Recommendations - Spicy, Exotic, Creamy Scent?

I'm trying to find a perfume that fits *me*.
By appearance I'm told I'm extremely exotic looking - tan skin, black almond shaped(almost Asian) eyes, long black hair, curvy. I'm mistaken for everything (Arab, Spanish, Thai, Morrocan, etc.) but what I am - biracial.

I would like to find a perfume that goes along with my appearance for my upcoming 32nd birthday. :-)

I love all types of perfumes but find that my skin eats up and spits out all but those with a deeper, spicier base. For an example of something *somewhat* near to what I'm looking for - I like Tabu, but it turns to pure cloves on me after an hour or so. But the initial blast of orange with spices and amber is wonderful and sexy. ;-) Also, DK Cashmere Mist EDP is creamy but doesn't go as "deep" as I would like and there's no spice or exotic "kick" to it.

Also, if it's possible to find it in a local department store or perfume shop(I'm in Philadelphia) that would be better. I've had bad experiences with online shopping. :-(

Thank you all so much for your help.

WOW! Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. :-)
I've been lurking forever and I have to admit, I ended up admiring and being intimidated by everyone's knowledge of fragrance. But since I have an addiction to feed, no better place to find recommendations for "the good stuff." :-P

jillsy - you get mistaken for other things too huh? You haven't lived till you've been cursed out in Arabic for parking in the wrong spot... I haven't tried the new Cacharel or Madness, but will add them to my sniffing list.

tdi - I've heard/read good things about Organza scents. Namely them being spicy/sweet which is what I'm looking for, but didn't see them in the Macy's when I went a-sniffing on Saturday. Will try one of the many perfume shops next time.

Divatologist - Thank you for the recs(even though you don't normally rec). I like other D&G scents(even if they don't last on me) so will check out The One. The others I've seen, but for some reason didn't try. Whenever I ask for recs from sales people they give me scent strips that just aren't what I'm looking for(like CD Hypnotic Poison - which smells exactly like root beer to me). I'm not afraid of masculine scents and often end up offending my 13 year old daughter by wearing some masculine scents when I'm in the mood. Oh, is Le Feu D'Issey anything like Leu D'Issey? I wore that for years - until we stopped getting along a couple of years ago and now I'm on a hunt for something else...

Taolady - South Eastern PA in the house! ;-) Toujours Moi sounds good. As does Casmir. I've heard/read that Casmir smells something like Sand& Sable. I used to wear that as a teenager and always got compliments on it. People were surprised that I was wearing that cuz it didn't smell as good on others, but on me - spicy, exotic goodness. :-)

purplebird7 - You're right about not selling myself short by trying to pick something up at the store. I must have smelled all of Macy's on Saturday and didn't come up with anything that I even felt compelled to spray on my skin - except for CK Eternity because I used to wear it in High School. Aedes de Venustas - that's a great price for 7 samples. I'm gonna have to break down and order some "sillage monsters". That's what I need since everything disappears on me. Another reason why I never got into niche fragrances is because I'm deathly afraid of finding "the ONE" and then not being able to get it. :-P

nyneve - I'll add Mandarin to my sample list. Thank you for the rec. :-)

Quarry - I will definitely keep posted. I know how hard it is to find a perfume that is "you." Right now I've been lightly looking and buying at random for a couple of years since Issey and I fell out of grace with each other.

tinker424 - I've never smelled Burberry Brit Gold, but I have Burberry London(?) with the tacky cloth covering the bottle. I bought it at first sniff, but on me it smells good but artificial. It also doesn't last for more than 3 hours(edp). But I will give the Brit Gold a try.

Mattybumpkin - Fredric Malle fragrances have a huge rep so I'm going to have to break down and get a sample of this as well. I smelled a FM fragrance on someone a couple of weeks ago and it was divine! I don't remember what she said it was though. :-(

spicegirl - Thank you for the rec. I will probably see about a sample or try to sniff it in a perfume shop.

Whew! That was sooooo long. Sorry, but I appreciate everyone's input and wanted to respond to each poster.

Thank you again!

restlessoul - does Hypnotic Poison turn into something on the skin other than root beer? When I sniffed the strip it smelled like root beer. I had my daughter with me and she said it was making her thirsty. :-P But perhaps it's different on skin? OT: I LOOOOVE Anais Nin! I have all of her diaries and a few of her works of fiction plus a biography. I even bought a big jug of Mitsouko EDP unsniffed because of my obsession. I enjoy it(sometimes), but certain phases of it have me smelling like an old woman wearing a dirty diaper in the middle of a wooden school house built in a swamp. :-( But I can't. stop. wearing. it....

Agent Provocateur - Thank you for that list. :-) I've never sniffed Black Cashmere. I think I was scared away by some people saying they smelled "burning rubber" in there somewhere. But then again, there is some sort of plasticy, rubbery smell even in Cashmere Mist when I sniff closely. For the most part though, Cashmere Mist turns into sweet, warm, creamy BLAH on me. Nothing special, and I don't even care that I have it on. lol Haven't tried the rest, but I've worn Samasara before. Turns into a very faint wiff of incense on me. Pleasant, spicy, but very light on me. No one else can smell it. :-( I swear my skin is perfume repellant. Will sniff the others though, I've read about them and they look like what I'm looking for. Thank you.

Kotori - Adding L'Artisan to my list. I believe I've seen some around here. Perhaps in a perfume shop? - thinking out loud. Don't know if I can find the Chanels though. But the last few times I've worn Chanels I felt like I was putting on a suit that didn't fit me. They were beautiful, but smelled like someone else. Thank you.

Sudsy - Idole de Lubin sounds absolutely fabulous! Definitely adding to my samples list! And thank you for the warm welcome. :-)

Clemmie - I've only smelled Aromatics Elixir on a test strip and it is definitely STRONG! Only one little spritz that didn't quite get on the paper accidentally scented over all the test strips I had in my hand. To me it smelled kinda like some parts of Mitsouko which was nice on me... sometimes. The woodiness was wonderful, but the "pissy diaper" wasn't so pleasant. I'll have to actually spray some on my skin on a day off as I've heard sooo many good things about it. Thank you.

Kotori, Pamplelune, and Indiscreet - Ya'll are just gonna get me out of the "box"(department store) and into the niches, aren't you?? I'm going to order some samples(a whole box load I'm sure!) my next pay day - about 2 weeks from now. Until then I'll be making a list. A loooooooooooooooooong list.

Divatologist - Issey smells kind of watery and light at first then settle into a clean wood(kind of cedary). It was perfect while I was going through my "please everybody but myself" 20s. Not loud, offensive, too sweet, nothing. Very watery and easy to wear(on me). Now I want to like my perfume and if I offend others, it's even better. (only partially kidding) So far I've gotten about 4 votes for Organza Indecence so I will definitely be spritzing that one on me during my next trip to the perfume shop. And Tom Ford's Black Orchid has had a lot of reviews from people calling it, "weird" "stinky" and sometimes "sexy" - just what I want! Thank you again.

castorpollux - That Marc Jacobs will be another spritzer for me. I like Gardenia and I looooove ginger! Along with cardamom it's tied for my favorite spice scent. Thank you for the rec.

nattygold - Le Baiser du Dragon sounds like another winner. I've been searching these forums and it's gotten a lot of compliments. It also has a lot of notes that I like - Amaretto, Gardenia, Musk, Cedar, Patchouli, and Amber. Thank you.

jillsy - Do be careful when you're driving. They(the people who will be abusing you in other languages) won't believe you when you say you don't understand what they're saying. At least that's what happened to me. They they started yelling louder and more s.l.o.w.l.y. so that I would understand because maybe I was just a "stupid woman." I can't wait to order my samples.

kanutta - wow! That really took me back! A friend's mom gave me a sample of Must de Cartier when I was 15 and I loooooved it. I didn't remember it until you just now mentioned it. Thank you, will be spraying that one generously and probably offending my daughter with my strong Cartier scent!

restlesssoul - I enjoyed Opium when I was younger(during my "Diva" days) but eventually something in it made me feel like I couldn't breather. But may try it again as I used to HATE Tabu with a passion, but now love it. Will also check out Anne Pliska.

So many helpful people on here. All I can say is !!!

Guerlain-lover - I still haven't tried Black Cashmere yet! It's been recommended a few times on this thread so I know it's imperative for me to spray myself the next time I see it. Thank you.

And JOY OH JOY!!! I found out that there's a store in Philly that sells Serge Lutens fragrances!!! So now as soon as I get a chance I can go there and sniff!! I'm sooooo excited! :bounce:

kanutta & ineespenes - I will definitely try out Chergui! Egoiste and Gaultier2 should be easy to find. No I'm not afraid of "male" scents, but my daughter would be offended if she knew. If it turns out to be "the one" I'll have to hide the bottle from her.

Gumoosh - Thank you for the list. I've seen Kenzo, Chanel, and possibly Montale around Philly, so I will sniff those as well.

mikeperez23 - I will try to find Black Orchid! I'm learning that I DO need to test things out on my skin. Besides fragrances smelling rather generic and cold on the scent strips, sometimes the perfume has actually lasted longer on the stupid paper strip than it did on my skin. But I'm going to take your word that this will not be the case with Black Orchid. I've read a lot of interesting things about this fragrance, can't wait to try it out. Thank you.

I'm hoping to go a-sniffing this weekend. :bounce: I'll let you all know what happens!!!

Steve - Thank you for the response.

lol, Your fiance sounds like me.
"The Dragon" and Black Cashmere have been mentioned a lot on here which means they *must* be right - or at least insanely close to what I want. Seriously. I can't wait to smell them. Even more than that, I can't wait till I get paid next Friday so I can BUY something! It feels like an eternity.

I will check out Flower Oriental as well.

Not rude at all!
Thank you for the welcome.

So far I've been so busy with work I haven't really had a chance to sniff as much as I would like. I also don't get paid until next Friday and I want to be able to $$BUY$$ something.

BUT today during lunch I stopped into a perfume shop. I didn't have time to really sniff how I'd like, but I saw a little bottle of Aromatics Elixir Perfume Spray which was recommended by Clemmie for "spicy exoticness." I bought it unsniffed because it was very inexpensive. I put it on, and well - I really love it! It isn't as spicy as I would like, but I DO find it exotic and it's staying on my skin as well. I started a thread on it earlier because it smells so lovely. I was confused because I read such horrible things about it. But it's lovely on me.

I'm still going to go hunting for a super spicy fragrance though.

Thank you for asking. I will keep everyone updated.

Yes I do! I like it so much I'm following you around thanking you!

I've only worn it yesterday, last night, and today but I know it's a fragrance I will always keep "in stock." It's something I can imagine reaching for often. Even once I find a "super spicy, creamy, exotic" scent, I'm sure there will be days when I don't want to smell so spicy. I will probably be reaching for the AE on those days.

Thanks again.

Will definitely try out LBdD.

I don't get any harshness with AE at all! Maybe I have "freak" skin that brings even the strongest perfumes to their knees? On me, it's soooooo smooth. Smooth as a baby's butt wood highly polished with rose/amber oil. <-- My attempt at describing it as beautifully as some others on here. lol I'm not as good at describing scents, but it's really smooth.

I'm looking for longevity and sillage as well. I'm tired of spending money on something that smells good for 15, 30 minutes tops and then no one - not even me - can smell it.

I want to REEK! I want to smell so good it knocks people over something like this:
1 block away - "What's that lovely smell?"
1/2 block - "Oh, I think it's her. It's beautiful."
6 ft - "Cough, cough"
3ft - "choke. gag"
1ft - :falls over dead: "but it was lovely........"

Wash, rinse, repeat - all day!

lol

castorpollux - thank you for another recommendation. I'm going to be going crazy when I finally get to go a-sniffing. I can't wait! Wanted to go this weekend, but the babysitter(grandmom ) is a little under the weather so I'll probably have to wait until next weekend. I guess it's better that way since I'll actually be able to buy something then.

*I put up and avi, just in case it helps. I know it's kind of hard for people to recommend a scent to someone based on appearance and you don't know what they look like.
--------------------------------------
Update:

I went to a perfume shop and tried a few out. Some recommended, some not related to this search for exotic & spicy at all.

Coco - Chanel - Hadn't tried this in a long time but recently read about it being "spicy & exotic." On me it is just "perfumey." No spice. Nothing special.(blasphemy, I know. but it smells better on others)

Hypnotic Poison - Rootbeer. Faded pretty quickly too.

Bvlgari Blv Notte - Sprayed. Couldn't smell anything. Sprayed again. A little baby powder. 5 minutes later - nothing.

Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant - Was very light on me. Turned into cinnamon. Then powder. Then gone. My skin hates me.

Cartier Le Baiser du Dragon - Started off very light and clean like soapy baby oil. A little spice, can't say which ones. Then back to baby oil. Then just more baby oil. It smelled nice though.

unrelated -
Angel - One little tiny spritz and it was ON!!! First - chocolate/vanilla & men's cologne. After it died down a little later it wasn't as deadly, but still just men's cologne with a hint of sweetness(honey? chocolate? vanilla?) Had to try to wash it off because a.It was giving me a headache -and- b.I felt embarassed by how strong and bad it smelled on me. But you guys KNOW this stuff didn't wash off completely. It's not bad now though. I can only smell a little "men's cologne" if I put my nose to my wrist. When I got home wearing it, my daughter said to me, "You STINK!" lol I put my wrist to her nose and she scrunched up her face. "Eiuww!!!" But A++ for strength and sillage! Just wished it smelled good on me.

Kenzo Flower - Super duper strong baby powder. It's not bad really. I'm surprised at how long it lasts since it isn't spicy at all. Might fill in a blank.

That's it so far. Wish I had something better to report. Gonna try again maybe later this week or next week. Thank you for all the recommendations. I'll probably get around to trying all of them eventually.