Strangest and rudeest question ever: any of the Basenotes ladies got complimented by other ladies

[LisaOlivia]

My mom loves the original Kate Spade on me and I regularly bought her fb until it was discontinued recently........she said it reminded her of a flower in Korea that brought back fond memories. Other than that most mom's of little ones don't really wear too much fragrance at least that I can detect..we're all too busy running around and getting dirty to notice I suppose.

[carolina girl]

I don't often receive compliments on my fragrance, possibly because I don't spray too heavily. But recently a female friend said how wonderful I smelled and asked what it was: Casmir by Chopard.

[kbe]

Yohji, Magot, Mauboussin, Arabie, Comme des Garçons (the original EdP), Hinoki, A*Men, Ambre Précieux, Ambre Extrême, Voleur de Roses, DZING!

Coco and Salvador Dalí weren't just complimented but "stolen" by a friend (they gave her a headache, though, when she tried to wear them herself and she had the nerve to try to sell them to me...)

With friends like that who needs enemies?

Really though, women seem to compliment other women on clothes, hair, shoes, handbags, makeup, figure, lifestyle etc. Guys seem to glare at other guys while they slowly swig their longneck Bud.

[Starr.buck]

I'm actually more complimented by women than men about my perfumes.

[Sea Roses]

Have learnt about so many fragrances because if I know the person I will compliment them on their fragrance.....mainly women. Men can be a little bit tricky.

Just love the waft of a beautiful fragrance as people go by.

[Warum]

I do not see this simple gender comparison question as offensive.
There are two men in my life who compliment my perfumes regularly, one is my husband (we have intimate conversations about perfume all the time), another is my best male friend, he and my husband play music together and he always doesn't just says, "you smell nice" but actually offers an association about the perfume I am wearing. We are "couples-friends", that is, me and Mr. W and M., my friend, and Ms. M. often spend time together since we have moved to Oregon.

Other than that, I think I am with Donna. Men won't comment on my perfumes, nails, etc. so that they are not seen as intruders giving uncalled-for comments.

All my compliments come from women, I think perhaps because of the PC rules men are worried about approaching women with compliments.

Women do compliment me on my scents, I had my neighbor hug me and ask what I was wearing and she kept saying how nice it smelled on me. A female friend at a party did not just complimented my 1740, but gave me a couple of long neck sniffs! Ugh, funny. I guess I should point her boyfriend in a right direction, but I doubt most of my friends would spend the kind of money on fragrance Other female friends compliment with less expressiveness but they still do. I guess in general I receive more compliments from women, and the two men who compliment my perfumes are very special.

[mumsy]

I have had a few lady comments recently with a vintage Ma Griffe perfume strength, and with 24 Faubourg. I always used to get random females stopping me and asking when I wore Houbigant Ambergris long ago. The girls around my village know each other fairly well, and they know I mess with making perfume, so they are always sniffing me to see what I have got on. Only one friends man comments regularly, but then he is a bit of a perfumista himself. I think many females are happy to comment on others about all sorts of things. It just isn't rude for girls. Men are probably worried it might be taken the wrong way, so they may think it but not say...... Second thoughts... most won't notice or care unless it smells like beer or steak!

[knit at nite]

With friends like that who needs enemies?

Really though, women seem to compliment other women on clothes, hair, shoes, handbags, makeup, figure, lifestyle etc. Guys seem to glare at other guys while they slowly swig their longneck Bud.

LMAO! In many cultures that is sooooo TRUE!

I don't find the thread question offensive, either. Truth be told, I rarely get compliments about anything from anyone, (as opposed to my younger years). Culture here is so youth centric that women of a certain age just seem to cross some invisible line where they disappear from scrutiny. That's my wild theory, anyway.

[out of smoke]

My perfume is rarely complimented by men or women. I am way more likely to get a compliment on how I look or maybe a pair of earrings than I am on my perfume. Sad as I would much prefer a compliment on the my scent.

[Primrose]

I complimented a nurse drawing my blood at a clinic, and she was wearing Bath and Body Japanese Cherry Blossom.

[Divatologist]

I get the most compliments from women when I wear Alien. I love the reaction I get when I tell them the name of the perfume LOL! They're like the perfume is named what :-/ lol. I am definitely a heavy sprayer. I very rarely get told that I have on too much though. The folks that know me will say oh she always smells good. As far as strangers go, Alien is what usually stops them in their tracks.

[tigrushka]

tigrushka! What a story! How did you know she was the one who ''borroed'' them? And how could she try to sell them back to you?
Where does the word ''friend'' come in???

She bought her own bottles, of course. But since both scents (especially Coco) were my signature scents then, I used the verb "steal" because that's how it felt.

But this is generally a good lesson about perfume: if it smells good on someone else, it's no guarantee that it will work for you. You MUST try the scent on your own skin to know whether it suits you or not.

[seattlelight]

Recent compliments on: Insolence parfum and EDP (sister), Y (female co-worker), Portrait of a Lady (female co-workers), Kelly Caleche (female co-workers and female dermatologist), Alien (female strangers), 31 Rue Cambon (female co-workers and male strangers), Philtre d'Amour (male co-worker), Corps et Ames (female co-workers and male friend), Alpona (female friend), Coco Mademoiselle (female co-worker), and Ysatis body cream (female co-worker).

There have been two occasions in the past several months that I "sensed" a male stranger's interest in my fragrance: once with 31 Rue Cambon and the other with Angel body lotion (older formulation in the pale blue stand up bottle). They should just ask me what I'm wearing - I'd happily tell them!

[Habanitta]

A question to Ken: Are you being sarcastic? I sure get the sarcastic vibe from the way you introduced your question and I find it funny, but others here seem to react seriously. So are you serious or not?

[soirdelune]

Well, I'm a gay woman and I believe it goes without saying that I get many an admiring compliment on my scents from other gay women. For the 'curious', I'd say that Portrait of a Lady, Soir de Lune, Habanita and Bandit ( ) garner the most attention.

Not that this is indicative of anything, of course

[Ken_Russell]

A question to Ken: Are you being sarcastic? I sure get the sarcastic vibe from the way you introduced your question and I find it funny, but others here seem to react seriously. So are you serious or not?

Great replies so far, and no, I am quite serious, not being sarcastic actually, I still, had doubts whether it was a socially acceptable and appropriate question, so I took my (incomplete and imperfect, I know) precautions, before I was to break or bend forum rules

In fact, the serious answers are exactly what I hoped for, since I simply wanted to know some frank, unbiased opinions regarding these particular compliments

But I can assure that my intention wasn't to be sarcastic at all and definitely not as much funny, as serious- thus, not offend or displease in any way

Replies have been, just as I said, great so far, and, if possible, it would be interesting to find out additional takes on the subject

[Habanitta]

@Ken: Oh. Then I must say that I, too, find your question perfectly appropriate.

[darkdreams]

I understand what Habanitta is saying. I had the same though.
"Strangest"? Ha! I remember questions such as "What should a dominatrix wear", "What says "trailer trash"" ...or worse...
And no, it is not rude at all to ask people what perfumes garner compliments. Sometimes, it gets asked too much, and the "panty dropper" aspect is sure to irritate a lot of people. But..no...I don't think this was rude in anyway (just terribly convoluted ).

[pomander]

Thanks for asking! I've received compiments from women when wearing Hermes Kelly Caleche (EDT and EDP), Chanel's Bel Respiro, 31 rue Cambon, and No 5 Elixir Sensuelle, and Guerlain Rose Barbare.

[mumsy]

and the "panty dropper" aspect is sure to irritate a lot of people.

If you have a look at the male fragrance discussion, this aspect is frequently discussed in reverse, and not considered irritating. In the context of this forum where scent is the main issue, should this type of question be really be considered out of bounds anyway? I don't think so, seeing as we are all grown up and the question is mostly posed with tongue in cheek. It is mostly relevant in scent terms, but again perhaps could be just be asked in a more eloquent fashion to avoid offence if any indeed be taken.

[Primrose]

Great thread, Ken.

I complimented a woman on her scent in a dentist's office and she smiled and said it was Oscar de la Renta. Another time, I complimented a woman on her scent at the veterinarian's, asking, "Are you wearing Azuree?" She smiled and replied, "Why, yes!"

[teardrop]

Further to my earlier post, l neglected to mention that l have myself complimented other women on their fragrances a few times.
Those that spring to mind are Stella & Alien on patients of mine, Diorissimo on a colleague, & Youth Dew on a local pub landlady; usually l can't stand it, but it works on her & it helps that she doesn't douse herself in it!

[socalwoman]

My girl-on-girl-compliment-gettin' frags: Serge Lutens Chergui, Marilyn Miglin Pheremone (go figure), VC&A Bois d'Iris and Etat Libre d'Orange Putain des Palaces.

[Foustie]

Culture here is so youth centric that women of a certain age just seem to cross some invisible line where they disappear from scrutiny. That's my wild theory, anyway.

I think that a lot of us girls here are of a certain vintage. Ha ha. Don't lose you mojo you gorgeous thing! I will give you a compliment. You are fabulous!

[goldie]

I think the circles you travel in make a huge difference. I teach, so I leave the heavy hitters at home when at school. However, I regularly get complimented on fragrances by co-workers and I suspect that is because we are mostly females and in a supportive and naturing environment where giving and receiving compliments is a lovely part of life. The sweetest compliment I have ever received was from a little girl who told me she wanted to smell good just like me when she grew up. My friends and I tend to embrace upon greeting, so we are often noticing each other's fragrances. Plus, some of us like to talk about fragrance so that is a part of it. Also, my mother-in-law is very much into perfume so she always notices what I am wearing.

Certain fragrances garner more compliments, for sure. However, that may be a reflection of what I am wearing them for (ie work) rather than their complexity or artistry. Most recently I have been complimented on Stella, Kelly Caleche (noted this has come up a lot on this thread- must be easy on the nose and different enough for people to notice), nos. 22 and 5, Le Dix, and Apres l"Ondee (my favorite btw). I don't wear masculines very much (hello- do you see the list before), however I do wear Eau Savage and Jicky (I know it is marketed to women now, but it is masculine to me) on occasion and I have had people compliment me on them.

[Guest 3]

I think that a lot of us girls here are of a certain vintage. Ha ha. Don't lose you mojo you gorgeous thing! I will give you a compliment. You are fabulous!

Yes, you are, Knit!

I have complimented women on fragrances that I should have recognized, but that smelled so amazing on those women that I didn't: Arden Red Door, Aromatics Elixir.

[purplebird7]

I'm the one doing the complementing of other women most of the time, and usually it's when I smell Aromatics Elixer or Egyptian Goddess Musk on other women. A few times it has been Amazing Grace, and once it was Flowerbomb.

On me, in this highly conservative part of the country where women don't often wear fragrance, let alone single out strangers to compliment in public, the few time I have earned comments have been for No. 19 and Tocade. Roses. Yes. Once I was wearing 24, Faubourg, and someone said to someone else (not me) "What's that? I think I smell..." and then she mentioned the wrong perfume, but at least it was the name of something popular.

Oh, and the worst comment I overheard about me was, "I smell something...STRONG."

[teardrop]

I think that a lot of us girls here are of a certain vintage. Ha ha. Don't lose you mojo you gorgeous thing! I will give you a compliment. You are fabulous!

Yes indeed! And the lady on whom l smelled Alien was well into that "certain vintage", & she totally rocked it!

[out of smoke]

Yes I agree that women of a certain age do experience a certain dryness when it comes to attention.If only I had know this in college I would have taken more advantage of my opportunities.

[Bal a Versailles]

Most complimented, by women, when shopping, is Mauboussin. Most complimented at home, by my husband of 37 years duration, is a cheapie...Lumiere Noir by Gres (it's a bit of a Coco Mademoiselle clone) I have never had a compliment on my most costly fragrances and think this is hilarious.