare to Colony? Need more info here before this perfumista catches on fire!
somebody throw a bucket of water on MJ , QUICK! hold yer horses, girlfriend….I’ll send it out Monday. there’s also Bel Respiro in that packet (in case you forgot) I’m still thinking of splitting.
LMAO, Daisy. I heart you!
M: The thing is, Patou Colony is long discontinued. I actually happen to prefer L’A Ananas anyway… to me Ananas is all about the pineapple, but in Colony I find it more of a bit player underneath some chyre-y stuff. But your mileage may vary. I tend to stick to the widely available and possibly but not necessarily cheaper L’Artisan.
Ahhh, good to know, Joe. I did some perusing on the interwebs and found the Colony stock rather sparse. Although, compared to the other AP’s, AF is also rather more difficult to come by. I will hold off for now until I try Colony, but I’m sure I’ll be offering a split of AF at some point.
MJ – I haven’t tried Ananas Fizz. I usually like the L’AP’s, but not love them. On me, they usually seem more like simple accords rather than finished perfumes. However, given that Daisy and I both prefer Colony, I have a feeling *you’ll* like AF better! EST rules! 🙂
You’re losing ground rapidly, Rapple. If you were truly my EST, you would despise the LAPs, as that is one of my favorite lines.
Hmmmm interesting. We’ll have to see which wins our L’AP or Colony. Any one taking bets here?
Actually, full disclosure: I had not fallen in love with an AP until yesterday with AF. Not even Duchaufour’s mastery has lured me into the world of AP (nope, not loving Timbuktu…weird, I know), even though I adore what he’s done for Eau d’Italie, CdG, Amouage, etc.
Awww Boo – I think “meh” counts, doesn’t it?
Oh, ok…. you were sounding a bit this side of “meh”. 😉
Oh no! that’s one I haven’t managed to test yet, and it will tempt me terribly. LOL!
Oh it’s terrific, Boo; I’m barely able to hold myself back. It’s not the best time for me to do a split but this…is…so…very…tempting.
Oh no, I pulled out Annick Goutal’s Un Fleur De Matin. It smells of Garden, dirt, and a thunderstorm. It reminds me of Apres Le Ondee in a way; in that it makes me feel melancholy and filled with angst. I do wish it was more of a flower garden. I think more more seasoned perfumistas would love it though. 🙂
I keep meaning to give that one a sniff; although, I don’t know – I have plenty of angst around as it is. 😉
he he aawwww. Sorry about your angst. I bet you would like it. It’s just me probably.
I like that one a lot – sad that it only lasts about an hour to an hour and a half on me. (Yes, I sprayed myself wet… still didn’t help.)
I tried Gaultier Le Male (I always avoided it), it smelled nice. I think a woman could also wear it. And I tried J’adore EdP from CD, very wearable.
Agree a woman could wear it!
I will admit that I did the Miss Kitty and Joe thing and sampled yesterday. If I could get the darn things off my skin, I’d put something else on today too! My picks were both Malle’s: Parfum de Therese and Une Fleur de Cassie.
I loved them both initially, but as the day wore on, Therese just became too fruity, too cloying and too sweet. Sorry all of you Therese fans. And the worst thing is that 30 + hours later (even after alcohol and soap and water) I can still smell it!
Cassie did much better, but I was a little underwhelmed with the drydown. The scent more or less just became a fainter version of the middle. Oh well…. LOTS of money saved!
You know what you can do with those samples… 😉
Absolutely! Thanks for reminding me!!
oh yeah, Boo’s almost assured to like them…..Rapple doesn’t like em, Daisy doesn’t like em….pretty much a sure thing Boo. 😉
LOLOL – I love it!
MJR – Daisy and I need to remember to keep you on the EST list for samples too. Or Boo can pass stuff that she LIKES on to you and that she HATES to me and Daisy.
Awww, thanks for thinking of me! I’d be happy to take any EST samples off of anyone. We should do a survey amongst us to see the precise intersections & overlaps of our preferences. If we get this down to a science we will know precisely which EST sample should go to whom, etc. JK 🙂 Haha!
Well, no…sometimes it just means they’re bad. 😛 See my grab bag o’ the day….
I only have a few untested samples left from Histoire de Parfums so am testing Noir Patchouli. I like it, it has I think some leather notes so reminds me very vaguely of their 1740 Marquis de Sade (just the leather part). That and Ambre 114 are my favourites so far from that line.
Also tried SL Chergui and 5 O’clock Gingembre the other day- both lovely spicy scents but preferred the Chergui. Am going to try Ambre Sultan and Arabie next week and then decide which SL I really want. Something suitable for the mild winters we have here… Suggestions welcome!
If I were choosing for a mild winter, Gingembre would be my pick (disclaimer being that I have not tried Arabie). That and Chergui are 2 of the very few SLs I could even consider wearing. The rest are just too sticky sweet on me.
Thanks for that boojum. The Gingembre was lovely and may be better for a Sydney winter as it isn’t as heavy as Chergui.
Redscorpio: not sure how mild you mean, but this part of California has relatively mild winters — up to 15-20 in the day and down to 5-10 at night. I like several Serges, but have not tried Chergui or 5 o’clock. My cool weather favorites are Arabie, Chene, Miel de Bois, Bois de Violette, Feminte du Bois, Rousse, Santal Blanc.
Your winters sound identical! Thanks for the list of SL’s to try. That’ll keep me busy over the next few weeks…
Joe – 5:00 is, to my nose, the same as Rousse, but with ginger subbed for cinnamon.
I’m one of the few people who can’t stand Ambre Sultan. It just smells like Pine-Sol to me (cleaning spray), with a strong turpentine note. I do really like Arabie, but it’s rather candied-smelling, and you may think it’s too heavy–it’s beyond Chergui, even!
My grab bag scent for today is Miss Dior. It is really nice-dry greens, woods and mosses. So far the edt has lasted 6 hours which makes me verrry happy! 🙂
I love Miss Dior! Especially the vintage!
My grab scent was un a box on my front porch! Haha! Bvlgari black…love it….and a blind buy of cuir de lancome…which I am still learning to like!
funny stuff that Bvlgari Black —-when I first learned that there was something beyond the department store….and started sniffing more interesting things—-a sample of Bvlgari Black ended up in a package…it was my first scrubber! Granted I hadn’t sniffed a REAL scrubbers yet…like Secretions Magnifique (see you all? I can spell it right) and Miel de Bois… a year later a my nose was a bit more experienced and I tried it again…now I really like it and own a bottle. That bottle, btw, is the single most difficult bottle in the universe to make a sample from…I’m just warning you.
oh and don’t anyone go thinking that i’m going to change my mind about those other two gag-fests. uh-uh, nevah gonna happen!
Awwwww. You are *such* a killjoy! It’s now my mission in life to get you to appreciate the beauté of Miel de Bois. 😀
oh, I’m a tougher nut to crack than that!
You know, I tested bulgari black @ a department store recently for the very first time (weird, I know) and I could *not smell it* at all. I sprayed it on my skin and nothing except a little mustiness. i like mustiness (hello Sutra Ylang!), but this was so boring and apparently the first fragrance I am truly anosmic to.
In SM news, I finally understand why some people smell florals in that gawd-awful mess of a fragrance. Last week while watching the *GAME* at my friend’s house I washed my hands with the Meyer’s Day lavender hand soap in the powder room. DEFINITELY NOT the lavender I love. OMG, almost a dead ringer for SM minus the blood and guts, but including the screechy metal note. Even though the “secretions” were sort of MIA, it totally made my stomach turn. HORRIBLE!
ack ! that’s bad when you have to wash your hands….from washing your hands.
I’m sure there’s a great Duke slam in this story, but I just can’t figure out what it is??? 😀
LOL 😉
Hello, hello everyone….my Saturday got away from me. After I commented on the Longwood Gardens story (see earlier post), I thought I would try out two flowery-green things to see if I like them enough to carry me through spring or if I will have to purchase the new Always in Bloom when I visit the Gardens in a few weeks. Wrist to wrist it was Philosophy Field of Flowers v/s Fragonard Marche aux Fleurs. I bought FOF in a gift set for my niece, but I am not above stealing a spritz for me….the Marche aux Fleurs was a gift from a friend in the south of France….both, very fresh and true to their names, even seem to have similar notes, but the FOF, while lasting longer, goes a little too musky in the drydown for me. MAF is brighter if more fleeting, so I sprayed Marche with vigor and headed out to run errands. A very sweet little girl in the bakery said to me, “you smell pretty”–that’s high praise in a store full of baked goods!! So the Field of Flowers will go to my darling niece as planned and I will use up Marche aux Fleurs before the dog days of summer are upon us.
Fragonard make some delicious little fragrances don’t they? They are reasonably priced too. My teenage daughter bought me back Fleur de Vanilles from Paris last year and she said the SA was so impressed she was buying something for her mother she gave her some free soaps! I was sad when my bottle ran out!
wow! high praise indeed! very cute story 🙂
No grab bag for me. I have maybe 70 samples and nothing in there I haven’t tried. Last perfume I tested was Calyx. It’s beautiful and sunny and I’m not sure why it leaves me so cool. It’s probably the fruit. It’s so well-balanced but fruit (even something as interesting as that strange fruit accord) just does not cut my mustard. Oh well.
Aw, I love Calyx! But it is fruity.
Calyx is super-garbagey on me. Although I smelled it on a woman at the grocery store recently, and she smelled fantastic – I think it varies a lot on skin.
I think that was my reaction too…fruit, yes, but rotting fruit. It was just yucky.
I have fell upon…Mimosa pour moi. I love it. I MIGHT need a bottle of it. It reminds me of summer, of La Côte d’Azur, of the sun, of so many things. Now THAT’S a fragrance 😛
Oh, cool to do a grab bag smell and find something full-bottle-worthy!
Late to the party today, but it is fun to read what everyone is testing. I have a very small pile of untested scents – today’s winner is the Laura Mericier’s L’Heure Magique. I like it as a nice dusty carnation & spices. It smells like something that reminds me of my childhood so I am baffled. I can’t decide if it is FBW or not…. so then I put on some sample of Guerlain’s Angelique Noir which is just simply the most gorgeous vanilla fragrance I’ve ever smelled!!
Hi, Ann. I can’t wait to try Angelique Noir; a bit should be headed my way soon. Do you get much angelica from it?
Well, if angelica is this magically wonderful stuff that keeps AN from the standard boring vanilla cake/candle, then I say: YES! (?). I’ve never smelled angelica before. All I know is I put on a small dab last night and I can still smell it this morning, and it is the most beautiful vanilla I’ve ever smelled. Period. I detest the fact it is so expensive!!! And I don’t smell too much association with Shalimar which is way more powdery and “oriental”. I will say though, that it smells like something else I have smelled before and I’m not sure it is fragrance. I am furiously reflecting on this similarity, but nothing is coming. Also, for a brief moment last night I thought it reminded me of the lovely sassafras candies we used to get when I was a little girl, which most likely had some vanilla in them as well as sassafras. In any case, it is an impressive and very very pretty vanilla that lasts for a loooong time. If I could afford a full bottle right now, I would have bought one already!
I love Angelique Noire (don’t worry about what The Guide says)! It’s lovely. Joe, I get plenty of floraly/herbal, but I can’t be more precise because I’m not sure I know what Angelica smells like.
A HA! Some overlap then, MJR. I also really like Angelique Noir (not as much as SDV though). You might also try the Bois d’Armenie.
Woohoo, overlap! Rapple, SDV was nice and definitely well done, but I’m not a huge vanilla fan in general. AN and a handful of others are teaching my nose about vanilla right now. I don’t remember sniffing Bois d’Armenie @ the Guerlain counter, so I’ll definitely check it out sometime!
I only ordered a sample of SDV when it was first released because I couldn’t *imagine* wearing a vanilla scent and I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about! I loved it and bought a bottle. I get lots of booze, wood, rose and some tobacco (like real leaves drying in the barn) along with the vanilla, so it is very complex and rich on me.
I think I have a sample of BdA. Email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot come if you’d like it (AND if I still have it!). Or you can email Daisy and ask her to slip it in your package if I can’t find mine.
I finally cheated to get a sample of something I could wear in warmer weather. Most of my samples I’ve already tried so pulled from the “try again” bag. First one out of the bag was Lonestar Memories. Seemed too heavy for a 70+ degree day. Pulled again and this time it was Musc Ravageur. So I dug through the bag until I found something more suitable for warmer weather and came out with Lutens Un Bois Vanille. I remember why it was in the try again pile — like a big ‘ol hunk of cotton candy. Way too sweet for me.
Tomorrow I’ll try Cote d’Amour again. Was in that “try again” pile but I don’t remember ever trying it in the first place. What’s up with that?!
You know, I’ve never put UBV on my skin but it is VERY sweet on the strip. And it smells so bad-synthetics after a few hours I never really care to give it more time.
What a coincidence that I happened to have pick a random scent from the collection of Antonia’s Flowers sample scent I’d ordered months back. When Floret was first issued, I received an edt sample vial from NM. I loved it then, more than 10 yrs ago, I think. I absolutely adored the scent back then for I’d never come across anything like it, freshly sweet airy floral with a note of sweet pea. Back then it was pure heaven and I never got around to buying it due to cost and priority. I bought Sisly Eau du Soir instead.
Today I tried the edp and it smells like the l’Occitane Jasmin, light, fruity floral on a white musk base. Guess age plus having expierienced so much in life and many fabulous perfumes in between have changed my taste and attitude about this kind of perfume. I understand from the literature the edt and edp were intended to be somewhat different – accents on different notes. It’s lovely, but more suited as a first perfume for a young woman than someone coming close to the end of her 40s.
Very interesting – and true – observations!
I happened to receive my portion of a split of Miller Harris Tangerine Vert today — yet another crappy unsniffed purchase, sigh. The stuff is awful on me… cheap, generic floral-citrus that somehow calls to mind random sleazy guys I have known, and a drydown that’s pure disinfectant (perhaps not a bad idea after all those sleazy guys, but still). And, as is traditional with the bad ones, it wears like iron.
Ooh, so sorry. Yeah, I received a bunch of MH samples awhile back: thought I’d love that one but it did not work. Also expected good things from Citron Citron but that was a bit Lemon Pledge. When I saw that come up for split I wondered how it would go. You know, I’d list it on MUA immediately… never know who’s dying for a sample or decant, and you can swap for something else to try.
Citron Citron was Lemon Pledge and a disinfectant drydown on me. I was afraid that Tangerine Vert would be that same, and reading Lilydale’s comments, it would seem so.
I got a split of this yesterday too and I’m testing it right now. It starts off as a dupe (no Tangerine that I can smell) Eau d’Orange Verte sans the richness (i.e. the more expensive materials) of the Hermès. Then it turns into very faint soapy-floral, like you just stepped out of the shower, and then it disappears into the ether. Not very successful in my opinion, but I don’t think it’s terrible.
Yes! You’re right about the similarity in the opening to the Hermes — which I really like, and which doesn’t smell cheapo at all — and it definitely has that bath-product vibe in the middle.
Well I had to go into my carefully ziplock bagged ‘by house’ hatbox and get out a bag by feel and then open it with my eyes shut – and it was the Mona de Orio set. I am finding these are only just hanging in the maybe section, none have st me on fire really…
Chamarre a newish one came out, a soft oriental – but I’m a girl who likes Shalimar and Montale, not to mention Poison and Opium, so it doesn’t stand a chance really!
But a lovely, subtle, very modern scent that wouldn’t blow the co-workers out of the office…gosh I remember when we all gathered around admiring Opium and Poison on each other at work!!!
I have not been impressed with anything by Mona di Orio so far, but she definitely has fans!
Hooooooly cow, Opium AND Poison. At WORK, no less…
You’re braver than I am. 🙂
Hmmm… I didn’t do this right. Daisy had emailed me earlier about it being grab bag day, but I missed the part about putting all untried samples in a bag and grabbing one – so I just grabbed one of the boxes that I store samples in and pulled out a sample. Which turned out to be Guerlain Sous le Vent – which I had tried previously, but we were getting ready to run out the door and I had been wanting to test it again, so I put in on anyway.
I really love the opening blast – it would be fantastic if it stayed that way forever. The far drydown is lovely, too – I’m just not sure about the middle part yet.
Actually, on second whiff of the drydown, it smells suspiciously like Fleur d’Oranger 27, which is what I was wearing last night. That would be amazing since I’ve showered since then and applied Sous le Vent – further testing may be necessary.
I enjoyed Sous le Vent. I still have a little sample I’m nursing. I just love that classic Guerlain smell. Oddly, what it brought to mind was Chanel’s Pour Monsieur, so I had to do a side by side testing. There are some similarities going on, both being citrus-chypres. But, I found the “Chanelinaide” lurking in PM, which bugs me. I would definitely go with Sous le Vent and feel wonderfully classy. I would like to try it sprayed on, as just dabbing doesn’t seem to give it much life… (and it’s sold in those apothecary bottles anyway, right?)
Hmmm.. spraying might be the ticket. I only have the little sample vial, so I’ve only been able to dab.
So, I’m a little jealous of all of the perfume knowledge floating around here. I have two tabs open on my mac for luckyscent and perfumedcourt, so that I can start on my collection. After lurking on the site for a year, I’ve recently come to terms with my LOVE of fragrance. I’m still trying to develop my nose. I was stopping myself from spending so much on any and everything fragrance related, because I thought I was doing too much. Since I’m in good company with the rest of you, I shall encroach on my adventure to reach perfumista status. (my husband called me an addict) LOL 🙂
What a nice story, and welcome! Advice… take it slow and steady and set a budget and stick to it (I’m still working on that last bit myself).
My tip…
Get as many samples as you can…
Although having said that I tend to jump straight to full size bottle’s…
Ebay is great for buying and selling mistakes…
Happy Hunting…
Welcome, fellow fragrance addict… I mean perfume aficionado. Don’t worry about feeling like a newbie – we were all there at one time. I had no clue about niche fragrances and couldn’t have told you a chypre from a woody oriental if my life depended on it. There are several fabulous articles to read on this site about the basics and I devoured Perfumes: The Guide – I might not agree with all of the reviews, but there is a huge amount of general knowledge in there as well.
I keep The Guide next to the computer at all times – and still am wrestling with whether or not to buy the updated paperback.
Welcome NS! Have fun discovering new scents. Thank goodness for The Perfumed Court and LuckyScent. Trying samples first will save you tons of money. And like Joe mentioned, a budget always helps. Knowing that the damage polls come along every quarter helps. (not this last quarter, but usually, it does!) 🙂
Late to the party, again!
Already scented for the day (Sensuous) and I bet I couldn’t even find my untrieds if I attempted to, so it’s for the best.
I did get to try the 3 Chloe Fleurs the other day, and found them surprisingly nice, if fleeting. The Neroli definitely smelled more expensive and rich than I had anticipated, although I have been absolutely spoiled by the likes of rubj/Jabu/Profumum Neroli/L’Occitane Neroli – it’s not in the same league. But nice!
The other discovery was Roger & Gallet Eau de Gingembre, which I may even break down & buy. Similar to Krizia My Afrika, if anyone knows *that* obscure one. Citrus, candied ginger and a slightly vanillic-ambery base – simple, but lovely.
I liked the Chloe Eau de Fleurs trio better than Angela did (she wrote the review here) but only marginally more…did not at all think they were worth the hefty price tag.
Last fragrance I tried today was Krigler’s America One. At first sniff it smelled like Declaration althought the composition put cumin at front center.
Oh I love Declaration…I find it a very “physical” scent.
I tried the Chloe EDP after spending yesterday at Harrod’s and being given three free samples – and was very disappointed. Having sniffed the “Intense” version and found it inoffensive and quite pleasing in an old-fashioned, slightly dusty way, the EDP smelled – well, depressing, with a strange edge of decay in the heart notes and drydown. I can’t wait to get rid of those samples now.
Not a huge fan of Chloe & admit I have not even tried all the variations. Darned popular scent though!
Happy Sunday morning, everyone. This is a great idea for a lazy weekend poll, so thanks dollydagger and Robin.
The first sample I found between my fingers this morning was the currently-in-progress new gardenia from Sonoma Scent Studio which will be called Bouquet Blanc when it’s released, which will be quite soon, I think.
Oh man, this is good. You know how EL PC Tuberose Gardenia is so lovely and three-dimensional? Imagine gently lifting out most of the tuberose from that and adding jasmine and orange blossom and beefing up the base a bit with vetiver and orris. It’s a gorgeous gardenia with all of that beeswaxy realism. Laurie Erickson is quite an amazing talent.
(The notes: jasmine sambac, gardenia, tuberose, orange blossom, neroli, ylang, green leaves, ambergris, cedar, orris, vetiver, sandalwood, natural oakmoss, and vanilla absolute)
P.S. If you check the SSS website from time to time, it’ll let you know when Bouquet Blanc is available. Should be pretty soon — just in time for the perfect weather for it!
Oooh! I’ve been following Laurie’s progress on BB on her blog and this is sounding luscious! I agree with you that she’s a great talent.
Robin – I’m so jealous you’re getting to try the mod! Can’t wait till it becomes available!
Sounds wonderful!
This sounds wonderful! Thank you for the update!
Yep, can’t wait for this one!
I haven’t done well at all with SSS, though I can see why everyone else loves the line. (There’s just some odd note in there that turns my stomach…sad, because I can tell the rest is lovely.) That said, this sounds completely different from the ones I’ve tried, and will definitely be on the sample list!
Glad I bounced in here for a minute and saw your comment. I think I know exactly what you mean about the ‘odd’ note.
P.S. No, I’m not getting a kickback. I’m just a huge fan of Sonoma Scent Studio. 😉
Me too! Have you tried and do you like the new Incense Pure? That scent is right up my alley – I love it!
I was reading the comments and forgot I tried on Sensous by Estee Lauder. I actually really liked it. As someone said, whose name escapes me, EL makes some pretty good fragrances.
Late to the party but ran to the shelf and picked SSS Lieu de Reves with which I doused myself (unintentionally, now wearing practically the whole vial) Despite the quantity, am now half an hour in and this is delicate and powdery violets and heliotrope with a whisper of cedar on me, not picking up any rose or the other notes (tonka, vetiver). Not that I mind, it is entirely suitable for the end of a lovely spring day such as we have had. The cedar is subtle here, I also have SSS Femme Jolie which is a complete cedar fest on me, love it.
4:00 pm on a Sunday and I’m sniffing my wrist …..I pulled out a plum and it was—surprise to me–Monyette Paris, which I don’t know if I’ve ever tried. This was a sample I just had to have, had to. It’s nestled in a little box w Luctor et Emergo, Timbuktu, some loose AT samples before I ordered his set. Now I know why the desire to have Monyette passed. I don’t care much for it. It almost reminds me of En Passant , which I didn’t care for either. What IS that top note that I cannot define? It’s also a bit sweet and cloying and I’m hell bent for leather and amber and woods.
I had a small plastic bag with untested Tom Ford Private Blend samples in it and pulled out Bois Rouge. Might be a lemming here, but it’s a strange one. It’s very potent and the first hit of it just bites you in the nose! I swear I smell cinnamon in there. The dry-down is lovely. It’s described as very masculine, but I didn’t think it was.
Late to party (again), but I tried “Bijan” for the very first time this weekend. (had grabbed it on TJ Maxx weeks ago). Can’t believe I’ve never worn it before – LOVE it. Def more of a fall fragance, I guess, but it was kind of chilly this weekend. Wearing it again today. Anyway, LOVE it. Thanks!
Over the weekend my grab bag sample was CB I Hate Perfume At the Beach 1966. Coppertone in late 60’s with salt water/air. Memory brought me back to my childhood Swim Club in Missouri, laying on a towel and watching the high school’s hunky algebra teacher play tennis in those cute little white shorts, while salty sweat dripped into my eyes, obstructing my view! Much fun. Carolyn