It's cold outside so the lovely friendly perfumistas are by the fireplace, sniffing our scarves and dreaming of the desert

[Lotsofpots]

I think we're on thread no 24 - appropriate for the upcoming advent fun!

Nope....

Got a sample of Cabochard in search of woody/smoky. Smells like old ladies - I was no way expecting that from the descriptions! Couldn’t identify a single note. But all is not lost because I recognised it as something my mum sometimes wears so will give to her.

SOTD is a niche one called haven’t had a shower yet. Notes of 3 day old beyond rose and school run.

teta I LOVE the smell of hyacinths!

SOTD a sample of the new (Miss) Dior perfume, Rose N Roses. I really like it, completely different from the fruit salad-y sweet other Miss Dior perfumes, much more grown up and a bit vintage-y. If I didn't have Stella I might be tempted by this, since I have about £60 of Boots points.

Mrs Yes it is very synthetic i agree.

SOTD MH Coeur de Fleur bit bored of this tho

I have Flora, at one time it was the only place I could get a certain fragrance for DH. I've ordered a couple of time through them, always been fine. As it's a US seller you may get charged custom fees before delivery but I was lucky and never got any. It's now available on amazon which is easier, that's the only reason I don't use it anymore.

Lapsed poster, but came back to say Chergui is still a favourite, and perfect in damp foggy weather.

Hello everyone, hope you don't mind me popping in. @XingMing Chergui is divine!

I tried a fabulous neroli the other day which had real staying power. It was Banana Republic Neroli Woods. I might go for a full bottle. I've also been wearing my trusty First Van Cleef & Arpels a lot. It always smelled great in winter.

Hey Xing - good to hear from you!

Pear was your Cabochard current or vintage? The new stuff bears no relation to it in its heyday.

I'm skint and needed a cheap perfumed thrill, so have bought a couple of the Zara/JM collaboration: Ebony Woods and Amalfi something or other. (Most of the testers were broken or empty and the queue was long - you don't go to Zara for the customer service do you?).

So far I'm quite taken with them for the price. Ebony Woods is warm spicy wood with a big clove note, and Amalfi is a simple sunny neroli/manadrin/lemon scent that I suspect wont last much more than an hour but will be lovely in summer. As you might expect, both are restrained enough to be thrown in a handbag and worn at work.

Has anyone else tried these?

Flora - I could be wrong but think I remember someone getting charged custom duties with FragranceX?

Major spring clean and sort for charity shop today (when I can get motivated) SOTD white musk.

Are customs charges prohibitive? Some of the FragranceX perfumes are so cheap that an extra fiver would be ok. An extra 20 maybe not so much.....

You will always get charged VAT on perfume of any value from the US; so 15% of the value plus whatever the RM processing fee is. However, for most other things, the HMRC doesn’t charge VAT for things worth less than £15 and it’s at the discretion of the seller to mark the contents of the package properly. If they mark it as “cosmetics” or something, rather than perfume, you won’t have to pay customs, iyswim.
This happened to me before Christmas. I ordered a sample set from Imaginary Authors in the States. When it came there was no charges because it had been marked “cosmetic samples” but I would usually have paid customs and was expecting to do so. I hope this helps

I just realised that VAT is 20%, 15% still, the same point stands. The RM processing fee is currently £8, so on a £40 bottle of perfume, customs would be 20% -so £8- plus £8 handling, so £16. I hope that makes sense.

*not 15%... gahh, it’s first thing in the morning...

Sotd pp by the fireplace

Current, MrsMoggs.

I got stung for Royal Mail’s charges on a bit of jewellery (not even subject to duty). £16 for “handling”. Postie’s hands must be nearly as precious as Bruce Lee’s.

Hello again perfumistas!

teta, I'm sorry you've been a bit low. I don't think the short days help!

SOTD recently has been... well, I absolutely loved Fluffy Lemon Tops. I've worn it quite a few times now. The Ffern Winter 20 also comes out regularly. And some Monyette Paris.

My sister is getting married in June and I have been asked to suggest some perfume inspiration! She is very traditional and wants to smell 'nice' (vs interesting or unusual). Any suggestions from the peanut gallery? ...

I am also in White Musk!

Hi Xing and MissBattelaxe

Pears - would be happy to send you a little of the vintage if you'd like? Just PM me your address.

Wedding = orange blossom = annick Goutal neroli

Welcome back yoikes.

flora

I've been wearing fluffy lemon tops a lot too!

SOTD Diptyque Eau Duelle. Have been out for a huge pizza, now in pjs after an equally huge bath.

Wedding?
Creed love in white?

Happy Chinese new year of the rat 🐭.
No perfumes yesterday as felt ill & feverish but will wear something fresh and zingy today.
Thinking about Wedding perfumes.
La Chasse Aux Papillon - l Artisan Parfumeur.
California Reverie - Van cleef & arpels.
Gardenia petale - " " "
Orangeur en fleurs - Houbigant .
Frangipani & tiare by Ormonde Jayne
Olene by Diptyque
Jasmin full by Montale
Calycanthus by Acca kappa.
Aqua Allegoria perfumes by Guerlain and Annick Goutal perfumes are also worth looking at as are Ormonde jayne florals.