Fragrances Boutique

The Monday Mail is about to take its annual summer vacation, but first here is an open thread for past participants to share their experiences, and hopefully let us know if they found what they were looking for (or went bankrupt trying). I’ve sent out emails requesting feedback from everyone who took part between January and April of this year, so check back over the next few days to see what we can find out.

Here are links to the articles for each participant…

Kristina, who says she got interested in perfume about 2 years ago, is looking for a new fall / winter perfume that will work for day or night. She has good access to perfume stores, online and off, and she can pay up to €150. Here is what we know about Kristina:

She lives in Germany, where she works as a communication manager in public television.

She is interested in all cultural things like music, arts etc. and loves to take trips to Paris or New York.

She also loves nature, yoga and hiking.

Kristina’s “signature scent” so far had been Chanel No. 19…

Jason is looking for a new fragrance. It should be long lasting, mysterious, and change throughout the day. He’s willing to consider vintage and/or discontinued fragrances. Here is what we know about Jason:

He’s in his late 20s, lives in London, and works in an office job in the theater.

He says he is subtle, focused but very playful and sensual.

Jason likes…

The Serge Lutens line for its clarity and mystery. He owns Fille en Aiguilles and is thinking of buying Chene. Muscs Koublai Khan is “very nice”.

The Amouage Attars are great, especially Afrah, but he is apparently anosmic to something in Amouage Gold. He also likes Amouage Lyric…

Ann, who says she is a long-time lurker at Now Smell This, wants some help finding her holy grail summer fragrance. Her perfume needs to stand up to Washington, DC’s heat and humidity, and it has to be something that her husband will like (and he finds many perfumes too ‘mature’). Ann has good access to perfume stores, and would prefer to sniff before buying, although she won’t rule out internet shopping. She’d like to keep the cost to around $100. Here is what we know about Ann:

Ann is in her early 30s.

She says she is “an outdoorsy, preppy kind of girl, with a twist” and “the J. Crew girl with custom-made cowboy boots (the real kind, not the frou-frou pointy toed kind)”.

In the summer, she spends a lot of time outdoors and by the ocean or bay.

Ann and her husband both love the scent of jasmine, the ocean and citrus…

Today we’re helping Melissa, who is looking for her holy grail comfort scent. Melissa has good access to department and discount stores, and can make it to Luckyscent’s Scent Bar if need be. She can spend about $100, but is also happy to buy decants so price should not be a deterrent. So far, she has mostly tried mainstream perfumes, and she’d like to branch out into more sophisticated niche perfumes. Here is what we know about Melissa:

She’s in her early 30s, and studying Human Development in college.

She says she’s a bit of a nut and has an odd sense of humor.

Melissa loves dessert-type scents…

Joane has been wearing Prescriptives Calyx for 20 years, and she still loves it but she’d like to find something new. Ideally, she’d like to find two new scents: one casual day fragrance, and another for evening. She will shop online if necessary, but prefers brick ‘n mortar stores, and she does not have a price limit.

Here is what we know about Joane:

She’s in her mid-40s and lives in Toronto.

She works in an office, and at night likes to go out to restaurants with friends, and to go see bands every so often (she was in a band herself when she was younger).

She has blond hair and brown eyes.

Joane doesn’t really know what notes she likes or dislikes…

Before we start with today’s subject, Malte, I wanted to note that we’ve just about cleared through the waiting list for the Monday Mail: if you ever thought you might like to be a subject, this would be a good time to apply. You can find the instructions here.

So, Malte lives in Germany, and he’s looking for a new evening-wear fragrance. He’s willing to pay about $100, and although he doesn’t want to shop online, he lives in a town with good perfume shopping, including many niche options. Here is what we know about Malte:

He’s in his early 20s and is studying English literature.

He is interested in fashion, traveling and (new wave, indie rock, electronic) music.

His style could be described as modern, European, sophisticated — slim silhouettes, mostly black, white and grey.

Malte likes dry and woody fragrances with amber and/or patchouli…

About 20 years ago, Susan started getting blinding headaches from perfume, and so until recently she’d mostly given up wearing scent other than a few essential oils purchased at a local store. Her headaches have abated, and she’d like to find a new signature scent (or two) for daytime. She says she can tell right away if a new fragrance will give her a headache, and it doesn’t seem to be related to how light or heavy the perfume is.

Susan doesn’t have wonderful access to retail perfume stores, but she’s happy to shop online and doesn’t mind buying samples. Cost is not a huge factor, but she says she probably wouldn’t spend more than $200. She’s not after anything trendy, and probably wouldn’t buy a celebrity perfume. Here is what we know about Susan…

Today we’re helping Nike, who lives in southern Sweden and wants to find a summer perfume that will work in cool Swedish summers and in hotter climates — she’s planning a trip to Israel and Egypt this summer. Her fragrance should be feminine and summery, work for day or night (although she’s willing to consider layering at night for more depth), have good longevity and some sillage, and cost less than $135. Here is what we know about Nike:

She’s in her mid-20s and works in human resources. She also works as a consultant on topics relating to religion and the Middle East.

She says she is perceived as a bookish academic, but she also has a creative and witty side…

Today we’re helping Ines, who is getting married in London at the end of May. She’d love to find a new perfume that would “make her day eternal” and that she could happily go on wearing after the wedding. She’s willing to pay premium if she can find the right scent — and the right scent should be subtle and elegant, but still make a statement. Here is what we know about Ines:

She’s in her late 20s, and her area of expertise is business development, marketing and sales.

She loves to write and she keeps several blogs. She’s also a big fitness fan, and she likes to try new things.

She recently moved from Madrid to London. She loves languages and speaks five at the moment.

She says she is a reasonable and considerate person, but also makes swift decisions, and isn’t always good at establishing interpersonal limits.

She loves meeting new people and is sociable most of the time, but she also likes to be on her own.

Ines’ first perfume was Anaïs Anaïs at age 6…

Today’s subject is Anne, who says perfume is the one thing she can “be a little high maintenance about”. She’d like to find a versatile, season-less fragrance — some sillage is ok, but nothing too overpowering — that doesn’t cost a fortune. She doesn’t have great access to perfume stores, but she likes to shop online. Here is what we know about Anne:

She’s single and in her late 20s.

She’s a student, and a little on the artistic side (”I guess you could call me a hippie”). She likes bright colors and open windows, and spending time outdoors.

She writes poetry and plays the keyboards (badly).

She’s a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, and wonders if she was born in the wrong generation.

She is “a little fiery” and would like a fragrance that reflects that…

Today’s subject is Mylene, who is looking for a feminine, elegant and delicate perfume for evening wear — she says she already has pretty, now she wants to find sexy. Her perfect scent would be the sexy sister of Frederic Malle’s En Passant, and she’s willing to spend up to $250 to find it. Here is what we know about Mylene:

She’s in her late 30s, and is the working mom of a 2 year old.

She lives in Montreal, and works in a hospital.

Mylene likes good food, good friends, good books and fashion.

She says she is quiet, but likes to express herself by wearing something a little different in fashion and perfume…

Today we’re helping Michaella. She’s a budding perfumista, and she’s looking for a sensual signature scent that will translate well from day to night. She would like to find something she can try locally, and she does have good access to department stores and Sephora. Her budget: $100 or less.

Michaella…

…is a nineteen year old college freshman majoring in English.

She says she is outgoing, friendly and creative.

She’s a city person but prefers Florence to New York.

She loves writing, dancing and spending time with friends.

Her style: girly, with a touch of boho…

Paolo, who is Italian and lives in London, wants our help to find one (or more!) informal fragrances to match his personality. He’s after something that would be suitable for informal work environments or laid back outings with friends, and he’d also like moderate sillage and good longevity. Anything available in a travel size is a plus. He can pay about $100 per fragrance.

Here is what we know about Paolo:

He’s in his mid-30s and works for a large international humanitarian agency.

He travels frequently, mostly in developing countries, and he says he is a “a wanderlust type” — he also loves reading travelogues and watching travel movies…

Jessamy is an internal medicine resident who lives in Minnesota, and she’s looking for a wonderful leather scent for her boyfriend, Robert, who is also a physician. Robert does not regularly wear fragrance, but he recently layered two fragrances from the Tom Ford Private Blend collection —Moss Breches and Tuscan Leather — and the result made Jessamy swoon. So! She wants to find something similar that she can buy him for a honeymoon gift for $150 or less. It should have mild to moderate sillage (nothing too heavy), and it does not have to be marketed as a masculine. She’s happy to order samples online.

Robert is…

Susan lives in Ireland, but she’s going to New York next month, and she’s hoping to try some new fragrances she can’t find locally. Ideally, while she’s there she’ll find a perfect scent — an every day fragrance, something sophisticated but youthful, not brash or loud, and that will work through spring and summer — for under $100. Here is what we know about Susan:

She’s in her early 20s, and loves traveling and the arts.

She trained as a ballet dancer and currently works in theater.

She loves to socialize and party…

Today we’re helping Alisha, a high school student in India who says she is new to perfume. Alisha is a “total extrovert” who loves to dance and make new friends. She’s looking for a casual-wear fragrance that won’t cost more than $100, and it needs to be something from a mainstream brand because that is all she has access to.

Alisha likes sweet, fruity, (maybe fruity more than sweet) lively perfumes. Notes she likes include citrus, strawberry, orange, amber, tangerine blossom, vanilla and wood. Perfumes she has used in the past include Banana Republic Jade, Burberry Brit, CK In2U Pop, CK In2U, and Salvatore Ferragamo Incanto and Pour Femme. She wants to try Hermès Jardin Sur Le Nil…

This is an open thread for participants in the Monday Mail articles to share their experiences, and hopefully let us know if they found what they were looking for (or went bankrupt trying). I’m sending out emails today requesting feedback from everyone who took part between September and December of last year, so check back over the next few days to see what we can find out.

Here are links to the articles for each participant…

Today we’re helping Lilian, who lives in Brazil and wants to find two new fragrances that will work in Brazil’s hot weather: one for work and one for not-at-work. She can buy online, and is also planning a trip to the US so will have other shopping opportunities. She isn’t worried about the price. Here is what we know about Lilian:

She’s a doctor in her early 30s, is active all day long, and says she is happy but introspective.

She wears “colorful but not fancy clothes” ranging from high heels to jeans and t-shirts.

She loves reading, watching movies, running, going to the gym and practicing yoga, and she also loves nature and camping with her boyfriend.

Lilian would like her daytime fragrance to be “fresh, a bit elegant and remarkable”, and she’d prefer something other than citrus…

Today’s subject is Jonathan. Jonathan lives in Berlin, and is looking for an evening fragrance — something to wear dancing at night. His perfect scent would combine traces of the grilled hazelnut from Hermès Vétiver Tonka, the floral aspects of Le Labo Rose 31 and the spices, the flint and the non-musk of Terre d’Hermès. He’s willing to spend up to $140.

Jonathan is in his 20s, and works in the engineering business. He compares himself to the man in the Terre d’Hermès commercial: a grounded dreamer…

Denise, who says she is an “amateur perfumista at best”, is getting married in early May:

It will be a late afternoon Catholic mass in a beautiful chapel, followed by a reception at an inn built in the 1700s. So, it will be traditional but not super formal, with whimsical touches.

She wants to find something that will make her feel classic and elegant. It should be substantial but not overwhelming, and although she has a number of perfumes in her current rotation, she wants something new and special for her wedding. She can pay up to $200, and she lives in New York City so has excellent access to perfume stores. Here is what we know about Denise:

She’s in her late 20s, and doesn’t like to go to bed on time…

Today we’re helping Lauren. Lauren is interested in perfume, but says she’s not yet a perfumista. She works as a nurse, and she wants to find a versatile signature scent that isn’t so strong that it will nauseate her patients. At the same time, she’d like it to be flirty and chic. She hasn’t set a budget for her new fragrance. Here is what we know about Lauren:

She’s in her early 20s and lives in Chicago…

Today we’re helping Edward, who is looking for a sophisticated but reserved fragrance, preferably niche. His ideal scent will “evoke curiosity and interest” but be modest in sillage: it should not be a “showy” fragrance. Edward wears mostly women’s perfumes, but does buy the occasional unisex. He’s willing to spend up to $500 to get just what he wants, but he’d prefer not to shop online.

Here is what we know about Edward:

He’s a researcher in his mid-30s.

He loves hosting Friday night dinner with a few close friends.

He always goes for the finer things in life, and that holds true for food and fragrances.

Edwards admires the work of perfumers Olivia Giacobetti and Jean-Claude Ellena…

Elise wants to find a signature scent as unique as her life, but at the same time, she wants the fragrance to be accessible to the people she encounters during the day. She’d like to keep the cost at $100 or less, and she has good access to perfume stores and is happy to shop online. Here is what we know about Elise:

She’s in her early 40s, and works as an instructor at the college level. She’s also finishing her Ph.D. and is active in volunteer work.

She’s a published poet and playwright (her most recent play was produced in Chico, CA).

She has three children, all adopted internationally…

May (who comments here as perfumegeek) is getting married in April. It will be an intimate morning ceremony on the beach (you can see her wedding dress after the jump) in Florida. She’s thinking the temperature will probably be in the low 60s. She wants a perfect perfume — something she loves and will have as a keepsake — and is willing to pay up to $200 to get it.

Here is what we know about May:

She’s a chemist (the kind that plays with lasers, strong magnets and colorful compounds) in her 20s.

She’s a bookworm (she loves Jhumpa Lahiri and Neil Gaiman among others), a music lover (Chopin, Debussy, The Shins, Brandi Carlile), a museum freak (The Victoria and Albert in London, Georgia O’Keefe in Santa Fe), and an outdoorsy woodsy girl (hiking, snowshoeing, fishing)…