Rec me a perfume!

[lunabee34]

I think I'm going to ask for an order of perfume samples from Surrender to Chance for my birthday in a couple months, and I'm looking for some inspiration.

Rec me your favorite (non-BPAL) perfume. Or maybe tell me about a perfume you think is important that everyone ought to try. Or something that you've always wanted to try but never gotten the chance.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

Comments

[rydra_wong]

NOOOOO TOO MANY CHOICES CANNOT PICK. *g*

Personal favourites, that I wear a lot (please bear in mind that I am weird and so is my taste): vintage Diorella (and that probably is a historically important one that -- I won't say everyone should try, but it's significant and worth knowing, as well as so radiantly beautiful that the reformulation is a crime). Bal a Versailles. Comme Des Garcons Tea (from the "leaves" series: smells very like very smoky black tea and maté and slightly of roses and cedarwood; apart from vintage Diorella, the only perfume I've had someone spontaneously compliment me on in a public place). Dzing! Kingdom. My unholy home mix of Kingdom and Miel de Bois. Mandarine Mandarin. Onda (EDP).

Anything that might help narrow it down? Any current themes or notes or genres that you're exploring?

[lunabee34]

I can't do anything overly floral or sweet because it makes my husband get headaches.

My favorite single note is vetiver. I am deeply attracted to all sorts of woods, herbal notes, and citrus.

My favorite perfume right now is Chanel Sycomore followed by Tom Ford Santal Blush. I just tried Davidoff Relax a couple days ago and it was a vetiver dream. It's what I wanted Hermessence Vetiver Tonka to smell like after reading Luca Turin's rave review. I'm gonna write up a review of Relax soon because it marries the vetiver and tonka in a way that I really liked (I hated Vetiver Tonka).

I have issues with most jasmines. So far, the jasmine in Chanel doesn't bother me. I generally can't distinguish it. It kills a lot of Guerlain for me, any BPAL with it in there, Diptyque,etc.

Thank you so much for these recs!

*starts looking stuff up*

:)

[rydra_wong]

Guessing you've found https://surrendertochance.com/vetiver-perfumes/ ?

Of those -- Guerlain Vetiver is gorgeous (on my skin/to me), but I don't know whether it wouldn't work for you because it's a Guerlain, or whether it might be an exception.

I've never tried the LesNez Turtle Vetiver experiments, but always been curious.

[rydra_wong]

Ah, wait, I see from your past reviews that you've already tried the Guerlain Vetiver. Never mind!

[lunabee34]

I was so excited to try it, too. I think I first heard of it from you.

I'm glad that I tried it even if it didn't work out. I'm glad I've tried everything I've tried, even the spectacular scrubbers. All data points that have helped me refine what I do like.

[lunabee34]

I loved Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire. I really didn't like Hermessence Vetiver Tonka, and I was ambivalent about Guerlain Vetiver. I really want to try the Tom Ford Grey Vetiver (I kinda want to try almost all the Tom Fords).

[rydra_wong]

Also, I forgot, Onda (from Vero Profumo) is a vetiver.

This is all magnificently accurate and gives a good explanation of the differences between the extrait and the EDP:

http://www.nstperfume.com/2012/01/02/vero-profumo-onda-fragrance-review/

They're both amazing but the EDP is my personal jam. It does make me feel like I'm wearing armour, and probably (as the comments say) some sort of spiky exoskeleton armour designed by Alexander McQueen.

Won't be everyone's cup of tea, but definitely won't bore you.

[lunabee34]

That very much sounds like something I'd like to try.

Thank you for the rec!!

[rydra_wong]

I'd love to know what you make of it!

Also, I ended up review-hopping while I was retrieving that link, and this sounds rather interesting (vetiver!):

http://www.nstperfume.com/2016/09/07/sarah-jessica-parker-stash-sjp-fragrance-review/

SJP's scents have always got unexpected perfumista cred as being really rather good if you can bring yourself to wear a "celebrity scent", but I've not got round to trying any of them. I may have to check this out.

[lunabee34]

I've seen that as well; her perfumes seem to be well regarded among people who love perfume (which is an excellent sign). And since it's SJP, I bet I can actually find a bottle to smell at the department store unlike most of the rest of these mentioned in this post. Yay!