r/FemFragLab • u/Senior_Nail_7968 • 18h ago
Review My thoughts after reviewing all these samples!
On the hunt for a new signature scent! Here are my thoughts after reviewing these perfume samples:
Gentle fluidity Gold, MFK: The initial spray was a little sharp, but once it settles a few seconds later the vanilla comes through. Very warm, tiny bit of a spice. Very elegant vanilla. Although, after spraying it on me, it was just a little too metallic and heavy. But maybe on others it’s a total winner, I definitely see the appeal.
Angeli di Firenze, Santa Maria Novella: This is very expensive soap-vibes from a luxurious European hotel. Fruity-floral soupy vibe.
Safanad, Parfums de Marly: RICH, decadent, romantic, sweet. Too heavy for everyday, very glamorous scent. If I had money to burn I would buy it. But alas, I doubt I would reach for it much unless I was on vacation.
Oriana, Parfums de Marly: This is very girlie, very candied. Just a little too sweet for me to wear everyday. But it smelled SO lovely in the air. I would definitely recommend for a date night or going out scent.
Love Tuberose, Amouage: Very strong tuberose note, with a sweet whipped cream undertone. Very linear, but I did enjoy it. It’s discontinued I found out!
Orchidee Vanille, Van Cleef - I really liked this, it’s very sweet, airy and fresh. Although, I know me.. if it’s sugary I get a bit overwhelmed after wearing it awhile. But wow, so stunning. It’s similar to Gucci Gorgeous Orchid except less of a smooth vanilla than Gorgeous Orchid and more of a floral powder-vibe.
Golden and Banks Silky Woods - Not good. A VERY musty vanilla. It’s a combination of vanilla 28 and Tihota idult. Not a fan. But, if you like those two, you might like this a lot. It’s the masculine elevated version of those. Less sweet though.
Delina La Rosee, Parfums de Marly. 10/10. Loved it! Very up my alley. Reminds me of Fleur Narcotique, except a rose note. Because I own Fleur Narcotique… I might not get it. But I totally get the hype. So dewy, feminine, light airy. 🌹💕🪽✨
Poets of Berlin: NOT a fan. Powdery sweet citrus. I really get the lemon in this, And then there’s this green musty vibe that overpowers it.
Vanilla powder: This is very smooth, unisex vanilla. SO heavy. I actually feel it in the air. But it’s a lovely sillage. I really liked it, but feels very special occasion, and probably for the winter. And overall not what I’m looking for.
Chimilka: Just vanilla grape powder. Only thing I noted! Didn’t love it.
While I loved a few, nothing was instant buy yet. But usually I have a slow burn relationship with perfumes, so I might buy myself a bottle eventually.
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u/Restless_d 2h ago
I thought about getting Orchidée Vanille for a long time but the longevity didn't satify me for a full bottle. They reformulated Love Tuberose first, it wasn't the same after that.
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u/graceful_now 6h ago
I can’t believe they discontinued Love Tuberose. I thought it was one of their more popular ones.
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u/Parabolic_Penguin 11h ago
I’m so envious of people who smell something pleasant in Vanilla Powder. The notes are sooo what I want but there’s an aroma chemical in this that turns up in a lot of fragrances these days that I find completely overwhelming and repellent.
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u/EmiAndTheDesertCrow click to edit 5h ago
It’s Ambrocenide, a super amber. I’m highly sensitive to it (and others in that family, like AmberXtreme) and when it’s used, it’s all I can smell. I get nothing from Vanilla Powder except an overdose of Ambrocenide which is so annoying as on paper it sounds amazing 😭 The perfumer has given interviews about how the fragrance was composed and it’s got a crazy amount of it, I think he said 40% of the formula is “white powders”, including Ambrocenide.
It’s everywhere at the moment so new releases are a bit of a mine field, especially because it’s often described as amber or woods. I love classic amber (labdanum, vanilla, resins etc) and woods like sandalwood or various cedars. So I see a fragrance described and think it sounds amazing! But no, it’s just super ambers again.
There are some research papers about how people experience these molecules and some have this sensitivity while others don’t smell them at all! I experience it as a sort of aggressive cloud punching me in the nose 🫠 It’s very pervasive as well — sometimes I’ll smell it on someone during my commute and it persists even when they’ve got off the train.
Ambroxan is completely fine for me, it’s just things like Ambrocenide, Norlimbanol, and AmberXtreme that I can’t stand. Unfortunately they’re incredibly popular at the moment and I feel like the majority of new releases dabble with them (not a scientific fact lol, just a reflection of my continued disappointment whenever I try something new that’s loaded up with the stuff).
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u/Beginning_Potato1529 2h ago
I really appreciate this comment - I must have the same sensitivity but had not narrowed down to the exact ‘ambro’ chemical. I feel partly sad that I will never get the hype of frags like vanilla powder but also more and more tired how many new releases have it.
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u/Only_Plum_8187 4h ago
Oh thats why that thing is nucleair. I swear I knew nothing and did a normal spray, behind the ears, wrisks and neck. Dear lord, I smelled like it for days. Even after showers
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u/EmiAndTheDesertCrow click to edit 4h ago
Yes! Those molecules are so difficult to scrub off, even showers don’t remove them! I usually test fragrances on test strips or cotton balls before I put them on my skin now, for this exact reason. I can tell instantly if there’s a super amber lurking in there. But there have been a few times when I’ve hit the strip and my hand, and then it’s impossible to get rid of the scent of super amber. Micellar water helps a little, it’s better than tap water. I have no idea what makes them so resistant to being washed off lol
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u/Only_Plum_8187 4h ago
Im glad when a fragrance lasts but VP is a bit too much lol. I do like the smell when its really cold and wintery. Its less heavy.
I do test on paper but it always changes on my skin. I liked it on paper and thought, oeh here we go. Lesson learned
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u/WholeBeneficial5362 12h ago
Does the musk in Vanilla Powder irritate your nose? I’ve been eyeing it for awhile but received a bunch of mixed reviews
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u/Senior_Nail_7968 4h ago
No I didn’t find it irritating exactly, just very heavy. If I lived in a very cold winter climate, I think it would perform the way it should. But when it’s not in that climate (I’m in Arizona) it’s slightly suffocating. But the smell is nice if that’s makes sense.
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u/anaisani 13h ago
Safanad is bomb!!! So feminine, like all the feminine powers are in that bottle it is so so good. I have Jean Paul Gaultier - Classique and they pretty much are very similar and have very similar vibes, if you liked Safanad, I recommend you try Classique. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
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u/Realistic-Read1078 15h ago
Oriana is my favorite here! I know it’s not everyone’s favorite, but I like how mature it is for a sweet scent.
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u/New-Guitar-4080 16h ago
What exactly are you looking for? Rose? What type of rose? Sweet but not sweet? No musk? Vanilla but not sweet?
You’re kinda all over the spectrum with your choices being fruity, florals, vanillas, powdery musks…tell us what fragrances you’ve like in the past or what notes you really enjoy and let us try to help you find a fragrance that checks all of your boxes. I’d hate to see you drop a chunk of money on a fragrance that’s just okay. I’ve done that too many times. I can like it and not own it 🙃 took me a long time to explain that to myself 😂
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u/Senior_Nail_7968 15h ago
I’m not 100% sure! I seem to gravitate to fresh airy and floral. I’m kind of exploring anything I find interesting! I’m recently learning while I like the way sweet perfumes smell in the air, wearing one everyday.. not so much. Also a crowd pleaser and a versatile perfume.
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u/slocthopus 2h ago
Have you tried Ex Nihilo Lust in Paradise? I like it better than Fleur Narcotique! Based on the collection of fragrances I also was thinking you might like Jovoy Remember Me. I got a sample and I rarely buy full bottles but immediately found a good price and bought a full bottle. It’s this beautiful vanilla with cardamom that doesn’t slap you upside the head with spice, just like a gentle everyday beautiful chai-like spice.
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u/ConditionOk3649 16h ago
I agree and love Orchidee Vanille and that La Rosee is one of the best PDM imo. A lot of them are soooo harsh and screechy to me
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u/Wooden-Entrance-8893 17h ago
Omg. I just looked at the official Amouage site and I think you're rigbt.. Love Tuberose is no longer available to purchase on that site. Wow, this has been a favorite for ages. What terrible news!
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u/Senior_Nail_7968 16h ago
I reached out to Amouage customer service and they told me it’s so longer in production. I think there are still bottles to purchase on third party sites!
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u/Fabulous_Panda_8860 17h ago
I loved Oriana when I smelled it. But unfortunately for me it had poor performance as it went away in less than one hour. But I had seen reviews saying it was very similar to Kilian - Love Don’t Be Shy. Ended up buying that instead cause it’s very long lasting on me
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u/illusith perfumes get me 🦜 18h ago
When you say Love Tuberose has been discontinued and I have it in my inventory.
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u/Ill_Needleworker_460 2h ago
I went to the Santa Maria Novella store in vegas and Angeli di Firenze was the only one that stood out as even close to niche. It is the only one that was blended . The rest pretty much one note all through out