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What used to be your holy grail, and then...

post #1 of 29
9/29/07 at 4:13pm
Thread Starter 
For me it used to be Thierry Mugler - A*men for 9 of my 10 years in this addiction. Since my fiery baptism into fragrance, it was my holiest of fragrances. To be honest, I didn't even buy it for myself - got it at the time from who is now my very SO. I tested it many times and threatened to buy the 100ml refillable for myself if he didn't. Then magically it appeared

Now, thanks to Trebor!, it's Chanel - Egoiste. We all know - love/hate relationship with this one. For me, it's LOVE deluxe, as per Sade. I even buy sandalwood incense for the home. I shall be stocking up on this gem (with A*men in the background though...)

Anyone who has made such a significant change?
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post #2 of 29
9/29/07 at 4:25pm
L'Eau D'Issey

Used to adore the stuff, got compliments all the time. I guess my taste and personality changed and now I would say that I'm less than a fan. Perhaps it's because I smell it everywhere, or the similarities between the ubiquitous scent of men my age.
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post #3 of 29
9/29/07 at 4:27pm
JHL and Bois de Portugal used to compete for my devotion, then I met Musc Ravageur and was utterly smitten.
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post #4 of 29
9/29/07 at 4:44pm
First, it was Acqua di Gio... then Mugler Cologne killed the beast.

Then, Mugler Cologne was stopped in its tracks by CdG 2 MAN.

Next, CdG 2 MAN was grounded by Gaultier².

Now, Narciso Rodriguez for Him has ejected Gaultier² from power.

Am I the only Basenoter that's gone through five holy grails?
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post #5 of 29
9/29/07 at 4:47pm
First was Devin. Then came Tuscany Forte. Next was Jaipur Homme EdP. Now I like too many to have a "holy grail."
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post #6 of 29
9/29/07 at 5:06pm
Used to be Voleur de Roses. But as I grew familiar with other rose frags (C&S No. 88, for one), I began to notice VdR's shortcomings (too much patchouli).

For now, it's Divine's L'Homme Sage, but I'm sure something else will come along.

Honestly, I can't remember the ones in between. It seems like I have a new "holy grail" every month or so, which leads me to suspect that no holy grail can really exist.
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post #7 of 29
9/29/07 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveJazz View Post

Used to be Voleur de Roses. But as I grew familiar with other rose frags (C&S No. 88, for one), I began to notice VdR's shortcomings (too much patchouli).

A very acute obervation; a fact which I had noticed upon first testing VdR.
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post #8 of 29
9/29/07 at 5:36pm
I've gone through so many HGs i lost count...

right now it's Mentafollia (from the Guerlain AA line)
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post #9 of 29
9/29/07 at 10:06pm
My teen HGs are all lost cases:
Anaïs Anaïs - grew out of it
Rive Gauche - lost its magic, possibly due to changes in the formula
Opium - Coco took its place

The later HGs (Coco, Égoïste, Yohji...) have all stayed with me.
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post #10 of 29
9/29/07 at 11:03pm
After sampling the Ambre Sultan I thought it may become my HG. To replace Kouros.

But then I wore Kouros and realised why it is the greatest scent ever made.

Im saving up for Vintage Tabarome right now, thinking it may become my Number one.

But then I wear Kouros and realise it won't be.
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post #11 of 29
9/30/07 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rompip View Post

After sampling the Ambre Sultan I thought it may become my HG. To replace Kouros.

But then I wore Kouros and realised why it is the greatest scent ever made.

Im saving up for Vintage Tabarome right now, thinking it may become my Number one.

But then I wear Kouros and realise it won't be.

Yeah, Kouros is weird like that. I still hesitate to wear it often because because of all the cautionary chatter around here. And then I wear it and I think, holy sh-t, why would I ever not want to wear this? And then I go back to convincing myself it's too extreme. I should just get a damn bottle already.
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post #12 of 29
9/30/07 at 12:15am
Two of my past "holy grails"- Hermes Bel Ami, Lalique Equus EDP.
Now? It's a tossup between Bogart Pour Homme and Chanel's Egoiste.
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post #13 of 29
9/30/07 at 12:30am
By strange accident I also had holy grail experiences with Voleur de Roses, followed by L'Homme Sage. Both have not lost their special quality for me, but they are always noticeably 'there'. And in some situations even a flower (delicate as in the above, or deep like in a Montale) can be too prominent, 'too much' as a third something between the ouside and my inner world. Therefore, I believe something more 'neutral', like frankincense, vetiver, or oudh should perhaps be part of another HG: an anchor in some situations, and something to elate me in others, but reduced to zero as LesNez' Antimatière when I need nothing! Maybe that's why the holy grail is an impossibility ?
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post #14 of 29
9/30/07 at 12:33am
It used to be Chrome - Azzaro, which then evolved to Mugler's Cologne.

Nowdays its LPNo.9 - Penhaligons AND Narciso For Him.
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post #15 of 29
9/30/07 at 3:27am
I'm not as far down the fragrance road as some of you guys, but the first frag that I thought could not be bettered was Noir Epices. Then it was Philosykos. Now it's a toss up between Sequoia and SMW.

Is it acceptable to have more than one holy grail scent?! For different occasions perhaps?
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post #16 of 29
9/30/07 at 3:50am
Used to be Helmut Lang - Cuiron (I owned one or two fragrances before this, and used the exclusively, but I don't call any of those two holy grails). Then what happened was that many years later I discovered internet fragrance shopping, Basenotes and Comme des Garçons - Odeur 53. After that I haven't really got a singualr holy grail anymore. I use Dior Homme a lot and I'm beginning to use Divine l'Homme de Cœur and Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Man just as much, so one of those three could account for my HG I guess.

Edit: Or well, I was more thinking about my signature here. But Chergui is close to my holy grail and so are the two last ones listed above.
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post #17 of 29
9/30/07 at 3:57am
My holy grail was Bvlgari de Aqva Pour Homme but it has ONLY just been edged out by Narciso Rodriguez For Him.

I adore them both equally..
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post #18 of 29
9/30/07 at 4:52am
I have gone from..

1.Jazz
2.Boss sport
3.GBH red
4.Carolina Herrera
5.D&G ph which is my current holy grail
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post #19 of 29
9/30/07 at 5:10am
My first holy grail was Royal English Leather, and from there on I've just been piling 'em up. BdP, Sandalo, Acqua di Colonia - call it a case of parzivalitis.
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post #20 of 29
9/30/07 at 6:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveJazz View Post

Used to be Voleur de Roses. But as I grew familiar with other rose frags (C&S No. 88, for one), I began to notice VdR's shortcomings (too much patchouli).
a.


That's not a shortcoming if you happen to like patchouli!
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post #21 of 29
9/30/07 at 6:32am
the closest I've come to holy grail scents....

1) Agatha Brown's Conquest - wonderful amber/warm/cozy/blend that absolutely vanished on my skin

2) Diptyque's Eau Lente - excellent fragrance, couldn't really situate it in a social setting..unfortunately

current: my warm weather holy grail is Philsykos.. and my cool weather HG is Patricia Di Nicolai's NY.... they both contain everything I love about scents.

a.
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post #22 of 29
9/30/07 at 8:19am
Pre-basenotes, I had adored ck be for many years. Then I found Clinique Happy for men & I loved it sooo much. It made me realize I had been ignoring a whole realm of frags all my life. Then I found basenotes & was immediately introduced to Silver Mountain Water & Original Vetiver. I didn't think it could get ANY better than this! Eventually, Mugler Cologne won my affection over OV & I was spending more & more time with a couple new loves: Bvlgari Black & Lolita Lempicka au masculin. Then, an awesome basenoter sent me a decant of Musc Ravageur, & it totally won me over.

Of course, I can't just have ONE holy grail. It's more like I have perfect scents for certain situations.
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post #23 of 29
9/30/07 at 8:32am
In the 80's I bathed in Van Cleef & Arpels. It was great accompaniment to my excessive lifestyle. During the 90's I lost interest in fragrance. I always had a bottle or two around, but didn't actively pursue anything in particular. My fascination re-ignited with the discovery of Serge Lutens and Arabie was almost a Holy Grail scent.**
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post #24 of 29
9/30/07 at 8:08pm
My HG is, and always will be, Patou PH.

However, Divine PH Sage, vintage Tambarome, BDP and Cuba SMN come in as very close seconds.

Funny thing is, I rarely wear any of them. It's almost as if I'm afraid their beauty will become too familiar if I wear them too often. They are 'special occasion" scents only.
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post #25 of 29
9/30/07 at 11:25pm
My very first holy grail scent was Frapin - 1270.

More than 350 fragrance samples and samplings later and still nothing has relieved Frapin of it's holy grail status in my collection.
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post #26 of 29
9/30/07 at 11:36pm
Once upon a time my holy grail used to be the piney-ashtray that is Polo Green.

Nowadays I like too many fragrances to have a holy grail .. I have holy grails for each "note" I guess...iris (Dior homme), sandalwood (Santal Imperial/Bois de Santal), etc..
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post #27 of 29
10/1/07 at 12:17am
Still searching,but in good position Mark Birley and Sportissimo Galimard
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post #28 of 29
10/1/07 at 2:25am
Still searching and there are so many that I love right now. The amazing thing is the great variety that we're getting in this post, which is a testament to the individuality of perfume and our preferences.
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post #29 of 29
10/1/07 at 8:00pm
I (just like Vibert) had Devin by Aramis as my 1st HG scent. I don't have a HG scent anymore...
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