What notes have surprised you?

[Uniquefrags]

I thought there might be a thread on this already but couldn't find one in a search. So, as we wrap up the year, I wonder, what notes- if any- have surprised you on your fragrance journey?

My surprise love was:
Mint! I had no idea how much I'd enjoy smelling mint on my skin. I have Heeley's 'Menthe Fraiche' (sophisticated and layered mint-tea-magic dust) and Lush's 'Dirty' bodyspray (straight up toothpaste spearmint). 😁
I recently tested ELdO's 'You or Someone like you' and am seriously considering adding it to my collection! It falls somewhere between the 2 above, but performed so poorly that I need to test it again. I'm going to be exploring more mint fragrances in the new year because I just can't get enough!

My surprise hate was:
Incense. I learned, after a lot of trial and error, that incense scents make me feel suffocated.
Yuzu. I enjoy citrus notes but ones with yuzu smell like household cleaning products on my skin!

My surprise twist was:
Rhubarb, specifically in Hermes 'Rhubarbe Ecarlate'. I don't like sour notes. I can't fully enjoy BDK's Pas Ce Soir because there's a prominent sour note that is amplified on my skin and drowns out all the remaining pretty scent. However, Hermes Rhubarbe is sour in a way that works for me. It was such an unexpected discovery.

Excited to hear your surprises.

 

[FiveoaksBouquet]

Note surprise during the year was that I could like a fig perfume. Didn’t like any until one day, smelling one on a guy on the bus, I was so taken with it. With the help of other basenoters I was able to track it down: Diptyque Philosykos edt.

Biggest other surprise was the other day, seeing nothing on my To Buy list!

Fragrant New Year!

 

[Lyric82]

This year has shown me more so than any year in the past, that tastes change and evolve. Something I once disliked, I can now crave.

Leather is one of these notes for me. I do think I still prefer softer interpretations of leather, like what you find in BDK Créme De Cuir, but I did notice a few leather fragrances this year that didn’t repulse me and actually attracted me.

Oud and incense are two more… I was definitely not expecting this development. I remember when oud could make me scrunch up my nose and hold my breath.

But I think more than singular notes, I have realized that I do actually appreciate the chypre genre. At least a little bit. I still don’t have any desire to wear Mitsouko, but I find myself loving Chanel 31 Rue Cambon and Scherrer by Jean Lois Scherrer. And if Chanel 19 and Cristalle are considered Chypres, I love them too.

 

[Uniquefrags]

I was able to track it down: Diptyque Philosykos edt.

An easy Fig to love!

Biggest other surprise was the other day, seeing nothing on my To Buy list!

Congratulations! Enjoy your completed collection!

This year has shown me more so than any year in the past, that tastes change and evolve. Something I once disliked, I can now crave.

Oh that is so true! What a great observation. I know for certain that my skin chemistry has changed along with my taste as I've aged, so that also moves some notes from 'like' to 'hate' on the continuum.

 

[hednic]

In fragrances, umbu and jabuticaba have been surprises for me.

 

[cazaubon]

I always thought I liked neroli, but lately it’s smelling sour and putting me off.

 

[showpony]

Cumin was my big surprise. Specifically Eau d’Hermes (current formulation), which I discovered this year, and have a deep, deep love for.

 

[kosui no kaori]

Definitely leather!

 

[ascotnot]

Smoke. Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud Abyad knocked my socks off. It evidently compares favorably to Amouage Interlude, but I don't have that one.

 

[Zenwannabee]

My tastes seldom change—and I’ll be candid that they run more to barbershop and drugstore fragrances. However, the surprise to me, particularly with designer scents, is how much I love iris. Dior Homme Intense, Valentino Uomo, and Shalimar EDT and EDP are some of my favorites in recent years.

 

[lfc1892]

Vetiver

Always like it in the fry down of Karagoz, but my goodness, Sultan Vetiver totally changed my view on this lovely note

 

[Uniquefrags]

Definitely leather!

A bit random but, a friend just recommended 'Snif- dead dinosaur' to me, saying it was the most realistic leather scent she's ever smelled. I haven't smelled it myself (nor even heard of the brand, tbh) so am unsure of how accurate that is, but if you happen to come across it, give it a whiff and see.

Edit: I just searched for more info on it and supposedly it's a gasoline fragrance, not a leather one. I guess I can see why my friend mixed those two up, but now I'm not as confident in recommending it, ha ha!

 

[kosui no kaori]

A bit random but, a friend just recommended 'Snif- dead dinosaur' to me, saying it was the most realistic leather scent she's ever smelled. I haven't smelled it myself (nor even heard of the brand, tbh) so am unsure of how accurate that is, but if you happen to come across it, give it a whiff and see.

Edit: I just searched for more info on it and supposedly it's a gasoline fragrance, not a leather one. I guess I can see why my friend mixed those two up, but now I'm not as confident in recommending it, ha ha!

It still sounds very interesting! I’ll read up on it as well.

Thank you for the recommendation 🙂

 

[Ken_Russell]

Having found very little to actually none (at least among the notes recently tested) to fully disliked, happened to have enjoyed quite a few, in fact nearly all of the notes did recently (re) test.

Including among many others, but way not limited to: zesty/oily/sugary candied citrus, florals, patchouli, oud, but also light cedars, earthy vetivers, both- by the standards of a committed non smoker- warm gourmand and cool green tobaccos, boozy and tropical fruit notes, some incense types, lavender that ranges anywhere from earthy natural to sweeter types .

While still fully aware to barely scratch the mere surface of many great individual scents along with essential oils did happen to wear, test and/or enjoy quite recently, over an almost record worthy short interval of time.

 

[Franco65]

I'm into Leather...
and Dark/Black smoky juices..
but Rose never fail to amaze me!

 

[Pheusinger]

For me...Iris. I'm finding that to be a note that intrigues me over and over again.

 

[TheWiffMaster]

Whatever the main note is in the aventus dry down that projects so well it's so masculine and smells like $$$$ when I smell it I think of a sharp dressed man with style and class.

 

[Robin-in-FL]

I didn't know how good tobacco smells until I got into perfume.

Didn't know how bad rose would smell on me either. They smell good on the plant.

Had no idea I would like scents with pepper? Or that there could be a good berry smell. I guess I thought about berry candy and how bad it is but man I love that mure et musc.

 

[TheWiffMaster]

I didn't know how good tobacco smells until I got into perfume.

Didn't know how bad rose would smell on me either. They smell good on the plant.

Had no idea I would like scents with pepper? Or that there could be a good berry smell. I guess I thought about berry candy and how bad it is but man I love that mure et musc.

Tobacco is a lovely warm and inviting note. but if you don't know generally ladies like it. Heck people in general do.

 

[DeathArrow]

Civet, castoreum and violet.