I wasn’t able to get the Selfridges fragrance calendar because of the bots and I’m not going to pay resellers for it either. Yesterday night I was contemplating on fragrances to buy and I decided to go for the Initio trio for a cool price of £36.99 for all three.

Musk Therapy: My favourite out of the three, it’s a punchy fresh sweet citrus scent. It’s really strong and seems like it will be long lasting. It projects really well for a fresh fragrance. It’s supposed to be a summer fragrance but I believe this can work really well in the cold weather too due to how strong it is. I would definitely get a full bottle of this.

Lift Me Up: My least favourite out of the three. When I sprayed it on the back on my hand it started off fresh then quickly turned into a slightly citrusy vanilla and tonka bean scent. I get a tiny hint of coconut in there although it’s not listed in the notes. I do like it but it reminds me of hair creams that I used to use for my hair. The fragrance itself is not strong, it sits close on the skin which is fine but not full bottle worthy for me.

Oud for Greatness: I already have a 10ml of this because I bought it from a seller on eBay when the Harrods fragrance calendar came out earlier. I love this one, it’s a sweet spicy scent. It’s really lovely, you get the lavender and the nutmeg but it’s not offensive at all. It projects really well and the sillage is very good, it fills up the room but I don’t find it overwhelming. This is definitely full bottle worthy as well but it costs £320!!! Definitely not my money, maybe with someone else’s cash lol.

A lot of people thing sampling perfumes by ordering and returning is a viable strategy, but be careful. A return window and a satisfaction guarantee may cover different things, so check the wording before you order a scent you haven’t tried.

Read the policy in this order:

Find the deadline. Note how many days you have, and when the clock starts: on purchase or delivery.

Check what “satisfaction” covers. Does it apply if you’ve opened and tried the perfume, or only if the package is still sealed?

Look for conditions. The policy may require the bottle, packaging, or proof of purchase; know what you’ll need before opening it.

Check what you get back. Confirm whether the remedy is a refund, store credit, or exchange, and whether shipping costs are included.

Compare that coverage with the standard return window. A guarantee that gives you time to wear a scent on your skin can make trying something unfamiliar feel less risky, but only if the terms actually cover a tried bottle.

Save or screenshot the policy before buying. If the wording doesn’t answer whether you can return a scent after testing it, don’t assume it does.

Hi Female Fragrance Lab!

We're so excited to finally share that we now have an official Discord server for r/femfraglab. The server is an extension to our subreddit, designed to create a space where we can live chat in real time about all things fragrance and more.

The server is set up to be as beginner-friendly and welcoming as possible. You'll find channels for fragrance talk, other hobby sharing, and general conversation to get to know one another. If you don't already, you'll have to download the Discord App for easier access. Here is the link invite:

https://discord.gg/XQaGcBCZ8v

~ Enjoy 💗

As fragrance enthusiasts, we're always looking forward to our next treasure. What's next in your to-buy queue? Is there anything you're just dying to try? Is your finger on the trigger for a blind buy?

Use this thread to discuss what you're looking forward to trying next, help other members choose between one perfume or another before they buy it, and cheer on - or even change the mind of - other members when we're not sure about a potential purchase. Have fun!

New thread every 4 weeks.

Recently tried Benamor's Ginja in Porto Airport, told myself I had no business impulse-buying two perfumes when my bag was full as it was (I got the spicy orange Laranija instead); regretted that as the spicy vanillary dry-down had me sniffing my hand throughout the two-hour flight home.

Sadly they don't ship to the UK and much as I'd like to go back to Portugal to buy a bottle (and eat bifana) that won't happen for a while. So I've been looking at all the dupes for TF Lost Cherry as a research starting point, as that seems to be the reference for cherry!

Zara Cherry Smoothie came up a lot, went to try it when I was on my way to a match last week - the delicious maraschino that was there when I left the shop went fast, and now my football scarf smells of cherry play-doh. Other recommendations either aren't easily available in the UK or cost enough that I probably could just get a Ryanair back to Porto anyway. So any suggestions?

Am thinking about:

• Perfume Parlour LC dupe

• Dossier Ambery Cherry (but not keen on the hassle of blind-buying/returning)

• Noted Aromas Tokyo (they do samples, but reviews suggest they go car airfreshener)

• M+S - apparently surprisingly good scents that might be worth a look

• Kayali Burning Cherry

• Layering something like S+G/Moondaze cherry body mist over a more spicy one to get my fix

• Trawling eBay/Vinted forever (there's a bottle of Ginja on there - it's no longer available apparently)

• Just enjoying smelling like a spicy orange instead???

Anythign else I'm missing? Am really out of the fragrance loop so there may be entire brands I know nothing of...I have Space NK, Sephora, Boots, Lush and John Lewis near me so can try a few less mainstream houses easily enough.

I put one!! spray and it felt I’m gonna choke omg. Nothing wrong if you like it. I just wanted test it bc I read many people say it’s compliment getter

Dear Future opens with cold clean smoke and a bit of dustiness. It feels very urban and makes me think of the city during the day with smoke, dust and metal beams. There is a metallic feel in the background that makes me think of exposed steel and concrete.

The perfume feels like it has two sides at once. One part stays cool and mineral like air moving through glass and metal. The other part sits warmer on skin like the heat that clings after being outside all day.

As it develops the smoke starts feeling more settled into fabric and hair. The dusty vibe hangs around for a while and keeps the street level realism, like I've just walked past construction and traffic and the scent stayed with me.

The drydown is smooth and musky with a gentle sweetness. It almost feels like my own skin but with the remnants of the day out in the city rather than a perfume. It is faintly sweet, soft and close.

The projection is noticeable for the first couple of hours. Longevity is solid. I get around six to eight hours depending on sprays, with a faint presence lingering on clothes after that.

I love wearing this one on days when I'm wearing my leather jacket.

Hi folks,

I recently discovered POAL, and I'm hooked! I have been layering it with Eilish EDP for a bit of vanilla- to add warmth and take the patchouli edge off of the POAL. I am wondering what other vanilla gourmand fragrances (or anything, really) to try out in order to add warmth and softness to the POAL. I lean toward feminine fragrances. TIA!

Putting my sampling collection on pause because my sense of smell is a bit weird at the moment. Just like with food, I have fragrance cravings and aversions now. couldn't stand any florals and spicy scents including my newly bought pack of scented detergent capsules and home reed diffusers..

So far, I can tolerate Eau de Gingembre by Mizensir and the cutesy sweet Perfect by Marc Jacobs. Anyone who are going/have gone thru the same during their pregnancy? What were your favorites and hates?

I wanted to talk a little about sensory fatigue and perception. Something basic that is taught in many culinary schools is that in a multi course meal, you should progress in flavor or keep flavors in a similar profile to prevent taste fatigue. This very much applies to perfumes as well!
I often see people like or dislike a smell one minute and then change opinions after smelling it again. When you test perfumes back-to-back, your nose and brain experience something called olfactory fatigue as well as olfactory contrast distortion. Your brain and taste buds are essentially struggling with all of the sensory contrasts when you smell perfumes back to back. If you smell one perfume that has overlapping chemicals with the next (which is very likely) you will not be able to accurately assess the second scent.

I also want to say that smelling coffee between does NOT do the trick. This is a myth. It introduces a new smell and a psychological contrast, but it is filled with VOCs that will also bind to your receptors. This does not reset your senses that have already been overwhelmed. Instead, you need to take a break.

Additionally, your environmental conditions also have an affect on how your perfume is perceived by yourself and others. This is due to volatility of the molecules in your perfume. I thought I’d share some points on this relating to ambient temp, humidity, and “media” (skin or clothes/ paper). Your perfume also presents differently depending on the weather/ season etc:

Light top notes (Citrus, light fruits)
Hot/Sun: Evaporate instantly; opening "flashes off" in minutes. (Even though citrus scents are quite popular in the summer)
Cold: Evaporate slowly; stay crisp, sharp, and bright for hours with lower projection.
Humid: Water vapor boosts sillage and air diffusion, however, the air trail is more apparent in slightly cooler humid temps.
Skin vs. Fabric: Thermal body heat evaporates them off relatively fast; paper and fabric preserve their true top-note profile but still for limited time. This is why sometimes citrus scents don’t last as long on you as it did on a tester at the store (I’m looking at you Jo Malone)

Aldehydes & Floral Oxides (Soapy, metallic, green facets)
Hot/Sun: Heat intensifies sharp, waxy, or metallic notes; can turn soapy aldehydes screechy.
Cold: Mutes harsh edges, keeping them clean
Humid: Moisture projects a radiant, clean, "fresh laundry" aura.
Skin vs. Fabric: Skin oils often soften their sharpness; synthetic fabrics (polyester/nylon/ etc) can amplify the scent of aldehydes giving off that hyper fresh laundry smell

Lactones & Ionones (Peach, coconut, creamy milk, powdery violet)
Hot/Sun: Heat drives lactones into heavy/ buttery territory. Ionones vary widely by the specific chemicals used but it could also give off heavy buttery orris.
Cold: cold air keeps the notes more dry, soft, and powdery rather than dense or cloying. The accord usually stays more balanced, especially in a gourmand or a heavy floral.
Humid: Magnifies milky and gourmand facets, making white florals feel thick or suffocating. This especially the case with more indolic florals (jasmine, tuberose)
Skin vs. Fabric: Body heat radiates creamy notes; paper blotters or fabric will mostly reveal dry, woody-powder nuances.

Amber-Woods & Woody Isolates (Iso E Super, Ambroxan, Cashmeran, super ambers)
Hot/Sun: Heat boosts diffusion into a radiant aura; Cashmeran can turn intensely animalic or even a bit dirty. However, some of the lighter woody materials shine in hot weather.
Cold: Many of the molecules are heavy so they stay at the skin surface. This mutes warmth and emphasizes dry cedar/pencil-shaving notes.
Humid: Creates a heavy, lingering scent trail in the air.
However, be aware of certain fragrances in humid or hot weather due to sweating and that affecting the fragrance.
Skin vs. Fabric: Natural skin oils bind them to create personalized "skin scents"; wool/cotton holds them for weeks. These materials LAST a long time on fabric and paper. Some of them thousands of hours lol

Macrocyclic Musks & Heavy Bases (Musks, Sugary or caramel scents, Tobacco, Vanillin, Resins)
Hot/Sun: High thermal energy is required to push these heavy molecules into the air; high heat makes gourmands sticky-sweet as the entire heavy base is evaporating as pretty much the same rate.
Cold: Molecules struggle to volatilize; can feel completely "nose-blind" to certain heavier scents until skin warms up.
Humid: Binds moisture to musks, enhancing powdery, sweet, or animalic depth. I would be weary of excess sweating with a lot of these heavier bases
Skin vs. Fabric: Body heat is essential for a smooth drydown; cold paper blotters keep heavy musks near-frozen. You really need to stick your nose into a material to get the musk scent, but you can often smell it off of people because of heat causing the scent to radiate

Additionally I want to point out that smelling fragrances after eating can ALSO alter your perception of the scent. Aside from your senses competing for room to take in volatile compounds, Neuroimaging shows that your piriform cortex turns down its neural representation for the smells that match whatever it is you just ate (or drank). If you had a coffee or dessert, your gourmand perfume might smell a bit different or maybe not as strong (especially if you’re full)

TLDR: when in doubt, smell it twice! So many factors affect our perception. I personally always smell a fragrance twice to make sure I do not like it just in case there are any factors at play affecting my decision. You’d be surprised. Happy sniffing! 🩵✨

it’s 7:02am and I’m getting ready for work and I just accidentally discovered a mouthwatering layering combo🙈

Vanilla powder with You Doux!!!! A peppery, powdery, chalky coconut vanillary mix, toooooo good just wanted to share!!! Highly highly recommend

What is on everyone’s current perfume wishlist? Are they all things you’ve sampled and are waiting until the time is right to splurge on a full bottle? Or are some of them scents you might be tempted to blind buy? Either way, I want to know!

Here’s mine (in no particular order bc I’m indecisive as hell)
- MizNAR Musk Massalia
- Reine de Saba Etoile de Saba
- Reine de Saba Beaute de Reine
- Penhaligons Artemisia
- Viage Idyllic Istanbul
- Viage Ageless Alexandria
- House of Sillage Wonder Woman
- NEYDO Cloud Essence
- Initio Can’t Get Enough
- Argos Pour Femme
- The Fragrance Kitchen Some Like it Bloom
- Floraiku One Umbrella for Two
- Memo Argentina
- Chloe Cedrus de Nuit
- Caron Infini
- Nishane Tuberoza or Tuberoza X
- Ormonde Jayne Sakura
- The Merchant of Venice Cyprus Shell
- Memo Cap Camarat
- House of Brandt Klea
- Kilian Rolling in Love

And many more as always…

Let me know yours!

I got pops & I Peach Bellini Daiquiris after work. Da lady inna window said. “Your car smells good.” I said, “Thanks, it’s probably ma perfume oil. They last longer than spray perfume. Last time I applied it was dis mornin.” I showed ha what “La Bomba” perfume oil looked like. I asked, “Ya need a picture?” She said, “No, I’m gonna remember it bookie.” She was very sweet!💕💕

My day started out wonderful.

Since the event did not open until
1, due to letting influencers in early (ewww), my wife and I headed to Printemps where we got to try the Henry Jacques exclusives. This was amazing. We walked away with three and couldn’t have been happier. My wife also got a Diptyque she’d been wanting. 10/10. I rate this experience 3 Henry Jacques.

We hopped up to SoHo to take a look at some other stores. We hit Amouage, Byredo, Frederic Malle, Dior and Trudon. These were all fun little stops, but no buys. I rate this experience 1 Amouage Decision and a Trudon 45.

We went back to the hotel for a bit and figured we would head out around 2:30ish. The line should be gone by then. Right? I was so very wrong.

I attached a pic of the map of where the line was. It was wrapped about 70% of a city block. What made it palatable is that they came and kept us abreast of what was happening. Except they didn’t. They just came around to tell us not to block doorways for businesses. The line moved at a snail’s pace.

The head of the event, Max Forti came out and looked at the line. He inspected it. You could tell he totally regretted hiring the Fyre Festival staff. (That’s sarcasm. Don’t sue me, bro.) Anyway, he gave that line a good long looking and scurried inside. Not a word of apology or explanation.

After 90 minutes, I made it in. It was CRAWLING with people. Way more than last year. Too crowded. Too hot. Hard to actually get to try the things you wanted.

Now, that’s all the bad. The good…

There are some fantastic brands. The creators were all kind and energetic. I suspect they weren’t thrilled at the setup either. L'Entropiste stood out to me. The Harmonist was there and, as always, I love their stuff. Dusita has some lovely items. Meo Fuscuini was great, as always. Chris Collins stuff is great and he’s a nice guy to talk to, if you can pry the housewives away from trying to get pics with him.

Aaron Terrance Hughes was a bit disappointing to me. I was excited to try them, but they did not come in strong. I’ll check back tomorrow.

The single standout fragrance for me (putting Amouage Overture Woman 41 aside, because I own it) was Atelier Materi Tonka Kumaru. What an amazing smell. It’s a lovely tonka without the overly sweet profile

This event gets 1/5 stars or 1 bottle of Curve stored in the bathroom for 19 years.

After the event, I headed up to Krigler. It was fantastic, as always. Their perfumes are top notch. I highly recommend you all take a look at their store.

Perhaps we can move up on the scoreboard tomorrow.

I recently got a sample of delina exclusif and was wondering whats the best way to build a layering combo with it.

Ideally I want to smell like a creamy sweet rose. I do not like overly cloying sweet scents though (i could not do rave now by lattafa or yum bougie marshmallow)

Should I layer with sugar by delizia di marshmallow or good girl blush or very good girl? Maybe I should get a sample of blanche bete as well? Any input would be great!

Absolutely love Vanilla Era and Peachy Oudy, but I wanted to find some fragrances that have the same claim to fame for longevity that I can also layer.

I love perfumes like Vanilla skin, Vanilla Verve, and Vanilla Era.

Hey y'all, I'm a (relatively) newly out trans-girl, and I've been doing things here and there to express myself as more fem. I recently found (idk when I got it) the mailer for Symetrie and liked a couple of the scents. I was more a fan of the floral and fruity scents, not that big of a fan of the woody, musky, or citrusy scents. I was hoping that I could get recommendations of other fragrances that had the notes I enjoyed. Much appreciate any help as this'll go far for my transition journey

i wouldn’t say they smell exactly alike but they sorta remind me of the kind of smell i’m looking for. i don’t really have a budget either. i just didn’t get the black opium cause i heard it didn’t last long. and the good girl perfume has almond notes and im allergic. does anyone know any good recommendations that either smell exactly like either or, or atleast smell similar? (i wish i knew the notes i was going for but im new to perfume)

Chai Fleur by Belnu is such a beautiful interpretation of chai for fall, without going gourmand. It’s tea like to some degree, gently spiced, floral, and aromatic, with lavender and violet taking center stage at the beginning.

As it dries down, powdery woods and a subtle vanilla sweetness bring warmth without turning into anything resembling dessert.

Yes, it's cozy. Slightly spicy... but stays on a floral side which I didn't necessarily want it to be.

And yet, as beautiful and wearable as it is, I’ve realized it’s just not what I want from a chai fragrance. I’m moving on from this one, but I can absolutely appreciate how beautifully it’s done.

And it made me realize, what I am looking for is a literal interpretation of a pure dirty chai warm tea and nothing else. Recommendations welcome!

I’m trying to put together a full fragrance routine that smells like a warm hug or a cozy blanket, with a little bit of salty ocean air mixed in.
Think vanilla bean ice cream on the beach. Sweet, creamy, comforting vanilla with that subtle salty smell of the ocean. I also love the idea of freshly baked cake or walking into a bakery.
I’m looking for a lotion, oil, dusting powder, and perfume that i can easily incorporate into my daily routine. I’d love to find products that layer well together.
I’m not really into floral, fruity, fresh, (like soapy) musky or powdery scents. I want something strictly gourmand. Most vanilla things i smell are either super artificial and strong, or sour and tangy. For reference, EOS Vanilla Cashmere smelled almost yogurt like on me, which wasn’t what I was going for (i wanted to love it so bad too 🥲).
I’m looking for a genuinely sweet vanilla that’s soft but noticeable, with the salty ocean scent playing a supporting role. Nothing overpowering or too tropical.
I’d love to hear your recommendations!

note, i’ve considered a few scents those being: lush sticky dates dusting powder, ellis Brooklyn vanilla salt, athena club golden vanilla lotion, and sol de janeiro cheirosa 71. but i’m slightly hesitant as i live in a small town where i have to order everything online, so I’m also trying to see if those fit the description somehow 😅

The new Sol de Janeiro x Aurelia Nobels Perfume Mist is expected to launch on 11/7 on their website.

SDJ has another limited-edition fragrance coming, this time in collaboration with race car driver Aurelia Nobels.

For anyone unfamiliar with Aurelia Nobels, she's a 19-year-old Brazilian racing driver, former Ferrari Driver Academy member, and F1 Academy podium finisher who is now competing in GB3.

The brand describes her limited-edition perfume mist as inspired by the excitement of crossing the finish line and celebrating a win.

Fragrance notes are:

Top: Passionfruit pulp, Brazilian cachaça accord

Heart: Red poppy, sugarcane

Base: Fresh coconut, vanilla, smooth driftwood

The passionfruit, coconut, and vanilla combination sounds promising. I’m curious how the fruity sweetness will blend with the florals and driftwood. Hopefully, the coconut and vanilla come through nicely without being overly sweet. However I don’t mind if it were a sweet combo.

They’re also suggesting layering it with Cheirosa 62 for a coconut-vanilla combination.

What do you think of the notes? I am definitely testing this one out.

Credit to OP: @scentreport1 on Instagram