Today we’re helping Issy, who is looking for a casual everyday fragrance for $150 or less. She has good access to perfume stores, and is happy to shop online. Issy says she is basically new to perfume, and here are some other details about her:
She’s in her mid 30s and lives in the San Francisco Bay area.
She’s a civil engineer who loves to dress nicely.
She also loves food, and outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or just strolling around town in sunny weather.
Issy likes woods, citrus and light floral notes.
She doesn’t like cumin, vanilla or anything too foody or too sweet. She also doesn’t like heavy florals or too much powder.
Issy has tried and loved…
Guerlain Après L’Ondée (but she couldn’t find it anywhere)
Annick Goutal Eau de Camille
Ormonde Jayne Frangipani Absolute & Ormonde Woman
Diptyque Tam Dao & Philosykos
Jo Malone French Lime Blossom
And she tried and liked…
Hermès Un Jardin Sur le Nil
Ormonde Jayne Tolu (too heavy)
Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio (too similar to Un Jardin Sur le Nil)
Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien (she used to love it but now it doesn’t smell the same)
Bvlgari au Thé Vert
Hermès Eau Claire des Merveilles
She didn’t like…
Ormonde Jayne Ta’if (she thought it smelled strongly of cumin)
Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline (too powdery, heavy musk)
Chanel No. 5 (weird sour smell)
Hèrmes Kelly Caleche (just not her)
Bobbi Brown Beach (too clean)
What say you?
Note: top image is Kildale Post Box by deargdoom57 at flickr; some rights reserved.
46 Comments
Read more about commenting at Now Smell This.
Hi Issy! Try Eau de Sisley 3. Notes: bergamot, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, ginger, osmanthus, patchouli, vetiver, benzoin, vanilla. Don’t be put off by the vanilla. This is not a vanilla-heavy scent at all. I love it.
Eau d’Italie eau de toilette
You might like Estee Lauder Pure White Linen Light Breeze or
Clinique Happy or
Parfums de Nicolai New York
Hi Sacre Bleu, I did try EL Pure White Linen and Clinique Happy, but they didn’t work out for me. Though Parfums de Nicolai is on my list for “must try”. Thanks!
The EL Pure White Linen Spring Breeze is quite a different scent – I didn’t car eof Pure White Linen but loved PWL Spring Breeze – you might as well!
Good to know that! Will put down PWL Spring Breeze on my list. Thanks Maggiecat!
Go to Barney’s in downtown San Francisco! The SAs there are very knowledgeable and super nice, and will guide you and supply you with samples. For citrus try:
1. Bergamote by The Different Company
2. Bigarade Concentree by Frederic Malle
I’ll let other people weigh in on the light florals and woods, except you might stop in the Chanel Boutique on Maiden Lane and try Bois de Ilse (for sandalwood), which now comes in a smaller size.
Also Neiman Marcus in Union Square has a Guerlain boutique, so I’m pretty sure they have Apre Le Ondee.
Seconding the Bigarade Concentree… It’s a fantastic citrus with a subtle undercurrent of spicy warmth (definitely NOT a spicy or gourmand scent, though). It lasts longer than your average citrus, too. Good luck, and have fun!
Personally love and own the Bigarade Concentree, but a lot of people get a strong cumin current in it. (I’m cumin-lover, so personally don’t think there is enough!
) Wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying it, but I know many online reviewers, forum commenters and perfumista friends I know cite it as “B.O.” offender.
The downtown NM had Apres l’Ondee last fall (last time I was there). I hope it’s still there for Issy – good luck!
Oh, I need to hurry down to NM to check it out. Hopefully they still have it. Thanks ggperfume!
And while you’re at the Guerlain boutique, you might check out Sous le Vent.
Two personal favourites in the light floral category are Balenciaga Le Dix (violet) and Cartier So Pretty (rose). Both has a feel of designed simplicity which appeals to me.
Some citrus favourites are CB I Hate Perfume’s Russian Caravan Tea (adding tea), Hermés Eau d’Orange Verte, Hermés Voyage (adding cardamom) and John Varvatos Artisan.
A big second to Hermes Voyage! I think you will love it and it can be worn every day but is still interesting/special.
And speaking of Cartier, give Eau de Cartier a try too!
I recommend: Jo Malone Assam and grapefruit and hermes Osmanthe Yunnan.
CB:IHP Violet Empire is a wonderful violet (you might like their Wild Pansy, also). You might enjoy Herme’s Eau d’Orange Vert for a lovely citrus in the vein of Hadrien, though my bottle is several years old and I don’t know about reformualtion due to the IFRA regs.
Hello Issy,
I recommend Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver, Prada Infusion d’Iris & Parfums Del Rae Mythique.
Happy sniffing!
I second L’eau d’Hiver, and while you’re looking at FM, maybe Lipstick Rose? I would also recommend Clarins Eau de Jardins, which I tried a few weeks ago at Nordies. The SA said the notes were grapefruit and flowers, but I smelled sweet earth, fresh green, and sheer grapefruit. It wasn’t hugely long-lasting, but affordable and friendly. Finally, perhaps L’Artisan L’eau de L’Artisan, which has notes of basil, mint and lemon. I found it similar to Eau du Sud, which might be another option.
I think you should try Guerlain Vetiver, AG Le Chevrefeuille, second the JV Artisan, and Chanel No. 18.
I second the Violet Empire and suggest trying Black March if you are sampling CB IHP. Black March smells like a spring day- moist earth, flower buds and watery sunshine. Good luck!
Hi, you should try Eau de Campagne (Sisley).
Regards from Spain.
Atelier Cologne Bois Blonds for woodsy-citrus goodness.
Love your loves, Issy: Après L’Ondée and Ormonde Woman and Frangiapani are some of my very faves, too. I third the Violet Empire and second the Osmanthe Yunnan. Have you tried Ormonde Jayne Tiare? As well, I suggest Heeley Verveine, Parfums de Nicolai L’Eau Mixte, L’Artisan L’Eau de Jatamansi, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile (particularly the EdT), Kenzo Eaux des Fleurs de Magnolia (if you can still find it) and maybe Carthusia 1681 and Mediterraneo.
Hi Erin, I did try most of the sample set from OJ. Tiare was ok. Didn’t hate it
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions.
Have you tried Sonoma Scent Studio? Fragrances that smell at home in northern California (I live in Oakland and work in the city). Woods, violets, roses. Wonderful sample sets.. And Laurie is a doll to deal with – super customer service.
I love Eau de Camille too – celebrating the return of sun after all that rain by wearing it today!
Good luck and have fun!
An enthusiastic second to the SSS line. You might also try the Carthusias for light florals as well as the Divine fragrances.
Do they have the boutique in the city? Would love to try it!
Laurie Erickson, the creative genius of SSS, is the whole show. SSS is an “indie” as opposed to a niche fragance business (see recent discussion on her blog). She sells a few fragranes through select boutiques, but those few and a nice selection of other choices are available from her website – http://www.sonomascentstudio.com. Her fragrances come in small bottles (a big advantage for a person like me who has difficulty choosing one of many that appeal). Samples are easy to order from her website – that’s how I got started. Her customer service is the best!
p.s. Don’t let the very reasonable SSS prices raise concerns. The fragrances are beautifully made with quality ingredients. And just to be clear, I have no monetary interest in SSS. Just an enthusiastic patron. :^)
I would try Chanel Chance eau fraiche, one of my fave citrus-y, casual fragrances. Notes are jasmine, water hyacinth, patchouli and vetiver. It’s feminine and sunny to me without being too sweet.
Hi Issy, my recent discoveries that might be to your liking in Miller Harris line: Citron Citron (citrus), Figue Amère (woods) and Coeur de Fleur (very light floral).
Hi everybody! this is fantastic! I am so new at this and I really appreciate your suggestions. So many wonderful ideas. I can’t wait to start sniffing. Thanks Robin!
Issy – happy to send you some Eau de Sisley 3. If you’re interested, email me at krnszn at gmail dot com.
Hope you find something you LOVE!!!
AG Mandragore for citrus
SL Féminité du Bois for woods
I can second a lot of these, but would like to add Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Tiare and Mimosa. It is a very light floral/citrus with a tea note, and has been around long enough to be found at discounters (I found a bottle at Marshall’s for less than $25!
10 Corso Como
Iris Nobile EDT is a nice light floral with a touch of anise (or more fashionably called touch of absinthe).
Based on some of the scents you loved, I feel that you like clear scents, that is, not heavy, with a clear focus, and natural (in the sense of in touch with nature, not necessarily all natural ingredients). I’d encourage you to sample The Different Company (such as the Bergamote mentioned above, plus Osmanthus and DeBachmakov) and Heeley (Verveine, Cuir Plein Fleur and others). If you want something a bit sunnier, try Etro Shaal Nur.
Good hunting!
As has been mentioned above…Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan and The Different Company de Bachmakov are awesome. Hermes Rose Ikebana is another that I’m really enjoying right now and may work for you too.
Have fun!
Hi Issy! I’d love you to try Fleurissimo from CREED, it’s a classic. Among the new launches ISSEY MIYAKE L’Eau d’Issey Florale might be nice. If you’re into jasmin, try the new GUERLAIN Aqua Allegoria Flora Jasminora. Very nice, too, regarding your love for staying on the move & outdoor: Burberry Sport Woman. Compard to other rather mainstreamy Burberry juices a really outstanding one. Thinking of fragrances from the US: BOND NR. 9 Hamptons might be your choice. Eva
Carriere by Gendarme and Love Peace Juicy by Juicy Couture.
Hmmmm…….I feel like Bois de Paradis would be a good one to try. From Parfums Delrae, I think a native company of San Francisco?!?
Was also wondering if some Heeley fragrances would suit you – Cuir Pleine Fleur and Figuier and Ophelia.
Oh, and Passage D’Enfer from L’Artisan!
I’m a huge fan of En Passant from Frederic Malle – orange tree leaves and white floral, but with a note of cucumber that really sets it apart.
Also, I third the comments about NM in downtown SF – I bought a bottle of Apres L’ondee there myself about a year ago.
Frederick Malle Parfum de Terese
CK1 and Comme des Garcons 3
and Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois