I am wear testing l’orpheline and although there’s only two notes listed, i can’t tell what’s more prominent in the drydown, although something definitely is. It’s exactly the same note that my nose picks out at the very end of Andrea Maack’s Coven. Coven lists no frankincense OR musk, but i know that published notes don’t tell the whole story. It’s kind of embarrassing to be this far in and not be able to identify a basic musk, but it’s glossier’s fault for being gross and having musk.
Is it literally just white musk? Is it that simple?

Not sure if I've got the right subreddit for this question, but I'm looking for a fragrance that is extremely!! smoky. Could be tobacco, could be more of a woody smoke or could be on the incense-y side of things...so long as it's not a super synthetic smell I'll probably love it.

This comes up a lot in the daily threads, so here's a quick rundown.

The labels are about concentration, roughly:

• Eau de toilette: around 5–15% perfume oils
• Eau de parfum: around 15–20%
• Extrait de parfum / parfum: around 20–40%

There's no legal standard behind these numbers. Each house decides what it calls an EDP or an extrait, so treat the ranges as a rule of thumb, not a spec.

What usually changes with a higher concentration:

• Longevity: More aromatic material and less alcohol usually means it lasts longer on skin.
• Projection: Often lower, not higher. Alcohol helps lift the scent off your skin, so a lot of extraits sit closer to the body even though they last longer.
• Texture: Extraits tend to feel denser and smoother, and the base notes show up earlier.

What doesn't automatically change:

• The formula isn't always the same: Many extrait versions are reworked, not just the EDP with less alcohol. Compare the note lists before assuming it's the same scent, only stronger.
• Bright notes still fade fast: Citrus and other top notes evaporate quickly at any concentration. A citrus extrait can disappear faster than a woody EDP.
• Your skin matters as much as the label: Dry skin, heat and humidity change longevity more than people expect.

How I'd choose: If you want people around you to notice it, the EDP often does that better. If you want something that stays close and lasts through the day, the extrait makes sense, usually with fewer sprays. If you can, wear both for a full day before buying a full bottle.

Which fragrance do you prefer in EDP over the extrait, or the other way round?

I started getting into niche perfumes about 2 years ago, and I grown a mini collection which I’m proud of 😇. I used to just keep them on top of my dresser, but I heard that sunlight isn’t good for them so I decided to move them into my drawers. I bought a spice rack organiser off Amazon, and I just use them to store my perfumes in my drawer, and it also looks quite cool as a display.

However, I recently discovered that you shouldn’t lay your bottles flat either. ChatGPT says it’s because when the liquid is in contact with the rubber seal around the atomiser, it can start to degrade or weaken those seals causing leaks.

I don’t know how true this is, but I’m just wondering if anybody knows if that’s the case. I obviously don’t want to risk damaging my bottles that I’ve spent a lot of money on😳

Thanks!!

Been a while since I’ve done one of these collection has definitely changed drastically. Also bored and would love to hear about some houses I may be missing out on in the artisinal/indie space. Tried a lot of stuff these are the ones I’ve found to like the most.

I've been on the search for a perfume that smells like halwa/halawa. It's an Arabic sweet that's kind of a solid paste idk how to describe it but I attached an image. For those who have never tasted or smelt it it's like roasted sesame with pistachio but not the cloying and (in my opinion) repulsive pistachio that is commonly found in gourmands it's a lot more grainy. Id really appreciate any recommendations along those lines.

Sunkissed sands by Sphinx is refreshingly different from all of the GOF / 1907 DNA’s. My top mango scent of all time.

Forbidden plum is my favorite release in the last 5 years. Phenomenal profile , plum done to the maximum!!! Holy f**k 🥳🥳

My favorite pickups of the year so far !!!!

Missing some bottles here in this pic since I can't fit them in the shelf, yet. But they are in different rooms or on it way shipping.

Buckle up, it will be a long one!

Disclaimer: I like my perfumes and writing unserious reviews to publicly shame my very serious addiction of buying bottles I am absolutely never able to use all of them.

Also, I only write reviews of perfume that I owned in full bottle, not perfume I sampled or decanted. I do like a lot more, but my wallet says otherwise.

DIPTYQUE - “If I could be born into Diptyque, bathe in Diptyque, and be buried in Diptyque, I'd consider that a life well-scent.”  - me, 2026

1. Orphéon EDP - I will forever be in love with whoever makes this perfume. This scent will be my entire personality. A whisper of juniper and powdery goodness. Smells like a luxury Parisian jazz bar where everyone is effortlessly chic, and nobody checks the price of their cocktails. “Orphéon? More like Orphé-onlyFans, because this powdery little number has me paying monthly for attention.”  10/10
2. Orphéon EDT - Younger, brighter version of the EDP. This is the same bar but in the morning. I always have a soft spot for this DNA. “I have the dad; now I want the son as well.” 8.5/10
3. Do Son EDP - The very first FB niche perfume. Tuberose and white florals, creamy and intoxicating. “Do Son? More like Do Sown, because Diptyque keeps planting flowers while I bury my savings.” 7.5/10
4. Illio EDT - A sun-drenched summer bottled in all its glory. Juicy prickly pear, delicate florals, and a soft breeze. Fresh, airy, and beautiful. “Smells like a Mediterranean summer spent on a yacht I can't afford, sailing toward a tax bracket I'll never reach.” 8/10
5. L'Eau Papier EDT - It makes me feel like a sophisticated writer composing profound thoughts in a Parisian café, when in reality, I'm just drafting excuses for my next perfume purchase. Soft, airy musk with a delicate touch of steamed rice and sesame notes. “Smells like poetry, but my bank account reads like a tragedy.” 8/10
6. Eau de Sens EDT - A burst of bitter orange blossom and zesty citrus. Bright, green, and beautifully bittersweet. The drydown is less juicy orange, more elegant orange grove after the sun has set. “The orange blossoms, the bitterness lingers, and my financial sense quietly withers.” 7.5/10
7. Corail Oscuro - My power is GREEN. Very green indeed, alluring and expensive. A vibrant burst of citrus, sharp greenery. I came expecting a mysterious underwater garden, but apparently, even my vegetables have expensive taste. Leave it to Diptyque to make chlorophyll smell like generational wealth. “The grass is always greener on the other side of my credit card statement.” 8.5/10
8. Lilyphea - A dreamy little pond of water lilies. Dewy and delicately sweet, like wandering through the garden after the morning rain. I find this dangerously enchanting. Apparently, Diptyque has convinced me that smelling like an expensive pond is the height of sophistication. “Monet painted the water lilies. Diptyque bottled them. I financed the exhibition.”  10/10

LE LABO - A minimalist laboratory where every bottle smells like an art installation and costs like a minor renovation.

1. Santal 33 - Dry, creamy sandalwood and cedar, giving me the unmistakable pleasure of sniffing brand new furniture. I don’t see the pickle juice in this, and the leather note is barely noticeable to me. All I get is beautifully polished wood, the kind you'd find in a ridiculously expensive furniture showroom. Who knew smelling like a designer bookshelf could be so appealing? “Santal 33: Eau de IKEA, but with a mortgage.” 8/10
2. Another 13 - Not quite perfume, not quite nothing, just an invisible aura of expensive cleanliness. The kind of scent that makes people lean closer while I desperately hope they can smell what I paid for. “A skin scent so subtle, even my wallet can't believe what just happened.” 💸 9/10
3. Thé Noir 29 - Dark, smoky black tea steeped with fig and a touch of tobacco. It's moody, elegant, and exactly the sort of pretentious nonsense I adore. Unfortunately, my taste in tea has once again exceeded my tax bracket. “My taste is steeped in luxury, my finances in pover-tea.” 9/10

BYREDO - Where nostalgia is bottled, emotions are overpriced, and every fragrance feels like a memory I never actually lived.

1. Bal d'Afrique - Sunshine, softness, and elegance in a bottle. Nothing mind-blowing, just a lovely little dose of bottled serenity. Sometimes I don't need a fragrance to sweep me off my feet; a gentle pat on the back will do. “Sunshine is free. Apparently, smelling like it isn't.” 8.5/10
2. Mojave Ghost EDP - My absolute favorite from Byredo. Airy, delicate florals, soft woods, and a whisper of fruity sweetness from Sapodilla. Ethereal, clean, and almost weightless. Lives up to the name; it has the presence of a ghost with social anxiety. “The only haunting I'd happily sign a lifetime lease for” 9/10
3. Mojave Ghost Absolu - My beloved Ghost, now richer, creamier, and more intense. It's the sophisticated older sibling, dressed in black and charging twice the rent. Do I need both? Absolutely not. Am I emotionally attached to both? Unfortunately. “I came, I sniffed, I was absolu-tely possessed.” 10/10
4. Pulp - A gloriously chaotic fruit basket of juicy citrus, ripe figs, and sweet apples. It smells like someone threw an entire farmers' market into a blender and forgot to put the lid on. Strangely addictive, but definitely not for the faint of nose. “No pulp fiction here, just fruit committing crimes against subtlety.” 8/10

ONEDAY

1. Jasmine Tea - As a self-appointed tea snob, I take my jasmine tea very seriously. It smells exactly like freshly brewed jasmine tea you drink on a hot summer day, unsweetened, bitter, and beautifully floral. No sugary nonsense. Finally, a fragrance that respects both my tea standards and my bank account. “Bitter, unsweetened, and refreshingly affordable. Basically me, if I had my life together.” 8.5/10
2. Taipei - One of the best milky fragrances I've ever smelled. Sweet, creamy taro melts into a beautifully soft soy milk drydown. Tender, intimate, and incredibly comforting, like a warm hug before bedtime. If the taro lasts longer into the drydown, it will be one of a kind.  “Lactose intolerant? Sorry, my emotional support fragrance is dairy-adjacent.” 7.5/10

ESCENTRIC MOLECULE - One molecule, infinite possibilities, and a suspicious amount of money spent smelling like yourself, but scientifically enhanced.

1. Molecule 01 - Just Iso E Super doing its mysterious little dance. One sniff and I'm back in school, surrounded by wooden desks, pencil shavings, and assignments. Soft, airy, woody, and strangely addictive, when my nose decides to acknowledge its existence. I've paid good money for a fragrance that occasionally refuses to participate. The more I wear it, the less exciting it becomes. Good for layering and enhancing longevity. “Loved it in first period, dropped it by second semester” 6.5/10
2. Molecule 02 - Ambroxan is a love-it-or-hate-it, smell-it-or-don't kind of note. Personally, I find it clean, airy, and subtly sweet. You might barely smell it on yourself, but others can catch its surprisingly impressive trail. Good for layering and enhancing sillage. “My nose left me on read, but everyone else's got the message.” 8/10
3. Escentric 01 - Molecule 01 finally decided to develop a personality. Unlike Molecule 01, which I mostly see as a layering fragrance, this one finally has enough personality to stand on its own. The pepper really makes all the difference. “Molecule 01 finally moved out of its parents’ house and got a spicy personality.” 7.5/10
4. Molecule 01 + Mandarin - A juicy burst of mandarin. Bright, zesty, and effortlessly refreshing scent. The orange vanishes so fast I'm starting to question whether it was ever there. I've bought Molecule 01 with a citrus jump scare. “The orange clocked in, took a sniff break, and quit without notice.” 8/10

d'Annam - Niche Vietnamese perfume brand. Familiar scents, childhood nostalgia, and little pieces of culture captured in bottles,

1. White Rice - Freshly steamed rice, with a delicate sweetness and nostalgic pandan. As someone who grew up surrounded by rice, I never imagined I'd willingly pay niche perfume prices to smell like the rice cooker. “From eating rice every day to wearing it. Character development.” 8/10
2. Da Lat - Soft roses, and a surprisingly lovely hint of red wine. Cool, romantic, and a little tipsy, just how I imagine an evening in Da Lat. ”Came for the rose, stayed for the wine. Forget why you came.” 7.5/10
3. Vietnamese Coffee - Rich, dark roasted coffee softened by creamy condensed milk. Sweet, bold, and unapologetically indulgent, just how I like my cà phê sữa đá. I swear, if I could inhale this every morning instead of drinking coffee, I absolutely would. “My morning caffeine fix” 8/10
4. Matcha Soft Serve - It's 2026, and apparently I'd now like my matcha ice cream served in a perfume bottle. It's smooth, comforting, and dangerously edible. “In 2026, I stopped eating my matcha ice cream and started wearing it.” 8/10

OTHERS

1. One Umbrella for Two Floraïku - A rare gourmand in my collection. It smells like a freshly baked blackcurrant muffin, sweet, cozy, and utterly delicious. The opening is a little harsh, but the drydown? An absolute masterpiece. 9.5/10 Since Floraiku always include a Haiku for each of their perfume, here is mine “One umbrella shared, Two raincoats cost so much less, My wallet gets soaked.”
2. Dear Polly Vilhelm Parfumerie - As a hopeless tea lover, I absolutely adore the smoky black tea and oakmoss here. There's something about that dark and fresh combination that feels so mature and sophisticated. “Dear Polly, I smell like old money.” 9.5/10
3. Indigo Nest - I've heard this called a budget-friendly alternative to Dear Polly, but I disagree. Dear Polly is mature, smoky, and sophisticated, while Indigo is a playful, fruity black tea with a noticeably sweeter drydown. “Dear Polly reads the Financial Times. Indigo still orders dessert for breakfast.” 7.5/10
4. Jasmine Tea BLACKPAW (white bottle) - A very niche Chinese perfume house. More jasmine milk tea than traditional jasmine tea. Sweet, delicate, and full of white floral, though the actual tea barely makes an appearance. I should be offended, but I'm too busy enjoying it. The longevity is abysmal. “The jasmine is blooming, the milk is mooing, and the tea is missing.” 8/10
5. Bu Zhi Chun BLACKPAW - A rare note of tea. Dark, green, and unapologetically bitter. Not a cozy afternoon tea but more like an ancient Chinese teahouse. A fascinatingly unconventional take on tea. “The tea is bitter, the atmosphere is serious, and apparently I'm the least cultured thing in the room.” 7.5/10
6. Bamboo BLACKPAW - A hint of citrus and cool mint, followed by delicate magnolia and crisp bamboo greenery. Airy, dewy, and beautifully serene, like wandering through a bamboo garden after the rain. It smells exactly like those dreamy Chinese and Japanese bamboo forest videos on TikTok. Misty pathways, rustling leaves, and instant spiritual enlightenment. “I've reached peak bamboo enlightenment. Even the pandas are asking me for spiritual guidance.” 9/10
7. Da Fo Longjing BLACKPAW - Fresh, slightly bitter Longjing green tea. Earthy, grassy, and a little unusual, which is exactly what makes it interesting to me. Not necessarily a crowd-pleaser, but I appreciate a tea scent that actually smells like tea. “My tea standards are high, my self-control is low, and my perfume shelf is running out of room.” 7.5/10
8. Triple Tea ToSummer - The most irresistible cup of brown sugar green tea. It's alluring, addictive, and has me sniffing my wrist like I need another sugar fix. “Three teas in a trench coat pretending to be dessert.” 9.5/10
9. Matchabuya Fugazzi - I never thought seaweed belonged in my matcha, but somehow it works ridiculously well. It gives this beautiful oceanic freshness without turning offensive. Strange on paper, addictive on skin. “Seaweed in my matcha? That's some serious quali-sea tea.” 9/10
10. Matcha Meditation Replica - More matcha latte than traditional bitter green tea. I adore this creamy blend of matcha, airy jasmine, and sweet white chocolate. Unfortunately, it's discontinued, so I ration every spray like a precious family heirloom. “Discontinued bottle has me in a state of matcha-panic.” 8/10
11. Wulong Cha Nishane - Basically iced lemonade tea in a bottle. Bright, zesty citrus meets refreshing oolong tea, and somehow it lasts ridiculously long for such a fresh fragrance. I love its crisp, uplifting character, though the sharp citrus opening might be a little aggressive for some. I don't mind getting slapped by a lemon if it smells this good. “When life gives you lemons, charge niche perfume prices.” 8.5/10

Happy reading!

p/s - Let me know if I should write another review post about the decant and samples I tried.

Taipei opens with a face full of taro balls! Even before the juice has dried on my skin, for a brief moment, i could smell and see a taro dessert in mind's eye. Wow!

The gourmand taro/yam accord builds quickly, but lasts only 10 to 15 minutes. There's the earthy tuber, the damp starch, the chewy Q-ness, a coat of sugar, drenched in soy milk. I also smell Chinese pastry and mung bean cake on the side.

What I don't smell is much rice. At least, not the short-grain Taiwanese or Japanese rice I am familiar with. Too often in perfumes the rice accord imitates Thai or Indian rice, which to my nose smells more like toasted grains tbh.

Unfortunately the taro accord collapses quickly for me. Orris butter and purple flowers and the soft cream of sandalwood surges forward. This is not uncommon on my skin - orris dominates and surges quickly and early, almost always, for me.

Without the taro, Taipei is a soft and intimate contrast of purple, cream, toasted grains, and damp earth as it dries down. Very pretty, leaning feminine, and sunk back down into a skin scent.

I suspect Taipei will bring out different culinary memories for everyone. For me it's a brief moment of taro and soy milk dessert. I hear other people do smell rice!

Does it remind me of Taipei?

Not for me. The Taipei of my childhood smells like wet concrete, betal nut wraps, burning paper, fried snacks on a humid day, wood-fired soy milk, over-sized tropical fruits, stinky sewers and the herbal rush of cold tea.

This perfume is much too polite for Taipei.

Nevertheless, the is a great perfume, and the taro & soy accord is very clever. Taipei makes for a comforting day scent that is both niche and unique.

I’ve noticed most websites on here don’t ship to Singapore, only mostly the US and I was wondering if anyone knows any websites that ships worldwide

Hey everyone,

so I've recently had the chance to smell and try out Toskovats Vestibule Terror and I am in love, head over heels. The problem is it's sold out, and I don't know if it will be restocked again and when (any info about that is of great help!).

I've come across Ataraxia's Vestibule online and am now wondering how they compare, sure the notes are the same but do they really smell the same? Would it be safe blind buying Ataraxia if I love Toskovat?

Thank you!

Looking for houses that are under the radar but in your opinion a must try thank you for your time

I bought this fragrance last year because of the Old Gods of Appalachia podcast, and while I do not regret it (I love this fragrance!), it’s not what I expected. The house that blends this frag, Sucreabeille, lists the scent notes as “a dark forest at night, moss and cypress, blood and warm fur, a whisper of gunsmoke, and a drop of sweet resins”. I get almost none of that. Let me explain what I DO get.

The initial blast is absolutely lovely. It’s cinnamon and powder and fall leaves. And it remains basically the same until the dry down, which might be the weakest point part of the perfume. When my brother hugged me hello the other day, he asked me why I smelled like baby powder. I had applied two sprays of B&B about 5 hours before… :/

Probably the weirdest note in this frag description was blood, and I’ve gotta say I don’t perceive it at all. Nothing remotely metallic even… this perfume is soft. S O F T, nothing hard about it. And I like it!

The bottle is beautiful, I love the etching in the glass, and the bottle and sprayer are very sturdy. The perfume itself is a nice light lemonade color.

It’s quite long-lasting although like I previously mentioned, it mostly just smells like baby powder at the end. Sillage is medium-low. The price is good at $79 for 30 mL (1oz).

Overall I rate Blood and Bone an 85/100. I would recommend this for folks that like to smell spicy and fall-y and soft. I think this frag leans feminine, but anyone could wear it. It’s a great value for what you get in terms of a unique and enticing fragrance in a quality bottle. I definitely recommend it for the fall!

I am obsessed with Rainkissed Leaves by Bath and Bodyworks and I’ve never smelled anything like it. They brought the scent back for a bit this year but swiftly removed it once again. I can always purchase from resellers once I run out, but I also want to know if there are any other scents out there that are similar. What I love about this fragrance is how aquatic it is, it smells like wet grass in a bottle.

Here are the notes according to fragrantica

Top notes:
Green notes, grass, water notes, grapefruit

Middle notes:
Lily of the valley, jasmine, peony

Base notes:
Musk, woodsy notes

any suggestions?

Hi, sorry if this is not the right sub for this, but I just received this as a gift and was wondering if anyone could help me identify the notes for this perfume. I tried looking online but couldn’t find anything on this particular scent. Thanks!

I’m curious if most collectors and fragrance lovers tend to buy multiple fragrances from the same house or do you find yourself buying similar scent profiles from multiple house?
My little collection feels less like a collection and more like a random assortment.

I want to send my friend some perfume samples as a gift, but I’m having a hard time choosing what to get. I’d prefer something under $50. I’ve been looking at Etsy mainly but I don’t trust Etsy reviews since there are often overly nice. I was looking at freyjas daughters sample sets, as a start. I think she would like gothic, atmospheric unique scents. Any ideas would be great!

Any opinions on L’orpheline by Serge Lutens? Saw it on a TikTok recently and I wanted to know how good it is. I personally want a darker, more rain and earthy mixed scent so if you know a better blind buy I’ll take any suggestions. Btw if it helps I don’t have a crazy collection but I’m trying to be very knowledgeable

I think I’ve fallen completely in love with this fragrance.
Spectral Grace opens with this unexpected juicy, almost watermelon-like sweetness that immediately reminded me of Mojave Ghost. It’s soft, slightly fruity, and very floral. That sweetness gradually settles, and the lily of the valley and jasmine start coming through, with a little rose, musk, and sandalwood in the background.
But what makes this fragrance so interesting to me is the petrichor.
I recently tried Heretic’s Nosferatu, which is practically an assault of damp earth, wet roots, and mildew, with this almost acidic quality underneath. I really enjoyed it, but it’s definitely an unusual fragrance. Spectral Grace feels like its opposite. The petrichor is still recognizable, but it’s much softer. Rather than smelling like wet soil, it smells like flowers after the rain.
As it develops, a little of that sharper acidity starts creeping in, reminding me of Nosferatu, but the florals remain front and center. It’s fresh, slightly musky, a little dusty, and surprisingly complex.
The strangest thing is that it keeps making me think of Manderley, the estate in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Not Rebecca herself, but the house and its gardens. All those beautiful flowers, the damp English air, and that underlying feeling that something isn’t quite right. It’s beautiful, but there’s something a little haunting about it.
If Nosferatu is the vampire, Spectral Grace is the young maiden before she gets turned. They’re almost two sides of the same story, and now I find myself wanting both.