Cheap Smell-alikes - Cheaper alternatives to Expensive Perfumes

shandyclover

I haven't read all the posts - so forgive me if I repeat anything. I've been using perfume oils for about 20 years now. My Dad works in the mideast so one trip back bought our favourites, we were all massively immpressed - since then it's been a regular thing with him emailing us the current list and bringing back our orders - now he has 4 teenaged grandaughters it gets to be quite a shopping bag full! They are dead chuffed that being students they can try out the latest perfumes. All 4 of my girls have had excema at different points in their life but none of them had a reaction to the perfume oil

Almost every one has been spot on. I've only had one mishap when I was trying to get something that smelled like Bodyshop's White Musk, the stuff I got from the mideast was awful - nothing like the original - so if anyone has any ideas of another perfume that smells similiar?

Some things I've learnt with the perfume oils...

Don't ever get the oil anywhere near your lips or eyes - will burn like hell! Some do seem to go 'off ' eventually, so rotate the ones you have. Depending on the make - some little bottles can leak, if the oil gets on wood furnishings it leaves a mark, for this reason I store all 11 bottles of mine on a pretty plate on my dresser. Keep them out of the sun - seems to extend their life. The oil will stain if it gets spilled on clothing, though with a little care I've never had any come off on clothes since you only need to apply a tiny bit. Some scents will just smell differently on different people, my dad asked about this at the shop he buys it from, and the man there explained since the perfume is not mixed with alcohol it reacts directly with peoples oil on their skin - so it's all very individual.

pattycake

shandyclover, on the question of storing the oils from Perfume Parlour, these come in handy little drawstring bags which protect the oils from sunlight and also protects the furniture from the oils. I have a glass "box" which came with some bath stuff in a while ago. I keep the bags upright in that. My main issue these days is knowing which oil is in which bag. I am a fan so have got quite a few now. I wear whichever takes my fancy on a particular day.

My especial faves which I have ordered several times are the Issey Miyake and Beyond Paradise. I have the real McCoy in both these but save the actual perfume for more special occassions. I am also very keen on the Clinque Simply from Perfume Parlour. This has been discontinued by Clinque I understand. I can't imagine why as it is lovely.

thisbirdhasflown000

Hi, thought I'd update on my post and let you guys know what I thought of my purchases:
Diesel Fuel Life Type: If not identical, then very very similar indeed - very happy with it .
Hypnotic Poison Type: Not quite as va-va-voom as the real thing, but if anything a little better for me as the Type seems to miss out the very opening of the original, which can be somewhat 'searching' & overpowering, so it's more how the original is after say 20 minutes...so I'm quite happy with this too!
Coco Mademoiselle: got this one for my mum and she didn't feel it was a particularly good copy. She did concede it was similar though and does like and is going to wear it, but doesn't think it would fool anyone...but then she is quite hard to please
So my overall impression of Perfume Parlour: slightly clunky and unsophisticated website, but this sort of adds a little quirky charm. Super efficient service. Good quality perfume oils, with the designer types either identical, very similar or at worst similar to those they're emulating. Final word: BARGAINTASTIC! Give 'em a whirl! :j:beer:

chrisaj

Just a bit of info.....perfumes bought over the counter you pay 2500% over what you should be paying :eek:

sofababe

This thread deserves a bump so here it is!!

I've ordered twice now and each time the service has been brilliant. Fast delivery and the oils are amazing. So far I have:

Kenzo Flower
Burberry London
CK1
Eternity
Secret Obsession
Angel
212 Sexy

and 2 non designer ones, Grapefruit and Orange Ginger Awake which are both delicious and would also work well as room fragrances. The only designer type I'm not sure of is the Burberry, its really nice but not quite right, I still wear it tho. And they all last for ages, I could still smell the Angel and Kenzo the morning after nights out!!!!

raven-333

Just read this thread glad i did. i love my perfumes but only get the good ones as presents. i had read somewhere before about perfume oils then forgot about them like everything else. so i placed a order
Black Orchid
Contradiction
Shalimar
Coco Mademoiselle
Dior Addict
cant wait to get them :j

sofababe

Let us know what u think Raven. I'm going to get Mademoiselle in my next batch I think.

raven-333

sofababe wrote: »

Let us know what u think Raven. I'm going to get Mademoiselle in my next batch I think.

yes i will.

thevicster

Thanks for this, I have just ordered Daisy and Vera Wang Princess likes to try. Thanks for bumping the thread!!

raven-333

Just haad a dispatch email for my order.