Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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:
Motoko · 26/02/2018 13:00

This Lalique is quite nice. Inoffensive, as others have said. I can't pick out any single notes, it's all just merged into a light, fruity, floral, with a bit of zing, and a little powderiness.

Not FB worthy, but I'll use all the sample.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 27/02/2018 08:53

I got my box very late so I’ve been trying these in what I thought was the correct order but I’ve now realised was not! I tested the Camuto after Avery, oops.

So, I thought I’d post my thoughts on the earlier batch and then try this week’s one.

Pirates’ Reserve: not at all what I’d expect a pirate to smell like! This went very sweet and chocolatey/vanillaey on me, and felt suedey, which has rather confirmed that gourmands in general are not my thing. I’ve had much more boozey perfumes too. Inoffensive but it’s not for me.

Avery E: I read all your reviews and wore it a few times and you’re all right, it really grows on you! I am surprised by how much I like this because I was pretty meh about Prada Infusions d’Iris - maybe I should give that another go too! Also I don’t usually like jasmine notes, but this really is lovely - and I had a compliment on it, which never happens at my new work! Very fresh and crisp but interesting.

Will have to post again later as just realised the time!

wowfudge · 28/02/2018 11:03

I really like the Lalique. I don't get the peach at all, which is good as I don't like fruity perfumes. Makes me happy every time I smell it and it has good staying power without being overly strong. I think it's elegant and I'd buy a FB.

positivepineapple · 28/02/2018 23:56

Count We have some daffs on the coffee table, and it's definitely the main note that I get from the Connock. They've been there from Sunday but only just really getting the scent now strangely.
I can't decide if they never opened up properly or are on their way out?

The Big Sniff
positivepineapple · 01/03/2018 00:14

As in, I'm not sure at what point in their lifespan their scent is at maximum

BigPuddleOfFloofyCatOnTheFloor · 01/03/2018 08:56

I must be getting old pineapple as I said the other day that daffodils don't smell like they used to HmmSmile

Just checking what this week's Sniff is. So I don't wear the wrong one again Grin

CountFosco · 01/03/2018 14:05

Just checking what this week's Sniff is. So I don't wear the wrong one again Grin

Tut tut Floofy It's alphabetical by perfume house so Map of the Heart next.

PositivePineapple I will have to buy some more daffs so I can compare and contrast with the Connock, my last bunch has just been composted.

OP posts:
positivepineapple · 01/03/2018 21:46

Floofy No way! I think it's only a certain point in their life that smell comes out. Maybe it's these new breed of daffs - they have been in Sainsbury's since jan! Hmm

positivepineapple · 01/03/2018 21:50

Count From this previous bunch it seems to be a one day window for sniffing, how I've managed to commit it to memory I don't know. Up until then they just smell like wee. Blush

LibertyBlue · 01/03/2018 22:00

I’ve never noticed daffodils smelling particularly nice- sometimes they smell a bit wee like. Flowers that are in season right now that smell good are freesias- even the cheapie supermarket ones smell amazing

CountFosco · 02/03/2018 07:32

I like the smell of daffs. But they were my Dad's favourite as well. He was a farmer and planted loads along the verges so people driving past the fields could appreciate them as well. I grew up in the north and spring lasts a long time there so the daffs look good outside for weeks. And the old fashion daffs he had smelt lovely.

Fressias do indeed smell gorgeous, there's a pepperiness to the scent that I love.

OP posts:
MrsGruber · 02/03/2018 12:07

List of perfumes with narcissus notes for daff fans.

Whether these count as yellow or green notes is an interesting question?

Calmwhoknows · 02/03/2018 13:34

The £1 bunches of daffs in Asda don’t smell of anything fragrant, just a bit green and planty. On the other hand, my little bottle of Chloe Narcisse, (in that list MrsG) reminds me of a bed of multipetalled daffodils I had growing outside my house when we first moved there. I love the sour fruity top notes and then the daffodil smell of the Narcisse. This is definitely not a blind buy, though, as it is very pungent!

Motoko · 03/03/2018 14:04

I've never noticed a scent from daffs. I'll have to go and stick my nose in the bunch I've got. They're speciality ones apparently, with a smaller flower than usual. I'll have to wait until the cat gets off my lap though. She's only just settled there, so it'll probably be a while!

I quite like this week's perfume, but not enough to buy a FB.

ItWillAllBeOkayInTheEnd · 03/03/2018 16:12

What are we sniffing tomorrow?

CountFosco · 03/03/2018 16:19

What are we sniffing tomorrow?

Map of the Heart.

OP posts:
UnnecessaryFennel · 03/03/2018 17:25

Map of the Heart looks interesting.

I must admit I've had a sneaky sniff of a couple of the later ones now...all I can say is, my preconceptions have been challenged, which is always good thing Grin

MrsGruber · 03/03/2018 19:01

Have just had limbering-up pre-sniff Smile Smile

ItWillAllBeOkayInTheEnd · 03/03/2018 19:09

Thanks Fosco

CountFosco · 04/03/2018 08:03

Good morning. Week Six of The Big Sniff and this week we're testing Gold Heart v.4 by Map of the Heart.

TPS Smelling Notes:
What perfume ingredient do you turn to for comfort?
If this fragrance were a warm material, what would it be?
Where in the world do you imagine being as you smell this?
Painting a scene inspired by the scent, what colours would you use?
Which three words best sum up Map of the Heart Gold Heart v.4 to you? Exotic? Warming? Comforting? Over to you...

OP posts:
CountFosco · 04/03/2018 08:06

In other news my daffodils were in full bloom yesterday so I tested Connock again in the evening and yes, it is very like daffodils. Think it's my favourite so far (although I do like Avery and very glad I have 8ml of it).

First sniff of this and I'm getting lots of pepper (I've worn a few perfumes with pink peppercorn lately but this is the most peppery), and saffron and milk. After testing Secretions Magnifique last Saturday I'm not too keen on the warm milk accord.

OP posts:
BigPuddleOfFloofyCatOnTheFloor · 04/03/2018 08:36

Love the start of this. I love pepper. This is the best one from the box, so far, for me. But I've only just applied so will see....

LibertyBlue · 04/03/2018 09:33

Ooh excited about today’s scent and am off to a party, so hope it’s nice. I’ve tried the red map of the heart and it was good- lots of sandalwood which I always enjoy. I think their whole range is focused on sandalwood (Australian Perfume House).

Will report back with thoughts later.

MrsGruber · 04/03/2018 09:38

Really interesting. Tried it last night and the warm milk with a bang accord brought to mind Amour Nocturne (where gunpowder plays the role here of pepper). Also got a comforting milk pudding vibe from the cardamom and saffron (and a hint of delicious Indian sweets).

Have tried it again this morning and, in the opening, I notice the green spicy notes more this time (cedar?). (Not as repellent as this is going to sound, but in the first 5-10 mins there is a moment where this is a bit like SM meets Zoologist's Panda). It's warming up a bit now and I'm hoping last night's aromatic heart notes start to come back through. I loved the cardamom note in particular. (It is very cold this morning...).

If anyone doesn't like this and fancies a swap do pm me!

UnnecessaryFennel · 04/03/2018 09:46

Morning sniffers!

Thankfully, after a couple of duds, this is much more my cup of cake. Lovely, warming, spicy peppercorns and cardamom with a milky heart that softens and sweetens the spice. Like settling down with a lovely chai tea in front of a fire. I can get the cedar as well, but it's not overpowering.

Agree about the similarity to Amour Nocturne MrsG, which is one of my great loves. Am intrigued to see from Fragrantica that this is perhaps similar to Le Feu d'Issey, currrently selling for around £200 a bottle on ebay!

By far the best and most interesting Big Sniff so far. Hurrah!