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Urgent! Help me pick an extra quirky niche scent, please!

post #1 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
I wear both cologne and perfume and don't really care for designer fragrances. Lately I have been wearing the likes of 'Fracas', 'Carnal Flower', 'Terre d'Hermes', 'Carthusia', 'Iris Nobile', 'Amouage'....

... and I am sick of smelling good and 'nice'. I need something brutal and ugly, but NATURAL nevertheless. Please, please help me find it.

Just one condition: no metallic notes. I hate the smell of metal.


SHOOT!

P. s. Lonestar Memories, Bal a Versailles, Bandit and Muscs Koublai Khan would be way too pretty.

SHOOT!
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post #2 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:32am
ELDO- Secretions Magnifique.
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post #3 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:40am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, but it smells like metal to me :-(
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post #4 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:43am
Have you actually smelt Lonestar Memories?

P'Eau D'Espagne
Rien
Fareb
Versilia Vintage Ambra Mediterranea
Commando
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post #5 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:44am
Mona di Orio Cuir
A A Ajmal Musc Gazelle
Eau d'Italie Sienna L'Hiver
Sonoma Scent Studo Fireside Intense
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post #6 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfreddie View Post

Have you actually smelt Lonestar Memories?

I had a large sample of Lonestar Memories... ...the opening smells like a horse stable, but the dry down is too nice.
Thank you so much for your help.
Everybody: thanks!
I am looking forward to sampling the suggestions.
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post #7 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:10pm
Le Labo Oud 27
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post #8 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:11pm
Real Oudh

Look at Dominique Dubranas range of Arabian scents, natural and manly. Try Mecca balsam or the new Tawaf.
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post #9 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:12pm
Bal a Versailles I can understand, but it is the first time I hear of Lonestar memories and MKK as way too pretty... With this in mind, it's hard to find anything stronger.

+1 Rien: bitter, disturbing animalic leather. Hedonist will be able to report as well. In leather territory, brutal and ugly, but as natural as a tannery, there's Complex by Boadicea. Awe inspiring, on my to buy list, but unwearable.

Histoires des Parfums Petroleum smells like entering a humid, moldy cave full of assorted minerals (more mineral than metallic, but still, you might detect some metal). The effect is reached by using marine notes, which I detest. In marine territory as well, the most evil concoction is Tirrenico by Profumi del Forte; some have compared it to the natural smell of driftwood and decomposing beached marine life, which to me is bad, but others find it invigorating.

The cheaper Eden by Cacharel smells like wool decomposing in a tropical swamp. I guess this counts as natural.

cacio
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post #10 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
There are two shops three blocks away from my building selling MdO, ELdO and Eau d'Italy, so - yeeeeeey. First thing in the morning........

Keep the suggestions coming.

- - - Updated - - -

I'll keep you posted....

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacio View Post

...In leather territory, brutal and ugly, but as natural as a tannery, there's Complex by Boadicea. Awe inspiring, on my to buy list, but unwearable.

You must be reading my mind. I love 'Invigorating' by Boadicea and will most certainly sample 'Complex' tomorrow!
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post #11 of 62
8/2/12 at 12:23pm
ELdO - Rein
MdO - Cuir
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post #12 of 62
8/2/12 at 1:12pm
mihailo:

please do not put Complex on skin without sampling on paper first. And if you try Rien, go light - it's deceiving, it starts low, then gains power.

cacio
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post #13 of 62
8/2/12 at 1:13pm
Or Labo Patchouli 24. Barbecue camp fire gone badly wrong

Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse 3. Everlasting immortelle that's natural but unworldly.
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post #14 of 62
8/2/12 at 1:24pm
Perhaps Nejma I by Pascal Morabito
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post #15 of 62
8/2/12 at 1:48pm
+1 Patchouli 24 - super intense bonfire smoke paired with cloying vanilla - almost unbearable for a while
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post #16 of 62
8/2/12 at 2:04pm
Serge Lutens Serge Noir. Some get incense but I get filthy body odor from it.
Just dont bathe for a couple of weeks and wear all the same clothes.
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post #17 of 62
8/2/12 at 2:05pm
If you want to smell brutal and ugly try Dirty English, it's a very masculine leathery, hard working, mans man scent. 3.4 oz sells for about 25 dollars online and it's pretty good stuff. Get it while you can, it's discontinued!
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post #18 of 62
8/2/12 at 2:13pm
Dirty English is the equivalent of a poodle wearing a spiked collar.
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post #19 of 62
8/2/12 at 2:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dms94 View Post

If you want to smell brutal and ugly try Dirty English, it's a very masculine leathery, hard working, mans man scent. 3.4 oz sells for about 25 dollars online and it's pretty good stuff. Get it while you can, it's discontinued!

Whaa? Very generic blah fragrance. Have you smelled any real leather or dirty musk fragrances?
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post #20 of 62
8/2/12 at 2:26pm
Yatagan -- very natural yet very bold

Aoud de Nuit -- may not be natural enough but it's claustrophobpically intense

Complex

Citrus Paradisi

YSL pH

Ungaro I + II

Untitled #8

Ambrarem
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post #21 of 62
8/2/12 at 3:01pm
Rien - Etat Libre d'Orange - top notes less as Cacio rialliantly described it.

Complex by Boadacea the Victorious
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post #22 of 62
8/2/12 at 3:35pm
MFK Absolue pour le Soir might work for you. Very raw, natural and challenging (although the drydown might be too nice for you). I love it.

I'll also mention vintage Hermes Bel Ami, which is a dark and brutal leather to my nose.
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post #23 of 62
8/2/12 at 3:41pm
Absolue pour le Soir: Dirty, skany and animalic. For the brave, bold and confident.
Zafar: The most challenging fragrance I have ever tried but to my nose there was nothing nice or good about it whatsoever.
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post #24 of 62
8/2/12 at 3:46pm
Kolnisch Juchten by Parfums Regence
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post #25 of 62
8/2/12 at 3:55pm
Dirty English is real. And I love it. If you can't see over a cheap price then that's your problem
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post #26 of 62
8/2/12 at 4:06pm
Cologne Pour Le Soir Maison Francis Kurkdjian
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post #27 of 62
8/2/12 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dms94 View Post

Dirty English is real. And I love it. If you can't see over a cheap price then that's your problem

Nothing wrong with loving a scent, but I do understand Heperd's reaction to Dirty English. I got kind of a mild, papery woody-amber scent out of the thing. Nothing really dirty or scary.

One can do weird on the cheap though. Two of the Lush: Gorilla scents come to mind, The Scent of Weather Turning and Breath of God ( though the latter might trigger the OP's "metallic" sense ), and both can be had at a price comparable to drug-store scents.
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post #28 of 62
8/2/12 at 8:27pm
Le Feu d'Issey
Vierges et Toreros--ELDO
L'Autre--Diptyque
Oud 27--Le Labo
Kolnisch Juchten
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post #29 of 62
8/2/12 at 9:26pm
Black Afgano may do the trick. Pretty skanky.
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post #30 of 62
8/2/12 at 11:59pm
Hammam Bouquet by Penhaligons - almost intoxicating, boozy, dark and edgy rose with very skanky, almost sweaty leathery-animalic-musky undertones.
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post #31 of 62
8/3/12 at 12:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PalmBeach View Post

Black Afgano may do the trick. Pretty skanky.

Yes, I could certainly see this one easily fitting the bill. I can't stand it, but it *is* brutal and ugly for sure, IMO. So if that is what you are going for...
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post #32 of 62
8/3/12 at 1:35am
Ooooh well I'm afraid I can't help with suggestions (I'm too fond of "nice" fragrances!) but I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the ones you sample. Hope you find the ugly fragrance of your dreams!
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post #33 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:22am
Many great suggestions already...I'll definitely second both Rien and Complex as two of the most quirky fragrances around. On a side note, you seem a good candidate to explore the O'Driù line.

Another fragrance that pops up is Revolution by Lisa Kirk. http://www.lisakirkprojects.com/project.cfm?kirk_id=93

If any of the above fragrances don't satisfy you, there are always Comme Des Garcons Garage and Tar....
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post #34 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kron View Post

dirty english is the equivalent of a poodle wearing a spiked collar.

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #35 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PalmBeach View Post

Black Afgano may do the trick. Pretty skanky.

Good suggestion. Great fragrance too.
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post #36 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

Whaa? Very generic blah fragrance. Have you smelled any real leather or dirty musk fragrances?

Maybe he means the top notes which I remember to be a bit sharp. The rest is indeed rather light and middle of the road.
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post #37 of 62
8/3/12 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke Hunt View Post

ELDO- Secretions Magnifique.

This is my suggestion also
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post #38 of 62
8/3/12 at 9:43am
Gotta ad CDG 2011 along with the CDG Odeurs. They are a little on the low projection side of things but they are quirky and pretty dang cool.
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post #39 of 62
8/3/12 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
This is how I sample fragrances: I insert the paper strips into a photo album. The samples are placed in every other pouch. The pockets are made of plastic (I am no chemist, but I think it's something like a 'saturated polymer') and the molecules cannot escape the pocket, neither can they mix with each other!! The strips stay fresh for many, many months. The scents I like the most are - of course - sampled on the skin later on (it goes without saying).


The winner of today's sampling will be announced at midnight (local time).
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post #40 of 62
8/3/12 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kron View Post

Dirty English is the equivalent of a poodle wearing a spiked collar.

ROFL

I wear Dirty English when I can pinch it from my son. You have no idea how close your description is
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post #41 of 62
8/3/12 at 2:37pm
Mihalo:

great idea! Sometimes when I go out I bring a bunch of small ziploc bags (like the ones used for medicines), but the photo thing is neat for keeping them all together.

cacio
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post #42 of 62
8/3/12 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
^
Thanks.
The first time I wanted to give it a try I thought to myself 'the notes are going to mix together through the plastic' but they really don't! I have a whole 'library' of such albums at home.

- - - Updated - - -

I was not lucky enough to find the samples for ALL the suggestions.
Here goes:
_Boadicea 'Complex' - the stores that normally sell this brand did not have 'Complex' for some reason.
_'Serge noire' - already own a small bottle...
_'Sienne l'Hiver'- great, but not was I was looking for. Smells like frozen veggies.
_'Black Afgano' - beautiful! One of the most beautiful scents of all time. Just gorgeous. It is on my wish list.
_'Secretions Magnifique' - metallic. Tastes like a penny. I hate the smell of metal.
_Mona di Orio 'Cuir' - the store ran out of it...
_'Yatagan' - I just plain don't like it.


And the winner is............................... 'R I E N'.
I will be placing the order tonight.

I want to thank everybody, if it weren't for you guys, I would never have thought of trying out these fragrances. Thank you, good night, keep in touch!
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post #43 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:11pm
A wicked choice mate enjoy it
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post #44 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
^Thank you!

I love it. I find it real pretty. Not ugly or quirky at all. Not by a long shot (an improper use of the idiom, I know, but I like it so much I just could not help it ). Not by a long shot is it quirky. Actually, I own something similar already... ...I can't pinpoint it right now... ...one of the Amouage's, I think...
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post #45 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:45pm
I dont' find it ugly either - challenging yes - at least at first.
I never understand the ad copy for Rien - it didn't make sense to me - the powder, the cashmere, the suede and references to skin. But in the late drydown, it is all this. It's wonderful The opening is addictive.
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post #46 of 62
8/3/12 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
^Oh yeah, it's very addictive. I just remembered: reminds me of Amouage 'Lyric' Women! 87% of the notes are the same........ .........'Rien' is more bitter and more masculine.
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post #47 of 62
8/3/12 at 6:52pm
Great choice! Indeed, that's the one I own in the list (together with yatagan, which however compared to Rien is quite sedate). Though to be honest I don't get the similarity to Lyric. Rien is a beast. Go light on application. 3 spritzes altogether is more than enough. It grows in power as it stays on the body.

cacio
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post #48 of 62
8/3/12 at 10:47pm
Cuir dIris.
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post #49 of 62
8/3/12 at 11:54pm
I know I'm late, but I had to suggest Kinski. It's pretty brutal to me, although I like it.
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post #50 of 62
8/4/12 at 12:06am
+1 for rien

vierges et toros by ELDO is quite disgusting but you might find that it smells of metal.

Sables is strong and weird, but it is not ugly. and not worse than lonestar memories.
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post #51 of 62
8/4/12 at 2:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mihailo View Post

This is how I sample fragrances: I insert the paper strips into a photo album.

I've done this several Times as well. Expecially whenever samples were not available and I had a big list of fragrances I wanted to test.

Congratulations on your purchase!
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post #52 of 62
8/4/12 at 4:44am
Thread Starter 
Thank you guys, I love you.

The store I visit on a daily basis (well... ...almost) does sell 'Kinski', so I will give it a go.
I am surely gonna like Cuir d'Iris, since I adore Cuir Venenum, Bois Blond.......... I will order a five ml sample of CdI.
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post #53 of 62
8/4/12 at 4:57am
Great choice. I love Rien. I have a couple of samples for the days when Chanel Cuir de Russie just isn't "Cuir" enough, but will need a FB when these run out.

I would love to read your views on Huitieme Arts Fareb and Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse 3 when you try them. They fit with your current aesthetic
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post #54 of 62
8/4/12 at 1:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kagey View Post

I know I'm late, but I had to suggest Kinski. It's pretty brutal to me, although I like it.

It is very similar to Vetiver 46. If you've enjoyed Kinski, you'll love V46.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacio View Post

Great choice! Indeed, that's the one I own in the list (together with yatagan, which however compared to Rien is quite sedate). Though to be honest I don't get the similarity to Lyric. Rien is a beast. Go light on application. 3 spritzes altogether is more than enough. It grows in power as it stays on the body.

cacio

3 spritzes of Rien! You sir are the beast with a total testicle mass far greater and more durable than mine.
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post #55 of 62
8/4/12 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alityke View Post

I would love to read your views on Huitieme Arts Fareb and Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse 3 when you try them. They fit with your current aesthetic

Tubereuse 3 is very nice, but the drydown is too sweet on my skin.
I am super excited about testing 'Fareb'. PG is one of a kind artist.

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Guys, please: am i gonna like knize ten? I hate antaeus (sold my bottle... ...tbank god), love cuir mauresque and rien. Thanx!
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post #56 of 62
8/5/12 at 8:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mihailo View Post

Guys, please: am i gonna like knize ten? I hate antaeus (sold my bottle... ...tbank god), love cuir mauresque and rien. Thanx!

My guess is YES, you will love it. Turin compares Cuir Mauresque to Tabac Blond (after the Lutens treatment) and while he says the fragrance is good, it also states that is less and no match for Knize Ten. Personally, I couldn't agree more...
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post #57 of 62
8/5/12 at 7:01pm
I agree with alfarom. You should like it. Knize Ten is a butch leather (with an automotive tarry vibe), made elegant by flowers and amber. It is not as animalic as Rien - upon spraying, it may appear stronger because it does have a citrus-floral top, but it is more butch than Cuir Mauresque.

cacio
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post #58 of 62
8/7/12 at 3:09am
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post #59 of 62
8/7/12 at 4:06pm
Dior Leather Oud. Too stinky for me.
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post #60 of 62
8/9/12 at 2:59pm
Slumberhouse - Norne or Rume
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Urgent! Help me pick an extra quirky niche scent, please!