What perfume do you like?

[indranee]

Okay, I need to buy a perfume (or parfum, take your pick) for my best friend as she told me she wants a new perfume for her b'day. I'm really bad at this because I've been wearing the same "scent" for years now (NOA - yes, boring) and have no idea what the new ones are. Can some of you ladies help me out? What do you like? What do you hate? Is it true that you can't wear certain perfumes in your 20s, 30s, 40, 50s, whatever? Are perfumes age-related? I've been hearing that lately...

I'd love some of your suggestions and will then go check them out. I need to do this this coming weekend... and if I like something enough, I wanna buy it for myself as well

Thanks so much in advance...

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I love Estee Lauder's Beyond Paradise. Also two older ones: Bobbi, by Bobbi Brown, and Liz, by Liz Claiborne.

I think some heavy, spicy perfumes might seem weird on a very young woman, but aside from that, I don't think age matters. What's more important is realizing that a perfume will smell slightly different on different people, because it interacts w/ one's body chemistry. So just because Beyond Paradise smells heavenly on me doesn't mean it will necessarily be heavenly on you or your friend.

What scent have you been wearing for years?

 

[kirsten187]

I like Obsession by Calvin Klein and also Ghost.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Ooh it is so hard picking out a scent for someone! These days the only thing i wear is "Warm Vanilla Sugar" from Bath and Body Works. And i really don't wear perfume per se, but use the body lotions and sometimes the spray.

Before i switched to this i wore my husbands Obsession for Men. I just love that scent!

Good luck!

 

[auntiehill]

Gosh, it's been AGES since I wore perfume.

I don't really know what I like these days, beyond my Dancing Waters from Bath & Body Works. I use that scented lotion all the time.

 

[Niorah]

My favourite perfumes through the years have been Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche, Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent, Cacharel pour l'Homme (uncannily good), Kouros, also by Yves Saint Laurent, and I have been using Fahrenheit by Christian Dior for many many years now, I believe it is definitely my ultimate scent.

As for women's perfumes I like Clinique Happy, Romance by Ralph Lauren, Anais Anais by Cacharel and Paris by Yves Saint Laurent.

 

[HoneyBLilly]

Circus Fantasy by Britney Spears
Curious by Britney Spears
M by Mariah Carey
Forever by Mariah Carey
Pixie Dust by Paris Hilton

 

[auntiehill]

My favourite perfumes through the years have been... Anais Anais.....

Oh, yes, forgot about that one. I still have a small bottle of that, although I hardly ever use perfume anymore. My sister used to wear that when we were teens, and I always liked it. It's very floral but very mild. I like clean, fresh, almost "soapy" perfumes--nothing too musty or alcohol-smelling.

 

[Niorah]

My favourite perfumes through the years have been... Anais Anais.....

Oh, yes, forgot about that one. I still have a small bottle of that, although I hardly ever use perfume anymore. My sister used to wear that when we were teens, and I always liked it. It's very floral but very mild. I like clean, fresh, almost "soapy" perfumes--nothing too musty or alcohol-smelling.

I believe one of the great marks of a perfume is how long it's been around, and this one came on the market back in 1978. Not bad.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I have over a hundred bottles of perfume, I've been collecting it for years.. also huge perfume book library.

Today I'm wearing a BPAL, Hi'iaka. It's a warm tropical floral, lots of pikake, light but potent.. I like it when it is warm and humid and a bit rainy out.

Perfumes are only age related in the eyes of marketing. If someone likes a sweet or fruity perfume they like it, doesn't matter if they are 40 and not 14. I think a few of Britneys are excellent (not the latest one though) and would make a good gift. Curious is lovely magnolia scent and very similar to certain much older ones. Obviously anyone with a Britney antipathy might not wish to get one as a gift though.

What perfume does she have now?

Just don't let yourself get talked into something by the sales people at the store, they are told to flog the crap out of new stuff and it may not be that nice.

Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely is a nice apple musk scent that seems very popular.. if you worry about picking something too strong I don't think many would find it so.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Vera Wang Princess, Kate Spade Twirl, Viva la Juicy, and Marc Jacobs Daisy are my favorites. I wear Princess at least every other day!

Edit- I also love all the Clinique Happy scents.

Some stuff I wore in my teens/20's I can't wear anymore. Colors de Benneton, Liz Claiborne, Paloma Picasso, and Wings by Giorgio make me gag. On the other hand, I still love Jessica McClintock and Samba after 20+ years! I guess I went through a period of liking spicy/musky stuff, but I've always liked florals, sweet, citrus, and sporty.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Mark Jacobs Daisy is a good choice, very nice bottle, it would be hard to dislike this one! It is also classy and has not celebrity associations if you wanted to avoid that. I like the one in the black bottle best, the edp.. it is more expensive but a richer scent. However they are all good and I think it would make a fantastic present

 

[An Officer]

There are very few women's perfumes I like:
Bvlgari pour femme
Coco Mademoiselle - Chanel
Envy - Gucci
Polo Sport - Ralph Lauren

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

There are very few women's perfumes I like:
Bvulgari pour femme
Coco Mademoiselle - Chanel
Envy - Gucci
Polo Sport - Ralph Lauren

If you want to really impress her OP with a big gift go for the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle!!! The edp is richer, the edt is more grapefruit.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I've been using a perfume called Replay by Morris since, well, forever. I really like it, and it's not too overbearing. I use perfume very sparsely, tho, as I've been told more than once (and by unsuspectable people) that I have a very nice smell myself, so no reason to meddle with it too much.

Even if it's a man's perfume, it's very sweet, and I think it would be good on a lady too.

 

[Kestra]

I think Narciso Rodriguez is pretty sexy stuff.

 

[Jadzia]

Commercial perfumes smell unnatural and unpleasant to me. It may be the base solvents and additives that I dislike, or maybe because most of the scent ingredients are artificial chemicals.

I make my own perfumes by mixing essential oils and diluting in a simple water-alcohol solvent. Their fragrances can feel very gentle, peaceful and comforting, and makes a much more personal and harmonious scent for self expression.

 

[An Officer]

I make my own perfumes by mixing essential oils and diluting in a simple water-alcohol solvent. Their fragrances can feel very gentle and comforting, and feel much more personal and harmonious as a form of self expression.

What a great idea! I am tempted to try this myself, except I am far too lazy . Coincidently, my last couple of perfumes have been Acqua di Parma Colonia. I probably found myself unconsciously drawn to it because it is made from natural ingredients, as I found out later; it smells like a summer garden, it's also unisex, not too soft and not too harsh. It's certainly particular, and not for everyone, which is why I did not include it in my original list, it is also not a typically female scent.

Good luck, Indranee! I am sure you'll find just the thing for your friend if you know her well.

 

[Sector 7]

My favourite perfumes through the years have been Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche...

My best friend- and later my lover- always wore Drakkar Noir. The rare occasions where I encounter it bring back a flood of warm memories for me.

Try to learn if your friend has any allergies. I cannot tolerate herbal/floral nor musk scents. Citrus is my favorite and for decades, when I use any, I use Tuscani.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Unfortunately - none.

Perfumes are a trigger to my asthma. I like smell of cartain perfume however.

I make my own perfumes by mixing essential oils and diluting in a simple water-alcohol solvent. Their fragrances can feel very gentle, peaceful and comforting, and makes a much more personal and harmonious scent for self expression

I wonder if I would react to your perfumes or not.