I've had a number of requests for a perfume post. Being a low maintenance kind of girl I've never actually purchased a new perfume, my scent collection is an accumulation of charity shop finds, hand-me-downs and presents.
| This is my collection: |
The Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean was my Mum's and reminds me of her, Lamb by Gwen Stefani, Hugo Boss Red, Lush's Karma and Chloe were all presents, S2 by Shilpa Shetty and the Roberto Cavalli scent were charity shop finds.
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| This Italian glass perfume bottle was a 50p car boot find |
I was very excited to discover a shoe box crammed with essential oils at a jumble sale last year and enjoy creating my own fragrances with favourites such as patchouli, sandalwood, black pepper, bergamot and frankencense.
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| My stash of essential oils |
My favourite shop bought perfume is Lush's Karma. I adore the scent as a shampoo and was thrilled when the lovely LaaLaa sent me the solid stick perfume as part of a generous gift. The 1960's hippy, patchouli vibe sums me up to a tee.
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| Vintage Goldette locket for sold perfume and a charity shopped perfume bottle pendant |
Being a child of the 1970's I wore Charlie as a teenager. Revlon relaunched it but it never smelt as good as the original.
What's your favourite fragrance?
Frankincense & Myrhh by Jovan long since discontinued alas is my all-time favourite, nowadays Clinique's Elixir. I can't do flowery perfumes much as I would like to, they don't last on me.
ReplyDeleteYee! I can't abide 99% of perfumes,as they just give me a headache,and,weirdly,I get a chemical taste in my mouth!Ugh.The only ones I can wear are LouLou and Organza,in very small amounts,but I do have a Vivienne Westwood one and an Anna Sui one my Mama bought me.
ReplyDeleteI use essential oils,jasmine or ylang ylang.G uses patchouli,which I adore!!(I also can't abide men's aftershaves/general smellies!)
You,you sexy beast,probably smell fantastic whatever you wear!! I'd like a good sniff right now,and so would Boris!(he is obsessed with oils)
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
Hey, thanks for dropping by my blog :-) Yeah it was the one by Curborough but the season's ended now but there's a new one at near Burntwood just started. I live in Rugeley (no one ever knows where it is! ha) so they're all local. Have you been to the Stafford one too, that's occasionaly quite good! I don't think I could ever get better bargains than you though, me and my Mom were oohing and ahhing over those 20p finds, they're gorge!
ReplyDeleteI barely ever get perfume from new either, I just can't justify spending like £30-£40 on a decent scent, but I am partial to the odd Lush product! Especially they're shampoo bars :-) xx
Oh Charlie ,wow that takes me back ,you are quite right when it was reintroduced it wasnt the same at all ...love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI'm a one-scent girl, Dune by Christian Dior has always been my fave since going scent-shopping yrs ago!! I tend to try and avoid buying, and with Xmas and a bday in May, I seem to be able to stretch a big bottle out half a yr or so ;)
ReplyDeleteyou look like a lovely school girl in the mirror. tartan today? guilded tray for the oils is quite wonderful too. my favorite scent right now is by FRESH "cannabis rose". my ultimate smell is gardenias. fracas is ok in my book as well.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in my teens, my denim jacket used to reek of patchouli. I had to hide it from mum or else she'd bung it into the washing machine and wash out all that lovingly accumulated patchouli oil and grime.
ReplyDeleteLater, I progressed to Crabtree & Evelyn's Patchouli (a step up from the 99p bottle of 'Karma Sutra' patchouli I used to buy in the local 'head shop') but they discontinued it.
Now I wear Matthew Williamson's 'Incense' or Ghost 'Deep Night' for a night out and in the day it varies between the Body Shop's 'White Musk' or 'Anais Anais'.
My fav is Insolence by Guerlain, I always get complimented when I wear it. I also love Chanel No 5.
ReplyDeleteDx
Hi Vix, I adore patchouli and bergamot, reminds me of the 60s/70s. My mother got me my first grown up perfumes - L'Air du Temps and Chanel#5 - they are now sentimental favorites of mine. Before that my mom used to get me anything by Avon or Revlon. The last perfume I bought was Acqua Di Gio. We don't have Lush/Karma here that I know of. Love that beautiful perfume bottle you found for 50p.
ReplyDelete~Bonnie xxx
I love Lush Karma too. I have loads of perfumes. One of my faves is Serge Lutens Mouscs de Koublai Khan. I think you may have inspired a post for the ol' blog.
ReplyDeleteI wear Karma by Lush!!!! I used to love Sui Dreams by Anna Sui, but it never had much staying power because they only produced it in Eau de Toilette and I need proper perfume. Very irritating.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice and fruity and spicy, which is what I need. I can't stand florals or sickly sweet smells.... Would rather just have a bottle of Patchouli ;)
Great post - I was thinking of doing a perfume post sometime soon too - it adds so much to know what someone likes to wear as a scent. For me it's eclectic - lily of the valley, rose, jasmine, tuberose, ylang ylang and patchouli, of course. And sandalwood. My all-time favourites are Diorissimo, Fendi Palazzo and Annick Goutal Songes... Yum.
ReplyDeleteLovely little collection, the perfume pendants are pretty. Thanks soooo much for doing my recommended post! :)XX
ReplyDeleteMy fav would have to be John Galliano (purple bottle)-delish!
Grr my first comment wouldn't post! Damn blogger.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Deep Red is my evening scent, love it.
Funny how scents remind us of people/places/times. CK One reminds me of being 13. :)
Love the perfume pendants!xxx
I love that italian glass perfume bottle.
ReplyDeleteI am not keen on strong overpowering scents. I know its a bit cheap but I love Jlo's Glow its really pretty. x
Being a teenager in the 70's I have always loved the smell of patchouli and still keep a bottle of patchouli essential oil around. When I was at school I remember buying Aqua Manda, it smelt like oranges - I'd probably hate it now! the other perfume I wore loads when I was at school was Gingham, can't remember who it was by, but it was the perfume "everyone" wore, so again probably not something I'd like now. I rarely buy perfume for myself but Dave often buys me Opium for birthday or Christmas - this is what I generally like to wear when we go out. xxx
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel and I also wear CK one and Vera Wang. I love perfumes and do flit from one to another as the mood takes me.
ReplyDeleteKandi x
ohhh! Charlie was the scent back then :)
ReplyDeleteI love the essential oil collection, how lucky for you (they are crazy expensive in the U.S.)
I LOVE Ylang-Ylang Myrrh by Bath&Body works, and wear Happy by Clinique all the time. I suppose it's my "signature" scent as it is so fresh and hides smokes smells ;) I always wore Chanel #5 in the winter, but the past couple years it smells too harsh on me :( ~ almost cheap!
I also love the smell of Patchouli oil and Tide :)
Ohhh, and I almost forgot, anything with honeysuckle scent :)
ReplyDeleteMy current scent is Soap & Glory which is amazing and so much cheaper than designer perfume. I do love Armani She as well but it's three times the price of Soap & Glory so I don't tend to buy it for myself. I do quite like Lush's solid Honey I Washed The Kids perfume too though - my tastes clearly run to the sweet!
ReplyDeleteOne of my fave smells of all time is JPG for men. If only it didn't have unfortunate ex connotations!
OO a girl after my own heart! I've supported Mo and Mark Constantine's creative ventures from their humble mail-order Cosmetics-to-go beginnings(being a essential oil enthusiast too:). I, too adore Patchouli, sandalwood, bergamot, black pepper and frankincence(great minds....:) and was pleasantly surprised when a gentleman asked about my DIY bergamot-infused
ReplyDeletefragrance in Argos(over a decade ago:0)of all places(He planned to treat his wife:0).
x
Love this post Vix! My current fave is L'eau Par Kenzo. Light and cucumbery! Although you cannot beat a little Coco Chanel x
ReplyDeleteHurrah for another joycam owner, please let me know if Jon remembers.
ReplyDeleteMy all-time favourite perfume is CK One, light and fresh and just lovely. I'm always going back to it, my first proper boyfriend bought me a bottle when was 16.
Though at the moment I have had my head turned by the new perfumes in Lush. I've currently got 'Lust' but I'd quite like Tuca Tuca too
Chanel Chanel Chanel! Love them all, I have (selective) expensive taste haha! Love the little shelf thing you have the essential oils in :)
ReplyDeleteNice selection. I don't usually buy perfume either, it's mainly a gift. I love the cool bottles in you get them in. My favourite is Gucci Rush. xxx
ReplyDeleteaww, it's really interesting post
ReplyDeleteI don't really wear perfume, but I do love the look of lots of pretty bottles in the bathroom. My sense of smell is atrocious so I always worry if I put perfume on that I've totally overdone it. xx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/
I love anything that has verbena and patchouli - Juicy couture and a unisex perfume by Fendi (I forgot the name)
ReplyDeleteI like to mix my own too, I love Anglomania, Vivienne Westwood (now discontinued) mixed with Eau Premiere, Chanel, and mostly I love mens fragrances anything earthy x
ReplyDeleteMy fave perfume is Princess by Vera Wang, its very sickly sweet and not to everyones taste but I love it!
ReplyDeleteI also really like Ultra Violet by Paco Rabane and Christina Aguilara's fragrance.
Most day's I wear Avon perfumes that my Mum has got me (Avon lady :D)
And I used to adore Ck1 by Calvin Klein when I was a teenager .. even know the smell of it can transprt me back to fun times!! :D
Sal xXx
I have three; Giorgio Beverley Hilla (tacky I know but I love it), Anais Anais (which funnily enough is the French version of my name) and my newest love is Missoni Giandula which is chocolatey and very different but difficult to find x
ReplyDeleteI love the dress your wearing! I enjoy your blog and enjoy reading the posts!
ReplyDeleteFollow me and ill follow you!
http://toesthattwinkle.blogspot.com/
(i just started and could use some followers!)
I like sweet fresh scents! I have a few but the experts tell me they all come from the same 'family' ... So I guess I do have a type! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat Italian glass perfume bottle is STUNNING. And your whole perfume collection is lovely. I have a little vanity where I keep my perfumes too, but they're not as pretty as yours. Lol. I hope you're having a great week! xo
ReplyDeleteDearest Vix,
ReplyDeleteI don't really wear perfume & haven't bought a bottle for years.
My mum usually gives me eau de toilette from Yves Roche for Xmas and a bottle lasts me forever.
Three scents that make my head spin in delight are;
Je Reviens by Worth - cause my mum wore this as I was growing up.
New West by Aramis - I never actually wore this myself back in the day but it was really popular in the early 90s & as such it has me tripping down memory lane whenever I smell it.
Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani - my sister gave me a bottle as a good luck pressie, when I went to work in Scotland & it was the scent I wore when I met Mark.
Last Xmas cousin Sue who lives in Bahrain got me a small bottle of opium perfume oil, which smells divine but is really intense, so I usually stick a few drops in the bathwater to calm the effect.
I did have 'Hugo Boss Red' at one point, Xmas pressie from Mark & I did really like that too.
Love your glass perfume bottle & pendants.
There's a little parcelage winging its way to yours the mo, sent this avo.
Lots of love,
Jem
...xXx
I'm not much of a one for perfume, it all seems to have the same underlying smell although I love the Britney Spears one that smells of sweets, can't remember the name of it. I wear White Musk, vanilla and sometimes Snow Fairy from Lush - that really does smell of sweets! I love patchouli and Karma but don't tend to wear them. As a teenager I wore Jasmine oil, that's how the eldest offspring got her name.
ReplyDeletexx
Dear Vix, I love patchouli too. I wear anything musk based and have worn Must de Cartier for years.
ReplyDeleteYour perfume bottle is gorgeous. I have a tip. Years ago I used to take sleeping pills then I discovered if you put a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow it sends you straight to sleep. I've never taken a prescription drug since. The first photo of you is beautiful by the way. PS. Giles has been over all day/night and was very impressed you spotted the Beetle. There was also a floral coverered 70's VW camper van which I didn't notice xx
Chanel Mademoiselle....forever:)
ReplyDeleteEnter my Wendy Hammer Designs Purse Giveaway♥
Statements in Fashion Blog
You have a nice collection, I've always wanted to try mixing scented oils and create my unique scent.:D
ReplyDeleteI love Chanel Coco Mademoiselle and SJP Lovely.
I am your newest follower!:D
***** Marie *****
allthingsmarie.com
I'm pretty much a one scent gal, my fave perfume is Lola by Marc Jacobs. Loving your collection of oils!
ReplyDeletexo
Sophie
Envy! Major envy at your perfume collection. I have tried Hugo Boss and love it!! I'm biased towards Chanel no 5 though! :)
ReplyDeleteWe're so alike on this! I too only have a mixture of gifts, bottles I've had for years and garage sale finds. And I have a box full of expensive pure essential oils left over from when I used to make and sell body products in a past life, now I just use them occasionally in the bath or to make scented things for drawers.xx.
ReplyDeleteLove those perfume bottles and lucky you finding those essential oils! They're great for scenting the house too in those oil burners. I love buying those Lush fizzy bath balls because they make the bathroom smell divine.
ReplyDeleteI remember Charlie! Think it was the first perfume I came across when I inherited a bottle as a girl from a groovy aunt. I wore a lot of Body Shop's Dewberry and Tea Rose as a student. As I got older it took me a long time to find a perfume I really liked and felt liked me back. I'd say my signature scent is Angel or Angel Innocent because it smelt chocolately. I've recently branched out to include Flowerbomb and Origins Ginger perfume. Flowers and food seems to be the theme!
Oh, I love the beautiful Italian glass perfume bottle! Essential oils are great, aren't they... you can mix your personal fragrances and candle mixes etc. Perfume-wise I'm still addicted to the rotten fruit scent of Byredo's Pulp. xxx
ReplyDeletethe first shot is amazing, first of all! i like mixing together different fragranced oils, my favorite scent is fresh green tee with lemon. also, i adore flower by kenzo and amor amor by cacharel.
ReplyDeleteChanel's No.5 and Coco - although the latter was my mum's and is probably a bit too heavy for me. Makes the bedroom smell nice though. As does First by Van Cleef & Arpels. Recently into Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma although it's a little on the pricey side. Love the perfume bottle - great find.
ReplyDeleteCoco Mademoiselle by Chanel - my daughter switched me on to it!
ReplyDeleteLove your perfume bottles!
I adore Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden, although its a while since I've had a bottle. I also love using rose essential oil: a little dab here and there smells delicious! xxx
ReplyDeleteI have a bottle of Angel, which was a pressie from my mum who is a perfume nut. I love it . I go along sniffing my own wrists like some kinda perfume perve! I've got a little bottle of sandalwood oil and some perfumes I've got from car boot sales. I used to wear LouLou and Anais Anais when I was younger. Before that I used to nick my mum's Rive Gauche...but never gran's Tweed!xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a collection! I love the idea of essential oils!
ReplyDeleteGreat collection :) My favorite perfumes are the TommyGirl OK #10, and the Calvin Klein One Summer (original version).
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog! Wow, you did have alot of messages!! I had no idea perfume posts could be so popular. To add to this, I use Coco Mademoiselle, Dior Miss Dior and Kate Moss Vintage. x
ReplyDeleteI love Coco Chanel, and there is also a perfume that you just can't get and even if you could I oculdn't afford it but I smelt it in a shop and fell in love and it's called Mandragore by Anick Goutal. x
ReplyDeleteVanilla Perfume Oil and EDT and that's it. Occasionally in Summer I will dab on coconut perfume oil.
ReplyDelete...I used to wear a lot of fragrances in the 80s and 90s... Organza by Givenchy and Kouros amongst others! (Yes a man's edt!)...but my body chemistry changed and perfume no longer 'sticks' to me, at all. And the fragrance changes drastically on me.
Lush does a heavenly vanilla edt.
I LOVE the first image Vix... very vintage sexy and mysterious... !
Ohhh I love perfume! Well infact I love perfume bottles, I used to be obsessed with collecting them to the point I bought a job lot of ‘empty’ ones on eBay. I dreamed of owning every single perfume (slightly unrealistic) and imagined them all lined up in pristine order.
ReplyDeleteI’ve still got a fair few now, I have L.A.M.B too, solely because it’s by Gwen Stefani, and I think I must have bought it on the first day of release. I wasn’t overly keen on the scent though, that’s me down to a tea.
If I had to choose a single favourite scent it would be Kate Moss Velvet Hour, how I love that smell, it was so unsuspected as well.
Lovely photographs as always, the locket looks so intriguing. Apologies for being so late with this post xx
hi vix,
ReplyDeletemy all-time favourite (since i was seventeen) is hypnotic poison by dior. it's very sweet, complex and heavy.
i like burberry brit as well, it's my summer alternative.
kiss
clau