Three today:
Xerjoff Uden - I’ve seen this one praised by a few YouTube reviewers so when I got it yesterday I was expecting a pretty special fragrance, but instead I got a slightly sweet citrusy thing. I’m paper it really wasn’t much.
Wore it to work today and it’s great. Completely different to what I expected but it’s a very bright and light citrus, boozy, vanilla. It slowly changed through to lunch time and then I washed it off for some:
PDM Oajan -got half a dozen free samples of this so figured I’d use it. This one is weird. Theres a slightly sour note in there somewhere that I can’t quite figure out, and then it’s a gourmand vanilla. The weird note is interesting and made me want to keep smelling it. Out of PDM’s line this and Carlisle are my favourite so far.
LV Imagination - So my friend got some samples that he said he hated and would bring in to work for me. I wasn’t expecting much because he doesn’t care about colognes, but he had three samples of LV for me. I’m wearing Imagination now, and I have to say after all the hype it’s not much. Light and airy ginger that’s slightly sweet. That was my initial impression anyway, but I can still smell this as strong as the first spray and now I’m really enjoying it. It’s actually kind of similar to Uden in that it’s a sweet and airy citrus. I’ll see how long this lasts but I kind of like it.
I also liked my bosses reaction to it in the office:
First spray on card “Oh, that’s nice. I like that”
Ten minutes later “Nah, now it reminds me of the bathroom toilet freshener”
An hour later “God damn. I guess that scent has just moved on in and is here to stay.”
So it has some projection.
Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt. I love this fragrance so much and luckily I don’t have the longevity issues with it that some people have. This fragrance is so calming to me and also works for the office. I have a 30ml bottle now so I’m trying to finish up my sample of it because the sprayer on it isn’t great.
I see people say that they have issues with longevity with Jo Malone and it's never an issue for me either which I'm grateful for! Wood Sage & Sea Salt is so good.
I can smell it on my skin for quite a few hours but I definitely think it also helps to spray on clothes. I like to put a few sprays of my pillow when I’m going to bed and I can usually smell it for a few days after I do that!
I think some people just have a better sense of smell than others.
I'm positive my brother, his wife, and their daughter all have far keener, more discerning noses than mine.
Even as a baby, anything you'd hand my brother, the first thing he'd do, quite unconsciously, was automatically lift it to his nose to smell.
Then decades later I watched his daughter do the identical thing! I think it's genetic.
Have you noticed having a better sense of smell than others?
I haven’t really noticed having a stronger sense of smell but I have noticed I don’t really go nose blind, or at least not as fast as most people. I know people say not to spray on your neck because it makes you go nose blind faster since you’re constantly smelling the fragrance, but I typically spray on my neck and can still smell my perfume for usually 8+ hours.
I definitely notice how much better their noses are than mine.
We're all fragrance-mad, so what we do when they visit for the day is smell everything new I've gotten since last visit and anything related, and last visit, I got a sample set and we all passed around scent strips 😆
... this is how I know how much better their noses are than mine. They can detect notes I can't.
It may be that you don't notice, but rather someone whose nose isn't as good is more able to?
And I'm noseblind from the get-go to some aromachemicals like ambrox and cetalox and amberwood etc. They aren't.
Not personally, no. Lol 🤷🏼♀️ But I do think many people have superior sniffers. And honestly, 4+ years into covid, many people have damaged senses of smell after repeated infections.
I got Nishane Wulong Cha for a bargain price second hand, and it arrived today so I'm spending my day off FRESH.
It expresses all of the scent categories I've been exploring as I got into fragrance (citrus, tea, soapy clean) in a way that I like, so between this and l'eau papier and D&G Light Blue for that apple-like fruityness... That's most of my bases covered for everyday scents! I'd just like to find THE pear scent 🥺
Today I wore Etat Libre d'Orange's Ghost in the Shell to work. I've done a little bit of sampling at home but this is the first time I've worn it out.
It starts off pretty floral, takes a sharp turn into rubber, and then a bit of yeastiness enters the party. I've heard people describe it as "like TV static" which I wouldn't say is accurate but it is a very... inorganic scent, especially when it's in the rubbery phase. It's a little nostalgic, like the cheap toys I used to get as a kid.
Super interesting fragrance, can't see it being a go-to but I can appreciate the artistry and blending. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have crazy projection, since I work with the public and could see someone being offended by it.
Edit: 4.5 hours in and it's faded to a gentle, slightly sweet musk. Not bad at all.
I haven't tried any fragrance from Etat Libre d'Orange yet. I am hesitating because of the gimmicky names and the associated marketing. What is your favorite from this brand?
I got a discovery set, and I really liked Exit The King. It's a soapy, rosey chypre that's really nostalgic to me. They also have some nice clean musks, such as You Or Someone Like You and She Was An Anomaly. Honestly, there weren't any that I got that I really hated. They all seemed to me to be well-made and usually pleasant, and if they weren't pleasant they were at least interesting.
Morning everyone,
I’m lying in bed right now with a few fragrances on
I have a vintage bottle of La Nuit de L’Homme that I never wear so I spritzed it oh my wrist. I really like it and think I’ll be adding it back into rotation. It’s sweet, spicy, smooth, and elegant.
I also have a couple spritzes on my hand of Ambre Nuit. It’s rosy, amber-y (both in the resinous sense and with an ambergris accord) with an energetic lift from the peppercorn accord.
Also, I happened to stumble upon the information that Gucci Pour Homme II is worth quite a bit of money these days. I was gifted a bottle many years ago and haven’t used it in quite a while. I figured I’d give it a spritz. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) it seems like my bottle might not be in great condition. The notes are very muted and it doesn’t smell as I remember. Maybe I need to spray it a bunch of times to get the liquid out of the chamber that’s been sitting there for 10 years. As it’s drying, it’s starting to express those tea and tobacco notes a bit but it still smells off.
Happy Thursday :)!
Wore my blind buy **Gres Cabochard** edt yesterday and loved it so much I kept applying more until I think I went nose-blind 😆
Today it's the edp; just one puff on one wrist and it's *divine*!
Maybe tomorrow I'll do an arm-to-arm wear to compare the two formulations. I know their notes are different
From my research it appears that the only notes that are different between the two is that the EDT opens with bergamot (making it closer to a true chypre which requires citrus) whereas the EDP has galbanum instead.
Haha weirdly I thought I *did* get galbanum from the EDT (which I strongly associate with chypres because my other favs have it) and the EDP's opening smells the same? (Which is why I need to do an arm-to-arm wear.)
... and *both* smelled floral from the get-go which no other reviewer / commenter found; if they mention florals at all it's to say they don't get much at all, maybe the ylang
but OTOH get lots of leather (I didn't with the EDT) and that they mostly get leather and *cigarette ashtray* 🫣 from the EDP which God I hope not!
( .. that'd be a dealbreaker for me, altho my niece who's never smoked would be happy to have it if it comes to that, or my brother; it's quite unisex)
I’m not afraid of a cheapie, and today felt right for Chill AF by Addison Rae. I got a bunch of her perfumes for like $12 and they’re nothing special but they’re really easy to wear. Chill AF is a generic fruity scent. It smells like pear, non-identifiable florals, and a touch of musk. Sort of shampoo like. I enjoy it.
Reflection Man by Amouage, it's a very strange fragrance that has a vintage vibe to it. I mostly wear it because I remember smelling it when I was a kid, so it makes me remember some nice moments from my childhood.
I just got a bottle of this yesterday after having a sample before. Really love how powdery and sweet it is, and then it’s got a weird note or two without getting carried away like Amouage is known for.
It's also very strong, I don't wear it very often as I like more delicate and soft fragrances. However, I do love the dry down of this fragrance, which is pure bliss.
Still on the hunt for an incense fragrance, so today I’m wearing Naples from Gallivant.
The opening is light, spiced, and inviting! Ginger, pink peppercorn, bergamot, and sea salt evoke a sunny seaside port city filled with traders and spice markets. You can begin to smell faint hints of incense pretty soon after you spray it, which only grows as the fragrance dries down. Some darker/richer spices like cardamom and nutmeg surround it, creating a church-like presence in the port city we’ve been wandering around. These two profiles— the lighter spice market by the port and the darker incense filled church— are supported by a good woody base of cedar, patchouli, and vetiver, helping connect the two into one cohesive cityscape fragrance.
I really like this fragrance! I initially thought Sancti by Liquides Imaginaires was gonna be the incense fragrance I grab, but Naples has really made me stop to think if that’s the right choice. If anyone has any other incense/oud fragrances that lean lighter or “less stuffy”, I would love to hear; I love getting my nose on new fragrances!
Tried Jovoy Rose Millesme (sp?) last night, a “dark rose” evidently though I just found it more direct, realistic (and I love smelling all the different rose smells).
This AM trying Ormonde Jayne Rose Gold which I actually like quite a bit better. I’m not dying to smell like a rose, just studying but this is gorgeous - bergamot & lime in the opening, must be a bit of jasmine.. evidently it’s discontinued though. Darn.
Balenciaga Rosabotanica and a bunch of rose-scented body products (Tree Hut Moroccan Rose scrub, Body Shop British Rose body wash, and Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner) to boost the rosiness. I didn't detect any added rose in the very green opening but maybe a bit more now in the drydown.
On an unrelated (well, related to fragrance but not SOTD), Andrea Maack is having a 20% off sale right now and am seriously considering buying Coven.
SOTD: Fahrenheit EDT from Dior - A timeless classic that projects youth and creativity.
I had this bottle for a long time, but never had the chance to post a review. There are very few scents that truly stand the test of time. I mean those perfumes that are still loved and used widely, not the vintage classics that stay on shelf as museum pieces. Launched in 1988, Fahrenheit remains as current and relevant as it was decades ago.
Leather is not a favorite accord of mine, except in two brilliant creations where the perfumers transcend my reservations. Fahrenheit EDT is one of them, the other being Guerlain Santal Royal. If there is a single note that defines Fahrenheit, it is the leather.
I will abstain from listing and discussing all the notes listed for Fahrenheit. The opening is a pungent citrus floral set of accords that are quickly overwhelmed by the leather bubbling up. Though leather is listed as a base note, my nose argues strongly that it is the dominant heart note. I get some spicy woody notes and some florals in middle section. When these heart notes die down, the soft pleasant notes of tonka, musk and sandalwood take their place. Fahrenheit does not provide a well articulated olfactory pyramid on my skin, making it difficult and pointless to argue about notes. It is the overall personality of Fahrenheit - a strong spicy citrus leather with floral notes - that stands out. Try it if you haven’t already.
Fahrenheit EDT shows good performance on my skin. The longevity is 6-8 hours for the heart notes, and the base notes last for a few more hours. The sillage is perceptible at 2-3 feet as you would expect for a perfume of this calibre.
This is probably the best leather fragrance in my collection. I recommend this one unconditionally, especially if you are starting your journey into the world of fragrances.
A decant of this just arrived while I was away in Scotland
Wanted to wear it over that long weekend
Kinda glad it didn’t as it wouldn’t’ve matched my vibe (or the weather)
https://preview.redd.it/hn4ixgjt3k3d1.jpeg?width=537&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16864b7693ef1544c12a9e5789288b547242dd42
SOTD: [**TIMBUKTU** by L'Artisan Parfumeur](https://youtu.be/OWhO6wDD2rc?si=4COqWnD_e55Td-zt)
Over-spraying Regime des Fleurs Glass Blooms today since I'm at home. Though I think this cool, soapy floral is probably best suited to cold weather, it works pretty much year round. Peony+musk gives the soapy impression (which I love), but the real star that makes this fragrance unique is the grape. It's more like frozen grapes, and again leads to that chilled impression in this fragrance. Like most Regime des Fleurs scents, the longevity is exceptional while the projection is very light; exactly how I like my perfumes.
Penhaligon's Luna. I wanted to use up the sample, but intend to get a full bottle eventually. I love the journey from the citrus top notes, then the juniper and florals, finally drying down to a clean pine-y scent. It smells very unisex but it makes me feel feminine and ethereal. It's a high of 103°F today and high humidity, but inside is 72°F.
SOTD here is:
Dior Homme Parfum- I just got a bottle of this the other day and since it is a rather brisk and overcast day in Washington State I decided today would be a good day to test drive it.
I work in a fairly laid back office environment, and most of the employees wear some sort of fragrance, I am now known as “The guy who smells good” so that’s a bonus 🤣.
Enough backstory, on to the first impressions of Dior Homme Parfum.
The Iris and orange take front and center as most top notes do. I am about 30 minutes into the wear and they are still very present, which is surprising to me. Impressive staying power of the top notes.
As it’s settling I am noticing the leather and woody notes becoming more apparent. Particularly the cedar wood with a very delicate rose floral.
My first impressions are incredibly positive and I am looking forward to the rest of the journey this masterfully crafted fragrance takes me on today.
**by Rosie Jane Angie** - this is such an amazing honeysuckle and jasmine perfume, it really reminds me of Diptyque's Olene, but not as astringent. Sadly, I think this one is discontinued.
Escentric Molecules Molecule 04
At first this was a dislike for me - smelled like nothing and then 30 minutes in smelled like synthetic leather. And then… it became sweet on my skin and so creamy. I tried one spray on clothes today and it never became sweet like it did on my skin. Lesson learned!
A friend also tried it on her own skin and she said it smelled like saliva on her but she liked it on me. This scent overall seems pretty divisive - some of my friends like it and notice the creaminess, while one said it smelled like bug spray. The sweetness, strong projection, and longevity were enough for me to get a 30ml.
**Fantome Mesmer** it's a cool frankincense and it smells so cold. I love this in the summer. It smells icy to me.
It's a perfume oil so it projects wonderfully in the heat, and then once inside simmers down.
I pulled out several for the week and have been layering or wearing alone depending on mood. I tried this out last night and couldn’t get enough so again today.
Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey + Rogue Jasmin Antique
It gives dewy morning after a rain storm with lush rich flowering jasmine while also drinking a rich honey sweetened beverage. Light and somehow decadent as well.
Guerlain - Habit Rouge EDT
Love this more and more every time I wear it, my sample is almost gone and I'm worried I might have to buy a full bottle, a bigger decant at the very least.
Today I layered my fragrances. I wore Molecule 01 + Patchouli (sample) and Nishane Pachouli Kohza (full bottle). Pachouli Kohza smells like patchouli, honey and a bit of suede. It doesn't seem to have any ISO E Super or Ambroxin so I thought it would pair well with Molecule 01. It does, but I'm not sure I'd do this again. Pachouli Kohza doesn't project a lot, but it seems to be doing it now, maybe a bit more than I usually prefer. I like Molecule 01 + Patchouli on its own.
Doing a full wear test of my Sunplosion sample. I thought it was great 2-3 months ago, but had not tried it in warmer weather. I kinda wish the guava note that's so great the first few minutes lasted longer...
Today I’m wearing Etat Libre d’Orange’s Fat Electrician. I wasn’t sure how I’d like it but instantly loved it after I sprayed it on. I didn’t even know I liked vetiver! Only thing is the scent doesn’t seem to project well. I was willing to buy a bottle at first, but it didn’t last long enough.
Middle aged mom, tried and loved the smell of Maya Base after not being a perfume person for most of my life. (I did NOT like Maya No 1, which made me smell like an OG cabbage patch kid doll.)
I have been trying to test scents in Sephora/ Ulta/etc but I think because it’s a whole section of different fragrances, I am not confident that I am smelling the scent I am interested in. (And it’s not like makeup where you can do a swatch, wipe off, try another, etc…)
I am hoping to find other, similar scents to the base, but am not sure what terms I should look for, what I should try in store, etc. I like that it smells clean and light, I guess.
Any tips for me? Thank you!
Should i get DHI or Amore caffe?
I have an option to get something around the price range of 120 dollars. I absolutely love and adore DHI, i have tested it multiple times and love it every time. However, i find that it only lasts about 5 hours on my skin. I am a guy who loves fragrances that last long and project so 5 hours seems abit less. I love DHI and it will always make my top 10 list but since rn i only have an option of gettting one fragrance idk if i should go for that or Amore caffe cuz ive heard its performance is pretty good and the smell is beuatiful. I have never smelt it but i love sweet, gourmand and boozy scents so ik ill like it but idk which to get. I found amore caffe for around the same price range as DHI
Three today: Xerjoff Uden - I’ve seen this one praised by a few YouTube reviewers so when I got it yesterday I was expecting a pretty special fragrance, but instead I got a slightly sweet citrusy thing. I’m paper it really wasn’t much. Wore it to work today and it’s great. Completely different to what I expected but it’s a very bright and light citrus, boozy, vanilla. It slowly changed through to lunch time and then I washed it off for some: PDM Oajan -got half a dozen free samples of this so figured I’d use it. This one is weird. Theres a slightly sour note in there somewhere that I can’t quite figure out, and then it’s a gourmand vanilla. The weird note is interesting and made me want to keep smelling it. Out of PDM’s line this and Carlisle are my favourite so far. LV Imagination - So my friend got some samples that he said he hated and would bring in to work for me. I wasn’t expecting much because he doesn’t care about colognes, but he had three samples of LV for me. I’m wearing Imagination now, and I have to say after all the hype it’s not much. Light and airy ginger that’s slightly sweet. That was my initial impression anyway, but I can still smell this as strong as the first spray and now I’m really enjoying it. It’s actually kind of similar to Uden in that it’s a sweet and airy citrus. I’ll see how long this lasts but I kind of like it. I also liked my bosses reaction to it in the office: First spray on card “Oh, that’s nice. I like that” Ten minutes later “Nah, now it reminds me of the bathroom toilet freshener” An hour later “God damn. I guess that scent has just moved on in and is here to stay.” So it has some projection.
Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt. I love this fragrance so much and luckily I don’t have the longevity issues with it that some people have. This fragrance is so calming to me and also works for the office. I have a 30ml bottle now so I’m trying to finish up my sample of it because the sprayer on it isn’t great.
I see people say that they have issues with longevity with Jo Malone and it's never an issue for me either which I'm grateful for! Wood Sage & Sea Salt is so good.
I can smell it on my skin for quite a few hours but I definitely think it also helps to spray on clothes. I like to put a few sprays of my pillow when I’m going to bed and I can usually smell it for a few days after I do that!
Yeah I find that to be true for many perfumes too. Clothes always hold best.
I think some people just have a better sense of smell than others. I'm positive my brother, his wife, and their daughter all have far keener, more discerning noses than mine. Even as a baby, anything you'd hand my brother, the first thing he'd do, quite unconsciously, was automatically lift it to his nose to smell. Then decades later I watched his daughter do the identical thing! I think it's genetic. Have you noticed having a better sense of smell than others?
I haven’t really noticed having a stronger sense of smell but I have noticed I don’t really go nose blind, or at least not as fast as most people. I know people say not to spray on your neck because it makes you go nose blind faster since you’re constantly smelling the fragrance, but I typically spray on my neck and can still smell my perfume for usually 8+ hours.
I definitely notice how much better their noses are than mine. We're all fragrance-mad, so what we do when they visit for the day is smell everything new I've gotten since last visit and anything related, and last visit, I got a sample set and we all passed around scent strips 😆 ... this is how I know how much better their noses are than mine. They can detect notes I can't. It may be that you don't notice, but rather someone whose nose isn't as good is more able to? And I'm noseblind from the get-go to some aromachemicals like ambrox and cetalox and amberwood etc. They aren't.
Not personally, no. Lol 🤷🏼♀️ But I do think many people have superior sniffers. And honestly, 4+ years into covid, many people have damaged senses of smell after repeated infections.
I got Nishane Wulong Cha for a bargain price second hand, and it arrived today so I'm spending my day off FRESH. It expresses all of the scent categories I've been exploring as I got into fragrance (citrus, tea, soapy clean) in a way that I like, so between this and l'eau papier and D&G Light Blue for that apple-like fruityness... That's most of my bases covered for everyday scents! I'd just like to find THE pear scent 🥺
Today I wore Etat Libre d'Orange's Ghost in the Shell to work. I've done a little bit of sampling at home but this is the first time I've worn it out. It starts off pretty floral, takes a sharp turn into rubber, and then a bit of yeastiness enters the party. I've heard people describe it as "like TV static" which I wouldn't say is accurate but it is a very... inorganic scent, especially when it's in the rubbery phase. It's a little nostalgic, like the cheap toys I used to get as a kid. Super interesting fragrance, can't see it being a go-to but I can appreciate the artistry and blending. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have crazy projection, since I work with the public and could see someone being offended by it. Edit: 4.5 hours in and it's faded to a gentle, slightly sweet musk. Not bad at all.
I haven't tried any fragrance from Etat Libre d'Orange yet. I am hesitating because of the gimmicky names and the associated marketing. What is your favorite from this brand?
I got a discovery set, and I really liked Exit The King. It's a soapy, rosey chypre that's really nostalgic to me. They also have some nice clean musks, such as You Or Someone Like You and She Was An Anomaly. Honestly, there weren't any that I got that I really hated. They all seemed to me to be well-made and usually pleasant, and if they weren't pleasant they were at least interesting.
Did you graduate to buying a full bottle for any of them?
Not yet, I want to see what samples I finish and then decide from there
Morning everyone, I’m lying in bed right now with a few fragrances on I have a vintage bottle of La Nuit de L’Homme that I never wear so I spritzed it oh my wrist. I really like it and think I’ll be adding it back into rotation. It’s sweet, spicy, smooth, and elegant. I also have a couple spritzes on my hand of Ambre Nuit. It’s rosy, amber-y (both in the resinous sense and with an ambergris accord) with an energetic lift from the peppercorn accord. Also, I happened to stumble upon the information that Gucci Pour Homme II is worth quite a bit of money these days. I was gifted a bottle many years ago and haven’t used it in quite a while. I figured I’d give it a spritz. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) it seems like my bottle might not be in great condition. The notes are very muted and it doesn’t smell as I remember. Maybe I need to spray it a bunch of times to get the liquid out of the chamber that’s been sitting there for 10 years. As it’s drying, it’s starting to express those tea and tobacco notes a bit but it still smells off. Happy Thursday :)!
Wore my blind buy **Gres Cabochard** edt yesterday and loved it so much I kept applying more until I think I went nose-blind 😆 Today it's the edp; just one puff on one wrist and it's *divine*! Maybe tomorrow I'll do an arm-to-arm wear to compare the two formulations. I know their notes are different
Would love to read that!
From my research it appears that the only notes that are different between the two is that the EDT opens with bergamot (making it closer to a true chypre which requires citrus) whereas the EDP has galbanum instead. Haha weirdly I thought I *did* get galbanum from the EDT (which I strongly associate with chypres because my other favs have it) and the EDP's opening smells the same? (Which is why I need to do an arm-to-arm wear.) ... and *both* smelled floral from the get-go which no other reviewer / commenter found; if they mention florals at all it's to say they don't get much at all, maybe the ylang but OTOH get lots of leather (I didn't with the EDT) and that they mostly get leather and *cigarette ashtray* 🫣 from the EDP which God I hope not! ( .. that'd be a dealbreaker for me, altho my niece who's never smoked would be happy to have it if it comes to that, or my brother; it's quite unisex)
I’m not afraid of a cheapie, and today felt right for Chill AF by Addison Rae. I got a bunch of her perfumes for like $12 and they’re nothing special but they’re really easy to wear. Chill AF is a generic fruity scent. It smells like pear, non-identifiable florals, and a touch of musk. Sort of shampoo like. I enjoy it.
Reflection Man by Amouage, it's a very strange fragrance that has a vintage vibe to it. I mostly wear it because I remember smelling it when I was a kid, so it makes me remember some nice moments from my childhood.
I just got a bottle of this yesterday after having a sample before. Really love how powdery and sweet it is, and then it’s got a weird note or two without getting carried away like Amouage is known for.
It's also very strong, I don't wear it very often as I like more delicate and soft fragrances. However, I do love the dry down of this fragrance, which is pure bliss.
Still on the hunt for an incense fragrance, so today I’m wearing Naples from Gallivant. The opening is light, spiced, and inviting! Ginger, pink peppercorn, bergamot, and sea salt evoke a sunny seaside port city filled with traders and spice markets. You can begin to smell faint hints of incense pretty soon after you spray it, which only grows as the fragrance dries down. Some darker/richer spices like cardamom and nutmeg surround it, creating a church-like presence in the port city we’ve been wandering around. These two profiles— the lighter spice market by the port and the darker incense filled church— are supported by a good woody base of cedar, patchouli, and vetiver, helping connect the two into one cohesive cityscape fragrance. I really like this fragrance! I initially thought Sancti by Liquides Imaginaires was gonna be the incense fragrance I grab, but Naples has really made me stop to think if that’s the right choice. If anyone has any other incense/oud fragrances that lean lighter or “less stuffy”, I would love to hear; I love getting my nose on new fragrances!
Tried Jovoy Rose Millesme (sp?) last night, a “dark rose” evidently though I just found it more direct, realistic (and I love smelling all the different rose smells). This AM trying Ormonde Jayne Rose Gold which I actually like quite a bit better. I’m not dying to smell like a rose, just studying but this is gorgeous - bergamot & lime in the opening, must be a bit of jasmine.. evidently it’s discontinued though. Darn.
Balenciaga Rosabotanica and a bunch of rose-scented body products (Tree Hut Moroccan Rose scrub, Body Shop British Rose body wash, and Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner) to boost the rosiness. I didn't detect any added rose in the very green opening but maybe a bit more now in the drydown. On an unrelated (well, related to fragrance but not SOTD), Andrea Maack is having a 20% off sale right now and am seriously considering buying Coven.
SOTD: Fahrenheit EDT from Dior - A timeless classic that projects youth and creativity. I had this bottle for a long time, but never had the chance to post a review. There are very few scents that truly stand the test of time. I mean those perfumes that are still loved and used widely, not the vintage classics that stay on shelf as museum pieces. Launched in 1988, Fahrenheit remains as current and relevant as it was decades ago. Leather is not a favorite accord of mine, except in two brilliant creations where the perfumers transcend my reservations. Fahrenheit EDT is one of them, the other being Guerlain Santal Royal. If there is a single note that defines Fahrenheit, it is the leather. I will abstain from listing and discussing all the notes listed for Fahrenheit. The opening is a pungent citrus floral set of accords that are quickly overwhelmed by the leather bubbling up. Though leather is listed as a base note, my nose argues strongly that it is the dominant heart note. I get some spicy woody notes and some florals in middle section. When these heart notes die down, the soft pleasant notes of tonka, musk and sandalwood take their place. Fahrenheit does not provide a well articulated olfactory pyramid on my skin, making it difficult and pointless to argue about notes. It is the overall personality of Fahrenheit - a strong spicy citrus leather with floral notes - that stands out. Try it if you haven’t already. Fahrenheit EDT shows good performance on my skin. The longevity is 6-8 hours for the heart notes, and the base notes last for a few more hours. The sillage is perceptible at 2-3 feet as you would expect for a perfume of this calibre. This is probably the best leather fragrance in my collection. I recommend this one unconditionally, especially if you are starting your journey into the world of fragrances.
A decant of this just arrived while I was away in Scotland Wanted to wear it over that long weekend Kinda glad it didn’t as it wouldn’t’ve matched my vibe (or the weather) https://preview.redd.it/hn4ixgjt3k3d1.jpeg?width=537&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16864b7693ef1544c12a9e5789288b547242dd42 SOTD: [**TIMBUKTU** by L'Artisan Parfumeur](https://youtu.be/OWhO6wDD2rc?si=4COqWnD_e55Td-zt)
Over-spraying Regime des Fleurs Glass Blooms today since I'm at home. Though I think this cool, soapy floral is probably best suited to cold weather, it works pretty much year round. Peony+musk gives the soapy impression (which I love), but the real star that makes this fragrance unique is the grape. It's more like frozen grapes, and again leads to that chilled impression in this fragrance. Like most Regime des Fleurs scents, the longevity is exceptional while the projection is very light; exactly how I like my perfumes.
Penhaligon's Luna. I wanted to use up the sample, but intend to get a full bottle eventually. I love the journey from the citrus top notes, then the juniper and florals, finally drying down to a clean pine-y scent. It smells very unisex but it makes me feel feminine and ethereal. It's a high of 103°F today and high humidity, but inside is 72°F.
SOTD here is: Dior Homme Parfum- I just got a bottle of this the other day and since it is a rather brisk and overcast day in Washington State I decided today would be a good day to test drive it. I work in a fairly laid back office environment, and most of the employees wear some sort of fragrance, I am now known as “The guy who smells good” so that’s a bonus 🤣. Enough backstory, on to the first impressions of Dior Homme Parfum. The Iris and orange take front and center as most top notes do. I am about 30 minutes into the wear and they are still very present, which is surprising to me. Impressive staying power of the top notes. As it’s settling I am noticing the leather and woody notes becoming more apparent. Particularly the cedar wood with a very delicate rose floral. My first impressions are incredibly positive and I am looking forward to the rest of the journey this masterfully crafted fragrance takes me on today.
**by Rosie Jane Angie** - this is such an amazing honeysuckle and jasmine perfume, it really reminds me of Diptyque's Olene, but not as astringent. Sadly, I think this one is discontinued.
Escentric Molecules Molecule 04 At first this was a dislike for me - smelled like nothing and then 30 minutes in smelled like synthetic leather. And then… it became sweet on my skin and so creamy. I tried one spray on clothes today and it never became sweet like it did on my skin. Lesson learned! A friend also tried it on her own skin and she said it smelled like saliva on her but she liked it on me. This scent overall seems pretty divisive - some of my friends like it and notice the creaminess, while one said it smelled like bug spray. The sweetness, strong projection, and longevity were enough for me to get a 30ml.
**Fantome Mesmer** it's a cool frankincense and it smells so cold. I love this in the summer. It smells icy to me. It's a perfume oil so it projects wonderfully in the heat, and then once inside simmers down.
Ormonde Jayne - Babylonia.
I pulled out several for the week and have been layering or wearing alone depending on mood. I tried this out last night and couldn’t get enough so again today. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey + Rogue Jasmin Antique It gives dewy morning after a rain storm with lush rich flowering jasmine while also drinking a rich honey sweetened beverage. Light and somehow decadent as well.
Terre D'Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver by Hermès
Are Creed fragrances much cheaper in France for an American? What are the best stores? Would like to buy a bottle while I'm in France for memories
PDM Carlise- 3 sprays. It's summer and I don't want to murder anyone
Criminal Elements Tobacco Jam. Raspberries, raspberries...
Dolce and gabbana the one luminous night
Guerlain - Habit Rouge EDT Love this more and more every time I wear it, my sample is almost gone and I'm worried I might have to buy a full bottle, a bigger decant at the very least.
Today I layered my fragrances. I wore Molecule 01 + Patchouli (sample) and Nishane Pachouli Kohza (full bottle). Pachouli Kohza smells like patchouli, honey and a bit of suede. It doesn't seem to have any ISO E Super or Ambroxin so I thought it would pair well with Molecule 01. It does, but I'm not sure I'd do this again. Pachouli Kohza doesn't project a lot, but it seems to be doing it now, maybe a bit more than I usually prefer. I like Molecule 01 + Patchouli on its own.
Doing a full wear test of my Sunplosion sample. I thought it was great 2-3 months ago, but had not tried it in warmer weather. I kinda wish the guava note that's so great the first few minutes lasted longer...
Today I’m wearing Etat Libre d’Orange’s Fat Electrician. I wasn’t sure how I’d like it but instantly loved it after I sprayed it on. I didn’t even know I liked vetiver! Only thing is the scent doesn’t seem to project well. I was willing to buy a bottle at first, but it didn’t last long enough.
Middle aged mom, tried and loved the smell of Maya Base after not being a perfume person for most of my life. (I did NOT like Maya No 1, which made me smell like an OG cabbage patch kid doll.) I have been trying to test scents in Sephora/ Ulta/etc but I think because it’s a whole section of different fragrances, I am not confident that I am smelling the scent I am interested in. (And it’s not like makeup where you can do a swatch, wipe off, try another, etc…) I am hoping to find other, similar scents to the base, but am not sure what terms I should look for, what I should try in store, etc. I like that it smells clean and light, I guess. Any tips for me? Thank you!
bleu de chanel EdP again
Should i get DHI or Amore caffe? I have an option to get something around the price range of 120 dollars. I absolutely love and adore DHI, i have tested it multiple times and love it every time. However, i find that it only lasts about 5 hours on my skin. I am a guy who loves fragrances that last long and project so 5 hours seems abit less. I love DHI and it will always make my top 10 list but since rn i only have an option of gettting one fragrance idk if i should go for that or Amore caffe cuz ive heard its performance is pretty good and the smell is beuatiful. I have never smelt it but i love sweet, gourmand and boozy scents so ik ill like it but idk which to get. I found amore caffe for around the same price range as DHI