Mitsouko or l'heure bleu what do they smell like ?

[einekleinenachtarbeit]

I normally wear fresh citrussy/florally perfumes but for autumn/winter fancy something a bit different.
Used to wear vintage opium and paris in the 80s so not averse to strong statement type scents. I'm intrigued by the history of these two perfumes and their age but am reluctant to fork out on them blind.
On Fragrantica the reviews are mixed, some love them, others describe them as old ladyish (their words not mine), to be worn by a grand lady dowager ! Not sure that's the affect I want ! But I would like a more complex scent. Struggling to find samples on ebay so i just wondered if anyone who had them would describe them as old fashioned ? Do they grow on you ? Or are they heavy and cloying past it perfumes ? It's so difficult trying classic perfumes locally as debenhams has shut and all we have left is a boots/m and s. Thanks in advance !

I love Guerlain perfumes but could never get on with the older classics. Not very original but I keep returning to Shalimar.
Oddly enough, it smelled lovely on me until my late 40s/50s, when it started smelling “off”. Tried it again recently in my 60s and it was fine again. I attribute this to HRT.

My mum used to wear L'Heure Bleu and it always have me a terrible headache. It's definitely a much heavier scent than most people wear nowadays.

Oh and when I stopped using Shalimar I used L’Instant, but I don’t know if they still do it. Very heavy, sweet and floral (to me).

I adore Mitsuko, it's so distinctive and seriously sexy - never have so many men commented on it each and every time I wore it. However, it is also very very heavy, and a fragrance that was slowly relegated first to evenings only, and then to winter evenings only. In the end, I had to stop wearing it as I found it started to trigger headaches.

@BrownTableMat - your nose and mine would get along famously. Currently wearing Mandarine & Basil, and Herbs Fresca is my fave. They play very nicely together, btw. Herba Fresca is the one that has strangers of all persuasions interrogating me. The Vetiver is on my list also.

@einekleinenachtarbeit - Ma Griffe has definitely been reformulated and modernised. It is still good though.
Another I just thought of is Je Reviens by Worth. Another fresh, aledydic chypre with a glorious vetiver dry down. The reformulation was also pretty damn good, and the bottle was pretty too. Not sure how easily available it is now, but it wasn’t expensive.

@Justilou1
I get more Parma violets from Insolence (the EDP). That’s a beast of a perfume in its original formulation in the weird purple bottle! . I wear it to bed in winter, very cosy.

I used to think the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria range was a bit lack lustre, but I’ve come to love a few @BrownTableMat
Fresca and Tea Azzura are really lovely and fresh, although fleeting on me.
Nerolia Bianca is my absolute favourite. It has this bitter petitgrain/sweet orangeade smell that I find addictive.

Shalimar is the one classic I wish I could get on board with! It gets so much love and appreciation, and the flankers all sound heavenly on paper. But there is something sickly in it for me. Vanilla and leathery vibes make me feel queasy. I wish I loved it, though, if that makes any sense?! Even the bottle is beautiful.

You might try the original 'Oscar' by Oscar de la Renta. It's powdery like L'Heure Bleu. I've never understood why it isn't more popular, it's lovely for daytime or evening wear.

@ChubbyBroccoli

You might try the original 'Oscar' by Oscar de la Renta. It's powdery like L'Heure Bleu. I've never understood why it isn't more popular, it's lovely for daytime or evening wear.

The Espirit version is good too, especially considering how reasonably priced it is. Love it in spring.

I second the poster who suggested Feminite du Bois for Autumn- it's perfect- woody and soft and slightly fruity- it has a plum note which is lovely at this time of year.

The Geurlain fragrances you mentioned are good, but most people seem to think they smell old fashioned- and Mitsouko is very much an acquired taste these days- L'heure Bleu is powdery and more a classic smell but has a definite vintage feel to it. I really like them both but wouldn't wear them often.

I love Mitsouko-- smells like boozy fruit with incense/ambery whiffs on me. I also love Coco Chanel - which is similar.

Some great comments !

Or if you want something citrusy but with more legs… A grownup, gutsy, siren of a fragrance… The Monica Bellucci of the perfume world, Trussardi Donna in the opaque white bottle. If you can imagine the oozy, syrupy gunk that you lick from the top of the limoncello bottle before you pour it on a still, steamy evening… THAT’S this one. Still lemon, but luxurious and heady. God, I love this! (Goes off to dig it out of cupaboard. It’s bedtime here in Aus and I’m spraying that before bed.)

Why will I never learn NOT to read these threads… that’s added half a dozen scents to my wish list and I’m still working through my wish list from the last time!

@eine have you tried Clinique Wrappings? It smells of Xmas, Pine Trees & Mountain Air . I grew up wearing Paris & Opium too and still wear Vintage Paris from time to time. Wrappings is my winter signature perfume. Also Estee Lauder Private Collection Is rich & oakmossy from my Vintage bottle and stands up to cooler weather.

It might be worth trying some sample sets. Marina Barcenilla comes to mind.
Patchouli Clouds & The Summer Garden are rich naturals. Ormonde Jayne for light florals & orientals. Or Try Bloom Perfumery for themed sample sets & specific notes.
I also really Like Ffern Summer perfumes for Aromatic citrus.
I've just finished the Ffern Summer 19 perfume and have progressed to Ffern Summer 21 which is a variation on a summer theme. I'm another big fan of Nerolia Bianco and it's bitter sweetness . One of the best Aqua Allegoria's.

[quote Fferny1]@eine have you tried Clinique Wrappings? It smells of Xmas, Pine Trees & Mountain Air . I grew up wearing Paris & Opium too and still wear Vintage Paris from time to time. Wrappings is my winter signature perfume. Also Estee Lauder Private Collection Is rich & oakmossy from my Vintage bottle and stands up to cooler weather.

It might be worth trying some sample sets. Marina Barcenilla comes to mind.
Patchouli Clouds & The Summer Garden are rich naturals. Ormonde Jayne for light florals & orientals. Or Try Bloom Perfumery for themed sample sets & specific notes.
I also really Like Ffern Summer perfumes for Aromatic citrus.
I've just finished the Ffern Summer 19 perfume and have progressed to Ffern Summer 21 which is a variation on a summer theme. I'm another big fan of Nerolia Bianco and it's bitter sweetness . One of the best Aqua Allegoria's.[/quote]
Wrappings is wonderful if you can get it. I have the tiniest bit left. Couldn't get it at all last year, hoping to find it this winter.

@solinvictus it's on Fragrance Direct at this time of year. It's also always in Harrods.

[quote Fferny1]@solinvictus it's on Fragrance Direct at this time of year. It's also always in Harrods.[/quote]
Thank you! My treat to myself!

My set of ten sample fragrances from Le Jardin Retrouvé that @MissBattleaxe linked to above arrived from France this morning. I am currently wearing Sandalwood Sacre and it's gorgeous. I'm going to have a lovely time over the next ten days trying them all out.

Still with Guerlain - what are your views on Jicky?

I usually go for citrus floral. I've yet to find a classic Guerlain scent that works on me. Usually okay with the Aqua Allegoria ones, but Mitsuko, Jicky, L'Heure Bleu, no. Mostly headache inducing. But we've all got our own skin chemistry, so get hold of samples and try them. Just make sure you'll be able to scrub them off if they don't work for you.

Mitsouku brought to mind a Japanese lady in a kimono. Definitely seemd an oriental tang to the perfume to me. Exotic.