Lovely Friendly Perfume Thread: Part 3

[MrsCocoa]

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.

Galimard - MrsC if you are a member of makeupalley, there are a few reviews (don't search under 'Brand', search for 'Galimard' under 'Product'). Not sure what Fatty Evening is a dupe of! My Fault - i'm almost sure, is Coco (original). Yours are definitely vintage, as they aren't on Galimard's website. My favourite is Evie (rather than Eve). I also like Canaica (Organza, but better) and Notre Temps (L'air du Temps and very much better). A Contre Jour is J'Adore, but not so keen on this (or the Dior one).
Subject change - Sotd is Worth Courtesan, I'm a big fan but reviews are mixed! I've put it on this morning as by the time I get to the office this afternoon, the burning pineapple odour will have dried down into something lovely!

Oh! My l'instant guerlain sample has arrived!!

Speaking of fragrant pets, the great Edmond Roudnitska (Diorissimo, Diorella, Eau Sauvage, Eau Fraiche, Rochas Femme etc) apparently used to rinse his pet chow with a solution of vinegar to get rid of odours. Though Jean-Claude Ellena thought the dog was still pretty whiffy.

This comes from Ellena's "The Diary of a Nose: A Year in the Life of a Parfumeur". There's also a lovely anecdote of Ellena, as a young and eager beaver parfumeur turning up to visit the master, only for Roudnitska to open the door and snap at him: "You reek of washing powder! Go and wash and come back tomorrow in clothes that have been aired," before shutting the door in his face!

Just as I was beginning to think the postman had been kidnapped by aliens, a new one turned up much later than usual, clutching rather a lot of small packages and looking very relieved when I opened the door, because, he explained, he didn't want to cart them all away again. I didn't like to warn him he might be seeing a lot of us...

So I have just spent a gleeful half hour unpacking the 4160 Tuesdays samples, all wrapped up in brightly coloured tissue paper like posh sweets, the FeelUnique samples and my Ebay finds of Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau - smells gorgeously citrus and powdery in the bottle, the last fifth of a bottle of Mitsouko and a half bottle of Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune - requested by DD after falling in love with my bottle. I'm now in 4160's Tokyo Spring Blossom, which is delicately floral and springlike - as you might guess from the name.

I assume all 4160 fans spotted the 10 per cent discount code up until May 19 in the latest newsletter? I'm now pondering a small bottle of Dirty Honey...Actually I really ought to go and do some work!

Well.
I like l'instant. But I don't love it.
I am very jealous of all these e bay bargains.

Our lovely postwoman is always very interested in what's in the parcels - we aren't quite at the stage of opening them together on the doorstep so she can sniff too but it might not be very long .

SOTD was Chanel 19, much needed for a really long teaching day, with a class cover over my lunch. I definitely need wine tonight.

SOTD was Chanel Gardenia as I wanted something light and floral. However I'm feeling a touch nostalgic so am now wearing Obsession! My DP absolutely loves it and I'd forgotten how comforting I used to find it. I think every member of my family has worn it at some point.

(I also wore Lou Lou yesterday so clearly am in an 80s kind of mood at the moment)

Badders found this while browsing utube -
Guerlain on QVC.

Your description of 'like' rather than 'love' is right - it's such a well-balanced smell. But not one to get passionate about.

Yes! It's very pleasant but....meh nothing about it excites me or makes me smile

My mum is wearing ellie saab atm and I dislike it
My sister favours Marc jacobs....she has all the daisy perfumes and the new one decadence which I think smells like mouthwash

Boo hoo, I have just used up my sample of Lux, and went to buy a decant... but Scent Samples have run out! This may require a further search; I think I want 10ml. And I am waiting for the post; hoping for my new PP dupes, for Verte Boheme and something I have forgotten, which sounded promising at the time.

The Lux is lovely, verbena that turns to glove soft leather. ANd waiting for the water leak man to arrive.

SOTD for a sunny Friday is MMM Untitled. I am so very pleased it's almost the weekend.

I had forgotten about the Tobacco Rose! I think I shall forget about it again now I've sprayed a tiny bit in the crook of the elbow. It is a proper scrubber but I can't as the water is turned off. The Verty Boham is inoffensive, I think. The Lux is still luuurvely.

Morning All - bad week with a poorly child, but perfume has provided some light relief. Along side the Galimard's, my sample box of 14 x vintage Avon parfum has arrived (following a bit more research think both date from early 70s).

Am impressed - have tested all on mouillettes and a couple on skin and there are already 4-5 stand-outs where I will be tracking down FBs (preferably in a super kitsch bottle). A couple of great old school chypres (one green and one leathery) and a couple of ravishing orientals (one a little like Tabu and another like a powdery Opium prototype). Almost all of the rest are really wearable (I struggle with the really aldehydic end of things and with Pretty Peach).

They do seem to need body heat to come fully to life, so I have a wonderful week of testing ahead of me.

The box comes with the legend, 'Whatever you wear, wear fragrance' - which might be good for the thread after next (obviously the scarf of a thousand scents comes next). And if anyone is interested, I noticed the same box is on eBay at the moment.

Meri - thanks for the tip. Do you think the 60s one are 'in the style of' too? I don't know my vintage Diors or Chanels very well - Soir de Grasse is a distinctive cool mossy violet - any ideas?

MrsC Not sure about the older ones. Seen Eve described as 'floral-animal' so that could be one of many from the 60s
Saw this on a french forum:
Accroche-Coeur - Cinnabar,
Yavana - Opium
Canaïca - Angel
Cantabelle - Coco Mademoiselle
Notre Temps - Air du Temps
Printemps Japonais - Trésor de Lancôme
Journal Intime - Baby Doll d’YSL
Soir de Grasse - Miss Dior
Pêle-mele - Diorissimo
Si tu savais - Light blue
Ma faute - Narciso Rodriguez For Her
Songeries - Miss Dior chérie

I have Accroche Coeur which reminds me of 'By' by Dolce and Gabanna (rather than Cinnabar).
So there's a variety of dupe opinion!
Songeries is definitely Miss Dior Cherie.

I visited the Fragonard factory in Grasse about 15 years ago and it was fab. Wish I'd gone to Galimard as well now...

Sock what is 'Lux'? I don't know that one.

It's niche, from a German company I think, despite the Italian name. Mona Di Orio, but she died a year or two ago and I'm not sure whether the company is still trading.

The Tobacco Rose is improving with time and is now quite pleasant. It will perhaps never become a favourite, but it's no longer rank although to be used cautiously as it is powerful. The Verty Boham lacks substance, but it was a tiny dab.

And the water leak is fixed, so a big shout for the HomeServe gentlemen.

SOTD is D&G La Temperance. Reminds me of my holiday to Florida a few years ago as it's what i took with me. I only took the one to keep weight down. Brings back good memories on what is a pretty dull and grey day

I really miss Feminine by Dolce and gabbana but ebay prices end up ridiculous for it, much as i want some, i can't afford to be paying silly money for it. It is was my very first 'proper' perfume and it is sorely missed. If anyone sees any going for a decent price, please let me know as i'm desperate to get some!

Thanks Meri - having looked up the notes am slight sceptical about Soir de Grasse (vintage)/Miss Dior as out and out dupes as one features purple flowers and the other yellow and white, but can see green notes and oakmoss are prominent in both?

Just on Avon, anyone smelt the one Christopher Sheldrake did for them, Perceive? (That's a rather mind blowing collaboration).

NR poudre sample arrived
I like it
The PP dupes arrived too - the Nivea dupe is very good but wow! SO strong! Ds2 loves it though
The DK cashmere mist dupe is lovely too bit as I haven't smelt the original I can't comment as to its similarity

SOTD was Heeley Sel Marin - beautiful day here, first bare legs of the year!

Blimey Judy - was down jacket and jumper weather here.

Went to a vintage fair in a local church and got a lovely little double travel atomiser set. Discovered one side was half full of old Youth Dew - which was about right for today. Lovely once past the first few minutes! Can't work out what the other side is - it's an aldehydic slightly spicy floral (so many possibilities....).

I have spent the weekend staring at Ebay in search of perfume finds mrscocoa that find sounds lovely! I love vintage perfume bottles especially if they have a pouffy little spray bulb thing.

Jealous of bare legs weather, I am currently under my heated blanket and wearing Velvet Orchid (still can't decide if I should splash for FB of this).

Cat SOTD is Lick e Lix as both DD and DCat got over excited showing Dcat the new salmon flavour and DCat managed to get her head under the sachet as it was being squeezed out. She won't let me rectify this so has a lovely salmon scented pink mohawk DC helpfully pointed out her hair now matches mine but hopefully mine doesn't smell of salmon

at AD. Have you found anything interesting?

Our poor Dcat still smells of Miffy....

Oh MrsC how long have you got Lots of lovely Shalimar bottles and I even saw some Jicky! I was eyeing up a Benetton Colors perfume which I used to love but they're asking £50 which seems extortionate.

I especially love the vintage sets with miniatures in, there's a lovely one with original LouLou, Fidji, Paloma Picasso etc

I'm actually dithering over whether just to buy a FB of LouLou but worried it might be a disappointment and won't instantly transport me back to 1991. I'm a big fan of Cacharel, they've done some of my favourite "easy" perfumes like Anais Anais, but I don't think I can forgive them for discontinuing Gloria