Do you know how hard it is to put some questions in a short form? Something simple like “What is Your Favorite Beach Scent?” or “Name Your Top 10 Birch Tar Perfumes” is easy. But every time I try to ask something more complex (in form), I risk either running a 3-line question or to confusing you all. I just hope you read my explanations and do not rush to answer based on the first impression.
Saturday Question #175:
What Was the Last Perfume in Your Collection that Wowed You?
So, I’m not asking about the last perfume that you loved and bought. We have great collections, and I assume we like most of the fragrances we own. I’m asking about the case when you sprayed on one of your favorites from your fragrant wardrobe and thought to yourself: “Wow! It is so beautiful!” (or something along the line).
What was that perfume? When?
My Answer
This year isn’t the easiest for my family, and I noticed that my perception of perfume is slightly skewed: more often than I’d like it to, I put on a scent I own and think: “It is nice, but I remember liking/loving it much more.” It doesn’t go into the territory where I dislike those perfumes, but I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed by not being enamored of it as I used to be. So, these days, when I do admire perfume I’m wearing, I feel especially grateful to it.
The last time it happened was a couple of days ago when I reached out to Atelier Cologne Clémentine California. I always liked and enjoyed wearing it, but when I bought it six years ago, I thought it was in the same category as the other two citrus perfumes that I liked from the brand (When Life Gives You Clementines, Enjoy Them). Since then, it grew on me, becoming my favorite Atelier Cologne perfume. But that last time, as I put it on, it was that “Wow” reaction that I hope for every time I spray on my SOTD but don’t get often.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Gorgeous photo of Rusty!
Lyric Woman. It’s sometime ago, I found a decant with a blurry label, sniffed it & thought “Very nice, what is it?” Sprayed with abandon & 20 minutes in a recognisable Lyric Woman walked in. “Wow!!!” Was my reaction.
The other is Papillon Hera but she’s more stealthy & gets a long joyous sigh
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Lyric is one of those perfumes for me as well. I like Hera as well, but I don’t own it yet, so I can’t check that effect :)
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Puredistance No. 12 for me. I don’t wear it often, but when I do I fall in love all over again. Rusty is cute as ever of course.
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This was a good picture of Rusty: he was curious and cooperative :)
No 12 for me is a quieter admiration. But I love it still.
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Hey there RUSTY!
Not so long ago I wore Cabochard to write about it Undina. It had been a couple of months since last I wore it. Hit the spot so perfectly and I sighed with happy contentment. What a stunner.
Portia xx
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My old favorites surprise me like that from time to time. And then I become sad because those were times when mass-market high-end perfumes were great…
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That photo says a lot, from the cloth pattern to Rusty’s look of “surprise!” Maybe Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio for me. I hadn’t worn it in a while because last time I did, I was sick and kept smelling Hedione gone bad. However, I tried it again a couple of days ago and remember thinking “it’s so good!!!” The right amount of citrus, lavender, green, fig…
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It’s a canvas bag that I got as GWP for that perfume. Rusty was interested with the rope handles.
The situation you described is the reason I avoided wearing my favorites when I’m sick.
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Great question, Undina, but such a difficult choice to make.
As you mentioned, many of us have perfumes in our collection because we love them. I would have to say the perfume that continues to wow me is a bit vintage, but great nonetheless, Marquis by Crown Perfumery.
I agree with Nose Prose, Rusty looks a bit surprised by your choice.
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Rusty does the surprised look well: I have many pictures with those wide open eyes :)
I don’t do real vintage with my perfume collection, but a couple that I have (e.g. Miss Dior parfum) keep amazing me every time I wear them.
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My vintage perfumes get special care, and if they are of good quality, they will stand the test of time.
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Body Fantasies Fresh White Musk. I keep the body spray in my office which has no air conditioning. I sprayed myself the other day and thought wow!! This smells better than some of the high end niche in my collection for a fraction of the cost.
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Drat not in the UK
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One day it will be…. And it’s cheap as chips!!!
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I haven’t heard about that brand. I googled it now. I wonder if it can be found in any B&M store, or is it an online-only brand?
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Walmart ;)
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Ashoka and Mohur. I found the samples while doing some decluttering. I remember trying them years ago and not really liking them. Now I am wowed, or more than that. Love! I bought the travelspray, first Ashoka and a few weeks later Mohur. Found a sample of Rahele, gorgeous. No travelspray so I need to wait for an occasion…well…I turned 60 this year…
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I I like Ashoka (and also have one of the ”take-two” bottles). Mohur is nice, and I still have something left in my old travel bottle, but it never became “love” for me. I like the version in the red bottle more.
I recently re-discovered Pichola: I didn’t like it initially, but then it won me over.
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Rusty is so adorable! He looks so much like my Isabelle!!!❤
Well, I had a recent sample of Habanita and decided to apply it prior to working outside in our garden and pasture on a very hot, humid day! I doused it on and to my surprise, it worked very well in the heat. I’m currently waiting on my full bottle!😂
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I agree! For me to look good it takes a couple of hours of dressing up, putting on makeup and taking a dozen of photos. For him – just a turn of his head (or tail) :)
Some perfumes bloom wonderfully in the heat. My favorite transformation was Traversee du Bosphore.
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I love it when you include pictures of Rusty :)
Hope you and your family are as well as possible, under the circumstances. I bet the fragrances are still special to you, but get dwarfed by what you’re going through.
Anytime I wear Grandiflora Michel – It’s so special. One of the nicest things I own, and it just never fails to impress me. It’s beautiful and I’ve had it for nine years. I remember winning it, and loving the correspondence with the women who run the site. I remember what life was like then-insert shudder here. That’s what I love about perfume people-they just get it, you know? I’ve only ever found kindness and support. Amazing.
Scintillating Saturday question, as always:) Give Rusty a scratch between the ears from me, please. I have to go peel Chicken off the ceiling-thunder and lightning here, and I bet the power will go soon.
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Thank you, Carole, for all the kind words (Rusty got a treat in your name :) ).
I like Michel, but I wish I had the old bottle: the newer one isn’t as nice, and it takes away something from the experience.
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What a great question! I’d say my most recent Wow! from something I’ve had for a while was Un Jardin Sur le Nil. It is just so refreshing in this oppressive heat and humidity, and those opening notes are a real Wow! for me.
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Oldherbaceous, I remember being introduced to Sur le Nil in December, and loving it! Those slightly sharp notes in the cold of winter, and the incense notes-it’s pretty perfect, isn’t it? Good on summer and winter. I’ve repurchased it more than once and drained each bottle :)
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One of my favorites as well!!❤
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I haven’t revisited Un Jardin Sur le Nil for years! I still have some left in my bottle, so I should check if it’s still good.
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Also, great photo of Rusty! All his beautiful colors show up so well in it.
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Parfums de Nicolai’s riviera verbena
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I need to check if I have a sample of it.
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I am so late to the party! I’ll take the easy way out and say Tauer Dark Passage since I haven’t worn it in a while and I just wore it this week. Wow! It is quite rare these days as in no stock anywhere due to its very limited and discontinued status. Nevertheless, if one is not supposed to hoard, this is one that I have been hoarding.
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I remember that you bought several travel bottles of it while it was still available. I’ve never tried it, so I wouldn’t know what I’m missing (which is a good thing since it’s not available).
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I can’t remember the last perfume, sorry! Guerlain Plus Que Jamais was probably one of my biggest ever “wow”s, and I still regret not buying a bottle.
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