I have a little chunk of money that’s all mine to spend on something frivolous. When this happens (oh, practically EVERY DAY), I like to consider choosing a new expensive perfume. Perfume is a good value for me: every time I use it, I feel happy about it—and there are many, many uses in a single bottle.
The one I’m considering is L’Artisan’s Fou D’Absinthe. The last time I bought perfume, there was a little free sample of it in the package. I don’t even remember what it smells like now, but I made a note in the spreadsheet (YES, I have a perfume spreadsheet, SHUT UP) that says “MUST HAVE.” Since I normally write “yes,” “no,” “maybe,” or “nice, but no reason to own it,” I’m assuming I liked it.
My current favorite is another one by L’Artisan called Tea for Two. MMMMMmmmm, it smells so good: it smells wonderful the way pipe tobacco shops with wide wooden plank floors smell wonderful.
My tastes aren’t exclusively expensive and French. I’ve worn Revlon’s Charlie for years—since high school, when I saw an ad for it that showed exactly the kind of businesswoman I wanted to be at age 14: a gorgeous supermodel wearing a well-cut business suit and not doing any work. I still like and wear Charlie.
What I remember most about Chantilly is that I tried it in the store and loved it more than anything I’d ever tried—and then I bought it and thought it was just “good.” I still wore it all through high school: I thought the bottle was pretty, and I saved the empty box for a long time.
Avon’s Soft Musk was another high school favorite. I even had the, um, matching deodorant. I bought a bottle of it recently for nostalgia’s sake, but I hardly ever wear it: it’s not my style anymore.
I wore Coty’s Sand & Sable all through college. My serious, issue-oriented, flannel-shirt-wearing college boyfriend loved it, and bought it for me for birthdays and holidays. When we broke up, I stopped wearing the perfume. I sniffed a sample in a store recently, thinking maybe I could wear it again now—but no.
Tea Rose is a huge whap of ROSE SCENT right in the smacker: there are no undernotes, no combinations of scents, it’s just…ROSE. It’s very strong. I’ve had the same bottle of it for over ten years because a little tiny bit of it is plenty. It’s grandmotherly but in a good way.
What do you wear? Do you have a “signature scent,” or are you a serial perfume monogamist, or do you have a harem or perfumes to choose from? Have your tastes changed over the years? Do you make new perfume friends but keep the old / One is silver and the other gold?
My taste has definitely changed over the years — in high school, I loved Paris. In college, I only wore Curves. I can’t wear either one, now.
I went a long time without using any perfume because I could not find something that smelled good on me. But last year, at last…success!
My current perfume is from Avon, called “Christian Lacroix Rouge”. I love it. It’s just the thing — for now.
b. | August 19th, 2008 at 11:41 am
This makes me a little sad that I can’t wear perfume. Stupid allergies.
Nowheymama | August 19th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I used to wear Love’s Baby Soft in high school. Now, I have a harem. All different types for all different seasons and moods.
My current wish list: Calvin Klein’s Euphoria Blossom and Chanel’s Chance.
Erica | August 19th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Aquolina pink Sugar-sweet, but not too sweet!
Anonymous | August 19th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Philosophy’s Falling in Love and Stella McCartney
Two such different scents!
I used to love Beautiful, but I am on a break from it.
diane | August 19th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I love Vera Wang, the original (I hate the other ones), and Chanel Chance, also. There was a great Givenchy one - the long pink bottle? And my cheap(er) go-to that I will always love is Peasures.
BRash | August 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
My current favorite is Alien by Thierry Mugler. I have gotten compliments on it ever single time that I have worn it. It smells heavenly!
Cami | August 19th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I remember stealing my mom’s Clinique Happy sometimes in junior high. Mmm, it really did just cheer me up. I didn’t wear a lot of perfume in high school, and for the first couple years of college I remember having a one-note pineapple oil that I liked to put on my wrists, and smell like pina coladas. Now I’m lusting after Bvlgari Eau de Thé Vert. I tried it on at Sephora, it’s like green tea and citrus, and it smells even better after a few hours.
Lori | August 19th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
My favorite perfume is Angel by Thierry Mugler. It makes me smell like a rich girl. But it costs $72 a bottle, so I usually stick with Escape by Calvin Klein. I can get the small bottles at Target for $12.00
kirida | August 19th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I love the way certain scents bring you back to your past. I adored the blue version of baby soft (Rain Scent I think) when I was in junior high until I bought a bottle of Spellbound when I was 14. I wore Byblos and Jessica McClintock in high school and often borrowed from my mom’s perfume collection, Issey Myake was my favorite of hers. From 19-20 I wore amber oil. At 30 my favorites includes Coco Chanel Mademoiselle and Philosophy Pure Grace.
amber | August 19th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
My goodness, this takes me back. In high school I use to wear Charlie and something called Toujours Moi. Either that, or I would wear my mom’s Tirgress, Tabu, Aprodesia, or Woodhue. These days I’m totally in love with Breathe Comfort in vanila milk sent by Bath and Body works or Aquatanica Spa also sold at Bath and Body works.
Janet | August 19th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Bvlgari Eau de Thé Vert is WONDERFUL.
Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil (similiar to BVlgari) IS GREAT FOR DAY.
Angel by Mugler is DOWNRIGHT SEXY.
Liv | August 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Definitely try Lulu by Cacharel. It’s just a very soft, sweet smell, and maybe my favorite perfume. My husband LOVES Tropical Punch by Escada - it’s the only perfume he even likes, actually. That one has a light, pretty, fruity smell, like grapefruit. But I think they quit making it, and it’s very hard to find now. I resort to Ebay.
Laziza | August 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Clinique Happy and Coolwater. Also some orange something something from bath and body.. I don’t know. I usually use the same thing over and over and over… and samples. So I loved this post as I’m looking to shake things up.
Jess | August 20th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I have worn nothing but Elizabeth Arden True Love since my husband gave me a bottle as a wedding present over 11 years ago. It has gotten more difficult to get over the years - no more just popping into the mall for it; have to order online - but it is worth it to me (and the hubby).
Erica | August 20th, 2008 at 12:13 am
In junior high it was Exclamation! or Chantilly. I wore a lot of flannel and Chuck Taylors in high school so I don’t think I wore any perfume. In college I wore Gap Blue. In my 20’s I wore 273 and Clinique Happy.
Now I wear Chanel No. 5. I got a sample of Chanell Allure and really like that one too.
Cara | August 20th, 2008 at 12:34 am
I have kind of a rotating set of regulars and then I’ll throw in some new ones:
The standby: Chanel No. 5 (whenever I get dressed up). I was inspired to buy this when I read The Shell Seekers many, many years ago. Read it, and you’ll know why…
The everyday scents are:
Fall: Banana Republic W
Winter: Body Shop White Musk
Spring: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca (smells like mint and grass)
Summer: Jean Nate (thanks, Mom!)
My current tryout is Clean Shower Fresh (very nice). But the big surprise is that I love wearing my husband’s new cologne - Prada Amber Pour Homme. It’s wonderful and may make its way into the regular rotation.
Mary | August 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Oh - I forgot to add to my prior post:
THANK GOD FOR SEPHORA!!
Mary | August 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’ll try not to reveal what a scentwhore that I am, but here it is -
High school - Calvin Klein Escape and Liz Claiborne original (the triangular bottle)
College - Cool Water, Burberry Weekend, Tommy Girl (T. Hilfiger), L’eau du Issey, and Tribu by Benetton
Now? I love just about everything. I’m curently rotating between Infusion d’Iris (Prada), Simply (Clinique), Maybe Baby (Benefit), Nectar (Banana Republic), Divine (V. Secret), and Classique (Jean Paul Gaultier).
And yet, I still want to buy Juicy Couture’s scent…but I suspect it’s all wrong for fall.
Jamie | August 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
ooh i am on the search for a perfume! in highschool for me was all ani ani, and Tresor then in college it was tommygirl. I tried later to like some other lancolmn sent (pink bottle?) at some point but it didnt really work on me.
i need to get to sephora and try some out! my nose gets so overwhelmed though… i am goign to have to write down some of these suggestions and take them with me!!
Kate | August 20th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Back in my high school days I wore something called Sunflowers. And Clinique Happy. And my mom bought me a bottle of Shalamar, which I wore because I thought it was so sophisticated! When I got to College I was religious about Gucci Accenti. Now I have about 8 different perfumes that I switch between, depending on my mood. My faves are Coco Chanel and Juicy Couture.
Jessica | August 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
omg, Sunflowers! it’s elizabeth arden - i wore that one too! I am loving these comments…and lancome’s “pink one” is miracle. i wore that too.
gee, i think i’ve spent a lot of money on fragrance. hmm.
Jamie | August 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Well around here most places have a no scent policy. Its the “no scents is good sense” policy. So I dont wear purfume but I do still use scented shampoo and deodorant….Im a rebel, I know!
Cherish | August 20th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
oooh, i’m a perfume whore! LOVE them! My current favorites are Philosopy Amazing Grace, Stella by Stella McCartney, Jo Malone Orange Blossoms, Body Shop White Musk, Laundromat or Holy Water by Demeter, and LaVanila Vanilla Grapefruit.
I wore Woods of Windsor Forget Me Not as a pre-teen and I still love it. High school was Sunflowers, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, or Body Shop Dewberry, all of which are too sweet for me now. College was mostly Lancome Poeme . . .haven’t worn it in a while but I remember when I did men would literally stop me in the streets to ask what I was wearing.
one of the biggest factors when i buy a perfume is “does it come in a purse size?” because i switch so often that I almost never make it through a full bottle!
Hollylynne | August 21st, 2008 at 12:45 am
Middle school - I was all about Liz Claiborne (in the yellow triangle bottle), Electric Youth (Debbie Gibson, Baby!), and Guess?
College - definitely a scent whore, but Tommy Girl, Cool Water, Lucky Brand, Pleasures, Burberry Brit all seem to ring a bell.
Nowadays - Narcisso Rodriguez, Philosophy Inner Grace, and Chanel Chance eu de Fraiche (I think that’s how you spell it).
Christina77 | August 21st, 2008 at 2:54 am
The only perfume I’ve ever liked enough to buy is Nina by Nina Ricci… and I love it. I wear it every day and I never wore perfume before I bought it.
Amanda | August 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
Generally, I don’t like perfume on me. However, I discovered Philosophy’s Amazing Grace and I LOVE it. I also like their Falling in Love. They are the only ones for me
JMH | August 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Swistle, you brought me right back with the Sand & Sable reference. I seriously almost bought it again recently, just for nostalgia’s sake, but something told me it would be like the movie St. Elmo’s Fire and just not hold up anymore. That, along with Anais Anais and the original Liz Claybourne were my standards through high school and college. I dabbled in a few others before I discovered Happy and stuck with that for MANY years, and it’s still my go-to. My new favorites however, and on every wish list I have, is DKNY’s Red Delicious and Be Delicious in bottles that look like red and green apples. I beg of you to just sniff a sample and I promise you won’t be disappointed. If I could afford it, I’d buy one for myself TODAY.
Kim | August 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Junior high - Liz Claiborne (glad to see I’m not the only one who had the triangle bottle)
High school - Beautiful, by Estee Lauder
College - Dazzling Gold, by Estee Lauder
Post College - Lotus Flower from L’Occitane until they stopped making it; now Verbena from L’Occitane; Verbenas of Provence from Jo Malone; and Red Roses from Jo Malone.
Red Roses is my favorite and I get tons of compliments on it. It’s the best rose scent i have ever found, not too old lady-ish, just really fresh.
Kate | August 24th, 2008 at 3:44 am
I don’t really like to wear perfume anymore, but in high school I wore Hugo Boss for Women. Then college, I loooooooved Coolwater. After college was Ralph Lauren - Summer Notes, and then I bought this Gucci that smells so good.
I still love remembering how GOOD guys that I met thought I smelled when wearing the coolwater. I got a lot of comments on that one. I keep the empty bottle because of all those memories - the Hugo I threw away because for some reason it started smellling AWFUL (i think it spoiled? can that happen) and I didn’t want to be tempted to accidentally use it again.
I still think the Gucci smells amazing, but just never get around to using it….
April | August 24th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Swistle, I liked you before, but now that I know you have a perfume spreadsheet my love for you cannot be denied. You are my people!
Rebecca (Bearca) | August 25th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I am loving L’eau do L’Artisan recently. And I have a tiny container of Jo Malone lime basil mandarin that I really really like. And before that? I never wore perfume. I had a phase where I dabbed vanilla extract behind my ears (no joke- high school I was apparently in a phase where I wanted to smell like baked goods) but other than that, no perfume.
pseudostoops | August 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I may never wear it regularly (I get sneezy when I spray most perfumes, and my spouse is extremely finicky about scents), but high school through undergrad I wore Colors de Benetton, which I first sniffed in a magazine.
Jenny | August 26th, 2008 at 12:39 am
In junior high and high school, I was a fan of White Shoulders.
College, I discovered Georgio Wings, Perry Ellis 360, and Bath and Body Works (my favorites were Seaspray and Flowering Herbs, which I just discovered you can STILL ORDER ONLINE OH MY ACHING BANK ACCOUNT).
20’s, Shi by Alfred Sung (I still like this) and CK One (also still like), Realm (way too heavy, even then) along with a continued infatuation with Bath & Body Works (Sparkling Green Apple, Pearberry and Freesia) and a foray into the Body Shop (Ananya).
30’s - I pretty much love Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom. Sweet Pea is also acceptable. I tried Sensual Amber, and it’s a little much for me.
I like other perfumes, but most of them smell like boiled ass after I wear them for an hour - I always try before I buy. I’m bored with everything lately, so I may investigate a few on this list and see if any of them work.
GoingLoopy | August 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
…and now I feel wildly compelled to find a new perfume. You’re all a bad (good) influence.
The Love’s Baby Soft references brought me right back to my pre-teen years, which went between that and the citrusy Jean Nate. Over the years I’ve been through Chanel No. 5, Paris, Paloma Picasso, and numerous essential oils (mainly rose-based or jasmine). Often for me, essential oils are less irritating than the alcohol-y perfumes. I’ve been using a sample of Kenneth Cole Black that I like but my boyfriend isn’t all that into. Need something new.
Like Cherish, I have more places now that ask for people not to wear perfumes, so I don’t wear it as often.
vlynn | August 27th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
…update. I gave in and went perfume shopping today.
Fell head over heels for L by Lolita Lempicka. LOVE. http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2148603&productId=xlsImpprod640810&navAction=push&navCount=3&categoryId=cat100002&title=Eau+de+Parfum
vlynn | August 28th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Ha, ha! Luv’s Baby Soft! I wore that, AND Electric Youth. I also loved Realities by Liz Clairborn.
Now I wear Pleasures by Este Lauder. I really like it- it’s clean and fresh and not too strong… so I guess that’s my signiture scent?
Marie Green | August 31st, 2008 at 1:13 pm