Recommendations please! for: 1) spiritual/uplifting, 2) sensual/masculine, and 3) natural/healthy

[jnailen]

I see Buzzlepuff mentioned Let Me Play the Lion and I don't know how I forgot it. It's another beautiful and natural smelling incense scent that is subtle and yet spiritual. Whereas many incense scents are either churchy or green or lemony or what have you, this scent smells very golden orange in color. It is warm and dry and dusty and yet there is a note (carnation perhaps) that is utilized to perfection here that keeps it from being too dry. It adds a hint of creaminess and sexiness to something that could otherwise have become too harsh and austere. Another scent that I rank in the top 12 of all I've sniffed. (more information on Let Me Play the Lion here: http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/secti..._the_Lion.html )

That sounds right up my alley and it's been recommended twice so I'll try it.

Thanks,
Jeff

[jnailen]

Another scent worth mention, simply because it is truly unique in its utter minimalism, is "Wicken 3000" by Six Scents. It does not smell like a perfume, per se, but instead simply like purified air with hints of a salty sea spray. It actually does a really good job of capturing both the smell of water (unchlorinated water, more like the scent of the water (not the plants) that permeates the air near a pond at sundown), and then transitioning into the scent of air, with a hint of salt. Luckyscent's description of the scent is pretty accurate IMO - http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detai...id=44902&attr=

I do find this to be a great scent to use for meditation or yoga as it is just so utterly minimalist and truly blends in with the wearer and ones surroundings, instead of calling attention to itself in any way. Despite being so minimalist it actually is fairly strong and lasts a long time.

Minimalist sounds good to me; keep them coming if you think of any others...I'll order a bunch of samples from Luckyscent

[kärleksparfym]

Also note that Aedes.com does 7 samples for $15. Selection may not be as large as Lucky, but that's a good price for samples. Many lines are exclusive to certain department stores. For a slightly higher price, you can get samples of almost any fragrance that exists at theperfumedcourt.com

[MysteryBuff40]

Spiritual: L'Artisan's Timbuktu

Masculine/Sensual: de Nicolai's New York or Frederic Malle's Musc Ravageur

Clean Healthy (for those sensitive to scent): Gendarme (many people with allergies can only wear this scent) or L'Artisan's Navegar

[jnailen]

1. Gucci Pour Homme II: Smells like black tea, very calming and subtle. Generally though for meditation I wear any fragrances I LOVE but know they won't get me compliments, sort of my-alone-time-fragrances. Many vetivers or spicy complex scents fit there perfect.
2. That's too general, I'd go for a good vetiver like Encre Noire or something like Narciso Rodriguez for Him EdP, or if you're willing to pay more, go for something with Aoud in it, like Amouage Gold, though at the same time most Aoud's are somewhat unisex. Animalic/deep/bitter Ambre's (as opposed to soft ones like Ambre Precieux) are good, I like CK Obsession even though it's not stricly an Ambre perfume, though it's too old for me and probably for you as well to make a signature masculine fragrance.
3. No idea, not into "Sporty" fragrances, the only one I really like Allure Blanche Edition but it's not very natural smelling, smells like lemon tarts. But as far as I'm concerned, most synthetic fragrances are made with allergies in mind compared to fragrances that are made with natural ingredients. But I guess some people are allergic to chemicals in general. To be honest I'd recommend visiting one of those gift boutiques if you're close to one and grabbing something from there since they sell a lot of organic stuff, fragrances with allergies in consideration and such. I would even go for a nice smelling citrus body cream/lotion if you're really that concerned about allergic reaction. That if you don't consider putting a scented lotion too girly.

Good luck,
-Ekove

Haha, nah, it's not too girly, I'll try anything! Thanks, great recommendations. Any of those that might cover all 3-in-1? Something that's spiritual, sensual, and natural at once?

Thanks Ekove,
Jeff

[Jitterbug Perfume Lover]

Hi Jeff
I'm a newbie member too, but since I'm from Albuquerque, I thought I'd add my two cents, especially since I have a similar problem here in Los Angeles. You said that the fragrances you've tried don't last very long and that they can be overwhelming to sensitive people. I think it has a lot to do with the dry heat in Santa Fe and how you are applying it.
I learned a valuable lesson during an extended stay in New Orleans when I was considering moving there - it seems that the humidity or dryness of a place definitely changes the scent and the sillage. In New Orleans I had to wear heavy heady scents that could withstand the humidity. The light perfume spritzes that I wear in Los Angeles just disappeared in New Orleans and burned off in New Mexico. Here in Los Angeles and when I go back home to New Mexico, I have to wear oils that are lightly scented; like body oils and then layer my fragrance. Anything else just fades away too quickly, or if it's too strong it becomes overwhelming in the dry heat.
I've found that if I moisturize my skin before applying fragrance with a body oil, like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil, then layer the fragrance with a scented lotion and matching fragrance, it lasts much longer, I use less, and it's surprisingly more subtle.

[Jitterbug Perfume Lover]

I just thought of something you might want to experiment with. There is a woman who sells at the Pow Wows in New Mexico who makes scented massage oil with medicinal herbs. I bought a white sage massage oil from her that I use to moisturize my skin before I apply my fragrance. I like the way it very subtly changes the scent, but even more intriguing is that to me, makes it more "spiritual" because of the white sage. Her website is www.medicineofthepeople.net

[volley2]

Hi Jeff try these from the house of L'artisan Parfumeur:
Timbuktu
Dzongkha
Al Oudh

[Xen]

I was thinking, Mugler Cologne could well be a match to all three.

[Diamondflame]

Welcome to Basenotes!

Seconding recs on Dzongkha & Timbuktu.

You should also give Serge Noire by Serge Lutens a sniff. It starts off fresh and camphoraceous, gets dry and incensey in the middle and peters off smoothly to mild spicy sweetness. An excellent masculine frag for meditation with moderate projection, but go easy on the trigger if you're planning to do some heavy duty workouts.

Also try Encens Flamboyant from Annick Goutal.

[Pour_Monsieur]

Spiritual , uplifting and sensual .... all covered by Homage from Amouage

[Basteri]

nd.3019.jpg

[Pipsta]

I miss SF....spent alot of time there, lived there awhile and had my base/Drivers License in the state of NM for a few years. Even lived down the road from SF in a 200 year old adobe on the old SF trail for awhile which was retro fitted with water and electric so I wasn't too old school...hehehe

[jnailen]

Essence of Jerusalem for Men



http://www.essenceofjerusalem.biz/

^ Near the bottom of the page, click on the link that says Perfumes for Men and Women

Thanks, never heard of this one before, sounds good...

[jnailen]

Also note that Aedes.com does 7 samples for $15. Selection may not be as large as Lucky, but that's a good price for samples. Many lines are exclusive to certain department stores. For a slightly higher price, you can get samples of almost any fragrance that exists at theperfumedcourt.com

Thanks for this, this is going to save some money...

[jnailen]

Spiritual: L'Artisan's Timbuktu

Masculine/Sensual: de Nicolai's New York or Frederic Malle's Musc Ravageur

Clean Healthy (for those sensitive to scent): Gendarme (many people with allergies can only wear this scent) or L'Artisan's Navegar

Do any of these cover all three aspects?
Thanks,
Jeff

[Igor01]

Jeff, you may want to consider pure oud oils and natural oil attars which could be a perfect for a spiritual person like yourself. Oud, sandalwood, rose, musk, vetiver and other traditional oils and oil blends can have a profound psycho-emotional effect. I'd try good Indonesian and Cambodian ouds (Oriscent's Blue Brunei, Oriscent Borneo Kinam, Oudimentary's KSSS) for both spiritual and masculine/sensual. As for clean/healthy there is plenty of good quality "regular" spray fragrances, you may like Creed's Millesime Imperial and Silver Mountain Water, or even Windsor for example.

[hirch_duckfinder]

Hi,
Many of the scents recommended are very far from natural (for example CDG are self consciously synthetic heavy).
I would recommended two all-natural perfumers held in very high regard by many around here Ayala Moriel and Dominique Dubrana (www.profumo.it).
Also "Essentially Me" make excellent fragrances which are heavilly but not entirely natural.

Edit - igor01's oud oil suggestion is excellent!

[jnailen]

I just thought of something you might want to experiment with. There is a woman who sells at the Pow Wows in New Mexico who makes scented massage oil with medicinal herbs. I bought a white sage massage oil from her that I use to moisturize my skin before I apply my fragrance. I like the way it very subtly changes the scent, but even more intriguing is that to me, makes it more "spiritual" because of the white sage. Her website is www.medicineofthepeople.net

Cool website, and I like that she's local...thanks for sharing that

[jnailen]

Hi Jeff try these from the house of L'artisan Parfumeur:
Timbuktu
Dzongkha
Al Oudh

I will...that's the first I've heard of Dzongkha...very cool as I'm partial to Dzogchen Buddhism and several have recommended scents from L'artisan...seems a good fit for me

[jnailen]

Hi Jeff
I'm a newbie member too, but since I'm from Albuquerque, I thought I'd add my two cents, especially since I have a similar problem here in Los Angeles. You said that the fragrances you've tried don't last very long and that they can be overwhelming to sensitive people. I think it has a lot to do with the dry heat in Santa Fe and how you are applying it.
I learned a valuable lesson during an extended stay in New Orleans when I was considering moving there - it seems that the humidity or dryness of a place definitely changes the scent and the sillage. In New Orleans I had to wear heavy heady scents that could withstand the humidity. The light perfume spritzes that I wear in Los Angeles just disappeared in New Orleans and burned off in New Mexico. Here in Los Angeles and when I go back home to New Mexico, I have to wear oils that are lightly scented; like body oils and then layer my fragrance. Anything else just fades away too quickly, or if it's too strong it becomes overwhelming in the dry heat.
I've found that if I moisturize my skin before applying fragrance with a body oil, like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil, then layer the fragrance with a scented lotion and matching fragrance, it lasts much longer, I use less, and it's surprisingly more subtle.

Thanks for the great advice, a couple of others have recommended oils too. I know what you mean about the humidity in Narlens (as we call it in the south!) because I lived close by in Mobile. I don't know, seems like a lot of trouble tho, I'd like something low maintenance I can just spray and go. Based on your experience in NM what should I look for and what kinds of scents don't work here?

Thanks,
Jeff

[jnailen]

I was thinking, Mugler Cologne could well be a match to all three.

added to my list to try; I've read about it in other threads, sounds interesting

[SculptureOfSoul]

After not wearing it for quite some time I decided to put on Les Nez's Let Me Play The Lion today, which was recommended by someone else and which I seconded, earlier.

While I knew I loved the scent, in the absence of wearing it for so long I forgot just how amazing this scent really is. It absolutely fits the spiritual/meditative aspect of the equation, it is quite assuredly masculine and natural smelling, and I (and my g/f) find it to be quite sensual, although not outright sexy. It has excellent longevity and rather subdued sillage, which seems like the ideal combination of those attributes for the overall effect you are looking for (i.e wearing scent primarily for your own enjoyment with the scent being perceptible only to those who get in rather close to you).

I know you plan to sample this so in essence I'm preaching to the choir, but I just simply had to chime in again, as I absolutely love this scent.

[dredmahawkus]

I was also going to recommend pure oud oil but Igor beat me to it! It's the only thing that fits all of you criteria!

[petruccijc]

I would recommend Kiehl's Musk in either the EDT or oil, or one of their other fragrance oils (Pour Homme, Amber, etc.) - http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/fragra...applicator.htm

[jnailen]

Welcome to Basenotes!

Seconding recs on Dzongkha & Timbuktu.

You should also give Serge Noire by Serge Lutens a sniff. It starts off fresh and camphoraceous, gets dry and incensey in the middle and peters off smoothly to mild spicy sweetness. An excellent masculine frag for meditation with moderate projection, but go easy on the trigger if you're planning to do some heavy duty workouts.

Also try Encens Flamboyant from Annick Goutal.

Thanks, Serge Noire sounds interesting, I'll try it and Encens Flamboyant as well.

Thanks everyone for your kind and generous recommendations!

A couple of people have mentioned that my 2nd criteria, masculine/sensual, is too broad or general so since so many are kind enough to take the time to offer suggestions and I'm impressed with how much you guys and gals know about scents, what I've found so far is that unisex scents in general don't appeal to me, they're too feminine for my personality, but strongly masculine scents with no feminine qualities don't fit me either...I don't like going around smelling like a grizzly bear ;-) so I'm looking for something in between, something predominately masculine but that offers some contrast, a combo of masculine and feminine features that's say 3/4 masculine 1/4 feminine if that makes any sense...On the luckyscents scale, something midway between unisex and pure masculine (as well as spiritual/mystical and natural/healthy)...have there been any threads on this?

Thanks!
Jeff

[jnailen]

I would recommend Kiehl's Musk in either the EDT or oil, or one of their other fragrance oils (Pour Homme, Amber, etc.) - http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/fragra...applicator.htm

Thanks everyone! What is 'EDT'?

[petruccijc]

Thanks everyone! What is 'EDT'?

Eau de Toilette

[CX827]

Some KenzoKi beneficial waters are pretty good for yoga or meditation.
Ginger(Euphoric), Bamboo(Energizing), White Lotus(Relaxing) and Rice Steam(Sensual)..personally i like all of them

you can log on to Kenzo fragrance website to check them out.

[jnailen]

Jeff, you may want to consider pure oud oils and natural oil attars which could be a perfect for a spiritual person like yourself. Oud, sandalwood, rose, musk, vetiver and other traditional oils and oil blends can have a profound psycho-emotional effect. I'd try good Indonesian and Cambodian ouds (Oriscent's Blue Brunei, Oriscent Borneo Kinam, Oudimentary's KSSS) for both spiritual and masculine/sensual. As for clean/healthy there is plenty of good quality "regular" spray fragrances, you may like Creed's Millesime Imperial and Silver Mountain Water, or even Windsor for example.

Hi,
Many of the scents recommended are very far from natural (for example CDG are self consciously synthetic heavy).
I would recommended two all-natural perfumers held in very high regard by many around here Ayala Moriel and Dominique Dubrana (www.profumo.it).
Also "Essentially Me" make excellent fragrances which are heavilly but not entirely natural.

Edit - igor01's oud oil suggestion is excellent!

Thanks, these are some great recommendations. Jitterbug Perfume Lover also recommended using oils...what's the difference between oud oils and oil attars? Can you point me to a thread or page that might explain these?

Thanks,
Jeff