Question:
I am asking your help in this journey of finding my ideal signature oriental. I have been wearing perfumes for a long time but always in an amateur-ish way, never getting it quite right.
If I write a series of characteristics, would you be able to help me put together a definite list for sampling? I have already received some suggestions in the "sophisticated and expensive" thread but I have never specified all of the traits I am looking for over there.
My idea oriental would:
1. BE LONG LASTING (very important).
2. MAKE A DEFINITE STATEMENT, NOT BASHFUL.
3. SMELL DISTINGUISHED, SOPHISTICATED, EXPENSIVE; more "old school" than "self made affluent professional" ... as one of the posters from the UK was describing in another thread.
4. HAVE HIGH SILLAGE (though I am not even sure I understand what sillage means; but if it is what I think it is - as in "spreads around very well" - then yes, I want that too).
5. DOES NOT STAY CLOSE TO SKIN ONLY. I WANT IT ALL AROUND ME.
I can also give you examples of what I have tried so far, what has worked and what has not.
1. Obssession and Opium - a bit too harsh and common and Opium does not even last all that long.
2. Samsara - I wanted desperately to like this one but it smells a little like
rancid oil on me; and again, it is not as long-lasting or strong as I heard (and I sampled the perfume itself, not the EDP).
Unfortunately, I have a major problem with perfume longevity because my skin is dry.
3. Bond 9 Chinatown - I liked it a lot, it is long lasting but it does not create that cloud around me/does not envelope (which I love so much).
It stays close to skin only.
4. Shalimar - I wanted to like it but ...I think it is somwhow too harsh at the top.
5. Fracas - I heard all sorts of "fancy" things about this one: old school, wealth, distinction, etc. However, when I tried it on...I was literally shocked because...(and I hope I will be forgiven if this is too much)...on me it smelled like...unwashed female genitals!!!!!!!!
I appreciate sensuality but this goes way beyond that, into perversity.
6. Flower Bomb - for a few days I was insane about this one. I almost got it! But then I realized it will happen the same thing that happened with Mademoiselle: it will turn out too light and not long-lasting. I love its "suave" appearance but then again, "suave" perfumes disappear quickly, at least I have learned that. Also, I think it might be a trendy perfume and now I am looking for something heavy-weight and distinguished.
7. Today I am wearing Prada - and I seem to be on my way to something. I really, really like it - plus I had smelled it on a friend before and she was definitely standing out.
Granted it is only 10:00am...I have had it on since 7:30 this morning and it's still there; but I am afraid I already feel it losing its strength and making its way out. So it might still not be the IDEAL ONE because I feel like I could find something with even better longevity.
Any other suggestions would be highly, highly appreciated.
Thank you so much!
syracusa

Answer:
I would recommend to you to try:
Must de Cartier - parfum or EdP
Eden Cacharel - EdP
Asja Fendi - EdP

Answer:
............forgot Mira Bai by Chopard, as a very pleasant oriental.

Answer:
This is really a so called "gourmand",but I think you should give Angel edp a try.It has presence, silage, attitude.But it's very much a matter of taste.Defenitely unique

Answer:
Originally Posted by ineespenes This is really a so called "gourmand",but I think you should give Angel edp a try.It has presence, silage, attitude.But it's very much a matter of taste.Defenitely unique Actually I owned Angel ones.
It was a really weird experience in that at first, meaning the first few weeks or so, I thought it was the most amazingly lasting, perfum, with that "OMG!" sillage and the whole 9 yards.
Then, as time went by, especially as I was heading in the months of summer -it stopped smelling on me!! I swear because I was applying tons and not elliciting any reaction from anybody; and I mean, family members etc who would always tell me if I smell too much, too beautiful, too bad, too little, or not at all. They were just shrugging their shoulders and said they didn't smell much on me.
My sister thinks that I may have a really difficult body chemistry, that does not hold perfumes well and that I should wear perfume on clothes.
But I know that on clothes it does not have that "personal" impact as it does on skin.
It is noon and Prada is still doing well.
And I think I REALLY like it.
What else is like Prada, but even stronger, with better longevity?
Also, between Prada and Angel, which one would you normally deem to be longer lasting?

Answer:
Syracusa, try to apply scent on your hair and in-between /under your breasts. It works!

Answer:
The boldest orientals I know are Caron's Montaigne edt & Creed's Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie. They are so strong that small decants could be used as methods of self-defense spray. Strong, long-lasting sillage and you won't smell like everyone else.

Answer:
Originally Posted by tinker424 The boldest orientals I know are Caron's Montaigne edt & Creed's Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie. They are so strong that small decants could be used as methods of self-defense spray. Strong, long-lasting sillage and you won't smell like everyone else. Thank you - they were added to the list!
Any idea which major department stores in the US carry Caron?
I know Creed is available at Neiman Marcus.
By the way, in my imperial ignorance, may I ask what is a "decant"?

Answer:
Originally Posted by Alicka61 Syracusa, try to apply scent on your hair and in-between /under your breasts. It works! I have just started to do this - and you are right, it works much better.
Maybe that's why Prada did so well on me today (it is a sample I tried for the first time). I appied it at the back of my neck, right under the hairline.
"Between the breasts" works great too - especially that mine are quite generous ... and create enough warmth to help the fragrance expand.
What is really bad is when I apply it on the neck right in the front and on the wrists. The skin in that area must be so dry (even with the help of lotion) that I think that even a burning pure essential oil would dissapear from it in a heartbit. Oh, well.

Answer:
Today I'm wearing Caron- Poivre (extrait). It should fit your bill perfectly. It's spicy, elegant, warm, long-lasting and I believe that sillage is excellent. You can find decants of this on eBay.