Which five fragrances do you use most often?
Which are the five you really use up, not only sniff at and admire?
What are your go-to perfumes for everyday life?
Which perfumes are the ones you apply without thinking twice, knowing they will work whatever the day brings?
My Answer:
When I have to narrow it down, put all testing and blog-related perfume wearing aside, there are indeed not so many perfumes I trust with getting me through the day without neither boring nor irritating or challenging me.
My five, “don’t think about it, wear it” everyday perfumes for the summer season are:
On these I can see the level go down. How about you?
Olfactoria's Travels 
Straight away, I know of 2 that I never need to worry about wearing, L’Eau d’Ambre and Odalisque.
And Charmes et Fueilles.
Ok, 2 more to go. While I’m considering my choices, I have to say, I bought a new bottle of Bronze Goddess and sprayed it and some synthetic musk rose out of it. *shudders in horror*
I need to try my old bottle alongside new but I’m scared of finding out they tempered with the juice.
OK, my last 2 choices are going to be Feminite du Bois and Shalimar. 🙂
Lovely choices, I’d take all five of those too!
But – horror of horrors! – there is a problem with Bronze Goddess???? Oh no! That would be a tragedy, it is such a good perfume!
If it’s for summer, then I can go carelessly with Jo Malone’s Grapefruit, or Lime Basil & Mandarine, or Nectarine Blossom & Honey – plus Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet and Un Jardin en Mediterranee from Hermes.
Fresh and summery, great choices, Lady Jane! 🙂
Summer in Holland tends to be both sunny and rainy. So I can vary a little. My choice this season: Hyperessence Matale (for fresh morning bike rides) and Cuir d’Iris (for drinks in the afternoons) by Parfumerie Generale, Datura Noir (beach, beach!) by Serge Lutens, Shalimar (for cool summer nights) by Guerlain and Eau Dynamisante (for some happy splashing on the terrace) by Clarins.
I like it too when summer is not only hot, a few days when the heavier perfumes can come out, are not too bad in my book.
Your choices sound excellent, Sandra! I am surprised you wear Datura Noir on the beach, but then again I am a white flower wimp. 😉
In heavy rotation this summer are By Kilian Liaisons Dangereuses, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiare Mimosa, Parfums MDCI La Belle Helene, Parfum D’Empire Yuzu Fou, Hermes Iris Ukiyoe. On the cooler days I will sometimes wear warmer scents.
I like your choices, Sandra! Only with the By Kilians I am out of luck so far, I look forward to try Sweet Redemption, the new release though. Maybe this one is for me, it sounds definitely good.
Nice question, I love to know what everyone is wearing! I was shocked to see my bottle of Fleur d’Oranger was down by a cm this morning. I am seriously considering a back-up because I feel I need to apply so much of it. The other 4 would be Zeta, Bois d’Argent, Diorella and Kyoto (pleased it’s on your list too!). Nice to see Equistrius on your list for summer as it is my next full bottle purchase. Will see where I can try Nuda in London.
Ha, me too, I’m so curious about what people are wearing. 😉 Fleur d’Oranger is going fast, although it lasts well, in contrast to many other L’Artisans. I’ll send you a bit of Nuda of course, what an oversight that I haven’t already! And I am so chuffed that you love Equistrius as much as I do, it is gorgeous and should get a lot more recognition.
I love all of these because they make me happy no matter what season, occasion or time of day/evening. (I debated among several choices for the final spot).
Dior Eau Sauvage
Guerlain Vetiver
YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme
Bvlgari Black
Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet
Wonderful men’s perfumes. Now if I could only get my husband to appreciate (and wear) those classics…
Thanks for the compliment, Birgit. Along with what I originally said about these five, I think these could also be worn by a woman. (hint ;)) P.S. Here are a couple that did not make the cut when I gave the final spot to the Blenheim Bouquet:
Geoffery Beene Grey Flannel
Guerlain Habit Rouge
I know, and some I have worn, but in general, I guess I am more of a woman’s woman with my perfume choices. 🙂 Although Dior Homme is an exception, yet again that is no traditionally masculine perfume at all in my opinion and I think it is interesting and wonderful that is is marketed as such.
I can identify- I am the same way. I have owned and worn a few feminine’s, but I do gravitate towards the traditional masculine classics. I have a sample of Dior Homme that I enjoy. Speaking of Dior, I remember being surprised when I read Luca Turin claim that Diorella is what Eau Sauvage should have been. Not sure I agree with him as ES is amazing and can hardly be improved on, in my opinion.
Okay, I’d say Prada L’Eau Ambree, AP L’Agent (can’t stop wearing it, regardless of occasion!), OJ Tiare, SSS Opal, and if I hadn’t run out of it already, I’d add Bois Naufrage to the list!
I am astounded that you love L’Agent, since I know you prefer quiet, understated perfumes. On me L’Agent is like a marching band. 🙂 You reminded me of my ignored SSS samples…
This summer I’ve been spraying without hesitation: Bulgari Pour Femme, Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom, OJ Tiare, Parfumerie Generale Bois Naufrage and Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia.
Perfect! I adore Penhaligon’s Orange Blossom, I wish I had some left. *wistful sigh* Did you try more of Santa Maria Novella, what is your impression, Krista?
Yayy! I finally manage to read your Monday ON A MONDAY! I never seem to be able to get around to reading it until the weekend, by which time I think it’s too late to join the discussion.
Of course, the downside is that I’ve chosen a week with a tough question. But I suppose if I had to narrow it down, then the five perfumes which I honestly use a lot and would immediately replace as soon as they’re finished would be:
Dior Homme
Habit Rouge
Antaeus
Lonestar Memories and
Apres L’Ondee.
Hovering just outside the top 5 would be Amouage Gold Man. And there’s a good chance that Leather Oud will make it into the top 5 one day, but I haven’t owned it long enough to make that judgement yet,
Sorry, the above should read: “I finally manage to read your Monday post…”
I’m tired… maybe I should take a holiday…
Don’t worry, I got it! You are going on vacation soon, aren’t you? I hope you can relax and catch up on sleep! I know I wish I could… 😉
What a pleasure to see you here, Persolaise! Your top five are beautiful. But it is hard to only go with five, isn’t it? 🙂
This summer my favourite five are:
Odalisque
Onda EdP
Carnal Flower
Une Fleur de Cassie
Cuir de Russie Parfum
Wow, these are heavy-hitters Gisela! Great!
My five gotos this summer for any reason and just the reason called “Massive Indecision Crisis” would be…
Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger. Never tried the L’Artisan or the Penhaligon’s versions, so I can’t say how they compare, but really, I hope I’m never without it. I’ve gone through half a bell jar in a year. For me, that’s commitment! 🙂
Balmain Ivoire. For the days I don’t want to worry about what perfume to wear, but none at all is too…depressing?
Piguet Fracas. Because it’s not that hot here, it’s just me…;)
For rainy days and chilly days, and we’ve had far too many of those…Amouage Memoir Woman/Man. I don’t care. I’ll wear either, if not at the same time…
Atelier Cologne Absolute Trefle Pur. This is a green that’s as good as they can get. Period. Must Own. Of course, I could also say that about Grand Neroli, Orange Sanuine, Bois Blond, Oolang Infini…
And last, but never least, if you can’t get to a beach…bring the beach to you! EL Bronze Goddess has some serious competition from HdP Love Coco. It can’t be summer without coconut, right? 😉
OK, I cheated! That’s seven! But these are the seven that get a LOT …of love! 😉
Those seven perfectly represent your various facets, at least how I imagine you to be from your writings. Wonderful perfumes all.
Concerning the orange blossoms, I think the carnal leanings of the Lutens fit you best. 😉
“Seeing the level go down” is a good measure of what you actually wear! Year-round I see the level go down in my bottles of Donna Karan Gold, ELDO Rossy de Palma, EL Sensuous Noir, SSS Tabac Aurea, and Cuir de Lancome. (I think part of the reason I hoard decants is because when I use them, the level goes down too fast!)
That is exactly why decants are not for me, I can’t use them, they go down so fast, I fear losing them, so I never dare to wear them, it is samples and then a bottle or nothing, a decant is money wasted with me.
SSS Tabac Aurea is such an interesting perfume, must get out my sample again soon.
I’m trying to force myself to use my decants and samples before they all evaporate away into nothing.
Good point! Samples deteriorate so much faster…
The real question here is which ones “you really use up, not only sniff at and admire,” because I’m not sure that they’re versatile… 😉
Perfumes that are getting used up (oh no!)
1. Chanel no. 19. I have nearly used up 50mL of the EDP since Anne-Marie wrote her post on this perfume, which was… (checking) on March 30th. My bottle arrived less than a week after that post, which was about four months ago.
2. Laurence Dumont Tendre Madeleine. It’s out of season right now (though I still spritz it occasionally) but I used about 30mL of the 100mL bottle during the coldest few months of winter.
3. Memoir Woman. Even though it’s my “aspirational scent” (the woman I want to be), I reach for it quite a lot, and the warm weather has not slowed me down; I never regret wearing it, and am always surprised at how much I like it when I spray it on.
4. Amouage Opus IV. I managed to acquire two spray samples of this, and now I’m down to one (which is not full anymore!). I’m smitten with this to the point that it’s at the top of my wish-list. I’m going to try and wait until I’ve fully drained my second sample before clicking, “Buy it Now.”
5. Bronze Goddess. Because I drown all my gloom and doom away with it’s sunny vibrance; hopefully I have enough to get through the rest of the summer!
I love the Monday questions! ❤
I wear Chanel 19 a lot too, it is always fitting.
I am glad you are getting Opus IV, if you love something that much, it just has to be yours.
I love the Monday answers! 🙂
We do have some kind of synchronicity going, don’t we Birgit? Your question is a bit different from mine- different enough that my answers will be different here than on my blog. These are in no particular order:
1. Ormonde Jayne Woman
2. Aftelier Tango
3. Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
4. Opus Oils Dapper
5. Penhaligon’s Lily & Spice
I think I only repeated one here (Aftelier Tango)! I wear all five on a regular basis, sometimes every day.
Somehow aside from the Opus Oils, I would have guessed those perfumes to be your most used. They are all perfect for you.
These five are probably the ones that I feel are the most versatile
1. Chanel Cristalle
2. Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
3. Borsari Violetta di Parma
4. Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente
5. Bond No.9 West Side
Glad to see L’Heure Bleue get another mention. 🙂 I would probably wear it every single day if I didn’t want to wear other things, too! It makes me feel emotionally somewhat vulnerable, and that is a state of mind that I find useful for writing.
Interestingly, I have worn L’Heure Bleue this week and it really dragged me down, I felt almost depressed and was glad when it wore off. I followed with the most uplifting thing I could think of – Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine. Must not have been the right day for it…
Great choices, Caro! You know that I never tried a single perfume from Bond N°9? I am repulsed by their way of doing business, but what about their perfumes? That line is a big question mark for me.
I always think L’Heure Bleue makes me revisit a past life. I own a bottle of current extrait and a half bottle of vintage extrait. I save the vintage one only for very very special occasions.
Bond No 9 creations are not delicate but some of them are pleasant: West Side is roses, peonies, amber, tobacco, vanilla and musk on my skin.
I also like the harsher Broadway Nite (works better on my skin than Lipstick Rose)
I find the bottles ugly as heck, though.
Yes, me too! Those bottles remind me of dish washing liquid. 🙂
L’Heure Bleue is perfect in the right mood. I’m slightly jealous of your vintage extrait! 😉
I did read this post yesterday but it took me some time to come up with answers.
Q: Which five fragrances do you use most often?
A: I looked at my statistics for the last 6 month so I know it as a fact and not just as a feeling:
1. Tiare by Ormonde Jayne
2. №19 EDT by Chanel
3. Une Rose Vermeille by Tauer Perfumes (the only one from testerd – I’m trying to decide if I need a bottle or should find a decant)
4. Iris Poudre by Frederic Malle
5. Climat by Lancome
Q: Which are the five you really use up, not only sniff at and admire?
A: I’ve added many perfumes to my collection in the last year and I’m doing a lot of testing so it scews the picture, but from what I know and can see by the level of perfume left in the bottle, the most used are Petite Cherie by Annick Goutal (I know that you dislike this one but I really enjoy it), Un Jardin sur le Nil by Hermès and Infusion d’Iris by Prada.
Q: What are your go-to perfumes for everyday life? Which perfumes are the ones you apply without thinking twice, knowing they will work whatever the day brings?
A: In addition to those mentioned in the undwer to the previous question, №19 EDT by Chanel and Heure Exquise by Annick Goutal.
As both you and Carrie noticed, there was something in stars: a day before I saw Carrie’s question and then yours I planned on asking a similar one on my monthly statistics post. Now I’ll have to come up with a different one since I got all my answers between your two blogs.
I love your statistics! 🙂
Your five most used ones are lovely. Especially N°19 had a huge renaissance with me as well.
I think there is such a thing as a common unconscious in Perfumeland, Jung would have a field day with us! 😉
🙂
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