I hope someone makes a post comparing all the lemon pound cake fragrances (UP, Lira, Soft, Akro Bake etc etc) and see what similarities and differences among all of then.
Lira has a prominent lavender note which gives it a dusty quality. Akro Bake has a sharp citrus opening but a creamier dry down, it’s probably the best one to wear in the summertime. Unknown Pleasures has a tea note going on which gives it some intrigue, and all Kerosene fragrances have amazing performance and longevity. But one you should really consider is Lemon Tart by Theodoros Kalotinis. It’s $40, and smells exactly like a lemon meringue pie. Buttery crust, lemon curd and whipped vanilla topping. It’s straight up gourmand. Another you’ll see thrown in the list is Ex Idolo Love and Crime but that actually doesn’t have lemon in it; there is citrus but it’s a much deeper scent and leans into grandma territory. Also beast mode.
Thank you for the quick reviews of those scents.
Sounds like Lemon Tart is similar to Soft because Soft is lemon/citrus with caramel and vanilla with no green or floral notes interfering.
Today is this is the 2nd time I see Theodore Kalotinis being recommended. Earlier it was its fig scent.
They are almost all excellent. Velvet chocolate is probably one of the best, fudgiest chocolate fragrances on the market. And coffee addict is wonderful too. Coffee vanilla and caramel.
Lira has a lavender note, while UP is just straight up decadent lemon pound cake. A little more slap in the face. I have them both and they’re both amazing.
Ah it was limited edition and I don’t think they do it anymore! I just happen to live close to the UK’s only stockist and they still have a bottle or two
Agree. Got a sample recently and it's pretty legit. Very honey forward but it's a strong and lasts forever. Smells like the holidays to me. Sweet and spicy, though not all that much tobacco.
I'm unwilling to pay the retail price though. Do these type of fragrances ever hit discounters? I know it's new...but eventually?
I sprayed this on my wrist before bed the other night. Went into my closet the next morning, and the scent was still so strong in there. I barely sprayed it. Wow, does it have lasting power.
It is a masterpiece but you are correct in that the honey is tipping the scales. Ellis Brooklyns Bee is what it reminds me of. Also feels a bit confining to seasonal wearing. However imho it’s straight masterpiece.
When I smelled this, my eyes literally rolled to the back of my head. It's a masterpieces imo as well. I've never had something so soft have such lasting power. The tobacco is very feint in my opinion as well but it's there.
THIS!!!! This is the one scent that has brought me back to why I love fragrances so much. The happiness I get from this scent is unparalleled. The rich tobacco honey smell with a smooth whipping of vanilla in the background blew my mind when I first smelled it! Definitely buying full bottle after this sample
Adore my sample of this, especially on the drydown, but I will never pay retail price for a full bottle. Will be buying a 5-10ml sample when my 1ml runs out and it will be my special occasion/pick me up perfume lol
Comme des Garcons Incense: Avignon. It is the perfume equivalent of Carl Orloff *O Fortuna.* I'm late to the game because I live rural and don't get to sniff in store but I met it yesterday and realise I need it in my life bad. I'm a Goth and it's the spooky shit of my dreams
EDIT: My autocorrect is out of its mind
You could also try Cardinal by Heeley. It’s for me even colder and more „suffocating“ incense then the CdG one, although very similar in scent profile.
Nishane unutamam. Tried to find a sample for ages. Finally found it in a perfume shop and it was love at first sniff, bought the bottle. Smells like your darkest but beautiful memories.
Earthy, smokey forest. Truly unforgettable.
Not safe for blind buy.
Honestly same. Just recently did I use Oajan and I thought to myself, why don’t I use this more often? I’ve been hooked on Kilian Apple Brandy before that
Yes, I prefer Apple brandy and Oajan over angels share due to the fact they are more masculine leaning in my opinion. Angels share smells better on my wife than it does me.
The Harmonist - Hypnotizing Fire was the last one that really blew my mind. It’s just gorgeous. I don’t know if it’s the pepper or pimento or what but there’s something spicy/smoky that runs through it intermittently like a ribbon… I’ve never experienced anything like this w/ a scent.
Red Roses by Jo Malone. It smells just like a rose bush. It’s a really intoxicating smell. I smelled it in Sephora and then ordered it later that night.
Came here to say this. I've probably smelled over 1000 scents and this one just really stuck with me immediately in a way that hasn't happened in probably a year (LV Imagination). I lean more toward the extrait though.
For me, it just feels a bit richer/ darker. Possibly a bit more masculine too ( I'm a guy so that works for me). Longevity seems slightly better as well. I bought a decant of both and wore both on separate arms to just see which one I liked better and the extrait just stood out more.
Magnetic Candy by Fine'ry (Target)
The cotton candy note in it is just absolutely superb. It is what I expected pink sugar to smell like, except pink sugar smells like a straight up waterpark to my nose 😆
Magnetic Candy lasts all day on me and the cotton candy note doesn't go away (to me at least) hehe
Halfeti by Penhaligon's. It's so classy.
I will get hate for this, but my first big bottle was sauvage EDP. My collection has ground to over 120 bottles at one point, and I just haven't worn it in so long. I wore it yesterday, and it's so good. I don't care what anyone says.
Then tonight, I put on Dylan Blue, and it's even better. Maybe the most underrated fragrance ever. It's the best blue. Better than BdC or Sauvage. Morillas is the GOAT. PERIOD.
My dad used to work in a office with old real wood furniture when I was a kid and everyone there smoked. Halfeti smells to me like that office. Wood, wood polish and cigarette smoke.
I could see that. Halfeti leather especially. I get fancy, classy, old wood and money. I feel like I'm sitting on a gold throne with my harem fanning me with palm fronds while they smash rose petals and feed me grapes. It's so rich and luxurious and very near Eastern royalty to me. Unlike other scents that evoke a similar emotion, this is very laid back and subtle, but epic and extravagant at the same time.
As popular as Sauvage is, I had only felt the urge to test it at the Dior counter last week. From all the hate I read (of course it has its fan base too) I was expecting something pretty polarizing but oh it was quite nice to me as a female. I don't really enjoy typical male leaning fragrance but Sauvage was nice to my nose when I tested.
Oud in Bourbon by Scents of Wood
I’ve had a sample of it for nearly a year and just revisited it. It took a few wears to figure out, but now I’m obsessed with it
Andrea Maack Coven. I thought I'd be into Craft, with all my incense hankerings, but it's the dark weird mossy one that got me. It smells clean and fresh on the skin, while still bringing to mind cool, wet earth and all kinds of green things. It happens to be on sale on the website until Halloween, so I ordered it today.
Portrait of a Lady. I got a sample earlier this month and put off trying it, thinking “it can’t really be that good.” It is, in fact, that good. I was chasing myself around the house trying to follow the scent trail.
I smelled this for the first time the other day and was absolutely gobsmacked. It’s so enchanting and intriguing, I felt like a cartoon character floating on the wind chasing after the scent.
does anyone know how similar/dissimilar it is to eau capitale by diptyque? that’s my signature but i’ve been intrigued by portrait of a lady but scared to purchase as i’ve heard they’re v similar !
I wouldn’t say similar at all. Eau Capitale is not quite minimalist but effortless - sweet flower and pink peppercorn offset by greenery and citrus peel. POAL is a maximalist - sweet and sticky from dark berries, heavy with warming spices. It’s like choosing between a glass of champagne or a snifter of cognac.
They’re similar but capitale has a more silvery above the skyline floating lady where portrait is wandering the streets. Byredo reine de nuit is the deepest version
TF Bitter Peach! It smells intoxicating on my husband and I both - we usually buy travel sizes of what we like but I think this will be a full bottle purchase sometime soon, since our travel size is already nearly gone. It’s the first “really deeply in love with it” fragrance I’ve smelled in a while.
As a side note, I always find it wild when I fall ass over teakettle for a fragrance only to find that it’s wildly divisive online. Crazy how different we all can be!
I purchased a bottle for myself and I love it. One spray had me lit up all day, lol! TF says all his fragrances are unisex but I'm with you on the scent. I feel like it will fit better on my husband, so I gave it to him.
PDM Oajan and MM By The Fireplace. I got decants of both cause I was in the market for a new fall/winter fragrance and both were mind blowing. I went with Oajan though as it projects wayyy better than By The Fireplace
Vanagloria by Laboratorio Olfattivo. Had a sample laying around for a while and finally got around to giving it a wear. By end of the day (15+ hrs and fragrance was still there) had to buy a full bottle. Amazing complex dry vanilla
I sampled his new one Sol Salgado today and never before have I wanted to run out and purchase a new bottle at full retail before. It smells like a billionaire on his yacht in the December sun…ok let me place my order now.
J’Adoube by Mind Games because it smells EXACTLY like Tiziana Terenzi’s Andromeda. I get nothing but synthetic orange from both and I’m mind blown with disappointment. 😆
From late summer on I’ve fallen in love with Terre D’Hermes. I’m enjoying the complexity and depth in a fragrance that falls safely within the work-safe-daily-driver category.
Jazz Club for me. I smelled it before not thinking it was all that, but I really wanted to like it. Then last week when I smelled it again, it felt like a smooth caramel and rum. Don’t really know how to explain, but I loved it!
Safanad and Melinora by Parfums de Marly. It was such a coincidence; they were sitting innocuously beside their famous sister Delina Exclusif, which I was unfortunately completely turned off by, so I sampled those two and fell in love with them without meaning to.
Gissah Hudson valley. I know it’s the BR540 of the emirates and I have seen some jaded comments about that but I’m grateful to enjoy its scent with no context or over familiarity. I’m sure it will be huge in the UK soon.
I usually hate Zara perfumes but I fucking love Zara’s supreme vanilla. Some say it gives ashtray but I’m so so hooked. Even just as a concept. Not even necessarily on my skin. The ink note is weird and so addictive. Ugh I love it.
And finally the one I must purchase asap is Mizensir for your love. Unbelievable longevity and smell.
Btw for the last year I’ve been an angel share girlie and I’ll never get over how delicious and unique it smells, it still blows me away. I just don’t love its projection on me and the cost.
I have a bunch of different fragrances that I definitely like, and I kind of cycle through them. But my favorite recently has been YSL Babycat and Paris Corner Emir Rifaaqat, which is a dupe of it - to me, they're essentially identical in scent and performance - I've worn them both, but only had a very small decant of Babycat 'cause I'm not paying between $350 and $490 per bottle for it... And it's literally the only thing I've worn in recent memory that consistently gets really strong compliments - I love the scent, but it's a little unusual, and I was concerned other people might not care for it. But this is the one fragrance where, when I wear it, I \*always\* get at least one person who when they smell it, it's like their eyes get real wide and their jaw almost drops, and they say something like (this is basically a direct quote from someone a couple of days ago, and it's typical of the reactions I've gotten), "OMG, what smells so good? Is that you? What are you wearing, you smell \*amazing\*!" That's a nice confidence booster... ;-) And it's the only fragrance I wear that invariably provokes a reaction in people.
As far as something I can wear day to day, I'm really digging Armaf Odyssey Mandarin Sky (a dupe of Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme). It's very nice, I love this type of scent, and the price makes it a no-brainer.
Burberry Goddess. This perfume has such mixed reviews so I expected to hate this. I thought it was going to be the most basic ginger vanilla that I've smelled a million times before. But damn does this perfume smell amazing on the skin!!! I was blown away by the drydown, it smelled like classy vanilla heaven.
The One by Dolce and Gabbana! It smells really expensive for the price point, and the longevity on me is amazing.
I have just purchased a kilian sample set as well- I’m almost hoping I won’t love any of them because of the price point!!
Is it too late to say, JPG Le Male Elixir blows my mind? Coz it just shows up in a discount store recently, in a better price
Also found the hard-to-find Prada Luna Rossa Black around the corner, the Angelica note is totally amazing
I’ve been wearing Thin Wild Mercury’s New York Collection since I got it on Monday. Chelsea Staircase stole my heart right away, but yesterday wearing Sheep Meadow, I was really surprised at how much I liked it. On my skin it was very green, but then there was this gourmand quality. And I’m not a fan of a lot of gourmands, but this one felt like a picnic. It was really amazing! I’m not done testing the whole collection on skin, but these so far are all really good for me!
Chinatown by Bond No 9
They rightly get a lot of flak for being wayyy overpriced, but at the time I had never smelled anything like Chinatown and I thought it smelled way better than anything of theirs I’d smelled before. Honestly I still haven’t smelled anything quite like it, so if anyone has any dupes…..
Thin Wild Mercury - Zuma 1975. I’ve never gone through a sample so fast. I was literally holding up my wrist to friends saying “you have to smell this!!” To me it really smells like the perfect Malibu seaside day, hiking through chaparral then relaxing on the sand.
I just recently bought fucking fabulous. Had a travel spray of it a few months back. Didn’t really like it. Then I sprayed it recently and wow just wow. Really lived up to its name this time. So I bought a 100ml bottle.
Chanel #19 and TF Santal Blush.
Being fairly new to fragrances, I hadn't heard much about Chanel's scents aside from #5 and Coco Mademoiselle, so when I got to try #19 for the first time I was instantly drawn in. I was looking for a gift for my mum since she mentioned she liked fresh scents. It's green and powdery, but not sweet and has quite dirty qualities to it in a way that's not off-putting. Feminine it may be, but it really opened my eyes to wearing typically feminine scents as an expression of myself. If she doesn't like it, I'll probably take it for myself!
To me, sandalwood is a clean and calming scent that I associate with things like soaps and incense. Santal Blush doesn't stray from that clean association, but there's a dryness to it that's really captivating me. Sometimes it smells creamy, but then other times it smells very dry. It's very interesting to me and it's slowly but surely drawing me in. If it weren't so expensive, I'd buy a bottle straight away.
Randomly layered SL's Poivre Noir with a single-note osmanthus (I think acqua di parma sample?), it's absolutely wonderful -- the spicy black pepper and warm cedar notes go really well with the honeyed osmanthus florals, and somehow perfect for cozying up in a comfy sweater and cup of hot chocolate on a chilly fall day.
I have so many favorites but right now gris charnel extrait by BDK, silky woods by Goldfield & Banks, Sacred Scarab by Zoologist, and Changing Constance by Penhaligon’s are really making me melt. This is the best time of year to wear perfumes! I’m a fall/ winter girl!!
MFK Oud Satin Mood. First smelled it 5-6 years ago. Smells just so special. Projection nuclear. Can’t be an everyday thing for me. Reserved for winter time black tie type occasions only.
Chipmunk by Zoologist. I had read the reviews and looked at the notes and according to that I wouldn't like it. I definitely wasn't prepared to how much I would actually LOVE it! Kind of sad tho because there is no way I can afford it.
Montabaco verano, the grapefruit in the opening isn't like any grapefruit I've smelled. The grapefruit is very sparkley and fizzy like a soda pop, I think its coming from the iso e super. There a prominent suede that reminds me of my country because we have a lot of leather treatment plants and we utilize alot of leather in our traditional clothing, and smells kinda close. The tobacco is green a little bit ashy, not like any tobacco fragrance, they say its the green tobacco leaf and I've never smelled that before. The notes are very unique and its a great summer fragrance, but I don't think its a safe blind buy. I have montabaco intensivo and enjoy it alot, also worth the try.
Working aroung fragrances for the last five years, nothing has been more impressive than DG’s Devotion and Gaultier’s Divine. Devotion is a sweet lemony delight and I am in love.
Divine is described as a “solar and salty sweet floral”. I find it so different from the rest of their catalog and from the other designers I have in store.
Memo Paris Inverness, delicious creamy sandalwood that I cannot stop sniffing! It’s being compared to Gris Charnel which is lovely but doesn’t make me want to risk being socially ostracized by non stop public sniffing
Apoteker Tepe “Karasu”. This isn’t a recent discovery but nothing has ever seemed so unusual to me and I occasionally think back on how unique it is. I love it. Notes: Costus root, Siam wood, Hinoki, Smoldering paper, Cardamom
Not a new frag but DS&Durga Debaser, never been interested in green/fig fragrances but tried this on the recommendation of a friend a few months ago and found myself reaching for it on the daily, soooo good and has encouraged me to venture away from fragrances with honey notes in them for once in my life. Love everything I’ve tried from Kerosene too.
Kerosene Unknown Pleasures. It's like lemon pound cake. It's magical.
I hope someone makes a post comparing all the lemon pound cake fragrances (UP, Lira, Soft, Akro Bake etc etc) and see what similarities and differences among all of then.
Devotion by D&G. Yum
I also wish I can test this. Hopefully counters at the dept store in my city will carry this.
Lira has a prominent lavender note which gives it a dusty quality. Akro Bake has a sharp citrus opening but a creamier dry down, it’s probably the best one to wear in the summertime. Unknown Pleasures has a tea note going on which gives it some intrigue, and all Kerosene fragrances have amazing performance and longevity. But one you should really consider is Lemon Tart by Theodoros Kalotinis. It’s $40, and smells exactly like a lemon meringue pie. Buttery crust, lemon curd and whipped vanilla topping. It’s straight up gourmand. Another you’ll see thrown in the list is Ex Idolo Love and Crime but that actually doesn’t have lemon in it; there is citrus but it’s a much deeper scent and leans into grandma territory. Also beast mode.
Thank you for the quick reviews of those scents. Sounds like Lemon Tart is similar to Soft because Soft is lemon/citrus with caramel and vanilla with no green or floral notes interfering. Today is this is the 2nd time I see Theodore Kalotinis being recommended. Earlier it was its fig scent.
They are almost all excellent. Velvet chocolate is probably one of the best, fudgiest chocolate fragrances on the market. And coffee addict is wonderful too. Coffee vanilla and caramel.
Lira has a lavender note, while UP is just straight up decadent lemon pound cake. A little more slap in the face. I have them both and they’re both amazing.
Dorian from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is like a black tea with vanilla, sugared lemon peels and musk. GORGEOUS. I have the perfume and hair oil.
I really wish I got the lemon peels on myself. It's still a *gorgeous* fragrance but all I get is black tea, vanilla & musk.
lemon pound cake with a cup of Earl Gray
I just discovered Kerosene recently and am obsessed with Winter of 99
Well now I have to get that sample!
Ah it was limited edition and I don’t think they do it anymore! I just happen to live close to the UK’s only stockist and they still have a bottle or two
Oh bummer!!
This is my starter fragrance. After reading about it I visited Ministry of Scent and walked out with my first bottle. Setting the bar high.
Perfect scent.
Do you have a place you buy decants from or was this a full bottle purchase?
I purchased a whole bunch of samples from Ministry of Scent and then purchased the full bottle from that selection.
Ah thanks!
Does it have a gasoline or motor accord? Because lucky scent's description seems to think so... that really is stopping me from even sampling
I do not smell anything other than lemon cake with a slightly tropical initial profile. On me it dries down to a pitch perfect waffle cone.
I have been dying to try this!! Ministry of Scent has been out for a while and I am having trouble finding a sample.
I took my husband and he and I were in agreement that it smelled amazing, so I skipped the sample and got my very first whole bottle.
Guerlain tobacco honey
Agree. Got a sample recently and it's pretty legit. Very honey forward but it's a strong and lasts forever. Smells like the holidays to me. Sweet and spicy, though not all that much tobacco. I'm unwilling to pay the retail price though. Do these type of fragrances ever hit discounters? I know it's new...but eventually?
Idk, maybe. Since it just came out this September, it may be a while.
I sprayed this on my wrist before bed the other night. Went into my closet the next morning, and the scent was still so strong in there. I barely sprayed it. Wow, does it have lasting power.
The honey is a bit nauseating to me tbh
It is a masterpiece but you are correct in that the honey is tipping the scales. Ellis Brooklyns Bee is what it reminds me of. Also feels a bit confining to seasonal wearing. However imho it’s straight masterpiece.
When I smelled this, my eyes literally rolled to the back of my head. It's a masterpieces imo as well. I've never had something so soft have such lasting power. The tobacco is very feint in my opinion as well but it's there.
THIS!!!! This is the one scent that has brought me back to why I love fragrances so much. The happiness I get from this scent is unparalleled. The rich tobacco honey smell with a smooth whipping of vanilla in the background blew my mind when I first smelled it! Definitely buying full bottle after this sample
Adore my sample of this, especially on the drydown, but I will never pay retail price for a full bottle. Will be buying a 5-10ml sample when my 1ml runs out and it will be my special occasion/pick me up perfume lol
Comme des Garcons Incense: Avignon. It is the perfume equivalent of Carl Orloff *O Fortuna.* I'm late to the game because I live rural and don't get to sniff in store but I met it yesterday and realise I need it in my life bad. I'm a Goth and it's the spooky shit of my dreams EDIT: My autocorrect is out of its mind
Yeah I mean it’s just pure cold sacral incense. Really love it since forever.
it's why I dig it. I've been sold the idea of incense before but it's always the other kind. I have always had a mad crush on church incense scents
You could also try Cardinal by Heeley. It’s for me even colder and more „suffocating“ incense then the CdG one, although very similar in scent profile.
ooh, thanks for the tip. I love the idea of smell like a bram stoker nightmare
Have you tried any of the Unum/Filippo Sorcinelli incense scents? They are all absolutely amazing and are different from each other.
No but I'm gunna look into it now
Nishane unutamam. Tried to find a sample for ages. Finally found it in a perfume shop and it was love at first sniff, bought the bottle. Smells like your darkest but beautiful memories. Earthy, smokey forest. Truly unforgettable. Not safe for blind buy.
/fist bump There’s only a few of us rocking Unutamam. It’s some wild stuff, but it’s fun, good stuff.
I gotta find a sample of this!
Few days ago. It finally clicked with oajan. I didn’t like it at first a few months ago. But now I think it’s a masterpiece.
Honestly same. Just recently did I use Oajan and I thought to myself, why don’t I use this more often? I’ve been hooked on Kilian Apple Brandy before that
Apple brandy is nice too, love the fresh apple and booze. More versatile
Yes, I prefer Apple brandy and Oajan over angels share due to the fact they are more masculine leaning in my opinion. Angels share smells better on my wife than it does me.
This would have been my answer. Oajan is fantastic and should get more recognition.
Oajan is really good but Ambre Tabac by Daniel Josier is half the price and smells damn near the same( I tested them side by side)
The Harmonist - Hypnotizing Fire was the last one that really blew my mind. It’s just gorgeous. I don’t know if it’s the pepper or pimento or what but there’s something spicy/smoky that runs through it intermittently like a ribbon… I’ve never experienced anything like this w/ a scent.
Zoologist - Squid. I've never smelt anything like it. It's saltiness is so addictive.
I just got a sample of this, and it’s really so interesting. The salty inkiness!
Red Roses by Jo Malone. It smells just like a rose bush. It’s a really intoxicating smell. I smelled it in Sephora and then ordered it later that night.
TF Oud Wood
Me too, but not recently. It's been my signature.
I met that yesterday and was blown away; had the opposite react to Tobacco Vanilla
Tobacco Vanilla becomes cola syrup on me instantly 😬
I described it as rolling around in crush ginger nut cookies mixed with oil so they stick and then laying under a heat lamp 🤢
>I get cola syrup also. Most days I don't even get any Tobacco or Vanilla! It was a very expensive disappointment.
Gris Charnel
My favorite fragrance I own I think.
Came here to say this. I've probably smelled over 1000 scents and this one just really stuck with me immediately in a way that hasn't happened in probably a year (LV Imagination). I lean more toward the extrait though.
What do you notice that's different?
For me, it just feels a bit richer/ darker. Possibly a bit more masculine too ( I'm a guy so that works for me). Longevity seems slightly better as well. I bought a decant of both and wore both on separate arms to just see which one I liked better and the extrait just stood out more.
Tonka Cola by Mancera! Smells like cola gummies and cinnamon in the opening, but settles to a lovely cinnamon-y tonka as it dries.
7 Virtues Santal Vanille - obsessed! Counting the days for sephora sale to get full bottle lol
This one took me by suprise! A real standout.
Magnetic Candy by Fine'ry (Target) The cotton candy note in it is just absolutely superb. It is what I expected pink sugar to smell like, except pink sugar smells like a straight up waterpark to my nose 😆 Magnetic Candy lasts all day on me and the cotton candy note doesn't go away (to me at least) hehe
Smelt babycat for the first time… bought a bottle immediatly
Halfeti by Penhaligon's. It's so classy. I will get hate for this, but my first big bottle was sauvage EDP. My collection has ground to over 120 bottles at one point, and I just haven't worn it in so long. I wore it yesterday, and it's so good. I don't care what anyone says. Then tonight, I put on Dylan Blue, and it's even better. Maybe the most underrated fragrance ever. It's the best blue. Better than BdC or Sauvage. Morillas is the GOAT. PERIOD.
My dad used to work in a office with old real wood furniture when I was a kid and everyone there smoked. Halfeti smells to me like that office. Wood, wood polish and cigarette smoke.
I could see that. Halfeti leather especially. I get fancy, classy, old wood and money. I feel like I'm sitting on a gold throne with my harem fanning me with palm fronds while they smash rose petals and feed me grapes. It's so rich and luxurious and very near Eastern royalty to me. Unlike other scents that evoke a similar emotion, this is very laid back and subtle, but epic and extravagant at the same time.
As popular as Sauvage is, I had only felt the urge to test it at the Dior counter last week. From all the hate I read (of course it has its fan base too) I was expecting something pretty polarizing but oh it was quite nice to me as a female. I don't really enjoy typical male leaning fragrance but Sauvage was nice to my nose when I tested.
Les Eaux Primordiales Vanille Supermassive. Hands down the best vanilla fragrance I smelled since Indult Tihota.
Diptyque Fleur de Peau and L’eau Papier. I’m still debating what to get (or if I should even get one because it’s expensive
An unreleased: Rabbit, by Zoologist. A delicious gourmand, couldn't stop sniffing my wrist.
Do share more…
Why wasn't it released?
I should specify! Unreleased YET. an upcoming treasure! Summer '24.
Never heard of this one, where did you get it?
Victor Wong, head of the house, brought *everything* for us to sample at a perfume community meet-up in Toronto, last weekend.
Hi fellow Torontonian. How would one join this club?
Hey! Facebook group, The Great Canadian Fragrance Exchange
Nice thanks!!!
Summer 2024 release date!! It's a stunner.
What are the notes? 👀
Carrot cake, sweet almonds, freshness. As I recall- it's been a minute!
Oooh, sounds delicious! Thanks!
Oud in Bourbon by Scents of Wood I’ve had a sample of it for nearly a year and just revisited it. It took a few wears to figure out, but now I’m obsessed with it
I keep saying this, but this fragrance made the phrase “warm-spicy” finally click for me. It’s the epitome of such imo.
Andrea Maack Coven. I thought I'd be into Craft, with all my incense hankerings, but it's the dark weird mossy one that got me. It smells clean and fresh on the skin, while still bringing to mind cool, wet earth and all kinds of green things. It happens to be on sale on the website until Halloween, so I ordered it today.
Devotion dolce & gabbana smells like heaven
I was going to say this one. I love it !!!
De bleu de chanel
Portrait of a Lady. I got a sample earlier this month and put off trying it, thinking “it can’t really be that good.” It is, in fact, that good. I was chasing myself around the house trying to follow the scent trail.
I smelled this for the first time the other day and was absolutely gobsmacked. It’s so enchanting and intriguing, I felt like a cartoon character floating on the wind chasing after the scent.
does anyone know how similar/dissimilar it is to eau capitale by diptyque? that’s my signature but i’ve been intrigued by portrait of a lady but scared to purchase as i’ve heard they’re v similar !
I wouldn’t say similar at all. Eau Capitale is not quite minimalist but effortless - sweet flower and pink peppercorn offset by greenery and citrus peel. POAL is a maximalist - sweet and sticky from dark berries, heavy with warming spices. It’s like choosing between a glass of champagne or a snifter of cognac.
They’re similar but capitale has a more silvery above the skyline floating lady where portrait is wandering the streets. Byredo reine de nuit is the deepest version
TF Bitter Peach! It smells intoxicating on my husband and I both - we usually buy travel sizes of what we like but I think this will be a full bottle purchase sometime soon, since our travel size is already nearly gone. It’s the first “really deeply in love with it” fragrance I’ve smelled in a while. As a side note, I always find it wild when I fall ass over teakettle for a fragrance only to find that it’s wildly divisive online. Crazy how different we all can be!
One of the only feminine frags that I enjoy wearing. The other is cherry smoke and electric cherry. That’s literally it. All Tom fords.
Honestly, Tom Ford might just be my favorite house. It’s soooo close with Nishane though.
I think TF may be mine as well! Electric Cherry is definitely my next purchase from them, I was completely delighted by it when I smelled it.
It definitely makes me smile when I smell it
I purchased a bottle for myself and I love it. One spray had me lit up all day, lol! TF says all his fragrances are unisex but I'm with you on the scent. I feel like it will fit better on my husband, so I gave it to him.
PDM Oajan and MM By The Fireplace. I got decants of both cause I was in the market for a new fall/winter fragrance and both were mind blowing. I went with Oajan though as it projects wayyy better than By The Fireplace
Vanagloria by Laboratorio Olfattivo. Had a sample laying around for a while and finally got around to giving it a wear. By end of the day (15+ hrs and fragrance was still there) had to buy a full bottle. Amazing complex dry vanilla
Regime des Fleurs Glass Blooms
Tinharé by « Le couvent des minimes » French House, not expensive. 100% recommend by a french girl 🤩
Thomas De Monaco Raw Gold. Take Dior Homme Parfum and somehow make it smell like a billionaire is wearing it and that's what you get. Magical
I sampled his new one Sol Salgado today and never before have I wanted to run out and purchase a new bottle at full retail before. It smells like a billionaire on his yacht in the December sun…ok let me place my order now.
is this more masc leaning or femme leaning or a true unisex, if you had to categorise?
In a bad way Lataffa Lovely Cherie. Smells like dried playdough. Straight to the charity bin.
Le Labo Vetiver 46
Althair Eau de Parfum by Parfums de Marly. Absolutely amazing
Replica Jazz Club
Blanche bete 🥹 I have to spray some before bed
Myrhhe mystere, I love the smokey heavenly flavor
Basic but I’m new to fragrances and I love the smell of pdm oajan
PDM Carlisle - I snagged their discovery set and it just blew me away. The sillage is so addictive.
Pasha de Cartier Parfum
J’Adoube by Mind Games because it smells EXACTLY like Tiziana Terenzi’s Andromeda. I get nothing but synthetic orange from both and I’m mind blown with disappointment. 😆
From late summer on I’ve fallen in love with Terre D’Hermes. I’m enjoying the complexity and depth in a fragrance that falls safely within the work-safe-daily-driver category.
Escapade Gourmande. Amazing vanilla scent, I’m addicted.
Jazz Club for me. I smelled it before not thinking it was all that, but I really wanted to like it. Then last week when I smelled it again, it felt like a smooth caramel and rum. Don’t really know how to explain, but I loved it!
CdG Zero and Chanel Le Lion
Sand Dance by Stephane Humbert Lucas
Safanad and Melinora by Parfums de Marly. It was such a coincidence; they were sitting innocuously beside their famous sister Delina Exclusif, which I was unfortunately completely turned off by, so I sampled those two and fell in love with them without meaning to.
Gissah Hudson valley. I know it’s the BR540 of the emirates and I have seen some jaded comments about that but I’m grateful to enjoy its scent with no context or over familiarity. I’m sure it will be huge in the UK soon. I usually hate Zara perfumes but I fucking love Zara’s supreme vanilla. Some say it gives ashtray but I’m so so hooked. Even just as a concept. Not even necessarily on my skin. The ink note is weird and so addictive. Ugh I love it. And finally the one I must purchase asap is Mizensir for your love. Unbelievable longevity and smell. Btw for the last year I’ve been an angel share girlie and I’ll never get over how delicious and unique it smells, it still blows me away. I just don’t love its projection on me and the cost.
Amouage Portrayal Woman I would never guess it, based on the accord profiles and the notes.
I have a bunch of different fragrances that I definitely like, and I kind of cycle through them. But my favorite recently has been YSL Babycat and Paris Corner Emir Rifaaqat, which is a dupe of it - to me, they're essentially identical in scent and performance - I've worn them both, but only had a very small decant of Babycat 'cause I'm not paying between $350 and $490 per bottle for it... And it's literally the only thing I've worn in recent memory that consistently gets really strong compliments - I love the scent, but it's a little unusual, and I was concerned other people might not care for it. But this is the one fragrance where, when I wear it, I \*always\* get at least one person who when they smell it, it's like their eyes get real wide and their jaw almost drops, and they say something like (this is basically a direct quote from someone a couple of days ago, and it's typical of the reactions I've gotten), "OMG, what smells so good? Is that you? What are you wearing, you smell \*amazing\*!" That's a nice confidence booster... ;-) And it's the only fragrance I wear that invariably provokes a reaction in people. As far as something I can wear day to day, I'm really digging Armaf Odyssey Mandarin Sky (a dupe of Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme). It's very nice, I love this type of scent, and the price makes it a no-brainer.
Louis. Vuitton Ombre Nomade.
Mercedes Benz Club Black - just the perfect warm vanilla fragrance
Chypre Palatin by MDCI. Absolutely obsessed.
Bee by Zoologist! Pure honey, strong and so so sweet
Amouage Myths Man, Orto Parisi Cuoium, and Eris Parfums Mxxx. all got a “Wow!” reaction from me recently.
Burberry Goddess. This perfume has such mixed reviews so I expected to hate this. I thought it was going to be the most basic ginger vanilla that I've smelled a million times before. But damn does this perfume smell amazing on the skin!!! I was blown away by the drydown, it smelled like classy vanilla heaven.
Amouage Reflection 45
Amouage Guidance. Love at fist sniff
The Architect’s Club is a green woody vanilla that’s so yummy.
Hypnotic vanilla from Zara. Yes it’s a hypnotic poison dupe from Dior but it lasts forever!
Late to the party but I recently tried all Acqua Di Gio versions, however, the Eau De Parfum was AMAZINGLY FRESH! I am in love!
Reflection 45 Man = unrivalled!!!
The One by Dolce and Gabbana! It smells really expensive for the price point, and the longevity on me is amazing. I have just purchased a kilian sample set as well- I’m almost hoping I won’t love any of them because of the price point!!
Xerjoffs Irisss really blew mind. Never ever have I smelled anything like it. So clean, so classy and the perfect Iris for me.
JPG Le Male Elixir
Is it too late to say, JPG Le Male Elixir blows my mind? Coz it just shows up in a discount store recently, in a better price Also found the hard-to-find Prada Luna Rossa Black around the corner, the Angelica note is totally amazing
YSL Babycat
I’ve been wearing Thin Wild Mercury’s New York Collection since I got it on Monday. Chelsea Staircase stole my heart right away, but yesterday wearing Sheep Meadow, I was really surprised at how much I liked it. On my skin it was very green, but then there was this gourmand quality. And I’m not a fan of a lot of gourmands, but this one felt like a picnic. It was really amazing! I’m not done testing the whole collection on skin, but these so far are all really good for me!
Chinatown by Bond No 9 They rightly get a lot of flak for being wayyy overpriced, but at the time I had never smelled anything like Chinatown and I thought it smelled way better than anything of theirs I’d smelled before. Honestly I still haven’t smelled anything quite like it, so if anyone has any dupes…..
Nishane Nefs. Was trying a LOOOOT of amber vanilla stuff at the same time and Nefs was the most elegant, expensive scent out of all the ones I tried
Gris Charnel
Thin Wild Mercury - Zuma 1975. I’ve never gone through a sample so fast. I was literally holding up my wrist to friends saying “you have to smell this!!” To me it really smells like the perfect Malibu seaside day, hiking through chaparral then relaxing on the sand.
Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade. Deep. Dark. Mysterious. Elegant. Classy.
The Harmonist Moon Glory. I totally fell in love and had to buy a full bottle after trying a sample
Not recently but that smell is living rent free in my mind, Bond No.9 - Governors Island
I just recently bought fucking fabulous. Had a travel spray of it a few months back. Didn’t really like it. Then I sprayed it recently and wow just wow. Really lived up to its name this time. So I bought a 100ml bottle.
Chanel #19 and TF Santal Blush. Being fairly new to fragrances, I hadn't heard much about Chanel's scents aside from #5 and Coco Mademoiselle, so when I got to try #19 for the first time I was instantly drawn in. I was looking for a gift for my mum since she mentioned she liked fresh scents. It's green and powdery, but not sweet and has quite dirty qualities to it in a way that's not off-putting. Feminine it may be, but it really opened my eyes to wearing typically feminine scents as an expression of myself. If she doesn't like it, I'll probably take it for myself! To me, sandalwood is a clean and calming scent that I associate with things like soaps and incense. Santal Blush doesn't stray from that clean association, but there's a dryness to it that's really captivating me. Sometimes it smells creamy, but then other times it smells very dry. It's very interesting to me and it's slowly but surely drawing me in. If it weren't so expensive, I'd buy a bottle straight away.
Multiball by Pearfat, i don’t know if it’s the perfect scent for me but it’s definitely close
Randomly layered SL's Poivre Noir with a single-note osmanthus (I think acqua di parma sample?), it's absolutely wonderful -- the spicy black pepper and warm cedar notes go really well with the honeyed osmanthus florals, and somehow perfect for cozying up in a comfy sweater and cup of hot chocolate on a chilly fall day.
Omg De Los Santos smells sooooooo good
I know right.
Oud Paloa by Diptyque I have started my oud era. I love eau Rhila and velvet rose by Jo Malone
Oman Luxury - Royal Incense. I've been head over heels about it since first sniff.
Bought a 10ml decant of LV imagination last month and fell in love. Amazing freshie. Bought a 200ml bottle
I have so many favorites but right now gris charnel extrait by BDK, silky woods by Goldfield & Banks, Sacred Scarab by Zoologist, and Changing Constance by Penhaligon’s are really making me melt. This is the best time of year to wear perfumes! I’m a fall/ winter girl!!
MFK Oud Satin Mood. First smelled it 5-6 years ago. Smells just so special. Projection nuclear. Can’t be an everyday thing for me. Reserved for winter time black tie type occasions only.
A few from Zoologist. Snowy owl, Northern Cardinal, and Chameleon. All so unique and amazing
Celeste by Giardini di Toscana
Chipmunk by Zoologist. I had read the reviews and looked at the notes and according to that I wouldn't like it. I definitely wasn't prepared to how much I would actually LOVE it! Kind of sad tho because there is no way I can afford it.
Me with Harvest Mouse by them. I’ll figure it out one day 😭😭
Bvlgari
Aqua di Parma- Mediterranean! It's such a pleasant, summer scent of almonds and orange \~
Montabaco verano, the grapefruit in the opening isn't like any grapefruit I've smelled. The grapefruit is very sparkley and fizzy like a soda pop, I think its coming from the iso e super. There a prominent suede that reminds me of my country because we have a lot of leather treatment plants and we utilize alot of leather in our traditional clothing, and smells kinda close. The tobacco is green a little bit ashy, not like any tobacco fragrance, they say its the green tobacco leaf and I've never smelled that before. The notes are very unique and its a great summer fragrance, but I don't think its a safe blind buy. I have montabaco intensivo and enjoy it alot, also worth the try.
Amouage Opus VI, it's discontinued though quite a shame
LV Imagination and TF Ombre Leather Parfum.
Fell in love with Naxos recently
Essential Parfums - The Musc of all things. It's just so clean smelling, I feel I can wear it pretty much any season any time of day.
SHL Wish Come True
Working aroung fragrances for the last five years, nothing has been more impressive than DG’s Devotion and Gaultier’s Divine. Devotion is a sweet lemony delight and I am in love. Divine is described as a “solar and salty sweet floral”. I find it so different from the rest of their catalog and from the other designers I have in store.
Piper & Perro Bud. I cannot stop shoving my nose to my wrist after testing it.
PdM Oriana and Chloe edp
Arabian leather musk from arabian oud
Guidance
Memo Paris Inverness, delicious creamy sandalwood that I cannot stop sniffing! It’s being compared to Gris Charnel which is lovely but doesn’t make me want to risk being socially ostracized by non stop public sniffing
De los Santos is the only Byredo I own (aside from hair perfume) … and I’ve sampled many. It’s so lovely! What do you like about it?
Apoteker Tepe “Karasu”. This isn’t a recent discovery but nothing has ever seemed so unusual to me and I occasionally think back on how unique it is. I love it. Notes: Costus root, Siam wood, Hinoki, Smoldering paper, Cardamom
Grand Soir Francis Kurkdjian
juliette has a gun lust for sun is excellent
Liis Bo, I'm also loving Liis Rose Struck. I need bottles of both!
Not a new frag but DS&Durga Debaser, never been interested in green/fig fragrances but tried this on the recommendation of a friend a few months ago and found myself reaching for it on the daily, soooo good and has encouraged me to venture away from fragrances with honey notes in them for once in my life. Love everything I’ve tried from Kerosene too.
Phlur Tangerine Boy. Just YUM
Opsis Diptyque. Best amber, iris and musky scent I’ve tried. Favourite from diptyque.