I want a perfume that does this!!!

[opalescent]

I hate most perfumes. I wish I could find one that just gave a nice gentle 'what's that lovely smell?' smell.
I hate floral, musk, or anything too sweet. Is there such a thing as a perfume that just produces a gentle, barely noticeable 'Mmmm' of pleasure? I realise that it's a very subjective thing.
I prefer the smell of men's fragrances in general. Is there such a thing as a female fragrance, that is quite 'masculine?' Help!!

Expensive, but some of the less available Guerlain scents are lovely. You'd have to go to a proper Guerlain counter and try things like Vol de Nuit, Jicky, Apres le Ondee, etc.

Might be worth researching skin scents, see here for example: perfumeshrine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/skin-scents-what-is-it-whats-appeal-and.html

For me, Annick Goutal's Les Nuit D'Hadrien hits the spot in terms of a soothing and gentle presence (also like Eau de Sud and Ninfeo Mio (citrussy/woody aromatics: but both pack more of a (green) punch).

I can't abide sweet perfumes either. I wear Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber which is fresh but dies not last long. DH used to use CKIn2You as an aftershave. I love the smell on him. The only big commercial I perfume I wear is Issy Misake.

You might want to check out some of the citrusy perfumes from L'Occatane. The Lemon verbona is quite pleasant

What about Calyx as relaunched by Clinique- Sali Hughes reviewed it (I think?) and I got a sample in town at the weekend. Quite like it- citrussy, grapefruit top notes and woody after that. Am tempted to buy.

Breath of God, gorilla perfume (Lush)? It's a dyptic, top part is ozone-ish, base is incense-y, very unisex and moulds to individual skin in an odd way, so smells different on everyone et voila, it's your smell

www.gorillaperfume.com/uk/products/28/breath-of-god

I love it, but often layer it with their vanilliary or furze to soften it

You sound like me - I really like Crabtree and Evelyn Verbena and Lavender cologne at the moment, citrussy and crisp and no cloying base notes.

Fascinating! This is fab. I'm not sure that citrusy is quite what I'm after, it's more a warmth, I can't quite describe it.
How should I attack this? Shall i make a list of fragrances suggested above, and then head to a premium place like Selfridges and throw myself upon a kindly sales assistant? I'm assuming that my local boots will not be useful here ^.

opalescent try Roger & Gallet. They have a few unisex or near-unisex fragrances. If you want a warm one, maybe try Gingembre?

Chanel Madamoiselle ticks all those boxes, it is my very favorite. Even though I can't spell it.

If you're not sure that citrussy is what you're after, what about having a sniff of some 'clean fresh' scents. Anything from Philosophy's __ Grace range might work (Amazing Grace, Baby Grace etc), or - and trust me on this - J Lo Glow (the original one, not Miami Glow, or anything else Glow, just Glow).

I find a lot of perfumes smell different depending on the person sorry!

I love coco channel madamislle oops can't spell it.

Its not over powering but everyone I meet remarks and asks what perfume I'm wearing

HTH

Annick goutal eu d'hadrien,its unisex, although I think its a bit too masculine,but I know a friend who uses it,and she always smells nice.
Also I tried dries van noten perfume for Frederic mall,and got a few samples,and have been using it for a few days,its more woody and spicy.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea is my favourite for something light and fresh but alternate with Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle which you literally only need the tiniest squirt of

creed vetiver. save up. worth it.

Try Clarins Eau Dynamissante, fresh but not too green, soft, a bit warm & gentle. Never overpowering.

I used to wear chypre essential oil. Loved the smell.

Penhaligons men's/ unisex ones. I have the Castile one- it's light, orangey, fresh in a good soapy way. The juniper sling one is nice an all

Estee Lauders Knowing ..... I have no idea what it smells like on me because once Ive applied it I cant really smell it ...,stay with me on this.....

But every single time I wear it someone comments on it and I mean every time. I have had complete strangers stop me in the stree t to ask me what it is. At first I thought it must smell awful because literally people keep asking me and I was thinking maybe Ive put too much on (think Poison by Dior which I always find too strong a scent) but no people assure me it smells really fab. I have asked my DH and all he says is that it smells fresh and not flowery but that it is really nice.

Ps I tend to normally wear Chanel No 5, Chanel Gardenia or jo malone Pomegranate Noir so this is a bit different for me

I love Clinique Aromatic Elixir. It's warm, subtle, not too much but someone always says how lovely it is whenever I wear it.

pecksniffs, often found in tkmaxx have some really unusual scents, I have the purple one (sorry can't remember the name)

Murmure by Van Cleef & Arpels. Dh bought the pure parfum for me (I was v surprised because he's not a fragrance buyer usually). It lives up to it's name because it is extremely subtle. No-one has ever said to me directly, "what perfume are you wearing?" , people have just said "what's that lovely smell" when I am in wafting distance!

Give Dune by Dior a try, I can't tell you what it smells like because I wear it so much it just smells of Dune to me. But it's very odd (in a good way) and I always get compliments when I wear it

I wear Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien sometimes - it's fresh, citrusy, a bit musky.

I would suggest having a sniff at some Diptyque scents (got a John Lewis or Space Nk nearby?). I wear Volutes and Tam Dao which are both quite masculine - warm and spicy but not overpowering.

I bought DH Miller Harris' L'air de rien a few years ago. It was developed for Jane Birkin but is very androgynous and it smells gorgeous on him. It's meant to smell like ink and writing desks.

The keyword for you when shopping and sampling are 'unisex perfumes'. There are hundreds of them. Also sample classic colognes. And yes you can wear men's perfumes if you prefer them. Modern niche perfumery is full of treats for you. Some mainstream lines also cater to your taste.

Some random suggestions - D&G Light blue, Dior Eau Sauvage, Lalique Encre Noire, Chanel Sycomore, Hermes Jardins (Nil, Mediterranee, Toits), Hermes Hermessences (all except Ambre Narguile), Annick Goutal Eau du Sud, Eau d'Hadrien, Ninfeo Mio (figgy but lovely), Escentric Molecules Molecule 01, Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche.

Also, if you'd like a treat, order this sample set. They are niche perfumes but lots of my perfumista friends who love minimalistic pefumes love them - you'll be wearing something very unique. I love Flashback.