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. Or you can just tell us what perfume you are wearing.
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
72 Comments
fiona: Hi, Bottega Veneta Knot EDP has been discontinued and I loved its orange blossom/freshly washed clothes/vanilla fragrance. A straight orange blossom perfume would not match its subtlety. Please share any suggestions that you think might suit. Thank you! Fiona October 21, 2024 at 9:15am
Emily: Have you tried Aqua Universalis by Maison Francis Kurkdjian? October 21, 2024 at 10:10am
fiona: Ooh, no! Thank you so much for the suggestion, I’ll seek it out. October 21, 2024 at 4:05pm
Cristina Magurean: One of my very favorite fragrance in the world….especially in its FORTE version….a glorious scent, never goes unnoticed by others when I wear it….. October 22, 2024 at 5:07am
Hilde: Hello Fiona
Aqua Palmaris from Le Couvent Parfums is the most elegant and subtle, slight powdery, neroli fragrance that I know. I cannot recommend it enough.
I find it better than Knot.
And the price is excellent for the quality. October 30, 2024 at 8:04am
fiona: Hi Hilde
I haven’t heard of this! Thank you so much for your suggestion, I’ll track it down. Best, Fiona October 30, 2024 at 3:22pm
Jenny: I love the discontinued Safran Troublant by L’Artisan. It was my signature for years. Unfortunately for me, it’s getting really hard to find and I haven’t been able to find something similar enough to work for me. I would very much appreciate any ideas from the community here. October 21, 2024 at 9:22am
Hamamelis: Hi Jenny, have you tried Neela Vermeire’s Trayee? It is quite an investment but worth the price imho. In some perfume shops you can still find their 2 x 15 ml travelsize which is more affordable than a full bottle and a good way to try it out for a longer time than a sample. October 21, 2024 at 9:48am
Safran: Hi, have you tried Idole de Lubin yet? It’s also by Olivia Giacobetti, has saffron and I would see it in the same family and feel. A bit more unisex and spicy, but nonetheless related. October 22, 2024 at 8:24am
Lynley: It’s obviously not the same, but Cappadocia by Memo is a beautiful saffron scent. October 22, 2024 at 11:00am
Beth Temple: Has anyone tried the new Hermes scent, Barenia? Before I invest, I would love to know your thoughts. October 21, 2024 at 9:44am
AndreaR: Love Hermes fragrances. Love Christine Nagel’s work. Was very disappointed with Barena .
Arrived with a blast off start and announced my presence way before I entered the room.
I’ll stick with Jour de Hermes and Galop.
That said, samples are available and you might want to give it a try. October 21, 2024 at 10:30am
Beth Temple: Thanks, Andrea. I would like to know more about Galop and Jour de Hermes. I have Amazone edt, which I love, but the sillage is not good at all — Hermes not producing it in eep any longer. October 21, 2024 at 2:13pm
AndreaR: Hi Beth,
Both are my go to favorite. Galop in the Fall and all year long for Jour de Hermes. It’s what i reach for when I can’t make a fragrance choice.
It might be helpful to read Victoria’s reviews on both. October 21, 2024 at 3:30pm
Danica Radovanov: It has a really unique opening accord but it has a synthetic drydown with some notes that are quite off for me. I only tried it once at the airport and initially loved it but I think they could have done a better job with it. October 21, 2024 at 7:10pm
Aurora: Hi Beth, I recently tried it at the duty-free and found, indeed reminiscent of Galop, it’s a fruity leather like Galop, more affordable version of it, it smells a little ‘engineered’ ie not very natural, it lasts well but I’m not totally won over, it certainly is not as natural-smelling as Jour but to be fair I was testing several perfumes at the same time, not ideal to make an opinion. October 22, 2024 at 3:47am
Cristina Magurean: One of my very favorite fragrance in the world….especially in its FORTE version….a glorious scent, never goes unnoticed by others when I wear it….. October 22, 2024 at 5:08am
Johaboha: I bought it after going though two samples. It reminds me of Angel both perfumes share the very sweet synthetic berries in the opening on a patchouli base. I also smell quince and something honeyed. I do think this sour/sweet/fruity opening is lovely as it never gest sickly sweet and feels like a breeze of fresh autumn air. I don’t get much leather, but woodsy dry down reminiscent of potpourri from the 90ies and I agree that it does smell a bit generic in the dry down and not very natural. But something about the overall effect is polished and elegant makes it an easy reach for work and I do enjoy wearing it. October 22, 2024 at 5:35am
Beth: Tthaks so much for your thoughtful response, Johaboha,and thanks, too, to all the others for their thoughtful responses. Given what all have written, I’m ready to take the plunge. October 22, 2024 at 9:47am
Caia: A fan of Jour here and yesterday I’ve decided to buy Barenia. After several visits at Sephora to spray it on me, yesterday was the day. I can’t explain what happened between me and this fragrance. The first time I smelled it I didn’t like it. And today I am in love with this sense of elegance, warm, woody and… can’t explain, just in love! December 1, 2024 at 9:10am
Joyti: Something androgynous. Something with woods, incense, maybe a woody/dry amber-vanilla. October 21, 2024 at 10:30am
Klaas: Two fragrances that come to my mind are Incense Extreme by Andy Tauer and Charcoal by Perfumer H. Not the easiest fragrances to find, but if you live in a city with a good niche perfumery you should be able to test them. They are both beautiful, unisex and havely centered around woods and incense. The Tauer packs more punch….
Easier to find will be the Comme des Garcons collection, with a complete line-up of androginous, modern woody fragrances, and the best incense series on the market.
Amber-vanilla is not my cup of tea so can’t recommend anything…..
Good luck! October 21, 2024 at 12:21pm
Maria Perry: A bit more commercial offers but still worth a try: Encens Suave by Matière Première or By the Fireplace by Maison Margiela? October 21, 2024 at 1:36pm
Kaisa: Seconding to try Encens Suave. Also, perhaps, CdG Avignon (quite dry and churchy, incense forward, but a hint of vanilla is there if you sniff hard enough!); Rosendo Mateu No. 4 Saffron, Oud, Vanilla; and L’Orchestre Parfum Piano Santal (creamy sandalwood). These come to mind right now. October 21, 2024 at 3:01pm
Joyti: Kaisa, Klaas, Maria Perry – thank you for the recommendations to try! I was thinking more incense-woods (church-like) with a little amber-vanilla as a backbone/hinted at. These all sound at least worthy of trying.
i am in a city with some niche perfumeries. October 21, 2024 at 6:46pm
Danica Radovanov: Solstice Scents Manor, incensy woodsy vanilla, very dry. Pretty great. October 21, 2024 at 7:11pm
Aurora: Hi Joyti,
The all natural line 100 Bon has Myrrhe et encens mystérieux, a very lovely incense, it has some of the sweetness you want but is totally unisex and lasts well for a natural, and very affordable, another choice is Laboratorio Olfattivo Vanagloria, it fits your brief too but is more expensive, I own both perfumes and they are high on my list of incense perfumes. October 22, 2024 at 4:10am
Lynley: CdG Wonderwood perhaps. Deliciously woody with a sweet base. Sexy and totally wearable. October 23, 2024 at 12:59am
Joyti: Thank you also, Lynley, Aurora, and Danica.
Klaus: there’s a niche perfumery in my area I can walk to that carries the Andy Tauer scent (and more, when I googled the scent you recommended, the shop came up in results). October 23, 2024 at 9:51am
Klaas: Oh, The Tauers are worth a try anyhow! L’Air du Désert Marocain and Au Coeur du Désert are modern classics. Incense Extrême fits your brief pretty well I think……
Enjoy sampling! October 25, 2024 at 3:59pm
Nancy: Thanks for recommending Dyptique fragrances. After sampling Tam Dao and Do Son, I ordered Do Soon EDP; will likely order Tam Dao, as well–although it seems more cedary than sandalwood to me. Both are quite compelling. Do Son has a pretty assertive top note but calms down readily. October 21, 2024 at 11:51am
Klaas: Tam Dao is so beautiful…..one of the best sandelwood fragrances I know. Soft, comforting and refined. I especially love the edp…….if it weren’t for the heavy price tag I would wear it every day! October 21, 2024 at 12:28pm
Nancy: I completely agree. Sandalwood is one of my most favorite scents. I’ve worn very strong sandalwood in the past, e.g., the original Samsara. None of those old fragrances are available anymore. Tam Dao is the closest. The cedar dries down to a very soft sandalwood on my skin. October 22, 2024 at 10:31am
Kaisa: On me, Tam Dao is also more cedar than sandalwood and there is something I perceive as “scratchy”. October 21, 2024 at 2:58pm
Nancy: Kaisa, I totally understand the “scratchy” description you suggested. Very dry wood. Like the yellow #2 pencils from grade school that were made out of cedar. Although Tam Dao opens with that cedary tone on my skin, too, it calms down to a steady but very soft sandalwood. It is the closest thing I’ve found to the older sandalwoods of years past. October 22, 2024 at 10:36am
Cyndi: Looking for a new fall/winter perfume that’s not too expensive. My cooler weather favorites are older, classic perfumes such as Obsession, Chanel’s original Coco, Opium, Hypnotic Poison. I don’t want anything too sweet. Any suggestions will be most welcome. October 21, 2024 at 1:17pm
Kaisa: You have such a wonderful list of favourites! I’m finding it hard to recommend something, especially the not too expensive bit, but have you tried Shalimar or Vol de Nuit? October 21, 2024 at 3:06pm
Charley: I absolutely adore Vol de Nuit!!! Where can one get it in the U.S.? October 21, 2024 at 6:29pm
Kaisa: Sorry I cannot help you there, since I live in Europe… but yes it is spectacular. Took me a while to “get” it, but once I did I adore it. For some reason I really love it on cold, dark winter nights. October 23, 2024 at 7:28am
Rose Carolyn: In the US it’s available from the Guerlain website in the “Les Légendaires Collection.” 🙂 October 23, 2024 at 5:37pm
Cyndi: I have never tried Vol de Nuit but have always been curious. Thanks so much for the recommendations! October 21, 2024 at 6:46pm
Amanda M: Have you tried Estée Lauder’s Youth Dew? Such a wonderful balsamic and spicy perfume and a wonderful timeless classic! Perfect for the cooler months. October 21, 2024 at 6:13pm
Amanda M: I didn’t mean to write ‘wonderful’ twice, lol…☺️ October 21, 2024 at 6:14pm
Cynthia Nixon: I forgot about that one! That’s a perfect scent for fall/winter. Thank you! October 21, 2024 at 6:48pm
Amanda M: You’re welcome! I love it too.Such an underrated beauty ♥️ October 21, 2024 at 11:26pm
Brenda: I actually just ordered from Estée Lauder, and included
Youth Dew when ordering new Beautiful (original) & Spellbound perfumes. I always found Spell Bound similar to Samsara, but had a very inexperienced nose 30 yrs ago! Youth Dew seemed super heavy to me back then, but that was before Opium & Flowerbomb took over the world. November 17, 2024 at 8:16pm
Amanda M: I recall being gifted a bottle of Youth Dew for my 19th birthday, back in 1987 (so long ago, my goodness!) – I remember recoiling at the scent back then and didn’t like it at all. My most loved perfume then was YSL’s Paris.
Don’t know what happened to the bottle, I think I gave it to a charity shop. Fast forward to the early 2020’s and it’s now one of my most loved perfumes ever. What a complete turnaround! I guess our tastes change over the years. I don’t think I understood its beauty back then.
I love it so much. ♥️ November 27, 2024 at 7:28pm
Amanda: Oh, Spellbound and Beautiful! I had a huge love affair with both of those in the early 90’s. The vintage of both of these are stunning and I still wear them today. Samsara is a real beauty too and I’m lucky to have several vintages of the EDP & EDT, the Mysore sandalwood in these is so beautiful. Great choices! November 27, 2024 at 7:33pm
Old Herbaceous: You might like the reissued Anne Klein II. Very affordable, and I love it. I blogged about it here: https://scentsandsensibilities.co/2019/10/06/scent-sample-sunday-anne-klein-ii-revisited/. Another one I like very much is Jeffrey Dame’s JD Duality, which I mentioned in the same post. It is a great value for its high quality. Good luck! October 21, 2024 at 6:58pm
Cynti: Thank you! October 21, 2024 at 9:55pm
Danica Radovanov: Baiser du Dragon by Cartier. October 21, 2024 at 7:13pm
Aurora: Hi Cyndi, I love the perfumes you list, something to add to them might be the Merveille line by Hermès, l’Eau des merveilles or Ambre or Elixir which is my favorite. October 22, 2024 at 4:23am
Cyndi: Thank you. I’m definitely checking them out. October 22, 2024 at 11:51am
Pamela: 2 of my favorite fragrances! My SO loves them on me. November 16, 2024 at 6:33pm
Liliane: An suggestion can be babycat from YSL, and If that is too expensive than you are good whit Rifaagat from Paris Corner. Litlle bit softer but very beautiful and longlasting.
Also beautiful Bianco Latte. Ducci Giardini Di Toscane.
Otters but more expensive Bapteme du Feu + Arabië from Serge Lutens, Vanitas Profumum Di Roma… October 21, 2024 at 3:26pm
Cynthia Nixon: Thank you! October 21, 2024 at 6:49pm
fiona: Ooh, no! Thank you so much for the suggestion, I’ll seek it out. October 21, 2024 at 4:05pm
Antonietta: I would be interested on your opinion of the Dries Van Noten EDPs. Out of the 10 in the discovery set. I have 5 faves:
Rosa Carnivora: Rose and Vetivier
Raving Rose: Pepper Rose
Rock The Myrrh: Myrrh and Smoked Wood
Fleur du Mal: Osmanthus and Suede
Jardin de l’Orangerie: Orange Blossom and Santal
I adore rose in general: Fille de Berlin & Rose de Nuit (Serge), Une Rose & Portrait of a Lady (Frederic) just to name a few.
I also love the classics: Jicky, Chamade, Chanel No5, Jubilation 25, Gold, Joy, Ormonde Woman, Rive Gauche, Feminite du Bois (Shiseido & Serge), L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko, Iris Nobile, Rue Cambon, La Paula and the list goes on (not to brag but just to give you an idea that my preference in fragrance is broad.
Have you tried any of the Dries Van Noten from the discovery set and (if you have) which do you love?
By the way, big fan for over 10 years (even though I don’t usually comment) You are one of my favourite “noses” October 21, 2024 at 4:42pm
Aurora: Hi Antonietta, I’ve heard about them but not tried, I think I’m afraid to fall in love with something, they are expensive. Apart from more answers here which I hope you will get, maybe you can also view on youtube, Persolaise/Love at first scent channel reviewed the line, episode 272, he’s really serious about perfume but entertaining too October 22, 2024 at 4:36am
Vivienne Cuff: Hi Victoria
I follow you on Instagram. I loved your story about smoked fruits, tea and candied violets that you found at the local market.
I am wondering if this is an idea for a perfume – or perhaps there are some already with these notes? I would love to add some of the herbal notes like lavender, and perhaps a bergamot note.
We in New Zealand have a lovely tea by Twinings called New Zealand Breakfast – it is a smoky China tea, with bergamot. We in New Zealand like their Earl Grey tea a lot.
I enjoy your posts about your daily life in Ukraine. However, I despair about the situation and I hope for peace in Ukraine. Best wishes, Vivienne October 21, 2024 at 5:02pm
Liliane: Maybe you can try Bapteme du feu + Arabië from Serge Lutens, babycat from YSL, Ouverture from Amouage, Infusion velours from Ojar.
Not Cheap but everything is more expensive these days.
Enjoy it! October 21, 2024 at 7:04pm
Amy McLaughlin: I am still searching for something that might come close to the deliriously wonderful oakmoss hit of vintage Miss Dior. The closest I’ve come are a couple of DSH fragrances but I’m interested in any other suggestions.
I also wondered if anyone has tried any of the Krigler perfumes? I try to remain firmly immune to lures like ‘Grace Kelly wore this the night she won her Oscar’ etc., but I am curious. October 22, 2024 at 11:38am
Alityke: Ormonde Jayne Evernia & 4160Tuesdays Oakmossery are reconstructions of oakmoss & have the deep, inky, mossy, dampness.
Oakmossery would make an excellent base layer to chypre up modern fragrances that lack satisfying bases. October 22, 2024 at 1:24pm
Amy McLaughlin: Thank you! I will definitely investigate anon. I haven’t tried any Ormond Jaynes before in a while, and hadn’t even heard of Oakmossery. I appreciate these promising leads. October 22, 2024 at 2:34pm
Kaisa: Honestly I haven’t come across anything really comparable to Miss Dior. However, you might try Le Sillage Blanc from Dusita if you can get a sample; I find it a bit too “angular” compared to Miss Dior but it’s a green, leather chypre with oakmoss. (People have compared it to Bandit and Cabochard, neither of which I am familiar with). Ah: another, perhaps better, suggestion would be Dryad by Papillon.
Rogue Perfumery by Manuel Cross makes a lot of vintage-inspured oakmossy perfumes! I love and wear Chypre-Siam and Vetifleur. (But they are nothing like Miss Dior). October 23, 2024 at 7:37am
Klaas: Dryad is a wonderful fragrance. Green, earthy, mossy and poetic. It’s my substitute for Vol de Nuit……it’s not the same fragrance, but to me it’s more Vol de Nuit than the abomination Guerlain is selling nowadays…… definitely try it if you can, but don’t think too much about Miss Dior either. October 25, 2024 at 4:08pm
Kaisa: Dryad is great and you are right it’s definitely closer to Vol de Nuit than Miss Dior.
I have both vintage and modern extrait of Vol de Nuit as well as the EDT. I like them very much and can’t agree with your judgement of modern VdN. (Sadly it seems all the extraits have been discontinued now, except for Shalimar…) October 26, 2024 at 8:26am
Aire: Jicky and Mitsouko and L’ Heure Bleue extraits are available at Guerlain stores in Paris. Didn’t inquire about VdN extrait, though. October 27, 2024 at 9:16am
Klaas: Hey Kaisa, the last time I smelled a reformulation of Vol de Nuit was quite a few years ago. I was so disappointed that I’ve never smelled it again since. Maybe they improved it in the meantime? Mitsouko surely smells a lot better than a few years ago……
I’ve also heard that some extraits are available in the Paris boutiques. October 27, 2024 at 9:37am
Kaisa: Ah, if they are still available in the store that’s some good news at least. Luckily I have the ones I want 🙂 October 27, 2024 at 11:58am
Trudy: Wondering if anyone has experience with the Perfumehead brand. I’m thinking of ordering their discovery set as some of the descriptions sound so beautiful and receive some great reviews. Two in particular that sound promising are La La Love and Somewhere. Would love to hear thoughts about this brand in general or any specific fragrance you’ve tried. October 24, 2024 at 11:43am
Isabelle: I am looking for a perfume smelling lire Elaeagnus x ebbingei flowers… do you have any suggestion ? Tanks
Isabelle November 10, 2024 at 11:33am