Calling all Perfumistas

deb

If you are interested in fragrance I just stumbled upon this review by The blog, Now Smell This. I just orders some Iris decants from The Perfumed Court and wanted to review my purchases. Just thought I would share.

http://www.nstperfume.com/2007.....hould-try/

9 years ago

Inspiration

16 replies

Latest reply was from

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

If you love perfume, this is the best book I've ever read describing different perfumes. Both good and bad. The bad ones are hilarious. http://www.amazon.com/Perfumes.....0143115014

On your linked list above, I would agree with the recommendations of Hermes, L'artisan Parfumeur, Frederic Malle and Le Labo, though my faves from each brand are different than the ones they list.

9 years ago

tulle

Veteran

Deb, I have a chunky charm bracelet with a small perfume flagon attached. In it, I carry a few drops of Mitsouko. There is a wonderful thing that happens with this perfume: 15 or 20 minutes after you apply it, when you have forgotten all about it, the soft, dusty scent of peach rises from your skin to recapture your attention. A little miracle. What are your favorite, must-have perfumes?

9 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

I wore L'air du Temps for many years, with brief detours for other Nina Ricci scents and once in a while, the scent du jour. But about 15 years ago I was introduced to Bellodgia by Caron and I loved it...richer and spicier than L'air du Temps but with the same carnation note. But they've discontinued it. So it's back to my original fave, L'air du Temps.

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

I seem to be on an Iris kick so I ordered decants of Hermes Hiris, Prada Infusion d'Iris, Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist, Frederic Malle Iris Poudre, and Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile. I have not worn all of them for a whole day yet but so far I really like the Iris Silver Mist. I will use up my decant to see how it grows on me. I take so many meds that I have had to basically start over with my perfume. I love the Tocca Collette and Liliana but think they are too heavy for the heat. I wore them all last winter.

9 years ago

tulle

Veteran

Ah, I have a French friend who wears only iris scents. Have you tried the heavenly old Guerlain fragrance Apres l'Ondee? Lots of soft iris in the base. Summer does seem to require a very different scent structure, doesn't it?
Retailgirl, my godmother wore Bellodgia. She was very beautiful, and had a deep, thrilling voice which I connect with that rich clove-y carnation scent.

9 years ago

danskogirl

Active Member

Deb: For a lovely, ethereal iris scent, you might also try Chanel's 28 La Pausa. It's gorgeous, graceful and just right for spring/summer.

For cooler weather, I like Van Cleef & Arpels' Bois d'Iris -- though the iris plays second fiddle in that one to other notes including wood, incense and resinous sweet notes. (It still manages to be a somewhat airy, rather than heavy, fragrance, despite what those notes might imply.)

9 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Holy Grail:

http://perfumesmellinthings.bl.....th-le.html

I still have some, but I'm sure it's slowly evaporating away. It's been so long out of production that when I ask people at the perfume counter for something similar, 90% have no clue.
It worked SO WELL with my body chemistry

9 years ago

danskogirl

Active Member

Annagybe: I remember sniffing Le Feu D'Issey back in the day and being completely taken with the wonderful fiery, spicy, milky uniqueness of it. (Someone once wrote that it evoked for her an image of feral tiger cubs. Seems about right to me.) I still remember what it smells like to this day.

9 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I had Le Feu d'Issey. Bought it in the Abu Dhabi duty free in 1999, wore it all, and never saw it again.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I would love to wear perfume, but I have not been able to find my scent. They all seem "too heavy" to me. Do any of you have suggestions for a light, clean scent? I asked many salespeople and I have yet to find one I like.

I will try Chanel's 28 La Pausa this weekend. Maybe this it.

9 years ago

danskogirl

Active Member

Sterling: You might also want to try Prada's Infusion d'Iris. It's a light, clean iris scent (with a hint of incense). Not my favorite as I perceive it to be a little too soapy for my taste but many people like it.

9 years ago

old chic

Active Member

Retailgirl, I share your nostalgia for Bellodgia by Caron, but it was only my second favorite. The very best carnation, ever, was IMHO Blue Carnation by Roger et Gallet. I adopted it as my signature in the late 60s and I would be wearing it today (I connect it to everything kicky and mod about my youth) had it not been discontinued long ago. That kind of a carnation note is impossible to find now because of IFRA regulations that made perfumers remove a lot of ingredients because they are allergens for some people. Eugenol, which gives that crisp carnation scent, is one of those ingredients. I think the authentic, smashing carnation just can't be achieved anymore. You can't even buy R & G's carnation soap. And I think that's why Caron took Bellodgia off the market. They knew the perfumistas would just complain about a reformulated version.

9 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

Old Chic, it is too bad that some beautiful fragrances have been ( unsuccessfully) re formulated and some have been discontinued. I work in a store that carries all the most popular scents and every new one that comes along. None of them appeal to me. If I smell Arpege, which my mother wore, or Clinique Aromatics Elixir, which a dear friend wore, or 4711 Cologne, which my college roommate wore, or some other scents, ( even Jean Nate, from my college years!) I am taken back to a time and place. I even remember the scent of my husband's Aramis, which he wore when we first met! I don't notice perfume on people today, I think they use body wash and lotions and call it a day.

9 years ago

deb

Veteran

Sterling, try Philosophy's Amazing Grace. I wore it for years but the new meds changed my skin and it now goes sour on me. Or even Clean's Shower Fresh.

9 years ago

tulle

Veteran

For my money, Sterling, you can't find a better clean, light Summer fragrance than Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger. I know, I know--they sell it at the drugstore, but it smells much more expensive than it is, and it never turns icky on the skin in hot weather. Clinique's Happy is another lovely unobtrusive scent, and, if you like uncomplicated light florals, you might try La Chasse aux Papillons by L'Artisans Parfumeur, or Beyond Paradise by Estee Lauder. Jo Malone's Lime Mandarin & Basil (I think that's the name) has a lot of fans for its freshness (turns sour on me, but smells divine on my friend.) Experiment! You can order samples from The Perfumed Court and many online fragrance sites.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'll make a list and start trying them.

9 years ago

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