Can you help me find this scent?

[WeirdArchitecture]

I purchased a small bottle of Clinique's Aromatic Elixir a few days ago. Having discovered a description of it on here recently, and loved the idea of it. It sounded quite like something i have been searching for - warm, winter, comforting, seasonal, mysterious.....

But it isnt quite right.
It is almost right. Painfully so. But not right enough.

It lives up to the description above, but i find it rather sharp, dry, a touch harsh on me. What i would love is to locate a creamier, perhaps a touch sweeter or less dry version of this type of scent. Im not fond of 'masculine' fragrances, either.

Not well versed with describing fragrance so hope that is enough!

Oh, and something called Cabochard was listed on here too, which caught my eye. Would i possibly like this if i dont like the Clinique?

Forgot to mention my budget is flexible but i prefer to keep it moderate as having to buy blind. Most fragrances i see mentioned on here i can never find samples of.

Cabochard is a woody leather spicy fragrance so it may or may not fit but is inexpensive. I have the EAU de parfum. One perfume I've been wearing recently might fit the bill. It's Floris Honey Oud. I don't usually like either but this is wonderfully Christmassy and not very oudy.

Thanks, will look into that!

I wonder if my issue is with aldehydes? If anyone can tell me how to recognise them that would be great.

Are you able to get to a department store beauty hall to test the scents before buying?

I don't think aldehydes are your problem. They are often, but not always soapy, they can be airy (like laundry) and they are sometimes, to my nose metallic, for example in White Linen or Rive Gauche.

An example of an aldehdye would be Chanel No 5, Rive Gauche and Lanvin Arpege.

Also, try The Perfume Society Discovery Boxes. They are an excellent collection of hard to get samples that we mere mortals would never get our hands on. perfumesociety.org/product-category/discovery-boxes/

I really liked the Launches We Love one.

Clinique Wrappings. The love child of Aromatics & Calyx 💚

Have you tried the Aromatics in Black? it's slightly softer and more modern then the Original Aromatics.

@MissBattleaxe

I don't think aldehydes are your problem. They are often, but not always soapy, they can be airy (like laundry) and they are sometimes, to my nose metallic, for example in White Linen or Rive Gauche.

An example of an aldehdye would be Chanel No 5, Rive Gauche and Lanvin Arpege.

This is really helpful for me, thanks! I would love to learn to discern the separate elements - my DP can but i seem to struggle.

I used to have Chanel no5 and it felt too sharp and dry on me too - i wonder what links it with Clinique's Elixir....

Will have a look, thank you!

Charlotte Tilbury's scent of a dream is also an aldehyde. You will notice the similarity. It has an old fashioned feel to it. I would recommend trying a sample.

If you decide aldehydes aren't for you, I would recommend trying some men's scents. I love some of the hermes ones especially Terre d'hermes.

I think what i am looking for is a warm, creamy delicious scent that is a much softer version of the masculin ones, so possibly not too heavy on tobacco, smoke, oud, etc.

Dyptique and Replica are lovely but far too heavy/masculine for me.

@WeirdArchitecture

I think what i am looking for is a warm, creamy delicious scent that is a much softer version of the masculin ones, so possibly not too heavy on tobacco, smoke, oud, etc.

It's weird....I find Chanel no.5 to be really creamy. I think it smells different on different people. What about hermes des marveilles? Vanilla and Amber...it smells really warm to me.

What about Clinique Happy - cookies and kisses

Thanks, the Happy looks interesting.

Anyone familiar with estee lauder fragrance? A few of those sound good, no aldehydes listed as far as i know. Any with a warm, creamy, winter sort of scent that you might recommend?

I think Estee Lauder Youth Dew is very similar to Clinique Aromatics Elixir. Very similar.
Although I prefer the Clinique the Youth Dew may be what you're looking for.

Have you tried Liz Earle no 15? It's a lovely woody, herby scent that reminds me of Aromatics Elixir but is much softer.

I was going to say Youth Dew. My SIL wore it a lot and it fits your description well.

Funny how Clinique’s Happy smells like cookies and kisses to some and to me it smells like a giant bowl of fruit.
I’m wondering if you would enjoy something like Carven’s “Ma Griffe”? It is a classic fragrance that has been updated in a good way. It’s a green (chypre) aldehydic floral so it’s got some creamy notes but also has the richer (green/clean/woody) tones from a more “masculine” scent, like vetiver, etc. It’s lovely.
You could also look up the fragrance notes that you specifically enjoy in men’s fragrances on fragrantica.com and find a women’s or unisex one to suit.

@WeirdArchitecture

Thanks, the Happy looks interesting.

Anyone familiar with estee lauder fragrance? A few of those sound good, no aldehydes listed as far as i know. Any with a warm, creamy, winter sort of scent that you might recommend?

Estee Lauder Beautiful? I haven't smelt it for years and remember smelling it as a kid and thinking it smelt comforting and grown up.

Try Estee Lauder Knowing. Like most Lauder fragrances, a little goes a long way.
Also
Hermes Caleche
Le Must de Cartier

I can't describe perfumes in the way you all can, it is fascinating how you describe them.

However, I normally love a strong scent, nothing floral, my evening perfume of choice is Thierry Mugler Alien and my day perfume is D&G Feminine.

I received a gift of an Elie Saab perfume, it looked a bit cheesy but I tried it out of curiosity and I love it, my kids both said that has to be your perfume, you need to wear it all the time. Everyone compliments me on it when I wear it. I am now on my 2nd bottle.

www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Elie-Saab/Girl-of-Now-Shine-50206.html

This is my current favourite and has been for a while. I only found it by asking someone what perfume they were wearing! You can by a small perfume oil too which is a bit cheaper - but it's quite expensive.

thehambledon.com/products/no-04-bois-de-balincourt-edp

I can't seem to describe smells at all. But it sounds on the right lines...

unisex scents are often too harsh for me, i like the idea of something edible, mystical, delicious, a winter night - not synthetic smelling, but as far away from the strident, masculine vibe of dyptique as possible.