I don’t think I’ve tried enough fragrances across more niche or less popular brands to weigh in. Maybe the long-discontinued Tom Ford Lavender Palm… assume it was discontinued for a reason, like being a lower seller!
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I’m not sure if this is considered underrated, but my favorite is Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic. I also love Origins Ginger Essence. (The other perfumes I like are probably considered overrated!)
Seconding Lavender Palm! That’s my fave TF scent and I SO wish they’d bring it back (or Moss Breches, TBH)
I love Fan di Fendi and its flanker Fan di Fendi Extreme! I think they have been discontinued a while back, I still have and love both.
I was intrigued based on your comment so I looked it up – it’s available at both Overstock and FragranceX.com 🙂 I ordered the travel spray from FragranceX (via Google Express)
Il Bacio by Borghesa, Belodgia by De Caron, Aqua Di Parma (forgot by who). Haven’t tried new perfumes in ages as I don’t use them so often now. I do also like Mitsouko by Guerlain and Verbena by L’Occitane. Haven’t yet had the chance to test Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry, but was intrigued by the reviews it got.
I’m intrigued by the notes of Lost Cherry… black cherry, bitter almond, liquor… I just hope that the rose scent is minimal. 😀
Mitsouko and Verbena are on my dresser…you name two of my favorites.
Unless I’m wearing a single-note by Demeter, the fragrance that makes me shiver with delight is Pacifica’s BreathTaking. I also keep a bottle of Issey Pour Homme, because it smells like my dorm room in Shanghai.
I’ve got a 10 year old half full bottle of Christian LaCroix Absynthe for Avon that not only hasn’t “turned”, but I still get compliments on it. It is a super unique, smokey, yet fresh scent. Very difficult to explain. And it thankfully doesn’t smell like the typical Avon perfume, either. If I ever see it on eBay or something, I’m getting a backup!
I just recently opened a sealed bottle of Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrian that my mother had bought more than 12 years ago. It still smells fresh, but I’m just not sure if I like how it smells on me.
I’m not that much aware of which fragrances are hyped / overrated or on trend right now or what’s mainstream or niche, but a couple of fragrances I don’t hear others talk about and I liked lately:
* Pinrose – Secret Genius: I love how this is warm and spicy-sweet gourmand, without being sickening sweet or too strong. I love the balance of the caramel and vanilla combination… how I can smell them, but I don’t smell like a cupcake. I never heard of Pinrose until this year; I tested in Sephora their other fragrances and I was impressed by quite a few.
* Rosie Jane – Leila Lou: I do love pear in fragrances (and that’s the only thing that explains my love for Black Opium by YSL), but I never liked in a fresh-floral combination. Never heard about the brand before, but Leila Lou impressed me through it’s freshness and simpleness. I never liked a fragrance that I can pair with an effortless look, I always liked the `heavy` stuff.
Jo Malone London gets far less love than I think it deserves. Their fragrances are mix/matchable, but can stand alone quite well; even though the specific scents are different, they all have a distinctive “that’s a Jo Malone fragrance” quality to them. I own probably 20 different scents from them (including small bottles from holiday sets), and I very much enjoy layering and experimenting. The fact that you can get five or six different permanent scents in their holiday sets for the price of some brand’s larger bottles (around $115) is a real bargain. Their larger bottles are pricey (I want to say like $140 for 100ml), but worth it in my opinion. A few standout permanent scents for me are Peony and Blush Suede, English Pear and Freesia, and Orange Blossom. For the limited edition shades (which are readily available on second-hand outlets like Poshmark), the standouts for me are Star Magnolia and Tropical Cherimoya.
I love Jo Malone fragrances, but I don’t own any of them because they disappear on me within an hour of application. But, those first few minutes — they are sublime! And you are right: They all have that distinctive Jo Malone fragrance quality to them.
I’ve had the same experience with them. Beautiful at first, then completely gone.
I think all the classics are underrated. The younger generations are missing out, imo. So many are complex (notes/price!) and unique. Surely they can find one or two to love. For those who are interested, try using fragrantica.com to explore over 50,000 fragrances.
I think Coco by Chanel is amazing. You always hear about its flanker, Coco Mademoiselle. I know it is a popular house but this scent isn’t as mainstream popular. I am always worried they will tamper with it too much and it will get ruined.
I got a bad bottle of Mitsouko by Guerlain and can’t wait to try one that wasn’t from their 2015 batch.
I also love Hanae Mori colognes. So reminds me of my early 30s.
A classic that doesn’t get enough love currently; Guerlain Jicky!
I think out of current lines that you can get easily get Atelier Cologne Silver Iris, Oud Saphir, and Santal Carmin are underrated!
Slightly more niche ELDO’s Fat Electrician
Even slightly more niche Eau d’Italie Paestum Rose; I am not a huge rose scent fan but this is on another level
Discontinued semi-niche BVLGARI Black.
Rag and Bone’s scents are also really good!
Jicky – OH, the memories! It was my first fragrance purchase and I think I was a pre-teen when I wheedled my mom into buying it for me because Pattie Boyd wore it!
I don’t see many people talking about Glossier You online, and I’ve never noticed it on someone walking by in the city the way I have with V&R Flowerbomb or Santal 33. For me it sits close to my skin but lasts for days, and I love the fresh iris smell- definitely my favorite for everyday.
Issey Miyake L’ eau d’ Issey, Joy by Jean Patou and Lauren by Ralph Lauren.
Tom Ford Santal Blush is amazing but I think it gets rave reviews so not necessarily underrated. Maison Margiella Under the Lemon Trees is probably an underrated fragrance. Its fabulous for spring & summer.
Maison Margiela “Replica” fragrance in Lipstick On. It’s a little weird, it does smell a bit like an old fashioned lipstick- I think that’s part of the reason why I love it so much! It just feels so elegant and grand without being suffocating or sweet.
Cliniques Aronmatics – I have loved this perfume for a long time and always get compliments/or people asking me what perfume it is when I wear it.
Another one is Bottega’s Knot perfume. Down to my very last bit……
Guerlain Mitsouko is 100 years old this year. Have Guerlain told the world? No. Too busy pushing out flankers of Mon Guerlain. L’Heure Bleue another fantastic classic Guerlain. Most of the house of Caron classics.
Frederic Malle all everyone talks about is Portrait Of A Lady but they do some really gorgeous perfumes, Parfum de la Therese is one I love. The older classic Diors’ Diorella, Dioressense.
Chanel No22.
Elizabeth Arden White Tea. I’ve bought a 2nd bottle of it as I’m almost finished my first. I discovered it quite by accident and it’s become a favourite warm weather scent because it’s bright and fresh and “non-offensive” and since I work closely with students, that is an important quality. Heavy orientals and such just don’t work in a school setting.
Turquatic by Mac. I love it. Caribbean Vanilla & Coffee by Perlier is my 2nd favorite. When I need to give my morning a lift I use Hypnotic Poison by Dior.