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!!!

[HazleNutt]

Angel. I tried it once in a tax free shop before the flight. Then almost complained to the flight attendant that there is something stinking around my seat, must be a dead rat or something..

[Pinot]

Would it be a good idea for a perfume swap?

So if you have one to chuck out, you could instead send it to a MNer who likes it?

[YouOldSlag]

I'd be up for a perfume swap, but some of you would never forgive me as i have bought real stinkers totally blind and based on reviews only.

[DonaAna]

Badvoc,
Classy rose-based perfumes -
Nahéma by Guerlain (old school)
Tresor by Lancome (linear, modern landmark) - Lidl does a decent copy (Chalon).

If you love a squeaky clean washing powder rose, try Romance by Ralph Lauren or Especially Escada.
If you love the jammy aspects of rose, try Chanel No. 18 or Une Rose Vermeille by Tauer Perfumes (at Les Senteurs)
If you love wild rose, L'Ombre dans l'eau by Diptyque or Une Rose by Frederic Malle (also at Les Senteurs).

Gym Joy is made by Procter&Gamble these days...

[Badvoc]

wow, thanks!
I haev always tended to avoid chanel perfunmes for some reason...will give it a whiff :)

[marshmallowpies]

Never smelt it, but worst perfume name is Loverdose. I feel slightly ill just thinking about it.

Worst smell (that I know of) - Chanel no 19, I was given it as a present and really wanted to like it, but it's rank.

[SlightlyJaded]

Pinot fab idea.

For two years running my SIL has bought me perfumes I loathe: Angel and Kenzo Flowers. They ended up sitting on my dressing table going stale.

I would have gladly swapped for some
Prada Amber or Hugo Boss Deep
Red

My pet hatred are the 80s throat-catchers. In order of vileness:

Giorgio Beverly Hills
Calvin Klein Eternity
YSL Opium
And almost anything by Givenchy. Except for Amarige which I loved and wore for years.

[Badvoc]

oh! loverdose...its vile!
Quite like Paul smith Rose

[SlightlyJaded]

DonAna your posts ate really interesting and knowledgable. Can you tell me anything about Molecule? I really want to try some as apparently it is a bit of a landmark in the way fragrance is developed but I can't be arsed to schlep to Harvey Nicks.

[Pinot]

I too DonaAnas posts on perfume!

[SlightlyJaded]

Am to hear that Joy is a P&G product now. Don't particularly like it but my mum wore it on 'special occasions' so in that respect I love it because it smells of birthday and christmas my mum

That was when it was still Jean Patou (spelling?) and v. glamorous.

It's like finding out that Tiffany jewellery is produced in a factory alongside Elizabeth Duke.

[LimburgseVlaai]

Most "children's" scents are just awful. DD was given a bottle of Pink for a birthday - it stinks of Brut.

[MaBaya]

The latest Stella one...grannified!

[almapudden]

Lanvin does a nice rose scented one; I can't remember what it's called, though.

[StrawberrytallCAKE]

I hate Angel, makes me feel very sick. I'm sure if must react to people very differently.

[SuoceraBlues]

Poison.

It smells like distilled aluminum foil, makes my eyes cringe and my teeth hurt.

The 80s were a living hell for nasal assult by ill thought out, highly pungent perfumes.

[Jins]

I quite like Imogen rose yes but I tend to get my rose fix elsewhere

[GreenEyesAndHam]

Hate Angel on me

Also Jo Malone Pomegranite Noir, in fact most Jo Malone stuff

And finally that god awful Lidl Suddenly miss glamour stuff that you bastards on MN persuaded me to purchase. I couldn't wait to try it, sprayed it on in the car and nearly cried. DH pissed himself for most of the day.

[akaemmafrost]

Blonde by Versace.

I wanted to love it because I AM very blonde. But no it was horrible, smelt like musty washing on me.

[DonaAna]

Molecule 01 is Iso E Super
molecule 02 is ambroxan
Molecule 03 is vetiveryl

They are minimalism taken to the extreme - just one ingredient (marked up 50 x of course). Personally, I love Iso E Super which is a basenote in many modern perfumes (Terre by Hermes for example). But not everybody can smell it at all and some find it very annoying.
You really should try them, first on paper, then on skin to see where you stand (and move on, if looking for something traditional / floral: all of these ar very unisex). I've met their creator, Geza Schoen, who is one of the sexiest men alive (right after Tom Ford) - not underwear-model sexy but brainy-sharp-sexy

If you love Angel and want to cross over a bit, try A*men from the men's department - in many ways it's more feminine than Angel (other very feminine male perfumes: Dior Homme and Le Male).

Very many mainstream perfumes are shocking quality these days - very little or no natural ingredients left. That's why I recommend exploring niche perfumery and Les Senteurs - that's where the quality perfumes are these days. Pure natural perfumes are usually quite disappointing too - you need a good mix of naturals and synthetics to get the finest end result.

The really good perfumes at Chanel are only available at Chanel boutiques. Warmly recommended.

[akaemmafrost]

Oh and Jennifer Aniston's perfume is nasty as well. Smells cheap.

[Viviennemary]

I treated myself to Angel not long after it first came out. It was so strong it made me sneeze. Awful!! Also at one time liked Youth Dew. That was strong stuff! Opium and Poison are both dreadful.

[scottishmummy]

angel it stinks like musty ole cloth
any estee lauder

[Glitterknickaz]

I used to work for Floris.
Had a headache the entire first week due to the overpowering stench in the factory of all the different scents combined.

Didn't smell it after that though

[issyocean]

Shalimar by Guerlain - smell exactly like cats piss.