We did a sexy perfumes poll back in 2006, and then again in 2010. It's time for an update, so tell us what your favorite sexy fragrances are.
And if you have a favorite Now Smell This poll you'd like to see repeated, or if you have an idea for a new poll, do comment!
Note: top image is Valeria by Andrea Rinaldi at flickr; some rights reserved.
LWP came really fast this week, it usually showed up mid-saturday.
I consider Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense as a sexy fragrance. I would describe it as subconsciously inviting, kind of magnetic fragrance that makes others come back for more. Myrrh, patchouli, amber and vanilla are in my opinion very sensuous fragrance notes. When I gave my Prada to some friends they said, that they would definitely turn their heads for a person wearing it.
Dsquared2 Potion is sexy too, but it’s a different kind of sexiness. What is so appealing in it is the fact that this wonderful scent effuses a mysterious aura of elegant seduction and it gives a feeling of safety. It’s the kind of fragrance that invites you to come closer and eventually cuddle on the couch near the cracking fireplace.
It is early because I have no review ready for today 🙂
I’d like to pop up a question, I believe that you’ll be very helpful.
In the nearest future I’m planning to order a discovery set (6 x 2ml) from Histoires de Parfum. Samples can be of my choice, so I want to include their 3 male perfume (1725,1740,1828) but I still have 3 samples to choose. Which of them are worth including in the set & trying? Which of them would suit a young men?
I love 1969, but it does seem feminine to me.
I’d like to include 1969 in my set, it seems interesting by it’s description
I’ve only tried 1804 and I really liked it. It’s listed as a feminine but it’s not at all girly, I think it could be great on a man. It’s an ambery floral oriental and to quote Mr Turin “If this fragrance fails to lift your spirits, you are in trouble”!
Tubereuse # 3, L’Animale, is fantastic on my husband: it’s a really good, smoky, blond tobacco with rich floral (tuberose) overtones. Excellent. (I like it on myself, too; but, as with Angel and Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, I prefer smelling them on him.)
I was thinking about this one too
Chinatown is my old favorite and am anxiously awaiting my new precious to arrive– Bottleneck Blues from Soivohle. It’s lush and sweet and _dirty_. I never would have discovered it if Honeysuckle Bird hadn’t been recommended in my Monday Mail and since Bottleneck Blues contained magnolia, I ordered a sample as well (yay for perfume shopping ADD). It just blew me away
That sounds great — I need to dig through my samples & see if I have some.
It’s usually drydowns I find sexiest — the musky lived-in part. On me, I find the drydowns of Agent Provocateur, Cuir Mauresque, and Bal a Versailles very sexy.
I love the drydown of Paco Rabanne pour Homme on my personal homme. He also smells great in old-fashioned fougeres like Third Man, and anything sweet and leathery like Bulgari Black. Now if only I could get him to wear florals…..
for me it’s the drydown of Homage Attar.
I do love a fougere on a guy.
Fougere is one of my favourite fragrance families
Mine rocks La Chasse aux Papillons and Joy parfum :0D
I’d like to suggest a new poll too – “If you could be a perfume, what perfume would you like to be; and what emotions would you like to bring to your wearer”
Nice idea, Lucasai!
We did something similar in 2008, but we can bring it back!
https://freebox.it.com/2008/06/27/lazy-friday-poll-if-you-were-a-perfume-which-perfume-would-you-be/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Bulgari Black
Cuir Ottoman
I think BB is sexy too.
Bvlgari Zblack is it….. And M7!
I thought about M7 right after I clicked “Post Comment”
I think Bulgari Black is sexy on men, but I don’t think it feels sexy when I wear it. Maybe it’s that sweet, rubber-eraser note? Too many associations with my job!
Seconding Cuir Ottoman!
Thirding the Cuir Ottoman. Most frags I enjoy are ones I would find attractive on another person, simply because the frag attracts me, but with Cuir Ottoman, well, its more than sexy, there is something nearly sexual about it. And its got nothing to do with ‘dirty notes’ since I don’t detect any of these. Any suggestions on what it might be?
I don’t know what the notes are, but CO juxtaposes a really captivating amber and a frank leather. Maybe it’s that frankness that you are identifying, or maybe it’s the tension of these almost sexual opposites?
Then I felt compelled to go to Luckyscent to look up the notes and found this sexy description: “The powerful impact of the leather is softened by a bright and sweet orris note and ornamented beautifully by jasmine, herbs and incense. A sweet, balsamic leitmotif is always present in the background, perfectly balancing the potent brutality of leather. The scent, which is slightly animalic, resinous and warm, does indeed evoke the Ottoman splendor, dirt and sensuality.”
The notes are listed as “jasmine, leather, iris, benzoin, balsams, resins, incense.” The Ottomans really did cultivate sensuality. For once the name and the PR are entirely apt! 😉
That makes sense!
Three perfumes come immediately to mind:
Rochas Femme
Boucheron Femme
Neil Morris Midnight Tryst
Definitely Rochas Femme!
Yup, Rochas Femme was the first one that came to mind: intimate sexy, not va va voom sexy.Also VW Boudoir.
The new Diesel frag, Loverdose, I think is pretty sexy!
I like that one 🙂
It’s funny but the longer I’m into fragrance, the less I think about it in terms of it being sexy, or appealing/attractive to men. Besides, I suspect that one’s perspective often starts to get skewed after a while too; I find Bandit quite sexy but I’ve no doubt that many ‘normal’ people would disagree 😀 I guess Jubilation might qualify but, again, I’m not entirely sure if it IS in fact sexy or if I just think it is because I like it so much and it makes me feel happy.
Still, how about these for Poll ideas –
Perfumes you like to smell on other people (i.e. perfumes you like to smell on people of the same and opposite gender, male perfumes you want to smell on women, female fragrances you want to smell on men, etc)
Perfume regrets (i.e. perfume you regret buying, perfume you regret not buying, perfume you smelled on someone else and regret not asking what it was, etc)
It is not an important criteria, but all the same, I notice when something is sexy!
And thanks for the ideas 🙂
I know what you mean about not thinking of perfumes in terms of a “sexy” category. As I’ve gotten more into scent I tend to classify them into colours, outfits, occasions, moods. If I feel my perfume is smelling good to me and jiving with my outfit/mood, I think that confidence should be sexy–and this effect could be from any perfume in my collection.
I’m the same way…I just don’t think of scent as sexy, I think of it as transportive 🙂
Dry Clean Commes des Garcons is so sexy, it reminds me of Egoiste in a weired way like its synthetic version. Sadly its discontinued, if anybody still has some of this- I would love to smell it again.
The whole synthetic series is back — check Dover Street Market.
I just checked and can’t find them?! It would be really great though, thank you Robin.
Weird. This is how I knew they were back:
http://number3store.blogspot.com/2012/02/comme-des-garcons-series-6-synthetic.html
And would swear that at that time I checked DSM and they were there. Maybe I’m dreaming. But since they’re obviously floating around somewhere on earth, I’d say keep checking.
it is unfotunately only Tar, Garage, Skai I just asked them
Drat, so sorry.
It’s funny – the perfumes I feel sexiest wearing (Citizen Queen, Lumiere Noire pour femme, Tabac Aurea) are not the ones that The CEO finds sexiest (Juicy Couture, MJ Daisy, J’Adore L’Absolu). The girlier they are, the better he likes ’em…
I like Gres Cabaret on my own skin, where I mostly notice rosewater and musk, but on him, it is very rrrroowwwwr, all spicy musky incense – so I bought him a bottle and decanted it into a plain atomizer. He still doesn’t know it’s a so-called feminine, and I don’t plan to tell him.
And most of the time, I don’t consider the perfume that I wear an aid to seduction, though I think that the population at large DOES think that if someone is wearing perfume, he or she is “on the prowl.” My sister and I once considered getting our mother a bottle of No. 5 parfum for Christmas, and asked our brother to chip in, whereupon he looked shocked and appalled. “I’m not buying her PERFUME! If she wants perfume, DAD can buy it for her! That’s too personal a gift to get from your grown kids!”
The thing that The CEO was most recently snurfling happily from my skin was By Kilian Rose Oud. “I’d buy you that,” he said. “It’s really pretty. REALLY pretty.”
And then I told him how much it cost… it was kind of funny to watch his head snap back like that…
Bankruptcy is not sexy, LOL…
LOL!
Love that Rose Oud – and the travel atomizers are beautiful!
You gave me a good chuckle today, Mals, with both stories! Thank you. 😀
Hi Mals86! This is Edward and I remember it was you who recommended Gres Cabaret when I wrote to The Monday Mail. Your recommendation was one of those I bought and I do love it and sparingly use the 20 ml. left in my bottle.
Do I find Gres Cabaret sexy? I think yes… the “crisp, white long sleeved + tie sexy” and NOT the “leather jacket+jeans” type sexy.
Thanks again for your recommendation.
I think MDCI Invasion Barbare smells sexy on Mr. Lil. Honestly, though, when it comes to true intimacy bare skin is best.
Hi Lil! I totally agree with your statement. Although I am passionate about my (and to some extent, other people’s) perfume, when it comes to moment of intimacy, i find the smell of bare skin (sweat and all) very, very sexy.
BO is a totally different story though! Aawkk!
My vote for sexiest perfume is MFK Lumiere Noire Pour Femme. I just tried it for the first time this week and oh, wow am I drooling all over this one. It’s become an instant favorite with me, totally full-bottle worthy.
My fiance’s favorite for sexiest perfume? Cartier Baiser Vole. This and Miss Dior Cherie are literally the only perfumes he likes on me. He positively detests EVERY OTHER PERFUME. I mean, the man actually recoils when I ask him to sample something. He always says it’s too strong and reeks of alcohol even an hour after I’ve applied it (he’s so DRAMATIC, no?). Sigh. It’s a highly exasperating situation for this perfumista. And kind of sad because who doesn’t want their significant other to think they smell amazing and sexy? I told him if he likes Baiser Vole so much, he must buy it for me. And even then, there’s no way I’m committing myself to one perfume for the rest of my life. He can just deal with it. 🙂
Well, you could always make a big deal of wearing what he likes FOR him – “Honey, I put this one on just for you!” and let him nuzzle. I don’t think you should limit yourself – perfume is not just what you wear to make yourself palatable to other people, but also what you wear for your own pleasure.
I can’t wear it because it fails on my skin type, but MFK Lumiere Noire Pour Femme is pure sexuality. Good call!
Yes, I feel your pain. My husband has a very sensitive nose when it comes to distinguishing industrial odors and in detecting trace amounts of odors before anyone else (smoke, rosemary, etc) in the ambient air). However, when I ask him to sniff the 4 different frags on my arms, almost everything is either “perfumey” or “powdery.” Leather? “Powdery.” Narciso Rodriguez edt? “Perfumey.” Chanel Cristalle? “Powdery.” [yes, really]
Rochas Femme and Piguet Bandit have always smelled to me like sex in a bottle. And then there is Paco Rabanne La Nuit – OMG, that civet! Not to be worn in public unless you are willing to accept the consequences!
Civet is sexy in general, I think…vintage perfumes w/ real civet are amazing.
personally i find Dior’s Addict to be utterly sexy
but i’ve also found Lacoste Challenge to be ridiculously sexy on the right guy LOL
Hi Prism
Dior Addict is one of my my favorite sexy perfumes too! 😀
I think Addict is sexy too.
On me, I like things with cumin or civet or ambergris for sexiness and full-bodied chypres. Rochas Femme, The Party in Manhatten, Diaghilev, Maharanih, Absolue pour le Soir.
On my husband I like Sandalwood. I bought him a bottle of Lorenzo Villoresi Sandalo.
Old, real Indian sandalwood is sexy to me too.
Tom Ford Black Orchid. I didn’t even like it until I smelled it on someone else. I ended up follow a women through several exhibits at a museum to smell it, and finally asked what it was.
Hahaha! I guess I`ve got to check that out.
Gushi Rush is sexy and kind of skanky -but in a charming way. One of my guilty pleasures, haha.
L`Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu is sexy on my man.
L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau d’Ambre extreme is very intimate and sensual, I find.
Profumi del Forte Vittoria Apuana is so summery and that, to me, is sexy in February.
There is something about Rush! And last weekend I happened to sniff it after I’d just been enjoying sexy vintage Jolie Madame, and I realized Rus was like a modern, streamlined, synthetic version of JM – like the shiny, smooth liquid-metal Terminator version. 🙂
It is true, it is kind of syntetic, and usually I find that off-putting. But not in this one! A personal classic, to me.
Good call on Rush! It’s sexy in an androgynous way I think. Reminds me of my youth…
Agree – usually, the natural ingredients are key to the sex appeal of the fragrance, but Rush is the exception – it’s sheer genius!
“Terminator version” Haha, I love your description of it!
I feel soo sexy on me Citizen Queen, Kilian Amber Oud, Nuit de Tubereuse, D&G Sicily, Flowerbomb Extreme and Etro Paisley. In this year:)
Some Of the following I find them sexy on me and some in others Men: Gucci Envy, Dior Homme
Women: París edt, Narciso For her
Unisex: Gaultier 2
NR for Her is definitely sexy with all that sweet musk.
Narciso for Her definately makes my hb purr 🙂
Besides Homage and Dry Clean I find Gucci Envy really sexy and I have a crush on Le Labo Rose 31.
I think that Le Labo is really sexy too.
I feel sexy when I wear Fracas, Clinique Aromatics Elixir and Bill Blass Nude – my hubby counts these among his faves on me.
Wow, Nude? The sharp, fruitiness is nice but not what I consider sexy, but hey–who am I to argue with your fella?!
Yes, I agree about Nude’s sexiness. I like to wear it to bed.
My Top 3, which are sexy in very different ways, would be the following: Feminite du Bois, Tabac Blond, Amaranthine
I love Amaranthine, especially in hot weather. Love to just give into the miserable heat and feel the over-ripe tropics.
One of my favorites is Lipstick Rose, my boyfriend really likes it too because it’s not fruity. Another one I like is Glow by jLo; it may not be high-end but it really does smell like you’re fresh out of the shower & on my skin, the musky notes really stand out. L’Heure Bleue goes without saying 😉
I feel really beautiful in Lipstick Rose, so I can see how that could swerve into sexy!
I can’t resist Muscs Koublai Khan on my boyfriend and Portrait of a Lady makes me feel darkly seductive!
FM portrait of a lady. I love it, and the husband thinks he was *so* clever buying it for me. In summer, jardin sur le nil or Kai are beautiful for balmy night’s
Love Portrait of a Lady, too. I wish my husband would borrow that bright idea.
Apologies for wayward apostrophe! Darned auto correct
Ormonde Man. Very suave.
I love this conversation. My traditional romantic fragrances are: Sinan, by Jean Marc Sinan–and two very close companions: Lune, by Jean Marc Sinan, and Sisley’s Soir de Lune. Outside the traditional are Bandit, which I find irresistable, and the original Sycomore.
Alrighty, then! “Irresistible” is correct. Meanwhile, I’d love to acknowledge L’Heur Bleue as another favorite!
Ditto on the Bandit!
I’m going to be the 3rd of 4th here to mention Rochas Femme. I think it was Angela who compared it to a “still warm bed” and that is spot on.
Agree — that line in Angela’s review was directly responsible for my blind buy of Femme.
Adding votes for Rochas Femme, Fracas, Portrait of a Lady, L’Heure Bleue, Bal a Versailles, and Bvlgari Black.
Others I like are Rochas Absolu (which I think is discontinued; it’s a great vampy orange-amber oriental), Caron Parfum Sacre, Cuir de Lancome, and Lolita Lempicka.
Haven’t seen many green perfumes mentioned, but I think Chanel No. 19 is profoundly sexy — albeit in a rather different way.
alright, that’s it! Gotta sniff Rochas Femme.It’s been on the “to-sniff” radar for some time but this poll is sealing the deal!
Luckily, I think Femme counts as a cheap thrill (the reformulated version, at least, which is the one I have).
Oh good, cuz I’m with Meg – I have to sniff this one now.
One of the items I received in the recent Swapmania on Perfume Posse was a small decant of vintage Femme. This was my first to to smell it (after reading a bazillion comments about it) and it is really something!
Lucky you! I’m of two minds about seeking out vintage Femme — I want to smell it because I’m sure it’s fabulous, but at the same time I’m afraid that it’ll compromise my enjoyment of the new Femme. I’m worried that if I like it, I’ll become fixated on mourning its departure and I’ll be less appreciative of the current version. (Sort of an “if it ain’t broke …” situation, I guess.)
I’m sure this is all very silly and I should just hunt down some vintage already, but there you have it.
If you’re happy with the current formulation, and don’t know the vintage, it might be best to leave things as they are. I grew up smelling the (now vintage) perfumes that my mother had in the 60’s and 70’s, so there is no way for me to avoid the vintage rabbit hole. For me, the one I cannot accept in its current formulation is Arpege. It was the first perfume I fell in love with (at the tender age of 5 or 6), and it still has a special place in my heart. Had I never smelled the vintage, I would probably like the new formulation just fine. It really is a perfectly nice floral aldehyde, but it simply is not what I remember from my childhood.
That’s probably wise, 50_Roses. And it’s not like I have trouble filling up my wish list, even without tracking down vintage versions of all my favorites.
You were quite a sophisticated 5-year-old! Sometimes I wish that my mother and grandmothers had been more into perfume, but perhaps it’s not such a bad thing to enter perfumistahood with a blank slate, as it were.
Love No. 19, and the dry-down is fabulous!
And it lasts forever (at least, on me). Even the EDT! (I have yet to try the EDP or parfum; I know they’re all a bit different, so I must rectify this soon.)
Just to contradict my earlier comment about not classifying perfumes as “sexy” I will now go ahead and say a couple anyway. I tend to wear Back to Black when going out because I think it goes with little black outfits, so perhaps from that association with those nights it reminds me of a sort of outward feminine confidence. Borneo smells so damn good I don’t think I could resist nuzzling up to anyone wearing it. and Prada Amber, with its hazy patchouli, seems like it should be worn by someone smoking and wearing silk.
Love Back to Black! Guess I should try Prada Amber.
It’s so good, isn’t it? I really get the honey on myself but recently discovered that it smells even better on my sister, who seems to amp of the cherry/red berried fruits of it. I forget how quiet of a scent it really is though, I’m trying to figure out the right sprays for noticable sillage.
Isn’t every perfume/edt sexy in a way?
Some people find buildings sexy so I suppose every fragrance could have its fetishist, but I think there are some non-sexy perfumes.
So one could pose a counter question like, what is your favorite sexless fragrance?
Sexless fragrance? Any of the Clean scents. Landry detergent and fabric softener just don’t do it for me.
Ditto. Also, anything featuring a “cupcake accord.”
And I’d add that many of the CB I Hate Perfume scents are not sexy. I wore Winter 1972 today- it’s addictive for me-don’t know why but I don’t think anyone would want to nuzzle up to me smelling like earth, snow and mittens. Of course, I know that’s not the point of such “non-perfumes.”
Another 1972 lover! I have wanted a bottle of this for ages, but have yet to be pushed into the “checkout” with it. I feel like maybe it will be a good summer scent? Maybe knowing that it won’t be appreciated that much by others, as you say, because of its aloofness or lack of sillage is what’s stopping me.
Just noticed today that the decants of I Hate Perfume are on sale on the Perfumed Court. Not that I’m trying to be an enabler or anything like that…
Trying? No. Succeeding? Yes.
If it’s sexless, I don’t want it!
Ditto! 🙂
I dont think the building analogy makes much sense, in that a building is not something that draws you to a person, whereas the smell, look, sound or sight of them could?
Well, I’m tempted to believe that on principle but, in actuality, I enjoy wearing vetiver a lot, and I often wear it to work because I don’t think anyone would interpret it as sexy. And a lot of lavender perfumes are not sexy (though I would agree that Third Man is). A lot of the lighter florals with lilly of the valley, carnation, etc. – not. I enjoy a good lilly like FM Lys Mediterranee, but I don’t find it sexy. I’m tempted to say the opposite, that most are not. It’s an interesting question!
On the right person I think vetiver can be sexy. Perhaps that’s because I knew someone who I thought was sexy and his scent which I was always too shy to ask was definitely heavy on the vetiver.
I find myself pondering which came first – did the person make the perfume sexy or does it work both ways or vice versa? 🙂
THAT is a great question! And I’d vote for the person. It took me a couple of years to figure out what “scent” the sexiest man I”ve ever known wore, and it turned out that he didn’t wear any! It was the Tide scent left in his clothes. Oh my…
Of course, P&G probably put a lot more thought into the scent of Tide than goes into a many mainstream perfumes these days! 😉
I think it can go the other way, too. As someone becomes less sexy to you, you may find that you dislike their scent more.
When I was trying to figure out whether or not to end my last relationship, I read (ok, skimmed) the book Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay, which was written by a psychiatrist who had done surveys of people who’d ended relationships or chosen to stay.
Long story short (ok, too late!), one of the indicators was “Do you still like the way s/he smells?” Overwhelmingly, people who said “no” were happier ending the relationship. And yes, I was less sexually attracted to my fella AND found his smell less attractive, too.
Must have been the person. He didn’t know I existed and therefore never really broke my heart so I guess maybe that’s why I still find that scent sexy. I suppose if I ended up hating him vetiver would be a definite no in my mind.
I’ll rephrase my original comment: ►Every perfume that has the ability to get us to buy a FB must, is some way, have something that plays on our “sexy” subconscious. It could be a downright sex-on-a-stick scent or an innocent playful flirting type of sexy… But it must have “something” to get me to part with my cash!
Sure, there are perfumes (I don’t mean mere odors here or the washing detergents variety) that I consider unsexy. L’Heure Bleue comes to mind. It is a wonderful scent, but to me, it is more “motherly love” that sexy. That’s the reason why I don’t buy it.
But of course, one person’s sexy can be another person’s turn off.
Pretty much anything tuberose (MPG’s Tuberose comes to mind). Also, florals + vanilla seem to do it for my guy as well. One example would be Gucci Flora.
There really is something about tuberose. Lots of florals don’t do it for me, but ever since I’ve gotten into perfume, I’ve always had at least two va-va-voom tuberoses on hand.
MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir…. Honey and cumin and ohhh baby!
Someone above had mentioned Le Labo Rose 31 and I second that one.
Also adding AG Songes.
Second on Songes! Especially the EDP.
I second (third?) Lumiere Noire pour femme and Bandit!
First time commenter here. To me Bal A Versailles smells like straight up sex. I love it! Dioressence always makes me feel like I have a secret which I find incredibly sexy. For years I wore Halston as my go to sexy scent, but the bottles I’ve acquired in the past few years have failed to meet my expectations. The version I loved was from the early 90’s and my perfume obsession began with an attempt to find a suitable replacement.
As for a poll I suggest “What perfumes give you a strong mental image? Is the mental image influenced by the name, marketing or packaging?” For example, Bal A Versailles makes me think of a really raunchy costume party like Fantasy Fest or Carnival. This seems to be influenced by the name. MFK Lumiere Noire instantly transports me to an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale complete with thatched roof cottage and castle in the distance. Passage d’ Enfer reminds me of opening the doors to leave a dark and smoky church and having the sun shine down on your face from a clear blue sky as you exit.
Welcome and congrats on de-lurking! Bal A Versailles is sure getting a lot of love today.
I think that’s a great poll topic, as I know lots of NST commenters are great at painting vivid perfume imagery. I’d love to read their descriptions. I’m pretty sure there is a related article on here somewhere: “How influenced by packaging are you?” Or some such.
I was recently sent a sample of Bal a Versailles, and it reminded me strongly of that classic sexy fragrance, Shalimar.
I shoulda’ said “Thank you 50 Roses” re: the Bal a Versaille! 🙂
Glad you’re enjoying it.
Here’s a new one for ya. I got Haight & Ashbury in the Posse swap. The dry down is oo lah lah, very sexy. It’s not dirty but slightly sweet. I guess it’s the ambergris tincture. this one’s by Jane Cate of A Wing and a Prayer. I once had a boyfriend who’s skin smelled like this. Fortunately I can’t remember his name!
Oops, this was supposed to be a separate post.
Welcome! And nice poll idea, thanks.
Bal a Versailles, Attrape Coeur and Shalimar may be too obvious to even need to list.
is that you MGM??? If not, you have eerily similar perfume tastes to my friend! I agree on Attrape Coeur, Bal a Versaille but I’d add Chanel 22, which I’ve worn forever and a new favorite, Elimis. I wear mostly 22 and Attrape Coeur.
No, it’s not MGM, but I bet she smells really good! 🙂
My top 5 sexiest perfumes are mostly obvious, but oh well:
1. Fracas
2. A La Nuit
3. Shalimar
4. ELdO Putain des Palaces
5. Bal a Versailles
Oh, yes, the musky leather part of PdP is SO skanky!
I can “ditto” Shalimar and Bal a Versailles, from previous commenters.
Unmentioned here, but I’m sure we’ve discussed it before: Bulgari Omnia has a strangely magical effect on many men. I don’t feel especially sexy when I wear it, but men sure do seem to come to attention!
I bought MJ Bang last winter, in part because it has a note that strongly reminds me of the cologne of my first love. I don’t know what he wore, but I could smell that cologne on a complete stranger and get that lovin’ tingle!
Finally, to my nose, Dans Tes Bras is embarrassingly similar to that post-love, skin scent. I don’t think I could comfortably wear it in public, for fear that I might give someone the wrong idea!
What feels full on “sexy” on me is Lancome’s Magie Noir (vintage) – that’s a sure bet and it’s DH’s fave. For going out on the town and wanting to feel sexy it’s Frederic Malle’s Carnal Flower. For casual and serene sexy, it’s Bvlgari’s Omnia.
On DH, due to scent memory it’s still Drakkar Noir but that Prada Amber Pour Homme is killer on him too – ah sigh- 🙂
I nevert thought of it as sexy, especially because it was so prolific throughout much of the ’90s, but whenever I wear Samsara, the CEO doesn’t leave me alone – but that might put it in a different category….
Yes, I think there is a difference between scents in which one feels sexy and scents which seem to attract *ahem* attention! That’s the distinction I was trying to draw with Omnia, above!
For me, Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT is also in that category. I wore it nearly every day for a long time, so for me it’s just “that perfume I used to wear to work all the time” — but it still seems to work its magic on my dude.
You go girl! 😉
I recall a dussion here a few years ago comparing sexy with sensual/alluring – or something like that. I rearely wear perfume to feel sexy, but if I were to, it would probably be Coco, even if the CEO has yet to remark on it.
He smells good in Eau du Fier (sadly used up now), and amazingly well in Eau Sauvage.
Oh, shoot! Dang keyboard can’t keep up with my fingers…. Discussion, not dussion…
I think some of the sexiest scents are:
DK Black Cashmere
Songes
Kilian Rose Oud & Love & Tears
L’air du Desert Marocain
I looooove M7 on a man. Histories de Perfume 1740 and Ambre 114 are also contenders. On myself, I feel sexiest when I wear LdDM, Absolue pour la Soir, Costes 2, and Musc Ravageur. I guess my choices are anything but subtle…and not a flower in sight!
Hi all! Happy Presidents Day and long 3 day weekend to those in the U.S. that get Monday off.
My top 4 sexiest scents are:
1) Angel Liqueur di Parfum
2) Bond No 9 Nuits de Noho
3) Tom Ford Noir de Noir
4) Creed Royal Oud
DH’s pick is:
1) Serge Lutens Datura Noir
DH also has a very sensitive nose, over reacts to most scents I wear & love, doesn’t help that I am an over zealous sprayer :-0! He really wants me to have one signature scent, but knows that variety in my fragrance wardrobe makes me happy. However, I sometimes compromise by wearing his fav for 1 week. That’s the best I can do 🙂
Chanel Cuir de Russie is the sexiest for me, silver goes to 31 Rue Cambon, and bronze to Timbuktu
have a sexy week-end my friends 🙂
Jubilation 25 and Rubj, Al Oudh on my husband.
Ami, my husband is notoriously indifferent to most of my fumes (trying no doubt to curtail my addiction) but he really, really gets Cuir de Russie and loves it, esp. in extrait. I love it, but don’t feel sexy in it, just deeply appreciative of its beauty.
Gisela, Rubj in EdP is pure female estrous sex bomb, fireworks, explosion, love, love, love it. Onda in extrait is very sexual too. Both of these have no competition to my mind.
And when I’m feeling very blatant, I spritz No. 5 EdT, put a little of the parfum on “the girls” and then top it off with a little Untitled No. 8 by Brent Leonesio. It was made, I swear, just for layering with No. 5. He really “gets” what has been stripped away from perfumes in the last few decades and gives it back in spades!
Gosh perfume is FUN!
I need to try these Rubjs : ) thanks for the suggestion
Me too! Actually, they’ve been sitting in my Perfumed Court cart for a while now–ever since it was brought up in a discussion a few weeks (months?) ago. (As an aside, it’s up to about $130 of samples and decants–I suppose I really aught to give in and buy them some time!)
So you do that too, Marjorie Rose? I’ve been filling up one “shopping cart” for almost two months. It’s so bad, I can even see how the changing weather has been affecting my choices – lots of comfort scents I want to try and lots of Spring scents. I’d better order before we move into Summer.
I know exactly what you mean, Hardlyworking! I’ve waited so long on some of them, I’d need to look them up to remind myself why I was interested in them.
Just noting my relief to discover that other people also do that with their TPC shopping carts (see also: Luckyscent).
Emily, I’m sure we have many friends in the check-out line!
Actually, maybe there’s a poll idea there, too. Which scents have you *almost* bought for the longest time? For example, I have NEARLY bought Eau des Beax every time I go into L’Occitane. I can’t quite pinpoint why I don’t buy it–I like it, it is relatively inexpensive, and I’m sure there would be times when it would be perfect. And yet. . .
Same here Marjorie and how fun, also with Eau de Bavx. I think the first time I tried it I felt a great incense note. It seems like they have toned down that note and my interest decreased. I once even entered to buy it, but gave up after testing again. Here they’re not cheap.
I’m a guy and I keep getting told that I smell like sex whenever I’m wearing Le Labo Oud 27. I wear it very sparingly and most people seem to think it’s my natural ‘sexy’ smell, not perfume.
“most people seem to think it’s my natural ‘sexy’ smell, not perfume.”
I haven’t smelled that one but nevertheless, that’s a great compliment!
My sexy choice would be Datura Noir.
I also like Kouros by YSL
I think all (well, most) perfumes are sexy in the sense that they make the wearer feel more alive, and when someone feels that way, others respond in kind!
As usual, great recommendations that mean my wish list for perfume samples gets longer!
My three current favorite sexy scents:
Montale Roses Musk edp (I have several Montale Aouds that I love to wear, but this is truly sexy!)
31 Rue Cambon (I need to purchase a fb)
Agent Provocateur (The original). This is a bit too sweet, but I still think it’s sexy.
This unfortunately doesn’t work for me, but on a friend of mine it smells very sexy: Perles de Lalique
Please forgive me, Robin. I know this is a themed poll this weekend, but I have a question that needs to be answered asap.
There is a tiny boutique I visit once in awhile. The owner travels to several countries in Europe and the Far East every year, and finds unique pieces of jewelry, tiny pottery and related oddities. Nothing outrageously expensive, but always interesting, especially the antique pieces and Art Deco.
Anyway, I was there last week snuffling around and discovered a tiny Sterling silver balloon-vase-shaped flask pendant. I sniffed it, but I don’t think it had ever been used for anything other than decoration. Could I keep perfume or an edt in it, or would the metal and fragrance interact unfavorably?
The price was very reasonable. I asked her to put it aside for me while I asked all of you. She’s holding it for a few days more while I have time to make a decision. THANK YOU!
Jonette – I’ve got a sterling vial, very similar to what you describe, and I use it to hold essential oils. I’ve never had a problem, so I would assume perfume (edt, edp, etc.) would work as well. Hope this helps.
Thanks! That’s just the info I needed.
As long as the little silver flask is airtight, it should be fine. Sterling silver has been used to make perfume bottles for ages.
Aha! I didn’t realize they had a history. Duh! I shall research this.
Thanks.
Interesting! My word for this is ‘intoxicating’ – vintage Arpege has that affect on me, as does Bal A Versailles. For men, there was (dating myself here) an amazing intoxicating element in Royal Copenhagen circa 1980. It probably smells awful now.
Robin, have you done a poll on ‘Which perfume makes you feel most like you?’
Thanks!
That would be an interesting poll! I get really annoyed when a SA (even one I know relatively well) makes comments about a perfume being ‘me’ or ‘not me’. In part I find it manipulative and in part, presumptious. As I get more and more into frag though, the question of whether something is ‘me’ or ‘not me’ seems besides the point. The exception may be Violet Blonde which I like very much but which doesn’t fit me at all.
I second your poll idea, that’s a good one.
I think we did something similar but not quite that wording — nice idea!
I haven’t yet smelled most of your suggestions (they’re obviously added to my wishlist!), but to me it’s FM Une Fleur de Cassie. I’m still surprised that another blogger (I don’t remember who) considered it “motherly,” but on me it feels very sexy. But I also agree with those who rarely qualify a scent as “sexy.”
Maybe a poll on “on which scent has your opinion made the strongest 180”? Either a scent you started hating but ended up absolutely loving, or vice-versa?
yeah, tell me about it : )
my wishlist became fairly decent after valentine-day’s TPC sale, but now it is huge again!
Oh shoot! Did I just miss a sale at Perfumed Court? I really need to sign up for the newsletter, I guess!
Yes you do! 🙂
As for me, though, I had just bought a ton of samples from them a few days before so I missed the sale! 🙁 I should have remembered that they usually do a sale on “special days”…
TPC sales are unpredictable, and sometimes only open for a few hours. So sometimes even if you’re on the mailing list, if you blink you’ll miss it…
Oh no, only a few hours? I hate to feel rushed, and I don’t own a traveling internet device of any kind. Another example of how I’m an analog girl in a digital world!
Love the idea of a 180 degree poll too – its SUCH a surprising phenomenon.
I tried Une Fleur de Cassie last weekend, and I can see how it would be sexy — maybe not in the conventional vampy sex-goddess way, but there’s certainly something about it. I’m not sure yet if it’s right for me, but it was one of the most interesting things I’ve tried in a while.
This Une Fleur De Cassie is on my top three next buy. Can’t wait for payday.
I’m not sure if it is an extension of this poll or a new poll idea, but it occurs to me that “sexy” perfumes may or may not be the same thing as “date” perfumes. I believe Meg and I have both mentioned how tough it is to decide what to wear when you first start dating someone new! I am not seeing anyone currently, but I’m aware that when I do, decisions will need to be made!
Yes! Or even an even broader, how other people reactions affect your perfume choices poll. On a related tangent, I have been wearing Coromendel quite a bit because it was the only perfume new guy has remarked on, calling it “amazing.” However, I put it on the other night to go out with him and a group of people, and I swear even I could tell something about it was acting wonky with my skin chemistry. It just didn’t feel as right as it normally does. The guy I was sitting next to kept exclaming really, really loudly that he could smell popcorn and wondering where it was coming from. I knew it was Coromendel and it was making me very uncomfortable!
Oh no! I would feel so uncomfortable if I smelled like popcorn! That’s like that horrible grease smell that attaches to your sweater when you’ve been to a take-out restaurant! Coromendel should NOT do that!
That happened to me when I wore Cuir de Russie a few weeks ago! It was okay at first, but as the day went on it became sort of dank and unwashed-smelling. I had never had that happen before, with CdR or any other scent, and it made me really self-conscious (of course, I was at work). I avoided it for a while after that, but when I wore it on Thursday it was just fine. Huh.
I wonder if it could have been interacting badly with something else on your skin or clothes? Maybe you had used a different soap, lotion, laundry detergent, whatever?
That would make sense, but I’m a creature of habit when it comes to those products. Both times I was wearing a fresh cotton knit shirt, had showered that morning with my usual soap, was wearing my usual deodorant, and so forth.
I’ve heard that some women can have problems with perfumes at certain times of the month — I guess your hormones affect your skin chemistry, or something like that. I don’t recall my, uhm, status at the time of the CdR incident, but perhaps I should start paying attention!
In my mind, where things don’t necessarily make conventional sense to other people, I swear it was reacting to my nervousness. Like something about my apprehension/anxiety (new relationship….meeting friends…pressure) was emitting horomones that clashed with it. Yup, that’s my theory.
I have had this experience with Coromandel where instead of being a fluffly earthy magical puffball of patchouli it is a sour bitter old maid. It seems rather unpredictable and can change within a day. Never had a popcorn experience though…I might enjoy that. 😀
I’m glad I’m not the only one. I wouldn’t have labelled it popcorn, but this guy certainly did. It is weird though how even I could tell something about it was off though and it was making me self-conscious.
where is Miss Kitty V? I miss her…
She popped in to say hi a few weeks ago. Sounds like she’s crazy busy, as usual, but doing OK. I miss her comments, too, though!
oh thank you so much Marjorie Rose. good to know she is fine 😀
Joining the “I Miss Miss Kitty” crowd. 🙂
Glad to hear she is OK, as well. Have missed her wit and irreverance. If you’re out there, hope we here from you occasionally, Miss Kitty V!
Oops, that’s “hear” from you.
Most of my sexy scents have already been mentioned: Shalimar, Bal a Vesailles, Bulgari Black and Magie Noire. However, I can’t believe no one has mentioned Black Cashmere! So so sexy. Also, Caleche in a sexy librarian kind of way and Eau Dynamisante in a clean sexy way. In summertime Sand and Sable has that warm from the sun, been slathered in oil at the beach all day, salty smell. And Bobbi Brown Beach smells just like the beaches I went to as a child.
My husband smells wonderful in original Aveda Men, Pour Monsieur ( mmmmmm) and Jo Malone Amber and Lavender (double mmmm).
I was thinking the same thing you were, FW, since Black Cashmere is the fragrance that drives my husband wild. Hardlyworking did mention it above, though, so there’s at least three of us.
For whatever reason, it seems like I’ve been hearing a lot about Eau Dynamisante lately. It sounds like something I should check out. I wasn’t expecting it to pop up in a “sexy perfumes” poll, though — now I’m even more intrigued!
Good morning, I’m going to go off about Tabac Blond, again… but just a little. 😉 The first time I smelled it, I thought it was the single most unusually sexy scent I’d ever smelled (and I had just come off a diet of small town department store fare….) I’ve worn it so much now that it’s become more comfortable and less sexy. Then again, if feeling that comfortable in something is ultimately sexy, then my favorite’s lost nothing. 🙂
Seconding all the Fracas mentions, though this applies more to DH than me. He’s actually expressed displeasure when I wear it to work (he says it’s for him to smell.)
I’ve always thought Hypnotic Poison is awesome-fitting jeans and killer heels sexy, and I wish it hadn’t suddenly turned to complete powder on me.
I think Bandit would be devastatingly sexy on a man.
How could I totally forget about Frederic Malles Le Parfume De Thérèse? Beside beeing a true masterpiece, I also find it very sexy and feminine. On my shopping list, I just crave this one!
It’s pure Woman with a capital W!
Absolutely!
OH yes! But, I also always feel sexy in FM’s Une Rose or Tauer’s Incense Rose. Love them both. Years ago I had a body lotion that was orange and patch….very hippie sexy….my French boyfriend at the time could not get enough of me when that was slathered all over…I should try to replicate (the lotion, not the Frenchman!)
I wore Je Reviens parfum for years and years, and hands down, more men reacted to it than anything I’ve worn before or since. Second place, but by a long margin, was Bal a Versailles.
Of scents I wear now, I would maybe say SDV, Attrape Coeur and Cuir de Russie. But I agree with Abyss – I don’t really think of my perfumes as “sexy”, more just something I enjoy.
That’s a good assessment. 🙂
I accidentally posted this above as a comment to a comment. Here is again, a separate comment.
Here’s a new one for ya. I got Haight & Ashbury in the Posse swap. The dry down is oo lah lah, very sexy. It’s not dirty but slightly sweet. I guess it’s the ambergris tincture. this one’s by Jane Cate of A Wing and a Prayer. I once had a boyfriend who’s skin smelled like this. Fortunately I can’t remember his name.
This isn’t a poll idea, Robin, but I’m going to mention it before I forget. Some weekend we could do a side-by-side test of something. Everyone would know about it ahead of time, so we could make a decision about what to compare. We would choose two scents to compare and then write about our discoveries. For instance: two different takes on a note, or two perfumes that are similar.
Oh, I think this would be great fun!! I think one of the most rewarding things about scent, for me, is picking up notes and identifying relationships to other perfumes before I read about them on here, and then seeing my guesses confirmed. Would be great to do as a group!
I like that idea too!
I like this idea a lot –I can already think of a couple of comparisions I’d like to do
L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme
Givenchy Organza Indecence
Etat Libre d’Orange Rien
LesNez Manoumalia
yes! those 2 are far up there!
I second Manoumalia! I didn’t know quite what to make of it at first but it has turned into a beautiful bloomer on the skin even in the chill of winter. 🙂
All that love for Rochas Femme, and only one offhand mention anywhere of Jubilation 25? I tried Rochas Femme trying to find a cheaper alternative for Jubilation 25, and wasn’t overwhelmed. Where was the cumin? It doesn’t come out when I wear Rochas Femme, but it does in Jubilation 25, and really makes it by far the sexier perfume, at least for me.
Otherwise, maybe S-ex — all that leather. But I don’t have many scents I find straight-up sexy. I tend to go for the weird & I don’t find fruit or flowers sexy. I like Bulgari Black, but I don’t get much rubber when I wear it, and it’s a bit too sweet on me for me to see it as sexy.
On DH it’s Molton Brown Cool — not what they sell now as Cool (which I think they introduced recently) but a bottle he bought back in the late 90s. And we bought that because it smelled a lot like a long-gone Abercrombie & Fitch cologne from the late 80s (before they were bought by the Limited & went cheap, trashy & adolescent) that he used to sneak from his dad. Nothing particularly sexy about either, except that they smell like him.
You’re right about Jub 25!
On me, for a night out when I want to give oh such a bad impression ;-> it’s Miller time – specifically Miller Harris L’Air de Rien. Or if I want to be a tad more respectable I turn to orientals – MH Fleur Oriental or L’Agent Provocateur Strip. And then there is always Opium. The good stuff, before they reformulated it.
Though the Bandit school of green chypres does make me want to wear high high heels and be haughty, which is kind of my stern variant on sexy. The kind of sexy that is ‘No, you can’t play with me. You are allowed to admire and drool. But don’t dribble on my shoes.’
On a guy – I have such a fondness for Eternity for men because it has very happy memories for me. When my friend’s hubby wears it, I always have an extra hug (she knows and doesn’t mind). Which just goes to prove that what one finds sexy is entirely subjective. However, scents I’d love to smell on a man are things like Caron’s Yatagan, Troisieme Homme and Pour un Homme, Andy Tauer’s Lonestar Memories, Parfums d’Empire’s Fougere Bengale, Ambre Russe, and Cuir Ottoman, or Bulgari Black. Something interesting.
“It’s Miller time”– hilarious!
I agree with many of the scents above and would add (just for something different) SL Daim Blond and HdP 1969.
Also meant to include Amouage Lyric!
Thought I’d mention that I wore Ambre Sultan on New Years and felt very sexy in it!
Something I find very sexy on my man is Tauer’s Incense Extreme. He finds the following very ‘sexy’ on me: Incense Rose, Songes, Dzing and Ala Nuit – (Serge’s jasmine, sp?). The last I found more and more suffocating and eventually gave away.
oh, and I think he likes Daphne too. An idea for a weekend poll – full bottles I have finished and perhaps even re-purchased. No matter how much I like a scent i get tired of it over time and so I just cant imagine re-purchasing. I’m curious about what others have found to be abiding love.
I second that poll idea! I’m not anything close to finishing any of my bottles, but I’m interested in people’s answers.
I’d love to hear what people have loved enough to use up and buy more of too.
Don’t have to ask me twice Poodle! I’d love to hear what everyone else chimes in with too!
Lately I’ve gone through nothing because I’m in the throws of full blown perfumania and constantly chasing the next Holy Grail (I’m exhausted I tell you!) But . . . back in the day I went through 6 bottles of Cocoa EdP (mid-80’s, several bottles of Halston early 80’s and mid 70’s about 4 bottles of Cabochard extrait that you could get at my local drugstore!! I’d jump in a time machine and even put up with my moronic boyfriends of that time just to have that Cabochard again . . . . sigh . . . ..
I’m chasing that holy grail too.
I used to wear Dune a long time ago for at least ten years and went through many, many bottles of it. I’m currently ready to buy my third bottle of Amouage Epic Woman. But I don’t consider either of these sexy, just great to wear.
Good idea! It used to happen all the time in signature fragrance times but since full blown permistahood it hasn’t happened once. Almost gone through a full bottle of L de Lolita, but it doesn’t really count because it was my last signature before my collection exploded.
Of the perfumes I have, I consider these sexy:
1) La Nuit by Paco Rabanne
2) Jaiphur Saphir by Boucheron
3) Hypnotic Poision by CD
4) Woods and Spices by Montale
5) Jubilation 25 by Amouage
Florals are not my favorite genre of perfumes, but I’m finding it suprising that they are what I find sexiest. The three that immediately came to mind were – Manoumalia, Daphne, Datura Noir – and they have all been mentioned above. Interesting.
Also I think Jeke by Slumberhouse can be ridiculously sexy.
Possible poll topics 1)what do you consider your most work-friendly perfume?and 2)What were your scrubbers?
We did a scrubber survey not too long ago, but it would definitely be worth a revisit down the road! I don’t remember how far back that was, a few months at least, but it’s worth a read! Very funny conversations!
That was the poll that stood out in my mind because I had waited so long for it, never thinking it would actually happen. I hesitated to suggest it again and risk sounding negative. “The Top Ten Perfumes I Can’t Stand” is a good balance to all the ones we love and shows how we all love and hate different scents.
That was the poll with the hilarious poem made up of comments on scrubbers. An all-time classic!
Another poll topic suggestion: What perfume to wear when you are not feeling well.
Hmmmmm – this is difficult. I oddly don’t find white florals to be sexy on me – Tubereuse 40, Carnal Flower and L’Artisan Fleur D’Oranger are radiant, beautiful, pretty – but I don’t feel sexy in them………I have some ‘comfy’, everyday-wear fragrances like Timbuktu, Passage D’Enfer and Dzongkha, which again don’t fall into the ‘sexy’ category for me. I guess I consider my sexy perfumes to be Patchouli 24, Bulgari Black and Ormonde Woman. The kind of dark, rich, slightly skanky ones! Also Iris, definitely Iris – Iris de Nuit and Iris Silver Mist are very dark, subterranean sexy! Or the gourmandes, like Safran Troublant and Musc Les Nombres D’Or.
On Him………well, it’s very easy …… Heeley’s Esprit du Tigre, which is an amazing combination of modern, updated sports wear and sophisticated Gentleman’s Club!
Secrete Datura is sexy. On a man, CdG Man 2, Roger & Gallet Sandalwood, M7, Eau des Iles. Demeter Dirt.
I used to wear Roget & Gallet Eau de Santal back in the early 80s — it’s sexy on a woman, too. I thought they only still make the soap.
Good and bad news. Good – they have reintroduced (here in the UK) the sandalwood soap. Bad – not at all like the old soaps we used to love; different feel and ghastly cheap sandalwood that smells sharp. Guess they either can’t get the original sandalwood or it is too expensive now.
Boo! I shall be hanging on to my old R & G soap in a dish then, and just enjoy sniffing it…
Arrrggghhh! Fingers are too fast on the keys! I meant to write Roget & Gallet Bois de Santal.
the sexiest fragrance i’ve been wearing for a very special occasions is… Addict by Dior…. yeah, I know it used to be criticised but men’s reactions speak for themselves, besides it gives me thrills;-)…i think it’s that tonka been and Night Queen flower thing…
another very sexy scent is Insolence EDP and Samsara, it’s so animalic and “dirty”, can’t get enough:-)
One of my favourite sexy fragrances is Musc Ravageur!!
My favourites in this category are L’Agent by L’Agent Provocateur, OJ Ta’if, Sonia Rykiel Women Not For Men! and lately also Dior Ambre Nuit. Oh and L’Ombre Fauve when it has worn off quite a bit, ditto Damien Bash Lucifer #3 (most sensual sandalwood note I have come across). : – )
Oh , just remembered Piguet Calypso and MH L’Air de Rien!
Fumes with a really deep base, especially animalic notes in it and/ort balsams and resins. In line with this +1 for Le Labo fumes, Aromatics Elixir and Love, Chloe. I am a bit confused though because it seems that people are listing a lot of masculine fumes though so are we commenting on what we find sexy on a guy or what we think is sexy on womens? I love a fougere/chypre/aldehydic florals like Wrappings but on me and not sure whether that would qualify as sexy though. I do not think that men like strong aldehydic florals very sexy in general based on what I have heard but that is just me, I have gotten the most positive comments from men on deep bases.
need to add this one
Ambra di Venezia