Lately, I've been doing the rounds on my "get to know the classics" kick, and have been trying to figure out how best to indulge my desire to have some of these classic scents around as references. I'd like to know, how many of you keep full bottles of some of these classics (e.g. classic Guerlain, Caron, Chanel, Dior, etc.) around? Or do you do decants? I think it's not just that I want to have them to sniff once in a while, but I want to have enough to play with wearing them (either in the privacy of my own home, or out onto the street).

Lately, I have been trying to restrain myself from buying full bottles of things that I am unlikely to be able to wear widely. For example, today, I was thinking about whether or not to buy bottles of Diorella and Diorissimo.

What do you in terms of having some of these classic fragrances in your collection?

Yes, I luuuuuuuv strong/heavy/somewhat bombastic fragrances! Hey, If I'm going to drop $$$$ on a bottle of juice, I want some longevity for my buck! Granted, I do have to be carefull to apply lightly, but it's so nice to spritz something on, have it last all day, not have to keep re-applying, and still be able to smell it without having to bury my nose in my wrist or clothing!

(and, yes, I do have lighter fragrances too, but there are just some days when I want some extra ooomph!!)

I know I'm on the unpopular side of the fence (and stuck in an 80's time warp with many of them,) but here are some of my favorite "heavies" that can make it through a whole day (even when applied lightly,) and never let me down:

Cinnabar
Kingdom
Bulgari Black
Angel
Red
Ciara
Dinner by Bobo

What are the heaviest fragrances in your collection?

It's that time of year again (for the northern hemisphere, anyway).

What scents remind you of the beach? And why? Do they invoke sea spray and dune grass, or do they make you think of the boardwalk and coconut oil?

And -- slight twist here -- are there any scents that remind you of being on a lake?

You know I try. I love the bottles and the history. I'm far from worshipful of the house of Creed, but I wouldn't mind having one in my collection.

To this end, I again attempted a sampling from the house of Creed yesterday afternoon. As Hiris is my witness (she doesn't post her anymore, but the point is that I had verification - it wasn't just a perceptual thing) it had disastrous...then weird...then fleeting results. I sprayed original Vetiver in the big green bottle on a card. Oh my - pleasant, right? So I announced to Sandy: "OK...I'm going to see what happens."

First Elmer's glue. Yes, verified and confirmed by my sniffing partner. Then, quickly into something so faint it was only detectable with nose to arm. Within 30 minutes - completely gone.

I don't get it. These scents work beautifully for some but for me there is no magic. Not even intrigue posing as magic. LOL

Anyone care to speculate what this means to etailers that use ebay? What about selling used bottles of perfume on ebay (which I do from time to time)?

http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/126124?src=breakingnews

Am wondering what everyone thinks of these perfumes? They are quite different to eachother but both appeal in different ways. L'Air du Temps is a perfume brought back from europe for me when I was 7 years old (26 years ago) that I loved as a little girl, it seemed so grown up to me, then when I finally acquired it again recently it was like being 7 again. I absolutely adore it.
Lush perfumes however, appeal to my more natural side. I particularly love karma (in spray and solid) and potion solid perfume. The flying fox temple balm with jasmine fragrance is also devine as a perfume. Lush indeed.
Do you guys have a huge gulf between the types of fragrance you like? Havn't read much about either of these so am interested in your thoughts.

I am heading off to a pirate themed costume party in a couple of hours, and have my outfit almost complete apart from my scent! I am not sure what the fashion is for modern pirate fragrances

Here's the entire list of what I have to choose from:
Agent Provocateur
Annick Goutal Passion
Aquolina Pink Sugar
Balenciaga Le Dix
Balenciaga Rumba
Brosseau Ombre Rose
Burberry
Burberry Brit Red
Cacharel Eau d'Eden
Calvin Klein Contradiction
Caron Nuit de Noel parfum
Caron Pour Une Femme
Cartier Le Baiser du Dragon
Chanel Cristalle
Chanel Coco
Chanel #5
Chanel Allure
Chanel Allure Sensuelle
Christian Dior Addict
Christian Dior Dolce Vita
Clarins Eau Dynamisante
Elizabeth Arden Red Door
Evyan White Shoulders
Fendi Fendi Donna
Ghost Deep Night
Givenchy Organza Indecence
Gucci Envy
Guerlain Champs Elysees
Guerlain l'Instant de Guerlain
Guerlain Shalimar
Hermes 24, Faubourg
Maurice Roucel Musc Ravageur
SJP Covet
Stella
Thierry Mugler Angel
Vivienne Westwood Boudoir
Wanderlust

If I can't decide on anything in particular, I'm going to go with Boudoir as it is my favourite, but I was wondering what popular opinion would be!

I know this question has been asked before but I would like to hear an updated list. What perfumes feature that fabulous sharp, green, almost savory note that you get when you pick a fresh tomato and brush those furry grey-green leaves with your hand? I think it is one of the nicest smells inthe world. The only perfume that I own that has this note is DKNY, but I know that there are others. I am pretty sure that both Annick Goutal and Laura Tonnato have one. (Or am I thinking Laura Tonnato just because her name is so close to tomato???) I would love to hear about people's favorites in this category and why.

Our lillie, on my parallel "LE MALE" thread, mentioned that native German blokes do not tend to like sweet or heavy scents...


I wonder what German men DO tend to like? Any particular "family" ?

Are they less prone than any other Continental men to wear scent at all, perhaps?

We had a German exchange student in our home, years ago... a very charming and smart bespectacled blond, blue-eyed boy from Nordrhein-Westfalen named Hans-Michael.... Guess what fragrance he brought with him from Deutschland?

Of course! Good old 4711. (Which I do love).

Hans-Michael said this Echte Kölnische Wasser is used in Germany almost as a psychological tonic... a form of aromatherapy. He said that Germans, whenever they're not feeling good, feel nauseated or headachey, will pour 4711 onto a cool wet washcloth, lie down, and lay the cloth over their foreheads for a restorative nap. He assured me this recipe was most efficacious at setting all manner of problems right.

AUS LIEBE DER DUFT carries a very fine selection of very chic, exotic, costly potions, from all over, as we know. Do German males prefer these? Is the Berlin and Düsseldorf <<Schwul>> crowd any different?

Comments?

Janie is ashamed to admit to feeling tired, work-weary, fat, FRUMPY and fed-up with herself.
Did I mention that a "big" birthday looms at the end of the year???

I need to give myself a "good slap", buy some new clothes, get back to Curves and generally stop feeling sorry for myself....

Recommendations please, for a fragrance that will remind me to hold myself up with confidence
Thinking of something a little playful, smart, approachable and easy to wear but with a goodly dose of style.......

A resurrection perfume if you will.....
Niche or mainstream...

Thanking you in advance

Janie xx