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Favorite small-business perfumers?

post #1 of 48
9/25/09 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
I've seen Wiggle Perfume mentioned in quite a few threads lately, so I decided to check them out - wow! Those sound like some gorgeous scents from a good nose.

But it made me think... what other hidden gems are there? What small-time perfumer do you find intruiging or talented? I'm thinking about the houses that are so small, you could probably call them huts - you're not going to find them in Sephora but they've set up shop on a little corner of the web.
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post #2 of 48
9/25/09 at 6:11pm
I've always been curious about Theme Fragrance, ever since seeing their shop on Etsy:

http://www.themefragrance.com/
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post #3 of 48
9/25/09 at 6:31pm
Boring answer, but Andy Tauer is so great. Interesting frags and such a kind and generous person that I feel good about wearing his stuff for that reason as well.
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post #4 of 48
9/25/09 at 6:46pm
Ayala Moriel. Very good perfumer - working pretty much on her own, as far as I can tell - out of Vancouver. She makes all-natural fragrances, but nothing like the bland essential oil "blends" one finds in herb stores - real fragrances.
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post #5 of 48
9/25/09 at 6:48pm
Wiggles- I have never tried her scents but I agree - sounds fantastic. Lulubeauty is another good Etsy perfumer.
Ava Luxe- I know Serena has been off -on lately but I do think she is a v good perfumer too.
Ajne perfumes are excellent and of course Ayala Moriel is good.
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post #6 of 48
9/25/09 at 7:01pm
One of my favorite noses: http://www.myskinsoapstudio.com/

Amber Sambaca & CocoaWood Spice are my faves.
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post #7 of 48
9/25/09 at 7:25pm
Would La Via del Profumo be considered a small business?

His scents are delicious and very intriguing.
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post #8 of 48
9/25/09 at 7:44pm
Andy Tauer, no doubt.

Liz Zorn -- please support her if you can!

Neil Morris of Boston, MA -- with all his BN friends he is getting plenty of love, I hope!
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post #9 of 48
9/25/09 at 8:36pm
Great idea for a thread--there are a few I haven't heard of that I'll have to try out.

My favorite small perfumers thus far are

- Sonoma Scent Studios (I especially like Vintage Rose and Tabac Aurea)

- Kristin Michele Parfumeur, especially her Epice Orientale

- Roxana Illuminated Perfumes

- Smell Bent - cute website, really like Incensed and Commando

- and of course Andy Tauer and Neil Morris. Although I'm starting to think of them as bigger (courtesy of Lucky Scent and Takashima, respectively), they still do great indie work.
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post #10 of 48
9/26/09 at 2:44am
Great thread! There are so many really good 'little' perfumers out there who have the freedom to create really interesting things. There are a lot in the US that I'd like to get to try one day but for now I'm loving
Ava Luxe
Andy Tauer
Possets (who could survive winter without The Gingerbread Whorehouse?)
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post #11 of 48
9/26/09 at 5:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anna_P View Post

I've always been curious about Theme Fragrance, ever since seeing their shop on Etsy:

http://www.themefragrance.com/

A few months ago, I ordered from her and although she was a very sweet girl, her scents just weren't for me. Most of them had a pretty heavy patch feel and I walked around all day feeling like I should be putting flowers in my hair and renaming my dog "Starship Moonchild" or something... and not in a good way.
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post #12 of 48
9/26/09 at 7:18am
I agree with arwen_elf--profumo.it has had the most fragrances that draw my attention of any of the "one person" houses. I still need to give a sincere try to some others though, such as Dawn Spencer Hurowitz, Neil Morris and SmellBent.
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post #13 of 48
9/26/09 at 7:28am
A second vote for Laurie Erikson's Sonoma Scent Studio. I own a few of her fragrances and they are uniformly high-quality, excellent compositions. Check SSS out!

Also Susanne Lang fragrances are very well done. The scent 'Cashmere' is one of my favorite ambers.

Of couse Ava Luxe creations are top-notch.

I've only tried a few Moriels, but I've been meaning to. What I've tried I've really liked.
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post #14 of 48
9/26/09 at 7:30am
Andy Tauer, Sonoma Scent, Ava Luxe. No question.
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post #15 of 48
9/26/09 at 7:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by inscentiable View Post

A few months ago, I ordered from her and although she was a very sweet girl, her scents just weren't for me. Most of them had a pretty heavy patch feel and I walked around all day feeling like I should be putting flowers in my hair and renaming my dog "Starship Moonchild" or something... and not in a good way.

Really? That surprises me because from the descriptions, they sound like they would be very fruity and sweet, which I don't mind once in awhile. And for the price, they seem like fun scents to try for the summer. Your description reminds me of sampling this perfume called Chelsea Girls from Seven Skies. It was supposed to be a "modern chypre" but I didn't even have to wait for the drydown to smell like I had been on a 3-day bender of "expanding my consciousness." *lol*
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post #16 of 48
9/26/09 at 8:17am
[QUOTE=Twolf;1626952]

Liz Zorn -- please support her if you can!

QUOTE]

Yes, Liz Zorn 's perfumes sound wonderful .I often look at her Soivohle site and I may try a couple.
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post #17 of 48
9/26/09 at 9:37am
Neil Morris Fragrances and Sonoma Scent Studio are my two favorites, so far.
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post #18 of 48
9/26/09 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by arwen_elf View Post

Would La Via del Profumo be considered a small business?

His scents are delicious and very intriguing.

Also agree. I ordered a little 6 pack some months ago and felt I was getting a glimpse into soemthing quite special. Received a 50 ml Sandalwood just a few days ago and it is beautiful.

Also Andy Tauer. I would like to try Ava Luxe and Neil Morris - seem to hear a lot about them here.
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post #19 of 48
9/26/09 at 11:56am
Sonoma Scent and Ava Luxe. I tried recently Femme Jolie by Sonoma Scent and I was very suprised to see that it smells exactly like Silk / Soie by Ava Luxe. Bizarre. Looking at the Ava Luxe and Sonoma's fragrance lists, I can detect some "similarities" (Cafe Noir, Milk / Lait Cremeux ... )

From Andy Tauer I tried only L'Air du Desert Marocain, and it didn't disappoint me at all.
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post #20 of 48
9/26/09 at 6:07pm
I've ordered quite a few of the Wiggle scents and I really like them! The lady who runs the company is lovely as well.

Ava Luxe although I only had the chance to make one order before she closed up her website

Have ordered a few scents from Wylde Ivy as well some were lovely and some were awful, a bit hit and miss but her Teak fragrance is gorgeous.
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post #21 of 48
9/26/09 at 7:34pm
I don't have a favorite, but there is one I'm curious about, called Tokyomilk. A little boutique downtown carries it. The bottles are small (15-20 mls, maybe?) and retail for $28 online (I never could find a price at the boutique), so there's no big commitment. I've been considering them for a while, I think this thread has inspired me to go try a few out! Will report back.
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post #22 of 48
9/26/09 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyfunny View Post

I don't have a favorite, but there is one I'm curious about, called Tokyomilk. A little boutique downtown carries it. The bottles are small (15-20 mls, maybe?) and retail for $28 online (I never could find a price at the boutique), so there's no big commitment. I've been considering them for a while, I think this thread has inspired me to go try a few out! Will report back.

I've got two of theirs in sample form that I'm testing out, they're quite nice!
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post #23 of 48
9/26/09 at 8:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLipPrint View Post

I've got two of theirs in sample form that I'm testing out, they're quite nice!

Which ones? I'm especially interested in Poe's Tobacco and Song in D Minor.
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post #24 of 48
9/26/09 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyfunny View Post

Which ones? I'm especially interested in Poe's Tobacco and Song in D Minor.


Le Petit and French Kiss - both are pretty and sweet with Le Petit smelling fresh and just a little green (it turns clean and soapy on me after a little while, which I acctually like) and French Kiss being more fizzy smelling.
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post #25 of 48
9/27/09 at 2:07am
Over the top: VERO KERN


and silver medal to Andy Tauer

third but not least Olivier Durbano
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post #26 of 48
9/27/09 at 4:42am
Ajne, Sonoma Scent Studio and DSH (selected lines in the case of DSH).

I also like the personality and quirkiness of the people at all three! The nose at Ajne is always having a glass of wine on Twitter, which amuses me no end for some reason.

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post #27 of 48
9/27/09 at 5:37am
Divine and Anne Pliska are two of my favourites. Wish Anne Pliska would make some more scents.
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post #28 of 48
9/28/09 at 5:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunnyfunny View Post

I don't have a favorite, but there is one I'm curious about, called Tokyomilk. A little boutique downtown carries it. The bottles are small (15-20 mls, maybe?) and retail for $28 online (I never could find a price at the boutique), so there's no big commitment. I've been considering them for a while, I think this thread has inspired me to go try a few out! Will report back.


A store near me carries the Tokyomilk line - this store has about 10 fragrances, all $44/30ml. I started sampling through them and they seem like competent fragrances. I also like that they have a few of the notes printed on the bottle (the way that Prada does). I'm not remembering the names of the fragrances, but there was one that was rose/cherry/cocoa/vetiver that was really good, another tobacco/tea that's good. Seems they have pretty much one of everything (a floral, a gourmand, etc.). I need to play with them a little more before I buy one.

EDIT: Poe's Tobacco was the tobacco/tea. The gourmand is called Let Them Eat Cake
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post #29 of 48
9/28/09 at 7:26am
Dawn Spencer Horowitz seems excellent too as suggested By Asha ,though I have only tried her Essense Oil .
I have been meaning to try Roxana Illuminated perfumes as well .....
I also thought I would try Strange Invisible Perfumes just because of their Epic Gardenia perfume .
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post #30 of 48
9/28/09 at 8:45am
My favorite small fragrance shop is Sonoma Scent Studio. Laurie Erickson's fragrances are just gorgeous and well crafted and well priced. My favorites are especially Rose Musc (to die for labdanum!) and Tabac Aurea which is really outstanding. I also particularly like the Femme Jolie (smells like the dry down of DK Chaos), Velvet Rose, and Voile de Violette, which is an outstanding, very natural violet soliflore. SSS Champagne de Bois rivals any major Chanel such as No 22 or Bois des Iles for beauty, and her Jour Ensolielle (the new version) is as beautiful a chypre as Mistouko, Amazone, etc. .... And Laurie does *everything* herself, from melting down raw materials, developing formulas, marketing, packaging, shipping and customer service. She deserves as much business as she gets!

My second favorite small fragrance house is Andy Tauer. There is nothing like L'Air du Desert Marocain!!! I think I'd have more love for Dawn Spencer Hurwitz if her very beautiful (and very expensive!) fragrances had more lasting power. Giardini Segreti (Italian Journey #3) is a particularly beautiful, powdery tuberose.
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post #31 of 48
9/28/09 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnnS View Post

My favorite small fragrance shop is Sonoma Scent Studio. Laurie Erickson's fragrances are just gorgeous and well crafted and well priced. My favorites are especially Rose Musc (to die for labdanum!) and Tabac Aurea which is really outstanding. I also particularly like the Femme Jolie (smells like the dry down of DK Chaos), Velvet Rose, and Voile de Violette, which is an outstanding, very natural violet soliflore. SSS Champagne de Bois rivals any major Chanel such as No 22 or Bois des Iles for beauty, and her Jour Ensolielle (the new version) is as beautiful a chypre as Mistouko, Amazone, etc. .... And Laurie does *everything* herself, from melting down raw materials, developing formulas, marketing, packaging, shipping and customer service. She deserves as much business as she gets!

My second favorite small fragrance house is Andy Tauer. There is nothing like L'Air du Desert Marocain!!! I think I'd have more love for Dawn Spencer Hurwitz if her very beautiful (and very expensive!) fragrances had more lasting power. Giardini Segreti (Italian Journey #3) is a particularly beautiful, powdery tuberose.

Sonoma Scent Studio is getting a lot of love on this thread- -it's one I must try considering I am here in California. I'm all for supporting small business lady perfumers.
The Giardini Segreti tuberose sounds tempting too.
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post #32 of 48
9/29/09 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysticknot View Post

Sonoma Scent Studio is getting a lot of love on this thread- -it's one I must try considering I am here in California. I'm all for supporting small business lady perfumers.
The Giardini Segreti tuberose sounds tempting too.

I can really recommend the Giardini Segreti - I am not a huge tuberose fan - but there is a bunch of other notes in there, including gardenia(!), and the overall blend is very pretty.
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post #33 of 48
9/29/09 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VM I hate civet View Post

I can really recommend the Giardini Segreti - I am not a huge tuberose fan - but there is a bunch of other notes in there, including gardenia(!), and the overall blend is very pretty.

Thanks VM ! I will google it now....

***Oh DSH Perfumes- How silly of me - I must be brain dead today ( just got back from the gym too- my brain dies after a workout ) - I thought Giardini Segreti was a person ! Sillly me !
The complete list of notes sound fab. I love the way DSH gives you a wide option for amounts and quantities of scent .
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post #34 of 48
9/30/09 at 5:21pm
Dolma - http://www.dolma-perfumes.co.uk/inde...=index&cPath=1
Don't dismiss them thinking they just put out any old thing(scent quality wise) for vegans. I really want to get their Amethyst Mist! It's really good value too - just over one GBP for 1ml of perfume!
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post #35 of 48
9/30/09 at 10:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyneve View Post

Over the top: VERO KERN

Vero Profumo gets my vote, too. Onda is one of the most gorgeous scents ever created, imho. Kiki is great, too, and though I didn't get along with Rubj on the first time I tested it, I'm willing to give it another chance.
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post #36 of 48
9/30/09 at 10:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigrushka View Post

Vero Profumo gets my vote, too. Onda is one of the most gorgeous scents ever created, imho. Kiki is great, too, and though I didn't get along with Rubj on the first time I tested it, I'm willing to give it another chance.

Kiki is great but the price tag !
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post #37 of 48
10/1/09 at 2:12am
How small is "small"?
My favorite "small" business perfume house at the moment is Ormande Jayne
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post #38 of 48
10/1/09 at 6:00am
Wow, the Wiggle oils are very well priced! I'm going to try some, I think...but so far I've only found one that looks appealing (Martine) She seems to be fond of some very sweet notes that aren't my cup of tea...I'm still reading the descriptions, though, so maybe I'll find more. Any suggestions for a lady who does not like smelling like dessert?

PS: Note to self: add Little 5 to list!

Note to self part 2: Lulubeauty Gigi EdP? Or 4 sample oils? Decisions, decisions.
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post #39 of 48
10/3/09 at 9:26am
Just in case anyone is interested - for gardenia die hard fans- there is a newish Etsy shop that is selling Gardenia enfleurage - quite cheaply . I don't know what the quality is like but I am thinking of testing this out. The etsy shop is called lionflower.
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post #40 of 48
10/3/09 at 9:35am
AVA-LUXE forever!
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post #41 of 48
10/3/09 at 9:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galamb_Borong View Post

Ayala Moriel. Very good perfumer - working pretty much on her own, as far as I can tell - out of Vancouver. She makes all-natural fragrances, but nothing like the bland essential oil "blends" one finds in herb stores - real fragrances.

I agree I was scared of ordering samples because of the thought they might be bland, but they were amazing Song of Songs is definitly on my wishlist now
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post #42 of 48
3/8/11 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Outlandish View Post

One of my favorite noses: http://www.myskinsoapstudio.com/

Amber Sambaca & CocoaWood Spice are my faves.

Hey Outlandish! I know this is not a new thread but I saw my name mentioned here and wanted to say thank you!


Tracy
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post #43 of 48
3/9/11 at 10:31am
Liz Zorn Siovohle

Sonoma Scent Studio

Smell Bent
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post #44 of 48
3/10/11 at 3:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyneve View Post

Over the top: VERO KERN


and silver medal to Andy Tauer

third but not least Olivier Durbano

"Gold goes" to Andy Tauer and silver to Vero Kern and the bronze to Mona di Orio
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post #45 of 48
3/10/11 at 3:25am
Michael Storer's latest formulations (the 3 I've smelled, anyhow) are all very good. I absolutely love Djin and will be picking a bottle up in the future.
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post #46 of 48
3/10/11 at 5:55am
Well, for best perfume names ever, hands down favorite is ZOMG Smells! I haven't actually worn any of these yet but do have some samples from her, partly in interest of geek-girl solidarity, and partly because I love love love the names of the smells.

Smell Bent as runner up for clever naming of his smells.
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post #47 of 48
3/10/11 at 7:00am
Old thread -- new loves:

Providence Perfume Co.
Puredistance

Will check your site, CiaoBella, most definitely!
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post #48 of 48
3/10/11 at 8:09am
I've tried DSH and SSS scents. i also like some from dragonflyblue.com. Nothing fancy there, but Amber and Sandalwood are the best I have smelled, I think she does her fresh fruity florals really well. Some people go crazy for her foody vanilla scents, but they have an oak note that doesn't meld well with my skin. and her choclate truffles scents are fun. A few ladies from MUA make their own as well CJScents and Cherry Blossom Diva and user Fenestra has an esty store, but I'm not sure the name of it, for all I know they post here, too.
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