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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.

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Badders123 · 10/05/2017 19:06

It's divine!! I can still smell it on me from this morning. 😊

lasttimeround · 10/05/2017 19:32

Oh la la I'm in Brussels and have spotted a guerlain shop. That sorts out one thing I'm doing tomorrow

Lovely Friendly Perfume Thread: Part 3
MrsCocoa · 10/05/2017 20:57

Very jealous Last - have a great time and be sure to report back!

Having an Avon-fest here:

Picked up a super-cheap bottle of Christopher Sheldrake's, turn of the millennium, Perceive. Quite a shock after sniffing lots of vintage perfume in recent weeks! Translucent, but getting on for strident, floral/fruit (discernible pear) - relatively high pitched and linear. I need to try it again....

In complete contrast is Elusive (1970). A spicy/mossy delight. Opens like HR Courant with a blast of dry green-ness, which is then checked for a few minutes with something sweeter and creamier (made me think about that Jicky tonka/civet trick). It then morphs into a gently spicy/musky wonder. Has a touch of that sweet honey/honeysuckle slightly urinous note, as well as a warm, lit-up (civet-induced?) bloom, and perhaps some clove or carnation? There is a lot of animalic stuff going on but the end effect is cosy and intimate rather than out and out in your face skanky... (...I hope as I have been wearing this to work a lot Smile ). Not especially loud but has great staying power (even at cologne strength).

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Badders123 · 10/05/2017 21:06

Guerin shop? Ohhhhhhhh
Well I've ordered ET diamonds and rubies 😱😁

GreenPolishToGo · 10/05/2017 21:45

Badders I have four bottles of vintage Fidji because I don't want to ever be without it again, so bidding on another bottle of your beloved strikes me as the only sane thing to do.

My MIL and FIL are also fragrance-free types freaks. No perfumes, scented toiletries, scented candles - I've even been asked to take bowls of hyacinths out of the room at Christmas because they can't bear the scent. It has made present buying quite tricky over the years and, of course, it means there is no vintage hoard for DD and me to explore!

MrsC Dark Heart is so beautiful I'm sure it's worth another sniff. And talking of beautiful, Emeraude has arrived and it is truly gorgeous with a sharp, citrus opening and a wonderful spicy, powdery, vanillic dry down. I think it's a 70s bottle. The perfume is pale green and the bottle has fluted sides and a gold crown lid. The box, annoyingly, has a picture of a woman in Edwardian dress, but her paramour has some very, very 70s sideburns, there's no barcode and the price sticker is £1.40 marked down to 94p. It's labelled "flacon mist", which I'm assuming is weaker than Eau de Cologne but it certainly doesn't smell weak. If it's true the modern version is an unrecognisable travesty, then it is a very great shame.

Safari is one I keep an eye out for because - galbanum - 'nuff said. But I've read that has to be vintage too because the modern one is so watered down.

DD and I combined to order a Commitment Phobia set recently and Goodbye Piccadilly was one of the two I chose. Smile

GreenPolishToGo · 10/05/2017 21:55

Ohhh, lucky Last! Have a super spree!

MrsCocoa · 10/05/2017 21:58

Green - have you tried Givenchy III? My bargain (listed as Givenchy 3 so no-one else spotted it) has arrived. Think galbanum and mandarin constitute my dream opening - this is one great big gust of perfection. However that's fleeting and it fades away to almost nothing (EDT - must look out for something stronger...).

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MrsCocoa · 10/05/2017 22:09

Badders - are you working systematically through the Sophia Grojsman's? (Heliotrope, benzoin and sandalwood -- mmmm sounds good!). Have you tried Tentations?

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GreenPolishToGo · 10/05/2017 23:14

MrsC I have Givenchy III EdT too! You are right - it is blissfully green and gorgeous.

If anyone is in need of a Guerlain fix, l bumped into the 2011 BBC4 Perfume documentary on YouTube. You may well have already seen it but it had passed me by completely.

The first episode is Something Old, Something New and it is fascinating; partly about Guerlain and the launch of Shalimar Parfum Initial, and partly about the creation of something called Tommy Hilfiger Loud, which I have never heard of, and which was a beastie produced by corporate marketing and focus groups. As it's now available discounted from Superdrug's Outlet shop, I assume it wasn't a howling success.

The Guerlain bits were best. Is it a bad sign when you can identify all the Guerlain bottles without seeing the labels?! And the Guerlain chateau is mouthwatering!

Badders123 · 11/05/2017 07:17

It seems thatcway Mrs c!
She is also the nose behind Vanderbilt which i wore when young Smile

ADisappearingDreamOfYesterday · 11/05/2017 07:42

Last I'm very jealous - Brussels and a Guerlain shop!

Mrscocoa your descriptions are so good - I am still rubbish at identifying different notes much less describing them to other people so well Grin Re the Givenchy 3/III thing, wasn't there a website that detected common spelling mistakes in Ebay listings to get cheapies? I have a distant memory of getting some "channel" perfume and worrying it would be a knock off but it was just spelt wrongly and very bargainous...I will have to have a dig around.

Badders glad you are enjoying your nostalgia fest - you should definitely get your mitts on some other SunMS bottles - it's much nicer to be able to spray with abandon rather than eke things out Grin

Talking of the 90s, my DDs are wearing all my 90s tops and dresses (spaghetti strap dress with sunflowers on and a white T shirt underneath anyone?) which is making me feel very old proud and has increased my longing for LouLou...

Meripenopause · 11/05/2017 07:55

Green I have watched the BBC4 perfume documentary a couple of times. Loved the first one with the Guerlain girl, but slightly disappointed with the later ones (teenage boys' body sprays. I've smelt enough of those at home over the years)! Shouldn't really complain - it was a whole series devoted to fragrance after all.
If any one is interested, I stumbled on Persolaise's u-tube channel. He does hour long 'love at first scent' shows.
Now going to wear Givenchy III Smile

Badders123 · 11/05/2017 11:42

I must try to catch that on YouTube

lasttimeround · 11/05/2017 12:49

Feeling the need to share with thosd who understand. I've had the loveliest morning. The Guerlain shop in Brussels is new. The only one apart from the Paris shop.
I've fallen hard for quands vient la pluie - an exclusive homage to apres l'ondee (which is my main perfume and I know I've whittered on about on here). It's a bit stronger and sweeter but I has that same gut reaction.
It's been soon interesting. I did a long scent discovery thing and found 3 faves but they don't unfold well on my skin. I then also found Jardine de bagatelle which must go on the list. Finally a rose that suits me. It's also herby.
Ahh the quandary!!! I wasn't planning expensive purchases but I can't pass this up. Anyone know much about card charges abroad? Is the debit or the credit card more likely to be my friend?

Badders123 · 11/05/2017 12:54

Making expensive purchases should always be done on a credit card for the protection it affords
Sounds like s lovely day!

lasttimeround · 11/05/2017 14:39

I've really enjoyed talking to them about how things smell on my skin. Lots of things go sharp or the balance changes. I'm still kind of new and it's been just brilliant to have domrone else smell things on me who actually knows how to smell. You lot are fabulous but I need a real life scent fiend buddy.
That film sounds great. I will look it up on my return

GreenPolishToGo · 11/05/2017 22:29

That sounds like a delightful way to spend the morning Last and Quands Vient La Pluie is a wonderful name for a fragrance - very appropriate for the weather today too!

Meri I think the first episode was probably the best too, certainly the most enticing, but I watched the second, Bottling The Memory, last night and enjoyed it a lot. However, when the Anglophile American commissioned Christopher Brosius to create a scent evocative of an old-fashioned England, I did think it was just the kind of thing 4160 Tuesdays would have done perfectly. Pity.

SOTD had to be a Guerlain and it is cold, wet and 'orrible so I thought Mitsouko would be a good choice. It was, so much so I think I shall have to invest in a bottle with a bit more than a fifth left in it...

MrsCocoa · 11/05/2017 22:49

Thanks for telling us about your morning Last - sounds like you had a brilliant time. Hope it didn't feel pressured (so much to smell...so little time ...Smile). And hope they gave you some samples!

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Badders123 · 12/05/2017 09:29

Grey and overcast here to match my mood so it will be sun moon stars today to try and cheer me up

Ollivander84 · 12/05/2017 10:06

SOTD - 4160 Tuesday's London 1969. Nice and citrusy for hospital! Being discharged today yay

teta · 12/05/2017 11:50

Glad you're being discharged today Ollivander.Hospitals are horrible places unless you're very ill in which case it's the best place! ( having worked in one).
Wearing my vintage Safari today .The bottle is so classy,heavy and beautiful and I'm enjoying the warm woody base notes.Perfect for the cold wet day here .
Tried the new Sisley Izia in duty free the other day and loved it.Anyond else tried it?

Badders123 · 12/05/2017 13:52

Get well soon ollivander!
Well
I've bid on another Sun Moon stars and have ordered a bottle of in love by Elizabeth Arden as that's another Sophia grosjman creation 😁
Im so looking forward to my next trip to town to sniff all the others she has created!

Ollivander84 · 12/05/2017 14:04

teta - they've been lovely. I had a side room etc. Cauda equina and L5/S1 herniated so I've had spinal surgery

GreenPolishToGo · 12/05/2017 14:50

Poor Ollivander, that sounds very scary. Glad to hear you're on the mend and being discharged. Hope you're 100 per cent again soon. Flowers

Some retail therapy - of the scented variety - is surely richly deserved.

lasttimeround · 12/05/2017 14:58

I've spent time at the airport happily browsing znd Sm now dowsed in kenzo jungle. Pungent but so good.