Part 4- All you ever need to know about fragrance continues

[shoeprincess2]

Well, we're nearly all full.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1665844-Part-3-Fully-fledged-perfumistas-share-your-fragrances

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a while, and now I'm after some help!

I'm looking for a new perfume to replace Narcisco Rodriguez musc which I've been wearing for ages, but can no longer smell it!
I'm looking for something woody, musky, maybe a bit sweet or rosy - a 'clean' musk, if that makes sense.
I'm after that comforting 'hug in a bottle' feel that I used to get from NR but is now missing...

I should also add that I almost bought Jo Malone Velvet Rose and Oud, but I was put off by the rumoured lack of lasting power... but it almost ticked the box!

On my 'to try' list are:
Tom Ford - Santal Blush and Oud Wood, but I fear they will be too woody... and too expensive!

Bridge, a good company to look into for those might be Juliette Has a Gun. Their Midnight Oud is lovely.

They are mostly based on roses, but not as widely available as Jo Malone, which did lose a lot their identity when it was bought out by Estee Lauder.

Serge Lutens has two you can try Clair de Musc and La Fille de Berlin.

Bridge Tom Ford Oud Wood is sensational, one of my all time favourites (as everyone on this thread knows ) but it is very expensive and doesn't last. Three hours tops and that is if you put loads on. Don't go doing what I did and fall in love with it and and then having to try and forget about it.

I second Coffee with the Serge Lutens, Chergui is a gorgeous hug-in-a-bottle.

If you like L'eau d'Issey you must like ozonics and maybe even hesperides.

Might I suggest O de Lancome, Acqua di Parma Arancia di Capri (there are three in the range, all delicious and fresh), A Scent by Issey Miyake, or Chanel Cristalle?

If you like J'Adore but find it sickly, this tells me you are willing to try florals but not tuberose heavy florals, so may I suggest YSL Cinema, SJP Lovely, or even JLo Deseo?

Issimma Sel Marin by Heeley, samples here, is loved by many here (salty aquatic notes) but here is a Fragrantica thread about alternatives for L'Eau d'Issey. Not similar as a scent but quite streamlined is L'Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert by Bulgari (also its sister fragrance Thé Blanc).

Bridge the cheap clean musk to try assuming you've already sampled Alyssa Ashley is Kiehl's Original Musk. Can also be layered with other perfumes. And surely you have already tried Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle. It's an angelic musk For the ultimated dirty matted hair musk, there is always Musc Koublai Khan by Serge Lutens.

There are lots and lots of rose ouds (and no, you really shouldn't buy yours at Jo Malone), it's a classic combination. My personal favorite is Oud Ispahan by Dior (very long-lasting and nuclear sillage, so dose carefully), but Portrait of a Lady by Malle is a bit more reserved and equally great and Noir de Noir by Tom Ford is very pretty. Malles can be bought at Les Senteurs, Diors at Dior boutiques, and Montales are very cheap to sample by mail using Parfümeria Neroli in Budapest.

Issimma: I'll recommend the Hermes Jardin series (as I always do)

Frugal: Opened your parcel today. Thanks so much! Finally I have my preciiiooouuus Lipstick Rose. Also, I love Roma. That's my idea of a hug in a bottle (no roses or oud in sight, though, so probably not your kind of thing, Bridge)! Duly added to FB list..

Toys I'm very glad! Anything exciting in duty frees?

2nd the Hermes Jardins recommendation, Issimma. At least briefly sample a couple of them: Mediterranee or Nil for example.

I was in a bit of a hurry and trying to prevent over-tired 3 year old from running away/breaking shop displays/lying down in the middle of shop aisles to engage in a thorough sniff fest. However, was true to my word and tried PR Million (for men) and Le Male. Both were ok, but not my cup of tea despite interesting notes. Funnily enough, Million reminded me of Jeux De Peau in its heart phase and after. Just not liquoricey and with added patchouli.

Tried l'Heure Bleue and Misouko on my other arm. Really liked l'Heure, but prefer its leather sister Shalimar. Didn't really care for Mitsouko. Citrussy, pleasant enough, I guess, but nothing special (at least in today's formulation).

Thanks for replies!
Frugal - just out of interest, why not Jo Malone?

I'm not sure if too musky is really what I'm after, but I like the depth of the oud. I want a scent that I can wear comfortably during the day, that my kids want to hug!

To try list:
Santal Blush
Oud Wood
Noir de Noir

Midnight Oud

Chergui
La Fille de Berlin

Anything else? Bracing my bankcard

Bridge: I would say that Malone is better for cologney, businesslike things (Lime and Basil is liked by many, although I hated it). Too light and diluted for much else.. so, not ideal for hugs in bottle.

Bridge some of the powdery dry down scents are very huggable. I like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist; Belong by Celine Dion [Don't be put off by the 'sleb tag, it's truly gorgeous); Noa by Cacherel; SJP Lovely; and not to forget our old girlfriend the sumptious Shalimar

I think all of these are wearable on a daily basis.

(Looks at my Bankcard and it runs away).

Bridge sorry to add more to your list, but my favourite 'hug in a bottle' is L'Artisan's Ambre Extreme. Also Montale's White Aoud (although I don't have the real thing, just the perfume parlour version)

Ebay got me in its clutches again last night- I won an auction for seventeen miniatures, for the princely sum of £4

Amount them- EL Beautiful, Gres Cabochard, Chloe Innocence and a few drops of Magie Noire (possibly vintage.) I also found some Geminesse body lotion and a Hugo Boss mini at the car boot yesterday, both 50p. Bargains make me sooooo happy

Has anyone tried Burberry Weeekend (women's version)... Noticed it as I was going through Boots but I was already sampling two other fragrances. £12 so a bargain if anyone is a fan

Fuzzy, it's been bargainous for me on e-bay too lately.. However need to clear some room in the cupboard for new stuff, so will do a list of samples and fbs up for swaps/to be sold..

Out of the latest ones I got in the post today I like Prada L'eau Ambree the most (although it's ridiculously light) and the mini of LB Venice is v. v. nice too. Got a vintage (?) mini of Vent Vert and another of Missoni Molto waiting for testing tomorrow.

Some random answers - oud is/was a trendy thing in perfumes and Jo Malone's offerings are some of the many me-toos. There is a list of great ouds upthread, TF is worth your time. There are several decent Jo Malone classics, but a lot of them are neither particularly ambitious or distinctive. The much-loved Pomegranate Noir for example is a dupe of a Comme des Garcons scent.

JM, Tom Ford and Estee Lauder are all EL companies. The rule of thumb: EL perfumes are well-done distinctive classics for a more mature audiences (or more classically oriented perfumistas); Tom Fords are slightly uneven and expensive but generally sophisticated and distintive unisex perfumes; and Jo Malones are mass market oriented, targeting women who are not very interested in perfumes. I always think their packaging is nicer than the content...

Toys I'm almost anosmic to L'Eau Ambree - it smelled almost like water on my wrist...

Fantastic mini and eBay bargains!

SOTD Spanish Leather by Geo F Trumper

Frugal: I fear I might be the same with Prada L'EA. Just get some of it if I sniff my wrists like crazy. But what I get I do love. I reckon the whole 80 mls is going to go in a flash.

Really what I want in the way of amber is Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114. It costs a fortune and nobody does decants

Prada has worn off, so now wearing Venezia. For some reason the Laura Biagiottis really resonate with me now.. they feel really natural and comfortable.

Perfumistas with more experience than me (so, that's practically all of you!) Is Eau de Guerlain a citrus? I'm off to Galeries Lafayette for a root around this week.

Also, pocket Next did a fab herby fragrance called Floribunda - that might have suited you, but I don't know if you can get it now.

Toys are you aware of the 14ml sizes at HdP?

No, Frugal! I must be blind or stupid.. Thanks so much for the link! Oooh, tempting... I feel like I need to treat myself, because ds is really driving me nuts at the moment. Currently he is insisting on wearing a still damp from the wash puffa jacket indoors with the hood up nevertheless. I've given up on trying to prevent him..

SOTD is Signoricci by Nina Ricci. Very fresh and green. Lots of citrus in the top as well, mostly lime. Bagged a 50ml bottle for £2.99!!