ugggggh

[kindkit]

So, I'm guessing Etat Libre d'Orange called this scent "Marquis de Sade" because it wants to hurt you.

Dear GOD. I gave it 15 minutes because sometimes a really awful top note will fade. This one did not, and the whole perfume is strong, strong, strong. I've just washed my arm multiple times with lemon-scented soap and I can still smell it. I think it's time to take a shower.

WHYYYY? I mean, I knew they were infamous for difficult perfumes but I was not expecting that level of revolting.

(It may be something to do with my skin chemistry, too, because I read a bunch of reviews of this scent while I was waiting for it to improve, and only a few mentioned the unbearable mix of dead rat and burning chemicals [plus some herbs] that I got. And I've definitely sampled some perfumes that got a lot of "Ugh that's so cacophonous/harsh/awful" reviews that have smelled lovely and completely inoffensive on me.)

Seriously this scent made my lips go numb and I feel kind of sick.

Comments

[sovay]

Seriously this scent made my lips go numb and I feel kind of sick.

So I believe that it was disgusting, but are you allergic to any of its components?

[kindkit]

It's a very good question--I know that "lips going numb" is probably more than just hating the smell. I have a variety of low-key allergic stuff (skin reactions/dermatitis, oral allergies to several fruits, seasonal allergies than can get pretty unpleasant) so it's possible. I've never had an allergic reaction to a perfume before, and I didn't have any kind of skin reaction to this one, but my lips still feel a little numb despite multiple arm washings and a shower.

I've put the perfume vial in a sealed plastic bag, anyway.

[sovay]

I've never had an allergic reaction to a perfume before, and I didn't have any kind of skin reaction to this one, but my lips still feel a little numb despite multiple arm washings and a shower.

Blech. I am respiratory-and-skin-allergic to most commercial perfumes, so I am afraid it is one of the first things I think of. I have gotten migraines from well-intended gift scents.

I've put the perfume vial in a sealed plastic bag, anyway.

Good call. Even if it can't harm you, you don't want to smell any more of it than you have to.

[kindkit]

I have gotten migraines from well-intended gift scents.

Oh no--a terrible experience for you and the giver.

Quite a few commercial perfumes and scented products give me mild headaches (not migraines so far, luckily) and queasiness. It's deeply un-fun. It doesn't help that people often wear so much perfume.

[naraht]

Huh. I have certainly had a LOT of fragrances where my immediate reaction was "get it offffff me," but I'm pretty fond of Marquis de Sade. Just shows how individual these things are!

[kindkit]

Yeah, it's always surprising. I like to read other people's reviews of things after I've tried them, because they're often so different from my own experience, and the reviews themselves differ so much.

[rydra_wong]

WHYYYY? I mean, I knew they were infamous for difficult perfumes but I was not expecting that level of revolting.

I hope you've been warned about Secretions Magnifiques? *g*

(Apparently there are people on whom SM smells great, which breaks my brain.)

I've just washed my arm multiple times with lemon-scented soap and I can still smell it. I think it's time to take a shower.

FWIW, I've found it sometimes helps (if scrubbing has been of no avail) to pick something strong I'm okay with and layer that over the top, to drown out the remaining traces.

[kindkit]

I've heard of Secretions Magnifiques, yup. But even if it wasn't notorious, I doubt I'll be trying any other ELDO perfume any time soon, if ever.

pick something strong I'm okay with and layer that over the top

That's what I did in the end, after my show and then several more rounds of arm-washing, just to cover up those last traces.

[rydra_wong]

But even if it wasn't notorious, I doubt I'll be trying any other ELDO perfume any time soon, if ever.

That is very understandable after this experience, although FWIW I would say that apart from SM their stuff mostly isn't "difficult" in a "deeply traumatic experience" sort of way, even when it's unusual or off-kilter; I love Afternoon of a Faun enough to have splashed out on a full bottle.