Top Favorite Perfumes

[Margalee]

I have been noticing myself say "top favorite" in regard to perfumes lately so it had me thinking what are my top favorites actually and why, since some of my favorites I don't actually wear as often as you'd think a favorite would be worn. So I thought it might be fun to see what is actually your top 10 and why. 

I am excluding perfumes that are vintage and body sprays from my own top 10. Not neccesarily in order. Please post your own top favorites.

1. Mugler Aura truly behaves as an aura, enveloping me in the experience. It is a bit complex, very blended without many notes singling themselves out at once. A couple stars but they play nicely.

2. Lolita Lempicka Premier is nearly addictive to me with it's light and airy fragrance dosed up with licorice that's not too dark or heavy. It is very long lasting on me.

3. Chanel Coco so spicy, warm and intense it reminds me of holidays filled with cloves and other spices reserved for mostly for holiday fare. It is also very sophisticated. Smells very expensive and strong. But still not Christmas in a bottle, more like Thanksgiving.

4.Lancome La Vie est Belle is warm and sweet. Very wearable. Projects nicely without offense. I get complimented nearly everytime I wear this.

5.Kilian Princess well, who doesn't love a spiced marshmallow that's been toasted? Very snuggly warm perfume. Long lasting. Delicious. Very sweet but not cloying at all to me.

6. Hermes Rhubarb has all the tarte I need and in the summer sun it turns a bit green and evokes memories of playing in the rhubarb in the garden as a child.

7.Myrurgia Maja was gifted to me as a child. It isn't super expensive but it is long lasting and very ambery and what I consider mildly spicy. It not only evokes nice memories but gets compliments too.

8.Guerlain Shalimar, can I say "and flankers" on this one? Oh Auntie, you started something here. Very date night without being overly intense. This one does not reach date night nose tweaker status for me. Ambery, spicy and deep. The flankers are like gingerbread and warm sunshine without being a typical spice and sunshine perfumes.

9.Gayle Hayman Delicious Cotton Candy might be vintage to some but you can find it at stores like Ross and TjMaxx occasionally. Or online. And my husband really likes this perfume. It smells like liquid cotton candy. It is Sweet with the capital S. I do get compliments when I wear this.

10. Tom Ford Black Orchid is heavy, deep and slighty exotic without the that's a bit strange flare. It is spicy. Patchouli love here. It also has nice projection. I can be smelled five feet away for hours with just a spray or two. Most often a still there next day fragrance for me.

[CynthieLu]

Okay after reading through your perfumes loves list I really want to smell this one, Gayle Hayman Delicious Cotton Candy @Margalee you made it sound delicious 🍨🩵🩷

[dram4tic]

my favorite is Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret Eau de Parfum . even though its more of a spring scent its the perfect balance between fresh and flowery.

[newcarlee]

Hi @Margalee , I won’t have 10, but here are my top faves:

1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian - Baccarat Rouge 540. To me, there’s a hint of antiseptic/bandage smell mixed with the sweet, but not too sweet - cotton candy-like aroma that I just love.

2. Jo Malone Scarlet Poppy - this was my first full bottle purchase and led me down the fragrance rabbit hole. I must love “poppy”. This has a creaminess to it.

3. Jo Malone Poppy and Barley - it’s the Poppy floral that I just love. This one is a lighter scent than Scarlet Poppy.

4. Diptyque Fleur de Peau - I’ve heard of this as a skin scent. As a fragrance newbie, I don’t  how to describe but it’s similar to Le Labo’s Another 13 or Juliette Has a Gun’s Not a Perfume. However, Fleur de Peau is my fave. There’s also a hint of floral to me that I love.

5. Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede - another  lovely floral from JML.

6. Tom Ford Lost Cherry - an almost artificial cherry opening - in a good way - that mellows into a really beautiful musky-woody scent.

I think that’s it. There are a few others that I wear regularly but these 6 are what I would consider my top Favorites.

[Margalee]

@newcarlee Fragrance rabbit hole, haha. I know what you mean. I have a long lists of wants.

[foreverswift]

The first Billie Eilish perfume for sure, it smells like vanilla and lasts literally all-day.   

[pocketvenus]

@Margalee I love Eau de Rhubarbe, Shalimar and Black Orchid! Black Orchid doesn't feel so much my style anymore but it's still so iconic, instantly recognizable. Have you ever tried Papillon's Bengale Rouge? It's a great homage to Shalimar.

[Margalee]

@pocketvenus I chose the sampler and TF Enene Fume. My initial reaction to Ebene Fume was it's very amber. So mostly I smell cistus. But that's the first sprays so maybe that will change. It's like the heart of Tobacco Vanille says the tobacco and smoke. Someone said it's like the smoke dhooni at weddings but I haven't gotten much smokiness. I immediately paired the TF with Skylar Peach Fields but I will try Nest Coconut Balinese with TF tomorrow probably. Or maybe On a Date. The TF at this point seems pretty one note so I'm hoping more sprays from a new bottle will change that or I can layer it. I bought the tropical sampler with Replica's On a Date in mind but it is very strong so we'll see.

[pocketvenus]

@Margalee I don't get a lot of smokiness from Tobacco Vanille either. There's definitely more smoke in the Ebene Fume to my nose! 

[Margalee]

@pocketvenus I have not. I just found the Papillon brand. I'll have to look for that specific one. 

[elise222]

1. Dior Bois d'Argent: it's very light, somewhat of a "skin scent". But it's sophisticated and makes me happy wearing it. 
2. Chanel Chance eau Fraiche: this one is a great spring scent. It has that "fresh" aspect (as suggested by the name), but with a Chanel elegance
3. Glossier You: Warm & comforting. It's a great everyday wear
4. Clean Reserve Skin: I'm sensing a pattern in that I like subtle skin scents. This one I initially bought as a gift for a friend, but fell in love and ended up keeping it for myself and buying her something different. I find it cozy, gourmand without being too gourmand, and like being in my favourite sweater.
5. Initio Atomic Rose: A sweet, jammy rose. I purchased a sample, and whenever I wear it, I can't stop smelling myself. I want to buy a full bottle but it's $$$
6. The 7 Virtues Vanilla Woods: I had a travel spray of this for a while and wore it constantly. Then I ran out, and knew that I had liked it, but forgot how intoxicating it is to me until recently receiving a sample with an order. This is my perfect Vanilla.
7. Tom Ford Soleil Neige: This is one of those scents where I can't really place or discern any of the notes - it just smells good to me. I bought a decant on a fragrance exchange group. Another case where I'd go full size, but full size Tom Ford is definitely a luxury these days.
8. Room 1015 Cherry Punk: one of those scents for days that I'm feeling a bit edgy. Cherry and leather, love it.
9. Burberry Her EDP: Initially I tried the Elixir, and loved the initial spray, but didn't love the dry down. But it stuck on my jacket that I spritzed it on for a long time, and then I started to become addicted. I got a little mini EDP as a beauty offer, and it has really grown to be a scent that I love and crave. I also had a laugh one day when I was in Sephora and heard a group of younger girls testing perfumes. I heard one say "Burberry Her is just too formal" - where as to me, the strawberry & cream type scent smells youthful. It's amazing how differently we can all interpret scents!
10. Le Labo Lys 41: A lovely white floral with sunscreen-esque vibes. On the list of full bottles I want to add to my collection.

[pocketvenus]

@elise222 I keep reading about Cherry Punk, I really ought to try it 🙂 I hear you about the TFs. The prices went up so quickly what felt like a stretch in the past now seems like such a deal 😂

[Margalee]

@pocketvenus  @elise222  I am trying to decide between one TF Ebene Fume travel size or three other perfume travel sizes: SF Tropical sampler, Kayali Lovefest and 19-69 Kasbah. Either option is about the same price. I have smelled a few of the sampler options in store but rest of the choices I don't think I've ever smelled. Just spending a credit so if I hate them I might be out of luck. At least TF has the nice travel case. I haven't ever seen just a refill for those travel cases. Maybe on the TF site or the vials are refillable? I haven't tried a different brand in the Brulant case yet. I did note the higher prices with the new eye shadow quad at a whopping $90 USD.

[pocketvenus]

@Margalee did you end up choosing?... I'd say the Ebene Fume is quite nice, very expensive but the smoke is never harsh, it's a pleasant wear. 19-69 Kasbah I smelled a very long time ago but I seem to remember it being very dense. I personally prefer a little more breathing room or I want that denseness offset by something acidic or spicy to give more movement. 

[elise222]

You definitely should try it. I actually signed up for a month of scentbird because I really wanted to get my hands on it! I find it hard to justify the TF prices now. They do make some nice scents - but I think there are endless other options available that I'd prefer to spend my money on.

[pocketvenus]

1. Bel Ami, a leather classic, one of the best leathers of all time. I like how it's airy as an EDT but smoky and a touch harsh with the isobutyl quinoline
2. Comme des Garons Original. I find this one creative, spicy, odd, compelling. It's a bit polarizing. For some people, the cloves and spice remind them too much of Christmas but this smells nothing like Christmas to me.
3. Le Sillage Blanc, polished leather, b!tchy, brilliant. I like Bandit but sometimes the smoked meat and tuberose is too much, almost disgusting. LSB is like a cleaned up version.
4. Santal Nabataea, my favourite sandalwood and there are many excellent ones. Just so aromatic and evocative, no harsh edges.
5. Fleur de Cassie, is the most glamourous and vintage-y of the list. A fragrance with heft, texture and an aldehydic lift. Reminds me of times gone by.
6. Crassna, discontinued Cambodian oud. Fruity, a touch of funk, mellow. Wonderful memories associated with this one.
7. Moon Bloom, ethereal tuberose soliflore. It wears like a veil in the summer heat. 
8. Fat Electrician, my favourite vetiver, smoky with a shot of vanilla. There are a lot of vetiver + vanilla scents but I stick with this one. I like how it's rough around the edges.
9. Salome, big sensual floral with a difficult cumin note. One of my earliest niche purchases. Like a 180 from the clean and fresh scents I grew up with.
10. Bois d'Orage, I like greens. This one isn't sharp and aldehydic like the classics. It's humid and earthy like a greenhouse yet it's still polished and crisp. 

10 runners up
Lonestar Memories
Dzongkha
Sarassins
Fayoum
Chlorophyllia
Jubilation 25
Myths Woman
Cuir de Russie (Chanel)
Peradam
Absolue Pour Le Soir