Unique and interesting scents

[Whirliwig72]

I've been a loyal Clinique aromatics elixir wearer for years but I'd like to treat myself to something new and unusual for my 40th. I've been trying some Miller Harris ones: Terre d'iris and l'air de rien and I like them but I don't find them irresistible, can't stop smelling your wrist gorgeous. In the past I've liked coco First, Samsara and even (whisper it) Poison! I don't like anything too floral or vanilla. I do like warm sensual scents with patchouli, amber and cedar.

Any ideas maybe from Caron or vintage
Guerlain or Chanel?

Ps happy to spend up to £100 as its a special birthday.

If you live near London you could pay a visit to Les Senteurs shop.lessenteurs.com/ and see what they suggest. I'm determined that I'm going to do this one day, it's one of my ambitions - I love unusual and rare fragrances.

And by the way thanks to DonaAna ( I think it was you ) who recommended Bottega Veneta on the leather perfumes thread, it arrived today and I love it.

It's not £100, but I love Lush Perfumes. I have Karma which has orange, patchouli, pine, lavendin, lemongrass, elemi, cassie.

Also Breath of God which has Neroli, lemon, melon, jasmine, rose, vetivert, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, musk.

Not to mention a few other Lush perfumes. They are only made fragranced with natural essential oils and they smell beautiful. Once you get into natural perfume everything else starts to smell like a cheap tarts hankie.

They are also 100% cruelty free.

I was just about to say Breath of God!

Lush perfumes have a separate brand, Gorilla perfumes. Good website, and for the 'exclusive' ones that you can't try in all the shops they sell little samples, as natural perfumes smell massively different on different people. Which I love, as I hate anyone else to smell like 'me', iyswim. Some of the shops do have the full range though, I think....

Oh thanks AB - I've visited the website and put a few samples on my shopping basket to try .

To be honest I'm totally surprised about Lush but that 'god' one does have a lot of the ingredients I like in it.

Thanks both!

Look at serge lutens

Really special, unusual fragrances

I wear daim blonde

I also love the Ladyboy Gorilla Perfume because Banana, seaweed and violet is an unusual combination, but it works well on me. Ginger Gorilla Perfume is another lovely one - Ginger, mimosa, rose, geranium, jasmine, juniper, ylang ylang.

Ive never heard of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. I was a teenage goth once upon a time.

If you like something unusual and quite 'powerful' go into Penhaligon's and have a good sniff around. Nothing in there smells quite like anything else (but maybe avoid the obvious flowery ones - ask an assistant).

Also Joy meets your description - and Estee Lauder Cinnabar (spicy, warm, not a whiff of floral). I would say try Cinnabar definitely.

Serge Lutens L'Eau Froide has my cats in a complete licking frenzy. I have no idea what is in it (catnip?) but they go beserk when I wear it.

Where can you get the Serge Lutens fragrances? I want to try....

Try anything from Etat Libre d'Orange: it is often weird but their fragrances are very special! I have been wearing Jasmin & Cigarette for 6 months now and I love it.

Another one that says Lush! I love Karma and Ladyboy. Never met anyone in RL that uses them, and I always get asked what it is.

Emsyj, I think I've seen the Serge Lutens fragrances in Kendals in Manchester, so House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and Les Senteurs, as above.

I wear aqua di parma iris and it always gets comments. I love it

Fab, thanks - I will be making a weekly trip to Manchester with work shortly, so will take a gander next time I'm out that way .

L'Artisan Parfumeur does some gorgeous perfumes - I love their Premier Figuier (but you have to like figs)

Dh bought me this which is just wonderful, I love it to bits. Think Selfridges stocks this brand as does Space NK.

Illamasqua's Freak is unusual and always gets me lots of compliments.

Ooh great MrsArse - I wore Bottega Veneta to bed last night

OP, Aromatics Elixir is a great, great classic. Very few department store perfumes are anything like it so you should go Les Senteurs all the way - why would you want to wear something dozens of other women wear? You love distinctive orientals, classic aldehydes, bitter herbs and even tuberose (have you tried Fracas?).

I love Farnesiana by Caron (honeyed mimosa), and would also love En Avion (but it's fleeting). But the one I actually wear more often is Yatagan.

Boutique Guerlains and Chanels are slightly over your budget. But for something different and really special, you should really sniff your way through the perfumes edited by Frederic Malle (at Les Senteurs or online) - it's one of the best perfume collections I know. You might fall in love with Une Rose or Eau d'Hiver or Carnal Flower or Angeliques sous la pluie or Musc Ravageur or Iris Poudre - any others are really good too (they are under 100 GBP for 50ml and the travel sets are more affordable).

I also love Tauer perfumes - evocative and powerful, not unlike Aromatics Elixir! Within your budget too!

Oh yes, Bottega Venata here too. Very different to a lot of what I would call "department store" perfumes.

I don't find it has a lot of staying power though - anyone else?

There's a small company called Honore des Pres that does heavenly green fresh scent, a bit similar to Clinique (and more modern-smelling). You can get it in Anthropologie, it's slightly cheaper than Miller Harris.

Guerlain mitsouko is beautiful and unusual, it was the first perfume they launched in 1919 or something like that...definitely a classic although it is more suited for evening wear.

Verity and DonaAna, Bottega Veneta is gorgeous, just beautiful, I can't believe I've never tried it before, I keep sniffing my wrists. And as you mentioned Frederic Malle, Dona, have you tried Parfum de Thérèse ? I bought a tiny bottle from Les Senteurs because I fell for the story behind it, not sure it suited me but very different.

Agree about frederic malle - also dyptique, especially 37 bvd st germain, which is what I'm currently wearing. Fave place to buy scent is Liberty because they have such an unusual and eclectic selection, and they don't mind how long you spend there - really friendly staff

try en passant by frederic malle - it's wonderful!