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]

I second that suggestion for an interesting vetiver!

Have you tried any Etat Libre D'Orange perfumes before? They've done some really interesting things (and can also be annoying and determined to be "shocking" in silly ways, but some of their stuff is wonderful).

[lunabee34]

Yes! I did try one: Etat Libre D'Orange La Fin du Monde

It was not a favorite. LOL

[rydra_wong]

Oh, I couldn't stand that one either! Waaaaaaaaay too sweeet. I was so sad, because "apocalyptic popcorn" seemed like such a great idea for a scent.

I won't recommend Jasmin et Cigarettes because I know you don't get on with jasmine, and I'm guessing you've already heard the reputation of Secretions Magnifiques (it's all true oh god the horror the horror), but Rien is a gorgeous incense/leather and The Afternoon of a Faun does something wonderful with the weird curry note of imortelle and lots of resins.

How do you feel about roses? I'm not generally a "floral" person, but Eau de Protection (a.k.a. "Rossy de Palma" -- it was a collaboration with the actress) is a wonderful sharp prickly rose with ginger and black pepper (and also blood and chocolate accords in there). It's a very unsweet rose with lots of leaves and thorns and dirt still attached.

[lunabee34]

Oooh, these sound fascinating, especially the Eau de Protection. I love rose and one that's not too sweet and cloying would be fantastic. I'm loving the idea of pairing it with ginger.

The Afternoon of a Faun is such a striking perfume name. Ah, it's based on a ballet. That's really cool.

[rydra_wong]

I love rose and one that's not too sweet and cloying would be fantastic.

Have you tried any Andy Tauer perfumes? He does some smashing spicy roses.

Surrender to Chance doesn't seem to have Une Rose Chypree (my personal favourite of them) in at the moment, but Incense Rose is a very cheerful rose-incense-citrus which doesn't quite tip into "Christmassy". And PHI -- Une Rose de Kandahar is a gorgeous smooooooth rose-bitter-almond-apricot-tobacco thing.

Serge Lutens Sa Majeste La Rose is a very non-cloying rose, in a photo-realistic early morning, dew-still-on-the-petals manner. Uncomplicated but good.

Le Labo Rose 31 is a deliberately androgynous "dirty rose".

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much!

I really appreciate you pointing me to so many goodies.

[rydra_wong]

TOTALLY my pleasure, seriously. I love sharing this stuff, and then it always reminds me of good things that I have samples of but haven't worn in a while.

(Which is why, today, I'm wearing Eau de Protection.)