Favourite Scents

[Fleur De Guerre]

I just rediscovered Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, (mentioned upthread) a bit goth perhaps, but over 500 different perfumes! I have a few "imps" and need to order some more, the main drawback of ordering perfumes blind over the internet! I think once you get a grasp of how things smell, though, and work on your body chemistry, it's less of a risk.

 

[Dixiedaisey]

BPAL has some amazing blends. I love them. My absolute favorite fragrance though is Hypnotic Poison. The first time I smelled it I just knew that was what I should smell like. I really, really also want to love Chanel No. 5 but I just can't. It always gives me the worst headache.

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

What are everyone's Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab favourites so far? I ordered about 8 samples and the only ones I really really liked were New Orleans (honeysuckle! I need a full size of this), Raven and Juliet. I found most of the other florals I tried too cloying.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

I got sent a set of 6 imps by a friend, Dee, Dragon Bone, Blood Pearl, Obatala, London and Prague. I like Prague's lily smell, but not enough to buy. My favourite was Obatala which smells of coconut and shea butter, but my boyfriend said I smelled like chicken korma! London is a gorgeous wild rose which fades quickly, but I layered it with Obatala and it's lovely together! The other 3 are ok but not on my to buy list.

I am going to order a set of six that I have picked out based on my own tastes - Black Pearl (coconut+hazelnut+pirates=potential for win!), Snake oil (their most popular one, must be for a reason!), Bliss (chocolate!), Spellbound (roses, amber and red musk), Dana O'Shee (milk and honey) and Bastet (amber, musk, spices, almond and golden lotus) and see how I get on with those. I guess I tend to go for foody ones!

 

[fernande]

fav perfume!

I'm partial to CARON's "Alpona" and "French CanCan". The store in NYC is absolutely amazing- looks like a Parisian boudoir. The perfumes are dispensed from giant decanters into crystal bottles- You can even get your crystal bottle inside a Faberge egg- to display your fragrance. (I received one as a gift- amazing)
My two favs were made in the late 30's and I do think represent the spirit of the era.
Although Caron is sold in some upscale department stores- I think these two you have to get at the boutique's in Paris or New York- If you are on vacation you absolutely MUST visit this boutique. Its quite a fun experience- even to just sample fragrances! (they are generous with samples)


FRENCH CANCAN
THE STORY

In 1936, Parisian life is at its peak: it‚Äôs the time that cabaret divas steal the limelight from the elegant and beautiful women of the Champs Elys?©es.
Being on the pulse of Parisian chic, CARON was not insensitive to Gai Paris‚Äô pleasures, and created French Cancan, translating that devilish dance where women dare bare more than there ankles into a bouquet of voluptuous flowers‚Ķ But well aware that her clients on the Place Vend?¥me might not find the allusion to their taste, F?©licie Wanpouille originally destined this perfume for distribution in the US alone.

Its success on that side of the Atlantic, and the easing up of social mores, guaranteed it continued success in post-war Europe.


ALPONA
THE STORY

In 1939, driven by an insatiable passion for original fragrances, CARON discovered a new universe previously unknown to the perfumer: the Hesperides Garden.
Defying the Hesperides, guardians of this fabled place, CARON stole the secret of immortality from the Greek gods: the famous “golden apples.”

That‚Äôs how Alpona was born, associating, for the first time, flowers with lemon and grapefruit. These ‚ÄúHesp?©rid?©‚Äù fragrances ‚Äì‚Äì in nose speak ‚Äì‚Äì endow the perfume with an astonishingly modern touch, evoking the gentle freshness of a Mediterranean orchard, its fruits gorged on sunlight.

www.parfumscaron.com


I'm also patrial to FRACAS.

I wore it on my wedding and it always reminds me of being so happy.

 

[kamikat]

Ok, ladies, y'all are dangerous! I had never heard of Black Phoenix Lab. Right now, I'm too poor for anything, but on payday, I plan to order some imps. How does a gal choose from so many wonderful sounding scents?!?! I used to love Opium, but now it seems to strong. I also used to love White Linen, but my husband says it smells like "old lady". Recently, I've been using a rose bath gel and lotion from The Body Shop, but I'd like to try something new when I run out. I'd like to find something that is mostly (if not single note) Orange Blossom.

 

[fernande]

Kamikat-

You can get some really nice older (40s/50s) fab fragrances at TJ MAXX and Marshalls for $20 or less. I've even found "Fracas" (Robert Piguet) there, which is soo beautiful.

Madame Gres "Cabotine", "Miss Dior",
ect

 

[RainEdayWoman]

For a vintagy perfume I really like the original Lauren by ralph lauren, it is kinda hard to find...it is the one in the tall thin burgandy bottle.

Generally though, I like to stick with essential oils or fragrance oils particularlly rose or lavender.

As for more modern perfumes I like Chanel Allure and Victorias Secret So Sexy in the red bottle.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Ok, ladies, y'all are dangerous! I had never heard of Black Phoenix Lab. Right now, I'm too poor for anything, but on payday, I plan to order some imps. How does a gal choose from so many wonderful sounding scents?!?!

I went on their forums and clicked about, looking at the longest threads because I figured they were either very popular or horrible! (Always the first!)

I also just had a browse and looked at scents that sounded nice or that appealed to me (like Black Pearl, arrr!) and then looked at what people had to say on those. Ultimately your body chemistry affects it too, so you can't ever be sure, so the imps are a great idea!

Apparently they can take forever to arrive though, if they have to make it up, so we might have to be prepared to wait.

 

[Yesterdays]

My favourite perfume is Coco Chanel. Although my first perfume was YSL Rive Gauche, it takes me back to being 16 again - which was a great age to be!
I am a dealer in all things vanity - and love vintage perfumes, as well as the modern ones. I am happy to answer any questions either here or over at my vanity forum on www.speacialistauctions.com where you can fine perfumes and other treasures both old and new - forget ebay THIS is the site where its all at!
Looking forward to hearing all about your girly treasures!
Sara

 

[Kishtu]

I've just started wearing Elizabeth Arden's Blue Grass - I *love* it!!

It's quite similar to Je Reviens, which has been my "signature scent" for many years, but slightly less "powdery".

As a long term patchouli wearer, I got as bit fed up with the very heavy scents - much prefer the lighter fragrances, and Blue Grass for me has got the lightness of Je Reviens with a spicy undertone for evenings.

 

[Yesterdays]

Blue Grass was my Mums favourite! I always think of her whenever I smell it - and I always buy it when I see it!
I have quite a few bottles of Blue Grass - one is listed on the site I mentioned above.
Sara

 

[roselily]

I'm currently obsessed with Khumba-made's Sandalwood and Amber roll-on perfume.

 

[SaraBell]

BLV NOTTE pour femme is amazing! I just got a sample bottle.

Description I found: "A sophisticated blend of vodka, alluring acacia, sensuous iris with hints of tobacco. Mysterious and passionate, bvlgari blv notte is recommended for evening wear"

 

[Dracca]

YSL's Paris is my favorite and everyday scent. There are so many ohers that I love...Poison and Chloe are the other two that I usually keep a bottle of.

 

[TheDutchess]

Chanel

I wear Chanel Madomeselle, it smells so...sexy lol

I have tried millions of perfumes but the fellas tend to follow you around more with this one.

 

[LadyDeWinter]

I only use one perfume that is Evelyn by Crabtree and Evelyn. It smells like pure rose. I love love love it.

 

[sweetfrancaise]

I wear a rose perfume and a solid musky-vanilla one, both from Fragonard in Paris (they have a neat museum if you're ever there, right next to the Hausmann Opera).

This may have been linked before, but I like to try bits and pieces from Black Pheonix Alchemy Lab. They use all sorts of natural ingredients, and have some very vintage-y scents.

 

[Blondie]

Anyone know of a "violet" perfume ? I adore the smell of violets !
I tried the Marc Jacobs one and it doesnt even smell close to a violet [huh]

 

[Fancy Mouse]

I'm not sure how it smells, as I haven't got around to trying it yet (so many things to try) but Yardley has a perfume called April Violets that looks very pretty and is definitely vintage. They also seem to have some old ads on their webpage.

http://www.yardleylondon.co.uk/home.html