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Post by Portia
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Hello Fab Fumies,
Once upon a time you would see these Desert Island lists everywhere. It was a regular question on blogs and Facebook pages. It would be great for me because it would make me think about the fragrances that really matter in my collection. So let’s get hypothetical.
Let’s say you have downsized to a Tiny Home after your whole perfume collection was destroyed and are only allowing yourself 12 fragrance bottles in your new less expansive space (you can change one every time you finish a bottle, gift one away etc). You have bought an In-Cupboard-Drawer that will be the complete size of your collection and it fits 12 bottles exactly. You have no price restrictions only bottle number, what are the first 12 bottles you chose to have in your home?
12 Perfumes I Would Rebuy
Aesthete by Le Galion: The Le Galion crew are woefully under appreciated. This sexy leather/saffron/incense with a lovely animalic backbone is the bomb. Elegant, wearable, inviting and distinct.
Amoureuse by Parfums DelRae: Freakiest damn sexy lily I ever smelled in my life. A golden witch brew that makes my head pop.
Dia Woman Extract by Amouage: An animal in couture clothing. All the flowers over an oudh/incense base that sings on my skin all night long till the early morning when it growls and purrs.
Fantasia de Fleurs by Creed: I can’t think of a better jammy rose. Some times in my life just seem to call for Fantasia de Fleurs
Giverny In Bloom by DSH Perfumes: The greenest green I ever did smell. So much galbanum decorated with flowers to lightly soften the blow. I go through so much Giverny In Bloom that it’s nearly time I bought more…..
Mitsouko Vintage Extrait by Guerlain: If you knew how much of this I’ve stockpiled you would be appalled. That furry peachy floral oakmoss bomb that continues to fascinate and delight me every time.
Mitzah by DIOR: Honeyed, spicy, amber rose overlaid with a glorious smoky incense both fiery and cooly aloof. LOVE IT!
Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations: Another spicy rose but this time cooler and more Asiatic. Every wear is slightly different and it tends to bloom differently at different temperatures.
Niki de Saint Phalle: A chypre with a softer floral hue through the heart. So wearable and is such a summer staple that works in all climes.
Olympic Amber by Olympic Orchids: Yes, I have about 30 ambers in my collection and this was the hardest to winnow down to one by there is something incredible simple and wearable about Olympic Amber, it’s the one I seem to reach for as my benchmark.
Shalimar Extrait by Guerlain: The one. Forever and ever. My favourite fragrance in the world. This case is by far my preferred way to apply too.
Truth or Dare by Madonna: I know. Don’t care what you think. This is one of my all time favourites. It gets hauled out and spritzed at least once a week. There’s quite a stockpile here but still I worry that it will run out.
Can I tell you honestly that this took me a while because I kept swapping things out and then feeling bad because some of my favourite perfumers, houses and frags would have meant a doubling up of notes or styles. In the end I had to stop myself second guessing by adding that each time a bottle emptied or was gifted away I could swap it out for a different scent. Suddenly it didn’t seem like I was choosing forever and my head stopped exploding. He he he.
OK, so it’s over to you. What are your 12? Don’t think too long, it’s merely hypothetical and not forever.
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
I only had a 30mL truth or dare….so I snapped up a 75ml on ebay recently. Truely worthy of a backup bottle.
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Amanda,
You are so right.
Portia xxx
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Ohhhh. Torture 🙂
-Sensei (now named Shihan) by Piotr Czarnecki
-BPAL Snake Oil
-Solstice Scents White Feather
-Nocturne Alchemy Iconic
-NVP Pichola
-Divine Noir by Providence Perfume Co.
-Vintage Shalimar Parfum
-Vintage Chanel No. 22 Parfum
-MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir
-Ajmal Eternal Crescent
-Amouage Ubar
-Teo Cabanel Alahine
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Hey there Erica,
No. 22, Ubar and Alahine all appeared on the list as I was making it. Great scents.
SNAP on Shalimar.
Portia xxx
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Ok, Here we go, it is summer here so this influences my list as many are fragrances I wear during summer, love making this list, Portia! Loved reading yours too. Here is mine:
1.vintage Diorella
2. Guerlain Shalimar extrait and Light
3. Frederic Malle Iris Poudre
4. Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte and Concentre
5. Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli
6. Le Labo Labdanum
7. Truth or Dare, Madonna (Yes, I know, me too:-)
8. Miller Harris Fleur Oriental
9. Acqua di Parma Assoluta
10. Envoyage Perfumes Fiore di Bellagio
11. Guerlain L’Heure Bleue
12. L’Artisan Parfumeur Musc et Mure
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Hey there Esperanza!
Woo Hoo! Another on the Truth or Dare bandwagon. So glad. Snap on Shalimar too.
LOVE your list, really interesting selection.
Portia xx
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Only 12, what a thought!
Shalimar
Ambre Fetiche
Mohur
Anubis by Papillon
Habit Rouge Dress Code
Vintage O de Lancome
Bois des Isles Extrait
Nankun Kodo by Sultan Pasha. Hardly counts as it is a perfume oil in teensy bottle!
Can’t decide on others as it is too hard and depends on the day!
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Heya JackieB,
Ambre Fetiche is gorgeous. It is one of the best Annick Goutals, great choice. Snap on Shalimar and Mohur, Anubis is another great choice. I love the Papillon fragrances.
Portia xx
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I have been eyeing up Le Galion Aesthete for a while and seeing the rest of this list I’m pretty much sold on it now! Here is my list of 12 (straight off the top of my head and by no means set in stone):
1. Guerlain Mitsouko Extrait (vintage)
2. Guerlain Shalimar Extrait (vintage)
3. Amouage Jubilation 25 EdP (pre oakmoss ban)
4. Solange Azagury-Partridge Cosmic EdP
5. YSL Rive Gauche Extrait (vintage)
6. Parfums de Nicolai New York EdT (pre citrus & oakmoss ban)
7. Annick Goutal Songes EdT
8. Shiseido Feminite du Bois EdP
9. MDCI Promesse de l’Aube EdP
10. Cartier Must de Cartier Extrait (vintage)
11. Frederic Malle Carnal Flower (which formulation is it, even?!)
12. Christian Dior Poison Esprit de Parfum (vintage)
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Hey there Hanna,
Wasn’t New York heavenly. I still like sit and find it very wearable and perfect for dressy or casual.
Big yay on the Guerlains. oh vintage, YUMMY!
Portia xx
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It’s so perfect and versatile, as you said! Just snagged a very large backup bottle and hopefully I’m good for life now… maybe 😀 I am so noting down what’s on all these lists, btw! In addition to Aesthete, I’ve been really looking forward to trying Mohur (trip to Paris coming up later in the year), and now I’m really curious about Alahine…
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The list expands till it’s as long as your leg, he he he. Go straight to Jovoy, Lutens, Rosine, Caron, CHANEL, Guerlain, Oriza L Legrand, Galleries Lafayette, Printemps. OMG! You are going to have a ball.
Portia xxx
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Always good to do this kind of exercise!
1. Annick Goutal Heure Exquise
2. Chanel no 5 extrait
3. Amouage Journey
4. Neela Vermeire Trayee
5. Frederic Malle Une Fleur de Cassie
6. Chanel Cristalle
7. Hiram Green Voyage
8. Aqua di Parma Iris Nobile EdP
9. Annick Goutal Rose Absolue
10.Ormonde Jayne Woman
11. Annick Goutal Songes
12. L’artisan parfumeur Dzongkha
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Hi Hamamelis,
You are an Annick Goutal fan too. I’m a bit miffed at myself for not leaving Songes in but felt that another white floral was excessive.
Beautiful choices, isn’t Trayee superb?
Portia xx
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Trayee is gorgeous, and I am a bit miffed (new word for me but sounds great 😉 ) at leaving out Ambre Fetiche, and…Guerlain! But I am working on that (Chamade and Shalimar). I also realised I forgot an orangeblossom, it would be the Houbigant one I think.
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Yes, it gets hard to cull to a dozen. The good thing is though that you can swap them out. That makes it less forever.
Portia xx
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Lists!! Fun! We certainly have diverse tastes.
1 Byredo 1996
2 Chanel Misia
3 Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere (original formula)
4 Penhaligon’s Ostara
5 L’Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubereuse
6 L’Artisan Parfumeur Vanille Absolument (yes, Betrand Duchaufour fangirl!)
7 Prada Infusion d’Iris absolue
8 ELDO Putain des Palaces
9 Paco Rabanne Caladre (vintage)
10 Memo Italian Leather (in truth, I don’t have a bottle, but I would!)
11 Memo Kedu (see above note)
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Hey SuzyQ,
YUM! Great line up. I have a huge bottle of eau premier from its first release. YUMMY stuff.
Those L’Artisans are faves of mine too and I even have a Nuit de Tubereuse backup bottle already.
Portia xx
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Hi Portia! I’m on my second 100 ml bottle of NdT! Guess I’d better buy another backup! I too have the huge bottle of EP. At the time I felt stupid for buying such a big bottle but now I’m relieved to know I’m not going to run out!
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OK, Portia! TWELVE?
Guy Laroche Fidji (parfum)
Coty Les Muses (EdT)
Lanvin Spanish Geranium
Lucien Lelong Sirocco parfum
Olympic Orchids Golden Cattleya (a prototype)
Dior Hypnotic Poison
Annick Goutal Songes (any version)
Amouge Interlude Man
Micallef Jewel for Her
Versace Blonde
Niki de Saint Phalle
Anat Fritz Tzora
and for a baker’s dozen –
Peety 🙂
Azar xx
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No Baker’s dozens. You are disqualified from the human race for pushing and tripping. He he he.
BUMMER! I forgot Versace Blonde, but Madonna will suffice. Golden Cattleya is amazing too. Great choices Azar, I love that Anat Fritz bottle with the crochet around it and have often thought to buy it just for that.
Portia xxx
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Sooorry. Not really 🙂
And Yes! I love the kibbutz in a sock! My bottle has a knit rather than crocheted cover. The knit gives it a much more sock-like appearance than crochet. Such a happy, happy fragrance. I’m off to spray some happy!
Azar xxx
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I love lists!!!
!. Alahine Extrait
2. Note Vanille (vintage)
3.Annees Folles
4. Maai
5. Geisha Noir
6. Yesterday Haze
7. Von Euersdorff Patchouli
8. Enlevement au Serail
9. Stoned
10. Rubj Voile d’Extrait
11. Battitod’Ali
12. Borneo 1834
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Hey Tora,
Alanine has an EXTRAIT!!!!! Shut Up.
Portia xxx
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Wow P.! This is much harder than I thought! So….
L’Heure Bleue Extrait
Aroma M. Voluptuous Nostalgia
Chanel Sycomore
Chanel Boy
Cologne Du 68
Neil Morris Le Parfum d’Odette
Escentual Alchemy Helena 1.
LVDP Tasneem
En Voyage Lorelei
Dior Diorissimo Extrait
JHAG Lady Vengeance
Chanel Bois De Iles Extrait
That’s my list and I’m sticking to it…..❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Lovely list Robert,
Some great indie stuff, you do love your CHANEL!!
Portia xx
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I do! I cannot lie.
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Work is piled up on my desk, so of course I’ll take the time to do this. Let’s see… in no particular order…
1. Shalimar Souffle
2. Chanel 1932
3. Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere
4. JHaG Lady Vengeance
5. Amouage Lyric
6. Byredo Gypsy Water
7. Dior Diorissimo
8. MFK Lumiere Noir
9. Body Shop White Musk
10. JHaG Anyway
11. SJP Lovely
12. Ineke Poet’s Jasmine
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Beautifully balanced 12 Maggiecat, How could I forget lovely!!! So wearable and easy. NUM.
Portia xx
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Can I even come up with twelve? Let’s see:
1. Kurkdjian Lumiere Noire Pour Homme
2. Couturier- Coriandre
3. Frapin- Terre de Sarment
4. Amouage- Lyric Woman
5. Hermes- 24 Faubourg
6. Dior- Miss Dior
7. Coty- Imprevu
8. Saint Laurent- Opium (vintage)
9. Celine- Magic
10. Mugler- Oriental Express
11. Dana- 20 Carats
12. Norell- Norell
Hmm, weird and interesting list.
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Hey Fifi,
I loved Oriental Express when it came out. It completely slipped under my radar since, thanks for the reminder.
Portia xx
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Oh this is awful. Darn you, Portia! Now I want to swap out the Norell for Roads- Lights. I’m getting out of here before my boss walks by.
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I suppose listing ten houses would be cheating…
Mitsouko for ever and ever
L Heure Bleue
Shalimar
Tuberose Criminelle
Iris Silver Mist
De Profundis
Diorissimo
No 19 Cristalle
Acqua de Sale
Ichnusa Dambrosia
….losing it, too stressful
What about 100, or by note…..?
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Can I go again with niche??? Oh crap I forgot Malle, oh noooooo En Passant I can’t leave you, aargh Rubj……Trayeee…..
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HA! Marion, rigs looks like a really good list, loads of different notes and depths. If you had to you could probably live this for a year.
Portia xx
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Given no financial constraints, I would always gladly add these ones to my stock so that future generations also get to know the ones I love
1. Vintage Eau Sauvage
2. Vintage Givenchy Gentleman
3. Vintage Kouros
4. Cuiron first formula
5. Dior Homme early versions
6. Vintage Opium
7. Nombre Noir
8. Shiseido Feminite du Bois
9. Chanel Cuir de Russie
10. Vintage Hermes Bel Ami
11. Vintage Dioressence in Esprit de Parfum formula
12. Vintage Pascal Morabito Or Black
there are some others as well 🙂
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Lovely list Fazal.
Loads of good vintages there.
Portia xx
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I find vintage formulas win-win in many cases. Many people pursue niche and latest releases which makes it easier for me to acquire many vintage ones at unbelievable prices. Perfumes in the past were made with superior ingredients and lot of time was spent on the creativity process. I must say I love synthetics, too when they are well done but so far very few synthetics have been well done. In my book, first formula of Cuiron is a perfect example of how a perfume mostly made with synthetics and quite simplistic in nature can be so beautiful.
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Interesting Fazal, it’s always good to grab a bargain. I love my vintage too.
Portia x
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Our apartment burned to the ground in 2010 so this is not so difficult to answer; the money not being a factor makes it easier still. Most of my list are the same that I felt most compelled to replace after the fire.
1. Vintage Shalimar extrait.
2. Vintage Opium (if restricted to one concentration edt – but how about a gift set with parfum too?)
3. Vintage Rive Gauche
4. Chanel No. 22
5. Vintage Dior Poison Esprit de Parfum
6. Vintage Arpege extrait
7. Vintage Estée Lauder Cinnabar
8. Vintage Mitsouko extrait
9. Jean Patou Joy extrait
10. Jean Desprez Sheherazade
11. MFK Absolue Pour le Soir (was Bal a Versailles but then I met APLS)
12. DSH Mata Hari extract because omg.
=)
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Hey Laura,
That’s terrible about your apartment.
Great list though, loads of delicious oldies and love how you swapped out BaV for APLS, and yes Mata Hari = HEAVEN!
Portia xx
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I love reading all your lists.?
Off the top of my head,
Truth or dare
Allure sensual
Opium
Terryfic oud
Black orchid
Misia
No 5
Calabresella
Rive Gauche
Nirvana
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Beautiful list Anna Maria,
I’m surprised that Misia and No 5 didn’t end up on my list. They were on and off it a couple of times.
Portia xx
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Oh Portia, 12 is almost too much for me to choose. I’d rather narrow it down…or extend it to at least 25, but I’ll try:
1 Vintage Giorgio Armani for her
2 Vintage Jil Sander III
3 Vintage Shiseido Feminite du Bois
4 Eau Sauvage
5 PdN Weekend (a Deauville)
6 Papillon Salome
7 F. Malle Eau de Magnolia
8 Amouage Epic Woman
9 Amouage Library Collection Opus I
10 Charenton Macerations Christopher Street
11 Creed Imperial Millessime
12 Bulgari Au The Vert Extreme
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Beautiful choices Neva,
I love Weekend by PdN too and Salome is fabulous.
Portia xx
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1. L’Artisan – Tea for Two
2. Neela Vermerie – Trayee
3. Peter – She Sensei
4. Guerlain – Myrrhe & Delires
5. Neil Morris – Assam
6. Annick Goutal – Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille
7. Kenzo – Kenzo Jungle Elephant
8. Tauer – L’air Du Marocain
9. Serge Luten – Chergui
10. Dior – Hypnotic Poison (Vintage)
11. Regina Harris – Frankincense Myrrh Rose Maroc
12. Givenchy – Organza Indecence (Vintage)
Whew… that was tough…
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Hey Rochelle,
It is tough, but fun I hope.
Tray and T42 are special, great choices.
Portia xx
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I love reading what everyone else has on their top 12 lists! Mind you, lists make me sweat because even a top 100 would be difficult for me. Anyhoo, here goes:
Absolue Pour Le Soir
Borneo 1834
Mona di Orio Oud
Chanel Cuir de Russie parfum
Amouage Lyric Woman
Bois des Iles EDT
Fumerie Turque
Nuit de Noel (vintage extrait)
Une Fleur de Cassie
Jubilation 25 extrait
Shalimurrrrr (PDT version)
Le Maroc Pour Elle
My list has changed even in the last 24 hours, but that’s what it’s like now. Still hurting over the exclusion of Angelique Encens, AL02 Biehl parfumkunstwerke, Amaranthine, NU EDP, Songes, Farnesiana, Timbuktu, Habanita, Badr al Badour, Opus III, Sycomore, and Jicky……
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Hey Claire,
What a list, heavenly. Yes, I can’t believe there’s no Caron, Lutens or CHANEL on my list.
Portia xx
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Omg. I don’t even know where I would start once I stopped crying. Maybe I would choose the perfumes that I was most sentimental about, regardless of whether or not I wear them often!
Maybe to start, Dior Dune (original formulation), Angel (original European formulation), JPG Classique (original formulation), Amouage Fate Woman, Musc Ravageur, Une Fleur de Cassie, En Passant, Puredistance M, Mona di Orio Oud, No. 5 (EdC from the 80’s), Coromandel, and Égoïste (from the 80’s).
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Hey Daisy,
So lovely to see you.
Dune!! So good. I have a PdT from way back when that I adore. Also the No 5 EdC was too good. Great list.
Portia xx
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It’s interesting: from most people’s lists I, in general, without limiting by 12, do not wear more than 2 perfumes mentioned. How different we all are!
My list:
Lancome Climat
Ormonde Jayne Ta’if
Amouage Ubar
Krigler Lieber Gustav
Guerlain Cruel Gardénia
By Kilian Amber Oud
Chanel No 19 EdT
Puredistance Antonia
Tom Ford Fleur de Chine
Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady
Tommi Sooni Eau de Tommi Sooni II
Les Parfums de Rosine Rose d’Amour
I’m not sure about the last half: I love them all as of today but later I might replace them with other favorites. But the first seven are my all-times love and I wouldn’t want to be without them ever.
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Hey there Undina,
Always lovely to see you. Yes, our differences keep the industry alive.
It was a tough choice for me between Ubar and Dia extrait, they were both on the list for a while.
How exciting that you love Eau de Tommi Sooni II. What a wonderful fragrance. I’m sad that I didn’t buy the whole range when they were available but I do have I & II.
CHANEL No 19 lost out to Giverny In Bloom and Niki de Saint Phalle for me but I’m so glad it made yours.
Portia xx
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1. Shalimar EDP 2.Bois des Iles EDT 3. Tommi Sooni II 4. Tubereuse 1 by HdP 5. Rochas Femme 6. Chypre by Fleurage 7. Eau d’Hermes 8. Chanel no. 5 Eau Premiere 9. Shalimar Parfum Initial 10. Centrepiece by 4160Tuesdays 11. Avignon by CdG 12. Chanel no. 19 vintage EDP.
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Heya Melita,
Super cool list. You are the second to put Tommi Sooni II in your list. I wish the guys were still contactable to tell them.
Portia xx
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I wish I could buy more! Have tried contacting them, but all.in vain! ?
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Aargh. Tough question. Off the top of my head:
1. Monsieur Balmain
2. ELdO Tom of Finland
3. Tauer Lonestar Memories
4. Givenchy Gentlemen (vintage)
5. Tom Ford Amber Absolute
6. Nasomatto Silver Musk
7. Richard James Savile Row
8. L’Artisan Tea For Two
9. Creed Green Valley
10. Amouage Lyric Man
11. Hermes Concentre L’Orange Vert
12. Heeley Ophelia (for my wife)
Other than the Heeley, that would probably all change if you ask me again in a week.
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Greg, I’m going to live next door to you. I think our 12 compliment each other nicely and I’ll come borrowing.
Portia xx
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1. Schiaparelli Shocking
2. Dior Oud Ispahan
3. Fendi Fendi
4. Mugler Womanity
5. Hermes 24 Faubourg
6. Nina Ricci Capricci (vintage)
7. Dior Dune
8. Laurent Opium (vintage)
9. Montana 80
10. Montana Parfum de Peau
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OMG! What a sensational list. So many of my favourites.
Portia xx
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#1 Neela Vermeire Mohur Extrait
#2 Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
#3 Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
#4 Madonna’s Truth or Dare
#5 Katey Perry Killer Queen
#6 Gold Rush A dozen Roses
#7 Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb for Women
#8 Lancome La Vie Est Belle
#9 Nest Dahlia & Vines
#10 Penhaligion Lily of the Valley
#11 Givenchy Ange ou Demon
#12 Love never dies Black Jewel for Women
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Lovely list Hazel, and we snap on a couple. YAY!
Portia xx
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