Today we’re helping (hopefully) Liza, who has been wearing Lancôme’s Magie Noire for around 30 years. Liza can no longer buy the Parfum, and does not care for the reformulated Eau de Toilette: “jarring top notes; the heart lacks the depth and complexity of the vintage; even the lovely haunting dry-down has become sweeter and less woodsy and mysterious”. She still wears it, but would love to find a sexy perfume with “an aura of mystery evocative of the original Magie Noire”. She’s willing to pay over $100, but doesn’t want to pay JAR-level prices. Here are a few details about Liza:

Liza is a science writer in her 40s. She’s also into crafts, dance, and growing fragrant plants, both indoors and out.

She loves big cities, occasional wilderness rambles, hats, scarves, patterned tights, and shoes. She dresses mostly in black, grays, blues, greens, and khaki; she doesn’t typically wear make-up, nail polish, or jewelry.

Liza loves notes of jasmine, sandalwood, and incense notes, as well as most spices…

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This week’s subject is Christie, who says she is a “definite perfume newbie” but also a “budding perfume junkie”. Christie is looking for two fragrances: the first should be a “high-pitched, high-energy fragrance”, the second should be “something creamy and light” that would work as a comfort scent. She has great access to perfume stores, and while she’d prefer that both scents be reasonably priced, she’s willing to entertain any suggestions.

Here is what we know about Christie:

She’s in her mid-20s and recently married.

She describes herself as intellectual, creative and sporty…

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Today we’re helping Alexandra, who occasionally comments here as ScentRed, find a new fragrance she can buy for her husband Chris. Alexandra has good access to perfume stores, and she’s willing to spend up to $175. For herself, Alexandra loves Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile, Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman, Narciso Rodriguez for Her, Annick Goutal Eau de Sud and Donna Karan Gold. Here is what she thinks we should know about her husband Chris:

Chris never wears fragrance and hasn’t owned a bottle since he was a teen. The truth is, he’s really just being a good sport and humouring his wife and her newly found fragrance obsession and in the process is hoping to find an interesting scent that makes her want to rip his clothes off…

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Today we’re helping Jan, who has a very specific request. She’s been using Christian Dior’s Eau de Dior Coloressence Energisante, which has now been discontinued. She wants to find a similar scent, “…one that is fresh and yet not completely green with floral notes, has enough staying power for the entire workday, unobtrusive and not overpowering but still there for me when I need it to perk me up and make me feel fabulous”. She doesn’t have a price limit, and she has good access to perfume stores.

Here is what we know about Jan: she’s in her 30s, lives in London, and likes “classic with a twist”, “stuff that is off-mainstream but not necessarily extremely niche”. Her interests include theater, fruit picking, food, traveling and photography…

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Today’s subject is Jess, who is looking for a sultry, cozy fragrance for evening. She’d like it to be warm, dark, interesting and mysterious, and if at all possible, to have good lasting power. She isn’t willing to go over $100.

Here are a few details about Jess:

She’s in her mid-20s and is a painter with a “fiction-writing streak”.

Jess says she goes about her day with her head in the clouds…

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