The Worst perfume ever!

[anniewoo]

Was in HOF today and as i have no money at the moment to spend (despite their sale) decided to cheer myself up with a spray ( or two) of their posh perfumes. Big Mistake- sprayed Serge lutyens Tuberose Criminale- and it was!!!! Well the smell was criminal- like camphor, moth balls mixed with wintergreen , that awful muscle rub stuff. Jesus wept and it lasts and lasts and lasts. Can't kill it off, despite Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio on my other wrist. You have been warned.....Though i do dare you!!!

Siena I'm happy that you liked Romastore. Fracas is the classic reference tuberose, not for the shy. If you like tuberose, try Malle's Carnal Flower and Loretta by Tauer Perfumes. If you prefer big white florals, try anying with jasmine or gardenia in it.

Perfumes by Nasomatto are great - if you ever experience second thoughts, you can get it here or from the makers directly (the mini is inexpensive- would make a lovely gift).

In many bigger cities in Italy, there are perfume bars (Olfattorio) where you can sniff perfumes from a champagne flute, guides by very knowlegeable salespeople. A lovely way to spend half an hour experincing something new - I've taken many of my guests there and they have loved it.

Fridgepants Make sure your friend checks out Cafe Makeup before you go - she covers mostly high-end cosmetics but travels to Paris often. Serge Lutens does makeup too.

Futter the cucumbery note in Black Orchid made me almost sick, but I loved the drydown. With your love of chocolate and patchouli, please try Coromandel by Chanel at some point (patchouli is very divisive too).

I should try Alien on skin. I have white flower phobia, am trying to overcome it.

Hate hate hate Angel and Eau Dynamissante. Both of them make me feel sick.

DonaAna that Site you linked to, that send out sampkes of different collections, and niche starter sets looks wonderful!!

It has led me to discover and investigate the CB I hate perfume range. Have you tried any of these?

This is going to cost me a fortune isn't it? I'm currently alternating Chanel no5 and Lush Orange Blossom, both of which I adore but I would like something a bit more subtle for day time and fancy a change.

Can someone help me narrow things down a bit. I love neroli - also like jasmine, rose and vanilla. I do realise that subtle will be difficult with these preferences :)

Siena I have tried quite a few CB I Hate Perfume scents. They are quite conceptual - if you expect rose and violets, you will not get them. I remember some very vegetable-like/ mulchy/ earthy scents. Have not managed to get hold of Roast Beef but would love to: here is a charming interview of perfumer Christopher Brosius .

Jins, I recommend smelling Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino and Chanel 19 instore, and purchasing a orange blossom sampler or one of the jasmine samplers from Surrender to Chance (note: neroli and orange blossom smell and look very different; the former is more understated and masculine - orange blossom is all-out diva). Jasmine is in just about everything (Alien is a mainstream jasmine; A la nuit by Serge Lutens one of the great jasmine soliflores; many of my friends love Jasmin & Cigarettes by Etat Libre d'Orange). Rose too (there is even a house that does just rose - Parfums de Rosine). And vanilla. They are the mortar of perfumery. I love the recently launched Seville a l'Aube by L'Artisan Parfumeur - it's a great take on orange blossom. 24 Faubourg by Hermes is a very classy big bouquet. Annick Goutal specializes in subtle, ethereal, chic florals; Grossmith in opulent florals that use great raw materials.

I am basking in full-out tuberose glow right now. (Had to open the window - feel radioactive.)

I have to say I am loving the sound of Jasmin and Cigarettes :) That sounds like a dream come true

I think I'll have to get a couple of samplers

I've found a sample of Chanel Coromandel on eBay, and I'm really excited to try it- it sounds right up my street. Is there anywhere online that sells the actual normal size bottle? I can't see a thing in Google Shopping.

I tried some Chanel Coromandel in Selfridges recently - I thought I'd tried on an aftershave by mistake?

BOF Coromandel is only sold in Chanel boutiques (and some Chanel counters). It's sometimes available on eBay, usually sold with a mark-up to those that don't live near a boutique. The smallest bottle in store is big (I think 75ml). Sometimes it's possible to split a bottle with someone or sell the amount you don't want in smaller bottles on eBay. Hope you like it - but as I have already warned, like many other great perfumes, it's not for everyone.

Jins go for it!

And everyone, Basenotes is an great resource for everything perfume-related. Just about any fragrance worth smelling is listed there.

HipHop, the gender divisions are just marketing. More and more scents are marketed as unisex (Coromandel is one of them). In some way, it would be quite sexist to assume that women are only allowed to wear light florals that are sold in a pink bottle. Men can wear and do wear florals (Dior Homme is very powdery), women can wear vetiver and leather (Bottega Veneta just cashed in on this) just as they can wear a trouser suit or a smoking jacket. More and more perfume departments are organized to be unisex - and Angel comes in a blue bottle .

Ah, I suspect I shall just have to enjoy my sample as a one-off then. Oh well. I think this thread has established that I am a perfume pleb anyway

Ohh - am so proud of my thread.

No, I don't mean that BOF, sorry, did not intend it that way - by any means enjoy anything you like. But many women find it very limiting if they are told that they are not supposed to wear something because it smells like aftershave - many perfume vendors only offer women pink and frilly choices without realizing that times have changed and that even perfume marketing is changing. It's a bit like saying that you are only allowed to wear a skirt and heels all the time.

My DH keeps hitting my bottles all the time...

And I do have two celeb perfumes in my cupboard (If you get me very drunk I will confess which ones - I wore one of them last week ). And of course I'm also a proud owner the famous Lidl bottle - though it's wasted on me as it's quite subtle and sophisticated...

OhSiena - we were in Trastavere in June! But I wish I'd known about the perfume shop

I'm going to believe its Britney Spears Dona to make myself feel better.
It's nice .

BIWI isn't Trastevere wonderful? The shop was gorgeous, and just around the corner from our apartment so I popped in try another one each day. Butndidnt find one to buy. Because of language barrier we couldn't really get much help or advice so that probably limited the overall experience a bit, I wasn't sure where to start.

My DH found a specialist beer bar and I found the perfume shop, we were pigs in mud.

Well I'm going to guess Ssh or controversial - the Jade Goody perfumes

I bet its JLO Glow-it seems to get quite good reviews for a celebrity perfume. If I wasnt such a snob myself about perfume then I would actually buy Madonna's truth or dare-I got a few samples when I was buying something else and I thought it was very good for the price....

Shalimar by Guerlain.

Still loving this thread and keeping up with it. Ordered your tester bottles DonaAna and can't wait for them to arrive so I can get my nose on!
Every time I read a post I think, hmmm, I think I like that, but not that...but it is so hard without a point of reference! I usually have a seperate day and evening scent. This is mainly to feel special when on a night out. Bit lost at the moment as finding my Chloe smelling v. boring (it seemed to be friendly and clean smelling when I got it for Christmas) and my Love in Paris v.dated and reminds me of exes, which really isn't a good vibe on a night out. I don't think these two have any blends in common and think it's time to start again. Hoping this thread can point me in the right direction. Am 31 and aware that some perfumes just smell of teenagers and don't want to be what I call Candy Bar Mum

J-Lo Glow is indeed vile.

My mother of all people has a bottle.

Ha ha, Aquelven, I was just thinking that :)

I bet it's Intimate Victoria Beckham!

No, it must be the Sarah Jessica Parker. Lovely.

I just read far enough in this thread to see the mention of Joop Homme.

Oh, my god, it is vile!

My DH's mum is convinced it's his favourite thing, so she buys him large bottles at regular intervals. Bleugh.