Hidden Gems : The Perfumes No One Talks About

Elisa talks about several underrated favorites that she would be glad to keep to herself. Of course, she can’t help but share with us. 

A woman is standing in line at the grocery store. She smells the most amazing perfume wafting by. She turns and realizes it is coming from the woman behind her. “Your perfume is gorgeous!” she says.

The woman smiles, obviously flattered. “Thank you. I’ve been wearing it for 20 years.”

“How wonderful,” the first woman says, “what is it?”

Her smile disappears. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not say.”

Moschino_Couture

I read a version of this story in a comment on a perfume blog, and I found it both funny and sad – why not share the name of your perfume with a perfect stranger? It’s one thing to hope your coworker or your best friend stays away from your signature scent, but you can’t protect your chosen perfume from everyone. (If nobody but you buys it, it’s not going to be available for long.)

At the same time, we’ve all had inklings of this instinct – when you love a perfume so much that you don’t want to share it. This is especially true when you’ve discovered a gem that no one else seems to know about. You can’t keep Guerlain Shalimar or Chanel No. 5 a secret, but something you find at a discounter or an indie shop is easier to keep to yourself.

These are a few of my hidden gems, the perfumes I love that no one ever talks about.

Moschino Couture!

Why does this cheap thrill never come up in perfume conversation? Perhaps because it’s unabashedly fruity. The notes list “pomegranate blossom,” but who knows what that smells like? It’s a sweet-tart, cranberry-red accord that seems to be achieved through blackcurrant, citrus, and almond notes, layered over a sheer but persistent base of cedar and benzoin (vanilla scented balsam). Wearing it on a cold December morning, I realized it’s a riff on Thierry Mugler Angel Innocent, but I like Couture! better and reach for it more often – its clarity and brightness make it more innocent than Innocent.

E. Coudray Jacinthe et Rose

I had never heard of this before a perfumista friend sent me a sample, which I quickly drained – then I asked her for more. Jacinthe et Rose is the polar opposite of my go-to dark, spicy roses. Instead, it’s a softly peachy, creamy, soapy rose – baby-pink in color. It reminds me of the Victoria’s Secret catalogues I pored over in junior high, which were more romantic than aggressively sexy: Stephanie Seymour in a white eyelet nightie in a country house, gazing out onto the English garden.

Frederic Fekkai Femme Fekkai Sensuelle

It’s hard to expect much from a discontinued perfume by a hair care brand that you find for under $10 at Marshall’s. But reader, Femme Fekkai Sensuelle is the best orange blossom soliflore I’ve ever smelled. It opens sharp and crisp with bergamot and citrus leaves. The heart smells raspy and very natural, with a delicate interplay between bitter, green neroli and honeyed floral sweetness. It’s the next best thing to walking through an orangerie.

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Pretty & Pink

Why is it that so many of my hidden gems are ultra-feminine? I can’t be the only one who sometimes reaches for pure girlishness, like Pretty & Pink by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz. This fruity gourmand has an unusually transparent (and coherent) top note of apple and berries, a lighthearted bouquet of rose and mimosa, and a woody vanilla and tonka base. It’s like apple tobacco and Turkish delight, but as light on the skin as a layer of gauze. Really impressive work from one of my favorite indie perfumers.

Liz Zorn Riverwalk

And now for a break from all the girlishness. Liz Zorn of SOIVOHLE created Riverwalk for a “patchouli project” (a collaboration between several independent perfumers) in 2011. It’s not part of her permanent collection, but still available upon request. A big, rich fougère, Riverwalk is chock-full of aged patchouli, its chocolaty aspects amped up with cocoa absolute and boozy vanilla, reminding me of the (very potent) rum balls my grandmother used to make every Christmas. It’s a complex blend, with herbal lavender, rosy geranium, spices, and smoky wood notes, but you won’t remember any of that, just the fudge-like patchouli. Did I mention you have to like patchouli?

What are the hidden gems in your collection, and how did you discover them? 

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183 Comments

  • Cornelia Blimber: Interesting article again! I will look after the Moschino.
    That story happened here in Amsterdam one of these days! I met a young lady, very angry, holding a cloth in her hands: Smell this, please! Such a lovely smell! I asked the owner of this which perfume it may be, and she said: I won’t say that! Rather blunt. I thought it was Opium, edp. Ah, we women! sometimes so unkind towards each other.
    My hidden gems:
    Very, very old fashioned lotions by Piver: Floramye, Pompeïa, Rêve d’Or. I found them in a Turkish grocery shop (!).
    Hanae Mori, the Butterfly. One of the first fruity perfumes (?). February 7, 2014 at 7:32am Reply

    • Heather H: I am so glad you suggested Hanae Mori Butterfly. I am looking for a fruity fragrance. I will smple at Nordstrom today! February 7, 2014 at 9:56am Reply

      • Elisa: It’s one of my favorite all-out gourmands. February 7, 2014 at 10:08am Reply

    • Elisa: What a funny story!

      The names of your lotions are so evocative. February 7, 2014 at 9:57am Reply

    • Solanace: Here at BdJ we are sweet to each other, though, to the point of sharing our secret perfumes. Unlike Dido in Book VI. Awesome, and very womanly revenge, indeed! February 7, 2014 at 4:08pm Reply

      • Cornelia Blimber: A great hero, yes he was, but a cruel coward toward Dido. So masculine! He deserved this womanly revenge.

        This kind of reaction is primitive, I know. Not what you expect from a trained reader. But sometimes I can’t help it! February 7, 2014 at 4:35pm Reply

        • Solanace: Oh, he so deserved! And to chat about it with you is the loveliest thing! I see it as such a blessing for a seasoned reader to have a visceral, soap opera worthy reaction! Primitive is great. Goosebumps. Perfume. When the sight of Rome brings tears to my eyes, or being darn afraid of a horror movie.

          As I was reading the beginning of Book VI, it brought to my mind Kepler’s Dream and, yes, there are clear intertextual connections. This brought me to Lucian’ True Story and Plutach Face in the Moon (Kepler had such good taste), and thus my work took an unexpected and extremely fun turn. (If my paper works out, I’ll be able to get that FB of Chergui…) Have a great weekend, Cornelia! February 8, 2014 at 3:51am Reply

          • Cornelia Blimber: Hi Solanace! Have a nice sunday! How interesting that Kepler was influenced by the beginning of Book VI! (do you mean the flight of Icarus?). Lucian was funny, with his “True (!!) Story” of Moon People, wasn’t he! Respect for nothing, not even for Homer.
            I do not know much about the Somnium of Kepler, but as far as I know, he had much fantasy: dreaming of going to the moon, seeing from there how the earth was moving (if I am not mistaken). Like Einstein dreaming of travelling on a beam of the light..those grandiose minds had a wonderful capacity of imagination.
            Wish you lots of inspiration. (Next week: full moon!). February 9, 2014 at 10:45am Reply

    • canadianpetite: Hello Cornelia, I am very much interested in acquiring a fresh bottle of Floramye (I was named after my grandma’s favourite fume). Would you tell me the name of the grocery shop and where it is?? Can you please describe the scent for me and the perfume that closely resembles it? You can’t tell via email but I feel like a kid who won a candy and toy store! February 17, 2014 at 7:44pm Reply

      • Cornelia Blimber: Hi Canadianpetite! Floramye is very, very oldfashioned, probably you will not find anything similar. Maybe Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant.
        The smell: aldehydes, sweet flowers (freesia?), a soft green note. Nothing sharp, no patchouli or vetiver, just flowers under a soft green veil. The lotion I have is gentle but has amazing longevity. Maybe Victoria can give you a better description.
        I discovered the bottles in a Turkish groceryshop in Assen (Drente, the Netherlands). I also saw a bottle of Reve d’Or in Amsterdam, in a barbershop (Ferdinand Bolstraat). As far as I know, these Pivers are still in production.
        So your grandma was Floramye! Mine wore Pompeïa. February 18, 2014 at 5:16am Reply

        • Canadianpetite: Thank you ever so much Cornelia! It sounds lovely and I do appreciate old-fashioned scents. I shall hunt one down (somehow, regardless of cost). I’m glad you have confirmed that it is still in production. My grandma is 102 now and would love to see her reaction when she smells Floramye again. Then I can explore other Piver scents like Pompeia! February 18, 2014 at 10:07pm Reply

  • Marsha Smith: I don’ know why people are so hesitant to tell what perfume they are wearing. Perfume smells different on each person. I finally got my cousin to tell me what she was wearing and it was EL Aromatics Elixir. It was lovely and softly spicy on her. On me it smelled like cigarette ashes! February 7, 2014 at 7:33am Reply

    • Elisa: I think Aromatics Elixir must be one of the perfumes that is most often asked after, because it has such amazing sillage. February 7, 2014 at 9:58am Reply

    • silverdust: Clinique makes Aromatics Elixir. Were you thinking of EL’s Private Collection? February 7, 2014 at 4:51pm Reply

      • Connie: Estee Lauder owns Clinique February 10, 2014 at 12:16pm Reply

  • george: Patchouli fudge, white eyelet nighties, unabashed fruitiness, pure girlishness- Elisa, quite frankly- they all sound like a holiday from good taste. February 7, 2014 at 7:33am Reply

    • Cornelia Blimber: Nothing better than a holiday from good taste! February 7, 2014 at 7:41am Reply

    • catlady: good taste is highly overrated, hadn’t you heard? February 7, 2014 at 7:48am Reply

    • Elisa: HA! And who needs it? February 7, 2014 at 9:59am Reply

      • george: Actually, I do. February 7, 2014 at 7:55pm Reply

    • Ann: Perhaps! But a holiday indeed. This one might be on Shackleford Banks in North Carolina, rather than the Champs-Élysées…absolutely lovely and way less crowded! February 7, 2014 at 3:59pm Reply

  • rosarita: My favorite hidden gem is Histoire l’eau Mauboussin which is super cheap at discounters. It smells like a high quality spicy potpourri with leather, cardamom and dried orange peel; my favorite fall perfume. The original Mauboussin is great too, one of those old school kitchen sink orientals in the most gorgeous bottle. We have different taste, Elisa, but this is a great topic! One of my favorite things about this hobby is sharing it with others but yes, people are possessive about their secrets. February 7, 2014 at 7:49am Reply

    • Elisa: Ooh, that sounds fab! I have tried Mauboussin but not the Histoire. Leather and cardamom — yum. February 7, 2014 at 9:59am Reply

  • Karima: I used to be a tell-all until my boss started buying each new perfume I wore, grr. Thanks for these confessions, Elisa. I just purchased a scent rated “meh” by the Guide and am enjoying every drop! Oh, and give me eyelet nighties over scarlet push-ups any day! February 7, 2014 at 7:51am Reply

    • Elisa: Oh, I’d hide my perfume choices from a boss like that too! Sounds like one of those “friends” who always goes after the same guys you’re interested in. February 7, 2014 at 10:00am Reply

  • maja: An acquaintance asked me recently what I was wearing because “it smelled wonderful”. I was very happy to share but she refused to believe it was Chanel 31, RC – she had never heard of Chanel with that number and thought I was joking! 🙂
    I can not understand why one has to be mysterious about what he/she is wearing, scents should be shared and adored together. 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 8:13am Reply

    • Elisa: I love telling people what perfume I’m wearing, especially if it’s something small/niche/indie, because I want those perfumers to get more business! February 7, 2014 at 10:01am Reply

  • Truehollywood: As much as I love the classic fragrances, one of my guilty pleasures is a beautiful, fun perfume that smells like salted strawberry syrup. I really love it. FRaaagola saalaaata by Hilde Soliani. February 7, 2014 at 8:20am Reply

    • Heather H: Love this recommendation! I asked Luckyscent for a fruity recommendation, and they suggested this perfume. I will sample, February 7, 2014 at 8:48am Reply

      • Truehollywood: It’s a delightful no booze strawberry margarita with a rim of sea salt on the glass. Pure fun! February 7, 2014 at 8:59am Reply

        • Elisa: It sounds as fun as the name! February 7, 2014 at 10:01am Reply

  • Sandra: Cacherel Noa and Amor Amor. These two are easy to find and purchase in Europe, but here in the US it’s different story. Some people don’t know these scents at all.
    Also, I recently purchased a “vintage” bottle of Samsara and I am surprised that 2 women have stopped me to ask about it, and I thought it wore close to the skin! February 7, 2014 at 8:33am Reply

    • Elisa: Noa has been on my to-sample list for a long time. I’m very interested in its purported cilantro note.

      Samsara is lovely! February 7, 2014 at 10:03am Reply

  • Anne of Green Gables: Most people around me don’t wear or care about perfumes so I don’t have to try hard to keep secrets. But I don’t wear Chanel No 5, Miracle or Kenzo Flower on Sundays because I know there are people in my church who usually wear them. I don’t want to feel as if I’m wearing the same clothes as them. Since finding out about my interest in perfumes, a friend asked me for recommendations and I deliberately left out one perfume which I’m wearing frequently these days. Am I really selfish or is this normal for girls? If she were a stranger, I wouldn’t have minded telling her. February 7, 2014 at 8:35am Reply

    • Lynley: I do it too! I recently made up some samples for my sister to try, but didn’t include any of my dearest favourites as I identify with these and want to keep my sense of identity rather than share February 7, 2014 at 9:45am Reply

    • Elisa: I know just what you mean. I have no qualms about sharing my favorite perfume names with a stranger or someone I rarely see, but I don’t really want to fight with my best friends over who gets a certain signature scent. 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 10:04am Reply

  • Heather H: My favorite discoveries I have not seen talked about on blogs are

    1. A beautiful, fresh rose-Yosh Sottile

    2. a gorgeous lily of the valley-Les Maitresses de Louis XIV-Romea d’Ameor February 7, 2014 at 8:52am Reply

    • Elisa: I know Sottile! An incredibly fresh and delicate rose with LOTV. Your second one I have not tried. Thanks for the tip! February 7, 2014 at 10:04am Reply

    • rickyrebarco: Heather, I have been wanting to try both of those scents, they are on my wish list at Lucky Scent. So glad to hear that someone loves them.. February 7, 2014 at 4:42pm Reply

  • Anne: I find Armani “She” (the golden cylindric bottle), is often forgotten. It is a soft almost “wood bee wax” smell, and it smells gorgeous!
    One of my best friend wear it, and I have only ever smelt it on her. She says it s the best kept secret in perfumery! February 7, 2014 at 9:23am Reply

    • Elisa: Intriguing. Is it discontinued? February 7, 2014 at 10:05am Reply

      • Suzanne M: Looks like it’s readily available on ebay… February 7, 2014 at 10:53am Reply

      • Lynley: Elisa I saw it in a shop in Australia recently, and as discontinued’s are as rare as hens teeth here, it might still be in production. It is really nice. Many years ago I wore the ‘white’ version- very not me but it was a great summer scent February 7, 2014 at 10:54am Reply

    • Squirrely: I really like “She”! I feel like it gets pooh-poohed on the scent blogs, but I think it’s unique, pretty, and highly wearable. February 7, 2014 at 12:05pm Reply

    • Gina Thompson: Oh, I love the smell of beeswax. Thanks for sharing that one. February 7, 2014 at 12:47pm Reply

  • Ariadne: What a fun post and responses! I love it when I am asked what perfume I am wearing because I can respond with some of the most outlandish and provocative perfumes names like Juliette Has A Gun and Ce Soir ou Jamais, which I immediately transate into English with coquetish elan!! February 7, 2014 at 9:37am Reply

    • Elisa: As one must! 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 10:05am Reply

  • Andy: I am hopelessly addicted to the discounters (Marshalls, TJ Maxx, etc), so that Femme Fekkai Sensuelle sounds very tempting–I’ve been looking for a good, not too expensive orange blossom/neroli scent. I haven’t seen it on the shelves before, but it could just be that my visual filter tuned it out. One of my favorite incredibly cheap finds this winter has been Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights. It’s a comforting, slightly ambery, woodsy patchouli with a touch of not-too-sweet vanilla. Mmm…. February 7, 2014 at 9:45am Reply

    • Elisa: You used to see it around at the discounters 2 or 3 years ago — the old stocks may be all dried up by now. Which would be a pity!

      You have me wanting to head down to TJ Maxx and scour the shelves. Haven’t done that in a while, but it’s always a pleasure. February 7, 2014 at 10:06am Reply

      • Andy: I usually stop in one of these stores at least once a week (!), so I have gotten really good at finding great cheap thrill fragrances. What a shame if the Fekkai is no longer to be found! February 7, 2014 at 2:01pm Reply

    • Marge Clark: oh… “ambery, woodsy patchouli with a touch of not too sweet vanilla”… I need to find some of that…thank you! February 7, 2014 at 10:11am Reply

      • Andy: Yes, it’s nothing too groundbreaking, really more or less a budget reworking of the Shalimar theme. But it can be found for under $10, so it’s a great deal in my opinion! February 7, 2014 at 2:03pm Reply

  • Judy Ware: I’m embarrassed that I can’t tell others who ask what I’m wearing. Why? I can’t pronounce French. I think translating into English is a good idea that I’ll try soon. I rather like Avon Timeless for a lovely chypre. February 7, 2014 at 10:08am Reply

    • Elisa: I often don’t realize that I don’t know how to pronounce a perfume name or the name of the line until forced to say it out loud and feel embarrassed. When I meet perfume friends in person they often seem more comfortable with really Frenching up the French. February 7, 2014 at 10:21am Reply

      • Theresa: I have the opposite experience. I’ll go to a big department store and ask for something using my best high school French pronunciation, only to be met with blank stares. I still remember one SA’s mispronunciation of “L’eau d’hadrien” as something like “LOW HaDREEN” – I just smiled and nodded. February 7, 2014 at 3:22pm Reply

      • Das: 😀 hahaha Frenching up the French is really the best way to go. Some people will be impressed. Some will think it’s funny. Either way, it’s less self-conscious. February 7, 2014 at 3:43pm Reply

        • Elisa: Some blogger once wrote about how fun it is to say “EEE-SAH-TEES by JHEE-VON-SHEEE” and I agree February 7, 2014 at 3:46pm Reply

          • Patricia: And wearing it is even more fun! 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 4:54pm Reply

      • Annikky: I’ve got the same problem, as most of my perfume-life is online and I haven’t really studied French. This became painfully clear to me in the perfume department of Printemps. February 7, 2014 at 3:57pm Reply

    • Bela: Don’t be embarrassed any longer… log on to my site http://fragnameoftheday.blogspot.com – there you will find over a thousand audio files of French perfume names. 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 7:50pm Reply

      • Patricia: LOVE your site. I practiced before going to Paris last fall :). February 7, 2014 at 9:02pm Reply

      • Anka: I love your site, too! Recently, I practiced how to pronounce “Vétiver” – one of my favorite notes which is often mispronounced in Germany as “Vétivé”… February 8, 2014 at 3:15am Reply

      • Annikky: Your site is a godsend – my second visit to Printemps went much better 🙂 February 8, 2014 at 4:11am Reply

        • Bela: Thank you very much for these kind words, ladies. I am delighted you found my site useful. Don’t hesitate to send me requests. February 8, 2014 at 9:23am Reply

      • Elisa: Such a brilliant site! February 8, 2014 at 11:51am Reply

        • Bela: Thank you! 🙂 February 9, 2014 at 9:15am Reply

  • Tijana: I used to get asked about Roma from Laura Biagotti all the time. It was a cheap and extremely rarely worn fragrance in North America and I loved it. It was my secret weapon. I no longer wear it, but I did for probably good 10 years. These days I get rarely asked about the fragrances I am wearing, but when I do, it is never about a niche creation, more the mainstream one… for example Hermes’ Eau de Merveilles or Dior’s Dune. From the more niche-y offering, the only one that solicits comments is Coromandel from Chanel. February 7, 2014 at 10:45am Reply

    • Elisa: I’ve heard about Roma many times — I seem to remember smelling it around in the early 90s. Perfumes had so much more oomph then! February 7, 2014 at 10:56am Reply

      • Tijana: Agreed and at the time, I thought it was a “weaker” summer type of fragrance! 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 11:00am Reply

        • Elisa: Ha! How times have changed. February 7, 2014 at 11:02am Reply

    • annemariec: I’m in Australia and Laura Biagiotti is not distributed here and probably has not been for years. So I bought Roma online on the basis of its reputation and I love it completely. I can be sure that practically no-one else is going to have heard of it. It does have a 1980s perfumey vibe though, compared to the slimmed down and cleaned up fragrances that came after it. February 7, 2014 at 3:37pm Reply

      • martha24: Here in Germany Roma (and other Biagiotti scents) are quite popular. Drugstores, department stores, perfume shops – they all sell it. A lot of women here are addicted to it since the eighties. We did not know that we lived in an olfactory paradise back then… February 7, 2014 at 4:44pm Reply

        • annemariec: No, we didn’t did we? I realised it eventually when I discovered that I had lost or discarded the Magie Noire I bought in the late 80s. What was I thinking?!

          There is something addictive about Roma. I’ve read of a lot of people having it as their signature. February 7, 2014 at 11:54pm Reply

      • Lynley: I remember Myer selling it years ago, probably in the 80’s, which is surprising in our big perfume wasteland… 😉 February 7, 2014 at 11:22pm Reply

        • annemariec: Darn, wish I had a time-machine and could go back and buy these things as easily as you once could. Unless you are at one of the inner capital city Myer stores, Myer is indeed a wasteland of Taylor Swift, Joop! and CK flankers. February 7, 2014 at 11:57pm Reply

  • Lynley: My absolute favourite that not many people seem to have tried (although I am rather pushy in my recommendations 😉 ) is Roma Imperiale by Profumi del Forte. Others include Krizia Moods, Krizia Krazy, Ferre by Ferre, Rochas Absolu and Gucci edp. Most of these can still be found quite cheap (and a couple by way if Victoria’s recommendation!) February 7, 2014 at 10:48am Reply

    • Elisa: I just recently got a mini of K de Krizia from Pat. Now I want to try all the other Krizia scents! February 7, 2014 at 10:56am Reply

      • Tijana: I used to love K de Krizia!!!! Remind me, I need to re-sniff to see if I still love it as much 😉

        Thanks for the tip! February 7, 2014 at 11:08am Reply

  • Aisha: Well, after hearing about it on various perfume blogs, I finally bought a bottle of Perfumer’s Workshop’s Tea Rose. I actually saw a rather large bottle of it in the clearance section at TJ Maxx for about $7, so I figured Why not? It is the most wonderful, straight-up tea rose I’ve smelled. I wouldn’t say it’s exciting on its own, but layered with Marni, it’s WOW! Warning though … the combo is powerful, so spray it on about an hour or two before you head out. 😉 February 7, 2014 at 10:52am Reply

    • Elisa: Ooh! I love Tea Rose and I love Marni and I am definitely going to try that layering combo very soon. Possibly today. Lucky for the world I work from home… February 7, 2014 at 10:55am Reply

      • Ariadne: I also picked up Tea rose in TJ’s. It is just FAB layered with Lalique Encre Noire. February 8, 2014 at 2:14pm Reply

        • Elisa: I need to get my hands on some Encre Noire. Lalique Amethyst is great for layering. February 8, 2014 at 2:48pm Reply

    • Aisha: Forgot to mention … people around here generally don’t really ask about another person’s fragrance. I think it’s the whole Midwest notion of it because a personal question. A lot of people here don’t wear perfume either on a regular basis, so they probably assume I’m just wearing a nice smelling bath gel. February 7, 2014 at 10:58am Reply

      • mough: I agree. I live in WY and it’s very midwestern that way–even though we have mountains. There are only 6 people in this town who wear perfume, that I know of. I think 3 I have introduced to “fine perfumes.” I think it’s the almost Amish need to be “plain” in a way. Or too spendy. I think they think perfume is trashy. I can’t think of another reason.
        I went into a pawn shop, of all places, really seedy, but I love them, to sell some funky stuff I found during my move. Knives and such. The toothless man behind the counter just HAD to tell me how great I smelled. It was Youth Dew. I didn’t SAY Youth Dew because, well, in a pawn shop the name itself might sound vulgar. February 7, 2014 at 12:31pm Reply

        • Elisa: 🙂 Youth Dew is kind of a disgusting name when you think about it. February 7, 2014 at 12:39pm Reply

          • Pyewacket: Elisa you made me laugh out loud and spill my morning coffee. I never thought of it and it is rather disgusting! February 8, 2014 at 9:06am Reply

            • Elisa: Haha, sorry about that!! February 8, 2014 at 11:49am Reply

        • Sharon: I just choked on my morning café! I can just picture the dark, moldy storefront populated by ogres sniffing the perfumed air. I will try Youth Dew upon the toothless man’s recommendation. ha! September 16, 2017 at 3:17pm Reply

  • Hannah: Yesterday I wore Café by Neil Morris. That isn’t spoken about very often…and if you want to smell like dessert and coffee (I did at the time!) then it is a gem. February 7, 2014 at 10:59am Reply

    • Elisa: That’s a line I haven’t explored much. I requested samples once but didn’t get a reply. It’s hard to find a perfume that really and truly smells like coffee! February 7, 2014 at 11:04am Reply

      • Hannah: Gotham used to get recommended to me a lot but I still haven’t tried it.
        It definitely truly smells like coffee but there is also a lot of chocolate. I think that’s fine, but I really want a true coffee scent with spicier accents (like a cardamom coffee). I think maybe Ava Luxe’s coffee scent is more like that but I’ve never tried it. February 7, 2014 at 11:24am Reply

        • Elisa: There is a DSH scent called something Coffee Absolute that I think might be the real deal. However I gave this sample to my husband because he had to give up coffee. 🙂 February 7, 2014 at 11:28am Reply

  • Charlotte: I get compliments for my perfume all the time but when I tell people the brand or scent, they never know what or who I am talking about. My BEST hidden treasure is a fragrance called Chinatown. It smells like a light floral mixed with sugar, so it’s the perfect amount of sweet. I stumbled across this boutique in New York City called Bond No 9 and found it there. I recommend it to anyone and everyone!! February 7, 2014 at 11:07am Reply

    • Elisa: I hesitate to tell you this and ruin it for you but Bond No. 9 actually has pretty wide distribution, you can find them at Nordstrom for example. But I agree, Chinatown is great and one of the best of the line! February 7, 2014 at 1:37pm Reply

    • Ann: Although I don’t own FBs of either, I always like to have a few samples of Chinatown and Fire Island (also Bond No. 9) rattling around in my sample box… A lovely perfume! February 7, 2014 at 3:53pm Reply

      • Elisa: My absolute favorite from Bond is Broadway Nite. Guaranteed good time. February 8, 2014 at 11:49am Reply

  • sara: Great thread! Mine are Joseph parfum du jour, chypre d’orient, madness, yosh phenomenon February 7, 2014 at 11:51am Reply

    • Elisa: I’ve never even heard of Joseph! And it doesn’t have a Fragrantica page. That’s truly hidden. February 7, 2014 at 12:04pm Reply

      • Bela: Parfum de Jour (originally called Parfum du Jour) was an absolutely wonderful floral scent. It was created by Penhaligon’s for Joseph and used to be quite widely available. These days it is only sold in Joseph outlets. And, unfortunately, it is a pale shadow of its former self. February 7, 2014 at 7:54pm Reply

        • sara: thanks for letting me know it’s been reformulated Bela! I was thinking of getting some from the UK….not now!! February 10, 2014 at 11:28am Reply

  • Tora: Riverwalk sounds just wonderful. How does one obtain a sample? February 7, 2014 at 12:51pm Reply

  • Courant: Apparently a spray of Yardley Iris and a dash of L’heure Bleu creates Apres L’Ondee (this is a Fragrantica tip). For myself Yardley Iris is a base fragrance to amplify and eke out other perfumes with Iris. It has become my unsung treasure. February 7, 2014 at 1:29pm Reply

    • Elisa: I’ve been thinking about writing an article on “universal layer-ers” like that! I have one that I use to bring out rose and blackcurrant notes. February 7, 2014 at 1:41pm Reply

      • Courant: I saw an enticing reference to Korres Japanese Rose as a great layerer; I think from Portia at Australian Perfume Junkie.
        An article that enlarges on all that jazz would be fantastic. Go Elisa! February 13, 2014 at 8:02pm Reply

    • Amber: Wow!!! Thank you so much for sharing this tip, you have made my year! I bought a sample of Apres L’Ondee and fell in love with it and despaired after reading of its losing the heliotrope note etc plus so hsrd go find here. I am filled with hope now…
      I don’t know if it is considered hard to find but I LOVE Sonoma Scent Studio’s Nostalgie. It is so beautiful! February 7, 2014 at 10:28pm Reply

      • Elisa: Nostalgie is great. Have you tried To Dream from the same line? It’s based on violet and rose and vanilla, really lovely. February 8, 2014 at 11:48am Reply

        • Courant: Yardley released Iris a couple of years ago. I buy from StrawberryNET or FX as it is not available in New Zealand. I buy the talc from UK Allbeauty. February 8, 2014 at 1:46pm Reply

        • Amber: Yes, my husband likes To Dream on me, Lieu de Reves is also really nice. Apologies for all the mis types, I shouldn’t try to write on my phone!
          Also, re under the radar scents I just ordered Isabella Rosselini’s Manifesto for $25 un sniffed, I am looking forward to trying it- Victoria mentions it favourably in the comments section of the YSL Manifesto review…I am hoping it will be a great fragrance for spring/summer this year. February 9, 2014 at 7:21pm Reply

          • Elisa: Ah, the thrill of the unsniffed purchase! I hope it turns out to be a good one. February 9, 2014 at 7:23pm Reply

            • Amber: Me too! The thrill of the (perfume) chase! 😉 February 9, 2014 at 7:27pm Reply

      • Lynley: Just last week FragranceX had Après l’Ondee, and StrawberryNet also have it occasionally- it’s where I got mine from as it isn’t available in Australia. February 9, 2014 at 2:45am Reply

        • Amber: Thanks Lynley! It’s still out of my price range even on FragX, and I heard the re formulation makes it more of an iris soliflore…I believe my sample has all the old notes and I love the atmosphere/landscape it makes. I might try getting a decant of L’Heure Bleue and mixing it with Yardley Iris though if Iris is still available February 9, 2014 at 7:26pm Reply

    • Lynley: Do they still make Iris? Sweet Pea and Sandalwood used to almost be signatures for me in my teens, but neither still exist.. February 8, 2014 at 1:01am Reply

  • Courant: And Cabaret by Gres, cheap and cheerful, is always complimented by the ladies at the supermarket. I love it with a zap of Serge-Sa Majeste. February 7, 2014 at 1:35pm Reply

    • Elisa: That’s a good one I’m always toying with buying, but I already have so many cheerful roses! February 7, 2014 at 1:42pm Reply

  • Thai: Moschino Couture! is my favorite. I have 1/4 of the juice left and now treasure every drop since this stuff is discontinued. It’s beautiful, warm, elegant yet sassy. February 7, 2014 at 1:57pm Reply

    • Elisa: Yay, another Couture fan! I think you can still find bottles of this on eBay and stuff. Maybe look around for a backup bottle? February 7, 2014 at 2:00pm Reply

  • Annikky: Elisa, I really, really enjoyed the article – great topic! While I have many other faults, I completely lack any possessiveness when it comes to perfume. I will tell anyone who would listen what I have discovered and then make a decant on the spot.

    Then again, I’ve never had any bad experiences with copy-cat bosses and I’m the total opposite of a signature scent person, so that makes it easy to share. The most obscure FB that I own is probably Sonoma Scent Studio’s Wood Violet, I find it quite lovely. February 7, 2014 at 3:51pm Reply

    • Elisa: Thank you Annikky! I frequently get asked what I’m wearing when I’m in SSS scents, because they have such beautiful sillage. I’ve written their names down for people many times. February 7, 2014 at 3:58pm Reply

  • Ann: Very fun topic Elise! A perfume that I think is underrated is Prada…the original 2004 fragrance. I love the woods and patchouli… it smells like a rainy afternoon in Soho (NYC) to me. February 7, 2014 at 4:05pm Reply

    • Elisa: Thanks, Ann! Did you know that Prada was one of the scents featured in Chandler Burr’s scent exhibit in NYC last year? February 7, 2014 at 4:36pm Reply

      • Ann: You know, I’ve read that list of scents…but didn’t register that Prada was on it (also, it is further confused by being called “Prada Amber,” although I believe was just “Prada” at its inception, as distinct from Prada L’eau Ambree, which I bought and then resold on eBay because it was just too powdery, lemony, clean for me–albeit mixed with patchouli and an amber accord…but I digress!!) February 7, 2014 at 8:01pm Reply

  • rickyrebarco: A couple of my favorites that many people do not seem to know about or won’t admit they know about- these are iris/violet combos, my favorite: Alexander McQueen My Queen and Gianfranco Ferre Ferre. I know someone else mentioned it. February 7, 2014 at 4:44pm Reply

    • Elisa: Laughing at “won’t admit they know about”! Have you tried Violet Blonde? It was more iris than violet to my nose. February 7, 2014 at 4:48pm Reply

    • Lynley: Ferre is fantastic! And I own and love My Queen too! 🙂 I also love the violet in Guerlain AA Lavande Velours, which is all lavender and violet. I still have some very embarrassing perfumes in my collection- much worse than these! 😉 February 8, 2014 at 1:15am Reply

    • michelle Leverington-Waite: I smiled at your post ricky sweetie.. My Queen has been off the shelves so long that I think it’s all but forgotten about unless you or I are waxing lyrical. I also still own and wear Couture! I could never quite pinpoint why I loved it or indeed what I smelt of exactly. It is just more than the sum of its parts. It still has a small legion of fans and is mentioned a lot on boards. February 8, 2014 at 9:23am Reply

      • Elisa: Another Couture fan! February 8, 2014 at 11:47am Reply

    • rainboweyes: I’m another Ferré lover! To me it’s Iris Poudré’s younger sister. February 8, 2014 at 4:17pm Reply

  • Patricia: I like and wear both Pure Turquoise by Ralph Lauren and Oscar (the original) by Oscar de la Renta. They are both available at the discounters (Oscar for very little money), although I believe that they are both now discontinued. February 7, 2014 at 5:23pm Reply

    • Elisa: I just read about Pure Turquoise on NST recently and it sounds so great! February 7, 2014 at 5:47pm Reply

    • Pamela: I have been looking for the original Oscar and have seen something that looks like it at a discounter but I’m not sure how to tell. Is it the Eau d’ perfume? There was a lovely combination of notes in the original that is completely absent in the new one. February 12, 2014 at 2:25pm Reply

  • annemariec: There can be an overlap between hidden gems and guilty pleasures, and a recent one of mine is Madonna’s Truth or Dare Naked. The original Truth or Dare got a lot of respect and attention, but oddly I have never seen it where I live. The flanker ‘Naked’ gets less discussion but is everywhere in the shops near me and I picked up a bottle for $20 last weekend.

    It’s a creamy, woodsy piece with, to me, a distinct note of bitter chocolate. Gourmands are not my territory usually but this one really does it for me. And the juice is deliciously dark, like rum or something. At the moment it’s too hot to wear it much but once the temps decline … February 7, 2014 at 5:54pm Reply

    • Truehollywood: I really want to try the Truth or Dare Naked. I liked Truth or Dare. February 7, 2014 at 8:41pm Reply

      • annemariec: I have not tried the original but it sounds like they are not much alike except for maybe referencing vintage style fragrances, fragrances for grown up women. February 8, 2014 at 3:34am Reply

        • Elisa: The original is a sweet tuberose/gardenia concoction — a little sweet for me. I’ll try to find a tester of the Naked version! February 8, 2014 at 11:41am Reply

      • annemariec: I have not tried the original but it sounds like they are not much alike except for maybe both referencing vintage style fragrances, ie fragrances for grown up women. February 8, 2014 at 3:37am Reply

  • Carter: Quartz by Molyneux. Fantastic and only about $25 online. February 7, 2014 at 6:36pm Reply

    • Elisa: Haven’t tried that one, but I see on Fragrantica that people who liked it also like Paco Rabanne Metal, which is another rarely mentioned gem. February 8, 2014 at 11:43am Reply

  • hajusuuri: I usually don’t mind telling others what I’m wearing; however, SAs at Saks are another matter altogether. Most of the time they have no clue about any of the niche brands. I’ve always wondered what they would say next if I said I am wearing a bespoke perfume from Guerlain vs. oh, let’s say…Tom Ford something….vs. one of the Justin Beiber perfumes…would they steer me towards a higher end perfume or would they steer clear of me? February 7, 2014 at 10:17pm Reply

    • Elisa: It always irks me when SA’s ask me what I currently wear, since I wear about 150 different things and it’s pretty irrelevant to what I feel like trying on any given day. February 8, 2014 at 11:44am Reply

  • Alex: I don’y know if it qualifies as a hidden gem, especially in these circles, but I recently introduced a friens and coworker to L’aire du Desert Marocain which she enthusiastically loved. She’s begged for me to order her a bottle but I firmly denied. Knowing her, she’s going to bathe in it every morning and come to work but wearing L’ ADDM at the banal situation of an office feels like sacrilege. Who’s with me? February 8, 2014 at 3:34am Reply

    • maja: Every day is special, let her bathe in it if it makes her happy 🙂 February 8, 2014 at 9:42am Reply

    • Elisa: Ha ha! I’m glad she loved it though. It’s such a gorgeous amber! February 8, 2014 at 11:45am Reply

  • Solanace: You made me laugh, Elisa! People never ask about my perfumes. Once a coworker said Tea for Two smells like her gramma, which was mind boggling. What will she say when I show up in Fracas, Marron Chic or Mitsouko?

    I’m always raving about Amouage, but the only FB I own was a gift and is a masculine, not something I would have chosen for myself. Dia Man is very much under the radar, but I LOVE it. The labdanum, iris and vetiver combo just dances on my skin, it’s golden, it’s warm, a dense vetiver that feels elegant and plush like an old chypre and still, no one seems to care about. February 8, 2014 at 4:10am Reply

    • Annikky: I want to try Dia Man right NOW. February 8, 2014 at 9:13am Reply

      • maja: me, too! February 8, 2014 at 9:41am Reply

    • Elisa: Dia Man sounds great! (And I’d gladly hang out with any old lady that smelled like Tea for Two!) February 8, 2014 at 11:46am Reply

      • Solanace: Decant over. Not old laddish enough for me, lol. February 9, 2014 at 3:16am Reply

  • Ashley Anstaett: I love this article! As some of the other readers have said, I would feel more comfortable sharing my scent with a stranger than with a friend. I had a friend that started to buy all of the fragrances I was wearing, and it was flattering, but I started to feel like I was losing my identity and that she wasn’t trying very hard to find her own scent! We ladies can be silly sometimes.

    My newest cheap thrill is something that I started using when I was at my parents’ house. I forgot my body wash, and all that was in the shower was my dad’s Bath and Body Works “Dark Amber” shower gel. I kind of fell in love with it. It’s sort of a caramel-y amber with a little bit of citrus. I went and bought the cologne and it’s sort of been my guilty pleasure this winter! February 8, 2014 at 11:56am Reply

    • Elisa: Thank you Ashley! I love discovering cheap thrills. I once bought a bottle of CO Bigelow lotion in a scent called Winter Lemon at B&BW. They don’t make it anymore and I was sad when it was gone! I have a bottle of the cologne which smells the same but doesn’t last as long. February 8, 2014 at 12:05pm Reply

  • JulienFromDijon: I must be exhausted, cause I made a terrible -and funny- confusion.
    I mistook the “moschino couture” advertising for an add for amaretto, the famous almond liquor that smells so good. (the fault on the bottle shape)

    So I thought the story about the woman keeping her perfume name for her was about a woman putting a drop of booze each day since 20 years as a perfume.

    (Actually, I heard a story about a child, now a men, that discover the smell he liked so much about his oncle and aunt is not a perfume but “pastis” actually (a famous anisic strong alcohol notorious in south France). February 8, 2014 at 12:49pm Reply

    • Elisa: Well they are both alcohol based. 🙂 Have you tried Santal Majuscule? It reminds me of amaretto! February 8, 2014 at 1:08pm Reply

      • JulienFromDijon: Lol, yes, but I’ll go for the real thing and put a drop of amaretto instead of santal majuscule. Because I strongly dislike “santal majuscule” and “jeux de peau”. The blame on the bad santal substitute. It’s to sharp, to strong, and outlives all the other notes. When you get used to the real stuff thanks vintage bottle, or simple “santal blanc” you can’t switch to these dusty sharp santal with a roasty background.

        Actually “louve”, or “rahat loukhoum” are really “full-on” cherry liquor and amaretti. That must be why I scored a partial bottle of each on ebay to be able to sniff some of it ounce in a whle. February 8, 2014 at 2:49pm Reply

        • Elisa: See, Louve is one of the few samples I’ve ever thrown away. Hate the stuff!! February 8, 2014 at 3:08pm Reply

          • JulienFromDijon: I got a sample of Louve, too. I give it away to a friend who fell in love with it. And I bought the partial bottle for her initially.

            The trick is, when you dab it, it’s wonderful.

            Like most lutens, if you spray it you miss the fast shift in the notes de tête, which sometimes is the best part!

            Thought I’m happy to find Lutens in mainstream perfume shop in France, and happy to score a sample, spraying Lutens can be downward off-putting! February 9, 2014 at 2:39am Reply

            • Elisa: I completely agree that most Lutens are better dabbed than sprayed. An exception, perhaps, is Datura Noir, which isn’t a typical Lutens. February 9, 2014 at 11:45am Reply

  • Deborah: My mother would wear White Linen or Estee (the original) or Clinique perfumes but was only ever asked what she was wearing when it was Charlie! She just smelled great in it! And the other day I smelled someone wearing something delightful: Jessica McClintock:) Smelled lousy on me but I love the bargains! Why not? February 8, 2014 at 2:09pm Reply

    • Elisa: Funny! I love White Linen but no one has ever asked what it is, so perhaps they don’t think it smells as good as I do. 🙂 February 8, 2014 at 2:18pm Reply

  • Safran: I’d name L’Heure Folle X by Cartier my hidden gem. Don’t read much about it and I have the feeling, the whole L’Heure line is a bit underrated. Ok, they are expensive (like many other scents, that recently entered the market), but they are so well made, imo.
    What I love about L’Heure Folle is, that it is fruity and clear, without being sweet or cloying and without any movement to another direction. It’s like a basket of berries in an ice cold mountain river. Most fresh and fruity scents have either a woody, musky or an amber base, which I don’t always want.

    Cheers
    Safran February 8, 2014 at 3:07pm Reply

    • Elisa: You make it sound lovely! Reminds me I need to get out my sample of Enchanted Forest. February 8, 2014 at 3:09pm Reply

  • Adriana Galani: I too love telling people what I wear, cheap or not. Because very, very honestly speaking, there is always a back thought that my stuff won’t smell similar on anyone else. 🙂
    Ok, my list of secret perfumes: Yves Rocher “Clea) – discontinued (some rests in 2 bottles still with me), from same company in line “Une Mattin eau Jardin” – Purple Lilac, spring in a bottle really; then I have a lovely Avon collection of Rare Pearls plus Today from “Today, Tomorrow Always” line which are almost similar and a discontinued Oriflame scent called Believe which as far as I could smell has been replaced by Divine, kind of same fragrance in a different packing. For whatever reasons, I still love those scents though they are all reminding me of times I could not afford much more than them and I do wear them time to time, making all my collegs wonder how I keep on such “rare” scents. 🙂 Remembering my first perfume bought on first real salary of my life has been “Magnolia”, again discontinued, again Yves Rocher. February 8, 2014 at 5:45pm Reply

    • Elisa: Yves Rocher has a lot of hidden gems! I like their scent called Comme une Evidence, which was done by Annick Menardo. February 9, 2014 at 11:47am Reply

  • andrea sd: My under – the – radar – cheap thrills are
    Jovan Sex Appeal,
    Liz Taylor Rubies and Diamonds perfume,
    Quartz de Molyneux,
    Donna Karan Gold,
    Madame Rochas
    and the
    original Chloe! February 8, 2014 at 7:13pm Reply

    • Elisa: DK Gold is one of my all-time favorites! I have two backup bottles. February 9, 2014 at 11:45am Reply

  • Austenfan: I don’t think I have any (cheap) hidden gems. I would love to try that cheap orange blossom though. My favourite in that genre isn’t expensive either. It’s the Fragonard Fleur d’Oranger.

    The only time I’m reluctant to share the name of my perfume is when I am wearing one of my beloved Delrae’s I find the names incredibly cheesy, especially Emotionelle. So if anyone asks I just mention that it is by Delrae, which no one in my immediate surroundings has ever heard of.

    I would love to have someone ask me what I my fragrance is when I am wearing Rien. The only time that has happened however, the person who asked me didn’t know any French. And jokes don’t work if you have to explain them. February 9, 2014 at 7:57am Reply

    • Elisa: Delrae is a great line and unfortunately I don’t have anything from it at the moment. I would love to get my hands on more Bois de Paradis.

      Ha, what a shame that they couldn’t appreciate the joke! February 9, 2014 at 11:46am Reply

      • Austenfan: Bois de Paradis is beautiful, do you also like Noir Epices?
        I got most of my Delrae’s shamefully cheaply on ebay. Amoureuse is my favourite. February 9, 2014 at 2:34pm Reply

        • Elisa: Noir Epices was a little too heavy on the clove last time I tried it, but it’s been a while.

          I like Amoureuse too! It’s so blowsy. February 9, 2014 at 2:53pm Reply

  • Tim: Nice topic. Love this site btw. Since years it is part of my mornings just like the daily newspaper is. Well, Missoni Aria comes to mind, especially the parfum. I also enjoy Moscow Rouge and Maroussia (by Slava Zaitsev) as one of my favourite cheapies. As ‘masculines’ there`s the wonderful Gentlemens Aftershave by Bronnley`s, the vintage german Marbert Man, and Jacomo`s Anthracite pour Homme. More recent hidden gems to me are Carillon pour un Ange by Andy Tauer – a love it or hate it thing – and the formidable Sand Aoud by Mancera. Have a wonderful time and nice talks you all! Cheers, Tim February 9, 2014 at 1:10pm Reply

    • Elisa: Hi, Tim, I’m glad we are able to brighten your mornings! Tauer’s scents in general seem to evoke love or hate reactions — I personally love them! February 9, 2014 at 1:53pm Reply

  • Kristina: My absolute favorite hidden gem is called New Haarlem by Bond No 9. I got it a few years ago for my birthday and I have not been able to find it anywhere in my area! I know I can order it online but I prefer to check out perfumes in person to make sure it smells good on me first. February 10, 2014 at 5:45pm Reply

    • Elisa: That’s Maurice Roucel! If you’ve tried it before I think the risk of ordering some more online is low, though it’s always possible they reformulated it. February 10, 2014 at 7:06pm Reply

  • Jennifer C: I rarely get comments on my perfume, but when it happens I don’t have a problem telling someone what it is if they ask. I’m not a signature scent person anyway, so I don’t care if the other person starts wearing it. I have a lot of other things to choose from. But then nobody I know is that interested in perfume, so I haven’t had the copycat experience a few other posters have mentioned. I don’t know how I would feel in that situation.

    It’s not really a “hidden gem”, but one perfume that I really love that doesn’t seem to get mentioned much is Parfumerie Generale Cuir Venenum. February 11, 2014 at 5:16pm Reply

    • Elisa: I don’t hear people mention that one too much! It sounds great — there are so many perfumes in the PG line it’s hard to try them all. February 11, 2014 at 5:21pm Reply

  • Katy McReynolds: Elisa, I loved the article, and I love an inexpensive thrill. In fact, when I think about it, all my favorites are pretty inexpensive. I think it very unwise to judge perfume, wine or a cigar by the price, because often the very best ones are not that hard on the wallet. I find it the worse kind of reverse snobbism when we judge the inexpensive and easily obtained fragrance as somehow less pleasing, less good, less desirable. A rose by any other name, or price, would smell as sweet.

    I adore Chopard Madness, Rochas Femme, Madame Rochas, Tocade, Halston Z-14, all the Lolita Lempicka’s, Black Pearl, Cabaret, Cabochard, none of which I paid more than thirty dollars for and most considerably less. I know I got a little ranty there, but I feel better. February 12, 2014 at 10:12pm Reply

    • Elisa: Hi Katy, thank you! I am a devotee of cheap finds too. For example Tea Rose is such an impressive, realistic rose soliflore and can be found for about ten bucks. February 13, 2014 at 9:58am Reply

  • Amer: Pomegranate blossom has a beautiful bright red colour but it is totally odourless, so I’m not sure what the Moschino people have been sniffing there… hmm.

    I think this article just raised the demand for, and subsequently the price of Femme Fekkai Sensuelle. February 14, 2014 at 5:56am Reply

    • Elisa: Ha! Note lists usually have one foot firmly in the fantasy world.

      I apologize to Fekkai lovers if that’s the case! February 14, 2014 at 9:45am Reply

  • Yvonne: Keeping my perfume a secret is on my mind whenever I visit with one particular friend who I feel is reminiscent of the movie, Single White Female. I’ve heard the adage “imitation is the highest form of flattery” however I can’t seem to accept the compliment from this particular friend bc she not only imitates fragrances, but hair color, clothes, purses, shoes etc. going as far as asking me where I purchase said items and if they come in her size, she is petite. I have many times avoided the questions, even told her I’d rather not say and she makes me feel like a bad friend. The perfumes that I promised myself I would not divulge to this friend is Fan di Fendi Extreme, Miss Dior, Samsara, Gucci Guilty and all the Chanel Exclusifs. To complete strangers I don’t mind telling. I don’t mean to sound harsh but when one experience this kind of mimicry well it feels stifling, the way a man considers an insecure woman clingy. 🙁 So my way of keeping my freedom and pleasure to enjoy these treasures is to keep them a secret from her. February 16, 2014 at 3:02pm Reply

    • Elisa: I was just thinking of that movie the other day! I hope your friend doesn’t resemble that character in too many other ways. 🙂 February 16, 2014 at 8:14pm Reply

      • Yvonne: No, I can’t imagine her capable of the movie. We are still friends and can enjoy each other’s company as long as her attentions are off of me and on someone else. Perhaps I am too sensitive to my friends interest into my affairs, but it is disconcerting. February 17, 2014 at 12:42am Reply

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