Are you looking for a new fragrance? Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors.
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 uner their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
203 Comments
Michelle Peek: please suggest something pretty and different. My mainstays are Coromandel, Bottega Veneta, Carnal Flower, Narciso EDP. I would like to acquire En Passant and Chanel Beige. March 27, 2019 at 10:16am
Trudy: Sorry Michelle…my reply is below. March 27, 2019 at 11:25am
Nancy Chan: Hi Michelle, I would recommend Hermes’s Osmanthe Yunnan, Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre and also by Chanel, No.19 Poudre. These are not very loud fragrances, staying close to skin suitable for the Spring season. March 27, 2019 at 11:59am
Aurora: Hello Michelle: If you like Carnal Flower you might enjoy another tuberose like Diptyque Do Son and test their patchouli Tempo since you like Coromandel. For different, and anticipating
summer have you thought of trying Hermes Voyage (light spices on woods and musk) or even Eau des Merveilles (salty oranges)? March 27, 2019 at 4:10pm
Laurie: Hi, everyone. My name is Laurie Stapleton, and I have never tried to post on this site but am trying to ask for some “Recommend me a Perfume site. I will see if this message even goes there.
If it posts but only as a reply, will some kind person help me out? Thanks! March 27, 2019 at 5:07pm
Lynley: Laurie, if you scroll down the page to the ‘what do you think’ comment section, your post will come up as a new thread rather than hitiing ‘reply’ under an existing thread. 🙂 March 28, 2019 at 12:08am
Kayliz: I think Lutens’ De Profundis fits the bill on both counts: pretty violets & candied fruits, with an original twist in the clear, crisp incense.
I’m usually drawn to more “natural” fragrances but there’s something irresistible in this for me on cold spring days. March 28, 2019 at 7:59am
AnnieA: Hi Michelle, Douceur de Siam by Dusita is extremely pretty, if fleeting. Oh, maybe it’s not deeply original – but top of its class. March 28, 2019 at 6:28pm
PrincessTonk: I say, try these two Serge scents: Nuit de Cellophane or Bas de Soie. They are unusual for SL and wear very well in heat. March 30, 2019 at 3:06pm
Trudy: We have some of the same favorites…Narciso, Beige and Carnal Flower. Have you tried Chanel Paris-Deauville? I discovered this when it first came out (I think last September). It is more a cologne than a perfume but it does have depth. It is very fresh and elegant but also pretty. It is definitely a Chanel fragrance. I will continue to wear Deauville but I am also looking for something new for spring/summer so I’ll be reading today’s comments for suggestions. March 27, 2019 at 11:23am
Michelle: I have tried Deauville and liked it at the store. How is the lasting power? March 27, 2019 at 11:28am
Trudy: I’d say it has moderate staying power. I usually re-apply mid day. This is one that I will always have on my dresser💗 March 27, 2019 at 1:43pm
rickyrebarco: Michelle:
Chanel’s Jersey and La Pausa are both lovely warm weather scents. For a more wallet friendly scent, YSL Cinema is a gorgeous spring and summer scent. March 27, 2019 at 3:50pm
Cyndi: I’m also looking for a pretty new perfume for Spring. I love Chanel No. 5 EDT and I also love Fracas in the spring and summer. Even though it can be little heavy at first, I feel it really blossoms in the warmer weather. I have a bottle of Elie Saab’s Gardenia, which I’m a little on the fence about because, while pretty, I think it has an underlying mushroomy scent to it that, for me, is a little off-putting, and I also don’t care for unisex fragrances. I’m looking for something that is definitely a woman’s perfume – soft, feminine, and elegant. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanking you in advance! March 27, 2019 at 12:10pm
Merylam: If you like soft florally perfumes you could try feminin pluriel by MFK or its more mainstream little sister carven le parfum. They are both quite ethereal, so if you arelooking for something more full bodied skip them. March 27, 2019 at 4:50pm
Aurora: Yes, gardenia can be perceived as mushroom. Do you like iris? It is so perfect for a spring scent: Annick Goutal Heure Exquise and Hermes Hiris are two of my favorites and definitely far from mushroomy 🙂 March 27, 2019 at 4:50pm
eudora: hello Aurora! I think we have very a similar taste in perfume! For my birthday I am thinking to ask for Hermes Hiris. But today I tried for the first time Bulgari Te Vert Blue and I am loving its elegant iris! I have limited access to perfumes those days, have you tried. Bulgari’s? Thanks and have a great month! March 29, 2019 at 9:47am
Aurora: Hello Eudora: It’s nice to have a twin 🙂
I don’t know au The Bleu, I have Rouge (very good nutty scent) and Vert.
Hoping you will get a very nice bottle of perfume and wishing you in advance a Very Happy Birthday. April 1, 2019 at 8:59am
Caitlenn: Merylam is right, Feminin Pluriel would be a lovely option for you! Do you also like iris by any chance? The single prettiest Spring scent in my collection, one that always gets compliments, is Jean Claude Ellena’s fresh green floral in the Hermessence Line: Iris Ukiyoe. I’ve never found anything remotely like it. When I wear it I’m always hearing how “uniquely lovely, amazing or mysterious” it is. As an ethereal EDT it does need a light reapply a couple times a day, but there’s no mushroom effect and it truly never fails to impress. March 27, 2019 at 6:58pm
Old Herbaceous: Have you tried Chanel No. 5 L’Eau? It’s a lighter, sunnier No. 5 flanker and I think it’s beautiful. Though my favorite is actually No. 5 Eau Premiere — have you tried that? If you like lily of the valley, you might try Hermes’ Muguet Porcelaine, it’s lovely, elegant, and very suitable for spring. March 27, 2019 at 7:27pm
Kayliz: If you can get hold of the Dior exclusives, do try Jasmin des Anges — very soft and feminine, and without any thin scratchiness. March 28, 2019 at 8:06am
Matty: I really like Chance. I think it’s refreshing. March 27, 2019 at 12:13pm
maggiecat: I’ll second Deauville – it is pretty, elegant, feminine, not too loud but not too simple either. I’m wearing it today and love it. I’ll also be following along here – a new perfume for Spring is always a nice idea! March 27, 2019 at 1:21pm
Laurel: All perfume disappears on my skin very quickly. Looking for a floral fragrance with lasting power but good for the spring/summer March 27, 2019 at 1:24pm
Aurora: Have you tried Jour d’Hermes Absolu? This one lasts forever on my skin and it is quite springlike. March 27, 2019 at 5:08pm
Valentine: Can anyone recommend a summery TROPICAL perfume? I’m looking for florals, tropical fruits, and maybe a salty ocean vibe. I’m imagining tiare, mango, guava, lychee, and an atmosphere of happiness and sun. I don’t like a lot of coconut and don’t want vanilla, cardamom, or boozy notes in it. Perfumes in this family I think are so-so but not perfect are the Miss Marisa line and Penhaligon’s Amaranthine. Any suggestions? March 27, 2019 at 2:01pm
Anu: Hi Valentine: my suggestion is Arielle Shoshana by Arielle Shoshana. It has a wonderful top note of Passion fruit followed by a mix of floral and fruity notes. The dry down is sandalwood and vanilla. To my nose it all is very unusual as well as refreshing and fun. March 27, 2019 at 3:28pm
Valentine: Thank you! I was Googling around for suggestions and noticed a great NST Perfume review on this fragrance too. Thanks for the rec! March 27, 2019 at 3:48pm
Caroline: Explore the Comptoir Sud Pacifique line…know there’s at least one with the salty ocean aspect. March 27, 2019 at 3:45pm
rickyrebarco: Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani is gorgeous, one of my favorites of all time. Chantecaille’s Frangipani is also lovely. March 27, 2019 at 3:46pm
Sarah: Valentine, I would recommend Guerlain Terra Cotta. It is summer in a bottle. March 27, 2019 at 4:31pm
Klaas: Ormonde Jayne Tiare is very nice, too. One to check out for sure. Parfumerie Generale Neroli Ad Astra is also super nice, very much floral with Neroli, Jasmin and Ylang. Sunshine in a bottle, very light, creamy and just lovely…..
Enjoy! March 27, 2019 at 5:34pm
Aprilbaby: So yes- Annick Goutal March 27, 2019 at 7:12pm
Lari frank: Sorry that should have said “Songes” by Annick goutal March 31, 2019 at 3:01pm
Lydia: If you can find it where you are, Monyette by Monyette Paris is a happy, sensual, tropical, beachy gardenia. The listed notes are “Tahitian gardenia, French muguet du bois, island vanilla orchid.”
(Sadly I can’t recommend Coquette Tropique by Monyette Paris since I remember it smelling like fruity plastic and nowhere in the same league as the original.) March 28, 2019 at 12:27am
Lydia: PS Oh no, I see that you asked for no vanilla. Apologies. If I remember any salty, fruity tropicals I’ve tried and liked, I’ll post again. March 28, 2019 at 12:37am
Deanna Wisbey: I would suggest Ester Lauder Private collection. Tuberose and Gardenia. A unique and beautiful perfume. But about to disappear along with rest of the Private collection. Why?!
You can get it at the moment though. March 28, 2019 at 4:28am
Aurora: Hello Valentine: I was recommending Clinique Calyx to Lori below, and realized that it could apply to your request. It is well worth a sniff, very tropical indeed. March 28, 2019 at 12:29pm
PrincessTonk: A stretch for your stated requirements but something that might work SO well is Neela Vermeire Bombay Bling. March 30, 2019 at 3:10pm
Sebastian: Tropic of Capricorn from Orchid Scents. This one’s combination of fruitiness, mysteriousness and decay I immediately found appealing. It does not evoke the tropics I remember from travelling through India and South-East Asia, although it is a bit reminiscent of a night market at closing time. Perhaps it can be regarded as a rendition of Africa as seen through Western literature, a very cerebral creation. Dries down a bit too sweet for me. There is some vanilla on it, but not dominant. Somewhere, I don’t remember where, I read that it smells like having made love on a pile of overripe mangoes. Great stuff. March 31, 2019 at 4:04pm
Michael: I second the recommendations of Frangipani and Tiare by Ormonde Jayne, and also suggest Sampaquita by the same brand – a combination of the Philippines’ national flower (related to jasmine) and lychee. April 4, 2019 at 1:15pm
Valentine: This line tends to run too sweet for me, but maybe I can find it in-store somewhere to give another try. Thanks for the rec! March 27, 2019 at 3:49pm
Valentine: Oops, wrong spot! March 27, 2019 at 3:50pm
spe: Eau Tropicale by Sisley. March 29, 2019 at 9:29pm
Muriel: Hello dear perfume lovers,
I am looking for a floral perfume that would not be too elaborate or loud, I would like it to remain green and fresh. I already have Angéliques sous la pluie which I love, but would like something more towards the more “classical” white flowers. Also, I think patchouli and I don’t work so well together, I don’t know why, because I like the smell of patchouli on its own, but most of the perfumes that contain it seem to give me a headache… what would be your suggestions??? Thanks a lot!! March 27, 2019 at 4:38pm
Aurora: Do you know Cartier Baiser Vole? Specifically the EDT, it’s a lily which is sparkling and green, think flower and stem as well. March 27, 2019 at 5:24pm
Caitlenn: See my note above to Cyndi re Jean Claude Ellena’s marvelously unique fresh green floral in the Hermessence Line: Iris Ukiyoè. It’s excellent for spring! March 27, 2019 at 7:22pm
spe: Chanel Gardenia. March 29, 2019 at 9:30pm
Klaas: Hello perfume wizzards, Vilhelm Perfumerie discintinued one of my favorite summer scents Fellini & Basil. It was deliciously green and had a very pronounced basil note. So nice! I’m looking for a substitute basil fragrance that I could check out. I’ve spotted Guerlains Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic which I’ll definitely check out…..any other suggestions? Thank you! March 27, 2019 at 4:54pm
Aurora: Also look into Jo Malone, Basil and Neroli and I see there is another one as well which I haven’t tried. You might even want to test layering them. March 27, 2019 at 5:32pm
Klaas: Thank you Aurora! I’ve never really taken to Jo Malone’s work, but I’d like to be proved wrong. Will go and sniff them out. They are right next to the Guerlains so I have no excuse…. March 27, 2019 at 6:25pm
Caroline: Was also going to mention there are a couple of Jo Malones with basil in the name. The one that springs to mind is Tokyo Bloom (The Different Co). March 27, 2019 at 6:05pm
Klaas: Did you try Tokyo Bloom? It seems interesting….very green and very basil. I’ll check it out for sure! March 27, 2019 at 6:23pm
John Luna: Basil is a wonderful note, present in two of my favourites, Dior’s original Eau Sauvage (still great) and Hermès’ Concentré d’Orange Verte, although in both of these the basil is secondary to citrus. I have only tested it on paper, but Atelier Cologne’s Trefle Pur seemed to present this same situation, with the scales tipped a bit more in basil’s favour — perhaps this would be worth checking out? March 28, 2019 at 12:34am
Klaas: Hey John, thank you for these suggestions. I know Eau Sauvage well, it is a marvelous summer scent indeed, but I’m trying to find something with a lot more basil in it. Maybe the Atelier Cologne, I’ll see if I can get a sniff of it.
The Hermes is great too, though I haven’t tried the concentrated version. I’ll have a look for that one as well…. March 28, 2019 at 5:08am
Kayliz: Eau du Sud by Annick Goutal is a must-try for basil! March 28, 2019 at 8:09am
Klaas: Goutal! Sounds great, Thank you! March 28, 2019 at 4:39pm
maja: There is also a different type of basil in Tulsivivah by Miller et Bertaux which I find beautiful and wearable. March 28, 2019 at 10:59am
Klaas: Ok, thank you, I’ll see if I can find it here in Amsterdam. March 28, 2019 at 4:42pm
Aurora: Klaas: There is a basil section on the blog The Black Narcissus, check it out if interested.
Also I suddenly remembered that Isabella Rossellini’s perfume Manifesto (discontinued, I don’t think it was successful) was once described to me as a basil bomb. I see it time to time here in the UK on eBay, and it’s around £50 for 50ml, perhaps you could get a sample of it if this makes you curious. March 28, 2019 at 12:15pm
Klaas: Hey Aurora, I’ll check out the Black Narcissus. Thank you for the suggestion! March 28, 2019 at 4:40pm
limegreen: Hi Klaas:
I love basil, too. Tokyo Bloom has a nice touch of it, but it’s not strong on the basil.
I find a nice dose of it in the Chanel L’eau Deauville.
The best basil fragrance I’ve tried so far is Heretic Parfums Amulet, with that nice licorice anisey dimension of basil. Heretic uses naturals, and it’s surprisingly powerful. But distribution may not reach you in the Netherlands. But thought you should know about it! April 7, 2019 at 11:56pm
Klaas: Thank you so much, Limegreen!
Amulet sounds nice, licorice being one of my favorite notes in perfume! I’ve checked their website but it looks as though Amulet has been discontinued…..
I will try Deauville! April 8, 2019 at 3:50am
limegreen: Oh, what a shame. Twisted Lily Boutique website just says Amulet is out of stock — they’ve explained that since Heretic uses naturals, they do run out. Maybe it will come back in stock.
Don’t get me wrong, Tokyo Bloom is wonderful but not basil-centric, maybe citrus and dandelion mixed in with basil? — a bit more “bitter” than Deauville which has that Chanel touch of sweetness. Deauville is longlasting for a l’eau, especially if I go heavy on the spraying. I wore it a lot last fall while it was still warm.
Atelier Trefle Pur is ok but not if you are serious about basil, it’s more citrusly. 🙂 April 8, 2019 at 10:21am
Klaas: Thank you Limegreen, I’ll send the heretics an email to ask them to keep me posted about an eventual re-issue of Amulet. It might come back indeed… April 8, 2019 at 11:35am
limegreen: Too bad you aren’t in the US or I could send you a sample of Amulet.
Love you calling them the heretics! April 9, 2019 at 9:13am
Lori: Looking for a “mouthwateringly” fruity fragrance for spring/early summer. More fruity, not floral. No fruitchoulis, please (allergic to patchouli). I enjoy sweet citrus, mango, passion fruit, watermelon, red berries. Prefer a soft drydown (vanilla, almond, sandalwood, musk). Remember wearing and enjoying Mugler’s Innocent years ago, so would like something similar. Thanks in advance for suggestions! March 27, 2019 at 5:54pm
Lily: Have you tried any of the atelier cologne line? I only know a few but the one coming to mind from your description is Sud Magnolia. I guess it has the floral you were not after, but it is so fused to the opening citrus (which for me lasts basically the whole wear on the scent) that I reach for it when I want that bright juicy citrus, not when I want flowers. It’s a pretty linear fragrance, no hidden vanilla or patchouli base (at least not that I smell…check the notes to be sure if you have an allergy!), but very fun, flirty, fresh scent. It is the smell of hot vivid pink. March 28, 2019 at 8:56am
Lori: Thanks, my local Sephora does not carry Sud Magnolia among their Ateliers, so will look for it at Las Vegas Sephora when I’m in town next month. They carry a much broader range of fragrances. March 31, 2019 at 5:23pm
eudora: hi Lori! Last week I had Roger Gallet Fleur de Figuier Eau Perfume and you might like it. It felt too sweet at first sniff but now I thing it is mouthwateringly! March 28, 2019 at 9:12am
Aurora: Lori: Have you ever tried Clinique Calyx? It is very tropical, minimum floral, no patchouli. Very unique. March 28, 2019 at 12:24pm
Lori: Calyx was my niece’s signature scent back in the late 80’s, early 90’s, very nice! Who is the current manufacturer? Thought Clinique had taken it over, but I stopped by a Clinique counter yesterday and the rep said it was no longer available. March 29, 2019 at 11:07am
Aurora: Hello Lori: Yes, you’re right Clinique took over (from Prescriptives) owned by Estee Lauder.
Going by what the SA told you, I was afraid it had been discontinued but I looked on the Clinique website and it is available there. But of course you wanted to test it again. Another department store perhaps? March 29, 2019 at 12:55pm
Lori: I see Calyx listed online at Macy’s, so will look for it there. March 31, 2019 at 5:17pm
AnnieA: This is the time of year I dig out PC01 by Biehl – might do the job for you too. March 28, 2019 at 6:34pm
Lori: Interesting, where can this be found in U.S.? April 1, 2019 at 10:55pm
AnnieA: Alas, looks like Perfume Shoppe no longer carries it. Biehl’s from Germany – maybe they ship…? April 2, 2019 at 10:54am
Jen: Lori,
Have you tried Byredo Pulp? That was what first came to mind when reading your description. Mouth-watering, for sure! April 1, 2019 at 3:35pm
Lori: Thanks for the rec. A Fragrantica reviewer described Pulp as being “Fruit Forward”, and that’s what I’m looking for! Will check this one out at Barney’s. April 1, 2019 at 10:59pm
Neva: Two perfumes immediately came to my mind – Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay (berries) and the other one is Hermes’ Un Jardin Sur Le Nil (mango, citrus). Both are fruity and on the sweeter side. April 1, 2019 at 4:57pm
Lori: Thank you. These two are available locally. I look forward to sampling them. April 2, 2019 at 10:06pm
Caitlenn: Does anyone know of a fragrance that’s as spectacular as Lotus De Hanoi from Gustave Eiffel Parfums Paris appears to be? It was recently crafted for them by Sidonie Lancasseur. A niece has fallen hard for the idea of it — unsniffed. I’d love to find a way to actually get her Lotus de Hanoi itself as a surprise gift; or to take her to Esxence in Milan where I’m told it will be released for the first time. But both of those options are off the table as I’m medically unable to travel for the foreseeable future. Lotus de Hanoi is said to be a very green, delicately Asian floral scent. One where the most prominent flowers are lush, dewy freesia and peony while the “entire bouquet presents like living flowers that were never cut or pulled from the ground”. Listed notes are: Lotus, freesia; White lily, jasmine, peony; Woody accords, amber, musk. If no one’s aware of a an alternative fragrance that might capture her imagination as much this one has, do any of you know of a buying service that can be trusted to acquire it in Europe for me and then ship it on to me in the US? It’s been a long while since I used one and none of the companies I knew of are still offering this type of service. Many thx in advance for any ideas! March 27, 2019 at 6:32pm
Old Herbaceous: It is unlikely to be as spectacular as Lotus de Hanoi, but Stella Peony, from Stella McCartney, has many of the same notes and I think the creator was Alberto Morillas. March 27, 2019 at 7:38pm
Caitlenn: I’d forgotten that one! Will track it down. March 28, 2019 at 2:47am
CristinaM: I live in Milan and may go to Esxence. Let me know if I can help March 28, 2019 at 1:06am
Caitlenn: Thx for the lovely offer! Let’s email when you know for sure you’re able to attend Esxence. I’ll ask Victoria how we can exchange info so we could discuss details. Very much appreciate your willingness to help. March 28, 2019 at 2:44am
Lydias: Hello,
I was wondering if any of you have tried Eau de Rochas limited edition (the blue label one from 2014) and how you think it smells compared to the current regular Eau de Rochas. March 27, 2019 at 6:58pm
Lydia: (Note: I thought a glitch had eaten this post, so I posted the question again below. Looks like it finally showed up. Sorry for duplicate.) March 28, 2019 at 9:34am
Lari s: Hi, my son is 28 and lives in San Francisco. He’s been in search of something new. Wears Hermès Terre and is happy with it but wants to branch out a bit. Loathed Creed Irish tweed- a blind buy by him. Last year for his birthday, I did a lot of research and sent him 15 decants that i thought could work. A labor of love. I’m on it again this year. Suggestions please? March 27, 2019 at 7:23pm
Aurora: Hello Lari: 15 decants! You are a very thoughtful mother. I know there is a new flanker to Terre, a vetiver one and if he hasn’t already he might enjoy Voyage.
Otherwise I’ll list a few classics for men: Chanel Pour Monsieur and Egoiste (not Platinum), Caron Pour un Homme and Yatagan, Dior Homme and DH Intense, Eau Sauvage Valentino Uomo (and flankers), Guerlain Vetiver, Habit Rouge and l’Homme Ideal (and flankers too). Hope this is a little bit helpful. March 28, 2019 at 1:33pm
Lari: Yes, Aurora, that Is helpful. We live on opposite coasts so this was a labor of love of a gift. I keep going back to men’s scents I loved way back when, eaubsauvage and Givenchy gentleman. I really appreciate the suggestions March 28, 2019 at 2:04pm
Michael: Wow, Just to agree with Aurora, what a lovely thoughtful present to receive. I think that is very special. Best wishes. March 28, 2019 at 2:38pm
John Luna: What a quest! My son (24) wears a lot of things (vintage Opium for women was probably the most impactful thing I sent his way), but wears TdH a lot as well… I think it is a great option for younger men, being both distinct and well crafted. I’m a bit rooted in older things, but if he hasn’t tried these, he might want them as references…If he has, I have some slightly updated suggestions as well in the same league. Funny to note how many of these more traditional fragrances have been updated by Tom Ford – that guy certainly has a good thing going…
A leathery chypre: Chanel Antaeus or Aramis Aramis…An updated experience along these lines might be one of the designer-level Tom Ford fragrances like Ombre Leather or Noir Anthracite
A powdery, spicy oriental: Shulton Old Spice, Guerlain Habit Rouge or Tom Ford Noir (the EDT of the latter is a bit lighter and more versatile)
A classical Mediterranean citrus: Dior Eau Sauvage, Chanel Pour Monsieur, Acqua di Parma Essenza or Boucheron Boucheron
Fresh, stoic & smoky vetiver: Guerlain Vetiver, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver or Lalique Encre Noire
Shave & a haircut: Caron Pour un Homme, Burberry Touch or Gaultier Le Male, Penhaligon’s Sartorial
Distinctive/unconventional masculinity: Dior Fahrenheit, Dior Homme, Cartier Declaration, Chanel Egoïste
Good luck! March 28, 2019 at 5:46pm
Cybele: try French Lover (Bois d’Orage) by Frederic Malle March 29, 2019 at 8:47am
Lari frank: To everybody here, many thanks for the suggestions. I’m going through my decant list now and will present them to him when he comes to visit mid month. Next year, an easier gift…like a full bottle of something! March 31, 2019 at 3:08pm
Klaas: Hey Lari, I’m a little bit late with my comment, and I see that you’ve had some great suggestions already, but should you want some more: Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier has a great sample service. Their sample sets ‘Pour Lui’ or ‘Frais’ sound very nice for a young man. It is a lovely brand and doesn’t seem to get much attention. Mum might even fancy a sample set for herself? 😉 April 5, 2019 at 10:15am
Lari: Thank you, Klaas. I’m still working on it and I will definitely look into Marie du Parfumeur et Gantier which i did not know of before. Maybe even treat myself! I’m still making lists so it’s never too late with me! April 5, 2019 at 11:28am
katherine x: Perhaps you can ask him to stop by Le Labo in San Francisco and test their fragrances. If he likes something he can let you know! Even though they don’t make many scents – their scent range is wide April 2, 2019 at 9:40pm
Lori: Please recommend a beautiful and elegant perfume. I love Amouage Lyric Woman and Royal Doulton. I’d like to expand my repertoire though. Any thoughts for something feminine and lovely? March 27, 2019 at 7:38pm
Aurora: Chanel Eau Premiere is lovely imo, lighter than Lyric so perfect for spring. I don’t know Royal Doulton but see it is a fruity floral and since you like rose perfumes, have you tried Guerlain Nahema? It is opulent like Lyric but it has a fruity side. March 28, 2019 at 2:09pm
Lori: Aurora, thank you very much for these suggestions. I have tried Nahema and do enjoy it as a light scent for me. I will proceed forthwith to securing some Eau Premiere 🙂 Thank you. March 28, 2019 at 3:24pm
eudora: Lori, Guerlain Chamade is beautiful and, in my opinion, very very elegant. March 29, 2019 at 5:54pm
Cybele: Chanel Exclusifs 31, Rue Cambon March 29, 2019 at 8:48am
Lori: Thank you, Cybele, I’ll give it a whirl. March 29, 2019 at 11:40am
Lori: I’m in heaven with the Chanel Exclusifs 31 Rue Cambon…paralyzed into oblivion. Thank you for the recommendation, Cybele. April 5, 2019 at 2:42pm
Melanie: A quick note to say thank you. About a year ago, I asked for a recommendation for something to replace Chanel’s Sycomore edt, as I am not fond of the edp reformulation. Both an AC and a Theresa recommended Lalique’s Encre noire. It has worked out perfectly for me. I am very grateful to them both and to Victoria’s wonderful blog! March 27, 2019 at 8:07pm
Cybele: Hi, can you please describe the difference between the EDT and EDP? I loved the EDT too! March 31, 2019 at 10:42am
Melanie: To me, the edp has less depth. It’s sweeter and more “average” smelling. The edt and edp are related, but not the same. Hope that helps! March 31, 2019 at 11:38am
Lydia: I was wondering if anyone has smelled both the current Eau de Rochas and the 2014 limited edition Eau de Rochas (the one with the blue label) and how you think they compare.
There are a few reviews around, but some say it smells the same as the regular one, and some descriptions suggest it’s more floral than citrus.
I was also wondering if the older vintage Eau de Rochas is worth seeking out. I liked the sample I smelled of the current one, but I also wonder what I’m missing.
Recommendations of other scents in the Eau de Rochas family also welcome. March 28, 2019 at 12:05am
Aurora: I can’t answer about the 2014 limited edition but for vintage versus current. The drydown in the vintage is more mineral than the current one, otherwise they are very similar imo this is one of the best citrus out there, I wear it every summer. Do you know O de Lancome?
Excellent too as well as its flanker O de l’Orangerie. Also, Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine. March 28, 2019 at 12:35pm
Lydia: Hi Aurora, thanks for the information and suggestions!
I liked the sample of the current version very much and definitely thought of a bottle for summer.
(If I ever do try the LE edition I’ll report back to let you know how that compared.)
I liked O de Lancome in the 90s but had heard that it had changed and wasn’t as nice now.Glad to hear it’s still worth wearing. I’ll look for a sample or tester.
I think Victoria once gave Orange Sanguine a thumbs up and I tried it then, but it didn’t work on me. Unfortunately all the Atelier scents have smelled harsh and chemically to me. I’m sad about it because a lot of other people like them and I think I’m missing something. I probably only tried it on a tester strip, so maybe I’ll try it on my skin next time. March 28, 2019 at 10:20pm
Satsukibare: Can anyone recommend a perfume that evokes cherry blossom? Since cherry blossoms don’t have a scent (though I’d be happy to be corrected about this!) my feeling is that a cherry blossom perfume is going to have to suggest rather than smell like the flowers. So far I’ve tried Guerlain’s new Aqua Allegoria Flora Cherrysia, which claims to have a middle note of cherry blossom but mostly smells like watermelon; and Miya Shinma’s Sakura, a rose perfume that’s just a bit too heavy for this time of the year. I’d like to be reminded of the delicate pale pink Somei Yoshino variety currently in exquisite bloom everywhere in Tokyo. March 28, 2019 at 2:55am
Nancy Chan: Hi Satsukibare, try L’Occitane’s Cherry Blossom perfume. March 28, 2019 at 4:57am
Satsukibare: Thank you Nancy: I’ll try this one ASAP! March 28, 2019 at 4:55pm
Merylam: Maybe shiseido ever bloom art edition, although it is quite sweet. And isn’t there a jo malone cherry blossom limited edition perfume? I have the plum blossom from the same line and although it isn’t very life-like, it is gentle and pretty, so maybe cherry blossom one wil be the same March 28, 2019 at 7:34am
Merylam: The shiseido one is ever bloom sakura art edition. Sorry March 28, 2019 at 7:35am
Satsukibare: A perfume by Shiseido shouldn’t be hard to find in Japan! Thank you for this suggestion! March 28, 2019 at 4:57pm
Satsukibare: Turns out that Shiseido does not sell its Ever Bloom Sakura perfume in Japan! Not quite sure what to make of that. Shall have to look for it next time I’m abroad…. March 30, 2019 at 1:32am
Aurora: Hello: There is Yves Rocher Cerisier en Fleurs, I haven’t tried it but usually YR does a good job at that sort of scent and it won’t break the bank 🙂 March 28, 2019 at 12:43pm
Satsukibare: Sounds lovely! Thank you for this suggestion! March 28, 2019 at 4:58pm
Cybele: Sakura by Parfum Satori. And I would recommend the original edp of Everbloom Shiseido. March 29, 2019 at 8:53am
OnWingsofSaffron: Well ther’s the Dior exclusive line by François Demachy, and the pink-coloured perfume called “Sakura”. March 31, 2019 at 4:44am
Satsukibare: Lots to investigate–and with a bit of luck–choose from here. Many thanks indeed for these suggestions! March 31, 2019 at 5:05am
Laurie: I am looking for a new fragrance. My two biggest problems are that almost nothing stays on my skin for any length of time and starting last year,I developed an aversion to perfumes smelling of the “big” white flower notes, and in particular, Tuberose and Jasmine. Some of the fragrances I own are Mon Guerlain, Coco Noir, Coromandel, Beige (I like it in the abstract, just not on me), Chanel Deauville, Chanel Venice (gorgeous), and now I shall boldly confess that I have worn Angel off and on since the day it was released in the U.S. as well as a flanker which leaned deeper, slightly and fleetingly bitter in a good way, and my carefully hoarded Angel Innocent.
I guess spice, gourmand, woods, and orientals are my favorite notes. I have enjoyed some green scents over the years. As I stated earlier, I don’t like white flowers; in fact, I don’t think I like something “straight-up” floral on me, although I have certainly smelled really lovely florals on others. But if the flower was mixed with another note, it might work on my skin. I read an interesting article here about perfumes with coffee notes, and there was even a Perfume mentioned that did have Tuberose mixed with the coffee but that the melding of the two created something new and originals.
Has any tried Chanel 1957 or Tom Ford’s Oud Fleur, and if you have, what are your impressions?
I would appreciate any recommendations. March 28, 2019 at 5:31am
Aurora: Your liking Coromandel and Coco Noir makes me think that you might enjoy Serge Lutens perfumes: Ambre Sultan, Chergui, Borneo 1834, Five O’Clock au gingembre even maybe Feminite du Bois. And they all have great lasting power on skin, he is famous for that.
Enjoy the search 🙂 March 28, 2019 at 12:52pm
Laurie: Aurora: Thank you for your recommendations! I have read very positive reviews of the Serge Lutens perfumes. I am off to read about them now. I live in such a remote (albeit stunning) location that I will need to order samples. Now off to my merry chase! March 28, 2019 at 4:55pm
Cybele: some to try
Alaia in pure parfum, Si intense Armani, Scandal by Night Gaultier, My Burberry Black, Petite Robe Noir Edp Guerlain, Musc Ravangeur Frederic Malle, The van Cleef and Arpels Collection Extraordinaire Bois Dore, Ambre Imperial and Moonlight Patchouli March 29, 2019 at 9:03am
Klaas: Hey Laurie, when ordering samples from Serge Lutens, also try and order some from Andy Tauer. If you like spice/oriental/gourmand his fragrances could be something you will like. There’s his famous L’air du Desert Marocain, but also Le Maroc pour Elle, Inscence Extreme and there are quite a few others to choose from. They are quite bombastic on application, but they all dry down beautifully. Longevity is great as well. Enjoy your search! April 1, 2019 at 5:11am
Inma: Hello everybody,
Last Christmas I was deciding what perfume I wanted for my spring here in Seville so the Three Magic Kings could bring it to me.
I had a sample of Bottega Veneta Knot and it was the first time I loved orange blossoms in a perfume. I asked for it and I got it!
For me it is darker and drier than orange blossoms themselves. It is still so vibrant though. I feel it as being under an orange tree in blomm when it isn´t very hot, or in a shadow, or when it has rained lightly. So I don´t get confined to the orange blossom perfume nor to the sunlight. It opens instead of closing, so to speak. I am loving it.
Still organizing myself to try Seville a L’Aube and Neroli Blanc Au Pays de la Fleur d’Orange that Aurora recommended to me here, thank you!
So inspiring reading you all! March 28, 2019 at 6:17am
Aurora: Hello Inma: how sweet of you to remember me.
and you’re most welcome. I’ll be curious whenever you try Neroli Blanc for your thought, don’t forget the Neroli Blanc Eau de Cologne too and the Intense.
Enjoy your bottle of Knot, so glad you find something you love. March 28, 2019 at 12:56pm
Michael: hello. I like your blog and website. I am male in my early 50s, and a perfume novice. On a trip to Paris last year my wide and I chanced upon an Aesop store, gosh what a lovely place. I had never heard of the company before.
I absolutely love their unisex Hwyl perfume. Mostly for evenings out (fairly rare these days) but I do also sometimes have a tiny spray on working days.
This is only perfume I have bought since a bottle of Fahrenheit in the early 90s.
I was wondering if you can suggest some might be better for Spring and Summer, and to wear during the day at work. Hwyl is quite autumnal I think?
I tried an in store sample of Chanel Paris/Deauville, which is also matkedted as unisex I think. I had read several positive reviews but I wasn’t knocked out by it, and it did not seem to last long.
I did see your suggestions to Lori for her son above too, I will try some of them for sure.
If you know Aesop Hwyl I would be interested to know what’s you think of it.
Thank you.
Michael. March 28, 2019 at 2:35pm
Cybele: I have not tried Hwyl but Aesop Tacit is great for spring! Also try Lime Basil Mandarin by Jo Malone March 29, 2019 at 9:06am
Michael: Thanks Cybele, I am reading up on both those and will try when an opportunity presents. Aesop have recently opened a lovely looking shop in Bath, and it is a great place to visit, and not too far! March 29, 2019 at 12:43pm
OnWingsofSaffron: You might want to try out the Caron line for men. Good stuff and very different scents from “Pour un homme” (a cuddly lavender-vanilla scent) all the way to “Yatagan” (non-floral absinthe-pine scent). In between is also “L’Anarchiste” and “”Third Man”. Victoria reviews them—and she also looks at the changes between the vintage editions and their reformulations. Well worth checking out. March 31, 2019 at 4:39am
Michael: Thank you very much for these suggestions. That is a new name for me, i will look forward to adding them to my try list, and expanding my fragrance adventure. Thank you again. April 3, 2019 at 6:37pm
Klaas: Hello Michael, there are some great summer scents available that are perfectly wearable to work. Chanel pour Monsieur is a classic and is easy to find. I’ve seen it descibed as ‘Carry Grant in a bottle’ and I couldn’t agree more!
Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver is a very (!) good vetiver scent for a reasonably price (some of his other scents are so incredibly expensive) and also perfectly wearble to work. For something a bit warmer you could try Hermes’ Eau de Neroli Doré (juicy orange blossom with a touch of saffron) and when you’re at it try Terre d’Hermes as well. It is not for everyone, but it is such an original scent that it is a good one to check out.
Let us know if you end up choosing something! April 1, 2019 at 5:24am
Michael: Dear Klaas, thank you very much. I will certainly try those, and thank you for suggesting a more affordable Tom Ford, I love the luxurious look of those bottles and lovely names like Oud Wood. Thank you again to everyone who has replied to my enquiry. April 3, 2019 at 6:41pm
Jo: I would recommend you try TF Vetiver, Terre d’Hermes, Dior Homme, TF Oud Wood and any of the Comme des Garcons Incense line. April 4, 2019 at 6:34am
Chris in Oakland: Hi Michael, I’ve finagled a couple samples of Hwyl and I also love it, especially many hours later when all that’s left is a hint of woodsmoke on my skin. (But I’m not in a place to buy a full bottle at that price…) I feel the same affection for TF Grey Vetiver, and it is much more bright and spring/summery, so I agree with those above. Lalique Encre Noire is woodsy like Hwyl but to me somewhat more bracing and spring-like (and very affordable!). I also have loved my sample of Diptyque Tam Dao–like a genteel lumber yard. April 5, 2019 at 9:35pm
Michael: Hi Chris, thanks very much for your comments. On basis of what you, Jo, Wingsofsaffron, and Klaas said, I have bought a decant sample of TF Grey Vétiver. Also looking for a Decant of Jo Malone Basil and Neroli, and will check out the Caron line which sounds very interesting. So glad I found this brilliant site! And one day I will get to visit Oakland ! April 8, 2019 at 4:41am
Emma: Oscar de la Renta’s discontinued fragrance Volupté holds great sentimental value for me, so I’m wondering: is there a really good dupe for it? What should I buy to get as close as possible? I’d like it to hit as close to the original as possible, but if it has to deviate from Volupté in some direction, I’d rather it go towards more of a day scent. March 28, 2019 at 9:21pm
Aurora: Hello Emma: On Fragrantica Volupte is compared to Lancome Tresor, they were both composed by the perfumer Sophia Grojsman. On Fragrances of the World (a fun site that you can try) Azzaro Wanted Girl, Viktor&Rolf Flower Bomb Midnight and D&G The Only One 2 are listed as being like Volupte but I can’t tell if you will find them similar FOTW can be a bit hit and miss. Have you considered eBay to track bottles of Volupte? March 29, 2019 at 1:06pm
Emma: Hello Aurora, and thank you for your fine advice. I do like Tresor, but I was hoping for something even more alike.
I don’t know which year Volupté was discontinued, but I think it was some years ago. I have found the EdT 100 ml for next to nothing at dubious perfume sites. The very low prices make me wonder and I would prefer the EdP.
I don’t know enough about perfumes – how old can they be and still be worth buying? If a bottle has been opened, how do I know how it has been stored? But yes, maybe I should chance it and try for one of the small or maybe even sample bottles I’ve seen on e-bay? March 29, 2019 at 7:58pm
Aurora: Hello Emma: I can tell you a little bit of what I learned from experience on eBay: go for bottles with box, with the box you can hope the perfume has been kept relatively safe from sunlight at least, pick a seller with 100% feedback and ideally one who accepts returns.
Going for a sample first seems a very good idea.
Good luck 🙂 April 1, 2019 at 3:11pm
Lydia: I have another question to ask everyone here, this one for a relative.
My mother’s favorite perfume for the last few years has been l’Occitane’s Roses et Reins. The store here just told her they have stopped carrying it and she doesn’t like their replacement rose scent.
Can anyone suggest a similar lovely soft feminine fruity rose scent in the 70 US dollars range?
She doesn’t like spicy-woody notes, chypres or aquatics.
Heliotrope and vanilla notes are good, but the floral notes should dominate.
Recommendations very much appreciated. I plan on collecting some samples for her to try. March 28, 2019 at 11:51pm
spe: White Rose I think it’s by Floris. March 29, 2019 at 9:37pm
Lydia: Thanks, spe.
I actually gave her a bottle of Floris White Rose years ago and she gave it away. It may be she likes a fruity rose bouquet more than a rose soliflore.
I tried Parfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose and she found it too sharp.
Her past favirites have been White Shoulders (80s version), pre-reformulation Calyx, and pre-reformulation Angel.
She tried a sample of Love, Diane by Diane Von Furstenburg today and really liked it, so maybe any fruity, sweet florals are a possibility (as long as they don’t have the ubiquitous dry woody amber base). March 29, 2019 at 10:21pm
Tami: I might look into Roses de Chloe, Jo Malone Red Roses, or Diptyque Eau Rose. It’s also worth checking out the Estée Lauder Aerin line—it offers numerous rose variations.
Granted most of these are outside the $70 range but, if she likes the Jo Malone, there is a smaller bottle of that for $68.
Good luck! I love rose perfumes. Ever since wearing Tea Rose as a teenager 🙂 April 1, 2019 at 11:03am
Lydia: Thanks, Tami!
I will look for Jo Malone and Diptyque rose samples for her to try. I know Bloomingdales has the Aerin line, so maybe I can take her there sometime to try all three.
Although I couldn’t find a sample of the Chloe roses scent, my mother said some people wear regular Chloe at her job and she really likes it on them, so I ordered a bottle online for her. It looks like the old version bottle, but may be the new formulation. (It was so inexpensive with the discount code that it seemed worth taking a chance on it. Based on the reviews I’ve read, I think one of us will likely enjoy whichever version it is.)
I also let her smell the few drops I have of vintage YSL Paris. She said it smelled complex, and too “spicy” for her.
It’s actually quite fun trying to figure out her perfume taste. She keeps surprising me. April 1, 2019 at 4:04pm
Tami: Ooh I love vintage YSL Paris too! The new formulation is “ok” but different. Same goes for Poison, another favorite from my youth.
If you have a nearby Sephora, they may have Roses de Chloé (my smallish mall Sephora does—even in the little rollerball). April 1, 2019 at 4:31pm
Lydia: I didn’t appreciate Paris when it was new, but now I do.
Thanks for the Sephora suggestion. I’ll definitely take a look! April 3, 2019 at 12:42am
Lily: Interesting that she found Paris spicy. I wore it for the first time this spring last week and thought “dang this is the spring version of fille de Berlin’s winter roses” and I know FdB has a lot of spice even if what my nose finds is roses and musk. I find them to have the same tone, just different shades, if that makes sense? April 7, 2019 at 12:45pm
Lydia: Hi Lily,
That is interesting. I didn’t find vintage Paris and FdB similar. FdB didn’t work on my skin – I always found it sharp and thinly fruity, but it’s entirely possible that you can smell a note I’m missing. I wish I could smell what you smell! And I like your description of it as “winter roses.”
My mom’s sense of smell is keener than mine (she can smell tiny amounts of perfume clear across a room), but she doesn’t spend the obsession time on it that I do, so her catch-all descriptions for many types of perfumes are “spicy” and “musky” (neither of which are good things in her book). If she ever learned to identify actual notes she’d leave my detection skills in the dust. (I think I lost some of my sense of smell through many years of allergies and respiratory infections).
If you’ve ever smelled the current version of Paris I’d be curious to hear how that compares to the vintage version in terms of the notes you mentioned. April 7, 2019 at 2:07pm
Lily: I’m not sure which versions of Paris I’ve smelled…I originally tried it from a decant site (I assume something like the modern formulation? Since it wasn’t labeled as vintage), and acquired a bottle off eBay without really looking at packaging. So I am not sure if I’m comparing vintage like 90s or like 2006 formulation to FdB.
It’s funny how different noses smell different things. I know Victoria calls out the jammy aspect of FdB in her review but I don’t pick it out. Just roses and musk and something sharp that is probably spice but my brain doesn’t register it that way. I was surprised to find my mind classifying Paris in a similar slot. I really hadn’t worn FdB till this winter, and I didn’t think of Paris at all. And it’s not that they are the same, just like complementary shades of pink and red. Same undertones, different hues. Hm. Maybe I’ll do a side by side and determine whether it was just a brain trick… April 7, 2019 at 9:05pm
limegreen: Since you are up for the discount sites for discontinued fragrances, give the English brand Paul Smith Rose a try — a small 50 ml is about $20. It’s a lovely basic rose (although there are a lot of notes provided), won’t break the bank.
Good luck with this fun quest! April 6, 2019 at 2:24pm
Lydia: Limegreen,
Thanks for the recommendation! April 6, 2019 at 10:40pm
limegreen: Lydia, Hope she likes it — it is a nice rose with violet. April 7, 2019 at 11:35pm
Lydia: Limegreen,
Reporting back – I did get a small bottle of the Paul Smith Rose and even though my mother usually prefers sweet and powdery rose scents, she liked it a lot because it gives such a realistic impression of roses with stems and leaves.
The green tea note is so nice for summer that I may borrow it back on a sweltering day. (I didn’t detect any violet but maybe I’ll try spraying it on clothing and see what notes emerge.)
Thanks again! April 28, 2019 at 9:22pm
limegreen: Lydia — how nice of you to report back on the Paul Smith Rose. And even better that your mother liked it. Just in time for Mother’s Day!
🙂
If you wanted to give her a treat, I love the Diptyque Eau Rose hair mist. Light and nice on the hair, no alcohol to dry up the hair. Light but persistent sillage. April 29, 2019 at 12:04am
Lydia: That sounds lovely! Unfortunately she’s very particular about what she puts in her hair and uses only “theraputic” products, but you’ve reminded me that I want to get a sample of Eau Rose perfume for her to try. April 30, 2019 at 12:25am
limegreen: I’m careful about my hair, too. The Diptyque hair mist is made with camelia oil but of course it’s not organic or all natural since there is the Eau Rose scent in it. 🙂
I find this hair mist light, not soggy in the hair like some other ones (I’m looking at you, Jo Malone) May 2, 2019 at 11:12am
Iselin: Hello everyone! First time posting for me. I’m based in Norway, and I’m wondering if anyone knows of a good perfume that ships internationally/to Europe? I keep reading so many lovely reviews and suggestions, but most perfume retailers in Norway only stock the more commercial perfumes. It is getting better, some interesting houses have started to appear, but still.. Also, has anyone tried a perfume subscription box? I thought it might be an interesting way to try out new perfumes. Thanks in advance! March 29, 2019 at 6:37am
Victoria: Aus Liebe zum Duft is based in Germany and they ship all over Europe. It’s an excellent site. If I want to order samples, I sometimes use the American Luckyscent, and the shipping fees aren’t too high (at least to Belgium). Then Haute Parfumerie Place Vendôme (based in Belgium) is excellent. They also offer samples and if you need advice on what to try, you can always contact them and they will reply with lots of helpful suggestions. March 29, 2019 at 10:48am
Iselin: Thank you! I’ll check these out very soon! March 29, 2019 at 6:03pm
Nat: Hi everyone! A slightly different question but hoping to get some insight. Lately I’ve felt completely uninterested in all my perfumes. I have lots of bottles and (tons!) of samples but none of them feel right. My outfits feel incomplete with a scent but somehow everything seems off. Anyone else ever experience this? Do I need to reset my nose somehow? March 29, 2019 at 8:56am
Lily: Hi Nat! I have gone through little phases like that and seem to break them by worrying less about if my perfume matches the weather, the season, my outfit, my mood, and focusing on just the beauty of a scent. It’s a nudge to go back to my emotional center (that is why I wear scent, for emotional grounding) and often not feeling like any of my perfumes fit is really me being in disconnect from my emotions. Now, all that said, you may have completely different reasons to wear scent and a different cause for your slump…but that’s pretty much always mine. Good luck!! March 29, 2019 at 4:08pm
Lydia: Hi Nat,
I’ve had a similar experience. For me it was encountering too many mediocre or downright bad perfumes in a row. I find that half the fun of perfumes is the associations and pictures they suggest, so if a perfume is too obviously just a scam to get as much money as possible while providing as little artistry as a company can get away with (by which I do not mean advertising artistry), the illusion is shattered for me and they just seem like a bunch of cheap chemicals.
When that has happened to me I’ve switched to aromatherapy oils and visiting gardens. Nature has thousands more scent components in her fragrances than the most complicated human-made perfums, so it’s never boring to smell the natural world. (I sometimes think that if I stopped being able to enjoy synthetic perfumes I’d be happy just wearing pure lavender oil.)
Another thing I do is revisit favorite books about perfume. I like the perfume autobiographies Coming to My Senses by Alyssa Harad and The Perfume Lover by Denyse Beaulieu. I also have a weak spot for the novel The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro. (The story of the lost perfume formula and the abandoned perfume shop gives me chills and send me back to my samples box to find scents that match the mood).
Good luck and happy spring (if it’s spring where you are). March 29, 2019 at 11:10pm
Nat: Lily and Lydia,
Thank you for this advice! I think it’s spot on with focusing on the beauty of a scent rather than how it might fit me in the moment. My emotions have been a little wacky do that might be it. And i love the book recs, haven’t read those yet. Thanks again for your thoughtful suggestions! March 30, 2019 at 9:00am
John Luna: My big advice is to travel, if you can manage it, for a little while (a week or two), preferably someplace that smells different than home. Pack only one basic, classic/go-to fragrance… This certainly worked for me (Maui/Eau Sauvage) recently! March 30, 2019 at 4:05pm
Sebastian: Nat, I purposefully try to reduce my choices. I see no point in owning many very good, but not excellent, perfumes. Samples I use up quickly, or else give them to friends (or throw them away if they are awful). I limit myself to having only some small number of bottles open at any given time. What this does for me? Those things I have are all scents that somehow connect to my self, are “me” in some way. I know that if these don’t fit, I need to do more Tai Chi, or take a vacation hiking in the woods, or see my therapist. Also, I try to be relaxed and not worry about weather, outfit, or occasion. I don’t believe I could even choose a perfume according to “fit”. OK, some perfumes go badly with swim suits, and others might sit unhappily with full evening dress, but in between those extremes, why worry overmuch? April 3, 2019 at 6:21am
Lori Richmond: Sud Magnolia sounds intriguing. My local Sephora doesn’t carry this in their Atelier line. Am going to Vegas next month, will look for it at their Sephora! March 29, 2019 at 11:05am
Lily: I hope you can find it to sniff there! And that you love it ; March 31, 2019 at 8:11am
Gwen: I love Issey Miyake EDT but it doesn’t last! Could you recommend something with more staying power? Thank you! March 29, 2019 at 3:38pm
Therése: I haven’t kept up with what’s new in the world of perfume. My favourites are Portrait of a Lady, Roses Musk (Montale) and Zagorsk (Comme des Garcons). I am looking for something slightly unusual and captivating 🙂 Any recommendations? March 30, 2019 at 2:31pm
AnnieA: Therése, much of this is perfume gossip vs personal experience, but here are a couple of new(ish) houses I think in your line:
Fort and Manlé sounds interesting – who would have come up with a name like “Confessions of a Garden Gnome”?
Bruno Fazzolari e.g Lampblack
Zoologist – have smelled severai from this Canadian indie firm, but only got a decant of Civet March 30, 2019 at 4:24pm
Therése: “Confession of a Garden Gnome”! That is genius, I want it without even knowing the notes. 🙂 I will check definitely them out.
Have not heard of either Lampblack or Zoologist, thank you so much! March 30, 2019 at 4:44pm
Sebastian: I have sampled some of the Zoologist perfumes. They are all from different perfumers, so come in very different degrees of being unusual or challenging. They have a connoisseur’s sample set that collects some of the more outre ones. Most are real powerhorses, especially with regard to openings. March 31, 2019 at 4:18pm
Therése: That is very useful information, thank you Sebastian. I have ordered a sample of Bat and I am really looking forward to trying it. March 31, 2019 at 4:48pm
Sebastian: I’d be very interested to hear your reaction!
However, it may be some time until you get the sample. So how does feedback generally work here? Can people come back weeks later and still post comments in this thread in response to some recommendation? March 31, 2019 at 5:03pm
Victoria: Yes, you can continue posting in this thread. Sometimes people return and post their updates in the new threads–I put them up every month, since the more recent ones are more active. April 1, 2019 at 2:22am
Therése Mellby: Sebastian, I recieved my sample of bat and have tried it today. It’s surprisingly wearable! initially I was a little bit startled, it does smell like wet earth and decaying leaves. It’s strangely compelling. I let my collegues smell my wrists at our afternoon break abd they liked it, and pointed out that even the dry down has a cool note of dampness to it.
I am curious to try more of the Zoologist range now. April 10, 2019 at 10:07am
Sebastian: Therése, thank you for writing up your reaction to Bat. I can understand what you say. Myself, I found the dampness a bit on the unpleasant side, even mouldy. But it certainly is fascinating stuff.
Bat was created by Ellen Covey, who has her own perfume house, Orchid Scents. If you liked Bat, you may like some of her other fragrances as well. One I would recommend to you is Sonnett XVII. It has some of that same “wet clay” appeal as Bat, but is more floral and greener, less fruity. Some people get a whiff of excrement, I think it smells of horses in quite a friendly way. It also grips me in a strange manner. It’s totally sexy, addictive to me from the start, although initially difficult.
With regard to the Zoologist line, after Bat the next ones in diminishing degrees of being far out on the edge would probably be Hyrax (about which I said some negative things in the January thread on this blog), T. Rex, and Moth. Moth is wonderful: dark, floral, with honeyed sweetness, a bit of smoke, and matte (and I mean matte, like a moth’s wing, not dull). But they are not all like that. As I said before, Zoologist perfumes are a very mixed bunch. Civet for example is really pleasant, not at all the animalic bomb you might expect, but orangey and balsamic. Rhinoceros I find very old-school and gentlemanly, but still recognizably modern. Well. I’ll stop rambling and hope to hear more from you. Cheers! April 10, 2019 at 5:19pm
Sarah elliot: I’m trying for cruelty free perfumes – le labo are one to try out on my next liberty shop. I like the summer mini miu perfume, Chanel coco mademoiselle, kiehls nashi blossom March 30, 2019 at 4:34pm
Sebastian: You know that PETA has some resources relating to this question? For example, see here:
https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/beauty-brands-that-you-thought-were-cruelty-free-but-arent/ March 31, 2019 at 5:15pm
Deanna Wisbey: Does anyone remember the original formulation of Shocking by Schiaparelli?
Is there any perfume that is
near to it?
I have tried to find one but not succeeded! March 31, 2019 at 3:05am
Aurora: Hello Deanna: I have only just read about Shocking never smelled it, but maybe another animalic like vintage Tabu would suit you.
Also, I have made a match search for you on Fragrances of the World (a fun site) and it came up with: Shalini Amorem Rose, Jusbox Golden Serenade and Sisley Soir d’Orient Wild Edition 2018. April 3, 2019 at 6:39am
Deanna Wisbey: Hello Aurora,
And thank you for giving me lots of perfumes to try that I had never heard of!
Fragrances of the World site new to me as well.
I had tried Tabu, not vintage though, but gave it to the charity shop, so obviously not s match for Shocking!
Pity you never smelt the original Shocking, it was unique. The reformultion that they did was horrendous, unfortunately I bought a large bottle which is unbearable to even sniff. April 3, 2019 at 7:12am
Sebastian: Sarah Elliot’s wish for cruelty-free perfumes makes me use this open thread to ask a question that will hopefully not be regarded as off-topic. I’d like to know what perfumes you would recommend AGAINST for non-olfactory reasons.
Here’s an initial list to give you an idea of what I’m getting at.
– Spice bomb (Victor & Rolf): packaged as a hand-grenade. Can anything be more awful?
– Foreplay (Orchid Scents): what a silly and tasteless name. Just imagine reaching for it before breakfast. Or being asked by a customer what you’re wearing. (Scent wise it’s a lovely woody oriental.)
– Etat Libre d’Orange (the entire house). Go to their website and see what they have to say about the beautiful liberty and freedom of the Orange Free State, without a critical historical thought at all. I may suffer from a bout of political correctivitis, but I will not support such a house by wearing any of their products. March 31, 2019 at 4:31pm
Cecilia: Hi! I just fell head over heels in the vintage balck hole and is a very happy place! I would like to ask for reccomendations on floral, inky, not too sweet chypres. Of course my reference is the gorgeous Mitsouko.
Also, do anybody know if the current no 19 extrait contains real oakmoss extrait??
Thank you! April 1, 2019 at 5:58am
Sebastian: Some scents come to mind immediately: Femme (the classic, not today’s version), Jubilation 25, Rose De Nuit. In that tradition there is also Mon Parfum Chéri. I would recommend you try the latter.
Mitsouko also epitomizes the fact that the male/female-dichotomy of scents has always been purely a marketing invention. I believe that all perfumes are Unisex, prejudices set aside.
Mitsouko in particular is also an absolutely great male fragrance. Sometimes, I hate myself for being so snobbish that I don’t want to wear it just because it is so popular, although I regard it as one of the best fragrances that have ever been created. April 1, 2019 at 10:01am
Cecilia: Thank you! I’ve recently found a half full bottle of vintage Femme edt at a flea market (I think is from the Fifties) and is really wonderful (a little bit briused in the top notes, but still wonderful). But I find it a little bit heavy, more suitable for winter.
I have to try your other suggestions (Mon Parfum Chéri sounds really intriguing).
You’re right about Mitsouko, and you’re right about perfumes being unisex (just look at me, I am a woman and one of my favourite iris is Dior Homme!)
Thank you!
Cecilia April 2, 2019 at 3:45am
Aurora: Hello Cecilia: Also you might want to try Chanel, 31 Rue Cambon; Acqua di Parma Profumo; Chanel Cristalle, Chanel Pour Monsieur, Aramis by Aramis.
For question No 2, yes I think No 19 has some real oakmoss but it would be a very small amount due to IFRA Restrictions. Victoria if you have a chance to read this, I might be mistaken. April 1, 2019 at 4:22pm
Cecilia: Oooh I love 31 Rue Cambon and I recently splurged on a 75ml bottle. Is wonderful, but on me is really sweet, very different from Mitsouko, or Femme. Cristalle sounds perfect for summer, and I will try Pour Mnsieur and Aramis.
Regarding No 19, yes, I thought so. I saw “Evernia Prunastri” (oakmoss) listed in the ingredients, and my heart skipped a bit. Of course, it must be a really small amount, but with Chanel you might never know.
Thank you!! April 2, 2019 at 3:52am
katherine x: Perhaps you can ask him to stop by Le Labo and test their fragrances. If he likes something he can let you know! Even though they don’t make many scents – their range is wide. April 2, 2019 at 9:36pm
katherine x: Alibi: put this in the wrong place! April 2, 2019 at 9:41pm
AWS: Any suggestions for an incense perfume on the more natural side? I like passage d’enfer but am unsure about the lily. I love Aftelier’s Ancient Resins body oil if that helps. Thank you. April 3, 2019 at 5:05pm
Lydia: Hi Aws,
You might enjoy some DSH incense scents. She often uses a lot of natural ingredients and her samples are very affordable.
My favorite is Cathedral. April 6, 2019 at 12:31am
AWS: Thank you, I have been interested in trying her perfumes but didn’t know where to start so this is helpful! April 7, 2019 at 3:43pm
katherine x: You might try Copal D’azur – warm and uplifting. I’m a fan of Ancient Resins body oil as well. April 7, 2019 at 9:12pm
AWS: Thank you, I’ll try to find a sample of this one April 12, 2019 at 11:22am
Sebastian: I’m a bit late to answer this question, but have you tried Etro Messe de Minuit?
I don’t generally like incense-heavy perfumes. Also, I don’t like how Messe de Minuit, like so many perfumes nowadays, turns sweet at the end, but I imagine that for an incense lover this stuff would still be interesting. A very authentic kind of incense. Ite missa est. April 11, 2019 at 3:37pm
AWS: Thank you, I’ll have to find a sample of this, though I similarly am less into sweet heavy incense perfumes. I like the smell of frankincense and myrrh on their own, so I wanted to try to find something dry and airy, like the raw materials with a little more going on. April 12, 2019 at 11:25am
Sebastian: Quick googling reveals that Victoria has written about Myrrh in perfume 6 years ago:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2012/01/myrrh-sensual-haunting-perfume-note.html
There was also a basenotes thread with Frankincense recommendations, 4 years ago:
http://www.basenotes.net/threads/411423-Favourite-Frankincense-Fragrances
The internet never forgets… April 12, 2019 at 5:09pm