We have our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread today. You can use this space to ask any questions about perfume, including fragrance recommendations. We wish you Merry Christmas and hope that your holidays are filled with joy and light. Please come back on Monday, December 28th for a roundup of our favorite 2015 discoveries.
Also, a reminder that the vintage Diorissimo contest is still open. You also have a chance to win vintage Chanel Cristalle, Chanel No 5 parfum, Diptyque Volutes and Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin (thank you to everyone who contributed these fabulous prizes).
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
310 Comments
Kat: I have no questions nor recommendations – just a perfume related story I’m so excited to share. I’ve finally managed to get my hands on a tiny bottle of vintage Chypre by Coty! My father gave my mother a bottle at the birth of their first child (my oldest sister) and promised her a bottle for each child to follow. But Chypre was shortly afterwards discontinued. I grew with the scent still lingering in my mother’s wardrobe long after that first bottle had been emptied. Over the years she received all the Chypre legacy scents for Christmas but they were always ‘just close but not the same’. Two years ago my father died – it was only recently that my mother told me that he had claimed he’d recognize her among 100’000 women if she wore Chypre (my father was not particularly romantic so this was huge). So how could I resist when I saw that bottle of Chypre popping up on an on-line platform? It finally arrived today and what follows is not for the faint of heart. Of course I wanted to open it. I’m a historian but I don’t believe in hiding beautiful things. But there was a lot of sticky black resin-like residue around the cap blocking it. I put a wet paper-towel around it and waited. Then I started to remove that glop with toothpicks and Q-tips and rubbing alcohol. When I finally managed to open it I found to my dismay more of the stuff blocking the bottle-neck. As careful as I tried to remove it some of it fell into the bottle. I siphoned it out with the help of a crocheting needle and some unladylike language. I tried to hurry because I did not want the perfume to oxidize (I think that’s the term?) but that stuff was sticky. It was without a doubt the best smelling ewww-job of my life. In other words: the scent is still strong, a bit more tart than I remember it but it hasn’t turned into an unrecognizable soup and I hope my little cleaning venture won’t change that. Hopefully my mother enjoys it even though I’ll have to recommend she only wear it on a handkerchief – I don’t think that stuff should touch skin directly anymore. December 21, 2015 at 8:16am
Austenfan: That is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing! December 21, 2015 at 9:31am
Alicia: Worth all the work and more. What a touching find. For many thousand memories. Happy Christmas! December 21, 2015 at 9:57am
Michaela: Beautiful story! The perfume is worth every effort and the unladylike language 🙂 You’ve made your mother happy. Merry Christmas to you both! December 21, 2015 at 10:20am
Karen (A): Wonderful story!! December 21, 2015 at 11:39am
Kat: PS: forgot in all my excitement (I blame the haze of Chypre fogging my brain): Merry Christmas to all and thanks for all the great posts and comments and a year full of beautiful scent adventures! December 21, 2015 at 11:51am
Victoria: Kat, what a wonderful story! You’ve the right decision siphoning it off, and as long as you keep the perfume in a well-sealed bottle, it should be fine. I can just imagine how thrilled your mother will be. December 21, 2015 at 12:02pm
Aurora: This is such an uplifting story, Kat. You are a wonderful daughter. A very Merry Xmas. December 21, 2015 at 12:23pm
Cornelia Blimber: A real wonderful Christmas story! A Christmas marvel for you and your mother. December 21, 2015 at 12:37pm
Malmaison: That is such a lovely Christmas story, thank you so much for sharing it! December 21, 2015 at 1:31pm
Cynthia Poole: I am new to posting here so I hope I am placing comment in the right place! First, I have enjoyed reading the articles and reviews so very much. I am a perfume lover myself – owning around 60 bottles.
(I miss the green chypre fragrances that seemed to lose popularity several years ago). The fragrances of today seem so fleeting…despite layering. I also terribly miss that matching bath powders to fragrances are seldom produced.
I did want to comment that a close “twin” to the original Miss Dior is Timeless by Avon. Longevity and silage has fared well, and formula has not appeared to be tweaked. Disappointingly, Avon is not turning out many other quality scents. That is my opinion, of course.
This remark about the similarity may have been made by other readers. ( If so, I apologize.) I just can’t wait to read more of this wonderful diary. Thank you for letting me subscribe to the forum!!! January 4, 2016 at 7:21pm
Victoria: Thank you very much for mentioning it. I will definitely try and compare them.
By the way, have you smelled Jean-Louis Scherrer, the original Scherrer? It’s a beautiful green chypre, and it’s still in a very good form, minor tweaks aside. January 6, 2016 at 7:12am
Sandra: Have recently fell in love with Angelique Noire was wanting to know if there’s any other Guerlain fragrances to try, or anything similar in that perfume? December 21, 2015 at 9:18am
Elizabeth: Sandra, I am so glad to hear that someone else has been seduced by Angelique Noire. It is really the top notes that do it for me. (Reminds me of that green scent when you first walk into a florist shop.) This is probably my favourite perfume and it is all because of a very clever Guerlain associate, who sprayed a little of it on my scarf. After I got home from my trip into the city, I kept smelling my scarf. Days later, I still kept getting gentle little wafts of Angelique Noire. I became a woman obsessed of this fragrance and did not rest until I finally managed to acquire a bottle. I had never spent so much money on a scent before. In answer to your question, I have found other Guerlains that fill that need as well. Cuir Beluga, Le Parfum du 68, Tonka Imperial – a bit strong but nice, and finally -Shalimar Parfum Initial, which has been discontinued. I am still on the hunt for other fragrances like Angelique Noire, so will be interested to hear other replies. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. December 21, 2015 at 1:17pm
Sandra: I love your story! I should spray some on my scarf! Now that you mention it, it does smell like a florist when you walk in. Very lovely<3
Merry Christmas to you and have a good year ahead December 21, 2015 at 5:52pm
Nina Z: Agree with Elizabeth that Tonka Imperiale is similar. But what is it that you love? The rich pastry-like base? The angelica? For a different take on angelica, which is less sweet and more sheer, try Angeliques Sous la Pluie by Frederic Malle (reviewed on this site).
Another Guerlain you might want to try is Apres l’Ondee. Today I wore Parfumerie Generale Indochine, and it struck me you might like it if you like Angelique Noire. It’s a rich benzoin fragrance–very warming–with cardamom and honey. December 21, 2015 at 10:01pm
Sandra: I love the opening and the dry down of AN. I will sample the ones you suggested. I have never heard of Parfumerie Generale Indochine..will have to find a place where I can sample. Thanks so much for your suggestions! December 22, 2015 at 11:42am
Sofie: Last week there was a bottle of AN for sale on Gumtree (an Australian site where you can put everything on sale) for a third of the retail price. Unopened.
Since I like Tonka Imperiale and green notes I was seriously tempted to do a blind buy. But it was snatched up less then a day after it had been put on the site. Somebody else recognised a bargain ?. December 22, 2015 at 3:51pm
Sandra: What a great deal! I have not seen that here in the States December 23, 2015 at 8:22am
Alexandra: Liberty of London update: I wanted to thank all of the kind people who offered perfume tips for visiting the perfume section of Liberty of London. The SAs were fantastic, and helped me to find the Serge Lutens and rose perfumes on my list. Not everything on my list was in stock, but they suggested alternatives and even looked up the notes of one perfume that smelled a bit pine-y to me. A great experience, highly recommend it. Plus you can browse all of the gorgeous Liberty fabrics. 🙂 December 21, 2015 at 9:41am
Austenfan: It’s been a very long time since my last visit to London but I remember Liberty’s very fondly. Such a great place to shop. My favourite part at that time were the scarves. December 21, 2015 at 11:06am
George: Hurrah! I went there about a week ago and they had De Profundis new in, which was v exciting- both the fragrance and the fact this is first time it has been available in the uk to my knowledge. December 21, 2015 at 1:05pm
Johanob: My favorite shop in the whole of the UK!LOVE Liberty’s!Those fabrics and prints are just gorgeous! December 21, 2015 at 1:09pm
Julie L: I’d love some Chanel Cristalle….brings back some really nice memories of yesteryear.
Also would love some recommendations for a nice scent for winter…something similar to Cristalle but maybe more fruity.
Thanks! December 21, 2015 at 9:50am
Alicia: I also love Cristalle.It occurs to me that Dior’s Diorella has som similarities, and includes peach among its notes. It is one of Roudnitska’s masterpieces. Very likely it has been reformulated, but it is very much worth a try.. Similarities with Cristalle aside, another marvelous Roudnitska, and quite fruity in his unique incomparable way is from Frederique Malle’s Editions Le Parfume de Therese. Merry Christmas! December 21, 2015 at 10:14am
Julie L: Thanks Alicia for your suggestions, they sound good. I remember Diorella and liked it.
Seem to be craving the fruit scents this time of year.
Hopefully Santa will read this and drop off a lovely smelling package. Merry Christmas to you also!! December 21, 2015 at 10:17am
Surbhi: There is one designed by ROudnitska in Fredric Malle’s line. It is warm as well. I liked it but then I smell a sweet note which I don’t like. But people do. I think it is melon. IT might be worth a try. December 21, 2015 at 12:28pm
Karen (A): Le Parfum de Therese is the perfume you are thinking of, I believe. December 22, 2015 at 5:12am
Kat: Jade by Yardley. Reviews often mention that it’s very similar to Cristalle but with an added note of peach. I’m quite fond of the scent though the silage is not very heavy (but neither is the price-tag so I’m not complaining). December 21, 2015 at 11:54am
Lynley: Maybe Calyx? I havent tried the original Prescriptives one but the Clinique version is nice- green with a hint of fruit. December 21, 2015 at 9:08pm
irem: Another Cristalle lover here. The Diorella suggestion is spot on. I will add two more fragrances to the list. First is Eau Dynamisante from Clarins, easy to find and afford. More casual and slightly sweeter, more carefree than Cristalle’s haughty, might be worth a try. Second is New York from Patricia de Nicolai. Originally marketed as a masculine, with a nice dose of orange and sweet amber, I find it a great citrusy fragrance for winter. December 22, 2015 at 11:42am
Julie L: Thank you for added suggestions…you girls are great! Merry Christmas! December 22, 2015 at 7:06pm
Dorothy Van Daele: I too love Cristalle. Right now I’m loving Comme des Garçons 2 Women, Amouage Jubilation 25 (also a chypre), Histoires de Parfum 1826 (Eugenie de Montijo) and Bois de Violette. I wonder if you might like any of these? One that shares the green part of Cristalle that I also like and wear regularly is Donna Karan Gold (which was very inexpensive on eBay). December 23, 2015 at 10:28pm
irem: One more recommendation that I forgot to add: Tiare by Ormonde Jayne. It is a very close cousin, cool citrus and green-washed white flower. December 24, 2015 at 11:29am
Mara: Hi to everyone and many thanks for the invitation!
I would recommend “Chocolat” (eau de parfum) by IL PROFVMO -it is at once fruity and floral (mandarin & jasmine) BUT ALSO (and as far as my skin is concerned) very delicately gourmand and spicy, with hints of festive nutmeg!
It’s one of the most comforting, soothing and, actually, understatedly luxurious perfumes I’ve ever worn, and reminds me of childhood christmas, with a touch of vintage sensuality!
A true pleasure! December 21, 2015 at 9:59am
spe: Thank you to everyone who recommended “shampoo -like” scents last time. I tried them all – great suggestions – and settled on Creed’s Love in White. To make it even better, my sister found a fragrance she likes to wear – Spring Flowers.
This winter, I’m liking Chanel No. 5.
Please let me know what formulation you recommend, any ancillary body products you like, or other fragrances that you feel are similar. Thank you and Merry Christmas! December 21, 2015 at 10:13am
Karen (A): Not sure if you are asking about formulations for No. 5, but the pure parfum is really wonderful – and the smallest bottle is not that costly (and lasts). There is also a shimmery body cream (or was last year), that makes a good gift – for others or yourself.
I’ve been on a Coco kick – when not wearing Dries Van Noten – Coco in the evening is a great winter scent. (again, I like the pure parfum) December 21, 2015 at 11:47am
Cornelia Blimber: Glad to hear that the pure perfume No5 is still good. Edt and edp are thinner these days.
I switched to Le Dix (discontinued) for a similar scent, and are considering a bottle of Iris Poudre or Liù (very expensive..€ 185). But now I will my luck with No5 extrait. Thank you, Karen A! December 21, 2015 at 12:44pm
Aurora: Hello Cornelia, sorry I hadn’t seen your comment re Liu, I really think it’s a sister to No 5. Second the extrait, it lasts all day. If you’d like a perfume with a similar feel I recommend Guerlain Liu. December 21, 2015 at 1:07pm
spe: Cornelia,
Lui is a fragrance I’ve considered for years, but have not yet purchased. Iris Poudre I purchased and gave away to a coworker. It gets too sweet on me. Vega is another one I’m considering. I’d like to know what you think of the Guerlains if you’ve had a chance to try them. December 21, 2015 at 1:57pm
Cornelia Blimber: Vega has been discontinued! And Deby as well! Shame on the House of Guerlain. I don’t know many Guerlain exclusifs. Recently I smelled Liù, and it was very close to the original imo. (I wore it long ago and have still some drops left, so I could compaire).
I own Sous le Vent, love this bitter freshness a lot..discontinued (**#^&!!).
Also smelled L’Heure de Nuit, a somewhat dryer version of L’Heure Bleue. Maybe not a great Masterpiece, but I liked it very much.
Pity that Iris Poudre did not work for you! It ihas the same atmosphere as No5.
A very good replacement for No5 is Le Dix, maybe you can find it on the Net? I have a full 100 ml bottle, Austenfans Giveaway, olé! December 21, 2015 at 4:19pm
Cornelia Blimber: Sorry, Derby! December 21, 2015 at 4:21pm
spe: Derby is still available. New masculine wood-sided bottle. But it smells fabulous – it smells feminine to me. A softly spicy and powdery oriental. I don’t smell much vanilla or amber though… December 22, 2015 at 12:02am
spe: Karen,
I wore Coco for about 10 years. I’m happy you also enjoy it! The parfum is my preference as well. December 21, 2015 at 1:53pm
Karen (A): It’s funny, isn’t it how “right” a perfume can be at a certain time. I bought the extrait on a bit of a whim – wanted a winter-time uplifting, celebration fragrance (as opposed to a warm, comforting one) and Coco just nailed it. The wonderful SA gave me a large travel size decant of the EdP which is great for layering. December 21, 2015 at 7:07pm
spe: That’s what I did! Layered the edp and parfum. I received so many compliments. For whatever mysterious reason, Coco just isn’t “right” for me lately. I need something less exhuberant and more introspective. Enjoy! December 22, 2015 at 12:06am
Karen (A): I know exactly what you mean – that’s why the small bottle of Coco parfum extrait is a perfect size. Not sure if it will be right for the spring or summer for me, but right now it is so good. December 22, 2015 at 5:24am
spe: The .25 oz Chanel extrait is a perfect size. I’ve had it in Coco and Allure and 19 and 22. Coco used to come in a .25 oz parfum spray. I still have my old original refill container and it smells exquisite. I’m so happy it works for you now. Coco doesn’t get the love it deserves! December 22, 2015 at 12:54pm
Aurora: Second the extrait, it lasts all day. If you’d like a perfume with a similar feel I recommend Guerlain Liu. December 21, 2015 at 12:48pm
Thspe: Thank you, Aurora. I’d like to know what is similar between no. 5 and Lui for you. Thank you! December 21, 2015 at 1:59pm
Aurora: Hello Thspe: the starchy and quite soapy smell of the aldehydes which gives that initial burst of fragrance that tickles the nose and then the soft citrus that takes center stage for a while to be replaced by flowers, not a single flower note but a bouquet if that makes sense, are the things that I find equally in Liu and No 5. December 22, 2015 at 9:47am
spe: Now I need some Lui. You write very well. December 22, 2015 at 12:49pm
Karen (A): I am with you spe, very curious to try Lui! But yesterday I found a buried sample of Chamade (obviously, I’m not the one for offering sample organizing tips) and thought, ohhhh now this is really nice. December 22, 2015 at 1:55pm
Cornelia Blimber: Well said, Aurora. To my nose jasmin has the principal part! December 22, 2015 at 2:47pm
spe: My samples get relegated to a small handled shopping bag. All of the vials and minis are thrown in together! The new Chamade is in there in parfum and … EDT formulation, I think. It used to be my favorite classic Guerlain, then it stopped working for me. Now I want to re-test it! December 23, 2015 at 10:15am
Karen (A): I keep thinking I will get clever and have a systematic approach, or that my daughter will be happy to take a bunch off my hands, but I’ve ended up with some wonderful discoveries (and some samples I truly can’t figure out why I ordered). December 23, 2015 at 1:21pm
May: Hi all! I would LOVE some recommendations for a jasmine perfume, please. 🙂 However, as a warning, my seemingly simple request may not be so simple after all! Here’s my story:
– I grow a jasmine shrub (Jasminum sambac “Belle of India”), but since I live in a temperate climate and not in the subtropics, my little pot of jasmine only blooms in summer and then only puts out fragrance at night. I’d love to find a fragrance that captures that sweet, light, airy scent.
– Serge Lutens “A La Nuit”: Everyone touts this as the “jasmine gold standard”, but when I smelled it, my first thought was, “THIS is what perfumers think jasmine smell like?!”, followed by, “My jasmine shrub must be a scent mutant” and “Is there something wrong with my nose?”. “A La Nuit” doesn’t smell at all the way my Jasminum sambac “Belle of India” shrub does. I believe Robin of “Now Smell This” describes this as “death by jasmine”. I would certainly agree that “A La Nuit” is very “full-bodied”; to me, this definitely smells “indolic” (though I have to acknowledge that I’m never quite sure whether I really understand what “indole” means – but from the various descriptions I’ve read of it, I imagine it’s not really my cup of tea!).
– Diptyque “Olene”: The bottle smells closer to the scent I associate with my jasmine shrub (when I say “bottle”, I mean the scent that’s left over on the sprayer after application). When I spray it, I would say the top notes, though rather green, are similar to the scent I am seeking. However, the middle notes are more evocative of Serge Lutens “A La Nuit”, which isn’t exactly what I’m looking for.
– Acqua Di Parma “Gelsomino Nobile”: I recall that this fragrance was pleasant, but it really didn’t leave much of an impression on me. It was … pleasantly bland?
– After recently having a pot of jasmine tea, I’m wondering if what I should really be looking for is a “jasmine tea” fragrance rather than a “pure” jasmine fragrance? My pot of jasmine tea honestly smelled a lot more like my potted jasmine shrub than a lot of the jasmine-centered classics that I’ve tried do (e.g., Chanel No. 5, Jean Patou Joy), most of which I’ve honestly found rather overwhelming (if I were less polite, I would dub them “stinky”, but this is a perfume blog, and I have great respect for my fellow perfumistas, even if I can’t claim to be one myself :). On the other hand, while I do tend to prefer “light” fragrances, I don’t want it to be “forgettable” either. Am I asking to have my cake and eat it too? Probably … December 21, 2015 at 10:22am
Austenfan: Although I fear it may be a case of wanting your cake while eating it there are few more options:
By Kilian Love and Tears
L’Artisan Parfumeur Thé pour un Eté (very fleeting if very lovely)
Bvlgari Thé Vert, it’s by no means a jasmine perfume and it doesn’t even smell of tea really, but it gives the illusion of smelling like jasmine tea. It’s one stunning scent but you need a heavy hand applying it.
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier: Jasmin, Jardin Blanc.
Bruno Acampora: Jasmin. (I’ve never tried it, but apparently it’s even more overwhelming than A la Nuit).
The Different Company Jasmin de Nuit. Never tried this one either, but it’s supposedly good.
I think that you might like La Haie Fleurie, but it’s been discontinued for a while so that’s why I put it at the bottom of this list.
Victoria has installed a really handy tool on this site that enables you to read reviews gathered by note. It might just be helpful. December 21, 2015 at 11:13am
Briony hey: There’s also Annick Goutal’s Songes. That’s a lovely big jasmine. You could also try Serge Lutens’ Sarrasins. December 21, 2015 at 12:34pm
Austenfan: Completely forgot about those, and they are 2 of my favourites! December 21, 2015 at 1:35pm
Nina Z: I second the recommendation for Love and Tears. This is a fresher and more transparent jasmine though still long lasting. It is quite expensive if you buy the full packaging of fancy bottle in the box. However, if you just want the perfume you can buy the refill bottle for a reasonable price.
Another jasmine you might want to try that smells more like a jasmine bush is Parfumerie Generale Drama Nuui. December 21, 2015 at 11:34am
Victoria: May, indolic is exactly what your jasmine smells like. Nothing is more indolic than jasmine sambac in bloom. So, insoles aren’t a problem for you, I think. It’s just that you’re looking for something very specific, but a perfume is only a fantasy, a variation on the theme, rather than a realistic approximation of a flower. Nothing man made will smell as good as your flower. But if you don’t mind something merely jasmine-like, then Austenfan’s list will get you there. Don’t worry about disliking Joy or No5, though. Although they contain some jasmine, they aren’t what I’d call jasmine perfumes. And you’re looking for a fragrance in a very different style. I’d look for something green or even floral citrusy.
Alas, jasmine is one of the hardest notes to capture. December 21, 2015 at 11:39am
Surbhi: I try not to state my opinion on No5 as its loved by so many and is termed as classic. So every few months I try to smell it again and tell myself that maybe my nose can now appreciate it. But last time I literally ran to wash my hand after smelling it. I felt like I am smelling acid or something. I just don’t know why? December 21, 2015 at 12:37pm
Victoria: Aldehydes! That’s my guess.
But seriously, it’s just a perfume, it can take some negative opinions. 🙂
https://boisdejasmin.com/2015/09/if-you-struggle-with-perfume-classics.html December 22, 2015 at 5:56am
Esther: I feel exactly the same. I love Cuir de Russie and No 19, but could just never get on with No 5. I too keep trying in the hope I will some day just “get it”. Whatever “it” maybe. Never tried the pure perfume, though. Maybe I should? December 25, 2015 at 7:14am
Qwendy: From Austenfan’s list I second By Killian’s Love & Tears for a sparkling green Jasmine, and I find the Acampora’s Jasmin to be a wonderfully earthy (and BIG) evocation of Jasmine …. December 21, 2015 at 12:20pm
Surbhi: You might want to look into some middle eastern perfumery brands. I only know Arabian oud so far. They have good jasmine. December 21, 2015 at 12:32pm
Elizabeth: May, I completely understand your struggle. I have a star jasmine in a big pot, on my deck, which blooms in summer. The fragrance is intoxicating, like some sort of wonderful but harmless drug. I have yet to find anything in a perfume that comes close, so I look forward to trying the suggestions being sent your way. All the jasmines I have tried so far, I have reacted to in a strongly negative way. Off topic but still an intoxicating white flower, lily has ended up being easier for me to find and just as satisfying – in Serge Lutens Un Lys. It seems to satisfy that white flower craving without giving me a headache. Just wish it came in an affordable bottle, my little decant is finished. December 21, 2015 at 1:32pm
limegreen: Not quite Un Lys but just as pretty and “small bottle” — you can get a 10 ml Lys Mediterranee (Malle) travey spray. December 21, 2015 at 1:44pm
limegreen: “travel spray” December 21, 2015 at 1:45pm
MikasMinion: Have you tried Grandiflora Madagascan Jasmine? It’s stephanotis not jasmine, but much closer to what I think of as true blooming jasmine. December 21, 2015 at 1:51pm
spe: Jasmin Vert – I think it’s by Miller Harris. December 21, 2015 at 2:03pm
Lady Dedlock: Have you tried Diptyque essences incensees jasmin? Funnily enough yesterday I was comparing it to SL a la nuit. The Diptyque is a torrid hay- like Jasmine, and not very indolic. Very opulent bottle design. But comparing them from price p-o-v, for me SL a la nuit seems a more reasonable choice. December 21, 2015 at 5:38pm
Rose: I really think you might enjoy Tom Ford’s Jasmine Rouge. It has a pretty, almost tea-like jasmine with the sense of deeper florals, without it becoming too heavy or animalic, also it has good strong backbone of subtle leather amongst other things so it’s not too standard.
Worth a try anyway.
I quite like A La Nuit, but felt Jasmine Rouge was a far more elegant perfume overall. The fecal notes in A La Nuit aren’t in Jasmine Rouge.
I’ve also tried Olene, and found it both bathroom-soapy and urinous at the same time, not great associations for me!
Anyway, from my experiences I’m guessing you might find Jasmine Rouge enjoyable. December 21, 2015 at 7:42pm
Diana: Jasmin Rouge is a guilty pleasure of mine. I know that it is just a glorified fruity floral, but for me it really does evoke night-blooming jasmine. It smells mouth-watering and longevity is excellent, to boot.
Furthermore, although I wear it rather frequently I have never purchased any — I get my fix solely from the generous 4ml samples given out by Tom Ford and have never paid a cent… don’t tell the SAs! December 22, 2015 at 10:06pm
Lynley: May, I grow a few types of jasmine including sambac and ‘normal’ jasmine. A La Nuit is jasmine, not sambac jasmine, which is why it doesn’t smell right. Olene to me is more of a sambac jasmine smell too. So is Lust from LUSH (ive only tried the solid which is plenty enough!), and the 2015 Diptyque Essences Insensees Jasmine. The Diptyque starts very heady but it isnt a long-lasting fragrance. It and Lust are actually quite similar in smell but worlds apart in price! December 21, 2015 at 9:06pm
Michaela: May, have you tried Van Cleefs & Arpels First (reviewed on BdJ)? It’s not jasmin sambac, but it’s a special perfume enlighting jasmine. Very different from A la Jasmine. December 22, 2015 at 5:28am
Michaela: enlightening (I hope!:) ). sorry. December 22, 2015 at 9:18am
Jen: I think Ineke Perfumes Poet’s Jasmine (light, soft and summery) may be more along the lines of what you are looking for. I had the exact same thoughts with the more indolic jasmines, too!!!
-Jen December 22, 2015 at 1:12pm
SilverMoon: Hello May, here are some jasmine’s that might be worth trying:
AG Songes (I love it, it reminds of jasmine on hot tropical nights)
Byredo Flowerhead (reminds me of flowers in an Indian brides hair, especially jasmine)
The Different Company Jasmine de Nuit
Sospiro Duetto (jasmine, but also amber, sandalwood, patchouli so quite spicy-woody smelling)
L’Occitane Jasmine &Bergamot
Jo Malone Jasmine and Mint (this is on the fresh and light side of the flower rather than the sultry)
Dior J’Adore Absolu (this version has a beautiful jasmine smell and lasts long)
Hope you find something you enjoy. December 22, 2015 at 3:27pm
DDJ: Good Day, All. Happy holidays if you celebrate.
A while back I posted here a few times. I was at the beginnings of trying to become a ‘perfumisto’, late in life. I had not much perfumery experience or knowledge.
I return today, still with little knowledge or experience, a prodigal son.
But I would like to give a partial list of what I’ve bought over the past year or two and see if those of you with broader knowledge than I see any connections which suggest other perfumes to investigate.
In no particular order:
YSL – Vintage Kouros
Bogue – Maai
M. Micallef – Emir
Montale – Aoud Cuir d’Arabie
Parfumerie Générale – L’Ombre Fauve
Maison Francis Kurkdjian – Absolue Pour Le Soir [Pre Reformulation]
Histoires de Parfums – 1740 (Marquis de Sade)
Liquides Imaginaires – Peau de Bête
Dior – Jules
Dior – Eau Noire
Papillon – Salome
Rubini – Fundamental
J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin – Fetisch
Bruno Fazzolari – Lampblack
I don’t have now, but will Masque Milano – Montecristo and Beaufort – East India.
Spend my money….
And Thank you, in advance. December 21, 2015 at 10:52am
MikasMinion: Sounds like you enjoy the animalic stuff. If you haven’t tried the following, I would recommend sampling them:
SHL 777 – O Hira, Oud 777, Black Gemstone, the whole line is worth a try, actually.
Vero Kern – Rubj EDP
Sonoma Scent Studio – Jour Ensoleillé (if you aren’t afraid of florals), Tabac Aurea
Puredistance – M
Parfum d’Empire – Musc Tonkin
Amouage – Jubilation 25 (yeah, it’s the “women’s version”. I think it’s lovely on a man.)
Hope this gives you some ideas. December 21, 2015 at 11:45am
DDJ: Thank you so much, Ms. Minion.
I have an entourage of “beautiful” perfumes too; not only animalic. Just didn’t want to make this overly complicated. I don’t find “animalic” alone to be a useful word in finding fragrances to try. As with ‘Love’ and ‘Art’, there are too many definitions. …And, yes I’m an equal-opportunity wearer. If I’m wearing a perfume it is, by definition, a male fragrance… for that moment anyway : )
I’ve sampled a number of your listed perfumes and found some of them unfortunately to be milk-kittens to my nose rather than rampant lions.
Your mention of SHL is certainly spot-on. My Amouage lust has recently shifted from #25 to #9.
I seem to have begun to ignore Sonoma Scent Studio somewhere along the line. I shall correct that error.
Best Wishes. December 21, 2015 at 2:04pm
MikasMinion: I agree that not all of them are strictly beasts, but I sometimes have to go out in public without offending the masses 🙂 Animalic is certainly a bit vague but I think it could be considered as good a loose theme for your list as any.
If you look into SSS, give Ambre Noir a try too.
I thought of a couple others, though you may have tried them. If you’re interested in something that starts off very smoky but settles down to a lovely purring base, Fur from MadHat Scents might suit (all I have tried from him are interesting if sometimes unrefined). If you can find a bottle, Alexander McQueen’s Kingdom is one of my all-time favorites. Also, LM Hard Leather is lovely and very wearable. December 21, 2015 at 4:34pm
DDJ: lol… When I retired, I gave all my suits and such to Goodwill. I live in boots and jeans now but keep a nice shirt or two for dancing… but I wear wtf I want to in perfumes. Take no prisoners.
I wasn’t criticizing your use of ‘animalic’; only extending the conversation. In fact, I thought that your labeling such a rag-tag list of fragrances with that precision promised me that you knew what you were talking about.
I did look at SSS this afternoon and both Jour Ensoleillé and Tabac Aurea sound lovely. I’ll add Ambre Noir as well. Thank you.
MadHat Scents is altogether new. Thanks for the pointer to him.
McQueen’s Kingdom… I’ve heard the jungle beat for but never sniffed. Renewed Ebay-fu is at hand.
Ahhh… LM… I’ve sniffed Hard Leather and Army of Lovers a number of times. Each time I’ve leaned towards AoL… but never enough to make a decision. I’m sure I’ll dawdle too long and be caught by the Reformulation Genie if it hasn’t happened already. …But yet another spot-on rec.
Thank you once again. December 21, 2015 at 7:57pm
spe: Antaeus by Chanel.
Noir Epices ny Malle. December 22, 2015 at 12:13am
DDJ: Conciseness is a virtue. December 22, 2015 at 6:45am
spe: Haha! I mention these because it seems that you like “statement” scents (so do I). By that I mean scents with a strong, defined character. Plus I think these smell fantastic. Oh, and one I’m recommending to everyone: Guerlain Derby. Might be a little tame for you, but it smells wonderful. December 22, 2015 at 1:00pm
DDJ: I’m feeling a little naked here.
First skewered by the “animalic” label and now the “statement” label (Both quite correct), I may never let anyone see a list of my perfumes again 😛
It’s very interesting though and certainly a distillation of judgements that I could never make myself from a mere list of perfume names.
I don’t yet own a single Leutens or Malle. I’ve sniffed a fair few, but I think it’s ‘Deer in the headlights’ syndrome; not knowing which way to jump. The Chanel Antaeus suffers from the name being (to my beginner eyes/ears) too much like that Creed stuff everyone yammers about.
After being pummeled by perfumista acquaintances for a looooong time, I finally bought current versions of some Guerlains: Habit Rouge, Mitsouko, Vetiver and Shalimar. — Vetiver is entirely forgettable; HR nice enough, after some initial harshness, but still surprisingly thin; the Shalimar apparently a mere shadow of whatever has caused all the talk; and Mitsouko a delight — leaving me to wonder at what the original must have been.
All of your suggestions noted and added to my List. Thank you. December 23, 2015 at 3:00am
john: One lesser-known jasmine that really captures the indolic character as a phantom is CB I Hate Perfume’s ‘Where We Are There Is No Here’. I sampled this at their headquarters in Brooklyn and can confidently say that there is nothing like it that I know of – fun to research and worth checking out! December 27, 2015 at 7:09pm
DDJ: I now have a little MadHat “Fur” sitting on my perfume shelf… along with some “Royk” — it was on sale; what can I say.
Both are very interesting and I’ve chatted with Ryan, the perfumer, a little. He has a couple of “discontinued” scents off-list that I may buy as well. December 28, 2015 at 1:24pm
Karen (A): Just read a review of Nasomatto’s Black Afghano and it sounds like something you might enjoy. December 22, 2015 at 1:59pm
DDJ: Karen, Thank you.
It’s funny that I just read a review of Black Afghano yesterday as well after being on here. I’m wondering if we both saw a post that led us to search it out?
I was certainly intrigued by what I read and am thinking that early on I may have already sampled it. I’m going to have to dig out the ole sample box and find it again.
Thank you for reiterating it. December 23, 2015 at 3:12am
Karen (A): Keep us posted! I’m curious to hear how some of the suggestions work. Although above you say you haven’t tried any Malle’s, Une Fleur de Cassie may(????) be one to try. Yes, it’s a floral, but as I’ve said before, very old-school Hollywood kind of glamour and if you liked Mitsouko, you may (????) like it. It’s complex and most definitely not one you will smell on others in a crowd. Give it some time to develop (20 minutes or so), it’s not one to just spritz on and walk out the door.
And just to add one of my favorite roses to your give-a-try list, Guerlain’s Rose Nacree du Desert – only cause it’s beautiful, has depth and gets compliments and well, why not! I know there is not a single rose on your list, but just had to add one…… December 23, 2015 at 7:34am
SilverMoon: Hello DDJ,
just recently bought Bogue Maai and PG L’Ombre Fauve. Love them both equally much and think they are perfect autumn-winter smells for both men and women. I am one of the few who loved Kouros first time I smelled it, even though I somehow did not think it would smell great on me/a woman. It is one of the few perfumes I think smells best on a man.
Although you seem to have listed mainly big animalic perfumes, what do you say to leathery ones? I think Knize 10 is fantastic or maybe Memo Irish Leather. Or something smoky like Bulgari Black? or woody like Profumum Roma Arso?
Finally, I am interested in what you think of SL Musc Kublai Khan? it seemed to be missing from your list. 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 3:45pm
DDJ: Hello, Ms. Moon. — Aren’t Maai and Fauve delicious?
I’m from the ‘wear what you want when you want’ school of perfume application as far as gender, time of year, time of day are concerned.
Although, perhaps interestingly, there are some —what I think of as very feminine fragrances— that I don’t wear because I would prefer to smell them on a woman. I sort of hold them in reserve… perhaps as you do Kouros.
I’m not working with a very nuanced sniffer and certainly not an educated one. I think one reason for all the big animalics is that they are potent enough to get my attention …plus, not many juices last very long on me and the animalics seem to do best.
I’ve sampled Kinze 10 early on. The thing is this: For me, most “leathers” are pretty much the same. (…similarly for “woods” and “incense” and probably others…) I either don’t smell, or am not impressed by, the tiny nuances which those with better noses than mine are able to distinguish. — So I tend towards those perfumes that stand well outside the norm. Don’t know that that makes any sense to someone not living inside my head lol.
The Profumum Roma I lust for is Ambra Aurea.
Musc Kublai Khan? — I’ve probably smelled it but don’t remember. I mean how could I not have?
I should probably go ahead and get some “just ’cause”. But to tell you the truth, I’m largely unimpressed by general hype and what everyone else is clamoring about.
I’m more interested in the Unicorns you only get a glimpse of as they disappear into the thicket ahead of you; not so much the ones you can go any weekend and pay a buck to see at the zoo. December 23, 2015 at 4:05am
George: If were to some up your tastes it would be that you like things extreme and a bit dirty. Hahahahahahah!
If I were suggesting more of the same (but maybe slightly tamer, and sometimes slightly more beastly, based on you hypothetically having the likes of leather, animalics and vetiver and so on), I would suggest
Equipage Hermes, Sycomore Chanel, Derby Guerlain, Ciel pour Homme Amouage, Muscs Koublai Khan Serge Lutens, Patchouli 24 Le Labo, Rose 31 Le Labo, the whole of the SlumberHouse range to try, Tom of Finland and Rien and others from the Etat Libre D’orange range (I will have that name jumbled as I always do), Heritage and Yatagan by Guerlain also.
But I think there is room for you to branch out a bit, too (which you might already have done). I’d therefore suggest Iris Silver Mist Serge Lutens, Fracas and Bandit (R Piguet), Portrait of a Lady and Carnal Flower (Malle), Manoumalia (les Nez) and Nahema (Guerlain). Which in there own way are “extreme” fragrances, albeit of materials that are more often perceived to be nose friendly than leathers and animals.
Your tastes suggest that you might be reading Luca Turin’s column in Arabia Style (googlable). (lampblack, salome and Maai all got good reviews from him) and I have to admit there is a fair alignment between my tastes and his (although not always). Unfortunately The Guide he and Tania Sanchez wrote is not so much usable due to the amount of reformulation that has gone on since it was published. (see New York, Diorella, Diorissimo, L’Heure Bleu, etc. etc. etc.- Diorella has for example lost the very elements that would turn it from an interesting to a “meh” perfume for yourself, I reckon) But I would think that his approach (holding perfumes in high regard or casting them into a hellish pit beneath his feet, which are both extreme propositions) would chime with you, and any current recommendations (such as Korrigan by Lubin) or future ones would be of use. December 23, 2015 at 6:42am
George: Ps, I shall be sniffing all the perfumes you have bought that I haven’t smelled, if I come across them, and I have to admit I am wondering how you came to have such a selection. December 23, 2015 at 6:47am
spe: After reviewing everyone’s suggestions, I’d like to comment that my brother tried Malles’s Fleur de Cassie and it was amazing on him.
Also, perhaps Nu by YSL. December 23, 2015 at 10:23am
Karen (A): Very cool! I was a little hesitant to recommend it, but could see how it would work on a man quite well. It’s such a fascinating fragrance.
DDJ, if you are in the US, Anthony at the Frederic Malle shop on Madison Avenue has been terrific in helping me learn more about the FM line. December 23, 2015 at 1:28pm
DDJ: Fleur de Cassie has been recommended to me by friends … That, POAL and Carnal Flower probably have to become mine soon. December 29, 2015 at 5:05am
Karen (A): Shoot – had started a comment, but it disappeared when I went looking for the name of yet another to add…. Just read a review on Persolaise, not sure if you saw it – but Métal Hurlot (??? not even sure if that’s the correct name) is an animalic to add to your list.
I hope you have lots of fun exploring the suggestions! December 29, 2015 at 5:22am
DDJ: Dear Karen, Yes I do read Persolaise and saw the post you’re referring to. I’d read about the perfume before but that write-up made it sound much more interesting : )
I’m going over “Best of the Year” posts now; working on a shopping list …. if only I could get the darn printing press to make the money faster.
Have a great New Year and thank you for all your many suggestions : ) December 29, 2015 at 10:56am
Karen (A): Happy New Year to you! It will be fun to hear what worked and what didn’t. And get that old printing press fired up! December 29, 2015 at 4:20pm
DDJ: George, Hello and thank you for your extensive reply. Several fragrances noted; thank you.
I did read Luca’s book early on and used it to build up and early ‘sniff list’ to try and orient myself in perfumery. I don’t read his column, although I think I’ve seen it; perhaps I should be.
How I got to my list? There’s neither rhyme nor reason generally. I mean, there’s always some moment of a buying decision, but that can come, or be put off by any number of things (Including really good or really bad marketing).
I’ve at least heard of most of the perfumes that have been suggested to me in replies here —- which is not to say that I don’t appreciate them. My point is that with so many perfumes available from so many sources, buyers can never do more than snatch at a few likely looking candidates as they swim (quickly) past.
I read a tremendous number of scent-oreinted blogs for someone who is only a casual observer. I am never reading, actively looking for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ buying decisions. I take in the opinions, the thoughts, the language, the reader comments… and at the end of the day some frags will have garnered enough interest that I will pursue them either by specific research; getting a sample; or blind buying.
I started off sampling everything. That didn’t work especially well for me. As I’ve honed my “listening to the jungle beat” skills, I’m more and more likely to simply Blind buy a FB or not buy at all.
As others have said through out the perfume blogsphere, those decisions are often a result of rising price points and the “standard” 100ml size available. If there were, say, 15 or 20ml bottles routinely offered for sale, the variety of my perfume shelf would expand vastly.
As it is, I have a skin that eats scent; a not-very-discerning nose; and a bit of devil-may-care attitude in my dotage — all of which has left me with perhaps a seemingly in-your-face collection of scents.
It’s OK; I’m that neighborhood old man people start to avoid anyway : )
Happy New Year! December 29, 2015 at 4:55am
Trudy: Has anyone tried or had any experience with perfumes by Isabey? I had never heard of the perfume before but came across two, Fleur Nocturne and Gardenia, while shopping recently. I sprayed each of them on testers and then, the one I liked best I sprayed very lightly on my wrist. I kind of forgot about them until later in the day I opened my handbag. The fragrance was just lovely. I immediately held up my wrist…very nice. The one on my wrist was called Fleur Nocturne. The shop that carries the perfume is some distance from me and I haven’t been able to get back to test again. I googled the fragrance and find they are quite pricey. My questions is: has anyone tried either fragrance? How is the longevity with a proper spray? Is their much sillage (since I only sprayed very lightly)?. Since I don’t recall reading about these perfumes on Bois de Jasmin, I’m curious if others have tried either fragrance and the general consensus. Or, if you can recommend similar perfumes. December 21, 2015 at 10:55am
Alicia: Trudy, I have tried Isabey’s Gardenia. In my opinion it is one of the best gardenias in the market. Since it has been some time since I wore it I don’t recall its longevity, but I would remember a very fleeting perfume, and it is not the case. I would not buy a perfume which lasts less than three or four hours, and I would buy Isabey’s Gardenia in a heartbeat. Have a blessed Christmas! December 21, 2015 at 12:17pm
hannah: I love gardenia flowers. Unfortunately I am allergic to many gardenia compositions in perfumery (not sure to which ingredient). I can fullheartedly recommend the Tiaré Smell in the Monoi Tiare Body Oil from The All Natural Face, although I feel that Tiaré (Gardenia tahitensis) less green and more sweet than “Gardenia” notes. It is not too expensive and has only a very short ingredient list, as do all products from the line. A nice and cheap gardenia perfume was “Song in D minor” by Tokyo Milk. I smelled mostly gardenia and liked it quite much, but it caused me an asthma attack…so it’s not for me…but maybe for you. December 21, 2015 at 2:35pm
Trudy: Thank you for your comment Alicia. I ran out to the BeautyHabit warehouse today and was able to get a sample of Gardenia. They didn’t have the Fleur Nocturne. I will be trying Gardenia out and see how it wears on me. It is very beautiful. I want to say it is somewhat complex not a straightforward gardenia. It seems deeper. I really like it so far. Merry Christmas to you! December 21, 2015 at 8:00pm
Lady Dedlock: Isabey Gardenia:
Uber-florid, hefty, feminine scent, which is 50-50 gardenia mixed with jasmine. A bit old-school, appropriate for evening-wear. December 21, 2015 at 5:30pm
Lady Dedlock: It’s lovely but the fragility of gardenia is lost under the thick blanket if other white florals. For me the name of the perfume is a complete misnomer. It is not gardenia soliflore at all. After the 10 minutes you will ask yourself whether there is any gardenia in this grand floral bouquet at all. December 21, 2015 at 5:47pm
Shai: I usually dont care for many scents. I heartily dislike Vanilla scent of any kind. I’m not usually into florals with the exception of lilacs, Jasmine, and lavender. I usually like fruity smells. Although I did smell a men’s scent that reminded me of the ocean that I liked. I’m not very fragrance intelligent. December 21, 2015 at 11:54am
rainboweyes: I’ve been thinking of purchasing a bottle of Ralph Lauren Safari which was one of my favourite scents back in the 90s. I’m wondering if it’s still the same or am I going to be very disappointed? I can only buy it online so there’s no chance to try it first. December 21, 2015 at 11:59am
Nina Z: Agree with Elizabeth that Tonka Imperiale is similar. But what is it that you love? The rich pastry-like base? The angelica? For a different take on angelica, which is less sweet and more sheer, try Angeliques Sous la Pluie by Frederic Malle (reviewed on this site).
Another Guerlain you might want to try is Apres l’Ondee. Today I wore Parfumerie Generale Indochine, and it struck me you might like it if you like Angelique Noire. It’s a rich benzoin fragrance–very warming–with cardamom and honey. December 21, 2015 at 10:03pm
Nina Z: Oops! Sorry. Anyway, I have heard that Safari is no longer the same. I would not blind buy if I were you. Perhaps buy a sample? December 21, 2015 at 10:04pm
Petunia: Hi rainbow eyes, Mals, who is a frequent commenter on the blog “Now Smell This”, wears Safari quite a lot. I think Safari is one of her HG scents. She’s very helpful and may be able to answer your question. Look for her comments under scent of the day, if you’re interested. She also has her own blog called Muse in Wooden Shoes. Sorry that I can’t answer your question directly. December 21, 2015 at 10:08pm
Hamamelis: Hi Rainboweyes, I have a recent sample with a few spritzes left which I am happy to send to you. December 22, 2015 at 8:31am
Johanob: Hallo everyone!So here’s me asking for some recommendations please!I am obsessed with Lush Rose Jam shower gel.OBSESSED!I won’t divulge the quantity I bought this year,but I reckon I will need replacements only by this time NEXT YEAR.Lol.The local Lush unfortunately does not carry the perfume version of it,which is anyway ltd edition.Are there any other perfumes out there that comes close or replicates the smell of the Rose Jam showergel?The only perfume I’ve come across with a slight resemblance to it has been Phi une Rose de Kandahar.I would love to find something slightly more accesible and a bit less expensive.Thank you! December 21, 2015 at 1:15pm
Bastet: Do you have Tauer’s Rose Flash? To me that smells even more like Rose Jam shower gel than the PHI does. December 21, 2015 at 2:32pm
Johanob: I do not know Rose Flash as yet,but Andy’s perfumes are very hard to come by in South Africa.I received Phi from a generous perfumista in Denmark this year!But thank you,it’s going on my wishlist! December 21, 2015 at 5:43pm
Karen (A): Ann Gerard’s Rose Cut is close to Tauer’s Rose Flash if it’s easier to get where you are. December 23, 2015 at 7:37am
Surbhi: SO you are the reason they are out of stock …. 😀
I love it too. December 21, 2015 at 5:27pm
Johanob: I might just possibly be the reason they’re sold out early worldwide this year…SORRY!!hehe.x December 21, 2015 at 5:45pm
Peppermoon: I think Lush Rose Jam is rose, geranium, vanilla, and lemon. My friend is also obsessed with Rose Jam, and these are the scents of mine that she likes –
Jo Malone Red Roses is a jammy, lemony rose. Very dewy and wet smelling on my skin.
Pacifica Persian Rose is another fruity rose, but it’s super cheap and great for when you want to douse yourself in rose jam. I have the solid perfume and I use it to layer and support my other rose scents. Smells realistic though, not cheap/harsh rose. December 22, 2015 at 11:24am
Johanob: Thanks Peppermoon!I actually have Red Roses cologne,embarassed to say I bought it in the days I just bought-bought-bought everything without smelling it.Will revisit my bottle today and report back! December 23, 2015 at 3:26am
Jen: Yes, I second Tauer’s Rose Flash! I have the exact same obsession as you with Rose Jam 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 4:46pm
Johanob: I just wish the Tauer lines were more accessible to me down here in Africa.But thank you for the rec! December 23, 2015 at 3:28am
Tati: I third the Rose Flash recommendation! I bought Rose Jam shower gel after the perfume and immediately noted the similarity. December 23, 2015 at 2:05am
Johanob: Thanks Tati!Now I REALLY need to get my hands on some Rose Flash…. December 23, 2015 at 3:29am
epapsiou: Hi perfumistas (or is it perfumistae).
I am new to the world of perfume (Set 24th 2015 to be exact). I like smoky smell and my favourite is Comme de Garcons Man 2 and Gucci Pour Homme (the discontinued one) to a lesser extent. Any recommendation in this genre would be much appreciated. Oh and I did try Le Labo 46 and found it OK
Thanks December 21, 2015 at 1:35pm
rosarita: I like some scents that might fit the bill, here are a few: Tauer Le Desert du Marocain, Lubin Idole, Parfums d’Empire Wazamba, Commes des Garcons Black or the original edp – these are all on Luckyscent and samples should be available. One indie rec is Imaginary Authors Memoirs of a Trespasser (or Bull’s Blood but haven’t tried many others) – the Imaginary Authors website is fun to look through and they also have samples available. December 21, 2015 at 2:42pm
epapsiou: Thanks Rosarita. LDDM is in my wishlist and I have an decant of CdG Black on the way. Will try the others you recommended. Is original CdG good? December 21, 2015 at 3:18pm
Mia: Hi epapsiou,
For airy and light interpretations of smoky, you could try L’artisan Tea for two or Kilian Light my fire. There are plenty of others I’m sure the more experienced scent lovers can recommend. Enjoy! December 21, 2015 at 2:50pm
epapsiou: Thanks Mia. I thought tea for two is more like Bulgari Soir Homme. Killian is in my list (just too bloody expensive) December 21, 2015 at 3:19pm
Mia: True, it’s price tag is ridiculous! Nice scent, though.
I am not familiar with that Bulgari but based on the notes they seem to be very different. Tft is spicy, milky, and to my nose smoky from top to the very base. Also a bit sweet which I personally don’t like that much. December 21, 2015 at 10:09pm
spe: Sycamore by Chanel has a smoky vetiver to my nose. December 22, 2015 at 12:16am
epapsiou: Thanks. Yes Sycamore is great. I have a sample and it is in my to get list. But this is more vetivery and less smoky. I guess I want more smoke. Just like my scotch 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 1:02pm
Mariann: If you like Sycamore, I’ve only sniffed it briefly, but I think Encre Noire might be the smokier version of Sycamore. Check out Victorias review. December 23, 2015 at 3:04am
epapsiou: Thanks Mariann. I do have a full bottle of Encre Noir and I love it. And you are right, I, too, find Sycamore a richer (and many times expensive) version of EN December 23, 2015 at 9:34am
Peppermoon: smells exactly like burning leaves in the fall, suuuuper smoky, great for layering.
smoked tea scents, reminds me of lapsang souchong but this is the Russian version.
smoky, woody, animalic and suprisingly cosy winter scent. December 22, 2015 at 11:16am
Victoria: I’m sorry, my anti-spam filter caught the links you’ve posted and quarantined your comment. I tried to rescue as much of your comment as I could, but I’m afraid a half of it was eaten by my filter. I apologize. December 22, 2015 at 7:31pm
epapsiou: Peppermoon, I think the main paragraph was eaten by Victoria’s spam filter. They ate the name of the fragrance. Or maybe Victoria wants to hoard that one for herself. December 23, 2015 at 9:37am
Victoria: 🙂 Those are great recommendations, and I’m all for sharing! December 23, 2015 at 10:27am
Peppermoon: Sorry, I didn’t realize we couldn’t post links! My bad.
1. CB I Hate Perfume Burning Leaves
2. CB I Hate Perfume Russian Caravan Tea
Masque Russian Tea
3. Sonoma Scent Studio Winter Woods December 23, 2015 at 10:14am
Victoria: It’s ok to post links, but when a comment contains several links, it might set off the anti-spam filter. December 23, 2015 at 10:26am
Peppermoon: Ah I see, thanks! I appreciate you trying to rescue my post. 🙂 December 26, 2015 at 8:02am
Mariann: Tabac Aurea and Winter Woods from Sonoma Scent Studio also have a strong smokey note to me. Another is Olivier Durbano Black Tourmaline. I don’t know the price of that one though, so it might be really expensive. December 23, 2015 at 3:02am
hannah: I love an apricot note in perfumes, as it occurs in Serge Lutens Daim Blond or (more like apricot jam) Laurence Dumont Vanille Apricot. I would love to try more perfumes with an apricot note, best paired with leather or sandalwood or other good things:-D (not too sweet and sticky, Vanille Apricot is at my sweetness limit). Which apricot perfume do you recommend? Thanks for your recommendations! December 21, 2015 at 2:19pm
Peppermoon: Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan – osmanthus, tea, apricot, leather, orange, freesia. Not too sweet, a bit quiet on the sillage front like all of the Hermessence series but well blended and lovely. All of the Hermes boutiques will give you a huge sample if you ask. The apricot + leather in this one creates a sort of apricot fuzz/skin effect rather than juicy.
If you want to sample some cheapies, Lady Gaga Fame could be the apricot jam you want. On me it’s far too sickly sweet, but on my sister’s skin it smells like an interesting mix of apricot jam, honey and saffron cakes. Worth a try.
Also I haven’t tried it but Amber Queen by A Dozen Roses has been spotted for ridiculously low prices ($9, I think…) at discount places like TJMaxx/Marshalls/Ross, and apparently it has a prominent apricot note. Might be worth a try. December 22, 2015 at 11:09am
Lynley: Have you tried Journey Woman by Amouage? December 22, 2015 at 12:24pm
limegreen: On the expensive side, but the apricot note from osmanthus is worth exploring, similar to Peppermoon’s recommendation of Osmanthe Yunnan:
1. Amouage Journey Woman (osmanthus, incense)
2. Mona di Orio Oudh Osmanthus (osmanthus, oud, smokiness) December 22, 2015 at 12:49pm
crikey: I get a lot of apricot from Bottega Veneta, along with the smooth suede. Maybe worth a try? (I wasn’t taken with it on a blotter. But it’s something that blooms on my skin after a quiet first half hour.) December 22, 2015 at 4:14pm
Megan: I find that Andy Tauer’s Phi-Une Rose de Kandahar smells much more like apricot than rose to me; it’s lovely and lasts well on my skin. December 25, 2015 at 10:55pm
irem: I am looking for some advice and experience on Guerlain Vol de Nuit. I badly want a flacon of the parfum. I have a vintage quarter ounce bottle (used up more than 3/4, broke the seal some 10 years ago). The top notes have aged badly, but in 10-15 minutes the fragrance smells great. I also have a few drops of the current formulation from Surrender to Chance, it almost does not smell – very fleeting. The current EdT smells more like the vintage parfum, but I do not see a bottle of the EdT spray refill satisfying my desire. Part of my desire is for the beautiful propeller bottle (I love the namesake Exupéry novel and his other works on early airplanes).
Could you please share your experiences and advice with the current formulation. December 21, 2015 at 3:00pm
Nora Szekely: Hi Irem,
I bought the current extrait of Vol de nuit this year. I really love the drydown but admit that it is not too tenacious so I use more than a few drops for a larger sillage and it lasts only a couple of hours on me. I do not regret buying it though as the scent is so soothing to my nose and I absolutely adore the propeller themed bottle too (I also love Saint Exupéry’works). I did not try the other versions unfortunately.
However, I also own a bottle if Miss Dior Edt from 2011 (now sold as Miss Dior originale) and I found the drydowns similar, so it might worth a try. December 22, 2015 at 2:29am
irem: Hi Nora, thank you so much for your encouraging and understanding comment. I find Vol de Nuit soothing too. December 22, 2015 at 11:13am
Theresa: Hi Irem,
I understand your wish for the beautiful bottle, but I had determined I might buy a pretty refillable bottle to satisfy that craving 😀
I am currently courting a sample of the current EDT, to me for the first 1 or 2 hours it is very nice with light but sufficient presence, and after some 6 hours comes back, having disappeared for the intermediate time. December 22, 2015 at 10:21am
irem: Hi Theresa, thank you for your comment in which I hear reason speaking. I’ll consider looking for an empty Vol de Nuit bottle on eBay. Would be a pretty, refillable bottle 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 11:17am
Lily: I am just starting to explore perfume, but one thing I am already noticing is that my skin amplifies sweet notes to a ridiculous degree. It might smell nice but I don’t like smelling of food, as that is just not…pleasant to me. If it matters my skin itself tends to have a rich, almost cake-like scent (according to several people who know me intimately).
Anyone else have this issue? What types of perfumes do you tend to like? Scents that have no sweet notes or ones that have carefully selected sweet notes?
I have samples coming of several varieties of non-sweet-note scents but if these don’t work I confess I’ll be at a loss. So, why not ask just in case?
Thanks in advance! December 21, 2015 at 3:50pm
Aurora: I understand you Lily, I have had this experience with La Petite Robe Noire which turned out sickly sweet on my skin and also synthetic, very unpleasant and it’s supposed to be a crowd pleaser! In summer I go to colognes (there are plenty of good ones) and to scents like Un Jardin sur le Nil and Eau des Merveilles. Here are some colognes I favour: Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Vert, Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte, Eau des Merveilles, Chanel Cristalle, Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien. For all year round I can recommend Chanel No 19 in EDT,no sweetness at all, and gorgeous it might be a good fit for you, the EDP is great too but a little bit more floral. In winter the perfumes I use most are Gres Cabochard, Hermes Caleche (floral leather), Miss Dior (chypre) Hermes Elixir des Merveilles (there is some sweetness in that one but there is orange to balance it). Hope this list might turn out useful to you. December 22, 2015 at 6:48am
Lily: Thank you!!!! Four of the ones you listed are on my “hm I should try that one!” list. I will move them up higher on it and read up on the others you list. 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 7:06am
Rowanhill: The chypre family might just be your best friend. Chanel No 19 and its ilk. December 22, 2015 at 10:13am
Lily: Chanel 19 has been near the top of my to try list since I started one! Now I am even more interested 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 11:33am
Michaela: Great recommendations! I’d add a few also worth sampling (no sweetness at all):
– spring in a bottle, a feminine beautiful lavender: Burberry Brit Rhythm for Women;
– great dry uplifting vetiver: Lalique Encre Noir for Men;
– sparkling green perfumes like Vero Profumo Mito, Easter Lauder Private Collection, Patricia de Nicolai Le Temps d’une Fete, Jacomo Silences. December 22, 2015 at 10:35am
Lily: Thank you for the rec’s – and for being so specific about what they are! Definitely some here that I wouldn’t have thought to try (the Burberry, for one)…. December 22, 2015 at 11:35am
Michaela: me, neither 🙂 Victoria is responsible 🙂
https://boisdejasmin.com/2015/01/burberry-brit-rhythm-for-women-perfume-review.html December 23, 2015 at 5:05am
Karen (A): Cologne Indelible by Frederic Malle is a non-sweet, long lasting musk based cologne. Three other FM scents that may work, Bigarde Concentrate, French Lover also known as Bois D’orange, and Lys Mediterranee. Although the last is a lily, it is not overly sweet. And French Lover is listed as a man’s fragrance, but the base of Angelica is surrounded by woods. December 23, 2015 at 1:38pm
Lily: Ooh, more for the list! Thank you. I have heard of FM but hadn’t homed in on any of these fragrances. December 23, 2015 at 10:10pm
Karen (A): Oops! Should have added Eau de Magnolia to the FM list. All of the above are beautiful fragrances – please be sure to let us know what you discover! December 24, 2015 at 7:37am
Surbhi: Love Eau de Magnolia. Such a perfect fragrance for summer. December 24, 2015 at 6:06pm
Lily: What’s the protocol here if I have updates? – use this thread or just post in the next recommend thread?
The samples I was waiting on were both orange-blossom based perfumes, Houbigants Orangers en Fleur and Serge Lutens orange. I think both have some sweetness but it is floral and plays nicely with my skin (so far the notes that have gone sickly sweet are melon and tobacco). I am in love with the Houbigants, it’s so spicy and balanced. Comforting and yet also exciting to my nose. The Lutens is all white flower on me and is okay but not what I’m after.
I have samples coming of Chanel 19 and Chrystalle, as well as Encre Noire and Hermes Orange Verte and Terres d’Hermes. I am excited to see how those work on my skin!-and for my nose and psyche 🙂
Thanks again for all the awesome suggestions!!! January 2, 2016 at 2:54pm
Victoria: You can comment anywhere you want, Lily! There are no rules around here. 🙂
Thank you for your updates, so much fun to read. I can’t wait to hear how the rest of the samples work out. January 5, 2016 at 11:15am
Lily: Ha ha, more like standard procedure for conversations, like do most people subscribe to threads or just move conversations to the next post.
I will update here until I ask another question, I think 😉 January 8, 2016 at 3:59pm
Victoria: When we have our new thread, you can post there. Your notes are just terrific, and I know that others would love to follow your tests. Thank you so much for sharing. January 11, 2016 at 11:08am
Lily: Got my samples. Have tried three on so far.
1. Terre d’Hermes is an amazing scent. It started rough bc grapefruit is shrill and screechy on me, powered through that and it settled into the stone and bright citrus heart. Amazing…and hyper-masculine, at least on me/to my nose. It would drive me mad (in the good way) on a man, but it does not resonate with my psyche’s scent.
2. Chanel Chrystalle (EDT): this is supposed to be a bright fragrance?!!! On me/to my nose it was ALL deep dark wet woods and I assume Oak miss. Might be interesting for when I am writing or being artistic but not a pretty scent and not one I would wear out and about. Will revisit for sure but it was not what I expected from descriptions!
3. Encre noire – also not what I expected. I am not sure what I think yet. It was fairly one-note on me, and it seemed more on the musky/sweet side of grass than the dry side. I got no hints of the smoke or salt I think some smell in it. I was I think looking for something darker or more bitter, given the name. I did have the immediate sense that I needed a deeper acquaintance to decide if I liked or did not like.
I will continue to update as I try the rest of this round of samples and/or revisit these!
For now, I know this: grapefruit is terrible. Melon is terrible. Sweetened tobacco is overwhelming (not sure if that note would always overwhelm or if it depends on the individual treatment). I like spices, and I like woods. And I am getting a full bottle of the Houbigant as soon as I can bc it makes me so happy every time I put it on after a day or two away 🙂 January 8, 2016 at 3:56pm
Lily: More sampling notes from the above suggestions:
Hermes eau d’orange verte: very fleeting on my skin but that was fine because it felt bitter and musty, not for me/my skin!
Hermes eau de mervailles (forgot I added this one!): on me this was a clean musk. Light and a bit of the sea breeze feel (tinge of salt, hint of what I think of as the ocean/aquatic accord), but oh-so-boring. My nose only recognizes it as a scent bc it is not my natural scent. If that is your thing, this is probably awesome! I plan to pass the sample to my mother in law bc that is her fave type of scent to wear. For me it kind of defies the purpose of wearing a scent. If I wanted to smell like I wasn’t perfumed, I…wouldn’t wear perfume! (Which is hilariously different from my take on make up which is, other than a bright lipstick day, you shouldn’t be certain I have anything on.)
Chanel 19: I liked it on me much better than Chrystalle! The green was there but did not have that almost-fecal deep woods smell so it was much more wearable. I got a compliment wearing it. That said it wasn’t quite resonating with my psyche. I will def keep the sample and wear the scent for things that require somber elegance – funeral, board meeting, etc., but it wasn’t quite me.
Wore encre noire a second day and am still on the fence. It showed a little more depth the second time but was still a bit thin to me – maybe this is the transparent quality Victoria mentioned in her review?
From this round of sampling I am thinking that small amounts and/or carefully curated types of sweet notes are better for me than none – all of these dry scents just seemed to be missing something. I think my skin needs some sweetness to harmonize with, and the trick will be figuring out what works!
I am adding “clean musk” to my list of scents to avoid bc I just don’t LIKE it. It works on me if it’s not the only base, but when that’s all that’s left I find myself looking for my makeup remover. (This is based on trying several such fragrances from friends and MIL not just the one above!)
I def have a direction I am curious about but I am saving it for the next rec. post so it can be a unique thread 🙂 January 15, 2016 at 1:11pm
Victoria: You’re definitely narrowing down to some clear preferences. Now I wonder if you would like Annick Goutal Heure Exquise more than No 19, because it’s much less somber. January 15, 2016 at 2:35pm
Lady Dedlock: I like to dress up in plaids and houndstooth, with silk scarves and oxfords. I need a feminine fougere – does such a category in the land of fumerie exist? December 21, 2015 at 3:53pm
Austenfan: While not officially labelled as a feminine fougère, I don’t know if anything is, but your description immediately reminded me of Invasion Barbare by parfums MDCI. But I hope other people will chime in as MDCI is very pricy! December 21, 2015 at 4:14pm
Cornelia Blimber: You could try Jicky, Héritage or Nicolaï’s New York. December 21, 2015 at 4:27pm
Cornelia Blimber: By the way, what are ”oxfords”? December 21, 2015 at 4:28pm
Austenfan: Like our Van Bommels gaatjesschoenen. December 21, 2015 at 4:47pm
Lady Dedlock: Type of shoes with laces, which trended into womenswear in 1920s. December 21, 2015 at 5:08pm
Cornelia Blimber: I see! very classy shoes. Maybe New York is good for you. Labelled for men, but very wearable for a Lady. It has that nonchalant but very classy chic going so wel with plaids and oxfords. December 22, 2015 at 3:40am
Austenfan: I can only second this. I love New York. December 22, 2015 at 1:11pm
Karen (A): Not a fougere, but another Guerlain to try perhaps is Vol de Nuit – just seems like it may match your clothing! (and I love houndstooth fabric – planning on weaving some for a jacket after next project is complete) December 21, 2015 at 7:20pm
Katy McReynolds: I love fougeres and wear them with wild abandon. Do not limit yourself to just the feminine. Some of my favorites are Halston Z-14, Davidoff Zino, Puig Quorum, Pino, Aramis Tuscany Per Uomo. I also enjoy all the Caron masculines especially Pour Un Homme and Yatagan. I think any of these would be a great accompaniment to your wardrobe! December 21, 2015 at 8:46pm
spe: Yes! Caron pour un homme, Derby and Habit Rouge (unisex orientals by Guerlain). But others that might be great: Caleche – or even Brin Reglisse – by Hermes. The latter is a little sweet. December 22, 2015 at 12:22am
Michaela: I wear Caron Pour un Homme very often, and also Halston Z-14. Actually, I was curious to try Haston Z-14 following a comment of yours, and it was such a discovery! Thank you very much. December 22, 2015 at 5:36am
Peppermoon: Your gender-bending style would pair nicely with a fougere, don’t be afraid to wear men’s scents though!
A lavender/citrus barbershoppy fougere that smells very unisex, leaning towards feminine on my skin – 1725 Casanova by Histoires de Parfums (though I think it’s too clean for the naughty Casanova to be it’s namesake).
http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Histoires-de-Parfums/1725-4491.html
Also experiment with green scents! Evergreens like Norne, jungle greens like Timbuktu, and aldehydic greens like Cristalle and tea greens like the Bvlgari series are all stunning and add a nice twist to that crisp, menswear-on-women look. December 22, 2015 at 10:52am
Lady Dedlock: Guys I am overwhelmed by your suggestions. Thank you so much and happy holidays! December 22, 2015 at 12:26pm
spe: There is a lavender by Vero – kiki? Something like that? I remember that as a feminine lavender. December 23, 2015 at 10:29am
George: I would recommend Le Troisième Homme Caron.
I’m not sure that I would associate it with your dress style though, which sounds more Katherine Hepburn: it makes me think more in terms of leathers and certain chypres. A feminine fougere I would think more of being like a floral mens shirt. To me it sounds like like you need an individualistic buttonhole like De Profundis, Eau de Magnolia (for the day), or Boutonniere no.7. (for the opera). December 23, 2015 at 11:30am
Peppermoon: I want to smell like a chunk of beeswax! Any suggestions? December 21, 2015 at 6:59pm
Aurora: I smell beeswax in Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille but I should warn that it is quite sweet and also that the coconut is quite prominent. Another one I know with beeswax is Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente but it is discontinued so might turn out to be hard to find. Others may have more ideas for you to find your perfect beeswax perfume. Good luck. December 22, 2015 at 7:55am
Peppermoon: I have the Un Bois Vanille already, it’s lovely but doesn’t project the beeswax note well on me.
I’ve been eyeing the Myrrhe Ardente for a while but I didn’t remember that it had beeswax in it. I’ll have to move it to the top of my to-test list! Thank you. 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 10:31am
limegreen: L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube seems to be neroli and beeswax. December 22, 2015 at 11:22am
Peppermoon: Yes, I have and love this one, but lately there’s a fruit loop note that’s been bothering me. It’s so sad when a favorite perfume does that. It’s out of rotation until next season I think. Thanks for the suggestion! December 26, 2015 at 9:18am
Lady Dedlock: This year I purchased a vial of beeswax absolute to experiment with other absolutes. Boy is it something! December 22, 2015 at 12:40pm
Peppermoon: I think I might have to do that. I’ve just started dabbling in making perfumes, but I mostly have aroma chemicals. I don’t know if I would trust myself with working with an absolute yet, but it would definitely be fun to have, sniff and maybe wear layered with perfumes to amp the “beeswaxyness”. Great idea! December 26, 2015 at 9:14am
Mia: Jo Malone Earl grey & cucumber is all about beeswax to me. Maybe give it a try? December 22, 2015 at 2:54pm
Peppermoon: I have a sample of this one and loved it. It went right to the want list! Thanks for the suggestion. December 26, 2015 at 8:19am
kayliz: Just tried Dirty Honey by 4160 Tuesdays today and found it very beeswaxy! December 23, 2015 at 8:23pm
Peppermoon: Wow, I haven’t heard of this one. Honey, beeswax, vanilla, woody notes, labdanum and jasmine?! It looks perfect, I really want to sample it now. Thanks! December 26, 2015 at 9:22am
TheLunarWhale: I get strong beeswax in Sonoma Scent Studio’s Jour Ensoleille (plus moss and white flowers). December 25, 2015 at 1:28pm
Peppermoon: I don’t usually go for chypres but the reviews on this one and the white flower + beeswax combo makes me want to try this one. Also, I love SSS. Thank you! December 26, 2015 at 9:25am
DonaldTrumpFanGirl: I’d like to recommend Chanel Misia, very feminine, lady-like and modern. Men love it, lots of compliments !!!! December 21, 2015 at 7:31pm
Natalya Baranova: Hi all,
I wonder if you know of something that smells like Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather, but is less expensive? I own a few leather parfums, but Tuscan Leather is really quite an obsession of mine.
Thank you! December 21, 2015 at 11:08pm
Aurora: Hi Natalya: Not sure but perhaps Bottega Veneta. December 22, 2015 at 6:54am
Natalya: Thanks, I actually own Bottega veneta, it is a great leather scent! December 22, 2015 at 11:03am
limegreen: Gres Cabochard is a lovely smoky floral leather at bargain prices ($20 or so). It’s more sparkling and floral than Tuscan Leather, but you could layer Cabochard with something like Aramis, another bargain leather.
Good luck! December 22, 2015 at 11:36am
Megan: I find Shay & Blue’s Blacks Club Leather to be similar to Tuscan Leather, but the tobacco notes are much softer. It’s listed as £85.00 on their website. December 25, 2015 at 10:59pm
Linnea: It just started to snow where I am, so I am craving something warm, comforting, and simple. Any suggestions for a perfume to compliment watching the snow fall by the windows in a big white wool sweater? I may make a cup of mint hot chocolate later … 🙂 December 22, 2015 at 8:22am
Michaela: You may try Aquolina Pink Sugar. December 22, 2015 at 8:38am
Peppermoon: Calvin Klein Reveal is my cashmere sweater / cosy scent for this season. I was surprised that I liked it based on the notes, but it’s sweet, warm, slightly salty and oddly addictive. (Salt accords, white and black pepper, iris, ambergris, vetiver, sandalwood, cashmeran and musk.)
It’s mostly smooth sandalwood, ambergris, cashmeran and musk on my skin. December 22, 2015 at 10:41am
Aurora: Like you, I really reveal, Peppermoon. Victoria had a marvellous article on savoury perfumes in the FT these past few weeks and it’s on this blog. She recommended Jo Malone Wood, Sage and Sea salt – that would fill a salt craving and if you haven’t tried it yet there is ambergris in Hermes Eau des Merveilles and the Elixir des Merveille which I love in winter (Elixir is much stronger than Reveal though) and Etat Libre d’Orange du Riz et des Agrumes. December 23, 2015 at 5:55am
Aurora: Oops, Peppermoon I’ve just realized that you were not asking a question but responding to Linnea’s question. We are on the same vibe for Reveal though, so glad it works for you, I love your description of it. December 23, 2015 at 6:53am
Peppermoon: Haha, I don’t mind. I’ll take your suggestions and run with it! 🙂 Salty/savory is definitely an area that I haven’t explored yet. December 23, 2015 at 10:17am
Nina Z: I find benzoin warm and comforting. So maybe Prada Candy? Less sweet but more expensive is Parfumerie Generale Indochine. December 22, 2015 at 10:51am
Natalya: To me, Serge Lutens’ Jeaux de Peau is the ultimate comfort scent, but I do not think it can be considered simple December 22, 2015 at 11:00am
Karen (A): Warm and comforting, not so sure about simple – but Malle’s Dries Van Noten has a beautiful sandalwood that reads warmth on me. If you are in to roses, Jo Mallone’s Velvet Rose and Oud is a beautiful rose with depth – (it is not a fresh rose). December 22, 2015 at 5:29pm
Tomate Farcie: for me it’s Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles December 23, 2015 at 2:19pm
Wendyr: How about the new Ormonde Jayne Vanilla d’Iris? Received it for Christmas and it is beautiful, warm and cozy. Like a cashmere wrap, but casual. I have fallen in love with it. Try to get a sample. December 27, 2015 at 5:30pm
Dee: A very long time ago (spring 1980 to be exact), I was in Paris and had an opportunity to gain entrance into a perfume shop that required membership. I was given a bottle of perfume who’s only name I recall as Mademoiselle. I felt truly beautiful when wearing it. In my naivete, I thought I would be able to purchase another bottle at home in the USA. Would anyone know of this elixir? Where I could procure it? Or the notes so I may find a substitute? Thanks for any help! Even if it turns out I’m just plain out of luck. December 22, 2015 at 9:05am
Aurora: Hello Dee. That’s difficult, it cannot be Coco Mademoiselle as it wasn’t released until much later than 1980, Mademoiselle by Guerlain is even more recent.
Take a look at the site Fragrantica, several ‘Mademoiselle’ are listed, perhaps you will remember the bottle. Good luck. December 23, 2015 at 6:13am
spe: Do you remember the bottle, the notes, and/or more about the venue where you received it? Was it a new fragrance at the time? Any information would help!
A members only perfume shop! In 1980. Was it L’Artisan or Annick Goutal? December 23, 2015 at 10:36am
spe: Fragonard has a few fragrances with Mademoiselle in the name. Could it be one of those? December 23, 2015 at 10:40am
Raquel: I’ve never smelled a real attar, my dream would be visiting Oman or any exotic place to try attars.
If I read about roses, sandalwood and incense, what perfume would be the closest to this kind of attar’s description? It sounds so marvelous…
I love Angel, Samsara, Kalemat, Shalimar, Coco, Habit Rouge, Cartier Declaration…
Thank you for any recommendation… December 22, 2015 at 9:37am
Michaela: I hope you will visit Oman sometime!
You can make an idea about rose-sandalwood attars by trying Al Haramain’s Attar al Kaaba (perfumed oil) which is not so difficult to find online, not expensive. December 22, 2015 at 9:53am
Michaela: Montale’s Aoud Cuir d’Arabie base is quite similar, but, imo, lacks depth, and it is somehow harsh. I strongly dislike its very realistic smoked animal skin opening, hopefully this disappears in about 15 min. December 22, 2015 at 10:03am
Raquel: Thank you Michaela! I had heard before about Al Kaaba and I was very curious about it, now that you suggested it I’m going to try it! I’ve seen that there are 2 colors…black and red…do you know if there is any difference?
Thank you!! December 22, 2015 at 11:25am
Michaela: You are welcome 🙂 I have the black one. There should be no difference, they only changed the package, but some people on Fragrantica say there may be some small differences between different batches, if I remember well. December 23, 2015 at 5:09am
Raquel: Dear Michaela, thank you for your recommendation. My Al Haramain’s Attar al Kaaba oil arrived yesterday and I love it!!! Es delicioso! I’m so delighted and happy!!! January 19, 2016 at 4:05pm
Aurora: Raquel: you might consider Rose Infernale by Terry de Gunzburg. I discovered it thanks to Victoria’s lovely review (have a look at it). It lists your 3 requirements: Rose, sandalwood, incense. The down side is the price but you can always start with a sample. December 22, 2015 at 10:15am
Raquel: Hi Aurora! Oh I’ve never heard about it! I’m going to read about it right now! Nice to explore and discover new things! Thank you!!! December 22, 2015 at 11:33am
Mara: I’ve spent the last week exploring this awesome website and making lists of perfumes I’d like to try! I love Marc Jacobs Woman……It is one scent that just feels like me every time I wear it. I used to wear Samsara or Paloma Picasso in the winter. I’m longing to find a smoky, deep, warm winter fragrances that feels as much like me and would LOVE suggestions. I have also worn Clarins Eau Dynamisante for years – I like the herbaceous not quite perfume feel of it. Now that I have found sites that sell samples I can really try a variety of things to find ones I adore. December 22, 2015 at 10:22am
Aurora: Hello Mara: for scents with an Eau Dynamisante feel: Are you familiar with the Acqua di Parma line: Blue Mediterraneo (there are several), and Colonia Assoluta they are longer lasting colognes; also someone had recommended Annick Goutal Eau du Sud as similar too. Michael by Michael Kors is like a stronger Marc Jacobs Woman so you might want to try; just like you I enjoy Paloma Picasso, you might give a shot to a softer, modern chypre like Balmain Ivoire, for a smoky deep winter perfume there’s always Shalimar in the extrait or eau de parfum and its more modern counterpart Kenzo Madly smoky like Shalimar but more modern and woody. December 23, 2015 at 8:00am
Aurora: I was forgetting Serge Lutens Chergui. December 23, 2015 at 8:31am
Lydia: Hi everyone. I’m pretty new to perfumista land. I’m trying to pin down which fragrance types I like and I’m struggling. I’ve been sampling some things lately and I can’t pinpoint why I like some but not others. For example, I like Chanel Eau Tendre, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Kate Spade Walk on Air, and Dior J’adore. I dislike Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Versace Bright Crystal and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. They’re just so overpowering and, to my nose, sickly sweet. These are all more or less florally, right? I don’t really understand why some smell so SWEET and like, smack me in the face with that sweetness, and others don’t. Is that something we just chalk up to individual skin chemistry? Or is there something obvious about my selections that I’m missing?
Anyway any recommendations for floral things that you don’t find particularly “sweet” would be lovely. Or scents in any category that you feel don’t wallop you over the head with sweetness. I’m trying to branch out and try things other than just florals. Thank you in advance. December 22, 2015 at 4:09pm
spe: Dior’s Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet!
Perhaps you don’t care for patchouli? December 23, 2015 at 2:59am
spe: Ooops.
Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet.
Fresh floral. Pretty. Not sweet to mu nose. December 23, 2015 at 3:02am
Lydia: Thank you so much! December 23, 2015 at 2:42pm
Neva: Hi Lydia, I think I feel the same like you about “sweet”. Try some “green” scents. My favourites are: Chanel Cristalle eau verte, Bulgari au the vert, Clinique Wrappings (absolutely lovely), Hermes- Le Jardin sur le Nil or some other from the Le Jardin line. I think you could like them. December 25, 2015 at 6:42pm
Lydia: Thank you very much. I had never heard of Clinique Wrappings. It looks very interesting! December 28, 2015 at 9:41am
Neva: It’s rather hard to find. Clinique decided some 10 years ago that it will be a Christmas exclusive and since then I have found it only in Harrod’s in London and on some large airports’ duty free shops. I’m sure you can buy it on the Clinique website. But it’s worth trying! December 28, 2015 at 12:37pm
Violet: My current loves are Samsara EDT (modern–I’m not familiar with the vintage) and Timbuktu EDT.
Will love to hear your suggestions. December 22, 2015 at 7:13pm
Aurora: Hello Violet: they are both lovely perfumes. Have you explored the Serge Lutens line? He has some wonderful wood centred perfumes here is a list: Feminite du Bois, Bois et Fruits, Un Bois Vanille, Chene, Santal Majuscule, Santal Blanc (as you love Samsara and it is all about the sandalwood) and Santal de Mysore (this one has cumin in case you’re like me and dislike cumin). Also in the mainstream perfumes have you tried Estee Lauder Sensuous and in particular Sensuous Noir? December 23, 2015 at 7:07am
Karen (A): Perhaps give Chanel’s Bois des Iles a try – it’s quite beautiful. December 23, 2015 at 7:44am
Tomate Farcie: Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain, Knize Ten, for the sandalwood try Diptyque Tam Dao or
10 Corso Como, Costes December 24, 2015 at 5:19pm
Mariann: Hi not really a question per se, but I’d love to hear what scents you all associate with Christmas 🙂 and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone! December 23, 2015 at 3:07am
Aurora: Merry Christmas to you Mariann!
Caron Nuit de Noel – mostly because of the name
Clinique Wrappings – because it smells of fir/pine like a Xmas tree and is only available at the holidays
Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee, another piney one
I’m undecided on what scent to wear yet what about you? December 23, 2015 at 7:20am
Mariann: I haven’t decided yet, so bringing a stash of samples with me, mostly incense which reminds me of candles and church as well as some amber. Among other DK Labdanum, Chaos, also Maria Gentile Sideris and Profumum Ambra Aurea. I have Nuit de Noel in my next StC order, but I really should add Nuit Etoilee! December 23, 2015 at 11:24am
Aurora: All excellent choices, you’ll smell great. For Nuit Etoilee go with the EDP, it’s longer lasting than the EDT. December 23, 2015 at 2:26pm
epapsiou: Anything that makes me happy.
And that does not include aquatic/ozony perfume. They never make me happy.
Incense, Amber , Wood is my perfect Christmas scent. Reminds me of burning log in fireplace and cake in oven. December 23, 2015 at 9:41am
spe: For the past several years I’ve worn La Femme Bleue (Armani) for Christmas. It’s a warm iris / amber / incense. A little sweet for me, but my family likes it and it’s a tradition now!
What do you usually wear? December 23, 2015 at 10:47am
Mariann: Haven’t heard of this one before, I’ll have to check it out, thanks! December 23, 2015 at 11:37am
Morelle: I can’t resist a christmassy name, so on Christmas Eve I wear Divin’ Enfant (ELdO), candied orange blossom offset by skanky leather. On Christmas Day it’s Noel au Balcon for me (also by ELdO): Juicy tangerine and lots of spices. To me these scents live up to their names, so I rarely wear them ouside the festive season. For Boxing Day I might go for something incensy, or whatever takes my fancy. December 24, 2015 at 7:13pm
Mariann: I haven’t had a chance to sample this line yet, but I want to for the names alone! orange blossom & leather sounds right up my alley! 🙂 Was in Knot today as it was quite warm, now in Parfum Sacre for a bit of a more incense touch. December 25, 2015 at 5:26pm
Hildegerd Haugen: I love the original Scherrer, what can you recommend me. December 23, 2015 at 12:20pm
Neva: Oooh, that’s a tough one! They don’t make them like Scherrer any more. I don’t think you’ll find a good replacement. Maybe you can look for a vintage one on ebay? Otherwise try Bandit from Piguet. To me they feel rather similar. I hope you’ll like it. December 25, 2015 at 7:04pm
Hildegerd Haugen: Thank you. December 26, 2015 at 9:37am
Ariel: Hello,
Kind of an off-beat request: I loved Aftelier’s Pink Lotus, but it’s been discontinued. Does anyone know of a similar perfume? December 23, 2015 at 12:22pm
Cristina: Every Christmas I offer myself a bottle of Kenzo Elephant. To me, this is the smell of this amazing Holiday Season and I love it! Happy Holidays to all of the wonderful readers of this blog, to you Victoria, I love your posts more than I can say!! Big hug from Romania! December 24, 2015 at 7:02am
Hildegerd Haugen: I love the Elephant too, but isn’t it discontinued? December 25, 2015 at 4:42pm
Sophie: What perfumes would you recommend for someone who loves, roses, jasmine and is looking for a feminine, “pretty” scent? December 24, 2015 at 9:01am
Cristina: I would recommend Tresor Midnight Rose Elixir D’Orient! Maybe you can still ask Santa…:) December 24, 2015 at 11:47am
Tomate Farcie: Serge Lutens Sa Majeste la Rose,
Guerlain Nahéma, Stella McCartney Stella,
Frederic Malle Une Rose December 24, 2015 at 5:06pm
Sophie: Thank you! Merry Christmas! December 24, 2015 at 6:40pm
Oks: I have the weirdest question to ask on this blog – am almost embarrassed by it, but here goes – I’ve long been a lover of woody and leathery fragrances, however recently I’ve caught my husband smelling really REALLY well, – comfortingly well, after his evening shower, even though the scent was decidedly feminine and floral. It was also slightly sweet and cosy, something for the gloomy days.
I thought “What is this scent? Why I’m not wearing it??!” Then I’ve realized he’s been sneaking the new shower gel from my shelf!!
The shower gel is from Palmolive (lame, I know), called “Smooth Delight” – it’s sold pretty much in every shop here in Eastern Europe.
Here’s what it looks like, if someone cares to help sorting out the mystery of what the “notes” are (cheap soap with a load of chemicals, yum, right?), and which direction to look for something similar (perhaps “slightly” more sophisticated-smelling, but you know what I mean): http://bit.ly/1NPkulB
I’d be eternally grateful, if someone could lend a hand with such a stupid request – maybe smell the shower gel if you spot it somewhere, and let me know if it “sounds” familiar in any way?
Thank you so much in advance. December 25, 2015 at 6:22pm
Karen (A): I don’t know the shower gel, but wanted to just say please don’t apologize or feel silly for liking any fragrance! Companies spend a lot (a whole lot!!) on creating fragrances for their products – even if the product is not an exclusive, high-end perfume, but a shower gel, fabric softener or dish soap. So, no apologies necessary, I just hope someone can help you identify the notes and you can find a perfume that is close to the scent you enjoy! December 26, 2015 at 8:13am
Austenfan: Ditto! December 26, 2015 at 11:53am
Oks: Thank you thank you for putting me at ease! 🙂 December 27, 2015 at 4:30pm
Karen (A): You are welcome! Life is stressful enough – fragrance and incorporating more beauty and joy in our lives shouldn’t add (or create) any embarrassment.
You can always put some of the gel in a small container and go to a store with a good perfume counter and see if there are any knowledgeable SAs that could help you figure out notes. Just say it was in a dispenser at a friend’s home if you don’t feel like saying that it’s Palmolive (not that I’m an advocate of not being truthful, but if you feel weird saying its Palmolive, then maybe it’s ok??). December 27, 2015 at 7:04pm
Peppermoon: It might be the macadamia oil and cocoa butter base that you’re liking, if the fragrance itself is floral. Maybe try some warm, cosy nutty perfumes? I’m not aware of any that have those two notes specifically. December 26, 2015 at 11:55am
Oks: Thanks for thinking along – that’s such a good idea. I’ll probably ask SA for a recommendation containing these two notes next time I’m in a shop. Or grab the shower gel along 😀 December 27, 2015 at 4:32pm
Karen (A): Posted above before seeing this. Noir Exquis is a sweet, warm fragrance – I just checked the notes which are listed as: top notes are chestnut and orange; middle notes are orange blossom, coffee and maple sap; base notes are ebony, heliotrope, vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood. I just spritzed a small amount on then layered a rose over it – it’s quite a nice combination.
A very inexpensive warm fragrance is Oro by Roberto Cavalli – and inexpensive is like $11 on one of the reputable discounters. It would be another good base for layering a rose over – Stella is a very good rose without any dark notes (my perfume loves are dark roses, so I have to think for a minute to come up with a rose without Oud or patchouli) plus it’s reasonable and comes in a small bottle.
Guess I’m reading the sweet floral notes in the gel as rose, but that may not correct – just my default setting! If you can figure out the floral notes, let us know and hopefully someone can give you some ideas. December 27, 2015 at 7:18pm
Surbhi: Lumière Noire By Maison Francis Kurkdjian. I have not heard about this designer before so I can’t speak for that. Not many rose impress me. But this one did. This one is a strange rose which I am not really capable of describing so I would leave it to experts. December 26, 2015 at 7:53pm
Jay: Hello! I am a very naive entrant into the sphere of perfumes as I have only been reading Bois de Jasmin for around a month.
I recently purchased Narciso Rodriguez For Her EdP for myself after a short hunt, and for Christmas bought my mother Guerlain Samsara EdP (she described liking musky, incensey smells – my sister and I tried Shalimar first but we both much prefered Samsara).
I’m keen to expand my horizons. Today I went to the perfume counter and tried on Dior Eau Sauvage and Guerlain Vetiver.
Eau Sauvage has really grown on me but Vetiver is striking me as very sticky and cloying. I know this is all a bit vague, but based on this, is it possible to recommend what I should try next? December 28, 2015 at 12:23am
Karen (A): My suggestion is just sample away! Both on you and on the test blotters – label the test strips and see which ones make you happy. If it helps, keep a small journal with your notes on different fragrances and have it with you when you shop.
Finding knowledgeable sales associates (SA) is really helpful. If possible, go to shops that have extensive perfume selections or if you are near a city, perhaps there are some perfume shops to explore.
Although many of us are wondering just how our sample collection expanded to such epic proportions, samples are a great way to help you figure out what works on you and what doesn’t. Luckyscent has a great sampling option, as do Surrender to Chance and The Perfumed Court.
Read as many reviews on BdJ as you can. Victoria (and other contributors) write fair, balanced reviews. Stars are not given based on whether or not Victoria likes a perfume, but on how well made it is, how it works, etc. Many reviewers write simply on whether they like a fragrance – what is helpful is what’s behind the perfume, the thought/idea, image and so on.
Sometimes it’s easier to explore a line (Chanel, Guerlain, Tom Ford, Lutens, Malle , Annick Goutal, etc) even though various perfumers create the fragrances. It also depends on what you want to spend. And different lines interpret notes differently – Guerlain’s Vetiver may not work, but Chanel’s Sycomore may – so it may not be the note that you don’t like, but just that perfume’s take on it.
One fun thing to do is explore fragrances by perfumer. It’s surprising how many great perfumers are behind inexpensive (cheap!!) beautiful perfumes. So although it’s easy to spend hundreds on a bottle, with some research you can find stunning perfumes for next to nothing.
If there is a Nordstrom, Saks or Neiman’s near you, go on a non-busy day, talk with a SA explaining that you want to explore more perfumes and have fun! December 29, 2015 at 5:45am
Peppermoon: Vetiver tends to be a “sharper” note, and the Narciso line tends to be all about smooth, musky florals. You might be like me, I can only take vetiver in small doses. Try a lot of “smooth” notes like musk, amber, creamy yellow or white florals and sandalwood (heavy in Samsara!).
A few easily accessible ones to try:
Botega Venetia Knot (white floral)
Calvin Klein Reveal (musk + sandalwood)
Hermes 24 Faubourg (smoothest perfume I know of, a little vintage smelling, white floral)
Tom Ford Santal Blush (creamy sandalwood + a little spice) December 29, 2015 at 3:26pm
Anne-Catherine: Hi everyone,
hope you are all enjoying the holidays.
I would like to express my praise for a few fragrances that I have been wearing the last weeks:
– Musc ravageur: such a masterpiece! sillage and projection are perfect, longevity: a whole day or more and it leaves a magnificent trail. oriental, spicy, perfectly blended and a little bit dirty. To me it’s the better version of Shalimar, which I still don’t understand. I treid it a few weeks ago, only one spray and went to the Fnac (Gent) for the music department, in a small area. A man started to swear, i didn’t know what was happening untill he said really loud: STINKEN, STINKEN and he left with a really angry glanze at me… so probably shalimar isn’t the right one for me.
– Coromandel: a work of art: so poetic, mysterious, dirty and smooth at the same time and with many faces
– APOM pour homme: a floral counterpart to the spicy stuff, gentle and a litte bit weird
Victoria, I am curious and looking forward to reading your best of 2015, thanks for your inspiring blogs!
Wish you all a happy new year!
Anne-Cathérine December 28, 2015 at 4:25am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Anne-Catherine! I also wish you happy holiday and the best in 2016.
Loved reading your comments, especially on Musc Ravageur. I agree, it’s marvelous from top to finish. December 28, 2015 at 10:39am
Toni: I’ve enjoyed this blog so much and have found some beautiful fragrances such as diptyque l’ombre dans l’eau, Hermes eau de merveilles, Burberry Brit Rhythm, Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Arden green tea, Sisley Eau de Soir (so beautiful), just to name a few. An old love and “signature scent” was Hanae Mori Butterfly eau de parfum. My go to fragrance lately has been Burberry Brit Rhtyhm and would like a recommendation similar to this but with a little more oomph and lasting power. I would also welcome other recommendations based on some of the fragrances I’ve listed above. Thank you and happy New Year to all! December 28, 2015 at 6:05pm
Victoria: This is a classic, but Bulgari au The Vert is a must try if you like Arden’s Tea. And their au The Bleu flanker, while you’re at the Bulgari counter. It has a soft lavender note (just like Burberry Brit Rhythm, one of my favorite perfumes), but it’s paired with tea and iris. December 29, 2015 at 4:34am
Toni: Thank you for the recommendations; I’m looking forward to trying The Bleu after reading your review. December 29, 2015 at 7:42pm
Karen (A): Perhaps Luten’s Clair Gris? Has a strong lavender note, as does the Burberry. December 29, 2015 at 5:51am
SMS: I’ve been lurking on this site for a little while. Would anyone care to add to their “Black Swan” fragrance picks from a few years ago? I have found some lovely light and happy fragrances (B. Balenciaga is a nice, straightforward scent & I love Olfactive Studio’s Lumiere Blanche) and have become a tuberose fiend. However, I would like to find something feminine, dark, complex and a bit different for a night out. Some dislikes: Tom Ford Noir Pour Femme (smells like an “old lady” scent on me) and YSL Black Opium (one woman on Fragrantica called it “breakfast at the strip club” and that’s exactly right from my experience). Thoughts? Thank you in advance! December 30, 2015 at 12:38am
ltm: I’ve recently developed an interest in fragrance and been smelling and testing a really wide variety, but, have had difficulty with headaches at times. I’m hoping someone with more perfume knowledge can help me figure out what to avoid. Paloma Picasso and Omnia Crystlline both left me a killer headache recently but I’m not sure what they have in common. I’ve been trying things at random so far but would like to avoid futher headaches if possible. i don’t know enough to really say what I like, but i enjoyed Chanel Coco once I got through the opening, and I’ve been enjoying my Prada Infusion d Iris sample, no headaches with either of those even with an accidental overspray of Coco. December 30, 2015 at 11:34pm
Victoria: This is so personal that it’s hard to figure out. It may not be the notes themselves, but rather the specific combinations. Have you tried a woody perfume like Marc Jacobs Bang? I wonder if it might be a sharp woody note that bothers you. January 1, 2016 at 9:26pm
ltm: Thanks!I tried to compare the fragrance notes listed for the pp and omnia, noticed sandlewood, but then saw sandlewood essential oil listed as a headache cure so ?, picked up a sample of Dahlia Divin today. It lists sandlewood, so I’m going to try it with alcohol wipes handy just in case. January 3, 2016 at 12:17am
Victoria: Dahlia Divin contains not a drop of real sandalwood oil, so it may not be the right test. In general, going by note listings won’t tell you much, because nobody will explain what ingredients are used exactly. January 6, 2016 at 6:21am
Sandra: Hi! So I am currently 17 years old and thinking about buying a new perfume. However, because I don’t live in america or england or just countries where I can go out and smells perfume, I have to buy it online. I don’t know that much about perfume either so please help me. I am looking for one which is quite long-lasting and others can smell it not just me. I like most types of scent but the sour one. My mom used to own the ” secret crush ” from victoria secret and I think that one is a little bit sour. I did use ” Angels ” from VS and I quite like that but it doesn’t last that long so I won’t repurchase it. My budget is around under 100$ or a little bit hiigher but yeah. I have been wondering for so long so I hope you can help. Thank you so much for reading and Happy new year to you all January 1, 2016 at 2:07am
Victoria: Sandra, I recommend trying See by Chloe (and maybe Love by Chloe too, although it’s a little powdery and I don’t know if you like that kind of soft, warm effect; it’s a good perfume though).
Also, Marni is reasonably priced and is elegant and easy to wear.
If you want something sweeter, but not too much so, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. It has a refreshing note and is also well priced (within your budget).
I also really like Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely for a musky floral that smells polished and yet alluring.
Do let us know if you need more help and more recommendations. Hope that you can find some of these in your city. January 1, 2016 at 2:30am
SilverMoon: hello Victoria, hello everybody!
I would love to hear any recommendations for perfume shops or perfume related things to do in Paris. My daughter and I plan to go to Paris next week. I have spotted the Fragonard Museum (is this a good place to visit?) and have located some of the main shops (Serge Lutens, Fredric Malle, Guerlain, Jovoy, etc), but would love to hear any suggestions from you. Many thanks!
I am really excited about the trip, since it will be my first visit to Paris after my perfume hobby began. Also, it will be my daughter’s first trip to the city and it will be lovely to revisit some of the sites like Notre Dame and the Louvre, as well as just walk around the city’s many fascinating areas. January 5, 2016 at 3:11pm
Victoria: So, exciting! I wish you a wonderful trip, and I know that you will have fun exploring the perfume lovers’ haunts. I have a directory with some of the most visited places here:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2011/10/paris-perfume-shopping-directory-fragrance-food-fashion-and-more.html
Under this tag you can find lots of Paris specific recommendations, including French pharmacy shopping tips:
https://boisdejasmin.com/tag/perfume-lover-paris
Bon voyage! January 6, 2016 at 6:17am
SilverMoon: Dear Victoria,
many thanks for sending these two links. Its a bit overwhelming when one thinks of all the choice in Paris. I have only four full days, and want to visit some of the art museums, churches, etc too.
My main aim will be to walk around and enjoy as things come along. Prefer doing that to sticking to a strict programme. Cannot wait to get there! January 6, 2016 at 11:28am
Victoria: You’re most welcome! If you have limited time, I recommend going straight to the Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps. They have almost all of the brands, and you can even get a tourist discount on some items (ask at the hotel for it). Serge Lutens boutique in Le Palais Royal is worth a look, especially since the location is stunning. The salon itself is like a high temple to Lutens’s art; the service is very polite but formal and can appear cold.
Pharmacies are on almost every corner, so you don’t have to plan any specific trips to drop in. I’m so excited about your trip, and I hope that you will share your impressions with us. January 6, 2016 at 11:39am
SilverMoon: Victoria, yes, I will be sure to say how the trip went! Our hotel is near the SL Le Palais Royale in the 1st Arrondisement so will definitely go there first thing. I would like to visit the stand alone shops as something more special. In London there are plenty of multi brand and department stores, so going to the ‘home shop’ of the perfume brands sounds more exciting and different.
And yes, I love the pharmacy brands in continental Europe. I am very familiar with the German and Italian ones, and know some of the French brands. But never visited a French pharmacy so far. I have been reading up on them in the link you sent earlier. January 6, 2016 at 12:31pm
Victoria: It may not be on my list, but Nose is worth a visit. They have lots of niche brands and the service is excellent.
Address: 20 Rue Bachaumont, 75002 Paris, France January 6, 2016 at 12:44pm
SilverMoon: Many thanks kpaint for the link.
I am a member/subscrber of the Perfume Society. Are you too? I had not yet checked their link with suggestions, so great that you reminded me.
Yes, I am reaaly looking forward to this trip. January 6, 2016 at 11:22am
kpaint: I live in the US, so I’m not, but I’d run across their site trying to do some research of some sort and ended up reading a few articles. They have a lot of great info. I’ve never been to Paris (or France) but often fantasize about a trip like the one you’re taking 🙂 January 6, 2016 at 1:17pm
Louise: I once loved a parfum and it stopped to be fabricated – it was Magnifique, of Lancôme. After that, I started using others, but not because I loved them. I like the idea of having one unique fragance, and that I first mentioned was perfect in matters of describing my personality. I haven’t find nothing like that. Magnifique was made by Olivier Cresp and Jacques Cavallier and have notes of Mandarin, Saffron Essence, Cumin, Cinnamon, Bulgarian Rose Essence, Absolute of Rose Mais de Grasse, Jasmine, Australian Sandalwood Essence, Indian Nagarmotha and Vetiver. I like it because I thing it’s powerful, and althought it has a bit of floral, it not outstands and the smell does not get sweet.
If you could recommend something interesting after reading this, i would reaally aprecciate!
Some parfum not hard to reach, of a known house – because I live in Brazil and some do not import for here (Tom Ford and Estee Lauder are examples, unfortunately)
Thank you already. January 11, 2016 at 10:02am
Aurora: I understand how you must feel it is so frustrating when this happens: here is a list of woody spicy rose like Magnifique but I’m not certain if available in Brazil: the closest match I think would be Lyric by Amouage do you know this brand? I must tell you it’s quite expensive but the quality is very good, another one would be Cabaret by Gres, this is very affordable, here in the UK, available online, also Calligraphy Rose by Aramis, also mostly available online and not very expensive. Too bad about Estee Lauder in Brazil, because Knowing is a dark rose that might suit you, maybe online?
Also, maybe you can still find Magnifique by keeping a close eye on eBay? Best of luck. January 13, 2016 at 10:22am
Louise: Thank you very very much! For the charisma too 😉 January 27, 2016 at 6:37pm
MK: Hi everyone!
I’m looking for two kinds of perfumes:
1. I love the smell of Pure Grace by Philosophy but the scent doesn’t linger on my skin for long. Does anyone have a recommendation for something that lasts longer but smells the same?
2. I’m on the hunt for a new scent – one that is crisp and cool that invokes the thought of marble – not spicy or citrusy. Does anyone have suggestions? I smelled a beautiful spritz of a perfume that evoked the description I described above at Sephora but was unable to track down the original perfume. Would love to hear your suggestions! January 11, 2016 at 5:57pm
Victoria: Perhaps, for your second requirement, something like Eau de Cartier? It does have citrus and some pepper, but those aren’t the dominating notes. Aldehydic perfumes like YSL Rive Gauche also evoke marble to me, as does Malle’s Lys Mediterranee. January 12, 2016 at 8:32am
Elena: Hi everyone,
I am looking to replace my signature scent perfume that was discontinued – Flirt by Prescriptives. Does anyone have a recommendation for something that smells the same?
Thinking about buying Voyage d’ Hermes EDT…
Thank you in advance. January 18, 2016 at 1:56pm
Victoria: Dior Addict Eau Fraiche and Gucci Envy Me too have a similar light fruity-floral character, but they aren’t identical.
Marni by Marni isn’t identical, but I always thought that someone who likes Flirt might appreciate its similar effervescence and soft woody notes. January 18, 2016 at 2:37pm
Fernando: I need a recommendation , my girlfriend loves Carolina Herrera , the one with the polka dots box, she loves it and is the only perfume she will use because she says that other perfumes are either too strong or gives her headaches.
I’m desperate to find something that she might like for this Valentine’s Day.
Please
Any and all help is appreciated.
Thank you January 27, 2016 at 12:54am
Victoria: Fernando, I moved your comment to our new thread here:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2016/01/recommend-me-a-perfume-4.html January 27, 2016 at 9:54am