Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier /SL Paris advice req'd

[leopoldo]

Recommendations please chaps. My wardrobe currently looks like this (I'm spending too much on this new obsession):

Bulgari Black Bulgari 1998
Bois d'Argent Cologne Christian Dior 2004
Happy for Men Clinique 1999
parfums*PARFUMS Series 2 Red: Sequoia Comme des Garçons 2001
parfums*PARFUMS Series 3 Incense: Avignon Comme des Garçons 2002
parfums*PARFUMS Series 3 Incense: Kyoto Comme des Garçons 2002
parfums*PARFUMS Series 3 Incense: Zagorsk Comme des Garçons 2002
Envy for Men Gucci 1998
Gucci pour Homme Gucci 2003
Rush for Men Gucci 2000
Eau de Guerlain Guerlain 1974
Vetiver Guerlain 1961
Cuiron Pour Homme Helmut Lang 2002
154 Jo Malone 2001
Amber & Lavender Jo Malone 1995
Pomegranate Noir Jo Malone 2005
Bois Farine L'Artisan Parfumeur 2003
Cologne Mûre et Musc L'Artisan Parfumeur 2003 Dzing! L'Artisan Parfumeur 1999
Méchant Loup L'Artisan Parfumeur 1997
Tea for Two L'Artisan Parfumeur 2000
Voleur de Roses L'Artisan Parfumeur 1993
Hammam Bouquet Penhaligon's 1872
Arabie Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido 2000
Un Cèdre Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido 2005
The Dreamer Versace 1996
M7 Yves Saint Laurent 2002
Rive Gauche pour Homme Yves Saint Lau

[nsamadi]

Try Santal Noble, Iris Bleu Gris and Ambre Preceiux from MPG

[Prof_S]

If the Bulgari Black and the Arabie don't strike you as being a bit sweeter than you really prefer, you might testdrive Guerlain's Jicky, Habit Rouge, and Heritage to see if one of them might have something you like. For me, Jicky hit the spot and the other two did not, but for some guys it is definitely the reverse. Be advised, however, that they all have vanilla in non-trivial amounts. Heck, next time you cruise by a fragrance counter, it wouldn't kill you to take a hit off a bottle of L'Instant de Guerlain pH. It's not as profound and complex as the first three Guerlains, but it's useful, inoffensive, and a lot better made than most other recent releases.

Also, if M7 doesn't scare you, then you might like to try samples of Patricia de Nicolai's New York and MPG's Santal Noble (to second Nsamadi's recommendation), since a lot of folks (including me) are big fans of these two. If you have to order New York to get a whiff, try to get a sample or decant in glass. A couple years back, I got 1/4 oz of New York from an eBay seller who had obviously left it in the little plastic sprayer a while before I bought it. The juice was barely recognizable - sticky sweet and just nasty. In contrast, I cannot say enough flattering things about the same fragrance when it has been handled with a bit more respect.

I hope you won't be offended if I explicitly emphasize that I am not recommending blind buys for any one of these frags. Every one of them has recorded a few negative reviews from different individuals on this board. So, test first, but I really think at least one or two might float your boat.

[leopoldo]

Thanks for that detailed, well-informed info. Twas a pleasure to read. I have to be careful with vanilla - I like it, but in small amounts. The dry down on Eau Noire, which first seemed delightful, bacame a little to vanillic for me. So I will test drive.

Look forward to reporting back. Might need to also investigate 0% interest credit cards too...

[moon_fish]

Serge Lutens
Encens et Lavande, Chene, Iris Silver Mist, Cuir Mauresque worth to try...
MPG
Second all suggestions... maybe Parfum d`Habit to add.
Sure you should go to Rue de Grenelle - to MPG, Nicolai and Frederic Malle boutiques.