Spoiler alert, but not what you think

spoilerWhen you see the phrase “spoiler alert,” what comes to mind? Someone giving away an unexpected plot twist or the final climactic scenes in a new movie or best-selling book? (Note: I once sat very near the movie critic when I worked at a major daily newspaper and had to routinely cover my ears when he’d start talking about a film he’d just seen!) Or someone spilling the beans about who just won the big game? My DH, a huge baseball and football fan, often will tape the game and then go to great lengths to avoid finding out what happened so he can enjoy the game in its entirety.

But the spoiler alert I’m talking about today refers to perfume. How many of you have tried on a fragrance, loved it, and then somewhere along the way in its development, something spoils it for you?

I’ve had this happen before several times, especially concerning the notes of oud and cumin. Not good on my skin at all! I’ve learned the hard way that once that happens, that scent goes into the giveaway pile.

But a few years back, I tried something at Neiman Marcus that I absolutely adored and a lesser nemesis put the kabosh on it. Ramon Monegal created a scent for Neiman Marcus called Pure Mariposa. I sprayed it when it first debuted, instantly swooned and was THIS close to buying a bottle (which is a pretty big deal for me). But I decided to give it some time, just to make sure. And 15 minutes later as I left accessories and was rounding back toward fragrance, the love affair was over, just like that. The exuberant floral accord (tuberose, gardenia and orchid) was invaded by something that smelled suspiciously to me like fig, which wasn’t listed anywhere in the notes. Now I’m not a big fan of fig, but I don’t hate it either. But whatever that was — plopped right in the middle of my glorious floral fantasy — was the ultimate spoiler, a deal-breaker for sure.

I’m nothing if not fair-minded, so I tried Pure Mariposa on this weekend, just to give it another chance. But alas, the outcome was the same. So to salvage my fragrant wrists and put me in better spirits, I dabbed Carnal Flower atop one wrist and Byredo’s Tulipe on the other. Ah, much better.

What about you? Any scents that rocked your world, until all of a sudden they didn’t?

  • CH says:

    Generally, many patchouli notes have hindered an otherwise nice incense. When paired with lavender, it turns to urine. It’s enough to make me puke.

  • March says:

    BAHAHAHA MONSIEUR YUCK!!!!! Yeah, if something completely different is going to pop up I better be wild for it, or it’s a deal-breaker. Interestingly I have more tolerance for the reverse — I’ll put up with top notes I don’t love for a drydown I want.

  • Maya says:

    Puredistance Opardu. Beautiful opening. Then….. I really tried to get this to work for me, but the dry-down is a dull, boring, blah smell. It’s a total deal breaker. I want a perfume that works from beginning to end, especially at those prices.

  • Musette says:

    LOL! So many. SOOOO many! My biggest changes are in the lily quadrant – for some reason, the ubiquitous musk drydown (even if it’s not Portia’s ‘generic’ but so often is) combined with the lily is nauseating to me – I have swooned over Un Lys, Lys Carmin, etc) and about 30 minutes into it, have had a near-meltdown due to the musk. Cartier Lys Rose is one of the few lily scents I can wear – I think the raspberry note keeps the musk at bay. I have a full bottle (or two) and wear the pants off it!

    I’d tell you more but I (and y’all ) would be here all damb day !!!

    (and p.s. I feel the same about Monegal)

    xoxoxoA

  • Portia says:

    Heya Ann,
    Not a single change as such, or a note that sours or skews. My problem is with the fragrances that are stellar for about 15 -20 minutes then flatten out into generic anonymous woods and musk. It’s not that I hate this approach but there are already a dozen or more fragrances in the collection that do this bait & switch. They rarely get a wear so why would I plonk down cash for more.
    I know that these are excellent work and office scents and that they have a real place on the perfume counter but I don’t work in that environment so it’s not needed.
    Portia xx

  • matty1649 says:

    Baccarat Rouge smells wonderful on my daughter and Grandaughters. When I had a spray it started off ok,then yuk !!! Glad I didn’t buy it.

  • Gina says:

    I bought a full bottle of Champs Elysees many years back. It got ugly after I brought it home. Nope.

  • Jo says:

    I am a fig hater. Loathe it, if it’s in the notes I don’t even bother to to test anymore.

    Not a fan of makeup powder scents either. It’s strange because the powder in Bal à Versailles is lovely and fuzzy and cozy on me. But Shalimar? Absolutely rancid.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Jo! I still don’t hate fig, but this has pushed me closer to it. And Shalimar does not like me at all either, so don’t feel bad.

    • CH says:

      Shalimar only works for me in the edc and edt. The citrus/amber/powder is rather bad on me. I like many Guerlain fragrances but something about the newer concentrated versions don’t work. I don’t get the “incense” or vanilla part.