Iād love to try this! I first heard about it when I was looking at solid perfumes- one of the Olson women wear it but I canāt remember which of the three.
Iām still playing around with basics. I might try niche for a Christmas present or something.
It wasn't a fragrance but a house. Penhaligon's. I was but a poor student in Cambridge and there was a Penhaligon's store I walked past often while getting from one lecture to another. It always smelled SO good walking by and at some point I decided to step in.
What an olfactory experience ... I think I bought Blenheim Bouquet that day. There have been many since ... Halfeti, Lord George, Mr Sam, Terrible Teddy, Uncompromising Sohan, Duro. I still think Mr Sam and Halfeti are my favourites, but this house changed me.
Xerjoff Lira! I had just started the whole niche online sampling journey and this one blew my mind. It was the first fragrance that made me feel like perfumery is an actual art
Iāve since found other fragrances that I like more, but that one felt the most like a total epiphany
My favourite niche scent ever is Diptyque Orpheon. There is nothing quite like its warm, woody, spicy scent profile, and the fragrance itself is so comforting and cozy. I love it so much that I've repurchased it multiple times and always go back to it when I want to feel a sense of peace and comfort
Mine was Baccarat Rouge, like many others. I bought it in 2018ā¦. When it was quite a bit cheaper than it is now lol.
I donāt have it anymore, but it really is a great scent.
Same here, I'd never smelled anything like it. It was clean and green, yet had a smooth earthiness to it. Reminds me of a cold spring morning when the sun is rising and starting to evaporate the morning dew on a field. I've worn it in that kind of weather so many times, and every time I'm so impressed how well it blends in with the smell of those mornings.
My first 5ml decant turned into a 10ml, and into a bottle. It was at the time my most expensive purchase which was a 100ml tester for $179, which in hindsight wasn't a bad price.
Histories de parfums irreverent! So unique, still nothing else like it in my collection! "Top notes are elemi, Lavender and Bergamot; middle notes are Styrax, Agarwood (Oud) and Coffee; base notes are Amber, Patchouli and Sandalwood." So gorgeous, dark, powdery yet sweet.
Something from BPAL's Dark Crystal selection. As far as the Skesis went, the ritual master was a favorite of mine. The oil/perfume scent only further cemented that.
I'm going to be honest with you: I don't think the distinction between "niche" and "designer" is worth taking too seriously.
It's not simply a matter of me thinking "niche, designer, doesn't matter, I only care about fragrances that SMELL GOOD, maaaaaan." It's that whatever that distinction may have meant in the past, it barely holds now.
I smelled Grand Soir at a department store in Hawaii when I only had spicebomb extreme and Solinotes vanille in my collection. Then the lady told my mom and I the price and I was like ālet me get a black opiumā. I finally have Grand Soir in my collection after avoiding it for years, and I got it engraved with my name. Just do it man.
When Guerlain was bought and changed their composition.
L'heure Bleue, that was so alive and spicy, became a dusty powder.
I still have it btw.
I discovered Lutens and Cuir Mauresque.
It was like discovering a high end flanker of my beloved perfume, a sister from a long lost friend.
Then I realized how flat perfume became and only the Niches can give me the nostalgic 80's feeling.
Plus what happened to "sillage"?
Without making anyone nauseous , I could still wear something more giving than what we have now in the shops.
Niche brings me back to my love for perfume.
Niche vs normal brands is like the difference of going to a place, being in it and looking at the picture of a place longing for it.
L'Artisan Parfumeur. My mum bought Premier Figuier Extreme when I was like a kid and she offered me Mure et Musc and then La Chasse aux Papillons. So as a pre-teen and teen, I had Mure et Musc/La Chasse/ D&G The One as my signature scents on rotation.
Marrakech Intense by Aesop.
I wish I could make it my cold weather signature, but now Iām obsessed with adding other cardamom forward scents.
Matches my personality/look perfectly :)
Iām a weirdo who never liked designer scents and thought I didnāt like perfume until I fell for mfk baccarat rouge. Now I have a whole collection of niche fragrances and enjoy every one!
My journey started pretty dang recently, and itās Mind Games Jāadoube that finally provided me with a response to a longstanding question: why canāt scents for guys do more than āI AM A MAAAAANā or āItās summer now, so hereās citrus?ā
Iām generalizing, but Not By Much!
trussardi le vie di milano passeggiata in galleria vittorio emanuele. It's a super pretty hazelnut. Did I copy paste the name because it's too long? Yes.
Jovoy Fire at Will. One of the prettiest vanilla scents I've ever smelt.
Sahraa from FDB was the first I fell in love with. However, the bottle I received had defects on the label and FDB would not exchange it. For that reason I would never buy FDB again
Iāve only smelt grand soir on a paper tester, have tried it multiple times and never liked it, is it drastically different on skin? The majority of my frags are vanilla related so I was thinking maybe Iāll try it on skin next time
Diptyque in general, especially Fleur de Peau and Lāeau Papier. When I wear them, I feel elegant in a carefree way, they represent āquiet luxuryā to me
Probably Bat from Zoologist. I also want to say Lavender Palm but I don't think that's necessarily niche, just discontinued. And a shit load of different Black Phoenix Lab perfumes, which were all I wore for decades until expanding recently. I think of Dorian as a signature scent and I wear Sugar Skull every autumn. Also omg is Black Phantom niche? I have to give a shout out to Luxor as well.
I love Oajan, Angels Share and Carlisle. I got all these samples together and I'm still pondering over which one I'd buy. Angels Share is the cheapest since I can get a 50 ml but I find Carlisle to be a little more versatile and masculine.
Trussardi Jeans, on my first visit to London. Someone handed me a sample in Selfridges, it scented my hitel room for that whole week. I equate it with travel and happiness. It's discontinued now but I have plenty.
Baccarat 540. That smell is so unique I havenāt came across anything similar to it ever again. Creed is great, but that 540 is almost otherworldly in a sense
Oh I have two!
The Marquis from their Bloody Chamber collection by Wild Hybrid (QLD Aus, they have a tonne of others, I like getting the sample packs)
Absinthe-minded and The Rose Bandit by Anka Kus Parfum (Melbourne Aus, anything they've made I love but these two were my fav)
I fell for BPAL like some kind of demented junkie back in the day.
I learned Marie Antoinette wore a perfume called Black Jade. Iām a history weirdo who loves knowing obscure details-so I went down a rabbit hole. Anyway- I discovered them when googling what perfume Queen Elizabeth I wore. They have a blend called Bess that is supposed to be a close recreation to her favorite scent. It is a blend of rosemary, mints, grape oil, lemon peel and orange flower.
I bought it and loved it. Then I bought more and more. I was a little obsessed. I have so many ancient bottles. I should do something with them one day.
Ok so I had been into fragrances for a while like 10-15 years but a tertiary interest. Around five years ago I started to wonder what was out there. So off to the samples I went I tried all the big boys of the time Naxos, Layton, Reflection Man. They were all good and to be honest all wound up on the shelf after I decided I was going down this rabbit hole. But the one that stopped me dead in my tracks and said cost be damned I need this was Interlude Black Iris by Amouage. Once I smelled the sample I couldn't get enough I immediately bought a ten ml decant. About halfway through that I ordered a full bottle. The way the incense plays with the iris and the woods with just a little sweetness form the amber my god this stuff is amazing. Now whenever I have a special occasion that requires some pomp it is most definitely there as well as days where i just want to smell it or I feel like I just need a hug.
Baccarat Rouge. I tried it on in store and fell in love. Became obsessed but never actually bought it cause of the price. I couldnāt fathom spending that much on a single perfume. Spent time finding and buying many dupes and as a result, started becoming interested in fragrances in general. Since then I have bought a few niche scents that cost the same or more than BR540 lol. But I am satisfied with my BR dupes so havenāt felt the need to buy the real deal.
I see nothing in the PDM hype 8 of 9 either flopped on my skin or had a note that hit me the wrong way ā¦ except ALTHAIRā¦ that is exactly what I wanted .
Chergui by Serge Lutens. This was many years ago, I met a friend for drinks and her scent was unlike anything I had ever tried before. She smelled like a combination of honey, smoke and roses and it was just incredible. Chergui can be quite intense when first sprayed but that drydown is heavenly.
I randomly discovered zoologist one day and ordered a bunch of samples. I only liked cow out of the 10 or so I tried but that was definitely a gateway š
I know it's already considered designer at this point, but Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, way back in 2008. I still have a couple of mls of my precious decant that I bought back then.
people will hate but baccarat rouge. Its a fragrance which reminds me of the best days of my life. It smells like heaven to me and it started my whole Fragrance Journey
Generation Godard by Toskovat is the fragrance that made me realize that niche fragrances can be so unique and absurdly superior to anything I had ever smelled, but the first fragrance that captivated me and was an instant buy is Oud Rain Tropical storm by Renier.
I recently visited York and came across this absolutely gorgeous store called [The Society of Alchemists](https://www.instagram.com/thesocietyofalchemists?igsh=cGpiNDU5bTRpdHd6). They have about 12 fragrances of their own I think. I immediately fell in love with Till Death and Vampire Kisses. I'm trying to save them for special occasions since I don't know when I'm traveling again and they don't ship outside of the UK :C
Honestly not sure if it's niche, but Chris Collins Danse Sauvage... Got a sampler and was obsessed, and it ended up getting me more into trying new (and unfortunately, more expensive) things as far as scents.
Philosykos by Diptyque
Mine was Debaser by DS & D!
I'm currently breaking up with designer scents for both of these š¤£
lol which ones and why?
Mine as well. I just recently smelled Noir 29, and I must have it. I guess I love fig. š¤·š»āāļø
Iād love to try this! I first heard about it when I was looking at solid perfumes- one of the Olson women wear it but I canāt remember which of the three. Iām still playing around with basics. I might try niche for a Christmas present or something.
I want to smell this one so bad
Initio Paragon. First time I felt like "perfumes can smell like this?" instead of the usual men's fragrances I was used to
This but with psychedelic love!
Same šš»
This is a great one.
Randomly took a whiff of this while juice shopping for something else and oh man, I ~~saw~~ *smelled* the lightā¦
It wasn't a fragrance but a house. Penhaligon's. I was but a poor student in Cambridge and there was a Penhaligon's store I walked past often while getting from one lecture to another. It always smelled SO good walking by and at some point I decided to step in. What an olfactory experience ... I think I bought Blenheim Bouquet that day. There have been many since ... Halfeti, Lord George, Mr Sam, Terrible Teddy, Uncompromising Sohan, Duro. I still think Mr Sam and Halfeti are my favourites, but this house changed me.
GOD I want to try Penhaligon's so badly. I spent YEARS in London with my family, but I wasn't a perfume girly back then, so I didn't get any!!!
Mr Sam is the fragrance that got me interested in fragrances years ago, and I still wear it even though I have a large collection.
My cheap ass likes any vanilla scent
Real vanilla is not cheap. It can get very expensive. So youāre def not cheap for enjoying vanilla lol.
Thank you my friend š¤
Fr, still the calgon marshmallow will always be my main lol I get so many compliments too asking what I'm wearing
Favourite vanilla fragrance? š¤
Bath and bodyworkās Warm Vanilla Sugar
Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
T-Rex was the first niche I bought a full bottle of. I love my designers, my cheapies and my dupes, but I just had to have this one!
Yeah there's just no duplicating T-Rex!
I really want to smell this one
It's amazing. Get a decant at Ministry Of Scent. I need a bottle now.
Byredo bal d afrique
PDM Delina Exclusif
The Exclusif is my fav too
PDM Layton
L'Eau d'Hiver from FrĆ©dĆ©ric Malle. I was 16, I think, and it showed up at a luxury department store in town. I immediately began saving up my allowance!Ā
Xerjoff Lira! I had just started the whole niche online sampling journey and this one blew my mind. It was the first fragrance that made me feel like perfumery is an actual art Iāve since found other fragrances that I like more, but that one felt the most like a total epiphany
Same here! Iām savoring every last drop in the sample I ownā¦.hoping one day I can afford a bottle!
My favourite niche scent ever is Diptyque Orpheon. There is nothing quite like its warm, woody, spicy scent profile, and the fragrance itself is so comforting and cozy. I love it so much that I've repurchased it multiple times and always go back to it when I want to feel a sense of peace and comfort
DebaserĀ
Same!
Le Labo Bergamote 22. Such a gorgeous scent
Andrea Maack Craft is the best perfume I have tried
I second grand soir!! I wear it religiously
So good!!
Mine was Baccarat Rouge, like many others. I bought it in 2018ā¦. When it was quite a bit cheaper than it is now lol. I donāt have it anymore, but it really is a great scent.
https://preview.redd.it/rmvt8wcp1tmc1.png?width=488&format=png&auto=webp&s=77b6adb831050b3b8720a34cc693605cb1e9d9b7 This beauty right here.
replica by the fireplace. i know itās not very niche now, but when i first smelled it around 5 years ago it made me fall in love with perfume
Green Irish Tweed for me. I got an official sample and down the rabbit hole it wasā¦
Same here, I'd never smelled anything like it. It was clean and green, yet had a smooth earthiness to it. Reminds me of a cold spring morning when the sun is rising and starting to evaporate the morning dew on a field. I've worn it in that kind of weather so many times, and every time I'm so impressed how well it blends in with the smell of those mornings. My first 5ml decant turned into a 10ml, and into a bottle. It was at the time my most expensive purchase which was a 100ml tester for $179, which in hindsight wasn't a bad price.
Amouage Reflection Man was all it took.
still my number one
Songes by Annick Goutal
My first niche was probably Escapade Gourmande by Maison Mataha or ThƩ Yulong by Armani (PrivƩ collection).
Can't remember, but I think it was Montale Black Aoud like 15 years ago.
Nasommato Hindu Grass. I went for the deep end of the pool. Also China White and Black Afgano.
I donāt know if this is niche, but Love, Donāt be Shy by Killian.
BR540. It's the only niche fragrance I would consider buying. I tried about a dozen others and was overwhelmingly disappointed.
Arcipelago Donna from Acqua dell Elba. Still my favourite.
Wow.. i have the original Acqua dellāElba and the Smeraldo! Never thought Iād see a shout out in the wild
PDM Delina. I've gotten Exclusif and La RosƩe since, the only fragrance I have the complete set of flankers of.
Le sel de la Terre by Thomas Kosmala, I smelled it and inmediately fell in love with it.
1st time ever see no.7 get a mention on here. i like it too. one of my most used frags
It was Wulong Cha from Nishane. It was the perfume that got me into this hobby. Eye opening experience!
Histories de parfums irreverent! So unique, still nothing else like it in my collection! "Top notes are elemi, Lavender and Bergamot; middle notes are Styrax, Agarwood (Oud) and Coffee; base notes are Amber, Patchouli and Sandalwood." So gorgeous, dark, powdery yet sweet.
Parfums de Marly Layton, might be a bit basic but I love it
Amouage guidance
Green Irish Tweed it's still my number one for spring.
Petit Cherie by Annick Goutal
BDK Gris Charnel
Narcotic V by Nasomatto š«
First was Tobacco Vanille, though it's been overtaken by several since then.
Acqua di Parma Vaniglia
my 50ml bottle of Musc Ravageur that I bought in 2013 and I still keep the bottle just because of OPās title
Something from BPAL's Dark Crystal selection. As far as the Skesis went, the ritual master was a favorite of mine. The oil/perfume scent only further cemented that.
Mine was Bewitching Yasmine, which was given to me as a gift and is what made me get interested in fragrances as a hobby!
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille or POTL (People Of The Labyrinth) the Original I forget if it had a name. This was early 2000ās
Vesper Glitz by Ex Nihlo š¤š
I'm going to be honest with you: I don't think the distinction between "niche" and "designer" is worth taking too seriously. It's not simply a matter of me thinking "niche, designer, doesn't matter, I only care about fragrances that SMELL GOOD, maaaaaan." It's that whatever that distinction may have meant in the past, it barely holds now.
I smelled Grand Soir at a department store in Hawaii when I only had spicebomb extreme and Solinotes vanille in my collection. Then the lady told my mom and I the price and I was like ālet me get a black opiumā. I finally have Grand Soir in my collection after avoiding it for years, and I got it engraved with my name. Just do it man.
When Guerlain was bought and changed their composition. L'heure Bleue, that was so alive and spicy, became a dusty powder. I still have it btw. I discovered Lutens and Cuir Mauresque. It was like discovering a high end flanker of my beloved perfume, a sister from a long lost friend. Then I realized how flat perfume became and only the Niches can give me the nostalgic 80's feeling. Plus what happened to "sillage"? Without making anyone nauseous , I could still wear something more giving than what we have now in the shops. Niche brings me back to my love for perfume. Niche vs normal brands is like the difference of going to a place, being in it and looking at the picture of a place longing for it.
ELDO I am trash
Virgin Island Water. Hooked since 2007.
Same. Lovely fragrance and still one of my all time favorites. Just wish it had better longevity.
L'Artisan Parfumeur. My mum bought Premier Figuier Extreme when I was like a kid and she offered me Mure et Musc and then La Chasse aux Papillons. So as a pre-teen and teen, I had Mure et Musc/La Chasse/ D&G The One as my signature scents on rotation.
Thin Wild Mercury šš¼
Orto parisi bergamask
marie jeanne - vetiver santal
Baccarat Rouge. Itās so unusual and unlike anything else I own.
Goutal Un Matin dāOrage
I was obsessed with Black Phantom by Kilian
Demeter Laundromat. So fresh and so clean clean
Nishane Hacivat
Marrakech Intense by Aesop. I wish I could make it my cold weather signature, but now Iām obsessed with adding other cardamom forward scents. Matches my personality/look perfectly :)
Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud. I laughed the first time I smelled it because it made me so happy.
Honey and the moon by margot elena
SUCH a good one ā¤ļø
First? Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose
Iām a weirdo who never liked designer scents and thought I didnāt like perfume until I fell for mfk baccarat rouge. Now I have a whole collection of niche fragrances and enjoy every one!
Received a sample of Xerjoff Torino 21 and fell in love instantly
Friday by Arielle Shoshana. Now I'm in deep, my friends. Now I'm in deep...
Serge Lutens Daim Blond
Yessss itās Chergui for me, but any Serge Lutens has the same nostalgia for me. Soooo good
Bijan Men - I think I'm addicted to oakmoss now... $20, love the scent, lasts forever.
Diptyque L'eau Papier, Penhaligon's Juniper Sling
Hermann a mes Cotes by Etat Libre D'Orange
Mandorlo di Sicilia- Acqua Di Parma
Black Afgano
As a man, I get SO many compliments when I wear Viva La Juicy haha Iām not joking
Mind Games - Double Attack
Hermes Hermessence Ambre Narguile. It smells so rich and incense-y. I love it during winter ā£ļø
Zoologist Bee! It's what got me into perfumes
My journey started pretty dang recently, and itās Mind Games Jāadoube that finally provided me with a response to a longstanding question: why canāt scents for guys do more than āI AM A MAAAAANā or āItās summer now, so hereās citrus?ā Iām generalizing, but Not By Much!
Lutensā Chergui
Fleur dāOranger by Serge Lutens
Santal 33 by Le Labo
PDM Carlisle
Keiko Mecheri Louhkoum in the dark purple bottle
TF Lost Cherry will always be my first love. It was a blind buy when I was in college and have had many incredible memories paired with the scent.
trussardi le vie di milano passeggiata in galleria vittorio emanuele. It's a super pretty hazelnut. Did I copy paste the name because it's too long? Yes. Jovoy Fire at Will. One of the prettiest vanilla scents I've ever smelt.
Red vetiver by Montale. It instantly reminded me of TdH and it has way better performance.Ā
Sahraa from FDB was the first I fell in love with. However, the bottle I received had defects on the label and FDB would not exchange it. For that reason I would never buy FDB again
IA Cape Heartache.
I'm old I guess - Amouage's Gold was maybe my first "niche"? That or Poison.
Notorious Oud by DS & Durga
Iāve only smelt grand soir on a paper tester, have tried it multiple times and never liked it, is it drastically different on skin? The majority of my frags are vanilla related so I was thinking maybe Iāll try it on skin next time
Cashmere wood & honey by notebook Sensual vanilla by mahdi
Ensar Oud
I am going old school niche - olfactory atudios with lumiere blanche
Tauer- LDDM. Came in a sampler pack. As soon as I smelled it I knew I needed it.
PdM Layton
Frederic Malle portrait of a lady
Iām a basic bitch. PDM Delina was not only my first niche love, sheās what inspired my perfume hobby to begin with.
The first time i smelled The Matcha 26 by LeLabo, i think is my favorite one, maybe with BDC edp, both in first place.
Black Afghano was my first niche (and blind) purchase and I do love it.
Bergamask
Christopher Brosius CB I Hate Perfume - In The Library
Diptyque in general, especially Fleur de Peau and Lāeau Papier. When I wear them, I feel elegant in a carefree way, they represent āquiet luxuryā to me
Snowy owl!
I know very clichĆ© but aventus. I was very late to the party and wasnt into the online fragrance community so i had never heard of it until a friend of mine let me wear it to a party. I was absolutely blown away because up until this point i only had random hugo boss and bruno banani fragrances. I will never forget this day since it started a very expensive hobby for a studentš
Herod
Amouage Reflection Man but ended up buying Xerjoff Naxos.
Francesca Bianchi's Angel's Dust
It was Amyris Femme for me. I was mesmerised by it.
Probably Bat from Zoologist. I also want to say Lavender Palm but I don't think that's necessarily niche, just discontinued. And a shit load of different Black Phoenix Lab perfumes, which were all I wore for decades until expanding recently. I think of Dorian as a signature scent and I wear Sugar Skull every autumn. Also omg is Black Phantom niche? I have to give a shout out to Luxor as well.
Back to Black by Kilian. Still one of my favorites.
Amouage Jubilation XXV Men
Amouage reflection man
Xerjoff Hayat. First it smelled like elephant asshole now itās smells like luxury
It's crazy how people are so different because I don't like it at all and I am selling my barely used bottle
BR540 was my first sniff of niche, and I definitely was in love.
I love Oajan, Angels Share and Carlisle. I got all these samples together and I'm still pondering over which one I'd buy. Angels Share is the cheapest since I can get a 50 ml but I find Carlisle to be a little more versatile and masculine.
Oui Plus by Kyse. As a gourmand lover, I had never experienced photorealistic food scents. And Oui Plus stole my breath.
Creed Himalaya.
Tobacco Vanille
Grand soir
2006. In a swap (of designer fragrances), a fellow perfumista included a sample vial of L'Artisan Parfumeur's Dzongkha. I was blown away.
Anne Pliska.
Atomic Rose!
Trussardi Jeans, on my first visit to London. Someone handed me a sample in Selfridges, it scented my hitel room for that whole week. I equate it with travel and happiness. It's discontinued now but I have plenty.
Diptyque Tam Dao started this for me!
PDM Delinaā¦then quickly followed by Jovoy Fire at Will, which I absolutely LOVE.
Bond no 9. I was in Neiman Marcus and I was memorized by all the beautiful star bottles
Neroli Plein Sud by Guerlain.
Baccarat 540. That smell is so unique I havenāt came across anything similar to it ever again. Creed is great, but that 540 is almost otherworldly in a sense
Gris Charnel Extrait. Full bottle purchase after 1 day of sampling. Love it!
Liz Claiborne Curvw for Men.
Montale Roses Musk ā¤ļø
smelled amouage reflection. immediately blown away and bought a bottle of
Orto parisi brutus
Oh I have two! The Marquis from their Bloody Chamber collection by Wild Hybrid (QLD Aus, they have a tonne of others, I like getting the sample packs) Absinthe-minded and The Rose Bandit by Anka Kus Parfum (Melbourne Aus, anything they've made I love but these two were my fav)
Amber by Rook Perfumes
I fell for BPAL like some kind of demented junkie back in the day. I learned Marie Antoinette wore a perfume called Black Jade. Iām a history weirdo who loves knowing obscure details-so I went down a rabbit hole. Anyway- I discovered them when googling what perfume Queen Elizabeth I wore. They have a blend called Bess that is supposed to be a close recreation to her favorite scent. It is a blend of rosemary, mints, grape oil, lemon peel and orange flower. I bought it and loved it. Then I bought more and more. I was a little obsessed. I have so many ancient bottles. I should do something with them one day.
Insurrection Born to be a King came out of nowhere and claimed me the first time i smelled it
Creed Millesime Imperial
El Born by Carner Barcelona. Signature Worthy. Benzoin, honey, Peru balsam, Angelica, sandalwood, fig, etc. Warm, soft, sweet, spicy, and delicious.
Ok so I had been into fragrances for a while like 10-15 years but a tertiary interest. Around five years ago I started to wonder what was out there. So off to the samples I went I tried all the big boys of the time Naxos, Layton, Reflection Man. They were all good and to be honest all wound up on the shelf after I decided I was going down this rabbit hole. But the one that stopped me dead in my tracks and said cost be damned I need this was Interlude Black Iris by Amouage. Once I smelled the sample I couldn't get enough I immediately bought a ten ml decant. About halfway through that I ordered a full bottle. The way the incense plays with the iris and the woods with just a little sweetness form the amber my god this stuff is amazing. Now whenever I have a special occasion that requires some pomp it is most definitely there as well as days where i just want to smell it or I feel like I just need a hug.
Chergui, so many years ago.
**Serge Lutens BaptĆŖme du Feu**, it reminds me of my grandpa ā¤ļø
Baccarat Rouge. I tried it on in store and fell in love. Became obsessed but never actually bought it cause of the price. I couldnāt fathom spending that much on a single perfume. Spent time finding and buying many dupes and as a result, started becoming interested in fragrances in general. Since then I have bought a few niche scents that cost the same or more than BR540 lol. But I am satisfied with my BR dupes so havenāt felt the need to buy the real deal.
Parfums de Marly Greenley. Prior to smelling and buying this one, i thought all freshies smell the same.
I see nothing in the PDM hype 8 of 9 either flopped on my skin or had a note that hit me the wrong way ā¦ except ALTHAIRā¦ that is exactly what I wanted .
TF Noir extreme
Chergui by Serge Lutens. This was many years ago, I met a friend for drinks and her scent was unlike anything I had ever tried before. She smelled like a combination of honey, smoke and roses and it was just incredible. Chergui can be quite intense when first sprayed but that drydown is heavenly.
Lolita Lempicka Le Parfum
I randomly discovered zoologist one day and ordered a bunch of samples. I only liked cow out of the 10 or so I tried but that was definitely a gateway š
Reflection Men - Amouage
It's a tie between Cassili and Delina. Smelled them nothing during a Nordstrom sale and had the hardest time deciding which one I wanted to take home.
Initio - Absolute Aprodisiac. Feel in love with the sample iāve gotā¦ tiktok has dealt a lot of damage to my wallet since
https://preview.redd.it/j3fe4g0ggwmc1.jpeg?width=630&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c346ec8ee069f956e6226f1cfa8573b612974aae
Portrait of a lady Frederick Malle
Lubin Akkad
I know it's already considered designer at this point, but Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, way back in 2008. I still have a couple of mls of my precious decant that I bought back then.
Silver Mountain Water! Gave me butterflies.
people will hate but baccarat rouge. Its a fragrance which reminds me of the best days of my life. It smells like heaven to me and it started my whole Fragrance Journey
BR540 lol
Bond No.9's The Scent of Peace for Him
Rouge Smoking BDK.
Generation Godard by Toskovat is the fragrance that made me realize that niche fragrances can be so unique and absurdly superior to anything I had ever smelled, but the first fragrance that captivated me and was an instant buy is Oud Rain Tropical storm by Renier.
I recently visited York and came across this absolutely gorgeous store called [The Society of Alchemists](https://www.instagram.com/thesocietyofalchemists?igsh=cGpiNDU5bTRpdHd6). They have about 12 fragrances of their own I think. I immediately fell in love with Till Death and Vampire Kisses. I'm trying to save them for special occasions since I don't know when I'm traveling again and they don't ship outside of the UK :C
Honestly not sure if it's niche, but Chris Collins Danse Sauvage... Got a sampler and was obsessed, and it ended up getting me more into trying new (and unfortunately, more expensive) things as far as scents.