Wilko to Zurich...? Lovely, Friendly Perfume Thread 6

[MrsMacNally]

We'll go anywhere in search of things that smell great, and then we discuss them here. Feel free to join us.

[[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2973003-Pink-mohicans-and-cats-Lovely-Friendly-Perfume-Thread-5 Last thread]

That sounds so lovely Green. Always nice to have access to lots of lovely smells but they really looked after you too!

Are there any other destination stores out there?

I have an original bottle of Mahora. It's pretty bogging, save your money.

Sotd is Jolie Madame.

Oh I'm soon envious!!!
Id love to go there.
Think sotd is addict again

That sounds utterly blissful, Green, you lucky thing!

SOTD is Tauer's Carillon pour un ange. This is a fabulous surprise. I was expecting something rather thick and cloying, given that it's lily-of-the-valley which is far from my favourite flower. But this has some very green, wet top notes which are just gorgeous, very bright and reviving. I put it on an hour ago and it's starting to develop into something a bit more powdery, but it's not sickly at all. It smells wonderfully expensive I really really like this so far!

Oh Green that sounds wonderful!
Surrounded by all these PM bottles at my cousin's I can't wait to get back to my collection of oomphy balsams and aldehydes!

To the poster who hates almonds.... do not try Ellie Saab Girl of Now. Absolutely vomit worthy overpowering almonds!

I was very, very lucky and Cheap there are plenty of other opportunities to bankrupt oneself on the scent front in Paris. There's a big branch of Sephora smack beside Guerlain on the Champs-Élysées for a start. DD and I only nipped in briefly but we found a stand stuffed with Juliette Has A Gun testers cheek by jowl with one brimming over with Atelier Colognes, and came away with quite a pile of scent strips.

There's a Fragonard a stone's throw from the Louvre and we kept on bumping into branches of L'Occitane. There was also this rather wonderful shop in Montmartre. Unfortunately it was shut when we spotted it but the window was full of fabulous vintage atomisers and framed vintage perfume advertisements, as well as a range of modern colognes and EdTs. It looked well worth a browse round. I hope I get back some day - and that the exchange rate's healthier when I do!

If you're looking for bargain alternatives to Black Opium, Hashtag Parfum Rock It is under a fiver for 30ml at the Fragrance Shop and worth a try. It's not a dupe but it does smell like a lighter member of the same family to me.

SOTD is L'Heure Bleue.

Ewwww....Ellie Saab. Don't!
Mum was gifted some about a year ago. I had to ask her to stop wearing it if I was around. Made me feel physically ill 🤢
Been to lush today...their new perfumes aren't in yet. Word is 5th October

Green - thank you for a wonderful description, taking vicarious pleasure and inspiration from your fragrant adventure. Think this makes you official thread poster-girl given the travel theme

SOTD is NR poudre- love it, perfect for business meeting/ presentation today.

You lot on Tom Ford's new perfume FF it has 2.30 average on Fragrantica and most people haven't even smelt it yet. Seems to be going down like a lead balloon. Some of the comments are funny - worth a read.

Exploding kittens - I visited Les Senteurs today near Marble Arch. Thank you!!! What a lovely shop, shame they are closing it next month. The assistant was very helpful, I got to try out a load of stuff from my list.

FM Lipstick Rose - old school glamour make up vibe for sure, but didn't love it as much as Iris Rose E Coudray (which is fab except longevity especially of lipstick note isn't great). FM LR actually reminded me of Kenzo Flower (that'll be the violets) which is a good thing, but can't justify price as it's not totally amazing.

FM POAL - I absolutely loved this. Really unique and soft, not the big blousy roses as I expected. Could see myself wearing this for special occasions.

Tauer - LADDM loving this on my skin. Getting very pleasant wafts as I travel on train home of spices and seeetened incense - love it. Tried the couer version too which is much more intense and creamy.

Ruth Maestonbrook - Amarosa. I currently have this on my other arm and it's gorgeous. It is a fruity woody scent with patchouli - it's quite heady (but not too much) and unusual as its fruity but not in a sickly sweet way. Reminds me of some of the Shay and Blue blends (which I love but their longevity isn't great). I ended up purchasing a FB

Also tried (on paper) several Francis Ks - baccarat rouge (sweet in a strange and beautiful way with a heavy dose of 'hospital corridors' weird and good), satin oud (heavenly - this is on my wish list).

I also ended buying FB of 4160 Tuesdays What I did on my holidays mainly because I wanted a mint scent and I absolutely loved it. Best of all it was half price! The lovely lady threw in the half full sample bottle for free (lucky me!) and lots of Kilian and ELDO samples. I feel like a girl on Christmas morning with my haul - very happy right now (also stinking out the train!) thanks Kittens

Green- love your description of the G shop, how fabulous!

Oh wow, I didnt didn't realise it was closing Bluebell! Best get myself down there asap! Sounds like you had a fab time though I like the sound of Baccarat Rouge - hospital corridors are a thing with me, oddly enough!

So Carillon has ended up rather carroty by now, almost 12 hours after application. Am seriously impressed by the longevity though! It is lovely but after spending the day with it I don't know if Lily of the valley and carrots are really my bag. It's probably not a 'work' scent, maybe more of a 'nice walk on a spring day' one...

I have a meeting for one of my volunteer roles in not really looking forward to...so I shall douse myself in addict and hope for the best 😣

SOTD is Chanel 19. I feel like that cold I staved off last week is bavk waiting in the wings, so am off to have a shower and then a spray of something cosy. Maybe Black Opium. I scored a Gabrielle sample earlier so might give that a whirl tomorrow and see if it's more interesting on than on a card.

I have very real envy over these trips to lovely stores - such a lovely way to spend some time. Definitely going on my to do list.

Today has been a thoroughly shit day at work. Had Kenzo Flower on - has good longevity so has been just the thing to keep me going in a nicely scented fug long enough to get some gin home.

That sounds tremendous Bluebell. Which of Killian's? (And think it might just be for a refurb?).

SotD was originally La Fumee; nice change to wear a slightly more delicate oriental, much as I enjoy the stickier powerhouses.

Postperson delivered my Traversee du Bosphore decant, so have tried that this evening. Have been curious about this for absolutely ages. Only an hour or so in, but I'm really quite taken with it. Had feared it was going to be a pretty linear turkish delight/sugary rosewater sort of thing. Not a bit. Unexpectedly leathery opening, with an apple note peeking out too, followed by a fruity then a more honeyed rose. Not got to the dry down yet, but I like the heart notes and the interesting progression. If anyone spots a bottle in TK Maxx please PM me!

Talking of TK Maxx, lots of Miller Harris in today. And lots of Tom Ford (guess that'll be the not so F Fabulous ones?).

SOTD was Couvent des Minimes Eau de Missions (which one of you enablers recommended it again?)

Second time wearing it and I like it, but it is a very linear (although very true) vanilla. I could get bored, so might keep it as a cosy home fragrance on its own and experiment with layering with other fragrances when I'm craving a vanilla kick. Also seems to leave a faint trace of tobacco in the dry down, which all grown-up vanilla fragrances do on my skin - and I just cannot get down with tobacco (as an ex-smoker!).

Hope you're all easing in to Autumn, anyway. I'm already feeling slightly frazzled ...but on the up-side, have cracked out the black opaques and ankle boots today for the first time in months

Hit Autumn running today with Balsamic sandalwood, spices and a subtle rum, citrus, flower hint with Ambre Pamplemousse Rose, needed extra rose so added a bit of Killer Rose on top.

Are Les Senteurs going to move everything to the newly refurbished Elizabeth Street shop? No mention of a refurb for the Marble Arch store.

I do have to try POAL sometime

What's the bollywood story Pest?

If I have to motivate a depressed person to go to a Bollywood exercise class, I have to smell the part Loving the new job

Are you going to need to send people anywhere else? (Trying to get a sense of the olfactory challenge that the new job brings).

Has anyone ever bought from Fragrance Direct? They seem to have a few bargains?

100ml of l'air du temps for £28.99
100ml of white diamonds (someone up thread mentioned this I think?) for £18.99

Plus L'artisan de Parfumeur, Habit Rouge etc, all for decent prices by the looks of it.

Not that I need any more enabling...

Samples!

Hi, my name is ExplodingKittens, and I'm a perfume addict.

I've bought from Fragrance Direct before - great bargains. Likewise Allbeauty.

Kittens I have bought tons of bargainous nail polish and the odd perfume from Fragrance Direct and I've never had a problem - apart from where to store all the polish!

I'm chortling at the thought of being a poster girl MrsMac but thank you all of you. I hope you all have an equally enjoyable spree in a palace of perfume soon.

Bluebell what a lovely haul. We have similar tastes - I love Portrait of a Lady, Amorosa and What I Did On My Holidays, and L'Air du Désert Marocain is very high up on the current wishlist. I liked Lipstick Rose but on me it seems to disappear after half an hour.

Three Eau de Missions layers beautifully. I think it was Calm who recommended pairing it with the bargain patisserie-smelling Hashtag Parfum I Love You, which works very well. I love it just by itself too. It is a perfect scent to doze off in.

Pest definitely Midnight in the Palace Garden for a glam Bollywood style scent. That sounds like a fascinating job.

I am pondering autumnal scents here. In no particular order these are the candidates I've come up with so far:

Hypnotic Poison
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mandorlo di Sicilia (as enabled by Floofy)
Alien Essence Absolue
4160 Tuesdays The Great Randello (as enabled by MrsMac)
4160 Tuesdays Silk, Lace and Chocolate
Agonist Isis
Eau de Missions (as enabled by LesIncompetents)
L'Artisan Parfumeur Noir Exquis

Hmm, something of a gourmand theme there. Any suggestions?