Pleasantly surprised by the new Givenchy scent - Black Dahlia. I remain bemused by it's name considering that the smell emitted from dahlia flowers,stems and leaves is pretty foul and their propensity for earwig infestation.
I normally shy away from mainstream perfume launches because there are so many that appear to be 'formulated-by-committee' and very samey. Thousands of new scents are pumped out every year and it is hard to find something different. In addition, too many people wearing them.
This Perfume guide is invaluable and an interesting read -
www.amazon.co.uk/Perfumes-Guide-Luca-Turin/dp/0670018651/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346251151&sr=1-1
It names some unusual choices, many not too £££ so readers won't find themselves yearning over some high end elixir made from the tears of unicorns or other rarity and only available in central London shops.
I have always worn 'Angel' buying it from it's release and it's only in France that I find myself smelling it on hordes of people. I also love 'Mandrigore' by Annick Goutal, Marc Jacob's 'Cucumber', the Comme Des Garcons range, Guerlain's 'L'Heure Bleu' and 'Vol De Nuit' and the 'Mure Et Musc' and 'Mechant Loup' from L'Artisan Parfumeur.
I steal DH's 'Extract Of West Indian Limes' by G. E Trumpers and his Givenchy 'Pi' cologne which warms beautifully on the skin of every female I've sprayed it on. I am often asked what I'm wearing when I borrow this.
I mix scents too -does anybody else do this? I buy cheap drugstore Musk scent from the USA by Bonnie Bell and mix it with other Orientals. I mix 'Eau Jeune's 'Eau Fraiche from French supermarkets and pharmacies with Lancome's 'O De Lancome'. I also like this Black Pepper EDT I buy in Sardinia for a couple of Euro's.
The original 'O' De Lancome is timeless but I did like the limited Summer versions, 'Azure' smelled best on my skin.
My Mother used to have an amazing wardrobe of scents because we travelled and lived all over the world; all classic scents like 'Diorissimo' and the Chanels so from a young age my sister and I absorbed the message that you start to dress with the application of scent.
What Winter scents are you all liking?