Can we have a wee chat about perfume?

[shootfromthehip]

I very, very rarely get perfume from anyone and then only if I ask for it. I'd like a new perfume for Christmas and because I get so little I am scared to try something else.

For years I have been wearing Coco Chanel Mademoiselle because I love the smell of it and it makes me feel like a grown-up.

I wear Christian Dior Tendre Poison because I have been wearing it since I was about 17 but I still love the heavy floral-ness of it.

I wear Stella McCartney Sheer because it appeals to my inner old lady. It's lovely.

At the moment I only have the Chanel one left and am not sure what else to get.

Can you make a suggestion about a floral perfume for me? Or can you tell me what you wear and why? I'd love to find out more about what will make me feel fabulous (bearing in mind that everything smells different on different people).

Any thoughts? TIA.

I love Prada, Daisy by Marc Jacobs and Cuir de Russie by Chanel.

ATM I am enjoying Givenchy Very Irresistible. I tried the Eau de Parfum, loved it, and asked my parents to get me the Eau de Toilette. I generally prefer to use EdT because I find it too easy to overdo EdP. What we didn't realise was that Very Irresistible EdT is a totally different fragrance to VE EdP! Not quite what I wanted, but nice, too, so I got used to it. Now I have the EdP as well, and vary which one I use according to my mood.

I don't like wearing more than one perfume at a time (I don't mean literally at the same time, but over the saem weeks) because I think clothes that you don't wash after every wearing, like cardies, scarves, coats, take on some of the fragrance, and so too many perfumes would be...a mess.

My bottles are running low, and I haven't decided whether to get the same again, or try something different. A couple of years ago I bought a sampling pack from Boots: vials of 10 different perfumes, plus a voucher for a 30 or 50ml bottle of one of them. That was fun. It was how I chose the Givenchy. But I also liked Touch of Pink and Ghost (which I used for a year before I moved on to Givenchy). They're all lightly floral, warm, but no sandalwood. I loathe sandalwood.

BTW I also wore Tendre Poison for many years. I was utterly faithful to it, because just the least whiff of it lifted my spirits. Yet something changed after my first child was born...maybe hormones?...but it never smelled quite the same on me again. Still nice, but not uplifting.

I have always liked Chanel Cristalle but as I am getting a little older I wanted something more 'grown up'.
Dh found one for me - gave me Vivienne Westwood Boudoir for my birthday and I just love it. It reminds me of 50s hollywood glamour.
My mother was very beautiful when she was in her 30s and it reminds me of her getting dressed to go out - dusting powder and all that

I also favour one scent at a time but tend to go 'lighter' in the summer

Ooh, I like the idea of little samples of different perfumes. I haven't gone down that route before as I hate sweet perfumes and know I won't wear them. I still hanker for perfumes that I have worn before but need to be brave!

hf- like the sound of the Cuir de Russie by Chanel, what does it smell like generally?

I still love Poison too. Have you smelt the new Marc Jacobs Lola? Like Poison it's quite heavy but as it wears off it becomes a prettier smell.

Another ex-Poison, (the original knock'em over one) I also love Angel (but buy Byblos Cielo which is identical but about a tenth of the price)
Can anyone do a link to the sample bottles of little perfumes? I always buy my Mum a bottle of something for Christmas and I think she'd like a box of samples!
I've got Chanel 19 at the mo which makes me feel sophisticated and grown up, but I'm not sure it's me.

Cuir de Russie is a heavy, leathery scent - but settles to a more floral one.

It just smells so seductive - almost like an aftershave!

Be warned - you are only safe wearing it for your chosen one.

There's one I smell around quite often that smells just like Midget Gems.

Anyone know what that is?

It is kind of floral, and I love it!

That might be the Marc Jacobs Lola. It does have a fruityness about it. With it being new and almost Christmas it's being advertised quite heavily now in beauty departments so you probably would smell it on someone whilst out and about.

Floral... hmm what about Versace Baby Pink?

Or Flowers by Kenzo

If you like Poison, have you tried Ricci Ricci (my current new fave) which has similar base notes and is very complex. Don't know if you like vanilla, L'Instant by Givenchy is another I love in a similar vein.

I love Fleur Oriental by Miller Harris. It's floral but quite heavy.

A floral scent I adore - is Iris Nobile - acqua di parma - buy the Eau de Parfum though - it has more notes than the Eau de Toillette!

Thanks all for the messages- will need to go somewhere and have a sniff. Do want something grown-up and sexy but should probably get something light and everyday! Cheers

Have you tried Agent Provocatuer (sorry about the sp) that is grown-up and sexy and reminds me of 50's glamour.
I was just bought an eau de toilette from Zara - Tender Peony, which is quite lovely for day.
My fail safe is Clarins Eau Dynamisante!