Lovely, friendly perfume thread continued- Come and discuss all your fragrant foibles!

[MissBattleaxe]

Continuing from the previous thread. It's always so lovely to see new posters come and talk perfume. Everyone is welcome. Come and tell us your SOTD ( scent of the day) or ask us anything perfumey. Someone will know the answer! Get stuck in and get sniffing. You'll find no snobbery here!

For the first time this week I can almost smell! So I broke out one of the PP Amouage dupes I missed testing when I chose a "few". It's a subtle TF Noir de Noir (suspect it pre-dated NdN) and it is blinking gorgeous. Roses, Arab style, a hint of patch, plus a touch of oud (very small) and stays close to me. I may have to have a top up after writing this, just to check that I am as happy as I think I am.

Having taken a break, I think there's a synthetic Fry's Turkish Delight note upfront I missed earlier. But the heart notes are appealing.

Thank you VP - will look out for both. How old am I aiming for? (Am on modest budget so will be looking for no more than 10-15mls). Any tips on dating? (Ah, so it wasn't you who swiped my Caleche last night!).

OC Glad you're feeling better. You've made me think of Traversee du Bosphore - meant to be all about cheap, authentic, Turkish Delight? (On my test list).

The postman bought tiny bottles of Trophee and Magic Noire - both EDTs, both lovely on first application, but both quite weak and difficult to discern after the first 30 mins (age? Poor stoppers?).

Magie Noire is another old friend. It was so powerful I don't think I appreciated it as much as it deserved when I was younger. Now I love it but vintage is hard to find and some of the prices asked for it are truly shocking. What a shame about your one, MrsC. Anyone know how the current version compares? Roses and Turkish Delight sound very appealing, Sock.

Today I played pass the parcel with a package the postie brought that started off the size of a big hardback and gradually unwrapped to reveal a dolls' house size bottle of Vent Vert. Just like your little one VP, but only half full. But when you unscrew the lid the blast of galbanum would knock your socks off.

Hooray for spring and recovery from colds. SoTD had to be Vent Vert.

LesIncompetents, can you tell me more about your Cologne of the Missions? That sounds right up my alley, but reading about it online I see a lot of comparisons to TF Tobacco Vanille - which I find pretty similar to Tauerville Vanilla Flash, which I have already (and love). Hard for me to pass up a good vanilla at that price but I don't want to duplicate something I already have!

SOTD is Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Ambre Mythique, which is fast displacing Coudray's Ambre et Vanille as my favourite amber.

After the pallid Lancome's, my confidence in buying miniatures is restored! Have cracked into a Rochas set which I think dates from the mid-80s, and have nearly had my socks blown off by the civet (and cumin?) opening of Mystere (I see someone on a Fragrantica review thread describes it as 'office-appropriate'. They've either got a very pale reformulation or they work somewhere pretty wild). It's like the start of Theo Fenell's Scent, but on steroids (haven't smelt Salome or MKK). It's moving off in a mellower, more floral direction now.

Similarly arresting is Lumiere - opens with aldehydes and screechy white florals, but quickly moves down the scale to honeysuckle and lily of the valley, then softer rose and hyacinth, on it's way to powdery, musky woods. Just like running your thumb down the length of a piano keyboard (but in slow motion).

Both spectacular.

thisfalseinsight I've only tried the PP version of Tobacco Vanille, so not sure how it would compare to the original. I do get a hint of honeyed tobacco from it but it's not prominent, it's boozy bourbon vanilla in the opening and becomes a powdery yummy dessert as it dries down, sweet but not sickeningly so. I was very lucky to pick up a second hand bottle for less than a tenner but even at full price it's cheap as chips and super quality.

SOTD is L'Artisan's Nuit de Tubereuse, I bought this when my perfume obsession first started to kick in so it always brings back good memories of visiting the lovely little L'Artisan shop in Covent Garden. I think it's closed down now, does anyone know?

I remember buying my Mum some Mystere de Rochas in the early 90s and we both got a big bottle of Lumiere once in a Debenhams sale- I still have the tin it came in (it was a gift set) which I keep bits and bobs in.

I agree about the not appreciating such grown-up perfumes earlier- all the "grande dame" perfumes I now adore I just found boring and grown up when I was reeking of Obsession and Poison. (not together clearly, that would have been v wrong!)

I was on a training course today, and knackered, so went for the clean and soapy Infusion d'Iris dupe. A perfect perfume when you don't want to be tested nose-wise but still want to keep sniffing your wrist.

MrsCocoa, I still have an empty bottle of Mystere from the 90s. It's empty, alas, but still retains the glorious smell. Theo Fennell's Scent Is one where I have to studiously avoid sniffing my arm too quickly. I put up with the top notes in order to get to the spicy drydown!

Lesincompetents, I have a set of L'Artisan's Nuit de Tubereuse in a fancy box. If I slather the body lotion on followed by the perfume, I get wafts of it all day, even though it isn't strong in itself. It's like going for an evening walk in a hot country, with night-scented shrubs lining a dusty lane. There are herbs there, too.

Gave the Magie Noire another run-out but still a wash-out

So have put Mystere and the Theo Fennell back to back. Mystere is hands-down skankier on opening. On first sniff, the Theo Fennell smells like a relatively mild mannered rich floral with a touch of cumin in comparison (but the EDP is a lot mellower than the EDT). Update: 15 mins in and it's catching up a bit!

Calmina I'd love to get hold of the body lotion. I've got a set of La Chasse aux Papillons, also in the fancy box with the pop up bits inside. It was worth buying for the box alone!

I was feeling fine and quite springlike this morning and dug out my sample of Tauer's carillon pour un ange. Unfortunately started to feel iffy around lunchtime (thanks to DS for kindly sharing his germs!) As much as I love Tauers, they're not the best thing to wear if you're feeling ill

LesIncompetents I might just have succumbed to your far too enticing description of Couvent des Minimes Eau des Missions and have a 5ml sample on the way. Hope you're feeling better.
SoTD is vintage Ma Griffe, which I am finding very sniff-able but I'm wondering if such a very grande dame scent might scare other people. Ah well, too late now.

I am in Diorissimo as I have a sinus head and so need something gentle.

I smell like a granny but in a very pretty way. Had a shower with Lily of the Valley soap as well so am muguet-ing all over the place.

I'm just back from the states with a Juliette has a gun sampler set from Sephora. I have 'Not a perfume' which reminds me somewhat of molecule 01, 'Anyway', 'gentlewoman', 'miss charming', 'midnight oud', 'mad madame', 'lady vengeance' and 'another oud'.

Currently sniffing 'another oud' on my wrist. It's a big smell. My first oud. The jury is out, it has quite a sharp smell.

I've washed it off. It catches the back of my throat in an unpleasant way...

GreenPolish ooh I feel like a naughty enabler I hope you like it!

I've gone for a random sample today, Mark Buxton's Sexual Healing. I'm not impressed with this one, the opening has a weird rubbery note and eventually becomes a light wisp of amber. Also- worst perfume name ever!

ImScarlet- I didn't like it either, at all!

I have most of the samples you mentioned but have only tried Mad Madame and the Another Oud. Neither of which has tempted me to try the others tbh! Think will try them on bits of card first.

SotD is Audace. A bit like a smoother, gentler Cabochard - smoky moss, but with a softer powdery amber heart.

The oakmoss did also make me wonder how it compared with Empreinte; side by side the latter is more animalic with more prominent floral notes.

Do we need to start a new thread?

LesIncompetents I was quite tempted by the bargainous full bottles but then remembered Madonna Truth or Dare Naked sitting unloved in a drawer because I was seduced by sumptuous descriptions. At least it was a cheap lesson in sticking to samples first!

Imscarlet I love Mad Madame. It's a wonderful, rich, dirty, powdery, rose. Alas, it doesn't last that long on me (four hours maximum) and it's quite pricey to be topping up frequently. I don't think I cared for Another Oud either.

MrsC, a new thread sounds good to me.

GreenPolish, noooo - I adore Madonna Truth or Dare Naked, it's right up there in my top ten!

Today I've been comparing Malle's Portrait of a Lady with the Perfume Parlour dupe "Lady Portraits". The PP captured the rose accord, I felt, but the patchouli was far too strong, overpowering the incense. The PP lasted for about 3 hours, but the genuine perfume lasted all day 10-12 hours. I think I need to save up to buy the real thing!

New thread - can we regroup here?