Awaiting Samples

[jrhudgins]

I got a little carried away this last week and ordered a number of samples. I really want to find one or two that I like well enough to buy a FB of, and as much as I have enjoyed the C&S samples, I haven't been enamoured enough to pony up for a bottle.
The choices came from reading the suggestions and opinions on this forum:

Dior Eau Sauvage
Mazzolari Lui
Lalique Encre Noir
Dunhill 1934
Maitre Parfumeur Eau des Isles
Maitre Parfumeur Parfum d'Habit
YSL M7 (vintage)
Amouage Epic for Men
Chanel No.5 EDC (vintage)
Knize Ten
J Peterman 1903 (bottle)
Cambodi Royale Aoud(Agar Aura)
Terre d Hermes
Chanel Pour Monsieur
Domenico Caraceni 1913
Parfum de Nicolai New York

Any others that should be on a "must try" list?

Thanks

 

[vertigo12314]

Lavenders:

Caldey Island Lavender (favorite)
Caron pour un homme
Lutens Gris Clair
L'Occitane L'Occitan

Vetivers:

Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
Guerlain Vetiver
Maitre Parfumeur Route du Vetiver
L'Occitane Vetyver

Winter types:

Caron Yatagan
L'Occitane Eau des Baux

Summer types:

Hermes Un Jardin Mediterranee (good for summer)
Creed Imperial Millesime
Acqua di Parma Colonia
D'Orsay Tilleul

Exotic:

Tauer L'Air du desert Marocain
Cale Fragranze D'Autore Mistero
L'Artisan Timbuktu

Eternals:

Creed Green Irish Tweed
Guerlain Habit Rouge
Creed Bois du Portugal (compare with Nicolai New York)

Of course this list can keep going on and on and on.

 

[StylinLA]

A great batch of samples and some good suggestions from Vertigo.

I'll add-

Creed Royal Scottish Lavender - a bit short lived, but wet shaver heaven

Santos de Cartier Concentre - solid, stately masucline scent

Penhaligons Sartorial & Racquets Formula - my two faves from this line

 

[p.m.a.]

Great list! There's a lot out there that I haven't tried, but from those I have I would add the following:
Hermes Bel Ami (vintage if possible)
Givenchy Gentleman (vintage if possible)
Montale Black Aoud

 

[jrhudgins]

This is Great.

I am still trying to find out whether or not there are certain classes of perfumes that I prefer or those I hate. So far, it has been pretty hit or miss in each category.

The main short-term problem I see is that Mudassir will get all that I set aside for one full bottle---I am NOT complaining, believe me. Long term, I may be in for a larger perfume shelf in the bathroom...

 

[vertigo12314]

Long term, I may be in for a larger perfume shelf in the bathroom...

The reality is that you will like certain categories more than others and want to get rid of bottles that can't compete. It's best to get slightly larger samples of scents so you can wear them for a few days to see if you REALLY LIKE THEM or could do without them. Having a favorite for each category is best place to start.

Also if you know that certain scents will be used by you day in and day out then it's more cost effective to buy bottles and then buy 10ml samples for the occassional fragrances. If you run out quickly of a particular fragrance you can always buy a big bottle later. I've gotten to the point where it makes no sense for me to buy many whole bottles anymore precisely because the occassional ones barely get used.

 

[jrhudgins]

The reality is that you will like certain categories more than others and want to get rid of bottles that can't compete. It's best to get slightly larger samples of scents so you can wear them for a few days to see if you REALLY LIKE THEM or could do without them. Having a favorite for each category is best place to start.

Also if you know that certain scents will be used by you day in and day out then it's more cost effective to buy bottles and then buy 10ml samples for the occassional fragrances. If you run out quickly of a particular fragrance you can always buy a big bottle later. I've gotten to the point where it makes no sense for me to buy many whole bottles anymore precisely because the occassional ones barely get used.

This sounds like good advice. Even if I don't immediately warm to a scent, I often find that I like some things about it when I revisit it. And I only recently saw the larger (10ml) decants on Crystal Flacon.

There have been several that I have tried that I would like to be able to wear occasionally, but not often, such as:
C&S Cuba, No. 88
Creed Bois Du Portugal
Creed Royal Scottish Lavender (too-short duration)
C&S F&M (though it is not long-lasting or strong)
Penhaligon's Sartorial

Those that I love:
Creed Windsor
Floris Cefiro

Those that I hate:
Jicky

And wear often:
T&H Grafton
Floris No.89

 

[vertigo12314]

Have fun!

 

[nixican]

Where did you get your samples from?

 

[The Last Chimney]

If I had to recommend one from the fifty-odd samples I've checked out since going scent-crazy, I would say that you absolutely have to try Guerlain Mitsouko.

It's the most intoxicating frag I've ever tried. Just don't be put off by the first ten minutes or so; it changes, I promise!

 

[jrhudgins]

Where did you get your samples from?

Mudassir @ Crystal Flacon (there are a few vendors there)
The Perfumed Court (good luck so far, but I am not sure about the Guerlain Vetiver I received--I need someone who knows the scent to tell me if it is, in fact, that vetiver)
Lucky Scent
Londons Bathecary,

so far...

 

[DavyRay]

I have ordered one sample from Mudassir. It was a 10 ml decant of vintage C&S #88. I am completely satisfied with the transaction. Here is the URL I have bookmarked:

http://flacon.ambaric.net/viewtopic.php?t=20