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Niche conversation starter frags?

post #1 of 30
1/10/13 at 10:38am
Thread Starter 
Hm, looking for some opinions/inputs on what frags are good conversation/attention getters? Can be crowd pleasers as well.

Not necessarily something that's like "Wtf..", but rather like "Wow, that's interesting and different" but also pleasing in general.

Something that is un-expected (original?), yet appealing.

Am I asking for too much? Haha.

If you'd be so kind, exclude Creed. What about other not-as-much talked about brands, such as Mona di Orio, Bois 1920, ALoF, Heeley, The Different Company, etc.

Avoid ones that are significant on the leather/oud (don't throw rocks at me! :P). Some leather/oud can be okay, but I mean to avoid ones such as 1740 (which I do like, however it's not necessarily something I'd want to grab and wear often to places).

(Edit): to clarify, specific frags by brands. Ie: "Timbuktu by L'Artisan Parfumeur"
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post #2 of 30
1/10/13 at 10:48am
L'Artisan Perfumeur is good, there are some very unique and original scents while remaining pleasant in that line and they don't have the atomic strength of some of the niche houses out there so you won't suffocate anyone.
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post #3 of 30
1/10/13 at 10:58am
Check out Tom Ford's Private Blend frags.
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post #4 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HackerX View Post

L'Artisan Perfumeur is good, there are some very unique and original scents while remaining pleasant in that line and they don't have the atomic strength of some of the niche houses out there so you won't suffocate anyone.

I am interested in Timbuktu, and I've seen mentions, read of/about others as well (such as T42).

Quote:
Originally Posted by sjg3839 View Post

Check out Tom Ford's Private Blend frags.

Any in particular?
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post #5 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:15am
Idole by Lubin
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post #6 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

Idole by Lubin

Which one, the EDP 2011(?) one or the EDT 2005(?) one or is there a different one.

Thanks in advance
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post #7 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:34am
+1 with L'Artisan.
I recommend Dzing!.
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post #8 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:36am
Musc Ravageur. But the conversation may be "Why do you smell like cat pee?"
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post #9 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:43am
The house of PROFVMVM ROMA is exceptional!

They've got fragrances that pretty much fits every category. Personally, I like sweet gourmand fragrances, therefore I'm recommending:

Dulcis In Fundo (Candied oranges mixed with a big creamy vanilla note!
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detail.asp?itemid=33913

Vanitas (Vanilla here aswell, but this vanilla is darker in a way, mixed very beautifully with a blend of sweet citrus-y myrrh.
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/secti...m/Vanitas.html

Don't let the notes fool you, even though they only contains a couple of notes they're pretty complex.

Yes, this house has some pretty damn high prices. BUT, their fragrance are so natural smelling and strong (as far as projection and longevity goes) that 1 spray is all you actually need. The two fragrances above in particular have potent juice!
The term "projection and longevity beast" is not something I throw around alot, but all of Profumum Romas fragrance (except maybe 3 of them) are just that, a beast in both projection and longevity.

Give them a try, I can promise you that you'll find a fragrance from their line that you'll really like.

SwedishMike

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmc View Post

+1 with L'Artisan.
I recommend Dzing!.

From the house of L'Artisan, I recommend Vanille Absolument.
Tea for Two is also a recommendation. However, it's discontinued. It's pretty hard to find a bottle right now.. :/
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post #10 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:46am
Tocacco Vanille, Noir de Noir, Portifino Neroli and Tuscan Leather for starters for Tom Ford Private Blends.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jouho View Post

I am interested in Timbuktu, and I've seen mentions, read of/about others as well (such as T42).



Any in particular?
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post #11 of 30
1/10/13 at 11:48am
+1 for Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford. It always gets compliments for me.
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post #12 of 30
1/10/13 at 12:29pm
For something different, original, avant garde but also crowd pleasing try: "a new perfume 2012" by Comme des Garcons
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post #13 of 30
1/10/13 at 1:03pm
I Love Les Carottes by Honoré de Prés. It does smell of carrots and a bit of citrus and iris, but it's mostly carrots. It's an all natural, unisex, fun and charming scent.

And it's a proven conversation starter. I've stuck my wrist in my friends faces and asked, "What do you smell, this should be a very familiar scent to you", and they agree it is, but what the hell is that fragrance!? It's a lot of fun wearing it, and I actually like smelling like a carrot every now and then.
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post #14 of 30
1/10/13 at 1:07pm
Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford
Menthe Fraiche by Heeley
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post #15 of 30
1/10/13 at 1:35pm
You got Black Aoud?
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post #16 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:18pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, thank you all for the responses!

Quote:
Originally Posted by sjg3839 View Post

Tocacco Vanille, Noir de Noir, Portifino Neroli and Tuscan Leather for starters for Tom Ford Private Blends.

Hm, interesting, you recommend Tuscan Leather? How is the leather though? Is the leather more up-front, or like a supporting role, or?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bgoc View Post

You got Black Aoud?

Nope, I actually don't have any Montales... yet?
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post #17 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:21pm
The leather in Tuscan Leather is in your face brown, rustic, untreated, raw, cowboy saddle & chaps leather. Mans man stuff.
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post #18 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:27pm
MikeDropIt,


I love these two Profumum scents. But my favourite is Acqua e zucchero. Still trying to justify the high price for all 3 of them.

Oh how I wish someone would do a Profumum Roma split!!!
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post #19 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:31pm
Not to be a dink but.... Why not just start conversations with people that you're interested in?

Most people aren't gonna talk to you just because you smell peculiar or "good"

If you are looking to be approached by the opposite sex... You need to have a nice clean attractive look, and a friendly demeanor.

Most people first and foremost will be like "oh he's sexy" and then the icing on the cake might be "oh and he smells good"
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post #20 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xxsjxx1 View Post

Not to be a dink but.... Why not just start conversations with people that you're interested in?

Most people aren't gonna talk to you just because you smell peculiar or "good"

If you are looking to be approached by the opposite sex... You need to have a nice clean attractive look, and a friendly demeanor.

Most people first and foremost will be like "oh he's sexy" and then the icing on the cake might be "oh and he smells good"

Oh, I didn't necessarily mean a fragrance to GET an actual verbal conversation started.

Rather, something that can be talked about or w/e. Like... instead of a typical "Oh, he smells good.", more like a "Wow, that's so unusual but smells great!".

Think more along the lines of something that can be talked about more-so than 'regular' fragrances/the average people would like to know about it. Know what I mean?

tl;dr - partly(?) to get their mind thinking about how interesting and good (or so) the frag(s) smell.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeDropIt View Post

The house of PROFVMVM ROMA is exceptional!

They've got fragrances that pretty much fits every category. Personally, I like sweet gourmand fragrances, therefore I'm recommending:

Dulcis In Fundo (Candied oranges mixed with a big creamy vanilla note!
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detail.asp?itemid=33913

Vanitas (Vanilla here aswell, but this vanilla is darker in a way, mixed very beautifully with a blend of sweet citrus-y myrrh.
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/secti...m/Vanitas.html

Don't let the notes fool you, even though they only contains a couple of notes they're pretty complex.

Yes, this house has some pretty damn high prices. BUT, their fragrance are so natural smelling and strong (as far as projection and longevity goes) that 1 spray is all you actually need. The two fragrances above in particular have potent juice!
The term "projection and longevity beast" is not something I throw around alot, but all of Profumum Romas fragrance (except maybe 3 of them) are just that, a beast in both projection and longevity.

Give them a try, I can promise you that you'll find a fragrance from their line that you'll really like.

Hm, I am interested! However, I've noticed Dulcis in Fundo is at/highly towards "FEMME" on Luckyscent. I realize about wearing what you want, but do you think it's unisex personally? Or a more blatant 'female' smelling frag, etc. Thanks in advance .
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post #21 of 30
1/10/13 at 3:56pm
It's defnitely up in your face. Perfect for Fall and Winter. If you can, get a sample to see if it is for you first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jouho View Post

Wow, thank you all for the responses!



Hm, interesting, you recommend Tuscan Leather? How is the leather though? Is the leather more up-front, or like a supporting role, or?



Nope, I actually don't have any Montales... yet?
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post #22 of 30
1/10/13 at 4:42pm
Interesting question. A few ideas that have gotten attention from others:

Fumerie Turque-SergeLutens
Nuit Etoilee-Annick Goutal
Oxford and Cambridge-Czech and Speake
Jules-Dior
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post #23 of 30
1/10/13 at 5:33pm
It is interesting how many responses completely ignored parts of your original qualifications for what you are looking for, eg. "Not Leather" or "Not Oud"

The problem is your original criteria are somewhat contradictory. The more original and interesting a fragrance is, the less likely it is to resemble other fragrances with which people are familiar, and the higher the risk that someone will wrinkle her nose and HATE it. There's a fine line between good different "that's interesting" and bad different "wtf..." And this line will be in totally different places for different people.

That being said, I've had favorable responses to fragrances I consider a little "different" such as Dzing! or Comme des Garçons 2 Man or Etro Shaal Nur or even designer ones like Bulgari Black or Shiseido Basala.
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post #24 of 30
1/10/13 at 6:35pm
Nostalgia by Santa Maria Novella - on second thoughts maybe that trips up on your non-leather requirement...

A number of Comme des Garcons scents also qualify.
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post #25 of 30
1/12/13 at 1:36pm
Malle's Geranium pour homme - a pleasing refreshing fragrance with a deep warm base. Approachable and stylish.
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post #26 of 30
1/12/13 at 4:09pm
You could easily get a conversation starter from a designer fragrance for a lot less. Why does it have to be niche and pay a small fortune for it? Ones like:

Cacharel pourL'Homme
Azzaro Pour Homme
Cartier Declaration
YSLOpium
CostumeNational Homme
Tsar by Van Cleef and Arpels
Fahrenheit Absolute by YSL
and on and on.......

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post #27 of 30
1/12/13 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by southerngardens View Post

You could easily get a conversation starter from a designer fragrance for a lot less. Why does it have to be niche and pay a small fortune for it? Ones like:

Cacharel pourL'Homme
Azzaro Pour Homme
Cartier Declaration
YSLOpium
CostumeNational Homme
Tsar by Van Cleef and Arpels
Fahrenheit Absolute by YSL
and on and on.......


Could not agree with you more Southergardens. I have YSL Opium Pour Homme edp, and Fahrenheit Absolute. Great conversations starters without breaking the bank. Enjoy your posts.
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post #28 of 30
1/12/13 at 5:44pm
No leather. No oud. Maybe good for conversation? How about CdG Avignon?
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post #29 of 30
1/12/13 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

+1 for Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford. It always gets compliments for me.

True but it seems to be Loved or Hated by most
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post #30 of 30
1/12/13 at 7:08pm
+1 Dzing(very mild leather note)
+1 Fumerie Turque
Another real head turner is Dirty from Lush, but I don't know if that qualifies as a niche.
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