Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can use this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors. Or you can just tell us what perfume you are wearing!
How does it work: 1. Please post your requests or questions as comments here. You can also use this space to ask any fragrance related questions. To receive recommendations that are better tailored to your tastes, you can include details on what you like and don’t like, your signature perfumes, and your budget. And please let us know what you end up sampling. 2. Then please check the thread to see if there are other requests you can answer. Your responses are really valuable for navigating the big and sometimes confusing world of perfume, so let’s help each other!
To make this thread easier to read, when you reply to someone, please click on the blue “reply” link under their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
56 Comments
Claudia Larsson: Hello and thank you for your wonderful posts.
I’m a perfume lover from forever.. right now I have a minimal budget so have been curtailing my shopping
I love most anything Jean Claude Elena (sp?)
Un Jardin sur les Nils is high up on my list. The problem is the longevity as I’m sure everyone can attest to. I’ve tried suggestions as to how to maximise longevity – using body lotion under etc. since I really have minimum funds to play with I cannot always buy the body lotion to match etc.
right now am wearing La vie est belle – smells great on me and I get compliments daily. But am looking for something more green but lasting. There is a fab small perfumer in Cali – called Elia. It’s a beautiful scent but alas the price… thank you for reading. July 24, 2023 at 9:42am
AndreaR: I love fragrances by Jean Claude Elena too.
At the moment I’m finishing a bottle of Un Jardin Apres Mousson. It’s a summer staple for me along with Patricia de Nicolai’s Eau d’Ete and Cap Neroli .
Ellena favorites include Jour d’Hermes and Le Jardin de Monsieur Li.
Good luck with your search. July 24, 2023 at 1:51pm
Lynley: I find the only thing that helps longevity is to spray on your clothes as well as your skin. And then I often find that my clothes are still deeply fragrant the following day long after I could no longer smell anything myself. July 24, 2023 at 5:05pm
hera: I don’t know if you have tried it but there is 100Bon line that has some Jean Claude Ellena and Celine Ellena creations which are very affordable. I am curious to try Musc & Jasmin. July 24, 2023 at 5:40pm
Aurora: Hi Claudia, Jacomo Silences is very green and won’t break the bank. July 24, 2023 at 5:41pm
Alityke: Seconded, it’s eternal too! December 25, 2023 at 2:17pm
johaboha: It’s interesting, how perception of longevity may differ! I can smell un jardin sur le nil for quite some time on myself. I used to lament over the poor longevity of musc noir by NR but suddenly I can smell it for hours, maybe my nose can pick up some of the muscs better now? Anyway coming back to your question Guerlain aqua allegoria – forte – nerolia vetiver comes to my mind as an elegant fruity green scent and as the name suggests it should be a stronger version than the regular aquas. July 25, 2023 at 2:38am
Aurora: Interesting about immortelle, I’m going to buy some essential oil. July 25, 2023 at 4:17am
Aurora: Sorry this was meant for Ewan. Un Jardin sur le Nil lasts on me too in summer in particular. July 25, 2023 at 4:21am
la_ninon: I’m a niche/vintage perfume lover on a budget, too. I basically live on samples/decants and have just a few full bottles. July 26, 2023 at 1:12pm
Cybele: Jean Claude Ellena’s fragrances have a tendency to be fleeting but try Kelly Caleche the EDP and EDT have slightly different scents and it might be that the EDP lasts longer July 27, 2023 at 1:34pm
Tangerine: I can recommend ordering the dupe of JSlN from the website Oil Perfumery, a Canadian company. It’s very good quality. I am in no way affiliated with them, other than I seem to spend money there. July 29, 2023 at 2:33pm
ClareObscure: Hi Fragrant fans of Victoria & Bois de jasmin.
I love “Recommend me a fragrance”. It’s so fun & informative to read the comments that are posted here. Is there a theme this month or just Summer & what’s new to you/me?
Looking forward to reading what you recommend.
Not enjoying typing on this device so just saying hello.
Sadly, department stores are closing in Manchester UK where I live so I recently & unexpectedly could not resist l’Heure Exquise by Goutal. I’m a long time fan of that brand & adore Eau d’Hadrian, Eau du Sud & Grand Amour. Anyone else had a great/irresistible perfume bargain lately.
Kind regards to Victoria & others who love Bois de J. July 24, 2023 at 10:21am
Alityke: Oh no, which stores have or are closing in Manchester. I used to go regularly but haven’t in the last few years. I need a shopping trip & might get the train over soon July 24, 2023 at 11:10am
matty1649: I used to go into Manchester on the bus. Very convenient from where I live. into Debenhams for aa sniffathon. Sadly they closed. July 25, 2023 at 3:26am
Aurora: Waving from the UK, glad you were able to secure a bargain but sorry at the department store closing. July 24, 2023 at 5:44pm
Ewan: I picked up a sample of Paradiso by Pigmentarium, it has a powdery woody sense with notes of fruits.
On another note: Helichrysum Italicum / Imortelle is being researched as to its effect in fighting Staphlococcus aureus. July 24, 2023 at 11:06am
Julie: In Canada there are some decent non boutique scents at Shoppers Drug Mart. I am recently enjoying Light Blue Dolce Gabbana in our heat wave. I used to love Acqua Di Gio and am lamenting it’s demise for women. I use my partner’s for men but it does not cut it. Getting harder to get eau de perfume, so I can relate
to longevity issue. Seems to be so many scents with a bang top note and weaker base. Many oils are a weak concentration. For our Manchester pal Shoppers is also on-line. Suggestions welcome similar to two I like. July 24, 2023 at 9:07pm
Aurora: Oh, I didn’t know Acqua Di Gio was discontinued. I think you might enjoy Eau de Rochas and Ô de Lancôme, they are brilliant citrus scents with an interesting drydown. July 25, 2023 at 7:57am
Aurora: Interesting about immortelle, I’m going to buy some essential oil. July 25, 2023 at 4:32am
Ewan: It’s worth buying . It’s a base note if you fancy mixing essential oils. July 25, 2023 at 9:35am
Aurora: Thank you very much, I have other essential oils for top notes, citrus mainly, I’ve just located some immortelle e.o. on eBay. July 25, 2023 at 10:22am
Ewan: Well if you mix anything with Imortelle and its good , please let me know. July 25, 2023 at 1:04pm
Aurora: 😃I can already relay a big favorite of mine is mandarin e.o. July 25, 2023 at 2:15pm
Labro Diamanti: I bought after 35 years Fidgi-Gue Laroche- just for the memory. Do I loose my olfactory memory or is different? Maybe I”m getting old Sometimes you must stay with your memories!! July 24, 2023 at 11:36am
Alityke: It is utterly different from the Fidji I wore in the very late 70s. The musks, sandalwood, oakmoss & cloves have all been affected by legislation & largely replaced with aroma molecules.
To me the Fidji of today bears little resemblance to vintage Fidji July 24, 2023 at 5:38pm
Nina Z: Trust your nose! Almost all if not all of the older perfumes have been reformulates in modern times partly because some ingredients are no longer allowed and partly because cheaper synthetics are used instead of more expensive ingredients.
So if the modern version of any classic perfume smells different to you, you can bet that is IS different.
Now you just need to find a modern perfume that you do love! July 27, 2023 at 10:53am
Geraldine Ethen: Particularly during the summer when it is hot I like to dust myself while putting on my night clothes. My favorite is Shalimar’s dusting powder which is light and clean-flavored. I love the mild aroma that calms me as I prepare for bed. Does anyone else have recommendations for elegant dusting powders? July 24, 2023 at 12:29pm
Christine: Following as well – I too have been wearing Shalimar powder after my evening shower. July 24, 2023 at 11:50pm
Aurora: Hi Geraldine: I am faithful to Fenjal dusting powder, I’ve always liked its scent but of course it must be less luxurious than Shalimar d. p. but for a budget option it is stellar and has been in production forever. July 25, 2023 at 4:29am
la_ninon: I’m testing Profumum Tagete today and it’s lovely. What, besides De Profundis, are other marigold perfumes you know and love? July 24, 2023 at 5:06pm
Deanna: I’d recommend Jo Malone Jasmin Marigold, if you are also a Jasmine lover! July 25, 2023 at 2:45am
la_ninon: Thank you. JM scents are usually too light for me, but I love jasmine and will check this out. July 25, 2023 at 12:59pm
Marty M: Hi,
have recently purchased Habit Rouge Rouge Prive and I don’t wish to be an iconoclast but it is an improvement on the original Habit Rouge. It is more of a leather gragrance than the original and signature scent worthy,
cheers
Marty M July 24, 2023 at 6:27pm
MaryAnn Hardy: Recommend me a perfume with the purest ROSE scent. When I wear it, I would like for people to remark, “Mmmm. I smell roses!”
I would love to move beyond essential oil. July 24, 2023 at 7:37pm
Aurora: Hello MaryAnn: Jurlique Essence de Rose is a favorite of mine as are Goutal Rose Absolue, check also the two others roses, Rose Splendide and Ce Soir ou Jamais, I also like Eau Rose for a natural, fruity rose, and prefer the Eau de toilette but there is also an Eau de parfum. July 25, 2023 at 8:05am
Aurora: *Eau Rose is from Diptyque. July 25, 2023 at 12:12pm
Nina Z: Red Roses from Jo Malone. July 27, 2023 at 10:54am
Frances: Hello! When it comes to roses, Guerlain Nahema comes to mind, it is a glorious voluptuous rose. Maybe not easy to find in store everywhere but avaible on their website of course and for instance at Sephora. It is however a sophisticated rose complete with hyacinth, jasmine, ylang ylang and an ambery sensuous drydown, so if you want something more “natural” and by that I mean closer to the garden rose, I would recommend Korres Apothecary Wild. It is a recent find for me and I’m really enjoying it. Some people compare it to Chloe (I don’t know about that, never wore it). I use the shower gel which is very fragrant and last on the skin. I plan to buy very soon the Eau de Toilette and the body lotion. There are some reviews on Fragrantica by the way. Next you can also try Fragonard Rose de Mai, a lovely realistic rose. Like Korres they sell the corresponding shower gel and body lotion which is something I really appreciate. I’m a little late with my reply but I hope this will maybe help you. July 27, 2023 at 11:37am
MaryAnn Hardy: Recommend me a perfume: The purest, most natural ROSE scent in a perfume. I’m hoping to move out of essential oil. Thank you! July 24, 2023 at 11:15pm
TraceyK: Im looking for something evocative of Provence in summer…whether that entails a field of wildflowers or a little stone church with smell of old stone and incense. Thanks in advance for any recommendations. July 27, 2023 at 8:41am
Nina Z: Avignon by Comme des Garçons smells just like incense in an old church to me and so, well, like Avignon! July 27, 2023 at 10:57am
TraceyK: Thank you! July 27, 2023 at 12:57pm
Aurora: Hi Tracey: Seconding Avignon and adding Goutal Encens Flamboyant as if thé church has its doors opened on the garrigue, also but only if you like the note of fig, Hermes Jardin en Méditerranée, Diptyque Philosykos or l’Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier. July 27, 2023 at 1:28pm
TraceyK: Thank you. July 27, 2023 at 6:21pm
Isabelle: I am looking for a women perfume which reminds pines’s scent in summer, warmed by the sun. Any idea ? July 29, 2023 at 2:19am
Cybele: try Gypsy Water by Byredo July 30, 2023 at 3:43am
Aurora: Hi Isabelle: Seconding Gypsy Water. Also Tocca Colette might be worth trying, it is similar. July 30, 2023 at 7:36am
Wara: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jul/30/the-rooster-house-a-ukrainian-family-memoir-by-victoria-belim-review July 31, 2023 at 5:43am
Victoria: Thank you, dear Wara! July 31, 2023 at 9:33am
Wara: FELICITACIONES VICTORIA!!!!
VIVA UKRANIA!!!!!💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛 July 31, 2023 at 5:47am
Wara: HOT as balls of FIRE this past week…can only wear JE REVIENS by Worth. Saving the precious last drops as it is difficult to find. July 31, 2023 at 5:59am
Marty Marshman: Hi,
can anyone recommend me their favourite leather fragrance or 1 that I should try,
thanks
Marty August 4, 2023 at 12:27am
Edward: Marty: My favorite leather is Cuir from Le Galion, a leather accord boosted by bergamot and Elemi oil, a statement scent by perfumer Vanina Murraciole. While you’re looking at Le Galion check out Tilleul, a linden tree accord from perfumer Quentin Bisch. I wear it often and spritz a bit on my curtains from time to time. August 4, 2023 at 10:08am
Marty Marshman: Hi Edward,
thanks so much for the recommendations I will seek them out.
cheers
Marty M August 6, 2023 at 6:47pm
joan ramirez: Thanks for the scent updates and info. It inspires my scented historical suspense series.
Yes to participating in the giveaway and, of course, I will do my best to respond to replies sent here or to my email. Joan Ramirez, perfume afficionado December 25, 2023 at 10:55am