What are your top 5 all time favorite perfumes? The kind that you would take on a desert island with you or the ones that you would be happy to wear for years to come?
I know, I know, I am being very cruel by limiting the choice to only 5. As I was trying to answer this question for myself, I found that it was not an easy one. However, the moment I thought about 5 fragrances that would keep my interest for a long time without me getting bored with them, I immediately thought of these choices:
Chanel Cuir de Russie
Guerlain Après l’Ondée
Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower
Caron Tabac Blond
Christian Dior Diorella
164 Comments
Anne: Chanel No 19 EDT
Chanel No 5 parfum
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
Vinatge Miss Dior
and …
Sonoma Scent Studio’s Femme Jolie
Femme Jolie is more a treasure than ever since it was discontinued last year. I bought a back up bottle! March 26, 2011 at 4:18am
Zazie: Guerlain Shalimar
Guerlain Mitsouko
Chanel 5 extrait
A tuberose: Carnal Flower or Beyond love
A jasmine: a la nuit or love and tears
A top ten would have bene easier! I hate leaving out Attrape-coeur or some favorite woody-incensy scents. I suspect that being in spring has something to do with my last two choices! March 26, 2011 at 5:45am
rosarita: Chanel 19 edt
Chanel Coco
Chanel Coromandel
Shalimar extrait
Donna Karan Black Cashmere
Of course, it would be hot on a desert island, and I would most likely be longing for a lighter scent. I think my loves are more *stranded in a mountain cabin in a blizzard* types. 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 6:27am
capillary: Chanel Bois des Iles
Frederic Malle Le Parfum de Therese
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
Guerlain Mitsouko
PdN Le Temps d’une Fete
Oh, I don’t know. The list will change from day to day, but I think these ones are intricate enough to keep me interested – a very good way of thinking about the question! March 26, 2011 at 6:58am
Ann C: This is a tough question. I don’t think my collection is complete; I’m always hoping to find new loves. The favorites of my collection so far are:
Chanel 31 Rue Cambon
Shalimar Ode a la Vanille
Prada l’eau Ambree
PdN Le Temps d’une Fete
Guerlain Apres l’Ondee
I look forward to seeing the lists that everyone comes up with today!
Ann C. March 26, 2011 at 7:35am
Irina: Chanel Cuir de Russie
Chanel Beige
Diorissimo
Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia
Comme des Garcons Zagorsk March 26, 2011 at 8:26am
Alexandra: No 1: L’ Ombre Dans L’Eau- Diptyque
No 2: Bois de Violette- Serge Lutens
No 3: Petite Cherie- Annick Goutal
No 4: Drole de Rose- L’Artisan
No 5: Eau de Charlotte- Annick Goutal
Then I could cry about leaving behind my Loukhoum- Keiko Mecheri, my Bois Farine- L’Artisan, Heure Exquise- Annick Goutal, and Passage d’Enfer- L’Artisan… to the point that if I think about it more carefully (because I have replied spontaneously), the list would be totally different… (even now, I m already sorry for the latter perfumes, so much, that this feeling makes me love them more!!)
PS. most probably, I would risk paying overweight luggage! March 26, 2011 at 8:28am
Pklagrange: L’Artisan D’Zing
Amouage Lyric
Lutens Bas de Soie
Chanel Bois des Isles
Amouage Opus IV (this one surprised me!) March 26, 2011 at 8:47am
pam: Okay, here goes:
Shalimar – Guerlain
L’Heure Bleue – Guerlain
Mitsouko – Guerlain
Private Collection – Estee Lauder
Diorissimo – Dior
The last two I don’t have FB’s of at present, but they bring back the memories and since I’m gonna be on a desert island . . . March 26, 2011 at 8:55am
mischa: Musc Mona di Orio
Feminite du Bois Shiseido
Shalimar Guerlain
Fleur de Figuier Molinard
Tonka Imperiale Guerlain March 26, 2011 at 9:15am
Isabeau: Angelique Noir – Guerlain
Mon Parfum – Micallef
Coromandel – Chanel
Quand vient la pluie -guerlain
Molecule 01 – Escentric Molecules March 26, 2011 at 9:20am
Olfactoria: Frapin 1697
Amouage Memoir Woman
Puredistance I
Guerlain Shalimar Extrait
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
very hard to do, some things must always be left behind! 😉 March 26, 2011 at 5:33am
Suzy Q: No. 5 Eau Premiere–Chanel
Nuit de Tubereuse–L’Artisan Parfumeur
Coromandel–Chanel
Musc Ravageur–Frederic Malle
Cruel Gardenia–Guerlain March 26, 2011 at 9:36am
gautami: Diorella
Timbuktu
Carnal Flower
Tabac Blond
L’ombre dans L’eau March 26, 2011 at 9:54am
juliannelondon: Vol de Nuit – Guerlain
Sycomore – Chanel
Bigarade Concentree – Frederic Malle
Bois des Isles – Chanel
Poivre – Caron
This covers all seasons. x March 26, 2011 at 10:43am
MaryAnn Hardy: I am tempted to copy ALL the lists and then try to sample every scent! Ordinarily just reading the names, lists and comments are enough to make me swoon with pleasure. But I have a comment to make about health. I’m in my third day of mega-antibiotics for a case of pneumonia and every breath is difficult. I’ve discovered that the only scents that appeal to me are very, very simple ones, such as essential oils, and in my case: cedar, black pepper, rose geranium.
Even being this ill (“Take me NOW Lord; I’m ready!”– ha ha) I still crave scents, but I’m loathe to take even a little sniff of the absolute love of my life, my cherished vintage Miss Dior. Makes me asthmatic just considering it!
This leads me to wonder how the perfume houses approach the matter of health in the population of consumers. But perhaps the creators just create and leave the sales up to the marketing folks. March 26, 2011 at 11:19am
Nikki: this is fun!
here we go
SHALIMAR EXTRAIT
O DE LANCOME, A HUGE BOTTLE
FIRST DE VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS
PANTHERE DE CARTIER
JICKY March 26, 2011 at 11:26am
Cymbaline: Fortunately I was thinking about desert island choices a couple of days ago, so my list was ready!
Guerlain Mitsouko
L’Heure Bleue
Chamade
Dior Diorissimo
Andy Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain March 26, 2011 at 11:34am
Kat: I’d put Mona di Orio’s Musc in my top three!
My top five –
Guerlain’s Sous le Vent
Mona di Orio’s Musc
Shiseido White Rose
Profumum’s Dulcis in Fundo
Sinfonia di Note’s Fleur de Santal March 26, 2011 at 11:44am
Kat: MaryAnn, get well soon! My soothing comfort scent is Dulcis in Fundo, would send you some if I could 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 11:47am
Gitcheegumee: Well,since there’s little greenery on desert islands( I suppose) ,green scents and florals would be refreshing and welcome.
Vintage Balmain Vent Vert
Vintage Miss Dior(or Intimate)
Coty L’Origan
Patou Joy
Caron Bellodgia March 26, 2011 at 11:51am
Cymbaline: I must of been kidding myself when I said my list was ready!
I absolutely LOVE PureDistance 1 and Vero Kern’s Kiki extrait. Maybe I’d swap out Mitsouko and Chamade for these two just to mix the list up a little more(big Guerlain fan here) : ) March 26, 2011 at 11:52am
Gitcheegumee: Also, these five fragrances could be layered to create any number of new scents! March 26, 2011 at 11:53am
Elizabeth: Only five! I would combine my high- and low-end favorites:
Caron Bellodgia
Hermes Un Jardin en Mediterranee
Miss Dior Cherie (yeah, I know, I know, but I inexplicably love it!)
Bath and Body Works Cherry Blossom
Yves Rocher So Elixir
And then I would hide a decant of Yves Rocher Pur Desir de Pivoine in my shoe. 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 12:23pm
Stephen: omg only 5?! okay, here we go
Frederic Malle Carnal Flower
Armani Prive Bois d’Encens
Bvlgari Black
By Killian Straight to Heaven
Chanel Sycomore
Phew.. that was hard =) March 26, 2011 at 12:32pm
Safran: Hard to choose indeed! I would really need to pick at least 5 for the cold season and 5 for spring/summer.
So, as of today, it would be
Biche dans l’Absinthe – Gobin Daudé
Le Rivage des Syrtes – Parfums MDCI
Carnal Flower – Frédéric Malle
Traversée du Bosphore – L’Artisan
Homage – Amouage March 26, 2011 at 12:41pm
*jen: rosarita said…
“I think my loves are more *stranded in a mountain cabin in a blizzard* types. :)”
Me, too. 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 9:24am
Ines: Guerlain Shalimar
AMouage Lyric
Balmain Vent vert (vtg)
Honore des Pres Vamp a NY
Frapin Caravelle Epicee
Sorry for not writing them with original accents (I hate looking for them on the keyboard). 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 9:46am
Sofia: I am going on an island tour and I am taking Fracas with me! March 26, 2011 at 2:45pm
mals86: (Ines, you HAVE accent keys on your keyboard?? Wish I did. Well, I do have a tilde mark, but how often are perfume names in Spanish? I can only add diacriticals in a word processing program, not when posting comments on a blog…)
This is so difficult.
Le Temps d’une Fete
Vintage Emeraude
Carnal Flower
Alahine
Parfum Sacre
I really can’t get the list down to five, I just can’t…
No. 19 (preferably vintage edt, but I’ll take modern edp)
No. 5 parfum, vintage
Iris Poudre
Mary Greenwell Plum
L’Arte di Gucci
Sigh of relief. Okay. I could live with those choices. Of course, I would still be longing for my Black Orchid Voile de Fleur, my Tabac Aurea, my Champagne de Bois, my Silences, my Rose d’Ete, my Ines de la Fressange, my Lyric Woman…
… I know, I know – that’s seventeen. Not five. March 26, 2011 at 10:56am
Samarkand: A torture to answer. Let’s say, in the disorder :
Mitsouko (vintage)
Le Parfum de Thérèse
Gold Amouage
Chanel No 19 (extrait and vintage)
Cuir de Russie March 26, 2011 at 3:08pm
Samarkand: Oh, I forgot Vol de Nuit (extrait) – near Mitsouko… March 26, 2011 at 3:09pm
maggiecat: Oh dear…I’d need to make sure I have all of my favortie notes with me….
Chanel No. 5 Eau premiere
Chanel Eau de Cologne
Jo Malone Jasmine and Honeysuckle
Jicky
Something vanilla….Eau Duelle,perhaps? Or Insensee?
Too hard to think about on a warm, sunny Saturday! March 26, 2011 at 3:14pm
bojana: I hope the desert island has real spring flowers
Lalibela by Memo
Diva by Emanuel Ungaro
Calandre by Paco Rabanne
Tam Dao by Dyptique
Geranium pour Monsieur by Editions Frederic Malle March 26, 2011 at 3:17pm
sharyl: Amouage Lyric Woman
Le Labo Iris 39
Estee Lauder Tuberors Gardenia
Chanel Coromandel
L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse March 26, 2011 at 4:25pm
Elisa: I feel inept to answer this question because there are still so many perfumes I haven’t smelled! Especially vintage ones. If I had to pick based on the perfumes I’m familiar with now …
1. I’d need a tuberose: probably Beyond Love.
2. I’d need a patchouli-heavy gourmand. Why not go with the one that started this genre, Angel? I rarely wear it now, but I’d be on a desert island, right? And it would last forever.
3. I’d need a labdanum-heavy oriental: I love what Laurie Erickson does with labdanum, so maybe Tabac Aurea.
4. I’d need a rose: This would be very hard to choose, but my current favorite is Rossy de Palma.
5. And finally, because it just feels so me, Donna Karan Gold.
But this list feels incomplete because there’s nothing by Andy Tauer or Maurice Roucel … and I would deeply miss the memories tied to White Linen and Egoiste. March 26, 2011 at 12:36pm
Austenfan: 1) My oldest love; Paris, YSL. In it’s old formulation.
2) Aromatics Elixir, Clinique
3) Mitsouko, Guerlain
4) Le Parfum de Thérèse, Editions de Parfums
5) Heure Exquise, Goutal
But Dzing!, Cristalle, Shalimar, Sacrebleu, Songes, Pour un Homme, New York, Vamp à New York and Invasion Barbare are seriously affronted that they are not included! March 26, 2011 at 5:35pm
aotearoa: I think I could do a Desert Island for a year right now in my busy life. Especially if I could take:
L’air du Desert Marocain – Andy Tauer
Tribute Attar – Amouage
Vintage Joy Parfum – Jean Patou
Bois et Fruits – Serge Lutens
Iris Pallida – L’Artisan March 26, 2011 at 5:42pm
sweetlife: Impossible! But here is a quick list of five representatives:
Donna Karan–Black Cashmere
Eau d’Italie–Paestum Rose
Different Company–Osmanthus
Serge Lutens–A La Nuit
Guerlain–Vintage Mitsouko Parfum
Feminite du Bois, Carnal Flower, Cuir de Russie, Scandal, Jasmine et Cigarette, Coco in parfum, No 19 in parfum, and half a dozen others are screaming and pushing to get on board… March 26, 2011 at 1:47pm
Marina: Farnesiana
Futur
Chanel No 22
Vanille Incensee
White Aoud March 26, 2011 at 1:55pm
dee: MEMOIR! yay 🙂 March 26, 2011 at 2:13pm
dee: Top five, without thinking about it and giving myself time to second guess:
Memoir Woman
Shalimar extrait
Safran Troublant
Puredistance Antonia
Champagne de Bois March 26, 2011 at 2:16pm
Elizabeth: Guerlain Shalimar
Annick Goutal Heure Exquise
Vintage Balmain Jolie Madame
Large bottle of aged Patchouli oil
Floris Edwardian Bouquet March 26, 2011 at 7:00pm
marion: Oh wah,,,makes me feel panicky….
My top three are old Mits, L Heure Bleue, and Tubereuse Criminelle.
It gets really hard after that…
Iris Silver Mist, Diorissimo, old Figji, Shalimar, Saffran Troublant, Nuit de Tubereuse, La Myrrhe…nah, I’m cheating, stop!! March 26, 2011 at 8:04pm
marion: Oh drat, I forgot the masterpieces Rubj and Onda… March 26, 2011 at 8:13pm
Acrossbee: Tough decision, but I think for continued interest, I pick the following:
Caron Or et Noir
Caron Nuit de Noel
Guerlain Apres l’Ondee
Etro Messe de Minuit
Parfums 06130 Feuille de Reglisse March 26, 2011 at 8:19pm
moongrrl: Patricia de Nicolai Le Temps d’une Fete
Dior Diorella
Miller Harris L’Air de Rien
Chanel No 5 parfum
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan March 26, 2011 at 9:26pm
Hannah: none of my favorites are classics…
Bulgari Black
Alexander McQueen Kingdom
Donna Karan Black Cashmere
Parfum d’Empire Cuir Ottoman
Comme des Garcons March 26, 2011 at 9:32pm
Uella: Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois
Serge Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle
Serge Lutens Bas de Soie
Guerlain Apres l’Ondee
Caron Poivre (vintage) March 26, 2011 at 10:56pm
Dionne: Iris Silver Mist
Black Cashmere
Parfum Sacre
Apres l’Ondee
Ormonde Woman March 26, 2011 at 11:12pm
linda: Homage
Cristalle
Chergui
En Passant
Apres l’Ondee
Oh wait, those bottles were only half full! Here’s the other half: OJ Frangipani, Amouage Ubar, Orange Sanguine, Songes and L’Artisan’s Fleur de Oranger. 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:46am
Kim: Chanel No 5
Chanel No 19
Chanel 31 Rue Cambon
Guerlain Shalimar
tie between Chanel No 22 and Guerlain Mitsouko, if forced to pick would just give up and take neither!!
all preferably extrait and vintage (except 31 Rue Cambon)
I actually find the shorter list of 5 much easier than 10 or 15!
And interesting how many of us, despite our exposure to soooo many perfumes, still pick at least one Chanel or Guerlain – definitely speaks to the staying power of both houses 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:49am
Joan: This is hard and painful. But…here goes:
Amouage Gold
Patchouli 24 Le Labo
Chanel Cuir de Russie (like everyone else!)
Joy
Vanilia March 26, 2011 at 10:14pm
anatole: Let’s say:
Lanvin Scandal, my cherished vintage extrait
Tauer L’air du désert marocian
Lutens Iris Silver mist (I know I can’t have Iris Gris)
Patou Que sais-je? (or Vacance if only I could find it)
Malle Portrait of a lady. March 27, 2011 at 4:52am
Ingelinda: Guerlain Après L’ondé
Serge Lutens Bois de Violette
Fréderic Malle En Passant
Mona di Orio Amyitis
Patricia de Nicolai Odalisque March 27, 2011 at 7:19am
Astrid: Wow, great question. I just can’t get past my love affair with the ’80s, so I’ve stockpiled the cream of that crop. I always sniff at department stores, though & can safely say I can’t imagine I’ll be buying anything from that realm any time soon. It all smells like plastic & artificial wood any more:
Fendi Fendi
JL Scherrer
Magie Noire
Paloma
La Perla original
p.s. Diorella & Coco didn’t make the cut because they’ve been altered to where they need to be voted off the island fast. Recent vintage Coco especially makes my lungs sore. March 27, 2011 at 7:29am
Violaine: diorissimo 1.0
opium 1.0
aphrodite, fabergé
imogen Rose, Lush
terre d’hermes March 27, 2011 at 11:08am
RMF325: Guerlain: Shalimar, Vol de Nuit and l’Heure Bleue
Hermès: Eau de Merveilles
Chanel: No. 19
Very, very hard list to make! March 27, 2011 at 11:40am
capillary: You should write a review! I’d love to read it. March 27, 2011 at 1:17pm
LadyShine: I have posted my favourites three times now, and they still don’t show up. Guess I should save as a text file so don’t have to recreate.
Joy – Jean de Patou
Must de Cartier
Tea Rose – Parfumers Workshop
Perry Ellis for Women (original)
Diorissimmo March 27, 2011 at 1:39pm
LadyShine: Blips are blips! 🙂 Thanks. I LOVE this blog. March 27, 2011 at 1:54pm
Ann C: Same here. I love having Apres L’Ondee in my collection, but I only wear it a few times a year. March 27, 2011 at 3:49pm
OperaFan: Oh Dee, isn’t Antonia just lovely? It has such a quite elegance about it… March 27, 2011 at 4:34pm
OperaFan: When the house is on fire, there’s really no time to think and instinct takes over… I’m standing in front of my perfume curio so here goes:
1. Apres L’Ondee
2. Joy
3. Coco
4. Nina (1987)
5. Jicky March 27, 2011 at 4:43pm
Victoria: Ah, No 19 and L’Heure Bleue, my other loves. I just have a particular nostalgic connection with Apres L’Ondee, but truth be told, I would be happy with anything classical from Guerlain! March 27, 2011 at 1:01pm
Victoria: It is hard! As I am reading these lists, I am reminded of so many other fantastic fragrances. March 27, 2011 at 1:02pm
Victoria: If I had to swap lists, I would be happy with yours too! And I completely agree on Attrape-Coeur. March 27, 2011 at 1:03pm
Victoria: Those are my favorite kinds too! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:03pm
Victoria: Le Temps d’une Fete is gorgeous. Your comment reminded me that I have been neglecting it as of late, so I just went and put some on. March 27, 2011 at 1:04pm
Victoria: Oh, another Le Temps d’une Fete fan! Isn’t it beautiful? March 27, 2011 at 1:05pm
Victoria: These are all in my top favorites too! March 27, 2011 at 1:06pm
Victoria: >>most probably, I would risk paying overweight luggage!
You and me both! 🙂
I also replied spontaneously, which to me seemed the best way to answer this question. I did not try to consider how important some fragrance was vis-a-vis another, but just what would make me feel great and keep me interested for a long time. March 27, 2011 at 1:07pm
Victoria: Ok, I definitely need to try Opus! March 27, 2011 at 1:07pm
Victoria: Private Collection is one of the most beautiful Lauders and one of the best green chypres. Simply splendid! March 27, 2011 at 1:08pm
Victoria: I am happy to see Tonka Imperiale on your list. I have been enjoyed it tremendously. March 27, 2011 at 1:08pm
Victoria: Sinfonia di Note’s Fleur de Santal sounds very good. I am not familiar with it. March 27, 2011 at 1:09pm
Victoria: Quand vient la pluie is one of my recent Guerlain favorites, an interesting interpretation of L’Heure Bleue. March 27, 2011 at 1:09pm
Victoria: That’s where many of my favorites are stranded! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:10pm
Victoria: Nuit de Tubereuse is a popular choice, and I can see why–a very unusual take on tuberose. March 27, 2011 at 1:11pm
Victoria: Ines, I try to include them in posts, but in comments, I usually do not bother. Most of the time I reply from my blackberry, which does not have the option anyway. No worries! March 27, 2011 at 1:11pm
Victoria: Oh, we share 3 out of 5 favorites! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:12pm
Victoria: Fantastic, diverse and versatile list! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:12pm
Geordan: In no particular order (too many factors play into how I’m feeling at the moment):
1). FM Carnal Flower
2). FM Musc Ravageur
3). Xerjoff Richwood (if I was forced to go monogamous, this one might be it)
4). Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanilla
5). Toss-up between Dyptique Philosykos and Bois d’Naufrage (everyone should have a fig in their wardrobe, the first is daywear for me, the latter nightwear).
Special mention: MKK. Okay, I know. More cheating. March 27, 2011 at 5:16pm
Victoria: I definitely will! Now that this lovely fragrance from PdN and I are reunited after such a long hiatus, I want to share my appreciation for it. It is perfect for today's bright spring day! Thank you again for reminding me of it. 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 1:51pm
Victoria: Oh, I am sorry to hear about this typepad blip! I see them now. Thank you for sharing! March 27, 2011 at 1:52pm
Victoria: Thank you! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 3:10pm
Therebelgardener.blogspot.com: 1) Dans Tes Bras (éditions de parfums Fréédric Malle)
2) Après L’Ondée (Guerlain)
3) N°19 (Chanel), in eau de parfum or extract
4) L’Air du Temps (Nia Ricci), vintage
5) Habanita (Molinard)
It’s really horrible when you have to choose ! March 27, 2011 at 3:42pm
sweetlife: And oh my god, Vol de Nuit!
You know, making lists like this really highlights for me the split between perfumes I swoon for and can’t imagine living without, and the workhorses I rely on day in and day out to give me comfort and joy. Less overlap than one might think. March 27, 2011 at 4:48pm
Victoria: I completely understand! Making any list is hard for me, because the moment I start thinking about it longer, I can think of dozens of other choices! Still, it is so much fun to read these lists. March 27, 2011 at 5:53pm
Victoria: MaryAnn, I wish you a very speedy recovery! When I suffer from any respiratory ailment, I try to avoid scents as much as possible. They tend to irritate too much.
Once again, get better soon! March 27, 2011 at 5:55pm
Victoria: So nice to see First being mentioned! It is such a fragrance jewel. March 27, 2011 at 6:11pm
Victoria: A nice, diverse list! Those choices would sure keep you interested for years to come! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 6:12pm
Victoria: I agree about layering. I can see Bellodgia being layered with Joy to amplify the spicy floral accord. March 27, 2011 at 6:12pm
Victoria: A big Guerlain fan here too! I was tempted to put Shalimar, Mitsouko, L’Heure Bleue, Chamade and Apres L’Ondee on my list! 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 6:35pm
Victoria: I was revisiting Miss Dior Cherie this weekend, it is a nicely made fragrance. That fruity-strawberry note amplified by the toasty popcorn is just so delicious. March 27, 2011 at 6:37pm
Victoria: Straight to Heaven is fantastic! March 27, 2011 at 6:38pm
Dionne: Anne, Femme Jolie just barely missed the cut for my top five as well. So glad I got it while I could. March 27, 2011 at 11:21pm
Kat: Soft creamy dreamy sandalwood with some good tenacity 🙂 March 27, 2011 at 11:44pm
MJ: Lauren, Ralph Lauren (Wore for years would not wear today, however)
Paloma Picasso, (Loved it. Still love it)
Paris (original only)
Infusion d’Iris (Everyday comfort)
Narcisso Rodriquez for Her (hated it for years, now love it) March 28, 2011 at 12:57am
Loledinburgh5: Hi!
This is tough but there we go:
Ormonde Woman
Timbuktu
Theorema
Vetiver Tonka
De Bachmakov
Thank you for this post,I love your blog. March 28, 2011 at 8:21am
karin: OK, here goes! In no particular order:
Attrape Coeur (hands down #1)
Rive Gauche (vintage)
Kilian Love and Tears
Angel
Eau de Sisley 3 March 28, 2011 at 9:16am
sunsetsong: Infusion D’Iris EDP – so wearable every day and all year round
No 5 EDP – or extrait? Hmmm
Apres L’Ondee – so beautiful
OJ Osmanthus – happiness in a bottle
Shamilar Ode a La Vanille
Special mentions to NR for Her and SSS Rose Musc – hard not to cheat here. March 28, 2011 at 10:08am
ines: Mals, there are several diacritics in Croatian so keyboards here come equipped with more choices than just those letters in Croatian (but I’m always lazy looking for them as I don’t know where is which one). 🙂 March 28, 2011 at 7:34am
Mimi: What an interesting question, one that obviously strikes a chord with many perfume lovers. I like the way OperaFan frames the question.
Mine are:
Molinard de Molinard
Heure Exquise
Calandre
Nahema
Knowing.
What agony: The list is so incomplete. Taking OperaFan’s the house being on fire idea, I realize I would be in danger of burning up myself (of course, having time to select my top perfumes assumes the cat is out safely).
Your question got me to imagining a Noah’s Ark for perfume. What two of each category would I pick? March 28, 2011 at 11:37am
columbine: i don’t have a top five, only a top 2, i could of course easily give 5, but only 2 would not fluctuate over time on that list and these are Mitsouko and Tubéreuse criminelle. am actually pleased to see that Mitsouko features on a lot of your lists, it shows how exceptionnal that perfume is… March 28, 2011 at 2:06pm
Victoria: Infusion d’Iris is one of my little black dress fragrances, so wearable and versatile! March 28, 2011 at 10:25am
Victoria: All of these mentions of Attrape Coeur really made me crave it today! March 28, 2011 at 10:25am
Victoria: Thank you! 🙂
It is such a pleasure to see Theorema on your list, one of the best spicy-woody fragrances. Too bad that it is discontinued. March 28, 2011 at 10:26am
Victoria: I did not care for NR for Her at first either, but it really grew on me. Now, it is definitely one of my favorites. March 28, 2011 at 10:27am
Victoria: I am adding Bois d’Naufrage to my to-sample list! 🙂 March 28, 2011 at 10:28am
Victoria: Classics win out every time for me when I have to make these lists. I just love the feelings they convey, the complexity. March 28, 2011 at 10:29am
Victoria: The vintage L’Air du Temps is gorgeous! March 28, 2011 at 10:29am
Grusheczka: Hmmm….
FM Carnal Flower
SL Chergui
L’Artisan Dzing
FM Musc Ravageur
Frapin
But that would probably change slightly if you asked me again in one hour 🙂 5 is just not enough…
PS. I love your blog. You cover a greater variety than most other blogs out there, including mainstream fragrances that many wouldn’t even touch, and I respect that. Plus given your expertise in the field I feel like we’re getting a little “extra” in your blog. Thank you. March 28, 2011 at 10:38am
Victoria: If I were forced to swap my list for another, I would go with yours! We have similar tastes! March 28, 2011 at 10:44am
Victoria: Thank you very much, I do try to cover a wider spectrum of fragrances, mostly because my own tastes are so eclectic and I like to explore. It makes for some really fun discoveries. 🙂
You’ve reminded me that I really need to revisit Frapin. I tried some of their fragrances, but I really need to resample this line. March 28, 2011 at 10:47am
Carla: Everyone must be thinking of spring – Le Temps d’Une Fete is the perfect spring perfume. March 28, 2011 at 4:04pm
Victoria: I really miss Biche dans l’Absinthe and other Gobin Daudé fragrances. There are few discontinued fragrances I truly mourn, but these are among them. March 28, 2011 at 12:23pm
Victoria: Elisa, I love the logical way you went about it. This collection would surely keep you happy for many years to come! March 28, 2011 at 12:24pm
Victoria: Alyssa, I noticed the exact same thing! They are not identical in my case either. March 28, 2011 at 12:25pm
Victoria: Such a diverse list, I love it! March 28, 2011 at 12:25pm
Victoria: I’ve tried it just recently, and I agree, it is so elegant and sophisticated! March 28, 2011 at 12:26pm
Victoria: Fracas is so complex, one can wear it for years and still find something new in it. March 28, 2011 at 12:27pm
Victoria: I agree, it is hard to pick just 5! March 28, 2011 at 12:38pm
Victoria: Another list I would happily swap for my own. 🙂 March 28, 2011 at 12:39pm
Victoria: Great question! Considering that there are so many fragrance families, I think that we would make the Ark sink. 🙂
Seriously though, I think that if I had to pick my favorite families, it would have to be woody, oriental and florals. Most of my favorites are in those groups. March 28, 2011 at 12:40pm
Victoria: I love asking these questions, because invariably I learn of new lines. Lalibela by Memo is now on my to-sample list. March 28, 2011 at 12:41pm
Victoria: Lyric Woman is such a beautiful rose-incense composition, very distinctive. March 28, 2011 at 12:42pm
Victoria: We do share many favorites, which is why your inclusion of Vamp à New York made me order a sample of it. I am also delighted to see Sacrebleu being mentioned, as it is such a beautiful perfume. March 28, 2011 at 12:46pm
Victoria: I feel exactly the same way, a year away from everything would be wonderful! 🙂 March 28, 2011 at 12:49pm
Victoria: Aged patchouli oil has such a rich, chocolate ganache scent. March 28, 2011 at 12:51pm
Victoria: I can see why–those are such fantastic fragrances. I would have difficulty picking just one of them. March 28, 2011 at 12:56pm
Victoria: Nice to see so many Caron fragrances. Or et Noir is one of their best and one of their most underrated. March 28, 2011 at 1:01pm
Victoria: Another Le Temps d’une Fete fan! I am enjoying this fragrance very much, and it is nice to see it getting mentioned. March 28, 2011 at 1:26pm
Victoria: Bulgari Black can be considered a classic, and so is Black Cashmere. They are fantastic fragrances! I also love all of your choices. March 28, 2011 at 1:46pm
Victoria: Cuir de Russie is amazing, one of my favorite Chanels (although No 19 is a close rival.) March 28, 2011 at 1:47pm
Victoria: I recently smelled the new version of Poivre and was very disappointed. Nothing like it used to be! March 28, 2011 at 1:47pm
Victoria: Now, I need to revisit OJ Woman! March 28, 2011 at 1:48pm
Victoria: Clever! 🙂 Lovely choices! March 28, 2011 at 1:48pm
Victoria: I agree with you on Chanel/Guerlain point. It really shows how deeply respected these classics are. March 28, 2011 at 1:49pm
Victoria: Vacance would make my own top 5 list, if only I had more than a tiny bottle. March 28, 2011 at 1:49pm
Victoria: Odalisque is such a beautiful white floral, very alluring. March 28, 2011 at 1:50pm
Victoria: 80s was a great decade for fragrances! March 28, 2011 at 1:50pm
Victoria: I recently smelled Imogen Rose and found it lovely. March 28, 2011 at 1:51pm
Victoria: I agree, it is really amazing to see some of these classics show up again and again on people's lists. Tubereuse Criminelle is another outstanding fragrance, definitely worth a Lutens classic label. March 28, 2011 at 2:08pm
Nora: What a hard question…
-Diorissimo
-Estée Lauder: Beautiful
-Keiko M.- Peau de Peche
-Bvlgari-Femme
-Guerlain-Champs Elysées March 28, 2011 at 6:10pm
Victoria: I agree! It is perfect for these warm, sunny days (or for those of us who yearn for them!) March 28, 2011 at 4:05pm
Victoria: It is great to see such a nice range in all of these comments. I am so enjoying reading everyone's responses!
I have always had a soft spot for Champs Elysées. I went through a couple of bottles of it in college. March 28, 2011 at 6:34pm
Mimi: I think you are right, we would definitely sink the Ark, all those sub-categories. My favorites are also florals, woods and orientals.
This was a great, fun question. I love reading others’ lists and the whys. March 29, 2011 at 1:20pm
OperaFan: Thanks Mimi (your name is a great – and among my favorites – operatic role, by the way)!
I had to aim for variety among my choices, but really didn’t spend too much time thinking about it for the reason I cited. The truth is that I would have been happy with a number of combinations.
a:) March 29, 2011 at 7:51pm
Sariah: I brought decants of the following on a long trip:
Shalimar Light
31 Rue Cambon
Chergui
Vrai Blonde
Attrape Coeur
Carnal Flower
Ya, it’s 6. March 30, 2011 at 12:47pm
Carla: It must be spring. There are so many mentions of Le Temps d’Une Fete!
I might take Jubilation 25, Bois de Violette, Sarrasins, Bulgari Black…and, Loulou for fun. Oops, there are no classics there. Maybe Mitsouko instead of Jubilation? Or Bandit instead of Black? March 30, 2011 at 3:14pm
Victoria: Great choices and quite diverse too! I can see how one can have a lot of fun with these and not be bored at all. March 30, 2011 at 3:58pm
Victoria: You are right, spring is in the air! 🙂 March 30, 2011 at 3:58pm
Delfina: At the moment my top five is:
Malle Le parfum de Thérèse
Chanel Coromandel
Guerlain Attrape-coeur
Malle Musc ravageur
Vero Profumo Kiki April 22, 2011 at 4:58am
Adrienne Wilson: My daily perfume choice depends on what I’m wearing, how I’m feeling, and the weather. I haven’t left the house in 42 years without perfume on – rather like cleaning the teeth and wearing knickers, just always do it!!
Dior’s ‘Diorissimo’
Rochas ‘Femme’
Jacomo ‘Silences’
Guerlain ‘Nahema’
Caron ‘Bellodgia’
And I’d have to smuggle in my back pocket a small flacon of Estee Lauder’s ‘Private Collection’, and Lagerfeld’s ‘Sun, Moon and Star’s’. I lovely bit of froth at the end.
Lagerfield ‘Sun, Moon and Stars’ April 22, 2011 at 11:07am
Olga Bodnar Talyn: Fracas
Mitsouko
Diorissimo
Annick Goutal’s Tubereuse
Balenciaga’ Quadrille
where can I find a bottle of Quadrille April 22, 2011 at 12:13pm
Victoria: Need to try Kiki. I love these polls, because they always inspire me to try something new. April 22, 2011 at 10:12am
Debbie: 1. Tom Ford Amber Absolute
2. Dune – Christian Dior
3. Nahema – Guerlain
4. Cinema – YSL
5. Songes – Annick Goutal
Not all are absolute favourites but if I’m only allowed five, I need some variation in genre. April 22, 2011 at 3:59pm
Lucy: Impossible but for now I will say:
Carnal Flower
Aftelier Wildflower
Un Matin d’Orage
Querelle
Voleur de Roses April 23, 2011 at 7:53am
Lucy: If I had one more I would say Chergui. April 23, 2011 at 7:55am
Melancholybaby: A very, very difficult choice, and one, I admit, that might continually change with seasons, new finds, etc, etc…but right now, today, my top 5 would have to be
Diva – Ungaro
31 rue Cambon – Chanel
Y by Yves Saint Laurent
Paloma Picasso
Diorella (Dior) April 25, 2011 at 5:14pm
Mrs Bok: Hi!
I’m looking for a new fragrance and your blog is terrific!
I’ve got:
Kai
SL Fleur d’orange
Hermes un jardin sur Le nil
Jo Malone vanilla & anise
EL tuberose gardenia…
…but I don’t truly love any of them! Have never fallen in love with a perfume. I’m still searching! Thanks. May 2, 2011 at 8:49am
Mwende: Beautiful
Poeme
Elle
Lady Million
Loulou November 2, 2011 at 2:26am
Akki: Without thinking…
No 5 ————— Chanel
Light Blue ——– D&G
Cool Waters —– Davidoff
Shalimar ———- Guerlain
Apres l’ondee—- Guerlain August 20, 2012 at 12:51pm