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Non-Niche, Department Store Best Scents

post #1 of 21
6/30/08 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 
I'm sorry that many of you long timers probably get this alot but I have a simple question. If I was going to go to say Dillards or Foleys or Department Store De Jour and get the best scent for my money without going niche, what would I add to my collection. I have worn alot of Armani and Versace. I am diving into the niche world. But if I wanted to add to my collection through the normal route what would you suggest?Again sorry if this is the 100th "best of" thread
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post #2 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:09am
Some of the fragrances I like that you can find in many major department stores or Sephora are:

Prada Amber pour Homme
Bulgari Aqua
Burberry London for Men
Burberry Brit for Men
Guerlain Vetiver
YSL Kouros
A*Men
Mugler Cologne
Tom Ford for Men
Tom Ford Black Orchid
YSL Opium (women's)
Dior Homme
Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue (women's)
Eau de Cartier Concentrée
Cartier Declaration
Hermes Elixir des Merveilles
Gaultier2
YSL L'Homme
Cartier L'Essence de Déclaration
L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
Michael for Men
Narciso Rodriguez for Him
Platinum Égoïste
Terre d'Hermes
Gucci Envy
Gucci Pour Homme
Chanel Pour Monsieur
YSL Pour Homme
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post #3 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:11am
The ones I have in my wardrobe that I would actually recommend:
Armani Eau Pour Homme (most stores)
Dior Eau Sauvage (some stores)
Vetiver de Guerlain (few stores)

I haven't seen YSL Opium Pour Homme in any department stores in a long time but I would absolutely recommend it.
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post #4 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

Some of the fragrances I like that you can find in many major department stores or Sephora are:

Prada Amber pour Homme
Bulgari Aqua
Burberry London for Men
Burberry Brit for Men
YSL Kouros
A*Men
Mugler Cologne
Tom Ford for Men
Tom Ford Black Orchid
YSL Opium (women's)
Dior Homme
Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue (women's)
Eau de Cartier Concentrée
Cartier Declaration
Hermes Elixir des Merveilles
Gaultier2
YSL L'Homme
Cartier L'Essence de Déclaration
L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
Michael for Men
Narciso Rodriguez for Him
Platinum Égoïste
Terre d'Hermes
Gucci Envy
Gucci Pour Homme
Chanel Pour Monsieur
YSL Pour Homme

Wow, thanks man!!The bolded ones are ones I owned or still use. Burberry London is a fave of mine. I tried the Cartier L'Essence de Déclaration and loved it. I'm going to have to go through these. Thanks again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Renaissance_Man View Post

The ones I have in my wardrobe that I would actually recommend:
Armani Eau Pour Homme (most stores)
Dior Eau Sauvage (some stores)
Vetiver de Guerlain (few stores)

I haven't seen YSL Opium Pour Homme in any department stores in a long time but I would absolutely recommend it.

Thanks
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post #5 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:17am
Burberry London for Men - awesome sweet port wine and pepper

Guess Suede - oddly sexy and smooth

Obsession for Men - a classic powerhouse of amber

Just a few from the top of my head.
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post #6 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renaissance_Man View Post

The ones I have in my wardrobe that I would actually recommend:
Armani Eau Pour Homme (most stores)
Dior Eau Sauvage (some stores)
Vetiver de Guerlain (few stores)

I haven't seen YSL Opium Pour Homme in any department stores in a long time but I would absolutely recommend it.

Definitely YSL Opium pour Homme - you may be able to find it at a Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

I would also recommend looking for Azzaro from Marshalls/TJ Maxx.
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post #7 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

Definitely YSL Opium pour Homme - you may be able to find it at a Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

I would also recommend looking for Azzaro from Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

Really, I never even thought about there. I used to buy Polo clothes at TJ Maxx so I'll check out to see what they have.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SirSlarty View Post

Burberry London for Men - awesome sweet port wine and pepper

Guess Suede - oddly sexy and smooth

Obsession for Men - a classic powerhouse of amber

Just a few from the top of my head.

Glad to see Burberry London ovr and over. Before I got married in 2006 my wife said I should pick something that I would wear for th efirst time at our wedding and on our honeymoon in Italy. October weather. I chose Burberry London. Not only do I love it but it brings back some great memories. Nothing like cold weather in Tuscany with the smell of B. London and burning vines in the distance.
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post #8 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ToughCool View Post

Really, I never even thought about there. I used to buy Polo clothes at TJ Maxx so I'll check out to see what they have.

They are usually hit or miss stores. Sometimes they have a decent selection, sometimes they have nothing.

There is a thread called "Spotted at Marshalls" that we all use to keep each other updated on some good finds:

http://community.basenotes.net/showt...ight=marshalls
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post #9 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:35am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

They are usually hit or miss stores. Sometimes they have a decent selection, sometimes they have nothing.

There is a thread called "Spotted at Marshalls" that we all use to keep each other updated on some good finds:

http://community.basenotes.net/showt...ight=marshalls

I'm checking that out now. Thanks. Seems that it is city to city so I'll have to see here in Houston.
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post #10 of 21
6/30/08 at 9:51am
Victor & Rolf Antidote
Issey Miyake Pour Homme Intense
Jivago 24k
Boucheron Jaipur
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post #11 of 21
6/30/08 at 11:29am
Generally houses like Chanel, Bulgari, Hermes, YSL (forgive Opium and Eau de Penis) and Dior (forgive Dune & Higher) release high quality scents however all the aformentioned houses take few risks so you wont get the experimental jolt some niche houses give. Mugler has quality scents that are slightly off the wall bu I doubt Dillards stocks Mugler. Diesal also has fairly well made scents that have the crazy character you may find in some niche scents.

Cheers,
Al
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post #12 of 21
6/30/08 at 11:36am
Get thee to ebay and grab a bottle of Witness before it's too late !
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post #13 of 21
6/30/08 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

Definitely YSL Opium pour Homme - you may be able to find it at a Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

Opium PH is definelty among the rare 'mass-market' great ones...most everything else out there sold at Perfumania and what have you really blows.
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post #14 of 21
6/30/08 at 11:54am
Toughcool, I've got to agree with Al above. Many department stores carry a few Men's Guerlains, Chanels, Hermèses, and Diors. Those are good places to start, or names to ask for. Many far and away excellent scents from those lines.
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post #15 of 21
6/30/08 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anak View Post

Generally houses like Chanel, Bulgari, Hermes, YSL (forgive Opium and Eau de Penis) and Dior (forgive Dune & Higher) release high quality scents however all the aformentioned houses take few risks so you wont get the experimental jolt some niche houses give. Mugler has quality scents that are slightly off the wall bu I doubt Dillards stocks Mugler. Diesal also has fairly well made scents that have the crazy character you may find in some niche scents.

Cheers,
Al

I have seen Mugler fragrances at some Dillards - at least in Florida.

Also, some are starting to carry Bois 1920 and Comptoir Sud Pacifique as well (I personally am not real crazy about either one of those lines, but I know some people really like them).

Some also have a small men's selection at the Guerlain counter.
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post #16 of 21
6/30/08 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustB View Post

Toughcool, I've got to agree with Al above. Many department stores carry a few Men's Guerlains, Chanels, Hermèses, and Diors. Those are good places to start, or names to ask for. Many far and away excellent scents from those lines.

I have dropped into the Sephora store and looked at some Guerlains. Well most specifically Vetiver. So that is also a place I can go. I mean there is a Niemans down the highway with the niche stuff but I really want to ease into things and try some things that probably I missed over the years.
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post #17 of 21
6/30/08 at 6:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

Some of the fragrances I like that you can find in many major department stores or Sephora are:

Prada Amber pour Homme
Bulgari Aqua
Burberry London for Men
Burberry Brit for Men
Guerlain Vetiver
YSL Kouros
A*Men
Mugler Cologne
Tom Ford for Men
Tom Ford Black Orchid
YSL Opium (women's)
Dior Homme
Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue (women's)
Eau de Cartier Concentrée
Cartier Declaration
Hermes Elixir des Merveilles
Gaultier2
YSL L'Homme
Cartier L'Essence de Déclaration
L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
Michael for Men
Narciso Rodriguez for Him
Platinum Égoïste
Terre d'Hermes
Gucci Envy
Gucci Pour Homme
Chanel Pour Monsieur
YSL Pour Homme

God, I see a list like this and it sickens me. There is only two worthy of my consideration. Dior Homme and Pour Monsieur. The rest is why I became frustrated with the perfume market in general. So many frags that are so much better, why settle for this garbage
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post #18 of 21
6/30/08 at 6:26pm
Luckily we all have our own tastes and opinions (and budgets), so we're not all tied to only wearing niche fragrances.

If you're in the Houston area as I am, the Galleria has a million places to shop for fragrances. Not only does Nordstom's give decanted samples, but the high end boutiques like Chanel, Bvlgari, and Fendi sell their own fragrances.

My department store favorites as of late are Prada, Dior Homme, Eau D'Orange Vert, Allure Sport, and Lancome Hypnose. There are always the classics like Fahrenheit (I just bought F32) and Jaipur, I just picked up Pure Coffee from Nordstroms and love it. Plus if you go to Saks or Neiman Marcus you can pick up stuff from Creed or Bond No 9.
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post #19 of 21
6/30/08 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbBD View Post

Luckily we all have our own tastes and opinions (and budgets), so we're not all tied to only wearing niche fragrances.

If you're in the Houston area as I am, the Galleria has a million places to shop for fragrances. Not only does Nordstom's give decanted samples, but the high end boutiques like Chanel, Bvlgari, and Fendi sell their own fragrances.

My department store favorites as of late are Prada, Dior Homme, Eau D'Orange Vert, Allure Sport, and Lancome Hypnose. There are always the classics like Fahrenheit (I just bought F32) and Jaipur, I just picked up Pure Coffee from Nordstroms and love it. Plus if you go to Saks or Neiman Marcus you can pick up stuff from Creed or Bond No 9.

Thanks for the input. I had another thread on here the other day about my Niemans trip to experience some of the Creed, Acqua di Parma and Cartier scents. So that was nice. I also used to get my Versace stuff at the Versace store. I also go to that Sephora when my wife is there. So I will have to take a trip and spend a day wandering. Thanks again.
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post #20 of 21
6/30/08 at 6:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebeck View Post

God, I see a list like this and it sickens me. There is only two worthy of my consideration. Dior Homme and Pour Monsieur. The rest is why I became frustrated with the perfume market in general. So many frags that are so much better, why settle for this garbage

Sorry thebeck

How about I change my answer to "Don't go to Dillards. All they sell is crap".
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post #21 of 21
6/30/08 at 10:19pm
2 that rival any niche I have smelled so farÑ
Tumulte
Rive Gauche.
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