Getting back into perfume again

[Grimwood]

Years ago I used to really love and be into perfumes. I had some gorgeous unusual and smokey/incense my scents for winter and lovely lighter ones. I can’t remember any of the names unfortunately and the little perfume specialist I went to has closed. I liked quite a few of the Malle perfumes - used to wear iris poudre ( this was my day to day) and portrait of a lady in the evening. I also had the odd perfume that was quite ‘male’ in profile.

Probably sounds completely bonkers but for a long time after getting divorced I couldnt wear perfume at all. It was as if my past perfumes were too evocative and I guess I didn’t want anything sensual in my present.

Anyway I now have a sudden urge to get back into perfumes again. I’ve been wearing Creed aventus for women the last month or so ( which I love).

Does anyone have any suggestions for samples sets/places to go/interesting ranges? or even a much loved perfume? Appreciate it’s a bit ‘how long is a piece of string’ but I’m happy to take my time on this and explore.

Floris and Penhaligons are niche and have good ranges
High streets, Next and M&S do amazing perfume eg Just Pink, monotheme
La vie est belle is a modern classic
Alien is a statement
molecule one is good for some people. Although not all can smell it

Penhaligons does a 10 sample set for £25 but even better try The Perfume Society discovery sets. They have the clout to get hold of samples you'd never find on your own. Also Le Jardin Retrouve is a family run perfume house and they refund the price of samples as does Gallivant whose fragrances are all inspired by travel.

Thanks both - I should add I don’t ‘hold’ perfumes very well.

I did try molecule one - could smell it but didn’t love it and it faded fast on me.

Perfume society is a good shout.

Is the perfume area at Liberty’s still any good? I could possibly make a trip there

I've signed up to Scent box. Love getting new perfumes every month. I've been getting ones I remember from my past, I haven't ordered anything new yet!

Bloom Perfumery is what you want for new and niche perfumes.

You probably already frequented Les Senteurs?

(I do know what you mean about not being able to tolerate something you associate with loss. I couldn’t stand the sound of jazz music for years after a particular break up.)

Sana Jardin.
They're a woman led, vegan perfume company.
I've just bought a discovery set - 8 2ml vials of different scents which initially seems quite expensive at £35, but - along with a 15% new customer discount - the £35 is fully redeemable against the cost of a full size perfume bottle, as a voucher.
The fragrances are amazing, my current favourite is ''Tiger by her Side''

@MayIDestroyYou - that k you for the reminder! I did indeed used to visit les senteurs, will also take a look at Bloom.

and yes to music - I also didn’t really listen to much music for a few years too ( it was divorce caused by affair plus other difficulties and a bereavement at once, then covid). It was odd as in many ways I felt I’d got over things pretty quickly and functioned pretty well, but music and scent were off limits! I’m taking it as a good sign that both are back in my life again 😀

And thanks to everyone for suggestions - I love hearing about different perfumes!

What a great thread OP. I hope you start to find some new scents that you can attach new and happy memories to. What you say doesn't sound bonkers at all. Scent triggers strong associations . I can't bear one particular Clarins scent because I bought it for my DM while she was in hospital. She died there about 2 months later. The merest hint of that perfume, makes my heart lurch and takes me right back to that time.

I love the idea of the Perfume Society subscription. Can anyone tell me how many scents you get in each seasonal collection?

I love a lot of Vilhelm Parfumerie (at Liberty) and recently discovered Zoologist, which you can try via Bloom.

I completely agree with the power of smell to transport you viscerally to places which you might not necessarily wish to revisit. I find the opposite is true also: I always select a new scent to take on holiday, so I always associate the smell with the place and the feeling of being free and happy.

I love Le Labo and Maison Crivelli for long lasting scents, Creed too - I also love the aventus for ladies. Creed mens are good too, the Santal I think works really well on women too (I wear it often!).

Sunnamusk is good I find as well for some of the deeper spicier fragrances! I'm a Jo Malone myrrh and Tonka girl too, it's my classic deep warming scent. Or I occasionally use the diptyque Ambre room spray because it's not a perfume but it's such a warm smell.

Chanel Allure / V&R flowerbomb / Jo Malone honeysuckle are my go to "light scents".

Killian sample set

Oh. Dear.

There I was, trying to be helpful … Ambling over to Roullier White so I could link it for you. Had already put a heap of samples in my Bloom basket because of this thread. But Roullier White has Other Stuff. So I’ve just bought four Kerosene perfumes. (But samples, not full bottles. Head not completely lost!)

I am sort of looking at the moment. Just come to the end of a bottle of Frederic Malle’s Lipstick Rose. I was minded to move on to Dans tes Bras - but it only ever smells as beautiful as it should when I’m very very calm. Too stressed at the moment so holding off for now. Haven’t tried the Kerosenes before but they sound almost as exciting as another American perfumer whose brand name is on the top of my tongue.

… tip of my tongue!

@MayIDestroyYou 😆

This is the danger! I have ordered some of the Bloom discovery sets. Perhaps I should hold off clicking on Roullier White until payday …

I've ordered (this evening alone) the Maison Margiela Replica sample set from Look Fantastic and 8 x 4160 Tuesdays samples I've been waiting to try. I'm incorrigible.

Mmmm incensey winter perfumes are my favourite.

I love Miller Harris La Fumee, Passage D'Enfer by L'Artisan Parfumeur and the now discontinued L'Agent by Agent Provocatuer. Other winter ones I like are Miller Harris Rose Noir (although I wear this all year really), Serge Lutens Chergui, Arabie and Ambre Sultan and L'Artisan's Amber Extreme.

Have you tried any of Andy Tauer's perfumes? I love his brand, particularly Au Coeur du Desert. You can buy the solid version of his amazing L'Air du Desert Marocain at his online store and it's not too pricey. If you know anyone in Europe you can also get a discovery set sent there (he doesn't sell to UK but his perfumes are in some stores). I find his incense ones too overpoweringly incense but so many of his perfumes are gorgeous.

https://oudattar.co.uk/products/oud-sample-collection?variant=39265424212033&currency=GBP&utmmedium=producttsync&utmsource=google&utmmcontent=sagorganic&utmmcampaign=sagorganic&utmmcampaign=gs-2022-08-19&utmsource=google&utmmmedium=smartcampaign&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2qKmBhCfARIsAFy8buIfmigfWCojuFnULpy5MQlVpTC8ZHeULgbav5Mu9t58XD1HVL8WjDsaAge6EALwwwcB

This thread is dangerous but I think it's time I made new smell associations too and enjoyed perfume again

Sotd kilian princess. J'adore

@DailyMaui I love Tauers in winter! Lonestar Memories is probably my favourite but I love the Desert ones as well.

Oh I’ve just seen there have been more replies!

Im definitely hankering after a deep, incensey winter perfume now. I wish I could remember the name of the one I used to have - couldn’t wear it too often but loved it. Was in a lovely red shaped bottle. I also had a very ‘male’ tabocco one that I rarely wore but loved to smell.

Sana Jardin, Sandalwood Temple is my new favourite!
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