Help to choose a new perfume

[BIWI]

I need to branch out and buy myself something new/different. But every time I go to have a look in Boots (or when I was last in duty-free) the choice is just so overwhelming, so I never know where to start.

My favourite is Coco Mademoiselle, and in the summer I like Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin. In the past I've had/liked YSL Paris, and YSL Y (don't think they make that one anymore)

I don't like anything too heavy, or too sweetly floral. Can't have Rive Gauche because that was my mum's favourite, and smelling like her always seems weird!

Any suggestions for where to start?

TIA.

Oh, I have a trip coming up soon, so an opportunity to buy in duty-free.

My favourite is Chanel 19.

My favourite is Acque di Parma, Blu Mediterraneo, Arancia di Capri.

"Arancia di Capri is an eau de toilette characterized by bright and radiant top notes of orange, mandarin, and lemon. At its heart, petit grain notes merge with intense cardamom aroma while the base of this fragrance is rounded off with a light touch of caramel and sensual notes of musk."

I wear it all year round, it's a lovely fresh, clean smell which lasts. I also like the design of the blue bottle.

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@AcquadiP I quite agree! Always discounted at sites like Allbeauty.

There is no duty free any more @BIWI . It’s just shopping. Always check discounted prices before shopping at an airport. Eg the Capri one above from Allbeauty is £75.45. RRP is £170. All the Blu Mediterraneo perfumes are first class. I find Di Siciliana and Di Panarea are also great. So check the in line discounters and don’t expect the airport to offer much in value.

Thank you for that @TizerorFizz I will see if I can get some samples of Di Siciliana and Di Panarea.

John Lewis sell them near me. At full price. You can have a squirt there though!

you could get some of the sample boxes. it sometimes takes a while for a perfume to bed down when you spray. perfume society i have used. or going into a perfume specific shop. coffee grounds between different types will help your nose differentiate

I bought Dossier Woody Hyacinth the other day off a whatnot auction. It's based on Chanel Chance and is very lovely

I like all the scents you mention and recently got into Penhaligons perfumes. Empressa and Juniper Sling. Try and get to a store first for a squirt as prices horrific so you want to be sure. I recently went through Heathrow and it was cheaper than Penhaligons website.

As a PP said, try a discovery set first. The Perfume Society does brilliant ones and a lot of brands sell them online too.

There not may be duty-free any more, but prices at the airport (when I last bought perfume, just before Christmas) were significantly lower than on the high street. So definitely still discounts there.

I’ve just bought a new scent
https://www.johnlewis.com/valentino-born-in-roma-donna-eau-de-parfum/p4753569
it’s really nice I sprayed some on my wrist and went about my day and I kept smelling it and it was lovely ! It has vanilla which I love ❤️

Loewe 001 might suit too.

YSL Libre or Carolina Herrera Good Girl would fit your bill I think.

although I don’t bother buying designer anymore, Noted Aromas do dupes of both the above and last way longer than the originals. I get treating yourself in duty free though, it’s how you start any holiday!

Thanks all - some good suggestions to check out.

I never , ever buy a perfume off any shelf. In fact I was shocked at how awful duty free prices are , my Dior perfume was £50 more for the same size and box last week.

Always online.

Baccarat Rouge

I would also add Luna to this.

I second getting some discovery sets from perfumers or the perfume society. You need to spray on yourself and see how the scent develops over the day. Live with a perfume for a bit before committing as they can be so pricy now. If you fancy some dupes, Aldi are about to launch some le Labo dupes, they have Tom Ford dupes in at the moment and Perfume Parlour do some fab copies of extremely expensive perfumes.

Dupes are cheap ingredients though. In my view they should not be allowed to copy an expensive product. Just design and make their own cheap offerings - I’d never buy one. Or a fake bag for that matter.