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The Big Sniff

560 replies

CountFosco · 21/01/2018 19:57

Welcome to The Big Sniff!

Some of us on the Perfumista threads have decided it might be fun to have a synchronised perfume smelling. The idea is once a week, probably a Sunday, we all try the same perfume and post our opinions here. We’re very friendly so don’t worry if you’re not an expert (I’m definitely not!), the idea is to have some fun.

We’ve contacted The Perfume Society and have wangled a 20% discount on a mixed box of 9 perfume samples (plus a hand cream, some cleanser and a bar of Green and Black chocolate - what’s not to like?). The Box we’re going for this time is The Velvet Collection. All you do is visit The Perfume Society website, Add The Velvet Collection to your cart and use the coupon Mumsnet (we’re original like that!). The box is normally £19 (or £15 if you’re a VIP subscriber), but with our discount it is £15.20, (or £12 if you’re a VIP subscriber of The Perfume Society). There are some other lovely boxes on sale at the moment which come highly recommended by some of our Perfumistas and would make lovely gifts or to keep for yourself not enabling at all oh no

If you are interested then sign up here and get over to The Perfume Society and order your box. We’ll do the first Big Sniff on Sunday 28th January. Oh, and before you eat all the chocolate have a look at the sniffing notes, there’s some on the chocolate as well.

The contents of the box are as follows:
• Atkinsons Pirates Grand Reserve 1.2 ml eau de parfum(full size £120 for 100 ml)
• Floral Street Chypre Sublime 1.5 ml eau de parfum(full size £55 for 50 ml)
• Connock Andiroba Eau de Parfum 1.5 ml eau de parfum(full size £75 for 100 ml)
• Avery‘E’ 4 ml pure perfume (full size £90 for 30 ml)
• Lalique Rêve d’Infini 1.8 ml eau de parfum(full size £72 for 100 ml)
• Map of the Heart Gold Heart v.4 1 ml eau de parfum(full size £150 for 90 ml)
• Ruth Mastenbroek Firedance 2 ml eau de parfum(full size £90 for 50 ml)
• Vince Camuto Amore 7.5 ml MINIATURE eau de parfum(full size £60 for 100 ml)
• Valeur Absolue Rouge Passion 1.5 ml eau de parfum(full size £59 for 45 ml)
• philosophy purity made simple 3-in-1 cleanser for face and eyes30 ml lotion (full size £19 for 240 ml)
• Cochine White Jasmine & Gardenia Hand Cream5 ml (full size £24 for 100 ml)
• Green & Black’s Velvet Edition Orange & Almond Chocolate 100 g

OP posts:
explodingkittens · 18/02/2018 14:56

@silverstreaks - yes, a 'scrubber' is a perfume that you dislike enough to want to wash off, often fairly soon after applying.

Motoko · 18/02/2018 14:58

I've just put it on and the overwhelming scent for me is geranium, but I can also see what Pineapple's getting at with the Turkish delight.

First impressions are that I like it, but it's a bit overpowering. Will be interesting to see what the drydown's like.

Judydreamsofhorses · 18/02/2018 15:27

This reminds of a load of JHAG’s stable, but is far less interesting. I am a big Mad Madame fan, and am on my second full bottle, whereas this is more a bath foam kind of scent - very pleasant, but not lighting my fire.

AnotherPinkiePieStory · 18/02/2018 20:31

Didn’t last very long on me so wouldn’t purchase FB although intrigued by new fragrance house. Didn’t get bleach though luckily. Agree about Ealing Green Calm love it. It’s on my FB list (very long list though!)
Not sure I’ve tried Mad Madame. Haven’t tried many except Not a Perfume by JHAG and it’s true to its name. Never smell anything after first minute!

Motoko · 18/02/2018 21:16

Well, 6 hours later and it's still quite strong, but I'm still only getting geranium and rose.

BluebellGal · 18/02/2018 21:41

So I thought this was quite a standard, been done before, linear rose fragrance. I’m also not a massive rose fan, so 4/10 for opening and drydown from me. For newbie sniffers ‘linear’ means the scent on opening is much the same as the drydown ie. it doesn’t really change over time.

I don’t know if it’s a Chypre- I used to think aldehydes = Chypre (see Chanel) but actually having done more research it’s more about the oakmoss, patchouli, labdanum combo. Not really sure what that means in reality. I’m still not sure what makes a perfume a chypre.

This was like other rose fragrances I own - Yardley English Rose (that’s actually a bit nicer as it’s sparklier) and Rose in Wonderland (Atkinsons).

So a pass from me, but that’s not a negative for me. I’m loving this box as it’s let me try out this hyped up brand without traveling to London. It’s also helpful in figuring out a few notes/combos I don’t like! It’s all good Wink

CountFosco · 18/02/2018 21:49

Ealing Green is herbier and way more interesting to my nose

Ealing Green is gorgeous and FB worthy (I have actually already bought a FB for my DSis, I just need to buy a bottle for myself now) and it almost feels like sacrilege comparing EG with this 'sublime chypre' which to me is neither sublime nor a chypre. Anyway, thankfully I'd pretested this so spent the day wearing 602 from Bon Perfumer which is all pepper and patchouli and intimate and gorgeous and may well be FB worthy (not least because I can get 30 mL for £38).

OP posts:
fishonabicycle · 19/02/2018 09:38

So what is an example of a classic chypre?

BluebellGal · 19/02/2018 09:51

Mitsouko

BluebellGal · 19/02/2018 09:52

Explains what I Chypre is (I’m still not too sure)

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/skin/perfume-chypre-the-most-beautiful-lesser-known-fragrance/amp/

BluebellGal · 19/02/2018 09:53

Chypre pronounced sheep-ra

SoFancy · 19/02/2018 11:15

MrsR’s favourite / Estee Lauder Knowing is a good example of a Chypre Grin.

My favourite is Diorella - a Chypre floral - or Yvresse (Champagne in an older incarnation) - a fruity Chypre.

Wearing Diorella today Grin

lasttimeround · 19/02/2018 11:19

Lagging behind. But first sniff: purple loo cleaner. Dry down: improved but a sort of body shop rose.
I'm not sure I see this as a chypre. Just too floral for that. Although I guess that's the boundary the perfumer is exploring.

SoFancy · 19/02/2018 11:21

Fragrantica says about the Chypre genre: ‘...based on harmony of oak moss, labdanum, patchouli and bergamot.’

I didn’t know patchouli was meant to be included. I always think of chypre perfumes as citrus/labdanum/oak moss and something else (fruity, floral, whatever). It’s all fascinating, anyway! Grin

ItWillAllBeOkayInTheEnd · 19/02/2018 11:42

I'm less coldy today, so having another try. I'll report back!

mrsreynolds · 19/02/2018 11:51

😁
Knowing is a classic chypre imo ❤

I would call it a woody chypre as opposed to a floral chypre

Glad the big sniff is going so well

fishonabicycle · 20/02/2018 10:19

Thanks for the info! I like Chanel no 19 and will have a sniff on a few if the others.

puppydogmummy · 21/02/2018 08:25

Loving this thread and really like this scent! Def getting rosey violet powdery. I’m a big fan of rose so this one is a goer for me!

positivepineapple · 21/02/2018 21:09

I promise to post my thoughts on the previous 3 I had to catch up on tomorrow - just popped on to say how surprised I am with Avery E - tried it again today and - I love it! really had a meh reaction the first time round but today I kept catching glorious notes of leather & Tonka (my favourite)

Definitely on my FB list.

BluebellGal · 21/02/2018 21:18

I really love Avery E now. It’s just a great perfume for day wear especially the office and it’s warm and cosy, like a velvety hug! I’d put it in the same bracket as Narcissco Rodriguez Poudre- it’s doesn’t smell the same, but it’s one of those powdery skin scents that’s safe, but also very interesting and beautiful.

BluebellGal · 21/02/2018 21:20

Ooh I tried Chanel No 19 yesterday on the back of this thread. Not what I expected at all. It’s beautiful and very wearable for a Chypre novice.

positivepineapple · 22/02/2018 19:48

Sorry it's taken so long to post this, I tried to give each scent at least a few wears - except Floral Street - really not for me, far too sickly sweet.

Pirates Grand Reserve
First sniff antiseptic, this may be the nod to the rum. Not unpleasant, just sharp.
Warms up to a lovely boozy cocktail, chocolate raisins spring to mind. Cacao is prominent but not overpowering. I do love a gourmand.
Then the leather really comes in and it's a lovely, warming winter scent.
FB - possibly, doesn't last very long, on the maybe list.

Avery E
Powdery Flowers which settle into a stunning subtle leather & Tonka Bean skin scent. I was not keen on first wear, second time the base notes really developed and converted me.
FB - yes

Connock - Andrioba
I struggled with this one - the overwhelming note I get is dead daffodils - after research this could be Narcissus or maybe the perrichor?
FB - no

CountFosco · 22/02/2018 20:23

Looks like Avery knew what they were doing with the larger than average sample.

PositivePineapple Hadn't realised Connock had narcissus in it, that's probably why I like it. Daffodils are my favourite flower.

OP posts:
BluebellGal · 22/02/2018 20:27

Very good point there Fosco about Avery

lasttimeround · 22/02/2018 22:33

Bluebell - im also loving the Avery E. Keep ending up wearing it. You're right about it just being cosy but still interesting.