Call me slow because I am, but I finally just sat down this weekend and went through the rest of the ballots to get the top 25 based on your picks for 2008. These are currently in production perfumes, did not need to be released in 2008.
There were some surprises for me… well, you’ll see, tell me which ones on the list surprises you the most.
I wanted to do a men’s list as well, but didn’t get enough votes to get any clear winners.
Without further ado, here are your top 25 for 2008:
- Guerlain Mitsouko
- Serge Lutens Chergui
- Guerlain Apres L’Ondee
- Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Woman
- Chanel 31 Rue Cambon
- Caron Tabac Blond
- Guerlain Shalimar
- Piguet Fracas
- Chanel Bois des Iles
- Chanel No. 19
- Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
- Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain
- Chanel No. 5
- Frederic Malle Carnal Flower
- Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
- Guerlain Jicky
- Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque
- Chanel Cormomandel
- Chanel Cuir de Russie
- Serge Lutens Bois de Violette
- Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver
- Guerlain Spirituese Double Vanille
- L’Artisan Dzing (yeah!!!!!!!!!)
- Patou Joy
- Shiseido Feminite du Bois
And we have a winner. The person who made an entry that was drawn out who will win a sample of the all of these is: DianaWR. Just click on the contact us over to the left and let me know your address so I can send you your prize.
Thanks to all of you who voted, it was an interesting thing to do, though a lot more labor intensive than I thought it would be. I’ll be posting 26-50 in the top set on Thursday!
Congrats Diana! What a great list. I need to try a lot of those.
I think I love everything on the list.
Well, except Shalimar and L’heure bleue, which go to complete powder on me, but I understand their appeal.
I need to stop reading this blog. You people are making me spend way too much money.
Well, this time it’s the Voters fault.
more to try!! I’m not surprised by anything on the list - even if I don’t like a few of them, many others do. An example being Chanel No 19 - really terrible on my skin but I have smelled it on others and it can be wonderful.
I’m curious Patty which ones surprised you? And would something automated like Survey Monkey help you next time?
Biggest surprise was L’Eau d’Hiver. I had no idea it was that well-liked, which I think is great, but it did surprise me. Dzing - as much as I love it, didn’t think it would hit the top 25, maybe the top 50. The Shiseido Feminite du Bois, definitely loved, but surprised it was in the top 25.
Have to put in a little note here…a fantastic wonderful country mouse/city mouse hybrid of a perfumista sent me a generous sample of Feminite de Bois…while I am not yet (will I ever be?) in smashing scent sophisticate land, I lurrrrve that one. Strangely, I recall flirting with it half a year ago…was very unimpressed…I wonder if it was the weather, the personal readiness, or the fact that I may have been shy in my application last spring???
I was ignoring my decant of FdB for awhile in favor of BdV, but I spritzed FdB the other night and really enjoyed the fruitiness of it!
WOW - now these are serious perfumes!!! Man oh man how I wish a bit more of the population could venture out a bit further on the perfume limb and be a bit more adventurous. It seems as summer warms up here in Australia every elevator and train carriage I get into these days, ALL you can smell everywhere is the same vile citrusy/aquatic up your nose, last forever, totally synthetic, room deoderant perfumes that everyone (male or female) seems to be wearing these days. I LOVE citrus perfumes but these perfumes I am smelling are SERIOUSLY apalling. I suspect it may be one of the Jlo/Britney/Paris Hilton mob maybe? Am I going nuts or did this phenomenon happen in the US as well during Summer.
I was very happy at the number of classics that made the list, while still leaving room for newer releases, several from the class of 2007.
this list seems like a good one for any beginning perfumista to start with if they wanted to venture off of a mainstream perfume rabbit trail
YES! That awful smell you’re experiencing is shared by us in the US! I wish I had a big bag of samples to hand out of the “good stuff” to introduce people to what REALLY smells good & not just what advertisers tell you smells good. I wonder how many people I would offend or worse yet, how many people would want to hit me? YIKES!!! Maybe I’ll keep my opinions here.
The list comprises lots of classics — I own about two thirds of it, have tried all the others. I’m a little surprised Chergui rates the highest of the Lutens, but I suppose it’s normal given that it’s an export, and that the export range is not as brilliant as the bell jars, so there’s less to chose from.
Yes, L’Eau d’Hiver is a sleeper here. But at least one Ellena had to be up there, didn’t it? I mean, given the amount of worship he elicits?
I think you’ll find the 26-50 winners interesting too, more bells hit that list.
Of JCE’s, I do love L’Eau d’Hiver, but it does sneak up on you, and it is lovely to wear.
Thanks, Patty, for compiling this…nice work! I guess I am with CC above in noting how classic the list is overall. Also pleased how many are perfumes I enjoy. Not many surprises here, and my only “dissonance” with the list is in the number of Malles. I can only wear MR, but do appreciate the others (on others).
Just one question-are these in order, that is, from most voted for to least? If so, nice to see Mitsouko at the top, she remains my pet
You’re so welcome!
the list is in Order. Mitsouko was No. 1, and then the list goes from 1 through 25.
Great list! As others have noted, I own a number of them and have tried all of them. I am not really surprised by the inclusion of any of them and I am happy to see a couple of the newer ones (Ormonde Woman, Tauer LDM) among all of those powerhouse classics. The only ones on this list that I really cannot wear are Fracas and Coromandel. Fracas for all of the usual elavator-clearing reasons, but Coromandel has a funny note association for me. I won’t mention it, because I don’t want anyone else to think of it that way! As for all of the others on the list, I either wear them or appreciate them for their artistry.
Now you have me bubbling with curiousity about the scent association with Coromandel, tell!!! I like coromandel, but just not on me.
I’ll email it to you. Seriously, I mentioned a bothersome note to a good perfumista friend and she immediately gave me this association. I don’t want to create the same association for others! I think Coromandel is a lovely creation. I just can’t wear it!
Okay, you two, this is like starting the conversation with “Don’t look now, but…” In the spirit of Melissa’s good intentions, I’m sticking my fingers in my ears and saying “I can’t hear you….”
Hey, lots of my new found favorites are on the list (Jicky, Apres Ormonde Woman,Apres L’Ondee..)!I’ll definitely have to give Mitsouko a few more trys, I’m very willing!I think my major problem is that I’ve only been trying it in edt..and I’ve found out that I can’t stand Shalimar in edt..but now, having sniffed the edp, yup, it’s a different thing!
(the same happened with Jicky and Apres L’Ondee, just that right now edt in Apres is the only option I have!)
Let’s see what happens in the 26-50 zone…
totally worth trying the Guerlains in parfum, edp if you can’t find/afford. I tried the edt initially and didn’t like much of Guerlain. But am a hardcore fan now that I have ventured into parfum land. And it’s worth trying Guerlains in different weather - I hated L’Heure Bleue until I accidentally tried it in hot, humid weather.
Yes, I know, I know! But it’s so hard to try to convince an SA that you REALLY only want to try the perfume or the edp..I normally get to hear things like “we only have edt testers, sorry. The perfume is the same, but stronger.” Yeah,honey, I know that, but it’s stronger and different and I want to know if I like it before I spend all my euros on it!!
I am about to sniff Jicky in perfume..must be heaven, ’cause the edp already is.
Also wonderful (and more affordable) is the Jicky PDT, IMHO.
Hhmm…let me get that straight…what is the difference between a pdt and the edp?Or is it the same? Is it just an “oldish” expression or is it a different concentration?
(and one more question, I’m only beginning to get in the “abbreviations” world…what does IMHO stand for?
Thanks!
IMHO = in my humble opinion, and feel free to ask anytime about those things, btw
(by the way)
Yes, ordinarily you would be looking at EDP - eau de parfum, the concentration between EDT and parfum. However in Jicky’s particular case, for reasons I am not clear on, the intermediate is a PDT - parfum de toilette. As if it weren’t all confusing enough… it is hard to find in the US but pops up occasionally on popular discount sites. I’ve not tried it (I have the other 2) but it is supposed to be the ideal concentration.
PS yeah Mitsouko in the edt is a b!tch, I’d try to scare up some EDP, it’s not that $$$$$. In some ways I prefer it to the parfum. It’s ballsier but not as skanky.
Confusing this EdP/PdT discussion even more…but the PdT concentration of Mitsy was around during the 70s, maybe 80s only-and is an entirely different and delicious animal. Much more growly and oakmoss-filled than either it’s same-period parfum sister or the newer EdP. It is a ballsy marvel, an entirely different take on Miss M.
Yer killin’ me!
xo
Oh, so there are actually pdT in Jicky and Mitsouko? So it’s like a guerlainish thing that’s no longer produced, right? One question, is Jicky really so marvelous in perfume? What does the perfume do that the edp doesn’t? Should I get prepared for a whole new sensation?
What a pitty that health/safety laws have a problem with oakmoss,right?So,what’s the actual fuss about it? Cancer or something?
Definitely try Mitzy in edp or Parfum, it’s a whole other world. The rough edges in parfum just get all rounded out, and she is smooth and beautiful. But a little cranky sometimes.
So delighted to see so many classics on the list, and to see my BFF Mitsy at the top, even though sometimes she acts like a frenemy…
Chergui’s position so high on the list, and Jicky, Dzing! and Hiver making the top 25 were unexpected. I had no idea they’d garner that many votes.
Just thinking about tabulating this gives me a headache, hats off to you.
PS Where’s Chanel 22? Dude. Should be where 19 is.
Also I believe if we were taking this NEXT year, Beige would be on there.
I so agree about No 22! I was disappointed that it didn’t make the cut!
I’m surprised too! I am currently wearing No. 19 a lot more than No. 22, though. I used to much prefer No. 22.
There should be a name for a perfume that is sometimes friend and sometimes enemy. How about perfrenemy?
Beige, I would be shocked if it isn’t on this list next year. it will be interesting to see what drops off and what has endurance. I think Tauer’s was on the MUA list in 2007 too, I suspect it has some legs.
Why so Frenemy, Mitsy? Don’t be mean to March!!!
I was stunned to find Fracas so far up the list (even though LaBelle F ranks very high on my own list)….she is a rough row to hoe! I never find Miss Mitsy EdP or P cranky (the edt harshes me out) but I do have to watch WHEN I wear her - if I’m going for Sweet Lady, Mitsouko definitely isn’t the scent to wear. I wear Miss M when I’m thinking of strappin’ on the shiv and sticking a sword down the back of my jerkin (metaphorically, of course
Thanks for your hard work Patty!!
It looks like Guerlain and Chanel are tied at 6-6. It will be interesting to see who has more in the latter 25 listings!
I am not surprised by Chergui’s posting but am that Ormonde Woman was in the Top 5.
Where’s Fifi??
I don’t think I voted but Fifi would have been on mine! I never regret spritzing that one.
I think Fifi will be in my top 10 forever! I guess there is still hope for the next 25 listings!!
Fifi was a long ways down the list, sorry! I adore it too and wish it had placed higher.
It actually kind of surprises me that there are so many classics on the list. Like….almost all of them. It looks like there are four out of twenty-five that are younger than two years old? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the classics (YAY Jicky and Shalimar!!), but with all the hype that many of these new niche releases and brands get, I’d expect to see more of them on the list.
I think when you do a top 25 and people jsut think about what they wear and like, it’s the classics that make the list all the time, so they may not be the top perfume, but they wind up with the most votes. The newer things get votes split all over the place as people just have a favorite here and there.
I am a little surprised that there are no Montale’s or Hermes’ on the list. Perhaps some will make the 26-50 list. Based on this list I have more sampling to do. I see a TPC order in my future.
I love so many Montale aouds! They are definitely not universally loved, though.
Hermes cracks the top 50, definitely. Montale, nope. The problem with Montale is how many perfumes they have. Black Oud and White Oud had the most votes overall, but so many votes went to a lot of other Montales, no single one garnered a lot of votes.
That makes sense, Patty…given how many scents are in the line and how similar many of them are to each other. The votes were bound to be spread to thin. Thanks.
Blue oud, Green oud, green oud with ham, dude oud, eiei oud… and that’s just the OUDS.
ROFL!
I am still having a hard time swallowing “Sliver Oud” instead of “Silver Oud.” How do “sliver” and a scent even belong in the same sentence? Hmpf. And I would like an explanation, if anyone has one. 
Sliver Aoud, not to be confused with Shiny Aoud, or Aoud Shiny…whatever! It would be enough to turn me off to the line, but I happen to love their ouds. Aoud Queen Roses makes me swoon every time.
Hurray! My beloved Mitsy is #1! She’s the one who got me hooked. I literally fell over when I tried the EdP for the first time. Fortunately, I was at home, not at Macy’s, because that would have been embarrassing….
She is perfection, no? I’m glad she came in at No. 1, I was pulling for her all trough the counting.
Thanks for doing this, Patty. Lots of my faves on there . . . and a couple that I will never understand (here’s looking at you, Chergui, Musc Ravageur, and Jicky). I can’t wait to see what makes the next part of the list!
You’re welcome! It was really kind of fun in some perverse way.
It was great that you compiled it this year and thanks for all your trouble!
The list looks quite predictable (I have all of those in some form or other, some in multiple). There’re the classic, iconic Guerlains and one that’s new but comforting, the revered Chanels (some classics, some “niche”-sounding), the usual suspects by Lutens (easy to see how the easier “Chergui” prevails over the more esoteric “Douce Amere” which I find superior in the exports; I’m not discussing the exclusives here for our purposes because indeed many haven’t tried them all), a few good and approachable Malles, a good peppering of Caron and Patou, the independent spirit through Tauer (bravo!) and the inspirational inclusion of “Dzing!” (double bravo!)
Personally I see two things: the perpetuation of mythos and the subsequent fueling it by Luca
(”Mitsouko” top slot? When did my eros become so…popular?)
and the influence of bloggers. 
Yeah, there are subtle changes from the 2007 list, to be sure. But a lot of these classics were on the 2007 list, as well. I think hard-core perfumistas just love their classics.
I really like the list, and I love it when the community votes and there’s not a dog in the top 25 - well, the top 50 or top 75, for that matter.
I have more faith in community taste than experts, to be frank.
And yes, who would desire a better #1 choice? No dog at all, although I have stockpiled older versions of this to last me through my lifetime; the newer isn’t quite the same.
Yay for Coromandel!
I’m also happy Bois de Violette made the list. I can’t help but think this is the influence of The Guide, however subconscious. Feminite du Bois and No. 19 are also favs of mine.
I think I need to try Tabac Blonde and Apres L’Ondee.
I think those two, in particular, may have had some The Guide influence, though I think they both deserve to be on the list no matter what.
What?! CB’s Musk is not on there? I’m shocked! Hmph!
Actually, I’m really very happy to see Dzing on there and so many others I adore.
I know, right? Harumph indeed. It is a great list, I was tickled with it when I resorted and saw which ones actually won.
Only one of my types is on the final list… Tell me why is Mitsouko winning everywhere, everytime? By the way I’m wearing it today
Oh, no! Mitzy is just a classic, and she deserves all the love.
What a gorgeous list!
Thanks for crunching the numbers, Patty!
Hugs!
It is! And you’re welcome! xo
You’re an
for doing this, twinkle toes.
Hee hee! xo
Ohhhh those cranky ladies!!
I love the way Mrs Mitsy dries down..but I don’t like the way she starts..but you know what?I’m longing to feel the magic so many of you smell!!! I just need to smell it in perfume!
Ooopss…this was meant to be a reply to your answer to my post, Patty..this is what happens when you try to watch TV, get your cat off your lap and write… and at the same time..
So how is this list tallied? Does everyone sumbit their own top pick or picks? The only one I haven’t tried is Coromandel, so that will have to be remedied soon!
Ohhhhh,yes..those things you never learn about..those things that don’t appear in books…those BTW, those YMMV (that was a veeeeeeeery hard one for me!), those AKA, etc,etc…I mean we don’t have all those abbreviations in spanish!! Everybody seems to love to abbreviate in english though..
:”>
I don’t know if this means I have a fine “nose” for scents or I am a nut for perfume…as I have 14 of the 25….ouch~