Perfume - what are your favourites?

Have used Estee Lauder Beautiful since it came out in the 80s and it has become my signature scent now. Have smelled lots of others on friends but whenever I tested them on me, they seemed to ‘turn’ and smell of cats wee!

I one tried to surprise my husband by turning up at his site office while he was outside with a client but he knew I was there from my scent as he opened the door!

Please let me resurrect this wonderful thread. I'm a newbie and have so enjoyed reading it.

I love perfume, wear it every day. First one I remember having was Floris Stephanotis, a gift from a very dear friend of my mother when I was in my early teens. Loved it then, doubt I would now.

My absolute favourite as a couple of others have mentioned, is Givenchy III which I've worn since the mid 1970s. Givenchy should be made to take a long walk off a short plank for discontinuing it!

Other favourites are Yves St Laurent Y and Diorella and sometimes Cristalle, Lime Basil and Mandarin and Clarins Eau Ressourcante.

Has anyone read Perfumes A-Z by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez? It came out about ten years ago but is still in print. It covers perfumes from Jicky and Mitsouko onwards, with informed comment about each. What I find so good is that it also gives the "perfume family" for each. Givenchy III is a green chypre which means I can look for other chypres or greens and see if I like them - not infallible, I may still not like them or might love them but balk at the price.

It does reduce no end that "rabbit in headlights" experience in the perfume hall or duty free.

There's a new version covering the years from that book to date. And no, I don't work for them or know them, just thought others might be interested.

I wore Shalimar for quite a while, until when I was pregnant, and it made me sick. Never used it after that. Switched to Blue for Women by Ralph Lauren, and got compliments ALL the time, but sadly, they no longer make it. Now I wear Chanel #5. Not sure is the real thing because it doesn’t last very long. It was kind of spendy though, so I thought it was.

I've just ordered 3 of the smallest sizes to try.

Oops. I meant to say Obsession, by Calvin Klein.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noire and Liz Earle's no 100, a lovely fresh floral scent - slightly reminiscent of daffodils.

I only wear two perfumes:

For spring and summer I wear Shalimar, by Guerlain. Very sweet scent.

For fall and winter I switch to Obsession, by Guerlain. A sexy, heady scent.

I love CK1 as an everyday eau de toilette but my special one is Hermes Orange Verte. They're both quite fresh/refreshing.
I live my rose scented reed diffuser but have a lovely Christmas one for December.
I hadn't really thought how much smells mean to me till I read this thread!

I avoid them they really get up my nose and then it streams literally like a tap.

I am not as bad as I was but I don't want to go through that for years on end again.

I use Jo Malone "Grapefruit" - my daughters buy it for me at Christmas and on my Birthday.

I used to wear oerfume tegularly, but have just realised its been some time since i have used any. Its Still all sitting there, will have to take a sniff.

Love Hugo Boss Orange and Next have a new one called Amber Gold

dianetheartist, I love you !! Just checked on the perfume parlour website and a 35 ml bottle of Cafe Rose, including postage, will set me back the princely total of $30. A 50 ml bottle of the same perfume would cost me $554. I nearly fell off my chair. It smells gorgeous, but at that price I didn't buy it. I don't mind if the oil only smells similar, because at that price I am over the moon. Thank you so very very much. My friends will love that site too ??????????

I love perfumes and body lotions, especially those with rose, violets or musk. Can't wear heavy scents as I get migraines but a tiny drop of youth few is ok. L'Air du Temps, Blue Grass, Channel 19, Amerage (sp), the yardleyrose and violet and my all time favourite, L'Aimant creamy skin perfume by Coty. Comes in a tiny little black glass bottle with a gold cap and has a little "dipstick" attached to cap. My mum wore it all the time. Sadly, the creamy skin perfume has been discontinued. The sprays are just not the same. Had I known they were going to stop making it I would have bought every bottle I could. It was quite hard to get as I live in Oz. and they never had it here. If I could get my hands on a bottle I eould even swap my DH for it! If I find I have a bunch of unwanted toiletries, scents etc I hand them in to the local nursing home. They are not fussed if a bottle has been opened because some of the old ladies and gents don't have anything so they can be put to good use. Same with all those unwanted and unopened boxes of chocs at Christmas. I hand those in too, the elderly folks get to enjoy them and I am not tempted! Everyone happy. As for the perfumes, I'm going to go see if I can find some of them here and will try them. Another nice one was called Paris I think? I'm sure that smelt of violets. Anyone know of any other good rose scents? I saw posters further up mention one, will try find it here.

The last nice perfume I bought myself was Miss Dior, and nobody ever commented on it, or said it was nice. So, I shall have a look at the perfume parlour. Thank you!

I love Mitsouko by Guerlain, unfortunately Mr P doesn't (philistine!)

Channel Cristalle used to be a summer favourite, and years ago Ester Lauder Cinnabar for winter (I was often asked by men what my perfume was when wearing that!)

Oud Wood by Tom Ford is top of my favourites list . Going back to The Dark ages I loved Aqua Manda by Goya and then Aviance Night .

Another Perfume Parlour fan here diane! Even those that aren't 100% like the original, are great in their own right - and a little goes a long way!

I remember Royal Secret and Amarige too ,they were firm favourites of mine,now I just work my way through what I get at christmas ,still got a couple of bottles to go ,This year I've had Cashmere Mist ,Donna Karan I think,Prada Candy ,using Eternity just now have a Marc Jacobs and a Chloe opened but they dont suit me ,so my daughter or sons partner will likely take them home

I have absolutely no sense of smell - never did. However, I am fascinated by the idea of perfume. Upon recommendation by dear ones, when I was young I wore Miss Dior, Charlie, Je Reviens and Fidgi. I no longer wear these as being much older I fear they no longer suit. The perfume name White Linen appeals to me but have never tried it. I now wear a perfume none of you have mentioned: Roma by Laura Biagiotti. Everybody compliments me on it. It's in a lovely glass Roman pillar shaped bottle.

Lots of reminders of old favourites of mine in this post.currently I am using coco chanel or Hugo boss femme or daisy by Marc jacobs. Old favourites I wore for years are Eternity. Amarige. Rive gauche. Paris. The one with all the gold rings up the neck that's been mentioned lots. Kenzo flowers.Opium. My first adult perfume was called Royal Secret by a French perfume house but can't remember who now. As a young girl I wore Charlie. Blue grass. Some that smelled of oranges but can't remember name of it.
I always used to have 9 or 10 bottles on the go but not now 3 or 4 is enough.

Great ideas here, thanks! I always mean to go into Jenners and ask for a sniff at things but I don't know where to start, and the girls are so perfect and immaculate that I end up putting head down and scurrying past lol. Now I have some names to look for!

Aromatics Elixir (Clinique) is my all time favourite. Anais Anais a close second and Timeless (Avon).

the link to the place I get my oils from is perfume-parlour.co.uk/ hope this works!

Guerlain's Samsara is my favourite..have to search around for best price, but got 100ml for £45 on amazon..

I also love Obsession for everyday wear, again keep trying Amazon for good deals..also Super-drug have deals on it too 100mls for about £20

Love Paul Smiths "Rose" as well...have fund deals on Amazon for around £20 for 100mls--comes in a lovely drawstring bag too..

But I found a brilliant website called www.perfume-palour.co.uk which does copies of all the most popular perfumes!
I always check out the feedback on each one, and always buy if it gets good reviews,,
I have bought loads from there now .. Angel and Alien seem to get the most reactions-- I am told/ asked every time thats Angel or Aliens isn't it?

The aftershave oils are good too..bought loads for hubby..
I always buy the 15ml oils... handy for carrying round in bags/holidays etc. I have never tried the sprays they do so can't comment on those..
The copy of Samsara wasn't quite right but was very nice I have to say,, and people did keep saying I smelled lovely LOL,
The Lidl perfume copies are good too--£3.99 for copy of Coco something ! Been asked loads of time if it was, so must smell like it--good staying power too..
Must try the Aldi candles too...