Red Magazine’s November issue includes my love letter to Guerlain Chamade in its feature, “10 Fragrances Every Woman Should Own.” I was thinking more along the lines of a great perfume everyone should try, and Chamade made the cut for a number of reasons: it has a distinctive personality, an original form, and it is beyond the trends and whims of fashion. There are many excellent and unexpected selections in the article. For instance, Tania Sanchez makes an impassioned call for Lush’s Gorilla Perfume Breath of God. Michael Donovan writes about Caldey Island Lavender Water, and Sali Hughes makes a great case for considering Chanel No 5.
I also describe why I love Serge Lutens’s Féminité du Bois in Red’s online feature, Best Perfumes for Women.
If you were to suggest fragrances for others to try, what would you include?
90 Comments
Audrey: Après l’ondee: a violet even violet haters can love
Ormonde Jayne Tiare: because .
Samsara: just so seamless and elegant
Exclusifs Cologne: summer cologne that is quiet and whispers rather than screams.
Lumiere Noir: patchouli rose….or rose patchouli?
Nuit D’Amour: why? This, to me, smells very much like how original YSL Paris smelled back in 1984. The rose/violet/sandalwood combination is balanced beautifully here.
Organza (vintage, original version): organza was my signature scent for about 3 years in the late 90s . What they’ve done to it is shameful . It used to be lush, burnished red silk. Now it’s cheap polyester. The floral notes notes used to burst with a fierce intensity , the base used to be incensey and vanillic. Now it’s cheap jasmine orange water *sob*
Un Lys Mediteranee: a perfect floral.
Bulgari The Vert: the green tea everyone uses. I actually prefer Guerlain’s Tokyo, but this one is so affordable and smells good on everyone.
Etiquette Bleue: I love the vaguely vintage feel of it. It’s versatile, and the scent I wear in the summer when I want something deeper than a cologne but light enough to leave a question mark…and when I want a more winter-appropriate cologne type scent. The base is deeper than a cologne but it carries a lightness to it.
Cristalle EDT : the perfect bitter / sweet/ tart
Safram Troublant: the best rose/ saffron combo ever. The one I judge all other saffron against.
Epic: the most regal, impressive, power perfume ever. October 13, 2014 at 7:23am
Victoria: Thank you for your list, Audrey! Love reading these explanations too. October 13, 2014 at 9:23am
Cornelia Blimber: Chant d’Arômes, an underrated gem. a floral beauty, soft but shining.
Bois des Iles. elegant woods.
Femme de Rochas. my favourite chypre after Mitsouko.
O de Lancôme. Easy to wear, always good, fresh chypre.
Ambre Sultan. Solemn, impressive, spiritual.
Mlle. Coco. This one is loved by so many people, there must be something special about it. To be applied with a light hand: it is not without charme that way. October 13, 2014 at 8:28am
Victoria: Makes me wish I only started exploring perfumes. It’s like reading great novels for the first time. 🙂 October 13, 2014 at 9:24am
Aurora: I like your list Cornelia, and what a good idea to include Chant d’Aromes, I like it very much as well and have a little story about it.
A very nice and knowledgeable lady at the Guerlain counter thought it was a perfect match for me when I was 18 and I know now she was right (but I didn’t listen to her as the one I wanted was L’Heure Bleue extrait). October 14, 2014 at 7:55am
Sandra: Coco Noir Parfum- much better then the EDP. For a sexy night out or in 😉
Stella- a great rose
Samsara- try for the vintage ones on ebay-for when you crave sandalwood.
Les Exclusifs Beige and Cologne- The Cologne is perfect for summer-or to layer with other fragrances. Beige was my wedding scent-florals, honey, frangipani- need a say more?
No 19 poudre-for the days you need to feel like you are wrapped in cashmere. Such a great soft powder scent. Also great when you just are up in the air on what perfume to wear.
Amyris- you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and have the blues. Spray Amyris and play something uplifting like Bob Marley. Everything is going to be alright-
Shalimar ode a la vanille- A beautiful version of the original. The vanilla here is not a cookie-sweet vanilla- rather its smooth and golden. Perfect for a winters day. October 13, 2014 at 9:01am
Victoria: This is the best description of Amyris I’ve read and it captures it perfectly. October 13, 2014 at 9:30am
WJ: My top 10
L’Air du Desert Marocain – Andy Tauer – you can virtually smell the desert, amazing.
Angel – Thierry Mugler – Love it, no matter that half the world loves it too.
Chanel 19 – Chanel – amazing green
Bandit – Robert Piguet – wonderful leather
Eau de Rochas – Rochas – the best during a heat wave
Pour Un Homme – Caron – Gorgeous lavender, pour une femme in this case.
Bellogia – Caron – heaven for a carnation lover
Nahema – Guerlain – a dream
1697 – Frapin – wonderfully warm
Cuir Velours – Naomi Goodsir – another amazing leather. October 13, 2014 at 9:50am
Victoria: I have a friend who loves Cuir Velours and wears it so well. I need to try it on skin.
Great list! October 13, 2014 at 10:37am
Polly: Oh, the dilemma!
In no particular order because just the trauma of picking just a few was bad enough. These are all vintage, I’m afraid, because texture, so much rarer and more expensive in moderns, is part of the addiction. It’s a pretty conservative list but they are classics that I discovered late and just can’t get enough of.
Joy Parfum (and Eau de Joy) because they smell like joy to me.
Mitsouko: weird and compelling
Shalimar: curiously, my favorite is the vintage cologne. It smells exactly like a warm loving hug.
Vetiver (Guerlain) A green landscape at dawn precious to me because I live in the desert
Cabochard: More textures that you could possibly imagine in a single perfume
Femme: dark and sensual, just for me on cold afternoons at home.
Caleche: I just brought a vintage bottle of soie for my sister and she walked around in a golden glow. Like wearing ridiculously frivolous and expensive silk underwear. October 13, 2014 at 10:47am
Victoria: There are so many beautiful perfumes on this list to choose from! Out of these, only Cabochard isn’t that great in the reformulated version. It seems to have lost most of its layers. October 13, 2014 at 2:32pm
Aurora: I want to say I agree with you about Cabochard, Victoria. I have a still 3/4 full 100ml of the Eau de Toilette 2008 and it is unique no other scents smells quite like it. But only a few weeks ago I bought the eau de parfum online unsniffed and alas only some of its unique aspects remain like a plaintive ghost of its former self.
I had a similar experience with L’Air du Temps. Both perfumes are waiting for a benevolent fairy to give them back their glory. I live in this hope and by remembering what you wrote about perfumes and wines ever changing. October 14, 2014 at 7:44am
Victoria: It has been very hard, if not impossible, to reformulate these perfumes to follow the new regulations. They were full of ingredients that were prohibited and couldn’t be easily replaced. Such a shame. October 14, 2014 at 9:25am
Aurora: Thank you very much for the explanation. You are so knowledgeable! Now I understand there couldn’t possibly be a good fairy to bring them back. I’ll treasure my Cabochard Eau de Toilette then and use it as reference. October 14, 2014 at 10:31am
Victoria: Perhaps, it would be possible to rebalance Cabochard. I don’t mind if it were different as long as it had that darkness and richness. Now, it’s somewhat thin and there is little to cover the gaps. But of course, I have to say that I haven’t tried the very latest version of it. My sample is already a couple of years old. Maybe, it is a bit better now. October 14, 2014 at 10:36am
Figuier: If I were to recommend perfumes that are worth trying no matter who you are or what you like, I’d probably go for a mix of classics along with more striking ones. By way of stretching out the person’s spectrum of what’s possible & potentially enjoyable in perfumery.
Mon Parfum Cheri by Annick Goutal. First it smells like flint and cardboard, then mulled plums and beeswax. Definitely not ordinary.
A vetiver – any of the good ones will do, Guerlain, Lalique, Chanel…
Malle, Carnal Flower
Parfumerie Generale, L’Ombre Fauve
Christian Dior, Eau Sauvage
Hermes, 24 Faubourg
Chanel, Pour Monsieur
Neela Vermeire, Trayee October 13, 2014 at 11:23am
Victoria: I agree! Some of my most memorable experiences were with fragrances I didn’t think I’d like. I would enjoy your list if I were just starting out. October 13, 2014 at 2:33pm
JanLast: Here goes my completely prejudicial list
Annick Goutal – Nuit Etoilee for its ability to wrap me in Winter any time of year
Slumberhouse Grev – A walk through the misty woods past dripping trees, for contemplation
A Lab On Fire – Liquidnight, the composition seems unworkable, but it glides on your skin like a fine silk scarf
1000 Flowers – Reglisse Noir has the ability to envelop you in a whirl of soft spices and ozone to tune up your day
Chanel 19 – Sprightly green happy juice
Guerlain – Plus Que Jamais will make you swoon
Creed Jardin d’Amalfi – a bouncy, joyful Creed? But yes!
Isabelle Gelle – 1950 Sassy and classy
Tom Ford – Shanghai lily is a classic scent, I hop it has a long lifetime
Alexander McQueen – Kingdom is timeless October 13, 2014 at 11:33am
Victoria: A fun list with many unexpected and interesting choices! I’m glad that you’ve included Kingdom. It’s a challenging perfume but definitely memorable. October 13, 2014 at 2:35pm
Austenfan: I’m looking forward to reading this article but for now I can’t quite make up my mind about which scent people should smell. The more I smell, and I don’t even smell that many new launches, the more I realise how very little I know about this fragrant world. October 13, 2014 at 12:35pm
Victoria: I think it’s more about what you personally think is interesting. I don’t pretend I know all of the fragrances launched, since it’s impossible to keep track of them all, even the big launches. October 13, 2014 at 2:36pm
Austenfan: I couldn’t quite resist making a list of sorts:
Chanel Pour Monsieur as an example of a chypre in an accessible form. Chanel Cristalle for a citrus chypre and Mitsouko for a fruity chypre.
Leather: Chanel Cuir de Russie, Knize Ten,Dzing! and L’Etat Libre d’Orange Rien
Oriental: Shalimar, Vanille Absolument, Fils de Dieu
Aldehydic Floral: Amouage Gold, Chanel No 5, Rive Gauche and White Linen
Green (Floral): Chanel No 19, Chamade, Private Collection, Odalisque and Philosykos.
Amber: Ambre Sultan, Ambre Russe and Ambre Précieux.
Woody: Ormonde Jayne Woman and Man, Chanel Bois des Iles the Lutens Bois series.
Vetiver: Guerlain, Malle, Encre Noir and Goutal Vétiver.
Iris: Iris Silver Mist, 28 La Pausa and L’Homme de Cœur.
Immortelle: Sables, Eau Noire and HdP 1740.
Lavender: Caron Pour un Homme, Nicolaï pour Homme
2 of my favourite noses:
Ellena: Thé Vert, Déclaration and L’Eau d’Hiver.
Grojsman: Paris and Trésor, because they are both like a warm embrace.
I’m going to leave off here because I haven’t included Roses, Tuberose, Jasmine…. I would find it so hard to just pick one fragrance. October 13, 2014 at 12:56pm
Victoria: This is such a fantastic list, I wish you’d go on with roses, tuberoses and jasmines, all of my favorites. 🙂 October 13, 2014 at 2:37pm
Austenfan: And mimosa, light spring florals, violets, figs, fruit, citrus, colognes…… October 13, 2014 at 2:40pm
Victoria: 🙂 And incense! October 13, 2014 at 2:49pm
Austenfan: Yes! Not my favourite category though, but they ought to be included. October 13, 2014 at 2:59pm
Victoria: I was mostly thinking what you *did not* mention. But I suppose that incense is really a sub-category of either oriental or dry woods. October 13, 2014 at 3:01pm
Austenfan: I think you are perfectly right in including them. And it’s quite easy to name a number of masterpieces in the genre.
Those fragrance categories seem very flexible don’t they? A fair number of fragrances can be classified under more than one.
Tea is that much simpler, and easily as enjoyable. October 13, 2014 at 3:09pm
Victoria: Yes, the fragrance classifications can be very arbitrary. Whether something is wood or oriental can depend on accents or what aspects of a perfume stand out more than others. And that’s just one easy example.
Speaking of tea, I’m drinking some osmanthus oolong right now and thinking that there are are few of any perfumes that capture this combination. October 13, 2014 at 3:16pm
Austenfan: Where did you get that Osmanthus Oolong? It’s a flavour I haven’t tried that. October 13, 2014 at 3:19pm
Austenfan: I mean, that I haven’t tried yet 🙂 October 13, 2014 at 3:19pm
Victoria: I made it myself by mixing Taiwanese oolong with dried osmanthus flower and letting it macerate in a tin for a week or so before drinking. I gave up finding osmanthus oolong here in Brussels, so I had to resort to this. I have to say that it worked really well, and I can really taste the peachy flavor of osmanthus. October 13, 2014 at 3:22pm
Austenfan: http://www.dammann.fr/290-milan-xiang-osmanthus-3259920030681.html
http://www.theevansander.nl/webwinkel/oolong-thee/osmanthus-2
I knew they had to be out there!
Where did you get the flowers? It sounds delicious! October 13, 2014 at 3:40pm
Victoria: Chinese grocery store, I think. They smell wonderful.
I haven’t seen this Dammann blend around here, but perhaps, I haven’t looked closely enough. Nong Cha does have osmanthus oolong tea, but I didn’t like. The scent was a bit too fruity-sweet to be completely natural. October 13, 2014 at 3:46pm
Austenfan: Damman has no vendors in Brussels. You could maybe visit one of their shops in Paris, when you are there. 7me Tasse also has an oolong osmanthus but as it is cheap I’m guessing it won’t be very “haut de gamme”. October 13, 2014 at 3:58pm
Victoria: By the way, there is a highly recommended (by various French tea bloggers) place near Brussels, Source de Lumiere. Apparently, they have some fantastic and very rare teas and welcome people for tastings. I haven’t been there yet, since it takes more than an hour by metro to get there, which is almost like going to Paris! October 13, 2014 at 4:03pm
Austenfan: I’ve just looked at their website and it looks good. Too bad they do not list what they sell. I have a feeling that they might be selling very high end teas, but thanks for the tip! October 14, 2014 at 7:15am
Victoria: I couldn’t figure out what kind of a range they have. Some sites mention the ultra-exclusive, but I don’t think that’s the only thing they offer. October 14, 2014 at 9:21am
Lynley: Victoria, totally off topic but on the subject of tea, are you familiar with lotus tea (mine’s Vietnamese and is just dried leaves) and do you know of any perfume that is even remotely like it? The fragrance is utterly divine October 13, 2014 at 7:47pm
Victoria: I have never tried, but it must be so unusual. October 14, 2014 at 9:14am
rainboweyes: Here goes my list (trying not to include iris scents only 😉 ):
Artisan Parfumeur Dzongkha
Hermès Hiris
Vero Profumo Mito
Etat Libre d’Orange Like This
Artisan Parfumeur Passage d’Enfer
Histoires de Parfums 1889 Moulin Rouge
Penhaligon’s Violetta
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist
Frederic Malle Le Parfum de Therese
Chanel 31 Rue Cambon October 13, 2014 at 2:42pm
Victoria: Well, you’re our resident iris expert! This is a great list, for an iris lover and for anyone at all. So many of these are just stunning. October 13, 2014 at 3:00pm
Courant: I love your list Rainboweyes October 14, 2014 at 12:40am
solanace: My very personal list, from warmer to cooler (in my head, anyaway):
Guerlain Shalimar
Serge Lutens Chergui
Nez à Nez Marron Chic
Dior Homme Intense
Robert Piguet Fracas
Tom Ford Shangai Lilly
Neela Vermeire Mohur Extrait
Amouage Gold
Parfums de Nicolai Le Temps d´Une Fête
The Different Company Bigarrade
Fuelgia Humboldt October 13, 2014 at 3:20pm
Victoria: I wanted to mention it earlier when I spotted Shanghai Lily on a list above that I’m wearing it right now and enjoying it very much. Expensive, but worth it. October 13, 2014 at 3:23pm
solanace: Yeah, that’s how I feel, if it is going to be expensive, ok, but it’s gotta be a ‘grand parfum’! October 13, 2014 at 5:29pm
rainboweyes: I’m happy to see Marron Chic on your list. It’s such an underrated beauty… October 14, 2014 at 5:43am
Sandra: Is there a link to read this article? October 13, 2014 at 4:00pm
Victoria: It’s in their print issue. I don’t think they will also run it online. I will scan it when I have my copy. October 13, 2014 at 4:05pm
Diane: Chanel–
Sycomore ( smoke, mystery, woods)
Bois des iles(elegance, beauty, sandlewood)
Cuir de Russie ( dr zhivago)
Frederic Malle —
Carnal flower ( so sexy, tread with care w this tuberose)
Une rose ( amazing green rose, lasts forever )
Estée Lauder private collection —
Tuberose gardenia (the waters will part as you walk by, trailing a garden of white flowers behind you )
Vero Profumo mito voile d’extrait —
Deep, rich, intense green tuberose.
Bandit–what a great fall fragrance! Leather and spice. October 13, 2014 at 8:21pm
Victoria: Another fun list! I like that Cuir de Russie makes you think of Dr. Zhivago. October 14, 2014 at 9:14am
Heather Hart: Rose: Ann Gerard Rose Cut, SSS Velvet rose
White Floral:Chanel Beige, Parfums Delrae Amoureuse
Lily of the Valley:Parfums Delrae Debut, Chanel 28 La Pausa
Floral Blend:Chanel 22, Perle de Mousse
Oriental:Boise de lles parfum, Amouage Gold October 13, 2014 at 9:45pm
Victoria: A great starter list for a floral lover! October 14, 2014 at 9:16am
Heather Hart: Victoria’s recommendation of Chanel 22 started my perfume journey. Thank you Victoria! Discovering new perfumes has added so much happiness to my life. One year later my favorite houses are Chanel, Ann Gerard, Sonoma Scent Studio, and Parfums Delrae. And yes I am a floral lover. October 15, 2014 at 9:00pm
Victoria: 🙂 You’re a floral lover, just like me, but you have so many diverse favorites. After all, the world of flowers is immense. October 16, 2014 at 10:40am
Christina: Thank you Victoria and everyone who commented their own lists…this fragrance newbie has a long list of “top tens” to investigate! Thank you again. October 13, 2014 at 11:36pm
Victoria: I’m enjoying all of these lists so much. They are inspiring me to revisit old favorites or try something new. October 14, 2014 at 9:17am
Courant: My fellow hobbyists, since I retired I have two perfume personalities, there’s a.m. and p.m.
A.M. Apres L’Ondee, Noa, Pierre de Lune, Yardley Iris, Eau du Sud, Kelly Caleche (EDT)
Moving on to later in the day
P.M. Mitsouko, Chanel 19, Cristalle, Nuit Etoilee, Mon Parfum Cherie, Y (YSL) Prada Infusion Iris Absolue, Songes, many others October 14, 2014 at 12:37am
rainboweyes: It’s fascinating and something I could never do because perfume sticks to me like glue (which is basically a desired effect, I suppose…). No way of changing scents without taking a shower… October 14, 2014 at 6:19am
Victoria: I didn’t think of my personalities being am and pm, but you’re right, I also think of some of my perfumes this way. October 14, 2014 at 9:18am
Sofia: I’m no expert to write 10, but it’s caught my eye how you’ve mentioned Féminité du Bois because it’s a perfume I have not bought yet but cannot stop smelling every time I go to the perfume counter and I know this will be the next one I buy. Am going to read your article about it now.
Have a lovely day Victoria! October 14, 2014 at 2:56am
Victoria: You too, Sofia! Feminite du Bois is such a shape-shifter, and that’s another reason I love it. October 14, 2014 at 9:18am
Vu: Wow,Tania has choosen one of the most daring scent for women.I love Breathe of God and I can’t wait to hear Tania’s opinion about it. October 14, 2014 at 4:23am
Victoria: I also love that she chose that one. October 14, 2014 at 9:19am
Therése: How timely, I actually thought about this this morning. I take the bus to work and there are usually a lot of high schoolers on it, young ladies wearing horrendous cheap celebrity scents, too sweet and cloying. If I were to introduce them to perfumes they can find at the very few perfume counters in our small town I would pick:
Chanel Cristalle Edt
Hermes Eau des Merveilles
Stella
J’Adore
Tresór
(I am assuming it would be hard to introduce them to any niche perfumes. The gulf between what they are currently wearing and niche perfume seems much too wide) October 14, 2014 at 5:08am
Victoria: Those would be such great choices. Also Stella MacCartney Lily is another great option for a teenager. Or See by Chloe. October 14, 2014 at 9:20am
Aurora: All the lists above are excellent and inspiring. Here is how I would respond today (I keep changing my mind). I didn’t want to include too many expensive or difficult to get scents.
Arpege to give Chanel No 5 a rest
Angel the herald of gourmand
Diorling: a leatherette to Bandit’s leather with an spiritual drydown
La Chasse aux papillons (not often mentioned by perfumistas but we French people love this one) or Noah L’Eau: both so playful and with no strings attached
Sa Majeste La Rose or DK Gold: for their take on their respective dominant flower
Voyage a delicate study in spice and still offers me surprises when I wear it – and that what I look for above all in a perfume
Private Collection Jasmine White Moss a nice participant at Bois de Jasmin drew my attention to this one when I was deploring that Cristalle had become a ghost of its former self (I refer to the EdP the EdT struck me as having remained more satisfying)
Y: another great chypre, available again, and still smells recognizable
Shalimar: because I do love it so and needed to include an oriental. Good in all concentrations and iterations which is rare today and has v. good flankers October 14, 2014 at 7:30am
Therése: Oh, I had forgotten about Arpege. Lovely choice. October 14, 2014 at 7:48am
Victoria: Another fantastic list! I think I need to dig out my bottle of Arpege, since it has been neglected a bit lately. October 14, 2014 at 9:23am
Aurora: Therese Victoria:
Fantastic! Arpege is getting some love from you both. And don’t you just love its black and gold bowl bottle! October 14, 2014 at 9:51am
Victoria: Oh, that bottle is so beautiful! One of my favorite designs. October 14, 2014 at 10:26am
Therése: The bottle is so amazingly elegant. October 14, 2014 at 10:49am
Scent lover: Hi Victoria,
Can you list the 10 that Red Magazine listed? I’m curious. Thanks so much October 14, 2014 at 8:39pm
Victoria: Sorry, I don’t remember the whole list, and I don’t have the magazine with me. I recall that Prada Infusion d’Iris was also on it. October 15, 2014 at 5:19am
George: I just read it whilst out shopping.
Mitsouko, Fracas and Eau Sauvage are the other three I can recall.
Plus I think there was also Mugler Cologne.
That would leave one more…… October 15, 2014 at 7:26am
George: NR for her. The last one! October 16, 2014 at 8:21am
Annette Reynolds: God, it was fun reading all these lists!
As for my own: it’s so hard to say. But these few are the ones I wear now and get the most compliments on so I’m assuming they’re fairly universal in their appeal:
Battito d’ali (The Beating of Wings) by Profumum Roma. Gorgeous orange blossom and myrrh.
Opoponax by Les Nereides. Simply beautiful. If you love Shalimar you’ll love this.
Organza Indecence by Givenchy (now gone). This is THE perfume for me and I keep buying up all I can find, along with the sparkly body lotion. Incredibly sensual fragrance. A wonderful spicy amber/vanilla that is so very different from anything else out there. I’d tell anyone: buy a sample and try it. If you love it, paying the price for a bottle is worth it. October 15, 2014 at 11:26am
Victoria: What a fun list! I’m also happy to see Opoponax on it. October 15, 2014 at 11:43am
Tasha: Shalimar and Shalimar Initial – love the lemon, the vanilla, the cozy richness.
Narsisco Rodriguez For her – the sexiest work scent. I don’t know why I love to wear it to work, but it makes me feel both comfortable, confident and attractive at the same time. TF Cafe Rose and Black Violet are similar in effect for me (not like the smells are similar).
Carnal flower (chic), Nuit de Tubereuse (delicate and interesting, I smell some sort of a dry cookie note in it that makes it very addictive) and Beyond love (sweeter, bedtime-ier, and cozier on me) are amazing tuberoses.
Seville a l’Aube must be the best orange blossom I own.
Premier Figueur Extreme – a fig tree in a bottle and I love figs. Angeliques Sous la Pluie – green gin and tonic. Gucci Envy – transparent metallic green, very well made.
Voyage d’Enfer – white flowers and incense. Unforgettable.
Iris Nobile – extremely long lasting and turns into the most delicious powdery warm skin scent. I feel very feminine each time I wear it.
Bvlgari Rose Essentielle – light pink rose that’s very refreshing and pretty. Many compliments. Suitable for any occasion, really.
Hanae Mori Butterfly if you want to smell like a cookie, but not like a teenager who likes to smell of cookies. 🙂 Prada Candy falls into the same category for me.
Tobacco Vanille – wonderful and forever lasting combo. October 16, 2014 at 1:45am
Victoria: So many beautiful and interesting perfumes on your list, Tasha! Thank you for reminding me about Nuit de Tubereuse, which is such a distinctive tuberose. October 16, 2014 at 10:42am
Tasha: I find I myself going through the 100 ml very fast for N de T. Less then half left in a year! And I own at least 50 fb. 🙂 October 17, 2014 at 2:34am
Victoria: Impressive! And clearly, it fits you perfectly. October 17, 2014 at 7:46am
Sheena: Here’s my list 🙂
Frederic Malle Carnal Flower
Vero Profumo Rubj voile d’extrait
Chanel Coromandel
Estee Lauder PC Jasmine White Moss
Estee Lauder PC Tuberose Gardenia
Kilian A Taste of Heaven
Kilian Beyond Love
Annick Goutal Un Matin d’Orage
Paloma Picasso Mom Parfum
Thank you so much Victoria for your wonderful blog, which i have been following for a decade or so. Most of all I want you to know that reading your lovely posts evokes pure JOY… October 17, 2014 at 2:16pm
Victoria: Another fun and diverse list! So much fun to read through all of these suggestions.
And thank you for your nice words, Sheena! October 20, 2014 at 9:37am
Wrenaissance Art: To build on your earlier post, I think recommending anything classic by Guerlain would be a safe bet, as it seems almost all their scents are “easy to love”.
If I thought the person asking for a recommendation were a “big” personality, dramatic, perhaps a bit of a diva, I’d suggest Fracas or Samsara. December 6, 2014 at 7:04pm
Victoria: Of course, this is subjective, but I always think of Guerlains as difficult, and many people comment here mentioning this. Mitsouko and Shalimar are not at all easy for someone new to perfumes, especially classical perfumes. December 7, 2014 at 12:58pm
Wrenaissance Art: I guess it must be my chemistry! 🙂
Shalimar was the first perfume I ever wore at age 18, and I’ve been wearing it and Jicky ever since (I’m 50+). Most Guerlain scents seem attractive to me, even when they don’t smell that good on my body. Many other brands don’t meld with my body chemistry that well, so when I experiment at the scent counter, I stick to Guerlain and a few other brands that I know might work. December 10, 2014 at 9:47am
Victoria: You make me want to go and find my bottle of Shalimar. 🙂 I also love this perfume. December 10, 2014 at 3:40pm
angeliki: A bit late to this post, but do let me cooment:
– Chanel no. 19 EDT – crisp, ethereal, aloof beauty.
– Chanel 19 poudre – toned down, gorgeous powder that wouldn’t feel out pf place anywhere at all.
– Chanel no. 5 EDT – golden, warm, cozy, fluffy, a perfume blanket for when things get tough.
– Infusion d’ Iris EDP – a modern day cologne, surely a thing of beauty, a fragrance to behold. Again, there’s no occasion I can think of when this would be too much or too little.
– Ivoire Balmain – same reasoning as 19 poudre. A true love.
– Love Chloe – a slightly sweet scent, womanly but still girly, carefree but grounded.
– EL Sensuous noir – a gorgeous piney, spicy, woody evening scent.
– August 31, 2015 at 2:21am
Victoria: A beautiful list! August 31, 2015 at 5:04am