MissKatie

First of all: for about 30 years, my absolute favorite fragrance has been "Aromatics Elixir (Perfume) | Clinique," and I would love to still wear it, but unfortunately, I can only perceive it briefly right after spraying it on. That's why my search for a new "this-is-me fragrance" led me to this site (unfortunately with the usual collateral damage here, like the horrified look at my bank account or increasing lack of space *sigh*). Before this, I had hardly dealt with fragrances and had to learn 1. various technical terms and 2. how to categorize my preferences (e.g., "Chypre"... a few weeks ago, I had a huge question mark in my thought bubble regarding that term).

Thanks to a super sweet perfumer (a big thank you again to Igraine), who sent me a wonderful sample pack, and by reading the descriptions/reviews, I have learned a lot.

She was also the one who suggested I try the Grasse Experience. Given the price, I immediately did that... and what can I say? It is a really successful dupe, and to my great joy, I can even perceive it longer on me than my AE.
The GE is "milder" and less "harsh" (at the beginning) than the AE, but the composition is really very, very similar. There seems to be just a small difference that brings my perception back to life, but of course, I am totally happy :)

I can only agree with many statements regarding this: it is a subtler version of the AE (and at that price, it's really a joke), and for anyone who likes Chypre, it's a fragrance for every season and occasion, nothing sweet and/or powdery (like me), but rather something a bit more extraordinary. I can only recommend spending around 7.00 (!) euros (50 ml, Amazon) and giving it a try.

So I was actually looking for a non-sweet bergamot-herb-soapy-chypre alternative to Aromatics Elixir, but some reviews here piqued my curiosity about Orphéon. So I ordered a sample and what can I say? WOW! It smells amazing! Although it’s really not my usual type, THIS fragrance is definitely moving in with me!
Since my (smoker's) nose isn't very refined and I'm quite a newbie when it comes to scents, please forgive me for not being able to really delve into individual notes and their progression, big sorry.
But for me, this fragrance is a feel-good all-rounder, never intrusive, not heavy, not cloyingly sweet, not bitter-herb, and also not really noticeable (which I somewhat regret, as well as the longevity/sillage, but you can't have it all ;) ), yet it caresses and feels somehow "nice to me," fresh and light.
Even my husband, who unfortunately doesn't care much about it (sigh), said it smells good! *happy* :)
It will now be my new "go-to" fragrance for every season, and I’m already looking forward to the moment when the bottle is on my bathroom shelf and I no longer have to be stingy with the sample ;)

Yes, exactly like that, I have (or rather had until recently, she unfortunately passed away in 2022 at 88 in New Jersey).
She visited us, meaning my father (her brother) and me, with her husband Paul every few years in D and always brought something with her.
Around 1995, she gifted me Nude (I was about 25)... at first, I couldn't make much of it, it smelled somehow sweet and powdery :(
But since I don't just throw away such gifts, I tested it again a few years later and lo and behold, I discovered something completely extraordinary about this scent: namely, what the name "Nude" closely suggests: The scent of skin that has been in the sun, a subtle "fragrance" of warm human, indeed naked skin! And somehow sexy :D
Unfortunately, I am not the brightest candle on the cake when it comes to olfactory and prosaic matters, and I can't describe this scent as well as so many others here. But anyone who likes a subtly powdery, warm, slightly sweet scent (which I usually don't like at all, but THIS one I do!) would be right here.
Especially since it is really inexpensive, which I can't quite understand, as I find it quite unique...