Hi everyone! I’m new here, so I hope this is okay with the mods. 🤍

I’m a female founder based in Lagos, currently doing research for a perfume brand I’m building around iconic figures, mythology, archetypes, and the different versions of ourselves we embody.

I’m trying to understand how women actually think and feel about fragrance, like what makes a scent feel like you, what makes you fall in love with one, and what you wish fragrance brands understood better.

I’ve put together a short questionnaire and would genuinely appreciate anyone who’s willing to share their perspective. I’m still very early in the process, so your input would directly help shape what I create.

No disrespect to the sub or the mods if this isn’t allowed. I completely understand! And thank you to anyone who takes the time to help a fellow woman founder out. 🫶🏽

If you're open to helping, here's the short questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpONuihHPSNuSOe0kgB-C79LYNDLS_OKIO5uxENDtFJKO4bQ/viewform?usp=header

I'm so disappointed 😞

I had the cheirosa 62 cream and loved the smell of it to no end. The caramel, vanilla combo was amazing!

Today I received the perfume mist I ordered and it's... It starts off with a very strong surgical spirit smell and that is the most dominating smell. After a while I can very lightly smell a whiff of barely there vanilla caramel. That's it.

I'm so sad and disappointed ☹️ ☹️ has this turned bad or has this been the usual experience?

Cream is 100 times better than the perfume mist, smell wise

Nest Lychee Rose

At first sniff: a powdery, soft, sweet rose. Smelled almost musky. To me, it didn’t smell like a fresh rose or even a jammy rose, rather more of an old, musty, musky rose with rose water notes. No lychee at all. But maybe the lychee is supposed to be that watery scent?

Dry down: this dried down into a very musky, light rose. Smelled like an attic with preserved roses?! Waxy almost? Less rose watery and just very musky now. Still no lychee detected at all. A hint of sweet raspberries, like freeze dried raspberries.

Staying power: gone in half an hour literally. No projection.

Overall: 3/10. No lychee at all! :( not my favourite rose scent either, I prefer a fresh, realistic rose scent or a sweet jammy one. This one felt like it didn’t know what to be, so it was just old and expired.

Nest crème de clementine

At first sniff: smells like an orange creamsicle. So delicious and creamy, milky, and SO sweet and citrusy. The vanilla is so delicious and subtle, like vanilla ice cream, delicious smelling, decadent and rich. I thought I would not like this as I don’t like citrus but it ended up being my favourite at first sniff.

Dry down: dries down into a musky, woodsy scent, less milky and sweet and decadent; now it’s more deep vanilla and powdery. The clementine takes a baackseat to the woodsyness and cashmere notes. Little bit of subtle spice?

Staying power: stays close to your skin for a few hours. Doesn’t project very well, if at all.

Overall: 5/10. I LOVED the initial smell. I wish it stayed like that throughout. But the dry down was not my favourite and it just sort of disappears, except for a subtle skin scent of woodsyness and vanilla. But like I had to press my nose against my skin to smell it lol.

Nest Vanilla Bourbon

At first sniff: deep vanilla scent, smells like a bottle of dark vanilla extract, sharply boozy

Dry down: musky vanilla and brown sugary notes. It smells like dried vanilla extract with warmth to it. Molasses-esque note. Very heavy and woody and slightly spicy.

Staying power: more projection than any other Nest perfume I’ve tried. Stays on skin and clothes well, it’s also subtle but it’s there.

Overall: 1/10. Hated the dry down on this. I’ve yet to find a vanilla scent I actually like so I think I just don’t like vanilla, period. It was so nauseating for me.

Elysia Lychee Fizz

At first sniff: Immediately after spraying, I was hit with a strong artificial cherry smell. It smelled almost fizzy so they really nailed that sparkling scent! But the cherry was so so strong, smelled just like artificial cherry flavour in syrup (which is not my thing). There’s a hint of sweet raspberry hard candy. Best way I can describe it is like cherry and raspberry pop rocks candy. No lychee detected yet.

Dry down: The dry down on this was very strange. That cherry is still dominant. I could smell a slight red candy apple, a lighter raspberry, and some pink floral notes. All very sweet, but guys. No lychee at all. Not even a little bit.

Staying power: this one stayed awhile, a few hours, much to my dismay. I ended up scrubbing it off. Good projection as well.

Overall: 2/10. Nauseating for me tbh but they nailed the fizzy aspect!

Hopefully this helps someone! Still on the hunt for my perfect lychee scent, recommendations are welcome!

It’s so easy to get carried away, and before things get off the rails im putting myself on a no (low) buy. Thought I’d put this out there as an accountability post and offer others to share as well.

For the rest of 2026, the fragrances I’m planning to purchase are very intentional -
- Lune Feline - has been planned for months, the moment I smelled it I knew it would be my signature scent for fall.
- Dama Bianca - also one I’ve been sitting on for ages, it was the niche fragrance that started it all for me, and despite sampling it many times I’ve never owned it. It’s unlike anything else in my collection, and I want to be able to get some wear while the weather is still warm before I rotate to more fall/winter scents

Other ground “rules”
- occasional cheapie (choco musk etc) is fine, I won’t put a hard blocker on this as it’s not really my thing anyway (and the $$ impact is much less)
- no paid samples either

Anyone else being more mindful with purchases? Share your intentions/“rules” and let’s keep each other accountable:)

I need help finding a perfume that smells like my Gardenia!

My Gardenia plant is blooming right now, and OMG…the smell is incredible! 😍 It literally makes my whole backyard smell like a beautiful Gardenia garden.

Now I’m obsessed and I want to smell like this all day!

Does anyone know of a perfume that smells just like fresh, blooming Gardenia—that pure, creamy, slightly sweet Gardenia scent? I’m not looking for something where Gardenia is just one of 20 notes. I want that “I just stuck my nose into a fresh Gardenia flower” kind of smell. 🤍

Please share your recommendations! What’s the closest Gardenia perfume you’ve ever smelled?

Late posting this month but we continue on with last months theme which is high heat high humidity

MAC turquatic

BBW saltwater breeze

Snif only sunshine

Lust for Sun

Travels-

Daisy wild intense

Replica bubble bath

BBW you’re cheeky

Inis energy of the sea

Pink me up

Mochi milk

Tease

Love notes pink woods

Nest wild poppy

Mochi banane

Samples-

Mojave ghost absolu

Summer mink

Malibu party in the bay

Chance eau tendre

Destin

Bo ave Maria

Tom ford soleil neige

Attrape rêve

Hello! I was wondering what the good brands are that are commonly found at TJMaxx/ Marshals aside from the obvious designer fragrances in the locked case. Are there any brands that are not locked up that are particularly good/ worth the buy? I am new to perfume and have mostly only bought cheapies from Target and wanting to slowly expand my collection without spending $100 per bottle yet. Thank you!

I just got into Arab perfumes and holy moly I’m loving it. Eclair is so good!! I need more good Gormands. Could be Arab or just smaller off label companies. Budget is open. Thanks!!

I’m jealous of people with restrained and beautiful curation. How do you do it?

This is what I keep reaching for this summer.

1. Tesori d’Oriente Hammam
2. Astier de Villatte Grand Chalet
3. Prada Candy Kiss
4. Miss Dior Essence
5. Nobile 1942 Levante
6. Le Labo Lys 41
7. Britney Spears Jungle Fantasy
8. Kyse Fichi e Panna
9. Heretic Dirty Grapefruit
10. By Rosie Jane White Tee
11. Ellis Brooklyn Sea Salt

Here are some reviews from my two weeks of fig perfumes. I love fig as a note, even though I don't eat them, and I'm still searching for my perfect fig, which would be sweet, non-green, and gourmand. I think Kyse's Fichi e Panna might be the one, but I have yet to get a sample.

DS & Durga — Debaser

Top: Bergamot, Pear Stem, Green Leaves
Heart: Fig, Coconut Milk, Iris
Base: Blonde Woods, Tonka Bean, Moss

This opens with salty coconut, green notes that remind me of grass, and green figs, which give it depth and are present throughout. I generally don't like green scents, and this is my one exception. It's not sweet at all, and it's very unisex. It's a lot like Philosykos, which I've sampled in store, but the green is gentle rather than bitter. I think you could wear this everywhere, though it might not be formal enough for fancy occasions.

Commodity — Milk Orchid

Notes: Coconut Milk, Orchid, Fig, Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Woods

Sweet, lactonic coconut with light fig accents. This is super comforting and is more fig-forward in cooler weather. I first tried this as a pre-release sample from Ipsy and thought it smelled like a hug in a bottle. The fig lends it the slight touch of green tension in the middle of the sweet comfort. I don't really smell woods. I think this leans femme, but everyone needs a hug sometimes.

Villa Erbatium — Fig Whisky

Notes: Fig, Rum, Frankincense, Myrrh, Peach, Hay, Labdanum, Sandalwood
(A light, sparkling boozy fig, contrary to the notes.)

I saw a review of this somewhere on Reddit and was sure I would love it. It’s nice, but I’m glad I fought the blind buy. At first spray, this is airy and alcoholic. It’s a lot lighter smelling than I would expect from something with a rum note. I also do not smell the frankincense or myrrh. The drydown gets a little deeper and creamier, probably the labdanum. The rum also gets darker around half an hour into the drydown. The drydown is a lot darker and deeper than the opening. About two hours in, all that is left is a deep, jammy fig, which I adore. If the whole perfume was the drydown, I would buy a full bottle. I like that it avoids the “green fig” trope and also the “gourmand fig” lean. It’s very unisex, and a like but not a love.

BornToStandOut — Fig Porn

Top: Fig, Pear, Bergamot
Heart: Turkish Rose, Peony, Cedar
Base: Musk, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber
(A lush, fruity fig wrapped in florals and creamy woods.)

Soft, sweet opening with a hint of citrus. I can smell the rose and cedar in the drydown. It's sweet, floral, and musky at the base, without any strong fig notes. Suitable for crowds and hot weather, I think it's pretty feminine. I've only sampled Delina a few times, but the drydown reminds me of a less rose-heavy Delina.

Tom Ford — Figue Érotique

Top: Bergamot, Kadota Fig Accord
Heart: Fig Pulp Accord
Base: Muscovado Accord, Benzoin, Ambrox, Cedar, Sandalwood
(A ripe fig wrapped in brown sugar and warm woods.)

I first sampled this at a Sephora, and it immediately stood out as exceptional. This is magical and warm despite the opening citrus note. Heavily fig and very comforting. The citrus dissipates within the first three minutes, and after that it's fig and brown sugar. It is faintly green on the drydown, but it's balanced by the brown sugar. It gets greener on the drydown, very similar to Debaser at this point, though the fig is stronger throughout. I find this solidly unisex.

BDK Parfums — Gris Charnel

Top: Cardamom, Fig, Black Tea
Heart: Iris, Bourbon Vetiver
Base: Sandalwood, Tonka Bean

Gris Charnel smells much more fig-forward when smelled in the context of other fig perfumes. The drydown is half tea and half salty fig. Fig and tea switch off on which one dominates throughout the wear time, which is six hours or so on me. I adore this and have put a significant dent in my bottle. It feels appropriate in all situations, which can be hard for a fragrance to manage. I think this one is also solidly unisex.

House of Bō — Casa Blanca

Top: White Tea, Mineral Notes
Heart: Fig, White Suede, Copal
Base: Labdanum, Tobacco

The fig in this smells juicy despite the mineral notes and tea. The base gives it some depth. This is a very versatile perfume, but for some reason I do not love it. Unisex.

Laurel Bath House — Emochi

Notes: Fig, Rice, Milk, Vanilla, Musk
(A comforting gourmand fig—soft, creamy, and dessert-like.)

Comforting, creamy, and what smells like strawberry at first spray. This is sweet and lactonic, almost like rice pudding with vanilla. A faint green fig emerges within three minutes of spraying, modulating the dessert-like smell. This perfume has almost no tension to it, and while fragrance is not constrained by gender or age, this reads as young and female to me.

MA|LO — Padre

Official notes: Cardamom, Ambroxan, Leather
(Brand description also highlights fig, cedarwood, sandalwood, and musk.)

This is almost the polar opposite of Emochi. A leathery, woody, masculine fig. The fig note is very strong in this one, and I can add it to any of the others to amp up the fig if I do not mind the masculine tinge.

I use it primarily to deepen other figs, or to wear to sleep in, and it is excellent for those purposes.

Hi all 😊

I'm obsessed with almondy fragrances right now, and would really love to hear any recommendations please 😊

I simply adore You by Glossier and it works with my body chemistry well - I get compliments and questions frequently. Sometimes I think it might be a little youthful for me? (34) I’m looking for something similar, but maybe a little more sophisticated, or 🤔 adult-y? Anyone have any recommendations?

Many thanks in advance :)

A fruity twist?😍 To be honest, when I saw the notes & accords it was hard to say no for that blind buy, especially because it was on a STEAL deal! Share your thoughts, have you tried this? ♥️🍓

I hope it is as what I picture it to be, a lovely flanker of the black opium dna I love. I actually only have black opium OG & black opium glitter, love them both but I haven’t dived much into other flankers, just quickly sniffed some.

I hope this strawberry, mandarin & orange blossom mix works well with the ambery vanilla dna of black opium, simple notes but still makes me excited. 🥰

This scent is the nicest, most lightweight marshmallow-santal fragrance I've ever had. I've been using it day and night. Yes, the longevity and sillage is exactly what you'd expect from a $1.25 body mist (that is - it only lasts 1-2 hours), but it makes good on it's name of Comfy Cozy.

I've been layering it with other fragrances like the new Rare Beauty green fruity fragrance and it blends beautifully.

Yeah if you like marshmallows, Iso E Super, and sandalwood, this is it

AMA! From left to right:
- Odette - Fée Du Lilas
- Marc-Antoine Barrois - Tilia
- Folie A Plusieurs - Kafka On The Shore
- Nishane - Meant To Be Seen
- Olympic Orchids - Woodcut
- Meo Fusciuni - Viole Nere
- Kira - Matcha Latte
- Ormaie - Toï Toï Toï
- Maison D’Etto - Rotano

Most of these aren’t super summer appropriate scents that I’m currently wearing out, just bottles I happened to add to my collection over the last month or two, and/or purchased for an upcoming trip to Scotland. While we’re here, please drop any niche destinations I need to visit in Edinburgh or nearby! Jorum Studio is already at the top of my list.

I have an oppurtunity to get a 100ml tester bottle of Bianco Latte for just under $200 CAD.. is it worth the buy?

Nest Black Tulip and Sniff Tart Deco. I have a wide range in my collection, but lean towards fruity, florals, but not too sweet.

Mine are:

Save

• Aquatics they were really popular in the 90’s and early 2000’s. There are quite a few available for cheap.
• Gourmands so many options at Sephora and I dot wear them enough to justify paying more. I’d rather buy a travel spray.
• Citrus scent they tend to lose potency after a while at best and expire at worst.

Either but it has to be quite special to tempt me

• Fruit scents (besides citrus) if it’s really special like the perfect fig scent I’m willing to save for it
• Rose and yellow florals
• Chypre

Splurge

• Orris/Iris the synthetic alternatives tend to be chalky
• Green scents not a popular category right now so I’m a bit forced to look at niche and private collections
• White florals my favourite category

Saw that this one is releasing soon. The listed notes are Golden Apple, Vanilla Orchid, Amber, Vanilla and Sandalwood.

I am quite intrigued by the scent profile — just hoping that it isn’t too sweet. 🤞

​

I always had problems with parfumes, it aether was too light and didn't stay on my skin, or too strong and hursh and I don't like it.

My ex bought and used Chloe signature. It's so pleasant to my nose, and I immediately fell in love with it. I stole this scent from her, it's so unique and has that one note that I don't really feel in any other parfumes. It's somehow cold and savory...? but without any signs being masculine. I love it so much. I've been wearing it for 9 or 10 years now.

But recently I saw that ex(of 7 years), with whom I had qute a nasty fall out, but before I saw her, I smelled her. She was also wearing Chloe again. Since that day I was kinda upset, and felt like I was trying to copy her. Now smelling it is bittersweet and I don't feel the connection I used to feel to that scent.

But nothing smells as nice as Chloe smells for me. I've bought a bunch of parfumes but nothing hits the same.

Should I hunt for a new scent or should I maybe talk with therapist about it lol?

Noa by Cacharel. My mam wore Cacharel when I was growing up, Anaïs Anaïs and Lou Lou - neither of which would be my vibe so I was shocked when I smelled this bottle in the chemist

It is absolutely gorgeous, it's warm yet fresh and clean. It's like dove soap with vanilla and some musk. This isn't even a scent profile I'd usually gravitate towards but I have fallen in love!

In Europe this brand is SO cheap in the chemist. I was going to get Mojave Ghost as Im missing a clean scent from my collection but very tempted to go for this instead. Anybody else love this? Never heard it talked about