...In addition to native skin chemistry as described there's also residual scent from our daily living; perfumed shampoos, conditioners, skin creams, shaving products etc. Even the most basic and frugal person will have a residual smell of soap, washing machine product, the scent of their house and then its additional residual scents etc. So even if one were to debate the oils/PH aspects of skin chemistry, the idea of having a completely blank canvas in an everyday environment is difficult at best.

...http://www.perfumeintelligence.co.uk/library/perfume/s/houses/SebPaul.htmhttp://www.amazon.com/Tribecca-Paul-Sebastian-Women-Parfum/dp/B00CFDCXW8http://www.fragrancex.com/products/_cid_perfume-am-lid_t-am-pid_1283w__products.htmlThis one? "An oriental scent with sensual, spicy fruits and orchids." It's just not in the DB yet. I'll add it now.

...Triffid:I chuckled when you mentioned the attitude change one encounters when the cash appears. Mr Triffid and sons (as I've mentioned previously) visited Paris last December and under strict instructions from me found their way to the Chanel boutique in the Place Vendome. They were wearing football jerseys, hiking boots and backpacks and felt seriously embarrassed amongst the champagne-sipping madames with fur coats and little dogs in their handbags. Mr Triffid held out my note, which read 'Cuir de Russie 75ml' and suddenly became A Very Special Customer. He wasn't English, he wasn't browsing, just 'gimme the perfume, here's the cash, let's go'. Probably the ideal customer aside from the wealthy French regulars.I'm grinning at the mental image of that, hehe. It really is like that for me at times... I just don't look like the fancy perfumista type. And why should I? I should smell like the fancy perfumista type! 8) I have had so many people suggest I work in a perfume store or behind a high-end counter, and the idea is nice (sniff! sniff! all day sniffing and helping others find their perfect fragrance!) but I just don't see myself as the dainty, perfectly coiffed sales assistant type. How do they even manage to stand in one place all day... in those shoes? MAGIC! It's magic, it must be. :lol:

...Triffid:Scarletting, do you think the Japanese are much more accepting of individual style? That's the impression I get from reading fashion blogs like TokyoTelephone. I suppose it depends on the district but if a man can wear a dress over pants without anyone raising an eyebrow then I guess scruffy/bohemian/tourist is pretty pedestrian.There is an emphasis on individual style, especially in certain 'cool' districts, but I think the bigger factor is politeness. It's simply impolite to stare, impolite to interfere in someone else's business... so the visually judging/accepting part of the social dynamic is much less constant (or at least, to a tourist, feels less constant). Both positive and negative experiences when you're out in public seem to be 'your own', for example I was in a queue and a man dropped a coin just under my feet, and here in Australia both parties will generally make an effort to pick up the coin as a polite gesture, but he had snatched it up before I even bent down and nobody else had moved a muscle. At the Skytree Aquarium a particularly beautiful fish came up to a woman and I against the glass and I casually smiled at her as if to silently say, "Hey, this is a cool moment we are experiencing" but she just blinked at me and looked away. I assume I was being a bit too friendly. Sharing emotions- even the most casual- seems to be kept for with friends or at home. I found it relaxing, quite the balm to the anxiety I normally experience in public. Once you get used to everyone walking around in their own personal bubbles it was a wonderful contrast to other cities I have known where everyone is silently sizing-up and assuming this and that just from you walking past.

...Mixerscent:Yeah Tokyo is wonderful. If you ever go back they have excellent sales in Shinjuku Isetan in mid-July. Extremely high quality clothing at 30-70% off. Btw I've found Essenza Nobile the best place so far to purchase fragrances, excellent selection and the prices are very good after they deduct the sales tax. They're also generous with the 2ml sprayers, I usually get 5-7 based on my selections!!Unfortunately clothing shopping is more of a chore than a pleasure for me. It's actually a little issue I have, it's not that I look unkempt, but I do have a different sense of style to the mainstream, so often when I walk into a perfume section of a high-end department store I don't get treated seriously until I drop some perfumista cred on the table. Perfumery is unique in that it's an interest where people of various backgrounds and financial situations come to appreciate one of our most basic senses, so I am a tad resentful of so many wonderful perfumes being situated in a place that can be snobbish and judgemental re: the appearance of wealth. But to clarify, I did not have this issue with the lovely and polite staff at Shinjuku Isetan! I think they knew I was clothed for touristy travelling and not a night on the town. ;) In Australia though, I do find there's an underlying sentiment that high-end perfume is reserved for those used to the "finer things". Oh, but that was quite a tangent!When I finally settled on Tonka Imperiale I was given two 2ml samples, which was nice. The lady was very sweet and we got along well so I assume 2 is the normal amount they give there... next time I will definitely visit Essenza Nobile, the magical font of sample sprayers!

...Sorceress:I just read the forum about the long reviews, which is turning into an argument and love/hate fest. One person even mentioned limiting reviews to "100" characters, which is less than a tweet. Imagine how much you could learn about a perfume in less than 100. Reviewing perfumes isn't "Headlines 101".Did said person limit their post re: short reviews to 100 characters or less? :lol: /exactly100characters

...Pipette:It came to my mind whether the radar charts could be used to compare twin scents.If a scent proposes to be a twin of another, the radar chart plottings should be strikingly similar.One more thing to play with. :)I'm not too sure about that, as I have a theory that some members trust the note list as much as or possibly more than their nose. I know more than once I have been tempted to check the note list while adding scent descriptions, thinking "did I really smell that?" "am I missing an aspect?"

...Just got back last night so unfortunately Mixerscent I did not see your post until it was too late. I spent most of my time (and money) in Shinjuku Isetan... gosh, I wish I had infinite arms on which to test, the range in Isetan is just worlds apart from when we have here in Melbourne!

...Ahhhh, many thanks!

...I have, unfortunately even with my Google-fu most of what comes up are businesses that design fragrances for products, not corporate aromas in the way we mean. I'm most curious about how they design their pyramids... I assume there would be little to no top notes, mainly heart and base notes to "last" and be a "stable" scent as it is released into the air.

...Is anyone in the know regarding fragrances designed to create a specific atmosphere in a store or office? Not aromatherapy, more like the marketing style of Abercrombie & Fitch scenting their store with Fierce, but less overt. If anyone can link to such a company or even to reading material regarding this, please let me know. :)

...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAiu04sUDMgJelle - Comme Un Enfant (and a very fun video!)

...I'm quite sensitive to rose. Many rose notes are too shrill for me, others smell unbearably sythnetic. My one and only rose-centric fragrance is "La Fille de Berlin", which is almost a soliflore for a plush red rose in the evening. I also enjoy some ouds that feature rose, such as "City Love", but only certain rose notes work for me in this way, otherwise they piece like glass through the oud.I also love "Incense rosé" by Tauer, but often I have to avoid the top notes when spraying lest they become too much.

...I have tried Argan oil but the pure grade Argan oil has quite a nutty scent that changed my perfume too much, but with your suggestion I have done some reading and Camellia doesn't have that problem, so I will try that.

...I would suggest making a thread dedicated to mentioning "Parfumo has reached 40,000 perfumes" or something similar? as I was searching via google the other day for 'fragrance database' and we were 6th in the results with this post: http://www.parfumo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647And of course we have come a long way from there. :)It boggles my mind how deftly we add perfumes for both the international and German sides of Parfumo! It makes me wish more and more that I had actually learned German by osmosis when I was growing up; I had relatives that moved to Australia from Germany, and the older they were, the less likely they were to indulge a young niece by speaking in English! :lol:

...Due to being "dangerous goods" it seems there's no way I can get my hands on this after all. :x Are there other barrier/primer sprays besides this brand? Perhaps something available here in Australia?

...- Friendly, polite forums- Huge, detailed database that is constantly being added to- The fact that any user is able to submit a new perfume; I love the trust and goodwill this indicates- A site that is actively working to improve itself with new features, not just treading water- The transparency of all the above: mods and admins that actually communicate with members- NO ADS!- A points system that encourages quality reviews and photos- A front page that actively displays member content, it says "hey, we value the opinions of our members!"- Useful categories in the collection: minis and samples have their own list, and if I'm simply curious about a perfume I can put it on watch.- Custom backgrounds for member pages- Search by colour! :D

...Apicius:Cryptic:Hmmm... that's unfortunate. My understanding is that some of the moderators at BN can be a bit arbitrary and capricious. Everyone speaks well of Grant, however. Perhaps if the matter is brought to his attention he'll intervene and reopen the thread? I'm not certain how "hands-on" he is, so that may be wishful thinking.Well, let's see. I hope it will be reopened.Indeed. You would think that this is a topic everyone could agree on!I'll politely spread the petition on as many Facebook perfume groups as I can. Is there a short, concise description you would like me to add in front of the link, Greysolon?

...As much as the F-site censoring Parfumo is ridiculous and frustrating, I'm sure tonnes more signatures could be registered if this was shared on both F and Basenotes as well. (Assuming it isn't already... my time on F has tapered off to almost nothing.)

...Greysolon:Like Silverfire, there's no covering up the dysfunctional level of mutual enabling that goes on between us. I know things are bad when my wife -usually the careful money manager- is tries to goad me into buying a high end perfume for myself and I have to say no!I think it comes down to what perfume really is to us. For those willing to take the time to appreciate and develop their noses, perfume is right up there with food, drugs, sex and other "vices", but with little to none of the negative aspects; you can't gain weight from it no matter how good it smells, you can't get STDs or fall pregnant from perfume! The only real downside is the expense... and the greedy temptation to buy a full bottle of every whiff we enjoy. :)