With shelves already full of niche bottles and cherished vintages (and with the market constantly flooded by new releases that often feel more prolific than original), it’s easy to lose interest in what’s happening in mainstream perfumery… Until one day you walk through a department store, pass a duty-free counter, or receive a sample with a purchase – and you just have to try it!
Saturday Question #291:
What Was the Last Mainstream Perfume You Tried?
Was it something you sought out intentionally, or did you just happen to come across it? Did you like it? Would you consider wearing it?
My Answer
I received a sample of Burberry Her Elixir de Parfum with a Sephora order. I didn’t request that sample, they just sent it instead of some beauty packet I chose during the checkout. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have probably even notice it in the store. But since it was already there, I tested it. Twice. I didn’t like it. It’s cloyingly sweet in the opening, plasticky-fruity, quite artificial and not particularly tenacious… though that might not be a bad thing in this case. I wouldn’t want to wear it, but as a skin scent, it becomes tolerable about 90 minutes into its development. I wouldn’t mind a shower gel with that faint residual vanilla+sandalwood combo.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I was going to say the Estee Lauder Legacy collection, but I’m not sure that’s exactly mainstream. I ordered the sample set. Azuree was my first perfume love, but I find the modern non-Legacy reformulation too bitter. I love the drydown of the Legacy version, but I’m not sure about the opening. I’ll probably finish the sample, not sure yet if I’d buy a bottle.
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I’m about to list Azuree Legacy as I rarely reach for it. Fortunately I bought it cheaply when an influencer listed her PR Legacy bottles.
It’s a shame the Atlantic stands between us
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I consider Estee Lauder mainstream, but it holds a special place in my heart because I used to love Tuscany per Donna.
I also bought that sample set. It was one of good purchases, though I don’t think any of them will become a full bottle.
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I try to be open minded about all fragrances & will happily try anything. I recently bought CK Contradiction Woman after years of havering.
Drive by sniffage would be a spritz of EL Pleasures one one arm to check out the current formulation (still excellent) and Ariana Grande Cloud Intense on the other arm to see if I can smell it. The answer was no, I am as anosmic to Intense as I am to cloud.
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I haven’t tried CK Contradiction in so many years that I’m not sure what was the last version that I tried. I see it online on many discounters – I wonder how different it is from what it used to be.
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I really had to dial back time to answer this Saturday question, Undina. I generally don’t get the chance to sample mainstream perfumes much, since I don’t find myself in retail environments that carry them. A few months ago, I was at a retailer, who just happen to have a Sephora on the premises. I thought I’d take a look, and did sample a few things. I thought, what the heck. What did I think overall? All were just mediocre at best, and nothing I would ever spend money on.
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None of those even sound interesting :)
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Hmmm, I can’t remember what the last mainstream sniff was. I have been trying mostly niche or semi-niche.
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Is it because you don’t go to retailers where you would be able to try them, or you go there but are not interested in trying mainstream perfumes?
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A bit of both, I think. I just don’t have the enthusiasm to try stuff.
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Most recently was probably the Glossier You flanker (Fleur) at Sephora, because I had liked the beginning phase of the original but not the later phase. Fleur listed osmanthus as a note, which always beckons me to at least try it. A nice floral musky scent, but I’m not into the heavy Ambrox base.
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I think I tried 3 of those Glossier You perfumes in Sephora. They were… OK, probably.
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I tried the Burberry Goddess Parfum which was also cloyingly sweet. Victor and Rolf Spicebomb Metallic Musk was ok. It felt like just a lighter version of the original, so it was a bit redundant.
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I remember liking Burberry Brit, but that was the only perfume from the brand that I ever liked, so at some point I stopped even checking what they offer.
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I tried the latest Libre flanker with a berry note. It was better than I expected, not too sweet, a bit tart. I rather liked it, but it wasn’t remarkable. A fragrance really has to impress me now before I consider buying a bottle. Anyway, I spent my post-holiday perfume $ on the Danner & Fleming Iris Trousseau, so any other purchases will have to wait.
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For many years, I wasn’t considering FB purchases for mainstream perfumes but kept trying them. These days, I rarely want even sniff them on paper.
Iris Trousseau – those notes sound really interesting. I should get a sample.
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Hey Undina, tried, fell madly in love with and bought.
A Drop d’Issey. So gorgeously weird and satisfying. It is also beautiful.
Portia xx
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Where did you try it? It looks like an older perfume, I don’t think it’s available in stores any longer.
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I bought an 8ml FragranceNet decant. So affordable when you add then to a sale.
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