In many urban cities, it is a great compliment for a person, place or thing to be known as — ‘jolie-laide’, the French adjective for the fine line between beauty and ugliness. Think of the model Irina Lazaraneau rather than Shalom Harlow
Left top: 100% love, Bond no. 9 Chinatown, Guerlain Le petit Robe Noir; Bottom left: LancomeTresor and Narcisco Rodriguez for Her
I put this piece together when the muse bit me ( two hours ago) and emailed some friends who create some of my favorite 'pretty" perfumes and home fragrances. Ironically, Charna Ethier, Aurelien Guichard (above) for Robert Piguet, Tony and Meredith Wagner Perez, Jane Hendler and Ineke Ruehland make my case.
1.oz (botanical) Providence Perfume Co. Eva Luna-mimosa, carrotte, tuberose and a resinous drydown
(75ml)Ineke Perfumes Gilded Lily: Mark Behnke review
Ajne Rare and Precious Nectar necklace in gold (fan Ashlee Simpson) a petite handcrafted filagreed deco flacon, with a leaf motif, ( a design newly created for the launch of Nectar) filled with .125 oz of Nectar pure perfume extrait and suspended on a 36" delicate chain…botanical ripe apricot, a hint of Tasmanian boronia, French oak moss, and vanilla from Madagascar
BellefleurNY petit trio of Classic floral candles white orchid tea, orange blossom & pomagrante, jasmine verbena
Parfums Robert Piguet VISA by Aurelien Guichard 3.4 oz : white vineyard peach, pear, bergamot, ylang, rose and orange flower mingled with rich patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, vanilla beans and a gourmand leathery accord.
Editor's Note: it is said that Amber Valletta, whose bone structure is used in myheritage.com was shown to men and women all over the world and she was universally thought of as beautiful.
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 spilt perfume
My “pretty” – Tubereuse Criminelle. Thanks for the opportunity.
I hadn’t thought of this, but wow, you’re right!
I like fragrances that are huge and traditionally pretty, like Fracas and Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere. Also darkly pretty like Lutens’ Bois de Violette and Joy.
I want to like the weird ones, but I generally don’t. Funny, because I’m a bit of a wild dresser.
Where do you find those photos of the extraordinary women as per your other review, that veil and now this, it’s very distracting
when we are thinking of perfume as well! And I am happy to be distracted however as we are having some boring elections here in NZ, boring because it’s all about strategy and not heart…but…jour de fete…
If we must get pretty! Distractions…please…
And Anya has that gorgeous Pan!
Very thouggt provoking concept.
huge difference between the word “pretty” versus ‘beautiful ” in reference to a woman, paininting photo, or anything at all.
Come to think of it , i feel a revelation going on here …
My perfumes , are , forthe most part, DRAMATIC .. sensual, haunting even.. The jolie-laide category of models seem to possess much more of a WOW factor than the more classically attractive ones.
My perfumes , are mostly, chypres, woody, orientals nary a flat floral to be found ~~~
If I were to think of pretty for the sake of this Post.. it would be hard.
I came up with 2 Guerlain’s Insolence annd L’artisan’s La Chasse Aux Papillons..
I usually don’t consider my perfumes as “pretty”, but rather “handsome”
But the prettiest among them is.. well.. ” 3-m Homme by Caron ” maybe?
Maybe not pretty in the usual sense, but pretty to me and pretty darn good: Bandit
Hermessence Osmanthe Yunnan for me – I’m in love!
Ineke Gilded lily is a very pretty perfume for me I own it, wear it and love it and it makes me feel well not pretty but beautiful!
Joan- Chanel premiere was on my list and didn’t make it into the collage due to a tech error. good choice.
My pretty is… Dolce Vita.
Shalimar is my pretty perfume and it also makes me feel pretty. The other one would be Visa. I really enjoy wearing it. Shalimar for he night and Visa for the day.
My pretty perfume is Paloma Picasso. So is Clinques’ Aromatics Elixir. My favorite from Providence perfumes is Rose Boheme (the only one I have tried so far so no contest here!) And I like Savoir from AJNE.
Kelly Caleche always makes me feel pretty and feminine. It was (and still is) one of the few perfumes the evoke the descripter “pretty” every time I wear it.
I have too many “intellectual scents”, but when I want pretty, I usually reach for En Passant; it’s so delicate, sometimes I feel I might crush it if I wear too many layers. I had not heard of Belle Fleur before;I am really intrigued with their Mayan Tuberose scent (and how elegant are those candles?).
En Passant is such a good choice for this question. I could give you a list. I love pretty scents. Annick Goutal is, in my mind, an excellent resource for pretty fragrance. Songes & Gardenia Passion extract, are 2 of my favorites. The ultimate pretty, that would also fit the description “they were lauded as masterpieces, spectacular, and brilliantly constructed” , would be Joy.
L’Artisan Mimosa Pour Moi is what I reach for when I want a pretty, happy, cheering fragrance.
Ineke After My Own Heart is pretty and bright and a lovely floral!
L’Artisan Mimosa or Aqua Di Parma magnolia Nobilis are pretty to me. Floral fragrances usually connote pretty because of all pretty flowers they can evoke when you wear them.
My pretty fragrance is Prada Infusion d’Iris. It makes me feel pretty. A few weeks ago, two men actually told me, “You smell pretty”. My other pretty fragrances are Chanel 5 and Cabotine.
My jolie-laide fragrances are Dzongha!, Lust, L’Heure Bleue, and Psychotrope.
Sonoma Scent Studio makes some nice ones too, Femme Jolie being one of my favourite pretties from Laurie. I also love the ultra-feminine Bvlgari Cristalle, though it doesn’t last on me.
My pretty is evening edged in gold by Ineke and Robert Piguet Fracas
Well I am not going to say that I feel pretty but when I am wearing Puredistance M I feel like the Most Interesting Man in the World…
Thanks!!!
Peggy dani
Femme Jolie is my sotd and PP Eva Luna has such great mimosa notes
My pretty was named appropritatley So Pretty- Cartier.
As of lately the scent that makes me feel most pretty is Chemical Bonding- Ineke. I really love it. I notice a little extra pep in my step when I wear it:)
I pretty in Fracas and Douglas Hannant as well. This is a tough one because I seek beauty in scents. Pretty is always in the qualifications.
Thanks for the drawing and thanks to those who sponsored it the creators of our “pretties”.
I like many scents that are odd, jarring, and bizarre.
I also like many that are pretty. I don’t necessarily think that “pretty” means “classic.” Are Mitsouko or L’Heure Bleue “pretty”? Maybe. I also don’t think “pretty” is antithetical to “trendy.” What’s widely regarded as pretty this decade is different from what was pretty in 1925, perhaps. Still, it’s a very interesting question… and a dilemma. And yes, I would question someone who needs everything covered in the scent of asphalt in order to find it interesting.
All that said, two fragrances that I find extremely pretty are Ineke’s Evening Edged in Gold, and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s Cielle. Thanks for the draw opportunity! I’d love any of the prizes, but am particularly enamoured of that Piguet Visa.
Cuir de Lancome, Mitsouko, the rare and precious nectar necklace by Ajne sounds very pretty.
Thanks and please enter me in the draw
Wow…amazing draw. The fragrance that always makes me feel pretty in a smell great sort of way is Guerlain Quand Vient La Pluie. Its my go to scent often as its uplifting to me. And my favorite from a sponsor would hands down be Ajne Lakshmi a beautiful warm inviting fragrance that will get you noticed when you wear it. I must retry Visa, it sounds lovely to me.
SJP Lovely is my pretty perfume. It’s very pretty in the traditional sense, and I absolutely love it.
L’Heure Bleu makes this brash punk feel elegant in powdery florals. Torn between the candles and the Eva Luna, the somatic joy of spritzing means I’m gonna have to go with Eva Luna.
The fragrance that immediately comes to mind when I think pretty is Clive Christian’s X. When I put it on, I feel ravishing. Visa is another fragrance I would put in this category. I’m especially intrigued by the Anje necklace. It sounds stunning. Great draw, thank you!
I second So Pretty, a great pretty fragrance, Shalimar Parfum Initial and Parfum D’Orsay L’Intrigante also spring to mind. I love all three, and I’m sure they are both pretty and smart
L’Artisan Traversee du Bosphore is my pretty fragrance. The top notes start out very jolie laide to me, and I find it intriguing. There is nothing I don’t like about this one, and it makes me feel pretty, and even more interesting somehow, when I wear it. I would so pleased to have the chance to try any of these, but Robert Piguet Visa would be my first choice because the notes make me think “interestingly pretty” in that same way.
Chanel No. Eau Premiere and Ineke Angels Trumpet are both “pretty” perfumes for me, as they make me feel put together, lady-like, and well turned out.
Thanks for the interesting article and giveaway – I’d love to win the Ineke Gilded Lily! Happy Holidays!
One of the best pretty is Sublime by Ajne.
Pretty fabulous is the feeling. And I think the Precious nectar sounds really pretty as well.
Some of my pretties are Carla Fracci Giselle, SL Un Lys, Lys Mediterranee, L’Artisan Nuit de Tubereuse, and Cacharel Gloria.
I’m trying to think of a pretty fragrance that I like a lot. Pretty makes me think of delicate florals, and I prefer my pretty florals with a side of indoles. Maybe Sa Majeste la Rose? I’d love to win Eva Luna, which is both pretty and has got the edge I love. It smells a bit like jasmine tea to me in part of its development, and that bit of indolicness is what I find so interesting.
Amy h
Pretty is not fragile
That’s the paradox
One of the more obvious pretty fragrances I have is Diorissimo (currently an early 90s version). It may seem like an obvious pretty floral created from tiny delicate white flowers, but it has a cool crispness that belies its apparent simplicity and there is that touch of civet. But it is in her sister, the rounder, richer Diorella (from the late 80s) that I feel more pretty — it is more lush, a little challenging, more me. And isn’t when we we feel most ourselves that we feel our “prettiest”?
MPG Secrete Datura is one of my favorite pretty scents – it makes me FEEL pretty!
Nothing at all wrong with pretty fragrances – Apres l’Ondee is sooo pretty, as is Vol de Nuit, as is Puredistance Antonia (supremely pretty) adn Esprit d’Oscar – I wear pretty fragrances quite often.
I already own and love Gilded Lily (pretty! lol) but would be happy with any of the prizes!
Le Parfum de Therese ,Micalleff’s Printemps are two very pretty fragrances .
I love,love,love Visa,but it is a pretty with strong and bold,whereas my pretty as in pretty with purity would be 28 La Pausa.Loved this article!!
my “pretty” fragrance is Clinique’s “Wrappings”
Ajne’s flacon looks rather pretty too
I feel “pretty” when I wear Ajne’s Fleur Blanche. Also Annick Goutal Gardenia Passion and Prada Infusion d’ Iris.
My pretty perfume par excellence is Lancôme Miracle. I’m sure it has been described this way many times. I really adore it and it makes me feel really femenine and pretty.
I like Ineke’s After my own heart too. It’s my favorite lilac fragrance. And Ajne Nectar is a wonderful natural perfume (which I already own
).
If I won, I’d pick the BellefleurNY trio of Classic floral candles. Thank you!
My favorite pretty perfume is By Kilian Beyond Love. Calice Becker does pretty so well!
Pretty is pretty subjective, since to me it includes not only delicate florals but also simple comforting scents like vanilla and heliotrope and amber. It isn’t ‘edgy’ or challenging or an acquired taste, it’s lovely and appealing…. I like a lot of the scents that have been mentioned like prada infusion d’iris. I also like Etro Heliotrope, Ginestet Botrytis, Dior Bois D’Argent, L’Artisan Safran Troublant and Diptique Eau Duelle and the Safran room spray. Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum and Genie du Bois are also faves.
DSH Bois du Chocolat is a favorite but I think it might be discontinued.
A new one I discovered thanks to this site is Yosh Stargazer (thanks Yosh! Omniscient is awesome in edp too!), which along with La Contessa I think is very lovely and pretty indeed!
I think my all-time pretty scent is the late, much-lamented Gobin Daude Seve Exquise. I hoard my decant like it’s gold.
For regular wearing I think Keiko Mecheri’s Genie du Bois has been my go-to pretty scent, along with Safran Troublant, since I have FBs of those. And the DSH Bois du Chocolat lotion.
Never heard of Ajne before but am now kinda craving a sample set to check out the line! Nectar sounds and looks really lovely and I like that it’s natural. I’d like that one if I won, although Providence’s Eva Luna and Ineke’s Gilded Lily are very close runners-up.
Remember I’m so pretty, yes I’m pretty?
So, is pretty become the new nice? Remember when nice was, well swell? Now nice co-notates pedestrian, boring, average. Is pretty used by those too lazy to find the right word and fall back using it as a catch all word, which has deluded its meaning ?
Pretty for me might be Fleur de Nuit by Badgley Mischka.
I feel pretty when Mecca Balsam wraps me in its silky arms, speaking words of comfort, and we step out into the world confident and prepared. Sharif does a very similar, toned down thing for me. For Pretty, Jessamine by Providence is amazing. I was lucky enough to win a sample and its boistorous and floral and fun. I quite enjoy it.
Pretty fragrances for me would be Ineke’s Evening Edged in Gold, SSS Jour Ensoilielle and Anick Goutal’s Eau de Ciel. I also wore Pleasures when it first came out and have always viewed that as a “pretty” scent. Thanks for the draw!
Fracas all the way. So pretty, seductive, and feminine and completely unapologetic. Also, I always keep a vial of Sage Machado’s Carnelian. It might not be very sophisticated but I quite like the juicy orange notes followed by quite a sexy light musk.
I think everything I like is pretty! Unless it is beautiful, like Amouage Gold and Tabac Blond, but I wouldn’t say these AREN’T pretty!
DSH Mahjoun makes me feel pretty and it is pretty.
Yvresse is pretty and makes me feel upbeat and pretty, yet classy at the same time.
Another Robert Piguet — Baghari — is pretty. And Visa too, of course.
Thanks for an exciting draw!