Beauty advent calendars 2024 #4

[virgocatlover]

We still have 2 months to go so there's still time for dilemmas, decisions and discounts.

We have a few coming out this week including John Lewis, OK and No7. I'm still WAC (without advent calendar) but that may soon change!

I adored last year Space NK advent, it had more crowd pleasing fragrances in it but this was perfect for me at the time and bought few full size bottles from it. But this year, I am not as impressed. There are 3 excellent in it, but I already own one of them - few repeats etc.

😹😹😹@TriciaMcMillan

haha I feel ya! Report your loves and hates in the scent of the day topic, we need to hear about them

I was thinking of getting a perfume advent, but as a newbie to fine fragrance I don't really know what I would like. HN is out as I don't want more masculine scents. SpaceNK doesn't seem to be getting alot of love either.

Maybe I would be better to go for a fine fragrance discovery set? Does anyone have any suggestions for good sets for someone just starting their fragrance journey?

Given the eye watering prices @psuedocream3 - could you go to a good department store first and do some experimental sniffing?

I almost bought some things from Penhaligons yesterday, having discovered the sale, then realised I had NO idea what anything smelled like. I love perfume - it’s very important to me - but I am also quite fussy. I love trying new scents in a mixed calendar, but am not brave enough to go the whole hog with a calendar full of unknown fragrances!

Random Lifestyle Vlog has posted the unboxing of the LF beauty chest. It looks pretty good with mainly full sized products

@TriciaMcMillan & @MiaN so glad Harrods is on its way. Are you opening now or saving for Christmas? I haven’t tried all the perfumes yet but there’s a real standout in the ones that I have tried. My Flannels cracker is coming today now, I’m going to be so tempted to open it.

Tricia I think I’m just about in your fragrance cloud range 😁

@IlovePond I'm not much of an in person shopper, but I didn't think that anywhere did scent sampling for fine fragrances, and thats why they had discovery sets, but I will definitely look into it.

Penhaligons scent library is £35 for 10 samples and has a £20 voucher to redeem for a full sized bottle which sounds quite fair, assuming you end up loving at least one scent.

I ordered h&b last night and it has just arrived. That's more or less 12 hours from order to delivery and its not damaged. The box is beautiful and can be repurposed, I'm thinking for storing xmas cards, bows etc. I haven't opened it as busy elsewhere but I'm really pleased with it. I knew it would be handy for bathroom supplies but I'm shocked how pleased I am. Considering I have purchased far spendier ones in previous years. Would most definitely recommend.

Also the French pharmacy looks beautiful, I had an eye on that one but it sold out quite quickly. Well done to all who snapped it up, great choice

L’Occitane has mysteriously gone up to full price on LF

@QueefofSheena which is the standout perfume for you?
I have so far resisted unboxing mine but did take the lid off the amouage guidance perfume to sniff it and spilt a bit and that one is a beast of a perfume I could smell it for hours! I can see why they gave us a tiny (but incredibly cute) bottle!

All arrived now and I've opened the Harrods outer box but not the actual calendar.

It's beautiful even from the outside! I've run my nose over it (seriously), just to check in case there's anything that seems like it's leaked or broken, but can smell nothing.

I think I'm going to leave it for December, but will open my Flannels cracker as I cannot resist opening something.

The wind seems to be blowing north westerly so scent cloud will likely pass over Barnet, Harrow and Brent, possibly Ealing and Hertfordshire. Stay alert! 🧐

@psuedocream3 I got the Diptyque discovery set for Christmas which was really nice. It's eau de toilette rather than perfume but they're 7.5ml each which gives you a good idea of what they're like.

@Puravida23 it was the Thameen one, it’s just gorgeous

I have Space NK Beauty for December so I most likely will open harrods earlier.

@psuedocream3
Re sample set Byredo had really good deal last year with 24 samples for 195 euro, and the full amount went against purchase of 50 or 100ml fragrance. When you order the fragrance you get 2 more samples. Unfortunately they changed and now only allow 165 euro voucher against fragrances, so not exactly free but I still feel it's a good deal and most people would find something in there.

If you prefer designer fragrances I would go for the fragrance shop or perfume shop advent, provided the price is right

Bon Parfumeur sample set is large but I find great to try to learn to recognise different notes. It's 30 perfumes, nicely grouped by fragrance family and I found great fun. I don't usually keep the sets once I know what works for me and what not but this is so good - I keep it and every so often I have a little sniff session.

I would recommend sniff session in shop, but spray on skin and leave the store before making your mind to make sure you are happy with the drydown. A lot of perfumes change in 20/30 minutes and some change quite dramatically

I feel for someone just getting in fragrance Space NK is good. One of my favourite perfumes is included, very popular fresh rose scent - which gets the rose nay sayers surprised as it is more modern, rose water type of scent. There is lovely citrus fragrance, few very popular skin scents, good vanila and popular woody scent. It's good advent

This sounds lovely!

I feel for someone just getting in fragrance Space NK is good. One of my favourite perfumes is included, very popular fresh rose scent - which gets the rose nay sayers surprised as it is more modern, rose water type of scent. There is lovely citrus fragrance, few very popular skin scents, good vanila and popular woody scent. It's good advent.' Could you elaborate on what these brands are? :)

In particular, what is the fresh rose scent you speak of?

That does sound like a good deal @psuedocream3 I guess I was thinking of places like Harrods and Harvey Nicks where they do let people spray themselves with costly testers! Tbh, I am not much of an irl shopper these days myself 😿

I don’t really like rose scents and prefer warmer scents. HN sent me a Le Labo sample with purchase recently and I’m wearing that today. It’s not doing much for me, I’m afraid - smells quite chemically.

I have to be careful as some perfume sets off my asthma🙀/allergies. Next time I’m irl shopping, I’m going to have a few experimental squirts.

Off to look at the LF box - again!

@psuedocream3 Miller Harris have a nice discovery set for £30. I know / like / have previously owned a few of them so am considering getting it as a chance to try a few new ones. They also give you a £30 voucher off a full bottle so the set then becomes effectively free. They also allow you to order individual samples.

I have previously had the Maison Margiela Replica discovery set which I enjoyed using and am considering a full size bottle of By the Fireplace but am trying to use other perfumes up first.

Le labo have several discovery sets some with 5ml per scent and some with 1.5ml. Not sure they do vouchers off full size though.

If anyone is in London there is an amazing shop called Les Senteurs in Victoria. I haven't been for a while but they have lots of smaller brand fragrances. When I dropped I chatted to the assistant about what I liked and showed me a few options then let me choose two to get free samples of. I then tried them over a few days and that is how I discovered Serge Lutens Feminité du Bois which I wore for several years. There is a great cafe opposite too. And they do samples by post for a fee.

@IlovePond which le Labo scent?

Byredo Mojave Ghost is a favourite of mine, I love it. Jo by Jo Loves is lovely citrus. Diptyque eau Rose is very pretty realistic rose to my nose, admittedly I have only tried it in store and I don't know the fragrance too well. Leather Malin Goetz is very like Le Labo 33 and while I am over this scent profile if I wear it I still get a lot of compliments every time like no other fragrance I have. I have Le Labo 33, and that's why I am not interested in something that is so much like it. Glossier you is very popular and while I prefer different type of skin scent - I have few friends that love it. Plur vanilla body mist is hit with vanilla lovers, Replica Lazy Sunday Morning is aldehydic musky fresh that is repeat from last year. Juliette has a gun Juliette is pretty too. There are no very masculine fragrances in it imo, unisex or feminine leaning

If it was my first ever fragrance advent, I would be happy with it.

@Choux Le Noir 29. Smells very unpleasant to me 🙀