Favorite Perfumes

Perfumes that I love and use

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Perfume Bottle Color?

This week was quite busy, so I’m tired, and nothing serious springs to mind. So, let’s discuss this superficial topic.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #181:

What Is Your Favorite Perfume Bottle Color?

Most of us do not buy perfumes for bottles. But is there any glass color that makes your heart bit a little faster and wish that you’d like the scent hosted in it?

My Answer

I wish I could say “red”: after all, there are extremely beautiful red bottles. And yes, whenever I see the red edition of Chanel No 5, I wish I had bought it when it was available – even though I’m not too fond of that perfume. But I don’t have a single red bottle in my collection.

So, do I have a favorite color? I do! Blue bottles don’t miss to grab my attention every time! If I weren’t restraining myself, I would have collected at least 2-3 more bottles I don’t need (because I don’t like those perfumes). Luckily, there were several perfumes in blue/navy bottles that I loved and welcomed in my collection.

My Blue Bottles

How about you?

What Is Your Favorite Perfume Bottle Color?

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Saturday Question: Which of Your Current Favorites Was Released In Your Back-to-School Years?

In the US, some schools are “back in session” already, which still feels slightly surprising to me, whose school years always started on September 1st (unless it fell on Sunday). But hearing all the back-to-school ads and conversations inspired this SQ.

 

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

 

Saturday Question #177:

Which of Your Current Favorites Was Released In Your Back-to-School Years?

Hopefully, a decade (plus-minus a year) is enough disguise for those who don’t feel comfortable disclosing their exact age.

Do you currently have a favorite perfume in your collection that was released between when you started the second grade and when you went back to school for the last time? It doesn’t have to be a perfume that back then you liked (or even knew about its existence). But the bonus question is: when did you get it first?

Hint: You can use Fragrantica search to set the From/To year criterion if you can’t easily think of any specific perfume.

My Answer

Surprisingly, my collection has more than one favorite perfume from that era But let’s go with one – Chanel Coco. I didn’t know it when I was going to school. I think I knew of Chanel No 5 (though I haven’t tried it before much later – and I still don’t like it on my skin), but no other names of perfumes from that brand were even mentioned when I was growing up.

After I moved to the US, I tried many of Chanel’s mainstream perfumes (one of my relatives had them all), but I didn’t like any of them… until about 14 years ago when, thanks to a generous SA at Nordstrom, I got samples of several Chanel perfumes and fell in love with Coco and No 19. In 2010, Coco was my first full bottle purchase from Chanel ever. And this is one of those perfumes that still wows me every time I wear it.

Rusty and Chanel Coco

How about you?

 

Which of Your Current Favorites Was Released In Your Back-to-School Years?

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Saturday Question: What Was the Last Perfume in Your Collection that Wowed You?

Do you know how hard it is to put some questions in a short form? Something simple like “What is Your Favorite Beach Scent?” or “Name Your Top 10 Birch Tar Perfumes” is easy. But every time I try to ask something more complex (in form), I risk either running a 3-line question or to confusing you all. I just hope you read my explanations and do not rush to answer based on the first impression.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #175:

What Was the Last Perfume in Your Collection that Wowed You?

So, I’m not asking about the last perfume that you loved and bought. We have great collections, and I assume we like most of the fragrances we own. I’m asking about the case when you sprayed on one of your favorites from your fragrant wardrobe and thought to yourself: “Wow! It is so beautiful!” (or something along the line).

What was that perfume? When?

My Answer

This year isn’t the easiest for my family, and I noticed that my perception of perfume is slightly skewed: more often than I’d like it to, I put on a scent I own and think: “It is nice, but I remember liking/loving it much more.” It doesn’t go into the territory where I dislike those perfumes, but I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed by not being enamored of it as I used to be. So, these days, when I do admire perfume I’m wearing, I feel especially grateful to it.

The last time it happened was a couple of days ago when I reached out to Atelier Cologne Clémentine California. I always liked and enjoyed wearing it, but when I bought it six years ago, I thought it was in the same category as the other two citrus perfumes that I liked from the brand (When Life Gives You Clementines, Enjoy Them). Since then, it grew on me, becoming my favorite Atelier Cologne perfume. But that last time, as I put it on, it was that “Wow” reaction that I hope for every time I spray on my SOTD but don’t get often.

Rusty and Atelier Cologne Clementine California

How about you?

 

What Was the Last Perfume in Your Collection that Wowed You?

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Saturday Question: An Ambassador of What Brand Would You Like to be?

How is your summer going? Is it hot now where you live? Do you spend more time outside these days? I hope you’re still around to participate in this week’s Saturday Question.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #173:

An Ambassador of What Brand Would You Like to be?

I know that none of us is influential enough to be even considered for this role for any of the brands, either upcoming or well established. But just as a mental exercise, if you were given such an opportunity, an ambassador of what brand would you like to be?

My Answer

Our weather is almost perfect: it’s not going to be above 27C/80F for the next 10 days, and as soon as our hot summer sun goes down, the temperature drops, and 15 degrees difference between the hottest and the coolest temperature of the day is great to cool off everything around.

When I came up with this question, I thought that it would be hard for me to choose a brand. But as I went through the list of all of my favorite perfumes, I realized that there were just 3 brands that I love enough to consider for such an important commitment. I do not want to “take” it from you, so I won’t name the contenders (I’ll chime in if anyone mentions my two “runner ups”). The brand I chose is Amouage. Even though my biggest loves from the brand are from their earlier years, I still find their perfumes interesting and try to test everything they release (when I’m not on “no-buy,” of course). And with each next perfume they create, I hope for the next Ubar, Gold, Dia or Lyric. And not only I like many of their perfumes and aesthetics, last year on Instagram they did a series where they presented people who worked on their perfumes. Not a creative director or a perfumer, but regular workers – the woman who glues golden seals on the flacons, the man who oversees the maturation and maceration of concentrates and others. I remember thinking that it was a clever campaign.

Amouage Collection

How about you?

An Ambassador of What Brand Would You Like to be?

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Saturday Question: What Perfume Would You Wear for Your Wedding Today?

I know, I know: most of my loyal readers are either already married or do not plan to. But it’s my anniversary week, so I have weddings on my mind. And by the power vested in me by WordPress G-ds… Well, since it’s my blog, let’s talk about weddings perfumes.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #171:

What Perfume Would You Wear for Your Wedding Today?

I mean, if you were to get married today, what would be your perfume of choice?

My Answer

Many moons ago, my wedding perfume was my all-time favorite Lancome Climat. So, would it have been today, I would have still chosen it, I think. Though, I might go for my second long-time favorite – Ormonde Jayne Ta’if.

Other contenders for me would be Amouage Gold (though, it would be very similar to Climat), Amouage Dia, Armani La Femme Bleue or Les Parfums de Rosine Rose d’Amour.

How about you?

What Perfume Would You Wear for Your Wedding Today?

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Guerlain L’Art & La Matière?

After questions about the private lines of Chanel and Dior, I think it’s time to see how we fare with everyone’s darling Guerlain.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #170:

What Is Your Favorite Guerlain L’Art & La Matière?

Do you love any of them? Too many or not at all? Do you own them? Do you wear them?

Have you tried any of the new ones that they released last year?

My Answer

My most favorite perfume from the line, Cruel Gardenia, is from pre-reformulation time. I was so scared when I learned about the upcoming repackaging that I bought a backup bottle. Recently, I tried a new version at a store: without comparing it side-by-side with the one that I have, I can’t tell how much it has changed.

I smelled several new perfumes released in 2022, but since I’m not an agarwood fan, I didn’t give them any skin time, so I didn’t form a definitive impression of them. Anyway, I have at least two perfumes in the line that I would buy before any of the new ones.

Guerlain Cruel Gardenia

How about you?

 

What Is Your Favorite Guerlain L’Art & La Matière?

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Les Exclusifs de Chanel?

I was thinking about large brands’ exclusive lines and realized that it has been a while since Chanel released their last perfume in their Les Exclusifs collection (it was Le Lion, back in 2020). I was too absent recently, so I haven’t heard any news about new launches from Chanel. Have you? Meanwhile, let’s talk about our existing favorites.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #168:

What Is Your Favorite Les Exclusifs de Chanel?

Do you love any of them? Too many or not at all? Do you own them? Do you wear them?

My Answer

While I like many perfumes from this line, I have just two full bottles, a couple of minis and a few decants in my collection. So it makes sense to choose one of the two FBs. I think.

So, if I had to choose just one, it would be Cuir de Russie, probably the most favorite leather perfume in my collection. (And I’ll chime in if you mention my other favorites in your comments.)

How about you?

What Is Your Favorite Les Exclusifs de Chanel?

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Saturday Question: Does/Did Your Mother Wear Perfume?

It’s Mother’s Day weekend in the US, so Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are mothers and let’s talk about our moms and perfumes.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #164:

Does/Did Your Mother Wear Perfume?

If yes, how similar or different are your tastes? Did you share any favorites at any point in your life?

My Answer

My mom was an opportunistic perfume wearer: whenever she had them (usually gifts), she would wear them, but I don’t remember her actively pursuing them. She liked having perfumes but didn’t love them enough to prioritize spending money on them.

When I was a child, she owned and wore Lancome Climat, Dior Miss Dior, Diorella and Dior Dior. There were a couple more, but I can’t remember the names. I liked (and still like) them all but Dior Dior. And before I started getting my own perfumes, I wasted enough of hers. Later, after I moved to the US, on my visits, I would bring her different perfumes – some that I knew she liked, some that I liked, and some that didn’t work for me any longer – and she wouldn’t refuse any of them. But then, she never asked for any of them again.

Tomorrow, I will wear Diorella in her memory.

Mom and Diorella

Does/Did Your Mother Wear Perfume?

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Rainy Day Perfume?

Whether you like rain or can’t stand it, welcome the next shower or are sick and tired of it, you will experience it sooner or later. Are you ready?

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #163:

What Is Your Favorite Rainy Day Perfume?

Do you have one? Are there different perfumes for different seasons? Do you like rain?

My Answer

I’m sure that growing up I was not too fond of rain. In the area where I lived, we had maybe 4 months when it wasn’t cold, windy, snowy or otherwise unpleasant. So, if the unpleasant weather was supplemented with rain, it didn’t make it any less miserable. And if the rain would come during those long-awaited short better months, it would spoil a day or two at a time.

I don’t remember when it changed. But after leaving through a couple of droughts in California, I love rain. And this year was fantastic! We had so much rain, and I enjoyed every grey and wet day of it. I don’t have a special perfume for a rainy day. But I wore Tauer Perfumes Vanilla Flash for the last two rains (including today), and it felt just perfect. I think our rains are almost over until October. But maybe I should buy a bottle and hope for the next rainy season.

How about you?

What Is Your Favorite Rainy Day Perfume?

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A Beauty of Rose in a Single Shot

Olfactive Studio was quite popular when it first appeared on the perfume scene 10 years ago. I read reviews, many praising, but I wasn’t enticed: I didn’t find the concept too interesting, and, as shallow as it sounds, I didn’t like their first bottles. Eventually, thanks to hajusuuri, I tried the first six perfumes from the brand several years ago. And while I didn’t dislike any of them, none spoke to me enough to pursue them beyond those samples.

When the initial set of a brand’s perfumes hasn’t impressed me, I rarely follow future releases. So, I could have missed this new series altogether if it weren’t for Lucas (Chemist in the Bottle), who first did an excellent review for these perfumes and later even shared his samples with me.

It was a rare case when I liked all three perfumes I tried, but since Rose Shot seems to be the least popular in the trio, I chose to write about it.

Al Farrow The Spine and Tooth of Santo Guerro 2012

Created in 2019 by Dominique Ropion (my favorites created by him are Cacharel Amor Amor, Calvin Klein Euphoria and Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady), Rose Shot includes notes of Italian bergamot, Manila elemi, Madagascar pink pepper, Turkish rose, white flowers, Atlas cedarwood, wood mosses and Paraguay guaiac wood.

Rose Shot is, not surprisingly, a rose-centric perfume. Rose here isn’t a girly rose, but it’s neither dark nor intense. It starts citrusy and blooms into a giant rose on a backdrop of polite woodsy notes. Rose Shot isn’t controversial or extremely original, but it has some interesting nuances that might just “click” for you.

An additional check mark goes in the “Plus” column for the beautiful travel bottle: it is more expensive per ml than a large bottle of Rose Shot (which also looks great), but most of us do not need more than 10-15 ml of any perfume.

Olfactive Studio Rose Shot

If you are testing perfumes, Rose Shot is worth trying: Olfactive Studio is one of the slow brands that doesn’t churn out new fragrances every two months. So, each next release seems well thought through and crafted.