Naomi Goodsir "Cuir Velours" and Laboratorio Olfattivo "Nerotic" are f'ing incredible, specially Cuir Velours, I'll buy a bottle. Just spectacular, another level compared to the "normal" stuff.
Love perfumes. :) Haven't tried the real niche stuff yet, mostly Creed and an MFK in my rotation at the moment. Subtle and pleasant, nothing too strong.
I started with the niche stuff lol, so I'm a newbie, haven't smell Creed or MFK yet, I just wanted to try and it was a huge surprise, as I never liked any perfume that I smelled (Armani, CK, etc the mainstream ones). This was eye opening, I quitted smoking one month ago so this is a huge change for the better for me :)
@Enigmatic Nerotic was awesome too, but totally different and much bolder, great one to impress people. Cuir Velours is a soft, second skin...ultra classy and refined, very elegant fragance
Grats and keep up the no-smoking vow! :) What did turned me off with the mainstream ones are their more artificial and "chemically" smell, if I may describe them as such. The one closest to smelling pleasant while still being mainstream that I've tried was the Issey Miyake Pour Homme, but it has terrible longevity and projection.
Enjoy your new fragrances! Am now interested in the Laboratorio Olfattivo myself too.
Thanks! I saw many similarities with audio, and started searching for perfumists instead of brands to avoid crap/overpriced stuff. One of the names that popped out more as inmensely talented was "Cecile Zarokian" who did the LO line, that's why I tried them and was a great decision, also fairly priced compared to the other niche stuff.
Cologne/perfumes happens to be another hobby of mine but probably at the bottom of my hobby list in terms of time + money spent + how much I actually care.
Regarding boutique vs "mass market" - I agree that most mass market is a little too chemical-ish and frequently not at the same level as a well done boutique one from a technical perspective... however, there are some mass market ones that are very well done.
Lastly, check out Scent Bar in LA (or their website) - you can order a lot of samples here. Pretty much all boutique stuff, most of it is really good (even if it may be one I don't like).
@fp627 Good to know! I'll order more samples of different perfumes to know more scents, as I'm a newbie, but definetely a great hobby, that's for sure. I live in Europe so I used other websites to buy the samples (Le Secret Du Marais and Aus Liebe zum Duft).
@fp627 By the way, the niche fragances that I bought are not "completely natural", but are done in a very tasteful, holistic way. Both Nerotic and Cuir Velours seemed more like an experience or a memory than a particular note or multiple scents to me, that was one of the things that grabbed my attention in particular.
Yes, I should have clarified - not all mass market is chemical smelling nor are all boutiques natural but rather what you say - a well done niche fragrance may have even more chemicals, but they're used/blended in a way that is at another level and don't evoke "chemicals".
I'll have to check those sites too. I'm sure they have a lot of EU only stuff just as Scent Bar has a lot of US or even more localized city/region only stuff.
I have been scentless since I ran out of my last bottle of Tokyo by Kenzo. It was perfect for my body chemistry, personality, etc. I haven't found anything like it since. Nearly everything I have tried since makes me think of a European night club or candy or just plain ass. How does one triangulate outside of ordering tons of samples?
It is incredibly difficult, I had to research for independent blogs and youtube channels for weeks, and my idea of good and bad is incredibly vague. I had better luck by googling the perfumers instead of the brands, that gave me a somewhat better idea but still very vague. I'm afraid the correct way is ordering tons of samples...
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