Perfume - what are your favourites?

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.

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.

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!

Jessity I don't know whether this will be of interest to you, but here's a link to Perfume Parlour. They sell oils 'similar' to the designer perfumes and are really good. I've used them for years and the beauty is that you can buy a really small bottle as a tester (3ml). The link is for their Givenchy III.

I should add that I have no connection with the company, other than buying from them!!

www.perfume-parlour.co.uk/geevenchy-iii-for-women

Hildegarde, I am currently wearing Rive Gauche , it's a lovely warm smell and not to heavy , Also love Aromatics By Clinique and La robe noir by Guerlain ,

I like a lot of scents, but there is one in particular that always makes me pause and enjoy the moment when I get a whiff of it that is Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. This perfume is based on the rich and full patchouli and presents a deep amber wood fragrance.

Nina Ricci "L'air du temps" is one of my favourites, and a couple of dior eau de colognes, as I dont wear a lot of strong perfume. I used to live abroad, and also worked for an airline so the majority of my perfumes were of course bought duty free. Sadly now no contacts to get more of these perfumes, but my real dislike was Este Laude. I am sure there must be many of este laude performs that are lovely, but as a singer I would be on stage and taking a deep breath to the diaphram and would be engulfed in este laude!! Naturally people who had come to the concert had got dressed up for an enjoyable occasion and that meant wearing perfume. But the concentrated result of a whole concert hall filled with varying perfumes can be rather overpowering!! But this post has reminded me that I havent been wearing anything other than clean skin for some time so shall treat myself to a dash of L'air du temps forthwith!!

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Givenchy Gentleman is very classy. Also Molton Brown Black Pepper.

Gucci flower jasmine

Flora not flower 🙄

It seems I replied to something which has now been deleted regarding men's fragrances.

My own personal favourites are La Petite Robe Noire and Chanel No 5 in the Autumn/Winter months and something lighter in the Spring/Summer. I still have Iris by Fragonard but it's discontinued. J'adore is lovely and I still like 4711, it's so refreshing.

I could go on all day about perfume . Penhaligon's Emphressa is also beautiful.

Does anyone remember Havoc by Mary Quant from the 60's?

Marc Jacobs Daisy -every so often -and I love the bottle.
My every day luxury is Chanel Mademoiselle.

My mum loved Soir de Paris and made a bottle last a long time. I used to like White Fire (it came in a little red bottle with a pointed gold top) but no idea who made it.
I like Teint de Neige by Villoresi but it's too pricey for everyday use. M& S Florentyna is more my budget!

Please can you describe it, I didn’t know Liz Earle made perfume.

Grandma600

My mum loved Soir de Paris and made a bottle last a long time. I used to like White Fire (it came in a little red bottle with a pointed gold top) but no idea who made it.
I like Teint de Neige by Villoresi but it's too pricey for everyday use. M& S Florentyna is more my budget!

I loved Whiefire from the 1960's Grossmith made it .

I used to love Plum by Mary Greenwell and I haven't found anything similar to it.

My everyday perfume is Eternity Moment by Calvin Kline. I haven't worn anything else for years. Then, last month I was in John Lewis' and was sprayed with a perfume that I absolutely loved. It is Eau Capitale by Diptique. I was shocked to find it is £160 a bottle. Do people spend that on perfume? I'm building myself up to it, or maybe I'll put it on my Christmas list....

If money was no object my favourite would be Victor and Rolf's Flower Bomb. Going to the other extreme I am currently loving a £12 cologne from M&S which is Orange Blossom and Amber.

I was looking to see if there was a thread on perfume. I've just treated myself to the John Lewis Signature Scent Box which arrived today and one of the 8 smaller samples is Viktor &Rolf's Flowerbomb. I'm not familiar with it but it's gorgeous, I hope it will smell as nice on me. There is only one I've had before, Marc Jacob's Daisy so I'm looking forward to trying so many new ones. The full size perfume is Fenty, so really hoping I like that one.
Anybody else taken advantage of the early access for members?

OMG this thread is nearly 9 nine years old!

Yes but it was revived and the last post was November last year. Sorry if I've offended you by posting!!!!