Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! I wish you much joy and I hope that you will find all that you wish for under the Christmas tree. Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can use this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors.
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
94 Comments
Aurora: I was wondering what will be your choice of perfume for Christmas Eve? December 23, 2019 at 8:48am
Patricia Devine: I don’t know as I don’t know yet what mood I’ll be in. Probably something cosy, though, such as Five O’Clock au Gingembre. December 23, 2019 at 10:22am
Aurora: Cozy scents are a very good choice for Xmas, I think, and I love ginger. December 23, 2019 at 12:02pm
Old Herbaceous: Deciding between Goutal’s Nuit Etoilee and Caron’s Nuit de Noel. But I might go with something else! What about you? December 23, 2019 at 5:32pm
Aurora: Oh lovely, you can’t go wrong with either of them imo, I’m hesitating so I looking for some inspiration, I often go for No 5 extrait on Xmas Eve, but would like a change. December 23, 2019 at 7:04pm
Jeanne: Aomassi 10 by PG is another great gourmand scent for Christmas eve, or winter in general. December 23, 2019 at 7:44pm
Aurora: It sounds wonderful, Jeanne, Parfumerie Generale is a house I should explore, maybe next year. December 23, 2019 at 9:16pm
Domestic Goblin: Bvlgari Au The Rouge. Warm and sweet. December 24, 2019 at 10:05am
Ariadne: Oh yeah, very snugalicious too. ETR is an unsung heroine IMO. Peace and health to you! December 25, 2019 at 2:03pm
Aurora: A lovely choice, I seem to wear au The rouge in fall and winter too. December 27, 2019 at 11:10am
John: I have to say, that as Christmas is generally a time for family and quiet for me, I often like to wear something that fits like an old shoe, so that will probably be Caron Pour un Homme… at least to start. Maybe Azzaro or Polo if something a bit less casual is waranted (the equivalent of changing out of the old jeans and lambswool sweater I’m wearing to cook dinner in) or, if I make it to midnight mass, Egoïste. December 24, 2019 at 6:34pm
Aurora: You can’t fail to smell wonderful with all these classics. December 27, 2019 at 11:11am
Ariadne: I ended up with Chanel’s Misia. I am draining my bottle fast. Peace and health to you! December 25, 2019 at 2:00pm
Aurora: Misia was an instant love, so feminine, you smelled lovely. Have a happy New Year. December 27, 2019 at 11:14am
Old Herbaceous: Update: so, I wore Sonoma Scent Studio’s Amber Incense to church yesterday, Nuit de Noel later in the evening, and ELDO’s Like This (gingerbread!) today. December 25, 2019 at 8:09pm
Aurora: Thank you for the update 🙂 I hear so many good things about SSS but they are not available in Europe. Nuit de Noel is the ultimate for Xmas Eve, I wanted to love Like This, the notes seemed a perfect fit, but somehow it didn’t work out. December 27, 2019 at 11:17am
Eyneen Altaf: It will be Chergui by Serge Luten, cozy, warm smells like carrot cake to me. December 23, 2019 at 10:09am
Aurora: I love this description 🙂 December 23, 2019 at 9:17pm
Laurie: Happy Holidays to you as well! I’m dreaming of a pink Christmas, one scented with Turkish rose, peony, musk and vanilla. Parfums de Marly’s Delina will make it true for me but with candlelight. It smells divine, and I cannot wait to light it. Happiness is a beautifully scented home for the holidays! December 23, 2019 at 10:10am
Aurora: Merry Christmas, I didn’t know Parfums de Marly made candles scented with their perfumes, I’m sure it will smell great at your place. December 23, 2019 at 9:21pm
Laurie: It does, and it smells wonderful on me, too. December 24, 2019 at 4:40am
Aurora: Of course it does 🙂 December 24, 2019 at 8:57am
Mj: For Christmas Eve I will be wearing Vetyver Pamplemouse, from the line that Jo Malone has created for Zara. I was yesterday there, sampling some of the scents and bought this. It’s very crips, citrusy with the vetyver showing later. Christmas Eve is always a busy time, so a uplifting scent will be perfect for it. December 23, 2019 at 10:19am
Aurora: Oh, you’re making me curious about this Zara line. Yes, something refreshing seems right too, I’m still undecided, that’s why I’m asking. December 23, 2019 at 12:05pm
Mj: If you have a Zara store nearby do try them. The lines is composed of 6 or 7 scents. I bought 3 in the 10 ml roll on presentation, 5.95€ each.
I wish you a happy Christmas Eve and Day! ¡Feliz Navidad! December 24, 2019 at 3:29am
Aurora: Thank you Mj, yes I can go to central London to a Zara store, glad you liked some of the scents and that they are so affordable.
Joyeux Noel! Feliz Navidad! December 24, 2019 at 6:39am
Silvermoon: Merry Christmas, Aurora! Well, I hadn’t really thought about it, but your question has spurred me to decide. So, I shall probably start with Anima Dulcis from Arquiste (cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, chilli) and later in the evening move to Noir Epices from FM (Orange, Rose, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, sandalwood). Similar themes really- warm seasonal spices and cozy beauty.
I normally don’t switch perfumes in a day, but this is a festive occasion/excuse to do so!
Happy Holidays to all! December 23, 2019 at 12:17pm
Silvermoon: Oh I should clarify that I would use the first in the morning of Christmas Eve and only use the other once the first has sort of faded.
However , for Christmas Day itself, I prefer lighter fresher options, because heavier perfumes seem to clash with all the cooking and the Christmas feast. December 23, 2019 at 12:23pm
Aurora: It’s a special day, so switching seems like a great idea to me. Yes, cooking can interfere with perfume I find. December 23, 2019 at 7:12pm
Aurora: Merry Christmas, Silvermoon, your choices sound so good and festive, Noir Epices will go so well with mulled wine for eg. I shall be making some, it’s a newish tradition now for me. December 23, 2019 at 7:09pm
Silvermoon: That’s a great new tradition! Enjoy!
My husband loves making mulled wine at this time of year. It’s always so nice and warming to drink at home. Equally excellent is mulled wine at the Christmas market, especially in Germany. December 24, 2019 at 8:23am
Trudy: Merry Christmas to all! I am searching for a “deep” and beautiful winter scent. I don’t consider myself much of a perfumista and most of my fragrances are fairly common I suppose. I think I gravitate towards florals. As reference the fragrances that are on my dresser today are: Narcisso Rodrigues Her EDT (black bottle), Chanel Les Eaux Deauville and Riviera, L’Artisan La Chasse Aux Papillons, Diptique Do San and Hermes Eau Des Merveilles. Of all those the only one I consider “winter” is the NR Her and maybe Merveilles. The ones I wear the most are NR Her and the Chanels. I recently purchased a sample vile of Agent Provocatuer and it is nice but not quite the one. l just want to try something kind of mysterious and lovely. LOL. I love reading about everyone’s beautiful sounding perfumes. They all sound so exotic and sophisticated! I hope everyone has a peaceful and blessed Christmas. December 23, 2019 at 1:08pm
Patricia Devine: It looks like you like the smell of tuberose, so you could try Datura Noir by Serge Lutens – tuberose but with coconut, almond and heliotrope, then moves on to apricot and osmanthus notes. Vintage Ysatis and Byzance (available on Ebay) are also beautiful and contain tuberose and coconut, which makes them ‘fatty’. Loulou is also worth a look – all these are ‘deep’ florals with a lot of ‘bottom’ from sandalwood, vanilla and musk. December 23, 2019 at 2:29pm
Trudy: Oh I love these suggestions! Thank you so very much. December 23, 2019 at 4:51pm
Tami: Ooh, Loulou! Definitely a good one. December 25, 2019 at 6:48pm
Old Herbaceous: I love florals too and I enjoy warm, spicy roses in the winter. Some of them are: Aramis Calligraphy Rose, Jo Malone Tudor Rose & Amber, Gres Cabaret. December 23, 2019 at 5:28pm
Trudyi: Thank you for the suggestions. I will search these out for a sniff. Warm and spicy sounds nice. December 24, 2019 at 10:45am
Mariann: I love all the ones you mention and my two favorite mysterious florals are Carons Parfum Sacre (rose and incense) and Passage d’Enfer from L’Artisan Parfumeur (lily and incense). December 24, 2019 at 6:36am
Trudy: Thank you. Seems as though I’ve heard of the Passage d’Enfer as being highly regarded on this site. I will try to test both of these. December 24, 2019 at 10:48am
Tami: Hello! If you are, in fact, a tuberose fan, I recommend seeking out Michael Kors’ eponymous perfume. It’s not particularly mysterious but it’s garnered me many, many compliments—my bottle is close to 20 (!) years old and still smells great! With reformulations being so common, I can’t guarantee it’s the same any longer, but it’s lovely. It’s not precisely “light,” so I don’t limit it to spring and summer. I also don’t smell it out “in the wild” too frequently, so you won’t likely run into too many people wearing it. You might also enjoy exploring Diptyque’s offerings a bit more—there are some real beauties there, too, and in my experience some of them actually pair and layer nicely. You might also enjoy some of the scents on offer at the Dior counter—at least those that aren’t called Joy. 😉 Not precisely rare, but they have some intrigue.
If you want a sense of where I’m coming from, I love: the Michael Kors named above; vintage Poison (a real take-it-or-leave-it!); Diptyque Oyedo; Fresh Sugar Lemon; and Tom Ford Lost Cherry. Also a new fan of Diorissimo. I like YSL Libre—super heavily marketed, so it’s not any kind of rare find by any means—but it smells “classic” in its not-overly-“girly” citrus/lavender/powderiness on my skin. December 25, 2019 at 6:47pm
Cyndi: I think I’ll wear Guerlain Shalimar or Chanel Coco. Both are warm scents, that embody this time of year for me. However, I also love Chanel No. 5 edt as it is so lovely and classy. I love reading this blog and wish everyone the best holiday ever. Have a wonderful Christmas with much love, family, friends, food, and wine! December 23, 2019 at 2:04pm
Aurora: Hello Cyndi: Me too, I enjoy No 5 for Xmas Eve but this year I was looking for inspiration. And Coco seems to me a stellar choice. I favor Coco EDT at this time of year (more clove) but the EDP is very beautiful too.
Hope your Christmas will be full of good cheer. December 23, 2019 at 7:22pm
Cyndi: Thank you! Seems as though we have similar tastes. Have a wonderful holiday! December 24, 2019 at 12:25am
Nottin: Hi Aurora, nice to find you here 😀. Thanks for reminding me of Coco! Perfect for this weather. I’ll look for my vintage bottle. Maybe I’ll layer it w the body cream but gently, 😉because it’s very rich!
I ‘neglected’ my No 5, I guess I wear it more in warmer weather, but it’s a year long perfume so I’ll go though my precious little perfume bottles and wear it more. Thank you! January 3, 2020 at 5:46am
Pat: These 3 are my favorite and only scents. I’m wondering if there is something that I could explore that’s close by? December 23, 2019 at 7:26pm
Laurie: Was my comment from this morning removed?
Incredibly rude, if it was.
Ciao. December 23, 2019 at 2:40pm
Victoria: The spam filter might have caused the lag in your comment showing up. I can see it though. December 23, 2019 at 8:23pm
Laurie: I’m so sorry, I was rude myself. Thank you for this. December 24, 2019 at 4:37am
MaryAnn Hardy: FRESH, authentic, crushed grass, leaves, and ferns… hint of dirt/earth and flowers such as rose, lavender, . No powdery sweetness or vanilla.
MANY years ago I wandered into a parfumerie in Paris, my first ever! A lovely woman helped me find a scent when, with English/French dictionary in hand, I told her I wanted “green grass, simple, natural” What she gave me to sample was AMAZING to me. It came in a beautiful bottle, she was beautiful, her silk scarf was beautiful, the walls filled with beautiful bottles of perfumes were beautiful, Paris was beautiful…oh EVERYTHING was BEAUTIFUL! 🙂
I carried that perfume home like it was pure gold and gave it to my dearest, most beloved friend, and she responded to her first sample of it with real pleasure.
I have searched for such a scent ever since. Many have come close, but I settled for Eau de Rochas (the original) as my summer-evening-with-friends scent.
I would LOVE to hear suggestions for “green grass, simple and natural.” December 23, 2019 at 3:42pm
Mai: When I think of a “grass” scent, I soon think of Hermès Un Jardin sur le Toit, which smells of fresh dewy grass, herbs (basil, rosemay…) and crisp apples. It has a bit of sweetness, but in a fruity way (from apple and pear notes). There’s also a fresh and lemony, magnolia- tinted rose in the mix. Lovely scent! December 23, 2019 at 4:28pm
MaryAnn Hardy: Thank you for your suggestion and the good description! I am making the list with Un Jardin sur le Toit to begin it, and I will commence ordering. December 24, 2019 at 1:18am
Mai: You’re very wellcome! I hope you like it. 🙂 December 26, 2019 at 4:07pm
Aurora: Hello MaryAnn: Also Oriza L. Legrand Foin Fraichement Coupe is very grassy, the name means hay freshly cut, Oriza L. Legrand is located in Paris, they have a website. I am half-French a was born in Paris, and am so glad you had a positive perfume experience there.
And Merry Christmas! December 23, 2019 at 7:30pm
MaryAnn Hardy: Exciting! To learn of a fragrance that I would never encounter here in Canada, especially where I live on Vancouver Island. I will add “Foin Fraichement Coupe” to the list. Thank you VERY much!
I was raised on a cattle ranch (large farm in California) and the smell of fresh-cut hay is heavenly. Its scent will depend on what grasses and herbs the hay is made from, and then it changes as it cures in the sun. To those of us who grew up with this naturally beautiful fragrance in our fields and in our barns, anything reminiscent of it cause us to…swoon!
I learned much in my first visit to France and subsequent visits confirmed my first impressions: that France has such an ancient and sensually delightful culture enriching ALL the senses… and that French women, from the classically styish dames in Paris to the sturdy femmes de ferme in the country, are naturally elegant. December 24, 2019 at 1:31am
Mariann: I havent tried it myself but Ive read great things about Fresh Cut from
St.Clair perfumes. December 24, 2019 at 6:32am
Klaas: Hay MaryAnn, hello from Amsterdam! Vancouver Island is gorgeous, what a wonderful place to live 😉
Green as grass, simpel and natural…….I’d love to find one myself! Chanel Bel Respiro is green, but incredibly chic at the same time. Very Parisian 😉 It smells like a dewy spring morning, I love it! Cristalle by Chanel is also green and crisp, but not exactly grassy….
Sisley’s Eau de Campagne is lovely as well, and quite a bargain (well, as far as French perfumes can be a bargain!). It is very light though, so should be considered a eau de cologne, and not a eau de toilette. It doesn’t last long, but is so deliciously invigorating!
If you want to go niche, there is Corsica Furiosa by Parfum d’Empire, which is grassy, bitter and resinous. I find it the ultimate green scent, but it might not be your cup of tea at all.
I find Foin Fraichement Coupé not so much about grass but more about a sun kissed musk, anise and tonka bean. It is lovely, so still a good one to try. Oriza Legrand also does Deja le Printemps (which means Spring Already), which features a lot of green notes (I haven’t smelled it though). So does their Chypre Mousse…..hmmmmm…….I might order some samples myself!
Enjoy, and let us know if you find your grass heaven 😉 I’d be very much interested! December 24, 2019 at 7:37am
MaryAnn Hardy: Thank you! Thank you for wonderful suggestions! It’s like finding treasure to have so many comments. My list is growing ….and then to begin sampling! And Klass, Amsterdam is a wonderful city too! But my favorite part of The Netherlands is the north…Harlingen. December 25, 2019 at 7:18pm
Krista: Hi MaryAnn, for fresh, wild, dark forest-scent, you can’t beat Coven by Andrea Maack. It has a top note made with a soil tincture and smells so much like crushed green things that it’s almost startling. Luckyscent has it- it’s incredible and mysterious-smelling. December 26, 2019 at 11:13am
Sebastian: This has been redone in 2017. Confusingly, the Luckyscent page shows the new black bottle, but the old note list from 2013.
Just for comparison, here are the old notes still erroneously listed by Luckyscent: Woody notes, green grass, soil tincture, oakmoss, whiskey and spicy note. And here are the new notes: Galbanum, Clove, Cedar Wood, Oak Moss, Vanilla.
People seem to differ how much the perfume itself has changed. Perhaps not much. I have never smelled the earlier version. In the current version, however, I detect not much soilyness, but neither do I smell clove or vanilla. It’s a total mess, opens rather brashly, and then goes on to become something unpleasantly mushy-salad like. At least on me. December 27, 2019 at 10:06am
Klaas: Hey MaryAnn, I just tested Dyptique Eau de Lierre….it’s deliciously green, grassy and simple……just in case you needed more suggestions 😉 December 31, 2019 at 11:56am
Carolyn Middleton: I’ve mentioned this fragrance on here recently, so apologies for repeating myself – Hampton Sun’s ‘Privet Bloom’ is, to me, very green. Depending on where you live, however, you may find it difficult to source, so I’m sorry if this is the case! December 24, 2019 at 9:26am
John: I’m on the island myself! Thos may sound odd, but Guerlain’s Vetiver reminds me strongly of spring/summer here… The hay accord in the base always recalls lying on dry summer grass, and the vetiver note itself has the faintest suggestion of foggy driftwood. Good luck! December 24, 2019 at 6:37pm
Lydia: Hi MaryAnn Hardy,
I recommend L’Occitane’s Herbae. It’d decidely grassy with a mild note of fresh rose (green rose, not the least bit piwdery), it’s a French company, relatively affordable and widely available.
I think it’s especially refreshing in wintertime. December 25, 2019 at 8:17pm
Old Herbaceous: St. Clair Scents’ First Cut is wonderful! I also love her Gardeners Glove; I wrote about both on my amateur blog, if you’re interested. I think Imaginary Authors has a grassy scent called The Soft Lawn, but I haven’t tried it. December 25, 2019 at 8:19pm
Sebastian: More on grass: Of course there’s Lush perfume’s “Grass”. I don’t regard this as a real perfume, for lack of refinement, but it’s as grassy as your front lawn, and does not cost much.
Then there is a perfume I have always wanted to try, but haven’t yet, namely Chamber by Fueguia 1833. The listed notes are grass and soil. Reviews on fragrantica mention lily ponds and wet mossy basements. Sounds intriguing to me. Does anyone here actually know it?
Klaas mentioning the Pierre Guillaume complete discovery set reminded me of Papyrus de Ciane 24, which is sort of grassy, a bit sharp. But alas, as with other Pierre Guillaume scents, the performance is weak. Most of the excitement is over after an hour.
Apart from that I second the recommendation of Un Jardin Sur Le Toit. December 26, 2019 at 10:38am
Sebastian: Oh, yes, I forgot to add: when I was young I wore L’Eau d’Issey (I mean the original, not the pour homme version or any of the zillion flankers). I remember to have thought it smelled melony and grassy, although grass isn’t mentioned in the notes. I may be alone with this impression. But you might try, if you like aquatics. (I am not much given to that genre nowadays.) December 26, 2019 at 10:44am
Ann Beardsley: Try A Gleam and A Glow from Elden Fragrances…floral with just a hint of something earthy. I love her descriptions of all the scents. December 23, 2019 at 7:28pm
MaryAnn Hardy: I’m grateful for your recommendation. I’ve already looked at their website and there is so much to consider there. Delightful! They cannot ship to Canada yet, but I have a relative visiting from the U.S. in January, and I could have product shipped to her to deliver to me when she arrives for her visit. Thank you so much for the new source1 December 24, 2019 at 1:46am
Rachel: Guerlain’s Herba Fresca feels like a nice fresh grassy scent. December 24, 2019 at 7:18pm
Ale: Merry Christmas! Although I’m not a perfumista, I’m always looking for new fragrances. As reference, some of my favourites are: Straight to Heaven by Kilian, Volutes by Diptyque, Acqua di Sale by PROFVMVM, Richwood by Xerjoff. I should say that I don’t really like florals, but I tend to prefer heavier scents. Thanks! December 24, 2019 at 7:19am
Silvermoon: Merry Christmas Ale! Given the season and your dislike of florals, maybe ambers or spices would be of interest? Montale has a range of ambers (I especially like Blue Amber), also Reminiscance’s Amber and Serge Luten’s Ambre Sultan come to mind. For warmth and spice, maybe Ormonde Jayne’s Tolu or Fredric Malle’s Noir Epices or Perfumes d’Empire’s Fougere Bengal or Eau d’Italie’s Baum du Doge?
Hope you enjoy finding something new to wear! December 25, 2019 at 8:20am
Ale: Thanks a lot! I’ll try them.
Best, Ale December 25, 2019 at 9:11am
Aurora: I second Silvermoon’s recommendation for Serge Lutens, they are on the heavy side you are after: Chergui and Five O’Clock au Gingembre. December 25, 2019 at 3:39pm
Monika: Merry Christmas!
I will take this opportunity to ask what fragrance to get for my 13 year old son? He asked me to find him one, keeps spraying himself with different things, but cannot articulate what he likes.
I have ready gotten him Pineapple Vintage Intense, which is a dupe of Creed Aventus, and it is okay, but… it has not quite hit the spot. Does anyone have any ideas for me? December 24, 2019 at 6:11pm
John: I work at a boarding school and so get fairly inundated with what teenagers like to wear. As you might expect, there has been plenty of Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel in the air… Personally, I prefer Terre d’Hermes, which is a crowd pleaser but also quite distinctive in comparison to the others I mentioned. As such it’s highly memorable, and I think half the point of wearing fragrance when you’re young is for the memories later (I wore Fahrenheit in my late teens and the smell always recalls an endless summer.) Good luck! December 24, 2019 at 6:40pm
OnWingsofSaffron: Hello,
I believe that 13 year olds, though they’d love to be perceived as 23 years old, aren’t yet quite adults. I know, that may seem incredible old fashioned to many, especially the young. Still I stand by that, and therefore maintain that in one’s choice of a perfume for persons still half child, half adult, a perfume of which the scent, the marketing and overall statement is geared towards the “most handsome, virile alpha-male wooing/seducing Eve” doesn’t reflect what being 13 really is.
My second point would be to expose young persons to perfumes which really smell well. Not some nuclear aroma-chemical dreck with zero charm, zero youthfulness, zero beauty.
That said, I might choose something still playful (I’m not speaking Lego), perhaps with vanilla and caramel, i.e. “Un Homme” by Caron, which may be a bit old-fashioned though? Or something with an uplifting citrus note which is for all ages, i.e. “Eau de néroli doré” by Hèrmes, or if money is no problem, perhaps “Eau de Cologne” by Chanel. Or, fruity scents which aren’t girly (surely a must for a 13-year old boy) perhaps a tart rhubarb scent, also by Hèrmes or Comme des Garçons. Finally, if you’re son is interested in art, music, popular culture etc. why not introduce him to the new Comme des Garçons range (https://www.comme-des-garcons-parfum.com)? Lots of edgy and youthful scents there too! December 25, 2019 at 3:47am
Silvermoon: Great that a 13 year old is interested in perfumes: it’s never too early!
I would second Comme des Garçons and would also suggest Gorilla Perfumes (available at Lush). The latter come in small sizes, so trying out doesn’t require a long term commitment. December 25, 2019 at 8:28am
Ariadne: At 13 my entire being was on hyperdrive, propelling at warp #infinity, and just below out of control. Life was a non stop sensory smorgasbord for me and in hind sight perfume samples would have helped me focus (on something!) productively. Supply this young god with as many as he fancies. ;+) December 25, 2019 at 2:15pm
Old Herbaceous: I just gave my teenaged son Berdoues 1902 Trefle et Vetiver, and he’s very happy with that. High quality, and affordable price. It’s a light, fresh, clover, grassy scent. Cool Water is also a good option for teenagers. December 25, 2019 at 8:25pm
Monika: Than you everyone for all of these fantastic suggestions! You have given me many fragrances to try, and new avenues I had not even considered. Thank you again. December 25, 2019 at 9:08pm
Klaas: Hello Monika, I was 14 when I bought my very own first fragrance, and I remember it being a close call between Chanel pour Monsieur and Eau Sauvage. I ended up buying the Chanel. I just loved their freshness, and their happy-go-lucky, carefree, uncomplicated ‘personality’. They were both easy to pull off at that young age. I would definitely go for something light.
If he doesn’t want anything citrussy-fresh, maybe try some of the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria? They have so many fun options: Coconut Fizz, Pera Granita, Herba Fresca…..they now come in 10ml. travel sprays too, so he could try some of those before making up his mind?
If money is not an issue: Pierre Guillaume does a terrific sample set with all his 70(!) fragrances…..check his website for more info. It is a olfactory treasure trove and what a way to find your favorite fragrance! December 25, 2019 at 8:59am
Monika: Thank you Klaas; these are excellent suggestions that I have not considered. December 25, 2019 at 9:09pm
Aurora: A lovely choice, I seem to wear au The rouge in fall and winter too. December 27, 2019 at 11:09am
Aurora: Wrong place, sorry Victoria, will repost properly. December 27, 2019 at 11:19am
Elizabeth: Good Morning ~ I am curious to know the favored website for ordering perfume samples. I have heard of The Perfumed Court and Surrender to Chance. Are there others? I would appreciate your opinions in which is best. Thank you! December 28, 2019 at 10:49am
Silvermoon: Hi Elizabeth! I assume you are in the US? If so, the only American sampling service I know there is Lucky Scent. I used them once only, and found them very efficient with a wide selection.
In Europe, one of the best i know is Aus Leibe zum Duft (based in Germany). Also, in the UK (where I live), specialist niche perfume shops like Les Senteurs or Bloom Perfumery have sample services. December 28, 2019 at 3:05pm
elizabeth: Thank you, Silvermoon! Yes, I live in the US. I think the other two sites, STC and TPC, are not official retailers like Lucky Scent? December 28, 2019 at 3:52pm
spe: Wishing a happy and blessed new year to you all.
New discoveries for me in 2019: Hermes Jardin Sur La Lagune (reminds me of Caleche Eau Delicate, a scent I dearly miss) and Myrrhe Eglantine. I am considering full bottles of both.
As far as most worn in 2019, I have run home to Chanel (Gardenia parfum, Cristalle, and 19 Poudre), Hermes (Caleche Soir de Parfum and Parfum) and especially Amouage Gold (edp). Kelly Caleche parfum and Caron Fleur de Rocaille edt (yes, the 1990’s version everyone but me detests) and Cartier Panthere are also in rotation. My most recent bottle of Kelly Caleche edp seems a bit screechy, so I’m not sure what’s going on there.
Clearly most new releases have not made my radar. If I do bother to read about them, usually I’ve no interest in sampling because I prefer more classical compositions. December 31, 2019 at 1:58am
Notturno7: Hi Spe,
How does Gardenia perfume smell like? I didn’t like the lighter version, EDT, on me.
I have Estée Lauder Tuberose Gardenia pure perfume and Songes (A.G) but I love Chanel extraits and wonder how Chanel Gardenia smells comparing to these, if you tried them.
I love Amouage Gold, and no 19 and Caleche extraits.
Wearing Paco Rabanne extrait now.
I guess I’m a classical composition lover, too! January 3, 2020 at 6:00am
David: Happy New Year!
I was wondering about gardenia perfumes. I am a male and it’s the only floral I seem to be able to wear. I have tried Serge Lutens’ Une Voix Noire and really liked it (and I love the review here on this website). I have also tried Neil Morris’ Gardenia for Men. It was outstanding! Thank you all! January 2, 2020 at 11:04am
Aurora: Happy New Year David. How original to care only for gardenia. I will list a few gardenia centred fragrances: Annick Goutal Un Matin d’Orage jasmine and gardenia (I prefer the eau de toilette as it has no tuberose, just gardenia, but there is an EDP too) Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale (I adore that one, very delicate but very feminine to me), Narciso Rodrigues Narciso (in the white cube bottle), Jo Loves Gardenia (I wear it often, no tuberose), Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, Arquiste Boutonniere No 7 (advertised as a masculine gardenia) and I was about to forget Cartier La Panthere in its various concentrations. January 2, 2020 at 12:21pm
David: Thank you for all these selections. I’m hoping I can sample them all when I’m in NYC later this month, especially Arquiste Bouttonniere No 7 and the Estée Lauder Private Collection. Thanks again! January 2, 2020 at 4:35pm
Silvermoon: Hello David,
Aurora has some great suggestions, and here are a few more: Gardenia Passion (another Annick Goutal), White Gardenia Petals (Illuminum), Gardenia (Isabey). All are very different gardenias, and they come in very different combinations. I can see the Illuminum one suiting a man well, even though in the UK it’s often associated with brides (apparently the Duchess of Cambridge wore it at her wedding, or so they say). January 2, 2020 at 4:06pm
David: Thank you for the suggestions. I will visit the Annick Goutal store when I’m in NYC later this month, so I can sample Gardenia Passion. I have tried the Illuminum fragrance (received a free sample of it). I loved it. Usually I get migraines from white flowers, but gardenia works well with my skin. Thanks again! January 2, 2020 at 4:38pm