Perfume lovers - vol. 6

[FrugalFashionista]

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

[Bragadocia]

I've been lurking on this thread's cousins for about a year; fascinating stuff. Now I'm ready to get involved in fragrance! I've bought my first samples (the set of nine from Juliette Has A Gun) and next would like to track down someone who does Diptyque decants or samples in Europe or the UK, but I can only find US vendors. If anyone knows someone who sells these, I would be so grateful.

[FuzzLightbeard]

Bragadocia there are often Diptyque samples and travel sprays on ebay, I have never had any problems with sample buying on ebay and have had some great bargains from there.

SOTD is SL Chergui, one of those I thought I would love but really it's just a like. I think I've settled on three all time favourites and nothing else quite compares to them (Coco, Habanita and Chamade)

[Puddles1234]

SOTD = Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge eau de parfum

[foxinorangesocks]

Sotd for me is what I did on my holidays by 4160 Tuesdays. Prefer their sunshine and pancakes but it has lasted very well.

[FrugalFashionista]

SOTD Defile New York. My ultimate spring scent...

[OneLittleLady]

Eagerly awaiting my delivery of Coco as kindly swapped for with wilting really can't wait, Coco is my absolute favourite scent but far too pricey for me at the moment . So excited! for wilting

[teta]

Cedrat by Roger and Ballet.It doesn't last very long so I frequently respray but I like that.

[teta]

Ballet?,no Gallet.Bloom in predictive texttext.

[wiltingfast]

Yay OLL! Enjoy

Welcome bragadocia! Afaik, you can get samples at www.allaviolettaboutique.com Haven't bought from there yet but they have a fantastic range. Neroli Perfumery is worth checking too.

And ooo fuzzy love habanita and adore chamade. Have yet to try chergui and coco and I don't really get on.

Which reminds me my chamade sample is gone, does anyone know if there anywhere to get guerlain samples in EU?

[FrugalFashionista]

Wilting except for new launches Guerlain samples are tricky to get. If you order a new Chamade from Place Vendome Haute Parfumerie though you can ask for samples of Guerlain boutique perfumes and you'll get lots of lovely ones to try.

Repeat-wearing Defile New York.

[teta]

I'm going to order a sample pack from Surrender To Chance.I have to choose 10 from 100 samples.I love all Annick Goutal scents and Calyx so will probably choose those as my first 5 but what other suggestions do you have for a total perfume novice?I love citrus and flower perfumes but dislike most perfumes available in standard duty free.All the Guerlain,Christian Dior ones etc. smell terrible on me.Also any suggestions for real classics that everyone should try?Also what size samples do most people buy?Finally how much is the ultimate cost and do you end up paying duty free? ( too many questions I know!).

[Housewife2010]

I made my first order from Surrender to Chance at the weekend. If you sign up for a newsletter you get a 10% off your first order code. Also if you order $50 of scent you get $2.95 off. My SOTD is Diptyque's Tam Dao. Gorgeous, but I always kick myself that I didn't spend the extra £10 to get the 100 ml bottle in the Space NK sale. I made so many orders & bought it untested so I was frugal & got the 50 ml bottle - but it's so lovely.

[FuzzLightbeard]

Teta I've never ordered from Surrender to Chance but you might like some of the L'Artisans, maybe Premier Figuier and Chasse aux Papillons?

SOTD is Must de Cartier, came along with some mixed Chanel samples off ebay and didn't expect much from it but I'm rather enjoying the 80s vibe it has, very ambery.

If anyone is fond of L'Occitane's discontinued Amber, it is currently available as part of their 12 hour flash sale for £20 or so. I am sorely tempted but don't think I need another ambery oriental!

[Stokey]

I've just started getting into perfumes.

SOTD is rather boring Paul Smith Rose but felt I'd spent a lot of time trying out my Tauer samples & was awash in patchouli/vanilla/sandalwood so needed something simple & springlike.
A question on samples. I got some spray ones from Scent & Sensibility & some dab (don't know if that is right word but with a dropper) from Les Scenteurs. I find the "dab" ones don't last that long & I struggle to get a good sniff unless I sit smelling my wrist (attracting odd looks in my male-dominated office).

Teta Bois de Jasmin has some good articles on iconic perfumes.

I too find Guerlain smell a bit weird on me but like Dior, think I need to persevere.

[ShatzePage]

SOTD is Kenzo flowers. I spent years disliking this and then a couple of weeks ago I was out and a girl wafted by with it on and it smelt delicious so I ordered it the next day! I love the powderiness of it.

Am awaiting delivery of Dita von teese's first perfume-don't usually buy celeb scents but it gets good reviews on fragrantica and Habanita which was recommended by someone on one of the perfume threads.

[FrugalFashionista]

Teta SDC do 'by note' samplers such as this citrus one which has some of the best citruses ever made.
Not in the UK so no info on duties, they are very country specific, have not been major for me. Because of the I only order from the US stuff that I can't get from Europe. If you are in a big city, you can easily whizz through Goutals in a good department store. (My beighborhood perfumery store is incredibly well stocked, for example and they have the full Goutal and L'Artisan range.)

Stokey I prefer spray vials (Alla Violetta have great ones) and dab vials (Kilians and Guerlain boutique 4ml samples) but really dislike stick vials.

Teta have you read Perfumes - The A-Z Guide by Turin & Sanchez? It's a great read and gives a lot of best of lists and is a great guide to sampling. I have it on my Kindle so used to read in on my phone when I was getting to know perfume. STC do lots of 'Best of' sample sets but ultimately what you will love depends on your individual taste. Warning - perfume is as addictive as Mimi Holliday underwear (I have a rosy set and a black Bisou Bisou lacy set btw, love both...)

[FrugalFashionista]

Skip all the dog pics and this blog post will have quite a lot of info on various sample set options. Just pick one with some variety, perhaps not limited to just one house (because you might dislike the house style - I'm a Chanel and Tauer person for example but do not love all Guerlains and have a hard time with some Lutens perfumes).

Loving everyone's frags today, you've picked some really great ones...

[FrugalFashionista]

Sorry about spamming the thread but I love samplers (I's like a bouquet of flowers, only better), a floral spring sampler here.

Diptyques a great choice too but if you live close to a Space NK you can sniff at least some of them there. Love their solid perfumes.

[FrugalFashionista]

Sorry about shocking spelling, on the phone, hope you get the gist of it - I'm no good at multitasking

[teta]

foxinorangesocks I am debating on ordering the perfume samples from 4160 Tuesdays.Have you tried many of them?Love the names and the scent descriptions but debating whether to go for the woody or floral sample box.
Other than that have decided to chose the Annick Goutal Soliflore sample set plus Creed virgin/island water ( is that the right name?).Frugal I might progress onto the citrus sample Set at a later date as I'm sure there are some I haven't tried.I can see this will be really addictive and will be my new obsession( taking over from silk bras).
The Perfume book sounds a wonderful idea and I will download it tonight.
Thank you Stokey,Fuzz and Housewife for your suggestions.Will read Bois de Jasmin's and try L' Artisans scents.Don't know why all Guerlain smells horrible on me even the fresca range - puzzling!.

[Apatite1]

I too have the Turin Sanchez guide on my iPad! I strongly disagree with their assessment of love in white and tommy girl though...

[FrugalFashionista]

Apatite people always outgrow Turin & Sanchez when they learn more about perfume (I mean, who is better, Mozart or Jimi Hendrix - totally depends on your personal preferences) but it has got a lot of information and gives a wannabe perfumista the key vocabulary... Love that you wore Fracas... Have you worn Poison?

Teta hope you'll enjoy your samples - I love testing new perfumes at home. Soliflores are a great choice for spring.

Exhausted, wearing Bois d'Armenie by Guerlain to bed. Won't be able to wear my orientals many more times this year.

[pocketandsweet]

SOTD Cristalle Edp. My husband bought it for my birthday. I never realized that there was so much difference between the edp and the edt. It was actually the edt that I fell for.... the edp is gentler but I love it anyway. I love looking thing up in the Turin/Sanchez but I frequently disagree... tommy girl being one of my disagreements. They also slate Nocturnes by Caron which holds a special place in my heart ( although I realize that might have alot to do with sentiment).

[wiltingfast]

I really enjoy the Turin guide too, I have the hard copy but would love it handy on the kindle. Hmmm, can I justify two copies of the same book?!

Am all nostalgic for Dune sine someone mentioned it up thread. Lived in it as a teenager. Must whizz by town on my way home tomorrow and spray liberally!

Sotd was coromandel. It's the longest lasting perfume on me, still lingering lovingly in the crooks of my elbows, delicious!

[clb]

Turin and Sanchez are updating the Guide, so I'm going to hold off buying an e-book version until they do so, I think.

SOTD one of my very few FBs: Volutes by Diptyque. Warm, smoky heaven.