First off, thanks to everyone for your wonderful wishes on our 25th wedding anniversary last week. We had a lovely day and are still celebrating! Now on to the fragrant portion of our program: A recent post of mine in which I bemoaned that a certain beautiful fragrance only came in a 100-ml. bottle got me wondering: If presented the opportunity to own any scent in that size, what would it be? Or perhaps even more than one, since we’re entering fantasy territory here.
I don’t own many FBs, and certainly not any 100-ml ones, that’s for sure. So I had to give this some serious thought. What do I love enough that I’d want to be able to spray with abandon, would not tire of easily, but also would go through in a reasonable amount of time? Hmmm … let’s see:
Frederic Malle Carnal Flower? A definite maybe. 
For better or worse, I seem to set this one aside as mainly for dressy occasions and holidays, but if I had the biggie bottle, would I wear it lavishly or keep to my slightly hoarding, “save it for …” ways? I know I would happily share it, but still — 100 mls is a lot lot of juice, especially for perfumistas who already have large collections of fragrance.
One of my all-time favorite chypres, Roja Dove Unspoken. I do love it so, but think a smaller size or decant would still suit me fine as I tend to wear it rather sparingly. And it doesn’t strike me as a scent that you’re going to douse yourself in (at least not me).
Le Labo’s Tubereuse 40 or Vanille 44. No doubt I adore them both, but owning that much of either? Well, I really could see myself wearing the happy, uplifting scent of 40 quite frequently during the spring and summer (and even in the winter for a spot of sunshine). And the Vanille is among my top three comfort scents, so — I give a hearty thumbs up to both of these. And since I wouldn’t have to foot the bill, so much the better.
Now if we’re talking discontinued juice, I have one definite, unqualified “Yes, please!!”: Jean Patou Vacances. And I think our darling Musette (and several others of you) would be right there with me on this one. You could wear it lavishly, scent your sheets with it (waves to Musette again) AND share generously with the luxury of 100 mls of this lilac lovely under your belt.
What about you? What scent would you love to have in the 100-ml. size?
Note to perfume companies: Please offer your scents in 50 mls and 100 mls, at the very least (which most do), and if you’d really like to make us happy, those 30-ml bottles and travel sprays are pretty great, too!
Happy late anniversary!
I love it when manufacturers offer smaller sizes, like 5-15mls. I’d buy more directly from stores instead of decants, but then again a sample/decant order gives so much selection and flexibility…
Fantasy 100ml lineup:
OJ Woman
L’Artisan Vanillia, Safran Troublant
Montale Indian Saffron
Lutens Santal de Mysore, MKK, Fleurs du Citronner
Dior Eau Noire, old Bois d’Argent
Gobin Daude all of them
Malle Dries van Noten
probably some Amouages and PGs
I’d be set for life…for several lifetimes actually since I’m an undersprayer.
I wonder if this is like Fantasy football or baseball? Picking my team and everything.
Do have a few 100ml bottles (went through a buying freely phase many years ago, am now in the paring-down-and-always-finish-a-sample/decant phase)
am very glad of them too.
Although when I looked at some, realized I can’t easily tell the difference between 50, 75, 90, and 100+, they all register as ‘big’
True 100+:
Montale Patchouli Leaves, Ginestet Botrytis, PG Ombre Fauve, Caron Pour un Homme, and Tea for Two (sharing with a friend)
Wear Pour un Homme the most often and the most liberally. Now that it’s cooling down, I’ll wear the others a lot–maybe I’ll go crazy and do two or even three sprays.
Thanks so much, Mim, and so glad you stopped by. I am nodding my head over and over to your comments about the smaller bottle sizes and decants, too — love those! You have some great ones listed in your Fantasy Fragrance series, especially the Gobin Daudes. I never got to sniff even one of them 🙁 but maybe that’s for the best. You can’t pine over what you never knew, right? Enjoy your big bottles (especially that lovely Tea for Two — lucky you!!).
I do not need 100 ml of any perfume – unless it’s one of my favorites that is being reformulated or discontinued. I probably have at least a dozen candidates for a back-up bottle should I learn about their ill fate. Just to give one example, it would be Ormonde Jayne Ta’if.
Hi, Undina! It really is a lot of juice. I agree with you on the back-up bottles. For me, if a 100 mls was what it took to save a favorite from an undeserving fate, then I would most likely take the plunge. 🙂
I have a 100ml bottle of Dior Pure Poison – I know a lot of people don’t like it, but I would bathe in the stuff if I could.
Jade, come sit by me — I like that one, too! Pretty much all the Poisons have agreed with me, but especially this one and the original (in low doses, however,unless I’m by myself).
Thanks for an interesting post and comments! Most of the bottles I have are 50 ml or smaller. I have only a few 100 ml bottles: a modern version of Arpege, which I did not find as bad as I had feared, a vintage EdC of no 5, L’Artisan’s Cote d’Amour, because it’s not coming in any smaller bottle than 250 ml, and Goutal’s Eau du Ciel. As there has been a lot of mention of Guerlains, I would happily own 100 or more mls of Quand Vient la Pluie and Phlitre d’Amour, or the vintage Chant d’Aromes. I would splash these with abandon then. As it is now, I take own my vintage Mitsouko, Shalimar or the divine L’Heure Bleue when in need of sniffing at something special.
Great scents, Katrin! And I love your phrase “splash … with abandon”. And so glad you mentioned the AG Ciel; that’s such a sweet, pretty scent, and I sometimes tend to forget about it. Enjoy your lovelies!
So, of course it would be the first scent which led me into the rabbit hole. 1000 flowers Reglisse Noir, then Ineke Evening Edged in Gold, Agonist Arctic Jade. Sigh, my vintage would have to be a toss up between Balmain Ivoire and Chanel 19.
And a pair of black opal and diamond earrings with a chantilly berry cake.
Excellent choices all, Jan! And gotta love the earrings and the cake, too! Sure hope you’ll share 🙂 the cake, at least!
Well, if we’re fantasizing here, then I’m going for it!
Mandy Aftel’s Secret Garden just slays me. As does Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’ Bancha. I need a lot of Bancha to really smell it so I’d love to have a giant bottle where I can bathe in it.
Agreed with Musette on the Amouage. Vats of Gold, Jubilation 25, and Dia, please!!
Last and all time Holy Grail love – Vintage Magie Noire.
Oh, yes — vats and vats of the good stuff for us all! I’ve not sniffed the Aftel or DSH scents, but enjoy the Amouages and used to love Magie Noire. Sure wish it was still around.
100 mls? Wow, that’s hard, because I already have so many that are 100 mls plus that I’ll never use in this lifetime! However, since this is a fantasy post, I confess I’ve just about polished off 30/ 60 mls. of Secrets de Sophie (originally a partial bottle) and would love 100 mls of that one. Plus Que Jamais and Candide Effluve also!
Hello, dear Sherri! Your (perfume) cup truly overfloweth! 🙂 But you are such a sweet, generous soul about it, which makes it so great. Somehow I think you’ll eventually get your 100 mls of those three. I need to sniff the Sophie one day — how would you describe it? Thanks!
I tend to go for smaller bottles whenever possible, partially to keep things more affordable, and partially because I’m a ho and like to wear a whole bunch of different stuff..lol. I love minis for this reason, but most of my FBs are around 50ml. I’ve not bought things because they only came in 100ml and I didn’t want that much. Though I guess I could always get the bottle, keep what I want and do a split of the rest.
That said, I do have a couple of 100ml bottles. One is Mitsouko. It is one of my favorites and a classic, so I figured I would always want to have some on hand. In my dream world I would have a 100ml bottle of vintage rather than the recent formulation that I have, but whatever. The other is Chanel Egoiste Cologne Concentree. Not because I really wanted that much of it, but because it was a good deal at an estate sale.
I tend to like the smaller bottles, too, Jennifer. Thirty mls or sometimes even 15, feels just about right on most scents, unless it’s one of my absolute faves. I’m glad you mentioned doing a split — that’s one way of whittling a 100-ml bottle down to a more manageable size. Thanks; I might have to try that one of these days. Enjoy your bountiful sizes of Mitsouko and Chanel!
I am much happier with the smaller bottles (esp 30 ml) because I can switch around without feeling so guilty about not wearing something that I spent major bucks on. Or if I tire of it, not such a big deal. However, I would thrilled to own humongous bottles of both Micallef Ylang and Tom Ford Shangai Lily assuming budget isn’t taken into consideration. I’ve hoarded my small bottle of the Micallef and have Shanghai Lily on my Christmas list because I’ve already blown through my decant. I’m beginning to understand how someone could wear the same scent day in and day out!
Gotta try Vacances one of these days. Can’t remember ever smelling it.
Tiara, you do have a good point there — I had guilt-tinged thoughts as well along the same lines. But I’m glad you are loving that Shanghai Lily — it is great, isn’t it? I have a decant of it as well and I’m wondering just how much longer it will last.
I desperately need a 100 ml bottle of Vanille 44. I cannot afford it though 🙁
Me, too, but since this is a fantasy post, we both get our wish! Seriously, though, that is one wonderful scent. If I had to choose only one fragrance to wear, this definitely would be a contender.
Amouage Gold.
Solanace, see Musette above — she’s right there with you on the Gold! Between the two of you, you could bathe in it for a good while 🙂 BTW, are there body products in that gorgeous scent?
Yes! There’s body cream, bath & shower gel and soap. Dont know if there’s powder too. Needless to say, they’re all pricey…
Thanks for the info! These really make me wish I had an Amouage door near me to test out these beauties.
In this fantasy post I would definitely have 100 mls of Vacances (in the Deco bottle with the little green stopper). I would have 100ml bottles of Amouage Gold (edp and the lily-gilding extrait), Lyric (ditto), Jub25 (which I already have but, hey! this is a fantasy so I’m a Greedophile) Dia, Beloved & Fate. Every Single One of the Attars (even the ones I don’t like). No5 extrait current & every decent vintage & Cuir de Russie parfum , plus Chypre & La Rose Jacqueminot.
And a bracelet set with indicolite tourmalines and 11cwt emerald-cut diamonds.
And a dark chocolate buttermilk cake.
Thank you very much 😀
xoxoxoxoA
Whoa, lady! You are really going to town there — think you might need another room added on to your house to hold it all! And the bracelet and cake sound pretty fab as well, so yum to both of them. Hope you’ll share … 😉
oooooooh yes – the attars – gimme! If we’re adding cake, it would have to be Black Forest Gateaux….
Just ordered 100 ml of Amaranthine upon hearing that it is to be discontinued. I could have lived happily with my decant, but was pushed over the edge thinking that I could never replace it. In the fantasy realm, I would love to have 100 ml of original Miss Dior before any reformulations.
Oh, Farouche, don’t you just hate it when that happens? But if you love it and would be heartbroken to be without it, then maybe it’s a good thing that you pulled the trigger on it. I definitely hear you on the Dior; there are many of us who would love some of the original Dior classics.
From my perspective if there is a fragrance that you adore but only wear occasionally – Tauer’s Une Rose Chypree is like that for me – it’s pointless owning a large amount. So – I don’t love Narciso Rodriguez for Her as much as URC but I go through it fairly fast because it’s so wearable. It may be worth my while owning 100 mls of NR for Her, but certainly not URC.
Discontinued fragrances are in a category of their own, of course.
Annemarie, you make an excellent point. I feel that way about Roja Dove Unspoken — love it but don’t wear it enough to justify having that much juice. Wearability and frequency of wear really do count for a lot.
Another 100ml bottle of Apres l’ondee. It’s hard to find especially here in the tropic where your choice is limited to dept stores perfumes. I love it very much that I spray it with abandon on my body, clothes, and even room. I think my first bottle will be empty in a couple of months if I’m not careful.
I would also love a 100ml of annick goutal songes
Lucky you to have 100 mls of that lovely! It must be wonderful to surround yourself with it in your home. Hope you can get another bottle soon.
Everything! But if I had to name names, I’d start with Bal A Versailles, Boise des Isles, Tabac Blond, Mitsouko, Amouage Gold…
Oooh, Sally, you’ve got some greats there! You would practically be set for life with huge bottles of those. I love the Bois des Iles extrait, but 100 mls would be just too much — I’d be happy with 30 mls of that one.
I sometimes wish that Chanel no 19 was available in the US in a smaller size than the 100ml. Sometimes, it’s the whole offering of 100ml or more only that can really bug me. Before Chanel started offering the Les Exclusifs line in 75ml, it was that huge 200ml bottle. But now it’s a good thing that I got that massive bottle of Cuir de Russie. Almost $300 for that huge bottle. Now I’m wishing that Mitsouko (EDP) came in different sizes. But I do wish that I had a huge vat of vintage Cuir de Russie and vintage Mitsouko though.
Hi, Eldarwen! I did not realize that the 19 wasn’t available in 50 mls. I remember everyone groaning early on about the 200-ml Les Exclusifs, but I guess that humongous size is perfect for splits and for a scent that you adore and wear quite often. So glad you got your CdR though!
CdR about 4 or 5 years ago was the perfume that made me really fall down the rabbit hole and it was much less money wise than it is today. But I do wear it quite often because it is plush and smells like a really good, expensive purse. The parfum is great as well but only used for good occasions.
I would love to have 100ml of the original Donna Karan Black Cashmere, maybe even a couple of bottles. I’d wear it as often as I wanted and would spray with abandon, instead of the cautious spritzes I wear now that I’m into my last back up bottle.
Hi, dear! Wouldn’t that be wonderful to have a huge supply of that? I’d also love such a hefty amount of Chaos, too, while we’re dreaming big. Stay on the lookout for the BC and maybe you can back-up your back-up bottle soon.
I own and truly need 100ml of Mona’s Vanille, and Lyric Woman. I also truly need, but do not own, 100ml of TF Velvet Gardenia, or perhaps 1000ml. Right now I feel very contented with a 15ml bottle of Lonestar Memories, but if it were d/c’d I would need 100ml to spray on my husband.
Hi, lady! So glad you have a good stock of your fave Mona and Amouage. I know the TF is nigh impossible to come by in full bottles, but maybe a couple of good-size decants will make you feel more secure? Keep watching the FB perfume sales and evilBay, as you never know what might turn up. Mmmm … enjoy the Lonestar Memories on your hubby — very nice!
If money were no object it would definitely be 100 ml of Chanel No.5 and I would spray it everywhere! But I don’t indulge to that extent so that I can have funds to purchase smaller amounts of other loves! 🙂
Howdy, Lynne Marie! Here in our fantasy post world, 100 mls of No. 5 are yours 🙂 But I know what you mean: Great love for one fragrance doesn’t mean you can live without other scents. Which variation of No. 5 is your favorite?
I’ve recently snagged two vintage bottles of the parfum that I am just loving but I also really like the elixir sensuel – it’s the perfect bedtime scent, a little less “whoa, mama” than the parfum!
Nice vintage finds, Lynne Marie — enjoy them! I can’t do most forms of No. 5 🙁 but I, too, like the more easygoing elixir. I’ve found that that and the Eau Premiere to be the most wearable on my skin.
Bottega Veneta, and it would be sprayed very liberally because I never seem to get tired of it.
And I did buy the large La Pausa, it’s not Noir or Oud or Candy and I figure it will never go out of style!
Hi, Jackie! BV is definitely a winner for you — and congrats on the big La Pausa. You are so right: It’s a classic scent you’ll enjoy for years.
Agreed. La Pausa is a winner.
I wish I had 100 ml of Attrape-Coeur.
Oh, yes, Diana! Such a wonderful scent, and I know several Posse folks who would be right there with you, loving 100 mls of it, too.
Mitsouko vintage parfum, No. 5 EDT from the nineties, Pear + Olive, and at this time of the year Ambre Russe which I just may buy since the smaller size seems to always be back ordered and I am an instant gratification kinda girl.
Liz, your fantasy vintage stash is impressive. I really like the Pear/Olive, too, but need to revisit Ambre Russe. If you love it that much, I say go for the 100 mls, you won’t have to worry about getting more for a long while, and you can spritz with abandon. And I’m thinking that one would make a great scent around your home, yes?
Yep, Ambre Russe is a great one for spritzing the curtains when the house suddenly smells mid-century (ashtray and cat box) and my husband doesn’t wrinkle his nose at it either which is huge. It also mixes well with white florals to make them all rich and cool weather appropriate.
I’d be happy to have 100 ml of L’Air du Desert Marrocain, 200ml oh Habit Rouge, 300ml of Guerlain Arsene Lupin Dandy…
You have mentioned some seriously giant sizes of your favorites, Fernando. I love it — you’d be practically set for a lifetime!
Despite my insane amount of perfume, I still prefer 100ml bottles. When I only have 50 mls of something, it makes me want to hoard/use sparingly. I know it is crazy but that’s how it is for me. Since I bought unsniffed I only bought 50 mls of Le Labo Ylang 49, but now that I have it and love it, I wish I had bought the 100ml size.
And BTW, congrats on 25 years of marriage! 🙂
Tara, it’s so funny that you should say that about 50-ml bottles making you want to hoard. I get that way, too, but about much smaller decants. Will you get another 50 mls of LL Ylang or spring for the 100 later on? And thanks so much for the kind anniversary wishes.
Broken record apologies, but def. LL Aldehyde 44. I’m blowing through 10ml decants at an alarming rate and if given a chance, would bu a FB at full retail (ok, maybe not full retail, but close). Wish I had discovered this passion earlier…
Oh, Rina, I feel your pain. In this fantasy post, though, you can have 100 mls easy! And why not two? Don’t give up yet; keep your eyes open and maybe someone will sell one on eBay.
I’m going Chanel as well: 31 Rue Cambon. Love that stuff. Also, Incense Oud By Killian, SL Bois de Violette, and Ylang 49. That’s a couple months groceries– but who needs food?!
Yes, Incense Oud is a great choice! Love it!
Nice choices there! I was sort of thinking of this as a fantasy wish list post, so you could enjoy all those without cutting into the grocery budget. I remember really liking Incense Out when it came out, but now I need to go back and revisit. Thanks!
The only perfume I own in 100ml is Chanel no. 19. I wear it constantly, and lots of it. I even spray my bedsheets with it from time to time because I have so darn much, and it’s not going to break the bank to replace it if I do manage to use it up within a few years. The real reason I own it in 100ml though? It was the only size available at duty free, and it was still cheaper there than buying the 50ml in the US.
You have found a great fragrance to love, and one that’s relatively easy to replace, Elena. And congrats on getting the 100 mls even cheaper than the 50 ml — wow!!
Definitely Alessandro Dell’Acqua (for women) which is now sadly discontinued. I would spray this on myself, my clothes, my bed linen, my cat ….. I just want to be surrounded by this beautiful fragrance.
Jennie, how lovely to find a great scent that you could immerse yourself in. Have not sniffed this one. How would you describe it?
Slightly complex floral with big soap sillage. Not sure what flowers I can identify – I think sweet pea and peony. I wore it for three years as a signature scent then it was discontinued. Sob.
It sounds lovely. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that you can find some more very soon!
BTW, Jennie, I will keep my eyes open for this one and if I ever see it, I’ll let you know!
Thanks!!