Hello, hellooooo? (tap tap) Is this thing on? Lurkers of the blog, unite! What, is everyone on Spring Break in Cozumel? I can’t stand it — you need to feed our fragile egos! Scroll to the bottom for instructions on getting your free Serge Lutens Sample Pack! But first, my notes on Marina’s blind sample post yesterday:
I’m not going so far as to say I’ve now learned I should be more sensitive about my comments, because that would be a complete lie. However, I want to offer Marina an on-my-knees apology for my cruel comments about her Beloved Namesake.
I will put on my Perfume Pro hat here (it’s the one with the giant nose on the brim and a whirligig on top) and say that, like any other two people in a fragrance Venn Diagram, Marina and I appear to have some shared loves (Dior Cologne Blanche, for instance) and some, uh, not-shared loves (Ambre Russe springs to mind here.) When I refer to “skank” I’m thinking of a civet dressed in organza (like Jicky), while Marina has a much higher tolerance for those dark, leather-vodka-spice-woods scents. So I’m not especially surprised about the Marina de Bourbon. What does surprise me is the notes listed! On me there is nothing that registers as the floral bouquet you’d expect. It is amber and, well, you know. However, I will note that I have had this reaction before to fragrances with a long list of disparate notes (watermelon, marigold, orris, praline). I wonder whether I just can’t sort them out? I also think things register very differently on our skin. Look no further than Marina’s post yesterday on SMN Kyoto, which is a big bloom of hyacinth on her and an esoteric Japanese incense on me, it’s like we’re smelling two completely different fragrances. And, in a sense, we are.
Further notes:
Caleche Eau Delicate! Of course. I have a decant of the regular. The Hermes frags are wonderful, aren’t they?
The Demeter Russian Leather: I like their weird “masculines.” Thunderstorm is fabulous. I just hate their sweet, nasty cocktail ones, though. Will probably get myself a cheap bottle of this, I bet they have it at Sephora.
Melodrama: okay, feeling pretty pleased with myself on this one. But powdery is just not my thing.
Gendarme Sloth: hah! After Scentzilla ragged on these I went and smelled a couple at Sephora, and they were so awful I just gave up. The SA there said they’re not exactly flying out the door. Look for this on clearance soon! I went back and re-smelled, and this one I kind of like.
Riga Women: Iris + magnolia = paint thinner, at least on me. How can they smell so great in real life and so awful on me?
Guerlain Vitalisant and Apaisant — Well, of course I’d really like the two discontinued Guerlains, what else is new?!?! I do think our shared chocolate note is interesting, I wonder what’s adding up to chocolate in there? Patty and I will have to work something out or we’ll be sniping the same stupid bottles on eBay.
Marina, thanks, this was really fun. I’m now putting on my fake mustache and moving to Argentina before you send the Russian mob after me.
But before I leave town… I need to do something about the completely out-of-control fragrance decant and sample situation over here. So. I’m going to start attempting to group my duplicates and triplicates by some sort of theme (a theme other than, whoa, I have too much of this!) and mail them, ABSOLUTELY FREE, to the lucky winner who will be selected from among the folks who comment in the section below “I want your samples” or something to that effect. This will be my first attempt at a giveaway, and if it’s successful, other giveaways of other fragrances will follow, probably in my Candy Samples posts. Note: these are SAMPLE vials, some of them larger, some of them atomizers, some of them tiny. But they’re free.
I will wait a couple of days, number the comments, and ask First Daughter to Pick A Number. Check back for the lucky winner… this is for samples of (so far as I can remember) Serge Lutens Douce Amere, Chergui, Fumerie Turque, Tuberose Criminelle, Santal Blanc, Citronnier, and maybe others from my Candy Box, if I dig around more carefully.
I would love some Serge Lutens samples! I have tried the ones available at Aedes and of these cedre is my favorite, but I am especially interested in trying ones from the non-export line (borneo 1834 and turberose criminelle especially) before I commit to buying a bottle. Thanks.
Hi, Emily — that giveaway was a one-time thing a year ago — but if you drop by the blog, we do giveaways fairly regularly. Hope to see you around!
I think what you’re doing is great. Glad to see somebody has done some thinking and sharing what they have to say about certain smells. I love fragrances and have a hard time finding ones I truely want to spend money on. I’d love some samples to help me make up my mind.
Thanks a bunch.
Michele
Karen — expensive and niche fragrances use just as many synthetics as cheaper fragrances. In fact, many of the signature notes around the most recognizable niche frags are complete, chemical-company synths. This does not bother me in the least, to be honest with you. However, for those people hoping to stay true to natural perfumery, I recommend visiting naturalperfumery.com. I believe Ayala Sender is the driving force behind this website. At any rate, they’re much better informed than I am about naturals, and many natural perfumers are linked to it. Good luck.
PS We give away samples for fun on a semi-weekly basis, if you enter your name on a particular post. You can buy samples quite inexpensively on eBay and many perfume websites.
HI
I came across your site and love it. I do aromatherapy, and love smells (some smells)lol.
I recently have had the opportunity to totally start over, which means not alot if any extra for perfume(s)especially untried, so I did a search for free samples and found your site. Do you know if the expensive perfumes still use real essential oil or have they gone to synthetic as well? I figured that was the difference between the average and the expensive. I am learning alot from your site and thank you for sharing from your heart.
ps I am still looking for samples.
Thanks
Karen
Hey, Susan — too late for this one, but we’re doing a givaway a week, more or less, so keep checking in…:)
😡 I always enjoy your writing, wit, and experience. What a great way to vindicate a towering obsession, totally! Are you still giving away SL samples? I want them!
😡 I always enjoy your writing, wit, and experience. What a great way to vindicate a towering obsession, totally! Are still giving away SL samples? I want them!
Hi, I didn’t get to write much earlier today I had to leave quickly before I finished writing. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reviews and think that you have a wonderful sense of humor. The blind swap idea is hilarious and I’ve really enjoyed it and your other musings on perfumes. Thanks!
Oh, and I realize that because I didn’t get to finish what I wrote this morning sounded awful! You can take me off the list for samples if you like, thanks!
Flora — shoot, I forgot. I’ll be answering your question tomorrow or Friday. :”>
Nina — thanks for stopping by! I know, we like to do the heavy lifting. It’s a slog, but ultimately I feel sooo rewarded by the service I am providing. Sort of: I smell so you don’t have to. (Actually right now I REEK; got some samples today. I have no self-control about applying. The ladies in line at the bank were making faces.)
Melissa — I dunno, I think my husband (aka The Big Cheese) is getting ready to stage an intervention. He also made me quit storing samples and decants in our shared office because it was starting to smell a little like a bordello. (Hey but not a cheap one!) I try not to buy unsniffed, it’s so … heartbreaking.
Justine — you go, girl! BTW if you are referring to the link on this blog, that’s Patty’s eBay gig. I don’t sell; I just consume.:d
And mooch. It’s true, ask Patty.
What sets the pricey stuff apart from the pack? Well, sometimes just the price.:o I would say expensive and niche perfumes can afford to be unusual precisely because they are not trying to appeal to the masses. This does not make a Caron urn scent intrinsically “better” than, say, a Lancome; it makes it different. (Okay, IMO, different is better.) But I have my share of cheap stuff I like too (see our Drugstore Cowgirls post.) Here, let me gaze in my crystal ball and tell you with 100% accuracy: there is some niche stuff you will loathe. There are some that will make you weep with an indescribable combination of awe and shock at their beauty (Malle’s En Passant and Guerlain Apres l’Ondee do that to me.) Start anywhere you want; you picked three total winners. As you stumble across things you like, consider purchasing more samples from the same line, or more with the same note (incense? rose? whatever appeals.) Finally, you do not have to choose between caviar and steak (or even a burger); there’s a right time for all of them. I will admit that aggressive sniffing of niche product over the last year has really changed/ broadened my ideas about what is “wearable.” I’ve fallen in love and regularly wear some pretty odd-smelling things, because they are compelling and enjoyable to me, not because they are going to seduce anyone else. I will end this by saying the fragrance sampling thing is great fun, and I have “met” some first-rate perfume people.@};-
Hello? Hello? Is anyone…oh, there you all are! Hi, Vanille from PoL here; just wanted to decloak and tell you how much I’ve enjoying these blind testings. You ARE brave – I doubt if I could differentiate uber-niche from on-sale-at-gas-station if I didn’t have the credit card receipt in front of me. Thanks for the entertainment and insight!
love your reviews, esp. the recent swap –
want your samples!
have a great trip . . .
I’M HOOKED!!!
On your site & hopelessly addicted to perfumes
so please give me the samples. It’s a much less
harmful addiction then say… “crack” although
about as expensive.
Thanks for telling it like it is. Some perfumes are
more great marketing than great smell. I know,
I’ve purchased many on looks alone.
March, I went ahead and bought some of your samples on ebay.This is my first foray into truly expensive perfume (I ordered Carnal Flowers simply because I absolutely LOVE the name and the x rated image it conjures up. Ahem. Musc Ravagaur because it sounds sooo sexy. Sort of a theme here for me I guess. And, Bond NO.9, Chinatown, to see what all the fuss is about.)
I got to wondering if I’ll even be able to tell the difference between this caviar of perfumes and the regular steak I usually buy. What do you think sets the pricey stuff apart from the pack? I’m feeling a little nervous for my nose (what happens if I don’t like any of it)and my pocketbook (what happens if I do?).
See what happens when I de-lurk? Can’t shut me up.
Pick me! Pick me! Serge Lutens is my addiction – feed it! (Pretty please with Miel de Bois on top, if you will.
Of course, I will still read you every day if I am not chosen for the samples. What I really want to know is…how did you score the non-Export samples? Don’t you know Tubereuse Criminelle is probably banned in the lower 48? (Or should be…) 😉
Hi Patty. Would love to get some samples. Now, if I get lucky, they’d have to get here before the 22nd. I’ll be shipping out soon and it would not do for those samples to sit out in a hot, Tucson mailbox. While I have my grubby hand out, if I’m the lucky girl, I’d just sooo love to get something refreshing; something that can hold up in 110 plus degrees. And thanks. This is so fun!
March, I do NOT want your damn samples. I have them multiplying like Tribbles here, but I think I’ll do a give-away of a bunch of mine next week. I send off a bag full of them to you, and three times as many come back in over the next two weeks. I keep looking over my shoulder for William Shatner.
I’ve got warm fuzzies with all of you guys commenting today! I know lots of people read and don’t comment, and that’s fine, but it is always a pleasure and treat to hear from any of you, even if you just say hi. 🙂
Dare I ask to be included in the potential lucky draw for your SL sample? Thanks!
Great idea on the 3-way swap. I’ve been so wanting to try Lutens. I’d love some samples.
Starise
Rachael — thanks for de-lurking! It’s time to spread some Perfume Love around.:”>
Justine — heh heh. Just go ahead and buy a couple of samples on eBay. Pretty soon you’ll be leaving vials all over the house….
Sweet of you to offer up your samples.. I’d love to be the lucky reciever.
-Rachael “Embarassed but not above de-lurking for the sake of Samples,” Grenon
[i]I want your samples[/i]
I’m a devoted lurker. Love reading your comments, but am somewhat in denial as to the extent of my own perfume obsession. I’m working on coming out of the closet on this one. Really I am. The samples may help the process.
Robin — you of all people know the fun and frustration of the vial habit… did you ever get yours organized, I wonder?
I’ve had to relocate the Candy Box, the twins get in there now and run off with the stuff I’m wanting to try…
Dang — look at all you lurkers!\:d/
Figured I’d check in this afternoon and there’d be nada — P SAID people read our blog, now I know! Seriously, thanks all of you for commenting, it’s nice to know you’re out there… will do the big drawing Thursday night and probably post on Friday. I’ve done a little sorting, stay tuned for further giveaways of Malle, Shiseido, S-Perfumes and more…
Longtime lurker,first-time commenter… Just because I’m not commenting doesn’t mean I don’t love your blog! Consistently well-written, informative, entertaining… and the blind swap is an awesome feature. Then you offer a sample giveaway? Thanks for letting me enter, and thanks for the fabulous blog.
Samples! Samples! Serge Lutens, no less! I’m a lurker but will cheerfully delurk and comment for even the faintest chance of samples! :d
Seriously though, I love this blog — it’s so fun! The perfume swap posts were awesome. . .(and now I’m soooo curious about the discontinued Guerlain with the vague hint of chocolate!!)
Well ladies, as ever you’re tickling my fancy like no others. I hope you’ve got the right type of glue for that moustache Patty – they can leave a nasty rash y’know. i’m not here for the samples – have sniffed all you list except for TC. I’m just here to give you some adulation…:x
Okay, okay. I admit it: I’ve been lurking around here for a while. Just stopped in to make myself legit, say hello, and to let March and Patty know I check this blog each day and find it a hoot. You gals are great fun and informative, too. Sure, put me in the pot for the free samps. Keep up the good work!
always in for free samples =) especially SL!
I think you rock, and not just because I want your samples.
I’m a former (but regular) lurker and newbie too! And I *really* want your samples!:)
LOL — when is the drawing for the *whole* candy box? I’m sure I’d like to dig around in there!
I’m a (former) lurker and a newbie, so please send me your samples! And keep writing!
March,
You were spot on in so many cases there. Like Caleche Eau Delicate not being strong enough, or Melodrama being a niche creation emulating classic scents. Wow!
I called off the mob. Mainly because…I want your samples! :d
The recent swap is fascinating! And hilarious too. And I am the first poster to ask for your samples 😀