.
Portia
.
Hello Fellow Fumies,
Every Saturday we have a Question, an idea purloined from Olfactoria’s Travels. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it is a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.
The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them.
I’m currently away on holidays in India and will have limited internet but be assured that I’ll read every comment and answer when I can.
Saturday Question: Dressed Up Perfume
You’ve been invited to a Gala Fundraiser. It’s not exactly the Met Ball but you’ll be required to wear a dress or suit. Not necessarily a gown or dinner suit but if you have such refinements then by all means go all the way. The question today is about Dressed Up Perfume. What do you wear when you have to look and smell a million dollars? Do you go soft and refined? Is it a wall of scent situation? Do you want to fly your freak flag? Maybe you want to keep your scent deliberately low key?
Unlike most of our APJ readers my job is dressing up and wearing gowns, looking well over the top and shimmering. So my chances to wear Dressed Up Perfume are far more numerous than most. At least four times a week I’m glammed up to go host rooms. I have a range of scents depending on mood and weather but the ones I reach for most when going for Dressed Up Perfume are these.
What Are My Dressed Up Perfumes?
DIOR Mitzah
The original Mitzah herself was famous as Christian Dior’s fashion muse. I can’t think of a more dressed up place in the world you could find. She was not a typical beauty either but a fun and frivolous gal pal who was often seen decked out in outlandish leopard print everything. She could command a room with her style and Mitzah the fragrance reflects that chutzpah. Honeyed and spiced rose over a lightly feral labdanum and patchouli with a whisper of burning incense. VERY dressed up.
Mugler Alien The Taste of Fragrance
Original Alien done with a salted caramel twist. There is something commanding and elegant hiding under the sweetness. I feel like the world is mine when I wear this beautiful fragrance. Sometimes when I really want to stand fragrantly head & shoulders above the crowd I layer Alien The Taste of Fragrance over Amouage Dia Woman lotion. Seriously, you have no idea how magical a concoction it is.
Divine EdP
There is something restrained and effortless about the slightly OTT aldehydic white floral glamour that is Divine EdP. It’s like CHANEL No 5s uber wealthy, less abrasive sister.Presence without pretence, Divine EdP manages to feel society luscious. A grande dame of a scent that sparkles and shimmers exactly like the most fabulous gowns.
My Saturday Question to you is:
Who would be your three Dressed Up Perfumes, where would you where them and why?
Australian Perfume Junkies 
I do not often get the chance to dress up, but if I were invited to a conservative formal event, I would wear a little black dress, some pink diamonds and Bois des Iles Parfum.
If it were a more arty dance-related event I would wear Anubis by Papillon.
Going shopping to the supermarket, either of these fits the bill!
LikeLike
I thought the same thing about BdI perfume. So elegant
LikeLike
Ooooo Bois des Iles is a new love for me, I have been enamored by it lately. What a fabulous choice!
Anubis I need to sample more. My first impression was that it was too much vetiver for me but I didn’t give it enough skin time or a proper slather.
LikeLike
I went to a very formal event this spring and wore a sapphire blue gown with a portrait neckline, and Amouage Gold Woman layered with Abdul Samad Al Qurashi’s Taif Roses. So much fun to get really decked out, including with my fragrance!
LikeLike
Sapphire blue is such a gorgeous change from black
LikeLike
Amouage Gold is one of my dress-up occasion perfumes as well – just not the top 3.
LikeLike
Gold is a beautiful fragrance…not in my collection unfortunately!
We do need more excuses to get dressed up don’t we? My husband hates it but I love it!
LikeLike
Hmmm, I wear dressed up perfumes all the time no matter what I’m doing or where I’m going.
Ok, here are my three scenario’s:
Sweet Redemption for art events
Vintage Panthère Parfum de Toilette for poetry events
Jubilation (woman) for classical music concerts
Cheers!
LikeLike
I’m with you Fanny. My mood more than the setting. My current rotation is Kismet from House of Lubin, and my all time favorite Chanel 22 pre-reformulation. Becoming very very hard to get and expensive but so worth it!
LikeLike
Ditto on the mood. Isn’t Kismet pretty? I just recently tried it and it’s absolutely lovely. it’s my newest “spritz and go” fragrance. I think it could easily be used with dress-up too.
LikeLike
I checked the notes of Kismet… aaaaaaarh, must test it sooooon! 😀
LikeLike
Guerlain Oriental Brûlant, a soft Oriental, or Tom Ford Shanghai Lilly. Two faves I would love to wear more often, but if I did, they wouldn’t have that special occasion feeling. Also Chanel’s 1932, perfect with a beaded gown from the same era!
LikeLike
This is suuuuuper tough because I have to many that I feel this way about!
1. L’Artisan Fleur d’Oranger 2005. This limited edition orange blossom just sings of simple elegance on my skin and I adore it beyond words. One of my ultimate tops.
2. Chanel No. 22. This aldehyde overdose just exudes grace and sophistication!
3. Snake Oil by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. Sometimes I want to stand out with a dark and mysterious aura, magnetic and unabashedly sexy.
LikeLike
hmm… probably Guerlain Get apens, By Kilian Back to black, and Xerjoff Lira. Lira more in warm weather.
LikeLike
Hey ho all. My choice is pretty straight forward. Amarige by Givenchy. Gets attention. I wore it at my last dressed up function and I had men stop and ask what I was wearing. Fearless and confident. Two things I am not in formal occassions. K xx
LikeLike
Amarige is a secret weapon for sure 🙂 I have the mimosa edition and it’s divine!
LikeLike
Me jealous of your mimosa edition…..!!!!
LikeLike
Are you sure they were asking about your perfume? 😉
LikeLike
Are you sure they were asking about your perfume? 😉
LikeLike
Hello..My favorites
Chanel 1932
Chanel Cuir d Russie extrait
Amouage Gold Extrait
Amouage Jub 25
Tom Ford Velvet Gardenia
Caron Narcisse Noir
Patou Lasso
LikeLike
Cuir de Russie EdT along with the CdR Extrait.
Rozy Voile.
Portrait of a Lady. 💋
LikeLike
Rozyyy ohhh yes. My favorite is the EdP, the shimmer and sparkle ❤
LikeLike
You and I have one perfume in common (PoaL). I love CdR but for me it’s not a dress-up perfume. Still love and wear it.
LikeLike
I have been wearing PoaL at least three times a week, or more. I can’t stop. I have/had the 10mls. Going to First in Fragrance in a couple of weeks. Will buy a whole bottle. Whooohoooo. 💋
LikeLike
Guerlain, it would seem: Encens Mythique for the gala and Vetiver Por Elle for any royal garden parties.
LikeLike
I have many dress-up perfumes (more than occasions to wear them 🙂 ). Those that got this designation are not the most luxurious ones in my collection but rather the most beloved – so I wear them only for special occasions. To name 3 (and I’ll skip #1 since it’s always #1 on all of my lists):
#2 OJ Ta’if
#3 Amouage Ubar
#4 Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady
LikeLike
I hardly ever have to dress up so I wear these casually too haha. But I guess my formal fragrances are:
Frederic Malle – Portrait of a Lady
House of Matriarch – Kazimi
Amouage – Memoir Man
LikeLike
No dress-up occasions, but that doesn’t stop me! Amouage does great dress-up scents: Ubar, Jubilation, Dia, Beloved, Gold. I also love Mitzah and Gris Montaigne from Dior, not to mention Chanel 31 Rue Cambon.
LikeLike
Passion EDP by Annick Goutal is not only my favourite perfume, but it has a commanding presence like no other.
I also love wearing Boucheron EDT or EDP on occasions which require a little elegance.
LikeLike
Yes to Annick Goutal fragrances for dress up! They work so well.
LikeLike
Ack this is a hard one, maybe Fleur de Cassis and Seville a l’aube?
LikeLike
Chanel 22 if I want to seem somewhat formal – Amoureuse if I want to be more sultry 🙂 Since these days its usually just jeans, I love combining very formal perfumes (Chanel) with very casual clothes – makes a nice contrast 🙂
LikeLike
Amoureuse is stunning, perfect for evening whether dressed up or casual.
LikeLike
Top3 for me would be:
L’Arte di Gucci – an oldie, but a goodie. It’s hard to find, I feel so lucky to know and own it. Very elegant and smells wealthy, I would wear it to black/white tie events.
Ume by Keiko Mecheri – this one has an Art Deco charm about it. Would wear it to a ball in a Poirot movie with an emerald green silk dress.
Yvresse (or Champagne) by YSL – this one is fruity and bubbly and playfull and not a usual choice for dress ups. Would wear it to the Opera House, with a bright coloured sleek dress. Almost too much, but just right.
LikeLike
Annick Goutal Grand Amour feels dressed up and comfortable at the same time. I also reach for AG Songes and Givenchy Ysatis when I want approachable elegance.
LikeLike
No 22 🙂 (not that I get to dress up much these days-LOL!)
LikeLike
Coco Noir and Black Orchid are my going out special occasion scents.
LikeLike
Oh Interesting question! Dressed up perfumes
I am not entirely sure. Maybe Interlude Man if I am not going to get a chance to re-apply…
Kouros for clubbing and flirting with men. Coromandel for weddings and formal occasions.
But that is right now of course, could all change in 10 minutes time 😛
LikeLike