Part 5- And the perfumes just keep on coming...

[shoeprincess2]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1711275-Part-4-All-you-ever-need-to-know-about-fragrance-continues

Shiny new thread for some shiny new perfumes (and classics and niche brands)

I like Fracas, but wouldn't wear it every day. It's quite a strong plasticy tuberose. But I'm a bit weird in that way. Currently, I'm looking for a scent that would smell like a doll's head..

Did quite well at the car boot/flea market yesterday: A 3/4 full 100 ml bottle of YSL Vice Versa for less than 12 pounds! Also 20 mils of Aqua Allegoria Laurier Reglisse for a pound. Yay! I like VV, but the LR just smells of olives to me, although the dry down is pleasant. No liquorice anywhere, though.

I love that idea Toys - of finding perfume treasures at the car boot. Will have a rummage myself next time I get the chance.

I don't have a FB of Un Bois Vanille (in fact, I hardly have any FBs); I bought a sample on eBay. It is nice, quite heavy and caramelly, best for a cloudy day.

I've got an FB of it. It's very nice, smooth and sweet.

I really love Serge Lutens fragrances. I wouldn't necessarily want to wear all of them, but they're always interesting. A real antidote to all those bland, samey, fruity sweet designer numbers.

I'm not so keen on the Ambre Sultan which seems to be loads of peoples favourite (I don't get on with the herbal top notes and prefer MPG's Ambre Precieux), nor on Chergui either, but Five o'clock au Gingembre is lovely and spicy, and I like the gourmand Jeux de Peau too. Both the musks are gorgeous - Muscs Koublai Khan if you like your musk dirty, Clair de Musc if you prefer it cleaner.

I wore Daim Blond today and the jury's out on that one (I find the apricot note a bit Yankee Candle), but I love Santal Blanc and am looking forward to sampling his other sandalwoods.

Would love some Lutens recommendations! Which ones are your favourites?

I like Rahat Loukhoum and Louve (both very sweet and almondy - completely NOT everyone's cup of tea), Chergui, Jeux De Peau, Bois Oriental, Fille En Aiguilles, Un Bois Vanille, De Profundis (nice earthy, green violet), Bois De Violette (drydown) and Fleurs D'Oranger.

I dislike Ambre Sultan, Arabie (lamb and apricot tagine), El Attarine, Santal De Mysore and Santal Blanc (these just smell of curry powder to me).

I've read the Santal De Mysore can be a bit curry like. Am intrigued by the Fille En Aiguilles.

I'm going to London next week. Am planning a bit of a sniffing frenzy. Do they sell the Lutens in Selfridges?

My fave SLs would be Chergui, Un Bois Vanille, Femininite du Bois and Gris Clair.

I loathe Fracas as well.

Am toying with buying a full bottle of Something before I leave Paris. Am torn between Chergui, Sycomore and LADDM. I am not keen on LADDM when it first goes on, but after about 20 minutes, I really like it. And it lasts forever.

Foolish not to, MrsS. A bottle of each; why not?

Gosh I'm envious MrsSchadenfreude. Oh to be in Paris with some disposable income to spend on perfume. How lovely.

Ok folks, so here's a list of samples I have that are up for swap. Any takers?

-Montale-

Black Musk
White Musk
Musk to Musk
Full Incense

-Tauer-

Incense Rose
Vetiver Dance
Pentachord Auburn
Incense Extreme

-Serge Lutens-

Daim Blond
Un Bois Vanille

-Amouage-

Jubilation (ladies)
Epic (ladies)

-Caron-

Narcisse Noir
Tabac Blond

-Juliette Has A Gun-

Midnight Oud

-Parfumerie Generale-

Musc Maori

-Mona Di Orio-

Vanille

-Parfums d'Empire-

Wazamba

-Robert Piguet-

Fracas

-Estee Lauder-

Sensuous

Most sample bottles are still fairly full, having only been used once or twice. The exceptions to that are Daim Blond, Jubilation, and Mona di Orio's Vanille, all of which have only half left in the vial.

Estee Lauder's Sensuous is a not often talked about little gem IMO. Sandalwoody and musky - it is really sensual. I think it's rather lovely. That one comes in a little mini bottle, rather than a vial.

Oh bugger. My attempts at underlining have just failed rather spectacularly. Never mind.

Oh, oh, oh!

Can I bagsy the Vanilla? Midnight Oud? Wazamba? And Musc Maori? Please?

I have a huuuge list of stuff to swap:

Look at my "have" list on fragrantica and let me know which ones you fancy and I'll do decants or find the samples..

www.fragrantica.com/member/188224/

there are a few that I have ordered, but haven't received yet: E.G. Aomassai

Link fail

www.fragrantica.com/member/188224/

Also in transit: YSL In Love Again, lots of Rykiels, Anglomania, Cabaret, Poup`ee.

No problem Toys Those samples already have your name on them. x

Oh my gosh Toys, I feel breathless looking at your 'have' list! Mine is so paltry in comparison - I have about seven full bottles! I would definitely like to try the Bulgari Black if you have a sample of that?

Will have a more thorough look and come up with a list of four. So exciting.

Also, how do you do decants out of interest?

Yes, I can do you a decant of Black. It's one of my favourites! DH has used it a lot lately and we're running quite low, but I'm sure I can do a 1 ml sample. Really should buy a new bottle..

When doing decants, I usually just spray or pour (depending on the bottle) out of a bottle into a vial or mini spra bottle (you can get them on e-bay, for example). When pouring, or with awkward sprays, I use a little funnel. That's it, really. It can be a bit messy, but not too bad. I also have a tendency to overfill vials, so I then have to pour some out to close them properly. I'd hate for anyone to think that I'm stingy, see!

And they're not all full bottles on the list.. Maybe around 20 FBs and 20 minis and the rest are samples..

Well, no.. maybe 30 and 40 actually.. who knows.

I don't think I could justify a full bottle of each. It would have to be either Sycomore or Chergui or LADDM. Although the Chergui and LADDM come to the same price as one bottle of Sycomore.

MrsSchadenfreude you know they do the Chanel Exclusifs in smaller 100ml bottles now? Much more affordable than the 200ml vats. I bought my Coromandel in the smaller size - could never have afforded it otherwise.

Toys don't worry about the Black if you're running low - I'm sure there's loads of others I would love to try

Also Toys I'm going away for a few days this evening, so if I suddenly disappear off the thread, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, and I will send your samples in the post as soon as I get back. x

No worries, Fuckit! I'm still in abroad, as well. Will be at home on Tue.

Looking forward to sampling the duty free offerings..