We may do Bad Things, but we smell divine - it's the Friendly Perfumistas Thread no. 18!

[UnnecessaryFennel]

Morning all! Come and join the gorgeously-scented chat!

Today I smell of lavender, woodsmoke and cinnamon biscuits, in Another Kiss By The Fireside.

Really like White Queen (especially good for frankincense nuts). And for a sweet gourmand, The Great Randello is seriously underrated, especially if you (or a loved one) likes rich cigar smoke-style tobacco notes in a sweet perfume? (Evil Max and The Lion Cupboard are good masculine leaning options if anyone is feeling like using one of their three for someone else...).

I'm sitting it out, but will take vicarious enjoyment in hearing about your purchases. And I have the crowdfunder 9mls coming, so that's plenty of excitement .

I'm feeling pretty darned smug today. I spent the morning at an antiques fair, keeping my dad company really. However, managed to pick up an almost-full 50ml bottle of Deci Dela (plus box) for a very very bargainous price

It's not actually really my sort of thing - a fruity chypre which is heavy on the fruit (raspberries and peach, mainly), but I know it gets an awful lot of love so I'm going to give it a good go before I decide whether I'm keeping it or not. Funnily enough there are lots of Fragrantica reviews comparing it to Gucci Rush which was tempting me the other day, so perhaps the universe is telling me I need to be more open to fruity scents!

That's a Sarah Mc's favourite Fennel.

That figures, MrsL - it does remind me of some of her fruitier outings (eg Babylon Sunset/TKN) and they tend to be my least favourite. I don't think raspberry is a winner for me.

I wonder how much I could get for it on ebay?

I'm after some help. I would love a fragrance which smells strongly of oranges. Not blossom, but actual orange! Do any of you know of any? Sotd today was L'aimant again.

Hello, Fantastique! There are a couple you might like to try: Shay & Blue’s Blood Oranges, a long-lasting realistic orange and leather, and Atelier Cologne’s Orange Sanguine, which has a lovely juicy orange note.

You could also try Sun, from Lush. Not terribly long-lasting but a wonderful juicy, bright orange that feels like wearing sunshine and is a lovely pick-me-up.

Not sure if you spotted my request to join MrsLucas but I'm in for the calendar please

I'd quite like to find some sort of winter fruity/ spicy thing- I really like Frederic Malle Noir Epices which has oranges and cloves, but it's way more than I want to spend any time soon. So if anyone has any suggestions that would be lovely.

Pomegranate noir is fruity and clovy. Any good Can't?

Thank you! I wondered about Orange Sanguine. It's quite expensive isn't it? I'll have to see if I can try it.

Excellent, thanks Myeyes.

Fennel - there's a barely used one on for just under £50, buy it now. Not Nombre Noir league, but not bad.

Fruity chypres were always a bit of a puzzle to me, including the 4160Ts ones, until I smelt Diorama. It all makes sense now .

Have been enjoying TPS niche box today. The Joyvoy, Rouge Pavilion, is a very smooth warm earthy-spicy, boozy leather/tobacco. Even the little 2ml spray performs beautifully, like closing the door of an expensive car!

And Map of the Heart White is fresh, aromatic and woody. Very woody, but in a restrained and complex way. There's a hint of oud, and Australian sandalwood in the base; not sure if it's those or the alkaloids (rooibos vs umeboshi) which briefly brought The Buddahwood Box to mind, but White Heart is a gentle whisper, compared to TBB's fog horn-strength.

SOTD is Shay and Blue Salt Caramel. I have the most vile period pain, this is comforting.

Ooh thanks Fantastique, will see if I can grab a sample

Another one who’s happy to join in the advent calendar. I have lots of samples/Decants I can swop. I’m also very tempted to try the new PS box but I’ve been so very underwhelmed by lots of Bloom samples and the Mmm samples that I’m giving testing a rest for the moment.
I can’t stop wearing Wrappings. I’m obsessed by the Fresh woody piney and uplifting ness of it. It’s either that or the vintage Eau d Iparie for its gentle woody Myrrh. I may try Undergrowth by Rook tomorrow to see if the soil tinged vetiver and mint are equally enlivening tomorrow.

I like the Shay and Blue Blood Orange but it doesn't last very long on me.

All this talk of fruit is reminding me of Body Shop Dewberry (shows age)

I used to love it! I remember a woman was banned from a pub for wearing it because it was so overpowering!!!

SOTD is L'artisan Parfumeur L'eau d'ambre extreme. Solid spicy amber with lots of sillage and longevity. Doesn't move me though.

I tried my concoction from Experimental Perfume Club this morning. It has been stewing nicely in the dark for a good six months, so I was quite excited.

Sadly, it was RANK. I mean, genuinely awful. It started off ok-ish with a passable impression of a half-chewed tube of Parma Violets, but sadly after about 2 minutes degenerated into cigarette-lighter fuel and nothing else. Total scrubber. Gutted.

Lots I have finally posted your sample!

Other orangey suggestions are Clinique Happy or Roger & gallet Eau des Bienfats. I love this as you can use it in the sun and it smells fantastically refreshing. I found it on a a really hot day in the M&S beauty hall and now keep it in my handbag all summer.

Ooh can I please joining in the advent calendar too MrsLucas?

Gucci Flora Mandarin is another orangey suggestion, although it only comes in an EDT formulation and is very light.

I'm being a total Pink Minger today and have layered Aquolina Pink Sugar and Britney's Fantasy The Naughty Remix (a sort of dry, musky, quite grown up white chocolate gourmand).

Its cheering me up on a grey, work-heavy Monday.

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine is the longest lasting orange fragrance ever! It lasts nine hours on me. Although the brand name has "cologne" in it, they used really good fixatives so you get the best of cologne style fragrance but with lasting power.

And another long lasting citrus, with orange and petigrain, is Le Jardin Retrouve Citron Boboli. Lasts for ages and is really zingy.

You can buy Atelier Cologne sample sets cheaply- we all got them a year or so back and iirc you get about 20 for 15 or so euro?
I wasn't much impressed with any of them it has to be said, (but then I'm often a lone wolf on this thread ) I remember liking the citrus ones well enough (Bergamot Soleil was my favourite) but they were nothing out of the ordinary to justify the spendiness.
M&S used to stock a nice orange perfume, not the Shay and Blue, another one, can't remember the name though now.
Am in OC's gran's vintage Dune today. to OC wherever you are, not sure if you are awol or here hidden in plain sight.