More than lime

[musicman1951]

I'm new to frags, but not to AD - so I thought I was all set for a new adventure. I spent a fair amount of time reading reviews here and on basenotes and made myself a wish list.

I asked for some CF balm samples from Colonial Drug in Boston and Cathy sent a sample of Cuban Cedar and Limes by Bathhouse. SWMBO and I both liked it quite a bit and I ordered a full bottle. Then I had my Trumper sample adventure. I didn't care for any (the Bay Rum was not offensive, but it wasn't much more than that either - I'm not that into cloves). Astor actually gave me a sore throat - and I put it on my wrist (no gargling).

Some other samples came and I tried Himalaya by Creed. I was afraid the expensive stuff was going to be a winner, but SWMBO wouldn't even let me use the sample again.

Castle Forbes Lime was pretty good. Crown Spiced Limes was excellent, but apparently no longer being made.
That leaves my top three to date Crown Lime, Bathhouse Lime and CF Lime! I liked the Bathhouse Spanish Fig - but SWIMBO vetoed that with an air of being quite definite.

I have a few more samples, but I'm frankly less enthusiastic than I was at the start. I just tried Guerlain 68 and it's quite nice, but pretty girly.

Is there any hope for me?

 

[Timmy Dee]

I'm a bit confused about your problem - you're asking if there's any hope for you getting away from lime fragrances despite your missus' obvious predilection towards them?

If that's the case, and presuming she will smell them when you've first applied and make a call at that point, can you choose a fragrance with lime headnotes, but which changes towards something else at the dry down (such fragrances usually have heartnotes and basenotes that are woody and/or musk)?

Also, don't try C&E West Indian Limes - I'd be concerned she will never let you wear anything else

 

[Matt555]

Is there any hope for me?

Oh god, are you kidding? You have not even gotten started yet......

Have you tried something that is just really clean and classy smelling like Guerlain Vetiver or YSL Rive Gauche?

 

[Niles]

There are so many fragrances you have yet to try. Drugstore brands, designer brands, niche brands. As long as you are curious, keep testing fragrances and you'll find some that you like.

 

[erickson]

Have you tried Anglia Perfumery Spiced Limes? This perfume house is trying to keep alive several of the now defunct fragrances by Crown Perfumery. I own their Spiced Limes and it is just as long lasting as Crown Perfumery, but I don't thinks it is quite as soapy.

 

[tehtimmeh]

If you must win the approval of the Mrs., you are headed down a very long and very narrow road. Been there, done that. Eventually I just purchased her two favorites and wear them when we are spending time together. Other than that I wear what I want. Every now and again she will give me a compliment on a scent that was hated or frowned upon when sampling, but I wear it anyway because I love it.

Sounds like you are discerning and "picky" if you want to call it that, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It will just take a little bit of time to hone in on something that dazzles you.

You may consider hitting up Sephora or Nordstrom and taking her along. They have dozens of testers just sitting out that you can spray as much as you want to all day long without being pestered by SAs. Good way to try several and hopefully find something that works for her. After you get that part squared away, you can focus on the important scents: The ones YOU like.

 

[Oscroft]

If you must win the approval of the Mrs., you are headed down a very long and very narrow road

My wife pretty much approves of anything I want to buy for myself, provided it's accompanied by a bottle of something for her.

 

[musicman1951]

We are both recently retired and spend a fair amount of time together. She's pretty vocal about what she doesn't like!

You have given me the courage to soldier on. I'm currently wearing Richmond from Anglia Perfumery and it seems to satisfy. She did like their Spiced Limes (although she prefers the original Crown slightly more) and liked their Imperial Lime even better. I'll have no problem keeping a satisfactory lime frag in the house, but I would like to find more than just lime.

She expressed a preference for Old Spice. WCS has the after shave but not the cologne. I want the cologne?

I have a couple more samples from Anglia Perfumery yet to try. I also have Guerlain Homme,
Gendarme 20 and Creed GIT samples waiting for a try.

I tried Sephora with SWMBO, but it didn't seem like a good environment for me. Two stores down in the mall a cloud of 200 perfumes hit me like a ton of bricks. I was spraying on the paper slips, but most of what I tried seemed very synthetic. I did like Spicebomb - but I assume that's an occasional wear.

I am totally open to suggestions (not lime).

 

[erickson]

I thought Crown Spiced Limes was more "soapy" than Anglia's Spiced Limes and that is why I like Crown better myself. GIT is another frag which I find "soapy" and that is also in my top 20. Perhaps you may want to check out some of my other favorite "soapy" frags:

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver (soapy & peppery vetiver)
Crown Buckingham (soapy woods)
Crown Spiced Limes (soapy citrus)
Pennhaligon English Fern (soapy fern)
Sir Irisch Moos (soapy oakmoss)
Creed Original Vetiver (soapy vetiver)
Creed Green Irish Tweed (soapy floral)
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino (soapy neroli)

 

[Matt555]

I have a couple more samples from Anglia Perfumery yet to try.

Did you order their sample pack of 5? Any that you like?

 

[musicman1951]

I'm not sure I even know what soapy means in a frag, but I do read it quite a bit. Thanks for the suggestions - I'll definitely add those to my shopping list.

I did order the 5 samples. I liked both the limes and Richmond was Ok, if not my new favorite. I'm going to try another one today.