What are your recent perfume discoveries? What did you especially like? What did you end up buying?
While I very much enjoyed the new Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée, my best discoveries have been rather rediscoveries from my perfume closet. I fell in love anew with Chanel No 22 parfum and wondered, “why, oh why do I keep neglecting this jasmine-incense gem.”
Thanks to March’s review of Yves Saint Laurent Cinema, I have another gourmand oriental to add my collection (and through online discounters it can even qualify for my “cheap & chic” category.)
Finally, passing by L’Artisan boutique, I sprayed myself with Havana Vanilla (renamed Vanille Absolument.) It surprised me with its luscious vanilla and tobacco interpretation, considering that I am ordinarily not a fan of such strongly vanillic fragrances. However, I would imagine that for any die-hard vanilla lovers, it is going to be a great discovery.
33 Comments
Uella: I bought Lutens Jeux de Peau and my second bottle of Bas de Soie. I’m also falling again for JOY after trying it recently at Bloomingdale’s, however it was impossible to find the parfum, I had to order it online – both the edt and edp are nice but I wanted the parfum. After reading your update, Nahema is going to be my next perfume purchase. April 2, 2011 at 5:16am
Ann C: Every time I read one of your reviews, I discover a new perfume I absolutely must try. A couple of days ago I read the article about the Carons and find I must try Aimez Moi. Sounds lovely! I’ve been doing quite a bit of sampling lately and found two to love; I bought a bottle of KM Peau de Peche and a decant of MDCI La Belle Helene. April 2, 2011 at 6:26am
rosarita: I’ve been enjoying your posts so much! I recently acquired a bottle of Theo Fennell Scent and have been enjoying it very much, after the first five minutes. It’s one that changes a lot on skin and is nice for chilly early spring. Also rediscovered Gris Clair, which I love for days at home. It morphs continually on me and lasts for 24 hrs or more – too distracting for every day, a bit like a long Pink Floyd album in scent form. April 2, 2011 at 6:47am
Elizabeth: I have been wearing mostly florals lately, in an attempt to will spring into existence! I tried Etro Dianthus in a perfume shop in Germany a few weeks ago, and I loved its sheer, yet peppery carnation. I have also re-discovered Lush Orange Blossom, Imogen Rose, and Lust. The solid perfumes are a great pick-me-up during the day! April 2, 2011 at 8:24am
pam: I fell in love with Paco Rabanne’s Metal a while ago, but during the winter it disappeared behind my other boxes and bottles. This one is great in the springtime. April 2, 2011 at 8:31am
Olfactoria: I recently fell for Frapin 1697 and it is dominating my (and throwing over) my perfume wearing plans. 😉
Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee gets a lot of wear too right now as well as Amouage Memoir and for something lighter – Jardin en Mediterranee. Not really seasonally appropriate I also crave amber scents right now, so Ambre Fetiche and Ambre Sultan are in rotation, but these are re-discoveries from my collection.
I love all your current choices! 🙂 April 2, 2011 at 5:01am
Aubrey: I agree about the rediscoveries sometimes being better than discoveries: I didn’t wear CdR for a month and then was awed by it again just last night. I forgot how perfect this is on a quiet evening.
Discoveries: Chanel 22 was one of my recent ones. I really love incense. April 2, 2011 at 9:38am
axum: Ever since your post about industrial fragrances I’ve been paying more attention to the everyday products I use and am particularly fond of: Purex Lavender laundry detergent, Estee Lauder face creams, Burt’s Bees’ Milk and Shea Butter line, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lotion and Nivea cream…mmmm! April 2, 2011 at 5:49am
axum: I mean, I’m ‘rediscovering’ these fragrances 🙂 April 2, 2011 at 5:51am
Geordan: Richwood by Xerjoff is definitely my recent new love. I’ve decided that I can forgo several new bottles of other fragrances for a bottle of this… it’s also become the one scent that I could truly become fragrance monogamous for. I have 10ml that I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to ration, yet it’s the one I keep reaching for… it’s a creamy delight, but has just enough “masculine” (for lack of better word) edge to it that I don’t fe frou-frou in it. April 2, 2011 at 10:30am
Marlene: That’s a great photo.
I’m now in love with PG Jardin de Kerylos. A wonderful wet-ish fig with long life and a very good drydown. Very impressed with this and will explore the line because of it.
I also am now crazy about Xerjoff Richwood. However, it’s a winter scent to me so I won’t have to
agonize over it’s price for months. April 2, 2011 at 11:23am
Gitcheegumee: How fortuitous that you have combined two of my fascinations-Chanel #22 and Havana.
I have never been a huge fan of Chanel,in general, but the #22 is an exception,to be sure. I always wondered why it has been overshadowed by the ubiquitous #5-perhaps marketing?
Havana has proven more elusive than Chanel #22. I have always wanted to go there, ever since I was a child.Maybe I’ll go there,on my way back from touring Lake Como.(LOL)
Wouldn’t it be fun to do a list of cities,and what fragrances would embody that particular location?
Speaking of cheap and chic, I located some Lentheric Tweed-my grandmother’s favorite . Love it! April 2, 2011 at 12:12pm
Marie: My most recent purchase is Un Jardin sur le Nil, inspirede by Olfactoria’s review. I’m really enjoying it – wish it would last longer on the skin, but I enjoy it in all its stages from very citrusy start to slightly spicy finish. This one might very well be one that I will repurchase. Another recent purchase is Matthew Williiamson’s Incense, inspired by an incense post of Katie Puckrik’s blog. I had a hard time with the wood notes at first, but now I’m beginning to understand them, and the oddly dry sweetness of the fragrance is beginning to grow on me. A rediscovery is Chanel no. 19 – still love it! And I look forward to rediscovering Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. I’ve moved Estee Lauder Pure White Linen and EL Pure White Linen Light Breeze to the front of my drawer. They always win over other fragrances in the same genre for me. I find them both elegantly done and well-structured. On my wish list is Jubilation 25 and Amaranthine in the expensive range. In the more accessible range I’d love to have Dior’s Escale a Portofino – I love it’s old school beauty. April 2, 2011 at 12:22pm
Hannah: I was sent small decants of YSL M7 and Chanel Coromandel.
I don’t buy perfume very often because I don’t like having too much stuff so I’m really exclusive about what I buy. I may have to buy a bottle of Coromandel though.
I really like M7, too. April 2, 2011 at 12:38pm
Victoria: I'm also wearing a lot of ambers–Mitzah, Ambre Sultan, Ambre Fetiche. So, your Ambre Fetiche sample was mislabeled after all? April 2, 2011 at 10:38am
Victoria: Joy parfum is impossible to find in stores! I also ended up buying it online.
Jeux de Peau was my own most recent full bottle purchase. April 2, 2011 at 10:40am
Victoria: Oh, those do smell great. Nivea cream is something I would wear as perfume. I just adore its scent. April 2, 2011 at 10:41am
karin: Recent discoveries: Balenciaga Paris (think I’m going to need a bottle of this!) and Chanel No. 18 (wow – love it).
Most recent purchase: Libertin Louison’s “For Them” lavender cologne to benefit the Japanese earthquake/tsunami. Haven’t receiving it yet, but I’m looking forward to trying it! Also just placed a large order for Luckyscent samples – want to try the Profumi del Forte Roma Imperiale, then threw in a bunch of others. 🙂
Most recent rediscovery: Histoires de Parfums 1889 Moulin Rouge. I have a decant of this. Wearing it today. So nice! April 2, 2011 at 3:22pm
MK: Well I haven’t bought either yet, but I’m really enjoying my samples of Bornéo 1834 and Five O’Clock au Gingembre.
I’ve always liked the idea of A*Men combining chocolate and patchouli, but I can’t get past the topnotes. Even though it’s more of a cocoa than a sweet chocolate, I think those two notes were pulled off pretty successfully in Bornéo.
I guess Five O’Clock is in the same family when I look at the notes, but I’m trying to convince myself that they’re different enough that I should own them both! April 2, 2011 at 3:31pm
Olfactoria: It was! I am so glad! Dee sent me some of hers and it is gorgeous! 🙂 I’d really like to know what was in the sample vial though! April 2, 2011 at 12:41pm
Dee: V, I recently discovered (and bought) Bronze Goddess, and it has been delighting me this past week— a real accomplishment since it was a tough week… Dousing myself in BG has kept me sane(ish).
I also bought Alahine, after receiving and loving a sample shared with me by my dear Birgit— I think it might work as my spring/summer oriental. AND I bought Chanel no 19 EDP, after having been a fan of the EDT.
And I still have a little April budget left!
🙂 April 2, 2011 at 1:16pm
Anna in Edinburgh: Temptation came my way and I bought a privately-owned boxed houndstooth-design splash EdT Diorissimo (54 ml, 1.8 US fl oz). Cost: £20. It smells good.
To compare the scent at the department store’s Dior counter, I asked to test Diorissimo. The beautiful oh-so-young lady blinked. I pointed out, on the lowest shelf, a few boxes of Diorissimo, Dioressence and Diorella. She opened a deep drawer filled with muddled tester bottles, and asked me what the bottle would look like! I guided her, she found one: the EdP.
She went to another counter for tester strips. She sprayed one for me, exclaimed “Oh! That’s pretty!” as she caught the residual spritz in the air, and looked at me open-mouthed. I agreed, and she promptly set to work finding out *for herself* how much it cost in the various strengths.
She was so enthusiastic now (but I couldn’t believe that one could work on a Dior counter and *not* test the classics before!) that I suggested that she investigate the other testers too. She offered to spray my scarf with the EdP (yes, please!) and did so generously. Then I left her rummaging happily through the tester bottles:-)
I feel that I’ve spread the Diorissimo love a bit. My EdT smells like the new EdP but fades away on skin after an hour or so: still, it’s a happy hour.
Sorry for being so long-winded but it shows that young women, given the opportunity of experiencing different scents, do appreciate the older fragrances in their own right; however, if the stores and perfume houses channel those young women to the latest heavily-promoted scents only, the older ones will wither and die for lack of sales. Vicious downward spiral. Shame.
Melancholy thoughts but Diorissimo won over a young lady today. Hope springs eternal. April 2, 2011 at 3:50pm
Kit: I’ve just recently fallen in love with L’Artisan Tea for Two, which is perfect on the cold rainy days we’ve been having recently. I also recently got a sample of MDCI La Belle Helene, which I sampled . . . and sampled. Now my sample is almost gone and I’m trying to figure out if I can justify a full bottle. Life would be so much simpler if I was a “one and only” kind of girl. April 2, 2011 at 8:17pm
Suzy Q: Marlene, try PG Bois Naufrage. It’s JdK perfected! April 2, 2011 at 8:42pm
Myra: Now I must try Chanel No 22 – Jasmine and Incense sounds like a wonderful pairing. My recent discoveries have been the Sonoma Scents line with Incense pure & Vintage Rose. I have also been reaching for bK’s Dangereuses Liaisons – I haven’t used that one since last summer. Oh! and also Amouage’s Lyric Man. I just love this one for the summer! April 2, 2011 at 9:44pm
Elisa: My latest discovery is Liz Zorn’s line, which has everything from playful fruity florals to animalic leathers. I was quite impressed. Wish I could afford it!
My rediscovery is L de Lolita Lempicka, which I ignored all winter, because I think it shines most in warmer weather. April 2, 2011 at 8:47pm
Rowanhill: For the still cool but bright spring days, Kelly Caleche has been in very frequent use, a bottle that otherwise has long remained untouched. April 4, 2011 at 6:44am
minette: love no. 22 – the incense reminds me of the incense in a greek orthodox church at pashca.
i bought tresor in love blind, and really like it – much more wearable than tresor, and lovely for summer. also surprised myself with a gem at sephora – carolina herrera 212 sexy – which i’d ignored. really great scent! it’s already become my go-to when i’m going to be around new people (whose perfume tastes i don’t know), and when i just want to feel pretty and yes, sexy. it’s got a great musk note underpinning it – and i can smell it all the way through. plus, it smells “clean” without being dull. also got boyfriend, just because it’s a little weird and has a rough edge i like (also reminds me a bit of un bois vanille.) that was a mood purchase for sure.
also ordered pacifica’s california star jasmine set because she did a great job with this jasmine scent! it’s sparkly and juicy and very jasminey – at a great price point. totally recommend this one.
finally ordered amaranthine from luckyscent. every time i tested it, i really loved it, so i finally went for it.
and on the super-high end (to me), just bought cartier l’heure promise, which smells like musk to me. yeah, i know, it’s iris and sandalwood, but to me, it’s an incredible musk scent. very sexy. April 4, 2011 at 12:26pm
Joan: The last perfume I got was Joy parfum. Got it as a gift, which pleased me greatly. 🙂
I have a sample of the eponymous Mauboussin, and I’m really glad I “discovered” it. I think it’s vastly underrated. Ditto Cuir Venenum by Parfumerie Generale and 100% Love by S-Perfume. April 4, 2011 at 9:08pm
Beauty perfume: Same to you joan.. Me to got the same joy Perfume.. It really sounds great fragrance..http://www.vivamagonline.com/index.php Very cool and best.. I’m glad to visit your blog.. Very provides very interesting articles.. Thank you!! April 5, 2011 at 2:21am
March: Hey! Thanks for the link! And when it turned cold again recently, there I was, wearing Cinema and thinking, why did this elude me for so long? (I’d had a couple of sample vials and never could make up my mind whether I actually liked it.) Very pretty and, as you said, cheap cheap online. April 5, 2011 at 8:58am
Musette: The last FB I bought was Diorella and I have not regretted it. But the blow-away split was Roja Dove’s Diaghilev – it’s gorgeous. Between that and Jube25, which a gorgeous enabler sent to me, I am pretty much set for early spring!
Btw – I love Anna in Edinburgh’s story about Diorissimo. I was going to wear that today but got distracted and put on Ineke’s Field Notes instead. Pretty but perhaps just a tad more lavender than this alien can handle.
xoA April 6, 2011 at 6:44pm
Isabeau: I discovered so many great fragrances lately, especially the ones made by Maria Candida Gentile…Sideris and Exultat, just beautiful..then also love Clemency by Humiecki & Graef and the new Batitto d’ali from Profumum and Black Ananda by Micallef! Al great but expensive too!
My latest buys are the classic Lancaster eau concentree and Pure by Boudicea the Victorious and Manguier Metisse by Huitieme Art.
I rediscoverd Fench lime blossom by Jo Malone and Happy by Clinique great for spring! April 7, 2011 at 6:25am