Get Out of Your Fragrance Rut in 2014 + It’s a New Year…Try A New Perfume Draw

perfume for new year osswald wall cafleurebon

Mini bottles of Perfume Photo: Courtesy of Osswald NYC

Are you in a fragrance rut?  It’s a new year and many of us are in the mood for a new perfume, especially if we got gift money for the holidays, but buying something because of buzz isn’t the best idea.  We each have an olfactory profile as unique as a fingerprint, and no matter how great a scent is, your personal chemistry is the key variable.  But being individual about your choices doesn’t mean you have to stick to the tried and true.  In 2014 push the limits of your preconceived notions, remember that keeping your mind open will help keep the fragrance journey fresh and inspiring.  Here are five tips to help step out of your scented comfort zone and just may find a new perfume that really wows you:

rouge bunny rouge incantation

Explore a new line. London's lovely Alexandra de Montfort's Rouge Bunny Rouge "Fragrance Confections" Collection offers three exquisite and innovative feminine florals with a twist that you won’t smell on everyone else.  My favorite, Incantation, has a cloak of dark magic (spice and bitter greens) protecting a regal floral heart of rose and orange blossom. Available in the US at Beautyhabit and Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique in Brooklyn

perfume for new year mfk absolue lempicka cafleurebon

Painting by Tamara de Lempicka, Maison Francois Kurkdjian Absolue Pour Le Soir

Try a little skank.  If you are a devotee of fresh, green, clean fragrances, the very word may scare you, but there is nothing like a touch of sex appeal to vault a fragrance from nice to irresistible.  Think of it like the grains of sea salt they add to luxe chocolates to create a contrast with the sweetness.  Maison Francois Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour Le Soir is a glamorous and heady oriental that melds rose, honey, incense, benzoin and wood notes with animalistic cumin and ylang-ylang.  It communicates desire on a visceral level, like dilated pupils and slightly parted lips.

masion dorin damas rose

Maison Dorin Un Air de Damas Rose (Photo unknown)

Explore notes you are uncomfortable with.  It may seem counterintuitive to purposely seek out components that are difficult for you, but with all the excellent sampling services available it is a risk that pays off tenfold.  Until recently rose brought to mind visions of desiccated skin, doilies and dust to me, but I persisted because I felt like avoiding such a prominent note was limiting me as a perfumista.  Thanks to lush, realistic, three-dimensional beauties like Maison Dorin Un Air De Damas Rose, which is so vivid you sense moist dew on velvet petals, I now realize it is the treatment of notes, not the notes themselves, that make or break a fragrance. Available in the US at Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique in Brooklyn and at Henri Bendel New York

perfume for new year phaedon the rouge naomi okubo cafleurebon

Phaedon Paris The Rouge Candle, Painting by Naomi Okubo

Consider fragrance in a new form.  Beyond the atomizer, there are glorious scents available as body lotions, fragrance oils, and scented candles.  Those three phrases used to make me break out in hives, envisioning a shopping mall filled with Bath and Body Works, Yankee Candle and hippie hemp kiosks.  This attitude changed quickly when I discovered Pierre Guillaume's Phaedon ParisThe Rouge candle.  With notes of pomegranate, black tea, and patchouli, scent your personal space with notes that appeal to you but may not work with your skin chemistry. Available in the US at Osswald Boutique in New  York

perfume for new year apperly mdci peche cardinal cafleurebon

Painting by George Owen Wynne Apperley and MDCI Peche Cardinal

Don’t prejudge.  Fruity florals are widely maligned because they are overrepresented among mass market fragrances by a slew of scents that smell like aerosol hair spray mixed with fruit juice. However, there are some elegant fruity floral compositions that stand out from the sea of mediocre. Try Peche Cardinal (composed by Amandine Marie) by MDCI Parfums.  Its inspired pairing of peach, plum and coconut with white florals davana, tuberose and lily is effervescent, uplifting and sophisticated.

a new fragrance for a new year

Thanks to the lovely Nasreen of Parfumerie Nasreen, 2014 just started smelling a whole lot better. We have a  draw for 2.4 oz Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Absolue Pour Le Soir  .  To be eligible,  leave a comment with the fragrance risks you took in 2013  that turned your notions of what to waft upside down or which of the perfume tips Nancy suggested you are going to try in 2014. This is draw  closes January 7, 2014 and is  for USA residents only.

–Nancy Knows, Contributor and Editor of the fragrance blog Make Perfume Not War

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

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94 comments

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    What a lovely treat, Nasreen, thank you! I finally “got” vintage fragrances this year, starting with the lovely Shalimar. I can’t believe it took me so long!

  • Ceil says:

    I tried more florals this year which I generally don’t do well with. Rose and orange blossom in particular. I did find some that I could enjoy by Guerlain. I’m having fun seeking out more though.

  • Someotherspring says:

    In 2013 I decided to alter they way I wore fragrance in response to the weather. If it was 90 degrees and my pricey white floral felt a bit cloying because of the heat, I took some of the steam out by substituting a spritz of the floral with a spritz of a fresh green scent instead. It was a refreshing change, and the two brought out very different sides of each other. A really fun enhancement, that I’ll certainly try again with other perfumes. Thanks for this draw! I’m in the US.

  • Nancysg says:

    Peche Cardinal has been a favorite of mine for a few years, but have yet to buy a bottle. Maybe it is just too pretty when I am looking for a challenge.

  • Stevie Wilson says:

    wow.. love this article…. The scents are are interesting .
    Courtesy of FRAGments earlier in 2013, I had a chance to test drive everything that was sampled at the event in Los Angeles, things I would never have thought wearable from Treazon to Rising Phoenix to Phoenicia’s scents that are highly unusual were all wearable depending on my mood, my personal chemistry and the weather. I found Phoenicia’s collection more wearable in the summer, Rising Phoenix & Ayala Moriel’s scents were perfect for fall and even better in winter (colder temp based on LA’s climate) .. others like Sherri Sebastian, Nicki Sherritt, House of Matriarch and so many others that I have been able to test from the very green to the florientals, to a serious ambers and patchouli’s and the blends of so many more. I was enamoured with so many scents.. (trying to test them 3-4 at a time – such a mistake) . slowly circling back and finding so many that I want to try…. or things I know that bring out different aspects of me… *smiling softly*
    this was a dive into very deep, very different waters.

  • escritora says:

    I am definitely going to explore notes I am not comfortable with. I even started it last year – I really don’t like rosy note, but still I try hard to tame it… even if just a little.
    I am in the US.

  • Colin says:

    Nasreen actually opened my mind to the Gentile line of fragrances, all of which are excellent but which had not been known to me before. I also found that rose can smell great with Gentile’s Cinabre and Caron’s Or et Noir. More adventures to come. I haven’t explored the Kurkdjian line much–perhaps this is my chance!

  • Ncmyers says:

    I gave white florals a spin after being an oriental devotee. Not bad! I plan to give more wearings to some of my neglected decants. Everthing deserves another chance! Thanks for the draw. I’m in the US.

  • Charles G says:

    I bought Santa Maria Novella’s Garofano, and I never thought I would love it so much!

  • ionai says:

    I tend to veer towards woody scents, and have far too many of those in my wardrobe. In the last 3 months, I have ‘forced’ myself to to investigate and discover greener and ‘cleaner’ scents, and it has been an amazing and rewarding experience. Some of my favourites now are Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte, Annick Goutal’s Eau du Sud and Atelier Cologne’s Trefle Pur. It’s a whole new world of invigorating, refreshing and yummy scents!

  • DianeM says:

    Thank you for the draw! Don’t laugh, but something as simple as tuberose was my big risk taken. I didn’t really like it at all, but now I LOVE it! I’ll have to do a lot more reading, but, I think incense will be my thing to try this year.

  • Claudia says:

    I retried Tuberose which is generally a no no for me, but by god I tried Hiram Green’s Moon Bloom and low and behold i was hooked. So i am also happy to report that the FM Carnal Flower Hair Perfume is stunning!!! Happy New Year 🙂

  • Omer M. says:

    I tried Serge Lutens Musc Kublai Khan in 2013 that was stank but very warming and sweet in a cuddling way. I sprayed myself with it and dared to walk out. it stays close to skin but someone close to you can smell it. Luckily I wasn’t meeting anyone to avoid that moment, instead I rather walked among strangers.
    Also I tried Karl Lagerfeld Classic for men and it was a blast of vanilla musk. Very musky.
    But that’s what perfumes are “a kaleidoscope of smells”
    Thanks
    USA

  • TerryM says:

    I’m going to try a little skank this year and MFK Absolue Pour Le Soir sounds like the one to try!

  • Courtney Warren says:

    I think I would like to try the Rouge Bunny Rouge line, I love the frosted bottles in that line, so pretty. Thank you for the draw, I have never tried a spendy perfume like that but would love to 🙂

  • Alissa says:

    I like the idea of embracing notes I’m uncomfortable with. That’s definitely something I will keep in mind, and try this year. I’m thinking pine and conifer, which I’ve seen popping up a lot these days. Also, I usually avoid verbena and hemp, which I’m actually warming up to (hemp). I definitely want to be in the draw for Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s Absolue Pour Soir. Of all the perfumes mentioned in this post, that was the most appealing to me. I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • Barbara says:

    I am guilty of prejudging and ignoring notes I am uncomfortable with. I resolve to try florals in 2014!Thank you for the draw, I am in the US!

  • Sue K. says:

    I got a subscription to Olfactif and get to try out all sorts of fragrances I’d probably run like hell from in a retail setting. But I have to say winning the Cafleurebon draw of a set of Ineke Ruhland’s fragrances earlier in the year got me started on that path. Now a second draw of a Spilled Perfume has Kevin Verspoor working on something just for me. What a year! What next for 2014!

  • Jolene says:

    Nancy is right. Don’t let your preconceived notions of certain notes and fragrance groupings robe you of great experiences. Even though I know what I like, I try to give everything a good chance. There are some notes I thought I wouldn’t like and revisited to find out I did really enjoy them in certain perfumes. There are a lot of factors that make fragrances behave differently and your nose to pick them up differently too. This year, like last, I want to expand my pallet and give everything a good whiff!
    I am in the US.

  • Devon H says:

    This was definitely a break out year for me in trying new things. I tried many more niche scents than I ever had before, especially lots of new houses, I decanted and shared for the first time, had my eyes opened to so many new scents by generous perfume fairies on the Posse and FFF, explored Violet and leather scents and iris (which I’ve had trouble with in the past, but managed to find one or two I can hang with), blind bought a lot of vintages and enjoyed getting to know the past, as well as blind buying decants from splits just to “smell all the things” and found many new favorites. Thank you for the draw! I live in the US.

  • leathermountain says:

    I am a great fan of pursuing the notes that *don’t* seem to work for me. This year it was labdanum. Talk about being limited as a perfumista! With lots of help from all sorts of sources, I have learned to love various labdanum extracts and scents. Now I’m working on vanilla, and before you know it, I’ll be wearing ambers every day! 🙂 Thanks so much for the draw and for the lovely article chock full of excellent suggestions! I am in the US.

  • Calvin says:

    I never thought I’d like florals, but Ciel Pour Homme and Platinum Egoiste changed my opinion. Maybe this is a good year to try more.

  • Michele M says:

    I NEVER thought I would enjoy a pine note, but Imaginary Authors Cape Heartache totally changed my mind!

  • Lisa B. says:

    I don’t like rose, but I tried Une Rose Chypre and liked it. I also didn’t think I really liked white florals but thanks to a friend, I tried them out again and really loved them, especially jasmine and tuberoses, like Elie Saab and White Shoulders.

  • Gillian says:

    Thank you for the giveaway. I tried many different fragrances last year, and ventured out of my comfort zone. In the past, I actually thought I only liked the fruity-florals and the gourmands. That was the beginning of my fragrance journey. Because I tried so many different perfumes, I found that I can enjoy some florals, and absolutely love oriental perfumes, spice, and oriental florals. I no longer have interest in the fruity-florals. Instead, I go for spice, amber, and gasp- patchouli. 🙂

  • Leonel says:

    I tried Prada Candy as a whim, as I am not a fan of sweet fragrances. But this is elegant and although sweet, not cloying.

  • Edward G says:

    In 2013, I left my comfort zone of amber for leather, purchasing fb’s of Cuir Fetiche, Cuir Ottoman, & Rien. Next up to try in 2014 will be a fragrance I’m a little afraid of, patchouli.

  • Ccc says:

    2013 brought many disappointments and many fragrances I thought I was going to like ended up on my dislike list. But nothing turned my world upside down.
    Maybe I should try more fragrances with notes I generally don’t like and less prejudge. I avoid fruity fragrances and wouldn’t touch anything that has ozonic or salty notes.

  • shannon says:

    I never thought I liked floral frags, but I’ve been testing my limits lately and I’ve found I really like orange blossom and jasmine!

    Great article and very timely … One should always be pushing the boundaries and stepping outside of our comfort zones. Thank you for the draw!

  • Daniel B says:

    I drifted away from my Creed addiction and started getting into darker smokier scents such as Black Afgano, Pure distance M, and Amouage Interlude… now its hard for me to wear my lighter fresher Creeds o.O

  • StaceyW says:

    You are so right when you say that it’s not the notes themselves but the treatment of the notes that make or break a fragrance. At the beginning of 2013 I never thought I would enjoy leather notes but by trying lots of different treatments of it and giving them time to unfold I’ve learned to appreciate it and just bought a FB of Bottega Veneta. I have Daim Blond and Cuir Beluga on my wish list too!

  • d3m0lici0n says:

    As a guy I always ignored florals, but last year I tried Arquiste Boutonniere and really made me change towards florals. Right after that I got to try Carnal Flower as well and sometimes I steal a spritz from my wife’s bottle. I’ll consider also trying perfume in new forms specially with candles, that’s something of love to try this year.

  • Amy K says:

    I don’t have an easy time with bold aldehydes, so when a kind swapper gifted me with a sample of vintage My Sin I was a bit hesitant to try it. I LOVE IT! So now I’m thinking about trying some other aldehyde-heavy fragrances that I might not have considered before.

    I live in the US. Happy New Year!

  • RVB says:

    Since I normally prefer smoky and dark scents I took a plunge and went in the opposite direction…sweet! I purchased Profumum’s Vanitas a very sweet vanilla fragrance.The chilly myrrh keeps the sweetness in check and creates a beautiful meld of opposites.I’m intoxicated! I’m in the US.Thanks for the draw!

  • sara says:

    I blind bought several fragrances based on reviews I read here. I love trying things that aren’t my usual thing. I live in the us. Thanks.

  • Sujaan says:

    In the past I have been guilty of not giving the rose, and other florals, or fruits a fair sniff (I’m much more apt to give skank a shot). In 2014 I may have to explore the more elegant offerings in those categories.
    In 2013 I made a break through in aldehydes which had before eluded my note preferences.
    Thank you Nancy and Parfumerie Nasreen, a draw for Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour Le Soir is a truly wonderful gift.
    I’m in the US.

  • kamilee says:

    In 2013, I discovered that unisex scents are a separate category with their own rules and I have not turned back since. I also went wild, buying sets of samples from Abdes Salaam, Liz Zorn and Oriza L Legrande. This Absolue Pour le Soir sounds like my kind of concoction exactly!

  • Ferris says:

    I took a risk with a lot of florals this past year, rose, jasmine and tuberose in particular. I was surprised how much I liked them. I also tried a lot of natural perfumes and I was amazed at how complex and wonderfully they unfolded on my skin. I’m in the US. thanks for the draw.

  • Laurels says:

    To give you an idea of what a newbie I am, my first big risk was trying Trish McAvoy’s Black Rose Oud last spring, because it seemed like the most unusual thing available at my local Nordstrom. I’d only just heard of oud (thanks to this blog, among others) and I thought rose in perfume always smelled sour on me. I actually really liked it, and I became determined to try a lot of different things. Thank you for broadening my horizons, and for the giveaway.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    i have to admit my least favorite category has been fruity florals (i do like manyflorals and certain fruity notes such as blackberry) but most fruity florals, especially mass market are mess…but i just tried Miss Dior Cherie (Christine Nagel version) and it has changed my perceptions a little. i am not sure if it is classified as fruity floral but it has lot of fruity and floral elements. i am in the US

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I have had a lot of fun trying notes that I thought I didn’t like (like Musk!) in 2013 and I think my resolution for the new year will be to “not prejudge”. I automatically skip a lot of new scents because of something I might not like about the brand / packaging, etc. I should give these a fair chance. (US)

  • Hamish says:

    My risk for the year was leather fragrances. My current favorites are Cuir Pleine Fleure and Cuir Ottoman. I’m still working on being comfortable in Azzuree. I need a good skank perfume and I will be seeking a sample of APLS . I’m in the US.

  • Darilyn says:

    This year I tried rose scents, and found a few new loves!
    Phaedon Rouge Avignon is at the top of my list, followed by Parfumerie Generale Brulure de Rose. I used to think rose meant
    “old lady”, but so glad I got out of my usual comfort zone! My next
    risk is tuberose. I have tried Nancy’s suggested MDCI Peche Cardinal, and do love it! I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • maysamassimo says:

    Last year I tried pretty much everything I could and I intend to continue to do so this year.
    Thanks!

  • Cheryl says:

    Last year I dipped into natural perfumes. I wanted to explore rose so I tried Aftelier Wild Roses…. love love love. I also explored Dirty Rose by PK Perfumes… OMG so bad I couldn’t believe it! To continue on that rose journey I’d like to try Maison Dorin Un Air De Damas Rose. Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • julesinrose says:

    The perfume tip I’m going to try this year is “Explore notes you’re uncomfortable with.” I need that advice! This past year saw me only trying things I knew I would like and playing it safe. Maybe this is the year I’ll discover I like a white floral. I’d love to try Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour Le Soi – ylang ylang is a note that challenges me, yet every other note in it is to my liking.

  • Jim says:

    My biggest risk wasn’t that huge, having blind-bought a number of more expensive fragrances, but it was the biggest surprise/pleasure: David Yurman Limited Edition.

    I can see how on initial spray this would scare people away – it certainly did for me. I literally sprayed once and said “NOPE!” and put it up for sale. Prior to purchasing, my fear was it would be too feminine (I have seen it marketed strictly as such, but also unisex).

    The notes could have gone either way: top notes of crisp coriander, geranium, saffron and raspberry. At its heart, violet and night-blooming jasmine mingle. Basenotes: warm suede, creamy vanilla, enticing musk and earthy sandalwood. Somewhere in there is rose Taif as well.

    Upon initial spray I was hit with a cacophony of notes all at once, overwhelming to say the least and dare I say it smelled “perfume-y”? Imagine children being let out for recess on the first warm day after being held hostage inside by a long, cold winter.

    But then it got spicier. The oud that smacks you out of the bottle, along with the violet and other notes, just settled down and played nicely like little children on the playground after taking their ritalin.
    By the time recess was over, the scent, a parfum extrait, was softer and had started to resemble Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather in many ways with its suede leather and raspberry notes mingling with sandalwood and vanilla… it really became spicy/creamy… and more masculine.

    Anyway, the shocker was this scent originally retailed for $250 upon release and now testers can be found for under $50 – a complete crime it doesn’t get discussed more, but a steal nonetheless that was well worth the risk.

  • M.A. says:

    I’m going to follow your advice of embracing notes with an open mind. I’m not really into vanilla, but I’m determined to find a few that work for me. Iris too. I’m in the US, and thanks for the opportunity.,

  • Nemo says:

    I will being following your advice about exploring notes I am normally uncomfortable with. So far that note has been tobacco (which led me to Chergui!), but I might try out more fig and amber perfumes this year as well. I am in the US, and thank you for the draw!

  • Lean S says:

    I think this year I will try and seek notes I am uncomfortable with, as Nancy suggests, if only to broaden my horizons or deepen my understanding of how notes work with each other when I find myself pleasantly surprised. I am in the US.

  • Linda says:

    Trying new notes that are unfamiliar to me will be the thing for me in 2014 – usually I stick with citrus, fruity, perhaps a little spice, but Absolue Pour Le Soir and Incantation sound like something exciting to try!
    I live in the US.

  • Maxine says:

    My teenage daughter knows I love perfume and bought me Rihanna rebelle fleur, I kept a straight face and said how much I would love it (I cringed inside). Guess what I did !

    Another adventure in 2013 was buying Marni Rose. I see I am not alone with Rose issues and Maison Dorin Damas rose will go on my to try list.

  • Judith says:

    Mmm, I think I might be ready to try some skank! I live in the US – thanks for having the draw!

  • Jim says:

    Hi Nancy – I know samples can be found on ebay, but for the price a 2.5oz tester there it is well worth it imo. Probably won’t be to everyone’s liking and, though I’ve personally never smelled any , it’s been compared to one of the Amouage Attars. Things that initially turn me off then force me to do a complete 180 tend to leave the biggest impression!

  • Connie says:

    I really got into perfume just this year, so everything is new and ‘risky’. Getting into the swapping community and expanding my horizons would, i think, be my answer.

  • Sandi L says:

    In 2013 I went out on a limb trying some Marine notes or sea weed notes. Surprise I actually liked a few..Turquoise from Olivier Dubano and from MM Vanille Marine. Great article! Would love the opportunity to try Absolue pour le Soir. I am in the US.

  • Lorinda says:

    I am going to explore notes I am uncomfortable with. and maybe dabble into candles. Today I am wearing a labdanum rich scent, Barkhane by Teo Cabanel, and it is so nice. Labdanum usually give me a headache; I can only tolerate so much – but maybe I can wean myself on, instead of off! I am in the US and am also adding Maison Francois Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour Le Soir to my try list for this year.

  • DavidK says:

    I received a candle version of a scent by DSquared as a gift. I did not like this scent in perfume form, but oddly enough in candle form it smells much softer. I will definitely try other scents as candles.

    I visited Nasreen’s store a few months ago and she was wonderful.

    I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Dana says:

    I used to think I did not like tuberose, but discovered one that I actually did like. More exploration of other notes is in order, I think. All very good advice. Thanks! I’m in the U.S.

  • wefadetogray says:

    I dont really take risks regarding perfume although in 2013 I decided to step out of my musc comfort zone and experimented with several skunky ones and I have to admit, I need to stay clear of them. Skunk turns deadly urinous on my skin so I rather stay clear. From Nancy’s suggestion I’ll go with trying fragrance in a new form 🙂
    Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Latifah S says:

    i might try different things such as perfumed lotion etc. i would like to explore different lines and types of scents. Thanks for the draw. i am in the US.

  • susie frankel says:

    Last year I tried a number of new scents and I liked most of them. So giving new ones a try will continue in 2014. I don’t like vanilla and I am not willing to change on that one! … and I hope to try more scents from the niche side this coming year…
    USA

  • Mary K says:

    I sometimes stay away from testing anything that has even a bit of something that I think might not work for me, but now I plan to ignore lists of notes that show something “questionable” for me and go ahead and try anyway.

  • Elia says:

    I’ve been trying more and more iris scents. I’d not been that keen but through slow exposure I’m getting to be a fan. I look forward to trying the MDCI mentioned, I’d like to try a few of their scents really. I have a US address

  • Beth says:

    I started trying notes I didn’t think I liked in 2013. The big ones to surprise me were aldehydes and white florals. I ended up growing to love Chanel no. 5 and Carnal Flower. I guess in 2014 I should explore marine notes since I still avoid those. Skank tho has always been a favorite and Absolut por le Soir is on my to-buy list so please sign me up! I live in the US 🙂

  • Holly F. says:

    Such great suggestions! I don’t really consider myself in a rut, since I keep a pretty open mind toward different perfume genres. There are certain catch phrases that turn me off, though, “fresh” being one of them. So maybe I do need to reconsider those kinds of scents. Thanks for the great article, and thanks also to Nasreen for her generosity. I am in the U.S.

  • helical gnome says:

    I have a hard time with skanky fragrances but I will definitely open up my mind to some animalic muscs. I want to try many new lines but I neither have the money for the skin space to try them all. Thanks for the draw. I am in the USA

  • Harper says:

    how frustrating, i wrote this long missive and then i got the code wrong and the whole thing went away — ack!!!

    so now only: it’s absolut pour le soir that i want to try from the line-up.

    and it is floral notes i have not liked in the past that i am exploring now (violet, iris.)

    and yes, i’m in the u.s.

  • Joanne says:

    Just the though of skanky makes me cringe. Ack. Now, though, I must confess I have never tried it. I just might this year, but then again maybe 2015 would be better–gives me more time to consider it. I’m in the US.

  • FearsMice says:

    There are a bunch of lines (not necessarily new) that I want to try this year. I also need to conquer my fear of fruity notes like pear, melon, mango… Thanks for the wonderful draw!

  • amy m. says:

    The “risks” I took this past year have been exploring with soliflores. I normally poo-pooed (sp) them, and would go for perfumes that were blends of many different flowers and accords.
    I found some gorgeous and satisfying rose, jasmine and lilac soliflores that changed my opinion.
    I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • ringthing says:

    Great article, Nancy! I especially like the suggestion to explore notes that you think you don’t like. Last year it was tuberose, this year it’s violet, still searching. I’m in the US; thanks for the generous draw for a beautiful scent.

  • Sarah Lathrop says:

    I love the smell of actual flowers, but have trouble with them in perfumes. I’m going to take your advice, illustrated by your experience with rose, and be more open-minded about floral fragrances.
    Meanwhile, I already know I love “skanky” scents and would love to try Absolue Pour Le Soir! I do live in the U.S. Thank you for the drawing.

  • Cynthia says:

    I really like the concept and structure of this article. There are some very good ideas. For me, I have bought a book on “fragrant cooking” and I am going to try to expand my love of fragrance to things I eat and drink, at least as a special treat.

  • Lisa R. says:

    This past year I fell in love with Tuberose after a fragrance risk. It had always smelled rubbery on me before… but I kept trying it in diff combos until I found a couple that work on me.

    Thanks for the draw! I am in the US

  • xtopher says:

    I will try to wear perfumes with scents that I am uncomfortable with by definition. Anything fresh bothers me. I like lavish, lush, performative perfumes so the idea of something light and fresh makes me itchy. I want to try them though and perhaps find something I can wear on a hot, wet, summer day.
    Thanks! I am in the US.

  • David Martinez says:

    I agree with the advice to try new lines. Each house produces something unique and special. MFK and Imaginary Authors are currently two of my favorites. At my office, wearing anything amazing is a risk because my decants and bottles run out faster as I don’t mind sharing lol.

  • Hackensack says:

    I think the best way to go is to try new lines………..and it just so happens one of the top on my list is MFK………….I would really like to try this one– it sounds like my kind of thing. And I’m in the US.

  • Ginny M says:

    After reading this piece, I’m actually interested in being a bit more adventurous in trying fruity florals, a category that I’ve long considered to be very youthful. I’m tempted to seek out Peche Cardinal! That said, I already greatly admire Absolute Pour le Soir, and would lovelovelove to win a bottle. I live in the U.S., and thanks to you and Nasreen!

  • mim says:

    This past year I explored tuberose, a note I thought I could never wear. Even more difficult than jasmine. It’s wonderful!

    This coming year I want to explore naturals and more ‘dirty’ animalic notes like those in Absolue Pour le Soir. Maybe even give fruity florals a chance! It is a good idea not to prejudge. But there is a limit to what feels like an accurate scented projection of ‘me’…. Peche Cardinal sounds lovely!

  • HeatherP says:

    I think I need to try a little skank, and maybe a few new lines as well. I’m in the US; thanks for the draw!

  • joseph s says:

    I want to get into more types of Ouds, a little more skank, I notice myself getting into them more as my tastes change, I find myself enjoying them more.

  • Kim Morgan says:

    I don’t take many chances with fragrance or anything else… just about everything new makes me uncomfortable! This is perhaps the tip Nancy gave that resonates the most with me.

  • Igor Kipnis says:

    Didn’t take much risk during the year as I already complied my wish list for the year and tried to acquire those specific scents. I thought oud would be more dominant during the year but for me it was amber scents. Also I tried to stay away from blind buying as much as possible but when I did it was for the well recommended ones, which I liked as well.

    USA