Signature scent

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

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?

The Paul Smith Rose definitely doesn't linger. I think I might take it to work and have it as my work scent for a while.

I'll investigate the Estee Lauder ones.

Clarins Red is sort of spicy and a bit 'masculine'. It's lovely, but also doesn't seem to last long.

I change my perfume like I change my clothes, but I do have one great love.

‘Love, Chloe’. Sadly discontinued. I have three bottles stashed away and will be so sad once it disappears from eBay .

Sikkim Girls from Lush- so many people have asked about this one

Alaia (black one) - leather/rose notes but not too much. Lasts all day. Strangers have asked about this one too.

Sorry @cersei, only just saw this now. How would I describe Mitsouko (beyond how I already have!)? It's not like any other perfume I've ever smelt; a bit like old warm leather gloves, spicy church candles, musty old books, some unsweet floral base notes.... it's really hard to pin down!

(Fistbumps DeathRayStare in Mitsouko solidarity).

Try it, Remus! It has amazing staying power, and evolves and changes as it dries down - but smells amazing and unique at all stages. My children love going to sleep with my scarves which smell of 'old' Mitsouko

Sorry, @Deathraystare, I meant to say - I had the same worries over the oakmoss and change in formulation, and I did have one dud bottle that my husband bought me from House of Fraser, that smelt clearly WRONG - but I took it back, and they refunded it with no issues at all (even tho opened and sprayed). The next bottle was absolutely fine, I couldn't smell any difference at all.

I think you need to sniff and wear a few, how a perfume develops is very personal.

Chancel chance (green bottle) my ultimate go too. Jo Maolne English pear and Fushks something like that is beautiful too

Will do, Chester. Love your description.

Womanity by Thierry Mugler.

It's got huge staying power and is commented on a lot.

Quite hard to come by though.

Maybe try a few Perfume Parlour dupes to get an idea of which one(s) you really like before splashing out on the real thing?

ChesterBelloc - ta for that!

By the way - Paul Smith Rose is on offer at Half Price Perfume - I think it is the tester for under £20

I think of Mitsouko as a very 'womanly' scent as opposed to a girly one.Just love the oakmoss!

Poeme, by lancome. Every time I wear it some one asks what it is!

I’ve tried a fair few Perfume Parlour dupes and they’ve been nothing like the real versions on me and haven’t developed or lasted the same either. Not sure you can get an accurate idea of a scent from them. Well i definitely couldn’t.

I don't want dupes.

Rive Gauche by Yves St Laurent. People always comment when I wear it.

Chloe (the original). Rose based perfume with staying power.