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?
Coxspurplepippin · 10/02/2023 17:29
Dogsgottabone · 10/02/2023 17:10
I'd vote for Guerlain Samsara. It's a classic.
Classy, grown up, smart, straight, no implication of wittering about shit.
Maggie Smith to a T 
. I'm going to order some now because that is exactly the vibe I want to channel.
Dogsgottabone · 10/02/2023 17:31
Coxspurplepippin · 10/02/2023 17:29
Maggie Smith to a T . I'm going to order some now because that is exactly the vibe I want to channel.
Dogsgottabone · 10/02/2023 17:10
I'd vote for Guerlain Samsara. It's a classic.
Classy, grown up, smart, straight, no implication of wittering about shit.
It was the first grown up perfume I owned but I had to stop wearing it when I met my now husband as his mum wears it and he thought it was too weird.
My MIL is awesome and a bit like Maggie Smith.
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/02/2023 17:36
ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 10/02/2023 16:40
Hermes Eau Des Mervelles is what you're looking for.
Not Ambre, not Elixier. The plain one.
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.
LoveLabradors · 10/02/2023 17:36
Another vote for Chanel no19. Elegant, calming, hopeful and “green”. I’ve worn it for three decades. Will never waver from it although I do enjoy other perfumes too. Byredo Mojave ghost and also enjoying the Diptyque fragrance discovery box too ( five different perfumes in a beautiful box). Good luck with finding your scent!
LoveLabradors · 10/02/2023 17:37
www.diptyqueparis.com/en_uk/p/discovery-set-of-5-eaux-de-toilette.html
they do sell it in John Lewis too.
SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 10/02/2023 17:44
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/02/2023 17:37
Ah, missed / cross posted with your photo. Give your No5 a chance!
Perfumes preferences are an art not a science aren't they... I read this and thought 'wow, someone genuinely actually likes it!' which is amazing to me because it reminds me of cat urine. 😬😷
Whitetail · 10/02/2023 17:50
Chanel Eau Fraiche. It is indeed fresh smelling floral/zesty (good if you have to work with/in a lot of grimness?) but it's not simple or sweet. It lasts all day but is 'light'.
I met someone on a course once who recognised it on me and said she wore it at work. She had a 'big' job that was very stressful and sometimes ghastly. She was a lovely person and I felt weirdly chuffed that we liked the same perfume.
LaTangerina · 10/02/2023 17:51
SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 10/02/2023 17:44
Perfumes preferences are an art not a science aren't they... I read this and thought 'wow, someone genuinely actually likes it!' which is amazing to me because it reminds me of cat urine. 😬😷
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/02/2023 17:37
Ah, missed / cross posted with your photo. Give your No5 a chance!
I don't like any of the chanels either at all 🙈🙈
Stoechas · 10/02/2023 17:57
SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 10/02/2023 17:44
Perfumes preferences are an art not a science aren't they... I read this and thought 'wow, someone genuinely actually likes it!' which is amazing to me because it reminds me of cat urine. 😬😷
YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 10/02/2023 17:37
Ah, missed / cross posted with your photo. Give your No5 a chance!
I sometimes accidentally kneel in urine as part of the sometimes grim job so I’d prefer not to spray something urea-y down my top first thing in the morning.
Villagetoraiseachild · 10/02/2023 18:00
Rose Geranium essential oil is very emotionally balancing.
Sandalwood instantly makes me feel transported elsewhere.
Neroli makes me think of summer holidays.
Clary sage is very uplifting and reminds me of Darjeeling tea with something added!
Scent is so personal!
They are all essential oils and much cheaper than actual perfumes and can be ordered online.Some shops may have testers.
But some commercial perfumes reference them, so its useful to know if you like woody, citrus, floral, spicy, etc as notes.
TalkinBaaaaht · 10/02/2023 18:03
Samsara is a good shout. A little bit spicy and floral (jasmine) to uplift, but the sandalwood is also really soothing. I like the EDT more than the EDP - less cloying and heavy on the jasmine, more wafty.
Prada La Femme? Different ingredients (Iris, frangipani, tuberose, beeswax) but has a a similar effect on me. A bit lotiony and very soothing in the drydown.
My favourite designer comfort fragrance is Burberry Woman. It’s one of a handful of sweet, vanilla-based fragrances I find wearable. It’s peachy and woody and like a motherly hug in a bottle.
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