How to choose a new perfume - help!

I love the Soft Iris M & S perfume ..... and it's such a great price.

Zara do lots of designer perfume dupes. Worth a try.
I like White Musk from The Body Shop for everyday wear.

www.whowhatwear.com/zara-perfume-dupes

Google Elma fragrances. Amazing inexpensive perfumes ‘inspired’ by famous ridiculously expensive ones and they’re great. I would never buy overpriced expensive ones again. At the very least you can try some different ones and then buy the expensive version if you like.

I've had a few of the M&S perfumes over the years and liked them, but it's quite true that they don't last as well on the skin as some of the more expensive ones. Also they tend to discontinue them.

Clinique aromatics, another, used it for 50 years, still get compliments, it quite expensive but it's cheaper to buy the biggest

I've been using the same couple of Jo Malone perfumes for a few years now but the fragrances don't seem to last very long and very recently I've noticed that after an hour or so on my skin they seem to change.
I used to find Debenhams was a good place to perfume shop as they had so many testers on display but there isn't anywhere local now with several testers.

Worn Chanel’s Crystalle for years and don’t see me ever changing, I adore its fresh unique score.

Thank you all for your input. We were in John Lewis earlier so I went for some advice. I had 2 assistants trying to find one I liked.

I eventually bought YSL Libre (Flower and Flames). It was 20% off so sort of a bargain.

Try samples in shops and decide what you like both initially and after a few hours. Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely is lovely and available in many shops. White Musk by Body Shop is also lovely and I get many complements when I wear both perfumes

I te d to go for anything by Marc Jacobs, recently started using Carolina Herrera, the original blue one in the shape of a stiletto shoe. Do not like dupes they start off OK then smell acrid. I always invest in designer perfume, costs a lot but lasts ages if kept in a dark place and lots Do refills now so they work out cheaper.

My favourite for many years was Estée Lauder Private Collection, but now it’s the original Jimmy Shoo perfume. I often get comments about it.

If you like oud . Oud Attar does mini bottles and tester kit. They’re an oil and are in a bottle with a roller ball. I like Rose Oud , it’s not an overpowering as some of the others being an oil lasts for ages on your skin . I get lots of compliments when I wear it .
For everyday wear , I use m & s warmth perfume from their apothecary range . It’s a copy of Santal 33 which is very expensive. I get comments from people who wear Santal 33 and think I’m also wearing it .

Try Eden Perfumes. They are not the real thing but are excellent! Prices superb. I love YSL Yvresse,Clinique Aromatics and Guerlain Samsara. They smell exactly the same. Great Trustpilot reviews too. Check out the prices! 😁

edenperfumes.co.uk

Try Lillian Blume by Thomson Carter
They do lots of lovely perfumes
You can buy small bottles at £15 I think and also sample boxes that you get a refund if you get a full size bottle.
Lovely packaging as well like Jo Malone but not JM prices.

I occasionally treat myself when flying to see my sister in Spain. The ones I’ve chosen in more recent years are Chanel Chance, Calvin Klein Beauty, Coco Chanel, Hermes un Jardin Cythere. But, there are more inexpensive fragrances which are good from Zara etc. It’s just a matter of personal taste.

Just looked this one up on "Fragrantica" - it's not one I'm familiar with.

Will look out for it now as it seems very versatile day/night and most of the year.

www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Yves-Saint-Laurent/Libre-56077.html

Best places (I think) for perfume are Harvey Nicks or Libertys or Selfridges... but you can find me at any perfume counter anywhere to be honest!

Have fun Kitty with your new fragrance!

Go into John Lewis in Leicester, Kitty and sniff your way around the different stands. Tell the ladies the sort of thing you like. Then go and treat yourself to lunch and go back to see if you still like your favourites. I found Twilly by Hermes that way! I also like their Caleche.

Just seen you succeeded today! Well done!

eddiecat78

Abbey Perfumery from Derbyshire (online) sell a"library" of 12 different sample size scents for £28. And you'll be supporting a small British business

I've only just seen this thread and was also about to suggest Abbey Perfumes. I've become a devotee and use their "Green Island" - fresh, grassy and astringent - on warm summer days and "Kindled Rose" - warm, woody and gently floral - in winter when it seems to go so well with thick tights and cashmere jumpers.

I just did the perfume finder and it came up with the one I wear!

I have just done the perfume finder too on Fragrantica - what I really wanted was for it to suggest something quite different.

Unfortunately it suggests fragrances that are quite like mine.

I only use Chanel #5 and Estee. If those are known as old lady fragrances That's fine with me.

Wait until you get to an airport.

Mojack26

Try Eden Perfumes. They are not the real thing but are excellent! Prices superb. I love YSL Yvresse,Clinique Aromatics and Guerlain Samsara. They smell exactly the same. Great Trustpilot reviews too. Check out the prices! 😁

edenperfumes.co.uk

Thanks for that info - I shall give Eden a go!

Never trust what a perfume smells like on someone else
My go to perfume is private collection
One time when wearing it the woman in the veg shop asked me what I was wearing. In a very positive way When I told her she said she had been given a bottle and it smelled horrid but lovely on me. The next time I was in the shop I left with a bottle of perfume