I have just smelled the most wonderful perfume - but, oh dear, the price! Any suggestions for cheaper alternative?

[nkf]

The scent is Trish McKevoy Black Rose Oud. And I loved it. But not the £140 price tag. What else might I love?

Selfridges in London has the Trish Mckevoy one. I think the other perfumes mentioned (eg Montale) are in places like Libertys.

Jo Malone has a Velvet Rose Oud cologne. It's £100 for 100ml so certainly not cheap but it's lovely and better value than the smaller bottle of Trish McEvoy.

I used to have Jo Malone's Rose something else and it was lovely. Big and flowery but they are, to my mind, fairly short living. And a bit simple. But I shall give it a squirt.

I've got that perfume, it was my birthday present last year. I love it. I used to work in the Middle East so it reminds me of my time out there as well. In the ME rose is regarded as a masculine scent btw... I should never have told my DH as he has been nicking my scent ever since! Just that one though!

Trish mcevoy is to my knowledge only available at selfridges, Harvey nicks and liberty. Can I suggest though that you hang on for a bit if you do decide to get it. For the last two Christmases liberty have run a 'free gift if you spend £150' promotion, and the gift is really good (last year it was at least 20 items and mostly pretty nice). I now try and buy all my Trish stuff in one go for the year eg buying two foundations and one loose powder which were mega expensive but which have lasted all year, even with daily use. Hopefully they'll run the same promotion this year.

You lucky thing. I read that the rose/oud combination is often unisex and that it's popular in the middle east. The reviews say that it would suit older women so perhaps I'm growing up at last! Also, that it's sexy so woo hoo, look at me. Seriously though, although I love rose perfumes, I don't usually go for something as "heavy" as this. I'd like to know more about perfume. Not making it but knowing how it's made. How does everyone keep informed. I read blogs like boisdejasmine.

I once had the most bizarre service at a TrishME counter. I'm browsing, SA approaches, asks "Have you ever tried our products before?' I say "No" expecting her to ask whether I wanted anything.
Wrong.
She then turns her back to me and walks away.
True story.

I second Juliette Has a Gun. I've worn the Lady Vengeance one for over a year and I get so many nice comments on it. I go off perfumes very quickly but this is the only one I still love.

Another vote for Juliette Has A Gun - I've been wearing Lady Vengeance for several years and love it; also always get positive comments on it.

Perhaps try their midnight oud.

Kilian Rose Oud.

Does anyone know this one? It gets rave reviews.

Coffee that wasn't in the London selfridges was it? I have also had terrible service at the trish counter there, even though as you can tell I am a total devotee. First of all I overheard them bitching about another customer, then they tried to sell me the wrong shade of powder (clearly because it was the only one left, not because they thought it was a genuine colour match).

It was a Julia Roberts / pretty woman moment as I walked away thinking 'big mistake, big big mistake!' And subsequently I've stuck to Liberty (fingers crossed they run the same promotion this year, hopefully I haven't jinxed it).

No, Liberty.

You sound like a Libertys' fan too. Do you also like Miller Harris?

Some I love, some less so.
Their Rose en Noir is lovely - it was exclusive to Liberty, but is now widely available.
La Fumee is gorgeous - reminds me of YSL NU, very incense-y.
They are worth trying.

I've heard about rose en noir. It does sound lovely.

I've got two Miller Harris scents which smell absolutely divine but neither one has staying power. Very frustrating. (In fact I bought the second one hoping it was just a quirk of the first, but it also completely dissipates a few minutes after I've applied it).

How about getting a decant of it ?

I've never tried McEvoy's Rose Oud but as she is better known for cosmetics than perfumes you might want to try the many other ouds on the market first. The ones I have tried are extremely tenacious and ball-gown like in their sillage. I have a 7ml mini bottle of Oud Ispahan from Dior's boutique collection and it will satisfy my rose oud needs for the rest of my life. It's sold in 125ml or 250ml bottles, does not cost more than the McEvoy fragrance, and is definitely worth sampling before deciding. So is Malle's Portrait of a Lady and Kilian's Rose Oud. Get the £5 samples from Les Senteurs, they'll keep you going for weeks if not months and help you decide what to ask for Christmas ;j

Oh, and if it's just a dark rose you are after, Noir de Noir by Tom Ford is worth sampling. You can usually get decants of NdN from Ebay for about £10 and it's heartbreakingly beautiful. Montales that were mentioned here previously are decent value too (cheap samples here, £2 each) but they have a more Middle-Eastern feel.

I do not know these les senteurs people. Am off to google.

Les Senteurs is a perfume heaven in London. Ask them to come up with rose oud suggestions and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised. And if you still like your original choice the best, then it's worth sticking to.

Thank you. It looks lovely. And I like the look of those events. Sniffing and champagne and cake.

Are they very snooty?

Not snooty at all. Enthusiastic and eccentric. Great for mail order samples if you aren't in London.