Perfume and fragrance chat

[StarkRavingMad]

For Mother's Day, I was gifted a bottle of Dolce & Gabbana's Devotion. My husband picked it out himself and he told me it reminded him of me because of my love for lemony desserts. lol.

I'm definitely more of a floral fragrance kind of gal, but I do enjoy a gourmand when it's done well, too.

I'm really enjoying Devotion right now. It's such a great Summer gourmand. I gravitate towards citrusy scents during the Summer, so this is pretty great for me. It's sweet and zesty, but there's enough florals in there to not make it too sweet. It's basically lemon pound cake with orange blossom in a bottle. I'd call it a "safe" perfume, but you know what? That's totally fine. I don't need to smell interesting all of the time ... I just want to smell good. lol.

I remember trying a Versace perfume that had a lemony note in it, but I hated it. It basically smelled like cheap sugar water with fake lemon. Devotion is waaaay better than the Versace one.

D&G rarely misses for me. I don't remember trying a D&G perfume that I've flat-out disliked, actually.

 

[Foxymophandlemama]

I loved this one since my father bought for me when I was 15, too bad I can't find it anywhere now. Although I've been using others that are good, none of them smell as perfect as this one for me.

 

[Pee Cola]

Oh boy! A fragrance spergfest! Hope you don't mind another moid dropping into this thread.

Hermes' Terre d'Hermes.

This is a modern classic. My signature scent at certain times of the year; gets me all the compliments.

L'eau de Issey is an oldie, but... honestly the original still smells great, light, fresh, pleasant. You can also get it discounted a ton of the time, so you can pick some up and see if it works for you.

I've never smelled an Issey Miyake fragrance I didn't like (L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Intense is another signature scent; gets me nearly as many compliments as TdH). For some reason his stuff tends to fly under the radar, which is good for those of us who know and don't want to smell like most other dudes.

Favourite fragrances atm:
Versace - Au Fraiche

My go-to on stinking hot days when I want to feel/smell fresh and clean. I like it because I like Versace Pour Homme, but because so many other dudes wear Versace Pour Homme these days, I just have to change things up a bit.

There should be a perfume reclamation project: when all the grandmas who started wearing this perfume in their slutty 20s have died, it's time for a new generation of hot young things to pick up the torch.

Maybe this could be a thing for dudes too? The idea of a young fella whose just graduated from Axe/Lynx picking Kouros or Joop! as his first "real" cologne kinda amuses me for some reason. Speaking of...

Thoughts on Joop! Homme?

That's a cologne a man only needs to buy once on account of its strength and longevity. I still have a bottle from nearly 20 years ago that's maybe 7/8ths full. It should really carry a warning label.

Joop is a cult favorite in the frag community, no shame in that.

I'm so tempted to wear Joop! next time I go on a date, just to see what happens. Though I'll be sure to spray it into an empty room and walk in there shirtless 5 minutes later, so as to avoid overdoing it.

Spoiler: possibly TMI

ngl I go weak at the knees for a woman who wears nice, good quality perfume. I was almost going to PL even further by naming specific scents, but that's probably a step too far.

Unpopular opinion: I don't understand why Creed gets so much hype. I've tried Aventus and Green Irish Tweed. Both of them were pleasant enough, but longevity is almost non-existent (a couple of hours max on me). Thankfully I didn't spend the big bucks on an entire bottle of either, but imo Creed is the most overrated fragrance house on the planet.

 

[Ninon42]

Unpopular opinion: I don't understand why Creed gets so much hype. I've tried Aventus and Green Irish Tweed. Both of them were pleasant enough, but longevity is almost non-existent (a couple of hours max on me). Thankfully I didn't spend the big bucks on an entire bottle of either, but imo Creed is the most overrated fragrance house on the planet.

Creed are more available than Roja Dove or Clive Christian, more wearable than Zoologist, more office friendly in their sillage than Tauer, a better status frag than anything by Mancera or Dua, but more exclusive than Hermes or anything from a typical department store. No one is going to get a Creed bottle in a kit as a last minute gift from down the way. That said, I think Nishane Hacivat is better than Aventus with similar notes (and GIT on the right guy is fantastic). Erolfa will wear you, though it has a good profile. Spice and Wood is a favorite of mine to wear even though it is definitely masculine leaning. Creed is a good entry into niche too, as most people won't go from Drakkar Noir to ELDO's Fat Electrician without some intermediate experimentation.

 

[Pee Cola]

Creed are more available than Roja Dove or Clive Christian, more wearable than Zoologist, more office friendly in their sillage than Tauer, a better status frag than anything by Mancera or Dua, but more exclusive than Hermes or anything from a typical department store.

In my country, Creed is a department store brand (albeit available only at their flagship stores in major cities). Oddly enough, I buy TdH at one of the major pharmacy chains over here as I can buy a 100ml EDT 3-piece gift set for the same price as a 50ml EDT at a department store.Again, not all stores in this chain carry Hermes fragrances, but the stores in more affluent suburbs usually do.

Creed is a good entry into niche too, as most people won't go from Drakkar Noir to ELDO's Fat Electrician without some intermediate experimentation.

Would Creed be best described as a gateway drug to other high-end fragrances? Maybe that's where I'm missing the point and why their stuff isn't for me. I know special interest stuff can get very expensive, but I also get that it's not for everyone (if you're a high-end fragrance connoisseur, more power to you).

 

[BJLSh8tr]

I like it because I like Versace Pour Homme, but because so many other dudes wear Versace Pour Homme these days, I just have to change things up a bit.

Another moid dropping in thinking of moving away from Versace Pour Homme due to having less than 1/4 of it left in my bottle and well, I wouldn't want to buy anymore Versace due to their recent Troon pandering advertising debacle (if you want to guess, yes, it's THE Troon that they've chosen to hire to get them out of their sales slump lol). I've graduated from Nautica Voyage to this since I like something that's has a citrusy or fresh or "active" kind of fragrance. Like @Pee Cola I wear those on hotter weathers outdoors or at a park hiking, etc. So, any other fragrances that anyone can recommend with similar notes or characteristics? Looking for one with apple, aquatic, citrus type of note like bergamot since I am used to that being in both Voyage and Pour Homme.

Joop is a cult favorite in the frag community, no shame in that.

I want to move to Joop: Nighflight after finishing the last of my Azzaro Wanted by Night (I just got into fragrances, so forgive me for wearing something that's probably what 99% of moids moving on from Axe, other "Sport" brand colognes or Dior Sauvage) but not sure where to get a sample. Another of Joop's is their Homme Le Parfum, that I think I can consider but not sure if anyone here has experience with wearing that. I hear that it's a more "refined" or "natural" fragrance than Joop Homme so that I can try out. I'll mostly be wearing this during cooler months or weather or in a more indoorsy type of places (i.e. malls, restaurants and/or bars with A/C on full-blast). Also, going to be stuck in Oregon for the foreseeable future so would be glad to know where I can get my hands on all these fragrances here.

 

[StarkRavingMad]

Because I am a fanatic for the OG YSL Libre, I decided to try out one of the recent flankers, "Libre Flowers and Flames." I got a sample.

I have a candle that's lavender and coconut-scented, and the two notes shockingly go well together, so I was expecting that with this flanker. To me, it mostly just smells like the OG Libre (which smells good, but it's dumb to own different perfumes that smell so close to each other).

I'm in need of a coconut body lotion for the Summer. I'm gonna try to layer that with OG Libre and see how well it goes. I'm curious now.

 

[Ninon42]

Would Creed be best described as a gateway drug to other high-end fragrances? Maybe that's where I'm missing the point and why their stuff isn't for me. I know special interest stuff can get very expensive, but I also get that it's not for everyone (if you're a high-end fragrance connoisseur, more power to you).

IMO yes, Creed and Tom Ford are probably the most popular higher-end but readily available fragrances. Nordstrom or idk Stockmann are likely to have them, and they have a good variety but not an overwhelming back catalog like Guerlain or Penhaligon's. They can also be had for slightly cheaper than your average Frederic Malle. If you're a guy whose primary experience with fragrances is at the drug store or the chemical warfare of a department store or Sephora, finding that not all frags are headache-inducing olfactory offences by way of Creed or whatever is huge. A guy wearing a single spray of Royal Oud to the office is going to be a much better cubicle buddy than the dude who drenched himself in a cloud of Axe.

 

[Chris Konon]

Thoughts on Joop! Homme?

I like Joop! perfumes, but I know they can be controversial for some people.
Recently I've tested Joop! Homme Absolute, and I love them so much, an very unique scent, that I'd really like to buy.

I graduated from university recently, and I was gifted my all time favorite perfume - Valentino's Born in Roma Intense. The other day I tried to open the bottle and I'm having a hard time with it. Idk if my hands are weak, but for some reason the cap is on super tight. How the hell do I open this?

This post made me check Valentino perfumes, and I fell in love with Valentino Uomo Born In Roma Coral Fantasy. I bought them instantly, very amazing scent. It is unfortunately an EDT, but they have a good performance. Give them a try!

---

My wife got Tom Ford Cafe Rose recently as a present, and I must say, the scent itself is good, and I always enjoy rose notes in Tom Ford's perfumes, but the performance is awful... The sillage is very close to the skin, and I just expect more from perfumes in this price range.
Also I don't really smell coffee in it, lol.

 

[StarkRavingMad]

I really, REALLY want to try Tom Ford Cafe Rose, but I haven't because I keep hearing that TF perfumes have dipped so far in quality while the prices remain the same ... A shame.

I tried Rose Prick a while back and loved it, but I ended up buying a dupe because the price of Rose Prick is outrageous for what it is. It does smell really nice though.

 

[Brickley]

I am just now getting into fragrances after a lifetime of occasionally collecting candles in citrus and fall/winter spicy scents. It has been so fun finding out what I like and what I don’t. I’ve been checking out Sephora and department stores and have found a couple of things I enjoy amongst a lot I really did not (also B&BW and Lush, where I hated everything).

One thing I’m curious about: “aquatic” scents. I love the beach and its scent - the salty air, a little bit of seaweed… But every ocean/aquatic scent is nothing like that at all. It seems like “ocean breeze” is a concept every company has agreed upon, but it’s just not what ocean breeze is. Do any of you know of a fragrance that is truly like salty sea air?

I found out about Kerosene from a search for realistic sea scents, where someone had mentioned Walk The Sea. I haven’t tried it because the reviews were not conclusive, but looking into them brought me to Unknown Pleasures. I ordered a decant of it straight away after hearing its like an ice cream shop. It is not exactly like that, but it is SO beautiful and delicious. Nice quality too, there is no harsh alcohol/chemical smell like there has been with most of what I’ve smelled so far.

I was so excited to have this be my scent of the summer, a citrus gourmand, only to find that the freaks at fragrantica have it listed as a squarely fall/winter scent. Seriously?? It’s lemon waffle cone. Or lemon cake. I don’t get it.

 

[Super Guido]

I am just now getting into fragrances after a lifetime of occasionally collecting candles in citrus and fall/winter spicy scents. It has been so fun finding out what I like and what I don’t. I’ve been checking out Sephora and department stores and have found a couple of things I enjoy amongst a lot I really did not (also B&BW and Lush, where I hated everything).

One thing I’m curious about: “aquatic” scents. I love the beach and its scent - the salty air, a little bit of seaweed… But every ocean/aquatic scent is nothing like that at all. It seems like “ocean breeze” is a concept every company has agreed upon, but it’s just not what ocean breeze is. Do any of you know of a fragrance that is truly like salty sea air?

I found out about Kerosene from a search for realistic sea scents, where someone had mentioned Walk The Sea. I haven’t tried it because the reviews were not conclusive, but looking into them brought me to Unknown Pleasures. I ordered a decant of it straight away after hearing its like an ice cream shop. It is not exactly like that, but it is SO beautiful and delicious. Nice quality too, there is no harsh alcohol/chemical smell like there has been with most of what I’ve smelled so far.

I was so excited to have this be my scent of the summer, a citrus gourmand, only to find that the freaks at fragrantica have it listed as a squarely fall/winter scent. Seriously?? It’s lemon waffle cone. Or lemon cake. I don’t get it.

This guy makes a good ocean frag but he's not currently taking orders. It's called Marina, and this was my review for it:

I have tried three different fragrances that represented the ocean: Solstice Scents Sea of Grey, L'Apothecaire The Sea (possibly inactive company - smelled like an indoor pond), and this one. Between the three of them, it's most comparable to Sea of Grey, but has more layers. It does not stay dank - it goes from briny to something kind of sweet, but closer to amber/floral-ish. I believe the creator said this is due to the ambergris, which I suspect is actual ambergris, which means this is not a vegan fragrance. It definitely develops differently from Solstice Scent's version, which doesn't use the animal product. That's going to affect people's decision to purchase one over the other, certainly. If you're okay with the use of ambergris, and the skin chemistry is just right, this one's a stunner.


Here is Solstice Scents' Sea of Gray. She currently has 2.5ml spray samples here.

 

[hole in my hand]

give me blackberry perfume reccomendations that arent trish mcevoy no 9 or philosohys falling in love

i love trish mcevoys no 9 but found it didnt have much longevity or projection, i (at the expense of everyone around me) love headache inducing perfumes that last forever, so it doesnt make the cut. philosphys falling in love was too floral for me, im not huge on florals and would prefer a sweeter gourmandy scent

 

[Ninon42]

give me blackberry perfume reccomendations that arent trish mcevoy no 9 or philosohys falling in love

i love trish mcevoys no 9 but found it didnt have much longevity or projection, i (at the expense of everyone around me) love headache inducing perfumes that last forever, so it doesnt make the cut. philosphys falling in love was too floral for me, im not huge on florals and would prefer a sweeter gourmandy scent

Blackbird by Olympic Orchids

 

[Girl meat seller]

What is one of your favorite perfumes that have been discontinued?
Mine is the Gucci Flora Eau Fraîche
They have the flora one, which is similar but not the same.

 

[shinto minto]

Blackbird by Olympic Orchids

Agreed, very fruity but not overpowering. Very nice women's scent.

 

[Super Guido]

I found a website that still had a bottle of L'Apothecaire's The Sea. I can confirm it still smells like an indoor pond - specifically one inside of a place I went to for summer camp. It's nostalgic.

If the company was still active, I'd probably suggest they change the name, because there's nothing oceanic about it. It's wet and humid, but not salty or briny. Not to be a dick or anything, but I think people who want an indoor pond might really like it, and would have no idea about what to expect.

 

[PuffyGroundCloud]

Is there any Sandalwood perfume that doesn’t smell like a dill pickle?
Santal 33 is straight up pickle on my skin.

 

[rosecig]

Is there any Sandalwood perfume that doesn’t smell like a dill pickle?
Santal 33 is straight up pickle on my skin.

Can't recommend one but try layering with sunscreen/Vaseline/lotion or spraying only on your clothes to use this one up. it's your skin reacting with the perfume, so it won't smell this way.

 

[AveraDiane]

Does anyone have any recs for a good peach perfume?