New Fragrance Review: Cognoscenti 1, 16, and 19: Perfume With A High IQ + Draw for 5 Sample Sets

When I went to the San Francisco Artisan Fragrance Salon, one of the vendors that interested me was a brand new line launching that very day called Cognoscenti. I was impressed by the brand’s well-thought-out branding and packaging and clean design. The Scent Artist, as her business card title proclaims, is painter, architect, and designer Dannielle Sergent, who, under the guidance of San Francisco perfumer Yosh Han, was encouraged to explore her unique, intuitive take on perfume creation.  The Cognoscenti line launched with three numbered perfumes. The scents are designed to be wearable by either sex, and are made with an eye toward the perfume collector looking for something different. The scents incorporate a large percentage of natural ingredients, and are hand-made in small batches.

Scent No. 1 is a nicely blended interpretation of a fragrance genre I can only describe as “clean”. It doesn’t smell like detergent or soap, but has a bright, crisp quality that feels like a freshly pressed cotton shirt. It is businesslike, but far from austere or harsh. The ylang ylang, while not exactly flowery, does impart an underlying shimmer of prettiness that keeps the composition from straying into steely-eyed rigidity. It is the silken underwear under the tailored suiting. As the perfume lingers and ages, it becomes a nearly perfect interpretation of a “skin scent”.  I don’t smell like I just got out of the shower, but I have no animal skank, either.  I definitely smell better and more interesting than I would without it, but it’s subtle. I think anyone who would like a clean scent in their wardrobe, but doesn’t care for laundry scents, would do well to give this a try.

1 notes: Bergamot, Fig, Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage, Pink Grapefruit, Teak, Light Musk, Suede

Scent No. 16 (subtitled Tomato Leather) has a big bold opening of green leather. Mingled with the leather are vegetal, herbal aromas that are intriguing and create sense of mystery and depth. Although the notes list for this would make it seem that the perfume would be thick and dark, the brightness of the tomato leaf and clary sage hold the scent into the light. The leather in this perfume isn’t a soft sweet girlie suede, its black motorcycle jacket leather. Far from making the perfume too masculine for a woman to wear, it makes it sexier. The sillage carries the leather perfectly; closer to the skin is where the resinous, smoky, sweeter notes lie. I think I would be more inclined to wear this in cooler weather, like I do most of my more serious leather scents, or in the evening.  Leather fans won’t want to miss this one.

16 notes: Tomato Leaf, Clary Sage, Lindenblossom, Leather Accord, Black Agarwood, Benzoin, Frankincense, Myrrh, Tobacco

Scent No. 19 (subtitled Warm Carrot) is earthy, rooty, and complex. “Warm” is a good descriptor for it – it is comforting. It has the aroma of fresh garden soil when the nose is against wrist, while a veil of soft flowers shimmers in the air. I love scents that have that magical property of leaving a trail that is so different than what you smell close to skin. There are plenty of roots, woods, and resins to retain the gender neutrality of the scent despite it being the one of the three that I would call pretty. The perfume dries down very nicely, and wraps you like a favorite cardigan. It isn’t a winter scent, it’s just cozy, and could be worn any time. Of the three, I find it the most versatile. No. 1 and No. 16 have distinct personalities, and almost require a wardrobe to match. No. 19 is perfectly comfortable in jeans and tee.

19 notes: Carrot Seed, Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Vetiver, Labdanum, Amber Accord, Benzoin, Vanilla

Dannielle has successfully created a line of diverse, sophisticated, intelligent, and aromatic scents perfect for anyone looking for something unique to add to their collection. They are perfectly unisex – I can’t see any of them smelling better on any specific gender. They all have good sillage and decent longevity.  Although 19 is perhaps my favorite, I would gladly wear any of them.

The Cognoscenti fragrances will be available to order in Early August from the website. Prices are $90 for 50ml, and $160 for 100ml of Eau de Parfum. Samples will be available as well.

All of the mixed-media paintings used to illustrate this article are Dannielle’s and they are available as cards and other products in her Zazzle shop.

Product photographs are by Annabelle Breakey Photography.

Five lucky readers will win a sample set of all three fragrances! Let us know which scent appeals to you the most out of the line. Draw closes on July 27, 2012.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

Tama Blough, Senior Editor

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


60 comments

  • Scent 16 sounds the most interesting to me-very intriguing combination of notes.Thanks for the draw!

  • Pysephonie says:

    Tomato leather sounds fascinating. I can’t quite imagine it, but would love to smell it.

  • Docteur Andre says:

    Scent No. 16 sounds most intriguing. The description makes me think of an Old World library in an elegant manor home – with an edge.

  • Linnea Wiedeman says:

    scent No. 19 the aroma of fresh garden soil sounds wonderful and earthy. Would definitely be my pick.

  • Scent no 19 sounds like something I could love. No 16 sounds very I intriguing.

    Thank you for the review!

  • teleny parrish says:

    I would go for No. 16 as well, though I probably would find use for No. 1…and 19 too!

  • I’m interested in 19 because I just got a sample of Andy Tauer’s Lonestar memories and it has carrot at the top and leather accord so I’m curious to see how they compare.

  • Don’t enter me in the draw. Just want to say how much I enjoyed reading the article, Tama. The salon and seeing old friends and making new ones was a blast!!!! I purchased a sample package fromn this perfumer and it is wonderful. Love number 16!

  • Scent No. 1 appeals me the most with bergamot, fig, ylang-ylang specially in the notes.

  • They all sound amazing. The one that appeals to me the most is Scent no. 16, the combination of Tomato Leaf, Clary Sage, Myrrh& Tobacco among others must be lovely!!

  • While no. 16 sounds the most interesting, no. 19 appeals to me the most, as I’m interested in finding a versatile, easy to wear, anytime fragrance.

  • I’m not really sure. From the description both 16 and 19 sound like winners. It is really difficult to tell which one I might prefer. Possibly 19 but I wouldn’t be so sure, I believe 16 hides some interesting things in there… 🙂

  • Scented Memories says:

    Scent no.16 sounds the most interesting of all three. I am very curious about smelling it – it has an interesting combination of notes, with tomato leaf, clary sage, lindenblossom and tobacco!

  • No. 1 would be my choice. I love “clean” scents, but not that kind that smell soapy or detergent-like. Besides, bergamot is one of my favourite notes.

  • No 16 sounds so interesting, it’s hard to imagine those notes together, but I would love to sample it

  • I would like to try No. 1 looking sharp but No. 19 might get more use. I love the smell of fresh carrots from the garden!

  • ringthing says:

    These all sound amazing and the artwork is gorgeous. As a leather fan, #16 speaks the loudest to me.

  • thanks for the reviews and draw! 19 definitely appeals to me the most, I love those shifting scents and earthy warmth.

  • Borko Boris says:

    Scent No. 19! All the notes are right up my alley and I am quite intrigued of what role carrot seed plays in the composition.
    Thanks!

  • Leather fan here and if the vegetal aspect you mention is perhaps the gorgeous aroma of tomato vines then I’m wanting No. 16.

  • Wow, tomato leather! With linden blossom and clary sage – that sounds most interesting to me.

    I love tomato leaves and clary sage at the top. I like linden as the top note as in Ormonde Jayne’s Frangipani Absolute and as the heart note as in Andy Tauer’s Zeta or L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons.

    I love warm rich bases.

    But I cannot imagine what this one smells like. Would love to try!

  • Michelle U says:

    Scent No. 19 or the Warm Carrot seems like a very interesting fragrance. A Vanilla Carot sound just like my thing. 😀

  • Scent 16 sounds intriguing and I am always looking for intrigue. green leather, nice intro. Another aspect I’d like to compliment on is the wonderful use of vegetal mater to create the designs. An adorable big ear caught my eye!

  • I have those samples so no need to enter me into the draw. I just want to say that these perfumes are very interesting and I wish more people could try them.
    It’s a nice review, Tama.

  • Scent No. 16 sounds like something that will both intrigue me and suit my rather odd tastes.
    Tomato Leather? Hmmm…. count me in!

    Thanks for the draw!

  • WOW!!!!! These all read like great fumes.As a lover of clary sage,it excites me to read on notes lists of 2 of the fragrances No. 19 appeals due to the ability of the fume to be worn anytime of day or year.Thanks for the prize draw.

  • 16 and 19 both sound really promising. I am happy to hear that they are launching soon. I definitely will be grabbing some samples. Thanks for the review!

  • Scent No. 19 would be my pick. I’m a woman who loves leather fragrances and though this one is subtitled “Warm Carrot” the description of the leather sillage won me over.

  • No. 19 is the scent that appeals to me most in this line, as I’ve been very attracted to warm, cozy scents lately. Thanks for the draw!

  • The SF Fragrance Salon was so busy that I didn’t get to try these. I think the one that appeals to me the most is No. 16, “tomato leather”, just because it sounds weird. I love the smell of fresh tomato leaves, and often go out in the garden just to rub them and smell my fingers.

  • No. 16 sounds amazing! I am a leather scent lover, and can’t wait to try this one. Thanks for the draw!

  • rosiegreen says:

    It’s very difficult to choose just one, all the fragrances sound amazing. If I really have to choose I would pick “Tomato Leather” since tomato leaves and leather are two of my most favorite smells.

  • I have a high IQ! Really this is for me. Or wait it’s intelligent perfume. 19 does sound the smartest. And how come my avatar makes me look unoriginal like everyone else in rubinesque outline? It isn’t a reflection of my artsy genius one of kind persona.