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]

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?

[SiobhanSharpe]

Floral/herbal but not cloying?
A classic lavender, like Island Lavender by Caldey Abbey Fragrances.
A Neroli (orange blossom) Czech and Speake or Annick Goutal
A green fragrance like Tom Ford's Vert de Fleur (but £££) Lasts well.
Guerlain Chamade old fashioned classic.
Dior Escale à Portofino. Italian citrus blends, summery. Long-lasting for a citrus fragrance. They have it in JL.
Givenchy Eau de Givenchy - light floral citrus, classic cologne.
(If you're going to JL to test a few scents, try a Tom Ford. They're expensive but a bit different)
L'Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier. lovely fig tree scent but I'm not sure if it's still available.

[Nocutenamesleft]

My fave and I absolutely adore it is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum. Oops.

[WarningToTheCurious]

Both my DCs wear Chanel Bleu and I sometimes sneak a dab - woody and citrusy.

My favourite scent in the 80s was a men’s aftershave (might have been Paco Rabanne but can’t remember now).

[LaTangerina]

@beachcitygirl

@LaTangerina

Nope. Me too.
I have a terrible relationship with my mother & to quote lorelie Gilmore at her finest, I can tell
When my mother is in a room because it stinks of guilt & Chanel no 5

Lol I love the quote 😄
To me they just smell too old womany?! Not that I'm a spring chicken 🙈

[mewkins]

Probably already been said but MMM by the Fireplace would be good being warm, a bit cakey and comforting.

If you're going to a JL try Eau Capitale by Diptique too. It's a lovely rose patchouli (I think).

[momtoboys]

@UWhatNow

An oldy but my Estée Lauder Beautiful still gets compliments wherever I go.

I love Beautiful and I was also a fan of White Linen. It just occurred to me that I haven't worn perfume for almost 25 year. I need to go out and get myself some!

[Tirednest]

@Nocutenamesleft

My fave and I absolutely adore it is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum. Oops.

I got a sample of this but it just smells like a very strong men's aftershave!

[HippyChickMama]

Penhaligon's The Favourite? Very expensive but it smells so lovely, floral but warm and slightly sandalwoody

[weeder]

If you are ever in London, OP there’s a lovely shop not too far from Victoria Station called ‘Les Senteurs’. They will help you to find a perfume that sits well on your skin - not easy to do yourself. They also do selections of fragrance samples you can buy online.
My favourite perfume that might tick your boxes is Rive Gauche by YSL. Easy to find, not too expensive and light but grown-up. I spilled some on a skirt once and every time I ironed it, a lovely waft of Rive Gauche hit me.

[Tirednest]

Also Tom Ford Rose Prick. Divine. I was given a sample and it's wonderfully rosy yet deep and warm. ££££££ though sadly

[CM283648]

Sisley Eau De Soir is good

[MalagaNights]

It's so interesting how people interpreted the brief.

I thought summer garden, gentle floral, not cosy fire.

I adore Coco Chanel but for some it's black dress, red lipstick and gin and tonic.

I adore Chanel No 19 but for me it's suited business woman.

I adore Shalimar but for me it's Smokey Parisian jazz club.

I think Beautiful fits my image of Maggie Smith and Scones, or Paul Smith Rose, or Chamade Guerlain, or Terracotta Guerlain.

I feel you need a floral, no fruit, not too heady, but quite realistic and polleny?

You are in an English country garden it's the afternoon you feel a bit woozey from the pollen but there's a sweetness in the scone and the a feeling of nostalgia for the perfect day passing as dusk begins to loom.

[PAFMO]

If you want comforting you want powdery or soapy iris.

Shalimar (powder and orange spice) Samsara (sandalwood and soft vanilla)
L'Heure Bleu- dusky powdery
All from Guerlain.

Soapy clean comforting- nothing better than Prada Infusions d'Iris

If you love Badedas (and so do I) then green woods might be an idea, though they won't have comforting powder.

If you want calm, confident woman, then the Estée Lauders mentioned above would fit the bill. (much underestimated perfume house IMO) White Linen, Private Collection, Wrappings, all beautiful.

Also Hermes 24 Faubourg.

Calm confident woman with a bit of pizzazz then some of the Chanel Exclusifs: 31 Rue Cambon is a good one.

[declutteringmymind]

A bit left field but I use the tisserand aromatherapy rollerball bottles. Great to keep in a car or handbag. Apply to pulse points as required.

Otherwise Zara's scents are lovely. Inexpensive enough to spray abundantly every morning.

[Joolsin]

@Tirednest

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 love Diptyque Philosykos. It smells green and clean to me, like crushed nettles on a walk through the fields. Maybe not so Maggie Smith, but a sniff down your top in a grimy workplace location would be refreshing.

[Stoechas]

@MalagaNights your description of feeling woozy in a summer garden is so evocative I’m definitely going to try Beautiful.

[Mumsanetta]

Like some pp I love the original Jimmy Choo. Just ordered the lotion on Amazon as saw it suggested unthread!

[Stoechas]

I’m honestly so delighted and touched by all the responses. This thread is such a lovely uplifting read.

[Badger1970]

DH bought me a bottle of Creed "Windflowers" for Christmas, it was obscenely expensive but I've not worn any of my others since getting it. When I first tested it, I thought it was just another floral but this constantly changes and the base notes are so comforting.

I've also got a bottle of Liz Earle No 15 which is a spicy comforting winter perfume. In fact, all of her perfumes are very wearable and last well.

[Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes]

Try Shalimar. It exudes old school class.

[Artemisty]

@Tirednest

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 would buy that without sniffing it based on your description. I have a particular sniff in my head. I wonder whether it's the same!

[Tirednest]

Wrappings is lovely but pretty sure it's discontinued

[PAFMO]

@Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes

Try Shalimar. It exudes old school class.

And it makes me feel warmer just putting it on. I started off today in an Andy Tauer but just went out to do an hour's tutoring and was tired and cold. The squirt of Shalimar got me through it. It's my go-to winter perfume.

[QuicheQuoche]

Molton Brown Milk Musk is my favourite ever. Buy it from Bicester Village, so much cheaper.

[catfunk]

Maya Njie's Nordic cedar smells like badedas

Also, M&S have really upped their perfume game, I'd go and have a browse in there