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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:
Motoko · 29/01/2018 11:37

Sad Postie's been and no box for me.

MrsPestilence · 29/01/2018 13:39

I'm wearing Pirate again today. Have been brave and gone for a cleavage squirt as well as wrists. It does smell better this way. Maybe it needs body heat and a bit of sweat.

The screechy wood note has to be sepele (a bit like mahogany but the saw dust is really sharply bitter). It smells more the gentleman pirate's cabin trunk.

BlaWearie · 29/01/2018 14:01

Me too Motoko 🙁

MrsGruber · 29/01/2018 19:46

Is it a high shriek Pest? If so, you may have cracked it. Would love to know. Have you smelt OML alpha?

MrsGruber · 29/01/2018 21:59

Pest it's like the music in the Psycho shower scene Grin. But it's easily tamed with layering.

Have just had a sneaky-peek at our next one, Wow-great 4ml bottle. If only all samples came like this.

MrsGruber · 29/01/2018 22:01

Should've been clearer - the high woody note, not alpha.

MrsPestilence · 29/01/2018 22:13

I'm curious now, what have you layered Pirate with? TF Scent? Or something really salty?

MrsGruber · 29/01/2018 22:21

Pest - will pm you as I fdont want to derail thread with my weird obssession with knowing what this woody note is.

Wtfdoicare · 30/01/2018 09:43

Mine's arrived! Initial spritz of Pirates. Dark rum, dirty leather, bitter chocolate (slightly sweet and cocoaish). I like it!

SoFancy · 30/01/2018 12:14

I ordered my sample box on Thursday, so too late for the 28th sniff, but I am hoping it turns up this week and I shall be joining you on Sunday. Excited!

The Pirate one sounds absolutely NOT up my street...tobacco, rum, leather, concrete (?!)...but I shall keep an open mind, me hearties Grin

Motoko · 30/01/2018 13:15

Mine still hasn't arrived.

BlaWearie · 30/01/2018 13:17

Motoko have you tried emailing them? They sent me the tracking info for mine and told me to let them know if it hasn't arrived by Wednesday.

64BooLane · 30/01/2018 14:19

Box arrived! Just sprayed Pirates. I am not reading what the rest of you have said until I post this. The first thing I thought was “This is a bit stern” and then “hospital” and then realised it reminds me of TCP antiseptic Shock which is not what I’d expected from my quick look at the card.

I am generally getting a kind of “gone-off face powder from Miss Havisham’s dressing table” vibe. I can tell it’s gourmand-ish, and I liked the sound of it, but I’m not liking it as much as I hoped.

Will update when hours have passed!

64BooLane · 30/01/2018 14:25

I’ve read back through earlier posts now. I’m strangely gratified to see that other people also thought of TCP.

But some of you are so good at identifying and describing the subtler notes! I really must try harder.

fishonabicycle · 30/01/2018 16:08

I son want to try that! Also the Madonna naked - but it is out of stock everywhere.

MrsPestilence · 30/01/2018 16:21

Fish Madonna naked perfume.

wowfudge · 30/01/2018 18:15

Mine's arrived today. First thoughts on Pirates: old lady floral powdery then a whack of strong antiseptic. Very much not a daytime perfume at the moment. Yes to rum and spice in there.

wowfudge · 30/01/2018 19:33

Getting Playdoh and more vanilla now. It's not something I would wear so if anyone particularly likes it, pm me and I'll send it to you. First come, first served. I have had one spray on the inside of my wrist!

BluebellGal · 30/01/2018 20:10

wowfudge My DH got playdoh too- wasn’t something I picked up on. Also lots of people saying TCP - which Boo also picked out 👏🏻

BluebellGal · 30/01/2018 20:15

My scores for Pirate Grand Reserve:

Opening: 7/10 (enjoyed the spice, dark chocolate and hint on rum)
Drydown: 5/10 a pleasant but a bit boring vanilla with a hint of booze. Could have been done better
FB: No

BlaWearie · 30/01/2018 20:21

Mine finally arrived. Pirate just smells like old lady floral scent to me. Definitely no TCP for me, but I agree with the play doh. I don't have such a sophisticated nose as some of you, though! I think I'd better just test the chocolate....

wowfudge · 30/01/2018 21:03

I think it's horrible on me! Really not me at all and too strongly vanilla - I'd give it 2 for effort Sad

Calmwhoknows · 30/01/2018 21:33

I have never paid more than £12 for a 75ml bottle of Truth Or Dare (both original and Naked versions - although they are completely different). But I’ve checked and they don’t seem to be available for a reasonable price. I don’t advise buying blind for £35, as reviews are mixed. It’s definitely a marmite perfume! Count and Fish, if you would like a sample, just pm me, it’s no problem (I have backup bottles!).

My scores for Pirates’ Grand Reserve:
Opening: 3/10 (far too strong, but at least it was interesting and I liked the cacao note)
Dry down : 2/10 (hardly-there boring vanilla)
FB: No.

64BooLane · 30/01/2018 22:58

Forgot to give scores.

Opening: 2/10 - not my thing at all, but interesting/unexpected at least. Good to be challenged.

Drydown: 3/10 - still not something I’d reach for again, but I was relieved when the harsher elements faded away.

FB - no. It can walk the plank.

Despite the above I might give it another try later in the week, in case it grows on me.

MrsGruber · 30/01/2018 23:42

I'm not very good or consistent at rating things...

Perhaps we're all misreading the 'Reserve' . I was expecting something with a bit more swash and buckle?

I probably won't wear again - just because there are gourmands I find more compelling. Props for controlling the oudy-woody note that shimmers in and out of view in the heart - thought that was clever. I like the medicinal/aromatic thing too.

Overall, having tried it several times now and the opening makes me want to sniff the vanilla/tobacco combo in Hyperbole and the drydown is cosy. No to a FB.