Fragrance Junkie Central

[Mochapj]

I know there are a few of us on BT that are fragrance addicts, so I thought it would be nice to have a dedicated place where we can share our thoughts.

This is not to take away from the lovely What Are You Wearing Today, Fragrance Edition thread, but more a place to post longer reviews, chat about new brands or releases, and just shoot the breeze on anything good and smelly 🙂

For me, I recently acquired 2 new decants that I've been anxiously awaiting.  Ever since Lachaton mentioned that MMM was releasing a new scent called By The Fireplace I've been itching to get my hands on it.  My decant arrived yesterday, so I'm looking forward to marinating in it this weekend.  Secondly, I recently picked up a tiny sample of Shiseido Nombre Noir.  Supposedly it is one of the most expensive failures in perfume history - made by Serge Lutens for Shiseido back in the 80s.  Of course, with a backstory like that, I was dying to get a sniff 😄

What's new on your scent radar?  Do tell!

 

[pixiedust2]

Megan, I ordered a sample from Surender to Chance. I loved it so much I ordered a small decant and its lasted me quite a while. 

[Libellules]

Great idea for a thread! Thanks for starting it 🙂

[pixiedust2]

I agree. And I can't wait to hear about that Shiseido!

Also, curious as to where everyone gets their decants. I've only ordered from Surrender to Chance. I love being able to test the more expensive (and harder to find) scents without ordering a whole bottle. 

[sister13]

I've mostly used lucky scent!

[Libellules]

I just ordered this week from Sureendee to Chance. With the 1 decant I've gotten so far (waiting on the others) I am PLEASED LOL! I ordered a Byredo discovery set a couple of years ago from The Perfumed Court. At the time, I thought I'd been had because they all smelled the same to me, but I just think my nose may not have been well trained enough :). I found the set a couple of weeks ago while unpacking, and they definitely are all different 🙂

[Mochapj]

I opened it to smell when I got it a week ago, but I haven't tried it on yet.  I'm waiting for the right moment 😄

as for decants I do Surrender to Chance and Lucky Scent for newer stuff.  I've heard good things about perfumed court but haven't tried them yet.

[AnneMCC]

Fun thread! I am a huge fragrance junkie. Before makeup I was actually into perfume. My first love since I was 14..I probably have about 15-20 bottles. I just recently got Tom Ford Noir from Barney's. Love that for fall. Today I was at the Nordstrom Beauty Trendshow and tested out this from Diptyque

Essences Incensées - Jasmin' Eau de Parfum (Limited Edition)

Pardon my French I dare not try to pronounce or type that so I copied it 😉 It's really pretty. I have a few bottles of Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum and it reminds me of Terracotta. Jasmine, orange blossom, and basil. The Diptyque regional rep was there and told me there are only like 1000 or was it 5000 bottles made. They do a limited edition fragrance every year. Which probably means I'll break down and buy it.

The other thing on my radar is I'm dying to get Chanel Les Exclusive Beige and Gardenia. And interestingly, I discovered it costs a heck of a lot less in France! So do a lot of perfumes that are manufactured there. I bought Maison Francis K Aqua Vitae Forta at Neimans and come to find out later from my contact in France it's less there than in the US!

[Samtian]

MMM Lipstick On is the one I want to try.

[Mochapj]

Oh, if you do Samtian, I would love to hear your thoughts on it!  I was both intrigued and a little scared of that one.

Powdery fragrances aren't usually my jam, but the description still had me curious.

[meganlisa]

I'm playing around with 2 lines right now, both newer French ones.

I have 4 scents from each.

Parfums Nicolas Danila, which centers around the 7 children of Aladdin and then has 7 scents to signify the 7 regions of the world in which they settled.

And Poulage Perfumes, especially Odora Di Femina.  Rose, musk, amber and a little black pepper. 

[Libellules]

I definitely want to hear more about these meganlisa :).

[meganlisa]

I'll send you my half empty samples...let me wear them to half empty and they're yours!

[Libellules]

Awww thanks Meganlisa! Absolutely! Take your time - I can't wait to try them!

[Mochapj]

Wow, the Aladdin tie in is an interesting concept.  How are you liking them so far?

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed ATM.  I have 2 fistfuls (the size of the one pictured) of new vials to sample.  The fistful there is mostly some of the less commercial scents from L'Artisan and L'Antichambre, but I have another fistful of TF, Histoires de Parfums and Etat Libre to work through.

Am getting that feeling like I don't have enough spaces to apply perfume to!

[meganlisa]

I'm overwhelmed too!  And our lovely Libellules sent me some decanted scents (that she bought at your recommendation....).  Problem is...they can smell so different on than just whiffed from the bottle.  

I love the Aladdin concept and I really like the scents.  Both lines have so far been complex but still not heavy.  Much as I'm crazy for skin care, followed by makeup, fragrance is still the category that I love the most.

No favorite out of this bunch for me.  You from your double hand full?

[Mochapj]

No favorites yet, but a surprise like that blew me away was TF champaca absolute.  I am not a floral girl, but I.love.this.

[Grahamcrackers]

MMM By the Fireplace??? Oh boy. That has me written all over it. Imma need to sample this!!

[Mochapj]

Here are the notes:

Top Notes:  Pink pepper, Orange flower petals, Clove oil

Heart Notes: Chestnut accord, Gaïac wood oil, Cade oil  

Base Notes: Vanilla accord, Peru balsam, Cashmeran

It's apparently currently exclusive to Barneys NY

[lachaton]

Dying to hear what you think of this one, Mocha. I'm a Christmas fanatic, so anything holiday-ish has my attention 🙂 

[Libellules]

Lachaton, I got a decant of this as well that arrived last night. I immediately put a little on last night in the crook of my elbow and immediately liked it a lot. The smokiness I got was very minor for me though (I want more of it!), and I didn't pick up as much on the spices. To me, everytime I took a whiff, I could literally hear the chestnuts crackling on the fire. I can still smell it this morning, and I get more of a lightly woodsy but incense smell (which I could smell a bit of yesterday).

What makes me hesitate is that when I tried Replica Beach Walk, I really disliked it because it had a strong soapy smell to me, and I'm picking it up just a little bit in By the Fireplace. I am planning on full on trying it today though, once I actually get off my lazy butt and shower :x !

[Mochapj]

lachaton, I've had it on for just under 4 hours, so I feel ready to give a few thoughts.

It opens alarmingly smoky.  I mean, obviously with a name like By the fireplace it should, but it had that smoke residue smell I get in my hair after I've been using our wood oven.  Very, very strong.

Once that cools off, it is a little sweet and a little spicy.  I get the clove, pink pepper and chestnut with vanilla.  I also get the strong muskiness of the cashmeran (which is a note I'm never a fan of)  

It has a familiar smell, but I'm not quite sure it's Christmas, per se.  I can't put my finger on it.

So far it's a like but not a buy.  I'll try it a few more times to know for sure.  I did see Barneys will ship it to Canada, (since it's exclusive to them) so at least that part is good!