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!!!

[coffeeinbed]

Figue Amere might be something.
Or Cristobal - a sweet ripe fig. More of a fig jam with vanilla.

[Haberdashery]

Figue Amere sounds intriguing.

[DonaAna]

Another day with Coco.
It really is perfect for November

[shoeprincess2]

Thanks DonaAna for the link to the violet article. Interesting read. I actually have a sample of Dan Tes Bras to test. So Premier Figuier is your favourite perfume Haberdashery? Does it last longer on the skin than Philosykos? I am going to scuttle off and look up Figue Amere and Cristobel. Thanks for the tip about Farenheit tgoo, otherwise, I'd have merrily spritzed away.

[mignonette]

I recommend reading the David Austin roses catalogue for anybody serious about Rose perfumes. Or get a good botanical tome with specific descriptions of scents. Some of the old roses are very clove-scented which may be anathema to some.

[mignonette]

And thank you for that Violet link Dona. I sometimes tie a washing tablet net filled with Viola Odorata leaves and a piece of cucumber under the hot tap. Makes the bath and surrounding room smell lovely.

[DonaAna]

Hope this is not too geeky, but I've learned a lot about perfume by focusing on a note that I like/that intrigues me/that I want to know better (say almond, violet, leather). If you want to do the same, pick an article (Google "leather perfume shrine" and "leather perfume basenotes"), then find and try some of the fragrances mentioned there.

That way you will start to recognize specific notes in mixtures, and also see that there can be many different variations of the same note. Sometime it is fun to smell two perfumes with the same note(s) side by side (say Lipstick Rose and Paris). When your knowledge of perfumes expands, you start to understand better what you like and what you dislike, and will experience many pleasant and some unpleasant surprises along the way.

Mig I really like cloves, although the modern Bellodgia and my Krasnaya Moskva may have a bit too much of it... Cloves (or eugenol and isoeugenol) are one of those very dominating smells that need to be used skilfully. Coco which I am wearing right now has a good dose of cloves mixed with cinnamon, rose, jasmine and many other things.

[mignonette]

I tend to be very seasonal and event orientated regarding my choice of perfume over and above my usual 'everyday' classics. I am looking for a good Christmas scent that goes beyond the typical Christmas themes/tropes. Suggestions, anyone? I have a friend who always wears perfumes with heliotrope in to visit her Grandmother's grave in honour of her amazing Cherry Pie which Heliotrope has hints of.

Good suggestion regarding acquisition of perfume knowledge, Dona- that appeals to my 'Magpie' instincts.

I love the smell of burning newspaper.....Wonder if there are any perfumes that incorporate this in a way that won't frighten the horses so to speak.....

[kiwigirl42]

ooh, I really like the sound of Cristobal - a sweet ripe fig. More of a fig jam with vanilla. must score a sample!

I'm having an extremely lazy day today so wearing Teint de Neige with a dot of Lipstick Rose. Yummy.
I keep thinking that I don't really love Teint de Neige but keep coming back to use the sample.

[mignonette]

Oh, and today I am wearing Pi by Givenchy- DH's scent.

[DonaAna]

I don't like Teint de Neige on me (overpowering) but catch whiffs of it on the jogging path (I love spotting people's perfumes there - Italians dress up when they go running and Villoresis are much loved around here). It's one of those perfumes that are really haunting and intriguing. A really smart choice.

Some people just are so stylish - yesterday a very well-dressed gentleman walked past me in a soft cloud of Ambre Narguile

Mig Byredo's M/Mink might be something to explore. I have a sample somewhere. I remember it's really memorable, but can't remember whether it's a riff on newsprint or not.

[mignonette]

Love the sound of the Byredo, Dona - Ink!

And this "Black saffron' by Byredo-

"an oriental composition, opens with the bright citrus note of the Asian Pomelo and crisp Juniper Berries, mellowed into a golden silage by Kashmiri Saffron. At the Black Saffron heart, lies Black Violet fused with a Leather Accord, their dark, dry composition born aloft by the delicate transparency of Cristal Rose. At the base, Blond Woods add radiant warmth and harmony , punctuated by staccatoed flashes of luscious raspberry. The journey concludes with the gentle, earthy evocations of Haitian Vetiver"

[DillyTante]

Really interesting thread. I rarely wear purfume since having the kids, & dh never does, which I like. But I never see anyone mention my favourite which is Les Belles De Ricci by Nina Ricci. It's really unusual and smells of tomato plants. It's been discontinued but noone else ever seems to have used it. I like zesty fresh smells.

[mignonette]

Dilly

here you are.

I once bought this for stepD as she loves Nina Ricci. Pretty scent too.

[Haberdashery]

shoeprincess, I find Premier Figuier to be quite lasting on my skin - it seems to have more of a heart to it than Philosykos to me, which is very airy. I think PF is quite a bit different from Philosykos so worth getting a sample.

[coffeeinbed]

Dilly, Sisley Eau de Campagne has a fresh garden feel with tomato leaf.
It's expensive though, you should be able toy smell it in most dept stores, John Lewis carries Sisley.

[shoeprincess2]

Thanks haberdashery. Philosykos disappeared after 2.5 hours on my skin this morning, which I don't think is particularly good going really. I shall acquire a sample of Premier Figuier and also Philosykos EdP, to see if it lasts any longer on my skin. I like a lot of "bang for my buck", as I don't really want to be having to refresh my perfume every few hours. I looked up Fig Amere- it has notes of rose and violet, so I'm going to give it a miss (I've established that I don't get on with that combination)

Figgy reviews www.nstperfume.com/2005/02/11/two-fig-fragrances-miller-harris-fig-amere-marc-jacobs-for-men/

[Haberdashery]

I am fond of rose and violet, so I think I will test that one. Thanks.

I am wearing Premier Figuier and it was applied this morning at about 8.30. I can still smell the green fig element very faintly though it's mostly the warmer heart that is left on my skin.

[DonaAna]

Dilly you are in good company! I have had that bottle of Les Belles (loved it during hot summers during my early twenties) and one of perfume friends also loves it and is obsessed with tomato stem scents. (You clearly have the makings of a perfumista.)

Some further tomato-infused things for you to try: Folavril by Annick Goutal, Memory of Kindness and In the Summer Kitchen by CB I Hate Perfume. Eau de Campagne is excellent, and quite close to Terre d'Hermes (of which I adore the parfum version). My tomatophile friend also likes galbanum greens - Untitled by Margiela and Chanel No. 19 (and its galbanum-free gentler little sister No 19 Poudre). And the lush greens of Pentachord Verdant by Tauer and the richness of Loretta.

I'm thinking about buying a full bottle of No. 19. My Chanels are some of my best and most trusty scents - I get tired of novelty and gimmicks, but I keep returning to my Chanels. Need to do some testing to see whether I prefer the EdT or the EdP. I have a small sample of No. 19 extrait de parfum but I think I also need one of the lighter versions. The Poudré version is also very lovely and gentle.

[Haberdashery]

Dilly, I love tomato leaf scents, too. Did you ever try the Mac green one, now sadly discontinued? That was pure greenhouse lushness.

[ThatsNice]

Just thought I'd mention we are almost at 1000 posts!! Anyone thought what to call the new thread! I love following all the fragrant thoughts..I've learnt so much

[shoeprincess2]

I have set up a continuation thread, further down. It is called "budding perfumistas walk this way..."

[wildstrawberryplace]

I can't believe this turned into a thread about fragrance in general - I stopped reading it ages ago and only clicked on it to see if people really did get to 1000 posts about perfumes they hate...



I am going to read the whole thing now.

Am wearing Serge Lutens 5 o'clock au Gingembre today.

[YouOldSlag]

Will this make it into classics? it should!