Thread: ooh, SPEAKING of perfume

Originally Posted by lizajuk

I use Black Narcissus essential oil bought in Aswan. I love it. It's a very soft, gentle and warm scent.

But do you pretend to be Jean Simmons when you wear it? DO YOU?

I would love a perfume called Black Narcissus, if it smelt nice! I would probably be overwhelmed with thoughts of Sabu and fake Himalayas and instead of my music I would hear "oh I won't be a nun. Oh I cannot be a nun. For I am so fond of pleasurrrrrre."

Originally Posted by resullivan

I have had to hold my breath before, or take the long winding way around. ..l;, And I keep remebering the Mr Bean skit where he winds up crawling through the perfume department after being overcome with fumes. ..l;,

MY husband refuses to enter department stores at the front entrance because...they always but the perfume counter there. We have to sneak in the back or I'll have him sneezing for the rest of the day. Hence I rarely let him go shopping with me unless of course his wallet looks ready to open...g.:
Oh girl of the 1940s ..me

Originally Posted by zumarrad

But do you pretend to be Jean Simmons when you wear it? DO YOU?

I would love a perfume called Black Narcissus, if it smelt nice! I would probably be overwhelmed with thoughts of Sabu and fake Himalayas and instead of my music I would hear "oh I won't be a nun. Oh I cannot be a nun. For I am so fond of pleasurrrrrre."

Nah More your Rita Hayworth me...but actually it's a very gentle smell and supposed to lower one's blood pressure.
Just think I used to wear perfume to try to get men's pulses racing now I wear one to lower my blood pressure.

Depending on the kind of event and the costume, I use one of these:

• White lotus (essential oil)
• Noa by Cacharel (department store perfume, but very subtle and not flowery)
• Glitter bug by Lush (glitter bar with very light scent)

As a dedicated perfumista, I think all dancers should wear fragrance. As already stated, those with an allergy should move to the rear and let everyone else enjoy the sensuous aroma. One has to experiment with lots of fragrances to find the right one . Or in my case, two, three, four , five, ten, etc, etc.

I'm told, though I didn't notice specifically, that Cassandra *always* wears Opium when she dances.

There certainly is something rather nice about having a special smell that goes with your dancer self. Short of drenching myself in anything containing ylangylang (which I like to do when I wash anyway) I don't use perfumes all that much, but I've been enjoying a perfume oil called Cinnamon Spice from the Body Shop lately.

I find I have trouble really getting smells I truly like these days - I haven't got a particularly nuanced nose and I can't afford "real" perfume. I like florals, but I want them to have some depth and darkness. A while ago I was besotted with Gucci EDP (the original one, and certainly not that disgusting Rush), which caused my eyeballs to roll into the back of my head like I'd just whacked up something evil, but I could never afford to buy any. I also *really* like Agent Provocateur, though it was sold to me as definitely a winter perfume that goes with furs and wools, and it certainly does have that kind of quality to it. Might be too much of a summer evening.

Clearly someone just has to GIVE me both. *nods*

dannnnnnnggg youuuuuuuuuuuuuu, bhuz, danngggg you all to heeeckkkkkkkkkkkkk (a la charlton heston cleaned up a little) .... now look what you made me go and do. i just HAD to go and order myself a whole bunch of bpal samples.... heh. will report back. though i guess it will take a while, as they say on their site that it might be up to 21 days before they ship it... i will call it my birthday present to me!

If you go to websites like LuckyScent: shop for hard to find perfumes, fragrances and candles. , you can buy samples or niche fragrances before you sell a limb to buy one. Scouring ebay is another option. While some are still pricey, others can be suprisingly affordable. Depends on the brand and availability.

I have a thousand and one allergies and my BF has even more than I do. Most commercial scents kill me (I can wear Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique though), and "perfume oils" sold by alot of "natural" places kill me as well.

However, absolutely pure (and often organic) essential oils dont bother me (or my BF) in the least. So I have a friend who is an aromatherapist who deals only in really pure, high quality oils and she makes my dance scents. We have a special one we call the "Pennsic Blend" that has a base of Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood and a few other things thats just heavenly. People stop me when I wear it to tell me how good I smell. hehe (It can also be mixed into a shampoo or lotion base to thin the scent out and make it very nice and subtle.)

In the event anyone is interested the shop is in Baltimore in Federal Hill and is called SoBotanical (and the have a website)!

I found this amazing Nag Champa hemp body spray at our local Castles Superstore (hasn't everybody been there? heh, heh, heh). It smells just like the incense and boy, you have to be darned careful...it's strong so one or two spritzes is all it takes. I like to spritz the hem of my skirt so when I twirl by people that are closeby get 'wafted.' My teacher smelled it on me the other day and she was amazed at how much it really did smell like incense...my idea of what bellydancing smells like!

I just checked the brand...it's Earthly Body and they have a website. They also make this yummy coconut body spray that smells like summer!

Originally Posted by basina

I have a thousand and one allergies and my BF has even more than I do. Most commercial scents kill me (I can wear Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique though), and "perfume oils" sold by alot of "natural" places kill me as well.

However, absolutely pure (and often organic) essential oils dont bother me (or my BF) in the least. So I have a friend who is an aromatherapist who deals only in really pure, high quality oils and she makes my dance scents. We have a special one we call the "Pennsic Blend" that has a base of Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood and a few other things thats just heavenly. People stop me when I wear it to tell me how good I smell. hehe (It can also be mixed into a shampoo or lotion base to thin the scent out and make it very nice and subtle.)

In the event anyone is interested the shop is in Baltimore in Federal Hill and is called SoBotanical (and the have a website)!

oh, that's bad, i'm moving into little italy in a month..........are they the herbalists that vend in maryland ren fest? if so i LOVE their celtic autumn....yummy!

No, not related to the ones at the renn faire (which I actually think deal primarily with perfume oils). Stop in an see em though - talk to Kimmie or Tree and they will hook you up with a custom blend!

I make my own usually: vodka/water mixture (much more vodka than water) and a few drops of perfume oil. After I spray it on my arms, I can rub it in th skin as well.
My favourite scents are sweet, like vanilla, coconut and spices.
I love, love looooove Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant,(that's the only real perfume I wear) I wish I could whip up something that would smell like it - it's sweet and spicy, but more sweet than spice.
And yes, I do agree with having a dancer smell pretty. (as long as pleasant, and not overpowering)

Originally Posted by basina

No, not related to the ones at the renn faire (which I actually think deal primarily with perfume oils). Stop in an see em though - talk to Kimmie or Tree and they will hook you up with a custom blend!

THAT sounds like fun...........i'll be moved in may 1st............wanna meet and i can check 'em out?

hmmm, what would a ruta scent be like?

Dropped you a PM Ruta :-)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I like Nag Champa oil, but it is very strong and needs to be worn in small amounts. It just screams exotic. I sometimes rub it on my Zills instead of on me. That and Sandalwood often make me sneeze, so now I avoid it. I also like tea tree oil. I usually wear Magnolia from l'Occitaine though.

do wear tea tree oil as a scent? I only ever use it as a antiseptic.

Originally Posted by Doozer

I found this amazing Nag Champa hemp body spray at our local Castles Superstore (hasn't everybody been there? heh, heh, heh). It smells just like the incense and boy, you have to be darned careful...it's strong so one or two spritzes is all it takes. I like to spritz the hem of my skirt so when I twirl by people that are closeby get 'wafted.' My teacher smelled it on me the other day and she was amazed at how much it really did smell like incense...my idea of what bellydancing smells like!

How many of us have an idea of what bellydance smells like? for me it smells like rose water.

For me I'd say the Nag Champa would be more like it. Spicy and incensy.