Signature scent - help me find one!

[marthamoo]

OK, I'm nearly 35 and it's time I had a signature scent that isn't Body Shop White Musk! So, O wise Mumsnetters, source of all knowledge, oracles of wisdom...I'll tell you what I like, smell-wise, and you can tell me what I'd like, perfume-wise. Hate going to perfume counters unless I know what I'm after.

I like: citrus, particularly grapefruit, seaside, fresh air, cut grass, clean washing, freshly laundered cotton.

Don't like: heavy musky, sandalwood etc. smells, or overpowering florals..nothing that smells like perfume actually (you know, that "Mums's perfume" smell!)

Any ideas? If I have a few suggestions I can go and ask for a squirt in Boots, rather than going in blind.

Used to wear Anais Anais but that's too flowery and talcum powdery now, have some Paul Smith for Women which is OK, but still not me. Thought I liked Clinique's Happy so bought a big bottle but it smelled funny on me. Liked one they did in Next which was citrussy/freesias but they've stopped making it.

So...help please!!!!

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Cheers Twig

Could alternate with Pong de Nappie Smelle!

I wear chanel No 5, which I love and have worn for years and years. I have Eau Dynamisante which is lighter , by Clarins. Only used it about twice though.

Joe Malone - Lime, Basil and Mandarin Cologne. Yummy, fresh and ziny. Almost masculine but not quite. Won't get it in Boots I am afraid - you would need to find a Joe Malone store.

Years ago I used to wear L'Air du Temps (Nina Ricci) Don't know if they still make it but it was very fresh and breezy

Try Eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake. It fits your description exactly.

Branches of Boots have a big display table with all the major perfume samplers together. They are grouped in types (florals, spicy, etc) to guide you.

I use Chanel no 19 it is very citrus/fresh smelling...I would also decribe it as you say 'citrus, particularly grapefruit, seaside, fresh air, cut grass, clean washing, freshly laundered cotton'.

Marthamoo, if you especially like grapefruit then I would recommend Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria in Pamplelune. It's a lovely, long-lasting, citrussy eau de toilette. I wear it in summer and in winter I switch to their heavier, lusher Mitsouko. I really rate Guerlain's perfumes, they are well-made and long-lasting (and beautifully packaged!).
Another one that's a little bit different and might suit your requirements is Annick Goutal's Eau d'Hadrien (you can get it from Libery). The only reason I don't wear this is my sister bagged it first.
Or, there is Jo Malone - she does a wonderful basil/mandarin based range, and a Provencal lime one.
I think I may just have outed myself as a perfume nut.

angel is v nice

and ghost

the new arpege - 'eclat d'arpege' is gorgeous - I live in it and I don't normally like much perfume. it's vey light and fresh, quite sweet but flowery in a nice way rather than a sickly way. Just had a sniff and I'd say it was lilac and freesia based but can't be sure. sweet little bottle too

I wore Anais Anais for years and years and wheni hit the big 40 felt i should have something a bit more grown up. I now wear Davidoffs Cool Water (for women) which is gorgeous and fresh and Hugo Boss Red for a posh night out (so not too often !)

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I started a thread on signature scents some months ago - can't think where it is, but lots of people posted -

NUmber 5- its the only one.

and they sell it on a pack of three that fit s in your bag
here it is

i used to wear a particularly grapefruity one for a long time, but have forgotten what it was...

will try and find out and get back to you.

deffo number 5 smells of baby powder clean..

I like allthose smells you listed and I love it

If you like citrussy smells, have a squirt of Clinique Happy, gorgeous!

it's XS Pour Elle by Paco Rabanne . it's very grapefruity. i didn't like the jo malone lime one much actually - i thought it was rather too metallic.

If you like fresh cirtus fragrances then try Chanel 19, Clinique Happy and Clarins Eau Dynamisante. Clarins also have a new one in a blue box, don't know the fragrance but knowing Clarins it is a light one. Generally the lighter the colour on the packaging, the lighter the fragrance is, I would avoid Angel (although I LOVE it) as you would probably find it too heavy. Let us know what you choose please...

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For a long time I avoided the conventional Duty Free airport scents in favour of fresh & more unusual choices (Annick Goutal etc) but an ex-bf/ fragrance expert (of sorts) convinced me that the very old-fashioned Lancome scent Magie Noire would be perfect for me. He was right. It's an old one (30's or 40's) so feels a little sophisticated & retro. It's hard to find, and that's the only problem. But I get compliments on it all the time. It's sophisticated but not overpowering.

'O' de Lancome is very citrussy as is Fleur d'Interdit by Givenchy.

I realise I'm turning into an origins bore (see other message on post-lunch slump thread) but they do 2 that you might like - one is called fret Not and is orangey and the other is called Gloomaway and is a serious grapefruit fix.