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)

Cointreau I love the sound of Sahara Noir, must keep an eye out for it. I've really enjoyed the incense perfumes I've tried (CdG Avignon today, which is just gorgeous. Never thought I would want to smell like the inside of a church!)

Belle Tuca Tuca by Lush is supposed to be a good dark violet perfume, but I haven't been able to find it so far. Also Creed's Love in Black or even Insolence EDP (probably the only violet I've tried that has decent staying power)

Am I the only tuberose lover here then?

I like tuberose too fuzzy

Fuzzy: I like tuberose. Tuca Tuca has been discontinued, so is hard to find.. You're right about Insolence's staying power. I wouldn't think of it as dark, though.. Although.. maybe. Well, it's worth a sniff anyway, Belle, since most department stores will stock it.

SOTD: Juicy Couture. A heavyish watermelon tuberose, a lot better than you'd think (was in my mixed samples bag).

Toys just my luck again! Will keep a lookout on ebay but I suppose it's fairly pricey now. You're probably right about Insolence, maybe I think of the EDP as darker because of the bottle colour (and the monster sillage!)

Glad to see you also both like tuberose, although so many people seem to dislike it, I think I'll avoid wearing it in enclosed spaces!

Insolence sounds like the perfect scent for me...

SOTD back to my faithful Heliotrope. More like a SOMF (scent of my 40s although have been wearing it for longer than that).

I have the violets in my possession! Thanks Fuzzy.

I love Bois de Violette- you can tell it's related to Feminite de Bois, but without the slight knickery smell I get from FdeB. Bois de Violette is gorgeous.

I think you're next Cointreau? can you PM your address. Thank you.

I also really enjoyed Bois de Violette.
No one has used actual violet petals (????) in perfumery for the past 100+ years. Methylionone was one of the very first synthetics and there is a reason why violets smell 'samey'. (You can approximate most flowers with 1-4 molecules, but natural absolutes are melanges of dozens or hundreds of molecules - that's why they smell so rich!)

I smelled violet on two separate people in the supermarket - bracing leaves on a man who was filling the shelves and dainty, powdery petals on an old lady.

Sprayed Bois des Iles in the morning (accidentally, Chanel samples look really alike) but now basking in the golden glow of No 5 EDP.

Harum what a terrible allergic reaction! I don't like functional fragrances - there are lots of unscented alternatives, hope you'll find good new products!

Would you all mind if I join you? I warn you all, I'm a complete beginner until recently owning exactly one perfume (sexy 212 which I only have cos dh keeps buying it for me even though I am sick todeath of it).

Have been reading these threadsand blagging samples from hof but it is v hard to get samples of stuff you really want to try. Chanel don't seem to do them? Nearly made myself sick yesterday in hof smelling their serge lutens collection!

Sotd is elizabeth arden green tea. A 15ml sample I got online. Am loving it's zingy lemony sweetness :) not getting much musk but there is a nice depth to it.

Welcome, wilting! Be warned, this thread can get expensive! I now have a perfume wishlist that runs into hundreds of pounds...

V interesting about methylionone, Frugal. I would love to smell something with real violet to see what the difference is.

SOTD Yatagan - LOVE this. Amazing, bracing, pine freshness with a darker warmer heart. Superb stuff. And pleasingly, it looks like a FB could be quite cheap.

wiltingfast- welcome!

I get samples from many sources, but one of them is a good seller on eBay who sells multiples of the same for very few pounds. I often find that ordering 6 of the same off them means I have some little mixed collections I can give to friends or sell.

It's a curious fact but if you buy some mixed samples on eBay it seems to cost a lot more. I've seen four mixed samples go for nearly ten quid, but you can buy say, 12 Cartier samples for around 7.99. (You can always sell them on with other samples once you have them).

So you can, in theory buy six, use one, sell five.

I also find that if you take out a points card in the Perfume Shop, they seem to be more generous with samples, but usually only if you buy something.(I even got a Chanel 2ml sample!)

Also, its worth remembering that half used, ancient bottle of perfume will usually sell on eBay! Lots of perfumistas I know are often swooping down on their prey this way. Something dusty from Nan's wardrobe could be vintage Diorella. You get the picture.

Welcome wiltingfast! What did you think of the Lutenses?

Chocs: My nan's dusty Diorella is on e-bay as we speak, should someone want to "swoop" down in it..

SOTD: Let it Rock from my treasure trove of a bargain sample bag. Sweet, ambery, inoffensive patchouli.

Good morning...

SOTD is O de Lancôme. Retro today.

I blame all of you for this, btw, I normally only vary when I feel a specific need. You have created the need!

Oh dear, just read what I'd written.. you might want to" swoop down" ON my Diorella - there is not enough to actually go for a swim IN it

Just received my samples for Fille en Aiguilles and Seville a L'Aube, so are trying them on the backs of my hands. Really like Fille, but it's quite similar to Zagorsks (pine needles and incense), although a bit sweeter. Seville I'm not that sure about. Too much wax - like smelling a candle.

And that is ZAGORSK. Right.. time to get off the computer before I write any more rubbish

The garden needs attention (a dead hydrangea needs removing, as well as a dead azalea - but they were already very old and previously uncared for, so it's not my fault!)

Ooh, BelleDame, O de Lancome is on my wish list. I reckon it will be perfect for summer. When it arrives......

I have finally managed to score a small bottle of Herba Fresca, but that is another one I'm saving, waiting in vain for a sunny day.

SOTD is SL Chergui. I really do love it; just the right combination of warm, fresh and spicy.

Chocs - I'll PM you my address for the violets. Who's after me??

Wilting I tend to stalk ebay for samples, partial bottles and minis. It does require some patience and luck but if you keep looking you can find some bargains.

I would love to find a treasure trove of perfume in the attic. Still gutted to find out my Mum chucked away her bottle of 1970s chanel No.5 when she moved house!

Cointreau I've been doing the same- I have a sample of Eau d'Hadrien and minis of Eau de Guerlain and Eau de Cartier, waiting for the sun to come out. 3 yr old DS1 has a 'spell' he does to make the sun shine, he waves his hands around and does some Tree Fu Tom style moves. It actually worked on Tuesday for a short while!

SOTD is Carven Ma Griffe, not sure how to describe this one. A very vintage feel, starts off fizzy, green and a bit citrussy and then becomes quite creamy and floral. Reminds me of something else but can't quite work out what.

Cointreau- you're last- does that mean you get to keep them? oooh!

ToysRLuv- your Nan's Diorella is on eBay! I'm on it swoops

Fuzzy- I've been wanting to try Ma Griffe for a while. Your description has made up my mind. It's next on my list.

SOTD Euphoria- a sample I had from LUSH. It's horrible.

Ma Griffe is one my mum used to wear. Not one of my faves.....

Yay Harum for Yatagan! It's one of my all-time favorites and very inexpensive.

I'm dying to wear Bois d'Ascese but at 29C I don't think so.
Have been smelling of a bizarre mixture of Chanel 5 and garlic all day (don't ask), now relaxing in Jabu by Mona di Orio.

My parcel arrived chocs thank you once again . Don't worry, you're top secret superhero identity is safe with me

your even

You are very welcome! Can't bear to think of anyone sample-less.

A great article for violet nerds

O my o my, I popped into the perfume shop on the way home and asked to try no 19 and cristalle, the cristalle is on offer! Must be 40% or so, a 50ml EdP bottle was ?58 whereas the no 19 EdP was ?81!!!! I might have to purchase as soon as get paid a FB :)

toys I can't tell you a thing about the lutenses! I smelled about 8 really quickly and nearly keeled over . It's a great hof though for perfume, I must go up with a clean nose and have a sniff!

Chocs that's a really good idea. I'm in Ireland though and I find the postage makes ebay very expensive. There's some perfume activity on adverts.ie but it's v slow moving. I did get my green tea there though dropped to my door for ?5 and a fb of sunflowers for ?10. There was an unwanted bottle of no 19 but can't rise the seller. Must be gone.

belle I've sprayed the violet blonde several times (no samples alas except of neroli portofino which I do not like). I really like it but it is more interesting at the start and dries down nice but fairly ordinary. Sorry I can't be more descriptive I'd need to be wearing to remember more. Wouldn't be crying if someone gave me a fb though :)

I'm toying with getting some samples from an online site from the us, luckyscent or something? Think it would work out cheaper than ebay for me. Wish the high st would do more samples, like to wear a perfume all day before I buy...

Love that violet article Frugal - very interesting. Also, had forgotten all about the truly sickly sweet YSL Paris that I used to wear in about 1987!

Thanks wilting. I've ordered a sample of Black Violet and White Patchouli both from the divine Mr Ford. We shall see!

I chucked out loads of old bottles of perfume earlier this year. I should have put them on ebay. I bet there are some more in the one final box still awaiting unpacking from when I moved into this house. Nine years ago...