ANOTHER newbie/former lurker trying to make a decision

When in doubt, do try more samples to get an eye for what does and doesn't work for you. That might help narrow the field until you find at least one or two scents you just have to have.

Can't stress that enough!The Perfumed Court is one of your best resources.Don't know if you saw it but you can also order sample packs by fragrance type(oriental,floral,chypre,etc.)and by fragrance house.These are a great way to get to really know your tastes.I do think Eau des Merveilles(or any of this series) is quite a practical choice as it seems to me to fit all seasons and occasions.You may also like Eau Claire des Merveilles-I think it was released as a summer version but IMO could work year round.

Take your time. Your tastes will change quickly as you start sampling.

Lunchtime Basenotes! Woohoo!

OK, then: Based on the scents that you mention and your reaction to them, I'm interpreting your taste as one that craves complexity and interest and novelty, and shies away from extremes - not too sweet, not too much of an aldehyde kick, not too knock-'em-dead floral, and so on. Based on that perhaps-completely-erroneous evaluation, I'd suggest sniffing:

- L'Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two. If you like Chergui, try Tea for Two. It's more undemandingly pleasing than Chergui, but not so eager to please as to be boring.

- Bois 1920 Sushi Imperiale. A gingery/spicy scent, but they're sparkling spices, not warm foody spices. It's both very unconventional and very well-behaved - I can't see anyone being offended _or_ bored by it. Try the men's fragrance department when looking for Bois 1920, though even then few department stores carry it - you'll probably have to order samples from The Perfumed Court. Get a spray sample for this one.

If you do find a Bois 1920 display, also try Sutra Ylang and Sandalo e The. Unlike Sushi Imperiale, which makes its charms apparent pretty quickly, both of those require a full drydown evaluation.

- Chanel Cuir de Russie. A glorious combination of leather and iris. If you don't like it now, try it again in a year - I suspect that I wouldn't have liked it before my Iris Reconciliation. It does have that hint of not being a nice girl.

- Bvlgari Black. Clean bicycle tires soaked in vanilla. Seriously. But it's great. It's also available in many department stores, unlike the above suggestions. Don't take this as a recommendation for the other Bvlgaris - all of the others just make me shrug.

- Balmain Ivoire. A ladylike powdery textured green that I love in spite of generally disliking both ladylike and powdery. Try it all the way through the drydown, for at least three or four hours, before you decide - it has several phases. It's also pretty cheap from the discounters, and unlike Balmain Vent Vert, the modern version is still quite nice. (At least, it was a year ago when I bought my bottle.)

- Estee Lauder Jasmine White Moss. An old-fashioned-style green floral, and available in department stores, so it's easy to sample. While you're in there sampling greens, also seek out Issey Miyake A Scent - it may be too featureless and sweet for you, but I love it even though I don't like featureless and sweet.

- Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan. If you find yourself craving florals in theory but disliking them in practice, Osmanthe Yunnan might be a good choice - the soft floral is intermixed with tea, so that it's not too cloying or giggly-ruffles pretty.

- Parfumerie Generale L'Eau Rare Matale. Tea and burned wood. Refreshing but not television-commercial-waterfall refreshing. Oh, and Parfumerie Generale Harmatan Noir. Love these two. I only own the first because they're a little too much alike for me to justify both, but I want both.

- Serge Lutens Serge Noire. Spicy smoke. You might hate it. You might love it. Let it dry for _at least_ three hours before you make up your mind; the beginning is utterly different from the middle and end.

- Feminite du Bois. I don't know whether to suggest that you try the Shiseido, which is no longer made and is vanishing from the discounters, or the Serge Lutens reformulation, which is still made but isn't as good. But it's a delightfully odd spicy plummy cedary thing that's worth trying, either way. It does have a shifting personality - all pencil-shavings cedar on one wearing and all gooey plum on another - that would be a problem if I didn't love both personalities.

- Parfumerie Generale Tubereuse Couture. I'm torn between the fact that you kinda liked Black Orchid, and the fact that Un Lys made you nauseated. I think it's worth a try. It's a lovely tuberose with a wide enough streak of green to keep it from being humid and sticky.

- Serge Lutens Tubereuse Criminelle. For the same reason as Tubereuse Couture, but it's a fundamentally different fragrance, so try it even if you didn't like that one. It's a weird, weird take on tuberoses - instead of a streak of green, it has a streak of something that's been described as gasoline, or mothballs, or rotting meat. But try it - it would be sad to avoid it based on the weirdness described when you might be one of those that passionately loves it. I do.

- Fendi Theorema. Spicy orange. This is cruel on my part, because it's almost unobtainable. But just in case you see a bottle briefly available on one of the discounters, it might be worth knowing if you love it.

- Serge Lutens A La Nuit. In case you're looking for one more sample to fill out an order. This is jasmine, jasmine, and more jasmine. Drowning in jasmine. Death by jasmine. Jasmine shock therapy. Also, jasmine. I don't know why I'm recommending this, since it violates everything I said about my interpretation of your taste, but I am.

If Cuir de Russie is too much of a "nice" girl's scent, step over to the guys' side of the aisle and try CdR's cousin, Knize Ten. K10 is another of those that takes hours to fully evolve, but it's worth the effort.

For a more mischievous take on leather, and moving away from the birch bark, Bandit has a bit of spice, combined with orange blossom mixed into the top floral notes, and a persistent petitgrain (crushed orange twig) in the heart/base.

CdG's Jaisalmer, Ouarzazate, or Harissa might also be fun to check out for the spices.

Try Noir de Noir by Tom Ford, in his private blend collection. It's similar to Black Orchid, but it's smoother and more refined.

Japon Noir might make an interesting alternative to Black Orchid.

I've seen the vintage bottles fetch a hefty price on the 'Bay, but I would like to try the original myself. What I have is the current EdP, which is still rather good.

I think you should also try some of the Malle's. Maybe Geranium Pour Monsieur or Musc Ravageur. Carnal Flower is one of my all-time favorites but I'm not sure it would suit you.