Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can use this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors. Or you can just tell us what perfume you are wearing!
How does it work: 1. Please post your requests or questions as comments here. You can also use this space to ask any fragrance related questions. To receive recommendations that are better tailored to your tastes, you can include details on what you like and don’t like, your signature perfumes, and your budget. And please let us know what you end up sampling. 2. Then please check the thread to see if there are other requests you can answer. Your responses are really valuable for navigating the big and sometimes confusing world of perfume, so let’s help each other!
To make this thread easier to read, when you reply to someone, please click on the blue “reply” link under their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
116 Comments
OnWingsofSaffron: I’m experiencing this tuberose moment, and am wearing Moon Bloom by Hiram Green which is quite lovely. A few months ago I bought some testers of Caron’s Tubérose, which I think is quite lovely too. Perhaps it’s the weather in Central Europe at the moment: 10°C over Pentacost wear all the roses should be blooming in full mode, but it is cool and wet, and flowers an insects are still hiding! May 24, 2021 at 9:00am
OnWingsofSaffron: … oh dear: wear = where! So sorry! May 24, 2021 at 9:02am
Carla: I am wearing Cristalle EdT, it never fails to please when the weather is right. I am so behind on new perfumes, I’m afraid. May 24, 2021 at 9:10am
MaryAnn Popper Hardy: I adore the fragrance of carnations. I have low-growing carnations tucked into rocky crevasses and taller ones in clubs near the garden benches. When the sun begins to warm them, their scent is carried upward in spicy clouds. With spring here, I’ve been adding more of them to my garden beds. To me, the fragrance of carnations is spicy and sweet without being sugary.
Is there a fragrance that is … carnation? Recognizably carnation? May 24, 2021 at 9:42am
OnWingsofSaffron: Check out: https://boisdejasmin.com/2020/07/carnations-cloves-eugenol.html
or type in “carnation” above in the search option.
The last carnation scent I bought was from Officina Profumo Santa Maria Novella “Garafano”, a citrusy carnation. I have yet to find a really convincing carnation, so I layer with a tiny bit of Serge Lutens “Serge Noire” (Serge Lutens), clove and incense, very potent indeed! May 24, 2021 at 10:19am
Caroline: It’s billed as a violet perfume, but I get a prominent carnation note from Hiram Green’s
Vivacious. Its name describes the scent accurately! May 24, 2021 at 10:22am
Nina Z: Yes, the carnation note is very prominent in this. To me, the violet note is very beautiful but somehow it doesn’t meld well with the carnation, so I was disappointed in it (I usually love Hiram Green). However, many people do love this and find it very uplifting so it’s worth trying. May 24, 2021 at 11:45am
Tamsin: If you like Cristalle, I think you would love Tiare by Ormonde Jayne. Perfect for this weather too! June 3, 2021 at 5:39am
rickyrebarco: Try Prada’s Infusion de Oeillet, Lutens’ Vitriol de Oeillet and L’Artisan Oeillet Sauvage. May 24, 2021 at 11:27am
Fleurycat: Hi MaryAnn! Carnation and clove are such beautiful perfume notes, and in my opinion, under utilized, or too frequently used in fragrances without enough depth or complexity. It was a favorite of mine, beautifully epitomized in Caron’s Bellodgia, which I adored, but which I gave up on after reformulation. The new iteration just seemed too strident, with an 80’s intensity, whereas what I particularly loved in the earlier formulations was the soft spiciness, which reminded me of something my grandmother wore. My renewed search for that particular spicy note lead me to purchase and try Prada Infusion d’Oeillet, a nice Prada Infusion flanker;
L’ Artisan Parfumeur’s Oeillet Sauvage (ephemeral), S.L’s Vitriol de Oeillet, and a sample of Aedes Oeillet Bengale (spicy but very potent as implied by the name!). All are mentioned above, by others, and all have the carnation/clove note you may be looking for and are worth sampling. My favorite discovery in that search (post Bellodia) was Penhalgion’s Lily & Spice, which, alas, is also discontinued (I was lucky to find a bottle before it disappeared). I gave up my search for perfumes with that particular spicy aspect a number of years ago, shifting instead to an entirely different range of notes, mostly Iris and orange blossom dominated perfumes, but I am tempted to revisit it. I would love to hear about your discoveries, which are successful for you, and why. Happy hunting. May 24, 2021 at 3:51pm
Nina Z: Yes, there are many carnation fragrances out there! This is my favorite note. I love the combination of the spiciness and floral sweetness. One way to find a carnation fragrance is by name. “Oeillet” means carnation in French, so you’ve got Prada Infusion d’Oeillet, Aedes Oeillet Bengale, and Oriza L. Legrand Royal Oeillet AND Oeillet Louis XV. “Garofano” means carnation in Italian, so in addition to the Santa Maria Novella Garofano mentioned there is Lorenzo Villoresi Garofano. Finally sometimes “dianthus” is in the name, as in Etro Dianthus.
There are many other gorgeous carnation perfumes that have been discontinued or reformulated, so if you’re serious about the hunt you can look for some of those. I’ll just say if you ever get the chance to smell some vintage Caron Bellodgia extrait, go for it. Such a gorgeous carnation fragrance! May 24, 2021 at 11:42am
Cornelia Blimber: Hi NinaZ,
If you like the sweet side of a carnation perfume, you could try Soie Rouge (Maitre Parfumeur). I finished with pleasure a full bottle, but in the end there was too much honey mixed with the carnation. May 25, 2021 at 6:08am
Nina Z: That is one I have never tried! Thanks for reminding me. May 26, 2021 at 8:41pm
Fleurycat: Another note on Carnation:
Although neither carnation or clove is listed in the notes, Teo Cabanel’s Oha is a beautiful spicy rose fragrance. It is rather sweet, though not due to a contemporary overdose of sugar. Instead, the spice adds sophistication and complexity. May 24, 2021 at 4:02pm
Sel et Vanille: Look for eugenol/cloves notes, sometimes perfume houses don’t mention carnation accord even if it is present. I second Opium, Oeillet Sauvage L’Artisan Parfumeur is quite nice one and there is also distinct carnation in L’Heure Bleue Guerlain. May 24, 2021 at 4:42pm
Notturno7: Hi MaryAnn,
I love carnation fragrances. You can find vintage Bellodgia on ebay. I got a couple of pure perfume bottles and they’re divine. Also En Avion has a lovely carnation note. I found it on ebay, too. Here’s Victoria’s review of it.
https://boisdejasmin.com/2014/10/caron-en-avion-perfume-review.html May 24, 2021 at 10:45pm
Waltraud Werkmann: Hello,
My nose is too limited to track the single notes in a scent.
And I also love carnation. As it seems, I am the only one who smells these notes in Mitsouko, Guerlain. But next occasion I will try to get a sample of Bellodgia. May 30, 2021 at 3:19am
Safran: Vangelis from Sylvaine Delacourte has a gorgeous carnation note. The most beautiful carnation scent I’ve ever smelled is Oeillet from Scent Systems, but it’s unfortunately discontinued. May 26, 2021 at 2:18pm
Lari: I also love Christalle in all forms, ” up to date” or not. I bought my first bottle with one of my first paychecks ever 40 plus years ago. Still love it, still receive compliments on it. Time for a new bottle but it seems to be back ordered on Chanel site. Enjoy it May 24, 2021 at 10:25am
marcy: I’m with you on this – Bought my first bottle in summer of 1980 or so. It’s incomparable. May 24, 2021 at 12:15pm
José Saraiva: Good afternoon Victoria
Today and always I only use “Eau Sauvage”, the best men’s perfume, for me.
Congratulations for your page and videos.
Creetings. May 24, 2021 at 11:33am
Dorothy Van Daele: Love Cristalle. Also Jour d’Hermes at this time of year, and it often surprises me with how layered and lovely it really is. May 24, 2021 at 12:31pm
Cornelia Blimber: To my nose, Opium edp has a carnation note. May 24, 2021 at 1:00pm
Fleurycat: I agree, some of the Opium flankers, especially. They also have the (softer) spicy warmth I loved in Bellodgia. May 24, 2021 at 4:07pm
Sarah Hicks: Hello All – I’m wondering what you all recommend for something grassy and herbaceous. I am familiar with guerlain’s herba fresca and interested in others that are similar.
Thanks!! May 24, 2021 at 5:00pm
Karina: Some ideas, although I don’t know Herba Fresca I would consider the below “herby”, each in their own way.
Sisley Eau de Campagne
Clarins Eau Dynamisante
Heeley Menthe Fraîche May 25, 2021 at 1:45pm
Aurora: Hello Sarah: Also, Jacomo Silences and Chanel Bel Respiro and Cartier les Heures, l’Heure Brillante which is by the same perfumer as Herba Fresca. May 25, 2021 at 4:06pm
Perfumelover67: I recommend Diptyque Eau de Minthe and Dame Perfumery Minty Man. May 25, 2021 at 6:48pm
Sel et Vanille: Check out Lush Grass. Lots of fig leaf ones have a string dose of stemone that’s grassy – Premier Figuier among them. Also Vert et Noir DSH perfumes is very green. For forest/herbaceous Mousse Illuminee by Rogue Perfumery. You may also like Vert o Boticario. June 1, 2021 at 9:37am
Wanda: Hello,
I love the scent of linden, but don’t know where to begin. My price point is usually $100, I’m open to colognes, as that is all I have ever worn, with the exception of one bottle of Chanel No 5. Would love any suggestions.
Thank you May 24, 2021 at 6:31pm
Saadet: I have a Fragonard eau de parfum: Tilleul et Cédrat, it’s lovely and doesn’t hurt the wallet 🙂 I highly recommend! May 24, 2021 at 11:37pm
Wanda: Thank you for the suggestion.
I will try it. May 25, 2021 at 10:33am
Sebastian: Hello Wanda, perfumes with a linden note have been discussed in this space just the previous month. There were quite a lot of recommendations. May 25, 2021 at 4:19am
Wanda: I will refer to last months post. Really don’t know how I missed it. Thank you Sebastian May 25, 2021 at 10:35am
Nancy Chan: Wanda, apologies my comment dropped to the bottom of the page. You could try Jo Malone’s Lime Blossom cologne. May 25, 2021 at 5:28am
Wanda: Thank you. I will try it. I can’t wait to get back out to the stores and head for the perfume counters! May 25, 2021 at 10:39am
Emilie: Hello Wanda, i love linden too, and i can recommend “Vouloir être ailleurs” by D’orsay parfums. It’s a linden soliflore, and it smells really close to real linden. It has good longevity too. The nose behind it is Olivia Giacobetti. May 25, 2021 at 6:31am
Wanda: Thank you. These are wonderful suggestions. I have a trip to NY soon to see my daughter, all of the suggestions will be on my list! May 25, 2021 at 10:42am
Karina: Could you say how this new incarnation one compare to the original Tilleul? May 25, 2021 at 1:47pm
Sebastian: From everything I have read, there is no difference. It’s supposed to be identical to the 2008 reformulation of the original Tilleul. It would be nice to have this confirmed by someone who has smelled them both. May 25, 2021 at 3:25pm
Emilie: I can’t say as i’ve never tried the original Tilleul. I also read that they just changed the name and packaging (and increased the price!). Anyway the new version is really nice ! May 26, 2021 at 1:50pm
Marie: Thanks a lot for the recommendation! I loved the original Tilleul and was heartbroken when it was discontinued May 27, 2021 at 12:56pm
Anouk: Dear Wanda, „Linde Berlin“ by German brand „Frau Tonis Parfum“ has a great true linden blossom scent. I spritz it in the very beginning of spring, impatiently waiting for the linden trees in the park next to my home to start blossoming (because that means summer begins). It is not a cologne, though, but is similarly light. May 29, 2021 at 7:56pm
Wanda: Wonderful recommendation. Thank you. Someday I would love to actually smell the linden blossom. Don’t know if this tree being here in the US
Thank you May 29, 2021 at 10:48pm
Rakasa: Hi, Wanda. Lissom Linden from Prosody London offers a lovely combination of linden with subtle/fresh green rose. Budget wise, it sells for £95 (50ml) or £34 (10ml). Founder Keshen Teo’s ability to craft uniquely faceted botanical perfumes is green extraordinary. June 5, 2021 at 9:27pm
Wanda: Sounds extraordinary! I will look for it. Thank you June 6, 2021 at 12:50pm
Notturno7: Hello, lately I bought two Patou fragrances in a vintage version. They’re beautiful. Chaldee reminds me of Chamade and Vol de Nuit but I can’t tell which note.
Are there other readers who enjoy vintage Patou? I like their components and notes and sometimes after 5-6 hours of wearing Chaldee the drydown surprises me suddenly and it’s just glorious. May 24, 2021 at 11:09pm
Akshada Deo: Hello,
I’ve been gravitating towards Twilly a lot, the original and the Eau Poivree. I’ve seen Victoria talking about it here and there but I don’t think she gave it a full review.
Another artisanal discovery that I love is 5th and Always by Isak. It’s a sandalwood rose fragrance with rose being the Indian kind, animalic and dirty. Very opposite to the rose in Miss Dior. I would only wear this fragrance if I didn’t fear unknowingly seducing people in a setting I wouldn’t want to.
A trick that I’ve been using a lot is trying to find miniatures or travel-sized options for the perfumes I’d like to try as that’s been the only way I would get to experience them. May 25, 2021 at 3:59am
Ewan: Spring and the plants are growing – a great plant to smell after rubbing is Pineapple Sage. Grows quickly, leaves are a nice green with bright red trumpet-like flowers.
Well worth a sniff! May 25, 2021 at 5:10am
Aurora: Hi Ewan: I didn’t know this plant, thank you very much for the great advice. May 25, 2021 at 4:10pm
Ewan: HI Aurora,
It can be grown to be very bushy but it is rangy so it can be a bit straggly if it’s left to its own devices May 26, 2021 at 3:25am
Aurora: Ah yes, straggly, good adjective, my geraniums do that too but I still love them😀 May 26, 2021 at 1:53pm
Nancy Chan: Hi Wanda, you can try Jo Malone’s Lime Blossom. May 25, 2021 at 5:22am
Wanda: Thank you that I have access to. Will try. My list continues to grow! June 6, 2021 at 12:54pm
Celie: Hello everyone,
I love the scent of good quality green tea or matcha. I actively dislike the “green tea” accord that first occurred in the bulgari perfume and then in every “green tea” product under the sun, and am looking for something that smells like or evokes the real thing.
I have recently sampled a natural green tea interpretation by La Via del Profumo (didn’t smell like green tea at all) and have ordered samples of Parfum Satori Hyouge and Maison Martin Margiela Matcha Ceremony. I would love to try the Arielle Shoshana Sunday one, but am not sure of where to get it in Europe.
So far the closest thing to real matcha has turned out to be not green tea-themed at all, but an iris scent: La Via del Profumo’s Il Giglio di Firenze, which for the first two seconds or so after application somehow vividly recalls sniffing a newly opened tin of matcha powder (fresh/powdery/violet/vegetal with just a hint of umami), but I would love something that is more long-lived and that evokes the scent of the drink itself, not just the powder. 😉 May 25, 2021 at 5:35am
John: This is a bit far afield, but L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme has an interesting green tea effect supported by a cacao that is not too strong and a little anise. It was all a little too green and translucent for me, but I could certainly see its allure (I objectively appreciate tea-oriented fragrances but have never found one I’d like to wear regularly.) I thought that the quality was excellent, with just a touch of smokiness that elevated it from the everyday green tea fragrances you mention. May 26, 2021 at 2:44am
Celie: Thank you!
Actually, I was hoping for far afield tips. SInce the things that are meant to smell like tea don’t really do, I suspect my perfect tea scent probably isn’t a tea scent at all, but something that just happens to create a similar effect.
Many of my perfume loves are Guerlain, so I will be sure to try L’Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme! May 26, 2021 at 2:29pm
Marie: It’s a bit of a stretch but I really like Un Zest de Rose by Parfums de Rosine. It is a nice citrus rose with green tea, far from being a standalone green tea fragrance but still noticeable. May 27, 2021 at 12:59pm
Celie: I’m all for a bit of a stretch, as it makes me try the ones I wouldn’t otherwise have found! I’ve never tried a Parfum de Rosine perfume, so this sounds exciting. Thank you! May 28, 2021 at 10:09am
carole: Celie, have you tried Annick Goutal’s duel? It’s mate tea, and it’s fantastic in the heat 🙂 June 2, 2021 at 3:23pm
Rashida: Hello Aurora, thank you very much for the recommendations! I have added Heure Exquise and Jean-Louis Scherrer to my list to try. I was discussing this matter with the lovely aunt who sent me the No 19, and she is sending me care package with Jacomo Silences from France. When it arrives, I will reply with my impressions of it.
Once again, thank you very much for these recommendations! June 3, 2021 at 5:40pm
Cathy B: Yes!! I absolutely adore carnations as well and have many planted in my garden. I have a huge rose bush by my porch that is bordered by carnations. I am in heaven when the lovely fragrance wafts my way. I’ve also been on the hunt for the perfect carnation fragrance. I have a bottle of Bellodgia, and that is really lovely (I’m not sure if it is reformulated). I just recently bought a sample from Etsy. It was highly rated and is lovely but lacks the spiciness. My beloved Daddy was a funeral director and as a child through adult, I would always be captivated by the heady fragrances of the flower arrangements…especially carnations. Whenever I smell them, it is like a comforting hug from Daddy…now in heaven!! Please keep me informed of your discoveries! I just know our perfect carnation is out there!! May 25, 2021 at 6:42am
Maria: I’m quite alarmed that in the last few weeks it is impossible to buy any longer Guerlain L’Heure Bleue Eau de Toilette in 93 ml recharge form. I used LHB every day in the last 15 years, in the winter sometimes Eau de Parfum, but EdT is always proper. I aplly it freely and can’t live without it. Usually I ordered 2 bottles, to be on the safe side. Now it is gone, at least in Germany. Some big sellers have even only pure parfum.
For years I heard that they might discontinue it. That would kill me. I keep telling myself that may be it hssvto do with the pandemic.
Has anyone information about it? Does Guerlain plan to discontinue it or they don’t bottle in 93 ml anymore or….? I would be really grateful for any info. May 25, 2021 at 4:18pm
Karina: Hello Maria, they’ve changed the packaging on the “traditionals”. I just checked the Guerlain website and LHB edt is still there in a new style 75ml flacon. Perhaps not the refill you were looking for, but not discontinued.
https://www.guerlain.com/de/de-de/p/lheure-bleue-eau-de-toilette-P014307.html May 26, 2021 at 10:16am
Kim: Looking for a summer fragrance that has a mint note. Any ideas? I live in the hot, humid southeast US. Thank you ! May 25, 2021 at 6:24pm
Safran: Nomad Tea from Comme des Garcons has a beautiful and lasting mint note. It’s fantastic in humid weather and don’t worry, it’s not really sweet, although it belongs to their sweet line. But when it first came out, scents were far less sweet as they are today. May 26, 2021 at 2:22pm
Marie: Florabotanica has a mint note and is one of the best summer scents! So refreshing! May 27, 2021 at 1:02pm
Damla: Dirty by Lush has a VERY prominent mint note! May 28, 2021 at 2:59pm
Anouk: How about a Geranium scent? Geranium pour Monsieur by Frederic Malle is minty and fresh, and despite its title I find it genderless.
Heeley‘s Menthe Fraiche also pops into my mind, but the freesia is very prominent and I personally find it too thick in hot weather. May 29, 2021 at 8:05pm
AnnieA: Covey by Capsule perfumes has mint and lime June 28, 2021 at 4:44pm
Karina: Hello Kim, Heeley Menthe Fraîche has a prominent mint note and never veers into toothpaste territory. Guerlain Herba Fresca is another option for mint. If you are looking for something cooling and refreshing without mint I recommend Acqua die Parma Bergamotto do Calabria or Clarins Eau Dynamisante. The advantage of the latter two as well as Herba Fresca are that they are relatively inexpensive to spray (and re spray) on a hot day. May 26, 2021 at 3:15am
Kim: Thank Karina ! I will check those out. May 26, 2021 at 1:41pm
Daphne: I usually wear Cristalle this time of year, but I’ve been captured by Calyx since Christmas, when I got tired of spicy orientals and longed for something bright, fun, and green in the new year, after such a long, heavy, depressing season of COVID. It’s been a joy for almost six months and I haven’t been tempted away from it… perhaps a record! May 26, 2021 at 6:06pm
Marie: Hello everyone! 🙂 I have not added a new fragrance to my collection for some time but am lately craving something different. Maybe it is the weather but my usual floral and green fragrances do not do the trick. I need something warm and cozy.
Among my winter perfumes are Mona di Orio Vanille, Amouage Epic Women and Hermes Ambre Narguile. I would like to discover something more daring, maybe smokier or woodier?
I do not have a high tolerance for incense, classics and very masculine scents, but am otherwise looking forward to your recommendations! 🙂 May 27, 2021 at 12:51pm
Aurora: Hello Marie: Have you explored Serge Lutens for winter perfumes? Un Bois Vanille might suit you (woody vanilla) or even Ambre Sultan (very resinous aromatic amber with myrrh, benzoin but no incense) or Les Néréides Opoponax (which Fragrantica spells oppoponax in error), again resinous and warm but no incense, like a modern, easier Shalimar. Maybe even Kilian Angels’ Share with its cognac and woods although it might be a little too close to Ambre Narguilé. May 29, 2021 at 7:47am
Marie: Thanks, Opoponax sounds great! Will invest in a sample 🙂 May 29, 2021 at 12:00pm
Paulina: Looking for a niche fragrance that one could call “exotic spiritual”. I know it’s a vague term, however I am thinking of something with a nicely blended, non dominant patchouli note, perhaps with some resins and (exotic) flowers. The closest I have experienced something like that is in Maria Candida’s Sideris or Shanti Shanti by Miller Et Bertaux, however they are slightly too rose dominant for my liking. I love all white and yellow flowers and coconut/solar notes.
A “serious nomad-hippie” scent, for a hippie who found niche perfumery and finds comfort in secluded retreats 🙂 would love to hear your recommendations May 28, 2021 at 12:20am
Kayliz: “Exotic spiritual…serious nomad hippie” — that sounds to me like an on-the-nail description of House of Matriarch. I‘d specifically recommend Woo for what you‘re after (and I‘d definitely recommend not paying full price! There are regular discounts via the newsletter. There‘s a 50% offer on the “spring collection” right now with the code WINDSOFCHANGE). May 28, 2021 at 9:55pm
Cornelia Blimber: I think this hippie needs an Andy Tauer perfume! May 29, 2021 at 3:46am
Silvermoon: Hello Paulina,
As I read your description of what you would like, my first thought was L’Air du Desert Marocain (Andy Tauer). Looking at the other suggestions below, I see Cornelia has recommended Tauer more generally, and I would second that. His perfumes are really vibrant. A softer direction would be the Byredo perfumes or Le Labo. May 30, 2021 at 3:52pm
Rashida: I’m searching for a fragrance as lovely as Chanel No. 19. Unfortunately since having Covid in October, my sense of smell has not come back properly. Many notes are now noticeably warped, including citrus, animalic musks and sweet gourmand notes.
A couple of weeks ago, I was gifted a bottle of Chanel No 19 parfum for my 19th birthday and I have been swept away by how beautifully woody, mossy, verdant and floral it is. The feeling of being transported to a calm forest just after it has rained is something I did not realise could be so strongly evoked by perfume and it is something I find to be radiant and calming. This is the first time I have adored a perfume, and so I am searching for something equally as lovely that may be affordable on a student stipend, whether it be a full size bottle or through decants.
Some other fragrances that have worked for me are Hermès 24 Faubourg, Serge Lutens Five o’clock au gingembre and Nuxe Prodigieux le Parfum. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. May 28, 2021 at 8:54am
Aurora: Hi Rashida: Happy belated birthday, how wonderful to have received No 19 parfum as a gift. Do you know Annick Goutal perfumes? Heure Exquise with the iris and galbanum of 19, just a lttle bit more floral, or the very affordable Jacomo Silences, very green or the green chypre Jean-Louis Scherrer. May 29, 2021 at 8:01am
Aurora: Hello Rashida: I replied with recommendations earlier but I think it got swallowed, so I’m trying again. Happy birthday, how wonderful that you got No19 parfum. Do you know Annick Goutal perfumes? Heure Exquise has the galbanum and iris of No 19, there is also the very affordable Jacomo Silences, very green and Jean-Louis Scherrer, a very elegant green chypre, available as edp and edt. May 29, 2021 at 1:53pm
Rashida: Hello Aurora, thank you very much for the recommendations! I have added Heure Exquise and Jean-Louis Scherrer to my list to try. I was discussing this matter with the lovely aunt who sent me the No 19, and she is sending me care package with Jacomo Silences from France. When it arrives, I will reply with my impressions of it.
Once again, thank you very much for these recommendations! June 3, 2021 at 5:39pm
Aurora: How lovely of you to answer. Very glad you are going to sample Silences soon, what luck to have a nice aunt in France, I’m half French myself but live in the UK. Enjoy the search! June 5, 2021 at 1:20pm
Irem: Hello Rashida, No. 19 is so beautiful, especially the parfum. I have been a perfume lover on a student stipend for many many years, and I can definitely relate. But in this case, the most budget friendly option might be No. 19 itself. Not the parfum, but the EdT. Currently, 100 ml of it retail for $115+tax, and while this is not a trivial amount for a student budget, if you love the EdT it is a very good deal for a great fragrance. Goutal Heure Exquise is indeed quite similar in spirit, but even more expensive than Chanel. chanel.com offers two samples with each purchase, and sometimes they have a selection of their Les Exclusive line. May 30, 2021 at 12:34pm
Rashida: Hello Irem,
Thank you for your reply. I have found the EdT of No. 19 on the Chanel website going for £102 here in the UK. This is certainly a more affordable option than the parfum, and after revisiting Victoria’s insight into the juice, a really good deal to be had for what is still one of the most expensive fragrances on the market today. I will start saving up to purchase it if I can visit family in France this summer (circumstances permitting).
Thank you for your advice! June 3, 2021 at 5:48pm
MJ: Hello Rashida.
First, happy birthday!
I’ve been using Chanel 19 since 1994, and its my all time favorite. Fragrances that, for me, are some what related are JL Scherrer, Coriandre and EL Private Collection (the original one). I do not know how easy to find would be any of this for you, but they are worth a try. June 4, 2021 at 6:17am
Notturno7: Hi Rashida, you already got great recommendations. I would also second Estée Lauder Private Collection fragrance. It’s really well priced and a lovely green fragrance. It got a 5 star review from both Victoria and Luca Turin. June 10, 2021 at 6:28am
Kristina Rupeikaite: Hello:) i am interested in perfume with Cardamon that could be worn everyday. What could you recommend?
Thank you! May 29, 2021 at 6:30am
Cornelia Blimber: Maybe Declaration (Cartier). May 29, 2021 at 7:56am
Aurora: Hello Kristina: Also, Hermes Voyage which is available in eau de toilette, maybe better for every day, and parfum which is richer, and Kerosene Sweetly Known which is a cardamom gourmand. May 29, 2021 at 8:10am
Anouk: If you like light green tea scents, I’d suggest Bulgari’s Eau de thé vert. The cardamom note is not the protagonist but accents the accord beautifully. May 29, 2021 at 8:09pm
OnWingsofSaffron: If you perchance are swimming in money, you might be interested in Cardamusc Essence de Parfum by Hermès. Obscenely priced, and I only once dabed the oil-based perfume onto my wrist at an Hermès store. May 30, 2021 at 9:24am
Silvermoon: Hi WingsofSaffron, I also smelled a drop of the two Hermes essence de Parfumes in the Hermes shop in Amsterdam airport about 18 months ago (gosh, but that’s a world that seems so long ago and far away). Anyway, I remember absolutely loving the Musc Pallida. Beautiful and certainly madly expensive/unaffordable. Sadly. May 30, 2021 at 4:07pm
OnWingsofSaffron: 350 Euro for 20ml! If—big IF—if one were to buy ambrosian nectar, priceless in production with the rarest ingredients, I‘d say okay. But cardamom, come on! And artificial musk?
What bugs me is this elitist attitude of making something (which at the end of the day is down to earth in production cost) available exlusively only for the ultimately super-rich! It says: you riff-raff, begone! No fan of that! May 31, 2021 at 1:21am
Silvermoon: I can very much sympathise with your view. I guess many luxury brands feel exclusivity can only be assured when the price is high. Sadly, this often prices out many who would truly appreciate the item. May 31, 2021 at 4:11pm
MJ: hi
I have Zara Cardamon (a dupe for Cartier Declaration) and love it. It smells so cardamon-y! June 4, 2021 at 6:19am
Cricket: I am looking for a new “summer” perfume, something with a big fruit, potentially citrus, but nothing super cotton-candy simple sweet. I prefer more complex fragrances typically. I originally had some sort of an original Body Shop Dewberry in mind, but the suggestion I got to replace that was Byredo Pulp which I did not care for at all. The description was perfect, just not the way it worked on me! I also bought the Goop Orchard 4, which I really like, but it doesn’t last at all, nor have that punch I’m looking for. I’ve also sampled Mango Skin, Parfums Quartana, Urban Tropicalia, and Aerin Hibiscus, but none of these hit the mark either. In the winter I typically wear Nirvana Amethyst, Portrait of a Lady, Santal 33, or Incense City. I like almost everything I have tried from Chanel and Agent Provocateur over the years. I’d like to stay under $200 and would REALLY like something I can sample before I buy a full bottle. Looking forward to suggestions, thank you! May 30, 2021 at 9:19pm
Mary: Hello Cricket, I think you might like bottega veneta essence aromatique. It has citrus and leather notes. I think it is discontinued but you can still get it online on eBay. I also like bottega veneta knot for the orange blossom. June 1, 2021 at 10:03pm
Cricket: Thank you Mary! June 9, 2021 at 10:31am
Aurora: Hello Cricket: For citrus I suggest you sample Atelier Cologne perfume for eg Orange Sanguine for orange, Clementine California for clementine… etc. For tropical mango Parle-Moi de Parfum Chypre Mojo. Also, Diptyque Oyedo for a lot of citrus. For yet more tropical fruit I would highly recommend Clinique Calyx but I’m not sure if it has been discontinued or what, still available on Fragrance X but where I live in the UK it is no longer on the Clinique website. June 2, 2021 at 3:00am
Cricket: Thank you for the suggestions! I remember Calyx…when it was still Prescriptives. I’ll have to give it another sniff as it does seem to be available here still. That Parle-Moi looks very intriguing as well and I have ordered a sample. June 9, 2021 at 10:31am
Aurora: So glad Calyx is available where you are! I remember it as a beautiful tropical perfume. June 10, 2021 at 2:40pm
AWS: Hello, Cricket, maybe Arielle Shoshana Saturday perfume would be a good one to try. June 8, 2021 at 2:31pm
Cricket: Ooh, yes, that description looks spot on. I ordered a sample! June 9, 2021 at 10:30am
Cape: Byredo Pulp sounds right up your alley! June 27, 2021 at 8:16pm
laura: Hi!
I am looking for a signature scent. I like pretty basic fragrances like Chanel Mademoiselle, Chanel Beige, d&g light blue intense, PDM Delina, TF Oud wood.
I love the aquatic scents, like rain and ocean, combined with orange blossom. I mostly just layer them so the scent would be a bit more unique.
I am not quite sure what to choose, but l would love to find something just perfect and not too common, as do not want to smell like everyone.
Would you please give me a few suggestions? June 1, 2021 at 5:03pm
AlexN: Hi Laura,
In terms of the aquatic scents, have you tried ‘eau de merveilles bleue’? It’s a quite fresh and linear fragrance but at the same time not too common. June 2, 2021 at 8:32am
Aurora: Hello Laura:: For a beautiful aquatic that is unique, perfect for spring and summer, I was recommended Frédéric Malle Lys Méditerranée.
For a signature scent, have you tried Cartier Baiserc Volé in edp and edt, they’re different enough, and Bottega Veneta? I don’t think everybody wears them. June 3, 2021 at 11:54am
Marie: What about Hermes Un Jardin sur la Lagune? It is slightly aquatic and floral but also unique while still wearable 🙂 June 5, 2021 at 6:06pm
Cape: Laura, you I would like to suggest Issey Miyake l’eau eau de toilette. And for a very different though gentle aquatic scent, Le Labo Neroli. I’d be interested to know your thoughts. June 27, 2021 at 8:13pm
Corey: Currently wearing with reckless abandon = Yoyogi.
Yoyogi is an energetic crisp green – my jam – with strands of rich resin amid the juicy herbs. Wore it all last summer but reached for my Molecule 02 for winter. Once the sun returned to Seattle, I have been reveling in Yoyogi once again.
Would love to see more CdG reviews from Bois de Jasmin! June 6, 2021 at 1:21pm
Cape: Victoria, I would like to recommend Melodie de l’amour, an Dusita Paris fragrance. Centrepiece notes are tuberose, jasmine, civet and cedar. I suspect the jasmine is Indonesian jasmine because I smell an fragrant green facet and the sweetness is very much an undertone. I do detect a tiny slither of cool moth ball. The opening is ultra bright and shiny, with, to my nose, a curiously fleshy, humid dry-down. Love to read your synopsis! June 27, 2021 at 8:08pm
Cricket: Follow up to my May query, I have found one I love…Tiziana Terzani Orza. It’s sweeter and simpler than I expected I would want, but smells perfect for right now to me. Unfortunately, at $500, it’s not in the budget tight now. So any suggestions or something similar to this to try? June 28, 2021 at 8:59pm
Victoria: Wow, that’s really expensive! I suggest that you repost in the new thread we have up: https://boisdejasmin.com/2021/06/recommend-me-a-perfume-june-2021.html June 29, 2021 at 1:52am