Style & Beauty
I’d like a perfume that makes me feel like Dame Maggie Smith is offering me a scone and telling me kindly that I’m doing a great job and everything’s going to be OK.
Stoechas · 10/02/2023 16:23
For clarification I do not want to smell
like Dame Maggie Smith (although I bet she smells lovely) or a scone.
I have a sometimes grim job in a grim part of the world interacting with sometimes grim people and I’d like to be able to put my nose down my top in private and smell something that makes everything a bit better.
No idea about perfumes. Perfume people scare me. Going to JL next week and would like to have a sniff of maximum 5 perfumes and buy one of them.
Do not want anything remotely sexy, rude, obnoxious, syrupy girlie flowers, loud antibacterial sunshine or clean sheets in the rain I just mowed my lawn in a long dress bullshit.
Anything that fits the bill?
JimJammies · 18/03/2023 17:54
Derrymum123 · 10/02/2023 17:09
Aaaw, this reminds me of a smell I remember my mum with. Astral face cream. I know it's not a perfume, but every now and then I miss her so much, so I bought a small jar, just to remind me.
I would recommend Cerrutti 1881. My favourite ever perfume.
Isn't that what Glow smells of? Very clean smell and a nice everyday perfume.
TheYearOfSmallThings · 18/03/2023 17:54
It's funny how bad memories can ruin perfumes.
Actually I have lovely memories of those ferry crossings - I always got a bag of peanuts which I would happily eat amid the stench and smoke while hanging over the space Invaders table to watch whoever was lucky enough to have 20p play.
But I draw the line at smelling like those days!
Stoechas · 18/03/2023 18:09
at the Mitsouko ferry smell. Fine by me I have great memories of the Hull-Rotterdam ferry.
Thankfully I get no trace of vomit whatsoever.
Today I finally managed to get my wrists under L'Heure Bleue. The dry down as promised is very lovely but the journey to get there was an unpleasant journey through the land of monster parma violets. So that’s another perfume and note crossed off the list.
Also had testers of Jicky (a punch to the throat by an anthropomorphised meth-head lavender bush).
Chanel No 19 (too green and spiky)
Chanel No 19 poudre (green and spiky hidden in my lady anti monkey butt anti friction powder
Youth Dew (good Lord no)
Pleasures (more no)
The journey continues.
BluebellBlueballs · 18/03/2023 18:49
TheYearOfSmallThings · 18/03/2023 17:54
It's funny how bad memories can ruin perfumes.
Actually I have lovely memories of those ferry crossings - I always got a bag of peanuts which I would happily eat amid the stench and smoke while hanging over the space Invaders table to watch whoever was lucky enough to have 20p play.
But I draw the line at smelling like those days!
I did the hull rotterdam crossing recently and loved it. No smoke smells, and there's probably better food options now but we had a ball!
Tirednest · 18/03/2023 18:53
TheYearOfSmallThings · 18/03/2023 18:34
Yeah, I tried to like the classics but Après L'Ondée smells depressing and all Chanels give me a headache and L'Air du Temps smells like being in detention...and so on.
I have no class and I stopped trying to!
I trieled to make myself love Apres L Ondee as I went mad and bought a big bottle from Harrods as my wedding perfume. Got home and realised I didn't like it 😕 kept on with it, put it away, found it a year ago and now I love it (22 years later!)
Stoechas · 18/03/2023 19:02
@Tirednest yes I have a little tester of it. Tried it a few times. I did really like it, I agree very crisp gin and tonicy. Sadly it didn’t last the day. When I put my nose down my top at lunchtime seeking nurture and strength smells it had all gone away 😢
Tirednest · 18/03/2023 19:03
Stoechas · 18/03/2023 19:02
@Tirednest yes I have a little tester of it. Tried it a few times. I did really like it, I agree very crisp gin and tonicy. Sadly it didn’t last the day. When I put my nose down my top at lunchtime seeking nurture and strength smells it had all gone away 😢
Yes! I know! It's true and such a shame as I just want to sniff that lovely dry.down all day
OhMerde · 18/03/2023 20:00
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/02/2023 17:36
This is a beautiful scent. I’ve always got a bottle.
My other thought was Chanel No5. Clean, warm, grown up, elegant and ‘expensive’ in style. Or Chanel No19, a greener scent and less common (although I am wearing it now!). Smells like an expensive, quiet London house with black and white tiles in the entrance hall.
ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 10/02/2023 16:40
Hermes Eau Des Mervelles is what you're looking for.
Not Ambre, not Elixier. The plain one.
19 is exquisite. I wear it several times a week. it gets better as the day goes on.
My recommendation is Clinique Elixir but very specifically the body lotion, not the perfume. It's called body smoother and it's incredible. Use the shower gel beforehand and you won't want to stop sniffing yourself all day!
Tirednest · 18/03/2023 20:37
OhMerde · 18/03/2023 19:56
Sold!
Tirednest · 10/02/2023 16:46
Diptyque Orpheon. Smells like someone wearing a musky perfume is pouring you a gin and tonic in a smoky jazz club, then when they leave they leave behind the smell of warm, cozy, clean cashmere.
I'm obsessed.
OhMerde · 18/03/2023 20:50
Stoechas · 19/03/2023 08:22
@OhMerde Thanks for the tip about Aromatics Elixir body lotion. It was on my ‘to try’ list and accidentally came upon it in Marks and Spencer of all places on my way to buy a lasagne.
Couldn’t find any tester strips so sprayed it on my wrists with casual wild abandon and then instantly regretted doing that.
Drove home with the windows open.
I have written in my perfume diary. “OMG this is BIG. Like a giant fragrant bear.”
So I wrote it off as far too aggressive.
Three days later I put my work anorak on which had been sitting in the back of my car and must have come into contact with my wrists on the day of testing. And it smelt lovely. A much smaller genteel aromatic bear.
Didnt know it came in a body lotion as you suggest. So there’s hope for me wearing this now. Thank you
mewkins · 19/03/2023 17:45
Stoechas · 18/03/2023 18:09
at the Mitsouko ferry smell. Fine by me I have great memories of the Hull-Rotterdam ferry.
Thankfully I get no trace of vomit whatsoever.
Today I finally managed to get my wrists under L'Heure Bleue. The dry down as promised is very lovely but the journey to get there was an unpleasant journey through the land of monster parma violets. So that’s another perfume and note crossed off the list.
Also had testers of Jicky (a punch to the throat by an anthropomorphised meth-head lavender bush).
Chanel No 19 (too green and spiky)
Chanel No 19 poudre (green and spiky hidden in my lady anti monkey butt anti friction powder
Youth Dew (good Lord no)
Pleasures (more no)
The journey continues.
Just me that had a horrific ferry crossing then. 😁 Quite a few scents make me feel queasy in the same way I feel queasy on a rocking boat or reading in the car. I have to be careful. Vetiver is a big trigger for that but there are other things that spark sickness memories so I avoid.
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