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Your favorite discoveries of 2012 ? Ones that impressed or disappointed you?

post #1 of 37
10/30/12 at 6:14pm
Thread Starter 
So, almost the end of the year..what were your favorite finds? Ones that impressed or disappointed you? If you find more later this year, I guess you can add them!

Fave discoveries:

Ambra Di Luna Ramon Monegal
Drole de Rose L'artisan
La Violette Annick Goutal(an AG scent made it on my list!)
Noir de Noir Tom Ford

Impressed by:

Amouage house(so far, have only sniffed a few)


Disappointments/not impressed:

Coco Noir
Cartier Baiser Vole
SDV Guerlain
Several Serge Lutens scents
Mon Jasmin Noir L'eau Exquise, lol at the name too.
Lovely Day Ramon Monegal
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post #2 of 37
10/30/12 at 6:51pm
Great thread kalli!

Fave finds: Bottega Veneta, Bottega Veneta. Soft, sexy, skin scent of suede and carnal floral. Dior, Miss Dior Le Parfum. Deep, mysterious (it smells different every time I wear it), sophisticated fragrance.

Impressed by: Not applicable.

Disappointments:Hermes Ambre Des Merveilles (it PAINS me to say anything negative about an Ellena fragrance, because I love his creations, his gift). Chanel: Please, release the exclusives line onto the masses to enlighten perfume lovers who have not had the where-with-all to discover the line, and wait until something really wonderful comes from the super-talented Jacques Polge before releasng it.

In MHO.

- - - Updated - - -

Great thread kalli!

Fave finds: Bottega Veneta, Bottega Veneta. Soft, sexy, skin scent of suede and carnal floral. Dior, Miss Dior Le Parfum. Deep, mysterious (it smells different every time I wear it), sophisticated fragrance.

Impressed by: Not applicable.

Disappointments:Hermes Ambre Des Merveilles (it PAINS me to say anything negative about an Ellena fragrance, because I love his creations, his gift). Chanel: Please, release the exclusives line onto the masses to enlighten perfume lovers who have not had the where-with-all to discover the line, and wait until something really wonderful comes from the super-talented Jacques Polge before releasng it.

In MHO.

- - - Updated - - -

Hmmmm - Don't know why that post appeared 2X!

- - - Updated - - -

Hmmm...don't know why that post appeared 2x!
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post #3 of 37
10/30/12 at 7:20pm
Thread Starter 
Ya, sometimes gliches like that happen, you can edit those out usually.

Mmm, Hermes Ambre Des Merveilles, a disappointment huh? Been wanting to try that one!
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post #4 of 37
10/30/12 at 8:06pm
My favorite discoveries this year have been KM Ambre Mirabilis and Bal de Roses and Ava Luxe Soie (which is d/c).

I was disappointed with MFK Oud the most.
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post #5 of 37
10/30/12 at 8:29pm
Best release of 2012 : Seville a'Laube

The sheer complexity is enough, let alone the creative use of notes (incense and orange blossom and bees wax). Its very wearable too.
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post #6 of 37
10/30/12 at 9:14pm
Favorite discoveries:
Cafe Rose (Tom Ford)
Bijou Romantique (ELDO)
Attar de Roses (Keiko Mecheri)
Datura Blanche (Keiko Mecheri)
Parure (Guerlain)

Disappointments:
The new TF Private Blends other than Cafe Rose
Most of the Keiko Mecheri Bespoke line
Malaise of the 1970s (ELDO) (I loved the name so much, and I was hoping to love the scent too!)
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post #7 of 37
10/30/12 at 9:36pm
Favorites discovered in 2012:

JM White Lilac & Rhubarb
Demeter Gingerale (complete with the impression of fizziness, and a very pleasant drydown. Really simple, but delightful.)

Impressed by:
JM Blackberry & Bay

Disappointed by:
Everything else I smelled all year long.
One standout is Seville a L'Aube (simply not to my taste.) Another is Ineke Sweet William.
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post #8 of 37
10/30/12 at 10:21pm
Thread Starter 
Oh ya, Sweet William, disappointment? Yes!
I need to try that Seville a L'aube.
I forgot about JM White Lilac & Rhubarb, that is a good one!
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post #9 of 37
10/30/12 at 10:35pm
Greatest disappointment for me is La Petite Robe Noire 2012. The original and Modele 2 were better.
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post #10 of 37
10/30/12 at 10:38pm
Thread Starter 
I need to re-sniff that one but I wasn't hugely impressed the first time I sniffed it. The notes read that I would love it, I thought. Haven't sniffed those other two.
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post #11 of 37
10/31/12 at 12:39am
Favorite new sniffs this year:

Chypre Palatin by MDCI
Tahani Attar by Amouage
Bottega Veneta by Bottega Veneta
X by Clive Christian
M by Puredistance

Not impressed by:

Amazingreen by Comme des Garcons
Vitriol d'Oeillet by Serge Lutens

(though to be fair it's probably more a case of my high expectations of these houses)
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post #12 of 37
10/31/12 at 1:48am
Oh, quite a few for me this year.

Parfumerie Generale a house I tried for the first time. It was a kind Basenoter who gave me a sample of one Iris Taizo, love on first sniff. Bought a 50ml bottle then went on to buy another on ebay.
Tonkamande
Louanges Propanes
Cuir d'Iris

These are all I bought.

Juliette Has A Gun, a Basenoter recommended their sample set from their site.

Citizen Queen
Calamity J

Strangely I love La Petite Noire 2012, I expected to hate it.

J Malone White Lilac and Rhubarb. I thought it would be the Iris one I loved.

Misses:
Coco Noir, pleasant but boring.
GaGa, expected so much from her ideas. Got a boring fruity floral thing.
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post #13 of 37
10/31/12 at 1:49am
i am new to perfume world so everything i smelled was in 2012 but perfumes that struck me most by beatuy from the very first sniff were:

1.Sarrasins
2.Homage
3.Ubar
4.Sycomore
5.Sacrebleu
6.Shalimar vintage! this is like discovery for me
7. chypres:Mitsouko/ Givenchy III/ Odalisque

the biggest dissapointments:

1.new Shalimar! thats really my biggest dissapointment, so synthetic bergamot that bites the nose!hay like middle that goes on forever, only the late drydown starts to resemble real shalimar
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post #14 of 37
10/31/12 at 8:34am
Favorite discovery: Une Fleur de Cassie by Frederic Malle. Wow. It's not often anymore that a perfume knocks me off my feet, but this one did.

Second favorite discovery: White Lilac & Rhubarb by Jo Malone. Lilacs and ashes. My new favorite spring fragrance.

Those are the only two bottles of perfume I've bought this year. Nothing else seemed compelling enough to be FBW.
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post #15 of 37
10/31/12 at 9:37am
I have not had the chance to sniff much this year at all, but my favorite discovery has been Mauboussin ♥♥♥♥♥. It's true love. Everything else has been forgetable apparently because I can't even recall the disappointments.
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post #16 of 37
10/31/12 at 10:07am
For years I loathed gourmand scents or any scent that had a prominent fruit note, but this year, I discovered Gourmand Coquin by Guerlain. It changed my whole view on gourmand scents and since buying a bottle for my daugther, I've found myself leaning more towards gourmand scents. I do, however, don't like it when it's too foodie. So far, I've purchased Une Voix Noire, which has a dark fruit note, Ouris by SoOud; a smooth peach frag, Boxeuses; a plumy leather, Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay / English Pear & Freesia, and Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille.

Disappointments: Tea for Two. After reading people rave about it, I tried it and found it too foodie and sweet for me. Another similar disappointment was Mona di Orio Vanille.
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post #17 of 37
10/31/12 at 11:35am
Favourite discoveries in 2012;

Vintage Narcisse Noir
Carillon pour un Ange
Champagne de Bois
Habanita
Alien Essence Absolue
Rien

Ones that impressed or interested me;

Patchouli lmperial
Aqua Universalis Forte
lmmortal Mine
Bal a Versailles
Ubar
No5 Eau Premiere
Like This
Fils de Dieu

l don't recall many real disappointments, because l have learned to keep my expectations low, but;

Jasmine et Cigarette was more bad breath than dirty, edgy jasmine to my nose.
And Jardenia was pretty much unwearable for me, although this was more of a relief than a disappointment, bearing the price in mind!
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post #18 of 37
10/31/12 at 11:45am
Thread Starter 
I do want to try that gourmand Guerlain and maybe that Mauboussin sometime as well.
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post #19 of 37
10/31/12 at 12:41pm
Séville Ã* l'Aube is my favorite of the year, although I am hoping Voix Noire works for me too. Chanel Noir was pleasant but boring, and De Profundis just smelled like men's cologne on me, sadly.
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post #20 of 37
10/31/12 at 12:50pm
Thread Starter 
I still kinda want to try De Profundis I suppose, even though most SL scents have been flops for me.
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post #21 of 37
10/31/12 at 1:10pm
Discovery: Guerlain Cuir Beluga and Knize Two.

Impressed: Ineke Briar Rose (got a bottle), Amouage Interlude (will get a bottle when I can).

Disappointment: (just like 30R) Everything I smell with one that particularly disappointed L'Artisan Parfumeur Seville a l'Aube and several Francis Kurkdjians.

Please be careful with your Mauboussins. There seems to have been a reformulation/inferior batch, look for the darker orangey-brown liquid and a gasoline stained bottle.
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post #22 of 37
10/31/12 at 7:28pm
Myrrhe et Delires (Guerlain) Adult pear.

Encens Mythique d'Orient (Guerlain) Rude sparkling ambergris with a floral touch.

Seville a l'Aube (L'Artisan Parfumeur) Rude orange blossom, Denyse got her money's worth out of Snoop D.

Volutes EDT (Diptyque) Friendly potpourri that occasionally channels Cuir Beluga.

Opus VI (Amouage) Ballsy amber.

Interlude Man (Amouage) Jelly Beans for grown-ups on opoponax & frankincense.

With these ones I can happily put my money where my mouth is

The By Kilian 'Asian Duo' and the Tom Ford "Santal Blush" were just silly.
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post #23 of 37
10/31/12 at 9:33pm
Mine are:

Mon Precieux Nectar (Les Parisiennes): This gorgeous musky floral gourmand quickly (and unexpectedly) attained HG status. I don't usually like florals, but this seems to have a traditional Guerlain duality but with a more modern texture. So, so beautiful.

MOR Marshmallow: Another musky gourmand. A nice comfort scent.

Loverdose: I love anise and was delighted to smell it in Loverdose. It gradually sweetens into a standard sugary gourmand, but the first few hours are great.

Alien Essence Absolue: Good to know TM is still capable of making great scents. This full-bodied vanillic floral is a really nice antidote to all the anaemic or juvenile new releases out there.
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post #24 of 37
11/1/12 at 3:27am
Favorite discoveries in 2012:

Vero Profumo Mito
The whole O'Driù line
Comme Des Garcons EDP 2012
Ambra Di Luna
Agar Musk
Entre Naranjos
Neela Vermeire's Trayee and Mohur (I LOVE LOVE LOVE these)
Classic Patchouli by Von Eusersdorff
Tawaf by Profumo.it

...others...

Impressed: the whole O'Driù line

Disappointment:

Comme Des Garcons Amazingreen
Comme Des Garcons the new Play series
Dior Grand Bal
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post #25 of 37
11/1/12 at 3:36am
My best discovery of 2012 has been the house of Etat Libre d'Orange. Well, at least the two of their frags that I have sampled:
Rien and Rossy de Palma
These two scents are way far away from my classic Guerlain and Chanel comfort zone and I absolutely love them!
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post #26 of 37
11/1/12 at 8:14am
Discoveries:
Guerlain Myrrhe et Delires
Mona di Orio Rose Etoile d'Hollande
Atelier Vetiver Fatal (I normally don't wear vetiver-based fragrances, but I can see myself wearing it in the summer)
Aedes de Venustas Signature eau de Parfum
Rossy de Palma (I know it was not introduced in 2012, but it is when I discovered it; a very energizing, vibrant scent)
Cartier Declaration d'un Soir: This took me by surprise. I liked the peppery rose; it's quite straightforward, but easy-going and pleasant.

Disappointments: too many to list, both mainstream and niche.

I'm not really done with 2012. I am expecting a few more new samples....
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post #27 of 37
11/1/12 at 9:56am
How could I forget Mon Precieux Nectar and Mito?

Not a bad year, really
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post #28 of 37
11/1/12 at 5:53pm
Favorite discover - Loukhoum Keiko Mecheri.
Disappointment - 1889 Moulin Rouge Histoires de Parfums, Tobacco Vanille TF.
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post #29 of 37
11/1/12 at 6:29pm
Since I'n still a newbie and my budding interest in unisex fragrances my list is fairly easy:
Shalimar
Chanel Cuir de Russie
Chanel no. 19
cuir de Lancome
Mitsouko
Corlian
Portrait of a Lady
Malle Musc Raveguer

just to start with and I have been lucky and have not tried any stinkers....yet.
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post #30 of 37
11/1/12 at 7:03pm
Oh, great topic! This has been my first year of concerted exploration of perfumes, having previously just picked up whatever at department store counters without much consideration or analysis. Basenotes has really fostered a much deeper appreciation of perfumes, but I am afraid I am still in the phase of loving A LOT of fragrances! Anyway, I have to be a newbie and say that discovering new favorites has encompassed whole houses, such as Serge Lutens, Caron, and Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier.

Rediscovering an old favorite has also been fantastic-- I gave up on No. 5 years ago when it began to smell like Raid on my skin after years of loving it. I am happily wearing it again with no insecticide notes!

Disappointments were also myriad this year: recent ones include Ineke Sweet William and Hothouse Flower. I think I have blocked the rest from my mind! However, one was particularly revolting and etched into my memory: Violet Blonde. After a few seconds on my skin = vile, cheap musk and nothing more.
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post #31 of 37
11/1/12 at 7:24pm
Lovely thread and I am taking down names and making a wish list: so many Guerlains, so little time....and money and access.

Favorite find that surprised me most: vintage Joy. I am not a floral kinda girl, but I can sniff this until my nose goes numb from overuse.

Most disappointed: Not surprised, but I really wanted these two to break the celebrity mold and be GOOD. To me, they were just bland. These two women had such a great chance to make something ground-breaking, and did not:

1. Gaga
2. Madonna

And found out I can't do much with vintage Carons. They just go to trash on my skin, and not in a good way.

A gourmand Guerlain. I am in such scent lust.
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post #32 of 37
11/2/12 at 1:56am
Thread Starter 
+1 Violet Blonde..total scrubber, lol.
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post #33 of 37
11/4/12 at 4:50pm
The sublime, ultra feminine Acqua di Parma Profumo. This current formulation is quite addictive and I find myself wanting to wear it every day, despite having a marvellous wardrobe to choose from.

A bottle of vintage Rive Gauche pure parfum. This was a revelation, so round, so full and so much more complex than the EDT.

Ditto a bottle of vintage Le Dix pure parfum. A complex, serious take on the perfume, a world away from the light, effervescent EDT that we Le Dix lovers usually only encounter. You get the full perfume journey, with wonderful, rich base notes, that are totally absent to my nose in the EDT.

Greatest disappointment - Acqua di Parma Gelsomino. Not the rich, embodiment of some rare Italian jasmine, just a rather strange iteration that I simply don't understand.

L'Occitaine Peony - had high hopes for this since the company employed a renowned Peony grower as consultant. What I got was a thin, green, uninspiring flower, without any real character. Serves me right for looking at an inexpensive soliflore to explore an unknown note. Perhaps the peony is a bland flower, but then why bother using it to blend with so many fragrances.
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post #34 of 37
11/4/12 at 5:13pm
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Knocked my socks off: Annick Goutal Eau de Sud, Mandragore. I layer the Eau de Sud with lots of other scents, so much fun.
Really, really love Hermes Eau Claire des Merveilles, Eau des Mervielles body cream and da, da da.....L'Ambre des Mervielles. My chemistry amps up amber and vanilla to the point of suffocation. This amber is just perfect on me.

Completely unimpressed by: Chanel Coco Noir, Lady Gaga's FAME, Guerlain's La Petit Robe Noir (latest one), Amouage Beloved, Balenciaga's Florabotanica, Bond No 9 Manhattan, Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay, Lancome La Vie Est Belle
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post #35 of 37
11/4/12 at 6:47pm
Aedes de Venustas Signature EDP
Séville Ã* l'Aube
Comme des Garçons edp 2011
Fils de Dieu du Riz et des Agrumes

Not necessarily from within the past year, just discovered I liked 'em:

Comme des Garçons Rhubarb
Serge Lutens Louve

Disappointment:

Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune -- thought it would be right up my alley, but... nyet. I haven't had much luck ever with Guerlain.
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post #36 of 37
11/4/12 at 6:56pm
Great Discoveries:
Midnight In Paris, edp,
Bois du Portugal,
Dior Homme Intense
Great Let Down:
Musc Ravageur,
Most Chanels except Bleu,
Bois d'Argent
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post #37 of 37
11/4/12 at 7:53pm
This year I have not done a lot of perfume smelling or shopping, but I really liked Mhyrre et Delires, the three orientals by Guerlain, Shanghai, What we do in Paris is Secret, Mitzah, Patchouli Imperial, Iris Ganache (I should have bought a bottle last year!).

I am intrigued by the new by Kilian In the City of Sin. I have a smpre of Ambre des Marveillels, but have not played with it yet.

Disappointments: Coco Noire, although it is not too bad, La Petite Robe Noire 2012 (I have a little bit left of the original and No. 2, I will take good care of them) Lady Gaga was a scrubber on me.
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