Our usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the last perfume you tried and hated, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is Peony Calvino by geishaboy500 at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wearing Estee Lauder Private Collection today. I normally don’t dig the 70s green chypres, but this one I love. Perfect for spring, in my opinion. My bottle came FREE courtesy the lovely 50Roses a few swaps ago. Thank you!!
Also, I’ve had crazy good luck in perfume draws recently. Won a Opus Oils prize pack on EauMG and 1000 Flowers sample set on Ayala Moriel’s blog in the last week. Both lines I’m super excited to try!
Oh, good luck in contests AND swaps, that’s great!
Congrats on your wins! It so much fun when your name gets picked isn’t it?
Oh, I love the original Private Collection! That bright green opening just wakes me right up, and it gives me a fun synesthesia of seeing both green and purple at the same time. Congratulations on your lucky winning streak! Keep on entering, and let your ‘fume stash grow! 🙂
SOTD is Lyric Woman. I am still using up my decant, can’t afford a bottle at present. I’ve ordered a decant of Gold Woman, which was probably very ill-advised because now I’ll be lemming two pricey bottles. But the Lyric makes me feel wonderfully rosey and just exotic enough.
It is dangerous to play with the Amouage line 🙂
Dangerous indeed. I ordered an Amouage sample set, and liked them a lot, all of them, even the kinda crazy Interlude. I think these guys represent what contemporary perfumery should be doing: rather than replacing everything with scentless (or strong!) cheap chemicals, they use great materials, the best they can source, like chefs’ve been doing for ages, and it really shows. I seriously want FBs of Gold, Epic, Lyric and Jubilation 25. In which order? This is the hell of Amouage addiction. I own Dia man, which is the only masculine I use. I think it’s the most exquisite thing, so warm and elegant. Then, I won a big sample of Beloved man at the Posse, and now I absolutely need my husband to have it. But the price tag of that. It’s even more expensive than the others! And the worst thing is, they won’t take your tv for payment. Thank the perfume gods for decants.
I am dangerously close to the end of my Lyric Woman sample–I am usually so fickle, that a full bottle rarely tempts me, but this one is different. Hold me back!!!
I’m wearing Chergui today. There are a few bottles I am desiring but I can’t even think about them until June when hopefully I will be able tp afford something new. Finally, my car will be paid off (although now it’s actually old) and so I will have some extra $$ each month, most of which I would like to put aside, but some of which I will be able to buy a bottle of perfume here and there.
Congrats — it is SO nice to pay off a car.
Just curious…what’s on your list to buy?
Looking for an amazing honeysuckle fragrance!!!! Thx!! 🙂
I really like Annick Goutal’s Le Chevrefeuille. Very pretty lemon + honeysuckle, but somewhat fleeting. I believe Goutal has another honeysuckle-centric scent but the name is escaping me right now.
My favorite honeysuckle too — the AG Chevrefeuille. AG’s Eau de Camille is honeysuckle also, but greener.
Honeysuckle Bird from Soivohle is fabulous and has pretty good lasting power. Lush and gorgeous
I thought of another honeysuckle – I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard good things about Providence Perfume Company’s Hindu Honeysuckle.
Demeter’s Honeysuckle is cute and cheap, BUT lasts maybe 30 minutes max.
I so very much appreciate the recommendations here. About 25 (?) years ago, I followed a woman down the street, led by my nose, and finally got up the courage to ask what she was wearing. It was Chevrefeuille by Yves Rocher, which I never got around to buying, but always planned to do so. I grow honeysuckle in my garden, and love the scent. Anyway, last year, I finally ordered a bottle from Yves Rocher, and it was disgusting and nothing like the original. YUCK!
So even inexpensive scents get reformulated as time passes. I will be trying some of the honeysuckles recommended here.
Yes- I have a sample- is very fleeting!!
Can anyone recommend a place to get niche perfumes in Toronto?
The best place by far was Noor, under the Four Seasons hotel, but with the renovation of the hotel, they’ve been shut down for about a year. The only really varied option until then is Holt Renfew, which was Arquiste, By Kilian, Frederic Malle, Byredo, the Cartier Heure perfumes, the Chanel boutique fragrances and a bunch of more available stuff. Andrews in Hazelton Lanes Yorkville has Serge Lutens, Amouage and Aedes de Venustas Signature. Otherwise, coverage is spotty: some places on West Queen West have CB I Hate Perfumes, some random place in Rosedale has Le Labo, etc. We need Noor back.
Sorry, I meant “varied option since then” or maybe “until Noor re-opens”.
To add to Erin’s list, Nomad on Queen st West caries many Comme des Garçons
Many thanks to both of you for your recommendations; they will make it a lot easier to check out some niche fumes when I’m there.
SOTD is vintage Rive Gauche. Love it!
Nice!
Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose has been on my to buy list for awhile. When Sephora had their VIB sale a few weeks ago it seemed like the right time – upcoming hot weather and 15% off. When it came time to pull the trigger I somehow ended up with Eau des Merveilles instead. It was available in a 1 oz. bottle so was more affordable. I just didn’t account for loving it so much that I would douse myself in it at least twice a day. At this rate I’ll be out before summer even gets here. I should have bought a vat.
I am very jealous that you and Eau de Merveilles get along. You definitely need another bottle of something you love that much! I WANT to like EdM. I love the mineralic thing that Hermes fragrances have going on. I was on the fence about EdM and wearing my sample to test it out when my young niece goes, “You smell like my daddy!” It was pretty hilarious how much that affected me. I wore Malle’s Lipstick Rose for the next three days to overcompensate and be extra girly. 🙂 I do love Hermes Kelly Caleche for warm weather and 24, Faubourg for cool weather.
I have EdM and it is a bit mannish for my tastes. I prefer my scents to have some sweetness, so I always add a tiny bit of a plain vanilla (I have Yves Rocher vanilla in spray and solid) and that makes it perfect for me! Have you tried the Ambres de Merveilles? That may solve it for you – I thought I would love it but something isn’t right about it, so I will stick with the EdM + vanilla!
Ooo, great suggestion! I’ll have to try that.
Have either of you tried Elixir des Merveilles? It’s got more sweetness to it than the original but is maybe a bit less sweet than the Ambre if I remember correctly.
LOL about 3 days in Lipstick Rose!
Three days of Lipstick Rose and – lo and behold – Vin Diesel himself has morphed into WOMAN.
Funny, because i wear many masculine scents and have a preference for androgynous styles but i really do like Lipstick Rose. May even have to spring for the travel refills at some point.
Hilarious! Vin Diesel in Lipstick Rose…oh, man, that is a haunting image indeed. 🙂
Is it wrong of me to be slightly turned on by it?
It shows that you are getting in touch with the part of your nature that adores feminized men. To assess this interpretation imagine him in a pink tutu, doing a pirouette in satin slippers!
I’m wearing LR today. Sometimes it’s too much for me, but sometimes I crave its pink fluffy presence.
Yes, I see EdM as easily worn by either gender. But then again, I have always had a better natural chemistry with “mens” fragrances, so I’m probably not the best judge. As a kid, I played in dad’s Grey Flannel and Fahrenheit far more often than mom’s Ombré Rose. However, mom did wear Dior Dune back in the day and I stole plenty of that. Have you tried it? It’s current formula is not a doppelgänger for EdM, but has many similarities. (Vintage Dune is a whole other conversation.). It still has that salty, minerally, cool day at the beach up north thing going on (as opposed to tropical beachy), but seems a smidge more feminine. Since you want to love EdM, maybe Dune will hit the right spot?
I love Merveilles too…I own that and the Pamplemousse Rose, and bet I reach for the Merveilles more, and the Eau Claire des Merveilles more than either.
That is interesting. I thoroughly studied each of your reviews before buying – I knew you liked all three enough to buy, but I wouldn’t have guessed the ECdM to be your favorite.
I posted this original message Friday and happened to meet an Hermes rep at while cutting through Bloomingdales the next day when she offered me EdM lotion as I walked by. I laughed and told her I had just been to Sephora, where I had put ECdM on one wrist, Elixer des Marveilles on the other, and Amber des Marveilles in my elbow. I was doing a side by side comparison so I will be prepared when it comes time to reorder. She was so awesome. We talked forever and she described in great detail the subtle differences I was smelling. She also had me try Jour de Hermes, which I really liked, but am not sure I need a bottle of. This all put me in the best mood and a couple of hours later I found myself entering the Hermes boutique down the street. I have lived in Chicago for 12 years and have always been too intimidated to go in there. I had an amazing experience there too – the fragrance specialist realized that I had no space left on my body to try the Hermessences and kindly sent me home with samples of the ones I liked best on paper. I can’s wait to go back and choose my coffret She was so nice. I have no idea what I was so afraid of. I have discovered the world of Hermes and it is lovely. Next time…on to Prada!
*can’t* wait. Don’t know what I must have written that would auto-correct to can’s?
Missed a period at the end of the sentence too. I guess it is time to make coffee. Sorry.
I am on a green scent kick just now. SOTD is Yardley’s Royal English Daisy, yesterday was Vent Vert, and day before was Cabotine. First time I’ve tried Cabotine, it was a blind buy, but I was able to get 3.4 oz EDT for less than $7.00. I loved it.
Wow, great score.
I would love a good pure honeysuckle myself, if there are any suggestions. I tried the Caprifoglio from Santa Maria Novella and honestly thought it was awful. Other suggestions welcomed.
Oops, accidental slander, the vial that I have is Rupestre Caprifoglia by I profumi de Firenze. Anyway, nothing much like honeysuckle.
Other than Goutal’s, which as said above is very nice but very fleeting, i don’t know any.
Ultra Cheap thrill honeysuckle – Bath and Body Works Wild Honeysuckle.
Cheap thrill honeysuckle – Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honeysuckle
I thought the Green Tea Honeysuckle was fairly nice as well. Didn’t give it a full wearing, so can’t talk about how long it lasts.
Sotd is Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus. Nice for the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having in the Pacific NW.
Recently bought a bottle of OJ’s Tsarina (when she was having her 20% off sale). It is divine, but they sent me a 10 ml “sample” of Nawab of Oudh, obviously with the (successful) evil intention of luring me into its web of deliciousness. It has leapt to the top of my gotta-have-one-day list, but with its current price tag, I’m gonna need to do some serious penny-saving. I’m also curious about Qi. Anyone had a whiff of that?
Nice — I haven’t yet tried any of the new(ish) quartet.
I’m wearing my sample of Nahema PDT/EDP today and enjoying it. I was kind of back and forth between this one and my sample of Chamade this morning.
So I have a question.. I was participating in the most recent Fairy Godmother thread at Perfume Posse, granting a few wishes (yay!), and it got me thinking about the legal issues around mailing perfume (mailing stuff overseas and lying through your teeth to the postal person who asks if there is perfume in the package will do that, I guess. Yes, that is a lipstick sample, I swear!). So my question is.. for people/businesses that sell perfume online, what do they have to do to make it ok for them to ship it? I’m sure there is some kind of paperwork or whatever, I’m just curious.
I’ve wondered this myself – how can Luckyscent, et al. ship out perfumes we can’t? I think there may be 2 different issues – most of these companies don’t use the USPS, they use UPS or whatever, which has different rules about hazards (I assume thought I’ve never tried to use them). Also, they are selling things in the original mfr. packaging, unopened and unwrapped, which may somehow give them additional leeway, whereas they can’t know if we have opened or altered the package in anyway when us regular folks are mailing (let alone decants!). I’m interested if anyone knows for sure!
Whenever I’ve asked the UPS and FEDEX services near me they say they can’t ship perfume. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in the DC area, because only certain of their shipping points are allowed to do it, or because they have different services for individuals versus companies. It would be interesting to know!
When I’ve ordered samples from Luckyscent and STC, I always get them through USPS. Maybe it’s because it’s domestic and going by ground that it’s ok in that case. I remember not too long ago reading that Andy Tauer and maybe Ormonde Jayne were having trouble shipping to the US for a while but then things got ironed out and they could again. I wonder if that’s a matter of what shipping company you use?
odonata9, I had a long discussion about this with a woman who owns one of those mail/packaging store franchises. She told me that USPS has really cracked down on what mail can go via air. Alcohol-based perfume being flammable, it is prohibited. When I asked why companies were still able to use first-class mail (air) to send perfume to customers, she explained that they are allowed to if they meet certain packaging safety standards.
I wouldn’t mind sending perfume via ground transportation if it didn’t cost 4 times as much as first class mail!
And small companies like Sonoma Scent Studios seem unable to.
If you search for “perfume” on the USPS website, you find the following:
“Perfume − Perfume containing alcohol is prohibited on air transportation, and can only be shipped domestically via surface transportation. Perfume containing alcohol is prohibited in international shipments.”
There is also a detailed set of regulations on mailability of different types of substances. It discusses ORM-D (other regulated materials) but says that will be handled differently starting 2015. I have received perfume from some e-tailers labeled ORM-D, but usually it’s not. I have to say the regulations are so complicated that I’ve put off trying to figure it out and stopped trying to mail perfume, especially since I live in the DC area where the post offices would presumably be extra cautious. Maybe I’ll try again after I retire and have more time.
If you want to try to read the regs, google the following:
USPS DMM 601 Mailability
However, you can buy perfume in an airport duty free shop for international flights and carry it with you. In addition, when traveling from London, they will give you the Value Added Tax for perfume which you purchased there, as long as you carry it with you out of the country. Therefore, I presume the issue is not the safety of carrying the perfume in flight.
You can also carry small amounts of perfume (travel sizes) on domestic flights.
The issue may have something to do with international tarriffs, or perhaps fear that you will carry perfumes which are fakes, or which have banned ingredients. Some sellers perhaps have found a sufficient market overseas to meet whatever regulatory requirements there are.
I’m with you on the postal woes, sweetgrass (and others)!
Per a postal worker I spoke with, the issue with perfumes from non-commercial shippers is the higher possibility of leakage which is what poses the fire hazard. This is not to say that commercial shippers are perfect and their packages never leak.
Shipping perfume outside of the U.S. – I won’t do it. Why? I have to fill out a customs form (extra step) and I would have to lie as to the contents since perfume is a prohibited substance. My workaround is for the recipient to find a U.S. scent mule willing to send the perfume on my behalf.
Shipping perfume within the U.S. – If I have to go to the post office to mail my package with tracking, I choose ground shipping which is more expensive (and takes longer) for packages weighing 13oz or less and I think the cost is also dependent upon distance between origin and destination. Since discovering the ability to print First Class shipping labels with tracking via Paypal (without asking for a token payment), I had been using it for swap packages. The multi-order shipping site charges the commercial rate so you are actually saving a little bit. I know I am still not complying with the rules of no shipping via air for perfumes, but using the spirit of the rules, I protect the contents well so that unless the package is deliberately stomped on (and the glass broken), there should be no leakage. For the freebie packages, I usually just slap on some stamps (since I have to use up my $1 and $2 stamps) and call it a day.
If you want to know more about the multi-order shipping option in Paypal, look for my comment in the Swapmeet Episode 2 follow-up:
https://freebox.it.com/2013/04/27/the-swapmeet-follow-up-episode-two/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Getting over a sinus infection (sorry, TMI), so I am barely able to taste or smell.
Applied Encre Noire in spite of it. 🙂
Oh, sorry — get better soon!
Sinus infections are awful. Hope you feel better soon.
I’m enjoying reading everyone’s SOTD and watching my to-sample list grow. 🙂
My SOTD is twofold: samples of Mary Greenwell Plum and Niki de Saint Phalle. Plum makes me want to crawl inside of it, it’s so pretty and comforting. NdSP is fun and summery, with a nice cushy woody background. I’m trying to decide if I want to pull the trigger on a FB of either one for summer. There is a huge price difference, which is a bummer because I think I like Plum better despite the price. Mostly, I am craving a summer perfume that lasts more than 2 seconds in the Texas heat. I’m getting pretty tired of spending money on frags that don’t last. A thing of beauty should be a joy for more than 2 seconds, says I, with apologies to dear Keats.
I hope everyone has a lovely fragrant weekend!
I like the opening of Plum a lot–but it doesn’t last at all on me! I’m glad you’re able to make it work for you, though!
Isn’t that frustrating? Give us some longevity here, perfume-makers!
I found a bottle of Coty’s L’Origin EDT (only about 3ml) at an antique store. I was surprised how good it smells, and how close it is to Apres L’Ondee, a favorite of mine, only with maybe a bit more spice.
I also found a beautiful vintage L’Heure Bleue bottle with maybe 6 applications of dark, viscus perfume that I REALLY wanted but I’m still looking for furniture. 🙂
L’Origan is really gorgeous.
Last week a unexpectedly received a little package from Diptyque containing a sample of Eau Mohéli and an invitation to a party which was incredibly nice of them. Sadly, it didn’t do much for me and I’d never have pegged it as a ylang fragrance. There are some white florals but, to my nose, they seem more reminiscent of tuberose than ylang ylang.
I really liked the top notes, but then it seemed to fizzle out quickly — wish I had a spray sample. Going to give it another shot today though, have only tried it once.
I tried it yesterday at Scent Bar and it disappeared within 15 minutes…too bad, as those 15 minutes were fantastic. Why can’t they make it last longer??
SOTD is Aftelier’s Chocolate and Saffron body oil. It is turning cold again in MN and I don’t feel very springy. My husband said he wanted to lick my neck! So it may not be springy outside by the crazy days of May are bursting inside LOL
I was torn between that one and the Ancient Resins. I think I’m going to try Ancient Resins first because I love incense.
My birthday was in Tuesday May 7th & I’m officialy 29 years old 🙂
I’m going tomorrow to my dentist & then off to some shopping & to celebrate my birthday. Of course I’ll get a fragrance, it’s j’adore l’eau colorgn floral & I want another fragrance. What’d you guys think of the new valentino aqua? or should I just get j’adore as I want other things from sephora?
Happy Birthday! Oh to be 29 again.
Thanks & good thing if you want youth again, I’m not happy in my youth 🙁
enemies did what it takes to take happiness away.
Happy birthday Carine!
I understand what its like NOT to want ones 20s over again:)
Here’s to a happier future – and yes, its definitely possible.
Happy Birthday– I remember 29!!! It was a magical year for me and I hope it is for you as well.
SOTD was the last few precious drops of my vintage Paco Rabanne eau de calandre… sniff…
But I wanted to confess my extravagant request for Mothers’ Day… a 1 oz flask of Guerlain’s Mitsouko pure parfum… extravagant because it costs a fortune, and extravagant because I have never smelled it before. Mitsouko eau de parfum, yes… but not the pure parfum… I am really looking forward to it. If you purchased this for yourself and regretted it, I don’t want to know… but if you loved LOVED LOVE it, that is super. My family will have to eat rice and beans for weeks to pay for it! I say, ‘let them eat cake…”
Lol, I agree…just watch your head:)
And to think they call me Madame Deficit! 🙂
SOTD: Chanel Cristalle eau Verte.
I’ve been all over the place with SOTD this week. Ubar, Basier Vole, Tom Ford Black Orchid lotion, No. 19 Poudre (still bores me). Such is spring in the northern US. Weather always factors into my inspiration.
Spring has been more variable than usual this year, it seems? Wish it would just stay warm already.
It’s my birthday today (me and Bono) and it’s been GREAT! My neighbor, who is going off to be a professional bull rider, said he was selling his older rodeo horse and offered him to me first, because once I said, “That’s a hell of a good lookin’ horse you’re on!” one day to him. He brought up the horse for me to try and, two hours later, i have him AND the bridle he came in. Big dapple grey. Goofy name. Hawkeye.
A chiropractic adjustment and a lunch with my music teacher, and Leslie Nielson’s daughter, and I’m good to go. Wearing Une Voix Noire.
Off to say hi to the new horse…
Give him a neigh for me!
Congrats on your new addition! A woman I work with just got a new horse too. His name is Gandolf.
Happy birthday! It sounds like a wonderful day!
Dumb question, from someone who knows nothing about rodeos or chiropractors.
Does have a retired rodeo horse itself provide chiropratic adjustments.
Ha! I was wondering if the riding necessitated the Chiropractor visit?
Congrats from a fellow horse lover.
Expanding my collection by a few bottles recently.
Latest fragrance acquisitions:
Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs – Loup Garou
Givenchy – Gentlemen Only
Serge Lutens – Ambre Sultan
Next up for FB purchase is either PG Cedre Sandaraque or CdG 2Man.
I always find the CdGs really interesting but am never sure I’d actually wear them often enough to justify a bottle. I wish they did coffrets for each series!
I’m wearing Diorissimo today (perfume). It has me confused. I like it one minute then not so sure about it the next. I love the floral aspect of it, of course, but at times it’s more of a decaying flower to my nose. It’s kind of sad but fitting for a flower that has such a short lifespan, plucked or not. I’m curious how others feel about it.
Hi Lila, Diorissimo has me confused too! I have only tried the EdT, so not sure how that compares to the parfum – it is pretty, but often a bit too sharp and shrill for me. There’s a note in that I can only describe as smelling like overripe bananas and, well, glue.
I think it’s one of those that I felt I ought to like, as it gets so much love, but lately I’ve had to admit that it’s just not right for me. I can imagine that it’s beautiful though, on the right person.
Lila, Diorissimo from the 70s was divine. The reformulation is difficult. It causes the same reaction for me: love one second, decay and an awful metallic haze the next. Seldom wear it anymore, more’s the pity. Perhaps you can find a sample of the original and compare?
SOTD: A Lab on Fire, What we do in Paris. About an hour in all I smell is fuzzy vanilla. It’s a nice fuzzy vanilla, just hoped for more.
Next bottle: either PdE Azemour or (wallet panic) Amouage Opus 1.
I so agree about the reformulation of Diorissimo and so glad to see someone felt the same way. It’s just overwhelmingly fake.
I love Diorissimo’s (EDP) opening, but after 10 minutes I feel stuck in a cloud of Jasmine. I really can’t detect much else because the Jasmine is so potent (and synthetic). It has moments of glory, but each time I wear it I remember that I want to buy Coty’s Muguet De Bois. I think that sentiment says everything anyone needs to know about the current formulation of Diorissimo.
Good evening, happy Friday all! My SOTD? Nothing! I forgot to spray something on this morning! I felt a little bare all day at work. And it being so hot and surrounded by stinky pre-teens, I really missed it. I will definitely have to choose something nice after my shower this evening to make up for it!
LOL at “stinky pre-teens”, esp. because I have one at home myself 🙂
That’s a tough age to be around. All of Mr. Lucy’s nephews went through a phase where they didn’t want to shower and the nieces doused themselves in BBW or VS body sprays. Quite frankly, I’m not sure which was more unpleasant.
I have a question. I recently bought a Gardenia plant for my deck and I love it’s fragrance. I would love to have a Gadenia perfume. Do any of ya’ll have a recommendation?
Kai is the most luscious gardenia fragrance I know.
Thank you, I have never even heard of Kai but will definitely be searching for it right now!
There seems to have been a gardenia mini-fad this year. On the super high end, there is Roja Perfume Gardenias and Serge Lutens Voix Noir (after Billie Holiday, who wore gardenias in her hair, and had an extraordinary voice and was Black). I belive Tiare by Ormonde Jayne is also a gardenia, and also high priced.
Kai is moderately priced. (But wonderful) The oil stays close to the skin, and the perfume has high sillage.
Try to get your hands on a sample of Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia IN THE PARFUM CONCENTRATION. I never really got the “gardenia” in PCTG until I tried the parfum, which is so about gardenia.
aw, dang! I didn’t even realize there was a parfum. I like the regular stuff, but I bet I’d LOVE the parfum.
Definitely a mini gardenia trend this past year. There’s also Arquiste Boutonniere No. 7 and Ineke Hothouse Flower that came out recently. I personally haven’t tried those. Also, Jo Malone’s new line, Jo Loves, has a Gardenia perfume that’s quite nice in my opinion, though it’s hard to get your hands on in the US.
Tom Ford’s Velvet Gardenia is widely praised, I like it too, but it’s discontinued and hard to find.
I like Annick Goutal’s Gardenia Passion a LOT, but most people say it’s more tuberose gardenia.
On the super-high-end, I’ve heard some raves about JAR’s Jardenia. If you really want to pay.
Oh, and I think Andy Tauer is releasing a gardenia-centric perfume later this year.
You might also check out this Perfume Posse list of recommendations:
http://perfumeposse.com/2012/09/10/gardenia-perfumes-the-comprehensive-guide/
The Ineke is wonderful, very fresh and not crushed-verging-on-rotting the way so many gardenias are.
I really like Arquiste Boutonniere no.7. I got a sample from STC and have really enjoyed it. Pretty pricey stuff, though.
I got a recommendation of the Gardenia perfume from the Perfume & Skin Care Company in Australia. I ordered a 5ml tester but it hasn’t arrived yet. It’s only $10 but of course if you’re in the US the shipping is pretty high (about $20).
I hear gardenia is very difficult to reproduce in the perfume world. You might want to look at enfleurage. It’s a different process to obtain the scent. Just google it with gardenia.
On that note, there is an essential oils company here in the Houston area called Gritman that sells a gardenia maceration in fractionated coconut oil. I think they grow the gardenias and make it themselves. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve been thinking about ordering some to try it out. I don’t think it’s that expensive if I remember correctly.
I love both Marc Jacobs woman and Annick Goutal’s Un Matin d’Orage for a gardenia fix.
Not really sure how it compares to the actual flower, but I once wore Un Matin d’Orage to work, and a co-worker came into the office and said ‘mmm, gardenias!’ so I guess it must bear some resemblance to the real thing…
Yes. Matin D’Orage was the one I thought of, too.
I was going to suggest Marc Jacobs woman, too. It is quite the opposite of the more recent MJ offerings.
I vote for Trisha McEvoy’s Gardenia Musk and Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale, both of which I own and love.
SOTD is A la Nuit, which I have been steeping in the past few days. I have a question: I’ve been dabbing it from a small sample vial, and I find that the jasmine jasmine jasmine of the opening dries down and disappears within an hour or two and the drydown does not have much projection. Does anyone spray this? Would it be crazy to? If you do spray it, do you find the drydown has a bit more sillage? Trying to decide if I should spring for a bottle.
I’ve sprayed it without a problem, albiet from a decant, not a full bottle. But it seemed to work okay.
I’ve sprayed it, but I don’t mind being a walking jasmine hazmat case.
🙂 I definitely spray it, too!
Me too!
I had the same experience with the spray. Very strong and within two hours it disappears…
It might be a mercy that it disappears. It’s like forcing wads of jasmine of everyone’s nose in the vicinity.
I was given a bottle of this and gave it away to a jasmine-fiend! I had only used a little and it managed to put me off jasmine so much I couldn’t stand any frag with a strong jasmine note for about 2 years…
Have a question about Mon Precieux Nectar. I like it – it’s very appealing – but I feel like it’s missing something, it’s not exactly flat but it doesn’t seem to have depth. Is it just me, am I missing its hook here? How do people feel about this scent?
I haven’t tried it, but I feel like I’ve read a few reviews along the lines of yours. Although some have really loved it too.
I have that same experience, Lys. People were raving, and I thought that it falls a bit flat initially. The heart and dry down are pretty – cozy and warm. I like it well enough, but I think it needs a little pizazz during the opening notes. Something sparkly to catch my interest.
Sounds like a candidate for layering? Something bright and sparkly..not sure what would go with it though. It’s of course a shame given that it is a Guerlain and cost an arm and a leg to require layering to make it “work”.
Thanks, guys. I have an opportunity to get a bottle at a discount but I’ve started thinking about my adding to my collection in terms of taking away love from my other neglected FBs in order to give to another newcomer. But on fabric, and the next day, boy! does MPN smell lovely. I also have no idea what I would layer with MPN. Maybe that’s a question for another weekend! (Oh, I tried to layer Jo Malone Lemon Tart with La Petite Robe Noire to make that one sparkle more but instead it made it icky!!!)
hajusuuri, you’re right about the work.
We had a totally weird weather day in Houston today: this morning it was like Armageddon, the floods came, and rain and hail, and wind, and it was dark as night. I finally made it out of the house in lighter rain around noon to go to my campus to attend graduation. Traffic was a nightmare and local streets were flooded. After the usual three hours of mostly boring ceremonial stuff we all emerged into STEAMBATH: the sun was out and it was HOT. Wearing those heavy robes in this weather and getting into a hot car to come home was yucksville. Had a shower and chose to spray on some Havana Vanille as a pick-me-up before my glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Now all I have to do is finish grading… Yes, they hold graduation before grades are due. Imagine the surprise and disappointment for some students (stupid, I know.) My latest lemming is for Eau de Tommi Sooni II. I got a bunch of their samples and this is the one that I fell for. Weirdly, it reminds me so much of Ormond Jayne’s Tolu, but has nothing listed as a note that seems comparable. I guess it must be the honey.
I saw something about flooding in Houston on Weather Underground and was really surprised. What a day! Havanna Vanille is so relaxing – great idea!
So its possible to get honoured on stage, get clapped for, walk down and then some weeks after find out you didn’t actually pass???
Wonderful exercise in irony. Which sadistic academic devised that system?
Can you imagine? That is pretty rotten to do to people.
THIS IS TOTALLY GOING TO BE ME
Good question, I know it’s not the faculty! On the other hand, they do check that your GPA is passing before you are allowed to “walk,” and in order to screw up a GPA based on four (or more) years’ accumulation of grades, the student probably has to do something fairly dumb that they are aware of, such as not showing up for a final exam or not submitting a term paper, etc.
I’d venture this is the case at most large state universities these days. It can take up to a week after the final exam grades are due to certify all the students for graduation.
In the case of the University of Texas at Austin, the last day grades could possibly due this year is May 17, which is already a few days after exams end. Graduation ceremonies are on the 18th and 19th. You’d have to push the grad ceremonies back by a week or so to ensure that everyone was certified before they walked in the ceremony (meaning seniors have to stick around campus). A lot of small schools DO do this – my undergrad, with 1700 people, had around 4 days between the end of exams and graduation. But it’s not practicable for most large state schools. Certification gets pretty complicated.
At the university I went to graduation was months later so you got your grades went on with life and came in for the ceremony.
I actually just received a sample of Tommi Sooni II and am wearing it now! It’s really lovely. Not quite what I’m looking for, but I do like it. (P.S. I’m in Florida, right there with you on the steam bath, too.)
I really like the Tommy Sooni line and they’ve been lingering on my “get more of this” list for a while. Jinx and II were my top favorites.
Most schools have graduation lists which are issued a week to several days before graduation. In addition to issues about passing that final semesters, some one has to double check that the student filled all the requirements.
One year at my small college, a student received the highest academic honors possible but was not allowed to graduate because she had not fulfilled her obligation to show up for some kind of gym class. (The requirements were pretty minimal- pass a swim test and show up at some kind of weekly class in every thing from weight lifting to CPR instruction for a semester. She was awarded her diploma in the fall, after documenting thatt she had spent the summer in horse backing riding lessons. In my year, a fine student was not allowed to graduate because he had been taking classes for years on some form of provisional enrollment. His wealthy but deadbead divorced dad’s was under court orders to provide tuition, but never did so, The school had assumed that the father would at least pay up by graduation time, but never did. My friend, refused to get entangled in court proceedings to sue his father; instead he ended up working for the math department for several years to work out the debt himself,
In some schools, they allow students to do the graduation ceremony with their friends, but they don’t get the diploma until they meet all requirements and pay all debts
Puredistance Opardu. I can’t decide if I love it based on dabbing. It’s nice to have lilac for a change, though.
For me, Opardu is best sprayed. I love it. It was SOTD for several days straight last week!
I love this one sprayed as well. I think it stays close to the skin (how does one really determine sillage ?) I got a decant and wore it a lot in the first 2-3 weeks… and ordered a back up decant! Spray away!
I’m now regretting that I put my samples into a roller ball instead of a sprayer!
It was really different for me sprayed versus dabbed, but nice both ways. Also I have had different impressions of it each time I wore it, FWIW. I think it’s a pretty amazing scent.
This question is open to all. Anyone knows a perfume similar to the smell of Eau De Givenchy? I only have access to bricks and mortar shops since on-line shops do not deliver to where I am currently based so buying on-line is not an option for me. I read in this blog that it was re-released as part of the Les Parfums Mythiques but that also is not available in Riyadh so I am going to any brand, mainstream or niche, near to the smell of Eau De Givenchy. Thanks a lot!
I’m afraid I’ve never tried Eau de Givenchy but I looked it up at Fragrantica, and it listed Chanel Cristalle and O de Lancome as related fragrances at the side of the page. Have you tried either of those? They shouldn’t be too hard to find if you have a department store nearby. It also lists YSL Y, but I don’t know what the availability is like on that one as I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it. That doesn’t mean it’s hard to find, necessarily, just that I haven’t looked for it.
Eau de Givenchy was one of my favourites, and it’s hard to define, and even harder to think of a replacement. And Givenchy has now even discontinued Les Mythiques, so I suspect Eau de Givenchy is gone forever. Sweetgrass’s suggestions of Cristalle and O de Lancôme are very good – possibly Cristalle Eau Verte also.
My substitute is Jo Malone’s Grapefruit, and I am just wondering if layering that with Geurlain’s AA Herba Fresca might work (must try it for myself!). I also like Goutal’s Chevrefeuille – nothing like Eau de Givenchy really, but it does have a lovely honeysuckle fragrance.
Good luck!
Hello Jillie,
I agree with you when you describe Eau de Givenchy as hard to define and think of a replacement. And it makes me sad to know that Les Mythiques has been discontinued. I will have to try Cristalle, O de Lancôme, JM Grapefruit, the Guerlain and Goutal. But of course, as both of us know well, the slightest difference matters and when you really love a certain perfume, nothing can really replace it.
Thank you, Jillie!
You are so right!
Agree it’s hard to define…it moves more in the direction of a fruity floral than Cristalle or O de Lancome, but is nothing like the sweet VERY fruity florals we get now. I do think if you like it, you’d be likely to like the Cristalle especially, but doubt you’ll find it a “replacement”.
I would usually see Cristalle on the counters of perfume shops but rarely pay attention to it. This time, I will check it out. Thanks, Robin. 🙂
Thanks sweetgrass. I will check the perfumes you mentioned and will check Fragrantica as well.
Wonderful to find a site all about something I love. Usually gravitate towards Guerlain (esp. L’Heure Bleu, Jicky, Mitsouko – can smell the history…) but this week have twice found myself seeking out department stores to inhale Givenchy’s Dahlia Noir – finding it puzzling, on the one hand smells not terribly original but somehow compelling (grown up, floral??) and were I not so skint think I’d have bought some. Any other views on it?
Sally, I looked up Robin’s review to see if she compared it to anything else, but she did not. I notice that Tama who thought she’d like it, based on the description, said she was going to buy Chanel No. 19 Poudre, Esprit d’Oscar and Cartier Baiser Vole instead. It might be worth trying those.
Sally, I liked Dahlia Noir very much on a paper test strip, but it was an utter fail for me when I went back to try it on skin and give it a perfume test drive. Haven’t tried it on fabric.
Sorry, the comment box dropped part of my post – meant to add that Dahlia Noir didn’t hold up well on my skin in terms of longevity or sillage, and that evn tho I got that “compelling” aspect of the scent you described on the test strip, it wasn’t really present on skin. For me.
I’m going to the Houston Art Car Parade today. Not sure what my SOTD is going to be. Niki de Saint Phalle seems appropriate for the occasion.
Oh, I’ve heard good things about that show! I drive an art car (my second), and it seems odd to me that Portland doesn’t have a tradition of art car events in place! So, I’ve considered road-tripping to some other event, and I want to say there are a couple in Texas that caught my attention when I was doing some investigating. Have a good time!
Thanks! I’m surprised Portland doesn’t have anything like that. You should come down and get your car in next year’s parade. 🙂
http://www.thehoustonartcarparade.com is the website. It’s kind of hard to get to right now.. not sure what’s going on. Their server may be getting overloaded since it’s parade day.
I put up some of the pictures and video I took at the parade (with my phone).. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenc79/sets/72157633458939359/
Getting back to this late, but thank you so much for sharing! Those are really amazing cars!
Niki is an inspired choice for an art car parade!
Niki is an inspired choice anywhere!
I love Niki!
I’m going to Orlando next week (convention) and am trying to decide what scents to take with me. I’m sure I’ll take my top 2: Dia and Infanta en Fleur, but need a “power scent” to go with a “power suit” – suggestions are appreciated!
One thing to consider: the convention center (I assume you’ll be at the Orange County CC) will have the A/C going strong, but the steambath effect has already kicked in this year, so the minute you step outside, your perfume will bloom – really, really bloom.
I’m a bit worried about the hot humid air. It’s bad enough I have to wear a suit!
Also, don’t forget some cologne!
I’d be inclined toward one of the steelier Chanels, like No. 19, which LT matches with a pencil-skirt suit and stilettos in the boardroom.
I hadn’t thought about #19 – great suggestion! I only have the EDP version, but it’ll be perfect. That and maybe the EDT version of Baiser Vole (along with my other two favorites) may tide me over for a few days.
I think 19 will work perfectly. I know you are prepared for humidity, but don’t forget about Orlando’s daily rainstorm. Okay, maybe not literally everyday, but almost. It comes out of nowhere in the afternoon, pours for 20-30 minutes (like ‘pull your car off to the side of the road because you can’t see’ pours), then clears up and the day does on like nothing ever happened. When I lived there I could set my clock by the rainstorm.
I think of Seville D’Aube; Daim Blond and Donna Karan’s Gold as power suit fragrances. My guess is Seville D’Aube might be the most weather appropriate.
My pick for you would be Hermes Kelly Caleche. It works in all seasons for me 🙂
SOTD = Tom Ford Sahara Noir.
I just got my unsniffed decant yesterday. So far, I like it 🙂
Lucky you!
I’ve rediscovered SL Bas de Soie which I initially rejected as banal. Now I’m finding it’s one of the most perfect iris-based concoctions ever, (though not in the class of Chanel No. 19). I mean I am practically snorting it.
That was exactly my reaction — and now I have a bottle and wear it a lot at work, especially during the warmer months.
Wow, so many wonderful posts. I’ll dive back in later and add my two cents.
Just treated myself to a small bottle of Tanqueray Rangpur gin with Rangpur limes and “other botanicals” with which to make super fancy gin and tonics this weekend. Of course I had to pair it with Guerlain Vetiver (sprayed on the skin, not into the glass). Any other perfume/drink pairings? This summer I would like to make a litchi sangria and pair it with a pretty floral scent.
I know there’s a perfume that’s much like a mojito, but I don’t drink, so I don’t know which one it is!
Just at Nordstrom’s and sprayed on a bit of Violet Blonde. Love the name (work makes me feel like a violent blonde). Trying to decide if it’s just too loud, as Robin has noted about Tom Ford elsewhere. Also worried it will slide into that dreadful sour chemical dry down. Need a spring/summer scent that won’t irritate co-workers or break the bank. Any recommendations?
You can’t go wrong with Chanel 28 La Pausa, a cool, lovely iris vetiver.
Sounds lovely. Have to find a boutique to test. 31 sounds interesting as well.
The heart of Violet Blonde is similar to Balenciaga’s Paris, if you’re worried about the TF maybe Paris would suit you?
Ever since I started getting “serious” about perfume (around the time of the last swap here), I have been neglecting Id’I (my nearly exclusively worn scent of the past 5 years). Today I am wearing it for the first time in a month, maybe. I suppose Id’I will always feel like home to me. It’s so nice to know whatever I try, I can always come back to this one. It’s like a security blanket to me.
I ordered a couple decants today: Eau Legere and L’Ete en Douce. I had received a sample of LED during the swap I believe and fell in love. I also ordered a few sample sets today – the waiting to get them is the hardest part!
I’m going to confess that I am totally blanking on what Id’I would be.
I should have spelled it out then, eh? Prada Infusion d’Iris. 🙂
Thanks – obviously I’ve been neglecting mine, too! I don’t generally have any difficulty with abbreviations for the names of brands but the number of perfume names is a lot greater. It’s good to have a reliable fav like that!
Infusion d’Iris is a great layering scent. It works with almost anything, especially light summery citrus scents and florals, like orange blossom. It gives them a little kick in the morning, but by the end of the day it is just the comforting iris blanket. Maybe this will work for you so you can have the best of both worlds?
I had not thought of that. I have not experimented with any layering yet. Thank you for the suggestion!
Lady at Lancome counter referred to Samsara as an ‘old lady scent’. She was 60 yrs old, not that that’s old..but that’s one of my faves. I was like wow..and no, I won’t be buying any of that CRAPPY Midnight “Rose”..even if she was going to throw in a free lipstick or whatever it was. I will take old lady over TOO MUCH raspberry bubble gum tween scent. Buh bye:)
Hehe.
Sotd..Samsara!
That’s so weird! I have a Dior SA that similarly disparaged Opium, a “mature,” female SA – she wouldn’t even let me spray it near the counter, and it’s a Dior. She acted like the tester needed the HazMat treatment. I wonder if people who were around for the whole big Eighties frag craze are especially prejudiced against these type scents? Anyway, I don’t think of Samsara when I think of “old-fashioned” smelling perfume.
Should I wash it off? As maybe Samsara is for only those 75+ I guess? Geez..I didn’t tell her that most of Lancome scents suck..sorry but imo, ugh. I wanted to say Lancome went down hill as far as scents go. Le Vie Est Belle…nope, not interested in a free sample of that junk either! Crabby today I am!
Did I mention she said it was an old lady scent after I told her that I really liked a scent that’s similar? Tuscany Per Donna. I told her I loved Tuscany and that it smelled like Samsara. I was like, have you smelled Samsara? She was like..’oh, that old lady scent?’. I was going to get a mother’s day gift from Lancome..but she crapped that away!
Ok..I am done yakking! lol.
Too funny. I’d be happy to take a bottle of Samsara over anything by Lancôme any day. I liked O de Lancôme, but find all the rest to be very harsh
Way to make a sale, sales lady.
Gee I am usually a defender of Sales Associates, but that was poor salesmanship and just rude.
By the way, there are some pretty cool old ladies: Queen Elizabeth II, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Maya Angelo, Betty White, Carol Kane, Catherine Deneuve, Lauren BcCall etcc.
Helen Mirren, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Maggie Smith, Margaret Atwood, Kiri Te Kanawa …. the list goes on and on.
Wouldn’t most of us, at any age, be happy if a wearing a perfume made people around us think that we were like any of those women.
In fact, Deneuve was one of Channel No. 5’s most famous models, and I think at least two other scents have been named in her honor.
I was spoiled this mother’s day with flowers, chocolates, chai, the promise of dinner tonight, AND a bar of Crabtree & Evelyn’s Vetiver and Juniperberry soap. I had not noticed this soap in my occasional cruise of C&E. It’s wonderful – vetiver and juniper both quite legible but beautifully balanced. If they could bottle this scent I’d certainly buy it. The chai is fabulous too. Lucky me!
Happy Mother’s Day Annemarie. So Australians celebrate Mother’s Day on the same day as the U.S.! I was speaking to an U.K. expat currently in Singapore and he said Mother’s Day in the U.K. was celebrated in March and he wasn’t quite sure about Singapore!
Thanks, yes, not sure about Father’s Day tho’. That’s the first week in September here, I think.
Happy Mother’s Day! I love Juniper scents in the summer. I’ll have to look for the soap next time I’m at C & E.
And I’m really going to have to try Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling. It’s been on my ‘to try’ the list since it came out. It’s coming into winter here now though, so I’ll wait for a bit.
Hey, any Paprika Brasil (Hermessence) fans out there?
I went through my older samples two days ago, and since then I’ve been really enjoying Paprika Brasil. I remember liking it when I first tried it, but I managed to take it off my mind. However, now I just cannot get enough of it — Simply beautiful!
I know that people wrote rather negative reviews; is this still the general sentiment? How can I possibly be so impressed by it?
I just picked up a sample of this yesterday. I needed help picking a SOTD anyway, so I will try it today and get back with you tonight if you want to check back.
Great, let me know what you think.
I am wearing it today again 🙂
Well, I didn’t dislike it, but I can see why others did. I think the name “Paprika Brasil” had me expecting something more spicy, exotic, and energetic. I really liked the opening. It was a little old fashioned feeling, like a classic Chypre. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting any greenness. Unfortunately it faded right away. After 10 minutes it was just a soft veil of Iris. It was nice, but I have to join all the people who have a problem with its sillage and longevity. I really feel like a line that implies “essences” should have excellent lasting power.
Sorry, this didn’t reinforce the way you feel about it. You asked earlier how you could love it so much – Maybe you pick up on something I can’t detect? I think it is great that you have found something that makes you so happy though. 🙂
I need to retry it, but I liked it when I tested it a while ago. I feel like maybe some of the negative reviews had to do with it’s low sillage or longevity.
Lucy and Lys, thanks for your feedback!
I ordered one more 4ml sample of Paprika Brasil “just to make sure” 😉
But, as it seems, I’ll confess a FB soon. After three days of wearing it, I am impressed (and I liked it much more on day 3 than on day 1. I put it in a roller, and the fragrance persisted very long on my skin). The way the spices are dealt with is so interesting! Or, it may just be that I haven’t done enough smelling and am missing other similar compositions?
My current thinking on this: either I am a total fool, or Paprika Brasil is genius.
What’s STC? I got a much longed for full bottle of 100mL Carnal Flower this Mothers Day morning. Lots of hand made cards and lots of surprises. I’ve wanted it for so long. The next lemming which has turned addict forming is POIVRE by Le Labo. It doesn’t come from Barney’s until September. I am convinced this is one of the best perfumes my nose has ever smelled. I want it so badly. But I’m so happy with my three to five sprays of CF right now I’m going to drive the addict out and enjoy. Hope every Mother on here gets a reminder that they are loved. My five really make me feel special.
Dolcesarah, Happy Mother’s Day and what a sophisticated bunch of kids you have 🙂
STC = Surrender to Chance. It is a decant service and you can order samples of many different perfumes ranging from the newest to vintage. You can get them in a variety of sizes as well. I have used them and they are really fabulous. Do sign up to get their newsletter as they have specials, discounts, etc.
Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, stepmothers, foster mothers, mothers-to-be, want-to-be moms, grandmothers, and anyone who is thought of as a mom due to their kind, nurturing selflessness. You all work so hard – I truly hope you enjoy this day of well deserved appreciation.
I’m joining in late on Sunday. SOTD is Atelier Cologne’s Oolong Infini. Good:This is so delicious, I can’t stop sniffing my wrist. Bad: That’s the only way I can experience it, with my nose pressed against my skin. I don’t know if it’s my perfume-eating skin at work again, or if others have the same reaction. I really love it, but want it to be stronger. It also doesn’t last longer than 2 hours, if even that long.
I’m usually into Diva scents, but there are a couple of exceptions in my perfume collection, which I wear as comfort scents or to sleep.
This would fit into that category. Any suggestions as to how to pump up the strength?
Sometimes I put petroleum jelly on my skin to form a barrier between it and the scent. If you have scent-negating skin this can help!
Thanks, Merlin. I’ll try that.
Jonette, I could barely smell the Oolang Infini as well. I ended up purchasing the bar soap and it was divine; it lasted a very long time too…almost 2 months with daily showering!
I see I misspelled it. Thanks for your feedback. Did you find that the soap helped the scent of the cologne to be more noticeable, or did you skip the cologne and just use the soap?
I skipped the cologne altogether.
I’m planning to order some Neela Vermeire samples. Anyone wear her scents?
They seem to be very well liked, but don’t work for me (I guess it is vanilla et al.).
I don’t mind the vanilla in some of my oriental fragrances. I’ll just have to see. Thanks for sharing your experience.
They’ve been talked up a lot, but of the NV three samples I had there was a scrubber, a semi-scrubber and and a forgettable. Hope they work better for you.
Uh oh! The juice is quite pricey, so the samples aren’t cheap and are miniscule. Well, I’ll take a chance. (The things we dare for the chance of falling in love with a scent).
Wearing Fresh Hesperides today — so fresh and citrusy. Happy Mother’s Day!
SOTD was DK Gold; my boyfriend likes white florals on me and there are few I like. Lucky this one is a hit! I prefer it to Un Lys as well as the Malle. I have one back-up bottle of it and am thinking of getting another. Unfortunately I have smelled an off tester so I don’t know how long their life spans are.
And, I’m sampling Weekend again. LOV is not a note I am attracted to but this one has a salty aspect which I am enjoying!
A question for everyone: I know someone going to Paris soon. What are your favourite paris exclusives? From the Lutens line I have tried La Myrrhe, Rose de Nuit and Iris Silver Mist. I like ISM so this is top of the list!
I can’t find any Gold bottles past 2007 lots. My experience with IFF scents is that light is a real culprit and testers go bad quickly, so if you get a new bottle that’s all boxed up and kept away from the light, it should be as good as is possible.
I love De Profundis and like Sarrasins; Boxeuses is a wonderful of-the-moment take on the classic leather theme but not good on my skin; Forreau Noir is really good dark fun if you give it a chance.
I think Iris Silver Mist would be the first choice. However, if you call Barney’s, they would send it to you within the US, which might even be cheaper,
Oh? The price for the bell jars in the US seems to be double what it is in Paris! But, in any case, I’m in South Africa. I don’t have time to order samples of the exclusives from the US, as post tends to take about a month to reach me. And I didn’t do it earlier and am still reluctant as I really shouldn’t be buying more that one bell jar anyway!
I am always amazed about how many international pen pals this site gives me. In that case, I would certainly go with Iris Silver Mist, which I think is the most unusual and elegant.
It is also is a matter of how much of your trip you want to devote to this particular shopping stop. Many of the Bell Jar fragrances reveal themselves through their middle notes, rather than the initial dab. So testing them would take an hour or two, or putting them on, and returning to the shop again later.
Thanks for the ideas! Where would you place Boxeuses relative to Cuir de Russe, Bandit, Rien and Cuir Ottoman? The first I can hardly smell, the second is too bitter, the third is too strong and synthetic and the fourth I like enough to have a decant but find it inexplicably melancholic…
Boxeuses actually quotes from Cuir de Russie, it’s impossible not to notice the direct relationship btwn the two, Boxeuses is a bit like CdR thru a Fem du Bois lens. Also worth noting that Boxeuses if I am remembering right has the same suede (suederal) note as in Daim Blonde – so there’s that too, Boxeuses plays with suede – so if you can smell Daim Blonde you should be okay with Boxeuses. Recap, Boxeuses has suede dominant, a wonderful (not “old-fashioned”) powdery aspect, leather undertones, dark Lutens fruit aspect, etc. That should help you place it among the other leathers you mentioned. Also, Boxeuses has little to do with Bandit (which I adore).
Maybe you will have time to order some decants before your friend makes their trip? Anyway, exciting news that you will probably have a bell jar soon 🙂
Yes, I can definitely smell Daim Blonde! Thanks for the analysis. Good olfactory image there. Hmm…
Oh, and Lys, I wanted to add that the SA tried one of the new bottles on me and it also smelled bad. They were all unboxed and kept in a lighted cabinet so I’m sure you are right.
I found some boxed ones at another branch but there was no tester. It was such a good price I took the risk and went back for my second (boxed)bottle the next day:)
Next on my bell jar wish list is Boxeuses 🙂
Yes, it seems very popular. I was asking Lys above where she would place it relative to some other ‘takes’ on leather. What do you think?
Hmmm…non-animalic woody leather with sweet tobacco
Unfortunately that does sound very nice!
Just wanted to say that my dog’s chosen SOTD was Stinky Fish, which has amazing sillage. He rolled in a dead fish before the dog walker could stop him, then was pleased with my yelping reaction when he came home.
I managed to layer my own choice of dog scent over the fishy one (I’m not well enough to bathe him, and he’s a giant Leonberger, so it’s no easy task for anyone). I don’t know if scented pet products have ever been mentioned here. I used Earthbath Lavender Deodorizing Spritzer. Works really, really well!
Now if only we could incorporate that magnificent sillage into something that smells better, lol!
Leonberger’s are adorable. There was one in Greta’s puppy agility class that she was best buddies with. He was so big compared to her and wouldn’t try any of the obstacles unless she did them first. It was the cutest thing.
Im trying out the perfume “debut”, one of the perfume samples this month from olfactif. it has lilac and lime among other light springtime notes. not very happy with it, or the other two samples that came this month. is anyone else a member? this is my first month. is the subscription worth it?
Boxeuses actually quotes from Cuir de Russie, it’s impossible not to notice the direct relationship btwn the two, Boxeuses is a bit like CdR thru a Fem du Bois lens. Also worth noting that Boxeuses if I am remembering right has the same suede (suederal) note as in Daim Blonde – so there’s that too, Boxeuses plays with suede – so if you can smell Daim Blonde you should be okay with Boxeuses. Recap, Boxeuses has suede dominant, a wonderful (not “old-fashioned”) powdery aspect, leather undertones, dark Lutens fruit aspect, etc. That should help you place it among the other leathers you mentioned. Also, Boxeuses has little to do with Bandit (which I adore).
Maybe you will have time to order some decants before your friend makes their trip? Anyway, exciting news that you will probably have a bell jar soon 🙂
Been a while since I missed the “Reply to this Comment” link. XD
Sorry, the comment box dropped part of my post – meant to add that Dahlia Noir didn’t hold up well on my skin in terms of longevity or sillage, and that evn tho I got that “compelling” aspect of the scent you described on the test strip, it wasn’t really present on skin. For me.
(Meant to re: to Sally loves perfume, … doh!)