Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Lovely Friendly Perfume Thread: Part 3

999 replies

MrsCocoa · 28/02/2017 00:00

Continuing the discussion of all things perfume related. Tell us about your long standing favourites and tell us about the latest finds you've sniffed out. Everyone is welcome.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
DrAbbyYates · 04/04/2017 13:31

Hi all. I posted elsewhere in S&B to ask where the Chanel dupes had gone from PP and a kind poster directed me here. Huge thanks to Calmina and her very helpful list. To add one - from searching for notes I think that Delicacy is no 22 (top notes aldehydes, middle jasmine, tuberose, ylang-ylang and rose, base notes vetiver, vanilla and incense). I will report back.

I messaged PP via their FB page to ask but they denied all knowledge, just saying that the Chanel perfumes had been removed. They must have had a cease-and-desist or similar from Chanel.

LesIncompetents · 04/04/2017 19:15

Dream don't worry, I love Seahorses too. I'm a bit scared of swans though Grin

Thank you Abby, I've been dithering over ordering the Chanel 22 dupe so it will help to know which one it is!

Going cheap and cheerful in M&S Autograph White Wood today. I'm sure this must be a dupe for something else, I will have to do some detective work!

MrsCocoa · 04/04/2017 20:17

Seahorses and Swans - perhaps some inspiration here for our planned jaunt to a 4160's perfume making workshop?

SoTD started off as Caldey Island No. 1. (Slightly Guerlainesque in a Apres L'Ondee meets L'Heure Bleue sort of way - but less complex/sophisticated). Wearing to solve the puzzle of why the listed notes are jasmine and rose but all I can smell is purpley-blue and yellow: violet/iris/hyacinth with a touch of broom/gorse?

Not sure what's wrong with my nose, but I also thought I could smell Maxxed Out at work. Kept getting wafts of the stuff but no obvious candidates. Have come home and spayed myself liberally so I don't feel like I'm being haunted by phantom fragrance.

OP posts:
GreenPolishToGo · 05/04/2017 17:59

lf I was to encounter a critter in full PFB mode I am quite, quite sure I would prefer it to be a seahorse rather than a swan.

One of my happiest memories of attending mass as a child (am very lapsed) was the time someone had quite clearly overdone the incense. So when the priest swung his censer, instead of the expected gentle wisps of incense wafting out, we got great rolling clouds of grey smoke that engulfed the front rows of the congregation, and which prompted an outbreak of coughing and a hasty evacuation to the back of the church. It was very exciting and I lived in hopes of it happening again for years.

I like the smell of old churches a lot so I was pondering the notes you'd need to recreate that aroma - incense, lit candles, flowers, beeswax polish, old hymnals and holy water. And discovered that the Library of Fragrance have come up with a scent called Holy Water!

Maxed Out is the one and only 4160 Tuesdays perfume I haven't liked so far. On me it just smells too bloke-ish for my own comfort. I'd test it on DH if he'd let me but there's fat chance of that!

SOTD is Niki de Saint Phalle - bargainous half-full bottle from Ebay. The bottle is gorgeous - cobalt blue with entwined painted snakes. And the perfume is rather lovely too, a very powdery, green floral with peach notes, and not anywhere near as scary as the snakes on the bottle might suggest.

OCSockOrphanage · 05/04/2017 20:01

No seahorses in Britain's canals sadly! Charming little critters, and not to be likened to swans (an evil species in PFB mode/ default). An intriguing idea for a scent workshop. It's been Sel Marin here for a couple of days, as I hoed moss off the tarmac... fresh, outdoorsy, you all understand the dynamic.

I would love to do a scent workshop, just not until the autumn when things may calm down a bit. We are just getting to that frantic nearly/newly retired stage (our friends, not us) when everyone thinks they need to see everyone and do everything, in case they can't next year. It's exhausting when you are trying to do everything; the social whirl has not been this daft since uni. Plus, we are trying to keep the surviving D/GPs current with their friends' diamond anniversaries, which usually means driving and attending as the plus one, instead of going to the canoeing BBQ.

LesIncompetents · 05/04/2017 20:50

I seem to be on a bit of an eBay winning streak at the moment- normally stick in a cheeky low bid if I come across something at a good starting price and 95% of the time I'm outbid. However I've won three in the past week Confused

The first one arrived this morning so I made it SOTD- vintage Ysatis. One of my mums favourites from the 80s, so it's bringing back lots of memories! (Mostly of regrettable fashion choices)

MaryLennoxsScowl · 05/04/2017 21:23

I'm trying out lots of perfumes to find a wedding perfume, but so far everything I like is very disparate and I'm not seeing a pattern. I can vaguely say that I like rose and don't like jasmine, but then I like some perfumes with jasmine and don't like some with rose. I'm hopeless! I'm having a lot of fun trying though. I'm getting married outdoors (weather permitting) in May in Scotland, so I wanted something fresh and green, but actually my favourite things so far are LADDM, le coeur du desert, POAL (sometimes), 4160's Rome 1963, and Coco, but Coco is only good on my clothes, on skin it disappears. Today I wore Tauer Reverie in Jardin, which is ideal for my supposed purposes, being fresh and green and lavendery, and I do like it, but not sure it's how I want to smell on my wedding day. I've just ordered a new batch so hoping something in there will be The One!

MrsCocoa · 05/04/2017 23:51

What were the other two Les?

Congratulations Mary - I had a quick look at 4160s as they had been playing with something called Gathering the Clans (hope I've remembered that right?) but nothing has made it onto their main list. Some other ideas with brief descriptions from their site (you can order samples):

  • Ealing Green - light fresh cut grass, herbs, meadow flowers, wild roses and the fresh earth.
-Pillow Talk - perfume for lovers. Jasmine, orange flower, yuzu, spicy pink and black peppers and sandalwood. -Raw Silk and Red Roses EdP - A walk through a rose garden, with a touch of geranium, patchouli, musk and fruits.

Had a lucky dip in the 9mls this morning - pulled out Midnight in the Palace Garden - a spectacular fruit oud. Still going strong 15 hours later.

OP posts:
thecatfromjapan · 06/04/2017 00:09

MaryLennoxsscowl It does sound as though you want something with more heft and sensuality for your wedding. However, before you give up on your dream of being wed whilst scented like the yellow sunlight of an Easter morning kissing the wet, green grass, have you tried Chanel's 'Bel Respiro'?

It's green and it might just have enough of the Chanel-ishness to coax you gently from Coco to a fresh, beautiful green.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 06/04/2017 08:29

Grin thecat! That is exactly how unrealistic my dream scent is! Thank you! Damn, I discounted Bel Respiro from my last order because someone on Fragrantica said it was mainstream and boring, I ordered Boy and Bois des Iles instead. I want to try Coromandel due to the love on here, but it was out of stock. I will get Bel Respiro next time.

MrsCocoa, I like Ealing Green, on paper it's perfect, but on me it smells very sharp and cold, same with Raw Silk - both smell great on my sister so not sure why they go sharp on me. I haven't considered Pillow Talk though, might have to check that out. Thanks!

It might help if I stopped ordering because I like the names, too...

VintagePerfumista · 06/04/2017 09:23

That's what I do Mary! And then don't like them at all mostly.

Bel Respiro doesn't last very long, so you'd need to keep spraying , but it is very classy, as is 31 Rue Cambon, also from the Exclusifs..that's a bit more what you'd associate with a Chanel I think. It's not green though, it's more of a classic chypre-y grande dame thing.

Les- I am never without a massive stash of vintage Ysatis. Unlike most of my other memory-scents from that period (which have me howling at the moon at the thought of days gone by and people that made me cry Grin) Ysatis (along with the original Eau de Gucci) just reminds me of c1987 and being 21 and pissed and having the most magnificent of times.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 06/04/2017 10:34

I have just read the notes of Bel Respiro and it sounds ideal, I'm going to order a sample.

Today's SOTD is Lipstick Rose, which I adore, though ''tis not the dream of fresh flowers and earth that I'm after to be married with flowers in my hair. I might get a purse spray of this for work though.

teta · 06/04/2017 11:36

Chanel Beige especially in the Parfum is a rich floral with a touch of green.Pure Distance Antonia is a beautifully smooth green floral or White which is a slightly spicy floral Musk.
Otherwise have you tried California Reverie or Gardenia Petale for pretty green florals.Or for something striking how about Mito or Rozy by Vera Kern.Ninfea by Profumum Roma is a grassy Violet Rose and is similar in feel to Antonia but with a younger feel.

teta · 06/04/2017 11:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreenPolishToGo · 06/04/2017 12:10

Sounds like you're having a lot of fun searching out the perfect wedding perfume Mary (great user name btw, always loved FHB). Have you tried Maison Martin Margiela Untitled? It's a fresh and very beautiful green scent which isn't sharp, and which has a few fans on this thread.

Very unexpected and delightful post this morning. The batch of nine 2ml samples from 4160 Tuesdays latest crowd funding project landed. I wasn't expecting them until May. As the Our Modern Lives campaign doesn't close for another month, that gives me enough time to test them and, if I fall in love with any of them, order a larger size at the reduced prices! Happy, happy thought Smile

I'm testing Green-Leaf-New, one of the seven naturals, now. It's nice but at the moment it is reminding me a little of celery soup. I do like celery soup but I don't necessarily want to smell of it. But we'll see how it dries down.

I love Midnight in the Palace Garden and Inevitable Crimes of Passion but they are two of the pricier ones so I'll just eke out my samples for the moment.

What were the other Ebay bargains Les? I just missed out on a bargainous Calyx because I forgot to bid! Nitwit!

Judydreamsofhorses · 06/04/2017 12:14

SOTD is Chanel 19, yesterday was MMM Untitled, and Tuesday was the first outing this year for Sel Marin - possibly a bit too early for it, tbh, but I love it so.

LesIncompetents · 06/04/2017 14:24

My other eBay bargains were Paris and Miss Dior- both very nostalgic for me as my mum wore Paris (after she dumped Ysatis Wink) and I used to wear Miss Dior in the early 2000s. You've inspired me VP to start a scent memory collection, although I suspect some of my old favourites will be £££ due to being discontinued.

The Paris has arrived so I'm wearing it today, I'd forgotten how lovely it is. Also it's the shimmery version (which I had no idea existed) so it would have been rude not to bid!

Green I need to try Calyx again, I only tried it on paper and (shock horror) didn't really like it. But that was years ago so I could do with another sniff!

Mary I would definitely second Chanel Beige and Bel Respiro.

tobee · 06/04/2017 14:44

Got spayed by promo gal in my local Big Department Store with Guerlain Mon yesterday pm. Not my usual style but it really grew on me. Talk about long lasting. Anyone else?

MaryLennoxsScowl · 06/04/2017 14:54

Thank you all! I'll go and sniff around this evening - the internet suggests I may be able to smell Untitled in House of Fraser, as I can't find it on Les Senteurs or Scentsamples.uk - unless you know of other sample shops online? I can't find any of the ones you recommend, Teta, but Harvey Nicks might have some. My colleague wears Beige so I'm going to beg her for a sample. I'm not actually a big Chanel fan, No 5 and Cuir de Russie are too strong/pee-ish for me and I hate Chance et al as being too sweet, but I'd read that the exclusifs are where it's at to get a good Chanel. I quite like the new no 5 eau premiere but it's too clean for me.

CheapTarnishedGlitter · 06/04/2017 15:48

Oooh! That's early for the crowd fund!!

I've not had and SOTDs this week - stuck at home while the little ones are being quarantined with sickness bug and not feeling very motivated.

Also wondering now if the 4160 Tuesdays are currently in my in tray in the office!!

teta · 06/04/2017 16:06

The Gardenia Petale and California Reverie are by Van Cleef and Arpels and can usually be found at House of Fraser or often sampled from Notino.co.uk.Antonia is from Puredistance based in Holland and they do sample sets for around £40. or from eBay.Rozy and Mito can be purchased from Bloom as can many other Greens.

Calyx is today's choice on a beautiful sunny day.Others this week have been PureDistance's Antonia, White and Phaedons Lentisque - a aromatic woody green with Ambergris.

Calminaqualm · 06/04/2017 21:02

Mary, I think for a May wedding outdoors in Scotland you need something with a bit of staying power, but not too "in your face".) Do try Annick Goutal's Songes (jasmine, ylang-ylang, frangipani, tiare). I believe they stock it in the larger House of Frasers.

I second Chanel Beige, but think Ealing Green would be lost outdoors, although beautiful. Pillow Talk is gorgeous but quite jasmine heavy. You might also like to test the Sisley perfumes, especially Soir de Lune.

Pestilentialone · 06/04/2017 21:06

Mary, have you considered Avon skin so soft body oil? It is an excellent mosquito repellent. Then add complimentary perfume.

ADisappearingDreamOfYesterday · 07/04/2017 08:43

Oh a wedding! I love other peoples' weddings, how exciting. I can't add to all the brilliant advice already given but look forward to hearing which one you choose, Mary. Sorry if I missed it, but which flowers are you having? I am living vicariously here as couldn't wear perfume at my wedding due to morning sickness but we will gloss over that in light of the afore mentioned Catholic DH Wink

Les the Paris is amazing isn't it, it took me right back! I think I am slightly addicted to it now.

The 4160s sound good, I love their names. I would like a job thinking up perfume names

Last night I borrowed my DD's shower gel and I now need a perfume that smells like it - it was just a cheapy but lovely, a Palmolive for sensitive skin. It was the almond scent of course, I am a sucker for almonds. I'm eyeing a sample of Burberry Brit (although I feel a terrible snob being doubtful about Burberry, which is silly as I have a Burberry coat and love it).

I am not out of bed yet so haven't decided on a SOTD. But it might involve almonds.

MrsCocoa · 07/04/2017 16:32

Possible MN Flankers!

Am I Being Unreasonable
Vipers Bunfight

OP posts: