The Perfume Parlour rollerballs are a nightmare! They hurt and constantly get stuck, so no oil comes out. How is the longevity on the sprays
*@Artdecolover*. Will almost definitely get the spray next time. I only ordered the roller as they were the cheapest for a sample and I didn't want to spend on something I may not have liked. The oils have great longevity but project quite poorly.
Overall, I loved 6 pp samples, liked 1 and disliked 3. So, out of 10 samples, I think that is quite impressive. Most were realistic, but I think the main differences lie in the top notes, they don't quite get those right. Also, because mine were oil samples, they didn't quite have the same 'effervescence' of the original spray perfumes. They smelled compressed, if that makes sense.
What I ordered:
MM, By the Fireplace: Probably 95% similar to the original, imo. It's maybe a bit less sweet and slightly less smooth, but very close, and very wearable.
YSL, Opium: Weird opening, but once it settles almost spot on for the original pre-reformulation. Quite an achievement for such a complex perfume. Beautiful incense, spices and balsams shot through with warmth and orange.
FM, Musc Ravaguer: Gingerbread, milky notes, quite soft. Tiniest amount of musk. Horribly harsh note comes through a few minutes in, something quite sharp and off-putting. Dislike. Not smelled the original so cannot compare.
Guerlain, Mitsouko: Amazing. Peach and citrus opening, then soft syrupy middle. Powdery spice and incense base. A soft, warm, golden fragrance; wonderfully blended and definitely complex.
Guerlain, Samsara: Extremely remote relationship to the original imo, but still nice all the same. Laundry detergent opening (ylang-ylang?). HUGE jasmine middle, augmented by a medicinal anise note, and only slightly tempered by the peach. Sweet, sort of soapy base. Great, I think, for when you want to smell fresh all day, but not the Samsara I know.
Hermes, Ambre Narguile: Cinnamon, apples and plums. Sweet woods come through, but not especially ambery. Really cosy and autumnal though, smells like apple pie!
Estée Lauder, Knowing: Green rose opening. More rose in the mid notes, coupled with woods, and dark fruits (plum?) Deep and complex. Dry down is extremely similar to Clinique Aromatics Elixir. Am embarrassed to admit I haven't smelled the original, even though I was sure I had. Must rectify this immediately, especially if it's as good as the pp dupe.
Guerlain, Double Vanille: Smells like cheap air freshener mixed with lynx. Synthetic and flat vanilla, with a damp wood base (cardboard accord?). Not impressed.
Tom Ford, Amber Absolute: Smells like Ambre Sultan with extra frankincense. Maybe slightly more angular. Rich and deep, but dries down powdery and soft. Not smelled original, so cannot compare.
Cartier, Le Baiser du Dragon: Really horrible opening, like rotting leaves. Almond and cut grass middle, but very sheer. Soapy, synthetic vanilla dry down that made me nauseous.
P. S. Sorry for the long post (again!) Once I began, I just couldn't stop writing, but this has really helped to clarify my thoughts on the merits of each dupe. 