Katrina Rosales
People have different preferences when it comes to perfumes, and what might smell delightful to one person might be repulsive to another. Some people prefer floral or fruity fragrances, while others might find these scents cloying or obnoxious. Some of the most commonly disliked perfumes include Lancome La Vie Est Belle, Clinique Aromatics Elixir, Gucci Flora, and Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Parisienne Eau de Parfum. Some niche fragrances are intentionally designed to be disturbing, featuring unconventional notes like gunpowder, soot, ink, metal, and even human or animal secretions—for example, Secretions Magnifiques from Etat Libre d'Orange. These unique fragrances push the boundaries of what a perfume can be, evoking a range of emotions from disgust to curiosity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Strong scent | Secretions Magnifiques, Gucci Flora, Lancome La Vie Est Belle, Insolence by Guerlain, Interlude, Amouage Sunshine Man, Zoologist Moth, Valentino Born in Roma, Cryptical Envelopment by Olympic Orchids, Boszporusz by Nishane, Jasmine & Cigarette by ELDO, Bronze Wood and Leather by Jo Malone, Montale’s Cafe Intense, Marc Jacob’s Decadence |
| Sickly sweet | Insolence by Guerlain, Gucci Flora, Montale’s Cafe Intense |
| Gave a headache | Insolence by Guerlain, Issey Miyake |
| Nauseating | Zoologist Moth, Amouage Sunshine Man, Valentino Born in Roma, anything with oud |
| Unpleasant associations | Nuit de Bakélite |
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What You'll Learn
Overpowering floral scents
While floral perfumes are beloved by many, some can be overpowering and obnoxious. One of the most well-known floral scents is Marc Jacobs Daisy, which is often considered too strong. Its powdery violet notes can be cloying, and some people dislike the scent of strawberries. Similarly, Flower by Kenzo is described as "horrible" by some wearers.
Some floral fragrances can be overwhelming, especially those with rose or jasmine notes. For example, Kuumba's rose oils were described as "heavy and overpowering" by a Reddit user, who also mentioned that they caused headaches. On the other hand, Maison Francis Kurkdjian's A la Rose perfume oil is a lighter, more delicate option that is long-lasting and cheaper than the regular perfume.
To avoid an overpowering floral scent, look for fragrances that balance floral notes with other ingredients. For instance, a perfume that blends fresh and warm notes might combine delicate jasmine and rose with vanilla, amber, and a hint of balsamic. This creates a rich, long-lasting scent without being too floral.
Additionally, some floral perfumes can be updated with modern twists. Bee Shapiro, the founder of Ellis Brooklyn, suggests looking for innovative takes on classic floral notes like tuberose, rose, and gardenia. These new formulations give florals a modern sophistication. For instance, a perfume can be bright and fruity at first, with notes of plum, rhubarb, and orange blossom, and then settle into a deep vanilla base, creating a warm and cozy scent.
Overall, while floral perfumes can be obnoxious when too strong or one-dimensional, they can be made more appealing by balancing floral notes with other ingredients and seeking out modern interpretations of classic florals.
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Unpleasant associations
The sense of smell is deeply intertwined with memory and emotion. A particular scent can evoke powerful memories and associations, both pleasant and unpleasant. While the scent of freshly baked cookies may remind someone of their grandmother's comforting embrace, certain perfumes can stir up feelings of disgust, nausea, and even hatred.
For example, the scent of Lancome La Vie Est Belle may remind someone of a frantic dash through a perfume department, leaving them with feelings of stress and revulsion. Similarly, the fragrance Gucci Flora has been described as reminiscent of a middle school locker room, evoking feelings of immaturity and awkward adolescence. It's not just mass-market perfumes that can provoke such reactions; niche fragrances like Nuit de Bakélite can also be off-putting, eliciting a chilling feeling that is difficult to shake.
Sometimes, a perfume can be disliked simply because of its association with a particular person. For instance, the scent of Montale's Cafe Intense may evoke memories of a popular girl in school who broke off and ate part of someone's sugar crystal science project, leaving a lasting impression of bitterness and resentment. Insolence by Guerlain is another fragrance that has been described as "horrible," perhaps due to its strong and lingering scent that clings to the skin for days, becoming overwhelming and intrusive.
The power of scent is so strong that even the name of a perfume can be off-putting. For instance, Secretions Magnifiques from Etat Libre d'Orange has been described as "repugnant," perhaps due to its suggestive name, which may evoke unpleasant images or ideas even before the scent is experienced. Whether it's the scent itself, the memories it evokes, or the associations with a particular person or name, certain perfumes can undoubtedly provoke strong feelings of disgust and obnoxiousness.
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Poor combinations
While the perception of fragrance is highly subjective, with one person's trash being another's treasure, some perfumes are considered universally obnoxious due to their poor combinations of scents. Here are some examples:
Some fragrances are designed to be disturbing, straying from conventional notes of flowers, amber, or vanilla. Instead, they incorporate unusual elements such as gunpowder, soot, ink, metal, or even human (or animal) secretions. These unconventional combinations can be shocking and macabre, evoking emotions of disgust and curiosity. For instance, Secretions Magnifiques by Etat Libre d'Orange has been described as "haunting" and "repugnant."
Perfumes with overwhelming fruity-floral combinations can be cloying and off-putting. Montale's Cafe Intense, for instance, was expected to be a coffee-forward scent but was likened to gaggy-sweet hard candies. Similarly, Gucci Flora has been criticized for smelling like a body spray-saturated middle school locker room.
Some fragrances are described as nauseating, with intense scents that can be overwhelming. For example, Insolence by Guerlain is known for its strong smell that lingers on the skin for days. Valentino Born in Roma and perfumes with oud are also mentioned as nauseating.
The combination of certain scents can also evoke unexpected associations and emotions. For instance, Nuit de Bakélite, a tuberose fragrance, has been described as evoking a "chilling feeling." Similarly, Cryptical Envelopment by Olympic Orchids and Boszporusz by Nishane have been criticized for their offensive and repulsive scents.
While some fragrances may be well-crafted, their combinations of scents may not appeal to everyone's taste. It is essential to consider the balance and harmony of notes to avoid creating an obnoxious or unpleasant fragrance.
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Sickly sweet fragrances
Sweet perfumes are often stereotyped as being intensely sickly-sweet, feminine, or overpowering. However, there is a wide range of sweet perfumes available, including fruity, floral, and gourmand fragrances. The latter is designed to smell like food or dessert, with scents ranging from chocolate to vanilla. Vanilla, in particular, is a common ingredient in sickly-sweet perfumes, as are caramel, cream, and butterscotch.
Some examples of sickly-sweet perfumes include Vilhelm Poets of Berlin, which smells like a blueberry lemon pastry, and Vilhelm Mango Skin, which has dark notes that distinguish it from a fresh fruity fragrance. Hiram Green Slowdive is another example of a sickly-sweet perfume, as it is a realistic honey fragrance. For those who enjoy the scent of tiramisu, a perfume with top notes of oud, leather, and bergamot creates a sweet-woody aroma. Coffee, vanilla, and red wine berries can also be combined for a sweet fragrance with a refreshing citrus twist.
Perfumes by popular brands can also be sickly sweet. For example, Prada Candy is a sweet caramel vanilla fragrance, and Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau So Sweet smells like cotton candy. Ellis Brooklyn Bee is another sweet vanilla fragrance with a hint of honey and bourbon. Insolence by Guerlain is a very particular sweet-smelling perfume that clings to the skin for days. Flower by Kenzo is another example of a sickly-sweet fragrance that has received negative reviews.
To avoid sickly-sweet fragrances, certain ingredients should be avoided. These include amber, labdanum, vanilla, fruity florals, and tuberose scents. Instead, opt for green chypres, leathers, classic French citrus/floral/musk combos, aromatic fougères, or animalics focused on civet or castoreum. Incense, oakmoss, and vetiver are other ingredients that are relatively free of sickly-sweet scents.
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Unnatural smells
While scent is subjective, with each person's nose knowing "no bounds", there are some perfumes that are considered universally obnoxious due to their unnatural smells. These fragrances often deviate from conventional notes of flowers, amber, or vanilla, and instead feature unusual and unexpected elements that can be shocking, stirring a mix of disgust and curiosity.
One such example is Secretions Magnifiques from Etat Libre d'Orange, described as "the single most haunting smell" that evokes a sense of evil. With its milky-metallic notes, it ventures far from traditional perfume families. Similarly, Cryptical Envelopment by Olympic Orchids and Boszporusz by Nishane are considered unpleasant, with the latter likened to the "scent of a T. Rex after the asteroid". These fragrances challenge the norm and can be off-putting to those accustomed to classic olfactory compositions.
Some perfumes are criticised for their cloying sweetness, such as Montale's Cafe Intense, which falls short of its intended coffee-forward scent and instead evokes memories of sugary candies. Insolence by Guerlain is another scent that clings to the skin with its particular smell. These fragrances can be overpowering and sickly sweet, veering away from the delicate and balanced compositions often sought in perfumery.
Unnatural fragrances can also be found in the form of celebrity perfumes. For example, Lancome's La Vie Est Belle, Marc Jacob's Decadence, and Gucci Flora are considered unpleasant deviations from classic perfume profiles. These fragrances may be mass-oriented products that fail to capture the artistry and craftsmanship that define exceptional perfumery.
Lastly, some perfumes with unnatural smells can be downright nauseating. Amouage Sunshine Man, Zoologist Moth, and Valentino Born in Roma are examples of fragrances that can induce nausea. These scents may contain notes that are too intense or discordant, resulting in an unpleasant olfactory experience. While some may find these fragrances intriguing, they veer towards the macabre and disturbing rather than evoking pleasant emotions.
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