How do I find "my" perfume?

[purpleinnej]

Hello,
I've been on a perfume search for 2+ years with no success. I want something that is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overpowering. I tried Armani Code, and while I like the scent fine (not LOVING it), it wasn't really strong enough to even notice if I was wearing perfume or not. My main goal is a scent that will always remind my kids of me. My grandpa wore Brut aftershave and even now when I smell it I think of him instantly. So I want to find one that I love and stick with it. I like floral notes, plumeria especially, and my absolute FAVORITE scent is the Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich lotion. After searching and ending up in a thread in another part of this forum, I found that it has white tea and verbena notes, possibly lemongrass. I'm not really sure what to do with this info to try and find a similarly scented perfume. If I could find a perfume that smelled just like that, but more "concentrated," I'd be thrilled.

Appreciate any help you're willing to give!

[PrinceRF]

You need to sample as much as you can and take your time with the process. Eventually, something will click.

[sjg3839]

Like PrinceRF mentioned, sample away.

[Scents And Sense]

You need to sample as much as you can and take your time with the process. Eventually, something will click.

This.

[cacio]

Welcome!

As for the strength, remember that one's nose often tones down smells after a while, so while one cannot smell oneself, other people will be able to smell clearly. So always doublecheck and asking others.

I have not smelled the Roth cream, so not sure I can help. For tea, the usual reference is Bulgari Eau parfumee au the vert (light but very long lasting), for verbena is Eau de Guerlain. But as said I do not know if they smell like what you are looking or.

cacio

[Danny Mitchell]

Hello,
I've been on a perfume search for 2+ years with no success. I want something that is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overpowering. I tried Armani Code, and while I like the scent fine (not LOVING it), it wasn't really strong enough to even notice if I was wearing perfume or not. My main goal is a scent that will always remind my kids of me. My grandpa wore Brut aftershave and even now when I smell it I think of him instantly. So I want to find one that I love and stick with it. I like floral notes, plumeria especially, and my absolute FAVORITE scent is the Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich lotion. After searching and ending up in a thread in another part of this forum, I found that it has white tea and verbena notes, possibly lemongrass. I'm not really sure what to do with this info to try and find a similarly scented perfume. If I could find a perfume that smelled just like that, but more "concentrated," I'd be thrilled.

Appreciate any help you're willing to give!

Try as many different scents as you can and take your time. Enjoy the process, don't force it.
Also, if Armani Code is close to what you like, try Code A-List. It's much stronger and lasts longer.

[purpleinnej]

Try as many different scents as you can and take your time. Enjoy the process, don't force it.
Also, if Armani Code is close to what you like, try Code A-List. It's much stronger and lasts longer.

I only see Code-A-List for men. I'm a woman. Is there a "for women" version I'm missing?

[purpleinnej]

I appreciate everyone saying "sample" and "try a bunch" but I've tried that and came up short. I spent a long time spraying sample papers and narrowing down choices (like 15 samples every trip to the department store), but I feel like there are just SOOOO many options it's super overwhelming. If I could come up with a list of 10-15 choices, I would be much better off.

[scenting prey]

Recruit the kids into the process by asking them to nominate a few candidates from the samples you obtained. That will ease your decision fatigue and address their association between you and the signature scent since that is your primary driver.

[Mak-7]

Hello,
I've been on a perfume search for 2+ years with no success. I want something that is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overpowering. I tried Armani Code, and while I like the scent fine (not LOVING it), it wasn't really strong enough to even notice if I was wearing perfume or not. My main goal is a scent that will always remind my kids of me. My grandpa wore Brut aftershave and even now when I smell it I think of him instantly. So I want to find one that I love and stick with it. I like floral notes, plumeria especially, and my absolute FAVORITE scent is the Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich lotion. After searching and ending up in a thread in another part of this forum, I found that it has white tea and verbena notes, possibly lemongrass. I'm not really sure what to do with this info to try and find a similarly scented perfume. If I could find a perfume that smelled just like that, but more "concentrated," I'd be thrilled.

Appreciate any help you're willing to give!

Can you describe what it smells like?
On top of white tea and lemongrass, there should be other smells, background noise like coconut, white creamy association. Is it powdery, is it dry, is it moist like after the rain?
I can say l'artizan timbuktu might work, bois 1920 oltremare, bvlgari vert for fresh ones.
Looking at armani code notes, try guerlains tonka imperiale, musc noble maybe, cuir beluga?

But untill you give more of a description, its hard to say.

[hednic]

Keep putting your nose on as many scents as possible.

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

You need to sample as much as you can and take your time with the process. Eventually, something will click.

This would be good advice.

[PrinceRF]

but I feel like there are just SOOOO many options it's super overwhelming.

I'm right there with you.

[Danny Mitchell]

I only see Code-A-List for men. I'm a woman. Is there a "for women" version I'm missing?

My mistake. Yes, it's a masculine scent.

[Mark.B]

one way to reduce the number of testers is to focus on the key note you like.

If that is white tea then try starting with Eau parfumee au thé blanc, by bulgari.

You can also go to fragrantica and start with au thé blanc and click through similar smelling scents.

Hope a starting point helps you.

Best of luck!

[ThVH]

Welcome!

By sampling, I guess people mean to obtain little sample vials and wear them (at home for instance). This gives a much better impression than sampling 15 paper strips in a row.

[Mai7]

You could try Byredo Sunday Cologne and possibly some Calvin Klein fragrances, they are basically available everywhere for testing. Paper strips mean nothing, your skin is the most important factor here.
Oh, and I have noticed that kids like lighter scents, they usually frown noses at anything heavy.
Also maybe Lush Love, if there's a Lush shop near where you live.

[Heawns]

You need to sample as much as you can and take your time with the process. Eventually, something will click.

That's not only the best way (in terms of getting what you really like) but it's also a fun process where you don't have to worry about spending for a full bottle or having to sell something that didn't work out,.

As far as what you ask specifically, I think it might be impossible. Scent is very specific. There might be a hundred EdP/EdT fragrances out there that have some of what you ask for in terms of notes or general vibe but none would give you what you are looking for. Smell is complicated, it's about moods, memories, textures, and who knows what....
So my advice is to simply explore various scent categories, preferably get 2ml or larger samples for each fragrance, and think of it in more general terms of liking a fragrance a lot or not (even tho you might only get some scents with X note listed in one go).

So recently I got a few iris and/or leather noted scents that I went thru..... It's a nice process where once you have smelled a lot of stuff you can more easily get a hunch about what the reviews are meant to say from others.

And yeah if you aren't familiar with lots of fragrances then it's gonna be really difficult just in general....knowing what you are smelling and everything. It's like when you learn a new language etc. and at first everything is blurry and then it starts clicking and things move along rather quickly. But that's solved by sampling, and reading a bit what others say, and with time.

[speckmann0706]

Sometimes you won’t fully click with fragrances or enjoy all the aspects of them, it doesn’t stop me from wearing them and it shouldn’t you either. There is only a few I completely enjoy and then days I struggle with a few of them, the sense of smell is funny that way. Don’t forget to visit the old school classic fragrances, maybe your not meant for the newer stuff for me at least they leave less of a impression on me their too safe and easy to bore of.

[leffleur]

I don’t know what that lotion smells like.
I agree to obtain samples that you can wear for a time before deciding. The issue being, designer samples aren’t as plentiful as niche.

I think you should try:

Bvlgari The Vert
Chanel Cristalle
Dior J’adore
Cauldalie Thé des Vignes

[MuddyBoots]

Sample, on your own body! No way around this. I loved my sister's favorite (Mystere de Rochas) on her, but on my body it was truly hideous. So strange. And I loved Mitsouko in the bottle and on sample strips, but it just did not work with my body chemistry.
Also: when you test, give the fragrance a while to develop on your skin that day. (Unless you absolutely hate it, like Mystere on me.)
Finally, your tastes may change over time and season. I used to love clean bright colognes (Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia) but a few years later, it just doesn't work. Body chemistry I suppose.
So I would say never buy on the recommendation of others (unless you are fine-tuning) or how things smell on other people, unless you sample on your skin first.

[Ken_Russell]

Difficult to start and/or to recommend at least for now a more likely/available option than simply (re) testing more Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani and/or even Armani Prive scents until there are are options at least along the lines of what you most like

[Wild Gardener]

15 is way too many for me, 3 to 5 is the max.
Remember to take a pen so you can mark the strips.
Also, doing that wiil slow down pushy sales assistants who want to railroad you into a decision after 10 seconds of sniffing.

The other thing to bear in mind is shops give away samples with purchases,
but you can ask them for a sample anyway - if you find a perfume you might want to wear.
I tell 'em I am wearing something already, can you give me a sample to try later? ... they don't usually refuse.

[stuigi]

I am very surprised no one mentioned this, but you should put those notes in the Directory's advanced search function and see what comes up.

[Marand75]

Hello,
I've been on a perfume search for 2+ years with no success. I want something that is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overpowering. I tried Armani Code, and while I like the scent fine (not LOVING it), it wasn't really strong enough to even notice if I was wearing perfume or not. My main goal is a scent that will always remind my kids of me. My grandpa wore Brut aftershave and even now when I smell it I think of him instantly. So I want to find one that I love and stick with it. I like floral notes, plumeria especially, and my absolute FAVORITE scent is the Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich lotion. After searching and ending up in a thread in another part of this forum, I found that it has white tea and verbena notes, possibly lemongrass. I'm not really sure what to do with this info to try and find a similarly scented perfume. If I could find a perfume that smelled just like that, but more "concentrated," I'd be thrilled.

Appreciate any help you're willing to give!

Lots of great suggestions here. I'd like to add the White Tea range by Elizabeth Arden.

[LiveJazz]

I think you should try:

Bvlgari The Vert
Chanel Cristalle

I like these suggestions. Assuming you want something green and generally fresh based on the lotion components you listed, these should help you define if you're attracted to something sharp and cool (Cristalle) or warm and smooth (The Vert) within that spectrum.

Generally I think the trick for you will be to try to categorize scents in your mind, so if none of the 15 (or however many) you smell are "the one", you can at least hone in on which were closest and why.

Then come back here with a short list of "almosts" and what you like/don't like about them. That will help us help you.

[Dubpee]

What scents have you found that you like to wear, what are your favorites, what are some things you cook all the time that make your kids feel better when they are sick some places you go that have unique scents? im always baking sweets, i use a lot of cinnamon, and fall type spices, and i love the smell of patchoulli and chocolate, one of my latest creations is a play on that. I tinctured cinnamon and pepper and used it as my alcohol for a cafe mocha, with patchoulli, and orange top note. hopefully this gets you to a great start.

edit. By "what scents are your favorite" i mean what individual smells do you like?