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Post by Gabriella
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Hello perfume friends!
Lately I have been suffering a little bit of there’s-nothing-I really-desperately-want-to test-right-now-and-no-new-releases-are-causing-hissy-fits-of-‘oh-I-must-have-it-even-if-my-credit-card-breaks’ kind of ennui. So, instead of shelling out for new decants and going on stupendous sniffing sprees, I have been focusing on what I already own and rediscovering why I love them.
So, today I present to you
5 Spring/Fall perfumes from my collection that “I’m Loving Right Now!”
Datura Noir by Christopher Sheldrake for Serge Lutens 2001
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Datura Noir was the first perfume I knew I’d love simply from reading the list of notes. However, upon going to test in store, the (very knowledgeable) SA recoiled in horror, exclaiming: “I have never had that smell good on anyone!” One spritz on me and her abhorrence transformed into adoration. Datura Noir is a sumptuous, creamy and smooth white floral, accentuated by notes of bitter almond. And yes, this gourmand floral is probably not for everyone but for me, it’s the carefree, slightly tropical smell of sundrenched skin on a beach in Goa.
There are rumours that Datura Noir is, or is about to be, discontinued (please share if you know more), but it is still available at
Luckyscent, $130/50ml;
Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $3.99/.5ml.
Fleurs d’Oranger by Christopher Sheldrake for Serge Lutens 2003
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Orange Blossom is a love or hate note for me. My skin tends to amplify citrus, meaning that the heady bloom can sometimes end up a hot mess. Not so with Fleurs d’Oranger. Tuberose and jasmine temper the orange blossom with their sweet, honeyed tones and the addition of cumin adds a “come closer and let me sniff you more” vibe. Fleurs also wins the prize for the perfume that has had the most negative reactionfrom another: my friend’s husband actually walked out of my house coughing and gasping for air after kissing me hello one evening (thankfully, he survived and is quite OK now).
Fleurs d’Oranger is available at
Luckyscent: $130/50ml;
Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $399/.5ml.
Lady Vengeance by Romano Ricci for Juliette Has A Gun 2006
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Mr M loves rose. I thought I did not. After Mr M and I got together, we decided to go and find a rose fragrance we would both like (come on, as if I needed an excuse to go perfume shopping!) Some roses we tested were too ripe and green, some were too dark, others too spicy and incense-y. One spritz of Lady Vengeance and we realised we’d hit the jackpot: it is the true Goldilocks rose for me. The full red bloom is tempered by the sweetness of vanilla and a a kick of patchouli. Not too green, not too sweet, not too dark, just sumptuous. Plus, the sillage on this one is simply amazing.
Lady Vengeance is available from
Luckyscent starting from $90/50ml
Le Parfum de Therese by Edmond Roudnitska for Frederic Malle 2000
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
When I am contemplating my perfumes of a morn and simply don’t know which one to wear, it is Le Parfum de Therese that usually wins. It is just such a happy and radiant perfume and unlike some others, it never gives rise to spritzing remorse a few hours in. But then, I am a big Roudnitska fangirl, and while my faves, Diorella and Diorissimo, are beyond recognition due to IFRA-induced plastic surgery, I’m very thankful that this beauty is still around.
Le Parfum de Therese is available from
Mecca Cosmetica starting from $155/3 x 10ml
Surrender to Chance has samples starting from $6.99/ml
Musc Ravageur by Maurice Roucel for Frederic Malle 2000
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
I will always remember the day I fell in love with and came to acquire Musc Ravageur. I was living in London, it was a few weeks before Christmas and I woke up to find a world blanketed in pillowy white. I had an exciting, girly day planned of shopping, perfume sniffing and getting my hair done before dinner and drinks. I dressed up and blow dried my hair to perfection only to walk out into yet another snowstorm. Whitened coat and wet hair aside, my day went as planned. One spritz of Musc takes my back to that day of joyful chaos that ended with a fabulous meal, good conversation and the twinkling of fairy lights on snow covered streets.
Musc Ravageur is available at
Mecca Cosmetica starting from $142/3 x 10ml
Surrender to Chance has samples starting from $5.99/ml.
So, have I mentioned any of your faves? What perfumes are getting a good wearing from you right now?
With much love till next time,
M x
Australian Perfume Junkies 
I LOVE lists Madeleine, and what a super 5 you’re currently wearing.
Biggest hugs and smooches,
Portia x
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Thank you my love! Big kisses back xx
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Madeleine, like Portia I love lists and I also love to know what people are wearing so this was a very enjoyable post.
Loved the stories behind each perfume too.
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Thank you Tara!
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Inspiring Madeleine. Thanks so much. Sometimes I wonder why on earth we even blog about anything since it has all been done before. Well THIS is exactly why. I have 3 of the 5 and am heading to my stash as I write. I need to start to rediscover ……….. Bussis. Val xxxx
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Oh thank you for your beautiful words Val! Sometimes just sharing our loves is as important as doing full reviews xx
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Thank you for this list, Madeleine. I really enjoy reading your posts Your writing is so beautiful. I especially love the images of London before Christmas. Right now I am wearing a lot of Memoir Woman. No particular reason for that.
Azar x
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You’ve made my day Azar, thank you! Sometimes you don’t need a reason and Memoir is beautiful!
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I have 4 of these 5 and must now try Lady Vengeance, as I love rose too! I wear their Mad Madame and Midnight Oud currently. Today I am wearing a big favourite, Micallef Denis Durand Couture. It is so sweet and spicy and happy-smelling!
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Tara you absolutely need to try Lady V if you love those! Haven’t tried the Micallef, so off to explore!
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I adore that you’re revisiting old loves!! I have a tough budget this year, and have also been revisiting and resisting buying – both samples and bottles. I recently fell in love with Musc Rav, it’s on my FB list! And I have almost bought the Datura – it smells great on me too! I bought Fleurs on a whim in July, and unfortunately, it smells like scented bath tissue on me. I’m looking to sell it if you know anyone who might be interested…
31 Rue Cambon, MFK Lumiere Noir Pour Femme, Lauder’s Sensuous, and Elixir de Merveilles are most heavy on my rotation currently. It is warm where I live – even hot – but the light has changed to autumn, and it won’t be long before we have cool weather.
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Hi acstrommen,
Sorry the Fleurs didn’t work on you. I adore 31 cambon too.
M
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I love reading lists, even those of people who are basically my evil skin-chemistry twins. 😉 White florals and roses and I don’t get along very well, but you do make these sound wonderful. Right now I’m sampling the Heeley line and wearing fig fragrances, as they seem perfect for the not-quite-summer-but-not-yet-fall weather we’re having lately.
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Thank you Dionne!
Heeley is a fantastic line, glad you are enjoying the fig
M
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Fantastic list, Madeleine!
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Thank you Birgit!
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Thanks for talking about Datura Noir. it’s one of my favorites and it always gets overlooked or criticized. It doesn’t surprise me that it might be discontinued. SL has a huge stable of products that has to be expensive to maintain. Unfortunately those with the low sales get the ax.
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Hi Tomate,
Yes it doesn’t get a lot of love and I too am sad that it may be discontinued.
M
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I love the notes that are listed on Datura Noir, but it makes me nauseated when I wear it, so I had to get rid of my bottle. Cypher Rouge is another that has an ill effect on me when I wear it. So one of my lists would have to be all the Lutens that I have and love.
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Dremybluz,
I totally can see how it could be nauseating. I’m intrigued now, what SLs do you love?
M
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Your list got me thinking that I need to weed out the unloved bottles and decide if I want to hang onto them a bit longer or find new homes for them. I’m sure in the process I’ll rediscover some old favorites of my own I’ve forgotten about.
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Too true poodle. You don’t wear something for ages, think of selling it, take it out sometime later and then rediscover the magic.
M
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Hey Madeleine!
I have also been revisiting my old loves lately, you have mentioned one of them, Musc Ravageur! Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don’t need to buy more because I already have some wonderful gems tucked into my wardrobe but damn with all of those new ones that come out one after the other, you gotta have them too!! I really enjoyed reading your post, awesome choices for what you are loving right now 🙂
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Hi Amarah,
I so agree! I oscillate between ‘I have enough’ and ‘i want more’ constantly…..we’re doomed never to be satisfied but then that is part of the fun too. Glad you love Musc too!
M
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Hello 🙂
I love the listing of perfume but there is one especially that I like – Lady Vengeance. The composition is so appealing, sexy, feminine. It’s one of my favorite women perfumes.
I agree with you, it should be on the list, every list.
J.
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Datura Noir is on my fall list as well. 🙂
So should Parfum de Therese be. 😉
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Fantastic blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused ..
Any recommendations? Kudos!
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