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If you had to pick only 4 perfumes to wear from now on, forever...

post #1 of 113
Thread Starter 
If some kind of calamity occurred and for some reason you'd only be able to pick 4 perfumes to wear for the rest of your life, which 4 would you pick?

Not allowed to pick discontinued fragrances. And have to assume that none of your current, "live" choices would get discontinued in the future. AND ONLY LIST 4! Listing and/or is missing the point - I want to force you to make choices.

I should probably have thought about my own answer longer before posting, but I think I'd have to go for Mitsouko, Le Parfum d'Odette by Neil Morris, Summer by Kenzo and Mandragore by AG. Yeah, that'd provide some variety for all moods and weathers...

Ouch. That was hard.
post #2 of 113
Kenzo Indian Hollie
TM Alien
AM Kingdom
post #3 of 113


Mitsouko, Rive Gauche, Fracas, A la Nuit.
post #4 of 113
Badgley Mischka parfum
L'Artisan Tea for Two
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Arghh... naming the fourth leaves out too many.

Bvlgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Rouge... but, but, but....

OUCH.
post #5 of 113
Thread Starter 
It's surprisingly horrible to do this, isn't it?
post #6 of 113
Iviore, Coco, Flowerbomb, No. 5 Only four is being sooo stingy!!!
post #7 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nukapai View Post

It's surprisingly horrible to do this, isn't it?

A perfumista´s worst nightmare...

Hey! I left out vanillas - I LOVE vanilla....
post #8 of 113
Read this thread, then took a shower and gave the question due thought. The answers:

1) A Green Scent I haven't met yet--It would exceed all the green tea, angelica and cucumber scents I've sampled to date.

2) A Floral Scent including Lemon Blossom I haven't met yet--Better than Stephanie, CdG Lily and La Chasse aux Papillons.

3) An Orange/Citrus Scent I haven't met yet--Orange blossom and citrus notes accompanied by a resinous, woody base.

4) A Chalky-Ambery-Spicy-Chypre -- A soup of base notes.

Until then ... Nan Green, CdG Lily, Boucheron, Rue Royale.
post #9 of 113
Torture I tell you, pure torture!

A La Nuit
Un Bois Vanille
Coco
Feminite du Bois

Yep, I think I could live with those!
post #10 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ubuandibeme View Post


Feminite du Bois

Ooh, you can still get that?


And Quarry, hah - love your creative *cough*cheating*cough* answer!
post #11 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nukapai View Post

Ooh, you can still get that?



Where there's a will, there's a way!

(actually, I swapped a L'Artisan for it! )
post #12 of 113
Thread Starter 
Very good going, Ubu
post #13 of 113
Jicky, A la Nuit, Tea for Two, Premier Figue Extreme

And then we band together and share one anothers everlasting collection so we'd have more than 4 :P
post #14 of 113
Narcisse Noir (vintage)
Vol de Nuit (vintage)
Ambre Sultan
Teint de Neige

But I will certainly change my mind tomorrow morning ! ;-)
post #15 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lian View Post


And then we band together and share one anothers everlasting collection so we'd have more than 4 :P

Hahaaa!
post #16 of 113
For the rest of my life...my choices..if I had to decide...

Clarins Par Amor
Caleche parfum
24 Faubourg Eau Delicate
No 19 EDT
post #17 of 113
This is not easy! I choose SL Cherugi, Bond No.9 Chinatown, Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, POTL Luctor et Emergo. I would really like to also like to have SL Cuir Mauresque and L'Artisan Dzing!
post #18 of 113
Gris Clair
Chanel No. 19 (this would pretty much have to stand in for all greens)
Chasse Aux Papillons (either version)
Carnal Flower
post #19 of 113
Stop it! You're traumatizing the community [goes away to sniff Pour un Homme comfort scent]...
post #20 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renaissance_Man View Post

Stop it! You're traumatizing the community...

I agree. This is WAY too hard. But fun because it made me think. I'm too new to make a final decision, but if I had to choose today, these four could cover a lot of my fragrance needs:

A fresh and beautiful springy floral: EN PASSANT
A versatile rose with a seaside aspect: ECUME DE ROSE
A green that is so much more than just a green: EAU DE CARTIER
A rich, warm amber-based bottle of yumminess: AMBRE NARGUILE

Of course this leaves out the earthy violet iris that also must be in my wardrobe. Couldn't you have given us five?!
post #21 of 113
Green--Estee Lauder Private Collection
Oriental--Chanel Bois des Iles
Floral--YSL Rive Gauche
Citrus--Chanel Eau de Toilette

But I might want to bump the floral and green so I can have an amber and Feminite du Bois or Jicky
post #22 of 113
Angel
Bois Des Isles
POTL
A la Nuit
post #23 of 113
Since even my TOP 10/20 (or TOP 40/50) changes almost daily, I can't do this, at least not seriously, but right here, right now my Big Four would be:

Annick Goutal: Rose Absolue
The Different Company: Sel de Vetiver
Etro: Messe de Minuit
Serge Lutens: Cuir Mauresque
post #24 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lian View Post

And then we band together and share one anothers everlasting collection so we'd have more than 4 :P

After arranging to live next door to Musse and ChantillyLace (and borrow freely), my four choices would be:

Aromatics Elixir
Bvlgari Black
Odalisque
Ça Sent Beau
post #25 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdi View Post

This is not easy! I choose SL Cherugi, Bond No.9 Chinatown, Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, POTL Luctor et Emergo. I would really like to also like to have SL Cuir Mauresque and L'Artisan Dzing!

Tsk, tsk, that's cheeeeeatiiiiiing! Only list 4
post #26 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renaissance_Man View Post

Stop it! You're traumatizing the community [goes away to sniff Pour un Homme comfort scent]...

Ghehehe.

But really; it IS an interesting exercise, no?
post #27 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haunani View Post

I agree. This is WAY too hard. But fun because it made me think. I'm too new to make a final decision, but if I had to choose today, these four could cover a lot of my fragrance needs:

A fresh and beautiful springy floral: EN PASSANT
A versatile rose with a seaside aspect: ECUME DE ROSE
A green that is so much more than just a green: EAU DE CARTIER
A rich, warm amber-based bottle of yumminess: AMBRE NARGUILE

Of course this leaves out the earthy violet iris that also must be in my wardrobe. Couldn't you have given us five?!

No, the evil perfume court of FourSniffLandia only allows 4...

The whole point of this thread is that you really must CHOOSE. And it's meant to make you think and it's meant to be hard!
post #28 of 113
Bois des Iles
Coromandel
Timbuktu
Philosykos
post #29 of 113
Attrape Couer
Chanel no.19
Chanel no. 5
Ormonde Woman

but I'd sorta kinda like to throw in Vamp by Ava Luxe for a sweet girly candy now and then!
post #30 of 113
CDG Avignon
Parfum d'Empire Ambre Russe
Parfumerie Generale Cadjmere
The Different Company Des Sens et Bois
post #31 of 113
Shocking
Le Dix
Infusion d'Iris
Black Cashmere (that last one was hard...worried I've forgotten something really really special...)

(but can I keep my new love, Pure Grace as well? Pretty please?)
post #32 of 113
Isn't it great how different our choices are?
For me it would be Cristobal, Feminite du Bois, "Y" and Iris Poudre.
But next year my choice may well be something else...
post #33 of 113
Shalimar parfum
Chergui
Aimez-Moi
Attrape-Coeur
post #34 of 113
Here's an alternative Big Four picked from my most worn scents stats from the past three years:

Jicky
Comme des Garçons EdP
Encens et Lavande
Folavril
post #35 of 113
Allure Sensuelle parfum - cozy and sexy
Iris Poudre - uber elegant and appropriate for virtually every occassion
Chanel Cuir de Russie - classic, lady like and yet a little naughty
Amouage Gold (men) - bombastic, baroque and glorious

I find it a relatively easy task to pick my top four fragrances. When asked to pick a top ten I find that my selections vary a great deal depending on the season - these four are core favourites that tend to remain consistent on my lists.
post #36 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kewart View Post

Isn't it great how different our choices are?

Agreed! It's also lovely to see so many really unique choices with an expected blend of Chanels and Guerlains in the mix. For me, the most entertaining part of this thread is the myriad of ways in which posters are trying to circumvent having to narrow their choice down to just 4.
post #37 of 113
To quote Dr. Seuss: "Say, say, what does this say? Ask me tomorrow, but not today."
Well, today it is:
No. 19
Coromandel
Miss Dior
Knowing
post #38 of 113
I got to add one more frag : Parfumerie generale L'Ombre Fauve. Wow!

post #39 of 113
I see A la Nuit is getting a lot of love here. Is it something easily wearable by men?
post #40 of 113
Hm.
For me, right now:
Floral - Hermès Hiris
Oriental - Maître Parfumeur Or des Indes
Green - Diptyque Philosykos
Gourmand/comfort - POTL Luctor et Emergo

I mean, at least money is not a factor in this choice, eh? Always look on the bright side.
post #41 of 113
A la Nuit Serge Lutens
Cuir de Russie Chanel
Encens Flamboyant Annick Goutal
Derby Guerlain
post #42 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by mudassir View Post

I see A la Nuit is getting a lot of love here. Is it something easily wearable by men?

Maybe not super easily. But I think a lot of men on BN wears it. I´m squeezing out the last drops from my sample and will by a bottle some day.
post #43 of 113
Four? Yikes!!
Oh well... here goes.... but I want you to know I'm doing this under duress!

Tabac Blond
Jasmin Full
Mitsouko
Chergui

pleeeease let me cheat and add Opium and..... and..... and.......
post #44 of 113
Jeeez this was hard! But after some concideration I would go for Mitsouko,Feminite du bois,Trouble and Jicky.
post #45 of 113
Verte Violette
Molecule 01
Quelques Fleurs
Jour de Fete

The last was hard but I figured I'd keep a gourmand around, just in case I get a craving now and then.
post #46 of 113
Cuiron pour Homme
Omonde Man
Eau Sauvage
Le Male


for today...
post #47 of 113
ooo this is is hard but it's so fun reading all the answers.

Mitsuoko (energy and focus at work and with friends)
L'Heure Bleue (contemplation and dreaming)
Pour Monsieur (carefree sunny days)
Bulgari Black (nights out - and in)
post #48 of 113
Can we do a top four of what we would like the opposite sex to bring to the island?
post #49 of 113


ONLY 4!!!!!

Alien
Angel
So In Love
Silver Mountain Water

That was hard. I'm not sure about the last 2 either, but I know I would have to have my Alien and my Angel.
post #50 of 113
Penhaligon's LPNo:9
Olivier Durbano Rock Crystal
Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte
Tauer L'Air du Desert Marocain
post #51 of 113
Very hard. And this week's picks wouldn't necessarily be next week's (or even tomorrow's) since I'm still fairly new to fragrance. I think I have to go with fairly complex fragrances to keep my interest up, and therefore I would leave out all of my Vanilla Loves! Yikes!:

Mitsouko
Ormond Jayne Woman
Killian Les Liaisons Dangereuse (there's some vanilla...!!)
Hermessence Vetiver Tonka (I guess it's not that complex, but every time I wear it I smell something different!)

Oh shucks..I left out so many that I love.
post #52 of 113
Quote:
Originally Posted by ubuandibeme View Post

Where there's a will, there's a way!

(actually, I swapped a L'Artisan for it! )

Femininite du Bois is still pretty widely available in shops here in Switzerland, for 90 Swiss francs for a 50ml bottle of edp. I read that its going to be absorbed into the Serge Lutens collection, so they'll stop making it in that lovely sculptural bottle and put it in one of Serge's tall, straight bottles.

Nuka, if you want me to buy a bottle and post it to you, I'm coming to the UK at the end of the month, so I can do it then. Let me know by PM if you want me to.

And this is me putting off the walk to the bedroom where I'll stand there, scratching my head and looking at the bottles while I choose just 4. Just 4!!!!!
And I already know 2 of them - Jicky and Madame Rochas.
post #53 of 113
Very very hard ..
Hm, I think it should be:
Sacrebleu
Shalimar light
Champs-Elysées
Philosykos
post #54 of 113
Right - you have to understand this is just a spur of the moment thing and it's actually just about the things I love to smell most, nothing to do with appropriateness for any situation or anything thoughtful like that. And that I"d like to add a a 5th with vanilla in it, but I'm torn between Dior Addict and Hypnotic Poison and even Dolce Vita because of that lovely Femininite du Bois base, but that's beside the point.

Oh and while I'm putting things off, can I just say how many of the fragrances listed above by Noters have made me say 'oooh, yes, that one's really good too!' and how many others have made me say 'that's one I really really must get to smell'.

Oh hell, I can't put it off any longer; here they are. Nukapai, you're a sadist. Brilliant thread!

Guerlain Jicky (preferably in edt or even cologne)
Hermes Hermessence Ambre Narguile
L'Artisan Parfumeur Dzing!
Editions de Frederic Malle Iris Poudre

Oh that hurt!
post #55 of 113
Wow. I go away for the weekend and return to this nail biter!

Here goes:

Ambre Russe
L'Heure Bleu (am I the first to name this beauty?)
Rive Gauche
and...and...and...
LOmbre Fauve
post #56 of 113
Wait! Wait! I take it back. I can't believe how much anxiety this choosing is causing me. It is as if somehow I will be held to my short list.

I must have an Edmond Roudnitska. Must. Either Parfum de Therese or Diorella.
And how can I forget my ultimate comfort scent, Love's True Bluish Light?

But what to delete from my list? Help!
post #57 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Divatologist View Post



ONLY 4!!!!!


That was hard. I'm not sure about the last 2 either, but I know I would have to have my Alien and my Angel.

Alien is my "if only, but, but..." scent too; didn't make the list because I wanted to keep in variety! Now I feel as if I've hurt its feelings
post #58 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Therese View Post

Wait! Wait! I take it back. I can't believe how much anxiety this choosing is causing me. It is as if somehow I will be held to my short list.

Yes, yeeees, I have made a nefarious deal - and next week, you'll all wake up one morning, only able to use the ones you've listed...

(But - in all seriousness: I think most of the respondents to this thread have felt surprisingly anxious about having to choose! Myself included. It's been really interesting!).
post #59 of 113
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asha View Post

Can we do a top four of what we would like the opposite sex to bring to the island?

Great idea!

Mine would probably be:
Vetiver extraordinaire (Malle)
Ambre Sultan
Chanel Pour Monsieur
Kouros

(It'd be even MORE interesting what kind of men those scents would be attached to! ).

P.S. I'll have you know this is another CHEAT... because I can't be the only one now going, hmm, which of those could I borrow...
post #60 of 113
Bois Farine
Gendarme
Angel
Ecume De Rose
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