Question:
Hi my favorite it still Chanel Gardenia, also Penhaligions Ellenisia, Il Profumo Royal Gardenia and Marc Jacobs and MJ Essence. Love Chanel Gardenia like ten bottles worth, it is totally amazing and I love wearing it, always keep two bottles ahead, Hi hope you are well, Hope I helped, L

Answer:
I second Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia, it's quite inexpensive and I think it's really lovely. It's very sweet (personality-wise, not sugary). The Body Shop's Indian Gardenia oil is also beautiful, and very cheap (doesn't smell cheap though). Jo Malone makes a Vintage Gardenia, I think it has cardamom or something in it, it's not for me but other people adore it. Something else that has a dominant gardenia note is Versace Blonde. For my money it's one of the nicest Versace perfumes and it gives you a good hit of sweet pretty gardenia but it's definitely for grown-ups.
I'm with you on the gardenia, I adore it too - I'd love a garden full of gardenia and jasmine! I haven't smelled kai because there's nowhere in Australia that sells it (grrrrrrrr......stupid Antipodes) but I don't think there's a person around who doesn't love it!

Answer:
gardenia is my favorite flower but almost every gardenia i have bought has developed some sort of disease and never bloomed really crushing

Answer:
TBS Indian Gardenia
TBS Gardenia
Dana Classic Gardenia Frenzy
Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia with Cardamom & Myrrh - far less complex / heavy than the name sounds.
Dior Addict Eau Fraiche
Caron Fleur de Rocaille
Carven Ma Griffe - parfum or vintage

Answer:
Wow, thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! Can't wait to get my samples from Ava Luxe...and venture forth to test as many of the others as I can find!
I feel like I'm opening a new chapter in my perfume-life lol...things that never appealed before suddenly seem so enticing...little mini epiphany going on here in Oxford.
r x

Answer:
Originally Posted by perfumegirl Hi my favorite it still Chanel Gardenia, also Penhaligions Ellenisia, Il Profumo Royal Gardenia and Marc Jacobs and MJ Essence. Love Chanel Gardenia like ten bottles worth, it is totally amazing and I love wearing it, always keep two bottles ahead, Hi hope you are well, Hope I helped, L But you do know that Chanel's Gardenia does not have a single note of Gardenia right?
That effect was reached with orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose, but zero gardenias. There's some lily of the valley as well.

Answer:
Originally Posted by castorpollux But you do know that Chanel's Gardenia does not have a single note of Gardenia right?
That effect was reached with orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose, but zero gardenias. There's some lily of the valley as well. I am surprised that there is not a single note of gardenia in the Chanel's gardenia.
Is there any true gardenia out there?

Answer:
Damn you merle!!! Now I'm obsessed and have decided that I simply must get a new gardenia perfume, PLUS some gardenia scented candles for my house. I've already dug out some gardenia scented oil and have that bubbling away......damn you for spreading gardenia-itis around!

Answer:
Throwing my hat into the ring for kai.
And an honorary mention for the Marc Jacobs, which is much more "perfume-y," but still lovely.

Answer:
I've just won Floris of London-Gardenia dirt cheap on eBay. According to the reviews it's a fresh and green gardenia with notes of "Gardenia- the flower, stem and leaves". Sounds lika a perfect spring floral