5.30.2011

# beauty # perfume

The Search for My New Signature Scent Continues

For those of you just tuning in to this mini series on The Daily Connoisseur I am going on the search for my new signature scent. In this post I am continuing with my mini reviews and sharing my notes with you along the way. As always I love to hear your opinions and insight…

I have had an issue with rose withdrawals on my previous search so many of the fragrances in this post deal with roses as the primary note. I also have been extensively exploring the world of Jo Malone with miniature samples that are magnificent for testing.

So… here we go!


Jo Malone: Red Roses Cologne
When I was a little girl for Mother’s Day I would go into our garden and make a ‘perfume’ for my mother out of red rose petals. I would pick the petals, steep them in water for a week (!) take the petals out and decant the sacred elixir into a Tupperware flask. My poor mother, not having the heart to tell me she would try it out later, always dutifully wore the perfume on her special day (what a champ!) Even as a little girl I knew the ‘perfume’ I made wasn’t up to par. I wanted to capture the essence of the red rose and bottle its perfection.

So when I recently tried Jo Malone’s Red Roses I smiled with nostalgia and thought, “Ah, that is the scent I was trying to capture so many years ago!” Jo Malone’s Red Roses is a powerful and evocative scent- but is only for those who seriously love roses. This cologne does not have the hint of red roses- this perfume is a red rose. A big, luscious, heady red rose that was probably picked in your garden. The sort of rose that you pause everything you’re doing to take in its aroma. Red Roses claims to have other notes such as violet, lemon and spearmint, but those are completely lost on me. And I don’t mind. This may sound bizarre but one of the best ways I can describe it is as a ‘stinking rose’ (and I mean that in the most pleasant of ways). Try it out and you will see what I mean. It probably isn't everyone's cup of tea but is definitely a contender for my signature scent.


Jo Malone French Lime Blossom
Fresh, green, floral and heady, French Lime Blossom is perfect for Spring. Inspired by a stroll down the Champs Élysées. This is a lively, vibrant fragrance- clean smelling. Delightful. More blossom, less lime. Bergamot and Tarragon are the other prevalent notes. I am recalled of Paris. I think of fresh linens in a very posh Parisian hotel- perhaps George V. Very chic and unexpected. Not quite my signature scent material but charming all the same…



Jo Malone Grapefruit Cologne

I am surprised at how much I like this fragrance. When someone asks what my signature scent is I would never have imagined responding with “Grapefruit”- not that I’ve picked it- but it is a serious contender. What a marvelous little cologne this is! The citrusy grapefruit note is highly prevalent but has a burning incency quality to it as well with vetiver, rosemary and spices. It is an invigorating cologne, one with bursts of energy and heart. What a pleasant surprise. Perfect for daytime (doesn’t quite cut the mustard for night) but who knew? This is a contender as well…




Chloé Rose Edition

Delightful on so many levels. Chloé’s Rose Edition (Also called Chloé Rosebud) is a sensuous and fluid perfume- even more likeable than Stella on first sniff. Along with my beloved rose note, other notes in this sweet, feminine scent include pink peony, lychee, freesia, cedarwood, amber and honey. It is described as being “chic, comfortable and addictive”- three very apt adjectives in my opinion.

I will admit I was so enthusiastic about it that when I first sampled Chloé Rose Edition I declared my search to be over! But the sales lady informed me that this is a limited edition and therefore might not come back. So I thought I better not get carried away with myself and continue my search. Rather unfair, however, to put out such an ‘addictive’ fragrance and only offer it for a limited time, non?


Love, Chloé
I thought since I loved Chloé Rose Edition so much I better try out Chloé Love as that one is not limited edition but will be staying around for a while. Again, I was so pleased. Chloé Love is a beautiful, powdery scent. Like a powder puff on a glamorous art deco vanity, its subtlety washes over you. Understated and pretty- perfect for everyday wear. Very lady like. Notes include orange blossom, pink pepper, iris, lilac, hyacinth, powdery musk, talc and rice powder. The musk, talc and rice powder notes in particular intrigue me. I normally associate powdery scents with grandmothers but this one is surprisingly sexy. And again, (even without my beloved rose note) this is another contender for my signature scent. We are on a roll here…


Bvlgari Rose Essentielle
I have heard a lot about Bvlgari’s Rose Essentielle and after trying Chloé’s Rose Edition thought I might not find a rose fragrance that I liked as much (I’ve tried Dolce & Gabbana’s Rose The One and it didn’t quite go with my skin chemistry). But I tried it just the same (Becky who reads The Daily Connoisseur also recommended it in the comment section of the last perfume post)… and I am so glad that I did.

Rose Essentielle starts off as a spicy, exotic rose and then melts into a beautiful incense rose (due to the patchouli note perhaps?) This is a fragrance that transports you. I am immediately taken to a salon in Morocco- sipping tea in the hot afternoon while the scent of exotic roses wafts in with the warm summer breeze.

It is a beautiful, feminine, smoky, intoxicating, luxurious rose. Not overpowering, perfect for day. Notes: rose prelude, blackberry, feuille de violette, living mimosa, jasminum sambac, patchouli, bois de gaiac. Suffice to say this is a major contender (perhaps front runner) for my signature scent.


I would love to hear your thoughts…

Be sure to check out this week's video where I introduce you to my darling dog, Gatsby. You can see the video by clicking here, looking in the side bar of this blog or by visiting www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur.

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16 comments:

stellasostellar said...

We were at Jo Malone the other day and my friend ended up purchasing Red Roses. It smelled so natural, effortless and feminine. But one thing about Jo Malone is that because it's cologne, it smells pretty strong about 1-2 hours and then it's completely gone. So I guess I personally prefer eau de parfum since I love the subtle scent that lingers even after spending a whole day.

-Stella

Rebecca D said...

There are so many fragrances out there it is overwhelming! Thank you for sharing your search. I am always on the hunt for a signature scent and usually end up with the one that is "limited" edition. So frustrating yet so fun to research!

Gretchen said...

I suggest you may want to try a few of the Parfums DelRae, where you won't smell yourself coming and going (and probably not on your brother's girlfriend!) . Boise de Paradis has that rose scent, mixed with fruit and others, and Debut is similar to Diorissimo or JM's FrenchLime Blossom, but with another dimension. And she just came out with another rose this year. You can get sample vials on her website, but Luckyscent carries her and she's in several California boutiques. Bonne chance...limiting oneself to one signature scent is so chic...but so not me! I love too many, but at least they run in similar families, per season!

Anonymous said...

French Lime Blossom from Jo Malone is a wonderful scent. I use to mix this with Honeysuckle and Jasmine but that scent has been discontinued. I'm really liking Vintage Gardenia right now. I wonder how that would be with French Lime Blossom? I may have to try that.

Edith said...

Orange Blossom is another one of my top Jo Malone scents- but then, orange blossoms might be my favorite things in the world, so I am probably biased. This post made me want to go and try all these perfumes! I love roses as well- they remind me of my family, they own a rose farm.

Anonymous said...

I have just found one I really like....it is soft, slightly powdery, floral without turning into a bad garden.....winner is Summer Grace (yes limited edition) by Philosophy.

Anonymous said...

Jo Malone's French Lime is my Monday - Friday daytime scent. It is just so pretty. My husband, of all people, likes the grapefruit scent. I have an Hermes version of the grapefruit that I use on special occasions.

If you like the French Lime, be sure to check out the Orange Blossom. It reminds me of my chidlhood and old-fashioned weddings.

Anonymous said...

If you enjoyed Jo Malone's grapefruit scent, be sure to try Hermes Pamplemousse Rose. It's on my wish list for this summer.

Gina said...

I favor clean and citrus scents, so I've been contemplating the Jo Malone Grapefruit for ages. I nearly caved when I saw her limited edition English Tea line, but I held my ground. I have the smallest twinge of regret that I passed on the Assam Tea & Grapefruit!

Good luck in your search! It seems that florals dominate the fragrance market (which annoys me), but it's a matter of finding that oh-so-perfect one that really captures you!

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

I love the sound of the Jo Malone rose one but I'd prefer an EDT or a perfume for the longer lasting fragrance. And Gatsby is so handsome! Rescue dogs are the best. xx

Romi said...

Ooh, I don't even wear perfume, but your descriptions made me want to head out to the department store and check out Red Roses and Grapefruit!

CashmereLibrarian said...

I just tried Rose Essentiale tonight at Sephora. It's yummy!

The Daily Connoisseur said...

Stella- A lot of people say this about Jo Malone fragrances. I would have to say that certain of her scents last longer on me than others. French Lime Blossom does not last a long time on me for some reason but Red Roses really does...

Rebecca- You are welcome! I know what you mean about the frustrating limited edition. I just went to Sephora to try Chloe Rose Edition again and it is gone!

Gretchen- Thank you very much for the recommendations!

Anon- I have yet to try Vintage Gardenia but it sounds lovely. I know one is supposed to mix the Jo Malone fragrances to make a custom scent but I am so not there yet. Haha! I am still processing the singular nature of her scents :)

Elizabeth- How wonderful that your family owns a rose farm... it must be beautiful! I love Orange Blossom too- I'm not sure why I forgot to include it here in a review. I'll try and do so next time... The orange blossoms on our tree were here a few weeks ago and it smells almost exactly like Jo Malone's she captures scents so well...

Me- Philosophy has some great scents. I will have to try it!

Rebekah- French Lime Blossom really is delightful. It is so clean. It's the type of scent I wouldn't tire of... Nice to know its your sig scent!

Anon- Thank you! I will try Hermes Pamplemousse Rose- it sounds divine. Like two of my favorite Jo Malones combined!

Gina- Thank you! And how funny in your comment you mention the limited edition tea line because I have a giveaway coming up soon with Jo Malone's limited edition Sweet Lemon Cologne from that very collection- stay tuned! :)

Josephine- Thank you! And thank you on behalf of Gatsby too :) Hope you are well xo

Romi- Yay! Let's go perfume sniffing the next time we get together :)

Cashmere- Isn't it divine? I love it... it brings me to Morocco, not that I've ever been, but what I imagine it to be like :) xo

Anonymous said...

7 years ago my husband and I went to visit the winery that a board member of his company had just opened. While trying wines I noticed a small offering of handcremes. The packaging was so lovely I had to try. Amazing!! I live in San Francisco and have never smelled it on anyone else. The brand is Lollia and you can find it in Neiman Marcus. Enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Rose essentielle and chloe are my favorites for spring-summer. The fall-winter fragrance is Faubourg 24 Hermes. Have you ever tried the perfumes created by Laura tonatto? try if you find them

laura.smales said...

After reading about your search for your signature scent, I feel compelled to suggest that you try Vera Wang's signature fragrance, 'Vera Wang'. I would also recommend Ralph Lauren Romance. I have worked with fragrance and these are my suggestions, I hope they're helpful.