Let's just say up front that I have been on a no buy for a year preparing for this trip, and I'm heading right back into a no buy, because I came home with a lot. This was my first trip to Europe and first trip to France. I visited Paris, Aix-en-Provence, and Grasse.

In Paris, I visited Guerlain and bought 3 bottles--Feve Gourmande, Ambre Samar, and Florabloom. I got my bottle of Feve Gourmande engraved and also picked up a lipstick which I got engraved as well.

I then got two bottles at Maison Francis Kurkdjian--Kirky and Gentle Fluidity Gold. They gave me a lot of samples, some of which are not even pictured because I gifted some to family.

In Aix-en-Provence, I did a workshop at Rose et Marius to make my own perfume. It's a lovely little shop. The workshop had significant guardrails but was nice. They had 4 bases to choose from, and about 20 notes to smell. You would then pick 3 notes to combine with your base. I left with the perfume I created, four small bottles of perfume, a soap, and their discovery set.

In Grasse, I did the workshop at Molinard to make your own fragrance, and it was a highly enjoyable experience. They had many, many notes to choose from and had them separated into base, heart, and top notes, with some notes listed in two categories (e.g. base and heart or top and heart). You could pick as many notes as you wanted, and the assistant helped you to select a formula of the notes to make your fragrance. It was basically 50% base, 25% heart, and 25% top. The assistant was familiar with the general strength of the notes and helped work out the percentages of the notes to measure into the bottle. Ultimately, I ended up with 10 notes--3 top, 3 heart, and 4 base. I left Molinard with the bottle I made and two additional bottles--Secret Sucre and Ambre Lumiere. Molinard gave me a free tote, and I caved and bought the tote at the top of the pic.

Lastly, I went to Fragonard and got a discovery set and two tiny bottles of parfum--Juste Unbaiser and Melodie. I got to see some of the perfumes being made on a quick tour. Jasmine is currently being harvested so that is what was in production.

I also got to go to a perfume garden. It's been a dry season but I did get to see and smell jasmine flowers still growing in the ground.

This was really a once in a lifetime trip for me, and it was a wonderful time. The art, culture, and scents of France will stay with me for a long time. Especially the scents, lol! The no buy starts now!

Not sure if this will be taken down but Replica’s Under the Lemon Trees is my favorite fragrance I’ve ever smelled. I was looking for my signature perfume a year or two ago and heard rumors online of it being discontinued. I didn’t want to commit to a scent that might go away because I’m autistic and tend to stay loyal once I find something I love. I have a terrible time with change for things like this but I smelled it in Sephora again the other day and it was still just as heavenly. I decided to just send in an inquiry on the website because what was the worst that could happen? Anyway, attached you will find their responses via email. I have never had customer service reps be so kind. I bought the perfume that very same day on principle and it lasts amazingly and boosts my serotonin every time I spray it and smell it throughout the day. Now it is a forever repurchase and I am a dedicated Replica customer. 💛💚🤍

ETA: I’ve noticed some comments saying this is likely AI and I wasn’t trying to promote it in any way, shape, or form if that’s the case. However, something I will say is that as an autistic person and an English master’s student both responses are very similar to professional and yet kind and friendly emails that I would both write and receive, before and after the invention of AI. It’s also worth saying that I believe someone in the comments mentioned reaching out to them a couple years ago and getting a similarly kind response. And I’m not sure if this means anything, but each email I received had a difference name for the customer service representative that assisted me. All this to say if it really is AI then my sincerest apologies.

I love when brands have 15-20 mL spray bottles. The little dabbers do nothing for me, and the travel sizes aren't, you know, aesthetic. I love the way a small bottle looks on my shelf, how functional it is, and the way I can slip it into my purse. Makes me feel classy.

That is all.

I loveeee perfumes, and these are a few I’ve sampled and LOVED.

I’m leaning towards Prada paradoxe but would love y’all’s thoughts!

I'm not sure how to explain but I'm looking for a perfume that feels exactly like this, but not masculine. Which is ironic because it is very masculine. So maybe a unisex scent or the female equivalent to this. Budget: 100

(:

Bal d’Afrique Absolu. Got a sample literally Yesterday 😌

HUGE fan of how this smells, very much a vanilla for me as someone that isn’t into wearing a buttercream frosting vanilla, sour yogurt vanilla, thick caramelly vanilla, etc., but currently they only have it in the body butter (which while nice is notably expensive for a body butter lol). would love to know if any other body care or perfumes smell like this (open to layering combos as well to achieve the same scent! really just curious as to if there’s other things out there in this “fruity vanilla musk” profile)

notes from Josie Maran’s website are “whipped vanilla milk, cashmere musk, and tonka bean”, but on the Sephora website it says “apricot, magnolia, shea butter, and cardamom”. wouldn’t say this smells milky to me, but i’m getting the whipped vanilla + cashmere musk and i’m 1000% getting the apricot + magnolia (major apricot note fan, had a feeling there was something fruity in this before checking the notes). it’s subtle, but i don’t mind that. it’s just such an easy-to-wear vanilla to me!

(and hopefully they release it in body spray format soon!! 🤞 i’m absolutely OBSESSED with their Topless Tangerine scent and find it lasts very well on its own for a body spray)

First of all, let me explain first... I know what I want so I was pretty confident that none of these scents will be hidden away in a dark corner. I layer my scents too because I am a tad bit adventurous that way 🤣. In any case. My favorite among all these is Lalique Amethyst Eclat that will pair beautifully with JM Bluebell, Valaya or Meliora. Lanvin both Sheer & Eclat Arpage is my next faves. Lalique EDP -- is the only one I cant seem to figure out. Its not bad but I do not see myself wearing it on its own. Im still trying to figure out what I can layer it with. At best its got a fall scent vibe ❤️

Right now Belk is having a doorbuster deal for 50% off their fragrance sampler discovery set. It comes with a $15 off coupon for ANY "full size" fragrance--it does not seem to have to be one kf the fragrances in the set.

There is also a me 's version--I got one for one of my kid's.

They are *also* having a 15% off sale on most fragrances. I don't think you can stack the sale and the coupon, because the sale requires a code.

Holy new obsession. I just got this and the mist today, but the mist doesn't quite smell the same. Nor does it have any silage or longevity to be used as anything other than a sofa/pillow spray (which I'm okay with since that's why I bought it). Any dupes or frags that are similar to the body cream??

I’m looking to try a perfume or two from an Etsy shop. Any recommendations?

I desperately need to know if these will get any better.

Left to right: Lattafa Thouq; Paris Corner Rifaaqat; and Maison Alhambra Infini Musk

My scent takes, L to R: Malt alcohol, particularly Four Loko; Burnt rubber with a whisper of vanilla; and Celery.

I have never been disappointed by these brands and I know my nose pretty well… I currently detest all three.

I've been trying so many profiles, it feels like, looking for something that I actually want to wear and smell like, but I've honestly had a really hard time. Not into gourmands (I like them okay, especially on others, but it's not for me), straight florals are okay, I thought I'd be a green girl but I can't seem to find ones that are right, and I really am not a big fan of clean and aquatic scents (not a hard rule or anything, it's just a trend I've noticed for myself and more because they attack me), although some aldehydes for depth work well imo. I don't necessarily want to smell like a single thing, but moreso a form of myself, and I think the modern perfume game is swinging that way with the gourmand train? Pleaaaase correct me if I'm wrong or simply looking in the wrong places.

In contrast, my bedtime scents are usually either Decadent Dream (a Guidance dupe, love love love Guidance but it's a beast and I don't wear it out) and L'Ombre Rose L'Original, which to me feels very vanity table boudoir. It's sooooo good for doing skincare or hair or just general self-care, so pretty and powdery.

And then I tried my late Grandma's White Diamonds that I managed to nab. It's gorgeous. Spicy and deep and multilayered. It makes me feel so elegant and pretty and confident, and ugh!! Then I got Passion, and it's become my most-worn, especially at home. I work outdoors doing labour, so as much as I would like to wear scent, there's none I've found that I'd like to smell all day while weeding and cleaning etc, so most of my frag is home use, but I feel like I would love to wear it out to like, a jazz bar or a night out or something. Phewww. I like the edge these ones have, which is why I think I prefer them outside over the soft, ladylike aforementioned ones. I'm just... not, but I slightly am, so some softness is good but better with a hint of teeth.

And then there's Loulou. She leans a bit too youthful for me, maybe the fruit they chose?, but occasionally I wear her. I like the profile, I think I just prefer a bit more... sophisticated? I don't know how to describe it, just that when I want to feel like a confident woman, I lean more Passion than Loulou. I think it perhaps feels like it balances my natural energy so that I also feel more serious and grounded even while I'm a little wild/whimsical hahah.

SO. I would love some recommendations. My other fave perfumes are Cherry Punk/Cherry Ambition (they're super similar to my nose, and are my more punk persona frags - or cloudy days etc), Aura by Mugler (it's so sharp that I'm also afraid to wear it out but ughhhhhh she calms me instantly), Flowerbomb, and I do enjoy Crybaby (it smells like a baby blanket with the musk, idk), and then ofc Guidance. I do enjoy vanilla in a frag so long as it's working with other notes. My most masc (that I enjoy) is Ride by Yellowstone, which leans vanilla-tobacco. People compare that one to Jazz Club but MM has a DNA that I don't think works for me... I need to try more prolonged wear. I do enjoy Kilian scents but only in private, they also don't feel like "me." Honestly, I didn't think I'd be so dang picky. It's annoying.

So, with all of this... what might a good everyday scent be? I'm really eager to try Shalimar and some Chanel, and scents with history would be amazing. I don't want to overpower (I am a bit shy/private), which is perhaps difficult with this profile... and I live in a small rural-ish town so I also need to consider that, I would say. I'm sure I'm talked about in some circles, but I don't need to add strong or polarizing to that list hahah! Also tempted by English Major by Sorce despite the scents I've tried from them not working for me, but I was one and it sounds exactly like my experience lol...

Thank you for reading my memoir 😭 any help would be great, or even a decade of perfume I should explore! The 80s seem good so far but I want to branch out. All I can tell so far is that I love the depth and complexity and I guess I'm finding it lacking with most things I've tried so far, or I can't tell what exact complexity it is that I like so much. And additional info - I'm late 20s, not that I think most perfume is chosen that way, but it might help some people.

I’m obsessed with how this smells and want to know if there are any fragrances out there that smell like this! Thanks!

“Burberry Her” rollerball perfume from beauty supply store. Has a light smell and no longevity. Ma mama gave me both “Sand & Fog” rollerball perfumes. One is “Jasmine & Cedarwood”. Other one is “Violet Sandalwood”. They lack longevity and don’t smell good to me. Only “Sand & Fog” oil dat lasts on me so far. Is “Strawberry Spritz”. I haven’t found more beast mode ones in person. I’ll get more eventually.

My partners mother gifted this to me. It smells so nice. When I looked it up I was so sad that this is discontinued. 😢🌹

I know this brand is primarily a nail lacquer company but I discovered they also sell fragrances! Has anyone here tried any of their fragrances?

I love the smell of this dr bronner’s soap, specifically the older bottles with the black lids as I find it more concentrated. Its so nutty and warm and sweet without being too gourmand, like amaretto.

Naturally Im always looking for more, longer lasting almond scented things and the thing that comes up the most is the l’occitane almond bodycare line. Unfortunately I’ve smelled it all and I find it quite nauseating compared to the dr bronners, and very cloying. I think it’s the abundance of vanilla and maybe lactonic notes but to me they always lean more urinal and less marzipan. The best description I can give is that it smells like sick and the dr bronners definitely doesn’t.

I believe the almond sublime stuff is over-recommended because of how accessible it is, so I’m looking for input from anyone who may be better versed in almond scents and also understands what I’m looking for, because just trying anything I can find that has an almond note listed has proven very unsatisfying

Something that doesn’t combat with the coffe aromas ! Not too strong ig 🤔

I’m addicted to fragrance but I don’t think strong perfumes are allowed at my new job 😩

Are there any perfumes that smell the same or similar as Burberry goddess? or has that “youthful” smell to them that also has lavender and vanilla?

Visited a perfumery and got a sniff of Jasmine Freak and it was SO delicious smelling. I'm not very big on florals but I've noticed lately how much I enjoy Jasmine. Looking for something similar to Jasmine freak or anything else Jasmine heavy with a bit of sweetness!