Recommend Me a Perfume : Christmas 2017 Edition

Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is now open. Since Christmas is coming up soon, you can this space to solicit holiday appropriate fragrance recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors.

Meanwhile, as you looking for the idea to lift up your holiday baking, I would like to turn your attention to this article on gingerbread spices: Dry Perfume for Gingerbread. It includes several spice blends for honeycakes and gingerbreads, from delicate and bright to peppery and fiery.

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

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228 Comments

  • Nora Szekely: Hi Victoria and perfume lovers,
    Next year I go to the United States for the first time. I’m so excited!!!
    Can you recommend the best perfume shops in New York and Dallas? American brands to try?
    Also as I go to the South, which perfume conveys the best the scent of Southern part of America ? December 13, 2017 at 9:07am Reply

    • spe: Hi Nora,

      NYC: Bergdorf Goodman, the Caron boutique at Phytouniverse, Aedes Venusta. Bond no.9.

      Dallas: probably has a great Neiman Marcus.

      I’m sure you will get more complete recommendations soon. December 13, 2017 at 10:02am Reply

      • sandra: The Caron boutique at Phyto is actually closed. Seems like they Caron moved to GC and by appt. only. December 13, 2017 at 11:20am Reply

      • sandra: If you walk along Madison in the UES you will find stand alone stores for Le Labo, By Killian, Fredrick Malle, Diptyque, Creed, Bond no 9 and then stop for a cappuccino at Via Quadronno or a yummy chocolate at Maison de Chocolat

        For the south..maybe a Magnolia scented perfume..depends on where in the south.. December 13, 2017 at 11:31am Reply

      • spe: Oh, and Barneys in NYC. December 13, 2017 at 3:29pm Reply

    • AC: I haven’t visited them since they moved (a street over), but I really liked Aedes de Venustas in Greenwich Village, they had a great selection of niche perfumes and shop had a great boudoir vibe. December 13, 2017 at 11:19am Reply

      • AC: and Twisted Lily in Brooklyn! December 13, 2017 at 11:20am Reply

    • Anu: Hi Nora: I would also recommend Osswald NYC in SOHO. December 13, 2017 at 1:52pm Reply

    • Old Herbaceous: Hi! How exciting to have your first trip to the US — welcome! I second all the NYC recommendations for perfume stores. One more possibility (I haven’t been there myself but it looks great and it’s in a cool part of NY): MiN New York, on Crosby Street: https://us.min.com/.
      I live in the American South, and magnolia is a good note to evoke the South, as long as it’s not a soliflore. The South has amazing vegetation and gardens filled in different seasons with magnolias, jasmine and camellias, and a very humid climate that is hot during the summer. It also has a lot of woodland and farmland, and many vast orchards of soft fruit like peaches. Spanish moss hanging from evergreen oak trees is very typical of the Southeastern coast. Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Miss Arpels” has many relevant notes and was created by JC Ellena. If you wanted to include some tobacco, Petale Noire by Agent Provocateur has some lovely classically Southern notes with some tobacco too! I haven’t tried either one of these scents, though, so you’d have to try them. I have only visited Dallas once, so can’t offer any thoughts on what scents might evoke Dallas, except that my mind keeps going to the TV series … December 13, 2017 at 7:59pm Reply

      • spe: OH, beautiful descriptions! Now I want to try Miss Arpels. Thank you. December 14, 2017 at 9:30am Reply

    • Megan: Your trip sounds amazing! I found two websites that have some thoughtful suggestions about Southern perfume:

      Southern Living magazine: https://www.southernliving.com/healthy-living/mind-body/best-perfume-fragrance-guide

      Old Southern Garden website:
      http://oldsoutherngarden.blogspot.com/2015/02/southern-perfume.html December 14, 2017 at 6:35am Reply

    • Nina Z: Lower Manhattan (Greenwich Village, Soho, and Nolita) has a ton of boutique perfume shops in atmosphere that is much nicer than a department store! You can easily walk from one place to another and it’s worth exploring other things in these neighborhoods. So you should probably pick and choose based on your preferences for a single line or a curated collection. In Greenwich Village there is Aedes de Venustas (curated collection), Frederic Malle, Diptyque, Annick Goutal, Bond No. 9.

      In Nolita there is MiN (curated) as well as LAFCO, which has Italian lines (like Santa Maria Novella) and Le Labo. Soho has one of my favorite shops Osswald (curated).

      Have fun! December 14, 2017 at 2:43pm Reply

    • maja: Hi Nora, so happy for your first time in NYC. Last year I went to NY alone for a week but I was so enthusiastic about the city itself, people and food and things to see that I entered only one small boutique somewhere in Greenwich, smelled Baccarat Rouge and that was it. 🙂 Such an overwhelming experience NYC. December 15, 2017 at 6:05am Reply

    • morejasmineplease: NYC is incredible! Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes!! 🙂

      I believe that CB I Hate Perfume has a boutique in Brooklyn (?) as well. I’ve never been, but reports I’ve heard are that he/his staff are very gracious. December 16, 2017 at 12:37am Reply

    • ClareObscure: Hi Nora. Greenwich Village – Check out the New London Pharmacy. I got NY Intense by Pafums Nicolai there. It’s a nice little shop.
      The High Line Park is great for a walk with views of the city.
      Hope you thoroughly enjoy your trip to the US. December 21, 2017 at 2:53pm Reply

      • Alexis: New London is 1 block away from me! But its in Chelsea, not the Village 😉 December 22, 2017 at 8:08pm Reply

    • Shantel: Aedes de Venustas in the West Village (subway to West 4th St.). December 23, 2017 at 1:01pm Reply

  • Audreythatperfume: Hello everyone.
    Where I live there is limited access to the Chanel exclusif line but it now looks as though these are available to order online from the UK Chanel website which has sent me into a spin of excitement. I don’t know if anyone can confirm this is true…
    I am eyeing up either Cuir de Russie, Bois des Iles or Coromandel but would like some advice on what to go for. Favourites are Portrait of a Lady for nights, No 5 Eau Première for hot weather, Bottega Veneta as a work scent and Feminité du bois any time.
    Any thoughts greatly appreciated. December 13, 2017 at 9:27am Reply

    • Nora Szekely: Hi Audrey,
      I believe you can order les exclusifs online from Chanel.
      They changed teh EDT versions to EDP that are slightly different.
      However I recommend Cuir de Russie parfum extrait since you like Bottega Veneta. It is a great leather scent.
      From the EDP line I tried and bought Coromandel, that I love. It is a gourmandish scent but much more as the patchouli is earthy enough to keep it from being from-playground-straight-to-the-perfume-shop sweet 🙂
      Bois des Iles is somewaht similar to No. 5 original but it has a woody drydown that is to die for. I only tried the EDT and extrait though.
      I wish you good luck with your purchase. December 13, 2017 at 9:47am Reply

      • Audreythatperfume: Cuir de Russie does tempt me but I’m a little nervous of how strong the leather might be. I love suede-leather scents but think this is stronger? December 13, 2017 at 11:47am Reply

        • Nora Szekely: To my nose it does evolve around a strong leather note but the flowers tame it down. It has more bite than Bottega Veneta for sure. December 13, 2017 at 4:32pm Reply

          • Audreythatperfume: Ok, thank you – that is helpful. I think this is the one I would be most into but I probably need to try it properly to be sure. December 13, 2017 at 5:37pm Reply

        • mendokuse: Cuir de Russie is absolutely fabulous, but I feel its real buttery leather heart (the part that makes me go weak in the knees) is in the parfum. I own both the EDT and parfum, and although the EDT is nice, it’s a bit more luxury powder than floral-leather. The parfum literally haunts my dreams, but I sort of regret buying the EDT. December 17, 2017 at 7:02pm Reply

      • Kyriaki: I write this while wearing Bottega Veneta. Portrait of a Lady is exquisite. Of the Guerlains you mention, Shalimar is my favorite. Of the three Chanel Exclusifs you’re considering, Coromandel EDP is my top choice. I admire your taste. December 13, 2017 at 1:14pm Reply

    • Jacinta: Hi Audrey,
      I highly recommend Coromandel. A captivating scent most suitable for this time of year. So beautiful you will want to repeatedly inhale the fragrance. I have three of the perfumes you listed so we have similar taste.
      Jacinta December 13, 2017 at 9:52am Reply

      • Audreythatperfume: Great – thank you. I remember trying it a long time ago and being taken aback by how plush it was – not like the Sheldrake compositions I was used to at Lutens. But I think perhaps plush is in order at this time of year… December 13, 2017 at 11:45am Reply

    • spe: Hi Audrey,
      31 Rue Cambon might be worth a try. Try them on skin for a day or two, if at all possible – many can go quite sweet. If the edp doesn’t work for you, try an extrait. Have fun! December 13, 2017 at 9:54am Reply

      • Audreythatperfume: I have tried some on skin but a while ago, mostly when going through major airports. Rue Cambon is one I have overlooked, however. I think comparisons to Mitsouko ruled it out for me as, whilst I admire Mitsouko, I would far rather wear l’Heure Bleue or Shalimar. How hardcore a chypre is it? December 13, 2017 at 11:43am Reply

        • spe: Well, it’s a pseudo-chypre. But it might be not as dramatic as you like. Maybe Misia? Powdery violet. December 13, 2017 at 1:31pm Reply

    • Michelle Peek: We have very similar taste…… I own Coromandel, Bois Des Iles , Portrait of a Lady and Bottega Veneta. Coromandel is amazing and I’m at the bottom of the large bottle! December 13, 2017 at 10:30am Reply

      • Audreythatperfume: Thanks for this advice. I do lean towards scents that have a dramatic quality! No 5 première is really the exception to that rule but it has a lovely glittery, creamy quality.
        It sounds as though Coromandel could be one for me… December 13, 2017 at 11:40am Reply

    • kpaint: Yikes – those are awfully expensive blind buys. Do you not have any way to test first? On the US ebay site, manufacturers samples of the Exclusifs are very easy to find but maybe that’s not the case where you live.

      I happen to be wearing Coromandel today, but it’s the discontinued edt. The new edp I’m not particularly fond of, so you might want to know whether people are recommending the edt or edp. I do like the edps of Bois des Iles, Misia and Beige, however. December 13, 2017 at 2:34pm Reply

    • Elizabeth: Hello Audrey. What good timing for this question. I have finally gotten Cuir de Russie and now I am wondering what other Exclusive should go on my Want list. I will follow this thread with interest. I have tried Coromandel several times but really struggle with it. I would say that all of them need to be tried several times before making a decision. Also, the top notes are not necessarily indicative of the rest of the story with any of the Exclusives. December 13, 2017 at 11:42pm Reply

    • SFSteve: I agree with those who think you would really want to test these before purchase. I happen to have a sample strip with Coromandel edp that is one week old next to me right now and it’s still scenting an entire area of the room around it. If you didn’t like the fragrance you would be most unhappy wearing it. It’s often described as ‘gourmand’ but, to my nose anyway, in this case that does not connote ‘edible’ in the least. The edp reformulations are often very different than the edt that preceded them and it can be difficult to know whether a rave is for one or the other. December 15, 2017 at 11:01am Reply

  • spe: Please fill in the blank:

    For a woman, the most conservative scent I know is ——-.

    Thank you! December 13, 2017 at 9:47am Reply

    • Nora Szekely: Hi spe,

      White Linen. December 13, 2017 at 9:54am Reply

      • spe: Oh I’m surprised! Thank you, Nora. December 13, 2017 at 9:57am Reply

    • Shannon: Sisley Eau du Soir
      Hermès Caleche
      Chanel No 5
      Chanel No 19
      Chanel Cristalle
      Estée Lauder Private Collection (original)
      Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile
      Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin December 13, 2017 at 10:10am Reply

      • spe: Great list. Thank you, Shannon. December 14, 2017 at 9:34am Reply

    • Katya: I think I agree with Nora about White Linen. (My mother hates that fragrance because a woman she dislikes wore it all the time.)

      Also, soliflores – rose, lily of the valley.

      Soap scents for some reason – Ming Shu by Yves Rocher for example. December 13, 2017 at 10:17am Reply

      • spe: Thank you, kayaya. I’m not familiar with the YR. December 14, 2017 at 9:35am Reply

        • Katya: It was discontinued ages ago I think. Used to lust after it so much in high school and my mum got me a 10 ml and I cherished it. But then it went away. For the life of me I cannot recall the notes, just this clean soapy smell that made me feel nostalgic and safe. Years later I got a similar feeling off See by Chloe Eau Fraiche (and then that got discontinued too) December 14, 2017 at 6:35pm Reply

          • spe: Oh, no. 🙁 December 15, 2017 at 12:50am Reply

    • TrishD: White Satin by Yardley. My mum wore this. December 13, 2017 at 10:29am Reply

      • spe: TrishD, all I see from Yardley is English Lavender here. What does White Satin smell like? Thank you. December 14, 2017 at 9:37am Reply

        • TrishD: Sweet, clean. Florals then white musks, like clean sheets. It’s what I wear for visits to the doctor! December 14, 2017 at 10:41am Reply

          • spe: It might still be available then. Thank you for the description. December 15, 2017 at 12:52am Reply

    • Cybele: Caleche December 13, 2017 at 7:16pm Reply

      • spe: Beautiful. December 14, 2017 at 9:40am Reply

    • Old Herbaceous: Fun question! Probably Joy, and Chanel No. 5, because they are such longtime classics and very elegant. December 13, 2017 at 8:02pm Reply

      • spe: Both are simply exquisite. Thank you. December 14, 2017 at 9:53am Reply

    • Lily: Cacharel Noa
      Philosophy Amazing Grace
      Cartier Baiser Vole

      All of these, to me, read as prim and proper upper middle class wife who is always dressed just right, neither under nor over nor riskily. It’s not a negative, I have Noa and wear it with enjoyment, but that is what conservative means to me so these are wht I perceive as the most conservative scents I have tried. December 14, 2017 at 12:30pm Reply

      • spe: Thank you, Lily. Noa is something I need to track down and sniff. December 15, 2017 at 12:48am Reply

        • Lily: The review here is spot on to say it’s one that people will say “you smell good” not “I love your perfume” Bc Noa isn’t actually obvious as a perfume. Could be lotion or soap. It just smells good. It is subtle but interesting, and very comforting in a clean white sheets, hazy light kind of way. December 15, 2017 at 12:58pm Reply

          • spe: Kind of a modern White Linen, sounds like. December 16, 2017 at 9:19am Reply

      • bregje: i was a little upset with your Baiser vole choice since that’s my go-to scent but i get what you mean ;).
        My first thought was Eternity.
        Since i know a couple of women that look and behave like you described and they all wear Eternity.

        So i guess we were thinking along the same lines 😉
        oh and maybe i am a little conservative,haha(although my family considers me to be the rebel/black sheep, but that’s pretty easy in my family!)

        i definitely second Amazing grace December 18, 2017 at 9:40pm Reply

  • Jacinta: I’ve received amazing recommendations for rose perfumes from a previous thread. I’d be very happy to receive recommendations for an Iris fragrance. December 13, 2017 at 9:54am Reply

    • Kathleen Smith: A few of my favorites are Heeley Iris de Nuit; Aqua de Parma Iris Nobile; Parfums DelRae Mythique; Frederic Malle Iris Poudre; Chanel 19 Poudre December 13, 2017 at 10:06am Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you. Will try to get samples of these. December 13, 2017 at 10:08am Reply

    • TrishD: I like Iris Poudre (Malle) and Impossible Iris (Ramon Monegal). If you also like hyacinth, Bas de Soie by Serge Lutens is worth a look (it’s very sweet), but his Iris Silver Mist is definitely an acquired taste! Annick Goutal’s Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille has a good dose of iris with patchouli and plum – a good iris for autumn. December 13, 2017 at 10:40am Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you very much. I’ll check these out.
        Jacinta December 13, 2017 at 11:16am Reply

    • Audreythatperfume: I love iris so much.
      Floral and delicate like Après l’Ondée by Guerlian
      Sweet and powdery like Donna by Valentino or Silver Iris by Atelier Cologne; more fun again is Traversée du Bosphore by Artisan Parfumeur
      Soft suede in Iris Prima by Penhaligons and Daim Blond by Lutens
      Bold and garish like Insolence edp by Guerlain or Lolita Lempicka
      Growing gourmand in l’Heure Bleue and Ombre Mercure by Terry
      Tobacco and darker leather in Etui Noir by Miller Harris and Chergui December 13, 2017 at 11:56am Reply

      • Jacinta Hennelly: Thank you. Looking forward to sampling these.
        Jacinta December 13, 2017 at 1:39pm Reply

      • Andrea: I once tried a gorgeous iris by Diana Vreeland: Daringly Different. It was good on my skin and unbelievable on my friend’s skin. It also contains oud and rose. December 13, 2017 at 2:26pm Reply

        • Jacinta: Sounds amazing and so different. Definitely on the list. Jacinta December 13, 2017 at 3:54pm Reply

    • Petunia: Hi Jacinthe,

      If you don’t mind your Iris a bit sweeter with a touch of cocoa powder and rice notes, you might like Equistrius by Parfum d’Empire. December 13, 2017 at 7:47pm Reply

      • Petunia: Beg your pardon, Jacinta! December 13, 2017 at 7:48pm Reply

      • Jacinta: I love the description. Will get a sample.
        Jacinta December 14, 2017 at 2:42am Reply

    • Old Herbaceous: I have liked Terre d’Iris by Miller Harris; Nirmal by Laboratorio Olfattivo; Orris by Commodity. December 13, 2017 at 8:05pm Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you very much. Will try samples of all 🙂
        Jacinta December 14, 2017 at 11:51am Reply

    • rickyrebarco: I agree with the wonderful iris recommendations, especially Iris de Nuit by Heeley, iris with violet, Iris Prima, iris and suede, suede is light, iris is the star. Also, beautiful one is Impossible Iris by Ramon Monegal. I refer to it as ‘impossibly beautiful.” Another really fun and unusual iris is Le Fin du Monde by L’Etat Libre de Orange. It’s a lilting with a little note of salty popcorn added. Sounds weird, I know, but it’s fun and delightful. December 14, 2017 at 11:17am Reply

      • rickyrebarco: Meant to say “lilting iris.” Sorry December 14, 2017 at 11:18am Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you. Looking forward to trying the recommendations.
        Jacinta December 14, 2017 at 11:52am Reply

    • maja: Iris Silver Mist, Chanel 19, Equistrius, Hiris, 31, Rue Cambon, Le Cri de la Lumiere, Odori Iris. Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille, too. December 14, 2017 at 5:56pm Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you. Some more amazing recommendations.
        Jacinta December 14, 2017 at 6:37pm Reply

    • morejasmineplease: I had a lot of trouble when I first tried iris – I think because I went for a MAJOR iris as my initiation — Xerjoff Irisss. I’ve since come to appreciate it though, and absolutely adore Ormonde Jayne Vanille D’Iris (be careful not to overspray – I got an unpleasant overload of carrot when I did this!) and also OJ Orris Noir. None of these are particularly floral to me; for more floral-y versions, I frequently confuse iris and violet. I’m going to be investigating many of the other suggestions here too as I continue my own education! December 16, 2017 at 12:49am Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you very much for these suggestions. I will certainly try all of them.
        Jacinta December 16, 2017 at 12:55pm Reply

      • Fleurycat: I had trouble with Iris scents even though I loved the note theoretically, but many were too masculine or dry on my skin. Then I discovered a few that I worked for me and that opened the door to further appreciation of Iris perfumes, even some I initially rejected. Some of my favorites are: Hermès Hiris (I wore it all summer and it’s easy to layer), Frederic Malle Iris Poudre (though a little goes a long way), Equistrious (not strictly Iris), Prada Infusion d’Iris and almost all of it’s flankers, and of course L’Heure Bleue. I find Violet has a similar cool, but somewhat more tender, melancholic vibe than Iris, but they do have similarities: for violet try Frau Tonis Veilchen, Sminta (also floral and powdery), or Chanel Misia. December 22, 2017 at 4:00am Reply

        • morejasmineplease: Fleurycat, I love your descriptions!! “tender and melancholic” are perfect for violet!! You just exactly captured my first whiff of Apres l’Ondee with that!! I’m going to explore the others you’ve named — I’ve obviously heard of them all but oddly have never pursued any to date.

          Jacinta or anyone who’s especially adventurous: I just was introduced to Irisor by Sultan Pasha Attars and the first experience of it was, for lack of a better word, narcotic! I have no clue if all of his attars have such an effect (can’t wait to find out) but this iris to me was so soft and enveloping and rich — definitely not dry. It was pretty amazing. December 22, 2017 at 11:08am Reply

          • Fleurycat: I came into this thread in the middle and have now gone back to read all the wonderful Iris recommendations! Thank you to Jacinta, morejasmineplease, and all others. This is such an invaluable forum and a delight to read. I’m curious about Daringly Different and Irisor, both new to me.

            Thank you morejasmineplease! It actually was Apres L’Ondee that I was remembering with “tender and melancholic”. The smell of lilacs has a similar effect me. Beautiful, but wistful, and sometimes difficult to wear. It also reminds me of how much one’s mood altered by scent, and why it is so important to us. December 22, 2017 at 2:20pm Reply

    • mendokuse: My favorite iris is Chanel La Pausa EDT. I dream of the day they make a parfum concentration – I’d buy it as soon as it hits the store, regardless of price! December 17, 2017 at 7:05pm Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you. Another sample for my list. 🙂
        Jacinta December 17, 2017 at 7:15pm Reply

    • AnnieA: Adding Goutal’s Heure Exquise and Prada’s Infusion d’Iris Absolu… December 21, 2017 at 5:28pm Reply

      • Jacinta: Thank you. Will sample both of these.
        Jacinta December 21, 2017 at 5:31pm Reply

  • Katya: I literally squealled when the email for this thread landed in my inbox.

    I’m in the mood for something dark and dramatic (to go with this weather) and I’ve got my eye on the new Bottega Veneta (Eau de Velours), which is interesting as I don’t usually go for violet scents. What does everybody else think? Last winter I had my eye on Coco by Chanel and while I still am curious I don’t know if I want a FB. Between those two, what would you suggest? December 13, 2017 at 10:14am Reply

    • Karen A: To throw another option in to your mix, Civet by Zoologist is a stunning dark and dramatic fragrance. December 13, 2017 at 10:24am Reply

      • Katya Bozukova: See I’m a bit weary about civet smells. I’m kinda okay with the note in No 5 but not enough to want a bottle of my own. I guess I’m more of a gourmand dark and dramatic interest. Thank you though! December 13, 2017 at 2:11pm Reply

    • TrishD: Of the two, the Bottega sounds fabulous. I would also recommend Belle au Parfum de Oud by Esteban, if you can get it. I might treat myself to their new frag for Christmas – Cubacao (chocolate and white flowers). December 13, 2017 at 10:50am Reply

      • Katya Bozukova: Doesn’t look like they stock it near me but that’s interesting.

        Also, I was interested in getting Angel Muse, which from smelling it reminds me of chocolate a lot too. December 13, 2017 at 2:11pm Reply

        • TrishD: Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens is a great cocoa/patchouli scent too. I ummed and ahhed between that and Angel le Gout du Parfum, which has the chocolate note turned up, but went for the Lutens in the end. December 15, 2017 at 5:49am Reply

    • Audreythatperfume: I love the original Bottega Veneta and love iris and rose so was buzzing for their new Velours version. It is lovely but not hugely different from the original. However, I prefer them both to Coco, I think, just as Coco feels very power perfume to me whereas BV is never hard work. However, Coco’s sillage is better. December 13, 2017 at 11:59am Reply

      • Katya: I agree about Coco’s sillage but for some reason I’m weary about shopping with Chanel at the moment. I guess I don’t completely like what they’re doing with their brand identity (Gabrielle was a crowd-pleaser but not at all interesting or challenging which… would Coco have approved? I’m not sure.)

        Bottega Veneta is one of those perfumes like Vetyverio by Diptyque that I would not have tried without the interference of a sales associate. And yet, even though I would have never picked it up (my mother hates violet smells so I never wear them) I find myself drawn to it over and over and over again. It’s really fascinating. December 13, 2017 at 2:16pm Reply

        • kpaint: Sounds like you should help yourself to a bottle, then 😉 December 13, 2017 at 2:27pm Reply

          • Katya: My wallet weeps… tears of joy I’m sure December 13, 2017 at 2:40pm Reply

            • Kayliz: The 30ml bottle is so incredibly cute I hung on to it for ages after I realised the perfume didn‘t suit me. It really is a gorgeous little thing. December 13, 2017 at 6:01pm Reply

        • Cybele: just a reason more to support the classics in the Chanel line! December 13, 2017 at 7:21pm Reply

    • spe: The Night by Frederic Malle. I haven’t sniffed yet, but the name sure is intriguing. December 14, 2017 at 9:52am Reply

      • Surbhi: No. No. No. smells like horse barn for days and weeks with a very faint rose scent somewhere in background. December 14, 2017 at 1:58pm Reply

        • Katya: Fascinating… December 14, 2017 at 6:36pm Reply

        • spe: Haha! Great review, Surbhi! Thank you for the warning. December 15, 2017 at 11:35am Reply

    • Nina Z: Dark and dramatic could be Coromandel by Chanel (it has a bit of chocolate in it!). That’s my favorite dark and dramatic perfume (and I used to wear Coco). I was going to suggest some Guerlain fragrances, like Tonka Imperiale and Spiriteuse Double Vanille, but am concerned those might be too pricey for you (given the two you’re looking at).

      When you say you have your “eye” on those perfumes, do you mean you’ve never smelled them or you’ve smelled them and can’t decide whether to buy them? I think if you can’t decide, keep looking for something else that you love so much you have no trouble making up your mind about them. And if you haven’t smelled them, try them first! December 14, 2017 at 6:30pm Reply

      • Katya: I have smelled both but I never really felt like getting Coco. Last winter I bought a 5 ml vial off Ebay to trial and I loved it while I had it but even after it was gone I felt no strong desire to go to the counter and buy a bottle.

        BV on the other hand I also had a sample of and I loved it enough to buy a 30 ml today. I guess with me I just have a feeling about a fragrance. It isn’t pricey like the Guerlains or Coromandel, but something about the dry roses reminds me of Rose Nacree du Desert by Guerlain (another great sample love) and it plays wih leather in a way that I like.

        But what great names to add to my to try list. Thank you! December 14, 2017 at 6:42pm Reply

    • Nina Z: Another dark and dramatic gourmand that I really like is Anima Dulcis, which is a spicy chocolate fragrance that is somehow not sweet. I know Victoria gave it a good review! December 14, 2017 at 7:38pm Reply

  • BONNIE: Hi everyone: I live in Toronto, where it is absolutely freezing today, and for the past few days it has been gloomy and I’ve been feeling so down. WINTER IS HERE! I AM NOT A FAN!

    I would like to find a perfume that will remind me of spring. Spring buds? Sunshine? Refreshing breeze? I don’t know exactly. I just want spring in a bottle, if it exists. I need a scent that picks me up. Thanks for any recommendations! December 13, 2017 at 10:32am Reply

    • TrishD: Ostara by Penhaligon’s – the scent of daffodils, including the leaves, the sticky snapped stems, the earth they grow in. Spring in a bottle. December 13, 2017 at 10:41am Reply

      • sandra: Second Ostara
        Songes by Annick Goutal
        Lys Soleai by Guerlain

        Have you ever tried Cristalle in the winter? its very nice!

        Ninfeo Mio Annick Goutal is another beautiful one.

        Doesn’t get a lot of love but Shalimar Soufflé flanker is very mood up lifting..if you want to smell like vanilla lemon custard instead of flowers. December 13, 2017 at 11:26am Reply

        • TrishD: Cristalle is a good call. Any of the ‘greens’ is good: Bandit, Azurée, Alliage, Chanel no 19, Coriandre, Silences…. Also, Un Matin d’Orage – the scent of wet cherry blossom. December 14, 2017 at 3:54am Reply

      • Old Herbaceous: Second Ostara!! December 13, 2017 at 8:08pm Reply

    • Audreythatperfume: How about a shot of vibrant citrus? It still feels Christmassy but also reminds me of warm weather. Pamplelune by Guerlain, maybe, or Trefle Pur by Atelier Cologne, which is supposed to be like walkong over freshly mown grass… December 13, 2017 at 12:01pm Reply

    • Kate: Jour D’Hermes is very spring-y to me! December 13, 2017 at 12:04pm Reply

    • kpaint: In late winter/early spring I always crave violets: Atelier Sous le toit de Paris, SSS Voile de Violet, Balenciaga Le Dix, Guerlain Apres L’Ondee, Chanel Misia, ELDO Putain des Palaces. Also lily: VCA Gardenia Petale, Cartier Baiser Vole, Le Labo Lys 41.

      I’ll also 2nd the Jour d’Hermès recommendation, and add the Gardénia version which I find even spring-ier.

      Other spring-associated scents: FM En Passant, Lolita Lempicka L’Eau en Blanc, Chanel No 19, Cacharel Anais Anais, Atelier Trèfle Pur, Guerlain Chamade, Diorissimo.

      The Dame Perfumery Soliflores are also worth trying out if you can. I particularly like the Orange Blossom and Freesia.

      Our winter is a pussycat compared to yours, but I hate it too, so I feel you. One thing that has made it less miserable is my heated mattress pad, which I bought this fall. HIGHLY recommended if you don’t already have one! December 13, 2017 at 12:59pm Reply

      • TrishD: I just bought the husband and myself thick full sheepskins to use on our reclining office chairs – SO snug. The only problem is our cats are surgically attached to them the second our backs are turned. December 15, 2017 at 5:56am Reply

    • Katya: How do you feel about citrus vetivers? (I know, I recommend this in EVERY thread but it is really that good) Diptyque Vetyverio (edt, the edp is heavier) is what comes to mind.

      Also if you can get Fragonard, Santal always gets me feeling happy and spring-y. December 13, 2017 at 2:24pm Reply

    • KatieAnn: I second Guerlain Chamade. The extrait is stunning. It really is spring captured in a (beautiful) bottle. 🙂 December 13, 2017 at 3:59pm Reply

    • Rachel: Vert de Fleur by Tom Ford reminds me of Spring pushing it’s way through the dreary frigid days. December 13, 2017 at 4:50pm Reply

    • Neva: Hi Bonnie, two lovely creamy flower perfumes that I have discovered recently are Tiare and Sampaquita by Ormonde Jayne. Both scream “spring” to me. If you are not familiar with them, I can recommend that you try them. December 13, 2017 at 5:27pm Reply

    • Shelby: Diptyque L’Eau de Tarocco is the juiciest, sunniest, happiest orange scent I’ve ever smelled. Maybe give that one a try! December 13, 2017 at 8:37pm Reply

    • SoSuSam: Spring in a bottle? Try Annick Goutal’s Eau de Camille. (If you’re not familiar with it, it has a lovely back story about the fact that she created it for her daughter.) Smelling it is like standing on freshly mown grass as a breeze swirls the scent of nearby flowers all around you: ivy, privet, honeysuckle, seringa, and cut grass. It’s perfect. Though, uh, it may have been discontinued…still, you can find it at discount perfumers. I live not quite as far north as you (in Vermont) and often spritz it in winter when I need a dose of green springy happiness. December 14, 2017 at 11:23am Reply

    • Rowanhill: En Passant from Frederic Malle is spring in a bottle. December 14, 2017 at 11:31am Reply

    • Emily: This is an affordable suggestion, and one I have been enjoying in gloomy Alaska: Banana Republic’s Vintage Green, which is a pretty green fig and leaf scent that I found unexpectedly charming. December 14, 2017 at 3:11pm Reply

    • Nina Z: Green florals are very spring like. I love Annick Goutal L’Heure Exquise and Chamade (hyacinth!) for my green floral fixes. I also love DSH Fleuriste, which is spring-like cool carnation scent, so it’s spicy and uplifting. Personally I find any carnation scents uplifting in the winter but not everyone feels the way I do about that note. December 14, 2017 at 6:36pm Reply

    • morejasmineplease: Great suggestions already! Cartier Basier Vole is my go-to spring blast. December 16, 2017 at 12:35am Reply

    • Lizbee: Puredistance OPARDU is my favorite floral to wear in cold weather as a reminder of spring. December 17, 2017 at 11:35am Reply

    • AnnieA: biehl parfumkunstwerke PC01 is a cheery, grassy and fruity summer romp. December 21, 2017 at 5:36pm Reply

  • Fleurycat: I struggle with the gloom of Winter myself, and here in Portland the rain can make it worse. At least snow brightens things a bit! I have found this year particularly challenging, so I empathize. My top recommendation would be Jour Ensoleille, a gorgeous uplifting scent, but full enough for cold weather (please see the beautiful description on the Sonoma Scent Studio website). A diiferent take on Orange that the perfumer responsible for Frau Tonis recommends to combat Winter gloom in Berlin is a straight up juicy orange scent: No. 41 Orange, which while not complex is definitely cheering, and if you like Rose scents the No. 39 Rose de France is given a fresh take with eucalyptus (Unfortunately these are only available in Germany or online, however they are available in small quantities, and are reasonably priced to sample). Citrusy Summer EDC’s are too light and astringent this time of year, but I find spicy florals with a dash of citrus or sweetness help to combat the gloom. I would recommend Chanel Bois des Isles, Teo Cabanel Oha, L’Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubereuse (I find the Mango note unusual and uplifting), and maybe The Different Company Jasmin de Nuit, a woody but still bright floral. Good luck! I hope you find a new fragrance to love. December 13, 2017 at 12:08pm Reply

    • Cathy B.: I absolutely adore Jour Ensoleille and highly recommend it. Please try Laurie’s newest fragrance, Bee’s Bliss. It is an incredible fragrance!!! December 13, 2017 at 5:36pm Reply

      • Sharon: Bee’s Bliss is an uplifting, lilting spring day in a bottle, it’s my new favorite! December 13, 2017 at 6:38pm Reply

      • Fleurycat: I agree Jour Soleille is truly gorgeous! It had drifted out of my rotation for awhile so I wore it today and it was as lovely and uplifting as I remembered. Thank you for the recommendation for The new SSS Perfume Bee’s Bliss, I will give it a try! Even when I don’t like Laurie’s fragrances for myself, her talent is clear and they are beautifully realized concepts. Honey, like Orange blossom and pettigrain, can go either way for me, the composition is so critical. JourEbsleille took me by surprise a few years ago and I was smitten. December 13, 2017 at 7:36pm Reply

  • Terry Futrelle: Wishing everyone, wonderful holiday season! My very favorite scent for Christmas, for 45 years, is Chamade, by Guerlain. It is complex and rich, and it reminds me of all the bulbs we force to bloom, inside, during winter. No party outfit is complete, until I put on my Chamade. December 13, 2017 at 12:22pm Reply

    • Gabriela: So right… Chamade is perfect for winter. Love your description “all the bulbs we force to bloom”. December 13, 2017 at 1:44pm Reply

  • Andrea: My beloved husband will buy the discovery set for Her by Francis Kurkdjian as a christmas gift for me. He’s a real schatz. It contains APOM, Feminin Pluriel, Amyris, Baccarat Rouge, Grand Soir, Petit Matin, Lumiere Noire and A la rose. Maybe I’ll order a sample of Oud Satin Mood by the same brand. I would love to read what you think of the scents. Merry Christmas, everyone! December 13, 2017 at 2:17pm Reply

    • Nora Szekely: You’re a lucky wife, Andrea. 🙂
      My favourites are Grand Soir (sexy gourmand) , Lumiere Noire (dark rose – patchouli, a fave of Caterine Deneuve apparently) , and A la rose (bright rose buds).
      All are polished beauties. Happy sampling and Merry Christmas! December 13, 2017 at 4:43pm Reply

    • Tara C: I love Oud Satin Mood and Grand Soir best. Absolue pour le Soir is magnificent but it has to be special ordered from his site in France. December 18, 2017 at 9:04pm Reply

  • Julie Ellis: Happy Holidays!! I’m thinking I’d like to try something mystical and magical, maybe moon inspired much like Christmas Eve memories.
    December and Noel Enchante from DSH are nice ones to try.
    Any ideas out there?? Thanks. December 13, 2017 at 4:07pm Reply

    • Kayliz: House of Matriarch has a limited-edition dark green incense out for Christmas, a holly-inspired scent: Sacre Noir. To me it‘s as if Christi Meshell corrected everything that is jarring about Serge Lutens‘ Fille en Aiguilles so there’s just the dark Narnia forest left. December 13, 2017 at 6:09pm Reply

    • Tara C: Dasein Winter Nights is lovely. December 18, 2017 at 9:05pm Reply

  • irem: Hello perfume lovers.
    I plan to splurge on Chanel Cuir de Russie for Christmas, but I cannot make up my mind about the concentration. I know the parfum is suberb, but the silage and projection is limited. I have worn the EdT before (2005 and 2010 versions) but I am not familiar with the current EdP formulation. I understand they are inferior to the parfum, but to what degree? Do they have indeed an ambery wood drydown (remember reading some comments somewhere)?
    I love the animalic, dirty, leathery, jasmine sexiness side of Cuir de Russie. Which concentration would be my best bet?
    Also, I would not mind exploring additional perfumes similar to Cuir de Russie if you have any suggestions.
    Thanks and Merry Christmas – or other holiday you celebrate! December 13, 2017 at 4:09pm Reply

    • Nora Szekely: Hi Irem,
      You may still find EDT online but if not, the extrait is a great choice.
      As for other leather scents, Bottega Veneta Edp does worth a try but that one is more decent for sure. December 13, 2017 at 4:48pm Reply

      • irem: Thanks Nora, I have checked the EdT online but was not able to find a reputable source – I had the misfortune to order “bad” fragrances from relatively well-known sources, and since stopped shopping the grey market.
        Bottega Veneta, I love on others, but don’t enjoy wearing it myself. I find it too sweet on me. December 18, 2017 at 3:48pm Reply

    • Fleurycat: I find Cuir de Russie far more complex than Bottega Veneta. The initial blast of leather (it almost reminds me of gasoline) is intense for a moment but immediately thereafter the development is classic Chanel, complex, floral, with a nice dry down and it is beautiful on the skin. It seems (to me) that Bottega Veneta goes on softer (suede and apricots in contrast to the true leather of Cuir de Russie), but later is more shrill and less complex, at least with my chemistry. I hope the new version of C de R doesn’t disappoint. Mine is from around 2005. I think a few of the Eris vintage style perfumes like Night Flower have leather notes which are similar, you might want to try them, too. ; ) December 13, 2017 at 7:52pm Reply

      • irem: Hello Fleurycat, I had a CdR from 2005 and it was really good. I’ll keep my eyes open for Eris fragrances, never explored them before.
        Thanks for your recommendation! December 18, 2017 at 3:50pm Reply

        • Fleurycat: I was afraid I might be imagining a leather note in Eris Night Flower, so I looked it up:
          notes of aromatic cardamom, animalic leather and suede “wrap around” narcotic Indian tuberose and dry down to a cozy base of birch tar, patchouli, cinnamon and tonka…no wonder it’s on my wish list! Definitely give it a sniff. December 22, 2017 at 4:08am Reply

    • Lizbee: Hi Irem,
      I really love Cuir de Russie in the EDP. It is richer than the EDT and a touch more gentle, but still gorgeous and elegant. I find it a bit easier to wear daily than the parfum. It also projects more. I bought it for myself last Christmas, and in the cooler weather, it is in heavy rotation. Can’t wait to hear what you end up splurging on. Either way, it’s a lovely gift to yourself. December 16, 2017 at 8:27am Reply

      • irem: Hi Lizbee, your comment is very encouraging. I love the sophistication of parfum and have several parfums, but always miss the projection of the EdP or even EdT sprays. I am so glad that you splurged on CdR last Christmas and enjoyed it, it is indeed a lovely gift to oneself.
        Thanks for your comment! December 18, 2017 at 3:54pm Reply

    • mendokuse: 100% parfum concentration. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I own both the EDT and the parfum (also the EDP in sample form), and the best concentration is without a doubt the parfum. The EDP is a touch more floral than the powdery EDT, but still no match for the pure, buttery texture of the parfum. December 17, 2017 at 7:12pm Reply

      • irem: Oh I know, I have sampled the parfum during a trip last year, and it was fabulous. My only gripe with it is that I end up not wearing parfums. I have both parfum and the EdT of 19 for example, the parfum is exquisite, yet, I have almost finished the EdT bottle, and dabbed the parfum only a few times.
        Thanks for your comment mendokuse! December 18, 2017 at 3:58pm Reply

        • mendokuse: I think the key to getting into wearing perfumes is to get caught up in the sheer romance of it. There’s such a wonderfully retro feel to a parfum flacon on a dressing table, and getting ready to go out by dabbing on beautiful perfume! December 22, 2017 at 3:05am Reply

          • mendokuse: Autocorrect switched parfums to perfumes in my first sentence >:[ December 22, 2017 at 3:06am Reply

    • Rebecca H.: I was partially anosmic to Bottega Veneta, but I bought a decant of the discontinued Cuir de Lancome and it accomplishes something similar more forcefully.

      A soapy, horsehide beginning and a sweet patch drydown. Very comforting. And I have read that some prefer it to Cuir de Russie, which I haven’t tried yet, though it may be gentler. I plan to buy a full bottle. December 18, 2017 at 1:35pm Reply

  • Emily: Has anyone here tried any perfumes from Alkemia Perfumes out of Massachusetts? What are your thoughts? I have a few coming in the mail, mostly focused around nag champa notes because I used to love l’air du rien, but I think they reformulated it with a synthetic musk that doesn’t agree with me. December 14, 2017 at 3:14pm Reply

  • Pearl: Hi everyone! I’m looking for a perfume for my mother for xmas. Looking at what she’s worn in the past (the original ‘Poison’ by CD, ’24 rue faubourg’ by Hermes, ‘Flower’ by Kenzo, the original ‘Kelly Caleche’ by Hermes) I think she likes bold perfumes with orange blossom or/and tuberose and perhaps a touch of powder? I think she’s also worn orientals in the past (shalimar, samsara come to mind).
    Ideally, I’d like to find something for under $150 euros. Thank you in advance for your suggestions! December 14, 2017 at 5:16pm Reply

    • kpaint: I wonder if Hermes d’Galop might be something she would like? December 16, 2017 at 12:11pm Reply

      • Pearl: Thank you for your recommendation! I am going to go to a perfume counter tomorrow and give Galop another try as it’s been a long time since I’ve smelled it. My mother does like Hermes so I guess it would be a safe choice 🙂 December 16, 2017 at 8:48pm Reply

    • Malmaison: What about Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger? Gorgeous sweet orange blossom, although there is a cumin note that puts some people off. Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale is a ravishing white flower-gardenia perfume, not sure about the price point alas.

      Lancôme Poème I think could be an interesting choice for your mother, going off the 24 Faubourg that she likes – a beautiful honeyed floral which actually I need to go and dig out and spray on me right now. It’s the kind of perfume that never seems to make top ten lists but it is just so wearable.

      I also agree that Hermès Galop is a lovely perfume, with notes of rose, quince and soft leather – I adore this! December 16, 2017 at 12:43pm Reply

      • Pearl: Thank you so much for your recommendations! I did enjoy Galop when I smelled it at the airport last year. I might give it another sniff at the mall tomorrow 🙂 One of my friends wears Poeme so I kind of think of it as “her” perfume if that makes sense? I will try and find The VC & A as it sounds really nice too! December 16, 2017 at 8:46pm Reply

    • Silvermoon: Hello Pearl, the British perfume houses Ormonde Jayne and Miller Harris both have lovely perfumes. For OJ, maybe Tolu or Ormonde Woman are worth trying. MH has a number of excellent offerings. Also, the French Memo has the beautiful Lalibella. I think all of these have something within your price range. Then there is Serge Lutens, which again has lots of choices- perhaps Feminite de Bois or Fille de Berlin or Ambre Sultan are all good options for winter wear.

      I am sure she will love the thought you put into selecting a perfume for her. December 19, 2017 at 12:21pm Reply

  • megan: Can anyone who likes bigarade by f. malle recommend a similar bitter orange perfume? I’m looking for another strange unique citrus. December 14, 2017 at 6:51pm Reply

    • limegreen: There are many strange unique citruses!
      But if you wanted to try another JC Ellena creation (he did Bigarade Concentree for Malle):
      1. Cartier Declaration — with bitter orange

      2. Hermes Neroli Dore — neroli and saffron (this is a favorite of mine) December 16, 2017 at 7:18pm Reply

      • megan: Thanks so much I will try them! December 22, 2017 at 3:41pm Reply

    • katherine x: Try Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune – glorious grapefruit and other scents. Victoria did a review as well. I’m a fan of Bigarade (concentree) as well! December 16, 2017 at 10:18pm Reply

      • megan: I love grapefruit as well December 22, 2017 at 3:41pm Reply

  • Inma: Hello everybody,

    Still deciding my perfume samples for our Reyes Magos (Magic Kings) here in Spain.

    But I would like to ask you some recommendations for my 15 year old daughter. She used to have Anaïs Anaïs Premier Délice. She loves the original “that you weared when you where young, mum”. Yesterday she tried Amor amor but she didn´t love it.

    We tried, during the summer, A la nuit de Serge Lutens and now she says she wants it!! I was so surprised yesterday. It is too much though. My budget is 50-75 € and I’d love it would be easy to find so she can try it and I can buy it without a lot of difficulty.

    Any suggestion?

    Thank you in advance! December 15, 2017 at 6:50am Reply

    • Maria: Hola Inma,
      Why don’t you give her a decant? Some sites like Surrender to chance have bigger decants (5 or 10 ml, even 30). That would give your daughter the chance to try the parfum she really wants and given the small quantity, they are always less expensive than a full bottle. I’m sure there are other sites in Europe that have this service too.
      Felices fiestas! December 15, 2017 at 10:04am Reply

      • Inma: Hello María,
        Thank you very much for the advise. I am not familiar with this type of web so this is a very good opportunity to get good references. Felices fiestas for too! December 18, 2017 at 5:27am Reply

    • Petunia: Hi Inma, I have seen A La Nuit at the discounters like Fragrancenet for around $63 in the old packaging (50 ml bottle) December 15, 2017 at 7:00pm Reply

      • morejasmineplease: FWIW, I have bought several SL bottles from fragrancenet for quite low prices and they were authentic (including A La Nuit, I believe), though they’re often testers. December 16, 2017 at 12:33am Reply

        • Inma: Thank you very much for the advice, I’ll have a look at it! December 18, 2017 at 5:29am Reply

    • Gabriela: Inma, take a look at Notino.es, they have A la nuit for €71. I have bought from them and had no issues. December 16, 2017 at 9:20am Reply

      • Inma: Hello Gabriella,
        I´ve just had a look and it is much cheaper than in the department store.
        It is seems that the Reyes Magos are going to bring her favourite perfume after all…
        Thank you! December 18, 2017 at 5:33am Reply

      • irem: I have made several purchases from the US notino site and they come highly recommended. I have purchased fragrance, sunscreen, skincare, haircare etc. Everything was fresh, with plenty of time until the expiration date, labels and serial numbers were intact (some grey market retailers cut out or blur serial numbers) and everything was authentic. December 19, 2017 at 9:08pm Reply

    • OnWingsofSaffron: Why don’t you buy the SL “A la nuit” via Ebay? You won’t receive it straight away (probably not till 6th January), and it may even be a bottle which was used before, but why not? I’d rather have a classy perfume purchased second hand than a run of the mill from the counter.
      An added bonus would be that you could search for the vintage version with the old Palais logo, instead of the new stylised SL logo …? December 17, 2017 at 9:25am Reply

      • Inma: the vintage version sounds soo good, thank you!! December 18, 2017 at 5:34am Reply

  • peppermoon: Anyone have any licorice reccomendations? I’m craving it in all of it’s forms, and would love to hear of any licorice- heavy scents, especially with unique combinations of notes. December 15, 2017 at 10:58pm Reply

    • morejasmineplease: I personally have not tried it, but isn’t the original Lolita Lempicka a licorice scent? December 16, 2017 at 12:52am Reply

      • peppermoon: Yes, it does! I have a sample of it and unfortunately there’s a weird undertone that doesn’t pair well with my skin – I think it’s created by the vanilla and heliotrope and cherry going wonky. December 16, 2017 at 11:57pm Reply

    • Klaas: Hey Peppermoon, licorice is a great note in perfume…..Lolita Lempica is one to try, but I can also recommend Black by Comme des Garcons. A very unusual perfume and great for winter! It’s got licorice in there, lavender, vetiver, something rubbery…… Love it or hate it!

      However, the king and queen of licorice scents is Brin de Riglisse from the Hermessences line. At least I think so. Quite expensive, and not a lot of sillage nor longevity, but…….it is perfect! It’s built around lavender and licorice. Playfull, salty and sweet, just a touch gourmand and incredibly original. It is one of my all time favorites…….enjoy! December 16, 2017 at 5:56pm Reply

      • peppermoon: I’ll give Black a try, vetiver can be an iffy note for me at times though. I’ve reaaaaallly been wanting to sample Brin de Reglisse. I love a lot of JC Ellena’s works that are beautiful but soft, so the projection shouldn’t be a problem. You’ve inspired me to go to the Hermes boutique tomorrow and sniff it! December 17, 2017 at 12:06am Reply

        • Klaas: Oh, please let me know what you think of BdR! I hope they’ll give you a sample, they are usually quite generous at Hermes. It took me a sniff or two to get used to it…….now I love it!

          The vetiver in Black is quite understated, so no worries……give it a try, it’s a fun scent to get to know, wether you’ll want to wear it or not. Lots of licorice 😉 December 17, 2017 at 6:22am Reply

    • Tara C: Try Fou d’Absinthe from L’Artisan Parfumeur, or Black by Comme des Garçons. December 18, 2017 at 9:09pm Reply

      • peppermoon: Forgot that I had a sample of Fou D’Absinthe. It has some of my favorite notes but it was languishing in a sample bag somewhere in my closet! Thanks for reminding me to try it, it’s lovely. I have a tiny dabber sample and I feel like I’ll really get the full effect with a big spray though so I may need to hunt down a bigger decant 🙂 December 19, 2017 at 11:03am Reply

    • spe: Eau de Reglisse cologne by Caron is quite good. December 23, 2017 at 10:21am Reply

  • morejasmineplease: Hi everyone! I hope a question from a longtime lurker is OK for this lovely well-sniffed crowd! I won an ebay auction for a lot of samples and got a vial of a perfume oil from an indie / etsy seller named 13gypsies, now known as Whisper Sisters. It’s called Blackberry Tea. I contacted the company and was told it’s discontinued as they cannot get the blackberry oil any longer (blackberry oil???). Anyway, it is NOT a tea scent IMO; it has a kind of tangy thing going on. It’s sweet but not overly sugary. I don’t smell any floral in it. I guess “blackberry” is a good name since it’s a slightly sour-sweet, but definitely not a candy floss deal. I have now become obsessed with finding something similar. I don’t know if anyone here is into those indie sellers and has any knowledge of this? My ability to describe the notes is obviously quite limited. Suggestions welcome!! TIA!!! December 16, 2017 at 12:30am Reply

    • kpaint: I can’t help you on this one, but if you haven’t already posed your question at NST (nowsmellthis perfume blog) someone there might be able to. There are daily postings but the weekend would probably be the best time to ask. December 16, 2017 at 12:17pm Reply

      • morejasmineplease: Thank you for the suggestion!! December 18, 2017 at 6:54am Reply

    • Silvermoon: It seems like you especially liked the blackberry aspect of this perfume. Have you tried Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay? They even have candles in that scent. December 19, 2017 at 12:30pm Reply

      • morejasmineplease: I was able to try this Jo Malone at Nordstrom’s recently and it’s very grapefruit on me, and the Malones don’t tend to last on my skin. However, I’m going to give it another shot when the weather warms up. Thank you for the suggestion!!! February 19, 2018 at 11:09am Reply

    • Peppermoon: Alkemia Blackberry Noir is apparently the slightly less sweet dupe. And if you like blackberry, try the niche L’Artisan Mure et Musc! It’s probably not a dupe but you might like it. December 19, 2017 at 12:33pm Reply

      • morejasmineplease: @Peppermoon – by sheer coincidence, I was just googling about another scent from this FO seller and I found the thread you posted on reddit about my question! THANK YOU! Wow, how cool is the internet?? 🙂 I am indeed going to try the Alkemia one!!! I don’t have a reddit account or I would’ve thanked you over there. February 19, 2018 at 11:08am Reply

        • Peppermoon: What a coincidence! And no problem, I knew they would know more info about the problem, the indie scents community over there is really knowledgeable. Best of luck with your quest 🙂 February 20, 2018 at 8:59am Reply

  • Jennifer: Hello!

    I am looking for a long-lasting chocolate perfume. I’d appreciate any recommendations!

    Thank you!!
    Jennifer December 16, 2017 at 10:46am Reply

  • Lily: I just wanted to share some sampling notes from my Xmas themed perfume sampling; will come back to after I have tried the rest.

    My go-to Christmas scent is Serge Lutyens Fille en Aiguilles. For me it is a perfect blend of pine and sweet and smoke and tart berry.

    Another scent in my wardrobe that I have heard described as “Christmas in a bottle” is Burberry London for Him, which is cinnamon and sweet tobacco and a hint of lavender. If spice = Christmas then yes.

    Finally I had a friend tell me I smelled like a gentleman’s study at Christmas – wood with mulled oranges and spice wafting over from the kitchen – when he smelled my beloved Hoibigant Orangeurs en Fleur on me, so I include that in my Christmas scents.

    Now on to samples! Last summer I ordered samples of Caron Nuit de Noel and ELDO Noel at Balcon, and after the November thread one of DSH’s holiday samplers (set 2, 9-16).

    I am trying the Noel ah Balcon today for the second time; tried it last summer and felt it was too indolic…my nose smelled poop underneath the entire progression. Today, a cold chilly day, it is amazing. Rich and a little sweet, a little heady, a little spicy, but just so nicely balanced and alluring. I can’t stop sniffing my wrist. Def an early fave, but I am not even halfway through.

    From the DSH set I have tried Dark Moon, Cordial, and Vanilla Bourbon Intense. So far Dark Moon is the most interesting, earthy and a bit chocolate-y. Cordial wasn’t nearly as caramel-forward as I expected (I decided to give non-fruity gourmands a try after falling for Lolita Lempicka), nice and comforting but not a strong statement to me. The Vanilla was a nice vanilla, and not incense-based which was a plus in my book. There is a commonality to the base/undertone of the DSH set that makes them seem like part of a collection; probably similar to the Tauer base. I am undecided on whether I like it.

    Anyway, I am looking forward to spending the remainder of December celebrating the season with themed scents, nothing so far has been a scrubber, and at least one is enormously tempting. But no decisions yet 😉

    For anyone who has a fave holiday themed perfume (either explicit in the name or implicit in the notes) what is it? December 16, 2017 at 2:38pm Reply

    • Lily: To clarify the Tauer analogy: similar to the way his scents often have a base, or the way many Guerlains and Chanels do, not saying her base smells like any of them. December 16, 2017 at 2:41pm Reply

    • Aurora: Hello Lily: it was you who recommended to me Burberry London for men last year, thanks to your lovely description was enticing and I simply love it and got a bottle.

      This year on Xmas eve I will be wearing Tom Ford for Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude which had been recommended to me in the same thread, it is beautifully warm, both balsamic and spicy, lasts forever and is easier to wear than YD. It’s discontinued but I found a bottle for a reasonable price on eBay. It really is worth sampling. Happy holidays! December 17, 2017 at 2:16am Reply

      • Lily: Isn’t it wonderful?! And so underrated. I’m so glad you love it 🙂 🙂

        Re Youth Dew Amber Nude – I’ll give it a sample. My late grandmother wore YD and I find it hard to wear scents with one particular note reminiscent of how it smelled on her. I am not 100% sure what it is but the new version of Opium and Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant both had it, much to my disappointment. It isn’t that the note smells bad to me, but it smelled like her. It’s like everything in that same realm belongs to her in my mind. But it might also be nice to have something similar to but not the same as her scent, and maybe the others I’ve tried with that element just weren’t the right ones. I do love a good amber…. December 17, 2017 at 8:22am Reply

    • OnWingsofSaffron: Caron’s Nuit de Noël is one of my all time favourites! I have it in all different sizes, ages and variations, and—to me—it is especially satisfying. Chestnutty, marron glacé-ish, brownish-pink in glow, I just cannot get enough.
      The extrait is quite different to the eau de toilette version: far more floral. December 17, 2017 at 8:46am Reply

    • morejasmineplease: A favorite month-long December scent for me is the perhaps-too-obvious Five O’clock au Gingembre. I want to find something extra special for the holiday itself, however! I recently tried Areej Le Dore Atlantic Ambergris which was all frankincense and church on me but a bit too much for others, I think. I will be watching this question for more ideas! December 18, 2017 at 7:01am Reply

    • Tara C: I normally wear Chopard Wish or CdG Zagorsk at Christmas. December 18, 2017 at 9:15pm Reply

  • CristinaM: Sacrebleu nicolai is xmas to me
    Carnation cinnamon and spices December 17, 2017 at 5:40am Reply

    • Lily: That sounds lovely! And very Christmas-y to me, too. December 17, 2017 at 8:23am Reply

  • Kaja: Dear all! I have two questions: First, I am looking for an office friendly perfume. My colleagues all say that they do not like to smell perfume, but I do:) Secondly, have anyone tried an interesting scent that applies with a rollerball.
    I am greatful for any recommendaions you may have. Examples of what I like is Le Perfum de Therese, Bois des iles/rue de Cambon, vanille galante, mito vole d’extrait.
    Merry xmas and all the best for 2018. Kind regards, Kaja December 17, 2017 at 9:58am Reply

    • mendokuse: This is a thought I usually keep to myself, but I’m sometimes of the opinion that people who say they don’t like perfume, period, don’t know what they’re talking about. In all likelihood, they’ve never really explored the vast world of fragrance properly. Usually, they attribute it to their “very sensitive nose” (HA!), and claim everything is too strong for them (the number if times I’ve heard this claim and secretly tested them, only to find that their claims are vastly overrated). All it takes to convert a perfume unenthusiast is the Right Fragrance, i.e. subtle and complex fragrances that do not fit the profile of your standard commercial release. December 17, 2017 at 7:20pm Reply

      • Kaja: Hello Mendukose! Thx for your honest opinion, I tend to agree. Have you smelled any good perfumes that fits the bill as a “Right” perfume? Regards, Kaja December 18, 2017 at 8:43am Reply

        • mendokuse: It depends on your audience. I actually think Le Parfum de Thérèse is a great one, but I’m extremely biased as that is my favorite perfume to wear and I consider it a masterpiece! Other than that, maybe Chanel Sycomore, FM Angéliques sous la pluie, Guerlain Après L’Ondée, or something really simple, like Ô de Lancôme. Another thing you could try is a classic men’s fragrance like Guerlain Habit Rouge or Dior Eau Sauvage, since men’s perfumes tend to fade more into the background of people’s consciousness than women’s perfumes. December 22, 2017 at 3:19am Reply

    • mendokuse: A dry fragrance might fit the bill for a perfume-inhospitable office! December 17, 2017 at 7:23pm Reply

    • Aurora: Hello Kaja: something like Chanel No 19 or Annick Goutal Heure Exquise have often been recommended as work appropriate and might suit you. December 18, 2017 at 7:44am Reply

      • Kaja: Dear Aurora. I have not smelled these perfumes although I have heard of them. Will test them as soon as possible. Thank you:) December 18, 2017 at 8:46am Reply

    • Aurora: And Happy Holidays to you too! December 18, 2017 at 7:45am Reply

    • Tara C: I think you could wear any of those scents, in small doses, to work. You can decant some of these scents into a roll-on or dabber bottle and just apply a small amount. You could also spray a bit on a cotton ball and tuck it into your bra, so only you get to enjoy the little wafts that float up from your blouse. 🙂 December 18, 2017 at 9:20pm Reply

      • spe: Hmmm, and I was just thinking the opposite! Vanille Galante in small doses might make the cut, but the other scents are polarizing, as are dry iris scents like No. 19. These issues come up because people don’t like the scent being worn.
        I’d try the cotton ball technique with Vanille Galante. December 23, 2017 at 10:30am Reply

  • rashmi bhattachan: Hi Victoria and fellow readers! This year I encountered an amazing Parfumerie called Auphorie based in Malaysia. Two artisan brothers Eugene and Amyris do a great job creating their exotic Extraits de parfum in small batches. I just cannot describe how beautiful their extraits are. They are not overpowering yet they are so uniquely blended fragrances that there’s nothing like it in the market. I love their award winning Miyako, Le tresors de Sriwijaya and the new Red Crown. Superb scents, superb artists and great customer service from the perfumers themselves. December 17, 2017 at 11:44pm Reply

    • Gabriela: I ve just ordered a sample of Miyako from them. After reading the ingredients list of Red Crown and Le tresors, felt like buying them all but will wait for Miyako to arrive. Which one is your favorite? December 18, 2017 at 5:46am Reply

      • rashmi bhattachan: Dear Gabriela, Miyako is quite unique and mystical. My favorites are in a random order Miyako, Les Tresors de Sriwijaya, L’histoire Oubliee de Dunhuang & the Red Crown

        check out the reviews on Fragrantica. You can also follow me on Instagram @olfactoryodyssey December 19, 2017 at 1:57am Reply

  • Tyska: I was recently on a trip to Amsterdam and discovered Otentic perfumes. In my opinion this is a very promising concept, more than 70 perfumes, divided in several lines. I bought Grasslands 1 because I am a big fan of galbanum and it remembers me a lot of Ma Griffe. I also bought Elegantia 2 and 4, very nice florentials and Anno 1785, a nice summmer fragrance with herbal notes.
    In my opinion all of them are of good quality, have moderate sillage and lasts 5-6 hours on me. I strongly recommend every perfume lover to take a look on this house. December 22, 2017 at 3:22am Reply

    • Deborah LaBoo: Tyska – I will have a very short stay in Amsterdam in a few weeks and just added Otentic as a “must do.” Thank you for suggestion. December 26, 2017 at 10:37pm Reply

  • Melissa: Hi everyone!
    My question probably doesn’t fit the season very well, but I would like to ask if any of you know a fragrance that is similar to D&G Light Blue. It has been my mums signature scent since I can remember and I absolutely love it too. However I don’t want to wear exactly the same perfume she does.
    I would appreciate any recommendations and wish everyone a merry christmas! 🙂 December 22, 2017 at 3:09pm Reply

    • Aurora: Hello Melissa: I’ve just seen your question, have you ever tried Versace Bright Crystal or even Bright Crystal Absolu? They share the citrus and amber of Light Blue the absolu is a little bit too sweet for my taste but you might like it. Happy New Year! December 31, 2017 at 6:04am Reply

  • Jennifer Smith: Hi everyone,
    I’m a total scent amateur but I have recently found this blog and started to devour it review by review… I thought I’d ask for your wisdom in choosing a few perfumes to sample. So perfumes I would have worn historically are Chanel mademoiselle, Frederic Malle l’eau d’hiver, creed virgin island water and diptique philosykos. So I’m thinking that maybe the common thread is gourmand undertones?
    I’ve smelt Chanel cuir de Russie and actually found it a bit too barnyardy on me. It wasn’t as leathery on me as I’d hoped. I actually really liked Chanel Boy but it faded very quickly to just a vanilla smell and lost complexity. I also like Frederic Malle Dries Von Noten but I’d like a few more options. I love the idea of a Chanel exclusif one but found the choice just a bit overwhelming! Any recommendations would be amazing! Merry Christmas everyone. X December 23, 2017 at 9:17am Reply

    • spe: Merry Christmas, Jennifer! You seem to also like scents a little sweet? If so, Coromandel and Beige might be good ones to try. Beige comes in parfum as well. Be sure to test for three days or so prior to purchasing. You’ll find that the novelty of certain scents will “wear off,” and you can delete those from consideration. December 23, 2017 at 10:40am Reply

  • Jamie: Hello,

    Can you kindly recommend a beautiful, floral perfume with citrus or fruit for summer months. My favorite floral notes are roses and white flowers, but open to other florals. My favorite fruit is peaches, but open to other suit as well.

    Thank you! December 30, 2017 at 12:33pm Reply

    • Aurora: Hello Jamie: What about Jour d’Hermes for a lovely floral citrus? For a floral with peach have you ever tried Burberry by Burberry or Chanel Allure? Happy New Year! December 31, 2017 at 6:16am Reply

    • Jamie: I realized there are many versions of Hermes Jour d’Hermes-absolu, perfume, Gardenia. Does anyone have a favorite?

      Thank you! December 31, 2017 at 10:59am Reply

  • Jamie: Thank you Aurora,

    I will give both a try. I haven’t tried these fragrances yet, but they sound lovely. December 31, 2017 at 10:25am Reply

  • Sendal: My first perfume, gifted by my mother, was the original formulation of L’Interdit. When it disappeared from the American market, and I was a bit older; I adopted the original formulation of Ysatis. Years later, I’m still disappointed by the reformulations. Could you possibly recommend a currently-available perfume that captures some aspects of the essence of those old favorites of mine? January 13, 2018 at 9:39am Reply

    • Aurora: Hello Sendal: the thread has gone quiet but I just saw your query. Have you tried Must de Cartier? It has a retro vibe like l’Interdit and shares notes, and it might suit you. My bottle is already a few years old though (but not vintage per se), so I’m not sure of the current formulation but it might be worth sampling. Also, just an idea, have you tried eBay to get hold of vintage Ysatis, I’m in the UK and while vintage l’Interdit is expensive and rare Ysatis is readily available at very reasonable prices. Also maybe repost your question in the next recommend me thread, you might get more answers. January 23, 2018 at 9:13am Reply

      • Sendal: Aurora,
        Thank you so much for the reply and suggestions. I have scrounged around various auction sites for both perfumes, and so far I’m 4 for 4 on acquiring bottles that weren’t properly kept so I’ve given up on that option. I have tried Must de Cartier (and Noir Pour Femme by Ford, and a few others) but so far I haven’t been able to figure out if they are missing some element that was common to the Givenchy scents or if they have an added element. Each one has smelled fairly nice for the first hour. Somewhere during hour two — well, imagine a skid-row alcoholic civet on a cheap-wine binge, followed by a few shots gin, an episode of vomiting on itself, in 45 degree Celsius heat for 3 consecutive days who then wakes up and thinks, “Hmm…. is that ME I’m smelling?” ~lol~ January 23, 2018 at 1:37pm Reply

        • Aurora: How your description of the drydown of these perfumes made me laugh! I’m not sure if I am going to consider Must the same way again.
          Seriously, I’m so sorry your experience of purchasing vintage was so negative, it’s a bit risky that’s true: did your purchases have their box? Also sometimes the seller will specify kept in the dark in a drawer, I go by that or then again maybe Ysatis and l’Interdit don’t keep very well? I have no experience with them.

          My hope is that you won’t give up, maybe the best outcome would be for you to fall in love with a totally new perfume with no prior memory. Don’t hesitate to participate in the next thread, if you list the notes you like, you will get many answers. Best of luck. January 24, 2018 at 2:05pm Reply

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