In everyday conversations, the word “interesting” often wears many hats. At times, it’s a sincere compliment, a way to acknowledge something as novel, captivating or thought-provoking. But in some contexts, “interesting” becomes a social buffer, a diplomatic way to mask uncertainty or mild disapproval. Whether it’s a friend’s questionable outfit choice or a movie that missed the mark, “interesting” is often a stand-in for “I’m not sure what to say, but I don’t want to sound rude.”
Perfumes conversations aren’t immune to that phenomenon. We often encounter scents that defy easy categorization. When words like “beautiful,” “fresh,” or “sensual” don’t quite fit or are not enough, “interesting” easily slips into the description. But what does it really mean when we call a fragrance “interesting”? Is it praise, critique or simply a placeholder for mixed emotions?
Saturday Question #247:
Is “Interesting” A Compliment In A Perfume Description?
When do you characterize perfumes as “interesting”? Do you have any examples? What do you think when you read someone else’s description that includes this adjective?
My Answer
While I was thinking about this question, I was sure that in my vocabulary this definition came mostly in combination with “but not for me” or “but I don’t want to wear it.” But once I started looking into what I actually write as impressions in my daily wear diary, I discovered that during my testing, in 1/3 of the time when I mentioned that something was “interesting,” it was for perfumes that I liked (but didn’t love from the first sniff), wanted to test more and ended up getting at least a decant (and sometimes a bottle). But in the majority of cases, while acknowledging that perfume in question wasn’t bad, I knew that I wouldn’t want to wear it.
“Interesting” perfumes that stayed just that (an example, there were many more of such): By Killian Back to Black, Eris Parfums Belle de Jour and Frederic Malle Carnal Flower. “Interesting” that became “love”: Annick Goutal Ambre Fétiche, Hiram Green Arbolé Arbolé and Serge Lutens Boxeuses.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I do my very best to watch the way in which I use “interesting.” I don’t use it in a way that suggests that I really didn’t like it, and that it really wasn’t all that “interesting” after all. A majority of the time what I am trying to express is that there are many aspects of the perfume that interesting or intrigue me, but maybe I need more time to explore the perfume. Once such perfume that I currently find “interesting” is Dark Vinyl Musk by Bohoboco. An example of “interesting” that became “love” would be Fumerie turque by Serge Lutens.
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I find most of SL’s perfumes interesting in a good sense. Interestingly ( ;) ), some of them over time returned to that category after being favorites for a while (e.g. Ambre Sultan).
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I do find myself using interesting in the way of “I recognize the skill and artistry of this perfume but not gonna wear it”. I can only think of a few that I really say what I mean (Angel smells horrible on my skin, and I had a sample of Tyrannosaurus Rex once that was just disgusting to my nose 😂). I try not to use interesting when I think something is boring but trying to be “nice”. That doesn’t move the conversation forward at all! I definitely would keep an “interesting“ around for a second try – I did this early on with chypre perfumes and discovered that I actually love many of them, once I really began challenging my nose.
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Chypres for me were also “an acquired taste”!
My “interesting” is often for my personal use: I would write that in my perfume diary as a part of the impression – so, it’s not like anyone else will read it. But it still might be at least partially a polite way of saying “I don’t want to wear it.”
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I think I default to saying that when I don’t know what else to say, but the object is something I’d have to spend more energy on to understand (though don’t necessarily want to do so). If I smell a mix of ingredients I can’t quite make out, and the scent doesn’t resonate with me intuitively, I might say it’s interesting. Maybe Tom Ford Black Lacquer is an example, in a positive way.
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I agree with you! TF Black Lacquer is interesting! :)
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I don’t tend to use “interesting” as a disguised criticism of a fragrance; I think I tend to use it, as others have said, when I’m intrigued but it will take more time to figure the fragrance out and I haven’t yet landed on an appropriate description or fallen in love with it.
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Very thought provoking question (or perhaps, “interesting”). In a sea of new releases coming out on a seemingly daily basis, I use interesting as a high compliment when describing a fragrance. Having smelled literally thousands of perfumes over the past decade, it takes something truly unique (or interesting) to get my attention and even consider if it is worth more time and money. I’m tired of the same basic combinations and dupes, give me something interesting to ponder and enjoy!
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I use interesting to describe a fragrance that is well done and which intrigues me, makes me want to explore it further.
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When I read interesting when applied to a perfume I tend to translate it to mean “I never want to sniff this again!”
Seems I’m wrong, reading this piece & all your comments
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A very thought provoking post! It’s a bit like relationships: there’s love at first sight and friendships with “interesting” people that may grow into love. I was going to mention Hiram Green (Slowdive) too as examples of merely interesting, also FM Synthetic Jungle, that Icelandic range whose name escapes me though I have blogged about it somewhere, and Bogue Profumo MAAI.
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