Fresh and Fruity in the UK
November 12, 2011 2:06 AM Subscribe
I need help choosing a perfume gift for my Sister.
I know nothing about perfume... other than I can't stand the stuff myself.
My big sister loves perfume (she used to use it as a weapon to keep me out of her room!) She says she likes fresh and fruity scents and would like to try something new.
These are perfumes she's tried before and likes:
Issey Miyake, D&G light blue, jean paul gautier, jenifer lopez glow, paco rabanne ultraviolet
I'm looking for something similar to those and it needs to be available in the UK
I know nothing about perfume... other than I can't stand the stuff myself.
My big sister loves perfume (she used to use it as a weapon to keep me out of her room!) She says she likes fresh and fruity scents and would like to try something new.
These are perfumes she's tried before and likes:
Issey Miyake, D&G light blue, jean paul gautier, jenifer lopez glow, paco rabanne ultraviolet
I'm looking for something similar to those and it needs to be available in the UK
I love light blue and issey miyake. I also like euphoria (by CK), pleasures (Estée Lauder) and dune (Dior).
posted by cynicalidealist at 4:45 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by cynicalidealist at 4:45 AM on November 12, 2011
Have you tried someplace like Cotswold Perfumery?
It has a few that maybe your sister would like and it's not something that will be in every store. Try Muguet, Pallas, Ruby, Viva.
I like the fragrances from L'Occitane as well.
posted by Yellow at 5:12 AM on November 12, 2011
It has a few that maybe your sister would like and it's not something that will be in every store. Try Muguet, Pallas, Ruby, Viva.
I like the fragrances from L'Occitane as well.
posted by Yellow at 5:12 AM on November 12, 2011
Boots carries mini fragrance gift sets -- the bottles are adorable, and it would give her the chance to try a number of different perfumes. The Dior set contains the Miss Dior Cherie sonika recommended above.
Another idea (if you can stand it!) would be to take her out for lunch and perfume shopping -- go out to a store with a large selection, sniff, spray a bunch of strips and maybe try a favorite on her skin, then lunch, then back to pick up a bottle of the one she liked best (and which dried down the nicest!).
posted by apparently at 5:24 AM on November 12, 2011
Another idea (if you can stand it!) would be to take her out for lunch and perfume shopping -- go out to a store with a large selection, sniff, spray a bunch of strips and maybe try a favorite on her skin, then lunch, then back to pick up a bottle of the one she liked best (and which dried down the nicest!).
posted by apparently at 5:24 AM on November 12, 2011
Check out Katie Puckrik Smells Fume Finder here. You can click through and narrow down by season.
For example, here are the choices are "fruity" http://www.fumefinder.com/m/#/m/fragrancepicks/women/ingredient/fruity/
Also, she has lot of informative videos on YouTube.
posted by Fairchild at 5:42 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
For example, here are the choices are "fruity" http://www.fumefinder.com/m/#/m/fragrancepicks/women/ingredient/fruity/
Also, she has lot of informative videos on YouTube.
posted by Fairchild at 5:42 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not familiar with the above perfumes, but if you want something really excellent, The Burren Perfumery in Ireland is world renowned and mails everywhere.
I visited the actual perfumery when in Ireland and bought the summer harvest for myself and the spring harvest for my sister. It's a sweet, surprisingly small, outfit and the people who worked there were absolutely delightful, just like all the products I played around with.
I'm not huge on wearing perfume, but my sister is. She went through her bottle in three months. I still have most of mine years later.
I would imagine if you shot them an e-mail with the info. here they could recommend one of their perfumes in particular for your sister.
posted by zizzle at 5:50 AM on November 12, 2011
I visited the actual perfumery when in Ireland and bought the summer harvest for myself and the spring harvest for my sister. It's a sweet, surprisingly small, outfit and the people who worked there were absolutely delightful, just like all the products I played around with.
I'm not huge on wearing perfume, but my sister is. She went through her bottle in three months. I still have most of mine years later.
I would imagine if you shot them an e-mail with the info. here they could recommend one of their perfumes in particular for your sister.
posted by zizzle at 5:50 AM on November 12, 2011
I’ve tried a lot of perfumes and hands down Harvey Prince has the best fragrances I’ve ever smelled. I wear Eau Fling (Jasmine, black currant, plum, raspberry, apple, cinnamon mixture), but I’ve tried most of them and they are fabulous. Like sonika said, when I wear them, I kind of want to eat me. :)
posted by Amalie-Suzette at 5:58 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by Amalie-Suzette at 5:58 AM on November 12, 2011
My favorite is Very Irresistible by Givenchy. I get a lot of compliments on that one. I think it actually does make you irresistible..hahaha. And it comes in a really pretty pink/purplish bottle.
posted by daydreamer at 6:15 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by daydreamer at 6:15 AM on November 12, 2011
I love love love my Chanel Chance - the eau tendre variety is lighter and even fruitier - I wear tendre in the warm months, and the original Chance in the winter. The deodorant is also very nice and light, I often use just that for a nice clean scent.
posted by ukdanae at 6:35 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ukdanae at 6:35 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Perfume is too personal to pick out for another person. Can you get her a set of samples, like Sephora's greatest hits sampler, that comes with a certificate for a full bottle? Or Jo Malone has several fantastic fruit/citrus scents. You could go to a shop, get sample vials of all those scents and buy a gift card for a full bottle. Jo Malone also has really nice gift wrapping also.
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:23 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:23 AM on November 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
She might like Coach Poppy or Poppy Flower. Also seconding what CheeseLouise said about the Sephora fragrance sampler. I actually just bought one of those and am using the voucher to buy a full size Gucci Flora (which may be a bit too grown up for your sister). The ones out of that set that I thought fit the fresh and fruity category were Coach Poppy, Vera Wang Princess, and Harajuku Lovers (although that one I really hated). Someone just posted yesterday or the day before about perfumes, I recommend finding that thread it had some good suggestions in it.
posted by echo0720 at 8:27 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by echo0720 at 8:27 AM on November 12, 2011
Oh, I just saw the UK, I don't think you have Sephora there. Sorry!
posted by echo0720 at 8:27 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by echo0720 at 8:27 AM on November 12, 2011
If she likes fruity, I wonder if she's tried a fig scent? Diptyque Philosykos is really one-of-a-kind (and a lovely bottle to boot).
Another option: Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir, made in the UK, is plesantly fruity without being too sweet.
Separately, "Perfumes: The A to Z Guide" (Amazon UK link) is a great gift for a perfume lover. It's chock full of perfume history, scientific information, and specific recommendations, but also much funnier than you'd expect from the title.
posted by argonauta at 8:37 AM on November 12, 2011
Another option: Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir, made in the UK, is plesantly fruity without being too sweet.
Separately, "Perfumes: The A to Z Guide" (Amazon UK link) is a great gift for a perfume lover. It's chock full of perfume history, scientific information, and specific recommendations, but also much funnier than you'd expect from the title.
posted by argonauta at 8:37 AM on November 12, 2011
Oh, I didn't realize Sephora had closed their UK stores. Sorry.
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:42 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:42 AM on November 12, 2011
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune is one of the freshest, juiciest scents I've ever smelled. It should be easy to find in the UK.
I also second the recommendation of Chanel Chance Eau Tendre.
posted by keep it under cover at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2011
I also second the recommendation of Chanel Chance Eau Tendre.
posted by keep it under cover at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2011
Let me tell you that you should really be posting on the BaseNotes forum! Those people really know perfume.
I bet she would really love Miss Pucci--it is floral and crisp. Also, Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolfe is a classic sweet scent that has an edge. It's really nice. Escada has a lot of fruity fragrances, so you might try there.
posted by 200burritos at 12:32 PM on November 12, 2011
I bet she would really love Miss Pucci--it is floral and crisp. Also, Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolfe is a classic sweet scent that has an edge. It's really nice. Escada has a lot of fruity fragrances, so you might try there.
posted by 200burritos at 12:32 PM on November 12, 2011
I love Light Blue and Eau de Issey. Currently wear Emporio Armani Diamonds. Wait, didn't I just have this discussion on AskMe yesterday?
posted by radioamy at 2:14 PM on November 12, 2011
posted by radioamy at 2:14 PM on November 12, 2011
Hmm. IMO the scents you listed fall into 2 rather different categories. Light Blue and Glow are fruity florals with an aquatic kind of tone. Light, young, happy and inoffensive scents that don't overpower or have too much sillage (perfume-speak for how far the scent reaches away from the body). These are generally the kinds of scents I love too.
However, Ultraviolet and Jean Paul Gaultier are much heavier, with spicier, headier notes. These are not at all what I would consider fresh or fruity scents. (Unless it's a version of these scents she owns? Sometimes perfumers will put out a version, like "Scent XYZ - Summer Splash" etc, which is quite different from the original Scent XYZ, but capitalizes on the original's name & fame.)
Anyway, the scents I can recommend fall under the fruity-floral category. If she likes Light Blue, try Anna Sui's Secret Wish (the blue one), which is a fruitier (more pineapple/melon)/sweeter/less-sharp version of Light Blue. Bond No 9's Scent of Peace is like heaven's version of Light Blue (oh how I love it!), but is suuuper expensive (and you'd have to buy online).
Burberry Brit Sheer is also lovely, and feels a little warmer/juicier, but definitely along those lines. And my 2 personal faves are Guess for Women and Lancome O Oui, which I feel are a little bit stronger/longer lasting thatn the ones above. I have loved both of those for years and years.
Perfume is really, really personal, and even I can't tell what I'll like myself just based on reading descriptions or what others say they think is similar to perfumes I love. But I do 2nd the basenotes.net recommendation -- with some research, chances are you'll find something she likes ok, even if she doesn't love it to death. :) Good luck!
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 2:26 PM on November 12, 2011
However, Ultraviolet and Jean Paul Gaultier are much heavier, with spicier, headier notes. These are not at all what I would consider fresh or fruity scents. (Unless it's a version of these scents she owns? Sometimes perfumers will put out a version, like "Scent XYZ - Summer Splash" etc, which is quite different from the original Scent XYZ, but capitalizes on the original's name & fame.)
Anyway, the scents I can recommend fall under the fruity-floral category. If she likes Light Blue, try Anna Sui's Secret Wish (the blue one), which is a fruitier (more pineapple/melon)/sweeter/less-sharp version of Light Blue. Bond No 9's Scent of Peace is like heaven's version of Light Blue (oh how I love it!), but is suuuper expensive (and you'd have to buy online).
Burberry Brit Sheer is also lovely, and feels a little warmer/juicier, but definitely along those lines. And my 2 personal faves are Guess for Women and Lancome O Oui, which I feel are a little bit stronger/longer lasting thatn the ones above. I have loved both of those for years and years.
Perfume is really, really personal, and even I can't tell what I'll like myself just based on reading descriptions or what others say they think is similar to perfumes I love. But I do 2nd the basenotes.net recommendation -- with some research, chances are you'll find something she likes ok, even if she doesn't love it to death. :) Good luck!
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 2:26 PM on November 12, 2011
I LOVE Marc Jacobs Daisy. It's floral, light and fresh, but also has a nice complex scent to it, I guess? I'm bad at describing perfume. It's awesome, though. No matter what you choose, make sure to get a gift receipt (are returns fairly easy in the UK? I learned in the American quirks thread that returns are not universal).
posted by imalaowai at 4:20 PM on November 12, 2011
posted by imalaowai at 4:20 PM on November 12, 2011
Burberry's new "Body," launched in early September is, I think, a marvelous scent.
posted by bz at 10:20 PM on November 12, 2011
posted by bz at 10:20 PM on November 12, 2011
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I wear Tocca Brigitte and it's a warm mango/papaya/ginger scent and pretty much the greatest thing I've ever smelled in ever. When I wear it, I kind of want to eat me.
posted by sonika at 3:55 AM on November 12, 2011 [2 favorites]