A musty, dusty white, aquatic floral

I am looking for a perfume that can become my new signature scent. Don't judge, but mine has always been Ralph Lauren Blue (for women). I LOVE it, but I want to broaden my horizons and the scent is discontinued (or at least harder to find). After spending hours on this site and various blogs, I joined, hoping to learn more. I am relatively new at perfumes; however, I think this is because I simply am turned off by most of them. I don't know if this is because I live in the U.S. and the perfumes here are "sweeter" and laden with vanilla, or simply because I haven't exposed myself to good perfumes. Probably a little bit of both aspects apply in my case.

What I do know is that I am really turned off by fruity scents and some florals, I tend to like white florals, I like aquatics and unisex perfumes, I like some citrus, greens, and clean scents (even medicinal ones) - but not too much sour, or herbal-ness, or soapy-ness, respectively. I love woodsy scents like oakmoss, ambrette seed, vetiver (not so much on the patchouli) but not if they are overwhelming. Orientals are okay, and I like warm spiciness in very small amounts, but I'm out on vanilla or cinnamon or clove! I am becoming familiar with the Chypre-style of perfumes and I think this style fits me the best, but I'm really not sure.

Overall, I wan't a scent that combines my favorite elements, and perhaps becomes more than the sum of its parts. It must be strong yet feminine, alluring but not overpowering. I'm not the kind of woman to read beauty magazines or go to a shopping mall, and typically am turned off by the sorts of perfumes I associate with those things. I'm the kind of young woman who can jetset across the country, attend a benefit event at a museum before hopping on the bus and to take shots at a dive bar across town, and then happily spend the evening lounging on a beach listening to the surf - all before flying back home to transplant seedlings, go fly-fishing, or feed the horses on my farm. What I am trying to say is that I'm a Jane of trades, and I would like a perfume to match my personality.

Can anyone help me broaden my horizons and develop, or cultivate, a nose? It'd also be lovely to find a new signature scent while I'm at it. I understand that complex perfumes may incorporate scents that I don't like, but in such a way that melts with the other ingredients, becoming something greater. If that makes sense. All the same, here's a list of every day scents I like:

Bergamot
Lemon
Grapefruit
Lily of the Valley
Peony (I think, but am truly not sure)
Lotus
Orange Blossom
Tuberose - (in small amounts)
Gardenia (in small amounts)
Hydrangea
Geranium
Ginger
Honeydew (in small amounts)
Apple (in small amounts)
Nectarine (in small amounts)
Coriander
Auracacia or tea tree
White Tea
Celery
Leather
Cedar
Oakmoss
Ambrette Seed
Amber (in small amounts)
Vetiver (in small amounts)
Musty old libraries
Dusty smell that happens when it rains for the first time in a long time, i.e. the smell of rainstorms in the Southwest states (my favorite smell)
Air conditioner smell
Mossy-antique-y smell in fake flower departments of craft stores like Hobby Lobby
The smell of a forest during a fog

forfreddie,

Thank you for your reply. Truthfully speaking, I have read your blog over and over the last few days in attempts to learn more about perfumes and to find one I'll like. Needless to say, I think its pretty fantastic that you replied to my post. I am ordering Un Matin D'Orage and eager to try it. Your blog is pretty rad, and I think you have the ability to render a good comprehension, or even a canny sense of smell, of the fragrances that you review. I'm definitely a novice, and blogs like yours have encouraged my new-found interest in the art of perfumes. Thank you!

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chili_willi,

thank you for your advice! I will add Carnal Flower to my list of fragrances to try.