Lazy Friday poll ~ you read, you buy... :: Now Smell This

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Lazy Friday poll ~ you read, you buy...

Posted by Robin on 9 May 2008

Back in March, I asked how many of you thought the then-upcoming book Perfumes: The Guide would impact your fragrance spending. About half of you were worried about your wallets. Today's question is a bit broader: I'd like to know about the last perfume you bought unsniffed based on a review you read anywhere. If you're up for a confession, tell us the name of the fragrance, where you read the review, and how the purchase worked out for you.

My last unsniffed purchase was Hermès Un Jardin après la Mousson, but that wasn't based on a review, in fact, if I had waited to read the reviews, I doubt I would have bought it. Patience is a virtue, but it is not a virtue I possess. The last fragrance I bought unsniffed that "counts" for today's poll was Lalique's Encre Noire. I got sucked in by this lovely review at Bois de Jasmin, and do note that it only took 3 sentences to convince me that I needed a bottle. It worked out beautifully; in fact, it worked out considerably better than the vast majority of my unsniffed buys.

The image has nothing to do with anything except that I've been waiting for an excuse to post it; it is the new Caron ad for Pour Un Homme featuring rugby player Sébastien Chabal. This is not your father's Caron, eh?

Note: you are more than welcome to link to the review you read, if it is online, but PLEASE use tinyurl, thanks!

Filed in:
perfume talk

Comments on "Lazy Friday poll ~ you read, you buy..."

On May 9, 2008 colombina said:

It was so long ago that I don't even remember. I am sure it must have happened in the past...but I don't remember. It hasn't happen in the last year or so for sure. I do get samples based on reviews all the time though.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Good for you!

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On May 10, 2008 alotofscents said:

Imagine, if you will, a self assured, slender, attractive women... like Samantha from Sex in the City. She is at a resort in a white bathing suit, long flowing pareo, gold stiletto mules with a dark shimmering bronze glow , and Dior shades. She passes you by with a polite Channel smile and you whiff a delicate tuberose with a deep spicy sexy twist. And you think, "wow, I want that".

That's what floated through my head when I heard sephora.com pronounce Micheal Kors: feminine , sexy, chic, and OsMoz virtually the same--well hell, I must to have *that*.

what I got was tuberose with a mere *hint* of spice. Fortunately, it softened up after ten minutes. Cinnamon brings out the spice so I ordered Demeter's Cinnamon Toast mini (does that count?)

But the seller's, EEK, spin you little white lies, duh. So now I spend a lot of cash on samples. That wasn't the only time, it was just the last.

Thanks for this post. It is very interesting and informative.

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Hey, Michael Kors layered over Cinnamon Toast sounds wonderful -- great idea!

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

LT compared Montana's Just Me to Worth Courtesan (which I love) and seemed to prefer the Montana. I think Just Me smells like peppered nail varnish. Have I mentioned my unsniffed buy track record is *terrible*?

I stopped buying unsniffed off Bois de Jasmin after Jacomo Silences. :-) Which I suspect you like...

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I have not tried Just Me -- but your comment reminds me that one of the first things I ever bought unsniffed was Jacomo Paradox, because LT said it was wonderful -- it turned out to be an aquamelon (great term! thanks for coining it!) fruity floral thingie that I detested.

Silences, yes, I like, but not sure why I don't love it -- it seems like something I should love. But I don't. Maybe I need to give it another shot.

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On May 11, 2008 dissed said:

I, too bought Paradox based on that review. Gave it away. I loved the bottle, though. Looks like a spaceship.

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On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Bet we're not the only ones, either! Oh well, you live, you learn.

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On May 9, 2008 damselfly1213 said:

Lady Stetson after reading the review in Perfumes: the Guide. Tania compares it to Chanel No. 22, which I've never bothered to sniff because I dislike No. 5 so much. But hey - it's cheap and my grocery store doesn't bother to lock it in the glass case. I like it. Smells like Juicy Fruit gum for a bit, and Tania's right - that makes me happy. And now I need to go search out No. 22.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I know I smelled Lady Stetson long ago, but cannot remember a darned thing about it -- must give it another smell. I wish it was easier to find mass market testers.

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On May 9, 2008 inkdarkmoon said:

Lady Stetson is on my to-sniff/buy list due to that review in the guide. I did recently buy Jovan Sex Appeal for Men--unsniffed-- due to the review in The Guide, and I do like it. I am now considering buying Spongbob for Boys unsniffed--it can sit proudly next to the Jovan bottle :)

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I've heard the Spongebob is a decent citrus -- I'd like a bottle!

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

no.way. I need to sniff SpongeBob?

Do you think my Guerlain bottles would hurl themselves to their death if I put SpongeBob up there? How about Fabulosity?

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Hey, I doubt Spongebob is a masterpiece, but hey, it's Spongebob -- how can you resist? Even the Guerlains would have to smile.

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On May 9, 2008 dawnkana said:

Hi R!

L'Eau D'Hiver right after I read it about in "The Guide". I've had it almost a month now.

I love it and I wear it on and off or in between and to me it's the perfect simple perfume. It beats to its own drum but maintains it simplicity.

Happy Friday!

Dawn

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

D, A very worthy unsniffed purchase -- of course I say so because I love it too! You have a great Friday too :-)

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On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:

I bought Mitsouko (the EDT version) online after reading LT and TS' interview on this very blog; they both pretty much agreed that if they had to choose one scent to bring to a desert island, that would be it. And even in the sometimes reviled EDT version (and a reformulation at that), it's really something, all right.

Since I was ordering anyway, I also bought Terracotta Voile D'Ete after reading the Scented Salamander review of it. Haven't even opened it yet: I'm saving it for the first day of summer (because of the name).

Annnnnd I bought Anisia Bella after reading about it right here. I wore it to work today and had a crowd of women (all employees) sniffing me delightedly and saying it was the sort of thing they would buy their husbands. Would they be so open-minded if they knew what it was called, or that it was marketed as a women's scent?

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

If you love the Mitsouko, must urge you to buy at least a few mls of the Parfum -- I don't even like Mitsouko, but it's stunning.

Interesting on the Anisia Bella -- many women thought it too cedar-y masculine, so perhaps it would have done better if marketed to men?

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On May 9, 2008 Robin said:

Robin, Mitsouko pure perfume was my last purchase based on NST you-must-have-for-reference directions!! Such a willing girl I am. I actually haven't sniffed it yet. I'm a bit scared to.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

LOL! Do not be afraid, it doesn't bite -- and hey, you might love it! Either way, it is a perfect reference for so many other fragrances.

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On May 9, 2008 smelltheglove said:

Mitsuoko did bite me. But I told my sister that and she went out and sniffed it and fell in love with it.

Also, I haven't bought anything unsniffed recently, probably since I started reading NST regularly! But I did go to the Hermes boutique in San Francisco after reading The Guide, and, with the help of Brigitte (probably smelled her name wrong - oops, spelled!), I sampled Osmanthe Yunnan, which was disappointing at first but did smell nice on my arm 8 hours later. Brigitte did point me towards Apres le Mousson, for which I am grateful - I really like this one, though I think my favorite is still 24, Faubourg.

And I just went and ordered the Ormonde Jayne sampler after reading the comment here - thanks for the tip!

Hey, how about a lazy Friday poll about reviews from the Guide that we disagree with? without being nasty about it, of course.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Sorry Mitsouko bit you! In all truth, sometimes it bites me too :-)

Perfume Posse did a poll like that recently, and people can't seem to help being nasty about it so not going to take that one on, although in theory it would be interesting if people could make themselves be nice.

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

That would be good - my dislike of Mitsouko made me think of something a bit similar today ie what perfumes do we dislike that are generally held in high regard? And of course Turin loves Mitsouko, so I am on the same track as you as far as that one goes. But your idea is "tidier", for how would we determine what is "generally held in high regard", whereas we can just go straight for the low star ratings in his book! And going by the book there is also scope in both directions - to like what he dislikes as well as to dislike what he likes, whereas mine was just about "not getting the greats" if we could have defined them!

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On May 11, 2008 Tama said:

I don't have the Turin book yet (seems like one of those things that everyone scorns as they devour every page - lol) but one perfume I do not get at all is Fracas. I remember when it had its big re-release or whatever and talk about a scrubber!!! I got a sample of Gantier Tubereuse and it was too Fracas - I love actual tuberoses but I guess the perfume version puts me off.

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

Robin, my sister-in-law, who is not really into perfume, was nosing around on my shelf during a visit and tried my Mitsouko parfum because the bottle caught her eye. I probably would have suggested something ... less. Anyway, she fell head over heels in love. When it became clear to her I wasn't going to give her my bottle :-) she promptly called Saks and bought one. My point being, you never know!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Hey, how cool is that! See, I actually think that if Guerlain would stick testers of all the parfums on the counter, they'd sell more of the lesser concentrations. Except maybe Jicky, which is maybe easier to love in EdT.

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On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:

After trying the Mitsouko EDT, I have every intention of ordering at least the parfum, and probably the EDP as well, from The Perfumed Court. I've read so much about it in the last week--it's amazing how there's almost this entire Mitsouko subculture!--and now I think I need to experience it in as many ways as possible. Not going to track down vintage, though, at least not yet....

Anisia Bella does strongly suggest a masculine scent; even though it has a certainly stripped-down Apres L'Ondee quality to it, it reads as men's cologne, with the citrus top and the herbal middle. I think they dropped the ball when they were marketing it, for sure.

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On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:

Pyramus, I'd love to browse some of your readings about Mitsouko -- please point me in the right direction (maybe I should just Google?). I ordered decants of Mitsouko EDP & L'Heure Bleue EDP a couple months ago -- Mitsouko hasn't really done much for me (I was expecting maybe a different type of "peachy"), but L'Heure Bleue has captivated me because it is just so evocative of another time and unlike almost anything I've ever smelled. It's difficult to unconditionally "love" or wear with great frequency, but I am curious to see if Mitsouko grows on me.

Now I'm very curious about Anisia Bella since you say it has a "stripped down Apres L'Ondee quality."

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On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:

Googling "mitsouko" is your best bet. There are reviews here on NST, and also on The Scented Salamander, Bois de Jasmin, and of course a great many on MakeupAlley and Basenotes, to name just a few. Most serious fragrance bloggers eventually get to it. It really is one of the cornerstone scents, like Chanel No. 5 and Shalimar; what Luca Turin calls a reference scent, the sort of thing you base your opinions of other scents on--a paradigm of what a great scent can be.

Anisia Bella, for all its simplicity, is fascinating. It's easily the best unsniffed purchase I ever made.

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On May 9, 2008 monkeytoe said:

I (boy) bought Anisia Bella unsniffed after reading about at Now Smell This. An excellent unsniffed purchase.

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On May 9, 2008 monkeytoe said:

I meant to say, also, that I think most of the Aqua Allegorias read pretty sex neutral.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Yes, many of them do. I'm surprised they don't try harder to market them that way.

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On May 9, 2008 VanillaGirl said:

This very morning I received Maroussia, after a burst of excitement on PoL seduced me into looking it up. It's nice, but I must admit I'm relieved it's only a 30ml bottle, costing £8.99.

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On May 9, 2008 VanillaGirl said:

And just for the fun of trying out tinyurl, this is the link to the blog review:

http://tinyurl.com/6ojvxo

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Thank you for the link, esp. because I had never heard of Maroussia!

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On May 9, 2008 Third Shift said:

Heh, never bought anything unsniffed. First and last was a split with Existentialist for Vent Vert based on your glowingly springy dewy review. The tragedy is not that I spent the money, it's the opportunity cost that I could be wearing something else I love love love, as opposed to just meh. On the other hand when I like something it's an immediate and lasting reaction. I bought Bel Respiro in Christmas, based on one test spritz, and am still dousing myself in it every day. I look at my small cache (4) and It's a dilemma what to wear. I know, a dilemma of four. You guys are going to kill me.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Well, that is a tragedy when you've only FOUR (!), which I obviously still cannot get over :-)

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On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:

What extraordinary restraint! I just counted my collection - mostly sample vials and minis, but also five full bottles - and I have 132 perfumes now to choose between, with 23 more on the way! Then there are 40 I sent my brother to test, which may all be coming back now he has discoved Eau d'Orange Verte, and I would wear about half of the 40... How strange the conversion that has happened to me. Why, as recently as late January, I only owned one rancid bottle of Intuition...: )

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

You've bought 131 bottles of perfume since January? Wow!

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

Not bottles, no - 5 are big bottles, maybe another 15 are miniature bottles and the rest are carded samples from ebay or little vials from The Perfumed Court. And I also bought 40 for my bro! So with the 20 or so on order, I am getting close to the 200 mark. I am seriously thinking of buying 31 rue Cambon unsniffed, as a bottle has just appeared on Ebay UK. I think I would need five friends to get through it, mind, as it is a monster!

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On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Ah, 5 bottles is not so bad.

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

Yes, and of course only Le Dix unsniffed. Sniffed I bought Lovely, Euphoria, Hugo Boss Femme (my mac 'n' cheese pink scent) and a new Intuition to replace the rancid one. All of these mainstream purchases were very early on after the onset of perfume mania, and preceded my falling into the bottomless pit of gorgeousness that is Guerlain and the niche houses, whose full bottles are far less affordable it must be said. I am trying Le Dix again today and boy, is it powdery, but I am doing my best to imagine it isn't. Maybe it is the hot weather. I am trying to avoid - what do the psychologists call it? - "post purchase cognitive dissonance". Roll on the drydown!

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On May 12, 2008 Existentialist said:

And I felt badly for you, that you ended up not liking it. :-(

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On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:

Thanks! I can honestly say that the drydown was the best bit - and nice in fact - as most of the powdery effect had wafted off by that stage. So on balance I am not sorry I chanced it!

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On May 9, 2008 IngestedKitten said:

Well let me see...
The most recent Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant via perfumecritic. Only owned it a day but I really like it so far ,though have noticed I need only one squirt or I'll knock myself out.
Last week-Paris Jardins Romantiques from Angela's spring scent list on here. I love it I've worn it four time already and I normally wear something different every day.
In this past month: Tesco Fig, Almond and Cassis and Red Rose & Jasmine from Wordbird's review on Basenotes-good I like both and use the fig one lots which for £5 is great.

So far I've been really lucky with blindish buys the only thing I've bought and have a troubled relationship with is Ma Griffe.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Erin sent me a decant of the Kenzo Tigre recently; I adore the dry down but have trouble making it through the top notes. I still have not tried L'Elephant, must try to find some.

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

I am having SO MUCH FUN reading these. And if you had trouble making it through the top notes of Tigre ... giggling. Elephant is like the original CdG fragrance (the spicy one) on steroids. Gosh but the drydown is lovely though.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

But that sounds good to me, LOL...it is the FRUITAL opening of Tigre that kills me!

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

Well then get the Elephant! It's not fruital, it's ... homi-spice-al?

I love it. But I have to grit my teeth to get through that first 30 minutes.

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On May 9, 2008 Erin T said:

Robin, it's also sweet. They're both sweet. There's no getting away from it. And darn - shoulda sent you the Elephant, too.

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Figures it's sweet too! Hey, were these originally LEs, or did they just get discontinued?

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On May 10, 2008 Erin T said:

I believe Tigre was an year-long LE. Elephant was available more widely and for a longer period of time, but I believe it is discontinued now?

By the way, the Caron ad continues to grow on me. It seems to be successful because, even if people don't like it, they're noticing it and taking about it. Agreed on the Yatagan.

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Agree -- it is getting noticed! I guess that makes it worth doing.

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

Tesco do own label perfumes? I knew they had that Barbara Daly make up range, but this has passed me by. Something to check out on the next food shop!

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On May 12, 2008 Wordbird said:

Oh yeah!
The Tesco Fig is great. Costs five whole squids. Hell, for that money, you can use it as room spray.
Look in the Finest toiletries section - they've got 4 Jo Malone-alikes and they're really not bad. The accompanying lotions and whatnot are good too.
I'm a big fan of the Barbara Daly make up too!

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On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:

Thanks for the steer - I am very intrigued now. It can't be long now before Lidl and Aldi have their own perfume range - there was that face cream of Aldi's that got a rave review in the beauty press recently, so you never know!

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On May 9, 2008 Virginia said:

Bvlgari Black. It worked out just fine. My husband really likes it on me--but it isn't my favorite. And, I HATE the bottle.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Really, you hate the bottle? I like it, except for the annoying on/off thingie. Where did you read the review?

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On May 9, 2008 Elizabeth said:

My last unsniffed purchase was two years ago. I bought the Long Lost Perfumes version of Elizabeth Arden's long-gone Memoire Cherie, and I hated it. Luckily, I was able to swap it away.

And may I say that I hated that Caron ad at first, but I like it more and more each time I see it. :) Hey, at least it's not boring!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Two years -- good for you, that's impressive!

I can't decide if I like the ad either, but entirely agree it isn't boring! In fact, it is kind of alarming -- he looks like he means BUSINESS. Not what I think of when I think of that scent, LOL...

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

Um ... I suspect, looking at that ad, I think of precisely the kind of "business" they'd like me to think of... he is *hot.* Not quite as hot as M7man -- now there's a sports ad for you!

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On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:

If Chabal were going to be in any Caron ad, it should have been for Yatagan, which is a scent that kind of grabs you and pummels you (in the best possible way). Pour Un Homme is just a little too refined for that rugby-barbarian image.

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On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:

That's funny -- I looked at that ad (not really knowing who he is in sports) and thought, man -- that dude should be on YATAGAN!!!

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On May 9, 2008 Pia said:

So funny to see that pic, I stumbled across it about a week ago and almost fell off my chair. Came this close to emailing you R, to see what you thought! Can't decide if he's sexy or scary. Both maybe?

But the M7 man? Oh la la.....*sighs*

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I think it's fun -- but I'll take M7 Man myself ;-)

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On May 12, 2008 Existentialist said:

My initial reaction was, "it's Pierre Robert!"
And yes, he is quite striking, but M7 man .... *fans self*.

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On May 11, 2008 Mamabear said:

Scary, done right (not creepy-scary, maybe scary-chic?) IS sexy (IMO) Like NFL guys in suits rather than their uniforms. I would take off just a bit of facial hair - he's edging towards that Werewolf of London look - but he's a MAJOR hottie nonetheless.

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On May 11, 2008 Pia said:

LOL. I had no idea he was a famous rugby star, I just thought they were going for a businessman run totally amok kind of scary-chic. ;-)

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On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

HA -- "businessman run totally amok" cracked me up!

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On May 11, 2008 Mamabear said:

Oh, yeah! I LOVE that visual. Think 'briefcase squeezed into football shape by his manly-man hands!"LOL! He just couldn't be bothered carrying it by its dinky little handle and he's late for.........for what? Guys who crush their briefcases into football shapes can't be bothered about being late!

Oh! I know! He's dashing into traffic to snatch an old lady from the path of a bus! Yeah, baby. Work that Caron!

Okay, I'll stop now. I'm getting all flushed...

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Pyramus, I agree -- Yatagan would be a better fit.

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On May 9, 2008 delfina said:

By far I've never bought anything unsniffed, but I'm a newbie so I guess I have time. Like Colombina said, I have ordered samples unsniffed after having read reviews.
One was Andy Tauer's Orris, which I'm afraid I didn't like and found, like, unfinished.
The greatest disappointment was the Parfums the Rosine sample set: I hated nearly all of them, except for Zest de rose (which wasn't included) and Poussière de rose, the only one from the lot I could consider to buy one day. Don't know what it is that puts me off (not the rose, I like it in many other perfumes) in this line.
Something I was nearly ready to buy unsniffed (but I found a mini that's on its way to my mailbox) after having read your review (and having seen it in so many top lists) is Fendi Theorema. Next week I'll finally know if we are meant for each other...
Great poll!

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On May 9, 2008 delfina said:

Oh and I forgot the best unsniffed purchase ever, for which I have to thank you, Robin, that is the Ormonde Jayne sample set!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Glad to have turned someone else on to Ormonde Jayne! And hope you will enjoy the Theorema. Might as well find out now before it all disappears from the face of the earth...I still haven't been able to find out if it is still in production in Italy.

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On May 9, 2008 delfina said:

I think it isn't. I have asked, I believe, in nearly all Milan perfume shops, but everybody told me that Fendi had withdrawn the bottles when they were distributing Palazzo. I still hope (because I already feel it could be love :-) ) there are some spare bottles in some small shop I don't know about...

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I thought that might be true, since a new company (can't remember who) now holds their fragrance license. Luckily I've a very large bottle. And, I bought mine in one of those discount mall places -- a tester, and bargained the price down to something reasonable.

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On May 10, 2008 AussieBec said:

I have been told by an aqaintance in the business that all Fendi scents have been discontinued except for the newest one, Palazzo. Not sure how true it is.

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I'd guess it's true -- that often happens when a perfume house goes w/ a new company.

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On May 9, 2008 Robin said:

Ah, and that was the one before Mitsouko for me! No, I take that back; I have bought dozens of samples unsniffed, which I think is a given; that's why samples exist in the first place, to allow us to spend a few bucks on a few drops so we rarely have to buy unsniffed. I'm taking it you mean non-sample purchases, Robin??

P.S. Delfina, I am so glad Robin told all of us about the Ormone Jayne sampler. That line is gorgeous, isn't it???

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I did mean non-sample purchases, but hey, we don't need to stick to the rules if we don't want to, right? And unfortunately, you could just about buy a bottle of something or another for the cost of the OJ sample set!

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On May 9, 2008 Robin said:

And how. That Ormonde Jayne sampler was around $60US all-in. And worth EVERY cent, as you know!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Ouch! It wasn't quite so bad before the dollar tanked entirely...

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

That's exactly right, and I didn't fancy buying so many samples on spec in an obligatory job lot, as it were; so I rang up their London shop and told them as much and they sent me two free of charge - Blair Witch Woman and Strange Sap Tolu. I will just have to keep ringing back at intervals using various assumed identities to try the rest.

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On May 9, 2008 violetnoir said:

A small .25 oz. edt of Dolce Vita and a one oz. Diorissimo edt based on recent mentions of them on the blogs and in The Perfume Guide book.

I mean I had smelled them both before on others, but had never worn them or tested them before on my skin.

And the verdict is: I like DV, but I love Diorissimo!

Hugs and have a great Mother's Day, darling!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

R, Diorissimo is the single perfume I've worn the longest -- I bought my first bottle in junior high. One of my goals this year is to stop wasting money on perfumes I don't need and get the "real thing" -- the parfum.

You have a great MD too!

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On May 9, 2008 violetnoir said:

I totally agree with you on that, R. I have been thinking the same thing myself.

Collecting parfums of classic fragrances adds to the depth and value of a fragrance collection. And, they never let you down, because they take you on a magnificent fragrance journey every time you wear and experience them.

On the other hand, purchasing today's hot new fragrance may or may not add value to a collection and, at some point, you may just become bored with it.

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On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

All true, and my recent purchase of Hermes Mousson proves it!

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On May 9, 2008 Patty said:

I bought Bellodgia based on the reviews at Now Smell This and Basenotes. You guys had me at "carnation". This is an all-time favorite scent that I had given up on ever smelling again (flowers grown commercially are grown to last, not smell nice). I had nearly forgotten what carnation smelled like. Oh, yes, and I love Bellodgia! This is a very romantic scent. And if a fragrance had a sound, this one would sound like the Andante from Mozart's Piano Concerto No.21 in C (which many people know as "the theme from 'Elvira Madigan'"). Anyway, thanks to all reviewers for the recommendation!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Bellodgia is so lovely, and this is the perfect time of year for it!

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On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:

Gosh, I read SO many reviews in so many places and have bought several things unsniffed because sometimes things pop up on eBay and there's no time to wait for the sample to arrive before bidding/buying, LOL! Most recently:
- Rose Poivree (30ml @ $15, so I could afford to risk it, even though reviews were mixed and it IS a weird scent)
- SL Cedre - half bottle
- Boise Farine - full bottle (definitely went for it based on Robin's review)

On their way any day now:
- CdG Grapefruit (not so much based on a review as the NEW factor)
- CdG Carnation large decant
- Marc Jacobs Pear Splash large decant

I've had fairly good luck with unsniffed, given that I almost never pay anywhere near full retail. Best unsniffed purchase ever? Half-bottle of Timbuktu, which I could easily make my "signature" frag if I were so inclined. Runner up is Philosykos, definitely thanks to Robin's frequent invocation/adoration.

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On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:

Oh, and I'm more than reqdy to buy unsniffed a bottle of PdN Eau Turquoise -- even at full retail price -- but wish I could find 50ml for sale somewhere.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

If you wait, I'm sure the 50 mls will appear...maybe they'll even do it in those lovely little 30 ml travel bottles...

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Great list, you've done well! Timbuktu would be a worthy signature, although the very thought of a signature, of course, makes me break out in hives.

And begging, again, to please comment when your CdG Grapefruit gets there ... I'm still waiting for my samples to arrive!

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On May 9, 2008 bartamy said:

I have never bought anything unsniffed but I do have a list and I sample/test based on it.

btw, I love Caron. I don't care about the ad either way.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

NEVER! Good for you!

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On May 9, 2008 bartamy said:

Yep, I would, but I can't afford to make mistakes :)

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On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:

According to FedEx tracking, the Grapefruit should be arriving later today, so I'll pounce on it when I get home later tonight. Will let you know what I think! I got it from a boutique in Seattle whose price w/s&h was a few dollars cheaper than LuckyScent.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Yay -- can't wait to hear if it is worthy!

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On May 10, 2008 KevinS said:

Joe: WHAT boutique in Seattle has these? let me know!

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On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:

I ordered Gres Cabaret unsniffed after reading reviews on POL and MUA describing it as a cedary, incensey dark rose, which is how I'd describe my other Lalique love (besides Encre Noir) Perles de Lalique.

Unfortunately, Cabaret is rose which a great big wallop of synthetic pathchouli on me, the same note that made me sick wearing Coco Mlle. Major dissapointment but luckily the bottle was cheap so I'm now debating returning it or swapping it. It's so helpful to have perfumista communities to swap in, as one person's scrubber often truly is another's HG!

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On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:

And almost forgot, Vivienne Westwood Libertine was a successful unsniffed purchase - I simply adore the viburnum chypre which is perfect for work - zesty citrus opening to wake me up, then a woody almost roasted coffee-bean in a forest drydown. Divina of on Fragrance Bouquet describes it better than I can; here review is amazingly correct to how I experience Libertine - it's like she's using my nose! (http://tinyurl.com/64qgpr)

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Gosh, that does sound lovely! I need to try it.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I have a feeling Cabaret has been reformulated past repair -- that is too bad.

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On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:

That is a shame.

(And pardon my spelling in the above posts - it's horrible! I've been in front of the computer for too long today.)

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On May 9, 2008 missnell said:

Erm, I think it was Balenciaga's Le Dix. And it was either because of a review here or on Bois de Jasmin.

The drydown was so powdery it made my head hurt. I gave it to a perfumery friend, who didn't take to it either, so it's on its way somewhere else.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Le Dix is about 20X too much powder for me too...so you'll have to blame BdJ!

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On May 11, 2008 missnell said:

It really is too bad - because when I write down the notes I like, Le Dix seems like it ought to play nice on me. Alas! :(

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On May 9, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:

What a shame! I find it so interesting how different people with different noses feel about the same fragrance. Balenciaga's Le Dix? The all time perfect fragrance. So sorry you couldn't take to it (or your friend)

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On May 9, 2008 damselfly1213 said:

I think Le Dix is lovely, too, even though I don't adore her leather :) I am such a slut for violet...

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On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:

Somewhere on another recent thread recently I mentioned Le Dix as being my first and only full bottle unsniffed purchase - I have been buying gazillions of 4 and 5ml bottles of things unsniffed as part of my fragrance library-building exercise, but they are too small to count! The Le Dix purchase was prompted by reviews by BDJ and Angela. Victoria compared the drydown to Bois des Iles, which is a particular favourite of mine, while Angela led me to understand I would look like Gene Tierney on the first application. I agree about it being rather more powdery than I care for - L'Heure Bleue falls down majorly on that score for me - but I find if I spray Le Dix sparingly, I don't get too much powder. But I wouldn't say I love it. May I also just say that I don't get Mitsouko at all, but that could be because it is too "advanced", just like the Perfume Posse describe Hiris as "advanced beginner"! I am in awe of Plus que Jamais and Nahema at the minute - not too powdery and totally swoon-inducing. They may even pip Sous le Vent and Apres L'Ondee, which I never thought I would find myself saying. But Mitsouko beats me entirely. It is like that stuff you rinse with at the dentist.

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On May 10, 2008 damselfly1213 said:

I think I "get" why other people love Mitsouko. All I can smell when I spray it on is clove - lots and lots of clove. But - if I put my nose to my wrist and breathe a little moist breath on my skin, I smell something *absolutely gorgeous* under all that clove. Problem is, as soon as I stop breathing on my wrist I go back to smelling clove (which I dislike). I'm thinking people who love Mitsouko may be able to smell those gorgeous notes all the time (if they can, I "get" Mitsouko). But it will never appeal to me, unless someone invents a little vaporizer I can strap onto my wrist, with a fan to blow those notes up to my nose (does that image make any sense?)

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On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:

Thank you so much for explaining what is going on with Mitsouko - I do indeed get clove clove clove to start with, and for the longest time really, then at the end I get something else that is still fairly herbal and unapproachable and at no point can I remotely detect the peach people mention. I think I need a little fan too! Or a breathing lesson from Mr Turin.

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On May 11, 2008 missnell said:

I bought a delicious eau de toilette while in France last Christmas - it's a local brand - and it's very true to nature. Alas, poor Le Dix. Our relationship was so short...

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On May 9, 2008 air ocean said:

Last unsniffed - or rather found, sniffed and bought at once - Lalique's Encre Noire for me, after reading your review here, Robin. Love it, so thank you!

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Isn't it great stuff?? By extension you owe your thanks to Victoria :-)

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On May 9, 2008 oeditrix said:

I bought Black Cashmere unsniffed, based on reviews (including yours) and the sad news that it was going to disappear someday. It was pretty cheap online, so that influenced my decision too.

BC is gorgeous, though i like Theorema better during our current spate of wet chilly days. Theorema smells warm and dry, while there is something . . . lurk-y . . . about BC. The best way I can describe it is to say that around Christmas-time, there is always one Christmas smell that I find strangely dark and sinister, and BC smells just like it. However, I suspect that in actual winter it will suit me very well.

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On May 9, 2008 oeditrix said:

P.S. Just re-read your review of BC and it is so spot-on! Thanks for all your reviews, and my nose thanks you for getting my interested in perfume period. A while back you recommended Omnia Crystalline for me since I enjoy original Omnia, and the Sephora purse-spray is my new best friend on hot days. . .

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Theorema really is perfect for this time of year...chilly spring nights especially. I do think Black Cashmere wears better if it's a bit colder than it is right now, and yes, it isn't quite cheerful enough for spring, is it?

Glad you like the Omnia Crystalline, and was so thrilled to see those travel sprays at Sephora -- they're perfect!

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On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:

I love Theorama - it was one of my 4ml purchases - I believe it, like BC, has been discontinued. Love the description of BC as "dark, sinister...and lurk-y"!! Isn't it just? And Omnia Cristalline is a recent discovery of mine - an extra freebie from an Ebay seller. I like its wateriness. Burberry Women, while not smelling anything like it, also has that watery quality, which sometimes is just what you fancy!

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On May 9, 2008 Vetiver53 said:

The first fragrance I really splurged for without sampling first was Tubereuse Criminelle. I had heard so much hype (and criticism) and was entranced by the beautiful bottle. Loving the smell of the tire store AND tuberose, I bit. No regrets.
The Guide has prompted many visits to Barney's and Nordstroms, and Chanel to sniff and sample. Also to my local Walgreens! I adore the men's original Stetson, which I otherwise would not have given a second thought to.
Now I'm saving my money for a trip to Provence in June, so am trying to avoid expensive temptations. C'est difficile!

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On May 9, 2008 marianne winia said:

I've been so many times on the verge of buying something unsniffed..by NST recommendations, by checking out a lot of fragrances on www.osmoz.fr feeling all enthousiastic and so..yet somehow I can't think of one bottle that I did buy unsniffed.. But this could very well be a case of deeply repressed memories...[-?

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

I repress some of mine too, I'm sure ;-)

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Vetiver53, what a great choice, and how lovely that you turned out to like it. I liked the original Stetson, although I haven't smelled it in a long time. Provence will be worth saving for though!

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On May 9, 2008 VickiK said:

I bought Diptyque Philosykos unsniffed after being introduced to it on this website, and remain very happy I did. Sometimes I rue the purchase even if I sniff. I hate that. I really try to yank myself back from that "I want" moment.

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On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:

Yay f