Perfume recommendations

[Silverstag]

I haven't worn perfume for a few years and would like to ask for one for Christmas.
The reason I don't really wear it is that I struggle to find one I like. I do not like a lot of the floral scents, to be honest I much prefer the smell of aftershave but obviously don't want to wear that!
So please can I have recommendations of nice perfumes that aren't too floral.

Tom ford perfumes are unisex. You might like those. Black orchid is nice.

Could you tell us a bit more about what you liked before OP? A discovery set would be a good start perhaps?

I got a sample recently of Mugler Angel and it’s really nice. Not a perfume I’ve ever looked at before. I also love D&G ‘The one’. Not floral at all.

Can you ask for a perfume sampler instead? Very risky to get a perfume without having proper time to let it sit on your skin. If you like aftershave, then unisex fragrances are definitely the way to go, especially those that are more woody, spicy, amber/musk, or aquatics.

SpaceNK has sample sets for Aesop, Tom Ford, Phlur, Fresh, DS & Durga, and Malin & Goetz which are unisex and mostly non-floral.

Armani Diamonds for Her? I always thought that wasn't too "feminine" or flowery. I'd smell of aftershave all day long if it was socially acceptable, I much prefer those scents. 🤣 You could get a tiny dupe of it from The Essence Vault to see if you like it then buy the proper one if you do.

I recently got Moschino Toy 2 Pearl which I find more similar to an aftershave. Absolutely love it and the bottle is very cool!

Worth a sniff if you go to Boots/Superdrug etc.

If you’re not into floral scents, you might like perfumes with fresh, woody, or spicy notes—they’re often less sweet and a bit more like aftershave but still feminine. Some good options are Tom Ford Oud Wood, Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt, or Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. They’re subtle, sophisticated, and not too flowery. Hope this helps!

If you really prefer the woody type of scents, there is no law to stop you wearing a man's cologne.

I have a friend who wears man stuff and smells great. There are no laws against it, just find one you like! Or go for a unisex one. I wear Tom Ford and Kayali fragrances which are for both sexes and always get compliments.

Oh yes, Jo Malone and le Labo are also good for deceptively simple, nearly-unisex scents that are closer to light colognes than heavy 'perfumy' fragrance, and they both do sample sets.

As well as Sage & Sea Salt, you might like Jo Malone's Hinoki & Cedarwood; Lime Basil & Mandarin; and Cypress & Grapevine. From le Labo, maybe Santal 33, The Matcha 26, The Noir 29, Baie 19, Labdanum 18, Vetiver 46, or Ambrette 9.

I buy the eden perfume dupes. They do sample boxes of 5 10ml bottles for £39. You can search for unisex or woody scents and pick a selection to try before committing to a whole bottle of something. They're also really handy for having in your handbag or leaving in the car.

Thank you for all the recommendations. I will now try and get to a Boots to smell them.

Why hadn't I thought about a unisex option that could be the answer!

@MissBattleaxe the last perfume I had was Dolce & Gabbana The One. I also had a sample of Black Tuljp.
Years ago I had CK One and before that Lou Lou. That's it! I've not had many.

That sounds like a really good idea. I wasn't aware you get get sample sets - that's how often I buy perfume 🤣

Thank you, they sound like the sort of scents I might prefer

I think that aftershave often has an aquatic/matine scent profile with maybe woody base notes.

I managed to find a couple of the Tom Ford fragrances in my local Boots and had a quick sniff. They weren't floral hurrah so will ask for the discovery set for Xmas and go from there!

By Killian - Angels share. Wonderfully boozy praline woody delicious

YOU by Glossier - smells different on everyone. Absolutely divine

www.guerlain.com/uk/en-uk/p/absolus-allegoria-epices-exquises---eau-de-parfum-P014837.html