Last week, as we discussed Mugler‘s Angel, the topic of this (and some other) perfume’s flankers was raised several times, and I realized that we haven’t discussed this question in the SQ series.
Saturday Question #213:
What Are Your Top 5 Favorite Flankers?
Do you have any in your collection? Do you consider them independent, “stand-alone” perfumes, or do you think that they are secondary to the original one?
My Answer
In my pre-perfumista years, I expected perfume variations (the word “flanker” in its perfume-related meaning came to my life much later) to be exactly that: an almost identical composition with one or two notes intensified or maybe added. And I remember my surprise and indignation when some of those new versions smelled completely different from their predecessors.
Since then, I learned that in many cases, the only common denominator is the part of the name (and the desire to cash out on the popularity of the original one). While I can’t say with any confidence that my attitude towards flankers is affected by my past thoughts, somehow it happened that my top 5 favorites are those that still have the DNA of the original perfumes.
- Ormonde Jayne Ta’if Elixir
- Thierry Mugler Angel Taste of Fragrance
- Givenchy Amarige Mimosa
- Prada Infusion Mandarine
- Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Mimosa
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I don’t think I know that many flankers except by name, unless you count different concentrations or formulations that came out after the original, such as OJ Montabaco Intensivo and Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau EdP (the EdT came first). If I get attached to an original, I don’t tend to be as interested in trying all the flankers.
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Just learned that the different concentrations are not flankers but “line extensions.” Remembering that I liked Terre d’Hermès Eau Giclée, Black Opium, and Alien Goddess… but I don’t own any of those.
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It’s interesting, I didn’t think about it before, but of the five I mentioned, only Amarige Mimosa came to me on its own, for the other four I started with the original one.
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For summer I enjoy Lancome Ô de l’Orangerie. l’Homme Ideal Cologne. LPRN Black Perfecto. Shalimar Ode a La Vanille Mexique. Maybe Alien Fusion. I have a few others in minis, but these are my FBs that I actually wear!
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I remember liking that Shalimar flanker, even though the original doesn’t work for me.
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Shalimar Millesime Tonka, Hypnotic Poison, Avon Far Away Royale, Opium Secret de Parfum & Madonna Truth or Dare Naked.
I can be such a basic perfumista!
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GAH! How could I forget Madonna Truth or Dare Naked?!? What a stunner.
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That’s not basic! Those are all fantastic classics.
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I’m not sure I tried any of the flankers from your list… maybe Shalimar, but I’m not sure. The reason: none of their predecessors was among my favorites, so I could have just missed that there were flankers.
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All the Millesimes are worth trying but sell out quickly on release but some do find their way to French discounters. Shalimar Initial is now part of the Legendes line & called Initial. A rather powdery iris that I enjoy but not in my top 5.
Haven’t you tried Hypnotic Poison?
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I don’t think so. I didn’t like the original, so I didn’t try anything else.
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Ooooh you must try Hypnotic Poison edt (the EdP isn’t the same).
It’s a ground almond fragrance with some florals. Bears no resemblance to its forebearers
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I share a few of these with you. I had Hypnotic Poison Elixir (sadly as rare as hen’s teeth now) still have the HP in edt. The Opium SdP and Madge ToD N. All exceptional fragrances in their own right.
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We share a love for many of the same fragrances Cassieflower
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OOOHH! Undina. This one is a real thinker.
Eau des Merveilles Bleue by Hermès
Interlude Black Iris by Amouage
Shalimar Ode a la Vanille Sur la route de Madagascar by Guerlain
Suede Osmanthe 5.1 by Pierre Guillaume
and also on my grab tray, seeing a LOT of use over summer
Green Tea Mimosa by Elizabeth Arden
Nice to snap with you on one.
Portia xxx
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Though I do not own, a bottle, but I liked Amouage and Guerlain from your list.
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YAY! Three matches. That is nice.
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I didn’t even realise that Suede Osmanthe is a flanker. I love that one too.
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YAY! Snap Cassieflower.
Anything with a dot then number for PG is a riff on the original idea.
Portia xx
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No flankers here, Undina. I had to double check. 🤣
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Amazing!
Did you at least like any?
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Like yourself, a few of the Shamilars.
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excellent question! Off the top of my head:
I know that’s one extra 😉
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I’ve been thinking about sampling the Flowerbomb Rose. I’ll definitely be sampling it now@
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I don’t think that different concentrations can be considered flankers (Nose Prose in the comment above says these are called “line extensions”), so you’re fine.
I haven’t tried Memoir extrait. is it much different from EdP? I have Dia extrait on my wish list to try. Memoir is another one of my Amouage favorites, so I’m curious.
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Rusty is looking very handsome as always! My favorite flankers are Shalimar Initial (love this one), Shalimar Millesime Tonka, Shalimar Mellesime Iris, Chanel No. 5 L’Eau and Tresor Lumineuse.
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I tried a couple of Shalimar flankers and liked them, but since I don’t like the original, I never pursued those beyond small decants.
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I have quite a few flankers without having the original in my collection. It’s a bit of a toughy this one but I’ll try to keep it to top 5.
1 – Guerlain Parfum Initial
2 – Alien Essence Absolue
3 – Angel Cuir
4 – Opium Secret de Parfum
5 – Lancôme Ô D’Azure
I could pick at least five more but for once I’ll answer the question as asked 😃
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:)))
I tried the first two from your list.
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I don’t think I could come up with five flankers unprompted, such is my sketchy memory these days, though I do very much like Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere, while Opium Fleur de Shanghai was much easier on the nose than the original.
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I think you shared with me a sample of that Opium flanker, and it was nice.
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