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.
If you received recommendations from this thread, please let us know what you sampled.
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
48 Comments
Deanna Wisbey: Some time ago Victoria recommended the Mysore Sandalwood soaps, I’ve since been using them amongst bed linen, and clothes, and am always thrilled when I smell the gentle sandalwood aroma.
Does anyone know of a similar fragrance or oil that would just turn up the volume slightly?!
( not Samsara, though I love it!) August 25, 2025 at 10:15am
Dorothee Teboul: I quite enjoy Santal Basmati by Affinescence. August 25, 2025 at 10:43am
Deanna Wisbey: Santal Basmati sounds intriguing, thank you. August 26, 2025 at 3:02am
Kaisa: I’m not familiar with those soaps, but if you’re looking for something that’s mainly sandalwood then Piano Santal by L’Orchestre Parfum is very nice and creamy. Lorenzo Villoresi Sandalo was also nice but more on the dry side. Tam Dao to my nose smells more of cedar but is worth a try also. August 25, 2025 at 3:52pm
Deanna Wisbey: Thank you, lots to try with your suggestions! August 26, 2025 at 3:03am
Amanda M: Some sandalwood perfumes I really enjoy are:
Sandalwood Cologne by F.Geo Trumper, Bois Des Iles by Chanel and Egoiste by Chanel.
(also love vintage Samsara edp, edt, parfum)
I just love those Sandalwood soaps from India! I use them all the time, the scent is so beautiful. I always keep a couple of boxes in the cupboard.
Am so forever grateful to Victoria for writing that lovely article all about them. ♥️ August 25, 2025 at 9:45pm
Charlie: I’ve been using the Mysore Sandalwood soap every day since I read Victoria’s article! I recently stocked up on a dozen bars of it, and my linen and jumper cupboards smell wonderful. August 26, 2025 at 3:26am
Lynley: There’s also Chloe Atelier des Fleurs Santalum. It’s Australian sandalwood but pretty true to nature (I think it’s one of the natural range) August 25, 2025 at 11:43pm
Deanna Wisbey: Thank you Linley, not heard of that one but will seek it out! August 26, 2025 at 3:00am
Aurora: Hi Deanna: I’ll add Sana Jardin Sandalwood Temple. August 26, 2025 at 5:17am
Deanna Wisbey: Thanks, I’ll hope it’s in my sample box from Sana Jardin! I may have overlooked it… August 26, 2025 at 5:50am
Kaylynn: I loooovvvee the mysore sandalwood soaps! How do you use the bars with your clothes and linens? August 27, 2025 at 10:25am
Deanna Wisbey: I just put the soaps in draws or cupboards between the clothes, I take off the boxes but leave the cellophane on as the smell penetrates through the cellophane, I wouldn’t put bare soap of course as it might stain.
……and one on the pillow at night!
If the factory that produces these soaps knew how popular they were I’m sure they would have come up with a slightly more concentrated oil version. August 27, 2025 at 11:46am
Kaylynn: I’m defintely going to do that! August 27, 2025 at 8:33pm
OnWingsofSaffron: „Sandalwood Temple“ by Sana Jardin (edp). August 28, 2025 at 3:25pm
Dian: Hello Victora! Always a joy to see your words beautifully wrapped around fragrance. I get compliments when I wear Light Blue, Aromatix Elixir, and FEndi (original). I believe all spicy florals? Would love to expand my wardrobe to other similar fragrances. Please help. Thank you – Diana August 25, 2025 at 11:31am
Laurie Brown: Dian, where do you find the original Fendi?!?! I have looked for it all over (online) and have found no trace of it! It was one of my favorites of the big 80s scents. August 26, 2025 at 2:20am
Mela: I believe the FENDI has been discontinued sadly. I have a small bottle and it is a battle between using it up to quickly and using it up before it goes bad. August 26, 2025 at 9:05pm
Laurie Brown: Also did you ever try the original Coco? That was another favorite of mine in the 80s, another spicy floral. I’ve actually still got a few drops left from them. I put it on very, very sparingly when I want to feel young and sophisticated (neither of which I am) August 26, 2025 at 2:27am
Susan: Has anyone tried the new Shalimar L’Essence? It’s apparently vanilla forward. I live in the US and zero stores near me carry any Guerlain products! I love the original Shalimar and have worn it off and on for over 50 years. August 25, 2025 at 12:04pm
Kathryn: Hi Susan, I am waiting for this too. I’m based in the UK and it hasn’t been released here yet as far I know. It’s not showing on the Guerlain website yet so unless anyone’s been sent a press sample for review I don’t think you’ll get your answer yet. I suspect we might have to wait until closer to Christmas shopping time 🙂 Fingers crossed it will be soon. Please correct me if anyone knows more… August 25, 2025 at 2:05pm
Susan Williams: It’s on the English speaking site but I’d really like to see how vanilla forward it is before I order it!
https://www.guerlain.com/us/en-us/p/shalimar-lessence—eau-de-parfum-intense-P014923.html August 25, 2025 at 4:50pm
Kathryn: Thank you for these links, which work perfectly to the US and German sites. I still can’t find it on the UK site which seems odd but I’ll keep looking. I am starting to wonder if it’s me. Thanks anyway, hope you find someone who can tell about the vanilla. August 25, 2025 at 4:59pm
Alityke: Not you. It isn’t on the UK site yet.
I’m in two minds it being all the vanillas. Millesime Vanilla Planifolia was a fail for me, as was AA Bosca Vanilla Forte.
Millesime Tonka I adore so much I bought a back up.
The UK site has historically sold out of these LEs so quickly it can’t keep up with stock levels. It’s happened to me twice.
I have found keeping an eye on the My Origines site as they seem to get stock on the release date August 25, 2025 at 6:34pm
Kathryn: Thanks for the tip 🙂 August 26, 2025 at 2:05am
Alessandra: Hi, Susan! I am sure you’ll find the perfume in shops soon. It’s online and I think the boutiques will slowly catch up. Unlike other versions, it doesn’t even seem to be a limited edition! I mean… I don’t know, but it would be a bit strange for a limited edition to have 30 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml options, no? Also, the ‘subtitle’ makes me think that it has a lot to do with previous vanilla-enhancing editions, which I loved… all of them… way more than the recent limited editions. Fingers crossed it is great AND not in limited edition! Can’t wait to test it 🙂 August 27, 2025 at 1:57am
Johaboha: I tried it and like it. The bergamot opening is somehow juicier than the original and together with the amped up vanilla and a rosy facet it ends up smelling very sandalwoody to me. I find it quite soft compared to the original. August 27, 2025 at 4:24am
Sebastian: It is available from the German language Guerlain website (see here: https://www.guerlain.com/de/de-de/p/shalimar-lessence-eau-de-parfum-intense-P014923.html ) and it is also being reviewed online. I haven’t smelled it, though. August 25, 2025 at 4:31pm
Marianne: Hello, thank you for this opportunity Victoria. In my response to a recent post I mentioned Diorissimo as it was some 25 years ago, when I experienced it as a voluptuous, unapologetic concoction of honey, golden sunshine, drowsy bees and gorgeous flowers. So delicious. I wonder if anyone also has scent-memories of this masterpiece, and whether anyone can recommend a perfume that might be similar? August 26, 2025 at 1:25am
Alessandra: Hello, Marianne! Nothing similar to that comes to mind anymore (I am not even sure Diorissimo still smells exactly like that, however still wonderful), but allow me to suggest another wonderful muguet – entirely different, more intimate and shadowy: Décou-Vert by Laboratorio Olfattivo. One of the several brands whose success proves that the idea that loud perfumes are back (were they ever gone?) is only one part of a much more articulate and complex picture that also encompasses opposite trends in the market and in people’s needs. After all, what we obsess over risks becoming the lens through which we (mis)interpret what we observe. Anyway! Enjoy it. It’s not Diorissimo at all, but it is a wonderful fragrance… and the only muguet I wear apart from Diorissimo 🙂 if you love muguet, you might enjoy this different interpretation and setting of it. August 27, 2025 at 1:53am
Marianne: Alessandra thank you so much! Your recommendation is like a key to the next step of a delightful and important adventure and I must try it. I’m going to visit a large city next month and will surely find Laborstorio Olfattivo, such a romantic name. August 27, 2025 at 8:02am
Alessandra: I really hope you’ll like it and that it will sit next to your Diorissimo :)) August 28, 2025 at 1:50am
Marianne: Thank you! I checked their website and saw several interesting looking perfumes! They deserve attention! August 28, 2025 at 2:49am
Alessandra: Yes, indeed! The brand is home to several refined, beautifully made and elegant perfumes at decent prices. Some Ellena and Ropion gems, too! Also, Luca Maffei is a perfumer to keep an eye upon. Enjoy and report back! 🙂 August 28, 2025 at 3:38pm
Marianne: On another note I’d like to mention that Jurlique Rose hand cream has a beautiful, pure, clean rose scent. I wish they also made perfume! August 26, 2025 at 9:08am
Aurora: Hi Marianne: Jurlique used to have Rose Essence to complement the hand cream, unfortunately they discontinued it some years ago, I wonder why, sigh. August 27, 2025 at 12:19pm
Marianne: Thank you! I checked their website and saw several interesting looking perfumes! They deserve attention! August 28, 2025 at 2:54am
Marianne: Sorry Aurora, I sent this to you instead of to Alessandra … thank you for the update re Jurlique. They make the best hand cream I’ve found, a shame about the Rise Essence! August 28, 2025 at 3:02am
Marianne: Rose 😀 August 28, 2025 at 3:03am
Jj: Been looking for a dupe or anything that is similar to Chanel Coco circa early 2000’s before the reformulation. current version is too floral and does not have the depth or sexiness it once had. August 26, 2025 at 10:51am
Aurora: Hi Jj:. To me Coromandel, although different gives me the same satisfaction as vintage Coco, especially the extrait of both. August 27, 2025 at 12:42pm
Kaisa: I haven’t found anything similar to Coco to be honest. It also seems to be a perfume that does not keep consistently well in vintage, unfortunately.
Nobile 1942 had a perfume called Anonimo Veneziano, which reminded me of Coco; however, that is discontinued. Sorry I cannot help more.
Coromandel is gorgeous and worth a try, though I don’t find it similar to Coco. I would also suggest trying Egoiste (preferably vintage), it’s somehow related to Coco in spirit and doesn’t read too masculine to me. August 31, 2025 at 2:07pm
Victoria: Thank you for these thoughtful suggestions. I agree, Coco is hard to replace, but Coromandel and Egoïste share something of its spirit. September 2, 2025 at 4:42am
Jane: The new Bal D’Afrique Absolue from Byredo is very nice. It’s fresh but has enough depth to make it stick around a little while and be suitable for all year round wear. August 26, 2025 at 3:35pm
Kaylynn: I really like that scent as well. When I went into the store recently the sales associate said she layers it with rose of no man’s land and showed me. I loved it! I’m not typically one to layer but it was beautiful. August 27, 2025 at 10:55am
Federica: Dear Victoria, have you ever considered reviewing any of the Rubini perfumes? I have tried their Tambour Sacré just once, and find myself thinking about it. August 29, 2025 at 5:47pm
Victoria: Yes, I have tried Rubini. Tambour Sacré is beautifully composed, and I would be glad to revisit the line in a review. September 2, 2025 at 4:38am
mithun gowda: I always enjoy these monthly threads—so many great discoveries come from them. Excited to see what everyone is wearing and recommending this time! November 19, 2025 at 11:33pm