Every Perfume I Wore in May

This is my first blog post in this series of trying to understand what I am really wearing. May was a limited month – we were still away for the first couple of weeks after attending a conference in Madrid in late April. So, this isn’t fully comprehensive as I did miss recording a few days.

If you would like a more in-depth discussion/blog post on any of these, please leave a comment below 🙂

Most Worn (Top 15)

• Montabaco Flor by Ormonde Jayne – I officially reached for this the most and primarily as my #SOTD for work, although I also wore it to the gym. It’s a very happy take on the original Montabaco with elegant bright florals that blend perfectly with the sensual suede, woods and tobacco of the original formula. Montabaco is a stand-out profile in any of it’s formats, highly addictive. (Worn 5 times)
• No.5 L’eau by Chanel – such an easy one to wear anytime of year. Sparkling citrusy aldehydes, warm white and yellow florals on a slightly powdery orris base. I spritz it on mostly after the gym, usually in the car before I head home. Im hoping one day the interior of my car will be infused with it. (Worn 5 times)
• Clean Musk by Sarah Horowitz – a fairly straight forward fluffy white musk but I think there could be some floral elements in here too. Again this is one of my go-to’s for the gym but I also layer it under other things. This one I actually like to spritz onto my gym clothing. (Worn 5 times)
• Balade Sauvage by Dior – a fantastic fig fragrance that opens somewhat mineral and cologne-like but then transforms into a luscious green, figgy, floral woody profile. In the transformation it becomes a very “perfumey” perfume. The orange blossom does stand out for me but it stays in the realm of green with the help of petitgrain. It is at once airy, breezy, solar but also green, sweet and woody. I have mostly been wearing this when I am outdoors. (Worn 4 times)
• La Douceur de Siam by Parfums Dusita – is a lovely fresh rose that smells like the real deal. The rose is paired with white/yellow florals like ylang-ylang and champaca and it is a beautiful combination. It has been a wonderful fresh respite from heavier scent profiles on the colder days of winter but I am told it blooms beautifully in the warmth of spring, so I am going to be a bit reserved with it until then, as I only have a small travel size. (Worn 3 times)
• Ylang Ylang Nosy Be by Perris Monte Carlo – a delightful, playful but also quite dense vanilla-heavy ylang ylang. Even though it reads as a tropical type fragrance, to me it is one I prefer to wear in the cooler months and it lasts literally months on clothing. (Worn 3 times)
• De Profundis by Serge Lutens – green aromatic, herbal, minty floral fragrance. The florals feel cool and watery, and there is a soil tincture note blended with incense that adds a moody feel. There is nothing I dislike about this, and although its dank beauty suits the winter months well, I have a feeling it will also be a perfect choice in summer to help banish the heat. (Worn 3 times)
• Tuberose & Moss by Rogue Perfumery – currently my favourite Tuberose perfume! It is also earthy, but this time instead of a soil note there is moss. Dark, cooling, dank moss. It has a woody, musky base that leans ambery in a vintage way. It is glamorous and grown up, and I feel a little bit like a child playing dress-ups, in a really great way. (Worn 3 times)
• 31 Rue Cambon by Chanel – another very grown up feeling perfume. This is my “I got this” work perfume, but really, I wear it anytime. Woody, green iris warmed by ylang ylang and tempered by leathery labdanum. (Worn 3 times)
• Narciso EDP by Narciso Rodriguez – the fluffiest white musk on the market paired with white florals and blonde woods. The gardenia is challenging for some, but I find it to be very pleasant paired with the rose, cedar and vetiver. It is very easy to wear for me and I reached for this at bedtime. (Worn 2 times)
• Vanille Tonka by Nicolaï Parfums – this is a resinous, spicy vanilla. The vanilla in here is dark and not cakey sweet at all. It reminds me of the leathery profile of actual vanilla beans. The spice is peppery and dense and the myrrhe adds body and shadow. One of my favourite vanillas, ever. I wore it to bed (2 times).
• Vanilla Diorama by Dior – Boozy, with spiced orange, dark vanilla with a sweeter edge than Vanille Tonka, and with less spice and resin. The patchouli in the dry down is dark and chocolatey with no sharp edges. A worthy vanilla for my wardrobe. (Worn 2 times).
• Ambre Narguile by Hermes – a sweet cinnamon centric amber scent. I love the translucence of this fragrance, and the spice is not too much. Mostly I think the spice aspect comes from benzoin (in addition to the cinnamon). It is sweet though, and for a long time it was the sweetest perfume in my wardrobe. It leans gourmand but it doesnt cross the threshold of being too much, in my opinion. (Worn 2 times).
• White Musk by the Body Shop – a rather straight forward clean white musk that is also relatively affordable and isn’t piercing or sour like some synthetic musk fragrances can be. I really hope that Molton Brown can bail them out of administration, it would be such a shame to lose this one from the market. I wore it to the gym (2 times).
• Hili by Widian – this is one of my showstopper fragrances I cannot fault it. Sweet, luscious tropical white and yellow florals underpinned by dark woods, tobacco and a touch of coconut. However it opens spicy and dry. Its perfect for a date night, winter or summer, and that is precisely how I wore it (2 times).

Worn Once

• Shalimar Philtre by Guerlain (daytime)
• Jeux de Peau by Serge Lutens (bedtime)
• Babycat by Yves Saint Laurent (bedtime)
• Jadore L’Or (2010) by Dior (daytime and bedtime)
• La Panthere by Cartier (daytime)
• Cuir de Russie by Chanel (daytime)
• Lady White Snake by Stephane Humbert Lucas (evening)
• Eau de Mystique by Wesker Parfums (bedtime)
• Gozo by Jeroboam (daytime)
• Unue by Jeroboam (daytime)
• Creme de Cuir (travel size) by BDK Parfums (daytime)
• Chypre Rouge by Serge Lutens (outdoor walk)
• Indian Study by Miller et Berteaux (daytime)
• Miss Dior Le Parfum by Dior (bedtime)
• Epic Woman by Amouage (bedtime)
• Lyric Woman by Amouage (date night)
• Fleurs de Reine by Maison Godet (daytime)
• La Capitale (daytime)
• Omniscient Mr Thompson by Penhaligon’s (bedtime)

Sampled

• Ma Bete by Eris Parfums (sampled during the day)
• Eau de Hadrien by Goutal (sampled on a warm day, perfect)
• Fathom V by Beaufort London (sampled on an outdoor walk, spectacular)
• Delta of Venus by Eris Parfums (sampled during the day, addictive and happy!)
• Musc des Sables by Les Indemodables (sampled during the day, a favourite clean musk)