Thread: ooh, SPEAKING of perfume

sort of a spin from the hair thread

considering performing is a full package thing........one needs to smell nice..g.:

BUT.........there are people with allergies, perfumes can mix with the smell of foods oddly, sometimes it's just overpowering

usually, i use nice lotions with some scent, but if i DO use perfume, i only use essential oils, and spicer scents, like amber, dragons blood, kush, and the like, and only a DAB on wrists and hollow of throat to try and keep it subtle.....

no complaints or throat-grabbing pass-outs so far

what do you all use? what do you suggest avoiding?

Someone had mentioned [I'm sorry if I cannot find your post to give you due credit! ] using milk of magnesia as a fragrance-free deodorant, which I thought was brilliant.

(Side note: So not only can you use milk of magnesia as a deodorant, but also as makeup primer, prevent sweaty makeup run-off, and I just tested it on my eyelids last night as an eye makeup primer. One eyelid w/o primer and one with the milk of magnesia. Result: the "mom" eye had no eyeshadow creases and remained dry! The non-"mom" eye had eyeshadow in the crease. I typically have oily eyelids.)

I personally do not like department store perfumes (to wear or smell).

The high-alcohol content really makes them diffuse too strongly and I don't like smelling anybody, much less dancers, who are reeking of the stuff.

I like oils, usually in a vegetable oil carrier, like you use Ruta, b/c they are not so strongly diffused and stay close to the body.

I use a touch of sandalwood as a deodorant and that's all.

When I used LUSH Glitterbugs, sometimes the mild fragrance of the Glitterbug would be enough to coat me in a subtle shield of fragrance that was not overpowering or noticeable. And if someone's close enough to smell me while I'm dancing, then they're just too darn close!

umm, *sheepishly peeking from the rock i've obviously been living under* what's a lush glitterbug? *dashing back under*

we need an 'under a rock' or 'in a cave' smily

*heavenly choir*
LUSH Glitterbug!

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

Liz you brave thing. I haven't ever bought oils in Egypt due to the con factor. They can see the green behind my ears from miles away. Do tell your secret !!!

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

Liz you brave thing. I haven't ever bought oils in Egypt due to the con factor. They can see the green behind my ears from miles away. Do tell your secret !!!

I pay what I think something is worth ( and we had a good guide with us). If it seems worth it to you, you pay it. I don't worry about what someone else can get it for. If I think something is too much I say so. It certainly wasn't a lot of money( I can't remember exactly) for what I got by our standards. And Body shop is dearer so as far as I am concerned I'm winning!!

I don't mind haggling ( this wasn't that situation..it was fixed price) but if I get fed up with the pressure I'm off! You can't beat 'em It's their game!..g.:

Yves Saint Laurent's Opium...but then again, I wear that nearly everyday, so I could be biased ;)

...no offense to anyone who does wear department store perfume. I'm just sensitive.

Originally Posted by Azhia

...no offense to anyone who does wear department store perfume. I'm just sensitive.

I have to run through the perfume department or I will sneeze my head off. I do okay for the most part one-on-one but the chemical/flower scents kill me. I have been using a body wash with a light sent in it and does just fine for me.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils. Just for me and my closest friends ..g.: I don't like perfumes that knock you out from 50 paces.

Tell me I'm not the only BPAL addict here...

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;,

Originally Posted by Linnyg

I have to run through the perfume department or I will sneeze my head off. I do okay for the most part one-on-one but the chemical/flower scents kill me. I have been using a body wash with a light sent in it and does just fine for me.

Originally Posted by Emma

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils. Just for me and my closest friends ..g.: I don't like perfumes that knock you out from 50 paces.

Tell me I'm not the only BPAL addict here...

OOOhhh!!! I'm intriqued! Must check out...

Department store perfume section sprinter here, too!

well. I'm at the other end of the spectrum. if clients have perfume allergies, they can just stand back. lol! I love the idea of dancing past, trailing a waft of rich, exotic perfume - I think it adds to the sensory experience of the performance.

I wear Aqaba when I dance: The Perfume Shoppe : Aqaba : : Online Perfume Store
read the description and you'll want to try it, too. :)

because it's so strong, I only spray it behind my knees and down my back. sometimes I'll mist my skirt or hairpiece with it. that way I can enjoy it, too, without asphyxiating myself. ;)

ohhhhhh. fun thread & droolworthy links.

emma, which bpal oils do you wear/recommend? they have so many choices...!

Hmm, I don't wear perfume while dancing; I'm too afraid the heat/sweat will change the makeup of the scent and it'll end up smelling nasty! I could just be weird like that though. I have this scented oil called "Hula" I got while traveling (Monterey, CA oddly enough) and it smells bellydance-y to me so if I ever tried a scent it'd be that one! We have hookah so the air smells great already

I wear perfume on a daily basis in everyday life, though. I like Marc Jacobs scents, Chanel Chance, Armani Mania/Code, and others. I get my stuff at Marshalls/TJ Maxx and it's often 1/2 the price!

I see your Glitterbug and raise you a ShimmyShimmy!
LUSH -- Body Care Products: Shimmy Shimmy Sparkle Bar (moisturizing, fragrant, iridescent)

Love both of these! They make fun gifts for dancers, too -- everybody on my list got them for New Year's a few years back.

Lush also has a few solid perfumes, both sweeter old-fashioned florals and more spicy/sexy/exotic. They don't diffuse as much because of the solid formulation -- it's a cocoa-butter base -- so they're a nice option if you want to wear something that smells great but stays in your "personal space."
LUSH Fragrances

ETA: Site says "coming soon to Annapolis" and in the meantime you can follow your nose to M Street or Bethesda. But boy is it hard to get out of there without spending a ton of money, because all their stuff looks and smells sooo gooooood!

Originally Posted by Azhia

OOOhhh!!! I'm intriqued! Must check out...

Department store perfume section sprinter here, too!

look for a scent called 'follow me boy', i got a sample and it's............interesting(in a good way)

great scents and concepts

Originally Posted by ashadanzatrice

ohhhhhh. fun thread & droolworthy links.

emma, which bpal oils do you wear/recommend? they have so many choices...!

Yeah, it's a bit overwhelming at first! Think about what kind of scent you might like: woody, aquatic, floral, foody, spicy....then have a look on the forum. Or what I did at first was choose a range I liked the sound of (Mad Tea Party) and pick 6 from there. You can also search by specific component e.g. stargazer lily.

Almost everyone likes Snake Oil. At the moment my favourite is Whip (red rose and leather). I also love the foody scents, e.g. Gluttony, Bliss (pure chocolate!), Eat Me - it's funny to go around smelling like an expensive cheesecake!

Originally Posted by Emma

Tell me I'm not the only BPAL addict here...

i'm right there with ya! love bpal!!! my current favorite is ulalume. it smells mossy and natural like deep forest, maybe not best suited for a cabaret performances, but i wear it almost every day. for cabaret gigs i go for something more smoke or spicy like scheherezade. :-)

wow, here i sit, dreading my 11am client ,because her "perfume" offends me sooooo much!
i have "smelled " it on others.i have no idea what it is ..but it smells like something that keeps bugs off.
z

I'm the MOM deoderant girl - what a claim to fame!

I also get headaches from floral-based perfumes. I can tolerate fruity smells, and all of my lotions are non florals. One time it was so bad I got dry heaves. I usually have to miss heavily scented dancers because I just can't take it. A light scent that dissipates quickly isn't too bad, but I'm talking about the kind that are still there after 20 minutes. If you know heavy smells can be off putting and your goal as a dancer is to entertain your audience, I don't understand the over perfuming. I know not everyone is like me, but I have heard from other perfume loving dancers that they hated the fact that one particular dancer (not local) bathed in the stuff before going out.

I wear BPAL scents like Silk Road, Morocco, Scherezade, etc. I also use Lush Glitterbugs.

i only wear paloma picasso

Awesome links!

If the BPAL intrigues you, check out this site, too: Perfume Oils & Magical Perfume Oils : Perfume Oils: Spiritual Perfume Oils, Perfume Anointing Oils & Elixirs, Magical Perfume Oils, Perfume Anointing Oils & French Perfumes, Perfume Oils, Love Potions & Perfume Fragrance Oils - Erzulies.com

I use their oil of Isis--and all of their scents are amazing (can't say for sure whether they've actually brought me love and wisdom, but it's worth a shot!..g.: )

Originally Posted by Emma

Tell me I'm not the only BPAL addict here...

Nope! ..g.:

Most real perfumes are like an icepick to the forehead for me, even if I like the way they smell, but I've found BPAL pretty safe. My regular scent is Queen of Sheba.

Lizajuk - I bought some essential oils in Egypt too. They seemed expensive at the time but in retrospect, those big bottles were not much compared to the Body Shop.

The ones I got were "Lotus flower essence" (because they used it on the statues of the gods & goddesses in ancient Egypt - that's what I'm talking about baby!) - and a mix of essential oils called "Sheherezade" - it sorta smells like Opium, lots of spices.

Anyway, just dabbing them on hasn't made them strong enough. I tried diluting the essential oil in jojoba to make it last longer, but that has just made it more faint (although it absorbs better). Maybe I should try diluting in alcohol. I know you're not supposed to put them on direct.

when I lived in Utah, I fell in love with this shop in Salt Lake City:
Scentsations Lotions & Oils
I have an array of their fragrance oils and I mix my own blends.

On a slightly more expensive note, has anyone tried some of the really high dollar Arabian perfumes, for example Jubilation - A Fragrance From The House Of Amouage?

Sedonia

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.

Originally Posted by Zana

Lush also has a few solid perfumes, both sweeter old-fashioned florals and more spicy/sexy/exotic. They don't diffuse as much because of the solid formulation -- it's a cocoa-butter base -- so they're a nice option if you want to wear something that smells great but stays in your "personal space."
LUSH Fragrances

I love Karma fragrance by Lush, but I also know someone who claimed it set off her asthma with the patchouli!

Icon, a former lush fragrance that sometimes comes up on discon is nice, smells very incensy, though, a bit heavy.

I tend to use flying fox solid perfume for day (jasmine) and sometimes Cocktail or 2 Hearts from Bnever (Lush's sister company, a perfumery)

I too am no good on synthetic perfumes either, they get to my chest, which is why I only use Lush, Bnever or oils.

I love the combo of jasmine, Ylang ylang and sandalwood.