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Perfume - what are your favourites?

(204 Posts)
Oriel Tue 22-Aug-17 10:41:24

I love perfume and wear it every day. I've noticed recently though that some perfumes I have worn for years suddenly don't seem to have the same staying power. For instance my most recent purchase, Chanel Allure Sensuelle, is undetectable on me after an hour or so - it was EDP by the way. Its either my skin changing or the formulation as I've bought it in the past and don't remember having the same problem.

Does anyone have fragrance they can recommend? I'm looking for a summery one at the moment but would be interested in hearing suggestions generally.

J52 Fri 25-Aug-17 14:22:56

Thanks for the info Suki70. The formulation that I was particularly fond of was change in the early 70s to what is now called Original.
Dior created the first formulation in the 1940s, but was forced to change it to become more modern, in the 70s.
I imagine any vintage bottles would have gone off by now! smile

Suki70 Thu 24-Aug-17 20:46:04

J52 Look for Miss Dior Original.

Tokyojo3 Thu 24-Aug-17 19:29:42

Estée Lauder Pleasures and Chanel no. 19 for the summer and Poison for the Autumn and Winter! Have worn these for years and I just adore them!

grannysue05 Thu 24-Aug-17 17:30:21

I have re-read this thread from the beginning and one thing stands out clearly...
We all mainly prefer perfumes from the great "perfume houses'.
These 'one Christmas wonders from celebreties" seem to pass us all by....thank goodness.
With perfume, quality counts.

BBbevan Thu 24-Aug-17 16:56:12

Yes Devongirl but it lasts for ages. I get it for a birthday or Christmas present from DH

dragonfly46 Thu 24-Aug-17 10:55:28

Angel - Thierry Mughler

MawBroon Thu 24-Aug-17 10:44:10

I also fell in love with the Acqua dell'Elba Mare home diffuser scent after DD brought me one back as a present. Currently scouring t'internet and think I may be ordering direct from a charming Italian (at vast expense, but what price charm?)

MawBroon Thu 24-Aug-17 10:41:25

Hermès Calèche and Liz Earle 100 for everyday.
Perfume has always been very important to me, I remember as a very homesick 18 year old au pair in Germany, prowling round the perfume counters in a department store in Stuttgart on my afternoon off, smelling all the lovely scents and thinking of home sad

devongirl Thu 24-Aug-17 10:38:37

Just looked on Amazon for Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin: £96 for 100ml eau de cologne!!!! seriously, ladies, you can pay that much for perfume?

harrigran Thu 24-Aug-17 10:32:04

Jo Malone Pomegranate noir and anything by Serge Lutens, for summer I like Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess.

NanaPlenty Thu 24-Aug-17 10:23:52

Sunflowers- light and inexpensive, great for daytime.

Oriel Thu 24-Aug-17 09:58:10

You can still get the Miss Dior in the houndstooth bottle J52. As you say, it has been reformulated but it still smells beautiful.

J52 Thu 24-Aug-17 09:48:20

I agree with previous poster, different skin types alter the scent.
I too remember the Youth Dew, of the 70s. I like the fragrance on other people, it seemed to smell like disinfectant on me!
Back in the 70s, Dior, Miss Dior had a beautiful scent. Over the years they have altered it twice. It used to be in the classic Dior dogtooth bottle. I no longer buy it.
My mother used to wear Ma Griffe. I came across a bottle a few years ago, it brought back memories.

debgaga Thu 24-Aug-17 09:40:17

I wear no 19 or Cristalle both Chanel also like most Guerlain fragrances.

Oriel Thu 24-Aug-17 09:35:04

I love the Youth Dew bath oil - used as a perfume.

I believe that the bath oil was produced first and was so successful, with many women using it as perfume, the EDP was then produced.

It warms beautifully on the skin and is a more mellow than the EDP.

Marydoll Wed 23-Aug-17 22:44:58

My first perfume was "Heaven Sent" by Helena Rubenstein. That was followed by "Youth Dew" , which made me feel very sophisticated. I now wear Red Roses by Joe Malone.

Chewbacca Wed 23-Aug-17 22:40:41

Youth Dew! I remember that every disco reeked of it in the 70s, it was the perfume to wear!smile

I used to have the atomisers but rarely, if ever, got around to using them. I found that you had to use the same perfume in each one because the fragrance lingered even when washed out. But so many perfume counters now give little vials of perfume to trial so I keep those in my bag. I find that perfumes I've loved for years don't smell the same on me now and some give me a headache so I'm on the lookout for something new. This thread has given me some inspiration!

Oriel Wed 23-Aug-17 22:28:30

Fantastic to see that my love of perfume is shared by so many!

My first perfume was Youth Dew by Estée Lauder, I still have a bottle of the old formulation stored in the darkest recess of my perfume drawer. I still love it. I have a number of other favourites... Guerlain's L'Heure Blue, Mitsouko, Shalimar. I also love Dior J'ador Absolute. One of the strangest perfumes I have is Jungle by Kenzo - I can't decide if I like it or not, it's extremely strong! It was an airport purchase bought on a whim.

Does anyone use those little atomisers that you fill with your scent?

Chewbacca Wed 23-Aug-17 22:24:41

J'Adore reminds me a little of Yves Saint Laurent's Paris. I wore that for years.

Saralou18 Wed 23-Aug-17 22:14:21

No one has mentioned Floris, I love Edwardian Bouquet. Also Dior J'Adore. I used to use Diorissmo but I haven't seen it available for years. For me floral scents are the best!

1974cookie Wed 23-Aug-17 21:40:40

Coco Mademoiselle is a gorgeous fragrance, but if in doubt, nip into a store i.e. Debenhams, and have a spritz.
Also Jo Malone, Cardamom and Mimosa, my latest find, is a lovely summer fragrance. Bottega Veneta is also gorgeous. All lovely and summery.
The secret to buying fragrance is to spray it on your skin, and leave it for about 20- 30 minutes to let it settle as it changes, sometimes dramatically depending on your skin i.e.: oily skins reacts differently to dry skins where fragrances are concerned. Do NOT rely on the little testing cards that you will be offered to test a perfume, they are NOT like your skin.
Also, as you get older, what was once your signature scent may no longer suit you. I always wore Opium, Paloma Picasso amongst other quite heavy fragrances ( with one exception, 'Poison', now THAT always makes me feel sick, dreadful scent !! ) when I was younger, but now, they do not work for me at all.
It is what makes you feel good at the end of the day Oriel, so get yourself out to the nearest department store, and start spritzing and take your time about deciding.
Good luck flowers

granmanat Wed 23-Aug-17 21:08:07

I like Coco Eau De Toilette (daily)
Flower by Kenzo (Sunday)
but my favourite is Hara Juku Lovers Baby (for special occasions)

annsixty Wed 23-Aug-17 21:07:52

While I have been on GN probably 5 years, this has been a recurring thread and attracts lots of posts each time. Last time I ordered from Amazon two old favourites, Azuree from Estee Lauder and one I am horrified I can't remember but has been used up!!
Tried an old favourite recently, Mitsouko, first tried 65 years ago when I fell in love with it , but it does nothing foe me now.

phoenix Wed 23-Aug-17 21:00:13

Oh I'm yearning for Mitsouko, love it so much, but as mentioned , Mr P (perfume philistine!) doesn't like it angry

Jalima1108 Wed 23-Aug-17 20:48:00

I like Clarins Eau des Jardins as well as Eau Dynamisante.

However, Eau des Jardins has proved impossible to find in the last couple of weeks (please don't tell me they are discontinuing it).