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Perfume lovers - vol. 6

999 replies

FrugalFashionista · 19/02/2014 19:57

This space is for anyone who wants to talk about perfumes - ask for recommendations, tell us which scent you are wearing today (=SOTD), list your favorites...

Continued from here

OP posts:
florascotia · 11/03/2014 18:47

Peachy you mention a limited budget. That applies to many/most of us here. As a newcomer to the thread, I'm wondering if you know about shops that sell samples of all kinds of wonderful scents remarkably cheaply. They allow people who love perfumes to experiment and explore. There are many sample-sellers, but here are some of the best. All ship to the UK. Please do excuse me if I'm telling you what you already know:

Alla Violetta www.allaviolettaboutique.com/
Neroli www.parfumneroli.hu
Parfumaria www.parfumaria.com/nl/
Les Scenteurs www.lessenteurs.com
Scent and Sensibility www.scent-and-sensibility.co.uk/
Blooms Perfumery ttps:bloomperfume.co.uk

There are also places that sell decants - small quantities taken from larger (original) bottles. Frugal gave a link to a highly-recommended decant seller in the message she posted earlier today.

I could not agree more with other posters who loathe Eau Dynamisante. Instant headache, so far as I am concerned.

peachysweet · 11/03/2014 18:56

You lot are brilliant! Florascotica- I haven't heard of any of those shops and will definitely have a look at them later as I would prefer to try samples before committing to a whole bottle.
Thank you for all the suggestions from everyone.

Tweet2tweet · 11/03/2014 19:22

I thought I would share. I have been in contact with this delightful perfumery in Devon:

www.woodfordes-perfumery.co.uk

Their customer service has been FANTASTIC and they even sent some samples to help me choose what to get. This isn't an advert I promise, I'm based in Scotland! However they have been so charming and helpful thought it would be good to share.

FrugalFashionista · 11/03/2014 19:41

All highly natural perfumes I have tried are quite fleeting. That may explain why you have to reapply the Tuesdays frequently. Naturals are really rich and nuanced though, so enjoy!

To anyone new to perfume, classics are not always the easiest thing. I find that perfumes houses like Hermes, L'Artisan, Goutal and Diptyque are easy to like but still a bit different. For anyone who likes fruity florals, light florals, and floral orientals and gourmands, there is no need to explore niche perfumes because mainstream covers those types quite well.

Do you know the perfume wheel? It's a way to visualize different perfume families and your personal comfort zones.

I've enjoyed the full arc of Byredo 1996. The opening was really fascinating and unique, I have no words for it except it has those juicy ultraviolet Kool-Aid grape tones that I love in Poison and Loretta but is lighter and airier. The the perfume became a really dense and slightly oppressive thick leathery amber, stronger than the opening, almost suffocating; and finally a pale skeletal sketch of an oriental, almost exactly what Type D from Henrik Vibskov smells like.

Really looking forward to experimenting with other samples... (Now quite a few of you know how exciting sampling can be Wink) And Flora many thanks for updating sample vendor information!

OP posts:
mixedpeel · 11/03/2014 19:47

I tried L'Occitane Cedarwood and Orange today. It ended up on the top of my hand as my wrists had already had a spray of their Lemon Verbena Eau de Toilette (actually it may be called Citrus Verbena), which has long gone.

Anyway, I was really taken with the Cedarwood and Orange, and it hasn't given me a headache, which a lot of perfume house perfumes do.

And, several hours on, it's still there.

However, I am now wondering if it's too reminiscent of furniture polish.

Hm.

wiltingfast · 11/03/2014 22:28

All the Tauer talk a few pages back inspired me to pull out my samples again and am currently wearing reverie au jardin...

Hmmm, I think I must be sensitive to something in these because my tongue is tingling, literally. Skin tingled when I applied it too. Scent is ok, v lavender tbh with some bright sweetness mixed in. All a bit artificial to my nose but I suspect my tingly tongue is putting me off!

Also have

un rose chypree
une carillon pour une ange
vetiver dance
noontide petals

Anyone interested in swapping, let me know but I am in ireland so it is awkward. I'd be interested in leather, iris and spicy scents!

FrugalFashionista · 12/03/2014 07:22

Now wearing Flash Back from Olfactive Studio, one of my new samples. Rhubarb, vetiver and a whopping dose of Iso E Super. I love rhubarb but this is nearly a scrubber. I'm growing a bit weary of Iso E as a ubiquitous basenote. I mean, it is an amazing molecule but when you realize it's going to be the dominant note in a perfume, it just feels a bit predictable and samey. Five minutes into a new perfume I already feel bored = not good...

A perfumer I know explained me how to make a generic perfume base: Iso E Super (the weird fleeting woody note from Mol 01) + Galaxolide (a very common musk, try your fabric softener - more about musks here) + Hedione (a synthetic that adds radiance and a light jasmine feel) + methylionone (the violet aromachemical, try Parma Violets or Meteorites powder).
Depending on how you finish the top notes you will get a whole lot of familiar-smelling but totally different perfumes:

  • add an aldehyde C14 (peach) + phenethyl alcohol (a rosy aromachemical)= a perfume much like Tresor
  • add a lactone and some other fruity aromachemical = a fruity perfume
  • add dihydromyrcenol and Calone = a fresh perfume
  • add coumarin and a citrus = generic masculine If you have ever wondered why so many perfumes smell the same, it's because they tend to share many of these base elements. (The common base explained in more detail here.)
OP posts:
wiltingfast · 12/03/2014 09:50

ScienceRocks has swapped two of my Tauers for some 4160Tuesday samples, the rest are still there. I'm thoroughly tired of them so please do speak up if you are interested...

un rose chypree
une carillon pour une ange
vetiver dance
noontide petals
reverie au jardin

I actually also have

Tom Ford Black Violet
Tom Ford White Patchouli
Hermes Pamplemousse Rose

about 4mls of the TFs and maybe 2-3ml of PR and not that keen on any of them so if anyone wants those either, let me know.

FrugalFashionista · 12/03/2014 10:20

Hope you'll samples will find a new home soon Wilting! I'd love your Black Violet but are you in the UK? (Sending stuff abroad from there currently quite tricky.)

I grew tired of Flash Back - it smells like vetiver + Iso E Super = Encre Noire from Lalique (which I like, but only occasionally), so nothing new there and very glad I'm not stuck with a full bottle...

Now sampling Nuit de Tubereuse from L'Artisan. Quite like its sourer, greener, tarter take on tuberose but still on the fence about the sandalwood in the base. (Certain synthetic sandalwoods make me queasy.)

This is what sampling is all about - some you love, others are 'meh', and a few you want to get rid of as soon as possible... I don't like stinky scrubbers but I love the unpredictability of the process...

OP posts:
ScienceRocks · 12/03/2014 11:21

Thanks wilting!

Frugal, I love your insight into fragrance, it's utterly fascinating.

Shazam!, my last Tuesday sample, for me today. After yesterday's disappointment, this has restored my faith. Awful name, but nice scent, it reminds me a little of Fenjal (in a good way, as I associate it with my dad).

Blaineisnotanappliance · 12/03/2014 11:24

SOTD is Deseo-jennifer lopez. Its actually really nice,soft,a tiny bit of fruit and woody. I keep sniffing my wrist! A total steal on Allbeauty for £5.95!

wiltingfast · 12/03/2014 11:33

Am in Ireland Frugal and An Post asks no questions! I'll gladly send it over to you, pm me your address. It's the bottom of a 10ml decanter (split most of it Blush) I reckon it has about 4ml maybe... would be very pleased to get a sample of two from your own collection in return!

SOTD is Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, this one alway makes me happy... Grin

Stokey · 12/03/2014 16:12

I may like one of the Tauers Wilting but not sure what I can offer in return - will have a think. But feel free to give them elsewhere in the meantime,

I fell for the hype & am wearing Molecule 01 today - no-one has told me I smell lovely and I have a headache - not sure if it is from the perfume or not as it developed this afternoon.

Apatite1 · 12/03/2014 17:07

Am using up my sample of Bois 1920 sushi imperiale today. Citrus and spice.

clb · 12/03/2014 18:11

I sort of agree about Flashback Frugal - initially I loved it but after a while started feeling I was wearing clothes which had been washed in some very strong detergent and inadequately rinsed. Was that the Iso E I wonder or just the "laundry musks" I see referred to on the perfume blogs?

Had a trip to Liberty and John Lewis yesterday and did a little sampling. Decided that Diptyque's L'Ombre dans l'Eau, which I sort of love, is also way too strong and long-lasting for me. The delicious blackcurrant leaf note (stronger in the edp than in the edt) just lasted and lasted and I ended up feeling quite sick of it. Also tried Malle's Iris Poudre, which was much better mannered, and his Dries van Noten, but need to try them both again (I managed to get lovely 3.5ml samples having bought a candle) before I can be sure what I think. Certainly found the Dries immensely comforting in its gourmande-y gingerbread and vanilla way last night as I recovered from a headache.

Housewife2010 · 12/03/2014 18:17

clb - I have Diptyque's L'Ombre dans l'Eau EDT. I got it in the Space NK sale on xmas day & I think it's gorgeous. I actually ordered it without having tried it before, but liked the notes listed on Fragrantica & was lucky. Today I'm wearing my SL Jeux de Peau again - I've nearly used up the tiny sample I got last week.

clb · 12/03/2014 18:31

I love it too, Housewife2010, I'm just too much of a wimp to wear it!

I vaguely remember trying Jeux de Peau at Selfridge's a year or two ago. I think I found it too much like popcorn. Can that be right?

Housewife2010 · 12/03/2014 20:18

Hello clb. Did you try the edt of L'Ombre dans l'Eau ? I didn't find it too heavy.(& I hate heavy scents). The Jeux de Peau is very sweet & gourmand to start so popcorn is right, but it does settle down quite quickly and the dry down is lovely. I've only been wearing my tiny sample since Thursday so I'm still getting to know it.

clb · 12/03/2014 22:22

I did try the edt on paper, but the weaker blackcurrant persuaded me to put the edp on skin - would probably have been wiser to stick to the edt.

ScienceRocks · 12/03/2014 22:41

Shazam has lasted all day! Not sure if my nose is just unused to orientals after all these years of flowery scents (though I used to adore ysatis) but it is definitely a stayer on the skin. Liking this one very much. Four out of six for my Tuesdays samples feels very encouraging Smile and knowing that the other two are going to an appreciative nose (hello wilting) is a good feeling.

Now, what to wear tomorrow...?

FrugalFashionista · 13/03/2014 08:28

Jeux de Peau uses the same aromachemical you find in microwave popcorn... Wink It's a great perfume but I automatically associate it with stale popcorn found in cheap motel rooms - I think the creators wanted to convey something a bit more upscale, crusty baguettes and glowy skin perhaps...

Testing today how much vanilla I can take, wearing Vanille Extreme from Comptoir Sud Pacifique. This smells basically like vanilla sugar or cupcake frosting. Now that I know perfumes a bit better, I detect a heavy dose of ethylmaltol. It's incredibly, diabetes-inducingly sweet and very potent. Like having cotton candy for breakfast. I still like vanilla as a basenote, but much prefer more subtle and refined vanillas.

OP posts:
ScienceRocks · 13/03/2014 08:34

Frugal, wearing vanilla can make me feel hungry! It is too sweet for me, in truth. I think I associate it with working with someone who wore a lot when I had morning sickness but didn't want to say I was pregnant. Now if I smell vanilla on someone (though not when I am cooking), my stomach turns.

I love how smell is such a potent force Smile

I am feeling blue today so will wear a kiss by the fireside from my Tuesday samples as it makes me feel wrapped in the warmth of the arms of someone who loves me.

FrugalFashionista · 13/03/2014 08:55

Yep, it's making me hungry and nauseous at the same time. But it's not compatible with any actual food - we are having salmon for lunch. Not good. Confused

Talking about vanilla because vanilla is indispensable for orientals. Amber = vanilla + labdanum. It matters a lot how it's served up though - I'd prefer a greener, boozier or smokier vanilla. Vanille Extreme is too extreme for me

OP posts:
Apatite1 · 13/03/2014 09:50

Smoky vanilla you say? Try le labo vanille 44

FuzzLightbeard · 13/03/2014 10:25

I'll join you in the vanilla fest, wearing YSL Cinema today. Wearing vanilla makes me want cake Grin

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