I"m in the mood to find a new perfume. I don't wear perfume every day but do like to occasionally. For many years the only one I've worn is Hanae Mori Butterfly, which I still love. I first found it at Holt Renfrew in Montreal 15 years ago. While DH was speaking at conference, I was strolling around HR looking at the gorgeous and pricey clothes, including a stunning Armani leather blazer that thank goodness would not have fit me so I wasn't tempted to spend $7k. I think an SA was offering a free spray of the perfume and I just loved it. It was a couple of years before I found it anywhere in the US.

I once did some research into brands I had liked in the past (Burberry Brit was one example) and they mostly had strong vanilla notes. I don't want to relive the Avon Pretty Peach I liked as a kid I have a visceral "yuk" reaction to perfumes that smell overtly like sweet flowers, much as I do love flowers and their scent in a bouquet or garden.

Hanae Mori Butterfly is described as "Floral, fruity, and gourmand, the fragrance opens with luminous notes of red berries. The heart reveals a delicate bouquet of plum blossom, jasmine, and rose. In the base, precious woods and vanilla bring warmth, softness, and depth"

Vanilla, fruit, woody, seems to be my thing at least for base notes.

How do I go about finding something new?

I suppose doing a google search on perfume with woody vanilla base notes would be a place to start, to come up with al list of ones to try IRL. I don't think standing in the Sephora perfume dept randomly spraying brands onto that little paper strip would be very effective -)

Any and all recommendation welcome!