...Sleuth:Since any and all feedback is welcome, I gotta say that I'm not a fan of this house because I don't like their musk. I'd focus on scents that are low on musk and that offer something other brands don't offer.That is very interesting to me, actually! I think the only one I really like from their house- that I tested in LA was the Musc! I found the Neroli, Bergamot and Orange Flower to be all uninspired. The Oud- made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I don't think I tried any others after that one...but I really like to systematically explore each niche house for hidden gems, since I had bad first impressions of Serge Lutens, L'artisan and others and now I am a big Serge Lutens Fan...I try not to be too hasty anymore.

...I need to add 2 more that I love:1. Fahrenheit- classic( Yes, I did!). When You want to announce a hostile company takeover and You're the woman taking over.2. Mechant Loup by L'Artisan- Sexy hazelnuts & honey

...Now that I've discovered the City Exclusives are available for a limited time. I am trying to decide which ones to focus my sampling/ review efforts on. Which one's are most intriguing? Which ones are Your personal favorites? Any and all feedback is welcome!

...Tar:Flavorite:Just one that I can remember and it was Le Labo Musc 25. Oddly, the complimentor was a Shopkeep selling the complete line of Comme Des Garcons, some of the nichiest niche scents available, imho... but she said when I walked in with the Le Labo Musc 25 it was totally amazing and mind blowing.This whole story is mind blowing :D Once I read that a man using L.Villoresi's Wild Levander went to his regular hairdresser (a woman), and the haircut lasted 3x longer than usually and the lady stayed much closer than usually breathing deep.In my country a lot of people are smoking, and it is hard to feel their scent in the smoke clouds :cry:I feel very sorry for smokers because I feel they are missing out on the sensitivity of certain scents. My friends that smoke tend to prefer the bigger bolder fragrances "Poison", "Amarige", "Fahrenheit", D&G "The One"...they just can't smell the more subtle scents anymore. So sad...

...Love: Aldehydes, Apricots, Coffee, Fig leaf, Tomato Leaf, black tea, Vanilla, White Musks, Primrose, Clove, Cardamom, Cariander, Bay leaf, Cinnamon, ozone, Scotch Broom, Frangiapani, Carnation, Neroli, powdery Iris, smokey oak, Metallic, Incense, green notes- Galbanum.Like/Tolerate: Green Mango, Coconut, coco/chocolate Jasmine, Tuberose, Gardenia, Sandalwood, Cedar, apple/pear, violets, roses, salty/marine, cumin, pink pepper, TeakwoodHate: Patchouli, Lilac, Calone, Orchid, Egyptian Musk, Grapefruit, Asefoetida, Amber, Sugary sweet

...Roses are growing on me, but I am definitely still a novice in this note category. Recently, I have encountered several Rose dominant fragrances that I would consider:Serge Lutens' "La Fille de Berlin"Serge Lutens' "Sa Majeste La Rose"Keiko Mecheri's "Bal de Roses"Keiko Mecheri's "Attar de Roses"Jo Malone's "Rosewater and Vanilla"Diptyque's "L'Ombre Dans L'Eau"

...I've recently noticed these two bottle designers trying to merge their consciousness:and

...ChapeauClack:Flavorite:In my opinion they are in the same vein of gourmands- spicy sweet incense.Gourmand?!? Wow, I've been testing Dzongkha and gourmand didn't even cross my mind. Is Timbuktu more in the foodie vein?Flavorite: Neither one of these were favorites from the line for me.May I ask which are? :)Maybe, I have a weird nose, but my first impression on both of these was that they made me feel hungry...followed by the incense in the base a bit later on. Dzongkha reminded me of chai tea, with its cardamom and tea notes really coming at me strongly at first and Timbuktu- I got a big dose of green mango (circa Hermes "Un Jardin Sur Nil") that was mouth watering and followed by some spices including more cardamom- I think Cardamom always means food for my brain.My personal favorites from L'Artisan (right now) are "Mechant Loup" (Hazelnuts, honey, Tonka, spice, "Premier Figuier Extreme" (fig, fig leaf, coconut milk and sandalwood) and "Passage d'Enfer" (white lily, frankincense, aloe, white musk)-in spite of the fact that I don't typically like frankincense, this is a really beautiful fragrance). But I should say that I have not yet had a chance to sample Caligna or the Mon Numero series.

...Sleuth:I've always liked the idea of wearing something that is the opposite of the season. Maybe you should buy The Scotch Broom. It could be fun to wear it anyway.Yes, I think I agree. Not to mention it was the kind of scent that could replace caffeine, it was quite uplifting! Thanks so much!

...PBullFriend:I don't know that there's anything worth writing about here in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, US. We have the standard department stores that are in many other US cities. :roll:Garden of Eden792 Grand AvenueSaint Paul, MN 55105It's been about 10 years since I moved from St. Paul, MN. But I do remember one or two really cute boutiques on Grand Avenue that I discovered Votivo Room sprays and the now defunct "Smell This" fragrance line. At Garden of Eden, Victoria, they have the Mistral Line, Thymes and Pre de Provence at least. Also, I found the Voluspa Linden Blond Tabac, Cocoa Tamarind, Mimosa Martini and Jasmine Brown sugar group at the grocery store off of Grand- Kowalski's- not sure if they still carry these after all these years, but I am sure there are some hidden gems around Grand Ave - it was always very hip. Good luck!

...

...Well, Thanks for any help/suggestions with this! I guess earlier this Summer I was leaning toward The Scotch Broom/Ginestra scent because when I tested it I was blown away... lemony/haylike green great longevity- it is a warm weather scent though, and warm weather is going to be ending in about 4 weeks here- plus the bottle doesn't really grab me, in particular- but, of course, that is secondary to the scent. So that sort of puts more more towards Le Boise- which I have been testing this whole past week- I love love love the bottle, but the scent is very oaky, spicey and although great for Fall and Winter nights- I'd be concerned about smelling so wine-like in the day...would be bad to get stopped by the police and have to explain why I smell like an old wine barrel....so limited wear- but it's so deliciously smokey. The other two, I think I'm in love with the name and or bottles more than wanting to wear them...I've sampled them both, but don't have a sample to really evaluate in detail of these...first impression was that I liked them, but who knows, how I'll feel later. I'm trying to talk myself out of buying scents based on the names alone.

...Just one that I can remember and it was Le Labo Musc 25. Oddly, the complimentor was a Shopkeep selling the complete line of Comme Des Garcons, some of the nichiest niche scents available, imho... but she said when I walked in with the Le Labo Musc 25 it was totally amazing and mind blowing.

...Cryptic:Have you guys seen the new Nicki Minaj fragrance?! Great Googly Moogly! :shock: Yikes!!! This is the stuff of nightmares!

...My recent civic duty has provided a small winfall just enough for one or two luxury fragrances. Problem is, I've been unable to decide between my top four choices...I love them all- each bottle is unique and gorgeous, I don't have anything from any of these lines but I've tested them all and think I would wear any of them eventually and each one has advantages. Maybe I can get some advice here-just give me your personal preference and elaborate on why if you wish. Thanks!

...In my opinion they are in the same vein of gourmands- spicy sweet incense. Timbuktu smelled of mango, pink pepper berries and cardamom over incense and Dzongka started with a Lychee note, then cardamom and black tea over incense. I love incense fragrances, but, I tested them most recently side by side about a month ago. Neither one of these were favorites from the line for me.

...http://youtu.be/OET8SVAGELAIt's making me want to find a seductive Church Incense fragrance to wear for late Summer. Or perhaps L'Artisan's "Mechant Loup" for Autumn. The video is scaring me, as well! Since I love vampire, voodoo and werewolf movies...I guess like being scared! Where is that protective amulet when I need it?

..."Musc Bleu" by Osmo-Il Profumo...it called to me like a siren song

...and Diptyque's "L'eau de Lente"

...I definitely have migrated from designer brands to Niche. More because I find many Niche brands have lighter sillage and I prefer that to the sillage levels of most Designer brands. I'm kind of wimpy scent wise and I love fragrances that last 12+ hours but as skin scents...very hard to find in the typical Department store fragrances..it seems they are all at war to out sillage each other, to my nose. I like the unapologetic sheerness of certain Niche lines such as Atelier, Diptyque and Santa Maria Novella. Also the variety of compositions and limited availability makes finding your own unique signature scent a lot more plausible.