The Perfume Thread

[Nickkkyy]

How do you guys test out fragrances? Usually I just smell it off the test strips but I heard that testing out directly on skin is much better and will also know how the dry down will smell like on your skin. But the problem is that whenever I go shopping I will tend to have fragrances on my skin already. And also, other than Sephora, where else is a good place to test without staffs following around? I went to bonjour cosmetic @ chinatown and as soon as I step into the shop, a staff will just follow me around which is kind of annoying

 

[triface]

I finally got a bottle of Prada Amber Pour Homme after gushing over it for the past week! I think I found my signature scent, but it's still hard not to continue sniffing fragrances when I'm out and about though. This is such a toxic hobby

How do you guys test out fragrances? Usually I just smell it off the test strips but I heard that testing out directly on skin is much better and will also know how the dry down will smell like on your skin.

I test on strips first, and if I like it, I will test on my skin to see how the drydown and performance is like. This is usually on a different day because I'll collect my thoughts on the fragrance to see if it's worth further testing.

It's possible to test the drydown with a test strip, but you'll have to wait for a long time for the drydown to start, and it's probably going to be a little different anyway because it's not on your skin. I had a test strip of Dunhill Icon that started the woody drydown after 2-3 days.

And also, other than Sephora, where else is a good place to test without staffs following around? I went to bonjour cosmetic @ chinatown and as soon as I step into the shop, a staff will just follow me around which is kind of annoying

• Escentials at Tang City: Surprisingly chill. They have a small section for niche houses like MFK, ADP, Creed, etc. and it's located out of sight from the counter. You can try going sneaking in there and testing. There was a lady staff who saw me inside there but didn't bother me too. You probably don't want to be in the other section with Diptyque because that's in clear view.
• There's a nearby section in Tang City with a lot of designers. I managed to go in when nobody was around (it might have been lunch time) and it was like a playground. If there's somebody manning the area, they will approach you.
• Robinsons at Raffles City is not bad. They will be standing around but they won't follow you like they suspect you want to steal something. You'll have to rebuff some of their recommendations, but otherwise it's pretty chill. They have a good selection of rarer designers like Maison Margiela and Thierry Mugler, and some niche like Tom Ford Private Blend and ADP. There's a Tom Ford section near one of the entrance with most of their fragrances, Private Blend or not, which is nice for testing. There'll be one or two staff there who will approach you though, but the guy was fairly chill.
• Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City is decent. Big designers (Dior, Chanel, Hermes etc) will have booths, but there are selected designers like CK, Mont Blanc and Azzaro etc available for testing in a fairly private area. Other smaller designers like D&G will have a manned section right beside a section for Amouage and Bond No. 9.
• Bonjour's warehouse is much better for browsing. Lots of aisles so you can test in private, and the staff won't disturb you other than right at the start when they ask you if you're looking for anything. Variety here is hit or miss depending on when you go. I hated the main outlet too, and there's very little bottles available for testing from my recollection.
• Don't go to Sasa. They will keep standing around and giving you recommendations even after you told them you're browsing. What you can find here you can find at other places too.
• Metro is hit or miss depending on the outlet. The staff will approach and tail you, but the one at Paragon has a fairly large section for designers, so you can try to test quietly there. Selection is not bad, with Thierry Mugler and Maison Margiela there. The one at Causeway Point is very small, so the staff will always be around. Variety is small too.

 

[vohengramm]

I test directly on skin, since paper and skin are always so different on me.

Robinsons The Heeren has the largest up to date collection, and Robinsons Raffles City has some of the more obscure ones that Heeren does not have.
These two stores combined have almost everything, unless you're looking for very old/vintage releases.

Tang Plaza has a good selection of designer frags as well.

 

[Geeezz]

just gotten pdm carlisle frm fragrancex. nt sure if it’s legit, but the packaging is similar to the one i gt in london. smell wise, ish but on a really expensive side

 

[Jay9999]

Any one tried Jasmine de Anges by Dior?

 

[triface]

Are Penhaligons on the cheaper side of niche houses? Been close to entering their store in Orchard a few times but always ended up managing to psyche myself into thinking they're out of my price range

just gotten pdm carlisle frm fragrancex. nt sure if it’s legit, but the packaging is similar to the one i gt in london. smell wise, ish but on a really expensive side

FragranceX should be legit ma

 

[triface]

Are there any Dior boutiques in Singapore that have the entire Dior Homme line for sampling? I have never seen Dior Homme Intense and Parfum before, and I was told by a staff that Dior Homme Eau is available in Malaysia, not Singapore. They're all available as decants on carousell but I have way too many decants already lol

 

[aphel14]

Who has bought perfumes from bonjour cosmetics physical outlets before, especially the one at trengannu street?

In their website, they put the perfume price as say $34 for a 100ml tester.

But when at their trengganu st outlet they stick a $40 plus price tag. Then they max give u discount price of $39 when told them about their online price. Is it their sales staff need to earn some 'comm' per bottle?

 

[stetan]

Go to the warehouse. Its cheaper

Who has bought perfumes from bonjour cosmetics physical outlets before, especially the one at trengannu street?

In their website, they put the perfume price as say $34 for a 100ml tester.

But when at their trengganu st outlet they stick a $40 plus price tag. Then they max give u discount price of $39 when told them about their online price. Is it their sales staff need to earn some 'comm' per bottle?

 

[stetan]

So far for those i got from Mustafa, they seem authetic

any difference buying at Mustafa and dept stores?

 

[Citiguy]

Go to the warehouse. Its cheaper

stetan, where is that?

 

[stetan]

2 JALAN RAJAH #04-18 / 20
GOLDEN WALL FLATTED FACTORY
SINGAPORE 329134
TEL: 62543117 FAX: 62542145

stetan, where is that?

 

[Seraphyel]

Hi recently got into fragrance back in 2016 and bought a bottle of Dior Sauvage. Now I’m expanding to looking to buy a scent I can wear at night for dates and stuff. I’ve actually homed in on YSL La Nuit De L’homme. However I’ve seen that it’s not as good as the older bottles before reformulation. Any experts can advise me on the projection and longevity? Thanks!

 

[aphel14]

Go to the warehouse. Its cheaper

Thanks stetan, went to their warehouse and bought. Prices there are defintely closest to their online prices compare to trengganu outet.

 

[bbbbbw]

now dior sauvage parfum comes in 200ml bottles.
last time used to be 60ml and 100ml.

 

[Jxoppa]

now dior sauvage parfum comes in 200ml bottles.
last time used to be 60ml and 100ml.

They will be releasing sauvage parfum version soon, following the footsteps of bleu de chanel

 

[ronaldgohandstop]

Does anybody know where can buy LeLabo now it closed in Paragon? .... seems closest store in in Bangkok now!? Lol

 

[grizzly76]

Maybe online?
On a related note, I think September is when they make all the city exclusives available for purchase online.

Does anybody know where can buy LeLabo now it closed in Paragon? .... seems closest store in in Bangkok now!? Lol

 

[jcw_17]

any perfume to recommend? looking for one that has good longevity 6hr+ moderate sillage and less than 130

 

[triface]

any perfume to recommend? looking for one that has good longevity 6hr+ moderate sillage and less than 130

Any notes/fragrances you like or dislike? What will you be using it for?