I’m searching for a perfume that’s warm and rather food-y. Maybe something slightly reminiscent of cinnamon buns, or baking cookies, things like that. I don’t necessarily want to smell like someone will say, “hey, who’s baking in here?” (although I might), but at least something reminiscent of it.
I heard rave reviews for Aquolina’s Pink Sugar, but when I tried it on at my local Sephora’s, I was rather disappointed. There was the sweet scent, but also… something not exactly sharp, but it wasn’t harmonious with the cotton candy/vanilla/caramel scent that everyone raved about. After 2 freaking hours, the weird scent went away and I liked it, but I don’t want to get a perfume I need to wait 2 hours to like.
I also tried Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Vanille Cannelle. That, too, did the unharmonious-scent-that-sticks-out-annoyingly, and it seemed to be the same kind of strange scent as in the Pink Sugar (although the only matching notes in the two are vanilla, and I know I can wear vanilla just fine, so it’s confusing).
I know a main factor of perfumes is your personal body chemistry, so I plan to try each recommendation on first, before buying. But can anyone recommend nice, soft, warm, sweetly-spicey scents?
And this might sound strange, but I recommend you try on a few foodflavours. When I started out with perfume, my favourite for a time was a plain rose-scent mixed (on my skin, not in the bottle) with a plain brand of vanilla-baking essence.
These essences can also be bought in smells/flavours like cinnamon, cocoa, fruits, etc. They’re cheap, so it’s worth experimenting with them. You’d be doing the same as the “Noses” in Paris do, only you can tailor the perfume to you exact taste. And I’ve learned in my attempts at DIY making of cold cream, that anything that’s designed not to irritate my mouths’lining, will certainly not irritate my skin.
You might like Amber Romance, one of the Victoria’s Secret Garden scents. It doesn’t smell specifically like food, but it does smell sort of vanilla-y and warm like you described. Linky here.
I used to use Vanilla Fields - spray into the air, wait a moment, then walk through - it’s rather strong. But yummy smelling…
I like many of the Body Shop’s scents, they have a couple of food-y smells… I love their Fuzzy Peach, and once they combined a special blend for me that I haven’t met a match for - they combined for me, in a tiny bottle, Mango and Vanilla. A-mazing.
In the higher priced perfumes, Clinique’s “Happy” is very citrusy and fresh and yummmmy - one of my favourites, I always have a bottle on hand. They also have a fragrance called “Simply” which is very warm and spicy… I’m not sure if it’s yummy or not, I can’t decide, but try a little and see. It’s my husband’s favourite, it makes him ga-ga when I wear it.
Yes, Bath & Body Works is another great place to look around - I will often just slather on their Pearberry moisturiser after a shower and call that good! No need for perfume with that heavenly stuff! Mmmm… They have wonderful scents, definately check them out.
I’m fascinated by Demeter, but the fragrances seem to last a whole 10 minutes on me, unfortunately. I also seem to have bad luck with Bath and Body Works products; every single one of them smells off on me (unfortunately, Warm Vanilla Sugar, which should be perfect for what I’m looking for, smells particularly putrid. Sigh).
Aw. I have the opposite problem, and was thinking of Bath and Body Works as a last resort for someone who might not “work” with many other fragrances. As for the non-lasting scents, the only suggestion I have is fragrance layering of products, though I don’t know if it actually works, as I always forget to actually do it. :smack: Anyone care to weigh in?
zweisamkeit, are you sure that smells wear off so quickly on your skin? They’re not designed to. Maybe you just get used to the smell so quickly that you don’t smell it anymore after an hour or so, while to others you still smell deliciously or even too strong.
Nope, I know the difference. I’ve had my boyfriend sniff me, or friends, and for the fragrances that wear off quickly, it’s not just me that can’t smell it anymore. I’ve also read reviews of Demeter where many others have had the same problem. I wish my skin was Demeter-glue, their stuff is fantastic!
Heh, I’m not a “douser” when it comes to perfumes (I’ve learned my lesson growing up around my grandma ;)). I do a tiny spritz behind both ears, or one spritz at the nape of my neck, where my hair covers it.
Often scents fade because they don’t “stick” to the skin well. Especially if you have dry skin, all the scent molecules can literally fly off your skin too soon. Manufacturers put fixatives in their scents to help combat this problem - perhaps Demeter uses less. (I’m not familiar with their products - I make my own essential oil blends.) Often, putting on a layer of unscented moisturizer just before you put on your scent can help it last longer.
Also, scent lasts longer in hair than on skin, so putting some in your hair itself may help.
Hypnotic Poison by Dior. Although beware, it’s really strong. It’s a Vanilla and Bitter Almond…sort of a cross between a foodie and an oriental smell. I love how it fades on me.
There’s also the really, really famous Angel by Thierry Mugler which combines notes of Patchouli, chocolate and fruit. Not all at once…they’re supposed to come out one-by-one but I found on me that mango and chocolate come off first and then I go into a very, very long Patchouli phase.
I’m a fan of orientals so other than the pseudo-oriental Hypnotic Poison I’m not real well-versed on the foodie scents. Cinnabar, in small doses, I love but I know Estee Lauder scents aren’t for everyone.
By the way, if you want to spend tons and tons of time reading about perfumes…check out the boards at www.makeupalley.com. Requires registration but worth it.
I also seem to have bad luck with Bath and Body Works products; every single one of them smells off on me (unfortunately, Warm Vanilla Sugar, which should be perfect for what I’m looking for, smells particularly putrid. Sigh).