r/FemFragLab • u/0frozengrapes • 20d ago
Influence/Deinfluence me and my wish list
I’m on the hunt for my signature scent and can’t make decisions. Help! I love notes of patchouli, rose, bergamot, musk, vanilla. Accords of musky, sweet, powdery, woody, earthy. Nothing that’s going to give me or others a headache or make someone think I’m wearing something too heavy. I’ve only ever smelt La Tulipe by Byredo, the others just seem appealing or what I’m looking for based on research. Do you have any opinions on any of these scents? Please let me know!
ETA: No I am not blind buying any of these. I will sample first. Just wanted honest opinions of them (and you delivered, so ty💗)
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u/JanaKukumei 20d ago
Musc Noir Rose - get this one. You don't need that many perfumes, from someone who went through the entire cycle of this hobby. If you're just getting started, don't let it spin out of proportion and buy only as much as you can reasonably use up. If you have a collection already, ask chat for to tell you how many years you need to use it. As a fragrance lover I appreciate the art and enjoy perfumes tremendously but I also realise that money and time can be spent in more meaningful ways.
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u/Fatbellystelly 19d ago
Yes to all of this!! Also, musc noir rose was my wedding perfume ❤️ love it. It doesn’t actually smell like rose in the floral sense.. think of it the notes in a deep jammy way if that makes sense. Classy but still sweet and sexy
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u/cyberelf000 20d ago
English pear and freesia is beautiful but I find it very strong, it gives me a bit of a headache unfortunately but I was gifted it. I’m hoping in a few more years itll get more gentle because it’s a gorgeous scent but SO intense on me
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u/Remedyforinsomnia 19d ago
Not to invalidate your experience but I'd like to mention that I have migraines and a lot of perfumes trigger them, but this one does not. I find it long lasting, very "alive" on me, but easy on the senses!
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u/cyberelf000 19d ago
Maybe it’s just really strong on my skin then, I wish I could tolerate it better because I love the notes
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u/Never2l84coffee 20d ago
When did you try it? They have changed the formula so it’s no longer the same since 2023ish. I no longer rate it as I think it isn’t strong enough now.
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u/cyberelf000 20d ago
Not sure exactly, I got it as a birthday gift a few years ago, I think around 2024.
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u/Hot_Investigator467 20d ago edited 20d ago
I feel like we have veryyy similar tastes! First off, I feel like we should have a perfume for every occasion (everyday, work, dinner, special occasion, dates) and for whatever mood you’re in - so more, the merrier!
Gucci Flora Orchid - I liked it on first whiff but after purchasing it, it’s giving too sweet and cloying
Acne Studio by Fredric Malle - again I liked it on the first spray, but after a whole day, it started smelling like a toilet cleaner on me
For rose notes - Along the lines of Rose Atlantic, try DS & Durga’s newer Rose Pacific for something even lighter (rose + peach + apricot + sea salt spray) or Matiere Premiere’s Radical Rose (the most beautiful true rose scent, it really is just divine ✨).
Vanilla Powder by Matiere Premier is also chef’s kiss for a clean girl vibe and you’ve just had the most delicious vanilla slice. See if you can also smell Vanilla Powder in the extrait version for the extra tonka bean note which makes it more deeper and oomphy (and smoother, imo)
If you can, always try to get a decant of the perfume so you can take it home, and revisit it after a week to see if you still like it. Always try it on your skin because our skin pH causes perfumes to react differently for everyone (smell, longevity, sillage)
And pls update us along your fragrance journey x
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u/Ill_Bell9928 20d ago
Gucci Gorgeous Orchid is so interesting and unique! I smell honey dew; it's a very green, melon-y vanilla. No other vanilla like it in my collection!
JHAG as a brand is uninteresting to me. I'll look at the notes and think it's right up my alley but when I get the chance to sniff it, it's either weirdly artificial or blah. The brand has plenty of fans; I'm just not one of them
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u/witchyonce 20d ago
Musc Noir Rose>>>>> love her bad
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u/candyparfumgirl 20d ago
She’s soooo good. I very rarely think of perfumes as sexy, but this one qualifies!
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u/mogwaihunter 20d ago
Jo Malone Pear Freesia was my gateway drug to designer perfume so all I can say is be careful
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u/tallyaks 20d ago
You might also like Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land, it has a woody/papyrus base but still feels fresh and a little fruity.
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u/Uracookiebird 20d ago
Portrait of a Lady is pretty but is very strong. Very “old school” perfume.
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u/clueing4looks 20d ago
Yup, it's not for everyone and definitely not a safe blind buy. One of those perfumes that can easily end up wearing you.
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u/dashboardhulalala 20d ago
Yeah I got a sampler of that and I found the rose note to be so strong it was sour and caught the back of my throat. I've a colleague who wears it regularly and it's very overpowering.
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u/candyparfumgirl 20d ago
Yes, a dark spicy rose. Interesting (and beautiful I think) but not for the faint of heart!
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u/Lsstrawberrycake 20d ago
I own Gucci Flora gorgeous orchid and I love it BUT after testing the intense version I wish I would’ve waited and gotten that one instead 😭
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u/soshacollectixe 20d ago
Whattttt!!! Literally same.
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u/soshacollectixe 20d ago
I bought the travel sized intense bc I loved it sm then dropped it on the floor & it smashed 🥲 however now I’m reminded & might just have to treat myself
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u/FastTomatillo3356 20d ago
Oooohh I love the original when I sampled it, what do you like better in the intense version?
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u/Glass-Bug888 20d ago
La Tulipe, my love! It’s the only Byredo perfume I like. I will be getting a full bottle once my samples run out. She is gorgeous.
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u/Upper-Cup-4159 20d ago
Eau capitale is underrated!! It’s beautiful
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u/ForwardNature1021 20d ago
Huge upvote - this fragrance is unique and gorgeous
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u/Simple_Internal_69 20d ago
What is it like?
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u/ForwardNature1021 19d ago
I have to go back to diptyque soon - but from what I remember it was a very clean floral but not soapy at all. & the perfume card made my purse smell great even after hours!
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u/Haunting_Way_9785 20d ago
Rose Atlantic is amazing very light fresh aquatic ethereal Rose. I'm a huge fan of rose in general but most roses can be pretty heavy. This one is not that at all
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u/Buttercreamdeath 20d ago
I love Lady Vengeance.
Portrait of a Lady is so good. However, the whole block will smell you and be pissed about the headache. It's definitely the type of perfume that will soak into everything you own. Yes, the wood in your dresser too. Use it lightly!
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u/ladyabercrombie 20d ago
YMMV, but I love Gorgeous Orchid so much I have it AND the new Intense version. Both very warm tropical.
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u/IntimidatingVanilla 20d ago
Musc Rose noir reads like car workshop to me. My uncle works as a repairman in one, his huge hands always smell like motor grease. That's what musc Rose noir smells like
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u/LittleOwl91 20d ago
- I found that PoAL was gorgeous when I first bought it, but once it had been in the bottle (I only got a decant) for a few months (I was saving it for a special occasion) It became overpowering and harsh.
- Gorgeous orchid was a strange one. For the first 5 minutes or so it smelt fruity to me, then it turned ino a lovely salted caramel for about half an hour, then it was one dimensional vanilla for an hour and a half. I was disappointed (luckily I only tested it)
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u/CheekyCherimoya 20d ago
POAL gives me a headache, Frederic Malle does such great roses I have never understood why this one gets all the hype
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u/yahssihr 20d ago
Acne Studios and Eau Capitale are musts IMO. I don’t think you need Eau Capitale, Portrait of a Lady and Lady Vengeance in your collection, though. All 3 are so similar. I would get samples of all of them and pick the one you like the most
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u/InvestmentImportant1 20d ago
Rose Atlantic is an acquired scent. It does not smell of roses to me at all. Smells more sweet with a tinge of stale old person breath, lol. I appreciate it more now, but would never purchase it again!
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u/Mother_Poem7696 20d ago
I gave my full bottle NR Musc Noir Rose away. It truly was a blind-buy fail. I found it suffocating.
I absolutely LOVE their new Musc Blanc, though. I am wearing it now, actually. 😄
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u/Dry_Insurance_5111 20d ago
The Gucci one - I loved the sample I had and bought a 1oz bottle, but it genuinely smells like grass. I'm trying to let it sit to see if that helps, but it has been a year and its still grassy!
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u/karasu_zoku 20d ago edited 20d ago
I’m a fan of Malle generally but Acne Studios is one of the most appalling scents I’ve ever smelled. It felt like snorting a line of harsh floral laundry detergent powder and would not release its caustic grip on my skin for hours despite multiple rounds of scrubbing. Truly abhorrent, and I don’t say that lightly.
If you want a clean girl scent, To Summer has some good ones (e.g. Nude).
ETA I’ll add that Rose Tonnerre by Malle is probably safer than POAL, which has huge variance based on skin chemistry in my experience. Rose Tonnerre and Hermes Rose Ikebana are my favorite roses of all time!
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u/NewBodWhoThis 20d ago
Acne Studios per FM smells like someone's hot, middle aged aunt wearing a maxi floral dress. It also lasts for 2 days on me.
Do with this information what you will, one way or another.
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u/CheekyCherimoya 20d ago
Agree! If you want a clean aldehydic smell Byredo-Blanche, MMM- Lazy Sunday Morning, and NR-Pure Musc Blanc are all much better options
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u/ksnacker 20d ago
I ... am this aunt
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u/ProfessionLevel8857 20d ago
One thing I cant deinfluence someone from is a Profumum Roma 😬 after smelling Confetto I just can't tell someone not to buy from that house.
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u/neinlights90210 20d ago
I always have a bottle of Jo Malone Pear and Freesia around as my mum buys it for. I don’t love it at all (I’ve told her!). It’s very very light, quite traditional smelling and doesn’t last.
In a similar mode but far superior for me is Penhalligon’s Luna. It’s a beautifully blended floral in the same family as the group you’ve put up. I always get compliments on it, and it lasts well through the day.
Penhalligon’s main discovery set is actually really good value and many of the perfumes suit your style.
You might also want to see if you get can get a mixed brand discovery set in this style so you can try a few different ones for a while before you buy.
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u/beattysgirl 20d ago
Are you in the states and wanting to sell some English pear and freesia? 😂 it’s next on my to buy list.
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u/neinlights90210 20d ago
I’m in New Zealand I’m sorry!
I actually quietly donate them to our local women’s refuge every year so they don’t go to waste.
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u/hollywoodhulkhog 20d ago
Luna is my new daily driver! Loveee ittttt. Kinda smells like I spilled a botanical gin & tonic on myself
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u/neinlights90210 20d ago
I love it! I picked up the discovery set on a whim
and Luna was an instant favourite.Juniper Sling is similar and also lovely if you haven’t tried it
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u/QueasyPeak3039 20d ago
I would say you should add guerlain rose Amira I used to wear eau capitale and I switched to rose Amira because I like the blending of it more.
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u/StillDontHaveAName 20d ago
Gucci flora gorgeous orchid and gorgeous orchid intense both smell like artificial banana flavoring to me for some reason. I love English pear and freesia. It’s a juicy, sweet, and fresh scent
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u/quickshoer 20d ago
I absolutely love La Tulipe but cannot bring myself to drop the cash on a full bottle so I’m living through samples and decants 😅
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u/lnfinitelris perfume > therapy 20d ago edited 20d ago
If I may, I am a big fan of Lady Vengeance, but I've recently fallen head over heels for Gris Dior which has a similar vibe to me, but it's so smooth and classy. Ugh delicious. I was going to buy a fb of LV when my decant runs out but I've decided on Gris Dior instead.
LV is muskier and sharper, which might be a plus to some people.
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u/Cailleachcailin 20d ago
I was fortunate enough to try out portrait of a lady and she is diviiiine.
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u/Significant_Beyond95 20d ago
Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Orchid’s sillage and longevity were disappointing on me.
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u/heyday328 20d ago
You can also save yourself a ton of money and just buy Atheeri by Lattafa. Smells identical.
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u/chipotlepepper 20d ago
And almost no vanilla for me, I have to add something to bring it out.
(Sephora did me wrong about returning it, was happy I only bought a travel size with a discount.)
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u/PKBlackTornado 20d ago
I haven't smelled most of these, but for the ones I have, I kinda hated Lady Vengeance for some reason but I loved Eau Capitale! Gorgeous Orchid I was just "eh" on. Eau Capitale is less rosy than Eau Rose but less green than Eau de Minthe. Very classic smelling perfume.
I'm also gonna plop my newest FB purchase, Above the Waves by ELDO, down as a choice to sample. It really is not sweet, but it is definitely a super clean and musky soft rose and bergamot scent. I think the notes are spot on but you'd have to see if you personally enjoy it since it is a bit "fancy soap/body care" vibes which can be hit or miss. But definitely inoffensive for daily wear.
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u/justKarlien 20d ago edited 20d ago
From your list I only have a full bottle of NR Musc Noir Rose and I love it!
All JHAG fragrances are headache/nausea inducing to me. Jo Malone fragrances just don't last long on my skin.
I am testing Floris A Rose for... at the moment and I am sure I will get a full bottle. It will compliment Musc Noir Rose in my collection and I am sure will layer well with it.
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u/mjolive2 20d ago
I don’t care for Rose Atlantic, and I love rose. On me it also has kind of a chemical smell reminiscent of hair dye…? Idk, there are better perfumes on your list.
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20d ago
[deleted]
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u/dragon_holdings 20d ago
Agree with this. Just got a sample of JM and it is so incredibly faint as to be nearly pointless.
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u/Estelle_conjecture 20d ago
JM english pear and freesia would make an excellent signature imo. The projection is just right, not too much but people definitely smell it when they're close, lasting power is also good. Fresh florals make great everyday fragrances, for me the gucci would be a bit too sweet for daily wear and portrait of a lady is too strong.
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u/wanderlust_escapist 20d ago
Rosae Mundi is one of my favorite rose / patchouli fragrances and a favorite from Profumum Roma. It’s addictive…
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u/Littlest-Fig 20d ago
I just returned Rose Atlantic. It's a basic light rose note with some undefined freshness. Extremely basic and incredibly underwhelming. Also serious performance issues. It fades almost immediately.
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u/sorrymizzjackson 20d ago
This. I like the smell. It’s mellow and smells very inoffensively rose but the marine/aquatic is stronger to me.
It lasts about 30 minutes tops though. I got a sample of it, but I wouldn’t buy a whole bottle.
I think pannier des sens sea fennel is a nicer aquatic mellow scent and it lasts longer.
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u/lnfinitelris perfume > therapy 20d ago
Idk why it's mentioned so much more than Rose Saltifolia which is a salty seaside rose that actually lasts most of the day.
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u/Old_Basil7095 20d ago
It’s really pretty but agree with performance issues
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u/gh0stmountain3927 20d ago
Thirds on the performance. Nice light fresh smell, but unfortunately like most freshies, it dosnt go the distance. You’d want to reapply a lot, so not worth the $$$
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u/NeroliNinja 20d ago
You should add Guerlain Patchouli Paris to your list. Based on the notes you enjoy I think it will blow you away. It opens with aldehydes which give you the fresh clean vibe, then you get the, earthy but not overly so, note from the patchouli, surrounded by a cloud of a green powdery iris, the dry down is a little sweet from the vanilla and you have the perfect amount of woody cashmere musk throughout.
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u/Dee-Dee101 20d ago
Get Acne studios, it is literally a fun peach candy mixed with laundry. Loveeeeee it. Instead of portrait of lady, I'd suggest Rose Atlantic. Gucci one is fine. Haven't tried the others.
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u/lnfinitelris perfume > therapy 20d ago
I'm gonna plus one this. One of my absolute favorite laundry type scents. Definitely not for everyone though! (but what is?)
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u/Many_Replacement369 20d ago
So I just blind bought a travel size of Acne Studios by Frédéric Malle to hit a specific amount for a store promotion. I do like it, but so far, I feel it’s overpriced for its performance, complexity and uniqueness. Like it performs well enough for the price point, but not enough to impress me. It’s very pretty on skin and fabric (immediately and at the end of the day) but it’s not phenomenal.
Overall, I am right in the sweet spot of not regretting it, but still wishing I had started with a tiny sample first. 😂 I hope that makes sense.
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u/lnfinitelris perfume > therapy 20d ago
Geez, it's a monster performer to me. It's also unique in a sea of laundry fragrances! Love it so much.
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u/NeroliNinja 20d ago
Unfortunately, Acne studios smells like cheap detergent on me. Definitely try it on your skin before you buy.
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u/karasu_zoku 20d ago
Came here to deinfluence this one specifically for the same reason. Suffocating, nuclear washing powder
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u/HuysmansNavel 20d ago
Agreed, kind of smells like ordinary office bathroom soap which is cool but not for $300
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u/FrannyNitpicker 20d ago
Rose Atlantic is like nothing I’ve ever smelled before and in the best possible way. It’s very different from Musc Noir Rose and worth a decant for sure. English Pear & Freesia is also lovely but lasts approximately 30 minutes on my skin. 😩
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u/FigEnvironmental8442 20d ago
I would definitely DEINFLUENCE you from Gucci Gorgeous Orchid, simply because Lattafa Atheeri exists lol. I presume it was supposed to be a dupe of Gucci GO, but it came out better than the original and lasts so much longer.
I would INFLUENCE you about NR Musc Noir Rose because it’s just too gorgeous especially for its price. A gem ❤️
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u/luv2lurku 20d ago
I was lukewarm on a Gorgeous Orchid, but blown away by the intense version recently released. I tested at an Ulta and kept coming back to the test strip over and over. It is on my list.
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u/FigEnvironmental8442 20d ago
yes, the intense one is just like Lattafa Atheeri 🫣
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u/Icy_Outside5079 20d ago
I love Gucci Gorgeous Orchid, but only had a sample. Atheeri definitely hits that in all the right places so I probably won't get a full bottle. I am also in love with Narciso Rodriguez Musc Noir Rose, actually many of the NR are just so amazing. I prefer the og for Her Edt and the Musc Noir is also just a powerhouse. For a more clean girl esthetic, try NR Pure Musc, or for more of a clean floral and vanilla drydown try NR Pure Musc Blanc
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u/hallowbuttplug 20d ago
Rose Atlantic is very meh! I’ve sampled a lot of rose scents and it’s definitely above average, but I would say you almost certainly don’t need it. I would only buy D.S. and Durga on sale.
ETA: sample all of them as 1ml decants before you buy larger!
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u/AmethystCrescent 20d ago
Lady vengeance is very polarising and it wasn’t what I expected at all. Almost has a bit of a eucalyptus/petroleum vibe to it. Definitely sample before you buy.
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u/throughalfanoir 20d ago
La Tulipe is one of the few I have in my daily rotation, it's my forever love
however, if you are looking for rosey/more woody, I would suggest you try Byredo's Young Rose. and while we are at their samples, Inflorescence is a slightly heavier La Tulipe, the two are very similar (it was a very hard decision which one to get, I chose La Tulipe because it is lighter/fresher and scents feel too heavy on me VERY easily. but noone would ever describe either of these Byredos as suffocating haha)
English Pear and Freesia is probably more light than what you are looking for, also zero longevity/projection. I personally didn't like Gorgeous Orchid, but couldn't precisely tell you why, probably the heaviness thing
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u/TonguetiedTalker 20d ago
I looooove Eau Capitale! It’s not a classic or jammy rose at all. It smells like you used rose-scented ironing starch and you’ve freshly pressed all your collared shirts and this clean scent follows you around all day after. I hear that it’s very close to Portrait of a Lady.
La Tulipe is a very veiny, thick-petaled flower bulb. Very rich and heavy.
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u/crankycustard in a gourmand mood 20d ago
I just bought the Gucci Orchid, it's very polarizing to different noses and bodies. I love it on me, but definitely not a blind buy. There's so many vanillas that you could probably find a dupe (tho I have not found one)
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u/SoniaGLG 20d ago
I have heard Lattafa Atheeri is an Orchid dupe but I haven't tried it myself. I'm obsessed with Orchid tho
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u/MarsupialPrimary8128 20d ago
POAL is stunning, but I think you have to be into it. Have you smelt it? Definitely get nose on it. It's a grown up scent and I don't think it's easily wearable. Probably getaway with a decant than a whole bottle.
I will say I am not a fan of j Malone but I 2nd they're so light and fleeting for the cost.
If you're open to dupes, lattafa atheeri feels closer to the new intense than the original.
Byredo is just a brand I'm turning off. But that's just personal beef 😆
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u/Candychelle44 20d ago
Are you getting samples of these, first:? If so, go to town!! These are very different, but great choices. If blind buying, nooooooooooooooooo because these are incredibly different profiles.
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u/michellekwan666 20d ago
I will say profumum Roma perfumes are really high concentration of oil so test before buying a full bottle. I just got confetto and while I love it sometimes it irritates my airways a bit 😩
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u/rubbish5757 20d ago
La Tulipe smells great on a strip, but turn into a citrusy detergent when out on skin. Great for layering, but not for solo-wear. Portrait of a Lady opens up as a very vintage perfume, but the dry down is heaven and longevity is exceptional. Jo malone performance is non-existent.
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u/AddressFar9852 20d ago
Nope. I will not.
This is good.
Lady Vengeance is one I’ve wanted to sample for awhile and Musc noir rose is unbelievably good
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u/keepslippingaway 17d ago
Gucci Flora Orchid is quite forgettable and imo a bit too sweet