Help me smell expensive

[KenMastersGoldBracelet]

I've been upgrading my wardrobe to 'quiet luxury' type brands via Vinted. V satisfying.

I've got a birthday coming up and I want a perfume (or dupe of a perfume) that whispers-not-screams expensive. I lean towards woody scents, if that's any help.

Thank you, perfumistas

Well yes. Classics remain classics because they aren’t perceived as dated.

Dated stuff (too noisily associated with a particular era) ends up in discount stores.

Byredo and Chanel for me.

Estée Lauder’s Azuree is really special.
sisley Eau du soir
portrait of a lady
Chanel no 19

Agreed. I was saying this as you’d said ‘luxury implies an awareness of and engagement with the zeitgeist.’ which I think it can do but not to the exclusion of classics or even great fragrances that have had longevity somewhat under the radar.

Spend a couple of months trying out fragrances at expensive shop perfume counters - try just one each time, put on the inside of your wrist, and keep checking the smell for several hours. Once you find one that is ‘you’, buy a bottle of the stuff duty-free next time you go on holiday, and use it every time so it becomes your signature scent. Don’t go for dupes - there’s a reason they are cheaper than the real thing. Over the years, I’ve had the original L’Interdit (no longer available - the new formula is not the same), Hermès Calèche, Opium (original) and, now I’m in my dotage, Diorissimo.

Replica do amazing scents and you can order a pack with generous testers of the range, so you can pick your best. They spell amazing.

Following!

Shamelessly bookmarking

Hermès do a compose your own set of 4 - expensive but you do get 4 different scents...

https://www.hermes.com/uk/en/product/compose-your-own-set-of-4-hermessences-V4HERMESSENCE/

Ambre Noir in the Dior privee collection screams money.

I’m not sure ‘screams money’ exactly accords with the OP’s aspirations for ‘quiet luxury’?

Penhaligans Halfeti. Always gets comments, The Essence Vault does a good dupe.

Got to be this: https://m.fredericmalle.co.uk/product/19566/50241/perfume/portrait-of-a-lady/by-dominique-ropion
I don’t believe in dupes, expensive perfumes are defined by the scent designers that created them, best to buy a smaller amount, it lasts longer anyway - must be the costly ingredients.

Er, ever hear of a classic as a concept?

Something new just for the sake of being new is the opposite of luxurious.

I think you may have skipped the rest of the conversation, @Aroastdinnerisnotahumanright …

But - actually - luxury encompasses having the freedom to be an early adopter. It isn’t poor people driving around in Teslas. People with the luxury of choice may well have barns full of ancient vehicles - but they may choose to drive the newest and most efficient. Knowing about and having access to the latest perfumes - those produced using innovative techniques or rare or new materials absolutely is a luxury.

And let’s not forget how many once highly valued perfumes have become completely denatured and unrecognisable over time - because of cost or regulations limiting the use of certain materials. People buying them now in discount stores (or even in department stores) may not be getting anything like the original; it’s a facsimile of luxury, not the real thing.

Ahhhh I used to wear Rue de Merveilles for years. I loved it so much!!

I love so many of these suggested perfumes on this thread.

Came here to say exactly this!

You mention you like woody sort of scents and this one ticks the box I think. Le Labo are pretty generous with the samples in my experience.

Jill Sander and Khaite 😩 I wish I could snag a few of their pieces but it’s an entire paycheck 😭

one of my favorite websites for shopping is The Outnet; loads of heavily discounted, quality finds.

I love Fragonard's signature scent.

I just tried the new Jo Malone Cedarwood and Hinoki and it's very stealth-wealth. It's quite strong in the opening hours (so would be best applied as soon as you step out of the shower) but the sample in my pocket has matured beautifully over the last two days.

It's along the lines of the woody Aesop fragrances already mentioned, which I also love and use constantly in my home.

Sunspel perfumes are lovely. I have Oak Moss on my wish list.

I love unusual perfume brands - I discovered this when in Framce this summer - https://maisonmatine.com/en/products/tu-te-calmes-15ml

Tu te calmes is a good woody scent and lasts well.

Really expensive perfumes can often be bought via decants. There are several Facebook perfume sites where you can purchase decants, partially used bottles or yes ( shock!) discount prices for v. Expensive bottles. I used to have 70 bottles plus but are now down to around 25 ish.
There are some classics around that I really rate still. Cristalle edp & Paris edp are both great. Plus Safari by Ralph Lauren still smells wonderful. Or at least the bottles I have still do.
I'm another who loves Perfumer H - Gold is my Winter choice & Under the lemon tree is my summer perfume.

Thank you so much for all your ideas, everyone. It's for a birthday present from husband and he'd rather buy one expensive perfume than an array of dupes because he's a classy bitch, so I'm going to get some samples to try on.

Several that you've mentioned here I already knew and loved but had forgotten (Penhaligon's Halfeti is right up my street) but I'm not familiar with Le Labo so will try also

Any Le Labo perfume is fabulous
my current favourites are Jasmin or Tonka

Le labo santal 33

Anything from penhaligons