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!

 

[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!

[Grahamcrackers]

This sounds amazing! I love spicy/sweet/warm scents! 

[lachaton]

Good to know!!

I feel like I haven't had much luck with MMM in general, but both of the new ones sound very appealing to me.

I think it's the chestnuts in this one that tempt me. Yum ❤️

[Mochapj]

Lachaton, the longer it wears the sweeter and more chestnutty it is getting.  It is nearly a chestnut praline.

I'm conflicted because I love this phase, but wasn't crazy about the 3 or so hours before it.

[Libellules]

Mocha, I am currently marinating, about 45 minutes in, and am a very happy camper lmao.

i remember I wasn't sold on FeA initially, but after the second wear, I really noticed the "journey" and fell so hard for it!

[pixiedust2]

This is sounding better and better...

[lipstick4soul]

Fabulous idea!  I love the idea or concept of so many perfumes and love having a sniff, even if I would never wear them. That Shiseido sounds fascinating. I think the ones that I have been curious about are the JAR exclusives. I can't even remember what retailer carries them. 

I was was on an iris binge lately and got some interesting ones. Most recent one I tried that I thought was lovely was I Miss Violet by a Different Company. 

Any iris recommendations?

[amartiya]

Have you tried SL Silver Iris Mist, A'telier Cologne Silver Iris, both stunnng iris perfumes.  oh Chanel no. 28 La Pausa, or No. 19 Poudre very soft & feminine, Prada's Iris is nice but powdery.  Guerlain's Apres L'Ondee is stunningly beautful, Insolence EDP not EDT I think its been discontinued now but that is Violet & Iris on some serious crack!  Major sillage and longevity.

**bleep** it, now I have to go rummage through all my decants so I can smell the Iris..great scent and I'm not a floral lover!