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'm dying to try Seville a L'Aube in particular: just love the idea of the smell of Seville during Holy Week (complete with orange blossom, candle wax and incense). Know what you're saying though about fantasy projections of place: haven't been to the Sahara, but very happy to buy into the incredibly dry, almost savoury notes of Sahara Noir as being redolent of desert.

Has anyone tried Tom Ford's London? What should London smell of?

Mrs S - cross-post: well that probably explains the sicky headache!
With you on DKNY Woman. Today I'm wearing Bazar - which I found at the back of cupboard when looking for Choc. Oddly sour and vegetable-like (celery seed?) rather than floral on me. I still like it.

Enjoying the smell of far away places talk!

Unchartered waters: I have a bunch of samples of masculines from a dear male perfumista friend, they are pretty scary. Right now testing Zino by Davidoff for the first time...

Isn't that the whole premise behind Bond?
Apparently they are all meant to smell of a place, or the idea of a place.

One of my favourites - Eau de Fier is supposed to smell like an island on the French Atlantic coast, I've never been there, so I would not know.

Zino is a sexy beast. How can I persuade my DH to wear this?

I love DKNY woman! My long term erm FWB adores it on me

Oh lazy Sunday morning came today - I ADORE it
It is like warm skin and fresh sheets

I wondered whether anyone on this thread could help me. I would like a new perfume, I'm starting a new phase in my life and want to mark it with a new perfume and ditch my old scent.
The type of smells I like are sandalwood, rose, black pepper, iris, cedar, leather. Does anyone have any suggestions of a scent that may fit in with this? Thanks in advance.

Shalimar
Or L'Heure Bleu and Vol De Nuit

if you want something more modern - but do give Shalimar a try! - then Botega Veneta, Kelly Caleche.

Those were the mainstream.

Le Labo Iris and Iris Silver Mist - both of which Liberty carries are perfect.
Malle Iris Poudre
Eau D"italie Bois D'Ombrie has pretty much everything on your list, but also lots of booze and can be a bit difficult, also hard to find.

Thank you! I will go and smell Shalimar in the next few days! I used to use Kelly Caleche!

I hope I'm on the right path then.

SOTD: L'ambre des Merveilles by Hermes.

I sprayed some in Debenhems having never tried it before. It's rather lovely although initially very sweet. It reminded me of Coromandel in the sense that it takes a while for everything to meld and mellow and really get gorgeous, but once it does... yum. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a flanker - it could easily stand on its own two feet.

I used to use L'ambre des Merveilles and love it, but want a change ;)

I love everything the Merveilles, except the Elixier.
SOTD - Eau Claire, such a lovely cuddly mellow thing.

I just popped into Boots and had a try of Bulgaria, Jasmine Noir. It's lovely, has anyone used it and able to comment on its wearability?

Yes I have a full bottle of Jasmin Noir. It is lovely - very green in the top, with some woodyness and what I swear is patchouli (although it's not listed in the notes) in the base. With a gorgeous, sensual jasmine running all the way through it.

On my skin this juice is tenacious with a fairly strong sillage. Oversprayed it could easily be too much. Just two or three sprays should last most of the day I'd say. Although personally I find Jasmin Noir to be very much an evening scent - something I'd wear with a dress and heels to go out somewhere nice

Anyone tried Marni Rose (launched this week?)? (Tweet: might be worth looking out for?)

Fragrantica's description:

Top notes: cardamom, mint, raspberry, black currant, almond
Heart: rose absolute, Bulgarian rose, violet
Base: patchouli, cedar, vanilla, white musk

I am really tempted to get Jasmin Noir. I sprayed on perfume card today and still love it hours later. I'm going to spritz it on my pulse points tomorrow and see how that goes. I know what you mean about it being an evening fragrance but I can only really go for one fragrance. If I could have a wishful day fragrance I think that would be Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma.

I have the original Marni, MrsC and it's rather lovely. A flanker already ?

I quite like Ambre des Merveilles although I find it has a slight chemical/plastic note to it.

Amber Narguile today, one of my fave winter fragrances.

Can anyone recommend a good source of niche samples in the UK (have been looking at the Scent and Sensibility site)?

And recommendations please as to what to try? Their minimum order is three samples: L'Air du Desert Marocain is a no-brainer - am dying to try, but any other suggestions? Am amber-fiend, extending out to vetiver and green woods on the one hand, and to sandalwood and incense and spices on the other. Also like some citrus where combined with amber (so Les Nuits d'Hadrien over Eau d'Hadrien) . Not usually drawn to pure florals but like oriental-type black rose combinations (Noir de Noir etc).

MrsC! I have Les Nuits d'Hadrien as well!

I did not like LADDM at all on first spray, but after about 15-20 minutes, it was lovely and I kept sniffing my arm all afternoon.

I will have a think about what you might like - CointreauVersial also has similar taste to me.

Try Les Senteurs MrsCocoa - they're a good UK source of niche samples. I'll dig you out a link, hang on...

Here: shop.lessenteurs.com/

As to what you might like - yes, L'air du Desert Marocain is an absolute must for anyone who enjoys ambers and orientals. It is my desert island perfume. I bought my first sample from Les Senteurs and absolutely fell hook line and sinker. There is nothing like it.

Some others you might want to try:

Ambre Sultan - Serge Lutens. A lovely amber with a slightly herbal top.
Ambre Russe - Parfums d'Empire. A deep, rich, leathery amber, with a boozy top. It dries down beautifully.
Hasu-no-Hana - Grossmith. Retro oriental with a lovely spicyness in the base.
Lyric - Amouage. Absolutely stunning oriental/floral perfume. Eye wateringly expensive for a full bottle but you can get a sample for a fiver.
Ambre Precieux - Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier. One of the best quality ambers out there. No frills. Just straight up amber with a slightly smoky edge.

HTH

Many thanks Fuckit: only know the SL from your list - which I love.

MrsS: so exactly what else is on your dressing table?

I still have a soft spot for Surrender To Chance in the US; despite the big postage charge they often do great promos and sales, and carry an enormous range, so if you order a good number of samples it's worth it. And their packaging is to die for.

MrsC, right, off the top of my head: Chanel No 22, Chanel Coromandel, First, Ivoire de Balmain (the old version), Halston Classic, Cabochard, DKNY Woman, Annick Goutal: Eau du Sud, Les Nuits d'Hadrien, Guerlain; Vol de Nuit; Choc, Estee, Lyn Harris's Cologne for M & S and (ahem) Eau Jeune Eau Fraiche . I also have a couple of bottles of Bien Etre eau de cologne in the bathroom, the original one and the fig buds one.

I would like to try Sahara Noir by Tom Ford - has anyone tried this?

Oh I also have Mona di Orio's Lux. Which I used to love, but am less fond of these days. And I have a bottle of Fragonard Grains de Soleil, and a bottle of their Verveine too.