.
Post by Gabriella
.
As many of you know, I had a bit of a cleanout of my collection last weekend, thanks to the terrific APJ sniff-together at Portia’s. Early on this journey, I made the mistake that many of us do, buying stuff too quickly without ample skin time or just falling prey to the thought: “Oh my god, everyone else loves this, I need to have it.”
Well, I’ve now gone back to basics. I will only acquire full bottles of fumes that have worn the test of time, the ones that when they hit my skin again and again are greeted with an enthusiastic “YES!” Samples and decants only for the ones that intrigue and stuff I just want to test and write about.
So, let’s just pretend that last’s week’s sale gave me enough money to buy five brand new bottles. What are those loves that I need to get?
Gabriella’s Top 5 Perfume Wishlist 2013
Bubblegum Chic by James Heeley for Heeley 2011
Jasmine is one white floral that doesn’t usually agree on my skin, but here it is perfect. Bubblegum Chic is playful green jasmine made more narcotic with the addition of tuberose. The name is apt as it’s playful and vampy at the same time. It’s that nonchalant, happy girl at work that once you get to know her has a hefty dose of je ne sais quoi.
Bubblegum Chic is available at Peony Melbourne $275/50ml Extrait de Parfum and Luckyscent $230/50ml Extrait de Parfum; Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $7/.5ml
Fleurissimo by James Henry Creed for Creed 1956
A lovely perfumista friend said I’d love it back when I was getting started in this game. Many years and bottles later, she’s still right. Grace Kelly associations aside, this is a magnificently elegant and understated white floral that just oozes sophistication.
Fleurissimo is available at Libertine Parfumerie $259/75ml; Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $3/.5ml.
Lady Caron by Richard Fraysse for Caron 2000
Very much an unloved gem in my opinion, this perfume just makes me incredibly happy. It’s a floral chypre, but here the usual peach is replaced with raspberry, rounded out with jasmine and moss. Lady Caron is truly golden sunlight on skin. It also reminds me of those times my parents had proper dinner parties back when I was a little girl. It’s the wonderful melange of smells on my pajamas after kissing and hugging the beautifully dressed female guests. Comforting but very elegant.
Lady Caron is available at Luckyscent $95/50ml; The Perfumed Court samples start at $3/ml
Tubereuse by Richard Fraysse for Caron 2003
You already know why thanks to my last review. But this is also very special to me for the very reason that it was the first fragrance I bought on my first romantic getaway to Paris with my gorgeous Mr M.
Tubereuse by Caron is available at LuckyScent, which has the EDP for $130/50ml and the parfum extrait for $150/15ml; Surrender to Chance has samples of the parfum starting at $5/.5ml
Tubereuse Couture by Pierre Guillame for Parfumerie Generale 2009
All you oriental/vanilla/patchouli/vetiver lovers must be shaking your heads and rolling your eyes about now, thinking “not another goddamn tuberose!!” but yes, more is more for me when it comes to the vampy flower. Tubereuse Couture like the aforementioned Caron is also a little bit of a sleeper when it comes to the genre, but it is divine. Here, sugar cane and banana leaf lend a lovely tropical vibe, but make no mistake, this is a scent for ballgowns, not the beach.
Tubereuse Couture is available at Luckyscent $100/50ml; Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $4.99/ml
So there you have it! My wishlist of loves. What would your wishlist look like?
With much love till next time!
M x
Australian Perfume Junkies 
And I for one am very thankful of your cleanout. I love my bottle of Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. It’s been getting a lot of skin time. The wish list you’ve written is interesting, would love to sniff some of these too.
– Margeaux
LikeLike
So glad Margeaux! Better receiving your love than sitting lonely on my dresser! Mx
LikeLike
These all look lovely, and I haven’t tried some of them. Fleurissimo is one that I will get and try. I never considered it before because for some reason it has prim associations for me, which is absurd because I’ve never smelled it. But we can all use more understated elegance in our lives.
LikeLike
I totally agree Feraljasmine! Fleurissimo is often overlooked because its been around a while and as there’s not much love for Creed on the blogs, but it works beautifully for me and that’s what matters.
Cheers M
LikeLike
I love this post Madeleine. Even thinking about my Top 5 Wishlist makes my head explode.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I know what you mean. I am lost in admiration of Madeleine’s temperance. I could possibly make a list of my top 100, but I can’t quite envision my top 5.
LikeLike
Thank you gorgeous! Well my head didn’t explode this time but ask me again in a month and it just might xx
LikeLike
That bubblegum chic sounds amazing! pretty expensive though 😦
LikeLike
Amria, it is but I would get a sample first to try.
LikeLike
Madeleine – Oh my gosh – what an awesome post. I want to try every one of them. I have a sample of the PG17 and am running off to get it as I type. Please invite me to your next clean out, maybe with an 18 month warning so I can save my bus fare.
Lots of love
Val xxx
LikeLike
Thank you Val! Yay you like PG17! I’ll be sure to give advanced warning so you can join in the fun! Mx
LikeLike
Hi Madeleine,
I would have to think long and hard before I could list five favorites. Much easier to name my top five scrubbers . By the way, there seemed to be a lot of tuberose in your fav list. I’m wondering if the mistakes had something in common too?
Also, I’m with Cookie Queen and would love to attend the next “clean out” but will have to save for my “bus fare” too.
Azar
LikeLike
Maybe we can get a cheaper deal if we book together?? xxxx
LikeLike
Azar it has taken lots of money andtrial and errors to come up with this list! And yes you’re invited to the next clean out!
M
LikeLike
I have found – quite recently – that I adore white florals. These all sound amazing, and I haven’t yet had a chance to try any of them, but they are on my list! I am quite drawn to Bubblegum Chic (who knew it was actually a white floral!), and the Tubereuse Couture (love so many PG’s). Thanks for the recommendations!
LikeLike
Hi Mary,
Terrific. I hope you like them! You must also try Carnal Flower and Beyond Love.
M
LikeLike
I actually have a small sample of Carnal Flower but I just haven’t had a chance to try it yet – I will though – tonight! Putting Beyond Love on the list as well – thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
So I said i was going to try Carnal Flower last night, and I did and again this morning. I wish you could see the big smile that appeared on my face – it’s beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you so much for helping me remember that sample I had tucked away in my stash :)))
LikeLike
While I was searching through my old stash of perfumes I came across another “sister” scent from the 70’s/80’s – Tatiana. Again, not a shy violet :))
LikeLike
Y’know what? I accidentally put this comment on the wrong blog post – sorry! But it is true about Tatiana 🙂
LikeLike
Yay! I love lists! And even though my skin makes many of the BWF’s smell horrible, I completely understand your obsession, as I can never get enough iris frags.
Unlike Portia, I actually enjoy answering this kind of question. 😉 So all I have to do is check out my wishlist spreadsheet and….. top five bottles for me are all decants that I’m draining, and couldn’t imagine myself being without: Bel Respiro, Bottega Veneta, Philosykos, Equistrius and l’Ombre dans l’Eau. (Top five decants are Cimabue, Lilacs and Heliotrope, Boyfriend, Vetiver pour Elle and Iris Nobile.)
LikeLike
I love that you have a spreadsheet! The top 5 on my wishlist are Vero Profumo Mito, Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee, Serge Lutens Fleurs de Citronnier, SL A la Nuit, and Tauer Carillon Pour un Ange. Subject to frequent change, of course 😀
LikeLike
Anatu13,
That is a gorgeous list!
M x
LikeLike
Thanks, Madeleine!
LikeLike
Me too Dionne! But a spreadsheet is far too organised for me! I’m always doing and then redoing my top 25 which to most people sounds like torture but I enjoy it. Love Equistrius and Bel Respiro.
M x
LikeLike
Is there really such a thing as too many tuberose perfumes? I think not. Bring on the big white florals! Love your list. I hope your wishes come true.
LikeLike
Thanks poodle and yep, I’m with you on tuberose. Only one that I don’t kinda like after retesting last week is Beyond Love.
Mx
LikeLike
That’s one of the By Killian’s isn’t it? Not my favorite line.
LikeLike
I wish I had a wish list as glamourous as yours! Here’s wishing you get them all!
LikeLike
Hear hear Lanier! And thanks for the compliment! M x
LikeLike
I’m working currently on both – my perfume portrait’s update and my wishlist. I’m not sure though that I currently have any real full bottle wishes. There are some that are of the type: “it would be kind of good to get them sometimes soon” but nothing I’m dying to actually get as of now.
LikeLike
oh I really need to get my hands on a sample of Lady Caron. Is the current version still in that pretty bottle?
LikeLike
Hi Undina,
That’s probably a good thing for your wallet! I’m only caving once I’ve saved and sold more unloved bottles.
M x
LikeLike
Saffyishere,
You do indeed! And yes it is.
M x
LikeLike
What a list and I can’t believe I have actually tried one of these. Fleurissimo (sample courtesy of Portia) is beautiful. An elegant and understated white floral it is indeed, just beautiful!
LikeLike
I love your list M. I think we have similar tastes! I must sample that Heeley scent. My top 5 wishlist is Portrait of a Lady, Equistrius, Coromandel, Ormonde Woman and Passerelle by Tommi Sooni.
LikeLike