Our negligees may be covered in cat hair but at least they smell divine - it's Lovely Friendly Perfume Thread number 9!

[explodingkittens]

Welcome to the long-running perfume thread! All are welcome - drop in to chat about old loves or new discoveries. Ask a perfume question and someone here will know the answer.

Be warned though, we are a bunch of terrible enablers and you may wish to put your credit card in the freezer before entering

So many lovely things about. No investmrnt buys just yet here but I bought a bottle monoi oil and smell incongruously tropical and blowsy in a wonderful way trudging through cold and dark well up north. Good move

I've still got ACD samples to work through! Poivre Electrique yesterday. Black pepper, bitter orange and incense. Initial blast of black pepper then settled into the incense. Didn't last very long but pleasant enough.

Today Mimosa Indigo. Indigo mimosa, mandarin, white leather. I seem to be getting coconut initially? I'll see how it develops

SOTD is Chanel 19, to visit my dear friend, the dentist. Am now being referred to the specialist endodontist so may need to sell a kidney. Off to meet my actual friend for lunch shortly, and feeling furious that I am not in pyjamas.

SotD is the next from the Bloom LT sample pack: it's Grossmith's Shem-el-Nessim, which dates from 1906, and was 'inspired' by L'Origan. Marvellous stuff - you can see the lineage to L'HB too. (This is more full bodied and less melancholy and just gorgeous).

No worries kittens
SOTD Lutens Jeux de Peau = pecan pie, comforting and appetizing

Re: synchronised sniffing. A Bloom sample set or Perfume Society box would be ideal. How about we contact them- say that X people want to sign up, we’re posting about it on Mumsnet and they might give us a code for a nice discount?

No SOTD yet- about to head out shopping and on a Xmas pub crawl (which starts in an hour but I’m joining later as I’m not able for it nowadays!)

Sounds good. Could always supplement with occasional Saturday trips to high street counters (esp Guerlain ). Please can we vote for the Eurovision effect? Have no idea of scale/grading schema though...but we might enjoy thinking about this. Defo not sillage/longevity though.

In fact Bluebell TPS did originally say they would support local sniffing groups. Nor sure that got off the ground as I emailed them a couple of times about this but never got a reply. (Which now I come to think about it contributed to the sense of underwhelvement. Is that an actual word ?)

Underwhelvement? Yes, exactly, yes.

Happy to sign up for a Bloom or TPS box - might be a bit slow on posting since I'm hopeless at anything timetabled but don't mind being a slow coach.

Coordinated counter visits could be good too - would be a fun experiment to all have a line (I like X - what do you recommend?) and see how different the responses are.

MrsM that sample from the Bloom box sounds gorgeous.

Inspired by Pest SotD is Girl.

SotD is Agent Provocateur.
Job of the day is wardrobe muck out. Miles of brown, taupe, grey and black.

I haven't really been following the thread much recently but would be up for joining a synchronised smelling round so please count me in.

So who is in for the sample box?

CountFosco, lasttimeround, Cheaptarnishedglitter, MrsMacNally, BluebellGal, Judydreamsofhorses, MrsPestilence.

Anyone else? @perfumeisamessage @explodingkittens @cardoon @Floofycatiscomingtotown ???

Which sample box should we go for? I'm thinking some kind of mixed box (maybe one of the bestsellers boxes) rather than a themed box with all florals or whatever although if this has legs we might graduate to one of those over time.

Who wants to be responsible for contacting TPS or Bloom to see if we could get a discount code? If we do that do we need to ask MNHQ about advertising this wider with a sticky? Or should we give it a try first and see what the interest is?

Go on then, twist my arm

Bloom have a smoke and tar pack, I am distracted.

I have enough dresses to last at least one lifetime.

at explodingkittens

Have you all seen the new Nose suscription at Bloom? £400 and you get 2 x 10 ml aliquots each month. Could be interesting but quite expensive.

I'm still pondering a normal Bloom subscription vs VIP membership of the perfume society, anyone got any experience of either?

I am def up for a synchronised sample test, but am terribly terrible at the tech side of it all - identifying different notes is not my forte.

I know you’re all on your seat edges waiting on a dental update. I have been referred to the endodontist for root treatment on the upper tooth, and re-root treatment on the lower one. I suspect the total cost is going to be around £2k. They actually rang me this afternoon so I have a consultation next Friday. Why is this my life?

I don't think I'll be good at the tech stuff either Judy - still marvelling at the blind test earlier on. I can usually stretch to ok, lovely or not-for-me! Hearing everyone else's descriptions at the same time could be helpful I think for putting a scent to a name...

What about the Bloom 2017 Top Ten for her box as a general selection?

The violet pack might have to work its way to me too. Monday = January = definitely allowed a purchase of two

Merry Christmas all!! Rather belatedly 😣

Oh judy .....poor poor you 😔💐

I got my Dior addict for Xmas 😁 and I treated myself to 100mls of next cashmere

The agent provocateur arrived and it's ok. I tend to wear it to bed

Hope everyone had a great Xmas and here's to a fragrant 2018 x

Piam...do let me know what the PP cinnabar and must de cartier are like!!

Will do!

Am pleased to spot that Bloom now ship to Italy so I'll join in with synchronised sniffing!

Oh Judy- it's never ending for you. Hope this will be it finally for you. Ouch at the ££££s.

I’d love to join you for the synchronised sniffing. I’m not very good at distinguishing perfume notes, but have improved over the last couple of years, especially since using Fragrantica to double check!

I do think it’s interesting how polarising some perfumes can be and how people pick up different notes. I have been wearing Madonna’s Truth or Dare Naked a lot over the holidays. To me it is a gloriously boozy mint toffee vanilla, but not many reviewers even mention the
mint.

Judy, commiserations on your tooth problems. So miserable to have persistent toothache. I hope it’s sorted out soon for you.

Ooh bluebell do you know which (Shalimar smelling) shampoo bar it was from Lush? It sounds gorgeous. The bars last forever for me as I only have about a tablespoon of hair

My SOTD is actually Shalimar as it's absolutely freezing here. I swear my neck feels warmer with it applied?!

I'm going to have to read the Mamansnet threads, I'm definitely not stylish enough to be French but they sound like a right laugh. Unless French people slob around in their (albeit very stylish) PJs, as that is all I have done I too love the Christmas to New Year period as all the hard work is done, the house is full of twinkly lights, nice food and chocolate and shit TV

PIAM Looking forward to your PP reviews - I haven't tried all of your list but the Karma was the best and closest dupe, for me, although my bottle is ancient now.

The synchronised sniffing (possibly tied in with Eurovision, I got confused? ) sounds very interesting but I might have to watch vicariously rather than partake as have lots of hospital visits coming up and have spent all my perfume budget on the DCs' presents!

Talking of pain and suffering Judy how shit about your bloody tooth! Is it something the NHS would treat? (I'm guessing not otherwise they would have done) 2018 must be the year of Judy's Tooth finally getting sorted out, surely? I shall light a candle for you.

Does anyone have any New Year resolutions? My perfume related one is to try more of the Chanel Exclusifs and more of the Guerlain classics - I haven't tried Insolence or LHB, for example. I'm also resolved to be more patient with my DC, but I know that will last until about the 3rd January

Wow Floofy I'll be impressed if you make it to the third... I'll be impressed if I make it 3pm on Monday!!!

SotD is Goodbye Picadilly. Not at all festive but still in the phase of being delighted with the FB so on it went.

Just had a quick stop in local Debenhams. Worst Guerlain stand yet - Mon Guerlain, Le Petit Robe Noir and Mitsouko. That was it. I think there's a serious grudge against Guerlain round these parts...

Wow Floofy I'll be impressed if you make it to the third... I'll be impressed if I make it 3pm on Monday!!!

Try 3am? Joys of Hogmanay. DH and I desperate for sleep and the 8 year olds saying 'we're going to stay up all night!!!!'

CountFosco thanks for getting the ball rolling. I agree we should go for a mixed box.

I’ve had a look and these options fit the bill. TPS might give us the VIP price (£12.50/£15) not sure what Bloom might offer.

bloomperfume.co.uk/products/sample_packs/1120

perfumesociety.org/product/the-velvet-collection/

perfumesociety.org/product/new-precious-perfumes-discovery-box/

Not sure how to contact mumsnet for a sticky - does someone know how? Should we do that first? I’m happy to fire off an email to the Perfume Society as I’m a VIP member, will ask about shipping to Italy. Can someone else contact Bloom?