...Hayven:PK perfumes has one called violet chocolatier. The cocoa note is very dry, but you have to like violets of course. The perfume is not as sweet as the notes sound.Violets are beautiful as long as they're not too sweet, so this sounds like it might be right up my street. Thank you! :D

...Dulcemio:How about "Chocolat Amere"? I sampled it years ago and remember liking it.I need to sample Borneo too.Have you ever tried "Neonatura Cocon"? I don't recall it being very sweet."Neonatura Cocon" is one that I looked at but it seems impossible to find anywhere to buy it! It's not available from Yves Rocher any more and I can't find it for sale on eBay or Amazon :( However, joy of joys, "Chocolat Amere" is readily available as a sample from Lucky Scent or in various sizes from the Il Profvmo website, so I shall be getting a sample first with my next Lucky Scent order. Thank you for this suggestion. It does seem as if it might be a bit of a "love or hate" sort of fragrance so I am not tempted to blind buy! :lol:

...Triffid:The one that comes to mind (I've not tried it) is "Borneo 1834" by Serge Lutens. It apparently has an obvious, not sweet, cocoa note but the catch is that it's heavy on the patchouli. The reviews may help you decide if it's worth sampling.Oooh thanks for the suggestion! I shall definitely get hold of a sample, that sounds very interesting indeed. :D

...Of course, I forgot to mention Al-Rehab! Their attars are so cheap and last an amazingly long time. The ones I've tried have been long lasting with excellent sillage. My most recent purchase is "Aseel" which is amazingly similar to "Red Aoud" by Montale, and it was only £2.75 including postage (approx €3.34 or US$4.62) for a 6ml roll on concentrated perfume oil which will last me forever!

...It seems like it's more of a barrier spray then.

...

..."Pink Sugar Sensual" by Aquolina"Golden Delicious Eau So Intense" by DKNY"Aseel" by Al-Rehab"Vanille Marine" by Molinard"Poeme" by Lancôme"Le Parfum (Eau de Parfum Intense)" by Elie Saab"Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto" by Roberto Cavalli"Bois D'Oud" by PerrisStill waiting for these in the post:"La Lune" by Dolce & Gabbana (discount seller £20 for 100ml plus vanity case and samples of other Anthology perfumes for the win!)"M" by Mariah Carey"Idylle" by Guerlain"Hidden Fantasy" by Britney Spears"Midnight Fantasy" by Britney Spears

...I've not heard of them but it looks suspect to me. There is no phone number or street address listed on the site for them (that I can find). The only way to contact them with a query is via a web form. Personally, I would be very wary. :?

...Thanks, yes, I've been going through the suggestions. Unfortunately, it seems that perfumers are obsessed with making the note sweet which defeats the object lol! Never mind, I shall keep looking. Thanks :D

...I am wondering if there is a perfume that is based around the smell of cocoa. I don't mean hot chocolate, or sweetened cocoa, I mean that bitter fragrance that pure cocoa powder gives off. It's been something that I've been looking for for a few days now, but all of the perfumes that I look at seem to have more of a "chocolate" note or a sweet "cacao" note. I don't want to smell like a box of chocolates (as much as I love the smell!) I want something a bit more complex that uses the bitterness of cocoa. I have NO idea if such a perfume exists, but I would love to have any suggestions that you wonderful "Parfumo-istas" may have for me! :D

...DarkMatter:Oh and one that I have a totally love/hate relationship with is "Encre Noire" by Lalique. I had a sample and fell in love. I bought the full bottle...

...DarkMatter, I was almost tempted into a blind buy of Eden at one point, thinking: 'It's so cheap, I love greenishness, how bad can it be?' The mixed reviews...

...

...I'm definitely a "blind buy" addict. But I am disabled and as such I don't go shopping for fun as it is too painful for me. So I try and get samples if the perfume is expensive (anything over £50/€60/US$85). But I've bought plenty that have just been awful and some that are just heavenly!Worst:Has to be these two equally:"Lysval" by Girard - smells like dead bodies to me :shock: Eden by Cacharel - smells like a stagnant pond :? Best:"Shalimar Parfum Initial" by Guerlain - nectar of the gods! :D "Petale Noir" by Agent Provocateur - dark, sweet floral"Play Intense for her" by Givenchy - the ultimate gothic dream :P

...Sweetgrass:Clearly I was lying to myself when I said no more blind buys: I just snagged a vtg "Chamade" edt off eBay. Not that I have any regrets about it!I've given up promising not to buy any more blind! :lol: My latest purchases arrived today and are all blind buys:Sung by Alfred Sung"Laughter Nuit" by Space.NKSweet Pea by Bronnley

...Oh and one that I have a totally love/hate relationship with is "Encre Noire" by Lalique. I had a sample and fell in love. I bought the full bottle and now I just can't wear it. It is such a creamy/metallic smell to my nose that just makes my stomach feel a little ill. I feel bad because I loved it to start with, I don't know what happened. :cry:I also tried the ladies version but it was so boring to be honest that I can't wear it either! I really, really wanted to wear them! :roll:

..."The Iceberg Fragrance" by Iceberg.

...Thank you Sweetgrass. Yes, that quote from Edmond Roudnitska is quite fascinating. I can almost see and smell the conditions that he must have worked in. Yet he managed to make the most beautiful fragrance. The artistic ability of the world's top perfumers never ceases to amaze me!I didn't know about IBM, that is really quite a story! Thank you!

...These two I find almost hypnotic they are so gorgeous:Kelly Caleche by HermesAoud Queen Roses by Montale

...I'm sceptical to be honest. How long a perfume lasts is quite subjective depending on the person. Obviously there are the really strong perfumes that will last a long time on anyone. Those that have less staying power, will they last longer? I don't know. However, I would be very interested to hear how others get on with it. I shan't be rushing to buy it unless there is an overwhelming positive reports regarding it. I can't help but think it's just a gimmick. :?