The usual drill: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume that made you hungry, the last perfume you bought unsniffed, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Maple (Koishikawa Koraku-en) by kanegen at flickr; some rights reserved.
I am curious about any thoughts anyone has on 1826 by Histoires? I have just received and tried a sample of this and I am trying to identify whether I like it or not. It is interesting, but it seems to me as if it is two separate pieces. Two separate perfumes in one. Is that possible?
Hi there….. I agree with your assessment; 1826 does seem to have two characters. Its first phase is a very juicy citrus; its second phase is a rather dry vanilla musk. I think of it as the pie filling and the pie crust, but I haven’t worked out whether or not they belong together. 🙂
Ah! That is such a cool description!. Pie filling and pie crust, I like that. Thanks, I thought my nose flaked on me today.
Between you and me – the darker part, the crust(?) feels like it *flicks* me in the nose, rather sharply, and I am having the same problem. It is like, “are you supposed to be there?* But it is not BAD, just surprising. Maybe that’s it, unexpectedly on purpose.
There are about ten people on here who already know what I’m about to ask…
So I finally got a job where– as near as I can tell– I can wear perfume. I don’t start for a few weeks, but of course I’m already planning what to wear my first day. Any suggestions about what to wear, or what to avoid? (Thinking Bandit and Tauer CPUA are out.) I know you don’t all know my fragrance wardrobe by heart, I’m just looking for a general idea.
Hi Kitty,
I am no expert at all (ahem!) But I would try something just a tiny bit above skin scent. It might be better to test the waters really delicately at first. Later on, as they get to know you, a little bit heavier to see the level of tolerance.
I just feel, if you are new – at least the first month or two, until you know the boundaries, it will be like a first impression to them all and it might be better to err on the side of delicate. They will be far more tolerant in the future if you …..um…”misstep” (not my words), much later in the game than early on.
FOANDW, words of wisdom…..gaaah but skin scent is so boring. Even so, probably better advice than my Azuree comment. 🙂
Dunno Tamara, I’ve never tried Azuree, so it might be great too!
Sorry Tamara, I didn’t know Azuree’s reputation. Guess my comment was a little silly in light of it.
Don’t be sorry, everybody thinks and feels about scents differently – I was really just teasing Miss Kitty, this would not be a appropriate work scent but I still dig it. 🙂
Great answer! My thoughts exactly. Best to go subtle til you know the atmosphere…
Answer in wrong place! My response to you, FOANDW, above. 🙂
Ah, I see, thanks 🙂
LOL —FOandW and I clearly share a brain, as these were my thoughts exactly.
Daisy, lol,
But you can come up with some good actual scents as ideas. Me, I wouldn’t have a clue yet, but I am getting better – very slowly.
Miss Kitty, you can wear the URV I’m sending you doll!
Have you tried the new L’Artisan vetiver one? Did you like it?
I can send that too- it’s like Dzing! on me , but the girlies DID like it. Oh- you can wear EL Azuree to show Bad Bitty Bitch is here-that’s right tell em’ who represents!
ha. OK too much Monster energy drink there 😛
I finally decided to take a squirt from my Azuree decant last night and dang is that stuff strong. Like thermonuclear strong. I’d only tested from a vial previously. I think I’ll wait for colder water to bring that out again. Bad Bitch Betty indeed.
that’s “colder weather”…
HA. I know right? I walked in the store the other day and these teenagers standing by me literally stuck up their pretty lil’ noses in disgust, I’m pretty sure I offended with Azuree!
But I love it. Two sprays can’t be THAT bad.
Just used to frilly froufrou synthetic blargh I suppose. 😉
Or I did stink.
have to say, I have tried Azuree, and found it a little too much for me, but I think I would be fine with it on someone else. The 4F perfumes (fruity floral frou-frou) have been so dominant in the mainstream market for the last 15 years that anyone much under 30 probably thinks that is what all perfumes are supposed to smell like. Anything else is “old lady” perfume.
Oh yeah. This one was an unsniffed purchase for me, and I very nearly took it back. I still may. Waiting for winter to test it again. I also purchased Lancome Cuir unsniffed – wore it the other day, and it’s nice, but might be all I can take on the leather theme.
Ha! Love this exchange about Azuree. It is a favorite, but it’s challenging. Wore it yesterday for the first time in a while, and had forgotten how weird, but addictive, it is. I couldn’t stop smelling my wrist all day. You’re right Joe, it is thermonuclear strong. I learned to use a very light hand when applying, after nearly knocking myself out the first couple of times. A squirt to the back of the neck is all I need, maybe one to the breast as well, if I feel daring.
That’s so funny Joe – I was curious what you would think of it! It is a powerhouse, but I do love it.
Sorry for not sending you a note, V. It arrived last weekend but took me a few days to open the package. I was familiar with it from a vial but the spray nearly knocked me over. Thanks so much for it and the other goodies. Almost wore the Frapin today. So delicious!
HA! That’s probably why I like it! Too strong.
I thought Aramis (also by Bernard Chant) was a quieter version of Azuree (although it came first) for men. Maybe you can go with that instead.
Azuree skeered me.
True, I am a Leather Wimp… but it really did.
I do love leather as a supporting player, though, and love Cuir de Lancome – such a “Mom’s good leather-purse, with her No. 5-soaked hanky inside it” sort of scent.
That’s a cool description of CdL Mals.
Yes! I love that description. Speaking of leathers, I ran across a $10 sample bottle of Cabochard at a vintage shop today. I didn’t buy it but after doing a little research I’m considering going back for it. Any thoughts?
I don’t do so well with leather, either, but I love Cuir de Lancome. The only other leather scents I can do are Jolie Madame, Daim Blond, and Bandit (which I don’t really count). Most leather perfumes smell like rawhide on me. I make Chanel Cuir de Russie smell like beef jerky. It’s just not right.
CdL and JM are wonderful. I see that I must try Daim Blonde – apricots and suede? Yum.
Cuir de Russie smells like the cattle working pens on our farm to me, complete with dust, live cattle, iodine, and raw hides. Bleargh, hideous.
daim blonde …yum, my personal favorite…c de l can be bought fro really cheap at the moment!
I’m a leather wimp, too. I enjoy a bit in subtle supporting roles. Have to say that Tabac Blond could grow on me, though…
Oh, and I tried Guerlain Derby recently. It’s gorgeous! Leather with finesse, and I hear it’s discontinued? A pity.
Derby is a leather? I had no idea. I really like that one. And discontinued? Ugh!
Derby is a very beautiful, complex fragrance with a subtle leather component. I think it’s actually classified as a chypre. I did a little research – looks like it’s not discontinued, but it has been reformulated.
It’s funny but I pretty much didn’t like Azuree but I can’t get it out of my mind. For $35 I might have to buy it and just have it around. If I was going to actually wear it I would have to change from showering in the morning to the evening and putting it on then so it would be perfect for the next day. My hair doesn’t like that, though.
You’ve put your finger on something that I was puzzling myself about. I have got hundreds of bottles of perfume, and I know that the majority I will hardly ever wear and I couldn’t understand why, in spite of the glut, I persist in buying yet more that I probably won’t wear after the first spray. But now you have shown me the light. It’s just nice to have them around! Whenever someone mentions one, I can go to my “library” and have a sniff.
Happy to enable, er, help! hee hee!
Bet nobody will agree with me, but why not wear NO perfume the first day, and take some time to suss things out? (probably erring on the side of caution, which is my take on perfume in public)
Yup, might be a better idea.
Or maybe a very small spritz of a comfort scent on your wrist to help you get through the day. 🙂 Something that no one else will smell but you!
Yeah, THAT.
I should have included: I going based largely on the fact that there are clearly two people in the office that wear some sort of amber perfume. So I feel like as long as I chose wisely, I think I’ll be ok. I hope. 🙁 I’ll really only be working with two other on my shifts (hello, graveyard!), so I’ll probably check in with them about it.
Oh, that’s different then. Wear Fracas! (j/k)
😉
Not a bad idea…or maybe just shower gel and body lotion in a scent you like? I do that on headache-y days…
Congrats on your new job Miss Kitty! What about Anais Anais by Cacharel? That is very soft, as I’m sure you know and not overpowering. For me, it’s a little too dominant on the jasmine.
I wore lightly sprayed Chanel No. 5 to an interview recently, so I would recommend wearing something familiar yet unobtrusive intially.
No. 5 would be perfect. Or just one spritz of something like Mythique.
Oooh, got my vote there! Mythique totally rocks the “quiet” world.
Mythique is an excellent idea!
I would second, third, and fourth Mythique. The “Left Coast Nose” called it the perfect “clean white shirt” scent.
Another clean, easy to “get to know you” scent would be Christalle chanel edt – the original version.
Agree that Mythique would be ideal. Or maybe something like Osmanthe Yunnan?
I was actually considering No. 5. That’s one of my favorites. I also thought about BB Nude. I got away with wearing that at a conference a while back, and no one seemed to notice. I’ve also gotten BK Back to Black past people before.
I think No. 5 is such a classic scent & so familiar that it’s almost not obvious that you’re wearing perfume, but that’s me. No. 5 is this comfort scent of mine and so lightly applied I feel like it could simply be written off as a cosmetic smell.
You hit the nail on the head. I’ve always loved it because it reminds me of my mom when she would get dressed up and go out: there are all sorts of girlie makeup smells in there, and a little hairspray. Plus, I get compliments all the time when I wear it. Of course, I’m paranoid, so whenever anyone says anything, my first response is always, “Is it too much?”
One good thing with this job is that I have time on my side. I’ll probably have something on for at least a few hours before I go in, so whatever I would wear would have time to mellow. I think that still rules out Bandit, though. 😉
Well, I am happily wearing Bandit at my office, but no one seems to really care. I did walk in wearing Yrvesse about a week or so ago & had a co-worker comment on it because I had been the first into the office and it was wafting when he arrived a few minutes later. Not a bad comment, but he asked me what I was wearing because it reminded him of his grandmother — I didn’t take that entirely as a compliment, though.
I feel that way about NO. 5 as well.
Speaking of “cosmetic smells”, I could see a light application of Guerlain Terracotta Voile d’Ete or Meteorites being safe.
just remember that sometimes those honey notes in perfume can be interpreted as urinous…. BB Nude and Back to Black trigger that association for me. I think a small amount of Chanel no5, Mythique or Lyric (you have some lyric, don’t you?) would all be appropriate….just remember to wear it lightly whilst you test the scented waters at the new job.
I don’t have any Lyric, but that may change before the day is over. What was that ebay seller’s name again? 😉
emailing you 🙂
Don’t know what your feeling is about scented lotions, but even the people I know who say they “hate perfume” wear scented body lotion from B&BW, VS and the drugstore. Unless the office is very strict on the fragrance policy, this method seems to fly just fine. I’ve even said that my pefume *is* body lotion sometimes because it seems to calm people’s nerves faster. Go figure.
That’s funny! I think some lotions are actually far stronger-smelling than any perfume.
Hey, looks like we posted at the same time. Agreed!
I second that. I have actually smelled people( not intentionally of course) and when I asked what they were wearing, several have replied a scented body lotion, usually from B&BW or The Body Shop.
Interesting–the only time I have received a negative comment about my “perfume”, it was actually scented hand cream that I was putting on.
Miss Kitty
So true, when I wear Magie Noire body lotion, it lasts all day. Amazing that it does, really.
BTW, congrats on the new job! 🙂
Sometimes I find scented body lotions to be more overpowering than perfumes! If I use one all over, it seems to permeate my clothing, and everything else that touches it. Way too overwhelming for me. But I suppose there are some lotions out there that may not be as strong, and that fade over time. Every time I try one, though, I regret it!
Sometimes I’ve used lotion in place of perfume – just on pulse points rather than an all over thing. It works nicely when you want subtle scent.
Yes! I don’t get it – do people think it’s the alcohol in perfume that is so offensive? I also wonder if people become ansomic to their scented lotions if they use the same one every day? Someone I knew used the old VS Pear Glace lotion – which I liked at the time – as a hand lotion every day at work. I used to comment that I liked it and she said “I can’t even smell it anymore. Tell me if it’s too much!”
I think when it’s spread out all over your body (that sounded weird) you tend not to smell it as much. If I have lotion on my legs I don’t usually smell it unless I’m tying my shoes. (Since I own mostly boots and only one pair of shoes with laces, that doesn’t happen very much.) I guess it depends where you apply perfume, though. I always spray it on my throat, so it wafts up during the day. If I spritz my wrists I don’t smell anything at all unless I’m holding my wrist up to my nose.
the prada infusion d’iris is way stronger and longer lasting thn the perfume
Ha, Ms Kitty – you didn’t waste any time! 😉 Since you did catch whiffs of perfume during your interview, I don’t think you have to be TOO careful about your choice, though I do think that Azuree may be pushing it! LOL Do you have SSS Champagne de Bois or Tauer’s URC? They are not light fragrances by any means, but whenever I wear them I have strangers complimenting me and asking what I’m wearing – almost every time. If you do want to go with something lighter – how about VC&A Bois d’Iris? Do you have that one? I found that to be appropriate even at the Dr’s the other day and even got a compliment from his assistant. That’s my advice and I was probably no help at all. 😉
I need a bottle of Champagne du Bois! Is she selling things again? Last I checked you couldn’t buy anything online from her. 🙁
Really?! I had no idea. Now I have to go check…
Yep, looks like samples only are available at this time. Therefore I ordered another 2.5 ml spray of CdB and Incense Pure. 😉
well, of course, what else could you do? lol great choices 🙂
i just ordered champagne de bois on wed or thurs lasst week! the 17ml bottles!
SSS Opal is a very nice scent too, subtle but moderate sillage. It has nice staying power too.
Oh, I just discovered that one and absolutely love it! Maybe I could try wearing a dab of the sample I have. Is it true that it’s discontinued? That would break my heart.
I got my SSS sample set yesterday…. trying Champagne de Bois on the back of my hand right now. I wanted to go with Daisy’s favorite first….we seem to have similar tastes. It has only been about 20 minutes, but it seems to have gone to instant “baby powder” scent on me. Anyone else have this happen? I think the back of my hand now smells like a freshly washed and powdered baby’s head. Just asked my bf and he said the back of my hand smells like “Christmas”. Maybe my nose is really off today.
Oh, and the Tabac Aurea leaked a little in the box, so all the other outside of the bottles and the box smell like Tabac Aurea. Good thing is…. I already know I like it!!
Baby powder?? (Puzzled face) Seriously, baby powder??
I don’t know. I do know that there are a bunch of things that go to shaving cream on me, and I’ll say something about it and get the “Shaving cream? Seriously, that’s shaving cream to you??” comments. I don’t know if it’s Nose, or Skin.
Tabac Aurea is stunning.
Maybe something iris….Bois de Iris by TDC is light and lovely and surely inoffensive but not boring. 28 La Pausa…
I’m anosmic to iris. 🙁 Of course, if others were, too, that would be the perfect thing to wear! Ha!
Oh – I forgot about your issue with iris. Duh. My suggestion of VC&A Bd’I will do you no good then.
I love love love VC&A Bois d’Iris
Diorella? For some reason I associate that scent with you 😛 Maybe you had memorably commented on it once…
Do you have any citrus perfumes? Almost everyone likes those. And there are a few beautiful ones.
Oh, that’s a good idea! I didn’t think of that. I did think maybe something gourmand and food-y would be good, but citrus didn’t occur to me. Maybe Hadrien or Little Italy– although the latter might just make me smell like I have a chewable vitamin C addiction.
Yes to Hadrien. Maybe Pamplemousse Rose or TDC Bergamotte.
Pamplemousse Rose or Bergamote would be great choices. Or Escale a Portofino.
Was gonna suggest VCA Bois d’Iris too, or Pradas Id’I but if you’re anosmic then no help. I have actually gotten called into my manager’s office before because someone complained that my perfume was too strong. 🙁 (F ’em…. now I work from home and can wear what I want). But when I DO have to venture into the office, here are the ones I have safely gotten away with and not gotten another “naughty note” over:
Balenciaga Paris
24 Faubourg
Apres L’Ondee
Bvlgari Au the blanc
Juste un Reve
L’Antimatiere
Un Jardin En Mediteranee
CK Truth
Bois de Santal (KM)
Those are the inventory of my “safe for work/church/funeral” shelf.
I’m dying of curiosity–what perfume were you wearing when you got scolded by your manager?
I’m curious AND worried. I dont have a great sense of smell so I apply quite heavily and though I haven’t got any comments (I dont work in an office) I think it may just be a matter of time. Which scents were problematic?
Well… it was about 5 years ago, before I fell into the perfume rabbit hole…. and the first time I got slapped on the wrist, I guess, in all honesty, I was “guilty as charged”…. I was cleaning out one of my desk drawers, it was a freezing February late afternoon and I was only 20 minutes from leaving the office anyway (notice my continuous rationalization lol)…. at the far back of the drawer I stumbled on a mini of Obsession…. yes, I had did it…. right there at my cublicle…. sprayed it like twice. SO…. I was not really too upset about that one. My fault.
The other one someone complained about which still has me baffled over what could be so offensive was Euphoria. Go figure.
Urgh. I hate Obsession. And don’t hate Euphoria, but it is pretty wafty, so I could see why someone might not enjoy it.
Go for the Black Afgano! Once they expect that, everything else will seem conservative 😉
See!? That’s where my train of thought was going. ha.
OMG, they’ll think I got stoned before work! LOL!
then you might not have to worry about what to wear on day #2….since you might end up staying at home…. uh-oh!
LOL, ok, well maybe not Black Aggano, but something bold!
😉
Afgano, duh.
People are going to smell it on me at one point or another, I’ll tell you that much. 🙂 It’s one of my favorites.
Congrats in spades Miss Kitty!!! First day is a no brainer: vintage No 5 parfum. Good luck whatever you choose (and not that arpege – ha ha!).
Ann and what pray tell is wrong with Arpege??? haha
She’s Faye from MadMen, gotta love that!
I like Arpege – nothing wrong with it, but it is a sillage monster.
I guess your right.
I have been home forever so I can wear whatever I please.
But for me I feel you can anything in moderation you know? 🙂
I don’t get that at all with Arpege! But good to know. That one was in the running.
Congratulations on the new job!
I would suggest Balmain’s Ivoire – aldehydes, nice floral with a green edge, not too obtrusive.
I know that you love YSL Yvresse as well, to me that would be perfectly suitable if applied lightly.
I recommend “Y” by YSL. It is an older scent, but light and airy–at least on me. It’s also a compliment-drawer! Plus, you can get it online at bargain prices.
Another great idea!
I don’t think the U. N. could have done any better than your perfume friends did here today! Great advice!
Maybe an approach might be to wear a just few dabs of an extrait that you like. That way you will get a steady, slow release of fragrance all day, hopefully nothing too scary.
I am very careful about what I wear to the office – it’s a constant pre-occupation of mine actually – and wary especially of the fragrances that begin with an enormous burst that takes half an hour to settle. It depends on how long it take you to get to work of course, and how you travel. My journey, by car, take me only about 25 minutes, so fragrance has to be applied well before I leave. I avoid most of the Lauders on work days because they come on so strong at the start (especially Azuree!). Another biggy is Kenzo’s Ca Sent Beau. So pleased to be released from its bottle, It leaps out joyously and fills the room with its fragrance. It’s only an EDT but one spritz takes ages to calm down and it lasts ALL DAY on me.
This makes me think that I need to do a few test runs. I’ll try various things out over the next few weeks, and ask people around me what they think. Wish me luck. 😉
Congrats Miss Kitty!
How about a light chypre like Givenchy III or Miss Dior? Maybe a spritz of China White(instead of Black Afghano)?
Other suggestions are:
-Kelly Caleche
-Un Jardin Sur Le Nil
-Stella (it’s light on me)
-M.Micallef Royal Muska-also light
Keep us updated!
Oh, the China White is a good idea! Guess I’ll have to get some. 😉
Congratulations on the new job!
Thank you! 🙂 Biiigggggg change for me! But more money= more perfume.
Congrats on the job, MissKitty!
Before I retired I had an office to myself that was sort of tucked away in a corner of the building, so I could wear any perfume I wanted knowing that it wasn’t going to bother anyone (no one hangs around your office when you’re the accounting manager, so I didn’t even have to worry about office visitors). Now, however, I’m working part-time and sharing close quarters with my co-workers. I’ve been wearing my solids or perfume oils so as to cut waaaay down on the sillage. That might be a way for you to ease into it.
Today at work, I wore Etat Libre d’Orange’s Tom of Finland — a soft, quiet lemony saffron cologne — and was told by a fellow female colleague, “Oh, you smell GOOD!” It’s always great to be able to add another fragrance for the “work safe” category. 🙂
Hi Miss Kitty V!
Great timing – have also been recently trying to find a new office-appropriate scent. I work in a rather conservative office, but current office rotation is:
Hiris
No 5 eau premiere
The pour un ete
bois des iles
bvlgari green tea
a light spritz of beige / DK gold
Miss Kitty, I’ve given a lot of thought to this over the last couple of years. First, I really think application is key – I’m usually wearing just a spritz to the cleavage that I can enjoy without much sillage – in fact, a colleague who knows I love perfume recently asked me why I never wear perfume, LOL!
Personally, I feel most comfortable in unisex, crisp scents or natural, very balanced scents – I want something that doesn’t contradict a professional image. I especially like Guerlain and AG Vetiver, TDC Osmanthus, Etro Shaal Nur, Dzing!, Cuir de Lancome, Tocade and Vol de Nuit. In the summer also Diptyque (Olene, L’Ombre dans L’Eau and Virgilio) and BK Beyond Love.
OOoH Noz, that cracks me up!!! Gorgeous sexy sensual ‘fumes to get everyones’ minds off the humdrum boring!!!
Gah, when I think what I would deem appropriate, anything and everything and preferably all expressing their personal loves as something to be enjoyed by your comrades…what’s happening to the world…
At least in Australia so far I’m not aware of any anti-fragrance movement.
It seems to be strongest (Ha) in N America??
Hi Winifreda!
I’m in Sydney – not sure where you are – but Infusion d’Iris seems to be the go-to office scent for this entire city lol *cue eye roll*
It’s an appealing ideal; in practice, I think not. I’m sure it would be awesome to enjoy diverse selections from your collection, Winifreda. However, the States isn’t a nation of perfumistas. For example, a receptionist in my workplace had one of those hideous plug-in “aromatherapy” thingies – heavy, artificial lavender-patchouli invading all the surrounding workspaces and corridors – gaagh!
And if someone did wear the good stuff, it might well be someone unpleasant, ruining a classic perfume by association for all time. Scent is powerful. Would it really make sense to waft The Party in Manhattan while discussing a project with colleagues?
Until we have the olfactory equivalent of sunglasses and earplugs, I’ll plead for discretion, boring as it sounds.
But Miss Kitty–how could you even consider a job where you couldn’t wear perfume? I wouldn’t have the nerve to bring it up during an interview, but that would be one of the things I would want to know. “Q; What are your career objectives?” A: “I want to work somewhere where I can wear perfume every day without generating any hostility.”
I’m telling ya– if I had known that about my current job, I wouldn’t have taken it. Seriously. My thing at interviews is to look for “scent-free environment” signs. And then get the hell out of there, if there is one. The nice thing about the new job is that the office crowd is pretty static. No random person from the public can come in, so as long as everyone else tolerates me, I’m good. And really, if there are two amber wearers, I feel like I’m safe.
How about EL Pleasures? It really does smell a lot like the fragrances in many soaps (as The Guide points out), and so people might just think you took a really good shower. Anything that could be mistaken for the scent of soap/shampoo/deodorant/fabric softener should be a safe choice, since few people are likely to complain that you smell too clean! One of my SSS samples this week is Cameo, and I keep thinking that it smells a lot like a functional fragrance. I don’t really mean that in a bad way–I actually think it would be a good one to wear around people who think that they hate perfume. “Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m wearing perfume, you cretin, and you just think it’s my Bounce dryer sheets. Fooled you!”
Congratulations on the new job and good luck! In that sort of situation I usually try a light spritz of Bois des Iles, or an even lighter application of Y by YSL, or some Fleurissimo. How about Carthusia Mediterranee?
Congratulations on the new job!
How about wearing something comforting and foodie like Musc Maori? You put me up to it in the first place.
Since you might be starting right around Halloween/starting of Thanksgiving season, your coworkers might think you are just hiding a piece of chocolate in your pocket.
Hey, I could wear Montale Chocolate Greedy! That’s about as foodie as it gets! People would be too confused to think it was perfume. They’ll just be wondering why the new person is constantly eating Cocoa Puffs.
How about Bvlgari’s Pour Femme or Eau de Blanc. Nice and inoffensive…….
Hi miss kitty–congratulations on your new job! I have acouple of ideas for your workplace scent. Nocturnes by Caron is very nice– it’s comforting and soft, but I personally find it rich and complex enough that it adds a nice background to the day. The edt is very soft, so it’s hard to overdo, and doesn’t run away from you. Infini is a little more intense, but has a smoky leathery aspect which is a little edgier– for me at least. I just got a luckyscent fall sample collection, and Kiki EDP by Vero Profumo is something I would wear on a meeting day–a friendly, happy sort of fragrance. Good luck and enjoy– post what you decided to wear!!
Hi Everyone-Fells good to be back on NST. Didn’t mean to be away sooo long since NST is the best site to discuss and blog about fragrance PERIOD (and I have tried others), but on my other post, like I said this has not been a kind year-personal losses have kept me and my husband occupied. Now I am free to join in and discuss one of my favorite subjects-fragrance.
Dolly
Sorry for whatever has gone wrong, and glad it’s getting better.
Thank you Robin. You are the best!
Hi Dolly2, I feel you girl, this year is not too great for me either but I hope that things are starting to look up and welcome back!
Sorry to take so long getting back on. Technical difficulties.
Well hello Dolly, it’s so good to have you back where you belong! [haha Couldn’t resist – & for you youngins out there – that’s a line from the song ‘Hello Dolly’.]
Thanks Rustic D! I only seem to remember,”Well Hello Dolly!”, “Well Hello Dolly!” Better start taking some gingko!
Welcome back, Dolly!
Thank you!
Dolly, the other day I told Mr. Aparatchick that I was really going to be celebrating this New Year’s Eve, because I’ll be so happy to see an end to this year. It’s been a tough one. Let’s hope we all have a better year ahead.
I have the same feeling about 2010….good riddance!
SOTD is Robert Piguet Bandit. I received a sample from SweetLife and have fallen completely in love. I tried it & a half hour later I was on eBay buying a bottle which arrived yesterday. The bottle is the EdP which is the same as the sample, however it smells different somehow — perhaps it’s the fact that I’m spraying it instead of splashing it on.
The bottle did have some seal on it stating that it was the original formulation — not sure what to make of that but the sample definitely smells different from the FB. Not sure if anyone can give me any pointers on that. It’s not a bad difference, but there’s something about the FB that reminds me a lot of YSL Yvresse after a few hours or wear.
In other news, the weather’s gorgeous & I treated myself to pumpkin spice Godiva truffles & bought a few orange coloured roses from the florist next door for my fiance’ — he can’t afford to buy me flowers thanks to law school, so I’ve taken on the tradition of buying them for him instead.
Hope everyone else is having a lovely Friday.
Was your Bandit sample a carded sample from Piguet? Because I ran into the same thing. I ordered a bottle based on sniffing straight out of the bottle in the store, then got the sample home and hated it. I was really relieved when my bottle arrived and I loved it. Yeah, I don’t know what that’s about.
Yeah, it was. That’s so weird. I think I like the FB better but they’re just oddly different. Granted, the sample smelled one way on me the first day I wore it and completely different the next. No idea why either.
I have this same issue — Bandit smells differently on me, on different days. I like it, though, in all its ways. Kind of like a mood ring?
Mmm – pumpkin spice Godivas sound really good!
I had bought flowers for my – now husband, then boyfriend – a few times back when he was in graduate school. Similar situation – he was a poor student and I was the one working. He seemed to really enjoy them too. Anyway, that was over twenty years ago and these days he’s the one doing the flower buying. Also, he enjoys our flower garden and is always suggesting that I cut some to bring indoors. He’s such a sweetie.
And he replaced your vintage L’Heure Bleue for you– you definitely found a keeper!
True dat Mz. K.
They really are. I’m not really one for chocolate but a co-worker was talking about Godiva and there’s one down the street from my office, so I couldn’t resist.
Yeah, the first time I bought him flowers he was really surprised and touched — I had gotten very angry with him over the phone b/c he has a habit of obsessive cleaning and tossing out important mail & this time it was my renewal debit card which I needed before I left for NYC for that upcoming weekend. I ended up buying him tulips in apology, though because it was partially my fault for not simply having put the card in my wallet at the time when it arrived.
So now I continue to buy him flowers. We stick to roses usually because we have cats that will attempt to eat flowers. In the future he knows he’ll be returning the gesture.
Bandit didn’t really work for me, but I’ll bet those Godiva truffles will! I’m going to see if I can find them on-line. Thanks for the rec.!
Have a great weekend. 🙂
LOVE the idea of celebrating beautiful fall weather with Godiva pumpkin spice truffles and orange roses!
Oh darn, K! I mean, is it darn? You like your new bottle? Can’t tell…
Pretty sure your sample wasn’t vintage, based on price and number available, and the seller was reliable ( I bought a lot of five and didn’t care for them). The vagaries of the gray market I guess. But I was so pleased with myself for guessing right about you, too.
Has anyone else sniffed Amouage’s Memoir Woman? I’m really trying not to get my credit card out, but it is gorgeous. I really love Lyric, but the slight rotting fruit note held me back from a FB. I think with Memoir Woman resistance may be futile… it will be my first Amouage.
I love Amouage Gold Woman though. Haven’t smelt this one.
I’m trying to resist Amouage Epic Woman at the moment. I’ve yet to sniff it but the description is driving me to be impulsive. I was good for the last quarter. A week into October and I’ve already bought one bottle and have bid on another … and am making up a list of ‘must-haves’.
Haven’t tried Epic or Gold – this could get dangerously expensive fast!
Meg, then don’t try Dia, it’s beautiful too! I am totally in love with the body creme.
K~ Epic IS all that and a bag O chips!
Good luck resisting, it’s beautiful!
I’m going to get myself into trouble … but it just sounds so lovely.
I found out that a local perfume boutique carries Amouage. Went in today … and left with a bottle of Epic Woman. The SA who was an absolutely lovely individual offered to sell me the tester which had been sprayed maybe half a dozen times and kept inside the glass display case at a 20% discount. Couldn’t resist.
This may be for me the most perfect perfume I’ve ever smelled.
I’ve been wearing Epic Woman more than any other scent this past year. I even wore it sometimes in the summer, although I consider it more of a winter scent. I adore it! Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Maybe it’s just my nose, but has anyone notice any similarities between Epic Woman and OJ Woman?
I got to try it a couple of months ago before it was released. I loved it! I got something that smelled a lot like plum and some beautiful smokey, leathery thing. The vanilla base reminded me of Lyric, though, so I really wouldn’t recommend buying unsniffed.
I got Memoir in the luckyscent sample bag. I think it’s the leathery smoky thing that I love so much. Patchouli 24 is another favorite.
Oh, right, duh, I’m not sure why I thought you were tempted to buy sniffed. Must stop skim reading!
Anyway, yeah, Memoir is great. That’s the fourth Amouage that I loved. I have Lyric and I’m still wishing for bottles of Dia and Jubilation. It’s dangerous business, sniffing Amouages 😀
Meg: I liked Memoir Woman. The leather was soft and wispy and thankfully on me the smoke was missing (don’t like smoke in any way shape or form). I’ve been working on the other samples in my Luckyscent sample pack so haven’t gone back to Memoir, but I will go back and wear than again.
Unlike the Tauer eau d’Epices (we did not get along at all).
Meg,
That Memoir is stunning! It’s the first Amouage to truly tempt me into a full bottle and not a decant!
I just bought a bottle of Memoir Woman last weekend. It’s incredible. I was not intending to pick it up, but after the first sniff I was completely hooked. It’s also a classic example of the women’s fragrance being much richer and more interesting than the men’s version, although I think anyone, man or woman, could comfortably wear Memoir Woman.
love memoir woman..i think second in line to jubilation25
Where’s Rapple? See?
Here I am doll, I am on the polls waiting for you! teehee
Gaaawd I looooooove having my computer back on, it’s ridiculous.
Ridiculously sublime!!!!! Mmmm!
A woman should not have to be separated from her computer. Ahem. 🙁
Miss Kitty~
WORD. That was some really shady cneijvndijnfijnfn but yup, I’m back on and loving my stupid computer. ha.
I didn’t really stay gone though, I hoofed it to the library everyday to talk to my fav. NST peeps. What can I say -I’m devoted to you guys!<3 😀
Yes, but you shouldn’t have to go to the library. 🙁
Miss Kitty, it was kinda funny because so many people that are uuuhhh how do I say this-unsavory go there. And park their butts for hours. It made me feel a lil’ dirty. haha.
But hey you gotta do what yah gotta do!
I huffed my Tolu sample that I sprayed on my hoodie and sweater,
I got more compliments from that than any perfume I’ve worn in awhile..two from my friends and than from the babes.
Darn OJ in England! How can I wrangle a FB of that?! teehee
Now I’m just waiting for the mail to arrive- Yay! 😉
Hey – I go to the library to do my blogging. Oh, wait, I work here. 😉
But our laptop just crapped out at home, so until it gets fixed we’ll be online over here. Tamara I feel your pain.
Tamara- you are so right! Alot of them are downright PITAS. I think you know what that means.
Dolly2 you are so funny! HA.
Yay! your computer is back! what a relief that must be!
Daisy dear, yes it is truly. I realized I don’t watch TV . ha.
OMG, seriously! I tried to watch The Big Bang Theory last night, and realized that I caught maybe a minute of it, and was on ebay the rest of the time. B has mentioned before that I seem to be surgically attached to the computer, and gets mad when I spend so much time on it. My retort that sitting and staring at the tv together and not talking isn’t exactly togetherness either does not go over well.
When I do finally tear myself away from the computer it’s only to lay in bed at night and watch Animal Planet or AMC.
Oh don’t forget Lifetime! ha.
Next time tell B, let’s go for a walk , go to the Perfume house and have some lunch after… maybe that’s what you need. OR what I need!
Wish you lived closer! 🙂
I also tried to watch Big Bang Theory and ended up on the Food Network.
My husband calls our laptop my “boyfriend”.
*waves madly toward the great NW*
I’m here; I’m here!! So happy to see your happy, bubbly self back so soon! Mmmm…. you smell divine! 😀
Rapple, I’m blowing you fragrant kisses!
We both smell BOMB! 😀
Any thoughts of Vero Profumo? I’m toying with the idea of ordering a sample set.
I’m also waiting for samples of SL Cuir Mauresque (yay!!) and FM L’Eau d’Hiver to get delivered. Hoping they’ll show up tomorrow so that I have something to play with over the weekend.
I love Cuir Mauresque. That and SMN Peau d’Espagne have become favorite leathers for me this year.
Sounds good, Joe! How does it compare to Daim Blond?
Ohmygosh. No comparison. Daim Blond is a ladylike pair of apricot-scented suede gloves. Mauresque is a tannery or leather market somewhere in the Maghreb: full frontal leather assault.
I need to try Daim Blond , it sounds good but the Serge’s don’t really appeal to me -yet.
There are so many I haven’t tried yet though, we’ll see.
full frontal leather assault, lol!
The Guide describes it as Tabac-Blond-gets-Lutens-treatment which makes it sound quite tame. I think your description is more intriguing.
Daim Blond is wonderful, like apricot marmalade with cream. Rich, fruity and warm. I didn’t get suede, but then again I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to smell suede 😉
Tamara, if I break down and buy a bottle (and you all know that I will) I’ll share some with you. Have you tried Gris Clair? Borneo? Chergui? Stop me at any time. (Geez, and I didn’t think I really had that many Lutens.)
Miss Kitty~ No, nope, no yet. I have only tried Santal Blanc and Iris Silver Mist, both not my thing at all.
IF you give in and get it, I’d love to try it.:)
Daim Blond, now that is beautiful. I love it, just not quite as much as Mythique. Now this is not to say that I won’t own both. Variety, even in suedes, is the spice of life!
I get leather (okay, fine, suede) in Daim Blond loud and clear. I like it but – like most other SLs – don’t adore it. Hopefully CM will have more magic. If not, there’s always Boxeuses 😛
Mythique is another one that I keep meaning to try. I fully intended to order a sample along with Cuir Mauresque and L’Eau d’Hiver but it disappeared from the website. Next time! 😀
miss kitty, i love ALL of those serges..daim blonde and fumerie being the most me!!! love gris clair, borneo, cherugui….and the list goes on
I must say I was disappointed in the EDP versions of Vero Profumo. I think the ridiculous price makes them even more unimpressive.
Thanks, Dixie! Have you tried them in extrait? The EDPs don’t apper to be on her website yet, just the extrait in 2 sizes and the sample set.
I have. I found Rubj to be the closest to each other in parfum and EDP.
The Onda is most challenging, but I wasn’t “wowed” by it and the EDP did not las more than 3 hours on me. Onda is most divergent in parfum and EDP.
The Kiki is pretty in both but I found the EDP to start off quite lovely, but peetered out in the development (on me at least).
I have a couple of small samples of Onda and Rubj and I was so dabby with them that I wasn’t really getting it. Then I accidentally spilled too much Onda down my arm and was in a state of sheer bliss ever after. I need to try it again, and definitely want to try the edps, just for fun.
I am not big on the EDPs either, though I am SUPER curious to try Rubj and Onda in extrait.
Thanks for chiming in, guys. Onda is the one I’m most curious about but it sounds like trying parfum is the way to go.
Like a lot of people who got that email (I suspect), I got myself one of the Luckyscent Fall 2010 sample bags.
I’ve officially given up trying Tauer perfumes. He’s such a sweet man and his fragrances /sound/ so amazing. But every time I try one, I look at where I applied it and go, “REALLY?” URV was just nightmarish-ly pink and had all the charm of bathroom air-care. And Eau d’Espices was a rehash of Vetiver Dance that reminded me of week-old vase dregs. And I feel really bad because I wish him nothing but luck.
Also recently, my most local Serge source got Fille en Aiguilles (finally) and I love it, but it surprises me. Anyone else get El Attarine + pine? It’s got that same spiced-chutney vibe and yet infinitely more charming. I’m going to have a hard time picking what to bring home from Barney’s when I drive up tomorrow.
SOTD: Vintage Bellodgia EDT. Simple and familiar and a hair’s-length away from bathroom cleaner. It’s just beautiful.
Ol Rait: I love El Attarine, but Fille didn’t grab me… I love Wazamba much more for that pine vibe.
Yes, Wazamba is in my next sample order for sure.
Ol Rait, Wazamba is sweet fir and smokey forest. I hope you like it.
I agree with URV -Blargh!!! It was just so bad on me and made me slightly ill. I still love URC though, that’s my HG (well almost!)
I did like URC enough to see what they were talking about but I might as well just get Habanita. To me they smelled exactly the same!
Same here with URV – I got something akin to raspberry windex
Ol Rait? Really??????
Were you trying the edp or parfum by chance?
I’ve tried Habanita in edt and it doesn’t even hold a candle to my URC- not by a long shot!
Everyone perceives scent so differently.
Curiouser and curiouser…
Habanita parfum. When I posted that comparison on a past lazy weekend post, nobody could believe it. Makes me wonder if I got the wrong sample in my vial. Oh well. Whatcha gonna do?
yeah, I can’t see the similarity either. But we all have different noses.
Anyone know how Wazamba compares to Avignon?
Avignon is straight-up frankincense – church incense- nice and clean, while Wazamba reminds me of what I loved about pre-reformulation Mitsouko. What I mean by that is Wazamba has a rich, deep and warm fruitiness in addition to the resinous notes. It deserves to be a classic. The reformulated Mitsouko is much drier on me and has lost all that lovely, fruity richness.
joe, what about chene?
I agree that Andy Tauer is an awfully nice guy, but his fragrances unfortunately don’t work for me.
Which LuckyScent Fall 2010 Sample Bag are your guys taking about? I also get e-mails from them, but don’t remember anything about sample bags…
One of the emails I got from Lucky Scent desribed their Fall Sample Pack which contained sample vials (0.7 ml) of the three Vero Profumo EdPs, SL Bas de Soie, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Absolue Pour le Soir and Absolue Pour le Matin, Amouage Memoir Man and Memoir Woman, and Andy Tauer’s Un Rose Vermeille and Eau d’Epices–A total of 10 samples for $28. I was able to pull it up on their site by typing “sample pack” in the search box. I just tried it again now, and it did not find it (it did pull up a list of other sample packs). I do no know if this means that they are completely out of this sample pack and will not have any more , temporarily sold out but will have more, or if it is just an electronic glitch. If it sounds interesting to you, you might try the site in a day or two and see if they have it listed again.
ol rait, don’t feel bad. I’ve had good luck with Tauers, but every Lutens I’ve tried has gone unbearably sweet on me. Oh, well. That much more for everyone else, I guess.
Honestly, I could see that. Even ISM has this whole “glazed” thing going on, for all the brutal iris. I guess my tolerance is high.
do try amber sultan, santal blanc, daim blond,chypre rouge and douce amere..i find that borneo and cherugui go too sweet, but love them nonethless
I got one of those sample sets too, and didn’t like either of the Tauers. The URV just smelled like an average fruity floral to me, and the Eau d’Epices smelled very unspicy and uninteresting to me. The only other Tauer I have smelled in Lonestar Memories (which I smelled on my husband, not on me), and I thought it was interesting, but perhaps a little hard to wear. There is a lot of Tauer love around NST, but so far I am immune to it.
I’ve tried five, and clearly there’s a disconnect. 😛
l’Air du Desert Marocain seems to be the hands-down favorite – if you haven’t tried that, you might. It was one of my first niche experiences. Andy is tough to wear, for sure, and several of his scents don’t work for me at all, but I also don’t expect them to. Out of the whole line, I love 4, and am leaning toward two others.
I found Orange Star and Noir Epices a bit redundant somehow, like he has a “Tauerade” version of “Guerlainade” that was too prominent. The Carillon pour un Ange, however, was a waker-upper. Definitely will be trying that again.
I actually won a bottle of Desert Marocain in a give-away end ended up selling it. It’s certainly not a bad fragrance but it wasn’t the heady magic most everyone else.
experienced*
Wow! People follow me around floating on my trail of sillage when I wear that one! lol
“Simple and familiar and a hair’s-length away from bathroom cleaner. It’s just beautiful.” Love your description of the vintage Bellodgia EDT, ol rait!
I really do love it, though I tend not to grab for it often.
I had the same experience with the 2 new Tauers (URV, Ed’E) , I thought it was just my skin chemistry… I have great sympathy for AT, but I think the only FB is going to be URC (and this very soon)
Wearing AT Orange Star today. I do love it, but I’ve been a bit woozy and headachy this week so my sniffer is a bit off — some scents are nauseating me a bit or seeming too strong (I had second thoughts about Amoureuse yesterday too).
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend and maybe just some very light comfort scent like Etro Heliotrope. Hope everyone else has a great weekend too.
Joe, I hope you feel better.
I was sick for awhile too and yes it’s disheartening when you think your “loves” are making you feel worse. I go into a lil’ state of panic.
Take it easy and your right to wear something that’s not complicated until you are yourself again.
Be well! 🙂
Oy! just the thought of Amoureuse if you’re already woozy, was enough to make me woozy too! hope you feel better.
Sorry you’re not feeling well. 🙁 Yes, stay away from the Amoreuse! You don’t want to develop an aversion to it.
Joe: I hope you feel better soon. I’ve had a terrible cold for many weeks and am finally feeling better. It’s been a hard cold season! Sorry your sniffer is off. Make up with that Amoureuse – next spring you’ll be in love again.
Take a break from your scents until you feel better – which I hope is very soon!
Aw Joe, so sorry your not feeling good! Rest and drink lots of fluids!
Hope you feel better soon!
Get better, Joe!
This is a long shot but: is there anywhere to find a relatively comprehensive list of each year’s fragrance releases? I’m really getting overwhelmed and falling so far behind there are days where I just feel like I want to give up. But then that worry that I’m missing out on something spectacular always rears it’s head. I think I might need some therapy. 😛
Full marks for dedication, sweets 😉
Go to http://www.basenotes.net and click on the “Fragrance Directory” tab. In the section “Show Fragrances Launched In” , type the year you are interested in, and click the “Search Fragrances” button. A list of the fragrances launched in that year will come up. I tried it for 2010 and 246 fragrances appeared – overwhelming indeed!
I had no idea Basenotes had this feature! Thank you for drawing this to my attention. I will try it today!
Hi LaMaroc! Try here for 2009 and 2010:
http://www.fragrancedirectory.info/usadirectory/
Thank you! I didn’t know about this website.
WOW! I had never heard of this website…..it’s fabulous! the bad news is that I immediately got a pen and a notepad…you know where this is going….
Snort!
I’m going to have to look over your shoulder.
I was making a list….and then started visiting websites….and then I told myself: JUST STOP! I’m just like an addict scrambling after my next fix! I have bottles in the mail right now, mind you, and here I was compiling a list of “I wants” that was …umm….financially devastating…..
I found myself shopping around the ajne site plopping samples in a basket…but the samples there are spendy indeed. I closed that screen and am trying not to think about it. 😉
Daisy – carefully step away from the computer now…
LoL!!!
You’re in trouble now!
I know, Daisy. If I didn’t have to share the computer with my sister, I would just sit here and lose days surfing perfume sites. And I have a feeling that might be the majority of what I’ll be doing this weekend!
May I suggest the only sensical (no pun intended) solution: Fragrance tTherapy!
Lol! You know that’s the route I’ll end up taking!
LaMaroc – A little less daunting than lists of all of a year’s releases, are the “Best Of” lists here on NST and other blogs at year’s end. A good source of the best scents of a given year.
True, and I have looked at some of these. But, again, I feel like I might be missing out on something if I don’t go over them all. It’s a completion thing. Or maybe it’s OCD? lol I would not be surprised if my perfume addiction is a form of OCD – like they tell us hoarding is on the show “Hoarders”. 😛
Besides, someone else’s “best” list might not match your own. There are perfumes that got 4 or 5 stars in The Guide that I have seriously disliked, and things that I liked that got bad reviews (or were not even mentioned).
Then you go girl! 😀 You’re made of sterner stuff than I – I find myself overwhelmed with all of the new releases and consequently, I sample less and less….
I’m that way about vintage perfume on ebay. If I don’t look, I’m sure something is there that will never come up again.
I know the feeling; I am always afraid that my HG to beat all HGs is out there somewhere, and I need to find it before it is discontinued.
I just want to say, NST polls totally rock my Saturday morning wakeups!
LB~ I know what you mean. 😉
AGREED!
LB, you just gave me a mini heart-attack: it’s still Friday!
😉
Hey Lilybug – are you in Australia by any chance? I think they’re a day ahead of the US, right?
Close – I’m in New Zealand. GMT +13 hours at the moment.
Well that explains it then! 😉
Haha, that makes sense. When I read your comment, I ran outside to the garage, shouting to my husband, “What day is it!!!”
I’ve been in front of the computer for a while, so it was a genuine concern. 😉
Lol! Just keeping you on your toes.
I have the big, paperback A-Z Guide from 2009. Is a follow-up expected soon?
If I remember correctly, Turin and Sachez said it was too much trouble and not enough gain to continue reviewing perfume.
Well, that is sad. Maybe they could followup online. I noticed some of the houses did not even get reviewed. Does anyone know if it is due to no submissions by the houses? Or were they deemed not good enough to begin with?
They did mention, rather often I think, that some houses refused to send them samples! That seems like shooting yourself in the foot 🙂
It does, you’re right. I didn’t know that.
I mean, can you imaging hunting down every single perfume in production? Especially when 7/10’s of them are at best average.
And when many of those mediocre perfumes will be out of production by the time the manuscript reaches the publisher for printing. Or maybe even before the review is written.
Wearing Prada L’Eau Ambree today, which I finally got around to trying. I like it quite a lot, it’s subtle and I feel like I wear it, not the other way around. Also tried Nuit de Tubereuse this week and I am wowed by it, though I don’t love it in every stage — I think the drydown is when I really like it. It’s definitely interesting!
Nuit de Tubereuse is easily becoming my favorite tuberose themed perfume! The tickling, exciting tuberose is nothing heavy or overwhelming at all in NdT.
hahaha yeah, the opening of NdT is….unusual….but the dry down is that addictive part. I’m so glad I ended up with a FB.
second that!!
I finally got to try Eau d’Italie Au Lac – I was so excited because I really like some Morillas (Omnia is a top-5), but I found it to be an awful lot like Omnia Crystalline. I like Crystalline fine, and Au Lac was pretty enough, maybe a little nicer because less of a skin scent, but I was disappointed it didn’t smell more unique. I haven’t worn them next to each other yet, so maybe the distinction will become clearer to me when I do (I am sure Crystalline has more pear…) But anyway, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or even better if you can point out the differences.
Interesting, I’ll have to try them together — offhand didnt’ think they were that alike. Au Lac, to me, was a delicate & very feminine floral, OC more like a pale (and unisex) musky wood.
I was quite excited about the idea of Eau du lac too, since I happen to know the area and also the neighboring islands to the one it is inspired to, but I was deceived, it’s a rather transparent floral, that’s all
Well, I remember last year on one of the Friday polls, someone mentioning the SA’s @ Macy’s being REALLY tightfisted with samples and I have encountered this. I could not get a sample out of them if my life depended on it. Has anyone else encountered this?
In my experience, the only way to get samples from Macy’s is to buy something.
old rait- I got the pitch from the SA- ” Ah, well we have a tester here”. I think I will start carrying little vials to Macy’s and spray my sample into them!
Geez, I couldn’t even get samples out of them when I *did* buy something. I just won’t buy from them anymore. (Well, perfume, anyway.)
Me neither! So there! LOL.
I don’t know about Macy’s but I’m a little disappointed in BG’s this week—I recently bought nearly $1000 of Chanel from them and they didn’t include a single sample….not that I’m making purchases for the free samples but sheeesh.. for a grand’s worth of business you’d think they could let loose a couple of something! Especially since I’ve ordered from them a number of times. *grumble*
Daisy that is very annoying, you have every right to be out of sorts for that! I mean come on! Throw a dog a bone why don’tcha?!
That’s bad business on their part, Daisy. If that were me, I would definitely be talking to the store manager. No way am I going to spend 1000.00 of my hard earned money and not receive a little appreciation in return. Shame on them!
No samples, no sale. I’d get my money back, then re-buy somewhere else!
I with you Dolly! I always ask for samples when I purchase fragrances. And I’m prepared to give them H@^^ if they don’t. We spend way too much money not to get the samples they get for free.
Wow! It’s not a “Chanel” thing. When I ask at the counter, they do say there is a limit of two. I’ve never tried without buying though. 😉 I find making friends with the SA’s and discussing options usually engages them and they try to help.
Shame on them DD! That would irk me too.
Same SA I always, always, always, buy from—one of the counter managers! Always sends me a few little whatnots….this time: nada! But it’s not worth a return: 4 of the bottles were LE’s which I have split up…but next time I’m looking at a different boutique. Maybe a sale of a grand doesn’t mean much to them at BGs, but to me it was huge.
It IS huge. I have no shame – I would call and say: “I think you forgot my little samples with my last order, and you know how I adore samples!” hehe
Is this who I think it is?? I’m shocked! Maybe they’ll treat you better out West.
yup, and I was shocked too….it’s silly though, because I just pass the samples on to other perfumistas for the most part anyhow…I just felt a little unloved. That’s bad when BGs starts taking your business for granted!
Nobody puts Daisy in a corner! 😉
I really do not understand the mentality of refusing samples. I mean, isn’t it the point of samples to spread the scent around to people who wear, and the people around them who smell them, to generate sales and thereby keep your company afloat and financially healthy? Or was that just a weird idea I came up with all on my lonesome? :S
sounds good to me!
i got 3 free samples with a stupid $60 purchase two weeks ago at Sephora! EVERYONE gets samples! That was probably an oversight, but a very stupid one.
Ouch. I would be offended.
Maybe it’s a Chanel thing? I spent $54 on a foundation this weekend, and I got one measly sample mascara—when you buy something from Lancome, or Estee Lauder, or Clinique, they load you down with samples!
In fact, I’m still living off a sample jar of Estee Lauders Day Wear Plus face cream that I’ve had for nearly 3 months 🙂
That is bad customer service! I have to say that I love my Guerlain SA at NM – when I bought Attrape Coeur, she gave me samples of stuff plus a full lip gloss that matched my shirt!
when my daughter was 15 and the exclusive chanels came out…i asked her to go the bgoodman on 5th ave nyc and ask them for sample as my brother in law had bought me no 22 and they hadn’t given me a sample…i wanted to try 31 rdc and coromondal…she went to the store and told them i was in hk and that we couldn’t get them here and they gave her a mini of EACH of the 10 frags!!! it is good to be a foreigner..when I bought iris poudre and musc ravager at barneys…the sa gave me at least two of all the samples he had then!! i have made friends with the SA’s at harvey nicks and also lane crawford in hk…and i have tons and tons of samples…some of them have even given me tester bottles!!!! and daisy…i havven’t had to buy ANY amouage yet cause of the abundance of samples….somehow tho, spraying from a sample is not as satisfying as from a full bottle!!
Have you ever noticed how many carded samples there are on e-bay? I always think, maybe that’s why some of the SAs are so tight-fisted! 😉
I have had the same thought.
Good point! Again, I am clueless about these things.
So once again the actions of a few make a change in the goodwill of people and companies toward the general public. A shame really, but in this case, it is hard to blame them. I just wish they wouldn’t treat evenryone with suspicion.
Maybe it’s the SA’s selling them…..
It’s very hard not to think that, although I’m sure there are MANY possible explanations. I saw a whole box of 24 carded 2-ml samples listed once…
I hate to be cynical, but I’ve had that same thought. I mean, if the samples aren’t being handed out to the customers, where do they go?
I did not think about that, nozknoz. But jeez, I sometimes hate to wait for delivery.
I also suffer from perfume instant gratification!
I’m longing for a perfume printer in order to just download samples from the internet, Dolly! 😉
Hah! If only we could!
Hi everyone!
I’ve been hanging around for a while reading and today I finally have a question to put to you experts: What do you actually *do* when you visit a B&M fragrance shop? I live in NYC so there are tons of opportunities to sniff for free, which I like in theory. But once I’m in the store, then what? Spray on paper and sniff a couple? I find I quickly get overwhelmed and also that what I like on paper rarely corresponds to what I like on my skin. I’m a little shy, so I’m no good at chatting up the SAs or wrangling samples. Any advice?
Thanks!
Hannah
Hi! Glad you de-lurked.
I try several things on paper and narrow it down to about 4 for skin from there. Things rarely smell the same on paper as on skin, but you can get an idea if it’s something you might like.
I actually prefer that the salespeople leave me alone for a while. I will sometimes tell them I am a perfume collector and am just seeing what’s new. Some SA’s dig that, and will engage a bit more, some don’t know what the heck I even mean.
Depending on the store I’m in, I might ask if there is a sample of something that intrigues me (Nordstrom and Sephora are great for getting samples). Otherwise I may note it down to send for a sample elsewhere. If I fall in love with something on skin, I pretty much always walk around with it for at least an hour to see if the drydown changes it, and will often go back to try it a second time. I avoided an impulse purchase of Ninfeo Mio that way.
Thanks for the advise Tama! I’ll give it a try next time I’m out.
SOTD: Ralph Lauren’s Notorious. Yes, I’m one of the five people who wears this scent. Turns out to be a wallpaper fall/winter scent for me – perfect for the office (I work from home, mind you, but thought I was going to have to go in for a meeting that hasn’t happened – oh well! Enjoying it nonetheless!).
Perfume that made me hungry? Ha ha. Cracked me up, Robin! I’d say I’m always hungry, so not sure perfume would ever have anything to do with it. But I wore Hypnotic Poison yesterday, and it might have that type of effect.
Last perfume I bought unsniffed – Azuree, as mentioned above. Not sure it’s a keeper for me. Last successful unsniffed purchase was probably Clarins Par Amour Toujours. There’ve been many unsuccessful unsniffed purchases – including Havana Vanille, Bvlgari Blv Notte, Escale a Portofino, and countless others – which have all made me realize, purchasing unsniffed is really a crapshoot and I would advise anyone (including myself) against it!
I’m #2 of the 5! 🙂 I love Notorious. I always forget that I have it. (I forget that I have a lot of things… it’s kind of a problem.) I think it’s really gorgeous and well done. I’m surprised that it doesn’t have many followers, but then again, there are a lot of things I feel that way about.
Hey karin, I like Notorious too, and you’re right. Great office scent. Miss Kitty, are you listening?
Hey, there you go! Didn’t put that together– sometimes I add two and two and get three. Even with a calculator. (A metaphor, but also not a metaphor.)
I picked up Notorious at TJ Maxx this summer and really enjoy the floating cocktail ambiance.
And nobody is answering the hungry question!!
This is an interesting question Robin; I don’t think I’ve met a perfume that made me hungry–some really good foody scents actually seem to quell my appetite (Chocolate Greedy, for instance).
I feel like I’ve read something about scent therapy used in weight loss; like, if you can’t eat your cake at least you can smell like it?
Oh, I assumed you meant it metaphorically! LOL But I HAVE noticed that some perfumes smell so good in a certain way that they make me hungry. I think SL La Myrrhe is one of them. Will have to search the memory and report back tomorrow.
Oh, also those chypres like Paloma Picasso Mon Parfum, Silences, etc. Is it the oak moss, the labadanum, or what? – obviously, my nose needs a bit of basic education, LOL!
sorry, I realized that I don’t like gourmands (Angel is on the top of my “hate-list”), and even vanilla has to be at low levels (Felanilla being one of the to exceptions… but it doesn’t make me literally hungry)
I love a lot of vanillas, but no scents actually work to make me hungry. Since I became interested in perfume – after (or midway) reading Turin’s ‘the guide’ something odd did happen though: I get ‘perfume cravings’, not for any specific smells but just for NEW ones and so I go to a shop spray a zillion things on and get them mixed up and then feel glutted!
Welcome to our world! 🙂
Glad to know there is a precedent for this and its not an entirely new illness!
Off topic here a little, but has anyone had luck in removing or fading perfume spots from wood furniture? Any helpful tips would be MUCH appreciated!
Not quite sure, but this site might at least have a couple of clues.
http://cleaning.tips.net/Pages/T004257_Removing_Stains_from_Wood_Furniture.html
You may end up having to go as far as refinishing, which may be a blessing in disguise! Think…..a whole new look? Ready for it?
I just wanna say that I got a really CRAZY deal of Comme des Garçons today!
All CdG fragrances are 20% off this week in Taiwan. So I got an Ouarzazate for USD 60, including tax! I mean that’s a CHARMING price, isn’t it?
Anyone who lives in Taiwan now should check out Comme des Garçons immediately, seriously. Goodies run out fast. Wonderwood is outta stock already.
(Also I got a Kyoto scented candle as a gift, with a price at USD 50. Real Deal.)
Oh, wow! Good for you! Too bad I don’t live in Taiwan … I would love some Avignon.
OH I love Avignon too. (I love every member of series 3.) But I think CdG has been producing similar scent since they had series 3…
I can see a lot of latecomers with similar ideas. And the following has been my latest intense-sniffing journey at CdG:
Standard is Avignon intense.
Wonderwood has a huge pile of Ouarzazate in the wood.
When Dover Street Market calms, Zagorsk comes.
CdG White resembles parts of Jaisalmer.
Wait, that leaves Kyoto has not been recycled. Oh yeah it appears at the latest release of Loewe, 7 de Loewe. 7 is a simplified, commercialized Kyoto.
Ah ha, don’t get me wrong. I adore CdG a lot! lol
Kyoto is awesome. Was wanting to buy that for my BF for xmas….but a little afraid too many women other than myself would be all up on him trying to catch a sniff…lol.
Congrats on the ouarzazate 🙂 That’s a great scent.
I like Commes des Garcons Series 2: Red Carnation. I LOVE carnation with such a passion…. Sorry getting carried away there. Hopefully to Taiwan to get some!
Good for you!
Thats a great deal – in fact its 50% less than what quarzzazat (sorry about spelling) is in South Africa!
SOTD: Guerlain AA Flora Nymphea from sample. Floral powder, nothing exciting. But I can’t walk into a Sephora anymore without asking for a couple samples, even if I’m making a quick, cheap purchase, and even if I’m not particularly interested in that particular perfume. I just feel a compulsion to try stuff now for “research” 😉
I own two FBs that I rarely wear. It’s just so much more fun to go through samples, and I look more forward to ordering samples than my next planned FB purchase (of Santal Blanc.)
It must be a phase a budding perfumista goes through.
Oh, absolutely! And if you’re really slow about it, like I was, by the time you’re ready to start buying, you’ve discovered the world of splits. I very rarely buy a FB of anything anymore.
Could you explain what a split is? I’ve heard of it before, but not sure how it works.
Here you go:
https://freebox.it.com/2008/07/14/perfumista-tip-how-to-do-a-bottle-split/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
One person buys a full bottle of a perfume, then “splits” it into smaller portions. For example, I might buy a 50 ml bottle, and split it into five 10 ml portions. I would obtain perfume atomizers of an appropriate size, determine the proper fill level, and then dispense 10 ml into each of four atomizers. I would send each of these splits to another perfumista who would pay me a proportionate amount for the perfume received. For example, if the 50 ml bottle was $100, I would sell 10 ml splits for $20 each plus a little more for the cost of the atomizer and the shipping. As the host of the split, I would get to keep the original bottle, with my split inside. Splitting is good for scents you like enough to need more than a tiny sample vial or two, but not enough to buy a full bottle.
You’ve been bitten for sure!
With a few exceptions, I also find myself liking my samples better than my FBs. My FBs appeared a while ago, some as gifts, and my perfume tastes are evolving and rapidly changing! So, I don’t buy many FBs right now, but I buy many samples and find ways to try many samples. I am hoping to start buying and using FBs some time.
SOTD & first unsniffed purchase- Gres Cabaret. Kevin was dead on calling it a “water color Paestum Rose” I smell rosewater, soft fireplace smoke, and a trickle of incense.
Anybody here try Cologne Pour le Soir? Is it more cuddles or “essence of womanhood” skank?
I thinking of buying Sira de Indes unsniffed cause I’ve find it super cheap. Anybody tried that one? I think I’m craving whimsical perfumes. Digging Secrets de Rose which is more licorice yum treat that naughty trick. And eyeing spiced banana desert/ tropical florals Sira de Indes. Any suggestions for whimsy/ fun gourmands?
I did get a chance to sample all of them at the Neiman’s in Chicago back in July, but none of them stood out to me as something wonderful. In fact, I thought that for what they were they were waaaay overpriced. Some nice things, but nothing special. And, weak in my opinion. They are colognes, but still. I need more. Now on the other hand, the new Absolue that has come out, I reeeeeally want to try since I’m a total skank lover and Denyse’s post on Grain de Musc cemented my lust for it.
I so want to try that Absolue pour le Soir. Denise’s review made me, um, hungry 🙂 But I don’t know where to get a sample from so I’m really considering buying unsniffed. Does it hurt to by unsniffed once in a while?
Yeah, after reading that review, I’m considering buying unsniffed, too! Looks like Luckyscent isn’t offering samples, but if it’s total animal skank, I’m in.
Oh my, I couldn’t resist any longer and I just ordered it. And if I don’t like it I can still argue that it was for studying purposes since I don’t own anything like that.
Actually, you can request a sample at check-out if you buy something else (even just other samples). I got a sample that way. 🙂
That said, I’m writing down Rosagreen’s excellent rationalization for future reference! The corollary would be, I have other things like this, but I need it in order to study the subtle differences, LOL!
Cologne pl Soir was urinous on me. Totally didn’t like it, so I have no desire to try the absolue.
However, I think Lumiere Noire p Femme is really beautiful and worth the price. I’d be curious to try the LN p Homme. APOM p Homme also didn’t really do much for me.
I do love Lum Noire pf. Very very VERY sexy to my nose, but in a romantic, luxurious sort of way.
Hi,
IMO, the Cologne Pour le Soir is more cuddley and the newest release … the Absolue Pour le Soir is very very sexy.
For a cool gourmand, try Musc Maori Eau de Parfum by Parfumerie Generale.
~Dawn
Hi Valkyrie: I skin sampled Sira des Indes last spring. I found the opening to be remarkably similar to that rich banana thing in Amaranthine – otherwise completely different. It is a whopper of an oriental. I’d buy a cheap bottle if it crossed my path. Good luck!
I remember thinking CplS as a less-opaque Habanita. Maybe my nose is terrible at really differentiating smells! I was quite motivated to buy until I realized the Habanita comparison. I LOVE Absolue pour la Soir, though. I want some.
Cabaret is wonderful.
Bought Sira des Indes parfum recently, unsniffed. Big mistake for me, but maybe not for other people. Trouble is, I smell poo the whole time (probably jasmine), and I keep looking to see if the cats have had an accident! Consider I got off lightly though with this mispurchase, as the extrait was the same price as a bottle of edp.
I love rich heady jasmine, and have never had it go poopy on me. I was more worried about the banana and pear. Do you still have this and want to unload it to me?
I’m wearing Serge Lutens Chergui today–I haven’t worn it since last winter. I didn’t realize it was going to be as warm as it is today but it is still working with the warmer weather. I have samples of Amouage Memoir and Amouage Opus I. I thought that if I can only buy one bottle this last quarter of 2010, it will be an Amouage and I’ve been thinking it would be Epic Woman. I have FB’s of both Lyric and Jubiliation 25. Now that I have sampled Memoir and Opus I, I am torn as to which it shall be. Although I like a some of the Amouages better than others, I haven’t sample even one that I truly dislike. Unfortunately, they are all so expensive.
This is true. I got a sample from Luckyscent of Amouage Dia Man. I even liked it better than Gold Woman.
Filomena, if you decide on an FB of Epic –take a look at a seller on the evil bay called Universal perfumes …he has “testers” of most of the Amouages at fabulous prices. They come in a plain white cardboard box, and instead of the domed cap, they have just a plain gold cap…but the fragrance is exactly the same…GORGEOUS.
Thanks so much Daisy!
I think there’s going to be a flood of people buying from Universal Perfumes today…
great! now everyone remember to mention that “Daisy” sent them and the next time I order maybe I’ll get a freebie! LOL
I know, I know, always with the scheming…. 😉
No one on here would dare complain about you getting a freebie…you’re always such a sweetheart about sharing and sending samples! I think the Empress Enabler should get some sort of monetary kickback from some of these companies…. you’d probably out-sell their salespeople if anyone ever kept track! 🙂
lol — I’d share any freebies too. 🙂
go gettem girl..u absolutely DESERVE freebies
Is this the wholesale company in NY? With a $1,000 minimum purchase requirement? I must be missing something!
nope, this is a seller in Kuwait. He’s very nice. Reliable. Everything I’ve gotten from him has been perfect—it just takes 3 to 4 weeks to get to the USA.
Wow, cool!
And there I go down the rabbit hole! This could be dangerous….. especially if they have Dia-I’ve been itching for a fb…..
I am looking for someone to help split an Opus I because it is WONDERFUL. Amouage kills me. There is maybe 1 that I can sniff and NOT think “I must have this RIGHT NOW!” (Jubilation. I don’t much care about it. Not that crazy for Epic either. But ah, Gold, Dia, Ciel… and I LOVE Opus I.
I’m afraid to open my samples of Memoir.
Lemonprint: perhaps we should chat. If you click on my name above, you should be able to see a way to contact me.
I was watching Chelsea Lately from Monday and she had on Tommy Lee. He randomly pulled out a gift for her- a vial of gardenia oil. He said he loved the smell of it and that she could really rock it. My first thought was, wow, I’m surprised this hardcore rocker would have such a fondness for perfume, and then second, where exactly the gardenia oil was made since it doesn’t yield it as a natural material. Except through painstaking processes described elsewhere on blogs. I welcomed myself into perfume nerd-hood that day.
I am surprised also by Tommy Lee and his fondness of the gardenia scent. Pretty awesome! Thanks for posting that.
~Dawn
Dammit, I tried to post something earlier and it didn’t go through. Anyway, was going to say that Tommy Lee loves gardenia because he associates it with his mother. Why do I know this? I also know that he gives out bottles of Kai as gifts a lot, and carries a bottle everywhere with him. Again– why do I know this??
Because your rad.
I second that motion!
You took the words right out of my mouth T. 😉
As a fan of useless knowledge, I am pleased and impressed. Kudos.
That *almost* makes me wish I was friends with Tommy Lee so he’d get me Kai for my birthday!
Wish I’d seen that. I would love to see her response, though I bet she didn’t like it.
Why am I visioning Chelsea Lately as someone who’d try to float around wearing Secretions Magnifique…. lol
I see her in something boring like Light Blue or L’eau d’Issey.
HAHAH! Wonderful.
Happy Weekend ahead to everyone!
Fell in love with and bought the bottle of Mona di Orio MUSC. It’s a beautifully done musc perfume. For some reason the scent reminds me of angels whenever I spritz it on. If you are a musk fan, then try this one.
In the first few seconds after I spritz it on, there is a note that reminds me of the peanutty or doughy note in Bois Farine but that disappears quickly and I am left with a powdery musk drydown. Great sillage but not overwhelming and the scent lasts for hours and hours on my skin.
Meeting up with 2 fellow perfumistas tomorrow at South Coast Plaza for some lunch and sniffing. 🙂 I am looking forward to it.
~Dawn
Oooh! Fun! Have a blast on your weekend sniffage. Report back if you find anything you love.
Wish I could join you at South Coast Plaza — have fun!
Thanks for that Mona di Orio tip. I was curious since I’m a fan of the line and I’m definitely a musk fan… I’ll try to rustle a sample sometime.
I am wearing Calvin Klein Beauty layered with BBW Twilight Woods. I love the scent but it’s staying power is not that great. It is close to what I want my signature scent to smell like. Any suggestions on a similiar scent that would last much longer.
Similar to the CK or to the BBW?
Can anyone recommend the most true-to-life lily fragrance that they’ve encountered?
I used to find the “fragrances by notes” feature on The Perfumed Court a useful place to find particular perfumes. They might have a lily category. Is that oriental lily or lily of the valley?
Diorissimo. Even the new formulation is breath-taking. I tried a number of lily scents last year in advance of my wedding, and this was definitely The One.
Hmmm…Valentine, lily or lily of the valley? Diorissimo is lily of the valley, which is very different from lily.
For lily scents, try Donna Karan Gold and Serge Lutens Un Lys.
mmmm absolutely—I love the big white lily that is DK Gold and add that to the fact that they’re practically giving it away on evil bay…how can you go wrong?
I need to try Gold again – I remember really hating it when it came out but my nose has probably changed!
I love, love Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee, but DK Gold is a great one too.
They are both very powerful, but very lily. I like Lys Mediterranee best, also.
Make that three for Lys Mediternee…First sniffed it in Malle’s shop on rue de Grenelle….been in love ever since.
Four for LM!
team lys mediterranee too 🙂 (I wear it only in the summer though)
Donna Karan gold. I wore it yesterday to work and we had a big arrangement of lillies at reception.
I realised I couldn’t tell the difference between the smell of my arm and that of the lillies lol!!
Serge Un Lys also pretty close but headier.
Serge Lutens Un Lys.
CdG Lily is wonderful and I adore Tauer Carillon pour un Ange
That Carillon is great! More lily-of-the-valley.
For me the most lily fragrance I have encountered was Jessica McClintok’s signature fragrance. Lily of the valley that is.
Hey Everyone! My first scent of the day (before a big meeting) was Boucheron edt. I needed some confidence b/c toddler-zilla kept me from a good night’s sleep. But now this afternoon I put on some No 5. It makes me feel all put together when I am not.
The last fragrance that made me hungry? Lorenzo Villoresi’s Dilmun. There’s something about that orange blossom and spices that makes me want to eat pastries. Mmmm — pastries…..
Ooh, I have a sample of Dilmun. Thanks for the reminder to try it! 🙂
Love Dilmun!
Where is that supposed new fragrance from LV? It has been ages.
I must remember differently, but I remember you sending me a sample of No 5 and agreeing with me when I said it was beautiful but kind of straight-laced for me. Of course, that was a year ago.
This is Eric, by the way. Had to make a new account.
Yes, pastries! This Polish gal LOVES pastries.
Just got two decants in the mail:
DK Iris, and PG L’Ombre Fauve, and trying to decide which one to test first!
I think this is one of those situations where I pull a Katie Puckrik, and try both at the same time (different arms!). 😉
Oh, I always do that when I get new samples. Little mini-tests just to get an initial idea, so I know if I can do a full test at the office the next day, or need to wait for the weekend at home. 🙂
Oh yes, all of us ‘professional perfumistas’ do that. I test on both wrists, both insides of elbows, both backs of hands. You get the idea. I don’t recommend that method to a non-professional though. LOL!!
🙂 It’s a good pre-shower, weekend method!
Exactly!
Yeah, I do that in the evening an hour or two before I take my shower. That way, if I really hate something, I know I won’t have to put up with it for long. I just got my package of samples from SSS, and of course I had to try four of them at once (Cameo, Voile de Violette, Wood Violet, and Champagne de Bois). You sent me a sample of CdB a few months ago, and I remembered I liked it, but wanted to try it again in cooler weather. I think I like it even better in fall. I’m really liking a lot of the SSS scents–I don’t know whether to be sorry (because I can’t buy any FBs) or relieved (because my credit card gets a break) that the shopping cart is still closed. I wonder if it will be available again in time for Christmas?
I remember sending you the CdB after reading that you have scent devouring skin, as do I, and I find that CdB lasts a good long time on me. Not to mention how divine it smells. I also think it’s more of a cool weather scent. I’m happy you like it 50! 🙂
champagne de bois has had so much love on the last few poles…cannot wait ti receive mine!
You can easily do 3 up the arms, and I sometimes use the back of the hands as well, and some people here start in on the legs. Good when you have huge piles of samples to weed through.
I agree…and each shoulder is a good location too. Easy to just turn your head and get a whiff… (in summer of course)…. for some reason, I always feel like a dork when people catch me in public sniffing my wrists or back of my hands. I do it anyway of course.
i do it too. One of the nice things about getting older is that the older I get, the less I care what random strangers think of me.
LOL. I do this too, when I’m out on a perfume shopping adventure! The last trip I think I had on about 12 perfumes, and it was a 1.5 hour ride back home…
Luckily, the perfume I ended up with I still like outside the dense perfume cloud I was in when I bought it! (Carthusia Via Camerelle)
50 Roses- I am finding that myself. Every year that passes I care less and less about what strangers think of me. Let them stare at me walking down the street smelling myself after I’ve just been @ the tester counter. I just stare right back.
yes indeed, I want to become a well-scented eccentric old lady too, so much more fun than having to care about what other people are thinking
That reminds me so much of the poem “when I am an old woman I shall wear purple”…. if you’ve never read it, you can find it here…
http://www.netmender.net/glenna/Purple.htm
Take it slow with me – I’m getting there…
Promiseevans – because I don’t have a great sense of smell + my skin devours perfume, I only test on my shoulders when I am totally out of hand and arm skin. Yes, I look way dorky sniffing my hands, fingers, wrists, elbows and arms, but it looks waaaay worse when I try smell my shoulders – it looks like I am checking up on the state of my body odour!!! (or thats what I always think I look like)
That’s one reason I like the back of the hand as a testing spot. I can pass my sniffing off as propping my chin on my hand. 😉
best to not worry and just enjoy sniffing!!!
or, with a spray on the hand one can do a nose-brush or a tuck-hair behind-ear motion…
Okay. Food for thought. Does anyone remember Coty having a wild patchouli oil like their Coty Wild Musk Oil? I swear I saw this back in the eighties. I still like CWM, but only the oil. Lasts a long time, unlike the cologne spray.
Yes! They did! I remember it from the 70’s, but I’m sure it was still around in the 80’s.
I knew it! For some reason this has been invading my mind’s eye recently. I think I recall it not being that bad, unlike those health food store brands, so I know there are other notes in there.
If I am in ANY store and there is fragrance, I am there sniffing and in some cases, spraying.
Miss Kitty- what about Sung by Alfred Sung? Lord, what is it with me and jasmine today?
SOTD: Angel Violet. It’s not quite cold enough to get the heavy sweaters out of mothballs, so the camphor in Angel is prefiguring sweater season.
Douce Amère is on the way from Parfum1. I’d been thinking about an SL for a while and decided on the one that won’t be available in the US after current supplies run out.
Luckily I still have 1/2 a bottle. After that I’ll have to do w/o.
Never thought of that camphor-fall connection – you’ve discerned something very interesting, Aimiliona!
Thinking about vintage Halston again, as well as 10 Corso Como. I wish I had smelt 10 before they re-did it.
Earlier this week I met Bertrand Duchaufour! Very exciting for me — he created many of my faves (dzongkha, pasteum rose, timbuktu). He’s a super nice guy, very friendly. 🙂
forgot to mention it was at Aedes in NYC. He told me he loves New York, which makes me like him even more 🙂
Very cool!!!
yep, I second that “very cool” !
I don’t suppose you advised him to log onto NST and start composing fragrances based on our needs???
I would have liked to have been able to attend that ‘meet & greet’. Nice to hear that he was friendly.
I met Francis Kurkdjian at a little introductory demo at my local Neimans and was VERY disappointed by him. I would LOVE to meet Mr. Duchaufour, though. Man, I’d be so starstruck.
WOW – good on you, Raymond!
Just got some imps in from Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs – my first experience. First trial was “Snake Oil” – it’s a bit overpowering upon first app (but is like their #1 seller), but I think it’s going to be a winner! Oh my yes, I am loving it. (yes, i literally just applied 60 seconds ago…) ha-ha. Notes simply say “blend of Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla”. Yum! Anybody else have experience with BPAL fragrances? I’ve got 7 more vials to test out…
I have only tried about 10 of them. I did like one or two but I’m not really much of an oil person.
Hey Brandijax, BPAL was my gateway drug into perfume addiction. Most people seem to find there selection overwelming but on their forum you can find a suggestion thread where you can find oils with notes you like say jasmine or incense or scents for different seasons etc., and you can read tons of reviews.
I personally love Faiza: The Black Mamba, Anne Bonny, Eos, Delphi, and Yggdrasil. Another thing for consideration is their oils really do seem to change/ deepen with age. Snake Oil for instance, people on their threads swear to letting it age 6 months or so before wearing it. Personally I know Faiza is a lot better, deeper incense and sandalwood, after 2 or 3 months. But this would drive a lot of people crazy I’m sure. There’s still tons of things by them I want to try but with everything else I want to try I don’t get around to it.
What are your other imps you have to try?
Hey Valkyrie – thanks for the input. Thus far, I have tried Snake Oil (too sweet on me, but hubby liked it). Vixen (i loved it, a little too strong, hubby not as excited, but I love orange blossom) and today is “O” (Snake Oil light and still a bit too vanilla-like). The rest of my imps are: Scherezade (I think this may be a fave, smells great in the bottle), Lust, Morroco and then they gave me samples of Ile De La Tortue and Miskatonic University (straight up coffee smell!) I wrote down the ones you recommended for my next imp order. Thanks again!
Hello you clever people. I’m trying Eloge du Traitre (Etat Libre d’Orange) today, because it sounded good in The Guide-“turn your blood to sparkling Shiraz,” or something like that-and I do like it. The top note, to me, is a little green and a little citrusy, but reminds me of nothing so much as celery salt, or Dr. Brown’s Cel-ray soda, if you know that. I get the same note in PdN New York. What do you think it is? Is it petitgrain?
By the way, I like Azuree too and am trying to get my wife to wear it, but no luck. This despite her ownership of some evaporation-damaged Cabochard that must be 30 years old. Oh well.
Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray. You must frequent New York delis! 😉
yeah, you used to find it in Boston, too
Donnie: I like Eloge but I don’t really care for PdN New York very much. I find Eloge very herbal/aromatic/balsamic sort of along the lines of Caron Yatagan. It’s bracing but dark as well… I don’t really get celery or celery seed from it, exactly.
thanks, it’s just my nose-I think I’m sensing two elements, or an unfamiliar one, and that’s how my brain makes sense of them
Can someone reccommend a jasmine, neroli and patchouli scent?
My favorites of all three notes:
Jasmine – PG Drama Nuui
Neroli – MPG Jardin du Neroli
Patchouli – Lutens Borneo 1834 or Chanel Coromandel
I’m realizing you may have meant ONE scent with all three notes, and I’m sorry, no clue on that.
I was wondering if there is a combination of the opulence of these flowers and earthiness of patchouli. Alone jasmine or neroli are a bit too flowery and patchouli on it’s ownis a little too harsh…
I’m thinking you might want to try Anne Pliska, or maybe Lady Shiloh or Shiloh (by Hors la Monde).
Other possibles: Montale Pure Gold, Roja Dove Unspoken.
I tried Anne Pliska – not quite what i’m looking for. Too ambery…
Which online store carries Roja Dove? I couldn’t find any except Perfumed Court.
Guerlain’s Philtre d’Amour features all of those notes, and I love it, but I don’t really get any patchouli from it (and it’s the only base note listed). But great question – I’d love to find a good one with that combination myself!
Pd’A has patch? I don’t get any (thank goodness) just a lot of lemony goodness.
…for 30 minutes…
Is the whole scent gone that quickly or just the lemon? It lasts all day on me.
not the whole scent….the lemony-ness fades quickly…but I need to apply “lavishly” for it to have any sillage at all. And you know I like me some sillage 😉
My non-niche suggestion would be Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, it has jasmine, orange blossom and patchouli. Or even Chanel Chance, it has jasmine and patchouli notes. I enjoy both of these. Good luck! 🙂
Ooooh! Well done Prudie!
I got patch out of PdA – but you know I’m sensitive to it.
Isn’t that always the way?!? I love patch and have tried repeatedly to suss it out with no luck!
I definitely don’t get a drop of patch in Philtre, but I find that even though the beautiful bright lemon top disappears quickly, I’m still left with a really delicious scent on my skin for quite a long time afterward. It’s quite addictive, even though my initial reaction was that the scent was way too fleeting.
Holy Moly! I just looked up the price for Guerlain’s Philtre d’Amour!
The notes sound amazing though….
Wearing Faberge Aphrosisia, bought it blind with Flambeau and it came in the morning mail.
FABULOUS! I am already thinking of buying a backup bottle – sweet floral animalic chypre that is innocent enough that I wore daughters preschool . . . then all the sex started coming up with the civet and it became dangerous and beguiling.
Can’t wait to test Flambeau tomorrow – thanks to whoever posted that link to Yesterday’s Perfumes!
sorry, that should read Faberge Aphrodisia
typo=lack of sleep=small children
Be sure to report back tomorrow about the Flambeau!
YES. i want to hear.
Flambeau was a bit of a surprise after Aphrodisia.
Aphrodisia is the girl wearing the tight cashmere sweater who walks by the boys standing on the corner on a Saturday afternoon, swaying her hips, with a smile on her face that says “you know you want me”. Sweet, fruity, cheerful and dead sexy.
Now Flambeau, wow – that girl was put in a cab around 2 am because she was smiling at one guy while shaking her a%$ at another and a fight was about to break out. Flambeau is creamy, sweet, spicy (cinnamon) and kinda slutty. I would not wear this during the day, it seems like overkill, but at night it would be a stunner.
Flambeau is the kind of perfume you wear to break up homes. Flambeau clearly states that not only are you not wearing panties, you might be nude under that trenchcoat.
It isn’t dark or demanding, it just wants to have a good time . . . right now.
Okay, I think I need to find both of those. Right now.
I got my bottles on ebay for under $15 w/shipping sold as a pair – Faberge colognes from the 60’s or early 70’s (Aphrodisia introduced in 1938, Flambeau in 1955).
Link to reviews
http://yesterdaysperfume.typepad.com/yesterdays_perfume/2010/10/aphrodisia-by-faberg%C3%A9-1938.html
Whoa…
Aren’t vintage scents FUN?
That might have been me. I’ve posted a link to YP a few times this week. I’m a big fan, it’s my reference whenever I see a vintage fragrance mentioned that I have not heard of before. I fell for a mini of Infini by Caron after Barbara reviewed it a little while back. Now you are making me hungry for the Aphrodisia, which I had managed to ignore so far!
Someone here at NST loves With Love…Hillary Duff (Tama?) After hearing about it, I bought a bottle to give to my niece but then my sister-in-law dropped a hint she wanted Kate Spade’s Twirl (for the name only but that’s another story). So I took out the With Love bottle today and sprayed myself….little sweet for my taste but it’s delightful and the price was right. Had thought about giving it to my other niece but I’m tempted to keep it for myself.
So SOTD is With Love…
Good memory!!
I like it a lot and am impressed by the bottle. I find it wearable and easy-going. It is fairly sweet but I’ve smelled way sweeter (and I do well with sweet for some reason) and I don’t get the chemical stew drydown so prevalent in mainstreams today. Glad you might want to keep it for a while!
I thought that one was really well done.
I just received a bottle of vintage perfume with a defective sprayer–when I depress the top only the slightest hint of fluid oozes out. I was wondering whether anyone else had ever encountered this and figured out what had gone wrong with the mechanism (and how to fix it!).
My bottle of Ivoire does the same thing….I just keep taking the sprayer off and putting it back on…and it seems to “fix” itself…. once I tried blowing into the tube when I took the sprayer off…tasted terrible, but helped.
Today I am wearing that (in-)famous TeaRose. sometimes I love it sometimes I hate it, but it sure does rose out my house………yesterday it was Bal a Versailles, which I do love!
Tea Rose really does project!
SOTD: SSS Jour Ensoleille. Oh My! This is amazing! It’s animalic, gentle, with oakmoss and has nice sillage. People at work kept asking me what I was wearing today.
When is she going to start selling large bottles again? I need a FB of this!
Do you find it is resinous or piney? I do; quite sharp sometimes. I can only wear a LITTLE bit, but I like it.
I didn’t find it sharp at all, no pine, very smooth.
Indie Scents (one of the advertisers above right) has FBs of some SSS scents.
I sent Laurie an email and she said she would make me a 17ml bottle!! WooHoo! She also said she’ll be placing the carts back in a few weeks!!!!!
Perfume that made me hungry = Iris Ganache. I finally tried this scent last summer, and I am very impressed with the white chocolate note. I was afraid that it would smell synthetic and it really doesn’t. It smells edible. 😉
Last unsniffed purchase = L’Artisan Cote d’Amour (only a decant though). It’s very nice and I think it will work well next summer in the heat. It was much longer lasting on my skin (no surprise there) than I expected an organic scent to be.
Have a great weekend everybody!
Hmm….upon reflection, I realize that Cote d’Amour is the last unsniffed purchase that I’ve received. Actual last unsniffed purchase – and it’s *still* unsniffed – is the new Shalimar Ode.
Daisy made me do it. 😉
How COULD you just let Ode sit?
LOL! Because I haven’t received it yet! 😀
Oh dear, forgot. Make sure you let us know what you think when you get it.
Has anyone bought Demeter perfume before? I was thinking about getting Demeter Rose. Are they pretty good? Also, I hate anise candy (literally makes me throw up) but I’ve worn perfume before that I liked, and then found out later it had anise in it. Is that normal?
Hi malijo! I own several Demeter bottles and decants. I am more a fan of their experiments (Swimming Pool, Suntan Lotion, Black Russian, Riding Crop, Holy Smoke, Whiskey Tobacco and of course, Dirt) than their soliflores but overall I am very happy with all of my Demeter purchases. I have not tried their Rose but I love their Iris. The staying power for me doesn’t go beyond a couple hours unless I use unscented lotion or layer one of their companion lotions underneath. They are a go-to for me for comfort and mood-setting.
Sorry, just saw your anise question. I don’t think I’ll be of much help as I love anise candy but often don’t like it in perfume! You may like it better in fragrances since the bold, sharp anise is often tamed and softened by the other notes it has been combined with.
That’s funny, I also cannot stand anise as a flavour but often enjoy it in fragrances. AG Mandragore Pourpre, for example, became a staple this summer and I find that it has a very prominent anise note.
The only Demeters I have are Thunderstorm and Pink Lemonade. Parfum1 has them pretty cheap.
I have a ton of those little $6 bottles of Demeter – some weirdos like Beetroot and Earthworm, and more standard fare like Dandelion and Wisteria. They are fun!
Another good source of Demeter is Overstock.com – I got a big bottle of Gingerale there.
Has anyone tried Rubber by Demeter? I’d be very interested to know what that one smells like…I’m guessing rubber? 😉 I enjoy the smell of rubber in new tires and rubber boots, but I personally would not want to walk around smelling like it.
Malijo, it’s perfectly normal to prefer the smell of anise over it’s taste. I also enjoy its scent but don’t care for the taste. Like LaMaroc said, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that its scent is combined with other notes, making it less intense.
Rubber you say? Have you tried Bvlgari Black…. it has rubber in there…but WONDERFUL stuff…and CHEAP at the discounters.
Nope, I’m afraid I haven’t tried it! I’ll have to try it next time I go perfume sniffing though…its other notes sound intriguing.
i bought that today — GREAT stuff!!!
It really is – the rubber smells like new bicycle tires to me. Or a new pair of Keds at the beginning of the summer, when there’s lots of bounce and skip and run in them.
I always found Paloma Picasso rather rubbery. I also get rubber in the opening of things like Do Son and Songes (big white florals) but Carlos thinks I’m crazy.
Bulgari Black is a great one.
I have an unusual question. I have seen numerous requests for suggestions for a wedding scent but never for a funeral. Sadly, I lost my father recently. We were very close and it happened suddenly, and he was dead before I was able to get home. I had packed in a panic hoping to see him, and threw in various bottles and samples. When it came time for the funeral home visitation and the funeral itself, nothing seemed right. For obvious reasons, I did not want to wear anything sexy. But my denomination (Protestant) would be pretty sensitive to anything with incense so those types were out. What I really wanted was a comfort scent. I tried some vanilla gourmand things and ended up wearing some Guerlain Derby (from a vintage sample) for the funeral. I suppose I wanted something vaguely masculine. But nothing worked. Nothing has smelled good to me since. I am not in the mood for anything sweet, or too bright, or floral. Please help. I know it sounds odd perhaps to think about perfume at a time like this but I’m alone a lot and would really like something that provides some kind of aura of comfort or reassurance. Thank you.
Oh, how very sad Calypso – so sorry. I suggest Guerlain L’Heuere Bleue. It’s often referred to as a ‘melancholy’ scent, but it is a gentle comfort scent to me.
Many condolences. That must have been a deeply painful experience, or set of experiences, and I don’t blame you for reaching for the perfume. I would too.
It seems that your predicament is that you want something that is comforting but not sweet. I’m not nearly as experienced as many in this community, but a couple that spring to mind are SSS Winter Woods – which may be too sweet for you but it is balanced by woody notes too. I don’t find it nearly as strong as many other SSS perfumes, and to me it is calming. One of those scents where after an hour or so you look about the room and think, golly, what’s that lovely scent – and then realise it’s you.
My other suggestion might sound strange, so forget it if you hate it, but I also find Chanel No 19 extrait very calming too. Just a low, beautiful hum in the background that accompanies me through the day without intruding at all. I wear No 19 in EDT and EDP too, but the EDP is more assertive and the EDT sprightly.
Anyway, all the best.
I am so, so sorry for your loss. My heart just ached reading your post. Unfortunately I found myself thinking about what perfume to wear to a funeral today as my uncle with terminal cancer probably won’t make it through the weekend. I think the most important thing for you should be exactly what you said: comfort. I am a lapsed Catholic who loves incense scents and finds them very comforting. My uncle’s family is Protestant, though (long story, lol) and I don’t think anyone would be offended if I wore Encens Flamboyant or 10 Corso Como. If it helps you in any way to get through the day or the funeral or just the next few minutes, by all means, indulge. If you really think a fragrance you like might be too prickly for your relatives, I would suggest spritzing a handkerchief and you could lift it to your nose whenever you wanted/needed a soothing inhale. Hang it there.
Calypso, I’m so sorry to hear that. Losing a parent can be very distressing, and I think it’s perfectly normal to try to find something that can bring you comfort. We all know that perfume can be very comforting. I didn’t wear perfume at all to my mother’s funeral; I didn’t want an association between that day and a scent I like.
Everyone has a different idea of what a comforting scent is. For me, it’s one made by Garden Botanika called Honey & Citrus. It smells exactly like the honey butter my grandmother always put on my toast. I smell it and I’m back in the kitchen on a summer morning with her. Instant comfort. Do you have any scents that bring you similar good memories?
I am so sorry for your loss. I was simply going to offer my condolences since I wasn’t sure what to suggest under such circumstances but I would agree with Rustic Dove’s suggestion and also add Après L’ondée as another option which might work.
Alternatively, were there any smells that your father was particularly fond of? Perhaps there’s a fragrance that includes those?
What a lovely suggestion, to think of the smells that were enjoyed by a loved one!
Calypso, I am so sorry, and I can identify! My father fell ill and died just a couple weeks ago (Sept. 20). When we left (he lived in another state), all I could think of was lavender, so I packed a sample of Caldey Island Lavender I had received from a friend, along with my bottle (shared w/hubby) of Caron Pour Un Homme. Those fragrances served me well and I like to think that they helped calm the people around me too. I will wear both again, but not for a while. Again, I’m very sorry.
I am so sorry. I lost a sister earlier this summer — it is so tough to lose someone you love.
Very true. A while back I lost both of my grandparents within 6 months of each other. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder how life can be so cruel, but you know it makes me a tougher and more resiliant person.
Thank you, Robin. I’m very sorry for your loss, too. I remember that something was going on with you over the summer, and wondered.
Hugs, Heidi
I’m very sorry. Maybe a lily scent with its Easter and Resurrection associations?
Calypso, So sorry for your loss. Parents are hard to lose. I am also sorry I can’t think of a fragrance for your mood. I just wanted to let you know I have virtual hugs for you.
I am so sorry for your loss Calypso…I was just thinking, My father in law is in the hospital and might not make it….and I just felt like running away to find a new scent to comfort myself.
Adela~ really? I’m sorry babe!
I wish you and yours strength and peace for whatever happans .
*Hugs*
Calypso, I am very sorry for what you are going through and how hard it must be. I can also understand as I’m sure everyone here does , how much scent means to us in times of trouble. But I have to go with what Aparatchick said in that you should be careful what you wear in these hard times , make sure it’s something maybe you don’t usually wear but that makes you feel better.
Were such a sensitive lot! Everything we own means something special to us and to associate it with this sad experience may mean never wanting to wear it again… no matter how much you love it.
On the note of what to wear, I think Guerlain is the what I would lean towards but not L’HB, I was thinking Vol de Nuit.
It makes me kind’ve sad at first but then it gets better and as time goes on- a tad sweet after all.
Just like life my dear.. Be well.
Calypso,
My thoughts and prayers are with you for your devastating loss. I like what fellow perfumistas have said about wearing a fragrance he was fond of or one that brings sweet memories to your mind about him. L’Heure Bleu is my biggest “go to for comfort” scent, though.
There is something special about Myrhh, too-I don’t know what it is. But M.Micallef Shanaan and SL La Myrrh are so lovely!
But wear whatever makes you feel better, no matter what others think!
Calypso: My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know how difficult this is for you with having lost my dad last September and my mom this past August. I hope the memories of your dad give you comfort in the days ahead.
I struggled with finding something for my mom’s funeral as it was quite hot and humid. Finally settled on Vanille Galante. Light enough it wasn’t over powering and the lilly notes seemed just right.
Oh, Calypso, I’m so sorry – I feel your pain, for sure, as I lost my dad in a very similar way. I didn’t have much perfume then, but my dad liked perfume and gave me a lot of scents over the years. If I remember correctly, I may have worn Bvlgari Blv, since it was the last scent he picked out for me.
If I had the collection I have now, I would have probably worn something tobacco-ish, since he liked a good cigar.
Wear what makes you feel comfort, as others have suggested, and take care of yourself.
Calypso – I’m so sorry for your loss. My Dad passed 12 years ago and I still miss him. You’ll be in my prayers.
I second Tamara’s Vol de Nuit suggestion – it’s been called melancholy, but I just find it soft and comforting. And I would add SSS Incense Pure – I keep a sample on my desk and find it very soothing to sniff.
Oh yes, sadness…the old Guerlains are magic in that they somehow express the hugeness of all our emotions, Mitsouko, L’ Heure Bleue, Vol de Nuit, the extraodinary Djedi; even Shalimar has ghosts of loves, losses, and passions hidden in its dark depths…I have found with these landmarks of the art of perfumery that they never seem wrong, they never bring back bad memories, they just seem to be the sum total of everything we experience.
If you don’t have it, I would recommend vintage Mitsouko. Its everything; and it will span time.
They’re bigger than one time, one memory or occasion, aren’t they. Like life itself.
I’ve never smelled Djedi – sigh…..
Ah, you’ve gone to the heart of what makes the classic Guerlains so great, Winifrieda!
Oh, Calypso – it’s so hard to lose a parent! You are wise to find ways to take care of yourself. I agree with Haunani on lavender – travel size vials of the beautiful BK Straight to Heaven can be found on ebay. PdN Nicolai pour Homme is similar (and cheaper), but it may be discontinued. Caron 3rd Man might also do the trick. I also find Ineke Field Notes from Paris very cozy and comforting (like taking refuge in a French cafe in cold, wet weather). AG Songes is such a lush, plush floral. Also, I find the sandalwood plus jasmine plus combo of Samsara soothing. When all else fails (and the weather is cool enough), I spray on a protective patchouli force-field – PG Coze is my favorite.
Hi Calypso,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom when I was living alone in a new place with no friends and alone a lot and I remember what that was like. It might sound cheesy, but one weekend when I had to travel for work and was even MORE alone I thought I might lose my mind and on a whim I bought a set of Inner Grace, the philosophy scent, from a dept. store. Between the wash, the lotion, and the scent, I found it very enveloping, very calming, but also not cloying. I didn’t want to be wrapped, I just wanted to be comforted.
I hope you find something that makes you feel the same way and you know, just by looking, you’re doing something that really is good for you.
Calypso, I’m so sorry for your loss. My father died many years ago and I had to fly over to the US for his funeral. I was truly devastated. Perhaps you (and others here) will find what I did to comfort myself strange, but it worked for me. I raided my parents’ bathroom cabinet and took Dad’s Aqua Velva and applied a small dab to a handkerchief. During the funeral and even the days and weeks that followed, I could sniff that handkerchief and feel that Dad was near me, comforting me. And with all the crying I did, no one took note of me constantly clasping a handkerchief to my face.
Oh, I’m so sorry Calypso. Hope you find something comforting.
Calypso, my sympathies to you.
Hi Calypso, I’m sorry you are going to be alone during such a hard time. I’m a relative newbie, and I know you have not reacted well to sweet. Still, I thought I’d mention Kenzo’s amour, though its mildly sweet, it is also ‘bland’, uncomplicated, present without being intrusive and seems to settle my nerves…
May you have strength to cope in this difficult time Calypso< and a long and happy life ahead. I have a friend who is very ill and I find l'heure bleu to appropriate…pensive, deep, yet quietly and modestly uplifting in a spiritual kind of way. Take care of urself
Just a couple of comments for the poll. My SotD is Chamade parfum. I feel so at home in this beautiful fragrance! And Robin, the photo you chose for this poll is a stunner!
Awww. I’m enjoying thinking of you wearing Chamade.
Thanks, Mals! I smiled all day. 🙂
Isn’t that so cool? It’s so fun to go hunt for photos on Flickr.
What are all your thoughts on Hermes’ Kelly Caleche? I’ve gone through most of my sample and I still haven’t been able to decide whether or not I like it. Some days I do really like it, and other days I detect something in the notes that’s a bit unappealing that I can’t quite put my finger on.
I like Kelly Caleche and it seems to wear well on me, but that’s it..I like it, but don’t love it. there are too many other more interesting, tempting scents out there for me, so I passed on an FB and just keep a sample selection. My two cents….it you are not 100% sold on how it make you feel, then move on….too little time, and oh, so many scents!!
So true! I really wanted to like it because I read the review of it on here and it sounded wonderful, and because I’ve loved a few other fragrances by Hermes…but unfortunately I’m going to have to pass on this one because I thought it was just okay.
Is it the EDP or EDT? Some say they notice a difference. It wears well on me and I get compliments when I wear it.
My question exactly! I need to test further, but so far the edt wins. But I Have yet to spring for a bottle, because she is a bit moody,
Hmm, maybe I should test the EDT too, then. 🙂
My sample is of the EDP. I haven’t tried the EDT though. Anyone who has tried both, which one do you prefer?
There is parfum as well. I like them both. Unfortunately my nose isn’t a good distinguisher, but I’ve heard that the EDP has more rose and vanilla. The EDT is a bit more citrusy. Hope this helps!
Discordant as Angel but not as interesting or fun. But I love Ellena, so I was happy not to have to buy it.
If you can’t quite decide on KC yet…beautyencounter has a 15ml for $12. I’m in the same boat as you. I got the 15ml and figured if I haven’t decided by the time it’s all gone, guess that’s a “no”.
That’s a good tip. I always forget that BE often has a good selection of minis. I often like to buy a mini — or I’ll find a pack of 5-10 spray samples on ebay — for exactly the kind of “test drive” you mention.
That is good to know! I’ll have to look there to see if they have any mini bottles of other perfumes I’m checking out, too.
They’ve got a pretty good “hard to find” section too!
I like KC if I have to impress or feel confident in meetings. It’s very chic and interesting, but also fairly quiet. I only wear the EDT. The EDP is denser, less spacious, and so does not have the effect I’m after. That said, I have not bought a FB; I’ve picked up several samples online and am resolved to just replace them as needed. I have seen those 15 ml bottles on eBay and they would be a good compromise.
I just bought it for my sister… I hope she likes it. I got from a big wholesaler pretty cheaply I think (about US $39 100 ml?). Mainly because I couldn’t stop saying the name, Kelly Caleche….
In my imagination, Kelly Caleche is a mid-1980s era californian teen girl who rides around in a hot car and has heaps of adventures, kind of like an awesome stranger who comes to Sweet Valley High to solve the mystery of her dad’s death or something, and stays to organise the best prom ever.
I looked up the story behind the name and its actually boring, just a random combination of existing Hermes products.
I love it Morgan! And of course the hot car has leather seats! You should be writing perfume ad copy!
I love it, but only in Spring! It has a no-nonsense crispness which is often perfect at work, combined with a white blouse (+ bluejeans pearls and black shoes)
i really enjoy kc…find it fresh in the summer and dry. i prefer the edt over the edp which is sweeter and less dry. it has a sheerness to it and very hermes!! or should i say ellena? actually it reminds me a bit of sur le ni, with out the fruitiness
Kelly Caleche was entirely unappealing to me, but I haven’t figured out why! 🙁
SOTD was SSS Wood Violet. I find a somewhat similar to SL Bois de Violette, but warmer and less cedary. I have been working my way through my package of samples that I received this week. I only placed the order on Sunday, and the package was in my mailbox Wednesday–talk about wonderful customer service! Yesterday’s SOTD was Incense Pure, and evening was Winter Woods. I find Incense Pure to be quite similar to Avignon, at least after the opening. Winter Woods rather surprised me–I keep getting vanilla out of it, even though there is no vanilla listed among the notes. Does anyone else’s nose detect this?
My samples from SSS are on their way…. I’ll see if I can find a hint of Vanilla…. should be here tomorrow. *fingers crossed*
I don’t exactly get vanilla out of Winter Woods but I find it warmer and sweeter than I expected, so maybe there is some vanilla-like action in there. I only get a little twang of smoke, no more. What surprised me is that it is not nearly as strong as other SSS scents that I have tried. It’s really a gentle skin scent for me. When I first tried it I actually found myself re-applying after half an hour or so. How have you found it? I’m wondering if there are notes I am missing, and maybe I’m over applying (horrors!).
You might be anosmic to the musks, which in turn might be covering up other notes for you.
WHOA. Maybe I’m sensitive to bitter notes (this probably is the case), but I didn’t get any “vanilla” or “gentle skin scent” out of WW. I probably would have liked that, to be honest. What I got was the bitter smell that happens when we’ve recently had a wood fire in the fireplace and the ashes have gone cold, but a tiny bit of rain has sneaked down the chimney and gotten into them, so that the room smells of sour, wet burned wood. It was Not Pleasant.
It had an off smell on me too, Mals. One of the very few of Laurie’s that didn’t work for me.
Yes, the SSS ones that don’t work for me, REALLY don’t work. Vintage Rose is a total scrubber on me, such a shame – the notes look so “me”, but it’s the same nauseating thing that is in the Estee Lauder base that bothers me so much.
Even the other SSS scents that don’t work on me don’t make me nauseous – I don’t know what’s in there, but something… urgh.
I wonder if it’s the iso e super? Laurie mentioned that Vintage Rose was one of the few where she used it. I’ve heard other people mention that that chem makes them nauseous. It would be interesting to try to find out if Andy uses it in his perfumes.
I mentioned to her in an email once that I was interested in trying Femme Jolie because of its similarity to Feminite du Bois, which does this weird disappear-reappear thing on me in the middle. At the time, she suggested that Iso E Super might be at fault.
I didn’t like Femme Jolie (or Winter Woods) but they didn’t make me feel queasy.
Afterthought: I cannot imagine that the standard Lauder base would contain Iso E Super, simply because it hasn’t been in existence long enough to have been part of the recipe for older Lauder things like White Linen, Youth Dew and Knowing.
I’m no closer to figuring it out. 🙁
mals: didn’t you once mention balsam/tolu balsam being a culprit in turning your nose off?
Joe, it does bother me. But somehow the Lauder-standard thing is different. There’s no balsam in Beyond Paradise, is there? That was pretty (merely pretty) for two hours and then I had, HAD to scrub. The Lauder thing isn’t really a smell, per se. I don’t *smell* it and think, “Ooh, that stinks,” but rather, I just get queasier and queasier without smelling anything in particular.
SSS Wood Violette sounds great! I’m a fan of Bois de Violette, too. It’s on my FB list and might be the next one I order. Where can I order a sample of Wood Violette? I looked on indie scents and didn’t see it.
Indie Scents only carries FBs of the perfumes in the “boutique” line. You can find samples of the full range on the SSS website, at sonomascentstudio.com. The 2.5 ml spray samples are very nice, in glass spray vials with screw-on sprayers and with caps. If you eventually buy a FB, you can easily refill the sample bottle to use as a travel/purse spray. There are also 1 ml dauber vials if you prefer.
Yes! I am ready for an FB of Bois de Violette. I find it much more subtly crafted than SSS Wood Violet — which I also love.
With the AUD soaring at the moment I gave myself an early birthday present and ordered a bottle of AG Songes from strawberrynet. A couple of weeks ago it would have been close to AUD$130. Yesterday, less that AUD$100! Whoo hoo. Can’t wait for it to arrive, just love it!
SOTD Bulgari Jasmin Noir. Happy weekend everybody!
Wow — that’s quite a savings based on fluctuation! I love Songes–one of my top 5 without a doubt. Something Angela wrote this summer convinced me to try it in the heat and it was gorgeous!
Yes yes yes me too!!! I was on strawberry too this morning thinking that it really is TIME to get my bete noire Muscs Kublai Khan before they take it off the exports!
And I’m trying to force myself to use up a bit of a large bottle of Donna Karan Jasmine which for some crazy reason I bought instead of A La Nuit – I’ve taken to dousing myself with it like it was a body spray then going over it with the stunning SL Sarrasins which then haunts me for hours during these cool grey spring days we are having.
Why why why won’t they send the dang exclusives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today was another gorgeous autumn day.
I wore Epic to bed , woke up and put 31 RC and then when the mail came, I put on URC, I just lovelovelove that perfume guys.
Shout out to you Miss Kitty! <3
Went on a afternoon run in the forest and ran my heart out, it never fails to make me happy, just like perfume.
I have been better but my spirits are high and I am grateful for the little things. Have a wonderful weekend everyone, you all smell so good!
Oh P.S. Robin- a scent that makes me hungry is PG Private Collection Un Crime Exotique. I want Thanksgiving dinner when I wear it. Thanks Daisy 😉 Also PG Iris Taizo makes me want dulche de leche ice cream. I still love them both though! (sorry if I spelled that wrong) 😛
I so want some 31 Rue Cambon but I’ve not really gotten around to getting some. I don’t think I really need a decant; I’m not even sure I really enjoy it. But I get a craving every so often. Guess that means I DO really like it.
Tamara, SO jealous on the Epic to bed! I think Epic is my holiest of holy grails….any mention of it makes me hyperventilate (in the best way possible)….
SOTD today was Tom Ford White Suede. I only have a tiny little vial of this that someone generously passed on to me. I like it, but I love Daim Blonde better.
Ambre Narguile makes me hungry. I bought it unsniffed, too. We’re having strange indecisive weather around here, Ambre Narguile to me is a straight up holiday season scent. I want it to get cooler so that I can wear it regularly but I’m just starting to move into hte fall scents.
SOTD – forgot to wear any!! Ack. I have been having a very stressful week at work and I could have used a good comfort scent. I have sprayed everything with abandon this week, public outcry be damned. Fortunately there wasn’t any. 🙂
SOTE – Clinique Wrappings. I am testing a sample and since it is chilly tonight I figured this was a good time. I can see the appeal, but I don’t know if I love it. It’s a bit soapy-ish. But it’s nice! I’ll give it a fair go. Fading quickly, too, but soft drydown.
What?! NO perfume today? Tama–you really need to start keeping some samples or decants in your bag. That way, if you forget to put some on in the morning, or if it wears off quickly, you can apply/reapply as needed. Now that I have obtained atomizers to make decants of all my perfumes, I stick the decant in my purse in the morning so I can reapply in a few hours after it wears off. Usually I will let 3 or 4 of them will accumulate in my purse as insurance against perfume emergencies.
heh many of my decants end up in the centre console of the car as I grab them out of the mailbox on the way out. Then if a need for the addictive challenge of sniffing something new or beloved comes upon me when I am away from home, there they are!
I do that too. I’ve actually started to carry my decant of Eau Premiere, which seems to fit just about any situation, in my purse. I mean, there are probably situations where I could have found a more appropriate scent, but I’m somehow never sorry I’ve put on EP.
I know! I really need to do that. I have a travel spray of Covet that I keep meaning to bring to work for emergencies – I need to just put it in my purse already! I do have some Mugler Cologne here but it was no appropriate to my mood at all, as I had been planning to wear my CdG Carnation.
On the rare occasion I forget perfume and don’t have a single sample in my car’s re-designated ash tray, I just don’t even know what to do. It’s just terrible.
Oh No! Perfume withdrawals!
Yeah. 🙁
Chanel’s Les Exclusifs have fnally reached Scotland!
The wonderful House of Frasers in Glasgow have them in store – I can’t believe they’re all so close to home 🙂
I’m now the proud owner of an incredibly cute bottle of No22 pure parfum, which will probably be sotd for right up til Christmas…
Congratulations. Is it the new smaller 75ml size?
Hi Joe!
It was a teeny 15ml parfum.
I think they’re also doing Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie and Gardenia in pure parfum, but don’t quote me on that!
They only seem to have the EDT in those huge 200ml bottles for now. Pity my poor credit card when I see 75mls of the Exclusifs – one of each please!
K.thanks for the info,it’s only an hour to get there.
Glasgow, here I come!!.L.
Maybe I’ve gone off the perfume deep end, but I needed to do something special for myself.
Reason: I’m still in the long process of recovering from a life-threatening illness and am just starting to get around on good days. One step forward, one step back — at the beginning of the week, I fell and really banged up my legs, so the doctor gave me house arrest AGAIN and I have to lie around with my legs raised, taking painkillers and smearing in arnica salve.
Spoiling myself: A good friend is in NYC, and if he received my email before he returns here, he will shop for me. I’ve requested UNSNIFFED: Laura Mercier Ambre Passion (I told him either the Velvet or Elixer, whichever he finds first) and Santa Maria Novella Ottone.
I also plan to order from Amazon Agent Provacateur Strip UNSNIFFED.
Am I certifiable? I’m just hoping I will love them all!
Strip is really nice. I’d have bought it if it didn’t remind me of something I already had.
Mals, what did Strip remind you of?
Everyone, thanks for the good wishes and supporting my perfume buying whims!
Um… this is embarrassing… at least two other things, according to my Excel file: Shalimar Light without the citrus, and 31 Rue Cambon without the modern-chypre angle. Maybe I should go get out the Strip sample and retest.
Definitely not certifiable! Perfume Therapy is the best medicine, so continue to spoil yourself. Best wishes for your continued healing.
No, not certifiable, just brave. I have not had good luck with buying unsniffed, although the Ambre Passion might be a relatively safe bet if you love amber. Maybe you are better than me at figuring out what you will like before you smell it.
Oh, good luck on your recovery. Try to take it easy so you don’t bang yourself up. I think you’ll really like the Ambre Passion… it’s a beautiful scent. I’m curious about that Ottone myself since I’m a fan of SMN.
Thank G-d you are recovering…lots of strength..Strip is the good part of agent provocateur 9 TEASE BEING THE NOT SO GOOD PART)…i would absolutely buy it unsniffed…KEEPGETTINGERSTRONGER AND STAY POSITIVE
Thanks to all for good wishes, and for comments about Strip. Joe,
I’ll let you know what I think of the Ottone, if I manage to get hold of it.
I’m curious as to whether others have noticed if their favorite scent notes are the same as their favorite food ingredients? For example, practically every day I eat cinnamon, coriander, cardomon, vanilla and hot chili pepper. Many of the fragrances I love contain one or more of these notes.
yeah all my favourite scents smell like lollies/candy
Interesting, I don’t have a sweet tooth, so this hypothesis would explain why I don’t like all those sweet scents. LOL – can anyone recommend a perfume that smells like Doritos, bacon and fried onion rings? Perhaps oud is the perfume equivalent of forbidden greasy junk foods? 🙂
Oud is goud! I so love the smoky smell of bacon and lord knows I love to eat it. Can’t think of a fragrance that remonds me of the things you listed.
Dolly, your comment made me imagine Frankenstein saying:
“Oooouuuud, goooooouuud.” I have goofy moments like this, whayt can I say.
That’s why I adore you! I love people who let their silly side come out.
It is hard to imagine those things as perfume (although Demeter might have bacon, I think). However, I opened a package of prosciutto the other day and breathed in a fabulous deep scent that really does belong in perfume. Goud indeed, LOL!
Bacon is one of those things which are almost worth dying fat and alone for… 🙂
Oh no Kizzers! why did you tell me that!! Trip to Glasgow coming on lol. I received my Angel liqueur de parfum this week, and really enjoying it – bought unsniffed thanks to Robins review ! Its beautiful! But I am a big fan of the original too.
I managed to snag a sample of Bois des Iles too!
Tricia the SA told me there’s a big Exclusifs event coming up in January where you can get personal consultations on the line. Can’t wait!
I was thinking about a scent I loved as a child. I know this sounds so ordinary, but does anyone remember “Unforgettable?” I loved the skin softening cream, and now that I’m into perfume I wonder what kind of scent it was.
I’m looking for an autumn scent, which is hard because I tend to
light florals. I love Theorema when it gets colder. I bought the new “Beauty” by CK, which I like, but it doesn’t seem like autumn to me. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Unfortunately, I don’t remember Unforgettable. (Ba-dum-BUM.)
Was this it? http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Revlon/Unforgettable-8904.html
You could always try ebay to see if it’s how you remember it.
Hm. Are you thinking of a floral for autumn use, something heavier than your usual scents but not as warm as Theorema? And what’s your weather like?
I’m very much a floral girl, but in the fall I start wanting smoky/chypre/amber/spicy things.
Mals- I always could not stand spicy scents until I tried CdG’s Red Carnation. I was put off at first though by so much clove, but I adore carnation so it grew on me. I also get a craving for warm scents during winter and this one does the trick. I also remember as a child loving the smell of bayberry candles . Can you suggest a good bayberry scent?
I don’t know of one! I love bayberry candles too.
JillS, I just searched ebay for “unforgettable perfume” and came up with both Avon and Revlon Unforgettable – some are even dated. Worth checking out to see if you recognize the packaging.
Have you tried Clarins Par Amour? It’s a pretty, rosy floral, but it has some benzoin it it, which makes it a bit warm. I’m not sure it would hold up to really cold weather, but it might do the trick as a transition fragrance until it gets cold enough for heavier, late fall scents. It’s discontinued, I think, but pretty easy to find at discounters. Another floral I”ve had luck with in chilly wather is Bond no 9 West Side. It’s very pretty, but it’s got some backbone.
Looks like I missed out on most of the fun yesterday – and will miss most of it today… we’re hosting a Chinese woman at our house this weekend and I’m sure I’ll be crazy busy.
What I’ve been wearing lately: samples from Smell Bent, plus Le Temps d’une Fete (of course). Quick rundown on the Smell Bents:
Prairie Nymph – juicy orange into spicy carnation, terrific for four hours and then ENDLESS EXHAUSTING MUSK. (12 hours, and then I scrubbed.)
One – old books, spices, vanilla and woods. Lovely stuff.
Commando – I’m not sure about this. The first time I wore it, it was nice manly-chest; the second, it was manly-chest in desperate need of a shower.
Chile Vanilli – supposedly spice, vanilla and “light” patchouli, but I couldn’t even put it on skin, it was so hideous in the vial.
Never Never Land – For ten minutes, it was a lovely dry woody rose. Then it turned into Play-Doh and stayed there for three hours.
Lucy Fur I haven’t tested yet, and maybe won’t at all, since it doesn’t appeal to me.
This is where I’m glad that I can’t smell certain musks. Prairie Nymph was just a fun carnation for me.
It was four hours of fun, after all –
🙂
Sorry to be weird, but do others find that there are scents that just make them feel nervous/anxious? At first I thought it was all the ‘big shoulder-pad’ ones like Paris and Opium and Rive Gauche (not sure when the last is from). But Recently I bought Dune which I loved as a teenager and I had to take it back the next day as I had sprayed a little from the tester on my arm and despite thinking it was beautiful, it had made me want to jump out my skin by late afternoon!
Is it possible that you’re having a reaction to some of the chems in the fragrances?
I wondered the same thing. Eau de Cartier, though I adore the smell of it, makes my pulse race as if I’m having a panic attack. I assume it’s some type of allergic reaction, probably to the yuzu since I’ve had some citrus allergy issues in the past. It’s a bummer, but I just pass that one by, now. 🙁
I don’t think you are being weird at all. The sense of smell is very closely tied to our emotions, so I can easily see how a smell could cause you to feel anxious. It could be a subliminal scent memory–perhaps someone whom you disliked or who made you nervous wore it, and it is bringing up subliminal memories of that person. On the other hand, it could just be that one or more of the notes (or a combination of notes) in the perfume just affects you that way.
I might add (since you said you loved Dune as a teenager) that scent preferences can change over time. I loved Poison when it first came out and it was the closest I have ever had to a signature scent. I have not worn it in years, though, and recently I sprayed a little of it (from my original 80’s bottle, so it is not a reformulation issue), and I hated it. I couldn’t scrub it off fast enough.
I guess it could be the chemicals but I also thought it more likely to be some kind of sense memory, given the emotion-olfactory connection. I also assumed someone who made me uneasy must have worn these but Dune surprised me because it was one I used to wear. Ones reaction does change over time but I STILL think Dune is beautiful, though smelling it is now such a tense experience! Does anyone else have these negative reactions?
Oh yes! Perfumes/scents make me angry, tense, weepy, dreamy, sexy, happy, silly…. amazing, isn’t it?
I agree. I have had this happen a few times. Some of them, on first sniff, actually turned on the vomiting reflex and I don’t say that to be sarcastic. The minute I removed it from my nose, it disappeared.
The only perfume I have ever smelled that caused that reaction in me was Iris Silver Mist. I had read such glowing reviews of it that I ordered a 2.5 ml sample from TPC, fully expecting to be able to use it up (if I like something at all, a 0.7 ml or 1.0 ml sample is just not enough). The first whiff of it turned my stomach. I had only dabbed it on one wrist, so I tried waiting it out, thinking maybe after 30 minutes or an hour it would turn into something pleasant, but no luck. I ended up having to take a shower to get it (mostly) off. If anyone out there loves ISM and would like my sample vial, contact me at roses_50 at yahoo dot com and I will be happy to send it on to a good home.
Merlin, I went on a quest for vintage White Shoulders, which I loved in high school or junior high. When I found the right vintage, it still smelled great, but I found it made me anxious. I think it is taking me back to insecure adolescent moments. Perhaps this is what’s happening with you, too.
I also have felt the anxiousness kick in a few times, like a sign that perhaps I should not wear this? Hmm.
Well, it might be worth setting it aside for a week or two and then trying it again to see if you get the same effect or not.
Nozknoz, there are so many fragrances that make me feel good I decided not to wait around on this one but took it rather as a sign, like Dolly suggested, that I was not meant to wear it.
Recent love: Floris Snow Rose. So lovely, fluffy and rosey. So glad I have a friend in the UK with access!
Good morning everyone! This morning I’m testing two scents. First we have HdP 1740 Marquis de Sade, which is a lovely thing. I was almost a little nervous to try it, but fortunately, I don’t get dirty or even a hint of cruelty – whew! In fact, I find it to be rather elegant and perhaps a resemblance to Bal a Versailles? [It’s been so long since I’ve worn that old favorite, which reminds me I must get a new bottle, preferably vintage.] Next, I’m sampling CdG Paestum Rose, which is surprisingly softer and more delicate than I expected given the list of notes. My SOTD will most likely be the 1740.
More interesting sampling from this past week would be the new Amouage Memoirs [which will require further testing, but so far, I do like, but given the similarity IMO of the Woman’s version to Coco and the Men’s version to OJ Woman [particularly in the dry down] I don’t think I’ll need FBs]. J25 remains my favorite Amouage so far. Unfortunately, my two disappointments of the week were the two new Tauers. I did not care for the URV at all and the Ed’E didn’t really excite me either.
I didn’t like the Tauers either. I thought the URV smelled like a standard-issue fruity floral–very disappointing. Ed’E didn’t smell very spicy to me, in spite of the name and the list of notes. I have only sniffed the Memoir Man from the vial (I have not put it on skin), but for me it wasn’t so much that it smelled like OJ Woman as that it created the same mental association, namely, being outside working in my garden. Someone here described it as “grassy” and that is exactly what it brought to mind–I pictured myself pulling up wayward runners of St. Augustine out of my rose garden.
The CdG sounds interesting. What other notes did you detect in that?
Also glad to hear that you didn’t develop any cruel intentions after the de Sade!
I know! I was so worried about becoming a corrupt and depraved libertine after a sniffa! 😉
I have further testing to do with the Paestum Rose – it was such a demure little thing compared with 1740 wafting from the other wrist and completely distracting me. I really didn’t give it a thorough analysis today.
Hey RD: I really like that HdP 1740 Marquis de Sade. Can’t wait to wear that this fall when the weather cools (it’s over 80 here again today though, strangely enough). I think it’s a really mellow, warm immortelle scent. Very comforting. Paestum Rose isn’t my favorite, though I really like the Eau d’Italie line; let me know if you wind up really liking that.
Hey Joe. Hope you’re feeling better, BTW.
I’m generally a fan of rose scents and there are some really great ones out there, and i think my favorite is Tauer’s URC. I have a feeling that Paestum Rose won’t change that.
Hello everyone,how do I add an avatar to my name?
got it. 🙂
And a very pretty one too!
I love your avatar! I’m an avid orchid fan, and my Ladyslippers are the only ones I can’t get to rebloom. At least I haven’t killed them, though! I’ve never seen one with a purple lip, though. That is gorgeous!
oooooo—nice gravataar! 🙂
Lovely avatar!
Well thank you ladies 🙂 I’ve always loved the ladyslipper,such a rare flower but here in the wild we still find the odd one from time to time when out hiking.
Ahh, how did you do it?! I’ve been trying to figure out how to add an avata too.
Okay nevermind, figured it out. 🙂
SOTD: Oakmoss by Dominique Dubrana (AbedSaleem) at La Via del Profumo (profumo.it). Holy Cow is this just wonderful!
Today is my first day trying it, but I can’t wait to layer it with other things!
Thanks for this mini-review, Dixie! I’ve been planning to order Mecca Balsam and trying to decide what samples to order along with it – sounds like Oakmoss should be one of them!
I also recommend Samurai, and Bazaar and of course Mecca Balsaam. I didn’t care for African Night and have it up for swap on MUA-I’m givemesomescents. Perhaps it’s my chemistry.
I tried gypsy queen which is also very spicy. His descriptions seem to be right on.
Thanks for mentioning these, Dixie. I visited the site, and now I’m really keen to try some of these. I generally like chypres (particularly vintage animalic chypres), spicy Middle Eastern fragrances, and florientals. Which of their scents would probably be a good fit for me?
I just tried SSS Jour Ensoleile and that has a vintage french chypre feel with an animalic tone.
I listed most of the profumo.it fragrances I’ve tried so far. Definitely try Oakmoss and Samurai. If you like iris his Orris is just straight on iris root. The female pheromone is just weird to me-must be the castoreum.
I loved the spices of Mecca Balsam and Bazaar-I highly recommend those. Gypsy Queen is very heavy on cinnamon to me.
The TPC has smaller sample sizes though they don’t have his entire range-hope this helps!
That’s one I really want to try after reading his interview with Carol at WAFT. Thanks for the confirmation!
I loved that interview! I wish I could have been there live! I hate when work interferes with my blogging!
SOTD: Wenge and Labdanum from DK Essences. Then a dab if Chamade extrait on one arm when the sun came out and I felt like a springy scent to contrast with my autumnal Wenge and Labdanum. Mmm- I smell GOOD!
Happy weekend everyone!
I bet you smell awesome! I love DK Labdanum!
Good Morning!
I am trying to make up my mind what to wear today. The contenders are Chanel Eau Premiere, M.Michailef Mon Parfum (sniffed tester, smells promising) or M.Micailef Royal Muska (sniffed tester, not sure here). I think I may just plop on the Chanel, tried and true, for at least the “public” part of my day.
I will be doing the city equivalent of the second half of turkey hunting (I ordered the free range bird last week and am picking it up today, already cleaned!). As well, I’ll be running around getting last minute odds and ends before I spend the day making and reducing turkey stock for gravy, and all the other stuff to do for “Thanksgiving”. It’s going to be a busy wonderful weekend!
So, are you in Canada? I have always thought that October was a much more sensible date for it than late November. It’s hard to imagine that the Pilgrims, or any of the early settlers, would be having a harvest festival that late.
Mais oui! Canadian I am. Lol, I just thought maybe it was warmer “down there” than “up here”, at least when I was a child. But it is harvest time anyway, I suppose for the south too? Maybe the settlers were trying to have a last ditch party right before the winter socked them in permanently, for the long haul.
It depends on how far south you go. The pilgrims were in Massachusetts, and harvest time there must surely be much earlier than late November. One time I was in Idaho in late August, and the potato harvest was either just starting or about to start at that time. Another time I was in Louisiana in late December, and they were just then harvesting the sugar cane.
That is cool, so much variety! I think you could have whatever weather you wanted, depending on where you go, in your country.
You won’t go wrong with any of those scents-all are great! Be sure to try that Royal Muska! It’s lovely!
Royal Muska? Ok – I’ll try that as soon as the Agonist wears off. I accidentally picked the wrong sample to open and got some Agonist on my fingers. I hadn’t tried it befiore and it is …interesting!
But very soon, now that I’m back and can take my time roasting bones and making stock (me time) I think Royal Muska it is!
Thanks!
Decided to finally start reading Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez’s book. I cannot beleive I haven’t tried Samsara. Can anyone give me a clue as to what it smells like? When I see sandalwood in any lineup, I tend to get overly excited and try not to think it may just be a drop and the horrifying possibility that it may not be of Indian origin.
I’m not really very good at finding words to describe fragrances, but the dominant notes are supposed to be jasmine and sandalwood. To compare it to Shalimar, I would say Samsara is brighter and higher pitched–more floral. The original formula (1989) undoubtedly used Indian sandalwood, but I do not know for certain what they are using now with the near unavailability of Mysore sandalwood, although I have heard that is has been refornulated. It might be possible that you would love the original but not the current version. I have a mini (7.5 ml) of Samsara EdP from the mid-90’s, still mostly full. I have tried it a few times but I have never taken to it. If you like, I could send it to you, or if you prefer (if you are not sure how much you will love it) I could make a sample from it and send you that. If you are interested, contact me at Roses_50 at yahoo dot com.
I also like jasmine as well, so perhaps this could be interesting.
I love Samsara & wear it to bed frequently. I do think it’s been reformulated though. It’s a long-lasting sandalwood, which is subtle on me, but not on many! Creamy…
I think my disaapointment in Tam Dao, Keiko Mecheri’s Bois de Santal and 10 Corso Como has made me more determined than ever to find an actual sandalwood scent.
OOh, the earthiness of it all!
Have you ever tried vintage Arpege? There is a ton of it on eBay, mostly at reasonable prices. It is really beautiful and much of its gorgeousness is generally attributed to the very high grade of sandalwood that was used.
Yes! My vintage Arpege parfum has the most gorgeous sandalwood.
Try Hermes Bel Ami – I get a lot of sandalwood from that one.
Thanks Roses- I will be sending you an e-mail shortly.
It is sad that the beloved Indian sandalwood is being overharvested to the point of extinction. This must not happen!
Well, I think the Indian government is trying to stop it from happening and that is why you can’t get real Mysore sandalwood right now. It is a loss to perfumery, probably for some years to come, but I think it is better to lose it for a time than to lose it for all time.
If you can , do some reading on the sandalwood tree-apparently it’s a difficult tree to grow. I think it takes it nutrients from other trees (or something like that) and it’s a long time before it’s even usable for perfumery. Fascinating!
I believe steps are being taken by the Indian government. There is a managed plantation of sandalwood in Tamil Nadu that is yielding perfume-grade oil, apparently, but because the trees are still young, the quality is not as complex as Mysore santalum album. Still, the problem is being addressed.
I’m a bit late for this, but maybe someone can help me. I recently met a good friend’s new BF, he was intrigued by my perfume hobby (let’s call it that), and asked what alternatives I would propose to his staple green irish tweed (creed). I don’t have enough information for a Monday mail, but here it goes: he wants an exclusive-niche scent in the same direction (and didn’t like the hermessence sample of vetiver-tonka I had handy). He’s 50, handsome (of Italian origins) and a rather conservative private banker. I promised him a selection of samples, but I am stuck, maybe because I don’t like GIT at all!
Bee-if he devoted to his green scents, still check out Luckyscent.com, as I mentioned below. They have descriptions of all samples there, with listings of notes. Good Luck!
Hi Dolly, thanks for the tip, I’ll check it out, mainly for expanding my knowledge. Fortunately for me he’s my good friend’s love interest, so I don’t need to convert him, as long as my friend is happy (she is a Diptyque ombre dans l’eau gal, btw)
Sycomore
Profumo.it Samurai or Oakmoss
Terre d’Hermes parfum
Guerlain L’Instant for men
FM Musc Ravageur
one MFK’s fragrances
thanks Dixie, but I’m keeping Sycomore for my own prince charming, if he comes along… 🙂 – friendship has it’s limits… Terre d’Hermes is unfortunately way to common for the monsieur, the FM line could be interesting ( I was already thinking of Angéliques sous la pluie, actually)
Hi Bee – where is he based? Why not send him to Les Senteurs (if in London) or Aedes (if in NYC) or wherever?!!??! The SA’s can then help guide him.
In the meantime – if he likes green/crisp scents, how about Vetiver Extraordinaire from FM? (I think Angeliques is a GRRRRREAT suggestions). Also, Green from Byredo is a goodun’. And, this is a huge leap, but Incense Extreme by Tauer is very good on men and had a crisp brightness reminiscent of the usual Creed ‘vibe’.
Oh – and Carthusia has some fab scents that are quite popular with my father, who is extremely fussy!
Heh! Heh! I like that about Sycomore-it smells great on a man! How about Ormond Man?
I like Dixie’s rec of an FM scent. Also, you could send him to the FM website to take their quiz, after which an SA will send him an e-mail with suggestions for sampling from the FM line. That’s personalize and kind of cool.
Blimunda, Dixie, Nozkoz: thanks for your ideas, you have encouraged me to persue the FM angle, which I already had in mind The idea of the questionnaire is good, but I think it helps if this friend first tries some other types of scents. I have jotted down your tips for green , incense extrème and the Carthusia line too, thanks again! I have the impression this could become one of my pet projects this autumn!
I recall someone mentioned F. Malle wears Geranium Pour Monsieur – might be an elegant choice
Bee- could you possibly convert him? I can so see him in something like Amouage Dia Man with him being of Italian heritage. This is such a great scent for a man- the leather in it so smooth-Ahhh! I order a sample for my husband on Luckyscent.com, where you will find many niche fragrances, and ended up stealing it myself!
Oh yeah, Dia man is a great one. I don’t know GIT and am not a huge fan of Creed in general. I’d also recommend sampling from the Profumum line: perhaps Victrix, Antico Caruso, or Aquae Nobilis.
Hi Joe, thanks for the tip, the Profumum line does indeed fulfill the snobbish expectations, I don’t know it that well myself, except for the tuberose I tried (and dismissed), so it’s a good opportunity to explore it.
Mental note: order more!
SOTD is Hanai Mori. I’ve noticed that this fragrance smells better dabbed on rather than sprayed. Dabbed on it smells delicious…sprayed on it smells sickly sweet and makes me feel like I’m getting cavities just by smelling it. Anyone else have scents that are like that?
Also, does anyone have any suggestions for a fragrance that smells “dark” and “mysterious”? Maybe something smokey, with incense and woods.
Serge Lutens Chene and Histoires 1740 Marquis de Sade would be worth a try. Also, if you don’t have a lapsed Catholic terror of church incense, I like CB I Hate Perfume Fire From Heaven.
I’ll second the 1740.
Chene sounds lovely!
I second the CB suggestion. Also, some inexpensive ones to try are:
Villainess Blood oil
Villainess Pyromania oil
AromaSanctum Fire of Isis
AromaSanctum October Moon
…whoops! I haven’t enough niche experience to recommend anything high-end I’m afraid but I will follow the comments closely as I would love more recommendations in this vein myself!
Low-end works for us, too, you know! Doesn’t have to be niche to fit the category.
I’m in the same boat as you FragrantWitch, I’m a newbie when it comes to niche perfumery! I need to be educated. But thanks to this site I’m learning. 😉
I dont own Hanae Mori, but I do love it! Seems I have a sweet tooth and nose. Funny enough though ‘with love’ by Hilary Duff was hideously sweet on me and I couldn’t take it! Butterfly is so sunny and sweet it makes me want to take off – but how does one decide between Butterfly, amour, lolita lempicka’s L and JP Gaultiers 2? Guess I could do with large samples for a while…
I don’t own Hanae Mori either, all I have is a sample I got from Nordstrom. If I were to own it though I think I’d rather buy the roll-on so I could just dab it on that way. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled L, but I have smelled Lolita Lempicka and it smells delicious if the weather is cold enough! Ahh decisions decisions…I hate having to decide between perfumes! Thank goodness for samples though, right? 🙂
Just something amusing: Sesame street wants you to smell like a monster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkd5dJIVjgM
Very cute!
SOTD: Pre shower, I tried a few of the smell bent halloween specials. Bewitched,Bothered and Bewilderness reminded me of the ‘Friendship Tea’ that mom used to make in the winter – think earl grey tea with Tang, maybe some cinnamin. One definately had that old bookstore opening but quickly changed to warm vanilla. Post shower, I put on Escential Molecules – Escential 01 and I really like the citrus/pepper opening. This fascinates me as it disappears and then suddenly reappears out of nowhere.
I thought One was great, but then I’m fond of that Old Book smell.
I need to try One – guess I need to add to my odd mix of Smell Bents – they are truly love ’em or hate ’em. I recently sent Robin a particularly vile one, because my description made her want to try it just out of perversion. But I love Felix Navidad and a couple others.
I can NOT believe you just said that – and didn’t mention which one… 🙂
Might have been Thai’d Down, but I have blocked it.
This morning, I’m trying my samples of Bal a Versailles on my left wrist (I held out for an hour, and then did my best to scrub it off — does NOT work for me at all!) and Bois de Paradis on my right wrist. This is nice, but not a keeper. This was the second or third time I’ve tried these scents. Now I want to try Chanel’s Bois des Iles, after reading the reviews of these latter two scents in the A-Z Guide.
I plan to get over to the Chanel boutique here soon, so I can try that one and 31 Rue Cambon, which I’ve read so much about. I’ll have to see if there’s anything else I want to try while I’m there.
No idea yet what I’m going to test this afternoon. This blog has turned me on to so many fragrances I had previously never heard of!
Robin, thanks for hosting the poll. I love the photo!
I have the gargantuan 200 ml bottle of Bois des Iles, which is far more than I anticipate ever using up, so I would be delighted to send you a sample, if you would like. That is–IF you are in the U.S.
Oh, that is so kind of you! Alas, I am in Holland, so it won’t be possible. But thank you for offering.
Get them to give you paper samples for later testing (of them all!)
Great suggestion; I’ll do that. However, my strange skin turns many scents to cat pee — think I have a lot of acid in my skin. That’s why men’s fragrances often smell better on me than women’s. But I’ll get the paper test strips anyway. Thanks for your suggestion.
sotd…two of the new chantecailles..the kalimantra(i think ) on the left and petals on the right…love the kalimantra..reminded me of one of the ambers i have, so sprayed amber sultan on the same arm and now, it is hard to smell the chantecaille…perhaps it is more like ambre fetiche…the petals is quite tropical…both r better than the originals.
the bottles are goregoeus and apparently hand made…no plastic
I was reading a review of vintage Replica yesterday (here? on another blog?) Anyway, I ended up following a link to the Irma Shorell site, which I’d never heard of before. It was intriguing. I’d like to know if anyone here has had experiences ordering from them or whether they are considered the black sheep of the perfume world or …?
If you’re on MUA, come see me-I’m givemesomescents!
at Boots for Christmas there is a Tom Ford coffet.
it has five bottles all 4ml each for £55.
they are:
TF extreme
TF for men
white patchouli
black orchid
black orchid voile de fleur
I was wondering whether to get it or not. and if it’s actually worth £55. and I’ve only smelled black orchid and white patchouli.
Today I am wearing Shalimar, it seems perfect for this time of year.
My boyfriend’s birthday is coming up in a couple weeks and he is completely virginal to fragrance. He says he wants something that smells like sawdust, and I am envisioning the smell of a workshop, maybe with a note of power tools and exhaust. We did go to Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s and found he liked Avignon and the Le Labo vetiver. He did not like any of the “woody” perfumes, including the new Commes des Garcons Wonderwood. I think he would like something that wears close to the skin, but I am out of ideas. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Evil Emma, have you tried Diptyque’s Tam Dao? My husband loves that one. It’s very much about wood shavings, to my nose.
I’ve spent inordinate amounts of time on the Web today, visiting sites with decants and/or descriptions of vintage fragrances and sites that attempt to replicate discontinued fragrances.
I’m very curious about one: Teatro alla Scala by Krizia. I’ve read that it is discontinued, but keep finding sites where it is sold. Does this mean these are bottles that are still available from before production stopped, or has it become available again? Anyone know?
Oh, and another pesky question from me: has anyone ordered any of the DSH versions of vintage scents? I’m considering this, and am trying hard to look before I leap, so would very much appreciate hearing about experiences. It all sounds so good — I’m hoping it really is!
Happy 10/10/10, everyone! I’m testing Dior Homme today. Didn’t think much of it at first, but it’s growing on me. I also went on a rare shopping expedition yesterday and bought a little solid of the new Pacifica coconut fragrance. Haven’t put any on yet, but it’s very cute! 🙂
Wow, 700+ comments so far on this LWP–is that a record? Right now I am testing four scents. On my left arm are Memoir Woman (elbow) and Memoir Man (wrist) and on my right arm are Ormonde Woman (wrist) and Ubar (elbow) for comparison. Rustic thought MM smelled a lot like OW. I don’t really perceive them as smelling alike, but rather giving a similar association. Ormonde Woman puts me in mind or working in my garden, planting shrubs (proabably rose bushes), with the smells of soil, leaves, blossoms, and fresh air mingling together. Memoir Man was described by someone here as “grassy” and that perfectly captures the opening for me. It makes me think of weeding the flower beds, pulliing out wayward runners of St. Augustine or some other unwanted vegetation. Believe it or not, that is NOT a negative association. I enjoy gardening, even the more mundane aspects of it, at least during mild weather in spring and autumn. Later on, MM develops a woody, smoky aspect. The mental picture is that the gardening is done, and now it is time to fire up the charcoal grill for an outdoor meal.
I have always been a bit perplexed by Amouage’s tendency to release companion fragrances that do not smell very similar. For example, Jubilation 25 and Jubilation XXV are very different, not merely feminine and masculine slants on a common theme. Memoir Woman starts out very warm and rich, quite unlike the male counterpart. After an hour or so, however, it also turns rather woody and smoky and quite a bit drier, while the Memoir Man actually becomes richer and warmer as the smoke kicks in, so that they actually come quite closer together as they develop. I wore the last tiny dab of Ubar for comparison, as it was my very favorite Amouage to date. I think it still is, for as much as I like Memoir Woman, it doesn’t seem to last as well on my (scent devouring) skin.
Now, I understand that all the Amouages use very high quality ingredients, and so I do understand the price point (even if I can’t readily afford it). What I do not understand, though, is why the price of the 100 ml bottles is only slightly higher than the 50 ml bottles. I would LOVE a bottle of Ubar, but–as rich and long lasting as it is, 50 ml would be plenty, but with the relatively minuscule difference in price, I would probably end up buying the 100 ml, which I do not need.
Yes, and it just seems stupid to be buying the smaller one, so one has to get the bigger one which will just add to the stock of unfinishable fragrance and add to the guilt effect…
I haven’t tried amouage – but as you can see I have experienced the predicament!
If there were a larger difference in price, it would make it easier. I know you have to give some quantity discount, and the packaging doesn’t cost twice as much for the larger size, but still! At Lucky Scent, the prices are $250 and $285. Now, if the 50 ml was $250 and the 100 ml was $400, it would be easy to buy the smaller size. Or, if the 100 ml was $285 and 50 ml was $175, I would probably have bought a 50 ml bottle already. As it is though, the mathematical part of my brain screams “100 percent more perfume for only 14 percent more money!”
this is why i always end up with the bigger sizes….50 roses, i think that amouage is cheaper here in hk…the bigger size about 200.(i get 10% off at lane crawford) would u like me to check the exact price of ubar small and big for u?
I can’t remember what the record is, but this is certainly the record for an open poll.
I can’t answer all the ones that didn’t get answers, so apologies everyone!
no need to apologize…thank YOU for being our modest hostess
In case anyone is still adding to this great poll…. I’m going to NYC later this month & stopping at Henri Bendel’s — does anyone know what perfume lines they carry? I know they have a L’Artisan Parfumeurs boutique. 🙂 Thanks!
i only visited bendels once..yes they have l’artisan and i remember molinatrd, l’etet d’orage, teo cabanel and i think maitre g…i remember these cause barneys and bergdorfs did not have them..btw, barneys and bergdorfs are in walking distance!!!
thank you so much!
I just ordered a small bottle of Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche unsniffed…keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll like it. 🙂
i really love ambre fetiche!!! if u like ambre, u will definately like af
I’m still rolling through my Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs Imp Ears. Today was “Lust” (red musk, patchouli, ylang ylang and myrrh). It didn’t bowl me over, but our agency copwriter came in and said “WHAT are you wearing???” Told her, and she said she’s been searching for that fragrance since 1993/1994 when a friend gave her a vial of some random oil called Opium, and she couldn’t remember the company. So I gave her my Imp Ear of Lust! ha-ha.
Hello ladies! I need your help!:) I have been searching for my signature perfume for a while and have yet to find my soul scent;) I love this site, if I am considering a perfume I come here first, and I thought you all might be able to help. I am 33 but have only been obsessed with perfume for a couple of years so I’ m still a bit of a novice. I find that I am attracted to oriental scents (woody and floral) and every now and again I like a clean soft floral. I think my signature is going to be oriental though…some notes I like are almond, vanilla(just a touch works), heliotrope, sandalwood(love), patchouli, praline, musk, rose….perfumes that have been close but no cigar, excuse my commercial choices I am new to this;)…..Blvgari pour Femme(my go to floral but too recognizable), Lovely (common but works well w/my chemistry), Dior Hypnotic Poison(the dry down is closest to what I want to smell like but it’s a bit too sweet), Herve Leger, Hanae Mori Butterfly….Help Please!!:)
Incense is another note I really like