Bois de Jasmin will return on Tuesday, June 24th. Today we have our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread. You can use this space to ask any questions about perfume, including fragrance recommendations. If you’ve asked for a recommendation before, please let us know how your search went and what you’ve discovered.
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
372 Comments
Lucas: Hello everyone!
Can you recommend me a nice and lasting perfume with honeysuckle?
Also looking for a soft and delicate jasmine (no animalic or indolic; I think that new VC&A California Reverie might suit me) June 20, 2014 at 7:23am
Jillie: Hi, Lucas! Well of course there is the classic Annick Goutal Chevrefeuille which I often wear in the hot weather. To my nose it is the nearest to the flower, I often get compliments when I wear it and it is quite long lasting. But I don’t think there will ever be a perfect representation, and I went through a lot of samples until I settled on this …. I don’t know Reverie! June 20, 2014 at 8:29am
Lucas: Hi dear!
Of course I tried Le Chevrefeuille from Annick Goutal but I don’t get more than 1 hour of a scent from it… June 20, 2014 at 9:11am
Jillie: That’s sad … my bottle is now about five years old and I would guess it might have been a stronger formula then, and perhaps time has deepened it (but it is kept in a box in a cupboard in the dark!), June 20, 2014 at 9:31am
Lucas: I guess I tried the version which was reformulated? June 20, 2014 at 11:27am
Victoria: That’s too bad. I also think that it’s the best honeysuckle out there, and I haven’t found anything that matches better. So, if anyone else has other ideas, I will also be taking notes. June 20, 2014 at 11:35am
Bookwyrmsmith: Perhaps Cynthia Rowley ‘s first scent self titled Cynthia Rowley ? I get a tea and honeysuckle scent with that one. Demeter’s honeysuckle is good too and BBW Wild Honeysuckle is in their online exclusives ( probably have to layer all the BBW products for best effect as the edt doesn’t seem to be produced any longer). June 21, 2014 at 11:46am
Tomate Farcie: You could layer the Chevrefeuile with
Grand Amour June 20, 2014 at 5:02pm
Danica: Jardin Blanc MPG–indolic jasmine with a honeysuckle and tuberose underpinning that suggests an overripe honeyed pear. June 24, 2014 at 12:22pm
Danica: Another idea: Caprifoglio by Santa Maria Novella. A great beachy honeysuckle cologne. Smells like a sunny summer day. June 24, 2014 at 6:15pm
AnnieA: You might want to try Demeter’s Honeysuckle in the oil version. The regular spray lasts, oh, ten minutes. July 2, 2014 at 4:33pm
Bea: Victoria, your photos are always so classical and elegant.
I have asked here several times for advice about a summer scent that it suitable for the Scandinavian summer and I have recieved many lovely ideas. My plan was to get something light, fresh and flowery for the day and something with neroli for the evening.
After a lot of research I finally have decided on something completely different: Vétiver from Dior for daywear and Chanel no 19 extrait for the evening. 🙂
It was not what I had planned, but I am completely in love with them both and very happy to have made their acquaintance.
I also plan to “borrow” some Eau Sauvage and Dior Homme from my husband this summer – I have purchased both for him after reading about them here.
Wish you all a happy midsummer – we celebrate today so I am off for a dance around the maypole, some pickled herrring and ice cold aquavit. Wearing my new Vétiver. June 20, 2014 at 8:17am
Jillie: Bea I just want to say congratulations on your No 19 extrait – how wonderful! And Eau Sauvage is one of my husband’s favourites. Happy Midsummer to you! June 20, 2014 at 8:32am
Bea: Happy Midsummer Jillie and thanks for the compliment!
I held my breath when I paid for the extrait – this is not the kind of money I normally spend on a scent. But I must admit that the knowledge of how exclusive it is only adds to it’s allure when I apply it – I feel completely spoilt every time.
Eau Sauvage is beautiful – your husband has excellent taste! June 21, 2014 at 8:45am
Kat: Happy Midsummer, Bea! Just wanted to add that it gets very hot in my area, but a light spray of Dior Homme before bed and I’m off to a very pleasant Dreamland. 🙂 Love it! June 20, 2014 at 9:11am
Bea: Happy Midsummer Kat!
What a lovely idea, to use Homme as a bedtime scent!
It’s so discrete and elegant and the lavendel note is perfect to smell before falling asleep.
Will try it this evening. June 21, 2014 at 8:50am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Bea! And Happy Midsummer to you. I love any celebration that involves dancing. 🙂
Your perfume choices sound perfect and very elegant. I love Dior’s Vetiver, and although it follows in the footsteps of Guerlain’s, today Dior’s version smells more interesting. I only have a small decant, but I now wish that I went for Vetiver instead of Eau Noire. Beautiful though Eau Noire is, I find it very difficult to wear. June 20, 2014 at 11:38am
Bea: Thank you Victoria! I read you review for Vetiver from Guerlain and I am dying to try it. (It’s not sold here.)
I discussed Vetiver Guerlain with a friend who has been a perfume lover for 30+ years and he said that the version sold today is very pale compared to the older ones and adviced me to get Vétiver from Dior instead.
I picked Dior since I had tried it – and love it – and didn’t want to make a blind buy from Guerlain.
What do you think? How does the modern Vetiver from Guerlain, the version that is sold today, compare to Dior’s Vétiver? June 21, 2014 at 8:56am
Katy McReynolds: I adore Eau Noire, and am troubled you find it difficult to wear since I consider it the Queen of Immortelle fragrances. I have blown through 2 decants and just do not want to spend the money for a full bottle nor find myself regretting the purchase. What is your favorite perfume featuring immortelle? June 23, 2014 at 5:46pm
Isis: Wauw. The people around you are so lucky… you are going to smell absolutely breathtakingly good this summer!!!!! June 20, 2014 at 2:50pm
Bea: Thank you Isis! 🙂
They both are beuatiful scents and I have recieved many compliments on them.
It’s so rewarding to feel like I have found The Perfect Scents, after a long search. June 21, 2014 at 9:01am
Nick: Hi!
Could someone please recommend me a warm-soft-buttery iris/orris soliflore perfume? I have already tried Iris Silver Mist-Lutens, Irisss-Xerjoff, Infusion d’Iris-Prada, but all of them while they start velvety-rooty they become bitter sharp cold. June 20, 2014 at 8:37am
Lucas: Hi Nick!
Guerlain Iris Ganache is a soft and buttery iris, unfortunately it has been discontinued some time ago so it might be hard to get it.
Another buttery iris is in Ashoka from Neela Vermeire Creations.
Chanel 28 La Pausa is very nice too, opus V from Amouage is also more buttery, but none of them is a soliflore.
There’s also a classy iris such as Guerlain Apres L’Ondee.
Hope you’ll find the one you truly love. June 20, 2014 at 9:16am
Nick: Thank you! I will give them a try -hopefully- soon! June 20, 2014 at 10:26am
Cornelia Blimber: Dior Homme is an elegant iris, not sharp at all. Dior Homme Intense is warmer, very comfortable. June 20, 2014 at 12:10pm
SophieC: Hello while it’s not a soliflore I would also suggest 19 Poudre. I know it doesn’t get a lot of love generally but I find it rather lovely and with a strong and comforting iris depth. Another one if you can track it down it Crbtree & Evelyn’s Iris, which is affordable and very soft. June 20, 2014 at 12:16pm
Isis: Hi Nick! If you want butter and softness, I’d absolutely go for Frederic Malle Iris Poudré. Another iris that is worth a try if you want smootness and comforting warmth is Equistrius by Parfums d’Empire. June 20, 2014 at 2:57pm
rainboweyes: Second Equistrius and I’d add Silver Iris by Atelier Cologne. And Artisan Parfumeur Traversee du Bosphore is a very soft iris too. June 20, 2014 at 3:09pm
Courant: If Infusion D’Iris was enjoyable at the beginning its flanker ‘Abslue’ is warm and enveloping right to the end, and very inexpensive at the discounters right now. With more money in bank I would always head for Chanel 19. June 20, 2014 at 4:12pm
Maren: Hi Nick, I would like to recommend Heeley Iris de Nuit. I don’t know how buttery I would describe it, but it has a nice cedar note with the iris that I really like, it tends to the masculine a bit, and I like it quite a lot. It might be another to try. June 21, 2014 at 11:43pm
Danica: This veers towards fruity but it so beautiful it’s worth trying: Impossible Iris by Ramon Monegal. Many find it quite unisex. June 24, 2014 at 12:27pm
Lynley: Impossible Iris by Ramon Monegal? June 26, 2014 at 7:21am
AnnieA: Give SL Bas de Soie a sniff sometime… July 2, 2014 at 4:48pm
Carol: Have you tried Absolue Infusion d’Iris? It’s much better than the original with a warm long-lasting drydown, which is probably the benzoin. It’s become one of my favourites. Another one to try is Heure Exquise by
Annick Goutal. The iris in this reminds me of the iris in No 19 (which I love) but the drydown is warmer. June 20, 2014 at 8:48am
Jillie: I second Carol’s recommendation of Heure Exquise! June 20, 2014 at 9:29am
allgirlmafia: : ) to chime in I am an Iris lover too. Heure Exquise is comforting. June 20, 2014 at 11:53am
rainboweyes: Another vote for Heure Exquise!!! June 20, 2014 at 3:20pm
Nick: Wow! I have a lot to test…thank you for your recommendations! You are all too kind! June 20, 2014 at 3:32pm
rainboweyes: I forgot to mention Ramon Monegal Impossible Iris which has a very soft iris note. Enjoy your testing! June 21, 2014 at 1:51am
Courant: I just echoed your comments Carol and then saw you had already covered it. Haha June 20, 2014 at 4:13pm
Amanda Val: Hi! Could you please recommend a perfume that has moderate sillage, that’s primarily composed of soft, sweet floral and “fruity” notes? Thank you so much! 😀 June 20, 2014 at 8:56am
nemo: Your description reminds me of Creed Spring Flower, Ferragamo Signorina, and perhaps Hermessence Rose Ikebana (though Rose Ikebana isn’t AS sweet as the first two, I think). Your tastes seem to overlap a good deal with my friend and officemate! June 20, 2014 at 9:01am
Amanda Val: Thank you Nemo! I’m actually purchasing on behalf of a good friend (it’s her birthday soon, and I want to surprise her!) My personal favorite perfume is Guerlain Shalimar. June 22, 2014 at 3:52am
sunette: Hi Amanda! I would absolutely recommend Good Girl Gone Bad By Kilian. Don’t let the name put you off because this is an exquisite fume!! It’s a lovely composition of jasmin and I smell apricots and a touch of champaigne all over on my skin! According to the notes there’s no apricot: Jasmin Sambac, osmanthus, rose, tuberose, narcissus, violet accord, plum accord, cedar wood, amber, patchouli, vetiver, musk. A super steep pricetag sadly, so another fume that comes to mind is Serge Lutens Fleurs D’Oranger. More a flowery musky smell, but orange blossom is always so refreshing to me! Happy hunting! June 20, 2014 at 10:04am
Amanda Val: Thanks so much! I feel like the Serge Lutens would be more available in my immediate neighborhood, so I will go check that out! June 22, 2014 at 3:53am
SophieC: Hello the first thought that came to mind was Salvatore Ferragamo Attimo L’eau Florale. I find it surprisingly wearable and pretty and it often gets nice comments. Not challenging or earthbreaking but a nice, pretty, fruit floral that is also elegant and wearable for work if needed. June 20, 2014 at 12:20pm
Tomate Farcie: Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere, you can dress it up or down. June 20, 2014 at 12:35pm
Sarah: You could try Gucci Rush. It’s a fruity patchouli fragrance and it’s yummy – sexy and soft. June 20, 2014 at 9:05pm
Elena: I like Rush very much, but I couldn’t recommend it for having moderate sillage in good conscience! It is powerful stuff. How about Gucci Flora? Easy to find to sample, anyway. June 20, 2014 at 10:48pm
Amanda Val: Wow, thank you all for the lovely comments! I never imagined I could get such a large response 🙂 Huge thank you again! June 22, 2014 at 3:51am
Lynley: Maybe also Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia June 26, 2014 at 7:25am
FeralJasmine: I love vanilla scents and have a large collection of vanilla orientals, but would love to hear about light summer vanillas with jasmine notes or possibly ylang notes. I have tried Vanilia from L’Artisan, and it is faint on me until it develops an awful pond-muck note on my skin after an hour or so. Other suggestions very welcome. June 20, 2014 at 9:20am
Jillie: Hi, Feral! I am sure that you would love Parfumerie Generale’s Ilang Ivohibe (No 15) – it’s a surprising perfume. First you get zesty lime, but this stops being the main player quite quickly as a lovely white flower (tiare/ylang?) and smooth vanilla take over. The vanilla is sweet but not tooth-rioting. I find it equally good in winter or summer and it has good longevity. June 20, 2014 at 9:36am
nemo: The phrase “sumer vanilla” makes me think of Hermessence Vanille Galante! June 20, 2014 at 10:13am
Naz: Yes, definitely give Vanille Galante a shot! I love it so much in spring and summer. Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum is another nice, summery vanilla with ylang-ylang, but sadly very difficult to get ahold of now. June 20, 2014 at 10:41am
Isis: Yes! Seconding Vanille Galante. Its so perfectly bright and happy! June 20, 2014 at 2:58pm
Tomate Farcie: Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée June 20, 2014 at 12:15pm
Liz K: Seconded. June 20, 2014 at 5:08pm
johanob: Third vote for Insensee!Gorgeous spicy vanilla June 21, 2014 at 6:00pm
Tara: Hi FeralJasmine, have you tried Songes by Annick Goutal? It’s jasmine, ylang ylang and tuberose on a gorgeous vanilla base and perfect for summer. June 20, 2014 at 3:45pm
Caroline: I’ve been testing the extrait version of Chanel’s Jersey. It combines a lovely present but subtle vanilla with lavender, a note I typically avoid.
It’s been an extremely pleasant experience, even during a heatwave. June 20, 2014 at 10:10pm
Tijana: Like you I love vanilla. Best summer vanilla I have tried is Creed Sublime Vanille. Too “ligh” for winter, but perfect for summaer when the body temp goes up! June 21, 2014 at 6:58am
Julie: Thanks for the reminder to pull mine out! It is a perfect vanilla for summer. June 21, 2014 at 7:55am
Danica: Fleur de Comores by MPG, I believe created by Jean LaPorte who also created Vanilia. It’s a complex ylang vanilla with wonderful sillage. Also Micallef Ylang if you can find it, like a sumptuous version of Vanilia with banana and sandalwood. It’s kind of a light fragrance, despite its big notes. June 24, 2014 at 6:29pm
Anne Sheffield: Have you tried Vanille Exquise from Creed s . It is to me, The Best vanilla ever. I also really love Eau Duelle from
Dytique . Xxxxxx June 20, 2014 at 9:37am
Nikki: I second Eau Duelle, it is a perfect summer vanilla combined with juniper, so it is not too sweet. June 20, 2014 at 11:20am
Cornelia Blimber: The drydown of Lutens Un Bois Vanille is surprisingly fresh. June 20, 2014 at 12:12pm
Vanie: Hi!
Probably not the most summer appropriate request, but here we go. I always have a strong emotional response when I smell rootbeer. It reminds me of nice diners out with my family when I was a kid. I’d like to find a perfume that is rootbeer-y! Ideas?
Are there rootbeer perfumes that aren’t super sweet and vanillary? June 20, 2014 at 9:38am
Elisa: Oh! I think the drydown of Tom Ford Violet Blond smells exactly like root beer. Hypnotic Poison also has a bit of a root beer vibe, but it’s more sweet/vanillic. June 20, 2014 at 9:54am
Vanie: I never would have thought of Violet Blond! I’ll be sure to try it next time I pass Sephora.
I thought I had a sample of Hypnotic Poison that I did like as a rootbeer-y scent (if applied very sparingly to avoid vanilla overload), but turns out it’s. Hypnotic Poison Eau Sensuelle (seriously? A flanker’s flanker?). I’ll try to get my hands on the original (first-level flanker?) one and see. Thanks! June 20, 2014 at 3:38pm
allgirlmafia: Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente. I usually adore Goutal fragrances, but this is to me pure root beer……not for me. You may love it tho. June 20, 2014 at 10:04am
leathermountain: I agree about the root beer aspect of Myrrhe Ardente, but it might dry down a bit sweet. June 20, 2014 at 2:07pm
Vanie: That sounds like an interesting one. I’ll try to get a sample of it! June 20, 2014 at 3:40pm
Figuier: Actually, yes, I remember smelling this and also thought it smelled like v sweet rootbeer. More so than Terracotta, definitely. June 21, 2014 at 4:56am
Danica: I also enjoy Myrrhe Ardente, and never fail to notice the root beer effect of the myrrhe and vanilla combined. Very pleasant to wear and not too sweet, with nuance and complexity. A ‘veil’ of scent. June 24, 2014 at 2:08pm
Shoshi: Gucci Eau de Parfum; Calvin Klein Secret Obsession June 20, 2014 at 12:46pm
Isis: Ah, yes, Gucci Eau de Parfum. Just reading the name makes me cry a little inside. My bottle is slowly getting empty and I won’t be able to replace it. June 20, 2014 at 3:00pm
Vanie: Too bad it is discontinued if you liked it! June 20, 2014 at 3:48pm
Lynley: Plenty of discounters still have it cheap (fragrancenet is one)- I know as I’ve just stocked up! 🙂 June 26, 2014 at 7:43am
Vanie: These look like they might be a bit heavy for me, but I’ll have a sniff if I can. Thanks for the recommendations. June 20, 2014 at 3:49pm
Figuier: Guerlain Terracotta Voile d’Ete (not the current version, the 1999 one) is very rootbeer-y! although since I have only come across the beverage a couple of times I personally have to concentrate to recognise it, it really is very close to that smell – I think some reviews mention the similarity also June 20, 2014 at 2:29pm
Vanie: Not sure I’ll be able to get my hands on this one, but it’s worth keeping my eyes open. Thanks! June 20, 2014 at 3:48pm
Figuier: Ebay still has bottles, and although they’re not as cheap as they were they’re still reasonable. But yes, the discontinued thing probably makes this a less practical option. June 21, 2014 at 4:30am
leathermountain: I was puttering around another fragrance website and found a thread about soda fragrances. Below are the ones that were mentioned in connection with root beer. I don’t know them at all, but maybe others here could weigh in? It’s quite an assortment, and I’m curious if they do have some material or property in common.
Lutens Santal Majuscule
Cacharel Nemo
Lolita Lempicka au Masculin
Hanae Mori Magical Moon
Acqua di Parma Mandorlo di Sicilia
Dana Tabu
Dana Navy
I guess sweetness is a common theme, in the fake-sandalwood, licorice, or amber directions…. June 22, 2014 at 11:07am
Maggie: I was just trying some of the new Bond No. 9 fragrances yesterday and their Success smells just like root beer! The sales person even agreed. It was uncanny. Effervescent licorice, vanilla and spice. June 29, 2014 at 8:29am
allgirlmafia: I don’t know if anyone has tried the soaps Sandal from Chandrika or Sandalwood-Turmeric from Auromere but I adore them both. Anyone who has used these, can you recommend a perfume that smells similar? I tried Pacifica Sandalwood but too synthentic for me. June 20, 2014 at 10:06am
Victoria: I don’t know these soaps, but for a good sandalwood perfume, I’d go to 10 Corso Como or Serge Lutens Santal Blanc. Neither are too synthetic and sharp. June 20, 2014 at 11:50am
allgirlmafia: Thank you, V June 20, 2014 at 11:55am
Tomate Farcie: If you’re in the US, Ava Luxe 23 is lovely or Diptyque Tam Dao June 20, 2014 at 12:17pm
allgirlmafia: I’ll look into Luxe 23. Description of Tam Dao sounds lovely. June 20, 2014 at 9:10pm
Mona: Hello,
I stopped wearing any perfume many decades (I admit) since I was allergic to something. Prior I had worn Diorissimo, Ombre Rose and I assume a few other fragrances.
I am looking to test the fragrance world again. Any tips where to begin.? Your site is great and I have begun to read. A few perfume suggestions would also be welcome. Thank you. June 20, 2014 at 10:08am
Victoria: Mona, I would start with a line like Annick Goutal, because it has a number of different options (roses like Rose Splendide, fresh floral like Un Matin d’Orage, green violet like Mandragore, etc.). It should also be easy enough to find at most department stores. Also, if you like Diorissimo, then anything with lily of the valley and green notes might be good. For instance, Stella MacCartney LILY. And also, try Kenzo Amour. Ombre Rose is a soft, powdery perfume, so Amour might be a good idea. It’s fresher, brighter, with a bigger dose of woods, but you will also find it enveloping and tender. June 20, 2014 at 11:48am
Mona: Thank you! June 20, 2014 at 1:53pm
Savita: Dear friends, my husband wants to buy me a fragrance for our anniversary. Can you please suggest some options but no Niche as I don’t want him to break the bank…lol
I don’t like fruity scents nor watery one. My faves are oriental florals.
Thanks so much! June 20, 2014 at 10:19am
Victoria: Savita, can you please give us some ideas on which perfumes you’ve tried already or worn in the past? Then it would be easier to make a good suggestion. June 20, 2014 at 11:44am
Savita: Hi Victoria!…Ok the scents that I have and enjoy are Coco Mad, Noa, Prada Candy, Infusion d’iris, Infusion d’tubereuse, Sensuous Nude, Dior Addict original, Insolence Edp. Jimmy Choo original.
I have tried and love NR Musc oil for her, Bois de Iles, Love Chloe, Chloe edp. I seem to like Jour d’hermes too. Also I’m a bit intrigued by Chanel Exclusive Cuir de Russie. Of course these are too expensive to buy. I hope this helps…
Thank you! June 20, 2014 at 12:36pm
Victoria: Have you tried Kenzo Amour? I recommended it to someone else, so it’s on my mind. It might be perfect for you too, especially if you like soft, enveloping blends like NR Musc and Love Chloe.
Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum (especially its flanker Eau Legere) is another fragrance I recommend trying. June 20, 2014 at 1:07pm
Savita: Actually I had Kenzo Amour a few years ago…. it was pretty good, hoping for something different though.
Bottega Veneta edp and eau legere sound like options, although I have never smelt them, I often wondered if I would like them.
Any other suggestions? June 20, 2014 at 2:42pm
Victoria: You’re quite a perfume connoisseur! 🙂 You’ve definitely tried lots of scents.
What about Marc Jacobs for Her, Hermes Hiris or Dior Hypnotic Poison? June 20, 2014 at 2:55pm
Savita: Lol… I have been into fragrance since I was a teen, in my 30’s now ;). As soon as one scent was finished, I would buy a new scent so I have been through quite a bit. Of course since I have bumped into your blog I have been trying many many more especially niche.
I haven’t actually tried the Marc Jacobs nor Hermes Hiris but now that you have recommended them I most certainly will sample.
Hypnotic Poison is very nice… do you find it very similar to Kenzo Amour? June 20, 2014 at 3:14pm
Victoria: Not really! It’s a totally different character.
And Kenzo Amour is lovely and very interesting. June 20, 2014 at 4:36pm
Savita: Ok great….I’m strongly considering the Kenzo Amour…It is a beautiful scent from what I remember and I don’t believe it’s that common.
I also sampled Shalimar Parfum Initial….which of the two woulf be your first choice? June 21, 2014 at 10:27am
Savita: You know… I’m beginning to crave Kenzo Amour lol…. I think I will get this again. Is it a unique scent in your opinion or are there others out there that smell similar? I can’t quite remember it’s exact smell. June 20, 2014 at 3:06pm
Sarah: Hello, have you tried YSL’s Cinema? That’s a lovely oriental floral. At least I think it’s classed as a floral oriental 🙂 June 20, 2014 at 9:09pm
Savita: Hi no I haven’t actually tried that…I will try to sample it. Thanks for the suggestion 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 10:18am
Tomate Farcie: Annick Goutal Grand Amour June 20, 2014 at 12:28pm
Savita: Thanks for your suggestion, it sounds lovely. Will try to sample it. June 20, 2014 at 2:54pm
Lauren: Hello everyone, I am missing my old home in Berkeley, CA and would love to find a perfume that smells like the pink jasmine (jasminum polyanthum) that grows everywhere there. The fragrance is much sweeter and more vanillic than the traditional jasmines used in perfume. Has anyone found a fragrance based off this flower? Thanks in advance! June 20, 2014 at 11:13am
Victoria: Marc Jacobs Blush used to be based on pink jasmine, but it has been discontinued. It doesn’t come exactly close, but Annick Goutal Songes is a beautiful jasmine with vanilla notes. June 20, 2014 at 11:51am
Lauren: Ooh, Blush sounds interesting and I’ve been meaning to try Songes forever. I think I will be placing a sample order very soon… Thank you for the suggestions! June 20, 2014 at 10:16pm
Ann: For a jasmine symphony you could try VC & A’s First. I cannot think of a less Berkeley-like back story or marketing than First, but that also might give it an ironic iconoclastic appeal! June 20, 2014 at 12:03pm
claire: Samples are easily purchased online for $6 or less. I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to mention the businesses here. June 20, 2014 at 3:25pm
Lauren: First has been on my to-try list for a while. You just pushed it over the edge 🙂 Thank you for your help! June 20, 2014 at 10:17pm
claire: Lauren: I’m also from Berkeley, now living in the PNW. I loved jasminum polyanthum as well. It is very different from other jasmines, powdery and not at all sharp. I would be interested in a perfume that smells like that as well (!), but I am wondering if you might not like Le Labo Lys 41. It is soft and powdery like the jasmine you miss, and I think that may be what I like about it. It is not at all like most big white florals, and there aren’t any sharp green notes that would detract from the soft jasmine, at least to my nose. June 20, 2014 at 3:18pm
Lauren: I adore Lys 41! And I think you just made me realize why. I am hoping my little sample gets me through the summer, so I’m not tempted to splurge on a full bottle. June 20, 2014 at 10:14pm
Claire: I’m glad you feel the same way about Lys. Ha! I have the same problem. I’ve been trying to decide between Lys 41 and Ylang 49, trying to make my 2ml spray samples last. June 21, 2014 at 3:46am
Tiffanie: I also love the distinctive fragrance of the pink jasmine which grows near me. I miss it when it is finished blooming each year.
I have tried many fragrances looking for something that reminds me of pink jasmine. So often what I smell in jasmine fragrances is a sharp, biting note that is a lot like rubbing alcohol to my nose and is so disappointing.
I’ve added Songes, First, and Lys 41 to my list of fragrances to try.
Thank you everyone! June 21, 2014 at 4:38pm
Claire: Hi again,
I was just thinking you might enjoy Jurlique Jasmine Body Lotion and Korres Jasmine Body Milk (not the Body Butter). You have to order it the Korres products from the UK or the EU (try feelunique.com) as the Korres Products in the U.S. are reformulated by Johnson & Johnson. They are reasonably priced, especially on sale (less than here) and ship for free! You may or may not like Korres Iris-Lily of the Valley-Cotton (a spicy floral) or Korres Fig (I didn’t think I’d like this one , I usually steer clear of fruity accords, but this is wonderful). Both are available in shower gels as well and what I love about these other than the scents, are the natural ingredients, & that the gels are non-drying and never leave a film on your skin. June 24, 2014 at 3:00pm
Nina Zolotow: I just had to chime in because I live in Berkeley and have for most of my life! I have both pink jasmine and star jasmine in my garden, so I know what you’re talking about. Have you tried By Killian Love and Tears? I don’t know that it is pink jasmine exactly, but it is sweeter and less sharp than most other jasmines. Very, very pretty. June 23, 2014 at 11:00am
Mari: (I apologize if this get’s posted twice, not sure I did it right the first time)
I spent a summer in Berkeley, and I know what you mean! The closest thing I have found is Jasmin de Nuit by The Different Company. It’s creamy and soft and punctuated by some subtle spice. In reviews, I’ve noticed some people commenting that it did not smell like jasmine- I think what they may mean is that it does not smell like a jasmine perfume. To my nose, Jasmin de Nuit approximates the smell you get walking by jasmine bushes in bloom. Also, Wit by Parfum del Rae (based in the Bay Area) reminds me a bit of pink jasmine even though it is based on the daphne flower (which I have not had the pleasure of smelling). Lastly, Lys by Serge Lutens, although a lily fragrance, also reminds me of pink jasmine June 24, 2014 at 12:39pm
style704: Trish McEvoy does a scent called Precious Pink Jasmine No. 6 that has a sweeter jasmine and some citrus notes. July 2, 2014 at 2:16pm
Judy: Have just been reading BdJ entries for gardenia notes and came across the one for Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum. Since I can & do eat cake icing from the can (as Victoria compared), I think I might like this one. This spring I have loved wearing Guerlain Terracotta. My question is: Has anyone tried both of them? If so, how do they compare? I love frangipani, tiare, gardenia, etc. Is Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum for me? THANKS… June 20, 2014 at 11:18am
Victoria: It sounds like you would like Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum as well, because it’s in the same ballpark as Terracotta. Have you smelled Nuxe’s oil? If you like how it smells (but imagine that the perfume is even sweeter), then you will enjoy the perfume too. June 20, 2014 at 11:43am
Judy: Love the oil and use it all the time. The oil’s scent doesn’t last very long though. I think I will try the perfume, especially since it’s not terribly expensive. Thanks. June 20, 2014 at 1:20pm
Danaki: A similar but less ‘sweet’ option would be Lush Sikkim Girls, it is mainly jasmin, but also has tuberose notes and franjipani. Lovely scent, very ‘eastern’ without the overtly sweet coconut-ty or vanilla usuals. June 20, 2014 at 11:51am
AndreaR: A dear friend brought me a lovely gift from Italy. It’s a small disk that you use as a sachet. It came with perfume that you pour directly on the disk once it loses its intensity. I would love to make these as gifts. Any ideas on where I can find the disks? June 20, 2014 at 11:41am
Figuier: I’m afraid I don’t know anywhere that does that exact kind of home fragrance, but I know a few products that work in a similar way. Artisan Parfumeur does terracotta balls with amber fragrance crystals in, for which you can buy refills; Malle do scented rubber mats, which I haven’t smelled but sound gorgeous, and Diptyque has scented wax discs held in white porcelain/clay, which make fantastic gifts. Hope this is of some help… June 21, 2014 at 4:36am
Elizabeth: I’d love a recommendation for a peachy perfume, perhaps with a musky base. June 20, 2014 at 12:17pm
Tomate Farcie: Sarah Horowitz Perfect Nectar June 20, 2014 at 12:20pm
Victoria: Or Bond No 9 Chinatown. June 20, 2014 at 1:08pm
Elisa: Keiko Mecheri Peau de Peche! June 20, 2014 at 1:08pm
April: Guerlain Mitsouko June 20, 2014 at 2:36pm
Tijana: By Kilian Flower of Immortality June 21, 2014 at 7:05am
rainboweyes: Ouris by SoOud June 22, 2014 at 9:44am
Nina Zolotow: Second Peau de Peche. Chinatown is beautiful but it has an usual incense note, so is less pure peachiness. June 23, 2014 at 11:01am
Katy McReynolds: A cheaply but goody in this vein is Liz Taylor’s Black Pearls, if you can find vintage in the opaque bottle, all the better! June 23, 2014 at 5:52pm
Michaela: I’m so happy you like it, too. I have such a soft spot for Black Pearls, it’s perfect when I want something sweet, creamy, nice, round. June 24, 2014 at 3:32am
Carolyn: A couple of days after the party but I love 1969 by Histories de Parfum. June 24, 2014 at 5:58pm
Cornelia Blimber: I ask myself: why can’t I smell Sublime, by Patou? I smell faintly a very nice amber perfume, but alas, at a distance. June 20, 2014 at 12:17pm
solanace: Really? I have it (EDP from the early nineties) and really enjoy it, but can´t wear it often because I find it a bit overpowering and too long lasting, if that makes any sense. June 23, 2014 at 11:48am
Cornelia Blimber: Yes, it is strange. Overpowering! I have a mini of the edp and I can smell just enough to know that it is a great perfume. June 23, 2014 at 1:41pm
Paola: Dear Victoria: In a couple of days is my mother´s birthday, nearly young 80 years old.´
I would like to give her as a gift a perfume that I remember brings her good moments, Arpege, Lanvin.
Now it has been reformulated, the Eclat Arpege. Have you tried Eclat ???
Is it similar in fragrance notes to the original Arpege ?? even if different, is it nice??
I think it would be a good choice to find Ecalt for her. Thank you in advance for your reply. June 20, 2014 at 1:23pm
leathermountain: Another option might be to find some vintage Arpege, perhaps via online sellers. I bought some that way and it’s spectacular! It’s also something my mother used to love wearing, and which she remembers very fondly. 🙂 June 20, 2014 at 2:12pm
Paola: Thank you very much leathermountain for your suggestion !!!!! June 20, 2014 at 5:19pm
Anne of Green Gables: Hi Paola, Eclat d’Arpege is pretty but it’s very different from the original Arpege. It’s lighter and definitely more ‘girly’. Although it’s been reformulated, the current Arpege is also not that bad, I think. So maybe, it’s better to get the vintage Arpege as leathermountain suggested or get the current Arpege but NOT Eclat d’Arpege! June 21, 2014 at 5:09am
Paola: Anne, you have helped me a lot. Thank you so much. I will buy for her the classic Arpege.
Thank you so much to you and to Leathermountin and to Bois de Jasmin !!!!
Best regards to all of you. June 21, 2014 at 8:17pm
Nancy A.: Spent some time with an interested in scent as well instead of the routine sales pitch type of sales person at Saks 5th who is now carrying Le Labo and was newly impressed. I haven’t really taken much time with this line and was enticed by all body/home fragrances. He combined Ambrette with the Rose and as we awaited the drydown it was a few moments well spent. I mentioned BdJ to him and the fragrance book I’m currently reading by Barbara Herman: Scent & Subversion. No sampling however. June 20, 2014 at 1:25pm
Maria B.: I love the smell of real beeswax. Is there a fragrance that captures that smell? June 20, 2014 at 1:53pm
Isis: Maybe Miel de Bois by Serge Lutens. I get vry strong raw honey (some hate it, I love it, from a distance)… there is probably some beeswax going on in that. June 20, 2014 at 3:03pm
Courant: i find the smell of beautifully kept old houses in Apres L’Ondee..also in L’Air de Rien June 20, 2014 at 4:23pm
Liz K: Have you tried To Bee by Roxana Illuminated Perfume? It is a natural and has a lovely beeswax note as I recall. I haven’t sampled it for a while and have only smelled it on a friend but keep meaning to order a dab. June 20, 2014 at 5:17pm
Maria B.: Thanks. I tried To Bee. It wasn’t quite enough like beeswax. I don’t care about the honey, one way or another. I want the smell of beeswax candles. Maybe I could just rub a candle on myself. 🙂 June 20, 2014 at 6:58pm
Kay: There’s an idea 🙂 Or there’s always beeswax absolute.
I got a beeswax vibe from Volnay Perlerette and Jovoy Rouge Assassin — June 20, 2014 at 8:51pm
leathermountain: Maybe you can. Beeswax can be a component of solid perfume. If you find a strongly-scented beeswax, maybe you can make your own without any other scented materials at all….
Quoting here from Mandy Aftel’s book Essence and Alchemy on how to make a solid perfume with beeswax and jojoba oil:
“Blend the essences [maybe that beeswax absolute, or maybe nothing?] into 4mL of jojoba. Grate 1/2 teaspoon beeswax and melt over low heat in a small ceramic or glass dish. Quickly stir in the jojoba mixture. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a compact [container]. Leave to set for fifteen minutes.”
I’m sure there are folks here who have tried this sort of thing and can elaborate from personal experience! June 20, 2014 at 9:11pm
Maria B.: Thank you! I’ll look for beeswax absolute. June 20, 2014 at 10:17pm
Anne of Green Gables: Hi Maria, have you tried Etro Messe De Minuit? It’s not just about beeswax. It has plenty of incense and woods as well but I could smell beeswax candle quite strongly. June 21, 2014 at 5:20am
rainboweyes: As far as I know, Diptyque Volutes has a beeswax note too. June 22, 2014 at 4:02am
Anat13: I love the beeswax note in l’Artisan Seville a l’Aube. It also has orange blossom, incense, and a little lavendar. June 23, 2014 at 6:13pm
Claire: I am looking for a warm weather fragrance, but I would also like some help determining what common scent thread runs through the perfumes I like. First, perfumes I love: Chanel Bois des Iles, Cuir de Russie, & Coco; Teo Cabanel Oha, Le Labo Ylang 49 and Lys 41 (intense florals but wonderful and $$$). Some new scents I’ve recently tried and liked: Amoureuse (wonderful spice but a powerhouse) Fragonard Capucine and Caron Parfum Sacre. I love spice, obviously but am leaning more towards florals. I don’t care for very dry spice, which turns too masculine on me, or too much amber and I have little tolerance for fruity or overtly gourmand fragrances (headache inducing). Same for most aquatic, watery or melon/cucumber accords. I used to love Guerlain’s Vetiver ( layered with a feminine musk) and Eau Fraiche by Rocha (the discontinued version) in the summer years ago, but I’m looking for a softer summer scent. I would love to hear some suggestions! I can always start with decants and save up hoe something I truly love…thank you for your insights! June 20, 2014 at 2:20pm
Tomate Farcie: You might like Olfactive Studo Lumiere Blanche or Ava Luxe 23 or for floral maybe Parfums DelRae Wit and my favorite
Eau d’Italie Jardin du Poete June 20, 2014 at 4:42pm
Claire: Thank you. I’m not familiar with any of these! except Debut, which I’m not sure about. I will look into finding some samples. I’ve been thinking of trying Heure Exquise, but I’m not familiar with No. 19, oddly enough. The green may prove too much for me. I have wanted to try Caron Poivre, Tabac Blonde, and Coup de Fouet, Frederick Malle Portrait of a Lady and Carnal Flower. I like clove & carnation (Penhaligon’s Lily & Spice, vintage Bellodgia) and was surprised that clove is present in Guerlain’s Vetiver. It makes sense. But here I am again with mostly Winter and Fall scents. June 20, 2014 at 6:26pm
Tomate Farcie: I think Carnal Flower is great all year–a couple of other tuberoses are Ramon Monegal Kiss My Name and Hiram Green Moon Bloom. I love carnation and when I win the lottery I’ll get Jar Golconda. June 20, 2014 at 7:40pm
Kay: Claire, I share several.of your likes and am also looking for a summer version… am beginning to think it may not exist. I have Heure Exquise but it’s definitely spring/autumn on me. Another autumn one I love is Shaal Nur, have ypu tried that? May veer a bit masculine.
For summer I’m wearing Mandragore Pourpre & still looking for a “proper” floral. Hope you don’t mind me tagging on here! June 20, 2014 at 9:02pm
Claire: Thank you. Several of these are really unknown for me. I will have to try some samples, I am especially curious about Heure Exquise, but do you find it very “green”? It’s not that I don’t like green notes, but I seem to have a low tolerance for them, especially many Classic Florals, though I keep trying! Thanks again for your suggestions. June 21, 2014 at 4:14am
Kay: Hi Claire, I’ve tried to find sth. green in Heure Exquise over the last couple of days and my untrained nose can’t detect it, but that may well be just me. Can you get hold of a sample? June 23, 2014 at 6:10am
Claire: I just ordered a decant of Heure Exquise! I am so interested to try it! June 24, 2014 at 3:14pm
Kay: I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it! June 24, 2014 at 5:05pm
Jillie: Hello, Claire. The perfume that popped into my head when I read your comment was Cartier’s Baiser Vole Eau de Parfum. It is a lovely, quite realistic lily (almost like a Casablanca or Star Gazer) with the lily’s spiciness. It is not overwhelming as it has a delightful freshness but lasts well, drying down to a soft powder. I think it blooms in the heat! June 21, 2014 at 1:50am
Claire: Thank you. The reviews I’ve read have made Cartier Baiser Vole tempting, so it’s nice to get your confirmation. I realize I listed many perfumes, but I am always trying to determine what it is that really works for me and what doesn’t. Where better than here. June 21, 2014 at 3:55am
Claire: Oh, I love Casablanca and Stargazer Lilies. I adore roses too, but I have difficulty with the smell of dried roses. I’m still looking for a rose scent I love. I did try a sample of Parfums Delrae Coup de Foudre and found it rather intriguing. I can understand why some might dislike the sharp citrus opening, but I enjoyed the complexity. I also tried ann Gerard Rose Cut and I loved the opening and middle, but the dry down was too dry and spicy (masculine) on me, alas. Same experience with Miller Harris Bourbon Geranium, which I thought I’d love. (like aftershave, and very overpowering on me). Pretty bottle, but now I stick with decants until I know it’s love. June 21, 2014 at 4:07am
Jillie: Oh, I agree with you about the Rose Cut and Bourbon Geranium – I liked Rose Cut very much, but it did end up too masculine for my taste, and the MH was way too masculine right from the start!
On of my favourite rose scents was Yves Rocher’s sadly discontinued Rose Absolue, which was a little jammy and powdery; for the most natural rose effect, I go for Annick Goutal’s Rose Absolue, which reminds me of straight up rose essential oil. June 21, 2014 at 9:06am
Tomate Farcie: have you tried Neela Vermeire Mohur? gorgeous spicy rose June 21, 2014 at 11:29am
Claire: This one is very intriguing and is going right onto my to try soon list. I am reminded of the delicate kheer my then future husband and I enjoyed in Udaipur…. Scented with rose water, cardamon, carrot. Also the milky, almond aspect, mmm. I can’t wait to see see how the spices play out and how the rose finishes. Thank you for your many informed suggestions tomate Farcie! June 21, 2014 at 1:58pm
Claire: Yes. Miller Harris BG: whew, right out of the bottle! Oh well, I wonder of I’d like it on my significant other. But rose that is jammy and powdery, I’ll look into that. June 21, 2014 at 2:05pm
Isis: If you want butter and softness, I’d definately go for Frederic Malle Iris Poudré. Another iris that is worth a try if you want smootness and comforting warmth is Equistrius by Parfums d’Empire. June 20, 2014 at 2:54pm
Isis: I have no idea why this comment ended up here, I am sorry. I will repost it now: this was meant for Nick. June 20, 2014 at 2:56pm
Joy: I would really like some recommendations for on-line purchasing especially of samples. I live quite a ways from a city. I do look on-line, but am not certain which companies sell originals and not knock-offs.
I love many perfumes from the past such as Diorissimo, Cabochard, Je Revien, original Chanel 5, Diorello. I also ordered samples from Raffey in Los Angeles, but don’t know how legitimate they are.
As I read all of the suggestions and comments, I would love to try many of the fragrances especially by sample, but am not certain about internet purchasing.
Thank you. June 20, 2014 at 3:04pm
Tara: Hi Joy,
Check out LuckyScent, Surrender to Chance and The Perfumed Court for online samples. June 20, 2014 at 3:56pm
Figuier: Seconding Tara’s list – I’ve used all of them many times over the year, and apart from one or two faulty sprayers from StC they’re all been very reliable. June 21, 2014 at 4:39am
Joy: Thank you the suggestions. This has opened up a world of opportunities. June 21, 2014 at 2:40pm
Maggie: Yes, thirding. These three are the best online suppliers of samples and decants, and I’ve also used all of them many times over the years. June 21, 2014 at 7:09pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Victoria! I am a 62 yr old man looking for a fragrance that would suit me on a low budget. The masculine fragrances I have are Dior Homme and Dior Fahrenheit Absolut. The fragrances I use most are feminine: Guerlain Shalimar Initial L’eau, Guerlain L’instant Magic and Gucci Flora eau fraiche. Of these fragrances the Shalimar Initial L’eau is the one I love most, but I want something more substantial now. There are so many options, but I think an oriental fragrance would be right for me. Perhaps the original Shalimar or perhaps Chanel Coco? I also want something warm but radiant for daytime wear. All suggestions are welcome! Perhaps Jour d’Hermes? June 20, 2014 at 4:36pm
Isis: I’m trying to think of suggestions but my memory is failing me. You seem to have excellent taste. Coco could be ultra sexy on a man I think. June 20, 2014 at 5:01pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Isis! I have tried out Coco on a card in a local department store. It smelled wonderful, but I wanted to be more sure before spending money on a whole bottle. June 21, 2014 at 1:46am
Isis: I for one would love to smell Coco on a man. Other scents that come to mind are Mona di Orio’s Cuir, and Frederic Malle Noir Épices. I think they both fit the oriental-ambery-scent-that-would-work-on-a-man-theme really well. Also, have you tried anything from Serge Lutens yet? (wait, I just realised these are not that low budget. But you could test them anyway just because its so much fun to do so). June 21, 2014 at 10:39am
Liz K: Narcisso Rodriguez for Her? I thought this morning when my mom put some on that it really would be nice on a man. June 20, 2014 at 5:34pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Liz! I’ve heard a lot of good things about Narciso For Her. Definitely worth trying! I’ve understood there’s quite a difference between the edt and the edp! June 21, 2014 at 1:48am
Danaki: Hi Robert. NR for Her EDP is rosy, whereas the EDT has a top of orange blossom. I personally love anything with rose and fruits so proudly own the EDP version.
Another suggestion I would make is if you like floral to check out Santal Majescule by Serge Lutens export line – though I’m not sure about your budget. It is sandalwood but the floral/woody mixture is amazing. Of course do try it before you buy. June 22, 2014 at 7:41am
george: New York or Maharinh (I won’t have spelled that right) by Patricia de Nicolai could both be right (although I have no idea what state New York is currently in, as had suffered under reformulation but may have been re-reforumated. Prereformulation New York would have been perfect for you). Also Habit Rouge, or Tom Ford Tom Ford Noir (I would also suggest looking at the rest of the Tom Ford department store level fragrances, but not the higher ranges as they are EXORBITANT). Coco is great fragrance as is – of course- Shalimar. Maybe try out the revamped opium for ladies too and Jungle L’elephant for ladies too, which bear some relation to Coco. Estee Lauder is great for good quality but non-bank breaking fragrances- so Youth Dew and the Sensuous range (maybe look at the recent review on here on these) may be right. Anything Hermes or Prada with amber in the title is worth a squirt too! Plus Prada’s Candy for something really modern. Hypnotic Poison is must smell too, and the two Lolita Lempickas (male and female). Most of these (except maybe the P d Nicolais and l’elephant) should be easily accessible, because the most important thing I find on a budget is to be able to try, try again, ponder and compare, so that you make the right choice. Oh oh oh oh- and Egoiste (NOT THE PLATINUM ONE) you will probably love. Plus it is so amazingly cheap for such a great fragrance. I’m about the go to bed and before I do I will be scenting myself with it. June 20, 2014 at 7:10pm
J. Robert Hopkins: George, I really appreciate your comments! Thanks! My problem is that I live in a small city in Finland where there is a limited selection of fragrances in the stores. I’m going on a couple of international flights this summer and hope to do some exploring in the tax free shops. The Serge Lutens line really intrigues me, but those fragrances are not to be found in Finland. Would love to try many of them. Victoria’s review of De Profundis was so exquisite! Alas, I’m afraid the Lutens products may be to expensive for me, and yes, I’ve understood that Tom Ford scents are outrageously costly! But, I think I can fairly easily get my hands on most of the fragrances you suggested! I wish I had the money to get small bottles of many fragrances–there are so many out there that I feel drawn too. I tend to obsess a bit about finding something just right for me! 🙂 Anyway, thanks again! I’ll keep your suggestions in mind! June 21, 2014 at 1:59am
Bea: You could always join a perfume forum on Facebook – the members often sell small decants from their own collections and it’s a great way to get your hands on scents that are hard to find.
I would recommend Facebook Fragrance Friends – the members are so kind and helpful.
You can also buy decants from companies like The perfumed court or Lucky scent. June 21, 2014 at 10:28am
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Bea! I’ll definitely look into those options! Facebook Fragrance Friends sounds great! And . . . I may just end up with Shalimar or Coco after doing some exploring! I feel a special link to Shalimar. I lost my mother when I was a child, but I heard from a relative just a couple of years ago that she used Shalimar. And Coco is one that I’ve sampled a couple of times in a shop and the scent really made me smile. Whatever I end up with, I know it needs to be warm and radiant! June 21, 2014 at 11:10am
Bea: So sorry about your mother. It would be a wonderful celebration to her legacy to wear her favourite scent. ♥ June 21, 2014 at 11:35am
leathermountain: Just weighing in on Jour d’Hermes. It’s a lovely grapefruit floral, plenty radiant, and clearly designed for daytime wear, but I’d never describe it as warm or as oriental. June 20, 2014 at 9:19pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Leathermountain! No, I wasn’t thinking Jour d’Hermes would be oriental. I’d like to find something suitable for the Scandinavian summer–something as radiant and mysterious as the midnight sun. This would be in addition to a heavier scent for the long, dark, cold Finnish winter. Thanks for your comment! Jour d’Hermes sounds like it could be right! June 21, 2014 at 1:43am
leathermountain: Hi J. Robert,
This is the ultra-subjective part of describing perfume, of course, but the mood of Jour d’Hermes, to me, is not mysterious. It’s all about light, and perhaps light itself possesses a certain mystery. But in general to me mystery connotes darkness, and in that sense Jour holds no mystery. But this is so subjective that I guess I would just echo george’s advice to try and try again and again. You know, to go to the store relatively early in the day wearing no scent, fully apply one of the scents you are exploring from the tester bottle in the store, continue on with your day, and then try the same scent again the same way several times on different days. That is a cost-free way to (hopefully) enjoy obsessing about finding something just right for you! That is certainly an obsession that many of us can relate to. 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 8:24am
J. Robert Hopkins: Leathermountain, thanks again for your thoughts! You write beautifully! Everything you’re saying about Jour d’Hermes makes me want to try it more. I guess living for decades in a country with such long dark winters has given me an endless craving for light. And yes, I hear what you’re saying about mystery. The nights of the Finnish summer have a special quality of light that is radiant only in a very veiled, subdued sense. And of course, that fragile radiance is being subdued by darkness that doesn’t fully emerge and therein lies the mystery. I can imagine it is a kind of L’Heure Bleu effect although I’ve never had the opportunity to try that fragrance. Anyway, I will be sampling Jour d’Hermes! June 21, 2014 at 9:44am
Bea: Some green scents are perfect for the cool Scandinavian summer. I will use Dior Vétiver and Chanel no 19 here in Sweden. Both are unisex and would be lovely on a man. June 21, 2014 at 11:38am
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks again Bea! Yes, I’ve heard good things about Chanel No. 19 and I didn’t know about Dior Vetiver although I have sampled the Guerlain Vetiver in Helsinki! I liked it a lot! I’ll keep those in mind! “Cool Scandinavian summer” is somewhat of an understatement for us here in Lahti! We actually had a hailstorm today! So, as I said, I crave warmth and radiance–in fragrances as well as in life in general! After all the cold weather here in Finland this summer I’m so glad and grateful that my wife and I are going to spend a couple of weeks in the Greek islands very soon! We’ve spent a week or two there under that spacious sun every year since 2002. That’s what I would like in a fragrance too–something that surrounds you with a warmth and radiance that just won’t let go and at the same time is elegant and not too heavy! June 21, 2014 at 2:35pm
Maggie: Dear J. Robert, I may be completely off base here, but something about your description of your desired summer fragrance brought to mind the Swedish company Agonist, two fragrances in particular. They have just released one called Solaris which was specifically inspired by the Northern midnight sun! The second, called Isis, I have a bottle of and love. It is a rich comforting fragrance which manages to combine green notes with vanilla in a completely original way.
You can purchase samples of these online from Aus Liebe Zum Duft (First in Fragrance) in Germany, should you wish. They do a nice 2ml spray sample for €8 plus postage. June 21, 2014 at 7:55pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Maggie! You’re not “off base” at all! Thank you very much! I didn’t know about Agonist, and the scents you mentioned sound wonderful! Thanks for the sample tip too! I’m really thankful for all the comments I’ve received! This is a great way to learn about new things! June 22, 2014 at 3:10am
Laurels: Have you tried Hermes Un Jardin Mediterrannee? It’s what your description brought to mind, warm and elegant, although the lasting power is only fair on me. I will second Jour d’Hermes as well–I usually lean toward orientals, but it is lovely and radiant, though cool, with very good longevity on me. June 22, 2014 at 4:01am
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Laurels! I haven’t had the opportunity to try anything from Hermes yet, but I can hardly wait to explore these scents! Un Jardin Mediterrannee sounds marvelous as does Jour d’Hermes! Thanks for your comments! June 22, 2014 at 5:48am
rainboweyes: When we have a cold and rainy spell in the summer here in Germany I love to wear a warm vetiver scent such as Hermessence Vetiver Tonka or Byredo Bal d’Afrique (another Swedish company btw). Or something with sandalwood – Olfactive Studio Lumière Blanche, for instance. June 22, 2014 at 5:11pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Rainboweyes! Thanks for the suggestions! Those sound great! I do hope it’s not as cold in Germany as it is in Finland now! June 23, 2014 at 1:30am
Isis: If you happen to be near a Hermès counter, I also highly recommend Ambre des Merveilles. And try Bel Ami Vetiver and Rocabar if you find it!! June 23, 2014 at 7:35am
Patricia: I’m wearing Un Jardin En Mediterranee today and am enjoying the citrus and fig combination. Highly recommend this one for J. Robert. June 23, 2014 at 8:17am
Jillie: Hi, J Robert Hopkins! While I was reading George’s reply it occurred to me that you would love Este Lauder’s Amber Nude. Although it’s discontinued it still seems very easy to get hold of, and at good prices. Whilst it is a re-working of Youth Dew (with a lovely amber and a touch of chocolate), it is much more “modern” and to my nose shares some of Coco’s qualities. I would definitely class it as oriental and it is certainly radiant. Plus I get favourable comments whenever I wear this – without fail! June 21, 2014 at 1:58am
Cornelia Blimber: I second Opium, male & female, edt.
Serge Lutens Export line is not that expensive, I think you could like Ambre Sultan.
I know some men wearing Tom Ford Black Orchid, you can have 30 ml for € 65. June 21, 2014 at 6:53am
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Cornelia! Good to hear that the Lutens export line is not overly expensive. And I’ll definitely be checking out Opium! It’ll be interesting to see if Lutens and Ford fragrances can be found in the tax free shop at the Helsinki airport. I’ll be going through Heathrow too, and I’m sure they should have both of those there. I’m really looking forward to exploring all these wonderful scents, although it is a bit daunting with all the tempting options! June 21, 2014 at 7:39am
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Jillie! Interesting, I’d never heard of that one, but I did some reading on it and it sounds lovely! I know at least one shop here that has an Estee Lauder section, so I’ll check and see if it is still to be had! Sad that so many good fragrances are either discontinued or reformulated beyond recognition! Thanks for the tip! June 21, 2014 at 7:32am
J. Robert Hopkins: I forgot to mention that my signature fragrance for some years was CK Obsession for men. This was actually the first fragrance I ever wore. That has been discontinued too, but it intrigues me that both Shalimar and Youth Dew have been mentioned on different sites as inspiration for the creation of Obsession. It makes me feel like there’s a definite thread of consistency in what has attracted me over the years, and that encourages me to explore the complex world of perfumery to find new (for me) fragrances that I can cherish. Many thanks to everyone for all the very helpful comments! June 21, 2014 at 9:25am
george: Ck Obession hasn’t been discontinued (at least not so in the UK); so maybe you’ll be able to re-acquaint yourself with it when at Heathrow. I used to wear this too (and also Eternity) but wouldn’t now. I would say that the probable replacement for this in my perfume wardrobe is Egoiste. Do let us know how you get on with all the recommendations in a future “recommend me a fragrance”! June 25, 2014 at 6:24am
J. Robert Hopkins: George, I will let you all know what I come up with! This is really exciting! I have so many enticing options now that I wouldn’t have known anything about without these helpful comments! Many thanks! June 26, 2014 at 2:34am
Bea: You have excellent taste!
I would love to smell Shalimar or my long time signature scent Coco on a man! Go for the EdP or extrait. June 21, 2014 at 10:23am
zane: Hello, Robert!
Shalimar Initial l’eau, Dior Homme, CK Obsession are my favorites, too))
I love classical Shalimar (but mostly for cool/cold weather), but I dislike Coco Chanel – very sharp and animalistic to my taste. So I vote for Shalimar +1!!!!!!
I would recommend also to try Midnight in Paris Van Cleef and Arpels, it surprised me a lot and probably it will be my next buy – it is a story about Milky Way, the Black Milk – noir, sweet, oriental (Far East), radiant, tendre and really cosmic.
If you will test Serge Lutens, check out Fourreau Noir, it has something in common with Dior Homme – interesting to find out, but probably too boring after Dior Homme. June 21, 2014 at 2:21pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Zane! Interesting that we like so many of the same fragrances! Thank you very much for your thoughts! I’ll check out Midnight in Paris (sounds wonderful!) and Fourreau Noir as soon as I have a chance! All the best to you! June 21, 2014 at 3:58pm
Courant: I love Quasar by Jesus Del Pozo on my husband. It is cheap and cheery. He is 65. Loris Azzaro male range is very good. June 21, 2014 at 8:38pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Courant! I’d never heard of Quasar, but I noticed on Fragrantica that it was created by Christopher Sheldrake! Definitely worth looking into! June 22, 2014 at 2:59am
solanace: Nothing beats Shalimar, this fragrance improves the wearer´s day! Jolie Madame is a masterpiece, a leathery violet that might suit you well. In its current formulation it is a bit on the sheer side, but as classy as can be, delicious to wear and a true bargain in some discounts – and the name is so cool for a man! Try it, if you haven´t already. Also seconding Serge Lutens and adding Parfums de Nicolai, which are more or less in the mainstream Guerlain price range, and great lines to explore, with true perfumes. June 22, 2014 at 8:54am
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks solanace! I will definitely check out SL and PdN if I can find them in tax free shops this summer! Jolie Madame is another masterpiece I’d never heard of–sort of humbling but wonderful to learn new things! It does sound gorgeous, especially in vintage form! I’m getting lots of support for the Shalimar and that feels good! Any ideas about edt vs edp? June 23, 2014 at 1:27am
zari: J. Robert, try Organza by Givenchy if you like Coco and Shalimar, both of which I wear and are among my top favs. Organza is quite beautiful and comforting in my opinion, much like Shalimar. I’m wearing Organza EDP today 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 11:59am
solanace: My Shalimar is EDT, delicious citrusy opening and a rich, powdery drydown, but I´ve had decants in EDP and a small perfume sample, and they are all good. I also have a bottle of Shalimar Ode a la Vanille, which is even better imo, smokier and deeper. I´m also seconding the Opium recs, the reformulated version still is very nice and long lasting. Finally, I think reformulated Jolie Madame should suit you more as a Scandinavian summer perfume, but do give it a try, I think you can find it at duty free shops. It´s so classy, and way cheaper than Bottega Veneta! June 23, 2014 at 12:07pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Solanace! Looks like I can’t lose with any version of Shalimar, and I will try Opium and Jolie Madame! I’ve gotten so many great recommendations from so many kind people on this site! Thanks again to everyone! 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 4:40pm
Mari: I second the recommendation for Maharanih, and would like to add the “masculine” counterpart to that fragrance Maharadjah (a spiced vanilla lavender). I think Parfum de Nicolai is a good range to explore on a budget because they offer the 30 ml size, and I’ve often found myself thinking, “this would smell good on a man” when sampling their fragrances. For distinctive fragrances on a budget, I would have also suggested the Parfum d’Empire line, but it looks like they have discontinued the smaller sized bottles- still worth looking into though, as I find they are one of the more reasonably priced niche brands. And like most commenters seem to agree, Shalimar will always a good choice. June 24, 2014 at 1:05pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Thanks Mari! Yes, I will definitely look into Parfums de Nicolai if I can find them in the tax free shops! We’re leaving for Greece in a couple of days and hope to do some joyous exploration in the airport shops in Helsinki! Odalisque is another one that sounds wonderful as a warmer weather fragrance! June 25, 2014 at 3:24am
Isis: I’d ike some recommendations on using essential oils. I mix my own oils to tend to my dry skin, and my own facemasks etc. As a body oil I’ve ben using almond oil with sandalwood essential oil (smells great, and makes my skin feel like heaven, and todayI was using a facemask with some lavender and patchouli (which finally made me realize that I DO love patchouli, when put in the right context). Do any of you play around with oils, and do you have favorite combinations tat you’d like to share? Thanks! June 20, 2014 at 5:51pm
Jillie: Wow, Isis, you’re a whiz with the essential oils! I only use then in my bath or in burners and I am a bit simple – nothing usually more complicated than a mix of geranium and orange (which I think is a lovely combination), or even just one (I love ylang ylang in my burner). However, I did experiment once and created Aromatics Elixir! You have inspired me to have a go at perfuming a body oil. June 21, 2014 at 2:07am
Isis: Its a lot f fun. You do have to be careful, some oils are great for your skin and some will irritate it (do not put any rosewood oil in your skincare oil mixture…). I find that a bit of sandalwood oil really warms the skin (literally). Isn’t that funny, since we tend to perceive the scent as warming aswell? After a shower I let my children choose between a few of my mixes, and they make a great fuss of smelling them each and choosing the right one ;). June 21, 2014 at 6:10pm
leathermountain: May I ask, why no rosewood for the skin? (I’ve just made up a new blend for my own use that includes rosewood, so I’d like to know more!) June 22, 2014 at 10:10pm
Michaela: Interesting, sandalwood warms, while mint cools. The same as we smell them.
I’m also curious about rosewood safety, I knew it’s OK for the skin, well diluted, of course. June 23, 2014 at 5:25am
Michaela: Wow, Aromatics Elixir! You are very good! June 23, 2014 at 5:17am
rainboweyes: I’ve discovered oils for myself just recently. I also use almond oil with a drop of vanilla and tonka bean (and sometimes also orange) essential oil. I can imagine jasmine and rose would make a lovely combination too. As to facial oils, I use some preformulated blends like SantaVerde Extra Rich Beauty Elixir (it smells of orange and vanilla) or Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil (which has no smell, or maybe a slightly herbal note but a very good quality) by Pai Skincare. I also make my own blends using pomegrenate seed oil, camellia oil or prickly pear seed oil (with vanilla essential oil). June 21, 2014 at 2:21am
Isis: Roe and jasmine is probably lovely. Rose oil is so expenxive though… I never thought of using tonka bean, that a gret idea! June 21, 2014 at 6:12pm
rainboweyes: You’ve inspired me to browse through my oil supplier’s website and I’ve discovered a lot of essential oils I didn’t know they were carrying – like mimosa and magnolia absolue, champaca and even galbanum! June 22, 2014 at 4:28am
Bea: Isis – essential oils are fabulous and have so many benefits.
A few years ago I was adviced to use myrrh and vetiver to become more grounded. I didn’t care much for the myrrh but loved to put a few drops of vetiver in organic sesame oil and use as a body lotion. I put it on before I went to bed and it usually took less than ten minutes before I was sleeping like a log. The scent stayed on my skin the next day too and was very relaxing and calming and yes – grounding.
The first bottle of vetiver I purchased was heavy and earthy and had a very distinct smell of burnt grass. It was beautiful.
The company I purchased it from closed down so I had to buy from other places but the other ones I have tried have been – sadly – lighter and greener. Very nice but not as fascinating as the first one. June 21, 2014 at 11:29am
Ashley Anstaett: I use 10 drops of Myrrh in my 8 oz conditioner and it makes my hair feel like heaven. For sleep, I use almond oil with bergamot, sweet marjoram, lavender, and spikenard and now whenever I smell it I feel like I have to go to sleep! Lemongrass and patchouli make an excellent bug repellent as well. Whenever I have to do public speaking, I put 10 drops of frankincense and one of rose in some jojoba oil and dab it on behind my ears and at my pulse points, which is great for grounding and for confidence. Plus, it smells beautiful! June 21, 2014 at 12:10pm
J. Robert Hopkins: Hi Ashley! Nice to hear about your use of frankincense! I am a classical pianist working as accompanist for a music school and for years now I’ve scented my studio with a few drops of frankincense every day. It makes me feel better and quite often students I accompany or their teachers will remark on the wonderful scent in my room. Only once I had a violin student come into my studio and ask: “Why does it smell like turpentine in here?” I guess you can’t please everyone! 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 4:06pm
Isis: That’s hilarious. Itsounds heavenly, studyng the piano in a francinsence scented room. June 21, 2014 at 6:13pm
leathermountain: Great story! I know I’d be among those who comment on the wonderful scent. For what it’s worth, I believe that turpentine is also made from tree sap (different kind of tree), so perhaps that one violin student is not completely wrong. This is making me wonder what a violin smells like, not to mention a bow, rosin, etc. June 22, 2014 at 10:06am
Courant: Cabaret by Gres has been reviewed as having ‘the inside of a piano’ smell to it. Smelling like the inside of a piano while sitting alongside the inside of a piano seems very holistic to me. Please buy a bottle, it’s on daily special at the online site with a fruity name..today. Haha June 22, 2014 at 7:29pm
Ashley Anstaett: Bahahaha, that is too funny! I should try it while I play as well. It’s such a wonderful smell, but one of my coworkers also thinks it smells like turpentine, so your student is not alone! June 23, 2014 at 10:33am
Isis: Thank you Ashley! Funny that you use marjoram, I fall asleep to thyme oil. I used to bathe my babies in a mix that contained thyme and calendula, and the smell still puts me to sleep almost instantly. Thanks for sharing your recipies!I’m going to look for some myrrh and francinsence oil… June 21, 2014 at 6:16pm
Michaela: I also use a mix of lemongrass (or citronella) and patchouli in my homemade soaps, they help as bug repellent.
I found a few drops of mint e/o in oil (I use either cold pressed olive or sunflower oil as body lotion on humid skin, after the shower) is exceptionally cooling.
I also like a mix of tea tree, geranium and a drop of cloves essential oil, smells nice and are good as bug repellent.
I don’t put any e/o in my almond oil (or jojoba) for face care because it easily goes into my eyes, and I’m concerned about safety. June 23, 2014 at 4:51am
Isis: Lemongrass is one of my favorites for scenting the house. It reminds my of my grandmothers kitchen… June 23, 2014 at 7:36am
Nat: Hi everyone!
Could you please recommend scents with the linden note, thanks! I have recently sampled d’Orsay Tilleul and am not quite sure what to make of it – it reminded me of FM’s En Passant (its weaker version maybe?), I also detect some “traces” of Floris’s Limes and Tauer’s Carillon pour un ange in it, which I both quite like. As the latter two don’t really contain the linden blossom note, I’m a little confused..:) June 20, 2014 at 5:55pm
Tomate Farcie: April Aromatics Unter den Linden is divine June 20, 2014 at 6:22pm
Nat: Many thanks, Tomate Farcie! June 21, 2014 at 5:48am
Maria B.: L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons. I don’t know of anything that comes closer. June 20, 2014 at 7:01pm
Nat: Many thanks, Maria B.! 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 5:52am
Kay: Maybe L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Ete en Douce. June 20, 2014 at 9:09pm
Nat: Many thanks Kay, will definitely give it a try. 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 5:53am
Anne of Green Gables: Aftelier Honey Blossom! June 21, 2014 at 5:28am
Nat: The name alone sounds great, many thanks for recommending this scent, Anne! June 21, 2014 at 5:55am
nemo: Tokyomilk Waltz No. 14 is quite lovely and perfect for summer! It is a cheap thrill as well 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 11:37am
Nat: Many thanks nemo! (on my to sample list 🙂 ) June 21, 2014 at 12:19pm
April: Jo Malone French Lime Blossom June 21, 2014 at 2:44pm
Nat: Thanks April! 🙂 June 24, 2014 at 4:56pm
Fie: Andy Tauer Zeta June 27, 2014 at 7:10am
annemarie: I own and love Cuir de Lancome and have just bought decant of Bottega Veneta, which I find less interesting maybe, but still lovely, and easier to wear than the Lancome.
I like these soft, plush leathers. Can anyone recommend some others, in case I want to explore a bit more? (I don’t get on with Kelly Caleche; it smells sharp and nasty on me.) Thanks! June 20, 2014 at 6:22pm
Tomate Farcie: I adore Ann Gerard Cuir de Nacre June 20, 2014 at 6:23pm
rainboweyes: Me too! June 21, 2014 at 2:04am
annemarie: Thanks it does sound wonderful! June 21, 2014 at 2:15am
leathermountain: Gres Cabochard, yes, even in the current formulation. (TBH I don’t know any other version.) 🙂 June 20, 2014 at 9:22pm
annemarie: Do you have a preference for EDT or EDP? June 20, 2014 at 11:18pm
leathermountain: No, I’ve only tried the very inexpensive one. It must be EdT. I think it’s terrific! June 21, 2014 at 8:04am
annemariec: Right, yes, the EDT is the one that seems to be widely available at very low prices. Thanks for the rec. 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 6:05am
Figuier: I love both of these, and have the Cuir – in the same vein for me is Heeley’s Cuir Pleine Fleur, which is maybe a tiny bit sharper but still plush. Lutens’ Daim Blond was too plasticky for me in the end, but it’s another of those suede-y leathers and very nicely structured; and then Cuir de Russie (in extrait, which takes out most of the aldehydes) is gorgeous, although a little more classical. June 21, 2014 at 4:44am
Cornelia Blimber: I love the soft leather of Etro’s Gomma. June 21, 2014 at 6:55am
annemariec: Is Gomma a bit rubbery though? June 21, 2014 at 7:48am
leathermountain: I think so. I think it’s too rubbery, and this is coming from someone who loves the rubberiness of Bulgari Black. June 21, 2014 at 8:06am
Cornelia Blimber: Haha, that’s what the name is suggesting! but no, no rubber at all. it is a soft leather, like suède.
In hot weather, Colonia Intensa Acqua di Parma is pleasant, has a leathery note. June 21, 2014 at 8:13am
Hannah: I don’t get any rubber in Gomma, either. For me it’s suede and pencil shavings. June 26, 2014 at 2:15am
Cornelia Blimber: Yes, pencil shavings! A soft touch of wood, ”pencil shavings” is spot on. June 26, 2014 at 3:46am
Tijana: Second Chanel CdR in the extrait form. I can’t do leathers, but this one I adore! June 21, 2014 at 7:12am
annemariec: Unfortunately I have trouble smelling Cuir de Russie, and gave away my sample years ago. The others sound interesting, thanks! June 21, 2014 at 7:48am
Tomate Farcie: have you tried Neela Vermeire Mohur, a spicy/leather/rose? June 21, 2014 at 11:43am
annemariec: No, I haven’t. Normally a bit out of my price range, but exceptions can be made … 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 6:03am
Isis: Hi Annermarie,
I have been on a quest for the perfect leather for months now. Cuir de Lancome is my favorite, but I am looking for another favorite that isn’t discontinued… So I’ll be taking notes to what people recommend you too!
So far, Mona di Orio Les Nombres d’Or Cuir is the one that I’ve loved the most, I find it warming comforting, and somehow to me its simultaniously elegant and feminine and erotic and daring. I also love Lutens’ Boxeuses.
Kelly Calèche doesn’t work for me, and neither did Gomma (that was a scrubber), Cuir Mauresque (phenomenal but not for me), Daim Blond (too much fruit too little leather), Knize Ten (its great but it scares me), Bandit (it fantastic but it runs me over like a truck), Cuir Fétiche (this one was very tempting, but I decided that the spices were too prominent to my taste and that I prefer Mona’s Cuir) or Cuir de Russie in Edt (this is an iris to me instead of a leather, a gorgeous iris, but still). June 21, 2014 at 6:30pm
Cornelia Blimber: Hi Isis! You tried so much leathers, what is remaining? Maybe Tabac Blond?
Or could it be that you don’t like leather at all?
Anyway, I hope you will find The One. June 22, 2014 at 8:46am
Cornelia Blimber: I believe ”many leathers” is correct. Must give more attention to my English….. June 22, 2014 at 8:47am
Isis: Haha. Yes, I dó really love them! I am just very particular about which one I want to smell on my own skin… I love heavier oriëntal notes but I find it difficult to wear them. Since many leather perfumes are quite strong, there is a long list of leathers-I-appreciate-but-wouldn’t-wear. So far Mona di Orio Les Nombres d’Or Cuir is a winner for me. Super addictive. And Boxeuses, boxeuses is lovely. Still on my perfumes-I-must-try list are Cuir de Nacré, PG Cuir d’Iris, Sarrasins, Cuir Ottoman.. so plenty to explore and just enjoy the hunt for now :). June 23, 2014 at 7:44am
Cornelia Blimber: And try Jolie Madame as well (see Solanace’s comment above). Cheaper than Boxeuses! June 23, 2014 at 1:50pm
Isis: I will! Thanks! June 24, 2014 at 12:49pm
Julie: I’ve found so many wonderful scents thru this blog, and recommend me a perfume.
I’m still on the hunt for a coffee scent perfume. TF’s Cafe Rose didn’t provide enough of the coffee; liked Jo Malone’s Black Vetiver Cafe but it last not even an hour. I have a few others to try.
Thanks! June 20, 2014 at 7:32pm
leathermountain: You’ve got Bond’s New Haarlem and Ava Luxe’s Cafe Luxe on your list, then? Both have definite coffee notes as part of a larger, sweeter composition. That’s why I don’t love either one. I keep hoping for a bitter coffee scent. June 20, 2014 at 9:25pm
Julie: I have new Harlem on my list but everything I’ve read about it I’m thinking it might be too sweet for me. But I will give it a try.
Café Lux I’m eager to try as well. Thanks! June 21, 2014 at 9:07am
leathermountain: New Haarlem is really very sweet. Alas. Cafe Luxe is also very sweet, but less overtly foodie. Then again, Cafe Luxe is more two-dimensional. Guess I’m still waiting for a great coffee scent. June 21, 2014 at 1:56pm
johanob: The New Mugler Pure Coffee sounds like a more coffied version of Pure Havane,not sure about the release date though!New Haarlem is my current favorite,just easy on the sprays!! June 21, 2014 at 5:43pm
Tomate Farcie: 4160 Tuesdays The Dark Heart of Havana or
Hilde Soliani Bell’Antonio June 20, 2014 at 10:30pm
Julie: I don’t think I know about these two. I’ll look them up and learn more and then maybe try some samples. Thank you! June 21, 2014 at 9:08am
Buka: Can anyone, please, recommend an Italian perfume house worth to explore, besides Acqua di Parma (which I quite like)? 🙂 June 21, 2014 at 5:41pm
johanob: Oh yes!!There are quite a couple of noteworthy ones!Santa Maria Novella(Nostalgia and Fieno are really interesting perfumes!),Also Bruno Acampora,his Musc is one of the best around in my opinion!Also Blu(a heady Tuberose) and Iranzol(heavy galbanum oriental) are worth a sniff!Beautiful packaging,and Acampora does old-fashioned perfume oils as well.Hope this helps a bit! June 21, 2014 at 5:48pm
Buka: Thank You very much!
I have added those two lines to my list: Bruno Acampora seems and sounds very interesting! And the “explorer set” is tempting, in addition beautiful packaging is always a plus!:-) June 21, 2014 at 9:22pm
Tomate Farcie: HildeSoliani, I Profumi di Firenze, Eau d’Italie,
Il Profumo, June 21, 2014 at 6:00pm
johanob: Eau d’Italie has some nicely done perfumes!Totally agree! June 21, 2014 at 6:08pm
Buka: Thank You!
My list is successfully continues, thanks to your advice:-)
I’ve been curious about Eau d’Italie for some time now, and it looks promising… June 21, 2014 at 9:24pm
Maggie: My favourite Italian perfume house is Profumi del Forte – simply stunning. June 21, 2014 at 8:25pm
Buka: Maggie, thank you!
Never heard of the Profumi del Forte before, I just read the description, they must be stunning:-)
May i ask: what is your favorite perfume from the line? June 21, 2014 at 9:44pm
Maggie: Buka, my favourite is By Night White. Also lovely and worth trying – Vaiana Dea, Prima Rugiada and Roma Imperiale. June 22, 2014 at 3:53am
Buka: Lovely, indeed:-)
I shall try those first from Profumi del Forte! June 22, 2014 at 9:30am
Lynley: Profumi del Forte are by far my favourite too. The quality and packaging is exquisite. My favourite is Roma Imperiale- it’s in my top 5 of all time- followed by By Night, White. June 26, 2014 at 8:50am
rainboweyes: Maria Candida Gentile has many wonderful creations (Burlesque is my favourite scent of the line) also Laurent Mazzone, Profumi di Pantelleria, Torre of Tuscany and Tiziana Terenzi. June 22, 2014 at 9:55am
Buka: rainboweyes, thank you!
Your input has been noted and recorded in my little book:-)
I like approach at using a lot of natural raw materials in perfumery, like Maria Candida Gentile does… June 22, 2014 at 8:38pm
Alessandra: Lorenzo Villoresi and Santa Maria Novella – the latter isn’t purely a perfume house but has spendid colognes. Profumi del Forte, too, yes. June 23, 2014 at 7:47am
Buka: Alessandra, I will look into Lorenzo Villoresi as well!
Thank You:-) June 23, 2014 at 9:59am
Alessandra: pleasure 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 10:58am
Nina Zolotow: Maria Candida Gentile. One of my favorite summer fragrances this year is Sideris from that line. I learned about that one because a friend sent me a decant. I’ve heard good things about the rose fragrance, and would love to try that. It’s a quality line with a high proportion of natural essences. June 23, 2014 at 11:06am
Buka: I would love to take a walk along a Mediterranean beach some day, but for now I will just obtain a sample of Siders perfume…
Thank You:-) June 23, 2014 at 3:23pm
Cornelia Blimber: I like many perfumes from the Italian brand Etro: Shaal Nur, Palais Jamais, Dianthus, Etra di Etro, Gomma.
Messe de Minuit seems to be great, never smelled it. But I am not sure that the perfumers are Italian.
Donna by Trussardi was nice, has been discontinued I believe.
And for the Gina Lollobrigida feeling I turn to Roberto Cavalli Perfumed Shower Gel.
And in the past, Fendi, and Krizia.
And Bois d’Encens by Armani.
I am sure i forgot some great Italian perfumes. Forza Italia, also in perfumery. June 23, 2014 at 4:57pm
Buka: Italian fashion is one of the reasons to inspire my search for perfumes from that part of the world!
I will try Etro on and hopefully it will suit me well:-)
Yes, and Gina Lollobrigida too (I used to flip often through book with her photography work)…
Thank You! June 23, 2014 at 11:42pm
Lynley: Also Carthusia, Profumum, Eau d’Italie, AbdesSalaamAttar, Bois1920.. June 26, 2014 at 8:55am
Buka: Lynley, thank you!
I’m hoping to try Profumum and Eau d’Italie very soon: getting ready to take notes and making some space for them in my petite, but quite full sample box:-)
Bois1920 may be next!… June 26, 2014 at 1:45pm
Samar: Hi, can anyone recommend a nice and light perfume with MOTIA flower. It’s a common flower in india/pakistan. Love it’s fragrance but usually its found as attar which feels heavy. Thanks. June 21, 2014 at 6:54pm
Jillie: Hello there, Samar. I hadn’t heard of motia, so looked it up and discovered that it is jasmine. There are different varieties of jasmine, but it seems that motia is probably jasmine sambac so I guess that you should begin your search by looking for that as a note. Patou’s Joy smells a lot like JS to me, but is expensive. There are so many lovely jasmines around – you will have a lot of testing to do! June 22, 2014 at 6:26am
Samar: Thanks a lot Jillie, your reply is helpful and yes my search continues…. with lots of testing 🙂 June 22, 2014 at 1:52pm
Solsticejonquils: Yesterday the first of my jonquils flowered which brought some sunshine for the winter solstice here in South Australia. The fragrance is heavenly. Does anyone know of any perfumes that smell of jonquils? June 21, 2014 at 8:20pm
Jillie: This won’t help much, Solsticejonquils, because the only two perfumes that I can think of that have a jonquil/daffodil note that I can really detect are discontinued! But you can still hunt them down: Miller Harris Jasmin Vert (which in spite of its name doesn’t really smell of jasmine but more of dadffodil) and Parfums de Nicolai’s Le Temps d’une Fete (which is less green and fresh than the MH and more hay-like). June 23, 2014 at 7:21am
Sheri: Seconding Le Temps d’une Fete, and it appears to (still) be available from the Lucky Scent website. June 23, 2014 at 4:17pm
Mari: While I don’t believe daffodil is listed in the notes, Un Coeur en Mai is a lovely green floral that reminds me of early Spring. June 24, 2014 at 1:22pm
Solsticejonquils: Thank you Jillie, Sheri and Mari. I will try to find them. I’m new to discovering perfumes and I think it is not so easy to find some scents in Australia – I will check out “Lucky Scent”. Thank you for letting me know about it June 25, 2014 at 8:07am
Lynley: I’m in WA, and find ‘most’ things are accessible. Luckyscent, Parfum1, Surrender to Chance, The Perfumed Court ship here. The hardest things are Chanel and Dior exclusives, which you need a boutique to buy a very marked-up bottle. Shipping costs vary hugely. In Aus, Peony, Mecca and Libertine ship too 🙂 June 26, 2014 at 9:02am
Terra: Please please recommend me a perfume. For years I only wore Victorias Secret Supermodel. They discontinued it and I haven’t been able to find anything I like since. It’s hard to describe. Warm, creamy, sandalwood and I always received so many compliments. Maybe it was my body chemistry’s reaction with it. Peoe always said it was an enticing sexual scent kn me. Smelled horrible on my sister, but I would love to find something similar. June 22, 2014 at 2:23am
Jillie: Hello, Terra. I’ve never smelt Supermodel, but I had a quick look at the notes and wonder whether you might enjoy one of Guerlain’s Petite Robe Noire fragrances? Not absolutely similar, but they might satisfy your craving. Failing that, have you tried the famous online auction site? This seems to have a few bottles up for sale! June 22, 2014 at 3:13am
Samar: May be Guerlain’s Samsara, i love the sandalwood in it ! June 22, 2014 at 1:58pm
Mel: Does anybody remember The Letter? The brilliant 1940 Bette Davis movie directed by William Wyler? For some reason, Gale Sondergaard popped into my head when Victoria suggested Bond No. 9’s Chinatown in an earlier post. But GS’s dragon lady character would require something far more intense than soft peach (and I love Bond #9 Chinatown – it’s the only Bond #9 I own). What would she wear? June 22, 2014 at 12:13pm
Jillie: Mel, Gale Sondergaard would wear something with huge sillage, I think. Maybe the original Opium (I’m probably being influenced by the eastern vibe here!). Or pre-reform Poison? Or a green so sharp you could cut yourself on it? No sweet, delicate little flowers for her, or soft suedey peaches! June 23, 2014 at 3:14am
george: Hmm, she only has her revenge because the censors demanded it: the bette davis character wasn’t allowed to go unpunished as in the original story; so I’m not sure how fatale she should be seen as having been.
That aside, I don’t think she would have worn perfume, but she might have smelled of incense she had burnt. One of the comme de garçons range? June 23, 2014 at 6:59am
Mel: I had no idea the murder of Leslie Crosbie was studio-induced. Wow. Thanks for the info. I haven’t read the Maugham but, as far as studio-enforced compromises go, the way the ending is shot – the moon, Crosbie’s acquiescence to her fate, the dagger on the ground, and of course, Sondergaard in the shadows with her spangles – is not bad for a chilling destination. Certainly not Avignon for GS – but maybe the scent of opium – her own – from a pipe. June 23, 2014 at 1:24pm
george: I will have to watch it again (I have it on DVD) But my take is that she is a watchful, puritan and very practical character, who gives very little of herself away (in contrast to Leslie Crombie, who is continually self-projecting) and who would not choose the sort of lack of self-control that an addiction would bring. I also wouldn’t see her choosing anything with any sort of sillage that would forewarn others of her presence. I think she is almost completely silent in the film too. I think she would be silent in scented terms too. June 23, 2014 at 4:38pm
Jillie: You know, George, on reflection I think you are right – she would not want to give herself away by her perfume! But in private ………. June 24, 2014 at 4:53am
Scentseeker: Hi! I’ve been searching long and hard for a great rich rose composition fragrance, and the only one I’ve found so far that I like, but not love, is Chloe. Chloe is a little too strong on cedar and that kind of ruins this fragrance for me, but I am looking for something similar. Would love to hear your recommendations. Thanks! June 23, 2014 at 2:34am
Alessandra: Maybe Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin? It’s a great fragrance 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 10:57am
rainboweyes: Eau d’Italie Paestum Rose maybe? Or Safran Troublant by Artisan Parfumeur?
My favourite rose scent is Coup de Foudre by Parfums DelRae but it’s one of the lighter, more sparkling rose scents. June 23, 2014 at 11:16am
Anat13: Lutens La Fille de Berlin and Tauer Incense Rose are to die for! June 23, 2014 at 6:18pm
leathermountain: The richest rose I know is Perris Monte Carlo Rose de Taif, but I’m not sure it has much in common with Chloe.
What are the other rose scents that you’ve tried and don’t much like, Scentseeker? June 23, 2014 at 6:33pm
Alessandra: Dear everyone, I’d like to know what you lot think of Parfumerie Generale’s Jardin de Kérylos and, more generally, what your fave fig is. Might help me out!! Thanks a lot 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 7:45am
Jillie: Dear Alessandre, I am not a fig person and don’t know the PG, but I own a bottle of L’Artisan’s Premier Figuier which I am strangely drawn to – it’s a dusty, dry fig which smells of coconut and sandalwood; I think that the Jardin de Kerylos is much greener. June 24, 2014 at 4:57am
Alessandra: yeah. I love premier figuier but I think I prefer it in wintertime… it’s great news that Kérylos is more ‘aquatic’, so to speak? I love Ninfeo Mio very much, too, so I am trying to decide whether to get that or Kérylos… thank you! 🙂 June 24, 2014 at 7:18am
Anne of Green Gables: Hi Alessandra, like Jillie, I’m not familiar with the perfume you mentioned but my favourite is Ninfeo Mio. I also like Hermes Un Jardin En Mediterranee. June 24, 2014 at 6:42am
Alessandra: I, too, love Ninfeo Mio!! I am trying to decide whether to get that or Kérylos, hence the question re: the latter, hehe 🙂 thanks! June 24, 2014 at 7:20am
rainboweyes: Unfortunately I cannot wear fig because my kids hate the smell but I liked Jardin de Kerylos. I think my favourite fig scents are Micallef Sous le Figuier, Miller Harris Figue Amére and Aqua di Parma Fico de Amalfi. June 24, 2014 at 6:50am
Alessandra: Figue Amère is brilliant, yes… much like Premier Figuier, I prefer it in autumn / winter, tho, I think, as it has this warm, unexected, conforting side I love very much. I had forgotten about Fico di Amalfi… thanks for reminding me of that! I like Phylosikos, too, of course, but I wanted a depart from that, this summer, which is why I took Kérylos into consideration. I guess I’ll confine my choice to that or Ninfeo Mio for this summer, then 🙂 June 24, 2014 at 7:21am
Cara: Hi All –
I’m looking for a light, casual, fresh summery scent that isn’t too floral or sweet. I tend towards woodsier scents (le labo’s santal or tom ford italian cypress), but also like coco mademoiselle, mitsuko, creed silver mountain water. I tried Florabotanica but it’s just too floral and simple. I think Chanel No. 19 might be a bit heavier than I’m looking for but it’s definitely in the right direction… any ideas? thanks so much (i love this blog 🙂 ) June 23, 2014 at 11:57am
spe: Chantecaille Vetivyer? June 23, 2014 at 1:01pm
rainboweyes: Annick Goutal l’Heure Exquise? It’s similar to No. 19 but softer in the drydown…
And my newest love – Vero Profumo Mito. June 23, 2014 at 4:12pm
Anat13: I second Mito! The edp is in my top 3 perfumes. I haven’t tried the other concentration, but I hear it is also wonderful. June 23, 2014 at 6:20pm
Shannon: I’m looking for a perfume that has a citrus scent, but isn’t too much like something a teenager would wear. A more “grown up” smelling fruity perfume. I’ve had a really hard time looking for something like that. Any suggestions? June 23, 2014 at 11:59am
Sheri: Hi Shannon – Have you tried Chanel Cristalle? The edt is more citrusy, but the edp is beautiful as well … and I can’t imagine either on a teenager. 🙂 June 23, 2014 at 4:09pm
Anat13: Ormonde Jayne Frangipani (Frangipani/Lime)
Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (blood orange)
Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Citronnier (lemon blossom)
Fruity and grown up but not citrus:
Vero Profumo Rubj edp (passionfruit/cumin–most people get orange blossom too but I don’t at all)
Neela Vermiere Bombay Bling (Mango, spices) June 23, 2014 at 6:27pm
leathermountain: Grapefruit/aromatic Negroni bliss: Parfums de Nicolai L’Eau MiXte June 23, 2014 at 6:34pm
Maggie: If you’re looking for grown-up lemons, you must try Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien. It’s my favorite citrus. But more green than fruity. June 29, 2014 at 8:47am
spe: Hello! Please help me to find a scent that is woodsy, citrus, and lightly floral. Thank you! June 23, 2014 at 12:58pm
Michaela: I’m not sure that’s what you’re looking for, but have you tried Bulgari The Vert?
https://boisdejasmin.com/2011/02/bulgari-eau-parfumee-au-the-vert-perfume-review.html June 25, 2014 at 3:14am
May: Hi there,
I am new to perfumes. I don’t have a favorite perfume nor do I have a favorite scent/odour. I don’t use my nose consciously. I can however tell you the things I like:
– Old world Architecture, Elegance, sophistication…
– Laduree Macaroons
– Dolce Gabbana’s designs
– The colours of Morocco
– the down time of the fall season
– saffron-scented food
– Bare face or neutral “natural” makeup
– the smell & poetry of rain
– the mood of Cloudy days – that “something” is coming, like a storm…
– Nostalgic scents from my travels – the scent my luggage bag, after a trip. The shoes I wore constantly on holiday, or the bag that I carried…
I would appreciate it if you would kindly recommend perfumes for me, that fit the description above.
While I am open to all suggestions (in terms of pricing) I prefer suggestions that are below $50 (I am a student!), and better yet, if they are below $30!
Good luck – this budget may be difficult to work with!
A huge thank you! June 23, 2014 at 6:07pm
Ashley Anstaett: You could try the current formulation of Balmain Ivoire. It’s really lovely, and I think rather sophisticated, but also subtle. It reminds me of natural makeup and is a really beautiful skin scent. You can find a bottle for under $50 on overstock.com.
The TokyoMilk line is also kind of fun, and really affordable. I like Age of Aquarius quite a lot. It’s a little woodsy and citrusy and they’re about $30 a bottle on the dot. June 23, 2014 at 8:02pm
Alessandra: Hello!! 🙂 I think more than just one does…. for now, off top of my head, Chanel 22 and Guerlain Après l’Ondée, but i will get back to you! June 24, 2014 at 7:23am
Kay: Hi,
Found these for under $50 on Amazon:
Gucci Gucci, Narciso Rodriguez for Her, Estee Lauder White Linen.
These are a bit over budget but sprang to mind from your list of likes:
Nicolai: Vie de Chateau Intense
Dior: Dolce Vita
I definitely second Balmain Ivoire, though: truly elegant! June 24, 2014 at 6:28pm
Michaela: For the rain and the mood of cloudy days, you may also try the beautiful and inexpensive Jacomo Silences, discontinued but still available: https://boisdejasmin.com/2006/06/jacomo_silences.html June 25, 2014 at 4:31am
Christy: I don’t have inexpensive suggestions for full bottles, but I would recommend getting decants / splits instead. 5 ml splits are usually under $30 and last quite a while. (Facebook Fragrance Friends is great for decants and splits–I’ve found the people there reliable–and there are lots of other FB sites for splits, too. Surrender to Chance is good for samples.) Based on your list, I’d suggest:
Old world Architecture, Elegance, sophistication… :
*Vero Profumo Mito edp (green, green citrus, magnolia, cool stone)
the down time of the fall season & saffron-scented food:
* Ormonde Jayne Ta’if: rose, saffron, dates
the smell & poetry of rain:
* Frederic Malle En Passant: lilac, cucumber, bread
luggage bag, shoes, bag:
* Bottega Venetta? I haven’t tried it but I’ve heard it’s a wonderful leather. Cuir Beluga’s a soft leather I’ve heard great things about as well. June 27, 2014 at 9:33pm
May: And this is a fun question – What perfumes come to mind when you think of the 1940s “femme fatale”? Or “femme fatale” in general 🙂
Thanks! June 23, 2014 at 6:12pm
Diane: Aromatics elixir , Chanel Cuir de Russie, Chanel no 5 parfum June 23, 2014 at 9:21pm
Cybele: Fracas, Mitsouko June 24, 2014 at 7:33pm
Hannah: I don’t like vintage aesthetics so I don’t have any 40s femme fatales in mind, but for me femme fatale fragrances include: Black Cashmere (Donna Karan), Muscs Koublaï Khän (Serge Lutens), Rose Oud (By Kilian), Féminité du Bois (Serge Lutens), Bulgari Black, Kingdom (Alexander McQueen). June 26, 2014 at 3:40am
Mari: I spent a summer in Berkeley, and I know what you mean! The closest thing I have found is Jasmin de Nuit by The Different Company. It’s creamy and soft and punctuated by some subtle spice. In reviews, I’ve noticed some people commenting that it did not smell like jasmine- I think what they may mean is that it does not smell like a jasmine perfume. To my nose, Jasmin de Nuit approximates the smell you get walking by jasmine bushes in bloom. Also, Wit by Parfum del Rae (based in the Bay Area) reminds me a bit of pink jasmine even though it is based on the daphne flower (which I have not had the pleasure of smelling). Lastly, Lys by Serge Lutens, although a lily fragrance, also reminds me of pink jasmine. June 24, 2014 at 12:36pm
Brainfodder: Hello all,
Firstly, a big thanks to all those who contributed to my April question, and a huge thanks to Anne of Green Gables who recommended ‘First in Fragrance’ for samples – I’ve drained my Ninfeo Mio, Promesse de L’Aube, Seville a L’Aube… I can’t tell you how excited I was by their selection – I think ‘giddy’ sums it up 🙂
In a similar vein, I wondered if anyone had experience of shipping from the US to the UK, or if anyone knew of a sample/decant service that includes the Chanel Exclusifs? I can’t spend any more time at their counter sniffing each bottle – they recognise me and they know what I’m up to 🙂 Any advice regarding regulations, quantities etc., would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! June 25, 2014 at 7:22am
Jillie: Hello Brainfodder. I live in the UK and there are so many restrictions now on posting perfume – the rules say that you can send up to 100ml within the UK provided it is a brand new item in original packaging, wrapped securely and plastered with a big sticker stating that it is a dangerous substance! We are not allowed to mail anything to locations outside the UK or it will be seized and destroyed as a prohibited item (and I know this to my cost as they did that to the Chanel Sensual Elixir I was sending to Australia, and which I didn’t think counted as perfume!).
So far I have received bottles from the USA without problem; I don’t quite know why that should be as they must be just as dangerous as those originating from here! But this might be because I have used companies like Parfum1/Amazon.
There is also the issue of tax on items entering the UK from overseas via Royal Mail(not from within the European Union) – unless duty etc has already been included in your payment to a company, a package will be kept until you pay a customs fee and another charge (£10 I think) to RM for “handling” it. So it can be quite expensive to order from the US
Hope this helps. Sorry I can’t answer your question about the Chanels! June 25, 2014 at 8:01am
Brainfodder: Thanks for your reply Jillie, that’s really helpful info.
Seems like the US is a feasible option for ordering, provided I accept it’s going to be expensive! The Posh Peasant stocks Chanels, so I may chance it and keep my fingers crossed…
I was surprised it was so easy with ‘First in Fragrance’ but I guess that’s because we’re all in the EU.
Such a shame about your Elixir! June 25, 2014 at 8:43am
Hannah: I’m looking for a freakum dress perfume. I’m going to get a sample of Rossy de Palma but I’m not sure I want a rose-centric perfume. I’d also like to consider Noir de Noir and Tuscan Leather as contenders but they’re kind of out of my price range. I’m going to give Tubéreuse Criminelle another try (I briefly tried it on skin and was shocked that I liked it, because I’m a huge tuberose hater). June 25, 2014 at 11:24pm
rachel: Hi all.. I am always on the hunt for the perfect scent for me but have not loved anything in a while. I have bought so many. Now I am looking for a mid summer scent I love earthy things liked Aveda love. I like Rue de Tea, Clarins dyma sorry my spelling is so bad. Musc Raveguer I like but a little too masculine. I love chanel fragrences on other people but they don’t love me. My husband loves the perfume If but I find it boring, he also likes lime basil and mandarin on me but it is missing something for me. Any thoughts friends? July 13, 2014 at 6:29pm
Hanna: Hi,
I’m looking to layer a rose scented perfume with an apple scented perfume. Or any similar variation of. Anyone have any ideas? Any help will be greatly appreciated. July 27, 2014 at 12:37pm
Victoria: L’Occitane has a couple of roses, like Rose Jardin Delice. Cacharel Premiere Delice is also a fruity rose, but it has a pear note, not apple. Still, it’s excellent. As for two different perfumes, rose and apple, to layer, I’d recommend visiting the Jo Malone counter. They usually have lots of options. July 27, 2014 at 5:26pm