Is there a perfume that you don’t enjoy as much anymore after reading a damning review?
Is your perception of a scent influenced by the opinion of others?
Did you ever stop wearing something, because of what somebody else said about it?
My Answer:
Unfortunately, yes. I used to wear Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune with abandon in the summer over many years. Then, when I was falling down the rabbit hole into Perfumeland, I read up on my old favorites and promptly found several reviews stating that Pamplelune has a distinct B.O. note.
What??? Pamplelune stinks and I never knew?
I have been wearing a perfume that reeks of sweat and unwashed armpits for years and did not notice? Did others? Apparently this is something several bloggers noticed, so they must be right.
Pamplelune is totally ruined for me. I am afraid of it actually. I’m afraid of wearing something I really enjoyed, because maybe it smells strange to others and I just don’t notice it. It makes me a bit sad. It is not that I have not enough choice in my closet, even for summer, but still… I found Pamplelune to be a carefree and invigorating, uplifting and happy scent I applied lavishly. Apparently I was a walking armpit.
Even if this is not true, and I never got any complaints, the image is burned into my brain and there is no way I could ever wear it again.
What about you? Any old favorites turned to pariahs thanks to a review?
Olfactoria's Travels 
Not me; but I have had to work through with a friend that had been successfully wearing the same perfume for over 20 years when he read an exes careless but awful FB update, after finding an old bottle during a clean out. it wasn’t done maliciously and the ex did not know where the bottle had come from but the generally sneering tone at this bottle affected my friend deeply, along with the evil remarks afterwards from this exes friends. He has ditched the old perfume and is now searching for a replacement. Sad. He smelled AWESOME!
Portia x
Aww, that is a sad story. But I can see how it can ruin a scent for a person. I hope your friend has found something (and someone) else to love.
Nope. Never. I start reading reviews and once reading I quickly can tell if it is not for me, or I am intrigued and it deserves further investigation. Usually based on the notes. I wear fragrance for me, and if it pleases anyone else, wonderful! I simply like what I like!
That is a good basis. I try that too, but sometimes I just can’t help being influenced though…
I am influenced in many areas by what others say or write….fragrance just is not one of them! I have insecurities galore, just like everyone else! Birgit, fragrance is more than your interest, it is your passion and your work and I would think that you take comments seriously. I would be surprised if you did not. I see you that you do by your very thoughtful replys to comments! I have Ambre Oud, I bought the travel set. So, I do not need to be in the draw, but I do so much enjoy reading you, the comments. I feel very comfortable here, with my limited knowledge of fragrance….
It makes me happy that you feel comfortable here, that is my goal. 🙂
I told that story before, so I’ll just mention it quickly: it took me probably six or seven years to get over the casual remark from a co-worker that one of the perfumes that I loved and wore a lot (Champs Elysées) smelled like a bug spray. I think I’m finally over it and even contemplating the FB purchase.
Oh yes, I remember. Very good thing that you reunited with Champs Elysées!
I can’t see myself wearing Pamplelune anymore, so sad. 😦
Undina, I don’t think my Champs-Elysees EDT found a home during the Do Good, Smell Good sale; let me know if you would like it! (If you want EDT. I have both EDT and the parfum? and find them similar enough that I don’t think I need both.)
J, thank you for the offer! I’m trying to decide now if I want to gor for the pure parfum. But if I settle for the EdT, I’ll contact you to discuss terms 🙂
I remember wearing Jil Sander Sun for years spend overseas and loving it, and considered re-purchasing, but I noticed how hated it is, and decided on something else! Weak willed me.
I love Jil Sander Sun! I wore it every summer in highschool and as a student. Is it hated? Lol, I don’t even want to know! 😉
Count me in as a Sun lover; I had no idea that it was hated! Certainly that hate is not deserved.
🙂
I too have to admit that I am influenced by reviews.
Like Undina I really like Champs Elysees but don’t wear very often because I read an unfavorable review by a respected perfume critic – a part of me doesn’t want to be One of Those Who Has Bad Taste in Perfume – silly, but true ;-). After reading Undina’s comment, I will however wear it more often 🙂
The worst case, however, is my love for Miss Dior Cherie. I do wear it occassionally, because I love it to bits, and I get compliments when I do (I spritz it in unscented body lotion and that does great things for this scent) – but I can’t help feeling a bit akward about it all the same. I really don’t like this side of me very much, so I think I’ll make a deliberate point of eclectisism from now on. After all, if e.g. Miss Dior Cherie had been released by a niche company, the reviews, I bet, would have been less….well, lets say….unfavorable and more respectful to begin with at least. I haven’t smelled as many niche fragrances as some (after all I live in a developing country when it comes to fragrances), but I have smelled a fair number, and whereas I will readily admit that there are MANY wonderful fragrances from niche companies to be had, there are also some that might as well have come from any designer or celeb fragrance house out there. A lot of it has to do with brands and images.
As for Pamplelune: I am not familiar with this perfume, but there’s someting I have noticed, and that is a kind of convergence tendency in the perfume world (and any other world for that matter): One person writes that she things e.g. Pamplelune smells like b.o., then another and after a while that becomes the “truth” about the fragrance in question. We are social animals with Stone Age brains, and consciously or unconsciously we prefer agreement over disagreement. We don’t want to be alone in the when the bad ass sable tiger attacks. And if we are this easily influenced (and we are – otherwise companies wouldn’t spend millions on their PR) – things can go back whence they came – so if you can learn to dislike Pamplelune, Birgit, you can learn to love it again :-D. If you want to, of course. You may have other things you enjoy more today. But wouldn’t it be an interesting experiment: The opposite of aversion therapy – learning to love Pamplelune again?
I do love Pamplelune! The problem is, I’m afraid I just don’t smell what others smell. I don’t want to be unconsciously wafting grapefruit that translates as b.o. to others. It smells just as lovely to me today as five years ago, but my innocence is gone, so to speak. 🙂
I agree that branding and image are a huge component of how a perfume is received, and we love to be accepted with the in-crowd. Some perfumes fall by the wayside due to those social truths.
Your theory should be tested empirically – e.g. find 5-10 people whose opinion you trust and have them say what they think of Pamplelune on you – without explaining why – as little bias as possible 🙂 Realistically, Birgit, how likely is it that Guerlain would launch a perfume that most people perceive as smelling like b.o. (and without wanting to become too graphic, b.o. smells very different from person to person ;-)) and just the odd consumer (as in “few”, not “strange” ;-)) thinks actually smells like grapefruit? As you can probably tell I’m not terribly good at letting a topic that interests me go, so here I go again: Testing a theory in one’s natural habitat is crucial – and innocence is over-rated anyway 😀
I agree with Marie.
If you love something, then you should not dismiss it based on what another thinks. I know this is easier said than done, because I care what people think. I wish this were not the case!!!!
You have an excellent nose, and you should trust it.
I just want to add, that a harsh criticism is never healthy. In a critique of any kind, If something is disagreeable to a person, then they should be responsible and own it, making it personal, rather than making a statement that can ruin another persons experience.
You do a good job at this. Not every perfume will work for everyone, no matter how brilliant it may be. What smells like heaven on one person, can turn rancid on another.
Give your old friend another go, and try to smell it with a fresh nose. Then let us know what you think based on NOW.
The smell has not changed for me, thankfully. I don’t get any b.o., just fresh and lovely grapefruit. I was just worried I am anosmic to that facet of the perfume and went about happily projecting Eau de Armpit. 😉
But as Marie pointed out, it is quite ridiculous (still hard to shake though).
Thank you, Arline. 🙂
I agree with Arline— you have a wonderful nose, and should trust it! 🙂
Thank you, Dee! xo
Haha, when you put it like that it does sound ridiculous – chances are that more people smell grapefruit than b.o. 🙂
The mental image is what is hard to get rid of, I think.
My brother owns this and I am seeing him later in the week – so will conduct a trial… Brotherly BO molecules hold no terror for me!
Thank you for your selfless commitment to perfumery, V! I shall look forward to your report!
Yes, unfortunately, for my Eau de Lierre; I was saddened by Luca Turin’s one star in his guide book, and up until that point I used to wear it proudly and confidently. I still apply it, but somehow, the criticism is at the back of my head a constant reminder!
Luca Turin did a lot of damage… 😉
I know how that feels though, it is hard to shake.
I think that’s why I haven’t purchased his book of perfume reviews yet – I hesitate to become too influenced by his opinions – thereby missing out on a good read undoubtedly.
Somehow I have no problem dismissing his opinions at all. 😀
I will follow your example! 🙂
I actually regret buying that book, not because one of their reviews crushed a fragrance love of mine, but because I came to realise I don’t agree with the writers. I don’t respect their opinion, so the book is wasted on me.
I ‘naively’ started wearing Jicky about 25 / 30 years ago – when I really had no special interest in perfume and cologne as I do now.
I remember going to a perfume shop in Rennes, France where when I asked for Jicky for myself and not a gift, the salesperson exclaimed ‘that’s for women, sir!’. I exited the shop quite embarrassed and started reading up on Jicky and noticed it was for the ‘dynamic, sports-loving woman’. I then suddenly started noticing everywhere the ‘woman-in-the-convertible-sports-car-scarf-blowing-in-the-wind’ ad.
Completely dropped Jicky and followed my nose to a more strong, manly cologne. Habanita, I think -LOL.
With a few years of experience and maturity, I realized how incompetent the salesperson was and how marketing really dominates perfume. Fortunately I’ve come back to splashing away with Jicky.
Nevertheless, I am still influenced by what I see and read even before I sniff and today will try new stuff based on the description or name. Though it would be better for me to blindly siege the perfume department of the Printemps Haussmann.
Hi Christopher,
what a lovely story! I’m glad you didn’t stay cowed by this SA and trusted your nose and your taste. Gender-labeling is so unnecessary and so limiting.
Isn’t Jicky the original “shared” fragrance anyway? Im familiar with those ads (sportscar, scarf), but those came along well into the life of the fragrance!
I applaud your fortitude in ignoring the SA, and following your nose back to a truly wonderful perfume 🙂
Initially it was even meant for men, if I remember correctly.
Thank you or your kind words of encouragement – over the years I’ve managed to get over this gender thing- even wore Miss Dior for some time!
I think Jicky was meant for men, but women adopted it more quickly… At least that’s what I story seems to tell us.
All in all,this is a fantastic post! Great reading all of this share of experience!
You are very welcome! I think I’ll wear my Jicky extrait tonight! 🙂
I used to really love Serge Lutens Fourreau Noire. It had this certain magic note that I couldn’t put my finger on but I enjoyed a lot. Then I read (don’t remember exactely where) that FN smells of pancace syrup. This had never occurred to me but the next time I tried it on, and sure, that was my magic note -maple syrup! All of a sudden FN smelled unbearably sweet and there was no magic left at all 😦
Aww, that is sad. Ignorance is certainly bliss sometimes. 🙂
It happens to me, but usually with names that I’m unsure about. There are so few scents that I love unreservedly, that when I find one, I am overjoyed and can’t be dissuaded by a review. With one caveat: if (as Sigrun mentioned) they tease out an offensive note that i didn’t notice before. Then that note becomes the only thing that I smell. That happened with Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. Somebody mentioned the smell of chewed Chiclets, and now the scent is ruined for me!
That is unfortunate indeed. As soon as there is an unpleasant association, it is hard to get rid of it again.
Oooh, I just realized (in a flash of ironic recognition) that I just may have ruined PN for somebody else! Very sorry – from now on I am going to keep my ‘nasty note associations’ to myself.
No, hasn’t happened yet. I know that some reviewers are my polar opposites (ie: If it gets rave reviews on Grain de Musc, I’m going to hate it, and if she doesn’t like something, I probably will), and some are scent twins (ie: you!)- so those reviews may help me try a fragrance or stay away from it. And there’s a certain level of “that’s too low-brow to enjoy” with some reviewers, but I go ahead and enjoy a few Yves Rocher, Gaultiers and Swiss Arabians. I am too much of a nerd to go after lemmings- I’ve never been part of the “in crowd” so I’m kind of immune to that. Overall, I like doing it my own way, even if it points to a certain level of social ineptitude and lack of fashion sense on my part…;-)
It’s a good question to ask, Birgit! Thanks!
Thank you for answering it.
I admire your staunchly independent sense of self.
And – it is good to have a scent twin, I’m honored I am yours.
An addendum- I still don’t forgive Luca Turn for totally trashing Mona di Orio. That was horrible.
Katie Puckrik had an amusing story about a Mona di Orio scent (Nuit Noire, I think).in one of her videos. She was going to London and someone she knew mentioned Mona di Orio and Nuit Noire. KP went and tried Nuit Noire in London and loved it! Later she found out that the person she had talked to had actually said that Nuit Noire was a horrible perfume, but she hadn’t picked up on that – and went perfume sniffing with positive expectations.
We can never go into a new eperience totally unbiased, so I suppose we shouldn’t expect that of ourselves. Increasingly, though, I read perfume reviews very selectively. I read reviews from bloggers whose taste in perfume I believe I have a fairly good sense of and use their opinions as a kind of compas – the way you describe it – to get the general direction more than the exact destination.
That would be me! I was “necklaced” with Nuit Noire by a trigger-happy tester-toting SA in Paris (I had to write the day off and lie in a darkened room – the whole sorry tale is featured in my Scent Crimes series if you are curious!).
I think there is a social animal tendency with perfume taste and reviewing of scents – well, up to a point perhaps. I never did review the Neela Vermeire trio because my reaction was a bit mixed, and I thought that might not be well received against the backdrop of universal acclaim. That’s the first time other reviews have made me feel awkward about writing one myself that is a bit out of step. And that was probably to do with my feeling that I had missed something and would come across as a complete nasal klutz! (speaking more of the first half of Trayee and Bombay Bling – I liked Mohur from the off). If there had even been one negative review I might have dared to take that step….
PS In my case I only singled out NN as being a scrubber to my nose – and just the scent, I mean, not the house/perfumer. I absolutely *love* the new range but NN was waaaay too rich / spicy / skanky for me. (Or is was in 2008…. : – ) )
The opening of NN is quite a lot to take, eight sprays is definitely overkill! Poor V!
That is some horror story about the NN. Although I entirely blame that proper-distance-challenged over-dosing SA and not the perfume.
I think if you want to, you should publish your thoughts about the Indian trilogy, no matter what the general tenor is. They are exceptionally well made, just not to your personal liking. I doubt you are about to trash them into the ground.
No indeed, but I am also mindful that if I just wait a bit, I might like them completely!
Hehe, you might indeed! 🙂
I didn’t care much for the Neelas, and one I really couldn’t stand, but felt that since she is “one of us” that I could not give a negative review. I keep wondering about my decision to not write about them at all….I keep wondering if there are others like me who just aren’t saying anything.
Well, there’s you and me for starters now. I mentioned that BB smelt like “aggravated fruit” – in the same sense as “aggravated burglary” – in a comment somewhere and felt really guilty the whole day. I am still not sure I am not missing something…
That was horrible indeed, totally unjustified and overly personal. You just don’t attack somebody like that. It massively lowered my opinion of Dr Turin. I’m so glad he didn’t destroy her, although he did his utmost.
I didn’t realize that he’d gone after her like that 😦
It’s fair to not like someone’s take on perfume – that’s a matter of personal preferences – but certainly not ok to become aggressive.
There are certainly visions of fragrance that we will never understand. Personally, I suspect that I’ll never become a By Killian fan (with the execption of Back to Black), but that doesn’t mean that I think they make bad perfume in the sense of poor quality – they’re just not for me, I gon’t “get it” as the saying goes. My loss. Not that I think By Killian will lose any sleep over my lack of appreciation – at least I hope not 😉 And on more serious note, I hope that Mona di Orio didn’t lose any over LT’s criticism. Critique is one thing – all artists of some renown will have to live with that – harsh criticism is another.thing entirely.
Oh yes, Turin was horrible to Mona di Orio, it almost seemed as if her were trying to discredit her. He’s an old windbag most of the time, I feel that reading The Guide is an enjoyable experience (it is downright hilarious at time) but is best accompanied by a large pinch of salt.
I totally agree!
I think you should give Pamplelune a benefit of a doubt. 🙂 I love that stuff and never smell any trace of BO.
As to your question, the answer is yes even though the review wasn’t bad. It was Katie’s review of Black Orchid which until that time I loved but she mentioned an aquatic note I previously never noticed and after that, I could no longer wear it. 🙂
Very good to know, thank you, Ines!
I’m glad you experienced such a thing as well, although I’m sorry you lost Black Orchid. I hate that aquatic note in it.
Birgit, aren’t the number of people who encourage you to revisit Pamplelune with a fresh approach soon outnumbering those who led you to dislike it? 🙂 Not that we care about such things, obviously 😉
Thank you for posing this question – It’s given me some food for thought – and I’ve been enjoying the charms of Champs Elysees ever since I read Undina’s comment – one scent torn out the claws of unfavorable reviews 🙂
I was hoping my faith in Pamplelune might be restored by positive opinions today. And once more the Perfumeland community pulled through for me. 🙂
No. If I read a negative review of something I like/love, I’m intrigued with the different perception. I usually assume the reviewer has a better sense of smell than I do, and will try to understand the criticism. As for L. Turin, I’m sure he’s smelling more in perfumes than I do. I was amused by his review of Cartier’s Le Baiser du Dragon. More for me to wear and love. If I ever meet him, which is pretty sure to not happen in my life, I’ll be sure to be wearing Vol de Nuit.
I realize that Turin has a much vaster knowledge and experience than I do, but I still see that our tastes are totally different, so respectfully disagreeing with him comes easy.
Nonsense! You as well as all humans are natural ‘noses’ whether we can put sophisticated names on all the elements making up a perfume or not. Pretty much everyone participating in this blog speaks perfect English; very few, though, can probably provide an exhaustive list of the defective modal auxiliaries of the English language. And who really cares as long as we communicate naturally.
Same with smells- we all perfectly sniff out what we like and like less and in a wiff can recognize a large number of ‘things’.
This self-decreed perfume expert refers to Brut and Canoe as being cheap colognes. That means nothing as it is subjective and ‘cheap’ is undefinable unless he means that the ingredients are inexpensive which has no consequence on the scents.
The less we make reference to a hot-air balloon who attmepts to rob us of the pleasures of discovering and falling in love with colognes the better.
“so respectfully disagreeing with him comes easy” very good Birgit, I completely second that 🙂 As to grapefruit being associated with arm pit odour, I really don’t get that at all, rather I love the scent of grapefruit, and if you need another picture to erase that bad one, read this 🙂 http://www.cafleurebon.com/the-magical-properties-of-grapefruit-ladies-look-six-years-younger-in-a-single-spritz-maggie-may-draw/
And I don’t think I’ve ever changed my mind because of a review, at least not for the worse, but to be honest, I am not entirely sure I remember…
Lovely post, thanks for the link, Asali!
I’m almost convinced to love Pamplelune without prejudice again… 🙂
Une Rose Chyprée by Andy Tauer – someone mentioned it smells like rubber and it does. To be more specific, it smells like a pink rubber hot water bottle. (So sexy.)
Fortunately I don’t get rubber from URC. But it goes to show how powerful such images are.
This is so funny and touches a nerve with me. I was a wearer of Thierry Mugler’s Angel – and practically every man I had contact with loved it – including my husband. (With that said, I have in my arsenal Chanel no. 5, Chanel Coromandel.) One fine day, I was talking about perfumes with a co-worker and my boss – who told me – they really didn’t like the perfume – what???? – sooo… my boss (very sweet) searched for something similar, but better and found Bond No. 9 Nuits de Noho – and promptly purchased a bottle for me. I still have to admit to wearing the Angel – but this one I really like. Softer, perhaps, less intimidating.
Hi Tina,
Angel tends to provoke love or hate reactions. How nice of your boss to get you a new bottle of such an expensive scent!
Luca Turin turned me off L’Ete en Douce, when he called it “laundry soap on steroids”. He is quite right as it happens, but it pained me to hear it and I could never wear it since.
Then I was cajoled into buying a perfume which I am just now begining to go off (or maybe it is! it is an all natural and nearly 3 years old!), precisely *because* there are NO reviews of it in the Internet – now that worries me…Ajne Calypso. Usually Ajne list all the names of celebrities who wear their perfumes on its website, but celebrity wearers of Calypso were conspicuously absent when I last looked. Now don’t get me wrong – I *don’t* need a celebrity to endorse a perfume for me to be able to appreciate it, but if ALL the other scents in their online shop have various names of people like Debra Messing and Felicity Huffman etc after them and this one has neery a one associated with it, then that starts to be a bit concerning, haha!
Oh my, no celebrity endorsements! Why, Calypso must be abysmal then. Stop wearing that immediately! 😉
Hahaha! I do think it *may* be on the turn itself, but I find these things so hard to judge, especially with naturals. Might bring it along in May with the Ajne Vanille I promised to show the CPB. Which has a bunch of celebrity followers as far as I recall. : – )
Thank God! We wouldn’t want to foist a non-celebrity endorsed scent on poor CPB!
I would refuse to sniff it 😛
In CPB’s defence, he had no idea that Vanille was celebrity-endorsed at the time I made my offer, hehe!
Oh, B, I’m sorry about Pamplelune! I can certainly see how that would more than put you off wearing it.
I can’t think of a perfume that has been completely ruined for me, but quite often when I wear Une Rose I’m concerned that other people may be picking up on the urinous quality that LT mentions in The Guide. I’ve only ever had compliments while wearing it though and don’t intend to stop.
Thanks for understanding.
I never smelled any urin or other dirtyness in Une Rose, if that is of any help. 🙂
It is!
Good! 🙂
This is a very thought provoking question B and I must admit that it has been on my mind for most of the day. I cannot think of an instance when another’s opinion has turned me off or ruined a perfume for me.
I guess I’m a bit of a selfish perfume wearer, if I like it I’ll wear it and if it smells better with 10 sprays then I will use 10 sprays. I don’t tend to think about the opinion of how others perceive the way I smell, of course if anyone said they were dying because I smelled to strong I would dial it down, but someone simply not liking my perfume, or perhaps a bad review wouldn’t turn me off.
All of that said reviews have had the opposite affect many times. I have often felt lukewarm towards a perfume until reading a particular review which somehow makes everything click and leads me to forming a completely new perception of the perfume.
I know that opposite effect as well. A good review can make it all fall into place.
Great question B!
There is a “review” on LuckyScent for Opus IV (one of my immortal loves) that reads:
“Sweaty pink bubblegum. Go ahead and try to unthink that when you smell it now.”
LOL, I’ve read that a hundred times, and still experience zero sweaty pink bubblegum! Though I think that we’re I on the fence about a scent, a negative review might effect me. I wish I had an example… I know that I can influence myself the opposite way, and get to liking something with reading positive reviews— maybe I should test this side of the equation too!
Alyssa talks about “perfume cool” in her book, and of falling in love with a scent, but not wanting to buy it (at first) because of her fear of losing cred in the eyes of the perfumista community. I thought that was very interesting! I know that in the years past, it wasn’t cool to love vanilla scents, or overly sweet scents (maybe that’s still true), but I think that quality and an interesting take trumps individual facets. I can’t imagine life without my Havana Vanille… 😉
Sweaty pink bubblegum is a powerful image, thankfully it is not working on you!
The concept of perfume cool sounds familiar, some things are just not “in” or “good” enough.
Negative reviews had more of an influence on me near the beginning of my perfume journey, as I assumed that those more experienced than me were smelling stuff that I didn’t. I still assume that those more experienced than me are smelling things I can’t (I’m still amazed at the way other bloggers can parse out notes that I can’t), but I just don’t care as much if something I like is full of “cheap-smelling synthetics”. It’s helped to discover that no matter how much something is loved, there’s usually at least one dissenting view in blogger-land.
Positive reviews, especially of little indie houses – I do have a soft spot for the little guys – have more of an effect on me. There’s soooo much out there to try, if someone speaks highly of a perfumer I’ve never heard of before (especially if the line is reasonably priced ;)) that’ll catch my attention. Olympic Orchids has moved near the top of my sampling list because of Dee and Tarleisio. I hope to try the line this summer.
The more we smell, the more we can trust ourselves, I think. BTW, did you get my package yet? You’ll be happy to find several Olympic Orchids samples inside. 🙂
No, not yet. But I’ve learned with the Canadian postal system to be very patient. (There are OO samples in there? Yaaay!)
Her new one, Ballets Rouges, is soooooo good!!!! And I’m very fussy about my roses….
alfarom’s reviews of the entire Xerjoff line on basenotes and fragrantica, for me, magnified the Vulgar/Tasteless side of the brand by 1000,000%. I can never look at them in the same way again.
Oh, that’s too bad! Bottles, names and hype aside, there are some very good fragrances in the line.
So far a negative online review has never spoilt my enjoyment of a fragrance I already own and like, but if I read negative reviews about a new scent that I am less enthusiastic about sampling it myself.
Call me an egotist, but when it comes to fragrances I like I don’t trust anyone’s judgment but my own.
That is a very healthy egotism in that case! 🙂
I love Opium, and think it smells warm and spicy and cozy, but I have read so many hate reviews that I am afraid to offend by wearing it out of the house, but I wear it at home on many of my days off…
Oh, I’m sorry you are afraid to wear what you love in public. 😦
Hmm, I am thinking I will dab cautiously and go out in the world with my happy smell.
Excellent! I’m all for it!
No, not really. Review just gains my attention, positive or negative. But I always want to make my own opinion and try it for myself. The thing I’ve learned is that things smell different on every person and my taste is changing.
Forming your own opinion is the most important thing, no matter what anyone says.
Nope never – if anything (being the rebel that I am) negative reviews make me want to try it and embrace it! 😉 I’m such a trouble maker.
And re: Pamplelune- I love it, but there is a wee bit of cat pee smell (pun intended) I detect at a certain point in the dry down, but I wear it proudly anyway (when the Moth isn’t around, because he cannot stand grapefruit in any form)
Actually just doused some on – and no cat pee smell! Huzzah!
Huzzah indeed! 😀
You rebel! 🙂
Great that you are wearing Pamplelune today! 🙂
Hmm…I don’t think a bad review would put me off a perfume, but I love it when, after sniffing something wonderful, I rush home to read reviews and learn that someone else smelled what I smelled! It’s just a bit of fun. Snap!
I like that as well, it feels very validating. 🙂
Maybe I should write a bad review of muscs Kublai khan then, as this one is too much for me, but I know some people like it 😉
Most fragrances I wear I am comfortable enough to wear regardless of what others think of it. But there are a few that I stay a bit nervous about. For instance, some basenotes reviewers report a raw egg smell in one of my favourites- Rive Gauche pour home. I don’t get that note all the time, but I fear one say when it might happen
Not yet. 🙂
I’m rather perverse – I specifically went out to find Guerlain Mahora, because from LT’s description – aside from his judgment that it was one of the worst perfumes ever made – I knew I would love it. And I do. 🙂
I generally want to smell everything, and anything described as weird or awful usually just makes me want to smell it more. Doesn’t mean I’ll love it. And if I do love it, someone else hating it won’t make me stop wearing it. Though I may wear it more carefully!
Lol, good for you!
You probably tried Secretions Magnifiques very early in your Perfumista career. 😉
Actually, I went completely nuts and bought the entire Etat Libre d’Orange sample set, based on what people said about Secretions Magnifique and a massive love for Like This. Tried a few of them, didn’t particularly care, and put it away. I don’t even remember what Secretions Magnifique smelled like! But you’re right, I sniffed it, and I have the sample! 🙂
Ha! 🙂
Hello, it is my first time commenting here, but I MUST say something.
A few days ago, I read on one of the perfume blogs, Perfume Posse, the following description:
” I get sweetly decayed flies-circling fruit that should have been thrown out last night before I invited in that Moroccan dance troupe that cooked spicy food all night and then had an orgy on my living room floor while I was sleeping it off”.
I was impressed with such a creative description. It refers to FM “Le Parfum de Therese”, in case someone did not know.
Should I stop using PdT, worrying that I will attract hundreds of flies and scare the decent people off ? Definitely not.
The reviewer has a right to hate PdT. Thank God she cannot influence my perception of perfume I really like.
So, Birgit, please enjoy your Pamplemousse. It is a very uplifting, FRESH and happy scent. No BO at all.
Hi behemot12,
I’m glad you commented.
I read that too and found it hilarious, thankfully it did not influence my relationship with Therese, which I adore, in the least. 🙂
Normally I’m pretty resistant to critique of something I know I like. It is probably because Pamplelune is a scent from “before”. Before I was a Perfume-nut, I mean. Maybe I don’t trust my younger self in that case.
I think Pamplelune got so much positive reinforcement in this post, I’m almost back to gladly wearing it.
If you like the crisp fresh tartness of the beginning of Pamplelune but are worried about the possibility of a slightly sulphurous note coming up in the dry down (BO?) you could try Parfums de Nicholai L’eau Mixte, which is very similar in the beginning but with a kind of cool creaminess in the floral heart that seems to counteract (or distract you from) grapefruit’s sometimes tendency to show it’s sulphurous underbelly. It’s like a scent that starts off going down the same highway but follows a different exit. Goes in the direction of shaded orchards with faintly spiced iced tea.
Hello SonomaVelvet,
thank you for that very helpful comment! I’ll add L’Eau Mixte to my testing list.
I love the highway comparison.
I know what you mean – there is some cumin lingering in your Pamplelune. But I found it in another great citrus as well : Bigarade Concentree – and I simply didn’t care : selfish as I am was wearing Biagarade for few summers now, and will do the same the next summer for sure ! And no, I can’t think of a parfum yet, which was made sour by a review.
It doesn’t bother me in Bigarade Concentrée either, which I love too and wear with abandon in the summer heat.
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