My 2020 Perfume Wishlist

Hi guys, welcome back to my blog! Today I'll be sharing all about the perfumes that I have my eye on and may (or may not) be getting in 2020.

Christmas is just around the corner and before you know it, 2020 will be upon us! If you're still out looking for a Christmas gift for yourself, your family members or your significant other, here's a list of some scents that I've been keeping tabs on that you might like.

1. Un Jardin Sur Le Nil • HERMES

Eau de toilette

I first came across this perfume while browsing through Sephora, and I fell in love at first whiff. I'm a big fan of light, fruity and citrusy scents, and this ticks all boxes. This one isn't too lemony/smells like a dishwashing soap like other citrus perfumes out there, and I really like the sophistication and depth of it once it has settled.

Released in 2005, this perfume was inspired by a herb and vegetable garden that grew along the Nile river in Egypt. According to FragranceX.com, this perfume opens crisply and cleanly with the scents of lemon and mango, along with a hint of tomato leaf and carrot. The heart is made of the sweet floral flavors of lotus, orange, hyacinth, and peony with a dramatic splash of bulrush harkening to the riverside foliage. The base is subdued with glimpses of musk, incense, iris, labdanum, and a spritz of cinnamon. Akin to a real garden, the smell is not overpowering, but holds its scent for most of the day, making this a refreshing addition to everyday wear or a breathtaking component of a special night out.

I think this would be perfect for the summer-time and perfectly capture's everything I want in a daily perfume. Although it's an EDT, I've found that it can last quite long (after spraying myself a ton in Sephora I still smell it at the end of the day). It's not the longest wearing scent I've tried, but it's good enough. I do love how uplifting the scent is to me.

Price:
30ml - RM285 Sephora MY in-store

50ml - RM415 Sephora MY in-store

100ml - USD139 (~RM575) Hermes US website

2. Gris Dior • MAISON CHRISTIAN DIOR PARFUMS 

Eau de parfum

Dior Parfums opened this year (if I remember correctly) in Pavilion and opened another outlet in Mid Valley. I was very captured by the ultra-minimalist packaging so I decided to check them out.

There's a huge selection of scents to choose from but one that stood out to me the most was Gris Dior. Originally called Gris Montaigne, it was renamed Gris Dior when the House of Dior turned 70 (the scent itself was not changed). It was first marketed as a female perfume but is now being sold as unisex (which I think it is!).

Inspired by the Dior Gray colour and the question "What if Dior Gray was a perfume?", Dior came up with a composition that blends Jasmine and Bergamot. Fragrantica says it contains notes of bergamot, rose, patchouli, amber, cedar, sandalwood and oakmoss. It's quite multi-faceted and although it's categorized as a floral in Dior's website, floral isn't the first word that I would use to describe it. It's just so enigmatic that I don't know what to call it (aside from amazing haha).

I've visited the Dior stores countless of times trying to smell all the scents and I always come back to Gris Dior. I've even kept all the cards I've gotten from the store and kept them in my bags to keep them smelling super fresh hahaha. I've sprayed it on myself a fair few times as well, and I can tell you, this is quite long lasting.

Maison Christian Dior Parfums is the highest tier of fragrances in Dior (above their staples and classics like J'adior, Joy & Miss Dior) and is only available in exclusive store. So on top of being of even higher quality and being hard to get, their prices are also much higher.

I would love to own a bottle (even in the smallest size) but she's just too expensive for me right now. Maybe in the future!

Price:
40ml - RM395 Dior MY in-store

125ml - RM890 Dior MY in-store

250ml - USD320 (~RM1325) Dior US website

3. Mon Paris • YVES SAINT LAURENT

Eau de parfum

I've always seen Mon Paris around but I never tried it until the YSL Hotel came to town. I got two deluxe versions of the original variant of Mon Paris and it's just divine!

Inspired by Paris, this perfume's red berries and pear immediately exude sensuality and femininity. The exotic white datura flower, the soul of the fragrance, embodies desire and seduces the senses. Finally, this modern and daring floral scent is balanced by creamy white musks and patchouli. 

I would say this is the perfect perfume if you're going on a date or on a romantic stroll. It's very delicious and sweet in a non-sickening way, and I love how balanced the sweetness and lightness is. It lasts all day long and as someone who's been living with the deluxe sizes, I can definitely say they're worth the price. Definitely gonna get a full-sized one once my deluxe sizes finish!

Price:
30ml - RM277 YSL/Sephora MY in-store

50ml - RM386 YSL/Sephora MY in-store
90ml - RM485 YSL/Sephora MY in-store

4. Orange Bitters • HERMES

Eau de cologne

I kind of have a love-hate relationship with Jo Malone. On one hand, they have a lot of scents that are my taste (like the English Pear & Freesia I own + the Honeysuckle & Davana I really want to get). On the other, I feel like they're quite overpriced and don't really last that long, and those are the two main reasons why I'm so hesitant to get anything from them again.

Since it's only a cologne, I already expected that the staying power is shorter than that of an EDT or EDP, but I just can't help but feel annoyed whenever it's lunchtime and I can't smell it already haha. If you're just interested in trying one out, I recommend getting a small bottle. If you really like the scent, I recommend getting the bigger one (like me) because trust me, you're going to have to spray yourself a lot since she don't last long hahaha.

Anyhoo, Orange Bitters is a holiday scent that (I heard from the sales clerk in-store) is re-released every year for Christmas. I love how unique this citrus scent is, and it's not a common orange scent. Jo Malone describes it as a dash of sweet orange and a burst of ripe mandarin, finished with a splash of bitter orange to reveal rich prune and a base of sensual sandalwood and amber.

Jo Malone previously only carried 30ml and 100ml bottles for all scents and limited the 50ml bottles for the Intense (black) bottles. When I checked last month, however, 50ml bottles are now available for all scents!

Price:
30ml - RM280 Jo Malone/Sephora MY in-store

50ml - RM Jo Malone/Sephora MY in-store
100ml - RM Jo Malone/Sephora MY in-store

*my bad, forgot to jot down the prices! 100ml in Jo Malone was previously ~RM500 before the price increase, will update this post once I manage to drop by the store.

5. Authentic Man • ABERCROMBIE & FITCH

Eau de toilette

Wow, all the fruity female and unisex scents and suddenly men's perfume? Hahaha, it's actually still another fruity scent, just one that leans a bit more for guys than unisex. This perfume is a citrus aromatic fragrance for men with top notes of grapefruit, bergamot and pink pepper, middle notes of ginger, sage and lavender, as well as base notes of cedarwood, moss and suede. 

It's super fresh and I light, and I always think of a smart businessman in a crisp white shirt when I smell this. If you're looking for something to give your dad, brother or significant other a scent this Christmas, I recommend dropping by Sephora and giving this a whiff! The bottle is quite nice and the price/lasting power/scent is pretty good. I'm planning on getting one for myself next year because all my more "manly" perfumes are quite heavy/musky, and I need something fresh as well.

Price:

100ml - RM309 Sephora MY in-store

And that's all for this list! Just wanted to quickly share the scents that have been haunting me these past few months hahaha. In 2020 I'm working on wearing more scents/perfume because I always forget to put some on. I feel like having perfume on really completes your aura, and I'm looking to get my aura and my life together next year hahaha. Here's to 2020!