@BytheSea: Actually, if you live with someone long enough you do tend to forget that they have a smell. Or rather, you no longer notice it because your nose has become so accustomed to it.
But anyways, my problem with finding the right 'signature' scent (not that I've tried very hard) is that when I go to the perfume store, all the scents just morph into one homogenous smell so that I can't tell any brand apart from the other. Not to mention that what I like in scent often changes.
@BytheSea: Wacky as it sounds... If a person pairs a scent that works with their own natural scent, a signature scent can spring forth! :)
Before I had my children I would wear a combination of small amounts of Lotus oil behind my ears and on my wrists, a light spritz of Ralph Lauren's Romance and Nivea lotion. (Yes.--This sounds completely nutty but wait for the drop...) The combination produced a light.fresh exotic scent that worked very well in fetching comments from both men and women. Sadly, after I had my children I can't really put up with the smell of Ralph Lauren's Romance. Patchouli, Frankincense and Myrrh, and citrus oils are my favorite scents to sport now.
On the subject of how to deal with over-perfumers... If I have to regularly work with them or around them I will simply address the problem because it poses a health concern. Due to my awareness of how synthetic scents can agitate respiratory issues within others, I definitely play it safe and turn down the intensity of my scents when I am at school or out shopping.-Yet at a party or a night club, anything goes. :)
@mypowertool: So it's okay to ruin other people's party nights? A little scent goes a long way, in a good way. A lot of scent goes a long way in a very bad way, even at a party or night out. Also, it's only a "signature scent" if a person uses a small amount. Once people start drenching it on, they just smell like the bottle, and that's just annoying.
A party is someone's home. A nightclub is someone's workplace. If many people apply "anything goes" amounts of perfume or cologne, it becomes a stinky health problem even though each guest is only there for a little while.
I have nothing against scent use if it's tasteful - as in, if I'm sitting next to a person, I should be able to taste my food and not have all my food taste like my table-neighbor's overwhelming perfume.
I once had a lunch RUINED because a little old lady, three tables away, got up to use the bathroom and obviously poured an entire bottle of perfume on herself while she was in there.
I sometimes wish I had a signature, scent, though. I much prefer those little roller balls than perfume you spray on. Why don't more companies make transportable perfumes in tiny flasks with roller balls on them? It seems superior in every way. You can control how much you use and more accurate apply it to pulse points.
All I want is a perfume with that sort of bottle design, with no powdery note (why is a powder scent so popular?! It reminds me of deodorant!), and a dominating rose note. Is that so much to ask?? Apparently so, because I have not found it yet.
@Oleander: There is an absolutely wonderful website called The Perfumed Court run by three women who happily decant any perfume you care to name into smaller sample sizes, including lovely 5ml roller-ball bottles. They're madly knowledgeable about scents, and their decants are extremely reasonably priced, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
You're looking for a pure rose scent with absolutely no powder? Here are a handful to think about:
Eau d'Italie'sPaestum Rose, a soft, slightly spiced rose that is beloved by just about anyone who's smelled it, including the inimitable Chandler Burr.
Jo Malone's Red Roses, which is a crisp, pellucid rose with absolutely no fussiness or dusty powder. Burr loves this one, too.
Then there's S-Perfume's oddly-named but strangely beautiful watercolour rose, 100% Love. It doesn't smell like any other rose scent I know - it has a silky, light-as-air quality that is just beautiful. It was created by the grand dame of rose perfumes, Sophia Grojsman, and is one of her very best.
@A Small Turnip: Wow.
You are a wealth of resourcefulness!
I don't suppose you would be willing to work your magic with the scent of rosewood, would you?
There's a fantastic book called The Emperor of Scent, which discusses lots of the issues brought up here (not the allergies but the nature of scent, the associations with memory, the chemical properties of of perfume and some of the big names in the science of smell and development of perfume amongst other things).
In the first few pages, a famous perfumier is talking about the difference between American and French taste in perfume and he comments on how attractive the scent of "an unwashed woman" is to the French, and the converse for Americans. Hence the tendency to "clean" smelling perfumes.
@jowhite: The Emperor of Scent is such a fascinating book, isn't it? I have to confess that some of the chemistry was way, way over my head, but I still love Turin's bolshy, unorthodox approach to scent. He's one of a kind, that's for sure.
I don't really use perfume, but on the occasion that I wander through a Sephora or something, I will steal a spray from their samples. I use one of two scents: Dolce & Gabbona Light Blue, and DKNY Very Delicious. Both involve granny smith apple, which is a pleasant, fresh, non-overwhelming smell.
I am hooked on tuberose, but I know it needs to be used lightly. I used to wear Michael Kors, but I've actually found that Velvet Tuberose from Bath and Body Works is equally yummy-smelling and lasts about 85% as long- for less than half the price. When I was younger I wore Angel (but even in teeny, tiny quantities my mom was allergic) and I used to get custom-blended pineapple-coconut-vanilla body lotion and body spray for the summer.
As an aside: don't forget to avoid rubbing your wrists (and other body parts?) after spraying on perfume. The friction creates heat, which alters the molecular structure of the perfume and changes both the scent and the staying power.
@Jetgirly: God, that BBW Velvet Tuberose is the first floral I liked, and I love it terribly, but I know it's a little intense, so I only use the body lotion on my arms if I want to wear it, and do unscented Eucerin everywhere else.
This post is particularly apropos around this season. I have an immediate reaction to those horrid fake cinnamon scented products marketed this time of year. My eyes immediately water and being to burn, I start to cough, and I start sneezing uncontrollably. I've had to stop going to: Bed, Bath and Beyond, Joanne's Fabrics, and Michael's because they all place those cinnamon scented pine cones in the entryway. They also appeared at my grocery store this year! I had to ask them to place them away from the entry or I was going to have to go to a different store until they were gone. They moved them (thankfully), but there's still a whole section of the store I have to avoid until they're gone. I don't have reactions to any other scents, but this one can really take me down.
I have a friend who has actually had to take a medical leave because her workplace does not have a scent policy and a co-worker uses a scent that is very noxious to her. We're not supposed to wear any "heavy" scents on the airplane, and most flight attendants I know don't bother to wear anything because 1) It could too easily bother someone and 2) It's just one more damn thing to carry around.
In non-flying life I sometimes wear Channel Mademoiselle or a BPAL scent. My current favorite BPAL is Danube. I'm almost out of my imp, I might actually buy a big bottle of it. My mom's signature is Opium although sometimes she wears pure Jasmine. My Grandmother loves Channel #5 and this horrid cheap Lily of the Valley eau de toilet. We haven't been able to find the Lily of the VAlley stuff for a while, much to everyone else's joy. She also smokes like a chimney, so unfortunately that scent kinda takes over. I do have some scarves of hers though that I'll never wash because they smell like her.
I love the idea of perfume, but most of them don't live up to my expectations and end up smelling mostly of alcohol and stank. And then I have bad flashbacks to junior high body sprays. However, when I found this company I changed my perfume stance. Forgive the plug, but I really love this stuff, and his scents are so unique. Also, you can buy tiny testers, which is great. My personal favorites are Revelation and Winter 1972. [www.cbihateperfume.com]
@morbo.is.pleased: CB's Winter 1972 really does smell like cold mittens and stars, doesn't it? It's uncanny. I can't say whether I really love wearing it, but I get such a kick out of simply sniffing it.
His Memory of Kindness is also incredible - nostalgic summer, bottled.
And also, my grandma always wore a perfume that smelled like Lily of the Valley. If I smell it anywhere, I'm reminded of her (in a good way). Scents can really take you back!
@MotherChucker: I like butterfly pea. It reminds me of being in Thailand - my friends all wore butterfly pea scents. I think it was soap or shampoo that just lingered, but it has a nice, sweet smell. Chrysanthemum is similar, but has such a light, weak scent that I hardly notice it.
@MotherChucker: I had an amazing Lily of the Valley perfume from Crabtree and Evelyn. My mom stole it out of my luggage and gave it to someone as a gift once, and I'm still mad at her for that.
For me, perfume is a guaranteed asthma attack. To get an idea how it feels for me, imagine sucking air through a small straw while someone punches you in the upper chest continuously. Using my albuterol inhaler doesn't help much if the perfume wearer is still present, because then it just opens up my airways so I breathe in more perfume. My only defense is to get the hell away from the perfume, use my inhaler, and be in agony for hours until I'm totally recovered. Sometimes the attack is so bad I can't even speak. And the scary thing is, I have mild to moderate asthma. I can only imagine how it is for someone who has severe asthma.
It's nice to see that this is finally being taken seriously. Back in the 90's, I worked at a place where a number of people wore heavy perfume/cologne. When I told them about my asthma (very gently, I might add), they would ignore me or accuse me of exaggerating, lying, and being a bitch. I'm certain at least one of my co-jerkers upped his dose in response. Even when they saw me in agony, they acted like I was the asshole. By the time I ended that job (our whole division got laid off), I was on a whole slew of asthma meds to deal with working there, and as you can guess, depressed as hell. Now part of the problem there was that there was this whole corporate culture of passive agressive vicious behavior, but ignorance about the evils of perfume definitely played a role, because the people there who were smokers were always considerate of me (except for one asshole who joked about blowing smoke right in my face). Twas a fun job.
So, if a person who has asthma says your pefume/cologne gives them attacks, they're not lying or exaggerating.
@snark_shark: Yeah, I've been accused of lying or overexaggerating when I say people's perfume gives me allergy attacks. Which, in my case, tend to involve hives, eyes that feel like they're being rubbed with sandpaper, and an odd sneeze/cough combo that doesn't let up until I'm all doped up on Benadryl. So while yes, many people say they're allergic when they mean they don't like it, some people are actually allergic.
@snark_shark: My roommate in college had severe asthma and landed in the emergency room a couple of times due to cigarette smoke and another roommate's air freshner. She wound up with pneumonia on one of those trips. As you've said, it's not something to take lightly.
No one in my family is particularly feminine/girly except me, who insisted on wearing a dress even over her snow suits. Though, despite any guidance from female relatives, I long for perfume but, conversely since I have no female relatives or close friends "into perfume" to advise me, I've always played it safe with very classic stuff. I certainly thought I was the classiest human being in the world when I bought Chanel No. 5 at 16 and made that my signature scent. Now I alternate between Juicy Couture and Tresor--one is more summery, Tresor always makes me feel like it is Fall. The trick is also to remember that you quickly become desensitized to the smell, so just because you can't smell it, doesnt mean you should put more on. I usually can't smell my own, but get compliments on it. There is also, surpisingly with all the designer fragrances out there, nothing quite so alluringly feminine to men as a pure rose scent.
I once over-did it a little on the perfume - nothing ghastly, but enough that a weirdo coworker was sniffing me in the elevator. That was enough to creep me out and keep the light touch in the morning.
And I got a couple of sample hand lotions from Ulta - they were so strong that after using the restroom, I'd return to my desk, put them on, and have people coming from all corners of the office asking what smelled so good. Maybe it's just me, but at work, I do not want to be known for my *scent*. That's just too provocative for the workplace.
Take me out for a date, however, and all bets are off.
Anything Jo Malone. I can't really afford it, but I always make sure to ask for some at Christmas or near my birthday. They will always give you tons of free samples if you ask. Pomegranate noir is my evening smell and I love the gardenia for day.
I tend to stick to really basic scents, like jasmine, lavender or vanilla. Things that are relatively mild and likely inoffensive to most people. I own two Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab scents, both light. And that's about it. Perfumes all smell the same to me for the most part, too strong.
My Nana always wore, of all things, Charlie. That plus her Revlon powder makeup in Rachel and her obsession with moth balls and lemon Pledge...all those things make me think of her whenever I smell them.
11/29/09
11/29/09
But anyways, my problem with finding the right 'signature' scent (not that I've tried very hard) is that when I go to the perfume store, all the scents just morph into one homogenous smell so that I can't tell any brand apart from the other. Not to mention that what I like in scent often changes.
11/30/09
Before I had my children I would wear a combination of small amounts of Lotus oil behind my ears and on my wrists, a light spritz of Ralph Lauren's Romance and Nivea lotion. (Yes.--This sounds completely nutty but wait for the drop...) The combination produced a light.fresh exotic scent that worked very well in fetching comments from both men and women. Sadly, after I had my children I can't really put up with the smell of Ralph Lauren's Romance. Patchouli, Frankincense and Myrrh, and citrus oils are my favorite scents to sport now.
On the subject of how to deal with over-perfumers... If I have to regularly work with them or around them I will simply address the problem because it poses a health concern. Due to my awareness of how synthetic scents can agitate respiratory issues within others, I definitely play it safe and turn down the intensity of my scents when I am at school or out shopping.-Yet at a party or a night club, anything goes. :)
11/30/09
A party is someone's home. A nightclub is someone's workplace. If many people apply "anything goes" amounts of perfume or cologne, it becomes a stinky health problem even though each guest is only there for a little while.
I have nothing against scent use if it's tasteful - as in, if I'm sitting next to a person, I should be able to taste my food and not have all my food taste like my table-neighbor's overwhelming perfume.
11/29/09
I sometimes wish I had a signature, scent, though. I much prefer those little roller balls than perfume you spray on. Why don't more companies make transportable perfumes in tiny flasks with roller balls on them? It seems superior in every way. You can control how much you use and more accurate apply it to pulse points.
All I want is a perfume with that sort of bottle design, with no powdery note (why is a powder scent so popular?! It reminds me of deodorant!), and a dominating rose note. Is that so much to ask?? Apparently so, because I have not found it yet.
11/29/09
You're looking for a pure rose scent with absolutely no powder? Here are a handful to think about:
Eau d'Italie'sPaestum Rose, a soft, slightly spiced rose that is beloved by just about anyone who's smelled it, including the inimitable Chandler Burr.
Jo Malone's Red Roses, which is a crisp, pellucid rose with absolutely no fussiness or dusty powder. Burr loves this one, too.
Then there's S-Perfume's oddly-named but strangely beautiful watercolour rose, 100% Love. It doesn't smell like any other rose scent I know - it has a silky, light-as-air quality that is just beautiful. It was created by the grand dame of rose perfumes, Sophia Grojsman, and is one of her very best.
Good luck in your scent hunting!
11/30/09
You are a wealth of resourcefulness!
I don't suppose you would be willing to work your magic with the scent of rosewood, would you?
11/29/09
In the first few pages, a famous perfumier is talking about the difference between American and French taste in perfume and he comments on how attractive the scent of "an unwashed woman" is to the French, and the converse for Americans. Hence the tendency to "clean" smelling perfumes.
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
As an aside: don't forget to avoid rubbing your wrists (and other body parts?) after spraying on perfume. The friction creates heat, which alters the molecular structure of the perfume and changes both the scent and the staying power.
11/29/09
11/29/09
I have a friend who has actually had to take a medical leave because her workplace does not have a scent policy and a co-worker uses a scent that is very noxious to her. We're not supposed to wear any "heavy" scents on the airplane, and most flight attendants I know don't bother to wear anything because 1) It could too easily bother someone and 2) It's just one more damn thing to carry around.
In non-flying life I sometimes wear Channel Mademoiselle or a BPAL scent. My current favorite BPAL is Danube. I'm almost out of my imp, I might actually buy a big bottle of it. My mom's signature is Opium although sometimes she wears pure Jasmine. My Grandmother loves Channel #5 and this horrid cheap Lily of the Valley eau de toilet. We haven't been able to find the Lily of the VAlley stuff for a while, much to everyone else's joy. She also smokes like a chimney, so unfortunately that scent kinda takes over. I do have some scarves of hers though that I'll never wash because they smell like her.
11/29/09
11/29/09
His Memory of Kindness is also incredible - nostalgic summer, bottled.
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
It's nice to see that this is finally being taken seriously. Back in the 90's, I worked at a place where a number of people wore heavy perfume/cologne. When I told them about my asthma (very gently, I might add), they would ignore me or accuse me of exaggerating, lying, and being a bitch. I'm certain at least one of my co-jerkers upped his dose in response. Even when they saw me in agony, they acted like I was the asshole. By the time I ended that job (our whole division got laid off), I was on a whole slew of asthma meds to deal with working there, and as you can guess, depressed as hell. Now part of the problem there was that there was this whole corporate culture of passive agressive vicious behavior, but ignorance about the evils of perfume definitely played a role, because the people there who were smokers were always considerate of me (except for one asshole who joked about blowing smoke right in my face). Twas a fun job.
So, if a person who has asthma says your pefume/cologne gives them attacks, they're not lying or exaggerating.
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
Whatever your scent, the surefire way to avoid choking those around you is to spray a mist cloud into the air & waft it in your direction.
11/29/09
11/29/09
11/29/09
And I got a couple of sample hand lotions from Ulta - they were so strong that after using the restroom, I'd return to my desk, put them on, and have people coming from all corners of the office asking what smelled so good. Maybe it's just me, but at work, I do not want to be known for my *scent*. That's just too provocative for the workplace.
Take me out for a date, however, and all bets are off.
11/29/09
11/29/09
My Nana always wore, of all things, Charlie. That plus her Revlon powder makeup in Rachel and her obsession with moth balls and lemon Pledge...all those things make me think of her whenever I smell them.
11/29/09
Specifically, BPAL's El Dia de los Reyes relieves PMS cramping for me (it smells like mexican hot chocolate).
11/29/09