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Original poster

Signature scent

93 replies

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 19/07/2019 16:26

So I have vowed to find a signature scent before I hit 50.

I bought Paul Smith Rose and it's nice but has no staying power.

I usually wear the Clarins red one (winter) or Estee Lauder Green Tea (summer) but again, neither of them last very well. Or Paul Smith men's striped bottle.

My favourite scent of all time is Tom Ford Tuscan Leather but I can't afford it, and it's too heavy for daytime even if I could.

I want it to be something that people can notice, without being offputtingly strong. I hate Angel and anything too sweet.

Oh and if it can be found in John Lewis, Boots or Selfridges even better. And ideally less than £60 for a bottle that will last me a fair few months!

Any ideas, please, oh wise ones?

OP posts:
BillywigSting · 20/07/2019 22:43

I also love Rose by Paul Smith but like pp find it doesn't last.

It does smell heavenly though

ChesterBelloc · 20/07/2019 22:43

I have worn Mitsouko by Guerlain for 20 years now; it's a true classic, and is so multi-layered and complex that I never get bored of it.

Whilst I wouldn't call it masculine, it's certainly not sweet, flowery or 'pretty'; it's strong in a good way, and dries down to something quite different after a few hours. Quite unique, and I've yet to find a scent to beat it.

sausagedogpookie · 21/07/2019 01:46

Oud Oriental by Versace. Often get asked what scent it is and have received many compliments on it,from men and women.

sausagedogpookie · 21/07/2019 01:49

Oh and it lasts really well on me,gives a real depth of scent without being overpowering.

redeyetonowheregood · 21/07/2019 05:34

La Panthere by Cartier has become my signature scent for work. Good staying power and I have a small refillable bottle which doesn't take much room in my bag.

I get quite a few complements on it. Strong, unusual scent, not sweet at all.

myusernameisnotmyusername · 21/07/2019 10:09

OP try a website called Allbeauty once you know what you like. It's very cheap. I also love Rose by Paul Smith but find it has no staying power.

Cerseilannisterinthesnow · 21/07/2019 10:15

chester. Just looked that one up and it sounds lovely, how would you describe it?

top2patooties · 21/07/2019 10:39

AChanel Allure for the past 5 or 6 years in 45 and Chanel Chance when I was in my 30's.
Hard to beat for me, lasts all day with just one spray, they're classic scents.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 21/07/2019 11:02

I'm not sure one can go out and find a signature scent, I think it just develops over time as you keep going back to one or two perfumes. It kind of finds you.

There are so many beautiful perfumes out there I couldn't just stick with one. Over the years I've been convinced I would wear them exclusively but eventually I go off them.
Escape, JPG Classique, XS woman, Acqua Di Gio, Kenzo Flower, Portrait of a Lady, Dans tes bras, Lime Basil and Mandarin, Tobacco Vanille, Dear Polly, Coco, Chance, - all of these I thought might be The One. But they are just one of many, a wardrobe of scents that I love for different occasions.

I would enjoy the journey, OP. Perfume should be for you first and foremost and about how it makes you feel. So if PS Rose is the one you love above all others, stick with that. Otherwise you may as well wear a t shirt that says SMELL ME, I'M NOT LIKE OTHER WOMEN!

BertrandRussell · 21/07/2019 11:24

My dd chose an aftershave for her younger brother for his 16th birthday. Yesterday she said “Hmm- I don’t think that suits you any more- i’ll find you something different for your 18th”
Maybe I could hire her out as a “signature scent seeker”? Grin

HeyHeyMckenzie · 21/07/2019 12:05

I like mens fragrance more than womens, I find. My children are always surprised when a man walks past wearing "my" smell- Dior Sauvage. It's light and fresh plus a bit woody. I always feel properly dressed when I put it on in the morning. Bit like make up- ready to face the world!

KaliforniaDreamz · 21/07/2019 16:57

Chanel no19 has a very grown up lady vibe

Original poster
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/07/2019 17:28

Far too expensive, KD, I'm afraid, however lovely it may be!

OP posts:
Deathraystare · 21/07/2019 17:42

I have worn Mitsouko by Guerlain for 20 years now; it's a true classic, and is so multi-layered and complex that I never get bored of it.

It is my absolute favourite but I am 'scared' to buy it again because I read that they have f*cked about with the formula - something to do with Eu regulations re oakmoss or just cheapening down ingredients.

I get compliments when wearing Knowing by Estee Lauder and also 100 by Liz Earle. It surprised me that I liked it as it is very floral. I prefer 15 or 1 or 9 but guess it is better in summer anyway.

CountFosco · 21/07/2019 18:02

I agree with enjoy the journey. You can get addicted to samples, try The Perfume Society for lovely boxes of mainstream samples, or Bloom for more niche perfume. Or come and ask the perfumistas.

Housewife2010 · 21/07/2019 19:17

The Perfume Society sometimes produces a Niche box and it is great value.

Nanna50 · 21/07/2019 20:12

How do you find a signature scent? Is it not just that someone likes a perfume and wears it so often that it reminds everyone of them?

I’ve been wearing the same perfume for nearly 40 years and many people from decades ago say when they smell it I come straight to mind. So much so that it may be outing to mention it. I also have worn other perfumes, one or two often enough to remind people of me because smells evoke memories.

And yet the perfumes I dislike most are youth dew, poison and aromatics as three people wore these all of the time and I got sick of the smells Confused

I’m sure there must be someone somewhere that feels the same about my signature scent Grin

buckeejit · 21/07/2019 23:39

I love aromatherapy associates perfume but sadly they only did it for Christmas last year or one before & made 2000 bottles. Just bought another off eBay though. It's a bit Rose & sandalwood-keep meaning to smell the Paul Smith one. I went to a perfume making day at 4160 Tuesdays & the lovely Sarah recommended it for a rose scent.

Try to do a workshop if you can. Much fun as well as informative!

BasiliskStare · 22/07/2019 04:06

When I was younger I wore White Linen so am with @BertrandRussell with that - I love it - not heavy & I do like it. I then was given a bottle of Chanel Allure ( and it was the Eau de Parfum , not the Eau de Toilette ( which I think has alcohol in it so doesn't quite smell the same ) & have been wearing that for 30 odd years. A large bottle lasts me a long time ( well e.g. I get one each Christmas and it lasts - also body lotion available) So I do not wear heavy perfume every day but the body lotion & the Eau de Parfum suits me ) But I do like White Linen.

BeaLola · 22/07/2019 08:41

Knowing by Estée Lauder
All E Lauder perfumes have good staying power in my experience.

I love quite a few of the Jo Malone ones but they don't have the best staying power and are £97 a bottle roughly.

Chanel have IMHO messed with their mix so not as great as before

What is Clarins Red? -

DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 22/07/2019 09:23

I have two scents I use a lot and most people will say when they smell it elsewhere they think of me. Chanel eau tendre is my first and I wore it on my wedding (I bought the newer stronger one and it lasted all day), the second is the original Jimmy Choo.

DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 22/07/2019 09:27

Oh also, Clinique Happy in Bloom, they used to bring it out every March but I haven’t seen it for a while now.

Dora26 · 23/07/2019 14:54

Burren Perfumery “ Man of Aran” ironically to die for unisex fragrance - lasts like Chanel - 50-60€ a bottle but lasts ages

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