Do I have an unsophisticated nose/am I taste-challenged?

Do I have an unsophisticated nose/am I taste-challenged? 3

(I have I think, self esteem issues, probably autistic.)

I’m starting to worry that I am unsophisticated, have poor taste, not a good sense of smell, too picky…stuff like that.

Everytime I go to a store and test fragrances, I basically hate them all or at least, don’t like them. Most of them are extremely popular and loved by many (I guess?) since I like flowers, smelling flowers, wearing florals, I thought for sure I’d adore the many florals on the market but I don’t. They smell bad to me. Sometimes like urine, sometimes a weird warm note, screechy, smell cheap/weird. 
Also, I feel weird that as a woman I love wearing lavender and always have.  I used to have a lavender something from probably Yardley I would wear to bed. I have lavender body wash, soap, body powder. Maybe you get the picture lol. I was surprised to read lavender is considered masculine by some. 

Maybe it’s my age, idk. 

2

Well each has his or her own tastes right? I love lavender smell and I don’t even detect real lavender in masculine fragrances where it’s supposed to be.  Anyway, if that’s what you like, who cares 😄


As for the fragrances you smell in stores, do you smell them inside the store itself or spray them on something like a paper strip and take them outside? I notice with myself that I easily get overwhelmed in perfumery’s and smell nothing after testing two fragrances.

1

I tend to think the opposite: You do have a sophisticated taste Smile!! Nothing wrong with being 'picky' by the way when it concerns perfumes, they cost a lot of money and thus should be what you love. It may also be that today's trend is not what you prefer; like clothes, perfumes are subjects to fashion too. I don't like most of the current releases either (even not the more current ones from Guerlain, but I love the ones Guerlain created in the past Smile!)

Wear what you love, it's a joy and if you don't like 'crowd pleasers', you will smell unique Smile!

Last edited by Ringtale on 02/05/2025 - 01:49 AM; edited 1 time in total
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I actually envy the fact that you have a very defined love for a particular note! There are soooo many options and I'm constantly telling myself not to jump the gun on the first, "Oooo, I like this one," because it always takes further consideration to actually evaluate whether or not something fits into my collection/ aesthetic/ likelihood of use.

Even with a preference for lavender, there's still plenty for you to explore when it comes to the different characteristics a fragrance might put forward. I generally dislike lavender myself, but according to the Google:

Floral: Lavender has a delicate, floral fragrance that's slightly sweet and refreshing

Herbal: Lavender has herbaceous notes that can be bright and aromatic

Camphorated: Some lavenders have a medicinal camphor smell

Balsamic: Lavender has balsamic undertones

Woody: Lavender has woody tones

Powdery: Lavender has soft, powdery notes

Smokey: Lavender can have soft, smokey notes

Perfumery loves to experiment in bringing out different facets if you want something more than the usual bed and bath products.

0
Ceesie

Well each has his or her own tastes right? I love lavender smell and I don’t even detect real lavender in masculine fragrances where it’s supposed to be.  Anyway, if that’s what you like, who cares 😄


As for the fragrances you smell in stores, do you smell them inside the store itself or spray them on something like a paper strip and take them outside? I notice with myself that I easily get overwhelmed in perfumery’s and smell nothing after testing two fragrances.

I sprayed some on different parts of my hands/wrists/forearms but some I sniffed the atomizer and they were an instant  NO. I sniffed a “men” cologne (the one that is a blue male torso, I think by Gaultier) and I didn’t like it at all. My husband got l’ideal homme by Guerlain (I think that’s the name) and I love that one. It smells like I’m walking through a coniferous forest chewing cinnamon gum but it’s not loud or hot cinnamon. I even sprayed some on my arm shhh don’t tell him. Just kidding, he sprayed some “Sparkling Bouquet” on himself before. 😁

2
PerfumeL0v3r

(I have I think, self esteem issues, probably autistic.)

I’m starting to worry that I am unsophisticated, have poor taste, not a good sense of smell, too picky…stuff like that.

Everytime I go to a store and test fragrances, I basically hate them all or at least, don’t like them. Most of them are extremely popular and loved by many (I guess?) since I like flowers, smelling flowers, wearing florals, I thought for sure I’d adore the many florals on the market but I don’t. They smell bad to me. Sometimes like urine, sometimes a weird warm note, screechy, smell cheap/weird.
Also, I feel weird that as a woman I love wearing lavender and always have. I used to have a lavender something from probably Yardley I would wear to bed. I have lavender body wash, soap, body powder. Maybe you get the picture lol. I was surprised to read lavender is considered masculine by some.

Maybe it’s my age, idk.

If I tested at the store I would never buy. I have from 1986 to 2020 to back that up lol. For that period I wore one cologne because everything else was either bad or generic.

It wasn’t until 2020 where I started getting 5ml samples that I got to wear many times over different seasons before I started liking other stuff and unlocking new notes.

For example it took me 18 months to like Reflection Man but I truly love it now.

2

I think you and I are in the same boat. It's either I have a bad nose or a LOT of people like BAD fragrances. And the reality is that it's gotta be me. We're talking about some of the most hyped and lauded fragrances of all time and injustice don't care for them at all. Dior Homme Parfum (2014) ? No thanks. Naxos ? Not good at all to my nose. Some of these great fragrances I just don't like or are indifferent to and others I just find bad. I like what I like and I end up paying a bunch of money for decants looking for that elusive signature scent that blows me away. So far a handful of nice ones a couple really good ones and nothing that I can't live without.

You're normal, but it also kinda sucks feeling like the odd one out. But like Michael Jackson said "you are not alone"

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