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!
Our May-June perfume class schedule is now open. The new classes include Lily of the Valley, Lilac, Hyacinth, Amber, Vanilla, and Tonka Bean. Please take a look and let me know if there are other topics that you would like to study.
How does it work: 1. Please post your requests or questions as comments here. You can also use this space to ask any fragrance related questions. To receive recommendations that are better tailored to your tastes, you can include details on what you like and don’t like, your signature perfumes, and your budget. And please let us know what you end up sampling. 2. Then please check the thread to see if there are other requests you can answer. Your responses are really valuable for navigating the big and sometimes confusing world of perfume, so let’s help each other!
To make this thread easier to read, when you reply to someone, please click on the blue “reply” link under their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
56 Comments
ARLINDA LEITE: I recommend the Stella McCartney perfume, a delicate and very comfortable floral. I would like to receive recommendations for perfumes with a chamomile note. Thanks for listening April 22, 2024 at 9:31am
Merry: Mémoire d’une Odeur by Gucci is an under-rated fragrance with a very nice chamomile top note. Several of my friends and family wear this one to subtle but lovely effect. Pretty but not dull or ordinary. April 22, 2024 at 2:12pm
Aurora: Hi Arlinda, I second Merry for Mémoire d’une odeur, the only thing is that it doesn’t have the best longevity, there is also Aromatics Elixir, no problem for longevity with that one, the herbaceous aspect is definitely there with chamomile among the herbs, but of course it’s known for being a patchouli bomb, so you have to like that note. April 22, 2024 at 3:48pm
Adam: I’ll always curious about fougeres and masculine chypres, new or vintage. Some faves include Azarro pour homme, Nicolai New York Intense, Guerlain Heritage and Rogue Perfumeries Bon Monsieur. Looking for something not too barbershoppy, but with a confident, peaceful, inscrutable vibe–whatever that means! April 22, 2024 at 11:35am
Klaas: Hi Adam! Now if there’s one ingredient that makes me confident, inscrutable and peaceful, it’s vetiver. There’s many great vetiver centered fragrances on the market, some quite ‘affordable’ like Guerlain Vetiver or Encre Noir, others more expensive like Hermes Vetiver Tonka or Parfum d’Empire Vetiver Bourbon. I recently discovered Escale en Haïti bij Les Indemodables, a vetiver eau de cologne that just radiates chic and good taste.
I also very much like citrus fragrances to feel inscrutable and confident, many of them chypres……there’s Patricia de Nicolaï’s Excellent Cédrat Intense, Parfum d’Empire Azemour les Orangers, or Hermès’ Eau d’Orange Verte. Chanel pour Monsieur used to tick a lot of your boxes as well, but it’s suffered a lot from reformulations.
And what about Jicky? Now there’s a non-barbershop fougère if ever there was one……or Mouchoir de Monsieur, also a Guerlain, but you have to be comfortable with slightly animalic (read fecal) undertones for that one….. April 22, 2024 at 1:27pm
Adam: Thanks, a lot of great choices. I’m familiar with Guerlain’s Vetiver (love it), Eau de Orange Vert, amd Jicky, and I’ve been waiting to try Pour Monsieur and Mouchoir de Monsieur (I’m definitely not shy about animalics!). April 22, 2024 at 1:55pm
Aurora: Hi Adam, lots of good recs from Klaas, you could also try l’Artisan Parfumeur Fou d’absinthe, it’s a modern take on a chypre but you have to like anise. April 22, 2024 at 3:54pm
Neva: Hi Adam, I’m not too much into fougeres but one perfume comes to my mind that is a classical fougere by the notes yet it is not sharp but slightly powdery. Histoires de Parfums 1725 Casanova. Except for the citruses, it has licorice, lavender and anise in the notes but they are toned down by the vanilla and almond. Maybe you could give it a try? April 23, 2024 at 3:15am
Tiffany: I am looking to expand my tuberose and gardenia perfume collection. I currently own tubereuse Imperiale by Bdk and Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. Any others that you might suggest? April 22, 2024 at 12:46pm
Adam: Check out Rogue Perfumery’s Tuberose and Moss. April 22, 2024 at 1:56pm
AndreaR: Frederic Malle’s Carnal Flower is my favorite tuberose. April 22, 2024 at 2:18pm
Nina Zolotow: Moon Bloom by Hiram Green is a beautiful, slightly spicy tuberose that’s more on the subtle side, well, relatively speaking haha because you, know, tuberose. April 22, 2024 at 2:40pm
Kaisa: I second Tuberose & Moss, it’s lovely.
You might sample Armani’s Rouge Malachite and Diptyque Do Son (the latter is good for summer).
Anatole Lebreton has an unusual tuberose, L’Eau Scandaleuse, if you aren’t afraid of a tiny bit of animalic something.
For an all-natural tuberose with a chypreish, vintage feel: Hiram Green Moon Bloom.
And do sniff Nasomatto Narcotic Venus, Serge Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle and Datura Noir, Malle Carnal Flower if you have the chance.
I am not a huge fan of tuberose (except in things like Poison and Oscar de la Renta), but my favourite tuberose must be Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse 3 l’Animale. It’s definitely not to everyone’s taste though. April 22, 2024 at 3:04pm
Aurora: Hi Tiffany, Goutal Un Matin d’orage, try both the EDT and the EDP, they are different, Goutal also has Gardénia Passion, despite its name a tuberose bomb. April 22, 2024 at 3:57pm
Klaas: Gardenia Passion is a bomb indeed. But a glorious bomb. A colleague of mine used to wear it sometimes…… April 23, 2024 at 3:07am
Aurora: Hi Klaas, ‘A glorious bomb’😃 April 23, 2024 at 12:28pm
Cristina Mariani: All the Christian Cavagna. Musa Imperiale, the first, is my favorite. I think he has 5 different tubes out now. April 23, 2024 at 1:12am
Cristina Mariani: Oh and the original Mona di Orio Tubereuse. It has a wonderful drydown April 23, 2024 at 1:14am
Alessandra: Régime des Fleur’s Toor Toor is a great and peculiar tuberose! April 24, 2024 at 7:51am
Jamal: Tubereuse Criminelle from Serge Lutens for the most camphorous tuberose. It can be challenging to some but I find it highly addictive and distinct. April 24, 2024 at 8:51pm
la_ninon: Moon Bloom is my favorite tuberose (plus jasmine), though it doesn’t have the depth and staying power it once had. April 26, 2024 at 12:50pm
Cyndi: I love Fracas by Robert Piquet. I have worn it for more years than I care to remember, but I get compliments every time. A very ntoxicating perfume that actually “blooms” in the warmer weather. April 22, 2024 at 1:32pm
Kaisa: Yes, Fracas is a must to try. April 22, 2024 at 3:05pm
Tiffany: I have heard (in a class) that Fracas was the inspiration for the first Marc Jacob’s perfume. April 22, 2024 at 3:27pm
Leslie: Any suggestions on very powdery scents? I don’t know why, but they make me happy right now. Think giant powder puff of a scent :). April 22, 2024 at 9:04pm
Nina Zolotow: The most powdery fragrance I can think of–and one that I really enjoy–is Teint De Neige from Lorenzo Villoresi.
Just in case there’s some confusion about what a “powdery” scent is, here’s a quote from Victoria, “Powdery is a very specific term among professional perfumers, and it means an accord of heliotropin, citrus and some herbs (like Johnson & Johnson baby powder, for instance.) Fragrances like Ombre Rose or Love’s Baby Soft are quintessential powdery blends.” April 22, 2024 at 9:52pm
Leslie: Thank you! I will try it out 🙂 April 24, 2024 at 6:36pm
Hana: I enjoy Nicolai Poudre de Musc. It’s powdery, elegant, and soft with aldehydes, rose, and the most fluffy musc. Also, I like that it lasts all day. April 23, 2024 at 9:46am
Aurora: Hi Leslie, l’Artisan Parfumeur is an original powdery scent, it smells of flour, also l’Heure Bleue is powdery with heliotrope as is Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue but maybe difficult to get as it is discontinued and also, Molinard Habanita is very powdery and wonderful. April 23, 2024 at 12:36pm
Leslie: Thank you! Everyone’s suggestions are giving me something to look forward to ;). April 24, 2024 at 6:39pm
Aurora: *It’s l’Artisan Parfumeur Bois Farine, sorry for the above omission. April 23, 2024 at 12:54pm
Celie: Not exactly a perfume, but perfume related. Can anyone please recommend any good perfume channels on youtube, or any other good perfume related videos? As in made by people who know what they’re talking about and aren’t just tacky influencers recommending the latest hype or whatever is supposed to make people fall in lust with you (I swear, if I hear “beast mode” another time I’m going to scream).
I feel as if I’m stuck on Persolaise and rewatching Bois de Jasmin (of course!) and old Katie Puckrik videos. April 23, 2024 at 2:50am
Klaas: If you understand French, there’s Des Paons Dansent Cent Heures (what’s in a name?), hosted by a lady called Marion. She’s very passionate about fragrance and tries loads of scents. She doesn’t post much, but I really enjoy her content. April 23, 2024 at 3:11am
Deanna: I’d be very surprised if there’s anyone as entertaining and knowledgeable as Persolaise! April 23, 2024 at 12:43pm
Aurora: Hi Celie, Persolaise is the best but Jus de Rose and also Claire Smith are decent channels imo. April 23, 2024 at 12:58pm
Sebastian: Wafts from the Loft (two amateur gentlemen from London) have recently come back after a long hiatus. They don’t post very often. I like their engaging style. Audio quality tends to be poor, though. April 24, 2024 at 7:16am
Carine: Persolaise is the best, no question, but I also recommend My world of fragrances and Clemence CC Fragrance ! April 25, 2024 at 4:48pm
Millie: Hi! Going for a really broad recommendation request here: does anybody have any recs for fragrances that are feminine but not too sweet/floral/heavy? I tend to like things that are woody or citrus, I think, but also want something that’s long-lasting and a bit unique. April 23, 2024 at 4:16am
Aurora: Hi Millie, Liz Earle No1 is a very good citrus chypre. It’s a 97% natural perfume, but lasts very well. There is also Chanel Cristalle edt and edp, the edt is more citrus, the edp is sweeter and fruitier. April 23, 2024 at 8:27am
Tamasin: Have you tried Ormonde Woman by Ormonde Jayne, with black hemlock, violet, juniper, coriander (it’s neither masculine nor feminine) April 24, 2024 at 3:46am
Klaas: Hey Millie, citrus and long lasting is a bit of a challenge, as citrus notes are some of the most volatile in perfumery. I recently sampled quite a lot of Parfum d’Empire fragrances, and Yuzu Fou and Azemour les Orangers are two beautiful, unique and quite long lasting citrus fragrances. I also often recommend Patricia de Nicolaï’s Cédrat Intense here, it’s citrus, woods and a touch of bitter greens (and oakmoss!) with hardly any flowers or sweetness. I think it’s incredibly classy 😋
Non sweet woody fragrances are hard to come by I think. I very much like Trudon II, but apart from woody it’s also very green. Think coniferous greens, bitter orange, dry woods and a swirl of incense…..very unique for sure! For something a bit less niche, Tam Dao by Diptyque is a gorgeous sandalwood fragrance. Very creamy and a tiny bit sweet, but also a beautiful cedar note and a kick of ginger. I love it and I’d get a bottle of I could afford one, the edp is very pricey…….
Good luck! April 23, 2024 at 7:29am
Lari: I’ve been seeking unsuccessfully for something resembling Christalle edp as it is very difficult to find in the US. Love this scent- wearing on and off since the 70s. I’d like something in this “family”. All suggestions very welcome. Thanks April 23, 2024 at 10:13am
Aurora: Hello Lari, in Europe where I am, I think Cristalle EDP has been relaunched in a different bottle which now is square like No 5 bottles, it might be available in the US too soon, but I have an alternative Yardley Jade, now called Flora Jade, hopefully it’s available where you are, it really is close to the Chanel and good in its own right. April 23, 2024 at 12:43pm
Sebastian: I don’t know if this “resembles” Cristalle closely enough for you, but the vibe is certainly similar: Chanel’s Paris – Édimbourg has been called “a masculine Cristalle” by Persolaise. April 24, 2024 at 7:22am
April: I’ve been seeking unsuccessfully for something resembling Christalle edp as it is very difficult to find in the US. Love this scent- wearing on and off since the 70s. I’d like something in this “family”. All suggestions very welcome. Thanks April 23, 2024 at 10:15am
Hamamelis: Ormonde Jayne Tiare is very similar to Christalle, in spite of its name. You can also try Estee Lauder Private Collection Jasmin White Moss (if it is still in production)., or Dior Diorella, or Frederic Malle Le Parfum de Therese. April 23, 2024 at 2:20pm
Neva: Hi April, please try Weekend in Normandy by Parfums de Nicolai. To me it definitely has the Cristalle vibe and it is one that I always have in my collection although it has slightly changed in the past years. It has also changed names from Weekend in Deauville to Weekend to Weekend in Normandy… April 25, 2024 at 3:13am
Trudy: I’m trying to find something different and maybe deeper than my usual floral and citrus fragrances but also something not too vintage. Something somewhat contemporary. I just tried a sample of Histories de Parfums 1969 and there is something definitely intriguing about it but that something comes and goes and I can’t seem to pin it down. Wondering if anyone has thoughts on this fragrance. April 23, 2024 at 7:56pm
Nina Z: 1969 has a gorgeous peach note and a lot of high-quality patchouli. Do you think it’s the peach that is intriguing you? Or the patchouli?
It’s likely the peach because that doesn’t last as long as the patchouli. So another interesting peach fragrance you might like is Chinatown, which is a peach and incense fragrance, though that’s sweeter than 1969.
If it’s the rich patchouli you are intrigued by, try Coromandel by Chanel. That’s a gorgeous “deeper” frangrance based on high-quality patchouli.
Perhaps others can make peach and/or patchouli recommendations because I don’t have a lot of them. Or perhaps others have a different experience of 1969. April 24, 2024 at 1:17pm
Trudy: Thank you for your comment. It’s so funny you mentioned Chinatown as that is one that I’ve liked a lot in the past and just didn’t connect it to 1969. I’ve had a decant of Coromandel for along time but forgot about so I am going to do some testing and comparing and figure which note that I detect in 1969. I think it is the peach as I am familiar with patchouli but maybe not the formulation that is in 1969 or Coromandel. Thank you again for taking the time to comment! April 25, 2024 at 9:57am
Alessandra: Hello everyone!! Has anyone tested Chanel’s new Comète? Has it come out beyond press circuits? Many thanks, community 🙂 April 24, 2024 at 7:52am
Leslie: That sounds wonderful too! I’m looking forward to exploring these. April 24, 2024 at 6:38pm
C: Hello! I have wanted L’heure bleu since forever… I was finally ready to get it online but I see that there are two versions, edt and edp… I did not know that, and don’t know which one I have been trying for years… as I live in the countryside and have no access to it … could you help me decide? Thanks ☺️ April 25, 2024 at 1:45pm
Aurora: I don’t think they differ widely in scent, the EDT is punchier and a bit brighter in the top notes and the EDP clings more to the skin and lasts longer. There is a third concentration, the parfum or extrait. April 26, 2024 at 2:27pm
Marie-Christine: Hello,
I live in France and would like to find a bottle of ‘Red Moscow’, which seems almost impossible. Could anyone recommend a source please?
Many thanks, fellow perfume lovers! April 27, 2024 at 12:32pm
Victoria: Amazon and Etsy carry it. You should be able to buy a bottle without many issues, I think. April 27, 2024 at 12:58pm