I’m running a little late this week because in the last moment, I decided to make a question that I had into a longer post (hopefully, coming up soon), and then I had to quickly find another SQ that would feel right for today. But here we go.
Saturday Question #219:
What Is the Most Youthful Perfume in Your Collection?
Leaving aside that we all subscribe to the idea that any perfume can be worn by any gender or age and not trying to use any formal definition of “youthful perfume” – just based on your internal feeling and personal classification, what perfume from those that you have in any format (not counting samples) you would consider the most youthful? If it helps, imagine that you would want to make a decant for a 12 years old niece or recommend to a 14 years old son of a friends whose tastes you do not know but had to limit the choice only by what you have at home. If 12-14 is too young, try 16-18.
My Answer
I think I mentioned it before, I come with these Saturday Questions first and then start thinking how I would answer. So, imagine my surprise when I went through the list of perfumes I own and realized that I would have a really hard time making that decant. Looking through my favorites, I find them either not interesting enough or … “too much” for an imaginary teen or adolescent.
But I can’t not answer my own question, can I? So, I spent some time sifting through the list and came up with three perfumes I think might fit the bill: Jo Loves No. 42 The Flower Shop, Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede and Ineke Hothouse Flower.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Just selecting from bottles: I would pick Lolita Lempicka Sweet, Kenzo Flower, and Goutal Quel Amour! None of these are regular wears for me. I bought Sweet because I like the LL Apple bottles and wanted a red one; Flower was a gift from French friends who thought it appropriate for me when I was younger – but too powdery for me; and Quel Amour is a little too red berry-ish for me but I think would be fun for someone young.
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I was thinking about Flower as a suitable choice, but all I have is a sample, so it didn’t count. I smelled the other two at some point but don’t remember them.
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Hi Undina and crew,
Youthful?!? That’s loaded.
The gold butterfly lid and floral bottle on my La Nuit de Bohème Anna Sui heads pretty teenager-ish and the fragrance is sweet citrus fruitchouli.
ZARA Red Temptation is a BR540 replicant but a very little less nausea inducing than BR540 or Cloud. (I love to smell this oeuvre wafting past but on me, NO)
Guerlain Black Perfecto is a perennial favourite amongst the various 14-21 girls I buy for. Cherry/almond/patchouli, it’s sweet but not cloying, more sophisticated. They ask for it now.
Portia x
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To prove my point about not having this type of perfumes in my collection: I haven’t even tried any of those that you mentioned! :)
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This is a really tough one! I’ve had to refer to my Fragrantica wardrobe.
For teenage girls I would choose 4160Tuesdays Tokyo Spring Blossom. Light naturally sweet florals & tart raspberry. Balanced & interesting enough to keep sniffing. Like a face blooming into womanhood that still has a flush & freckles.
Boys & girls. More my ballpark. Clarins Eau Dynamisante, OG 4711, LPRN Eau Fraiche, Nenuco Cologne & EA Green Tea
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Yay! I know at least one perfume from your list – EA Green Tea! I agree with this choice.
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Interesting question! My 12 year old son has recently taken more interest in my collection and he always gravitates to the sweet ones. He likes Cacharel’s Yes, I am! even with the lipstick bottle so, maybe that should be on the list. I also would say, PdM Delina or Lolita Lempicka Sweet.
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I agree about Delina: if I were to own it, I would have included it in my list too.
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This is a tough one. I have two of the three on your list – Peony & Blush Suede and Hothouse Flower (wearing it today). I haven’t tried any of the Jo Loves collection yet. I’d probably go with Jo Malone’s Wild Bluebell.
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I agree with Bluebell! It’s a good choice.
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Great question! The most actually youthful scent in my collection is Nicolai’s Petit Ange, a light lilac and tangerine fragrance for children. It’s very soft, light, fresh. For teens, I’d say any of the Zara Emotions fragrances by perfumer Jo Malone are suitably youthful, and affordable.
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I haven’t tried any of these two, but by your description, they sound like a great choice for the task.
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Probably Mon Guerlain and Zoologist Cow. Both seem to be popular with younger people.
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Agree about Mon Guerlain but haven’t tried Cow. I wonder: does it smell of milk?
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Yes, Cow has a nice milk note. It’s like drinking a cold glass of milk in a spring meadow with flowers and hay in the background.
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Possibly the most youthful fragrance I own is one I wore on Saturday – Kabeah Secret de K.
Per the brand: Secret de K, Woman’s Eau de Toilette:
Top: Petitgrain, Green Mandarine, fresh Mint, Galbanum
Heart: Geranium, Linden, Wild Strawberry
Base: Patchouly, Gayacwood, Tonka beans.
Really fresh and uplifting with a creamy strawberry effect.
The other is Petite Cherie, which will be gifted to my granddaughter in a couple of years.
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Petite Cherie was on my short list! It is youthful, I agree.
I haven’t even heard about Kabeah!
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Hmm, probably Blush by Jeff Banks, which is a dupe of Miss Dior apparently. I gave away SJP Lovely, though that would have fitted the bill as well. And possibly Yves Rocher Quelques Notes d’Amour or L’Eau par Kenzo Eau Indigo pour Femme. One was a gift, and one I bought blind off someone very persuasive. ;)
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I’m not familiar with any of your picks! That shows how far my collection is from anything youthful :)
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I gifted a travel spray of Le Labo Thé Noir to a 7-year-old a few years ago, although that’s not one I’d consider age appropriate! 😆 (It was either that or Lys 41, and she chose Thé Noir.) Now, I’d say maybe Givenchy Rêve d’Escapade, which is fruity floral, The Body Shop White Musk, or EA Green Tea as Alityke mentioned.
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Le Labo wouldn’t be the first brand that comes to mind when I think of a younger crowd, leave alone kids :) She’ll grow up to be a perfumista!
And I’m with you and Alityke on Green Tea.
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