These two are really good. Have you tried Profumum Roma's Ambra Aurea? Many people consider it an amber reference, a real gold standard amber.Ooops, I did it again....Bought a ton of samples.
Profumum Roma - Sorriso
Profumum Roma - Antico Caruso
Perfume Chat Thread
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Thanks! Good to know! I did order that one. Just goofed and listed it as a Moresque scent.
It's awesome to see a few of you have indulged in sample hauls! Very exciting! Is anyone up to reviewing their samples for the rest of us? (maybe just your favourites?)
I don't have anything to add as I've been having a weird journey as my anosmia comes and goes in phases. I'm lucky now because I found there's a Sephora, Zara and a small perfume shop near a lab I go to every week, so I've been sampling plenty for free (following the advice @ultravisitor had given me earlier in the thread).
Each time my sense of smell returns, I find that things smell totally different than they did previously. One thing that is consistent is that I don't like coffee notes (they always seem to smell stale) and I really enjoy orange blossom and fig notes. Still, I can't trust my post-covid nose at all because the same fragrances just smell so different to me each week. My opinion on any scent is absolutely pointless, lol!
I don't have anything to add as I've been having a weird journey as my anosmia comes and goes in phases. I'm lucky now because I found there's a Sephora, Zara and a small perfume shop near a lab I go to every week, so I've been sampling plenty for free (following the advice @ultravisitor had given me earlier in the thread).
Each time my sense of smell returns, I find that things smell totally different than they did previously. One thing that is consistent is that I don't like coffee notes (they always seem to smell stale) and I really enjoy orange blossom and fig notes. Still, I can't trust my post-covid nose at all because the same fragrances just smell so different to me each week. My opinion on any scent is absolutely pointless, lol!
Hello there!I don't have anything to add as I've been having a weird journey as my anosmia comes and goes in phases. I'm lucky now because I found there's a Sephora, Zara and a small perfume shop near a lab I go to every week, so I've been sampling plenty for free (following the advice @ultravisitor had given me earlier in the thread).
Each time my sense of smell returns, I find that things smell totally different than they did previously. One thing that is consistent is that I don't like coffee notes (they always seem to smell stale) and I really enjoy orange blossom and fig notes. Still, I can't trust my post-covid nose at all because the same fragrances just smell so different to me each week. My opinion on any scent is absolutely pointless, lol!
Good to see you and glad to hear that you have some convenient places to sample perfumes.Sorry to hear that the anosmia is still coming and going.
Regarding things smelling different after each period of anosmia, I wonder if natural scents around the house like kitchen herbs, foods or spices also smell different after each period of anosmia, or is it just the perfumes?I also wanted to let you know I found my mini of original Chloe, and oh my goodness -- just a drop, and it smelled so wonderful, and lasted all day. I definitely recognized the scent, as someone in my family, possibly an aunt had worn it before. Lovely fragrance!
It's everything, unfortunately. It's like I'm using a different nose each time I test. Very weird experience.
Cumin can smell like cinnamon somedays. Pepper can smell of nothing at all. Similarly, herbs don't come through as anything, though mint is the easiest to pick out most consistently. I'm able to note citruses most of the time but cannot distinguish between them- just a general 'citrus' is all that registers. On good days, it's easy to be more specific: "lemon", and then hop around like an excited puppy that I got it right.
I see other people either say they got their senses back or didn't, but nobody is talking about these more subtle day-to-day shifts. I'm not sure if I'm noticing things like this because I'm being so methodical in my rehab, or because my preexisting health issues mean it affected my system differently than other people.
Still, I'm better than I was and I'm finding joy in the process of experiencing strong smells when it happens.
Oh, you have no idea how happy this makes me! Thank you!
I'm not surprised you had a family member who'd worn it. I could swear everybody used it throughout the 80s and 90s. It smells great on everyone's skin and I remember it being an uplifting/happy/pretty smell. Surprising they discontinued it when it was so very popular.
If it's not too much trouble, please let me know if you smell anything similar along the way. I'd love to get my hands on something close to it. I've found there are some people selling their vintage bottles, but at the most insane prices.
It must be so unsettling for even the ordinary things around the house to smell differently after these phases of anosmia. I hope that these periods of anosmia will get shorter and eventually go away, so things can smell consistent.It's everything, unfortunately. It's like I'm using a different nose each time I test. Very weird experience.
Cumin can smell like cinnamon somedays. Pepper can smell of nothing at all. Similarly, herbs don't come through as anything, though mint is the easiest to pick out most consistently. I'm able to note citruses most of the time but cannot distinguish between them- just a general 'citrus' is all that registers. On good days, it's easy to be more specific: "lemon", and then hop around like an excited puppy that I got it right.
Oh, you have no idea how happy this makes me! Thank you!
I'm not surprised you had a family member who'd worn it. I could swear everybody used it throughout the 80s and 90s. It smells great on everyone's skin and I remember it being an uplifting/happy/pretty smell. Surprising they discontinued it when it was so very popular.
If it's not too much trouble, please let me know if you smell anything similar along the way. I'd love to get my hands on something close to it. I've found there are some people selling their vintage bottles, but at the most insane prices.
Talking about our favorite perfumes always makes us happy. If I smell something similar, I will let you know. To be honest, I've already smelled many perfumes (although not the most recent releases), and have to say the smell of Chloe is unique. However, while it may be hard to find something that smells very close to the original, there are certainly perfumes that have the same vibe, with the lush, layered floral notes. I will think about it and update this thread when I find something with a similar vibe.And yes, those vintage perfumes can be ridiculously expensive and we can never be sure how they were stored, and whether they still smell good and potent.
I own it and love it. Ambre Essentrico by Giorgio ARmani Prive is great too.
I tried Woudacieux. Very unique scents. I ended up sharing my samples with a friend.I have such a thing for discovery sets. These all arrived within the last two weeks (including Luckyscent samples 177 fragrances)
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The sets are:
For the eagle eyed - the Pierre Guillaume set comes with 89 samples but there’s space for 90 so there’s an annoying extra space. Otherwise it’s become one of my favourite discovery sets.
- Pierre Guillaume
- Etat Libre d’Orange
- Nobile 1942
- Woudacieux
- Maison Rebatchi
- Pineward
- Centauri
I've had a good couple of days with my sense of smell being totally normal, so thought I'd pop in with some reviews of samples I got to try.
First, Milk Musk (Molton Brown). It smells exactly like baby powder. Not sure if any adult wants to smell like that but, if that's your vibe...
I also got to sample Maison Tahite earlier. The store had just received their fragrances and the SAs were super eager to push sales, lol. The two I tried were not for me, unfortunately. They did last hours and hours on my skin though, so if you like sweet vanillas that last forever, this could be for you.
Has everyone else been experimenting lately? Anything you loved or hated?
First, Milk Musk (Molton Brown). It smells exactly like baby powder.
Not sure if any adult wants to smell like that but, if that's your vibe...I also got to sample Maison Tahite earlier. The store had just received their fragrances and the SAs were super eager to push sales, lol. The two I tried were not for me, unfortunately. They did last hours and hours on my skin though, so if you like sweet vanillas that last forever, this could be for you.
Has everyone else been experimenting lately? Anything you loved or hated?
Hello, glad to hear you had a couple of good days in terms of sense of smell, and hope it continues that way.I've had a good couple of days with my sense of smell being totally normal, so thought I'd pop in with some reviews of samples I got to try.
First, Milk Musk (Molton Brown). It smells exactly like baby powder.
I also got to sample Maison Tahite earlier. The store had just received their fragrances and the SAs were super eager to push sales, lol. The two I tried were not for me, unfortunately. They did last hours and hours on my skin though, so if you like sweet vanillas that last forever, this could be for you.
Has everyone else been experimenting lately? Anything you loved or hated?
Regarding powdery, yeah, I don't think any of us want to smell exactly like baby powder.
That said, I do like powdery perfumes, but obviously the ones with some complexity. When I think of the powdery perfumes in my collection, a few different ones come to my mind. L'Artisan's L'Eau d'Ambre is one that feels a little bit powdery. With amber, geranium, vanilla and a hint of patchouli, it's very far from baby powder, so sometimes I think powder can be almost a texture, rather than a smell. I have Lorenzo Villoresi's Teint de Neige, which is intense powder. Almost too much. I must wear it soon to re-acquaint myself with it, but the powder in it was a little overwhelming the last time I wore it. Hmmm... I might need to devote a week to exploring my powdery perfumes.
I have been experimenting by shopping my closet (bottles, samples and decants), and focusing on perfumes with a specific note, or picking a theme for a week. Today's fragrance is a love -- I am trying Ormonde Jayne Tolu from a sample (as part of amber week).
I'm discovering that I like powdery on me, too. As a note amongst other things, it suits my skin chemistry (often seems to work well on me when it's combined with violet). It's been a real revelation since I know so little about perfumes.Regarding powdery, yeah, I don't think any of us want to smell exactly like baby powder.
Milk Musk though, is pure baby powder. It was so unexpected. An amazing dupe for the actual talc, in fact. I was laughing so hard because I thought my nose was being all "covid-y" and playing tricks on me, only for the SA to explain that it's supposed to be like that. Oops!
In all honesty, I'd buy the bottle of baby powder if I wanted to go that route as it's so much cheaper!
On another weird discovery, there was one unisex fragrance I tried that was supposed to smell like zingy ginger but instead smelt like the inside of a plane. You know that distinct airplane smell, as you first walk into the cabin? EXACTLY like that!
I can't for the life of me remember the name of that fragrance, but I'll attribute the scent being nothing like ginger to my anosmia because that is the only reasonable explanation. There cannot be a market for "I want to smell like jet lag"!
Genius idea!
Ooh this sounds lovely!
Powdery violets made me think of Guerlain Meteorites. The original perfume (not the newer Meteorites) apparently smelt like Guerlain's face powder pearls. The powder usually comes in pretty containers and I've wanted to get one for a while. Perhaps someone who has used it can chime in with feedback about the powder pearls and its scent. I find powdery notes to be quite comforting in a fragrance.
It is lovely, and I will enjoy finishing my sample, but I don't plan on getting a bottle as I have so many other lovely perfumes that are still full, or barely used (trying to be good).
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I'm doing a custom scent! Here's my idea - we'll see what suggestions the perfumer comes back with before it's made. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on the idea, and any notes you'd add or remove.
The concept is blueberry pancakes with maple syrup - with an adult twist.
Top notes: maple, and probably blueberry.
Middle notes: blueberry, vanilla, and rum (the rum is the 'adult twist') I saw something online saying maple and rum are good scents together. Maybe a hint of pecan.
Base: Vanilla, and maybe a bit of pecan.
The concept is blueberry pancakes with maple syrup - with an adult twist.
Top notes: maple, and probably blueberry.
Middle notes: blueberry, vanilla, and rum (the rum is the 'adult twist') I saw something online saying maple and rum are good scents together. Maybe a hint of pecan.
Base: Vanilla, and maybe a bit of pecan.
Great ideas! I'll see if the perfumer can add those notes. Nutmeg is a seriously underappreciated spice.cinnamin? nutmeg? (I add these to my blueberry pancakes