Recently, while preparing the SQ about Serge Lutens perfumes, I was looking through their current offerings and discovered that now they offer something called confit de parfum. The investigation revealed that it stands for “oil perfume” (which wasn’t obvious from description on the brand’s site).
Saturday Question #231:
Do You Own Oil-based Perfumes?
Do you have any in your collection? When do you wear them? Do you like them in principle?
My Answer
Over years, I tried several oil perfumes when a sample came my way, and some of those that I tried weren’t bad. Even though I think that perfumes in high concentrations (extraits) are better when applied dabbed, for some reason oil-based perfumes aren’t “my thing.” But I do have several.
First, I bought a mini bottle of Milk by Ava Luxe. It reminds me my favorite Sweet Milk by Jo Malone, and I enjoy wearing it in colder months.
Two years ago I bought a sample set of Amouage attars. I brought it with me to the vacation in Sedona, and since then revisited them several times, but I haven’t warmed up to any of the six attars enough to want more.
How about you?



Hey Undina and crew,
Yeah, I have a few oils. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz sends only oils overseas. Also a few others from various houses and some from India nearly 25 years ago.
They almost never get the wear though. I love to spritz and waft.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 3 people
Those oil-based perfumes might be a good option for a plane trip or wearing to bed when you don’t want a sensory overload.
LikeLike
Amusingly, when I wear perfume,e to bed I want it to be completely overwhelming so I can lose myself in it and fall asleep on a journey.
Good idea for planes, and movies or dinner Undina.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a number of DSH voile de parfum mini rollerballs of scents I really wanted to try and where the price point/size of sprays was beyond what I wanted to spend. I do wear those regularly. Other than that I have a labdanum oil from Olympic Orchids (use in the winter when my skin is super dry) and two of Andy Tauer’s oils – the Rose Delight and Wowilla versions, which I sometimes use for layering and sometimes alone (they are both great).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m not familiar with any of those that you mentioned but from my experience with Andy’s perfumes: since I want to use even his EdPs dabbed, oils might be not a bad idea.
LikeLike
I also prefer sprays, but I did get a small vial of perfume oil of meltmyheart by strangelove when it was on sale. Also hardly wear it… but will probably think of it more as the weather gets cooler.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m drawned to Strangelove perfumes, but I just can’t bring myself to paying their prices to test (I might have paid the price for actual perfume if I were to love it but I don’t want to pay for testing).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a few oil based decants from DSH, but I prefer sprays.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too.
Why did you go for DSH’s oils? You’re not overseas, so you could have done regular EdPs.
LikeLike
I just wanted to try the oil based scents to see what they were like. I had never tried any before. Now I know they are not for me.
LikeLike
I just wanted to try the oil based scents to see what they were like. I had never tried any before. Now I know they are not for me.
LikeLike
I checked my stash-I don’t have any. I have Neroli Portofino dry oil, but that’s it. I saw those SL products and I was intrigued, and if I could find them on sale I’d probably try them. Also like the looks of his home line.
The kitten needs a name! She’s about 900 g of pure attitude. Right now she’s practising hunting sunbeams. She likes to purr and snuggle, and she’s bringing me a lot of happiness. I wasn’t sure about getting another, because it felt disloyal to my other cat. Everything this cat does reminds me of other cats I’ve owned so it somehow feels ok. Thanks for letting me talk about her when your own loss is still so recent. I love your love for Rusty-he was an iconic beast. Loved his gentle ways and how you incorporated him in your posts and pictures.
Sincerely,
Carole
LikeLiked by 1 person
A cat name is a serious matter!
A couple of ideas: Zara (“radiance”) or Zia (“light”) – both in Arabic.
I enjoy seeing other cats, talking about them and even spending time with them: they all aren’t Rusty, they all are just some other cats – so, it doesn’t influence me at all in terms of how I feel about Rusty, missing him and grieving his departure. But thank you for mentioning him and recognizing my feelings.
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestions-I’ll try them out, and let you know :). I posted her picture on insta, if you’d like to see what she looks like.
LikeLike
I have only one oil, bought as holiday souvenir. Dulce Alma de Canarias. All powder, pollen & white florals.
I very rarely wear it, I enjoy spritzing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Judging by everyone’s answer (and by the number of people who decided to participate in this SQ :) ), you’re in a good company.
LikeLike
I have a few oil-based perfumes, my biggest concern is the way these perfumes can stain clothing. While they are very enjoyable, they rarely get worn.
LikeLike
I haven’t looked at it from this angle! Probably because the places i apply perfumes are “remote” from my clothes (wrists and high up my neck).
LikeLike
I lost a very nice white shirt to staining from oil-based perfume applied on the inner elbow. 🙁
LikeLike
Yes, I have a few – Monyette Paris, which I haven’t used in forever. Aromatics Elixir, in Parfum concentration, it’s gorgeously creamy, if AE could ever be described as such. Magie Noire, just too incredible for words. It’s quite old but has held up perfectly. I got this one maybe five or six years ago and when I managed to ease the glass stopper out of the bottle it was so perfectly as I remembered from my first bottle that my eyes teared up. Hopeless case I am😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know there were oil-base versions of AE and Magie Noir! Those should be a wonderful treat! You are lucky to get them in your collection. Now all you need is time and desire to wear them ;)
LikeLike
Pingback: Saturday Question: What Brand Has The Best Atomizer? – Undina's Looking Glass
No bottles of oil-based perfume, only a few samples – probably Ava Luxe, Maria McElroy’s Aroma M, that sort of brand. Maybe DSH as has been mentioned.
LikeLike