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!!!

To me, all Acqua di Parmas have a funky strong vibe that I do not really like (I've given all my samples away). It's common in many other Italian perfumes too (Villoresis, Santa Maria Novella offerings) - maybe it's that?

Shoe have you been able to isolate what notes/ingredients you like in perfumes? That might help. Tastes in perfume can be very individual.

-Tuberose
-Frangipani
-Almond
-Amber
-Patchouli
-Peony
-Rose
-Gardenia
-Pink pepper

There are probably others, but these are the main ones. Anything you recommend DonaAna based on these?

Not DonaAna, but you could try the Chatecaille ones.
Pretty much every note you like, they do.
Not too sure about the almond.
Also, Annick Goutal - that might be a house for you.Eau de Ciel, le jasmin, lots of this soliflores.

Thanks for the tips DonaAna. I will check out Alla Violetta and meanwhile hope my StC samples make it to their destination!
That Café Society blurb does sound great. The atmosphere of a room after a Parisian dinner.. what's not to like!

I also love almondy notes although in the past I've tended to go for green chypres or light florals (most notably Chanel n.19, but it's gone downhill since reformulation), but my tastes are changing, getting sweeter/heavier and I'd love to find the perfect almondy scent which isn't totally overpowering and "out of character" for me. I find I normally have to put up with lots of loud topnotes before I get the almond drydown.

There are bound to be lots of great perfumeries here so I'll have to go exploring. 10 Corso Como also had a good selection if I remember correctly - haven't been in there for a couple of years (absolutely gorgeous shop but not the kind of place you swan into with a demanding toddler!)

Serge Lutens Louve is a lovely almond; his Rahat Loukoum is also supposed to be lovely - just waiting for a sample.
Here is a list of perfumes with almond notes from basenets.com:

• Annick Goutal Vanille Exquise
• Ava Aromatics Amande Sucre, KISS, Loukhoum
• Aqua di Parma Blu Mediteriano Mandorlo di Sicilia
• Auric Blends Honey Almond
• Avon Naturals Almond spray
• Bourbon French Anastasia
• BPAL Eclipse, Dana O'Shee, Seralgio & Queen of Sheba
• Burburry Brit
• Cacherel Gloria
• Caron Farnesiana
• Cartier Basier du Dragon
• Castelbajac
• Caswell & Masey Almond
• Christian Dior Hypnotic Poison
• Clos d'Aguzon Almond Flower
• Côté Bastide Coton et Amande
• Crabtree & Evelyn Almond Oil
• Creation Mathis Bitter Almond
• CSP Vanille Amande
• Dawn Spencer Hurwitz La Fete Nouvelle, Almond Blossom and Amande Delicat
• Demeter Almond
• Des Filles a la Vanille Vanille
• Dragonfly Blue Vanilla Almond and Amaretto oils
• Dreamesscents Sugared Almond, Curacao and Marzipan and Vanille Amande
• Elariia Almond Blossom Mist
• eScentsational Marzipan
• Etro Heliotrope
• Gabriele Strehle Strenesse
• Guerlain Champs Elysees
• Hanae Mori
• Hové Mirage
• Keiko Mecheri Loukoum and Gourmandises
• Kenzo Flower Le Parfum
• Korres Bitter Almond Body Water
• Krizia
• La Perla Eclix
• L'Amande Almond Milk and Honey water
• L'Artisan Bois Farine and Jour de Fete
• Langiappe Oaks Lady Evangeline
• Lea St. Barth
• Les Nereides Doucer de Vanille
• Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige
• L'Occitane Almond Blossom line
• Mazzolari Alessandro
• Montale Sweet Oriental Dream and Amandes Orientales
• Nina Ricci Almond Amour
• Pas-simple Amande
• Paul & Joe Blanc
• People of The Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo
• Perlier White Almond
• Provance Sante Sweet Almond
• Sonoma Scent Studio Almond Hug, Honeyed Almond
• Serge Lutens Rahat Loukoum
• Thierry Mugler Angel Innocent
• Toni Gard
• Vinci & Raikos Royal Almond
• Yves St. Lauren Cinema

that'll give you something to think about!

That's a great almond list, most of those I've never heard of.

Off that list I've got Burberry Brit but don't really wear it unless it's freezing outside, it's too sickly sweet. I also read it described as "chav spit" the other day which has kind of put me off... definitely want to try Louve, slightly more upmarket methinks.

I was interested to read that Luca Turin isn't convinced that perfumes smell different on different people. He reckons it's more due to how we perceive the top notes and that after a while they smell the same on everyone (at least I thinkthat's what he meant). But I just can't agree with this as some perfumes that "perfumistas" think are wonderful smell absolutely vile on me for the first hour or two (Shalimar is one of these, unfortunately). What does everyone else think? Does skin type have anything to do with it?

I think we perceive things differently. We are anosmic to some smells (I'm anosmic to oak, for example), associate others with good/bad experiences, and also have certain inborn perferences. Perfume Shrine had a great article last week about the role of skin chemistry (none to small in her opinion) in perfumes smelling differently. Worth reading!

I have an almost unused almond sampler somewhere, so when you get your order Spaghettina I can smell some of them in tandem if you'd like. Any other almond lovers on this thread?

There is another superb perfume store in Milano: Mazzolari at San Babila. But ordinary profumerie can be very good too.

Louve is one of my favourites. I 've had more than one bottle of it. Its my comfort scent. After days of deliberation,my lucky scent order of samples was for:

Keiko Mecheri Loukoum - supposed to be very sweet and turkish delight

Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561 Cara - Amber, caramel, almond, talcum, vanilla

Montale Sweet Oriental Dream - Moroccan rose, loukhoum (honey, rose water, sugar, fruit, jam, nuts), almonds, vanilla

PARFUMS DE NICOLAI Kiss Me Tender - Vanilla, aniseed, almond, fresh cut hay

L'Artisan Parfumeur Traversee du Bosphore - Apple, pomegranate, tulip, iris, leather, saffron, Turkish delight accord (rose and pistacchio), vanilla, musks

Huitieme Art Sample:Poudre de Riz - Damask rose, tiare absolute, coconut, vanilla, rice powder accord (caramelic, burnt toast and maple notes), sandalwood, iris, cedar, tonka bean, Tolu balsam and benzoin resin

I've high hopes especially for the Poudre de Riz, Cara and Kiss me Tender.

I'm interested in the hay note of Kiss me Tender - serge Lutens Chergui has a hay note which I find intriguing and really lovely to keep sniffing. In fact, I think I will do a little explore and see what other hay note perfumes I can find!

I wear

'Secret Oudh' by Parfum Caron
'Angel' by Thierry Mugler
'Ombre Platine' by Jean Charles Brousseau
'Felanilla' by Parfumerie Generale
'La Maroc Pour Elle' by Perfumes Tauer
'Mure Et Musc' by L'Artisan Parfumeur
'Feminite Du Bois' by Serge Lutens
'Pi' by Givenchy (mens)

Dona

I adore Tonka Imperiale too.

I also have a sample of the Heeley Fresh Mint.

I'm looking for a salt scented perfume; no EDT or cologne. Any suggestions? i don't want the more fragranced Ozonics but as pure a salt-air scent as is possible.

Mignonette - here are some salty ones (hope you don't mind me answering - just on a perfume bend today )

Sel Marin

acqua di sale

more here

Kiwigirl

Thank you. I meant that to sound as an open request for anybody. Sorry if it sounded excluding....

i have some of the sel marin bathsalts and didn't think to look at their perfumes. Will request samples. I like the Acqua Di Sale simply because of the name.....The names sound so refreshing.....

Plan to try the Heeley Sel Marin definitely. Looks so clean.

I have worn Heeley's Sel Marin and quite like it. I like Heeleys in general.

I wore Tonka Imperiale yesterday. Now that the weather is cold I will get a lot of mileage from my ambers and gourmands.

If someone wants a perfume that smells childishly good and delicious, Profumum Roma's Acqua e Zucchero is like really great pastry at brunch.

And am in awe of the expertise and connoisseurship here .
Mig Mure et Musc is a guilty pleasure for me.

Salty - Eau des Merveilles.
Not the Perfume or the Eau Clare - just the Eau.
The other two are lovely, but the Eau has the most salt.

Thank you to all. I have a lovely list now for Christmas -

I also pinch DH's 'Mechant Loup' from L'Artisan Parfumeur.

I do love the gourmand scents; I heartily disagree with Sophie Dahls latest perfume article for British Vogue in which she slates this type of fragrance. Can't say as I like her writing generally; far too 'breathy' and try-too-hard. Too many 'entitled' by birth/family achievements writers in the Vogues these days. It always was society but lately it has become ridiculous with some truly poor writing-Alexa Chung for example.

I like the sound of salty perfume..
Just tried a squirt of Tommy Girl from my local bog standard perfume shop, as it gets a 5 star rave review from Turin/Sanchez, but might have to go and wash it off in a minute. It feels a bit too 90s and aquatic/metallic for my tastes.

KiwiGirl - your samples list sounds scrumptious!

DonaAna - thanks for the offer, this time unfortunatley I didn't order the almond sampler, i stuck mainly to Guerlains, but if the package turns up I might go for the almonds next time round.
Re. Mazzolari - I know the one but have never been in. Now I'll have to go and check it out!

Noticed Prada Infusion De Fleur D'Oranger for £19 at a local discount toiletries/chemists. Trying to recall the name of the chain...

I received my sample of mandorlo di sicilia by acqua di parma this morning (an ebay purchase!).

I'm really liking it - could really smell the almonds at first and its now settled to a quite sweet vanilla/ coffeeish/ cedar accord.

It has a bit of a sharp undertone, like a male aftershavey smell but its not too noticable. Actually smells like ice cream if anything!

Its very nice and definitely a contender for a full bottle - just not sure about the aftershavey edge yet!

To my knowledge Mazzolari is the only place in Italy that stocks boutique Guerlains. Am

Mig agree completely about Vogue writing. Has anyone read the Nov Red magazine? Victoria Frolova (Bois de Jasmin) is supposed to have an article there on perfumes. For once someone who actually understands something about perfume...

I'm really too busy to hang out here (travelling tomorrow) but am thinking about popping into my favorite profumeria to ask whether they have Geo F Trumper's Spanish Leather. I really like it - it has an old-school gentleman vibe (=perfect for me).

I'll look out for that RED feature, Dona. I adore Geo F Trumper and have bought their Extract of West Indian Limes cologne since discovering it in the early 90's. I also buy Coral skin Food, the Coconut and lime versions of shaving soap for my DH. There's always a glass bottle of the Limes on my desk at work to freshen stale office air...

Dona have you tried Givenchy's 'Pi' for men? It has that amber/oriental/warm scent and seems to sink into your skin. DH has to share with me.....

Here's some good perfume reading -

www.theperfumemagazine.com/APRIL-2012-Esxence-ITALIAN/front-page-april-2012.html

and here's an interview with Victoria Frolova -

thescentsofself.com/2012/02/08/perfume-blogger-interview-with-victoria-frolova-of-bois-de-jasmin/

Interestingly enough, DS age 12 HATED mandorlo di sicilia on me. surprised me as he likes other almondy types. I can't get past the sharp male undertone enough to buy a full bottle - I think its the concentrated cedar in the base, sort of sawdusty smell. Otherwise its delicious and I'll keep wearing my sample.

Ooooh my Surrender to Chance samples have arrived.

I am currently doused in Diptyque Philosykos and I bloody love it.

Skin chemistry definitely makes a difference - i have asked people (random strangers) what perfume they are wearing , tried the perfume on me and it smells awful. I am so proud of the thread i started DonaAna you have such knowledge! I like : Creed Virgin Island Water
Chanel Jersey
Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio & L'eau du Hadrien.
Any other suggestions i should try based on that list please?