It has crossed my mind that, given my recent posts, some of you may be thinking I don´t like a fragrance unless it smells like I´ve taken a tumble in the barn, or stepped in something. Today´s post is dedicated to a random list of favorites that are more or less unabashedly girly. Some of these I wear mostly in summer, and some are more fall and winter, but even the summer ones I reach for occasionally on the darkest days, just for their magical cheering abilities.
L´Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons – an SA told me this is one of their most popular scents, and it´s probably the one that smells the most mainstream. I believe the name means “chasing butterflies,” and that´s what it´s like – joyous and ethereal. Citrus, linden, orange blossom, a hint of green, and some white flowers. If giggling had a smell, this would be it.
Blue Q Miso Pretty – okay, I admit, I didn´t even get the noxious wordplay when I bought it. I was too busy enjoying its light, summery burst of peony. Possibly the silliest, girliest thing I wear.
Malle Carnal Flower – intense but not a skank factory. Tuberose and a wee dollop of wintergreen that gives it a florist-shop freshness. A bit much in my climate in summer, but perfect on cool fall days. Varga girl.
L´Artisan Fleur d´Oranger – orange blossom heaven.
Serge Lutens Fleurs d´Oranger layered with Clair de Musc – I love this combo. The Oranger is sweet to the razor edge of cloying, and the Musc is derided on the fragrance boards as not special enough for the money. I apply very lightly, wait for the bloom, and waft just enough sillage that several people have asked, what is that delightful thing you´re wearing? Luscious girl.
Ines de la Fressange – this used to be available at Sephora, and it´s still around at various discounters for less than $30. It´s outside my regular parameters because it´s pretty much a fruity-floral. But it´s such a pretty fruity-floral that all is forgiven.
Apothia If – a sweet burst of white florals, light citrus and musk that disappoints only because both concentrations disappear on me in 20 minutes. But maybe I just can´t smell it even though it´s still there.
S-Perfume 100% Love or 100% Love {MORE} – rose, chocolate and incense combined into an improbably addictive confection. I love this in winter. Mysterious girl.
Jil Sander No. 4 – I´ve been waiting all summer for weather cool enough to put this on. The most “classic” smell on this list, a scent as comfortable as my favorite cardigan. Sweater girl.
Berdoues Violets de Toulouse – candied violets. I wear this to bed pretty regularly. Is it Niche Perfumery? Um, nope. And I´m okay with that.
Novaya Zarya Carnation – Marina´s find for me. Carnation, straight up. Happiness in a bottle. It´s also some ridiculous price ($5?) online. What is not to love?
Muelhens 4711 – I keep a bottle in my refrigerator during the summer and splash it on like the cheesy cologne it is. I can barely remember my life before this scent, so part of my fondness is just nostalgia, but it´s a great, old-fashioned petitgrain cologne. Technically not a girly scent, but included on the general principal of cheeriness.
Malle En Passant – Lilacs, rain, blah blah blah you didn´t think I´d leave this one off, did you? No skank and feminine in an interesting way, assuming it doesn´t make you want to slash your wrists. Hey, just be thankful I´m not nattering on about Apres L´Ondee. Melancholy girl.
Annick Goutal – Petite Cherie, Passion, Gardenia Passion, Chevrefeuille… you pick one, I can´t. I know they´ve been around long enough to approach cliché status, but as far as I´m concerned AG hung the moon. There are some that don´t smell good on me personally, but there´s not a single one I can think of that I actively dislike. Romantic girl.
What are some of your favorite girly fragrances?
Today´s giveaway is … Politically Incorrect! Yep, I bought three bottles of Miso Pretty on clearance – one for me, one for P, and one for … you! Leave a comment below if you´d like to be entered in the drawing, and then click here for Scentzilla´s review, followed by some lively commentary on whether the packaging (not the smell) is offensive, and you can ponder whether I´m massively dim for not noticing. I´ll announce the winner on Wednesday.
Varga girl: dollmarket.com
Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks! (If I’m too late, no big deal.)
Favorite girly scents? I think rose fragrances are very girly. I like “So in Love” (Victoria’s Secret) – it has rose but also cardamom (a spice from India) which I think cuts the sweetness. My ethnic background is Norwegian and every Xmas we make “Julekage” (“Xmas Cake” — but that’s a misnomer – it’s actually a yeast bread, not a cake.) It’s very similiar to the German Xmas bread called Stollen. Julekage has raisins, candied fruit, and cardamom, a very different tasting spice from India. I can imagine a Viking housewife peering anxiously into her cupboard and saying “Olaf! We are almost out of cardamom and Xmas is coming. Run on down to India and get a few pods!” Years ago when I was a kid, my father had to buy the cardamom in Washington, DC, on his way home from work. There was none to be found in the wilds of the Virginia suburbs.
I think Anais Anais (Cacherel) is another girly scent.
I’ve enjoyed reading what scents other readers consider girly. My list only includes those that I now own.
Hi March,
I’d love to be included in the drawing, if it’s not too late. If it is — not to worry. I’m swamped with papers to grade, but it was fun to escape with your girly list. (What a name for that Miso stuff! Too much.)
Cheers,
Patch
Judith — trying to come up with something you don’t already have was a long shot …/:)
The Songes with the CB Musk would be all wrong, I think… I did try layering it with Mitsouko, and that was every bit the grueling punishment I deserved. Mitsouko does not wish to be layered.
Rowan — there’s one Creed one I kind of like … a girly one, maybe that’s it. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, and Songes EdP (girly, obviously, not for layering with musk), Isabey Gardenia (which I have just been lucky enough to get to try), and 24 Faubourg.
I can’t seem to write one post where 2 will do. . .
I do have some Malmaison, but thanks!:) I have just run out of Le Labo Patch (woe is me!):( I will need to get some more–and when I do, I will send you some!
Dear March and Patty,
I have been reading your wonderful blog for a while but so far have not picked my courage to write anything.
However as I was just sorting out my perfumes and wondered what on earth made me once buy
Creed’s Spring Flowers… there it is, one very girly fragrance, reminiscent of summer holidays.
Judith — yum on all your girly scents — what is not to love about carnation! I actually have a bottle of Floris Malmaison, do you have that one? I could send you some… you are in for the drawing.
I don’t have Le Labo Patch — just their Vetiver, and I’m tempted but afraid. I wore CB yesterday layered with KJ and Lonestar Memories, and it was delish! I bet your husband liked it with the Patch.
Hey, I use the same fur coat rationalization!;)
PS I thought it was about Miso soup (which I love), too! Yeah, I think it’s offensive, but since you have already bought it (this is the same rationalization I use when wearing my aunt’s old fur coat):)
Well, if the drawing is still open, I’d like in (no problem if it’s not):) I am, of course, a dirty girl, but I do have a femme-y side, and I adore L’A Fleur d’O, love Carnal Flower, and really like La Chasse (though I wear it less now than I did) and the Russian Carnation. In fact, I pretty much like all carnation scents, my favorite being JAR Golconda.
Coincidentally, I wrote to you on the Musk front in M’s blog; I agree that this is a great layering scent. My best success was with this, a little Le Labo Patch and Lonestar. DH asked if he could have some of what I was wearing!:) Haven’t tried it with KJ yet; must do!
Mimi — Busted!:”> I started off with exactly your definition, but realized I couldn’t do it. I mean, look at my list. So I broadened my definition a little bit… I tried to hold firm on the No Skank rule, though. Hence no Dirty Girl.
Cheez — Caleche Eau Delicate, I forgot that one.:x
I lurve Orange Blossom too. I am overdue for a post on Everything Orange.
Emote — Do Son is a good one. Cartier Delices I could have stuck on there… Fifi is really dirty on me, and I was trying to do everyone a No-Skank Favor.
March,
I actually went to take a sniff at Poupée but decided it was more womanly and sophisticated than LAFG (the pepper).
To me a “girly” perfume translates into being a perfume that creates an atmosphere of levity. It is playful, pretty, sexy and has humor. It is not introspective.
Girly scents! My fave perfumes!
Definitely Fifi Chachnill for naughty girls. Hermes Caleche Eau Delicate & Diorissimo for demure girls, Agent Provocateur for sexy bombshell girls. Apres l’Ondee for wistful girls (I refuse to think of it as melancholy).
ANYTHING orange blossom for me! Oh how I wish I had been able to afford the ltd edition orange blossom by L’Artisan. :((
Please enter me in the drawing for the “politically incorrect” fragrance. Despite the dopey offensive name, I love the pretty peony scent!;)
Hmmm, I’m an incense and rose sort of gal a lot of the time, but la chasse is soooo love-able. I find Do son to be pretty girly, also, as a confession, cartier so pretty eau fruitee. I find powder scents to be the most girlish, Fifi Chachnil that Patty turned me on to. Always love a new sniff, sign me up!
Elle — I actually do think the Musc is a bit boring on its own (although maybe that’s just compared to its SL brethren) but it is a GREAT layering scent. It’s one of my two go-to layering frags (the other is Passage d’Enfer) — CdM adds that inimitable Serge sheen, and the layered scent seems to last longer.
Vi, it’s so unfair — the beautiful Songes is bitter on me. But I keep re-trying, waiting for a different response. I love the Lys and Folavril, though.
I have never smelled the Tubereuse. I bet it is beautiful.
Surprisingly, I love several of those you listed (the deeply closeted girly girl comes out) – JS #4 (a long time fav), NZ Carnation, FM Carnal Flower and SL FdO (I’m afraid I’m one of those who has said unkind things about CdM, but I’ll have to try that combo – sounds like it could be great).
My fave AG’s are Songes, Des Lys and Folavril (I love that name, don’t you?).
My sister only wears her fragrances. Her favorite is Ce Soir ou Jamais and their Tubereuse, which is only sold in their Paris boutique.
Hugs!
Amy — greeat list! I am not quite woman enough to wear Fracas, but I keep a decant just to smell. It took me awhile to appreciate 24, Faubourg… the delicate version is very nice, too. I have not smelled the Monyette. (slinks off)
Justine — exactly. What is this other mythical musk that I’m gonna get so much cheaper, that’s just as good as CdeM, huh? Huh?:-w I’m waiting…
I may Love The Skank. But not every single day…
Vi — ah, yes — aren’t you the ultimate girly-girl, fragrance-wise? Those AGs are delicious. What are some of your faves?
Hey March,
It was a sample that I obtained from Laura, aka Kyahgirl… at http://kyahgirl.com. It was a custom sample that she received, made by Lunableu, she informs me that the operation suffered some damage from Hurricane Katrina. It’s a simple blood orange and lily of the valley mix.
But if you send me your address (just drop an email) I would be pleased to send on my sample. I aced sharing in kindegarten. 😉
Mimi — I have sprayed on LAFG a couple of times, and you’re right — it is very pretty. I think it may be even a little too girly even for me, though — I feel a bit silly, like I’m wearing a mini-skirt and leggings (which I can remember from their last go-round!) You know what else I forgot? Rochas’ Poupee. I think it’s shamelessly girly and a great scent, but the translation difficulty pretty much guarantees no success on these shores…
dleep and Jenn — you’re in!
Jenn — I like a couple of those Couvent things a lot. It’s always good to see another 4711 fan.
March-
In addition to yr faves L’Artisan Fleur d’Oranger, FM Carnal Flower and Jill Sander No.4, my girl-a-rama list also includes Joy, Fracas, Chanel Gardenia (limited edition!), and Monyette Paris. (Grownup girl (aka woman) favorite is 24 Faubourg…)
Amy
You’re a mind reader, as I had pretty much decided that all your ‘fumes have skank 🙂 I personally love Clair de Musc, and while I can see why some think its not worth the money, for me it is, simply because I haven’t found anything to compare. And it does layer well with so many things, much like Fire Island, my other favorite layering frag. I have got to try the 100% Love (or is it Sex, I’m always getting those two confused, hehe) it sounds so interesting.
Don’t enter me in the drawing, I just wanted to chat a bit with you all…
Oh, you girly-girl you! I love a lot of these fragrances, especially Carnal Flower and a lot of AG’s fragrances. She is fantastic, isn’t she?
So are you! Thank you for your early morning candor. 😡
Hugs!
I like girly scents sometimes as they can help you feel more carefree. The latest one to charm me is J-Lo Love at First Glow. It is the epitome of girly, more than La Chasse. I have Inès de la Fressange, but, to me, it’s a tad more adult.Garçon Manqué also does the girly trick. I guess the bottles have to be very pink too.
Please enter me in the drawing and I really wish I was good at wearing girly fragrances. But the girliest ones I can think of having (and this includes cheerfulness) 4711, Vanille Abricot, Les Couvents des Minimes Orange Blossom, Pure Grace.
I love La Chasse also!! I would love to be included in your drawing.
dleep
Steve — I think the SLs can layer very nicely, they have the same creamy richness.
Jill — you’re in!
Love the SL layering idea. I, myself, have been doing it for years as well (to some success, as well as many failures).
Please enter me in the drawing as well.
My latest girly fume is Paris Roses des Bois, please enter me in the drawing, thank you!
Christine — that sounds lovely! Let me know if you find out where it came from. I am All About the Orange.
Sharon — another dirty girl! Hey, I forgot a dirty girl category … you’re in!
P — Santa’s little troll is bringing you your Christmas Buttcrack early…>:) I am soooo looking forward to your feedback.
Marina — right this second I am wearing KJ, CB Musk and Lonestar Memories, layered. :d
P’s gonna send me a squidge of MKK, can’t wait to try it with the Musk.
Sariah — those are all good! MJ I love. The SA at Nordstrom told me Blush is being discontinued, I wonder if that is true…
Josey, they have samples on their website:
http://www.shapingroom.com/samples.html
Chaya — how on earth did I forget Exquise?!:”>
Your list is wonderful.
Even the wolves have a little Red Riding Hood in there, yes?
Malena — I smelled Passion on a very chic woman years ago and fell in love…
Alica and everyone else who asked to be included in the drawing — you’re in!\:d/
Someone said drawing? Why, enter me in!
I have some sample of a blood orange lily of the valley oil that was passed on to me. I have no idea who makes it, but it is nothing but pretty. And I will have to search high and low for it when it is gone. It doesn’t last long but it’s an instant pick-me-up.
:d Another barn girl here! I’d love to be included in your drawing. Maybe a push in the girly direction would help!
yes, Jil Sander No. 4, it IS time to wear it again, thanks for reminding me!
You can now resume your journey through th back alleys of perfumedom. 🙂
So now that is over and done with, can we go back to the scents that have taken a tumble in the barn, or stepped in something? :d
Hey March –
My favorite girly girl scents are Marc Jacobs Intense, D&G Feminine (wore that one for my wedding, so I will call it classy/feminine girl, hehe), AG Le Jasmin and Fracas on occasion.
I read that post on Scentzilla a while back, and my first impression of the packaging was white girl dressed up in Asian inspired clothes and makeup. I join in being slightly clueless I guess? But I do appreciate Scentzilla’s post to see another perspective on it and I definitely see her point. Please enter me in the drawing.
I really, really need to try 100% Love! Are there samples available for sale anywhere?
Oh yes, and include me in the drawing XDD
Mornin’, March-
Thanks for the confessorial post !
May I join in the fray for the politically incorrect drawing?
Forgive me, March, for I have sinned…
It’s been 40 years since my last confession…
I admit to AG’s as well-
Chevrefeuille, Petite Cherie, L’Heure Exquise, Un Lys…
Also- Tocca, Gian Franco Ferre,the occasional original Ombre Rose, Fleurissimo,the limited Cartier So Pretty with Rose de Mai,Aimez-Moi, Farnesiana,Lys Mediterranee, Mimosa Pour Moi, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau,etc…
So much for my big bad wolverine persona [snicker, snicker]-
Love you-[-(
Hi March,
Please, include me in the drawing :)!
I think you´re absolutely right: AG scents are definitely veeery girly – I like most of them & the bottles are so lovely, even if some people think they´re old-fashioned – well, that doesn´t have to be a bad thing ;)!
I don´t know which fragrance I find to be especially girly – I´ve never thought about it…En Passant comes close, but…I think I should think about that now…!
I would appreciate to be included in the drawing for that interesting scent. Thanks