To me, perfume has a texture. Some fragrances wear like silk velvet, others like a practical gabardine, and still others — unfortunately — like double knit polyester. In summer, I want to wear perfume that feels like chiffon, linen, the fabric of a well-worn tee shirt, or even nothing at all. Here are the 10 fragrances I’ll be probably be wearing most this summer:
When it’s sizzling out, when lifting the bedroom window feels like opening the door of a convection oven, I want perfume that is crisp, cooling, and effortless. In short, I want perfume that wears like linen.
Christian Dior Eau Fraiche is a perfect linen-like fragrance. I have a bottle more than 40 years old that still sparkles and still has the warm chic of real oakmoss. I can wear it to work, after a bath, or while enjoying a gin and tonic at the neighborhood bar and feel fresh and even elegant, if I have to be.
Annick Goutal Folavril is another good linen substitute. It doesn’t wear long on me, but it goes on clean, cool, and herbal, and — yes — I can smell its tomato leaves, another reminder of summer. Whenever I wear it, it’s usually for parts of several days straight. It grows on me.
Parfums d’Empire Eau Suave is crisp, green, and full of rosy goodness without feeling weighed down with flowers. It’s the linen scent I turn to when I’m tired of citrus.
In the Pacific Northwest where I live, days may scorch, but most nights are cool. Round about 8 o’clock I’m often looking for a light sweater. Summer evenings here can bear heavier, more complex perfume, and with any luck they demand a fragrance with mood and even romance. Perfume that wears like silk charmeuse is perfect for these nights.
Annick Goutal Songes feels just like silk charmeuse on a summer night — cool and slippery at first, but heavy and sensuous on the skin. Songes is loaded with indolic jasmine and frangipani then thickened with vanilla and wood. Elizabeth Taylor might have been wearing it (along with the lace-trimmed slip) in the bedroom scene in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Penhaligon’s Amaranthine, on the other hand, is silk charmeuse in tropical colors. It carries both the funk and the dreamy florals of Songes, but the vanilla is stripped away and replaced with fruit and cream. It has a little more humor than Songes and all of the beauty.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubéreuse is definitely part of my summer charmeuse line up. Smelling it is like looking at a Braque painting of a tuberose — you see the composition and at a distance, squinting, it does look like a tuberose, but at the same time it’s a crazy assemblage of pieces that seem like they shouldn’t go together. I tried to resist, but I’m addicted, especially to its truffled dry down.
Often in the summer I skip makeup, snap a barrette in my hair, and pull on something loose of worn cotton jersey. It’s a day to work in the garden, take the dog for a walk before it gets too hot, or chat with the neighbors. This “old tee shirt” type of perfume gets lots of wear.
I always have a jug of Revlon Jean Naté in the refrigerator for cotton jersey days. Sure, it smells a little of the plastic bottle it comes in at first, but it dries down vanillic and lemony. Plus, it’s so cheap I can glug it on my skin until it soaks my clothes and I don’t care. The next best thing to central air.
Rochas Eau de Rochas is another one of my favorite cotton jersey scents. It’s classy enough to cross over into the linen scents, too. I love its mix of citrus, patchouli, and moss.
Finally, sometimes in summer — and in winter — I want a scent that wears like chiffon. Have you ever worn a silk chiffon dress? It feels like air. Or like wearing laundered spider webs. Or, really, like wearing nothing at all.
For chiffon days, I choose Parfums DelRae Mythique. I adore this perfume and have loved it more every day from the instant I tried it. I had a leaky decant of it in my purse, and its scent impregnated the rubbery coating of a Nars lipstick case. I ended up putting the lipstick on my desk so I could huff it from time to time. Its iris and suede are so butter-soft they remind me of clean, salty skin. On my “to do” list is to write to DelRae Roth and beg her to put out a parfum version.
Another chiffon scent, but a heavier chiffon, maybe black and faced with silk, is Chanel Cuir de Russie. You wouldn’t expect it to wear well in heat, but think of how good your leather handbag smells when it’s been in the hot car. Now imagine that handbag with a smear of iris butter inside. Maybe I’m just hooked on iris and leather these days, but I can’t get enough.
What are your summer favorites?
You can find more summer Top 10 lists at Bois de Jasmin, Grain de Musc, Perfume Posse, Perfume Smellin’ Things.
Note: image is Diffident by Minette Layne at flickr; some rights reserved.
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What a wonderful list–several are still sitting on my gotta try list, however.
I love Songes but haven’t worn it in this heat. Even on cooler days I feel it can own me so have been too chicken to try. But seeing as it has shown up on your list and over at Grain de Musc, I’m going to try it. Tomorrow. Maybe.
Maybe trying it during the evening would be a good way to break into it! It is a powerhouse–that’s for sure.
I’m addicted to Nuit de Tubéreuse too (SOTD)… and I’m sort of befriending Amaranthine (but: do I really need a full bottle, hmm…). Lys en Mediterranée is also a regular summer favorite, probably my “linen” connection. You ladies are making me curious to try Songes!
Lys M is a good one! I don’t have a decant, so I tend to forget about that one.
Ooh! I love Lys M, gotta get that one out. Songes is one of my very favorites, but I, too, am afraid to try in this heat. On just a warm summer night though? Heaven.
I’ve been getting inspired to pull out some old favorites, too!
Add me to the list of those loving Lys Med too. I really want a decant or travel size, but in the meantime, DK Gold has been my “cheap substitute” for my lily fix. Not exactly the same as the Malle, but it’s saving me $$.
DK Gold is such a good value for the money, too.
I have Songes in the EdP and it is beautiful to wear on balmy summer nights. I also reach for Eau d’Hadrien EdP when I don’t want to think *too* hard about what I want to wear. Chanel’s Cuir de Russie’s been on my must buy list for a while, but I’ve been contenting myself with Cuir de Lancome in the meantime. It’s the lightest and most well-mannered leather that works in hot weather that I’ve found, and though I’m not a handbag kind of girl, it does remind me of the leather purse my grandmother used to carry that always smelled like her favorite hand cream and perfume… A bit like face powder (iris and florals) and the bag itself. Oddly enough, I’ve been enjoying a vial of Joy EdT when playing outside with the kids. I close my eyes and imagine I’m in a lush garden full of jasmine and roses and it’s like a tiny little instant vacation.
Thanks, Angela, for listing some frags I really need to try. Folavril sounds especially wonderful since I *love* the smell of tomato plants and often don’t wash my hands after handling them if I don’t have to just so I can enjoy the smell on my skin.
Joy EdT is a great choice! I love the smell of tomato leaves, too, and sometimes will go to the garden and rip a piece off to smell while I read.
Hi tomato leaf lovers! I need to try Folavril! I have been enjoying Sisley Eau de Campagne from time to time this summer. It’s good for tomato leaf!
Yes, give it a try! Not everyone loves Folavril, though. But when it’s hot, I do.
Oh, I do love Cuir de Lancome! Had not thought to wear it in the heat, though. (Cannot wear the CdRussie at all.)
Angela, that sounds like such a good idea! I’ve contemplated trying to grow tomatoes indoors just so I can have that wonderful green smell and fresh tomatoes all year.
Haunani, I didn’t know about the Sisley. I’ll definitely add it to the ‘test’ list.
Mals, CdL is such a well-behaved and civilized leather that even liberally sprayed it seems hard to over-apply. I haven’t worn it out on our 90+ days yet, but it seems to do quite well most other days.
My only potential worry about Cuir de Lancome is that it’s sweeter than Cuir de Russie, and the sweetness might not do as well in the heat, but I’m going to give it a try!
CdL is one of my drier fragrances anyway.
Both have been on my list to try for awhile…haven’t gotten there yet, though!
Looks like a well-rounded list, will have to try some of these! I’ve been looking for some more summer scents. Lately I’ve been getting by with Kenzo Magnolia, it’s clean while still being floral; Chance Eau Fraiche, I love the woodiness of this one; and Bronze Goddess.
Oh yes–Bronze Goddess. A summer classic!
Hi Angela,
Completely with you on Nuit de Tubereuse. I am also addicted to this scent. It’s vegetal sexy.
I don’t have 10 for my list but so far this summer I have been wearing:
Nuit de Tubereuse
YOSH Ginger Ciao in the EdP
Dior Diorella
Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan
Diptyque Do Son
Have a great week ahead everyone.
~Dawn
Forgot Diorella! Oh, I’m so ashamed…I love that one!
I forgot about Diorella too! Can I have 11 top summer picks?
top 20??
That’s more like it!
Dawn– I just got some Yosh Ginger Ciao Edp! This is some zingy, amazing stuff! It’s very energizing! Thanks for the recommendation!
Oh gosh darn it Daisy – I had a sample of Yosh GC that I sent to someone – wish I had known it was one you hadn’t tried yet. Oh well.
that’s alright Rustic, that just means that some other lucky perfumista is saying “mmmmmm” right now. I think it’s just amazing how wonderful perfumistas are : swapping, sharing….enabling……
It was I, the lucky perfumista. Love it! I was going to pass it along, but you know our Daisy… no patience at all.
Patience? I know not this word you speak….
Oh good – you like it Boo – cool beans!
So boo, is ginger caio a “love” perfume for you?
YOSH GC is really getting the love this summer, it seems. I haven’t tried it yet b/c the coconut scares me, but I think I’m going to have to get past that and sample it right quick. Stargazer’s the only YOSH I’ve tried, but it makes a good impression and there’s a nice ginger edge to that one, too.
I have a Stargazer Lily on my table right now! The whole main level of the house is scented by this one stem…..now, that’s MY kind of flower!
plus I can tell when my cat has been sneaking onto the table for a sniff—she’s got orange pollen on her face!
I have a stargazer lily on MY table, too! (I cut the stamens off, though – they make me sneeze. Not to mention that I always get the pollen on my shirts.)
Don’t let her eat it, Daisy! Lilies are poisonous to cats!
Rustic sent me that sample along w/the Ginger Ciao. I’ll give it a try and pass that one along.
mjr—my lily sniffing gato doesn’t seem interested in taking a taste….(plus there’s plenty more in the flower bed outside)…the only plant that is a problem are Poinsettias which I cannot have in the house because there’s no way to reliably keep her away , and it’s just too dangerous not being able to monitor the silly feline every minute of the day and night! It used to be so horrible—because I volunteer at the schools so much , there were always teachers trying to give me Poinsettias at Christmastime….I finally had to fess up that I couldn’t keep them because Maxie would try to eat them….why did I have to fess up? Because most of the teachers are also jewelry customers of mine and would stop by my house to pick up custom items or shop thru my ready made inventory…..so they’d sort of notice the lack of their gifted poinsettias….oops!
Don’t let the coconut scare you. I’m not much of a coconut fan, but this isn’t terribly heavy, and what’s there really works. It doesn’t hit you over the head.
Thanks! I really do want to try it, but it helps to hear that
Love your list Angela! The Delrae Mythique has *really* grown on me and I have worn it quite a bit lately. Mostly, I have been wearing Penhaligon’s and Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom, PG’s Papyrus de Ciane [my SOTD], Ava Luxe Incense [really nice, very green incense], and a few vintage scents – Lubin Gin Fizz [just recently sampled for the first time and I had to order more!], Patou Colony and Chanel no 19. I don’t have a great Summer fragrance wardrobe, but I’m working on it!
Orange blossom is so nice in the summer. And I forgot about Colony! That one is so summery, too.
I have to try that Gin Fizz. And the Colony… I have samples around here somewheres… (toss toss toss)
Lemme know if you don’t have the Gin Fizz. Rustic, did you buy vintage or current, and if current, was there much difference?
I didn’t want to mess with a good thing, so I stayed with the vintage!
Good luck with your search Mals! They are both so good and wonderful for this time of year.
Has anyone tried the current Gin Fizz? I need to get on that…
I adore Mythique – it sits high on my wishlist, and thanks to Mals – also got a chance to enjoy Amaranthine, which to me is like an elegant counterpart to Amoureuse.
Today we’re in the humid ’90s again here in NJ and I’m wearing Montale’s Chypre Fruits and Tauer’s URC, which pair surprisingly well together since they both have a tart, citrusy floral opening and a nice chypre drydown with a rich combined mix of flowers, fruits and spices in between.
Those are big ones! I’m not sure I’d be able to wear them without having an air conditioned room to retreat to when necessary. But such lovely scents.
Well – I do work in an air-conditioned environment! But really – when is URC not a good choice? There may be better times, but I think it’s suitable year round. I actually discovered the Montale last December. It’s exceptionally crisp and light – for a Montale, that is and pretty without being “girly.”
You’re right–URC is so lovely. And clearly my idea of Montale has been clouded by some of the heavier fragrances.
That Montale sounds interesting just because of the name alone.
A very good summery Montale (and *light*) is Soleil di Capri, a deliciously creamy citrus musk.
oooo–Soleil de Capri—the best Montale scent ever—and none of that trademark Montale medicine cabinet oud.
Chypre Fruits is completely oud-free. Just a nice, tangy floral chypre. Daisy – that’s one of the ones I need to send to you. I’ll send you another copy of my list.
Joe, I’d be happy to send you some as well. I’m annymack on MUA. I don’t use it often but I believe it sends out auto notifications.
Daisy – Are you sure Soleil de Capri is the best Montale ever? (Have yet to try it btw) – Have you forgotten about Highness Rose?
***GASP*** I did! How could I forget Highness Rose? ….I’m so ashamed…. Highness Rose is the mostest boooteefull rose evah!
Glad you’re digging it! And I do think A & A might be cousins, or some such.
Oh, indeed I am! Amaranthine makes Amoureuse seem like a slut – but in a good way, of course….
They both have “dubious” ways about them, I think…
Here are my favorites this summer. Nothing too ground-breaking, but I’ve been head-over-heels with each of them. My perfume satisfaction rating this summer has been 11 on a scale of 1-10
Bigarade Concentree: on really steamy days I want to soak myself in this tart-bitter wonderment
Nuit de Tuberuese: oddly addictive and adaptive (a tuberose that works at work – who knew?)
TDC Bois D’Iris: delicate iris and woods – love it during a hot thundershower
Eau de Cartier: feels like a cool shower on a hot day
AG Eau de Sud: my crisp, dry summer go-to for more than 12 years
Etro Shaal Nur: my preferred bedtime scent since the others are all a bit too chatty and exhilarating for sleeping
I could live happily with your list!
OMG, ScentRed, we really are scent twins. Every single one on your list is a favorite of mine!
Well, except that I haven’t yet tried Bigarade Concentree. I KNOW I’ll love that one, though!
Lovely lists, everyone, and must try NdTuberose and Mythique…
It’s steamy hot here in FL (of course) and I’ve had in heavy rotation:
Bronze Goddess
Hermes Un Jardin sur le Nil
SIP Magazine St.
Havana Vanille (great in the heat!)
L de Lampicka Coral Flower
Bois des Iles.
Suzanne—I’m making a note to send you samples of NdT and Mythique….I think I have your address on file somewhere.
awww…thanks, Daisy! Anything you’re hankering to try? Give me a shout, I might have it
ah-ha! I knew it…..you haven’t moved recently have you? I have the address from way back when I sent you samples of 31RC & cuir de russie (no, my memory is not that good—I made a note right next to your addy) Ha! I did something right for once! Anyhoodles…it might be a week until I can get them out—my schedules pretty packed for the next several days.
hmmm, about the only thing I’m jonesing for (and can’t see placing a sample order for one vial) is the new Heeley Bell’s of St. Clements. I know it seems everyone says it doesn’t last….so I should probably steer clear….but other from that I think I might be suffering from “perfume fatigue”, if that’s possible!
Huhhhhh? (Takes a sharp gasp)
Not you, Daisy – perfume fatique? Noooo….
it’s okay Opera, I’m sure I’ll snap out of it soon….lol , just hope my bank account recovers from its perfume fatigue as well!
hey, I have a packet of samples set aside for you too! Must…drag…self…to…post…office….soon…….
Please don’t rush for me! I appreciate ya…and haven’t moved, no.
Am still working thru a DSH sampler pack but, you know, onto the next thing.
That’s okay, Daisy, take your time. I need to send you some samples too. Did you get the list I sent you? Feel free to pick whatever from the list so I can add to the couple that I have for you and make use of the shipping.
Opera—hmmm, you know, I’m not sure …..I’ll have to search my mailbox….it’s the black hole of the email universe….messages go in and are caught in the gravitational pull, never to be seen again! Seriously, there are currently 468 THREADS in my mailbox….many with 30 or more messages…I do lose people in there….it’s surprising I don’t lose more than I do!
I’ll give Havana Vanille a try in the heat–I haven’t done that yet.
Out in the sticky air, the tobacco just explodes! Maybe because from here in Florida, we can see Cuba which makes it work so well.
LOL —so I am wearing HV today ! The vanilla is what exploded on me—deep rich vanilla bean….and cupcakey sweetness! which is yummy and fine….but I lost the tobacco! ah well, I’m always up for a good experiment.
You’re making me hungry!
sorry….would it help if I chanted something really unappetizing for a while? Like a dietary aid? ~Always Helpful Daisy
great list! i have never thought to wear Songes during the summer, I’ll have to see how it goes! Heavy in rotation this summer is:
Micallef Watch
Hermes Vanille Galante
Un Jardin en Mediteranee
CO Bigelow’s Lemon and Lime Body tonic (refrigerated and applied liberally)
Satellite Ipanema
Parfums de Rosine Rose D’Ete
Ipanema is such a fun scent!
I LOVE it! I have a full bottle, but I think it’s discontinued now because I can’t find it anywhere…..I’ll have to use this one sparingly…..*sniff*
Oh DRAT! I should have grabbed some last summer after all. What a shame.
Just checked their website, and it looks like they did away with all but Padparadscha.
Padparadscha, however, is a delightfully dry, spicy, wood scent. Seems Satellite also makes something centered around red berries and something around orange blossom? I’d have to check—they carry them at BH .
There are a couple in your list I haven’t tried, so thanks for the suggestions!
I so love Rose d’Ete! It just makes me happy.
Scent twin! These are all my FAvs!!! This summer I’ve been trying out Ambers so I’m having a feasty fun with ambre russe, Micallefs, aouds from montale, and Coromandel. But I always return to Eau Suave! This summer I’ve also enjoyed Vie de Chateau and Leau Lartisan fir this hot hot weather!
I haven’t been brave enough to try Coromandel in the heat! I’ll have to try it.
It works well for a cooler summer evening. You definitely have to time it right, but it adds sort of a coziness. I have that one on my list, too.
Coziness on a cool night is nice–I’ll definitely give it a try.
My humid summer days call for ease and lightness, I don’t want to have to engage in a dialogue with my fragrance!
Aqua Allegoria Anisa Bella by Guerlain – herbal anise with sweet leafy overtones
YSL Yvresse – sparkling nectarine chypre
Terracotta Voile d’Ete Guerlain – an ice cream vanilla fragrance for adults with cinnamon and earthy carnation
Lovely choices! I think your avatar would love Yvresses, too.
I like that Voile d’Ete too… it reminds me just a bit of Old Spice, and isn’t very vanilla on me.
It’s a good one. I gave my bottle away and am a little sorry.
Our summers are hot and muggy, most of the time, so I tend to stick with citrusy colognes or light tea scents. Mandragore, Sur le Nil, 4711, Bergamot Tea, Chanel Eau de Cologne (SOTD), and Lubin Gin Fizz always work well for me. Humid summer evenings call for something a little different: scents that bloom in warm, moist air, like Tom Ford’s Voile de Fleur (need to find a few more like that!).
Those all sound so refreshing–just reading the list makes me feel cooler.
Great list Angela! I’m going to have to look at the other lists you’ve mentioned and it’s so fun to read the lists of everyone here! We have a bit of overlap—I love Mythique! (I am an Iris Ho, that’s common knowledge) and Eau Suave is a cool almost bracing rose…It’s been pushed to the back of the cabinet…lonely, forgotten….I lmust go dig her out!
I find in the heat I’ve reached quite often for
Chamade vtg edt
L’eau de L’Artisan
Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte
Floris Cefiro
Chanel no19
Prada L’eau Ambre
Bel Respiro
Philosykos or Premier Figuier
Natori edp
and my newest tasty yum-yum : Delrae Coup de Foudre, which I was on the fence about at first but have come to really like.
And here’s an unlikely one: I’ve been wearing OJ Tolu more frequently than you’d expect in 90 degree heat….but , worn with “discretion” (as opposed to my preferred, glassy-eyed, full-body spray down type application) is just beautiful!
Daisy, I find that OJ’s Tiare works beautifully in the summer as well. I wore it out to brunch yesterday (it was fairly sweltering out) and it still felt just perfect with the delicate citrus and definite lack of beachyness that somehow just works.
Nuits de Tubereuse is firmly on my must try list since it seems to be getting a lot of love.
I’m a total sucker for tuberose anyway, so imagine it won’t be much of a stretch for me to like it. 
For inexpensive citrus to keep in the fridge, I got a bottle of C. O. Bigelow’s Lemon EdP half off last year, and the bottle’s so huge I still have a ton left. The lasting power isn’t great, but for under $20 for 3.4 ounces, that’s hardly an issue.
Warning on Nuit de Tubereuse: it is a little freaky until you get used to it, but then it becomes addicting (I think, anyway.)
It’s nice to have a big bottle of something cold to splash from the fridge!
yes it is nice to have a big bottle of something refreshing in the fridge….like Mikes Hard Lemonade…. :-O lol
Yes–or tonic, to add to a shot of gin!
I agree that Nuit de Tubereuse is very addicting. Some perfumes are like that for some reason but I don’t know why.
Hi Abs! you know, anything lemony rates pretty high in my book! I adore them all from the candied lemon syrup of Philtre d’Amour to the bracing, slap-upside-the-head that is PdN Cedrat Intense (bergamot, lemon whatever, it’s all good) The Bigelow Lemon sounds very refreshing in our ickky Michigan humidity (the poor CEO dug out the septic lids yesterday and was just dripping by the time he was done…heck, I was horribly hot and sticky just standing there watching and offering helpful advice like: I know it’s there, just keep digging.)
Want to swap a samples of Nuit de Tubereuse for Bigelow Lemon? email me
Now I need to hit my notes at home.. I *know* there were a couple things I found too lemony. I’ll see what they were and send them straight along!
I’ll do that. And your poor hubby! Sounded like he could have used some Mike’s and a cool spritz, too.
LOL –well, what he got was a shower and a bottle of blue gatorade! He requested the gatorade…I insisted on the shower…..
I’ve been surprisingly happy with (and dependent on) a bottle of Pacifica’s Malibu Lemon Blossom in my fridge. It reminded me immediately of Alyssa’s post on Meyer lemons, which I loved. Apart from a brief blast of LEMON up front, the bright, sharp, edges of lemon are missing in favor of sweet, honeyed floral ones. At the beach. I’m having trouble enjoying wearing anything else in this heat, though.
Oh! I love my little solid of the Malibu Lemon Blossom. The splash sounds like a great idea!
I must go see about that. Pacifica usually does a very nice job on their fragrances and I do seem to recall that Malibu Lemon has gotten lots of good response.
This is my first Pacifica, and I really couldn’t be happier with it. It’s nicely balanced all the way through, too. It was just an impulse purchase, but definitely one of the better ones I’ve ever made. My poor L’A Jatamansi is all, WTF?! I thought I was supposed to be your summer fling…
tut tut….explain to them that it’s not cheating , and they need to learn to share you…..
Pacifica does such a great job with their fragrances.
Hello love!
Nice to see you on here
Please don’t melt away over there, take care of you!
But if you do melt I’ll know your the fragrant lemon blossom puddle.
Your list is so refreshing and pretty at the same time! I can practically smell it as I read. It has been so long since I’ve tried Tolu, I must get out my sample vial ASAP.
WARNING: apply lightly. Or you might have to hang out in your cool basement until it wears off.
I love OJ Tolu –it’s one of my very favorites and while it’s suited more for the wintery months, I cant just abandon it in summer.
I like Tolu, too. I hadn’t thought to try it in the summer. I have, however, worn Yves Rocher Voile d’Ambre several times. It’s a sheer amber that feels just fine in warm weather!
Tolu is definitely my “if I ever visit London I’ll buy this” fragrance.
I’m a little late, but had to respond to your Tolu experience. I, too, have begun loving Tolu in this weather! The shower gel grabbed my attention this morning and, tho I was dubious, I went with it; and it was perfect. Then just a teeny tiny dab of perfume post-shower…heavenly. I’m so delighted to see I’m not alone in enjoying this gem “off season”!
OOOOO–the shower gel! Girl, you are livin’ the LIFE!!
I’ve looked at it (repeatedly), and drooled some….but in the end can’t make myself spend the $$ on shower gel….bet it smells great!
Mostly I stick to unscented, dye-free, irritant free (there’s a zillion ingredients to list here) stuff due to my freakishly sensitive skin….look at me cross-eyed and I start to itch….sigh.
I too often think of fragrances as textures. Some are fabrics – AdP Profumo is a lustrous mink without the cruelty, Ambre Narguile is, of course, a favourite cashmere sweater. And some are gems – Ta’if is a pink saphire and SL Bois de Violette is an amethyst.
I seem to favour fragrances which are more suitable for cold weather so I only have a couple of summer favourites.
AG Mandragore Pourpre has been my go to scent in hot weather. It’s light but tenacious enough to last most of the day especially on fabric.
Fig is my summer fruit of choice. I’ve been alternating between my samples of AdP Fico di Amalfi, Philosykos and Ninfeo Mio.
I almost drained my sample of OJ Frangipani which I’ve been relying on for a fix of feminine floral.
I’m also keeping my eye out for a bottle of Diorella which I think make for another summer staple with lots of character.
Of course, the weather in the North of England been far from summery recently which means that I could easily get away with wearing some heavier scents. Cuir de Russie being one of them. I’ve been enjoying it so much recently that I finally bit the bullet this morning and ordered a bottle of extrait
OOOOOO— Cuir de Russie Extrait—I’m so excited for you! That sounds perfect for Northern England cool evenings. Now I’m imagining you as the heroine in a slightly “dark” mystery novel set in a remote castle….smelling fabulous of course. Be careful, there’s evil dealings afoot!
Can you imagine how excited I am? The SA said they’ll post it within 3 days. 3 Days!!! That’s eternity by an addict’s standards
I also had enough to cheek to ask for some Les Exclusives samples so she said she’ll include a couple depending on what they have at the store.
No castles here which which is just as well since they are probably not the best place to be when it’s cold and wet. Thankfully it seems to be warming up again but no sign of drying out yet.
…and now I’m imagining you lurking anxiously around the mailbox….if you begin to feel dizzy….rush into the house, apply a quick spritz of the edt and return to your vigil.
Heh, probably. I doubt the cats would agree to sit by the door and alert me when they hear the postman approaching
To tell the truth, I like cool weather fragrances better in general, too. But summer comes, and a girl’s got to wear her perfume. Enjoy that Cuir de Russie parfum! I’m excited for you (and a little jealous.)
Thanks
Perfume have textures… how true!
I am loving the silky feel of white florals, like beyond love and carnal flower (the latter is a silk nuisette just taken out of the fridge…still a little moist)…
I also feel that some perfumes have a characteristic lighting…
the stark luminosity of aldehydic perfumes seem to reflect the blinding whiteness of the buildings under the sun…so there I go with Bois des iles and une fleur de cassie, just to blend in the city!
Classic guerlains, on the other hand, are a promise of carefree trips…they remind me of the shimmering golden roofs of prague, of the sparkling royal palaces of Vienna or Paris, of the tiny grains of sand glittering under the sun on a greek island… they make me travel while I still have weeks of work to go before my vacation!
Mythique sounds really great.
I just discovered the buttery iris of la pausa, and I imagine that mythique has a similar creamy iris effect. I really have to test it!
what a long comment… sorry…
Your comment is so poetic! You made me want to wear every one of the perfumes you mention in succession!
I vote for the glittery sands of the Greek island….when do we leave?
Hi Angela – I often think of the fragrances I’m wearing like clothes too! This insanely hot summer, my fav frags have been:
Kenzo Flower La Cologne (a guaze flutter sleeve wrap dress, like everyone used to wear in the 70s)
Chanel Cristalle edp (a crisply ironed white linen blouse *before* it wilts and gets all wrinkley)
Lancome Mille et Une Fleurs (a tissue paper cashmere cardigan – perfect summer comfort scent)
Chanel No 5 Sensual Elixer (a perfect, pleated summer dress in the style of Betty Draper)
Chanel No 19 edt current – (which I think smells like a perfect summer day anyway – #19 is the “Perfect” linen jacket and tank top.
4711 – (fresh clean men’s white undershirt and shorts)
Guerlain L’Heure Bleue – (cool rain and jeans).
Hey, that sounds like an ideal summer wardrobe!
I had to re-read your list twice….no Chamade?? what’s the password? I’ll be checking behind your rose bushes for the Alien Pod!!! What have you done with Ann !!??
Seriously though—I could easily have made my list 20 favorites….limiting to ten= nearly impossible.
No body snatchers here, lol! Chamade hasn’t made the cut b/c we’ve had NONSTOP the horrible hot hot super damp humid weather (that you are having now) for WEEKS! I can’t wear anything too rich, hence, no Chamade. Under normal circumstances Chamade would be right there, hand in hand, with my beloved Heure Exquise. We’ve had less than 1.5″ of rain in the past 4 weeks, except ONE day when it was about 70 degrees and drizzling in the early am, hence the L’HB…. didn’t last long. By lunch I was dousing myself in 4711.
You know, there was an episode of MM last season in which there was a clear shot of BD’s dressing table, but I could not identify the fragrance bottles. Did you happen to catch it?
Yes! I saw that one too! I was trying very hard to make out the bottles with no luck. Not even like a recognizable Guerlain or Chanel. I couldn’t make out anything at all!
It’s time to get it on DVD and freeze frame!
I love your description of LHB. It really makes me wish I could wear it. The picture I get is so carefree and calm.
I had some trouble with L’HB for a while, esp. as I was testing the edt. I got some of the edp, and that really made all the difference in the world – it brought out more of the candied anise floral aspects, and dimished the medicine cabinet effect a lot. Last year I got FB of the edp and would wear it in the evenigs as a fragrance “aperetif” – it seems to bloom in the heat, but this summer I was wearing it specifically in honor of this ONE cool morning it rained the past few weeks. L’HB is 100 miles away from the parade of citrus and powder I’ve been relying on to stay cool. And, I think it can be worn with anything. I rarely get dressed up these days b/c of time and toddler, I find there are few fragrances that I can’t wear with jeans!!!
“Candied anise floral” is a good way to describe it. I’ve only tried it in parfum form and it really was intolerable.
It wore like bad new-age store incense on me. 
I have trouble with Guerlains in general, especially the older ones, with the exception of Mitsouko. Maybe I ought to try LHB in a diff. strength.
IMHO there is a lot of difference in the different concentrations of guerlains. I often find the edts are too thin for me, except in Shalimar. And then I was surprised that my Mitsouko extrait was less rich than the edp. (But stil beautiful!) I am super curious about the extrait of Nahema and L’HB… but have hesistated to get into them as I am satisfied with the edps I have of them. It is always frustrating when the differnet verions vary so much b/c it can be a lot of effort or expense to track down those different versions.
I wore L’HB a few weeks ago after not having worn it for a while, and I was surprised at how bizarre it is in some ways. It’s slightly freakish, and I love that.
Angela, L’HB is positively haunting..I adore it and come winter , when I acquire my FB I know I will be wearing her alot.
Her top notes are a bit moody but once she settles in she’s like a lap cat on me, purring , warm and content to stick out the cold weather with me.
Yes, L’HB is wonderful, and it’s slightly offbeat way is what makes it such an enchanting fragrance!
L’HB & Mitsouko were both instant loves for me – no trouble at all. Shalimar on the other hand…
RD, I can’t handle Shalimar either.
And sadly IDK if Mitsy wants to be friends either (thankyou! sweet Adela!) cause’ I’m getting a bit of a headache around my nose sniffin it.
I hate that.
Ann: LHB edp really is perfect. I love it even more than the extrait I own. And I love that you describe it as an “aperitif” because it really does evoke a refreshing traditional anise pastis.
Joe: I have a few frags that really take a after dinner beverage role for me, but L’HB is my super fav in the summer, esp. if it is one of thoes gorgeous summer evenings. It is so different from the bright florals and citrus for day. It makes it extra special.
Ann, I love your “capsule collection” for summer. Reading your list made me go “ooh!” in recognition that I wanted to wear every one of them.
Thanks! Now I need to figure out what I am going to wear today….. I have a meeting so I think Cristalle is gonna win.
These are great lists – I have to check some of these out since we’ve had no break from hothumidhothumidthunderstormhothumid for the past month.
Angela – I keep remembering your phrase “leather chiffon underwear” from your review of Mythique. It’s phrases like that which stimulate full bottle purchases for me! I am liking my sample more and more …
Thus far, I am hitting the following hard each day:
4711
Green Water (like Wrigley’s spearmint gum in spray on form)
Monsieur Balmain
Sur le Nil and Apres La Mousson
Cristalle Eau Verte
PdR Un Zeste de Rose (light enough rose for heat)
L’AP Ananas Ananas (spelled rong, I think)
And my great surprise – Andy Tauer’s Orange Star, which wears terrifically well even in high heat, remaining clean and orange-y. I love it.
ARGGG! another person getting orange deliciousness from Orange Star……why, why, WHY can’t I smell any of that? ***sobbing quietly*** (segueing into jealous pouting….)
Your other perfume bottles are jumping with joy because they know they’ll get more attention!
hmmmm….that explains the rattling in the cabinet…..
You two are so funny!
ROTF! I second that!
Monsieur Balmain! Great choice! The others sound so refreshing, too. I’ve yet to try Orange Star.
I really love that Orange Star. A friend gave me a decant a couple weeks ago and it’s very orange, but very different from most orange scents. I have something to send you that I’ve been holding for awhile, I may sneak a sample in there.
You’re so nice!
Orange Star was waaay too weird on me & not in a good way.
LOL —I’m with you girlfriend! and the orange lasted all of about 3.7 seconds! It was so brief I’m not really sure I smelled any at all!
Me three! I just don’t ‘get it’ but thats ok.
I have URC love.
She love me long time.
(when I buy her that is!)
True, true, for my love of URC , I can forgive AT for Orange Star!
I like most of the Tauer line….Orange Star is very interesting….but not pleasant to my nose.
Oh yes indeed – URC is the bomb.
Same here!
I wore Cuir de Russie to a blazing hot Fourth of July picnic and have been enjoying its leather and ‘funk’ (whatever amount of jasmine there is in this, my skin accentuates the indoles) scent .
I also have been wearing Donna Karan Gold edt which has an indolic lily note on my skin. For some reason my nose has been craving ‘that funky stuff’ in this too-hot heat.
Testing Amouage Gold Woman today, and have so far found it to be a riff on NO. 5 by Chanel. A well done, great ingredient riff- but a riff nonetheless. Anyone else find them doppelgangerish?
Gold is definitely an aldehydic floral like No. 5, but I find it more packed with lush flowers, more “soprano”.
Forgot to add – Jean Nate was one of my grandmother’s scents and its bright lemon shine always reminds me of her and happy times. Thanks for reminding me.
My Mom kept her Jean Nate in the refrigerator …it was so funny to see that giant bottle standing tall right with the milk!
Like my 10 oz jug of 4711!
Way back in the 80s, Jean Nate had something called “Fresh Musk”. I LOVED that scent, and had both the splash and the dusting powder. Wish they’d bring it back.
Your mom was on the ball Fuddy Duddy!
I see what you mean – Gold and No 5 both have a very “tight” structure with loads of aldehydes!
Angela, what a list! thanks for sharing
my tops are (thanks for the education of all of you guys):
Chanel Cristalle edt
Amaranthine
The pour en Ete
La haie fleurie
Ormonde Frangipani
Nicolai Fig Tea
Sublime Balkiss
La Pausa
Le Chevrefeuille
Jardin sur le Nil
Great list! I could wear it happily!
OOoh, Sublime Balkiss! Another one I forgot. Could it be…too much perfume?!
Nah.
***gasp!*** careful what you say!
too much perfume…snort! as if!
I inherited a 50ml bottle of Christalle edt because we moved into my in-laws’ house that had their old (as in ’50s) refrigerator in the cellar that functions as a backup, and my M-i-L kept it in there. She received it as a gift and rarely used it (since her signatures used to be Shalimar and No.5) so it’s nearly full. I recently “promoted” it to the upstairs fridge but had yet to try it out.
This past weekend was so incredibly hot that I spotted it while looking for a beverage and decided to spritz some on me. It pretty much gave me about as much refreshment as the drink I had along with it. Perfect!
Marvelous! What a wonderful surprise to find in the refrigerator!
Isn’t it? She doesn’t wear any fragrance anymore since my F-i-L won’t let her (the old poop!) – complains everytime she puts something on. There’s also a bottle of Volupte down there that she’s probably never touched, and doesn’t interest me much either the “snob” that I am…
I did give her an old (’60s, I think) bottle Shalimar perfume that I’d picked up at an antique show a while back. It’s supposed to be a 2/3 oz size, still sealed, but about 3/4 evaporated. She’s got it displayed on her night table. Figured if she can’t wear it, at least she can look at it. I doubt she ever wore anything other than edt or edp.
You were so nice to give her the Shalimar bottle! At least she can look at it and dream.
What a way to start the week! It’s only Monday and my lemmings are in full-force after reading Angela’s list and some of the comments. (I’ll read through more closely later.)
Angela, that 40 year old Dior sounds amazing! And wow, I must try Eau Suave and Eau de Rochas. Eau Suave because right now I’m obsessed with Parfum d’Empire (see my list below), and Eau de Rochas because “Hello! why I have not tried this??” And NdT is sounding better and better by the minute, while Songes can remain firmly on my Annick Goutal-list (it’s the niche line I’ve had the least experience with!). I’m with you on the Amaranthine! It’s on my at-night-after-I-put-on-my-jammies rotation.
I’m a woman who gets bored easily, I mean, has ADD, I mean goes through phases. My summer has gone a bit like this: When I first got here to the town of dirty-sweaty-rainforest weather I was clamoring my tamborine in the Citrus Parade (A). The I auditioned for and took a starring role in the Girls Who Smell Boys vaudeville show (B).
A. 4711 (in the fridge, yes, yes, yes!)
oops accidentally posted too soon:
A. 4711 , Creed Bois de Cedrat, Mugler Cologne, Atelier Neroli
B. Chanel Pour Monsieur vintage EDT, Azzaro Pour Homme (ahhh I love this one soooooo much)
C. L’AP phase with a dash of Hermes: Premier Figuer, Mimosa Pour Moi & The Pour Un Ete; Jardin Apres La Mousson, Voyage
And finally, now I’m in an “opposites” phase. Namely, I have been wearing things I usually only wear at night or in the winter – ALL DAY LONG. PdE Ambre Russe, Guerlain Angelique Noire, CdG Avignon layered with whatever rose fragrance is kicking around, and Amaranthine (at night mostly).
Mmmm, the CdG Avignon layered with rose. Nice.
I second the “mmmm” on the Avignon/rose combo.
Eau Suave is really nice, but I haven’t made up my mind about it yet. It’s in limbo, along with Citizen Queen, as ones I really like, but maybe don’t quite love? I have a mini of the Rochas, though…. can send you a sample.
I can totally understand not being swept away by Eau Suave but merely finding it nice. For me, that’s part of its charm: it’s not very demanding.
I’m glad you found some things to try!
I’m sympathetic to getting bored with one scent. If I wear something two days in a row it’s a big deal.
This summer, which has been extremely hot, I’ve been reaching for the following:
L’Artisan’s Nuit de Tubereuse and Ananas Fizz
Byredo’s La Tulipe
Penhaligon’s Amaranthine
VCR’s Muguet Blanc and Gardenia Petale’
Dyptique Vetiverio
Antonia’s Flowers Sogni di Mari
AG’s Ninfeo Mio
Today I am wearing
Lots of fresh and green! I just love reading a list of good perfume.
Posted the comment too soon. Today I am wearing Ananas Fizz.
I need to bust out my Ananas Fizz! Thanks for reminding me….
Nice!
LOL— I thought it was a “cliff hanger” !! I was all on the edge of my seat waiting for the SOTD then ……what?!
I thought you did that on purpose! hahahahaa.
apparently I don’t get out enough!
Daisy, sometimes I get what I call “premature fingerlation” when I send messages!
oh my! you’ve made it sound almost ‘dirty’ (—thank you for improving my afternoon! )
Is that what it’s called? It’s an epidemic at my house!
I still can’t get over how much I love the Nuit de Tubéreuse. I’m having to talk myself out of buying a bottle. I think I need to just cut up my credit card.
I love summer, but I’m not crazy about summer fragrances, summer clothes (I *do not* wear shorts), or even summer colors. I’m hard pressed to pick a list, since my inclination is still to grab for the bottle of Bandit when it’s 102 out. I like citrus scents, but get sick of them by day four, so I really have to rotate some sandalwood and patchouli in there. My top 10, in no particular order: Chant d’Aromes, Yvresse, Little Italy, Amoureuse, Un Jardin Sur le Nil, Mandragore, Bois des Iles, OJ Woman, and the patchouli heavyweights for my rare evenings out, Coromandel and TF Noir de Noir.
BTW, last weekend I was shopping for spray paint and Jean Nate (one had absolutely nothing to do with the other), and both were in a locked case. The spray paint I could understand, but Jean Nate? What criminal activity could one possibly get into with Jean Nate? And how often could it get stolen to justify being locked up? At least I didn’t have to supply ID and register my purchases to buy it, like I did with the spray paint.
you had to provide ID and register a spray paint purchase? why? granted, it’s been a long time since I bought spray paint…..but holy cow! My naiveté is showing here….but what sort of criminal activities involve spray paint?
Graffiti? Covering up hit and run evidence?
of course! I’m always doing those things! how could I forget?
Spray paint– any inhalants– can be used for huffing. I can’t imagine it being worth it, since all I got was a headache when I used it in a not-ventilated-enough area. We also have a lot of tagging that goes on here, so I think that’s really more what they’re concerned with. I’d be curious to know how much this whole registration process really deters people. It doesn’t seem like it would be very effective.
Sadly, I have actually seen kids loitering outside my local hardware store while someone buys them spray paint. Not to mention the kids in line with a dozen cans of spray paint. That and the little canisters of the compressed gas dusters for computer keyboards. I’ve seen twelve years olds haul off a case at a time. Very troubling.
I’m (very) small town (obviously)
—will someone explain “tagging” please?
Tagging means leaving your special mark–your “tag”–through graffiti. I prefer to tag with perfume.
oh very nice……I’m just so darn proud of America’s youth! sigh….
Oh Ruth, most cities or urban areas for years now require special attention for the purchase of spray paint, etc. It is used for mind altering effects, hence the lockup and ID. But Jean Nate – now that is funny. At least you’d smell good when you passed out.
Oh, do buy it, you only live once (that’s what I say to myself when I have this kind od dilemma), the 50ml bottle is quite O.K.
I think my conundrum has been taken care of, thanks to kind soul here on NST.
Kitty: LOL! The spray paint & JN locked up? I’m glad there will be no classic-scented graffitti artists in YOUR town! Or do people put the JN in squirt guns & hose people down with it or what?
Ummm… perhaps they should. There is a popular anti-deodorant stance in this town. An unsolicited blast of Jean Nate might be called for. I may even take up the cause myself. Off to shop for squirt guns…
so are you practicing your very-most authoritative voice saying:
“FREEZE, STINKY! HANDS IN THE AIR!” then spritzing their pits?
LOL! (Really, I did!)
That’s really hilarious. It’s also past my bedtime, which helps.
Nice list! Good thing you live somewhere with cooler summer nights.
And you left your Nuits de Tubereuse samples on my dining room table…
I know! I freaked out about it when we got home. I can’t believe I forgot them. I’ll blame it on the Lilliputian-sized drink that I had.
Wouldn’t it have been fun if we’d had real Lilliputians at dinner? They could have eaten off saucers, and we could have put catalogs on their chairs so they’d reach the table.
We could always improvise and set up some Smurfs on the table.
Miss K-V, seeing some of my favorites on your list (Cormomandel, OJ Woman, Noir de Noir) makes me wonder if you’re also a fan of POTL A*Maze. That’s one of my hot days/cold days/any days faves: love that rose/oud/saffron extravaganza.
Katie dear YOUR nose is what got me into the rose/combos!
I’m full on addicted to rose perfumes of oud, incense, saffron and vanilla.
I now am a avid rose freak and on a mission to try them all.
So thank you, you Black Magic Woman you!
I watch your vids and my girls make fun of me cause of the song- they sing it to me! Silly girls!
Don’t worry, my oldest(16) now wants her own bottle of Jhas a G -LV.
The 2nd one(14 ) wants a fresh rose scent,
gotta figure that one out though.
And my 12 yr. old admitted sheepishly that she DID in fact think Parfum Sacre smelled “really good”.
And the bebe (6) just wants to be like the bigger ones, I have to appease her with B&BW of some sort although she pouts if I don’t spray a decant on her from my lil’ box of samples .
Tamara, so lovely to have company on my rose pilgrimage! Was thinking of these fresh roses for your 14-y-o:
JHG Miss Charming
Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose
Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose
Yosh Sottile edp
The PW Tea Rose is the right price point, but I’ll bet she would also love that Miss Charming.
Katie, I haven’t tried that one! I need to add that to the list. It sounds delicious. (Not that I eat perfume, although I do fancy a rose syrup latte and rosewater lemonade every now and then, so it might not be out of the question.)
Girl get on this pronto!
It’s sweet ( but not syrup sweet) and rosy ( but not fresh) and lasts forever. It smells good!
I really enjoy it from beginning to end.
Wow, a rose-syrup latte? What a fragrant mash-up!
yummm! don’t forget Rose Jelly —when I was a kid, the mother of my friends Mary & Margaret (yes, identical twins) every year made a few jars of Rose jelly —it was definitely “food of the Gods” level tasty.
I love rose as a flavor!
I really need to try putting a splash of rosewater in some lemonade. I have a bottle that has lasted years.
For the most delicious Persian-style treat, do the following:
- crumble a pinch or two of saffron very fine and stir it into about 1-2 Tbsp of rosewater; let sit awhile
- slightly soften a pint or serving of pistachio ice cream and stir the rosewater into it very well to blend
- re-freeze the icecream for awhile to let the flavors mingle
That sounds FABULOUS.
that does sound really good…..most everything containing ice cream sounds good….but this sounds REALLY good
Hi miss kitty v! If you’re interested in a NdT split, email me! I bought a large bottle and would happily part with some juice.
Email is krnszn at gmail dot com.
Reading through everyone’s lists, I’m beginning to feel shameful about how much perfume I have. There are so many mentioned here that I have been seriously neglecting and I’m realizing now that I might have too much perfume. A crying emoticon would be nice right about now!
Yep, I’m there too. I’ve bought too many that I like, but don’t love. If I can’t remember I have them, and I can’t get a mental scent-image of them when I hear the name… I should probably not own them.
I’m reading through you all’s lists and actually wishing I had more than four for the summer, which is silly on my part because I really want to streamline more. I should be proud of myself but instead I’m thinking how affordable 4711 is down at Wallyword right now….
M – there is no shame here! But if you are feeling *that* bad, you can send all your bottles to me, lol. I’ll take care of them for you. Just let me know when you want them back!
uh-huh…..fox, chicken coup….you know what I mean…
hee, he, he.
I’m remembering so many I left off the list! Eau Exotique, for example. I love that one and forgot about it. Maybe I’ll go spray some on now to make amends…
True, these lists could go on and on! I just received a good amount of Exotique in a swap and am looking forward to spraying some on in the next couple of days. Too bad it’s d/c.
What?! Aaagh!
(weird, I swear I posted a reply here a little while ago)
Check New London Pharmacy online if you really want to stock up; they seem to have some stock left but it’s not to be found elsewhere. Pretty sure on the d/c status.
The usual suspects:
AG Eau de Hadrian
Element of Surprise
Il Jardin sur le Med (love that touch of smokiness on hot evenings)
PdN Fig Tea
TDC’s Jasmin de Nuit
Heeley’s Verveine
Perfumes of interest:
VC&A Muguet Blanc
Penhaligon’s Ellenisia
PG Papyrus de Ciane
Tocca Bianca
I really need to nab some Element of Surprise… esp. as I’ve heard a rumor she’s closing up shop!
Yikes! Say it ain’t so! But I appreciate the heads-up. I’ll have to adjust my budget to acquire at least a couple of back up bottles. This has been my ‘go-to’ hot weather favorite since I discovered it.
I don’t know how good the source is, mind you… just had heard August was it. We all know about those rumors.
Jasmin de Nuit! I forgot about that one–a good one for summer.
Beautiful- I love perfumes as textures. They are colours to me as well….
You have poked my lemming for AG Songes awake….think a trip to the Goutal counter is in order,…
It’s definitely worth a try. It has a gorgeous little funky note in it, too.
Another two summer scents I love are Patou’s Eau de Patou, and Chanel’s Cristalle in it’s original formulation. Perfect for warm humid weather, white linen shirts etc…..
Cristalle is perfect! I haven’t tried Eau de Patou but will remedy that soon.
I love the concept of fragrance as textures, too, but I need to ponder it a bit. I tend to associate fragrance with color, and Abyss’s gem comparison also made perfect sense to me.
Angela, I think Amaranthine and Nuit de Tubereuse are perfect summer evening fragrances. They both have me completely captivated!
Others that I’m using a lot this summer in this dry inland Northern California heat: Terracotta Voile d’Ete, L’Artisan Cote d’Amour and L’Eau de Jatamansi, D’Orsay Tilleul (thanks to a perfume friend who recently introduced this to me!), Diptyque Do Son, Eau de Cartier, Hermes Vanilla Galante, and – most of all – Annick Goutal Vetiver (I love that quirky seaweed vibe with the vetiver!)
P.S. You inspired me to add Eau Suave to my “to test” list. Thanks!
Haunani – I’m sure we are in fact scent twins. Now you’ve given me some great ones to try:
Terracotta Voile d’Ete, D’Orsay Tilleul, Do Son, Hermes Vanilla Galante – I’ve tried, but want to re-try in this weather… Thanks!
ScentRed, e-mail me (koleaATattDOTnet) if you’d like to try any of these!
Oh yes, the Goutal Vetiver! I can see that being a fabulous summer scent.
Angela, your statement about your leather handbag in a hot car rings so true! My top 2 summer scents are Tabac Blond edp and Kelly Caleche edt. TB is really fantastic at all times of the year and in any weather, but it becomes especially assertive in the heat. It’s such a contrast to what is usually considered a summer fume, too. I love its brazenness. Short shorts, sky-high wedges, oversized hoops and Tabac Blond. That’s my summer uniform, unless I feel like KC, which I really have been. It’s positively crave-inducing, and I get phantom whiffs of that gorgeous warm, wet floral and quiet, refined leather on the days I don’t wear it (just not on TB days….)
For the cool summer days (like today) that are plentiful in Oregon I love Saffron James Le’a, and for the hot nights right out of the shower in something cool and flowy it’s Cool Water Woman Wave. There’s not a hint of warmth in this one (if there was, my skin would accentuate it) and not a hint of sweet, either. It’s just a light aquatic that segues into a cold, clean jasmine not unlike Pure Poison.
You know, I can see Tabac Blond jiving perfectly with hot asphalt, too. I do love that perfume.
Lovely list Angela – I’ve added several things to my to-try list! I love summer and summer scents, but this summer has been very cool so far here in San Diego so I’m still wearing a lot of springy scents like Cristalle eau Verte and Osmanthe Yunnan. Other summer favorites are Jardin sur le Nil, Ninfeo Meo, Mugler cologne, Bronze Goddess, Jatamansi, Deseo and AA Mandarine Basilic. I also picked up a few “cooling mists” at B&BW’s 75% off sale – White Citrus and Lemon Vanilla – which have been nice on the few hot days we’ve had.
Today I’m wearing Rose Ikebana – nice and light. Mabye a bit too similar to Kelly Caleche for a FB (and so much more expensive), but I’m enjoying it today.
I need to do a side-by-side of RI, KC, and Eau de Pamplemousse Rose one of these days…
Be sure to report back when you do!
I often spray Mugler cologne on my sheets. It’s great on a summer night.
And lovely photo choice as well – poppies are my favorite flower!
Isn’t that gorgeous? Robin chose it.
Popping in to say Cuir de Russie almost made it into my list too: I sprayed some on to show an Iranian friend who was asking me about it, and though it did pretty well in the (moderate) heat. And I’ve been trying out my sample of the new Cartier L’Heure Fougueuse, which is a fascinating blend of tea, a faint horsy whiff and the shadow of a human presence… So a bit leathery too. It is perfection.
Oh, D, you’re killing me with the description of the new Cartier! I still haven’t tried the old “new” Cartiers, I’m so behind (and, frankly, afraid I’ll need to buy some 13eme Heure once I try it.)
Still working my way through many samples trying to explore some more nich perfumes but this hazy hot summer has been like this for me:
Eau de Givenchy – my “goto” because it goes with everything
Many of the body butters from LaVanilla…no perfume just the body butter slathered on richly. (I have very dry Irish skin) T-shirt and jeans or shorts day
FM Eau d’Hiver ~ DH loves this all year round
Prada Infusion d’ Iris ~ used sparingly at the office
FM Carnal Flower for sultry nights in a LBD
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine-Basilic – my summer cotton sun-dress fragrance – just wish it had more staying power.
forgot to add Chanel Beige for the office too – just a dab though
Perfect!
Eau de Givenchy is a great basic scent. Hard to beat.
Oh – I forgot about the Mandarine-Basilic – so refreshing in extreme heat.
Great list, Angela. I really want to try Nuit de Tubereuse. And I have my big bottle of Jean Nate in the refrigerator now too! It’s so refreshing in the humidity.
My summer favorite this year and last is Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint. In fact, I just finished my bottle and bought a second one — which rarely happens!
That’s so funny–I dreamt about the Jo Malone a few nights ago and I haven’t even smelled it yet! I’ll have to get down to Nordstrom soon.
I’ll give it a good, fair shake.
The Nuit de Tubereuse was mentioned about a gazillion times here – I haven’t yet, but I must sample that one!
I think it’s kind of the rage right now–but with good reason, in my opinion.
Hey V! I’ll gladly send you some!
This is the one JM that I keep meaning to try but always forget to. I think the jasmine & mint combination just sounds so nice!
Abyss, it is just such a refreshing scent (and can be sprayed liberally w/o knocking anyone over)! Well worth trying if you get a chance.
Holy Cow. Lots of comments and I look forward to reading everyone’s picks!
Your list is great, Angela. I have to say I SO wanted to love Folavril, but it’s nothing but strange and soapy on me. I love tomato leaf, but I’ll have to get some CBIHP Memory of Kindness for that fix. Eau de Campagne is the other great one. I need to pull that out.
I wore Nuit de Tubereuse today because of this post. It really is strange and compelling, and I swear there’s something in it that reminds me of Thai basil. I think L’A and BD hit a homerun.
Other great summer scents for me (there are so many):
- Dior Escale a Pondichery
- Jardin après la Mousson
- Tauer Le Maroc pour Elle (LOVE how this blooms in heat)
- SMN Melograno
- Carthusia Via Camerelle (a very new discovery)
- KenzoAir (such refreshing vetiver + anise)
my decant of Escale a Pondichery, please arrive soonest : D
Folavril is definitely soapy–you’re right! I should have put a warning in my description of it.
Your list sounds great. I’m going to have to breakdown and score some Melagrano soon.
Joe: Maroc is so “west coast” to me – it makes me think of all the incensey (read: new agey, hippy, etc.) places in Portland, OR etc. And I only mean that in the best way. It makes me think of summer even though it is a bit richer than I normally wear. That jasmine is so luscious!
When I first tried LMPE, it was so incredibly gorgeous. Then over time, the musty note became really prominent. I recently started to mix it with URC, and that not only got rid of the mustiness, but became a great combination for me….
Joe you have such good taste!
I always love reading your picks.;)
Well, thank you for saying so, T.
Joe, your mention of Etro Gomma a few weeks ago prompted me to try it, which led to a FB. Another star for your enabler’s pin!
Well congratulations. I have hardly worn my recently-acquired decant. It’s such an unusual fragrance; I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.
I live in the tropics – I suppose summer all year round?
Guerlain Paris -Tokyo, Jicky
)
Chanel Beige (please do not throw rotten eggs at me
MDCI Vespers Siciliennes, Un Coeur en Mai, Enlevement au Serail.
Ormonde Jayne Frangipani
Montale Poire (pear)
De Nicolai Maharanih, Eclipse.
Wore DelRae Coup de Foudre to work today – nice, but merely nice.
Montale Intense Tiare -yes! Very organic here, as are Estee Lauder’s Beyond Paradise amd De Nicolai Eau Exotique (big mango).
I just wish I were going to colder places more often – I just got a Lancome’s Magie Noire and Chanel’s Cuir De Russie -both in extrait! vintage! full bottles! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! The darn Bebay!
It was not my falt, honest, they just popped up and asked to go to a good home…
You won’t catch me throwing anything at you for Beige!
You are so lucky to have vintage extrait of those fragrances! Enjoy every drop of them!
High 5′s and definitely not rotten eggs for the Chanel Beige! and love love love the Magie Noir! You have great taste!
Jicky edt has been a great friend in the summer for many years. This year I added Cologne du 68, following Eau du Fleur de Cedrat and Shalimar eau Legere from last year.
I think Beige is beautiful, partly because of the excellent plumeria/frangipani note!
Love reading everyone’s lists. As to your list, Angela, I need to get my hands on some Songes. It’s intrigued me for awhile now. NdT (wearing it today) makes my top 10 list, as does Eau de Rochas, except I realized that I haven’t worn EdR in weeks! Need to dig it out! Here’s my list:
Nuit de Tubereuse
Eau de Sisley #3
Chanel No 19 EDT
Cologne a la Francaise
Bobbi Brown Beach
Mandragore
3 Fleurs
Cococabana
Eau Turquoise
Eau de Rochas
And a bonus #11 – Missoni. Haven’t worn Missoni yet this summer. I just looked in my summer drawer and spotted it, and thought – I need to wear it! Perhaps tomorrow. And the Eau de Rochas! Gotta get that in the mix, too. Oh dear. So many great scents. And I keep trying samples and finding others to like. Will it ever stop??? I hope not!!! Ha!
I know! I keep thinking of things to add, too! There are just so many good perfumes out there….
Karin: I think 3 Fleurs is an underappreciated scent — so lush! It’s nice to see it show up on your list.
Hi Angela,
As I’ve said before , your musings are my favorite.<3
I can totally understand the perfumes as textures too, it makes sense .In our short summers in Wa. I look forward to wearing nothing but dresses, my structured shifts , my cottony hippy skirts, linen dresses that let me feel every breeze.
Except for when I run this is all I'll wear. It feels delicious.
With all my dresses I've been wearing~
Guerlain Vetiver- I bring out the herbs and spices more than the soapy aspect of it.
S.S.S. Voile de Violette- The jammy yumminess of this lasts and lasts, despite that it's not too sweet, not candied or powdered.
Soivohle's Acoustic Flower- This seems much more jasmine to me even though it's supposed to be gardenia but it wears warm and green, like being in a heady garden after a hot day.
10 CC – I need to get a FB of this. It is like my skin but better scent. Of course WAY better! After it melds with my skin, yum!
vintage Parfum Sacre edt- I wear this to bed and it just feels right.
And when I want to feel like a diva only Fracas will do.
It comes off as heavy orange blossom on me and is my white floral bomb. But I think I want to put Amourese in the mix soon cause that is over the top too.
You definately make me yearn to try Mythique even though 'light' is not my thing but I do adore iris.
Anywho, I'm in a quest to attain Tauer's URC and URV in Oct. and I cannot be swayed to drop one penny towards anything else for the time being.
And it's really, really hard Angela!
I'm enjoying reading everyone's fumes'.
Thanks for reading my silly , long comment.
;P
Tamara – You MUST try Mythique! It’s perceived as “light,” but casts an aura about you as you move about. It’s just beautiful, and vies with Amoureuse (total opposites) as my favorite of the DelRaes.
Really???????????? Aaaggghhhh!
I suppose I must, you make it sound heavenly.
What did you end up picking BTW babe?
Enquiring minds want to know!
I’m still pondering. I’ve decided I don’t need both an FB and a matching 8oz jar of cream, so am looking at the options being offerred over at BH. That discount lasts till 8/13, and is applicable to either the perfume or the cream….
Both your wardrobes–perfume and clothing–sound wonderful!
Good luck saving up for the perfume you love. I know how difficult it is (1) to save, and (2) to wait for the perfume you want so badly!
Angela – I want to hear your suggestion for a polyester doubleknit fragrance! Something that clings like saran wrap, and makes you wonder if something in the living room could possibly be on fire … a smoky note, but in a “GRAB THE DOG AND CALL 911″ way …
You know what makes me think double knit? Secretions Magnifiques. It’s like a double knit leisure suit in a shag-carpeted van on a hot day with tequila sunrise residue sticky all over the dashboard. Gives me hives.
Eeeeeeeewwwww!
I love that description!!! I’m not sure it’s what Secretions makes me think of, but I feel like I’m *there* when I read it.
i prefer cool weather AND cool weather fragrances. can’t wait for the summer to be over! in any case, here’s what i’ve been wearing:
• eau d’Italie paestum rose (my fave!)
• etat libre d’orange fat electrician
• costume national intense
• prada infusion d’iris
• cdg skai
• nooka
I love summer but prefer cool weather fragrances! Anyway, you chose some crisp scents, except maybe the Costume National, but that one is so nice…
Great comments! I’m a newbie who hasn’t been around enough perfumes to work out seasonal favorites, but from what I’ve sampled, these are great for hot or humid days:
Diptyque’s Philosykos and Vetyverio (I loved them both and wished the later lasted longer)
Jardin Sur le Nil (I tried this on my arm at a perfume store, and I’ve come to this conclusion: to avoid the awkwardness of not being able to stop sniffing your own arm in public, it’s better to also spray some scent on the back of your hand, then you can just lean on your hand if you want to catch a sniff, without having to raise your arm up to your face)
Fleur Defendue
And the original LL worn lightly on cooler evenings.
Not sure if chypres are good fits for real humid days, but I bought a bottle of Miss Dior unsniffed and (despite the first 15 minutes of nose-hair-curling powder blast) it’s got this refined cool about it that’s growing on me.
Noobies unite!
Unite, but not too closely
I’m sampling Bandit, and pity any breathing creatures that come within a 50 ft radius.
I would probably too close for comfort then because I love Bandit.
On me, it smells like riding a horse across downtown Florida in July, then going into a vintage store to try on old leather trench coats. A stench most foul… It’s either an acquired taste, or it just doesn’t work with my chemistry
Bhahahaha I love your description!
It IS really strong thats for sure
Ahh well , you win some, you lose some.
Welcome Dominika…and Tamara.
Tamara, been meaning to mention – I love your avatar!
Thank you Karin!
I like it too, she represents how I feel when I put on perfume!
Green chypres are made for summer! Cristalle, Futur, Y, Niki de St Phalle–all perfect for hot weather.
szia Dominika,
if you later think Miss Dior did not grow on you, let me know, i’ll buy it. I think we must live close together.
I mean to each other
Have loved reading everyone’s lists. Our weather has turned from hot, lazy summer evenings to downpours, but still mild and warm.
What wears well in both situations? For me it’s got to be
Guerlain Vetiver
OJ Osmanthus
No 5 Eau Premiere
SSS Un Jour Ensoleille
Of an evening I have reached for Amaranthine or No 5 extrait which works suprisingly well.
I like your name, how pretty!
I haven’t tried any of yours except Amaranthine and Guerlain Vetiver
but isn’t G.V. just beautiful??
It’s perfect for the warm weather and I love dousing myself with my huge bottle.
Thanks Tamara! Sunset Song is the first book in a trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, a Scots writer. It is a great book and there is something about the title.
GV is lovely and would be in my top 10 – even top 3 – if I was forced to choose. Hope you love your URC when it finally comes in the post – I do – gorgeous with amazing lasting power.
Which Guerlain do people refer to when they talk about taht one? Because I tried the men’s and it was incredible, but I couldn’t find the women’s version.
Hi D, well I think me and SS are talking about the men’s Guerlain Vetiver , I haven’t tried the women’s version.
Even though I don’t smell that as a ‘masculine’ fragrance , definately unisex to my nose . And yes it is incredible huh?
GV is the greatest, I am wearing it so much this summer.
As for URC ,Oh I cannot wait to buy it, I want to wait for the 30 ml. bottles though but yes it is divine, I am drooling just writing about it.
I really hope URV is all I want too, gouramand roses are now ‘a thing’ for me and I want to love Andy’s version.
Your weather sounds dream-like in some ways. It goes nicely with your perfume choices!
It is so fun to read all the lists! reminds me I need to pull out the Azuree Soleil/Bronze Goddess. Leading the Pack of my rotation: LA Nuit de Tubereuse- I AM ADDICTED TOO! Also in rotation: Osmanthe Yunnan, OJ Tiare, Guerlain Vega and (surprisingly)Cartier Les Trezieme Heure.
p.s. angela- You have me uber lemming a decant/bottle of Mythique. It is a beauty.
And forgot: MH Fleurs de Sel- lovin it
That’s a perfect one for summer! How could I forget it?
Gosh, all your choices are fabulous! Do try Mythique if you get the chance. I really love it.
It’s always so much fun to read about what people enjoy wearing
I’ve been reaching for:
Lilly Pulitzer’s Beachy
Evody Note de Luxe
Saffron James’s Ume and L’ea
SL’s Clair de Musc and Datura Noir
Hi, birthday girl! Hope yesterday was fun for you! You and SunnyFunny reminded me that Le’a is also a summer favorite of mine. I just ordered a new bottle, as I drained that first one!
yesterday was your birthday???
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
hope it was special and nice
Yes, happy birthday!
I just planted a real datura! It only has a faint scent, but now datura and summer will be linked in my mind.
Datura — they’re common here, all over the place. Aren’t they just the weirdest-looking flower of all time, hanging upside down like that? I always though they should be growing in front of the Addams’ family mansion.
Yes, they would be perfect in front of a creepy mansion! Maybe with venus fly traps in pots nearby.
Always a fan of Dior. Nice list.
The old Diors really are to die for. Fabulous.
Angela, “perfume has a texture” is a very useful way to approach scent. Since I think of perfume as an essential part of my wardrobe anyway, it makes sense to extend the metaphor to texture and fabric. And how about specific articles of clothing? Guerlain Habit Rouge is my vintage sundress. Bruno Acampora Musc is my cashmere wrap when the night chill sets in.
I think it could totally tie to specific articles of clothing! Sadly, I probably have more bottles of perfume than I do items of clothing, unless we divide pairs of socks. But still.
What are your top 10 for summer? I’d love to know!
Angela, I’m compiling my list even as we speak (write?). Coincidentally, I’d just shot a “Summer Fragrance Picks” vid the other day that I’m uploading now. Those picks are recommendations for my YouTube crowd, but my blog post will also include my 10 summer faves. I was excited to see that I was “on trend” with all you big kids’ blogs.
My personal summer list will include lots of rrrrrrRoses!
Excellent! I can’t wait to read it.
Katie,
Give it to mama.
The roses that is.
Did you see my stalker comment to you up there?!
Ahah! Credit my rose obsession to you dear!
~T
I sure did, Tamara. It’s when you leave a rose on my doorstep that I’ll know you’re really upped the ante on the stalking!
Glad to hear you like rrrr Roses so much! I’ll have to poke on over and check out your lists! I do occasionally dip into Miss Charming when we have better weather…. Have you ever tried Cariter So Pretty or AG Ce Soir ou Jamais edp? (And apoligies if you have…) They are both great. CSoJ has this tiny little stinky socks/armpit skank in the drydown that somehow rings true for me as regular “summer stink”, but the rose is big and wonderful!!! And So Pretty just lasts forever and can stand up to any heat without willting like all good roses.
Ann, I’m always up for more rosy tips. I’ve not tried So Pretty yet, but it’s a pear-induced “blechh!” from me on Ce Sour ou Jamais, unfortunately. I’m finding that I’m going to have to add pear to my melon “fruit salad of death”.
Great list Angela! I’ve been on a citrus and orange blossom kick this summer. It’s just been so hot to wear anything else.
Orange blossom is so nice when it’s hot!
Such a great list! I’m laughing at how many of us are really loving the big white flowers like tuberose. And you are the one who introduced me to Eau de Rochas.
Thanks to stumbling on a bottle of it at a consignment store. It turned out to be a great purchase for me!
Late to the party, no time to comment on everyone’s thing, and no computer at home ’cause it went into the shop! Whah.
It hasn’t been more than middling warm here. I just got a new bottle of Eau Premiere and am enjoying that. I can pretty much put anything in rotation, barring maybe Marquis de Sade. I also got a bottle of Mugler Cologne, which I wear quite a lot.
The ones I still want to get this summer are Amaranthigh and La Tulipe. Of course, I just had a big ebay fling, so have to wait a bit to get those. Has anyone tried Patou Nacre? I have a bottle coming. unsniffed, because I tend to like Patous and it was $7. What the heck.
Okay, gotta run, my boss will be here for 2 days so no goofing off on the interwebs. Drat.
I hope your computer is fixed soon and your boss is out of your hair before too long! Meanwhile, enjoy that Nacre.
Great list!
Right now, in this scorching heat and overwhelming humidity of NYC, Chanel No.18 has been my only companion.
I’ve been too scared to try anything else in this weather.
But I would love to try Parfums d’Empire Eau Suave =)
I know! When it’s deadly hot out, sometimes it feels too risky to try a perfume other than the tried and true. Stay cool!
Nice list, Angela! I have noticed that certain fragrances do call to mind fabric textures, but not all of them. Silences, for example, feels like real silk satin in that changeable purple-green. I’m wearing that one in the heat. Amaranthine feels like weighty, slippery charmeuse. PdR Rose d’Ete is my softest cotton lawn nightie.
A cotton lawn nightie! Now, that’s perfect.
Angela, love your list and the concept of scents as texture, as well as everyone else’s lists.
At this point, I’m so irritated by the relentless heat and humidity, amplified by sticky sunscreen and hats, that I’ve given up wearing perfume to work.
(((( I guess what I really need is a scent that with a texture not of fabric but of a cool swimming pool!
Later in the day, I do sometimes, I do spritz on some Hermes Terre de Bois or BK Beyond Love to wake out of that afternoon slump. Weekends, I’m hiding out in the AC and working my way through a large number of accumulated samples. I’m ready for fall or even a blizzard!
Maybe a crisply scented shower gel is what you need right now! That and a vacation to the North Pole.
That’s an idea – and I’m remembering TS noting that she had enjoyed L’Ombre dans L’Eau – one of my fav ‘fumes – as a shower gel, and that I have a sample somewhere.
Yes! A crisply scented shower gel can be just the ticket on hot, humid days when everything else is just too much. I see Garden Botanika is having their stock-up sale. You can grab a big jug of their mint shower gel for a great price. It’s so wonderfully cooling.
My fav refreshing shower gel is Mandragore.
Pure luxury!
Mint shower gel sounds very refreshing.
I’ve been liking Sephora’s grapefruit body wash lately. It’s not sickly sweet, and has a nice citrus kick that’s very refreshing.
Though I’ve been liking a lot of Sephora products lately
I’ve been getting all my makeup and toiletries there, out of a sense of obligation because I’ve begged a really obscene number of perfume samples off them…
I know what you mean about that sense of guilt! But still, the grapefruit sounds really nice.
I’m finally getting to know L’Artisan Nuits de Tubereuse. It’s gotten mixed reviews but I think that’s some backlash going on, as it was so hyped before release. I love it…complex like Amaranthine, but wearable to places the former might not, er, be.
NdT is a little odd, and I can imagine people not being drawn to it. But when you’ve smelled hundreds of perfumes, its strangeness (Not “look at me” strangeness, but a more gentle kind of unusual quality) makes it even more compelling, I think. It has a strangely addictive quality to me, like OJ Woman or Dans Tes Bras, that sets in after a few wearings.
Angela,
I feel the same way about those three fragrances (NdT,OJ Woman and Dans Tes Bras) and also Amaranthine.
Isn’t it strange (but nice)? I like being intrigued by a fragrance but not know exactly what it is that keeps pulling me back.
I think this is what I love about Duchaufour – his scents are just so different. Whether or not I can wear them anywhere, I like having them around to spend an afternoon or evening with from time to time.
Vintage Dune and Silences for me , such a hot summer and to think we have to get through August yet!
Those are both great choices! I never would have thought of them, but now that you list them they sound perfect.
I have been injoying alot of OJ Frangipani Absolute this summer as well as PdN Eau Turquoise, and Le Temps d’ Une Fete, and the list goes on but, I’m trying to decide on a full bottle of somthing sweet and green but not sure what…I’m wearing Amoureuse from a 2.5 decant and I just love it…but can’t make up my mind between Mythique and I just read on an old post that they were gifting the perfumed cream last week, and I feel so sad because I miss the opportunity to get a free body cream.
Of course it was a special kind of sale where you had to puchase a pufume and get the body cream of your choise for free.
BUT—you can still take advantage of the Beauty Habit 25% off discount and they carry all the Delraes ….lol you could take a page from the Book of Daisy and order both! Ha! I shall not be broke alone!
Daisy I know that deal at BH goes on till 8/13 but I unfortunately erased the email they sent me with the damn code on it.
Can you hook a sista up with thee digits??
I know I KNOW I’m savin’ for my Tauer’s, I’ve only made myself accountable with every comment I write on here but….just in case I change my mind…maybe.
Mythique and a BC of Amoureuse sound soooo tempting right now.
Thanks:)
I think it was OPRAH, Tamara.
nozknoz to the rescue! yes, type OPRAH into the coupon code box and they’ll zap 25% off the top. It practically makes your wallet levitate right out of your purse, doesn’t it?
Oh gosh. Sweet and green? Hmm. Have you tried Niki de St Phalle? Or maybe even Eau Suave (if you like rose)? I hope you find something you love! Be sure and let me know what it is.
Wait I’m confused. What do you mean?
Do you mean OperaFan who said this?
It can hard to follow these threads the way the comment boxes stack!
today i’m wearing Timbuktu — totally great in this hot and humid weather!
That’s one I wouldn’t have thought of! I’ll have to try it.
Thank you Noz& Daisy. <3
I think I'm over my whirlwind though! Whhheeeewww.
I hope.
Still faithful to Guerlain’s Vetiver Pour Elle.
And for good reason.
My absolute favorite summer scent is Terre de Sarment by Frapin. It perfectly complements the sunbaked earth and orchards you get here in Missouri during the summer. I can’t help but run around smelling my wrist constantly when I’ve got it on. Has anyone else here ever tried Frapin scents? For whatever reason, I’ve found that reviews for them are remarkably elusive.
I have a few samples, but I have to admit I’ve only barely tried them. There are so many new launches, sometimes the smaller houses don’t don’t get the attention they deserve. You made Terre de Sarment sound so good, I’ll dig out my samples and see what I have! (Although I’m pretty sure I don’t have that one.)
When I first tried Terre de Sarment, I must have been having an off day because it didn’t really impress me at all. Then I happened to go back to it a couple of months later and I literally cannot imagine what I was thinking. There’s no scent I’ve ever run across that conjures the mental image of a warm, beautiful summer day in the country better than Terre de Sarment. It wears so well on hot, sticky days- I’m really hoping it works just as well in the winter, to tide me through my inevitable winter blues.
Sadly, I’ve only ever gotten my hands on Terre de Sarment, though the rest of the Frapin line sounds at least as good. I’ve really got my eye on 1270, though I’m not sure whether or not it sounds too gourmand for me. I’d be really interested to hear your opinion on any of the other Frapin scents.
oh no…perfume panic sets in…so many loves..so many lemmings…so few days!!!!
so…. i’lle just go with
yesterday i fel in love with nuit de tubereuse on a strip…2 hrs later…i made a purchase…today on the arm…love love love
ninfeo mio
flora nymphia(AA) for those days u don’t want totally green and nothing big, just to feel girly/pretty
kelly caleche
jardin sur la nil
havana vanille…great in heat
l’heure bleue
balmain ambre gris
(these are in the last 2 weeks)\
I think I will soon bring out the serges…starting with douce amere and miel de bois i love most in the heat..
oh its great to be a chameleon
Have a lovely weekend all
What a great list! And another person who likes Havana Vanille in the heat. I’m going to find my sample of Miel de Bois, too, and give that a try.