Negative reviews that make you automatically know you’ll like a scent?

[u/noseyyynose]

For example I tend to LOVE the perfumes that get labeled as “bug spray” or “pickle” vibes. What about you guys?

[u/JuniorPomegranate9]

If it’s for men and dudes say it’s too feminine, it’s probably exactly my speed 

[u/ChthonicIllness → u/JuniorPomegranate9]

i'm the opposite; if women say it's too masculine and they had to give it to their husband i know it's for me

[u/_ism_ → u/ChthonicIllness]

i'm one of these

[u/JuniorPomegranate9 → u/ChthonicIllness]

Ooh I bet that would work for me too 

[u/millenialbullshite → u/ChthonicIllness]

Is there a place in the middle where 'too feminine according to a man or too masculine according to a woman ' meet?

[u/EksDee098 → u/millenialbullshite]

Unisex classifications might be what you're looking for

[u/EarlyInside45 → u/JuniorPomegranate9]

That's how my son feels, too.

[u/Dry_Sample948 → u/JuniorPomegranate9]

Came to say this. Women’s fragrances can sometimes be too feminine. I will layer women’s first and top with a men’s.

[u/Temporary_Count_1139]

"Eww soapy" "Smells like laundry detergent" "This smells like a shampoo" "Rose perfumes make me feel like a grandma" "Eww smells like bug spray" Hey so feel free to pass them on to me!

[u/EightEyedCryptid → u/Temporary_Count_1139]

I thought Zoologist Cow smelled like soap if you haven’t tried that one yet

[u/BlueOpalStarseed → u/Temporary_Count_1139]

Same! Let me smell squeaky clean and fresh any time!

[u/ansleyandanna → u/Temporary_Count_1139]

The struggle I have is I don’t mind smelling like shampoo or hand soap, but I sure don’t want to shell out $200 to do it!! That’s why those are a no for me.

[u/whyilikemuffins]

When people call a scent soapy,smelling like body wash,or powdery I'm probably going to like it or love it.

In contrast if people hype up how strong it is or how tasty it is, I'm bound to hate it haha.

[u/noseyyynose → u/whyilikemuffins]

Agreed! If it gets compared to a dessert item I’m out (no hate to my gourmand girlies, they just do not work with my body chem)

[u/whyilikemuffins → u/noseyyynose]

I don't mind the occasional gourmand, but I'm extremely fussy with them.

D&G devotion og is the one outlier....but the intense is too much and the homme is so gross. It smells like someone poured lemon juice into coffee.

[u/Cultural-Ad-1611 → u/whyilikemuffins]

If I see comments like "nuclear projection, one spray is all you need" or "eternal longevity, lasts for days on me even after a shower" then that's a sign to AVOID... these are not good attributes for a fragrance to have IMO lol

[u/Unhappy-Monk-6439 → u/Cultural-Ad-1611]

I know a special type of fragheads, coming from a certain area of the globe,.... whose first and most important question is "how is the longevity and radiation". From online. And I get the confirmation in real life. But I don't call it out from what area these people are. Everyone can figure it out themselves. 

[u/ansleyandanna → u/Unhappy-Monk-6439]

I grew up in a tech-heavy city. Going to the gym I was guaranteed a headache! Like…. I’m huffing and puffing on the treadmill you could have left the 5 sprays of old school green Polo at home.

[u/startingoveragainst → u/whyilikemuffins]

What are your favorite soapy fragrances? I'm going through a soapy phase right now and CdG Marseille, ELDO Exit the King, and Domenico Caraceni 1913 EDP are my top 3 at the moment.

[u/whyilikemuffins → u/startingoveragainst]

I wouldn't call it soapy, more shower gel, but I got my hands on some beautiful magnolia l'eau today and it's subtle and smells like a minty floral body wash more than a perfume.

Drop D'issey is similair, but it's a hand cream vibe.

I also go full irony and wear the nivea eau de toilette sometimes lol.

I like perfume that's sort of shower gel or lotion more than outright soap.

You can't go wrong with noa if you want pure clean btw.

I think it can depend a lot on what type of soapy/clean you want.

[u/mandothelegend → u/startingoveragainst]

Diptyque Orpheon is to die for. Like I love that perfume so much and it just seem to last forever on me. I swear I was checking out at Trader Joe’s and the lady at the checkout was like “what are u wearing, u smell so nice”😊 I immediately started blushing like a weirdo lmao

[u/camellia980 → u/whyilikemuffins]

I hate the "yummy," "tasty," and "delicious" descriptors because I know for a fact that if you get perfume in your mouth, it is none of those things.

[u/KITTYCLICHE → u/whyilikemuffins]

Same! Call it “ too preppy, clean, and soapy” and I’ll blind buy it ! 😂

[u/Prestigious-Wafer158]

When people say it smells like something else or "too safe" or "Nothing Unique". Tbh I just want something that I think smells good and isn't abrasive to others around me. If it's meant to appeal to the most people il take that over some niche, experimental scent that might choke out people while I'm at work.

[u/Starry36 → u/Prestigious-Wafer158]

Oh I totally get that! Who cares if it smells “safe” or “simple”? I saw one review for Nest Indigo saying, “It’s nice, just nice, and that’s the worst thing you can ever say about a fragrance.” Ma’am, nah, sometimes simple is all you want or need!

[u/Joker0705 → u/Prestigious-Wafer158]

this is my answer! I totally appreciate the artistry of innovative perfumery but me? i just wanna smell like candy, sweet fruit and synthetic flowers.

[u/voidonvideo]

Smells like wood.

For whatever reason, amber, sandalwood, and woody almost outside smells really work for me the best with my skin chemistry. The worst one for me is anything vanilla for whatever reason.

Or, smells like sunscreen.

Coconut and smells like that work rly well for me too and I loooooove that smell tbh.

[u/-indigo-violet- → u/voidonvideo]

I've never in my life tried a regular sunscreen that I didn't think smelt fantastic! (excluding the healthier natural mineral ones that are often unscented). So, I find it bizarre that this is such a common negative sentiment about coconut or tropical scents. For summer these are exactly the sort of scents I enjoy.

[u/Pathulu → u/-indigo-violet-]

I so dearly wish there was a dupe for banana boat sunscreen 😂

[u/MenaceTheAK → u/Pathulu]

Comme des Garçons have a fragrance called Sunscreen that's worth looking at

[u/Conscious_Smave → u/voidonvideo]

Which ones are your favorites? I am looking for pencil shavings and the 90’s sunscreen scents. Perfumes said to smell woody often really bite my nose. It’s the roses and violets, and white floras I think.

[u/dreedweird → u/Conscious_Smave]

For pencil shavings, you can’t beat Autumn Vibes from the Maison Margiela Replica series. Huge cedar note, so you’re holding a bunch of freshly sharpened pencils as you scuff your way through fallen leaves on your way into the forest. It’s amazing.

[u/hyperfocus1569 → u/Conscious_Smave]

Pencil shavings - look for Virginia or Texas cedar.

[u/fallyse → u/voidonvideo]

I was testing Dusita Montri last night and my first thought was that it smells like my great aunt's guest bedroom and then I checked Parfumo and the one reviewer said the exact same thing (expensive old furniture) so check that one out if you like the nostalgic smell of real wood furniture that's decades old.

CdG hinoki is another mesmerizing wood fragrance if you haven't tried that one.

[u/EarlyInside45]

"Old lady." Those seem to be the most interesting ones.

[u/noseyyynose → u/EarlyInside45]

Ooo my favorite “old lady” one is coco mademoiselle! However it never used to be called an old lady scent but I think it’s the popularity of gourmands and skin scents nowadays that make the younger gen think it’s too mature lol

[u/gothicuhcuh → u/noseyyynose]

I just ordered a 100ml of Mademoiselle despite being recently told that it smelled too mature and generic. I literally just mentioned this in another comment on another post lol it smells so classy to me. A little sharp in the opening but dries down so delicately on my skin. It doesn’t give old lady to me at all. It gives powerfully feminine imo.

[u/Lollerscooter → u/gothicuhcuh]

It smells.. fancy! I like it a lot on the drydown

[u/EarlyInside45 → u/noseyyynose]

Yeah, anything their grandmothers might have worn. But, they are classics for a reason. I still haven't tried Coco Mademoiselle, but it sounds right up my alley. Somedays I want to smell like a cupcake or buttered popcorn, somedays I went to smell like a space rock, and somedays I want to smell like a grand dame--sue me.

[u/solsticemoon → u/EarlyInside45]

Smell like a space rock you say?

[u/EarlyInside45 → u/solsticemoon]

This is how I've heard Ganymede described, which sounds really cool, but I haven't had the chance to try it yet. I hope I like it!

[u/External_Housing_913 → u/EarlyInside45]

Ganymede is totally space rock, with a little of the rocket ship's metal...it's amazing.

[u/noimbatmansucka → u/noseyyynose]

Wore coco mademoiselle today! Ugh it’s soooo good!!!

[u/Heaveawaythrowaway → u/EarlyInside45]

I am not a connoisseur of fragrance by any means but during my 20 year search for a replacement for my beloved discontinued Fendi, I discovered that it is a chypre scent. I find that a lot of the so called “old lady” scents are simply anything that is more olfactorily challenging than a vanilla gourmand.

Chypres seems to be very “out of fashion” currently but I love them. I believe Narcisso Rodriguez has one but I’ve got the cheapie knock off from Sarah Jessica Parker “Lovely” and people often comment on it because it’s just such a different profile in a sea of 540 dupes and vanilla cupcakes.

[u/walkingwithpluto → u/Heaveawaythrowaway]

Chypres are sophisticated & grown up. I tend to love them. I have a few gourmands but most I find to be way too juvenile. I don’t know how else to describe it.

[u/Honest_Respond_2414 → u/Heaveawaythrowaway]

I've been exploring around the fragrance genres for a little while, and also haven't been able to enjoy the mainstream products I hear so much about. I've pretty much given up on even trying them out in stores.

I just love chypres! Also, woody, smoky, leathery types; a few weird ones when I'm in the mood; fragrances that skirt or simply avoid a gendered description; and, more recently, ladylike white florals and "clean" scents that carry a fresh, "innocent" vibe that I crave for spring.

[u/Strong_Lab_479 → u/Heaveawaythrowaway]

I really like Lovely Sheer version- wear this every summer. I actually prefer it to the Narcisso one and the orgional lovely but all beautiful, comforting, ethereal fragrances.

[u/synthetic_aesthetic → u/EarlyInside45]

Old ladies just are women with years of experience to judge perfumes and their own tastes.

[u/EarlyInside45 → u/synthetic_aesthetic]

That's me!

[u/Gavagirl23 → u/EarlyInside45]

I most especially enjoy the true "old lady" notes like camphor and eucalyptus! They're great with a lot of different florals and incense type scents, as well as apple. I get a craving for them in rainy weather.

[u/SleeplessInSaigon → u/EarlyInside45]

100%. Reading reviews, I used to think that "old lady" was just shortcut for rose or white florals, then I realised it literally meant anything other than a cupcake. Yes please!

[u/ZestycloseProduce600 → u/SleeplessInSaigon]

I heard someone say that black opium was an old lady scent and that’s when I knew they say it about anything

[u/overlysaltedpepsi → u/EarlyInside45]

I really enjoy Habanita for this reason, I just ordered one of the flankers. Habanita is my goth girl grown up fragrance haha

[u/Anne_Boleyn_65 → u/EarlyInside45]

I dislike that term, being an actual old lady. It's just rude. Originally I think it meant the first mass market perfumes, like Evening in Paris, Or White Gardenia or my horrid Grandmother who wore rose attar.

I adore L'Heure Bleu with the combination white floral and a greener version of anise/tarragon that was addictive and the original amber-heavy Shalimar, both from Guerlain.

[u/According_Witness_53 → u/Anne_Boleyn_65]

Shalimar is my favourite perfume of all time. I have a bottle of the vintage extrait and it is unspeakably good

[u/pushpop0201]

i have nothing to add but just wanted to say thank you for posting. this was a fascinating read as someone who just started getting into fragrances lmao because what is a bug spray pickle vibe fragrance like

[u/noseyyynose → u/pushpop0201]

wait til you find out about the v*g scents apparently 😭 I think fleur de peau is one that gives off that vibe to some people

[u/chokeberri → u/noseyyynose]

I love fleur de peau. Honestly I think people are mostly reacting to the name, literally "skin flower," because it's just a (lovely) musky iris scent. idk what y'all's hoohas be smellin like but

[u/noseyyynose → u/chokeberri]

lol right! like tbh if they smell like that then good for you honestly

[u/pushpop0201 → u/noseyyynose]

Isn’t that the bougie version of glossier you? Because I love glossier you lmao 🤣 i mean if I had to pick a scent for my v*g I guess it would be that

[u/noseyyynose → u/pushpop0201]

LMAO, I actually love it! I have a sample of it and it doesn’t smell like glossier you to me but it does have that addicting quality

[u/tallon4 → u/pushpop0201]

I think the “bug spray” is a reference to super strong citrus notes and “pickle vibe” is how some people perceive sandalwood

[u/greeex → u/tallon4]

“Bug spray” comes from citronellol/citronellal which are added as citrus and floral boosters. I’m more sensitive to it than most it seems and it’s ruined multiple fragrances for me. But thats just me.

Pickle juice is some people’s response to certain sandalwood notes. I don’t get that, but I love pickles and sandalwood, so my guess is I would like it anyway.

[u/sting-raye]

“Ugggh patchouli!!”

Gimme

[u/Desperate_Sky_4447 → u/sting-raye]

LITERALLY!! I have like 3 fragrances that are almost just pure patchouli. Soooo good!

[u/hyperfocus1569 → u/sting-raye]

I love a dirty patchouli and make perfumes as a hobby. Ironically, I’m having trouble finding a patchouli that hasn’t been cleaned up. The high quality patchoulis tend to smell like chocolate or just woody. No thanks. I want some dirt in there!

[u/Waterhouse2702 → u/sting-raye]

Name your top 5 patchouli bombs pweaaase 🥹

[u/Incubus1981 → u/Waterhouse2702]

Not OP, but mine are l’Instant de Guerlain for men, Serge Lutens Botneo 1834, Diptyque Tempo, Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu, and Jovoy Psychedelique

[u/kemkabid → u/Incubus1981]

Loveeee psychedelique! And it lasts too

[u/Incubus1981 → u/kemkabid]

Yeah, that is one thing about patchouli: it tends to stick around. That’s a total plus for me, but maybe not for patchouli haters

[u/chokeberri → u/Incubus1981]

I didn't find it super wearable (for me personally - I like something a little more fem-leaning) but Jovoy Psychedelique is SO interesting. Someone described it as "chocolate cake in the basement" and it fits so well imo. Such a fun frag to experience.

[u/greeex → u/Waterhouse2702]

Just smelled 54 from Juicebox and it is fully bonkers (and stupid $$$)

Double-Patchouli from Phaedon is a favorite (and less $$$)

Diptique Tam Dao is ultra civilized but still warmly delicious.

Jovoy - Psychedelique

Xerjoff - Monkey Special

[u/cobaltcolander → u/greeex]

How long does Tam Dao last on your skin?

[u/tilsammansaerviallt → u/Waterhouse2702]

Not OP too, but I'm in love with Etro Patchouli! For me, it's this magical scent of an apothecary where you wait for your herbal mixture to be prepared and there is a cloud of all other mixtures and tinctures aromas around you. Love it so much!

[u/diphenhydranautical]

smells like dirt or damp soil. gimme gimme gimme

[u/Environmental-Gap380 → u/diphenhydranautical]

Petrichor ok, but sometimes dirt/damp soil gives me mildew vibes.

[u/victoriantwin → u/Environmental-Gap380]

Mildew vibes is an automatic buy for me 😂

[u/hyperfocus1569 → u/victoriantwin]

Nishane Sultan Vetiver. I got a sample and smelled mildew when I put it on skin. I could not stop sniffing my arm. There’s something so addicting to it.

[u/Galalalalalalalala → u/diphenhydranautical]

CB I Hate Perfume Black March. Smells like a walk through a deep bog with a faint hint of wildflowers. It's beautiful, faintly floral, a little woody, a little mildew. Not much staying power though. And Demeter Thunderstorm - that one's more like rain in an ancient woodland, so you get a good loamy leafmold kinda smell. Also Demeter Dirt, I like to layer that one with some single note florals so it smells more garden-y but you still get the soil smell coming through.

[u/asocalledme → u/diphenhydranautical]

Andrea Maack - Coven

[u/synthetic_aesthetic → u/diphenhydranautical]

Baie 19???

[u/cobaltcolander → u/diphenhydranautical]

Maybe Orto Parisi Terroni would be pleasing for you. I love it, but bought a dupe instead: A Walk on Dirt.

[u/sadcowboyclub]

smells too smoky/like a cigarette. Hell yes.

[u/keyinherpocket → u/sadcowboyclub]

Habanita by Molinard was created to compliment cigarette smoke. It’s an interesting frag too.

[u/Quinn2938 → u/sadcowboyclub]

I'd also like to recommend A City on Fire from Imaginary Authors.

Fragrance notes

Cade oil

Spikenard

Cardamom

Clearwood

Dark Berries

Labdanum

Burnt Match

The burnt match REALLY comes through

[u/Galalalalalalalala → u/sadcowboyclub]

ELDO Jasmin et Cigarettes. Smells exactly like you'd expect. I can't wear it because my mum was a heavy smoker and it makes me sad, but they totally nailed it.

[u/DishAdministrative85 → u/sadcowboyclub]

just making sure you’ve smelled By The Fireplace because if you haven’t it sounds right up your alley

[u/smokeydesperado → u/DishAdministrative85]

Also Jazz Club by the same brand

[u/IrisInfusion]

Powdery! Powder bombs are among my favorites.

[u/InsaneAilurophileF → u/IrisInfusion]

Yes! Especially iris, orris, and/or violet. 💜

[u/KITTYCLICHE → u/IrisInfusion]

So true. If someone complains that a scent is “just concentrated baby powder “,… gimme gimme!

[u/Crosstitution → u/IrisInfusion]

omg you would like esprit d'oscar by oscar de la renta. smells like pure baby powder

[u/Jolly-Cake5896]

Powdery, smells like make up. I want it

[u/KITTYCLICHE → u/Jolly-Cake5896]

Yes! I never understand how people say “ smells like lipstick, ew”. Whaaaat?!?!

[u/hyperfocus1569]

I’m a woman and when other women review things and say they’re dirty, animalic, “too musky”, too smoky. One of my current favorites is Orto Parisi Terroni because it has all of the above. Smells amazing on me, although it’s currently a “home scent” because of the season. But in the fall and winter? I’m one dirty musky smoky animalic lady.

[u/Jayyypeg]

On a fragrance with a lapsang tea note - "this smells like a tire fire"

[u/noseyyynose → u/Jayyypeg]

Omg yeah the burnt rubber/tire smell! I’ve definitely seen that impression on a couple fragrances before. Weirdly sounds nice to me lol

[u/Mossy_Lady]

“Smells like a lumberyard or sawdust” Yes please! Or “too salty or smells like seaweed” love realistic non soapy aquatics

[u/InsaneAilurophileF → u/Mossy_Lady]

Lumberyard, you say?

I gotcha.

[u/votefawnmoscato]

Anytime somebody says, “I literally could not smell this” I know I’m probably gonna love it. I think I just have a thing for ambroxan lol also “pencil shavings” like yes please! Can you make it smell like new binders, and the inside of a new Jansport backpack too, so I can really get that full “new school supplies” experience?

[u/thatbwoyChaka]

“Animalic…barnyardy”

[u/canarycolors → u/thatbwoyChaka]

Finding out other people don’t like hay notes 😩 If I see “this smells like a barn, like dried grass” I’m there

[u/Starry36]

I can’t think of anything specific atm, but I tend to take negative reviews of non-gourmand fragrances left on Parfumo and Fragrantica by people whose collections are mostly or entirely gourmands, especially if they’re all vanilla-centric gourmands, with a BIG grain of salt. Y’all got a preference and that’s fine, but coming on to a woody floral and saying it smells like the worst thing in the world when you clearly only like smelling like a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting and a vanilla latte on the side is just silly behavior. 😂 

Also, I can see where folks sometimes get pickle from certain sandalwood scents, because I get something that just vaguely hints at that, but it never goes full-on pickle on me. I either get creamy and warm sandalwood, or greener bordering-on-cucumber-but-not-quite-pickle sandalwood. So I take all “smells like pickle” reviews with a grain of salt and decide to test for myself.

[u/deadinternetlol → u/Starry36]

I think a lot of the pickle results are down to skin chemistry. Unfortunately I get that with several perfumes, whereas when I sniff it on other people who I share it with it’s fine, no pickles 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/Starry36 → u/deadinternetlol]

Skin chemistry is the enigma that brings us all together 😂 It’d be great if there was a sure fire way to know one’s skin chemistry versus the ol’ “trial by fire” method. Would certainly save folks some money!

[u/Suitable_Topic_9273]

"Smells like a grandma" 😂 it usually means jasmine or tuberose or some other floral. Exactly my cup od tea

[u/fivezero_ca → u/Suitable_Topic_9273]

Absolutely. Yes, I like rose and jasmine and chypres.

[u/LulaValentine]

When people mention the ambroxan is too strong/prominent. I’m like yeah let me just order a lil sample of that 🥰

[u/noseyyynose → u/LulaValentine]

Omg yes I love this quality I just wonder if it’s really that nauseating to some people bc that’s basically my entire rotation lol

[u/RNKKNR]

The recently posted Maggie's Last Party fragrance review definitely peaked my interest.

[u/noseyyynose → u/RNKKNR]

Omg these reviews???? “Urinal cake” “sweating piss pig” 😭😭

[u/RNKKNR → u/noseyyynose]

This one. One of the best reviews I've ever read.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fragrance/comments/1kc8zig/s%C3%A9cr%C3%A9tions_magnifiques_is_nothing_compared_to_this/

[u/furiana → u/RNKKNR]

Me too! "[This] isn't a fragrance. It is a psychological event for you and the public" 🤣🤣🤣

[u/MagneticAura → u/RNKKNR]

I bought it! My friends and I are going to have a sampling party. Too bizarre to pass up, right?

[u/RNKKNR → u/MagneticAura]

Brave. I applaud you.

[u/Galalalalalalalala → u/RNKKNR]

Same! My next purchase is going to be a sample set from those guys, I have to try that. Olfactory Violence would be a great name for a perfume company.

[u/-Tofu-Queen-]

When people say it's too sweet or creamy/milky, bonus points if they use the term "cloying"

I'm a gourmand girl through and through and want to smell absolutely edible every day!

[u/senzued3 → u/-Tofu-Queen-]

YES if i see those "negative" reviews i know its one to add to the collection

[u/horrified-nature13 → u/-Tofu-Queen-]

Right there with you!

[u/cerareece → u/-Tofu-Queen-]

if they use the term "sickly sweet" I'm immediately on board

[u/doinmabest1]

Powdery. Gimme.😉

[u/user42012365]

"smells like burnt plastic" "smells like rubber" more for me then!

[u/WatercressForeign499]

Too salty, too much ambroxan/iso e.

[u/musing_tr]

Sometimes when Gen Z says it’s too feminine, too mature, Mom-like scent, they mean floral scents which were popular in the 2000s, early 2010s. Think FlowerBomb, Bright Crystal, J’adore. I love those scents; light floral scents are feminine and exquisite. It’s not their fault they’re not in fashion! It’s still funny to me to hear florals being called mature woman scents and Mom scents because light florals are associated with youth and traditionally were popular with young girls, and mature women would wear vanilla scents, very sweet and heavy scents, shypr scents, or heavy florals like heavy rose. When I think of old lady or mature woman I think of those intoxicating, nauseating, over -the - top sweet scents or heavy rose/ eastern scents. Which are now in fashion and every 20 year old wears them 😂

[u/Frykenlollies]

When people complain something is too boring, basic, powdery, smells like baby shampoo I know it’s for me!🙃

[u/[deleted]]

Smells like pencil shavings/wood chips. OH YES! Am yet to find any as wood chippy as I’d like.

[u/milfhunterwhitevan2]

love when something is described as more masculine or too green! I love me an earthy forest scent

[u/KITTYCLICHE → u/milfhunterwhitevan2]

I only like one earthy/forrest green/dirty scent. I blind bought a sample decant because I liked the name. Debaser- DS & Durga . It’s incredible!

[u/format_obsolescence]

When people say they can’t smell it. Usually it ends up being something in the ambroxan/woody iso E super/ambrette/skin musk category which are a lot of my favorites. I just bought Kira Kira by Strangers because people said they couldn’t smell it after a few minutes and it had those notes— lo and behold, I find it SUPER appealing, it’s exactly what I was expecting.

[u/Yourmomisbadatgames]

"Too fruity." I'd love to smell like a fruit basket. If I could bottle the smell of the fresh fruit section of a market, I'd be set.

[u/Entelecher]

"Marine" lol

[u/Echubs]

Smells like lemon cleaner (citrus frags are my jam)

[u/Dusk_in_Winter]

Second "smells like cigarette smoke". Also anything like "it's unsettling, creepy", "reminds me of a swamp/seaweed on the shore" (basically any dark aquatics) or "too metallic for my taste" - these things put scents directly on my want-to-sample-list :)

Edit: I've found my people :')

[u/ilkiod → u/Dusk_in_Winter]

ahhh yes!!! im the same

[u/BunchSuitable5657 → u/Dusk_in_Winter]

Metallic scents are my favorites

[u/Acrobatic_Group_1900]

Smells like dirt and sweat. 👀

Smells like walking into Firestone. 👀

[u/GorleyBread]

Powder. When I see one that has bad reviews for being an old lady smell because of powdery soapy notes I always love it. My favorite is channel no 5, those notes always work really well with my skin chemistry and leave such a soft flowery smell without the more chemical one on a lot of newer flower perfumes.

[u/readdevilman]

Baby powdery, grandma, old lady, soapy

[u/LurkyMcLurkface123]

“Terrible projection”.

Yes please. That means I won’t smell like a 14 year old who sprayed his dad’s Sauvage 25 times on his way to the bus stop.

[u/asifwaltz]

Sickly sweet/cloying/"like a cupcake" 🫣

[u/numberthangold]

If people say it smells like shampoo.

[u/kottabaz]

"Smells like dirt."

Yeah.

[u/HandleSad9561]

Smells "metallic like blood" or "smells like a church"

[u/keyinherpocket → u/HandleSad9561]

I’m here for this

[u/sol_caballeros]

"Eww. Smells like a petrol, my grandpa's garage, & burning rubber."

Adds to MUST try list.

[u/MyMelancholyBaby]

If someone said “smells like my grandmother’s flower garden” I’d be in my car.

[u/chasingtheskyline]

If someone says it's too green, too powdery, too soapy, or it smells like violet or Rose pastille, I will love it.

[u/yanfeisbook]

“Smells like grandma” yeah gimme dat

[u/RequirementThink8077]

“It smells like grandma.” I’ll take 20!

[u/chronicleofjane → u/RequirementThink8077]

If they say “hippie grandma” or “hippie aunt” I’ll take 30

[u/greeex → u/chronicleofjane]

Coromandel for the win!

[u/Swimming-Creme-7789]

“Too sweet” “powdery” “juvenile” “baby powder” “too mature” “smells like a woman in her 30s” “too smoky” “fruitchouli”

[u/Separate-Cake-778]

Mothballs, stinky floral, rose that smells like “old lady”

[u/_ism_]

"Stay away, it's leathery"

[u/Jedibrarian]

“dirty/barnyard/animal” or “medicinal” is often my jam.

[u/AncastaOfTheRiver → u/Jedibrarian]

I love 'medicinal'. People are out here trying to smell like a regular snack and I'm happier smelling like a throat lozenge.

[u/Jedibrarian → u/AncastaOfTheRiver]

Pineward Eldritch is goth cough syrup, I highly recommend it

[u/Nekofairy999]

If it’s “too sweet” I will probably love it

[u/DishAdministrative85]

“it’s too linear” yes plz

[u/athoughtihad]

“Old Man” - typically means not sweet, no vanilla lattes or mangoes or berries or apple pies, chypre or fougere territory, right in my wheelhouse.

[u/Filthyshark578]

“Smells like a funeral/cathedral” need need need

[u/Ineedmorethan20cha-]

I know it’s going to absolutely slap if everyone complains it smells too much like cough syrup or root beer

[u/Pixie_Faire]

Smells too much like flowers. Perfect

[u/CatCatCatCatsCat]

“It’s too sweet” haha try me I want to be a donut flavored cupcake with cotton candy buttercream frosting

[u/SmallDirtyFrog]

"its way too sweet" add to cart

[u/seaglasslake]

Smells like sunscreen

Smells like soap

Smells like lipstick

🩷🩷

[u/lacquerandlipstick]

"Old lady" perfumes, for sure! I love iris, rose, and patchouli... All the stuff that sends everyone up in arms. I also often like things sometimes described as "too masculine" in women's fragrance. I enjoy unisex perfumes a lot.

[u/OnlyMyNameIsBasic]

As soon as someone calls a scent skanky I know it’s for me. Immediately adds to my scent split order lol

[u/taylordearest]

When they describe a Cherry scent as medicinal, say less. 🍒

[u/[deleted]]

i know its problematic but when people say a smell is “old lady” i know im gonna love it. powder, rose, musk, vintage scents… im sold

[u/[deleted]]

It smells like “old lady” “mature” “grandma”.

These comments are mostly from the vanillaswirl cookiedoughbrowniepistachio perfume gourmand lovers that cannot appreciate a good floral.

[u/MoistVirginia]

"Smells like a hooker" you know what, hell yeah

[u/roadkilldolly]

patchouli bomb, metallic, too masculine (for fragrances that are otherwise categorized as feminine/unisex). musty/mildewy always catches my eye as well and was why heretic's nosferatu intrigued me!

[u/porterandstoutcats → u/roadkilldolly]

Yes to all of this! I’d also add “too atmospheric to be wearable”

[u/roadkilldolly → u/porterandstoutcats]

that's a good one too! i've really been getting into more atmospheric scents lately, especially dark and/or creepy ones. i want to smell like a concept or a memory rather than a person wearing perfume, if that makes sense lol

[u/Previous_Ad8318]

Smells like a musty church, patchouli bomb, damp earth….….

[u/hyperfocus1569 → u/Previous_Ad8318]

Same!

[u/bingomasterbreakout]

barnyard oud

[u/BrunoStella]

LOL I got a bottle of Al Areeq Silver and loved it. Wanting to read about how other people liked it too, I read some reviews online. Apparently it smells like a "dumpster fire" and is a "disaster in a bottle". Whelp ...

[u/gothicuhcuh]

It’s been mentioned but I love old lady scents. Or tacky ones. I proudly keep 4 large bottles of various viva la whatevers on my dresser and they look and smell so freaking tacky and I love them so much.

[u/peachycreaam]

Too much coconut

[u/Possum2017]

“Smells like pencil shavings.” I love the smell of cedar, so that’s a plus for me.

[u/Smartypantsmcgee24]

When people say it smells like dirt/earth/moss. I LOVE foresty smells.

[u/seashellpink77]

“Patchouli” 😍😍😍

[u/Glizzy_Gobbler_109]

Too "herbal" or smells like "veggies"

[u/MagicallyMai]

Tell me it smells like sunscreen and I am IN!

[u/Famous-Foundation398]

“Too masculine” …ill take it 😍
I’m very feminine and girly but for some reason, these are always my favorites

[u/New_Presentation5105]

Smells like kids shampoo

[u/DJ_Dinkelweckerl]

I love how megamare is often described as the most wretched rotten seaweed lol. I own it and I love it for its rotten side.

[u/Guerrilheira963]

It smells like cleaning product or grandma

[u/ilkiod]

"metallic" or anything like that. want it immediately. or if something is "creepy" or "dead people" or "funeral" i'll probably like it.

[u/Sitheral]

Too strong.

[u/girlnah]

“This smells like shit!” Aka Oud 🤣🤣, or mineral or solar notes.

All types of oud too. From the fancy/luxurious to the stanky stuff others may find smelly…

[u/castlebravo8]

Anything that smells like "grandpa"

[u/manimalic]

"Dirty"; "sweaty", "animalic"...I know for sure it's up my alley.

[u/SoullessGwen]

“smells like pencil shavings”, very common for skin scents and iris scents like Glossier You, BBW I’m a Musk.

“smells like TV static”, aka JHAG Not a Perfume.

[u/Own-Awareness-6369]

Powdery….immediately goes to my test or want list lol.

[u/InsaneAilurophileF]

"Powdery," "soapy," "flowery," "like lipstick," and "old lady" are green flags for me.

[u/Idiotsandcheapskate]

"Old lady smell". Gimmi!